Mark 1-13

Christian Standard Bible

The Messiah’s Herald

1 The beginning^(A) of the gospel^(B) of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.^{[a](C) 2} As it is written in Isaiah^(D) the prophet:^[b](E)

⁴ John came baptizing^[f](K) in the wilderness^(L) and proclaiming a baptism of repentance^(M) for the forgiveness^(N) of sins.^{(O) 5} The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem^(P) were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan^(Q) River, confessing^(R) their sins.^{(S) 6} John wore a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts^(T) and wild honey.^(U)

⁷ He proclaimed, “One who is more powerful^(V) than I am is coming after me.^(W) I am not worthy^(X) to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals.^{(Y) 8} I baptize you with^[g] water,^(Z) but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”^(AA)

The Baptism of Jesus

⁹ In^(AB) those days Jesus came from Nazareth^(AC) in Galilee^(AD) and was baptized in the Jordan by John. ¹⁰ As soon as he came up out of the water, he saw the heavens^(AE) being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. ¹¹ And a voice^(AF) came from heaven:^(AG) “You are my beloved^(AH) Son;^(AI) with you I am well-pleased.”^(AJ)

The Temptation of Jesus

¹² Immediately^(AK) the Spirit^(AL) drove^(AM) him into the wilderness.^{(AN) 13} He was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted^(AO) by Satan.^(AP) He was with the wild animals,^(AQ) and the angels^(AR) were serving him.

Ministry in Galilee

¹⁴ After^(AS) John was arrested,^(AT) Jesus went to Galilee,^(AU) proclaiming^(AV) the good news^[h][i](AW) of God:^{(AX) 15} “The time^(AY) is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God^(AZ) has come^(BA) near.^(BB) Repent^(BC) and believe^(BD) the good news!”

The First Disciples

¹⁶ As^(BE) he passed alongside the Sea of Galilee,^(BF) he saw Simon^(BG) and Andrew,^(BH) Simon’s brother, casting a net into the sea^(BI)—for they were fishermen. ¹⁷ “Follow me,”^(BJ) Jesus told them, “and I will make you fish for^[j](BK) people.”^{(BL) 18} Immediately they left their nets and followed^(BM) him.^{(BN) 19} Going on a little farther, he saw James^(BO) the son of Zebedee^(BP) and his brother John^(BQ) in a boat putting their nets in order. ²⁰ Immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.^(BR)

Driving Out an Unclean Spirit

²¹ They^(BS) went into Capernaum,^(BT) and right away he entered the synagogue^(BU) on the Sabbath^(BV) and began to teach.^{(BW) 22} They were astonished^(BX) at his teaching^(BY) because he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not like the scribes.

²³ Just then a man with an unclean^(BZ) spirit^(CA) was in their synagogue.^(CB) He cried out, ²⁴ “What do you have to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?^(CC) Have you come to destroy^(CD) us? I know who you are—the Holy^(CE) One of God!” ^(CF)

²⁵ Jesus rebuked^(CG) him saying, “Be silent,^(CH) and come out of him!” ²⁶ And the unclean spirit threw him into convulsions,^(CI) shouted with a loud voice, and came out of him.

²⁷ They were all amazed,^(CJ) and so they began to ask^(CK) each other, “What is this? A new teaching^(CL) with authority!^[k](CM) He commands even the unclean^(CN) spirits,^(CO) and they obey him.” ²⁸ At once the news about him spread throughout the entire vicinity of Galilee.^(CP)

Healings at Capernaum

²⁹ As^(CQ) soon as they left the synagogue,^(CR) they went into Simon^(CS) and Andrew’s^(CT) house^(CU) with James^(CV) and John.^{(CW) 30} Simon’s mother-in-law was lying in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. ³¹ So he went to her, took her by the hand, and raised her up.^(CX) The fever^(CY) left her,^[l] and she began to serve^(CZ) them.^(DA)

³² When^(DB) evening came, after the sun had set, they brought to him all those who were sick^(DC) and demon-possessed.^{(DD) 33} The whole town was assembled at the door, ³⁴ and he healed^(DE) many who were sick with various diseases^(DF) and drove out^(DG) many demons.^(DH) And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.^(DI)

Preaching in Galilee

³⁵ Very^(DJ) early in the morning, while it was still dark, he got up, went out, and made his way to a deserted place;^(DK) and there he was praying.^{(DL) 36} Simon^(DM) and his companions searched for him, ³⁷ and when they found him they said, “Everyone is looking for you.”

³⁸ And he said to them, “Let’s go on to the neighboring villages so that I may preach^(DN) there too. This is why I have come.”

A Man Cleansed

³⁹ He went into all of Galilee,^(DO) preaching in their synagogues^(DP) and driving out demons. ⁴⁰ Then^(DQ) a man with leprosy^[m](DR) came to him and, on his knees,^[n](DS) begged him, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”^{(DT) 41} Moved with compassion,^[o](DU) Jesus reached out his hand and touched^(DV) him. “I am willing,” he told him. “Be made clean.” ⁴² Immediately the leprosy^(DW) left him, and he was made clean. ⁴³ Then he sternly warned^(DX) him and sent him away^(DY) at once, ⁴⁴ telling him, “See that you say nothing to anyone;^(DZ) but go and show^(EA) yourself to the priest,^(EB) and offer^(EC) what Moses commanded for your cleansing,^(ED) as a testimony^(EE) to them.”^{[p] 45} Yet he went out and began to proclaim^(EF) it widely and to spread the news,^(EG) with the result that Jesus could no longer enter a town openly. But he was out in deserted places, and they came to him from everywhere.

The Son of Man Forgives and Heals

2 When^(EH) he entered Capernaum^(EI) again after some days, it was reported that he was at home. ² So many people gathered together that there was no more room, not even in the doorway, and he was speaking the word^(EJ) to them. ³ They came to him bringing a paralytic,^(EK) carried by four of them. ⁴ Since they were not able to bring him to^[q] Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and after digging through it, they lowered the mat on which the paralytic was lying. ⁵ Seeing their faith,^(EL) Jesus told the paralytic, “Son, your sins^(EM) are forgiven.”^(EN)

⁶ But some of the scribes^(EO) were sitting there, questioning^(EP) in their hearts: ⁷ “Why does he speak like this? He’s blaspheming!^(EQ) Who can forgive^(ER) sins^(ES) but God alone?” ^(ET)

⁸ Right away^(EU) Jesus perceived in his spirit^(EV) that they were thinking like this within themselves and said to them, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? ⁹ Which is easier:^(EW) to say to the paralytic,^(EX) ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat, and walk’?^{(EY) 10} But so that you may know that the Son of Man^(EZ) has authority^(FA) on earth to forgive sins”^(FB)—he told the paralytic— ¹¹ “I tell you: get up,^(FC) take your mat, and go home.”

¹² Immediately he got up, took the mat, and went out in front of everyone. As a result, they were all astounded^(FD) and gave glory^(FE) to God,^(FF) saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” ^(FG)

The Call of Levi

¹³ Jesus^(FH) went out again beside the sea. The whole crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching^(FI) them. ¹⁴ Then, passing by, he saw Levi^(FJ) the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office,^(FK) and he said to him, “Follow me,”^(FL) and he got up and followed^(FM) him.

