And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

And they were all amazed, so they debated among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.”

Immediately the news about Him spread everywhere into all the surrounding region of Galilee.

Now when evening came, after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all who were ill and those who were demon-possessed.

And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

And He went out again by the seashore; and all the people were coming to Him, and He was teaching them.

for He had healed many, with the result that all those who had diseases pushed in around Him in order to touch Him.

“Truly I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons and daughters of men, and whatever blasphemies they commit;

Explanation of the Parable

And He *said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How will you understand all the parables?

It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is the smallest of all the seeds that are upon the soil,

yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants, and forms large branches, with the result that the birds of the sky can nest under its shade.”

Those who had seen it described to them how it had happened to the demon-possessed man, and all about the pigs.

and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but instead had become worse—

And He allowed no one to accompany Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James.

And they began laughing at Him. But putting them all outside, He *took along the child’s father and mother and His own companions, and *entered the room where the child was in bed.

The apostles *gathered together with Jesus; and they reported to Him all that they had done and taught.

Five Thousand Men Fed

The people saw them going, and many recognized them and ran there together on foot from all the cities, and got there ahead of them.

And He ordered them all to recline by groups on the green grass.

And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food and broke the loaves and He gave them to the disciples again and again to set before them; and He divided the two fish among them all.

And they all ate and were satisfied;

for they all saw Him and were terrified. But immediately He spoke with them and *said to them, “Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid.”

And wherever He entered villages, or cities, or a countryside, they were laying the sick in the marketplaces and imploring Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak; and all who touched it were being healed.

(For the Pharisees and all the other Jews do not eat unless they carefully wash their hands, thereby holding firmly to the tradition of the elders;

you no longer allow him to do anything for his father or his mother;

The Heart of Man

After He called the crowd to Him again, He began saying to them, “Listen to Me, all of you, and understand: