Matthew 23-28
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Jesus Denounces Scribes and Pharisees
23 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’s seat;(A) 3 therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it, but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. 4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear,[a] and lay them on the shoulders of others, but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them.(B) 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others, for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long.(C) 6 They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues(D) 7 and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to have people call them rabbi. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters.(E) 9 And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father, the one in heaven.(F) 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah.[b] 11 The greatest among you will be your servant.(G) 12 All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.(H)
13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you lock people out of the kingdom of heaven. For you do not go in yourselves, and when others are going in you stop them.[c](I) 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cross sea and land to make a single convert, and you make the new convert twice as much a child of hell[d] as yourselves.
16 “Woe to you, blind guides who say, ‘Whoever swears by the sanctuary is bound by nothing, but whoever swears by the gold of the sanctuary is bound by the oath.’(J) 17 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the sanctuary that has made the gold sacred?(K) 18 And you say, ‘Whoever swears by the altar is bound by nothing, but whoever swears by the gift that is on the altar is bound by the oath.’ 19 How blind you are! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred?(L) 20 So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it, 21 and whoever swears by the sanctuary swears by it and by the one who dwells in it, 22 and whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by the one who is seated upon it.(M)
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. It is these you ought to have practiced without neglecting the others.(N) 24 You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel!
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and of the plate,[e] so that the outside also may become clean.
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which on the outside look beautiful but inside are full of the bones of the dead and of all kinds of uncleanness. 28 So you also on the outside look righteous to others, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous, 30 and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 Thus you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your ancestors. 33 You snakes, you brood of vipers! How can you escape the judgment of hell?[f] 34 For this reason I send you prophets, sages, and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town, 35 so that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. 36 Truly I tell you, all this will come upon this generation.
The Lament over Jerusalem
37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 38 See, your house is left to you, desolate.[g] 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.’ ”(O)
The Destruction of the Temple Foretold
24 As Jesus came out of the temple and was going away, his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple.(P) 2 Then he asked them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.”(Q)
Signs of the End of the Age
3 When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4 Jesus answered them, “Beware that no one leads you astray.(R) 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah!’[h] and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines[i] and earthquakes in various places:(S) 8 all this is but the beginning of the birth pangs.
Persecutions Foretold
9 “Then they will hand you over to be tortured and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of my name.(T) 10 Then many will fall away,[j] and they will betray one another and hate one another.(U) 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.(V) 12 And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.(W) 14 And this good news[k] of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.(X)
The Desolating Sacrilege
15 “So when you see the desolating sacrilege, spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),(Y) 16 then those in Judea must flee to the mountains; 17 the one on the housetop must not go down to take things from the house; 18 the one in the field must not turn back to get a coat. 19 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For at that time there will be great suffering, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.(Z) 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no one would be saved, but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.(AA) 23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look! Here is the Messiah!’[l] or ‘There he is!’—do not believe it.(AB) 24 For false messiahs[m] and false prophets will appear and produce great signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.(AC) 25 Take note, I have told you beforehand. 26 So, if they say to you, ‘Look! He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look! He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.(AD) 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the eagles will gather.