¹⁵ While he was reclining at the table in Levi’s house, many tax collectors^(FN) and sinners^(FO) were eating^[r] with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who were following him. ¹⁶ When the scribes^(FP) who were Pharisees^[s](FQ) saw that he was eating^(FR) with sinners^(FS) and tax collectors,^(FT) they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat^[t] with tax collectors and sinners?”

¹⁷ When Jesus heard this, he told them, “It is not those who are well who need^(FU) a doctor,^(FV) but those who are sick.^(FW) I didn’t come to call the righteous,^(FX) but sinners.”^(FY)

A Question about Fasting

¹⁸ Now^(FZ) John’s^(GA) disciples^(GB) and the Pharisees^[u](GC) were fasting.^(GD) People came and asked him, “Why do John’s disciples and the Pharisees’ disciples fast, but your disciples do not fast?”

¹⁹ Jesus said to them, “The wedding guests cannot fast while the groom^(GE) is with them, can they? As long as they have the groom with them, they cannot fast. ²⁰ But the time^[v] will come^(GF) when the groom will be taken away from them,^(GG) and then they will fast^(GH) on that day. ²¹ No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new patch pulls away from the old cloth,^(GI) and a worse tear is made. ²² And no one puts new wine^(GJ) into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst^(GK) the skins, and the wine is lost as well as the skins. No, new wine is put into fresh wineskins.”

Lord of the Sabbath

²³ On^(GL) the Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and his disciples^(GM) began to make their way, picking some heads of grain. ²⁴ The Pharisees^(GN) said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful^(GO) on the Sabbath?”

²⁵ He said to them, “Have you never read what David^(GP) and those who were with him did when he was in need^(GQ) and hungry^(GR) — ²⁶ how he entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar^(GS) the high priest^(GT) and ate the bread of the Presence^(GU) —which is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests^(GV) —and also gave some to his companions?” ²⁷ Then he told them, “The Sabbath was made for^[w] man and not man for the Sabbath.^{(GW) 28} So then, the Son of Man^(GX) is Lord^(GY) even of the Sabbath.”^(GZ)

3 Jesus^(HA) entered the synagogue^(HB) again, and a man was there who had a shriveled^(HC) hand. ² In order to accuse^(HD) him, they were watching him closely^(HE) to see whether he would heal^(HF) him on the Sabbath.^{(HG) 3} He told the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand before us.” ⁴ Then he said to them, “Is it lawful^(HH) to do good^(HI) on the Sabbath or to do evil,^(HJ) to save life^(HK) or to kill?”^(HL) But they were silent.^{(HM) 5} After looking around at them with anger,^(HN) he was grieved at the hardness^(HO) of their hearts and told the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and his hand was restored.^{(HP) 6} Immediately the Pharisees^(HQ) went out and started plotting^(HR) with the Herodians^(HS) against him, how they might kill^(HT) him.

Ministering to the Multitude

⁷ Jesus^(HU) departed with his disciples to the sea, and a large crowd followed from Galilee,^(HV) and a large crowd followed from Judea,^{(HW) 8} Jerusalem,^(HX) Idumea, beyond the Jordan,^(HY) and around Tyre^(HZ) and Sidon.^(IA) The large crowd came to him because they heard about everything he was doing. ⁹ Then he told his disciples to have a small boat^(IB) ready for him, so that the crowd wouldn’t crush him. ¹⁰ Since he had healed^(IC) many, all who had diseases were pressing toward him to touch^(ID) him. ¹¹ Whenever the unclean^(IE) spirits^(IF) saw him, they fell down^(IG) before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God!” ^{(IH) 12} And he would strongly warn^(II) them not to make him known.^(IJ)

The Twelve Apostles

¹³ Jesus^(IK) went up the mountain^(IL) and summoned those he wanted, and they came to him. ¹⁴ He appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles,^[x](IM) to be with him, to send them out to preach,^{(IN) 15} and to have authority to^[y] drive out demons. ¹⁶ He appointed the Twelve:^[z](IO) To Simon,^(IP) he gave the name Peter;^{(IQ) 17} and to James^(IR) the son of Zebedee,^(IS) and to his brother John,^(IT) he gave the name “Boanerges” (that is, “Sons of Thunder”^(IU)); ¹⁸ Andrew;^(IV) Philip^(IW) and Bartholomew; Matthew^(IX) and Thomas;^(IY) James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, ¹⁹ and Judas Iscariot,^(IZ) who also betrayed him.

A House Divided

²⁰ Jesus entered a house, and the crowd gathered again so that they were not even able to eat.^{[aa] 21} When his family^(JA) heard this, they set out to restrain him, because they said, “He’s out of his mind.”^(JB)

²² The scribes^(JC) who had come down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,”^(JD) and, “He drives out^(JE) demons^(JF) by the ruler^(JG) of the demons.”^(JH)

²³ So he summoned^(JI) them and spoke to them in parables:^(JJ) “How can Satan^(JK) drive out Satan?^{(JL) 24} If a kingdom^(JM) is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. ²⁵ If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. ²⁶ And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand but is finished. ²⁷ But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his possessions unless he first ties up^(JN) the strong man. Then he can plunder his house.

²⁸ “Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for all sins and whatever blasphemies^(JO) they utter. ²⁹ But whoever blasphemes^(JP) against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness,^(JQ) but is guilty^(JR) of an eternal sin”^[ab](JS)— ³⁰ because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”^(JT)

True Relationships

³¹ His^(JU) mother^(JV) and his brothers^(JW) came, and standing outside, they sent word to him and called him. ³² A crowd was sitting around him and told him, “Look, your mother, your brothers,^(JX) and your sisters^[ac] are outside asking for you.”

³³ He replied to them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” ³⁴ Looking at those sitting in a circle around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers!^{(JY) 35} Whoever does the will of God^(JZ) is my brother and sister and mother.”

The Parable of the Sower

4 Again^(KA) he began to teach^(KB) by the sea, and a very large crowd gathered around him. So he got into a boat on the sea and sat down, while the whole crowd was by the sea on the shore. ² He taught them many things in parables,^(KC) and in his teaching^(KD) he said to them, ³ “Listen! Consider the sower who went out to sow.^{(KE) 4} As he sowed, some seed fell along the path,^(KF) and the birds came and devoured^(KG) it. ⁵ Other seed fell on rocky ground where it didn’t have much soil, and it grew up quickly,^(KH) since the soil wasn’t deep. ⁶ When the sun came up, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away.^{(KI) 7} Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it didn’t produce fruit. ⁸ Still other seed fell on good ground and it grew up, producing fruit that increased^(KJ) thirty, sixty, and a hundred times.”^{(KK) 9} Then he said, “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen.”^(KL)

Why Jesus Used Parables

¹⁰ When he was alone, those around him with the Twelve^(KM) asked him about the parables.^{(KN) 11} He answered them, “The secret^(KO) of the kingdom of God^(KP) has been given to you, but to those outside,^(KQ) everything comes in parables ¹² so that

The Parable of the Sower Explained

¹³ Then^(KT) he said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable?^(KU) How then will you understand all of the parables? ¹⁴ The sower sows^(KV) the word.^{(KW) 15} Some are like the word sown on the path.^(KX) When they hear, immediately Satan^(KY) comes and takes away the word^(KZ) sown in them.^{[af] 16} And others are like seed sown on rocky ground. When they hear the word, immediately they receive it with joy.^{(LA) 17} But they have no root; they are short-lived. When distress^(LB) or persecution comes because of the word, they immediately fall away.^{(LC) 18} Others are like seed sown among thorns; these are the ones who hear the word, ¹⁹ but the worries^(LD) of this age,^(LE) the deceitfulness^[ag](LF) of wealth,^(LG) and the desires^(LH) for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.^{(LI) 20} And those like seed sown on good ground hear the word,^(LJ) welcome it, and produce fruit^(LK) thirty, sixty, and a hundred times what was sown.”

