After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea

This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”

“Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—

Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

“Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.

For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Jesus Restores Two Demon-Possessed Men

When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way.

This is the one about whom it is written: “‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’

Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.”

But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.”

In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.

Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.

For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others—and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”

Jesus Predicts His Death a Third Time

Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them,

Jesus Curses a Fig Tree

Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry.

For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way.

They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.

They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are.

In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”

In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him.