The Coming of the Son of Man
29 “Immediately after the suffering of those days
the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from heaven,
and the powers of heaven will be shaken.(AE)
30 “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see ‘the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven’ with power and great glory.(AF) 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.(AG)
The Lesson of the Fig Tree
32 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that he[n] is near, at the very gates. 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.(AH) 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.(AI)
The Necessity for Watchfulness
36 “But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son,[o] but only the Father. 37 For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.(AJ) 38 For as in the days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, 39 and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so, too, will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two will be in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left.(AK) 41 Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken, and one will be left. 42 Keep awake, therefore, for you do not know on what day[p] your Lord is coming.(AL) 43 But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.(AM) 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.(AN)
The Faithful or the Unfaithful Slave
45 “Who, then, is the faithful and wise slave whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give the other slaves[q] their allowance of food at the proper time?(AO) 46 Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives.(AP) 47 Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions.(AQ) 48 But if that wicked slave says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow slaves and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know. 51 He will cut him in pieces[r] and put him with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.(AR)
The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids
25 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten young women[s] took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.[t](AS) 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.(AT) 3 When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept.(AU) 6 But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those young women[u] got up and trimmed their lamps.(AV) 8 The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet, and the door was shut.(AW) 11 Later the other young women[v] came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’(AX) 12 But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ 13 Keep awake, therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.[w](AY)
The Parable of the Talents
14 “For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them;(AZ) 15 to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. At once(BA) 16 the one who had received the five talents went off and traded with them and made five more talents. 17 In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. 18 But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them.(BB) 20 Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things; I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’(BC) 22 And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things; I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you did not scatter,(BD) 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I did not scatter? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest.(BE) 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. 29 For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance, but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.(BF) 30 As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’(BG)
The Judgment of the Nations
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory.(BH) 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,(BI) 33 and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. 34 Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world,(BJ) 35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,(BK) 36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’(BL) 37 Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38 And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you or naked and gave you clothing? 39 And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ 40 And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.’(BM) 41 Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You who are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels,(BN) 42 for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not take care of you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’(BO) 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment but the righteous into eternal life.”(BP)
The Plot to Kill Jesus
26 When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples,(BQ) 2 “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”(BR)
3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the courtyard of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,(BS) 4 and they conspired to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him.(BT) 5 But they said, “Not during the festival, or there may be a riot among the people.”(BU)
The Anointing at Bethany
6 Now while Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper,[x](BV) 7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table. 8 But when the disciples saw it, they were angry and said, “Why this waste? 9 For this ointment could have been sold for a large sum and the money given to the poor.” 10 But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? She has performed a good service for me. 11 For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me.(BW) 12 By pouring this ointment on my body she has prepared me for burial.(BX) 13 Truly I tell you, wherever this good news[y] is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.”
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
14 Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What will you give me if I betray him to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver.(BY) 16 And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.
The Passover with the Disciples
17 On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’ ”(BZ) 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal.(CA)
20 When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve disciples,[z] 21 and while they were eating he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” 22 And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?” 23 He answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.(CB) 24 The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.” 25 Judas, who betrayed him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” He replied, “You have said so.”
The Institution of the Lord’s Supper
26 While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it[aa] he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”(CC) 27 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the[ab] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.(CD) 29 I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”(CE)
30 When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.(CF)
Peter’s Denial Foretold
31 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away[ac] because of me this night, for it is written,
‘I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’(CG)
32 “But after I am raised up, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”(CH) 33 Peter said to him, “Even if all fall away[ad] because of you, I will never fall away.”[ae] 34 Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.”(CI) 35 Peter said to him, “Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And so said all the disciples.(CJ)
Jesus Prays in Gethsemane
36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be grieved and agitated.(CK) 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.”(CL) 39 And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me, yet not what I want but what you want.”(CM) 40 Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “So, could you not stay awake with me one hour?(CN) 41 Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial;[af] the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”(CO) 42 Again he went away for the second time and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.”(CP) 43 Again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Now the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.(CQ) 46 Get up, let us be going. Look, my betrayer is at hand.”
The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him.” 49 At once he came up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.(CR) 50 Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you are here to do.”[ag] Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested him.(CS) 51 Suddenly one of those with Jesus put his hand on his sword, drew it, and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place, for all who take the sword will die by the sword.(CT) 53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?(CU) 54 But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way?”(CV) 55 At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a rebel? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. 56 But all this has taken place, so that the scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.(CW)
Jesus before the High Priest
57 Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. 58 But Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards in order to see how this would end.(CX) 59 Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they might put him to death, 60 but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward(CY) 61 and said, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’ ”(CZ) 62 The high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?” 63 But Jesus was silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I put you under oath before the living God, tell us if you are the Messiah,[ah] the Son of God.”(DA) 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you,
From now on you will see the Son of Man
seated at the right hand of Power
and coming on the clouds of heaven.”(DB)
65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? You have now heard his blasphemy.(DC) 66 What do you think?” They answered, “He deserves death.”(DD) 67 Then they spat in his face and struck him, and some slapped him,(DE) 68 saying, “Prophesy to us, you Messiah![ai] Who is it that struck you?”