Using Your Light

²¹ He^(LL) also said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket or under a bed?^(LM) Isn’t it to be put on a lampstand?^{(LN) 22} For there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed,^(LO) and nothing concealed that will not be brought to light. ²³ If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen.”^{(LP) 24} And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear. By the measure^(LQ) you use,^(LR) it will be measured to you—and more will be added^(LS) to you. ²⁵ For whoever has, more will be given to him, and whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”^(LT)

The Parable of the Growing Seed

²⁶ “The kingdom of God^(LU) is like this,” he said. “A man scatters seed on the ground. ²⁷ He sleeps^(LV) and rises^(LW) night^(LX) and day; the seed sprouts and grows, although he doesn’t know how. ²⁸ The soil produces a crop^(LY) by itself—first the blade, then the head, and then the full grain^(LZ) on the head. ²⁹ As soon as the crop is ready, he sends for the sickle,^(MA) because the harvest^(MB) has come.”

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

³⁰ And^(MC) he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God,^(MD) or what parable^(ME) can we use to describe it? ³¹ It’s like a mustard seed^(MF) that, when sown upon the soil, is the smallest of all the seeds on the ground. ³² And when sown,^(MG) it comes up and grows taller than all the garden plants,^(MH) and produces large branches, so that the birds of the sky^(MI) can nest in its shade.”

Using Parables

³³ He was speaking the word^(MJ) to them with many parables^(MK) like these, as they were able to understand.^{(ML) 34} He did not speak to them without a parable. Privately, however, he explained everything to his own disciples.^(MM)

Wind and Waves Obey Jesus

³⁵ On^(MN) that day, when evening had come, he told them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the sea.” ³⁶ So they left the crowd and took him along since he was in the boat. And other boats were with him. ³⁷ A great windstorm^(MO) arose, and the waves^(MP) were breaking over the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. ³⁸ He was in the stern, sleeping^(MQ) on the cushion. So they woke him up^(MR) and said to him, “Teacher! Don’t you care that we’re going to die?” ^(MS)

³⁹ He got up, rebuked^(MT) the wind, and said to the sea, “Silence!^(MU) Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. ⁴⁰ Then he said to them, “Why are you afraid?^(MV) Do you still have no faith?”

⁴¹ And they were terrified^[ah](MW) and asked one another, “Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey^(MX) him!” ^(MY)

Demons Driven Out by Jesus

5 They^(MZ) came to the other side of the sea, to the region of the Gerasenes.^{[ai] 2} As soon as he got out of the boat, a man with an unclean^(NA) spirit^(NB) came out of the tombs^(NC) and met him. ³ He lived in the tombs,^(ND) and no one was able to restrain him anymore—not even with a chain^(NE)— ⁴ because he often had been bound with shackles and chains, but had torn the chains apart and smashed^(NF) the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue^(NG) him. ⁵ Night^(NH) and day among the tombs^(NI) and on the mountains,^(NJ) he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones.

⁶ When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and knelt down before him. ⁷ And he cried out with a loud voice, “What do you have to do with me, Jesus, Son^(NK) of the Most High God?^(NL) I beg you before God, don’t torment^(NM) me!” ⁸ For he had told him, “Come out of the man, you unclean^(NN) spirit!”^(NO)

⁹ “What is your name?” he asked him.

“My name is Legion,”^(NP) he answered him, “because we are many.” ¹⁰ And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the region.

¹¹ A large herd of pigs^(NQ) was there, feeding^(NR) on the hillside. ¹² The demons^[aj] begged him, “Send us to the pigs, so that we may enter them.” ¹³ So he gave them permission, and the unclean^(NS) spirits^(NT) came out and entered the pigs. The herd of about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned there.

¹⁴ The men who tended them ran off^(NU) and reported it in the town and the countryside, and people went to see what had happened. ¹⁵ They came to Jesus and saw the man who had been demon-possessed,^(NV)(NW) sitting there, dressed and in his right mind;^(NX) and they were afraid.^{(NY) 16} Those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed^(NZ) man and told about the pigs. ¹⁷ Then they began to beg him to leave their region.

¹⁸ As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged him earnestly that he might remain with him. ¹⁹ Jesus did not let him but told him, “Go home to your own people, and report to them how much the Lord^(OA) has done^(OB) for you and how he has had mercy on you.” ²⁰ So he went out and began to proclaim^(OC) in the Decapolis^(OD) how much Jesus had done for him, and they were all amazed.^(OE)

A Girl Restored and a Woman Healed

²¹ When^(OF) Jesus had crossed over again by boat^[ak] to the other side, a large crowd^(OG) gathered around him while he was by the sea. ²² One of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus,^(OH) came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet^{(OI) 23} and begged him earnestly, “My little daughter is dying. Come and lay your hands on^(OJ) her so that she can get well^[al](OK) and live.” ²⁴ So Jesus went with him, and a large crowd was following and pressing against him.

²⁵ Now a woman suffering from bleeding^(OL) for twelve years ²⁶ had endured^(OM) much under many doctors.^(ON) She had spent everything she had and was not helped at all. On the contrary, she became worse. ²⁷ Having heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched^(OO) his clothing.^{(OP) 28} For she said, “If I just touch his clothes, I’ll be made well.”^{(OQ) 29} Instantly her flow of blood ceased, and she sensed in her body that she was healed^(OR) of her affliction.

³⁰ Immediately Jesus realized that power^(OS) had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd^(OT) and said, “Who touched my clothes?”^(OU)

³¹ His disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing against you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’”

³² But he was looking around to see who had done this. ³³ The woman, with fear and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down^(OV) before him, and told him the whole truth.^{(OW) 34} “Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith^(OX) has saved you.^(OY) Go in peace and be healed^(OZ) from your affliction.”^(PA)

³⁵ While he was still speaking, people came from the synagogue leader’s house and said, “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the teacher^(PB) anymore?”

