“You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead?

“A brother will betray his brother to death, a father will betray his own child, and children will rebel against their parents and cause them to be killed.

But you say it is all right for people to say to their parents, ‘Sorry, I can’t help you. For I have vowed to give to God what I would have given to you.’

In this way, you say they don’t need to honor their parents. And so you cancel the word of God for the sake of your own tradition.

Jesus Blesses the Children

One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.

But you say it is all right for people to say to their parents, ‘Sorry, I can’t help you. For I have vowed to give to God what I would have given to you.’

In this way, you let them disregard their needy parents.

Jesus Blesses the Children

One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.

“A brother will betray his brother to death, a father will betray his own child, and children will rebel against their parents and cause them to be killed.

Then it was time for their purification offering, as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child; so his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.

Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about him.

When Jesus’ parents had fulfilled all the requirements of the law of the Lord, they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee.

Jesus Speaks with the Teachers

Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival.

After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn’t miss him at first,

His parents didn’t know what to think. “Son,” his mother said to him, “why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.”

Her parents were overwhelmed, but Jesus insisted that they not tell anyone what had happened.

Jesus Blesses the Children

One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But when the disciples saw this, they scolded the parents for bothering him.

“Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God,

Even those closest to you—your parents, brothers, relatives, and friends—will betray you. They will even kill some of you.

“Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?”

“It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.

The Jewish leaders still refused to believe the man had been blind and could now see, so they called in his parents.

His parents replied, “We know this is our son and that he was born blind,

His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who had announced that anyone saying Jesus was the Messiah would be expelled from the synagogue.

This king exploited our people and oppressed them, forcing parents to abandon their newborn babies so they would die.