Peter’s Denial of Jesus
69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A female servant came to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 But he denied it before all of them, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.” 71 When he went out to the porch, another female servant saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene.”[aj] 72 Again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man.” 73 After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you.” 74 Then he began to curse, and he swore an oath, “I do not know the man!” At that moment the cock crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said: “Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.(DF)
Jesus Brought before Pilate
27 When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus in order to bring about his death. 2 They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate the governor.(DG)
The Suicide of Judas
3 When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus[ak] was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders.(DH) 4 He said, “I have sinned by betraying innocent[al] blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.”(DI) 5 Throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself.(DJ) 6 But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since they are blood money.” 7 After conferring together, they used them to buy the potter’s field as a place to bury foreigners. 8 For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day.(DK) 9 Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah,[am] “And they took[an] the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the one on whom a price had been set,[ao] on whom some of the people of Israel had set a price,(DL) 10 and they gave[ap] them for the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”
Pilate Questions Jesus
11 Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You say so.” 12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer.(DM) 13 Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?”(DN) 14 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.(DO)
Barabbas or Jesus?
15 Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted. 16 At that time they had a notorious prisoner called Jesus[aq] Barabbas. 17 So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus[ar] Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?”[as] 18 For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. 19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him.”(DP) 20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed.(DQ) 21 The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?”[at] All of them said, “Let him be crucified!” 23 Then he asked, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”
Pilate Hands Jesus Over to Be Crucified
24 So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood;[au] see to it yourselves.”(DR) 25 Then the people as a whole answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”(DS) 26 So he released Barabbas for them, and after flogging Jesus he handed him over to be crucified.(DT)
The Soldiers Mock Jesus
27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters,[av] and they gathered the whole cohort around him.(DU) 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and after twisting some thorns into a crown they put it on his head. They put a reed in his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”(DV) 30 They spat on him and took the reed and struck him on the head.(DW) 31 After mocking him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.(DX)
The Crucifixion of Jesus
32 As they went out, they came upon a man from Cyrene named Simon; they compelled this man to carry his cross.(DY) 33 And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), 34 they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it.(DZ) 35 And when they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots;[aw](EA) 36 then they sat down there and kept watch over him.(EB) 37 Over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”
38 Then two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.(EC) 39 Those who passed by derided[ax] him, shaking their heads(ED) 40 and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”(EE) 41 In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him, saying, 42 “He saved others; he cannot save himself.[ay] He is the King of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him.(EF) 43 He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants to, for he said, ‘I am God’s Son.’ ”(EG) 44 The rebels who were crucified with him also taunted him in the same way.
The Death of Jesus
45 From noon on, darkness came over the whole land[az] until three in the afternoon.(EH) 46 And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”(EI) 47 When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “This man is calling for Elijah.” 48 At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink.(EJ) 49 But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.”[ba] 50 Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last.[bb] 51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split.(EK) 52 The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. 53 After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many. 54 Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”[bc](EL)
55 Many women were also there, looking on from a distance; they had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him.(EM) 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph,[bd] and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.(EN)
The Burial of Jesus
57 When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who also was himself a disciple of Jesus.(EO) 58 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. 59 So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth 60 and laid it in his new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away.(EP) 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.
The Guard at the Tomb
62 The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63 and said, “Sir, we remember what that impostor said while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise again.’(EQ) 64 Therefore command the tomb to be made secure until the third day; otherwise, his disciples may go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead,’ and the last deception would be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard[be] of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can.”[bf](ER) 66 So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone.(ES)
The Resurrection of Jesus
28 After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.(ET) 2 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.(EU) 3 His appearance was like lightning and his clothing white as snow. 4 For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.(EV) 6 He is not here, for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he[bg] lay.(EW) 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead,[bh] and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.”(EX) 8 So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.(EY) 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers and sisters to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”(EZ)
The Report of the Guard
11 While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests everything that had happened.(FA) 12 After the priests[bi] had assembled with the elders, they devised a plan to give a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 telling them, “You must say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 If this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.”(FB) 15 So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story is still told among the Judeans to this day.