³⁶ When Jesus overheard^[am] what was said, he told the synagogue leader, “Don’t be afraid.^(PC) Only believe.” ³⁷ He did not let anyone accompany him except Peter,^(PD) James,^(PE) and John,^(PF) James’s brother. ³⁸ They came to the leader’s house, and he saw a commotion—people weeping and wailing loudly. ³⁹ He went in and said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping?^(PG) The child^(PH) is not dead but asleep.”^{(PI) 40} They laughed at him, but he put them all outside. He took the child’s father,^(PJ) mother, and those who were with him, and entered the place where the child was. ⁴¹ Then he took the child^(PK) by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum”^[an] (which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, get up”^(PL)). ⁴² Immediately the girl got up^(PM) and began to walk.^(PN) (She was twelve years old.) At this they were utterly astounded.^{(PO) 43} Then he gave them strict orders that no one should know about this^(PP) and told them to give her something to eat.

Rejection at Nazareth

6 He^(PQ) left there and came to his hometown,^(PR) and his disciples^(PS) followed him. ² When the Sabbath^(PT) came, he began to teach^(PU) in the synagogue,^(PV) and many who heard him were astonished. “Where did this man get these things?” they said. “What is this wisdom^(PW) that has been given to him, and how are these miracles^(PX) performed by his hands? ³ Isn’t this the carpenter,^(PY) the son of Mary,^(PZ) and the brother of James,^(QA) Joses, Judas,^(QB) and Simon? And aren’t his sisters here with us?” So they were offended^(QC) by him.

⁴ Jesus said to them, “A prophet^(QD) is not without honor^(QE) except in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his household.” ⁵ He was not able to do a miracle^(QF) there, except that he laid his hands on^(QG) a few sick^(QH) people and healed^(QI) them. ⁶ And he was amazed^(QJ) at their unbelief.^(QK) He was going around the villages teaching.^(QL)

Commissioning the Twelve

⁷ He^(QM) summoned^(QN) the Twelve^(QO) and began to send^(QP) them out in pairs and gave them authority over unclean^(QQ) spirits.^{(QR) 8} He instructed them to take nothing for the road except a staff—no bread, no traveling bag,^(QS) no money in their belts, ⁹ but to wear sandals and not put on an extra shirt.^{(QT) 10} He said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that place. ¹¹ If any place does not welcome^(QU) you or listen to you, when you leave there, shake the dust off your feet^(QV) as a testimony^(QW) against them.”^{[ao] 12} So they went out and preached^(QX) that people should repent.^{(QY) 13} They drove out many demons,^(QZ) anointed^(RA) many sick^(RB) people with oil^(RC) and healed them.^(RD)

John the Baptist Beheaded

¹⁴ King^(RE) Herod^(RF) heard about it, because Jesus’s name^(RG) had become well known. Some^[ap] said, “John the Baptist^(RH) has been raised from the dead,^(RI) and that’s why miraculous powers^(RJ) are at work^(RK) in him.” ¹⁵ But others said, “He’s Elijah.”^(RL) Still others said, “He’s a prophet, like one of the prophets from long ago.”^(RM)

¹⁶ When Herod^(RN) heard of it, he said, “John,^(RO) the one I beheaded, has been raised!” ^(RP)

¹⁷ For^(RQ) Herod himself had given orders to arrest John and to chain^(RR) him in prison on account of Herodias,^(RS) his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her.^{(RT) 18} John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful^(RU) for you to have your brother’s wife.”^{(RV) 19} So Herodias held a grudge against him and wanted to kill^(RW) him. But she could not, ²⁰ because Herod feared^(RX) John and protected him, knowing he was a righteous^(RY) and holy^(RZ) man. When Herod heard him he would be very perplexed,^[aq](SA) and yet he liked to listen to him.^(SB)

²¹ An opportune time came on his birthday, when Herod gave a banquet^(SC) for his nobles,^(SD) military commanders,^(SE) and the leading men of Galilee.^{(SF) 22} When Herodias’s own daughter^[ar] came in and danced,^(SG) she pleased Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me whatever you want, and I’ll give it to you.” ²³ He promised her with an^(SH) oath:^(SI) “Whatever you ask me I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”^(SJ)

²⁴ She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?”

“John the Baptist’s^(SK) head,” she said.

²⁵ At once she hurried to the king and said, “I want you to give me John the Baptist’s^(SL) head on a platter^(SM) immediately.” ²⁶ Although the king was deeply distressed,^(SN) because of his oaths^(SO) and the guests^[as] he did not want to refuse^(SP) her. ²⁷ The king immediately sent for an executioner and commanded him to bring John’s head. So he went and beheaded him in prison, ²⁸ brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. ²⁹ When John’s disciples^(SQ) heard about it, they came and removed his corpse and placed it in a tomb.^(SR)

Feeding of the Five Thousand

³⁰ The^(SS) apostles^(ST) gathered around Jesus and reported to him all that they had done and taught. ³¹ He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a remote place and rest for a while.” For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.

³² So they went away in the boat by themselves to a remote place, ³³ but many saw them leaving and recognized them, and they ran on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them.^[at]

³⁴ When he went ashore, he saw a large crowd and had compassion^(SU) on them, because they were like sheep^(SV) without a shepherd. Then he began to teach them many things.

³⁵ When it grew late, his disciples^(SW) approached him and said, “This place is deserted,^(SX) and it is already late. ³⁶ Send them away so that they can go into the surrounding countryside and villages to buy themselves something to eat.”

³⁷ “You give them something to eat,” he responded.

They said to him, “Should we go and buy two hundred denarii^[au] worth of bread and give them something to eat?”

³⁸ He asked them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.”

When they found out they said, “Five, and two fish.” ³⁹ Then he instructed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. ⁴⁰ So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. ⁴¹ He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke the loaves. He kept giving them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. ⁴² Everyone ate and was satisfied.^{(SY) 43} They picked up twelve baskets full of pieces of bread and fish. ⁴⁴ Now those who had eaten the loaves were five thousand men.

Walking on the Water

⁴⁵ Immediately^(SZ) he made his disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, to Bethsaida,^(TA) while he dismissed the crowd. ⁴⁶ After he said good-bye to them, he went away to the mountain^(TB) to pray.^{(TC) 47} Well into the night, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and he was alone on the land. ⁴⁸ He saw them straining^(TD) at the oars,^[av] because the wind was against them. Very early in the morning^[aw] he came toward them walking on the sea and wanted to pass by them. ⁴⁹ When they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost^(TE) and cried out, ⁵⁰ because they all saw him and were terrified.^(TF) Immediately he spoke with them and said, “Have courage!^(TG) It is I.^(TH) Don’t be afraid.”^{(TI) 51} Then he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. They were completely astounded, ⁵² because they had not understood about the loaves. Instead, their hearts were hardened.^(TJ)

Miraculous Healings

⁵³ When they had crossed over, they came to shore at Gennesaret^(TK) and anchored there.

⁵⁴ As they got out of the boat, people immediately recognized him. ⁵⁵ They hurried throughout that region and began to carry the sick^(TL) on mats to wherever they heard he was. ⁵⁶ Wherever he went, into villages, towns, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch just the end^(TM) of his robe.^(TN) And everyone who touched it was healed.

