²⁸ just as the Son of Man^(A) did not come to be served, but to serve,^(B) and to give his life as a ransom^(C) for many.”

Two Blind Men Receive Sight^(D)

²⁹ As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. ³⁰ Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David,^(E) have mercy on us!”

³¹ The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

³² Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.

³³ “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.”

³⁴ Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

The Vine and the Branches

15 “I am^(A) the true vine,^(B) and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit,^(C) while every branch that does bear fruit^(D) he prunes^[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. ³ You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.^{(E) 4} Remain in me, as I also remain in you.^(F) No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit;^(G) apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.^{(H) 7} If you remain in me^(I) and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.^{(J) 8} This is to my Father’s glory,^(K) that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.^(L)

⁹ “As the Father has loved me,^(M) so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commands,^(N) you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. ¹¹ I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.^{(O) 12} My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.^{(P) 13} Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.^{(Q) 14} You are my friends^(R) if you do what I command.^{(S) 15} I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.^{(T) 16} You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you^(U) so that you might go and bear fruit^(V)—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.^{(W) 17} This is my command: Love each other.^(X)

⁸ For you were once^(A) darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light^{(B) 9} (for the fruit^(C) of the light consists in all goodness,^(D) righteousness and truth)

¹² For the word of God^(A) is alive^(B) and active.^(C) Sharper than any double-edged sword,^(D) it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.^(E)

²⁵ Jesus answered, “I did tell you,^(A) but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me,^{(B) 26} but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.^{(C) 27} My sheep listen to my voice; I know them,^(D) and they follow me.^{(E) 28} I give them eternal life,^(F) and they shall never perish;^(G) no one will snatch them out of my hand.^{(H) 29} My Father, who has given them to me,^(I) is greater than all^[a];^(J) no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. ³⁰ I and the Father are one.”^(K)

²² The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth^(A) choke the word, making it unfruitful.

³¹ So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.^(A)

³⁹ and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest^(A) is the end of the age,^(B) and the harvesters are angels.^(C)

⁴⁰ “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. ⁴¹ The Son of Man^(D) will send out his angels,^(E) and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. ⁴² They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.^{(F) 43} Then the righteous will shine like the sun^(G) in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.^(H)

The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl

⁴⁴ “The kingdom of heaven is like^(I) treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.^(J)

⁴⁵ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like^(K) a merchant looking for fine pearls. ⁴⁶ When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

The Parable of the Net

⁴⁷ “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like^(L) a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds^(M) of fish. ⁴⁸ When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. ⁴⁹ This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous^{(N) 50} and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.^(O)

Psalm 100

A psalm. For giving grateful praise.