The Commissioning of the Disciples
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.(FC) 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him, but they doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.(FD) 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit(FE) 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”[bj]
Footnotes
- 23.4 Other ancient authorities lack hard to bear
- 23.10 Or the Christ
- 23.13 Other authorities add 23.14 here (or after 23.12): Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for the sake of appearance you make long prayers; therefore you will receive the greater condemnation
- 23.15 Gk Gehenna
- 23.26 Other ancient authorities lack and of the plate
- 23.33 Gk Gehenna
- 23.38 Other ancient authorities lack desolate
- 24.5 Or the Christ
- 24.7 Other ancient authorities add and pestilences
- 24.10 Or stumble
- 24.14 Or gospel
- 24.23 Or the Christ
- 24.24 Or christs
- 24.33 Or it
- 24.36 Other ancient authorities lack nor the Son
- 24.42 Other ancient authorities read at what hour
- 24.45 Gk to give them
- 24.51 Or cut him off
- 25.1 Gk virgins
- 25.1 Other ancient authorities add and the bride
- 25.7 Gk virgins
- 25.11 Gk virgins
- 25.13 Other ancient authorities add in which the Son of Man is coming
- 26.6 Or the skin-diseased
- 26.13 Or gospel
- 26.20 Other ancient authorities lack disciples
- 26.26 Other ancient authorities read after giving thanks
- 26.28 Other ancient authorities add new
- 26.31 Or stumble
- 26.33 Or stumble
- 26.33 Or stumble
- 26.41 Or into testing
- 26.50 Or Why are you here?
- 26.63 Or Christ
- 26.68 Or Christ
- 26.71 Gk Nazorean
- 27.3 Gk he
- 27.4 Other ancient authorities read righteous
- 27.9 Other ancient authorities read Zechariah or Isaiah
- 27.9 Or I took
- 27.9 Or the price of the precious One
- 27.10 Other ancient authorities read I gave
- 27.16 Other ancient authorities lack Jesus
- 27.17 Other ancient authorities lack Jesus
- 27.17 Or the Christ
- 27.22 Or the Christ
- 27.24 Other ancient authorities read this righteous blood or this righteous man’s blood
- 27.27 Gk the praetorium
- 27.35 Other ancient authorities add in order that what had been spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled, “They divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots.”
- 27.39 Or blasphemed
- 27.42 Or is he unable to save himself?
- 27.45 Or earth
- 27.49 Other ancient authorities add And another took a spear and pierced his side, and out came water and blood
- 27.50 Or gave up his spirit
- 27.54 Or a son of God
- 27.56 Some ancient authorities read Joses
- 27.65 Or Take a guard
- 27.65 Gk you know how
- 28.6 Other ancient authorities read the Lord
- 28.7 Other ancient authorities lack from the dead
- 28.12 Gk they
- 28.20 Other ancient authorities add Amen
Esther 1
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
King Ahasuerus Deposes Queen Vashti
1 This happened in the days of Ahasuerus, the same Ahasuerus who ruled over one hundred twenty-seven provinces from India to Cush.(A) 2 In those days when King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in the citadel of Susa,(B) 3 in the third year of his reign, he gave a banquet for all his officials and ministers. The army of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the governors of the provinces were present,(C) 4 while he displayed the great wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and pomp of his majesty for many days, one hundred eighty days in all.
5 When these days were completed, the king gave for all the people present in the citadel of Susa, both great and small, a banquet lasting for seven days, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace.(D) 6 There were white cotton curtains and blue hangings tied with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings[a] and marble pillars. There were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and colored stones.(E) 7 Drinks were served in golden goblets, goblets of different kinds, and the royal wine was lavished according to the bounty of the king.(F) 8 Drinking was by ordinance without restraint, for the king had given orders to all the officials of his palace to do as each one desired. 9 Furthermore, Queen Vashti gave a banquet for the women in the palace of King Ahasuerus.