The Traditions of the Elders

7 The^(TO) Pharisees^(TP) and some of the scribes^(TQ) who had come from Jerusalem^(TR) gathered around him. ² They observed that some of his disciples were eating bread with unclean^(TS)—that is, unwashed—hands. ³ (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, keeping the tradition of the elders. ⁴ When they come from the marketplace,^(TT) they do not eat unless they have washed.^(TU) And there are many other customs they have received and keep, like the washing of cups, pitchers, kettles, and dining couches.^[ax](TV)) ⁵ So the Pharisees^(TW) and the scribes^(TX) asked him, “Why don’t your disciples live^[ay] according to the tradition of the elders,^(TY) instead of eating bread with ceremonially unclean^[az] hands?”

⁶ He answered them, “Isaiah^(TZ) prophesied^(UA) correctly about you hypocrites,^(UB) as it is written: ^(UC)

⁸ Abandoning the command of God, you hold on to human tradition.”^{[bb] 9} He also said to them, “You have a fine way of invalidating God’s command in order to set up^[bc] your tradition! ¹⁰ For Moses^(UH) said: Honor your father and your mother; ^[bd](UI) and Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must be put to death.^{[be](UJ) 11} But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or mother: Whatever benefit^(UK) you might have received from me is corban’” (that is, an offering^(UL) devoted to God), ¹² “you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother. ¹³ You nullify the word of God^(UM) by your tradition that you have handed^(UN) down. And you do many other similar things.”

¹⁴ Summoning^(UO) the crowd again, he told them, “Listen to me, all of you, and understand:^{(UP) 15} Nothing that goes into a person from outside can defile him but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.”^[bf]

¹⁷ When he went into the house away from the crowd, his disciples asked him about the parable. ¹⁸ He said to them, “Are you also as lacking in understanding? Don’t you realize that nothing going into a person from the outside can defile him? ¹⁹ For it doesn’t go into his heart but into the stomach^(UQ) and is eliminated” (thus he declared all foods clean^(UR)). ²⁰ And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. ²¹ For from within, out of people’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immoralities,^(US) thefts, murders,^{(UT) 22} adulteries,^(UU) greed,^(UV) evil actions, deceit,^(UW) self-indulgence,^(UX) envy,^[bg] slander,^(UY) pride,^(UZ) and foolishness.^{(VA) 23} All these evil things come from within and defile a person.”

A Gentile Mother’s Faith

²⁴ He got up and departed from^(VB) there to the region of Tyre.^[bh](VC) He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it, but he could not escape notice. ²⁵ Instead, immediately after hearing about him, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit^(VD) came and fell at his feet.^{(VE) 26} The woman was a Gentile,^[bi](VF) a Syrophoenician by birth, and she was asking him to cast the demon^(VG) out of her daughter. ²⁷ He said to her, “Let the children be fed first, because it isn’t right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”^(VH)

²⁸ But she replied to him, “Lord,^(VI) even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”

²⁹ Then he told her, “Because of this reply, you may go. The demon has left your daughter.” ³⁰ When she went back to her home, she found her child lying on the bed, and the demon was gone.

Jesus Does Everything Well

³¹ Again, leaving the region of Tyre,^(VJ) he went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee,^(VK) through^[bj] the region of the Decapolis.^{(VL) 32} They brought to him a deaf^(VM) man who had difficulty speaking^(VN) and begged Jesus to lay his hand on^(VO) him. ³³ So he took him away from the crowd in private. After putting his fingers in the man’s ears and spitting,^(VP) he touched his tongue. ³⁴ Looking up to heaven,^(VQ) he sighed deeply and said to him, “Ephphatha!”^[bk] (that is, “Be opened!”). ³⁵ Immediately his ears were opened,^(VR) his tongue was loosened, and he began to speak clearly.^{(VS) 36} He ordered them to tell no one,^(VT) but the more he ordered them, the more they proclaimed it.^(VU)

³⁷ They were extremely astonished and said, “He has done everything well.^(VV) He even makes the deaf^(VW) hear and the mute speak.”^(VX)

Feeding Four Thousand

8 In^(VY) those days there was again a large crowd, and they had nothing to eat. He called^(VZ) the disciples^(WA) and said to them, ² “I have compassion^(WB) on the crowd, because they’ve already stayed with me three days and have nothing to eat. ³ If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way,^(WC) and some of them have come a long distance.”

⁴ His disciples answered him, “Where can anyone get enough bread here in this desolate place to feed^(WD) these people?”

⁵ “How many loaves do you have?” he asked them.

“Seven,” they said. ⁶ He commanded the crowd to sit down on the ground. Taking the seven loaves, he gave thanks, broke^(WE) them, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people. So they served them to the crowd. ⁷ They also had a few small fish, and after he had blessed them, he said these were to be served as well. ⁸ They ate and were satisfied. Then they collected seven large baskets of leftover pieces. ⁹ About four thousand were there. He dismissed them. ¹⁰ And he immediately got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.

The Leaven of the Pharisees and Herod

¹¹ The^(WF) Pharisees^(WG) came and began to argue with him, demanding of him a sign^(WH) from heaven^(WI) to test^(WJ) him. ¹² Sighing deeply in his spirit,^(WK) he said, “Why does this generation^(WL) demand a sign? Truly I tell you,^(WM) no sign will be given to this generation.” ¹³ Then he left them, got back into the boat, and went to the other side.

¹⁴ The disciples had forgotten to take bread and had only one loaf with them in the boat. ¹⁵ Then^(WN) he gave them strict orders: “Watch out! Beware of the leaven^[bl](WO) of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”^{(WP) 16} They were discussing among themselves that they did not have any bread. ¹⁷ Aware of this, he said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact you have no bread? Don’t you understand or comprehend? Do you have hardened hearts?^{(WQ) 18} Do you have eyes and not see; do you have ears and not hear?^[bm](WR) And do you not remember?^{(WS) 19} When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of leftovers did you collect?”

“Twelve,” they told him.

²⁰ “When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many baskets full of pieces did you collect?”

“Seven,” they said.

²¹ And he said to them, “Don’t you understand yet?” ^(WT)

Healing a Blind Man

²² They came to Bethsaida.^(WU) They brought a blind^(WV) man to him and begged him to touch him. ²³ He took the blind man by the hand and brought him out of the village. Spitting^(WW) on his eyes and laying his hands on^(WX) him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?”

²⁴ He looked up and said, “I see people—they look like trees walking.”^(WY)

²⁵ Again Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes. The man looked intently and his sight was restored and he saw everything clearly. ²⁶ Then he sent^(WZ) him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.”^[bn](XA)

Peter’s Confession of the Messiah

²⁷ Jesus^(XB) went out with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the road he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?”

²⁸ They answered him, “John the Baptist;^(XC) others, Elijah; still others, one of the prophets.”^(XD)

²⁹ “But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am?”

Peter^(XE) answered him, “You are the Messiah.”^{(XF) 30} And he strictly warned^(XG) them to tell no one about him.

His Death and Resurrection Predicted

³¹ Then^(XH) he began to teach them that it was necessary for the Son of Man^(XI) to suffer many things and be rejected^(XJ) by the elders,^(XK) chief priests, and scribes,^(XL) be killed, and rise^(XM) after three days.^{(XN) 32} He spoke openly about this. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. ³³ But turning around and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan!^(XO) You are not thinking about God’s concerns^[bo] but human concerns.”