10 On the seventh day, when the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha and Abagtha, Zethar and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who attended him,(G) 11 to bring Queen Vashti before the king wearing the royal crown, in order to show the peoples and the officials her beauty, for she was fair to behold. 12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command conveyed by the eunuchs. At this the king was enraged, and his anger burned within him.
13 Then the king consulted the sages who knew the laws[b] (for this was the king’s procedure toward all who were versed in law and custom,(H) 14 and those next to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven officials of Persia and Media who had access to the king and sat first in the kingdom):(I) 15 “According to the law, what is to be done with Queen Vashti because she has not performed the command of King Ahasuerus conveyed by the eunuchs?” 16 Then Memucan said in the presence of the king and the officials, “Queen Vashti has done wrong not only to the king but also to all the officials and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. 17 For this deed of the queen will be made known to all women, causing them to look with contempt on their husbands, since they will say, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, and she did not come.’(J) 18 This very day the noble ladies of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen’s behavior will rebel against[c] the king’s officials, and there will be no end of contempt and wrath! 19 If it pleases the king, let a royal order go out from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes so that it may not be altered, that Vashti is never again to come before King Ahasuerus, and let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she.(K) 20 So when the decree made by the king is proclaimed throughout all his kingdom, vast as it is, all women will give honor to their husbands, high and low alike.”(L)
21 This advice pleased the king and the officials, and the king did as Memucan proposed; 22 he sent letters to all the royal provinces, to every province in its own script and to every people in its own language, declaring that every man should be master in his own house.[d](M)
Psalm 89-90
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Psalm 89
God’s Covenant with David
A Maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite.
1 I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord,[a] forever;
with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.(A)
2 I declare that your steadfast love is established forever;
your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.(B)
3 You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one;
I have sworn to my servant David:(C)
4 ‘I will establish your descendants forever
and build your throne for all generations.’ ” Selah(D)
5 Let the heavens praise your wonders, O Lord,
your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones.(E)
6 For who in the skies can be compared to the Lord?
Who among the heavenly beings is like the Lord,(F)
7 a God feared in the council of the holy ones,
great and awesome[b] above all who are around him?(G)
8 O Lord God of hosts,
who is as mighty as you, O Lord?
Your faithfulness surrounds you.(H)
9 You rule the raging of the sea;
when its waves rise, you still them.(I)
10 You crushed Rahab like a carcass;
you scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.(J)
11 The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours;
the world and all that is in it—you founded them.(K)
12 The north and the south[c]—you created them;
Tabor and Hermon joyously praise your name.(L)
13 You have a mighty arm;
strong is your hand, high your right hand.(M)
14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.(N)
15 Happy are the people who know the festal shout,
who walk, O Lord, in the light of your countenance;(O)
16 they exult in your name all day long
and extol[d] your righteousness.
17 For you are the glory of their strength;
by your favor our horn is exalted.(P)
18 For our shield belongs to the Lord,
our king to the Holy One of Israel.(Q)
19 Then you spoke in a vision to your faithful one and said,
“I have set the crown[e] on one who is mighty;
I have exalted one chosen from the people.(R)
20 I have found my servant David;
with my holy oil I have anointed him;(S)
21 my hand shall always remain with him;
my arm also shall strengthen him.
22 The enemy shall not outwit him;
the wicked shall not humble him.(T)
23 I will crush his foes before him
and strike down those who hate him.(U)
24 My faithfulness and steadfast love shall be with him,
and in my name his horn shall be exalted.(V)
25 I will set his hand on the sea
and his right hand on the rivers.