Take Up Your Cross

³⁴ Calling the crowd along with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself,^(XP) take up his cross,^(XQ) and follow me.^{(XR) 35} For whoever wants to save^(XS) his life will lose it,^(XT) but whoever loses^(XU) his life^(XV) because of me^(XW) and the gospel^(XX) will save it.^{(XY) 36} For what does it benefit^(XZ) someone to gain^(YA) the whole world^(YB) and yet lose^(YC) his life?^{(YD) 37} What can anyone give in exchange for his life?^{(YE) 38} For whoever is ashamed^(YF) of me and my words^(YG) in this adulterous and sinful^(YH) generation,^(YI) the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory^(YJ) of his Father^(YK) with the holy^(YL) angels.”^(YM)

9 Then he said to them, “Truly I tell you,^(YN) there are some standing here who will not taste death^(YO) until they see the kingdom of God come in power.”^(YP)

The Transfiguration

² After^(YQ) six days^(YR) Jesus took Peter, James, and John^(YS) and led them up a high mountain^(YT) by themselves to be alone. He was transfigured^(YU) in front of them, ³ and his clothes^(YV) became dazzling—extremely white^(YW) as no launderer on earth could whiten^(YX) them. ⁴ Elijah^(YY) appeared to them with Moses,^(YZ) and they were talking with Jesus. ⁵ Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi,^(ZA) it’s good^(ZB) for us to be here. Let’s set up three shelters:^(ZC) one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”— ⁶ because he did not know what to say,^(ZD) since they were terrified.^(ZE)

⁷ A cloud^(ZF) appeared, overshadowing^(ZG) them, and a voice^(ZH) came from the cloud:^(ZI) “This is my beloved^(ZJ) Son;^(ZK) listen to him!” ^(ZL)

⁸ Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

⁹ As^(ZM) they were coming down the mountain,^(ZN) he ordered them to tell no one what they had seen^(ZO) until the Son of Man^(ZP) had risen^(ZQ) from the dead.^{(ZR) 10} They kept this word^(ZS) to themselves, questioning what “rising from the dead” meant.

¹¹ Then they asked him, “Why do the scribes^(ZT) say that Elijah must come first?” ^(ZU)

¹² “Elijah does come first and restores^(ZV) all things,”^(ZW) he replied. “Why then is it written^(ZX) that the Son of Man must suffer^(ZY) many things and be treated with contempt?^{(ZZ) 13} But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did whatever they pleased to him, just as it is written^(AAA) about him.”

The Power of Faith over a Demon

¹⁴ When^(AAB) they came to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes disputing^(AAC) with them. ¹⁵ When the whole crowd saw him, they were amazed and ran to greet him. ¹⁶ He asked them, “What are you arguing with them about?”

¹⁷ Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher,^(AAD) I brought my son to you. He has a spirit^(AAE) that makes him unable to speak.^{(AAF) 18} Whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn’t.”

¹⁹ He replied to them, “You unbelieving^(AAG) generation, how long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to me.” ²⁰ So they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, it immediately threw the boy into convulsions. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. ²¹ “How long has this been happening to him?” Jesus asked his father.

“From childhood,” he said. ²² “And many times it has thrown him into fire or water to destroy^(AAH) him. But if you can do anything, have compassion^(AAI) on us and help us.”

²³ Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’?^[bp] Everything is possible^(AAJ) for the one who believes.”^(AAK)

²⁴ Immediately the father of the boy cried out, “I do believe; help my unbelief!”

²⁵ When Jesus saw that a crowd was quickly gathering, he rebuked^(AAL) the unclean^(AAM) spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf^(AAN) spirit, I command you: Come out of him and never enter him again.”

²⁶ Then it came out, shrieking and throwing him into terrible convulsions.^(AAO) The boy became like a corpse, so that many said, “He’s dead.” ²⁷ But Jesus, taking him by the hand, raised him,^(AAP) and he stood up.

²⁸ After he had gone into the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

²⁹ And he told them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer.”^[bq](AAQ)

The Second Prediction of His Death

³⁰ Then^(AAR) they left that place and made their way through Galilee, but he did not want anyone to know it.^{(AAS) 31} For he was teaching^(AAT) his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man^(AAU) is going to be betrayed^[br] into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after he is killed, he will rise^(AAV) three days later.”^{(AAW) 32} But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask him.^(AAX)

Who Is the Greatest?

³³ They^(AAY) came to Capernaum.^(AAZ) When he was in the house,^(ABA) he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?”^{(ABB) 34} But they were silent,^(ABC) because on the way they had been arguing with one another about who was the greatest.^{(ABD) 35} Sitting down, he called the Twelve^(ABE) and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last and servant of all.”^{(ABF) 36} He took a child,^(ABG) had him stand among them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, ³⁷ “Whoever welcomes^[bs] one little child such as this in my name^(ABH) welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me does not welcome me, but him who sent^(ABI) me.”^(ABJ)

In His Name

³⁸ John^(ABK) said to him, “Teacher,^(ABL) we saw someone^[bt] driving out demons^(ABM) in your name,^(ABN) and we tried to stop him because he wasn’t following us.”^(ABO)

³⁹ “Don’t stop him,” said Jesus, “because there is no one who will perform a miracle^(ABP) in my name who can soon afterward speak evil of me. ⁴⁰ For whoever is not against us is for us.^{(ABQ) 41} And whoever gives you a cup of water to drink^(ABR) in my name, because you belong to Christ^(ABS) —truly I tell you,^(ABT) he will never lose his reward.^(ABU)

Warnings from Jesus

⁴² “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall away^(ABV) —it would be better for him if a heavy millstone^(ABW) were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

⁴³ “And if your hand causes you to fall away, cut it off.^(ABX) It is better for you to enter life maimed^(ABY) than to have two hands and go to hell, the unquenchable fire.^{[bu](ABZ) 45} And if your foot causes you to fall away, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame^(ACA) than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.^{[bv] 47} And if your eye causes you to fall away, gouge it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God^(ACB) with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown^(ACC) into hell,^{(ACD) 48} where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.^{[bw] 49} For everyone will be salted with fire.^{[bx][by](ACE) 50} Salt is good, but if the salt should lose its flavor, how can you season it?^(ACF) Have salt^(ACG) among yourselves, and be at peace^(ACH) with one another.”

The Question of Divorce

10 He^(ACI) set out from there and went to the region of Judea^(ACJ) and across the Jordan.^(ACK) Then crowds converged on him again, and as was his custom he taught^(ACL) them again.

² Some Pharisees^(ACM) came to test^(ACN) him, asking, “Is it lawful^(ACO) for a man to divorce^(ACP) his wife?” ^(ACQ)

³ He replied to them, “What did Moses^(ACR) command you?”

⁴ They said, “Moses permitted us to write divorce papers^(ACS) and send her away.”^(ACT)

⁵ But Jesus told them, “He wrote this command for you because of the hardness of your hearts. ^{(ACU) 6} But from the beginning^(ACV) of creation^(ACW) God^[bz] made them male and female.^{[ca](ACX) 7} For this reason a man will leave ^(ACY) his father and mother ^{[cb] 8} and the two will become one flesh.^[cc](ACZ) So they are no longer two, but one flesh. ⁹ Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”^(ADA)

¹⁰ When they were in the house again, the disciples questioned him about this matter. ¹¹ He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife^(ADB) and marries^(ADC) another commits adultery^(ADD) against her. ¹² Also, if she divorces her husband^(ADE) and marries another, she commits adultery.”