26 He shall cry to me, ‘You are my Father,
my God, and the Rock of my salvation!’(W)
27 I will make him the firstborn,
the highest of the kings of the earth.(X)
28 Forever I will keep my steadfast love for him,
and my covenant with him will stand firm.(Y)
29 I will establish his line forever
and his throne as long as the heavens endure.(Z)
30 If his children forsake my law
and do not walk according to my ordinances,(AA)
31 if they violate my statutes
and do not keep my commandments,
32 then I will punish their transgression with the rod
and their iniquity with scourges,(AB)
33 but I will not remove from him my steadfast love
or be false to my faithfulness.(AC)
34 I will not violate my covenant
or alter the word that went forth from my lips.(AD)
35 Once and for all I have sworn by my holiness;
I will not lie to David.(AE)
36 His line shall continue forever,
and his throne endure before me like the sun.(AF)
37 It shall be established forever like the moon,
an enduring witness in the skies.” Selah
38 But now you have spurned and rejected him;
you are full of wrath against your anointed.(AG)
39 You have renounced the covenant with your servant;
you have defiled his crown in the dust.(AH)
40 You have broken through all his walls;
you have laid his strongholds in ruins.(AI)
41 All who pass by plunder him;
he has become the scorn of his neighbors.(AJ)
42 You have exalted the right hand of his foes;
you have made all his enemies rejoice.(AK)
43 Moreover, you have turned back the edge of his sword,
and you have not supported him in battle.(AL)
44 You have removed the scepter from his hand[f]
and hurled his throne to the ground.(AM)
45 You have cut short the days of his youth;
you have covered him with shame. Selah(AN)
46 How long, O Lord? Will you hide yourself forever?
How long will your wrath burn like fire?(AO)
47 Remember how short my time is—[g]
for what vanity you have created all mortals!(AP)
48 Who can live and never see death?
Who can escape the power of Sheol? Selah(AQ)
49 Lord, where is your steadfast love of old,
which by your faithfulness you swore to David?(AR)
50 Remember, O Lord, how your servant is taunted,
how I bear in my bosom the insults of the peoples,[h](AS)
51 with which your enemies taunt, O Lord,
with which they taunted the footsteps of your anointed.(AT)
52 Blessed be the Lord forever.
Amen and Amen.(AU)
Book IV
(Psalms 90–106)
Psalm 90
God’s Eternity and Human Frailty
A Prayer of Moses, the man of God.
1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place[i]
in all generations.(AV)
2 Before the mountains were brought forth
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.(AW)
3 You turn us[j] back to dust
and say, “Turn back, you mortals.”(AX)
4 For a thousand years in your sight
are like yesterday when it is past
or like a watch in the night.(AY)
5 You sweep them away; they are like a dream,
like grass that is renewed in the morning;(AZ)
6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
in the evening it fades and withers.(BA)
7 For we are consumed by your anger;
by your wrath we are overwhelmed.
8 You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your countenance.(BB)
9 For all our days pass away under your wrath;
our years come to an end[k] like a sigh.(BC)
10 The days of our life are seventy years
or perhaps eighty, if we are strong;
even then their span[l] is only toil and trouble;
they are soon gone, and we fly away.(BD)
11 Who considers the power of your anger?
Your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.(BE)
12 So teach us to count our days
that we may gain a wise heart.(BF)
13 Turn, O Lord! How long?
Have compassion on your servants!(BG)
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.(BH)
15 Make us glad as many days as you have afflicted us
and as many years as we have seen evil.
16 Let your work be manifest to your servants
and your glorious power to their children.(BI)
17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us
and prosper for us the work of our hands—
O prosper the work of our hands!(BJ)
Footnotes
- 89.1 Gk: Heb the steadfast love of the Lord
- 89.7 Gk Syr: Heb greatly awesome
- 89.12 Or Zaphon and Yamin
- 89.16 Cn: Heb are exalted in
- 89.19 Cn: Heb help
- 89.44 Cn: Heb removed his cleanness
- 89.47 Meaning of Heb uncertain
- 89.50 Cn: Heb bosom all of many peoples
- 90.1 Or our refuge
- 90.3 Heb humankind
- 90.9 Syr: Heb we bring our years to an end
- 90.10 Cn Compare Gk Syr Jerome Tg: Heb pride
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.