Blessing the Children

¹³ People^(ADF) were bringing little children^(ADG) to him in order that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked^(ADH) them. ¹⁴ When Jesus saw it, he was indignant^(ADI) and said to them, “Let the little children come to me.^(ADJ) Don’t stop^(ADK) them, because the kingdom of God^(ADL) belongs to such as these. ¹⁵ Truly I tell you,^(ADM) whoever does not receive^[cd](ADN) the kingdom of God like a little child^(ADO) will never enter it.” ¹⁶ After taking them in his arms, he laid his hands on^(ADP) them and blessed^(ADQ) them.

The Rich Young Ruler

¹⁷ As^(ADR) he was setting out on a journey,^(ADS) a man ran up, knelt down^(ADT) before him, and asked him, “Good^(ADU) teacher,^(ADV) what must I do to inherit^(ADW) eternal life?” ^(ADX)

¹⁸ “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “No one is good except God alone.^{(ADY) 19} You know the commandments: Do not murder;^(ADZ) do not commit adultery;^(AEA) do not steal;^(AEB) do not bear false witness;^(AEC) do not defraud;^(AED) honor^(AEE) your father and mother.”^[ce](AEF)

²⁰ He said to him, “Teacher,^(AEG) I have kept all these from my youth.”

²¹ Looking at him, Jesus loved him^(AEH) and said to him, “You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor,^(AEI) and you will have treasure^(AEJ) in heaven.^(AEK) Then come,^[cf] follow me.”^{(AEL) 22} But he was dismayed by this demand, and he went away grieving,^(AEM) because he had many possessions.^(AEN)

Possessions and the Kingdom

²³ Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth^(AEO) to enter the kingdom of God!”^(AEP)

²⁴ The disciples were astonished at his words. Again Jesus said to them, “Children,^(AEQ) how hard it is^[cg] to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich^(AER) person to enter the kingdom of God.”

²⁶ They were even more astonished, saying to one another, “Then who can be saved?” ^(AES)

²⁷ Looking at them, Jesus said, “With man it is impossible,^(AET) but not with God, because all things are possible with God.”

²⁸ Peter^(AEU) began to tell him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.”

²⁹ “Truly I tell you,”^(AEV) Jesus said, “there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father^[ch] or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the gospel,^{(AEW) 30} who will not receive a hundred times^(AEX) more, now at this time^(AEY) —houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions^(AEZ) —and eternal life^(AFA) in the age to come.^{(AFB) 31} But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”^(AFC)

The Third Prediction of His Death

³² They^(AFD) were on the road, going up to Jerusalem,^(AFE) and Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were astonished, but those who followed him were afraid.^(AFF) Taking the Twelve aside again, he began to tell them the things that would happen to him.^{(AFG) 33} “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man^(AFH) will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes,^(AFI) and they will condemn him to death. Then they will hand him over to the Gentiles,^{(AFJ) 34} and they will mock him, spit on him, flog^[ci] him, and kill him, and he will rise^(AFK) after three days.”^(AFL)

Suffering and Service

³⁵ James^(AFM) and John,^(AFN) the sons of Zebedee,^(AFO) approached him and said, “Teacher,^(AFP) we want you to do whatever we ask you.”

³⁶ “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked them.

³⁷ They answered him, “Allow us to sit at your right and at your left in your glory.”^(AFQ)

³⁸ Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you’re asking.^(AFR) Are you able to drink the cup^(AFS) I drink or to be baptized with the baptism^(AFT) I am baptized with?”^(AFU)

³⁹ “We are able,” they told him.

Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with.^{(AFV) 40} But to sit at my right or left is not mine to give; instead, it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”

⁴¹ When the ten disciples heard this, they began to be indignant with James and John.^{(AFW) 42} Jesus called them over and said to them, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over^(AFX) them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them. ⁴³ But it is not so among you.^(AFY) On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant,^{(AFZ) 44} and whoever wants to be first among you will be a slave to all.^{(AGA) 45} For even the Son of Man^(AGB) did not come to be served, but to serve,^(AGC) and to give his life^(AGD) as a ransom^(AGE) for many.”^[cj](AGF)

A Blind Man Healed

⁴⁶ They^(AGG) came to Jericho.^(AGH) And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus (the son of Timaeus), a blind^(AGI) beggar,^(AGJ) was sitting by the road.^{(AGK) 47} When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth,^(AGL) he began to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David,^(AGM) have mercy^(AGN) on me!” ^{(AGO) 48} Many warned him to keep quiet, but he was crying out all the more, “Have mercy on me,^(AGP) Son of David!”

⁴⁹ Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”

So they called the blind man and said to him, “Have courage!^(AGQ) Get up; he’s calling for you.” ⁵⁰ He threw off his coat,^(AGR) jumped up, and came to Jesus.

⁵¹ Then Jesus answered him, “What do you want^(AGS) me to do for you?”

“Rabboni,”^[ck](AGT) the blind man said to him, “I want to see.”

⁵² Jesus said to him, “Go, your faith has saved you.”^(AGU) Immediately he could see and began to follow Jesus on the road.

The Triumphal Entry

11 When^(AGV) they approached Jerusalem,^(AGW) at Bethphage and Bethany^(AGX) near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples ² and told them, “Go into the village ahead of you. As soon as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. ³ If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here right away.’”

⁴ So they went and found a colt outside in the street, tied by a door. They untied it, ⁵ and some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” ⁶ They answered them just as Jesus had said; so they let them go.

⁷ They brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and he sat on it. ⁸ Many people spread their clothes on the road,^(AGY) and others spread leafy branches cut from the fields.^{[cl] 9} Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted:

¹¹ He went into Jerusalem^(AHE) and into the temple.^(AHF) After looking around at everything, since it was already late, he went out to Bethany^(AHG) with the Twelve.

The Barren Fig Tree Is Cursed

¹² The^(AHH) next day when they went out from Bethany, he was hungry. ¹³ Seeing in the distance a fig^(AHI) tree with leaves, he went to find out if there was anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for it was not the season for figs. ¹⁴ He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit^(AHJ) from you again!”^(AHK) And his disciples^(AHL) heard it.

Cleansing the Temple

¹⁵ They came to Jerusalem,^(AHM) and he went into the temple^(AHN) and began to throw out those buying and selling. He overturned the tables of the money changers^(AHO) and the chairs of those selling doves, ¹⁶ and would not permit anyone to carry goods through the temple. ¹⁷ He was teaching them: “Is it not written,^(AHP) My house^(AHQ) will be called a house of prayer^(AHR) for all nations?^[cn] But you have made it a den of thieves!”^[co](AHS)

¹⁸ The chief priests and the scribes^(AHT) heard it and started looking for a way to kill him. For they were afraid^(AHU) of him, because the whole crowd was astonished by his teaching.

¹⁹ Whenever evening came, they would go out of the city.

The Barren Fig Tree Is Withered

²⁰ Early^(AHV) in the morning, as they were passing by, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up. ²¹ Then Peter^(AHW) remembered and said to him, “Rabbi,^(AHX) look! The fig tree that you cursed^(AHY) has withered.”

²² Jesus replied to them, “Have faith in God.^{(AHZ) 23} Truly I tell you,^(AIA) if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt^(AIB) in his heart, but believes^(AIC) that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.^{(AID) 24} Therefore I tell you, everything you pray^(AIE) and ask for^(AIF)—believe that you have received^[cp](AIG) it and it will be yours. ²⁵ And whenever you stand^(AIH) praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive^(AII) him, so that your Father^(AIJ) in heaven^(AIK) will also forgive^(AIL) you your wrongdoing.”^[cq]

The Authority of Jesus Challenged

²⁷ They^(AIM) came again to Jerusalem.^(AIN) As he was walking in the temple,^(AIO) the chief priests, the scribes,^(AIP) and the elders^(AIQ) came ²⁸ and asked him, “By what authority^(AIR) are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority to do these things?”

²⁹ Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question;^(AIS) then answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. ³⁰ Was John’s baptism^(AIT) from heaven or of human origin? Answer me.”

³¹ They discussed it among themselves: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Then why didn’t you believe^(AIU) him?’ ³² But if we say, ‘Of human origin’”—they were afraid of the crowd, because everyone thought that John was truly a prophet.^{(AIV) 33} So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”

And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

The Parable of the Vineyard Owner

12 He^(AIW) began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard,^(AIX) put a fence around it, dug out a pit for a winepress, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and went away. ² At harvest time he sent^(AIY) a servant^(AIZ) to the farmers to collect some of the fruit^(AJA) of the vineyard from them. ³ But they took him, beat^(AJB) him, and sent him away empty-handed.^{(AJC) 4} Again he sent another servant to them, and they^[cr] hit him on the head and treated him shamefully.^{[cs] 5} Then he sent another, and they killed that one. He also sent many others; some they beat, and others they killed. ⁶ He still had one to send, a beloved^(AJD) son. Finally^(AJE) he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ ⁷ But those tenant farmers said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ ⁸ So they seized him, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. ⁹ What then will the owner^[ct](AJF) of the vineyard do? He will come and kill the farmers and give the vineyard to others. ¹⁰ Haven’t you read this Scripture:^(AJG)

¹² They were looking for a way to arrest him but feared the crowd because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. So they left him and went away.

God and Caesar

¹³ Then^(AJK) they sent some of the Pharisees^(AJL) and the Herodians^(AJM) to Jesus to trap him in his words.^{(AJN) 14} When they came, they said to him, “Teacher, we know you are truthful and don’t care what anyone thinks, nor do you show partiality^(AJO) but teach the way of God truthfully. Is it lawful to pay taxes^(AJP) to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”

¹⁵ But knowing their hypocrisy,^(AJQ) he said to them, “Why are you testing^(AJR) me? Bring me a denarius^[cv](AJS) to look at.” ¹⁶ They brought a coin. “Whose image^(AJT) and inscription^(AJU) is this?” he asked them.

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

¹⁷ Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”^(AJV) And they were utterly amazed^(AJW) at him.

The Sadducees and the Resurrection

¹⁸ Sadducees,^(AJX) who say there is no resurrection,^(AJY) came to him and questioned him: ¹⁹ “Teacher,^(AJZ) Moses^(AKA) wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife behind but no child,^(AKB) that man should take the wife^(AKC) and raise up offspring for his brother.^{[cw](AKD) 20} There were seven brothers. The first married a woman, and dying, left no offspring. ²¹ The second also took her, and he died, leaving no offspring. And the third likewise. ²² None of the seven^[cx] left offspring. Last of all, the woman died too. ²³ In the resurrection, when they rise,^[cy] whose wife will she be, since the seven had married her?”

²⁴ Jesus spoke to them, “Isn’t this the reason why you’re mistaken: you don’t know the Scriptures^(AKE) or the power^(AKF) of God?^{(AKG) 25} For when they rise^(AKH) from the dead,^(AKI) they neither marry nor are given in marriage^(AKJ) but are like angels^(AKK) in heaven. ²⁶ And as for the dead being raised—haven’t you read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the burning bush, how God said to him: I^(AKL) am the God of Abraham^(AKM) and the God of Isaac^(AKN) and the God of Jacob?^{[cz](AKO) 27} He is not the God of the dead but of the living. You are badly mistaken.”

The Primary Commands

²⁸ One^(AKP) of the scribes^(AKQ) approached. When he heard them debating and saw that Jesus answered them well, he asked him, “Which command is the most important of all?”

²⁹ Jesus answered, “The most important^[da] is Listen, Israel! The Lord^(AKR) our God, the Lord^(AKS) is one.^{[db] 30} Love^(AKT) the Lord your God^(AKU) with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind,^(AKV) and with all your strength.^{[dc][dd](AKW) 31} The second is, Love your neighbor^(AKX) as yourself.^[de](AKY) There is no other command^(AKZ) greater than these.”

³² Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, teacher. You have correctly said that he is one, and there is no one^(ALA) else except him.^{(ALB) 33} And to love^(ALC) him with all your heart, with all your understanding,^[df] and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, is far more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.”^(ALD)

³⁴ When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”^(ALE) And no one dared^(ALF) to question him any longer.

The Question about the Messiah

³⁵ While^(ALG) Jesus was teaching in the temple, he asked,^(ALH) “How can the scribes^(ALI) say that the Messiah^(ALJ) is the son of David?^{(ALK) 36} David^(ALL) himself says by the Holy Spirit: ^(ALM)

³⁷ David himself calls him ‘Lord.’ How, then, can he be his son?” And the large crowd was listening to him with delight.

Warning against the Scribes

³⁸ He^(ALQ) also said in his teaching, “Beware of the scribes, who want to go around in long robes^(ALR) and who want greetings in the marketplaces,^{(ALS) 39} the best seats^(ALT) in the synagogues,^(ALU) and the places of honor^(ALV) at banquets.^{(ALW) 40} They devour^(ALX) widows’^(ALY) houses and say long prayers^(ALZ) just for show. These will receive harsher judgment.”

The Widow’s Gift

⁴¹ Sitting^(AMA) across from the temple treasury,^(AMB) he watched how the crowd dropped money into the treasury. Many rich^(AMC) people were putting in large sums. ⁴² Then a poor^(AMD) widow came and dropped in two tiny coins worth very little. ⁴³ Summoning his disciples,^(AME) he said to them, “Truly I tell you,^(AMF) this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.^{(AMG) 44} For they all gave out of their surplus,^(AMH) but she out of her poverty^(AMI) has put in everything she had^(AMJ) —all she had to live on.”^(AMK)

Destruction of the Temple Predicted

13 As^(AML) he was going out of the temple,^(AMM) one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher,^(AMN) look! What massive stones! What impressive buildings!” ^(AMO)

² Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings?^(AMP) Not one stone will be left upon another—all will be thrown down.”