Bible in 90 Days
The Seventy-Two Appointed and Sent Out
10 And after these things, the Lord also[a] appointed seventy-two others and sent them out two by two before him[b] into every town and place where he was about to go. 2 And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest that he send out workers into his harvest. 3 Go! Behold, I am sending you out like lambs in the midst of wolves! 4 Do not carry a money bag or a traveler’s bag or sandals, and greet no one along the road. 5 And into whatever house you enter, first say, “Peace be to this household!” 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on him. But if not, it will return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide,[c] for the worker is worthy of his pay. Do not move from house to house. 8 And into whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat whatever is[d] set before you, 9 and heal the sick in it, and say to them, “The kingdom of God has come near to you.” 10 But into whatever town you enter and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and[e] say, 11 “Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you! Nevertheless know this: that the kingdom of God has come near!”[f] 12 I tell you that it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town!
13 Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes! 14 But it will be more bearable for Tyre and for Sidon in the judgment than for you! 15 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No! You will be brought down to Hades! 16 The one who listens to you listens to me, and the one who rejects you rejects me. But the one who rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”
17 And the seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” 18 So he said to them, “I saw Satan falling like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you the authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will ever harm you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are inscribed in heaven.”
Jesus Rejoices and Prays
21 At that same time he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to young children. Yes, Father, for this was pleasing before you. 22 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wants to reveal him.”[g]
23 And turning to the disciples, he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see the things which you see! 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see the things which you see, and did not see them,[h] and to hear the things which you hear, and did not hear them.”[i]
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
25 And behold, a certain legal expert stood up to test him, saying, “Teacher, what must I do so that I will inherit eternal life?” 26 And he said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?”[j] 27 And he answered and[k] said, “You shall love the Lord your God from all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind,[l] and your neighbor as yourself.”[m] 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly. Do this and you will live.”
29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 And[n] Jesus replied and[o] said, “A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who both stripped him and beat him.[p] After[q] inflicting blows on him,[r] they went away, leaving him[s] half dead. 31 Now by coincidence a certain priest was going down on that road, and when he[t] saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. 32 And in the same way also a Levite, when he[u] came down to the place[v] and saw him,[w] passed by on the opposite side. 33 But a certain Samaritan who was traveling came up to him and, when he[x] saw him,[y] had compassion. 34 And he came up and[z] bandaged his wounds, pouring on olive oil and wine, and he put him on his own animal and[aa] brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And on the next day, he took out two denarii and[ab] gave them[ac][ad] to the innkeeper, and said, “Take care of him, and whatever you spend in addition, I will repay to you when I return. 36 Which of these three do you suppose became a neighbor of the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 So he said, “The one who showed mercy to him.” And Jesus said to him, “You go and do likewise.”
Martha and Mary
38 Now as they traveled along, he entered into a certain village. And a certain woman named[ae] Martha welcomed him.[af] 39 And she had[ag] a sister named Mary, who also sat at the feet of Jesus[ah] and[ai] was listening to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much preparation, so she approached and[aj] said, “Lord, is it not a concern to you that my sister has left me alone to make preparations? Then tell her that she should help me!” 41 But the Lord answered and[ak] said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things! 42 But few things are necessary, or only one thing,[al] for Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”
How to Pray
11 And it happened that while he was in a certain place praying, when he stopped a certain one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.” 2 And he said to them, “When you pray, say,
“Father,
may your name be treated as holy.
May your kingdom come.
3 Give us each day our daily bread.
4 And forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And do not lead us into temptation.”
Ask, Seek, Knock
5 And he said to them, “Who of you will have a friend, and will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, 6 because a friend of mine has come to me on a journey, and I do not have anything to set before him.’ 7 And that one will answer from inside and[am] say, ‘Do not cause me trouble! The door has already been shut and my children are with me in bed! I am not able to get up to give you anything.’[an] 8 I tell you, even if he does not give him anything[ao] after he[ap] gets up because he is his friend, at any rate because of his impudence[aq] he will get up and[ar] give him whatever he needs.
9 And I tell you, ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened for you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 But what father from among you, if his[as] son will ask for a fish, instead of a fish will give him a snake? 12 Or also, if he will ask for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 Therefore if you, although you[at] are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father from heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”
A House Divided Cannot Stand
14 And he was expelling a mute demon.[au] Now it happened that when[av] the demon came out, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were astonished. 15 But some of them said, “By Beelzebul the ruler of demons he expels demons!” 16 And others, in order to[aw] test him,[ax] were demanding from him a sign from heaven. 17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household[ay] falls. 18 So if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I expel demons by Beelzebul. 19 But if I expel demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons expel them?[az] For this reason they will be your judges! 20 But if I expel demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you! 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his possessions are safe.[ba] 22 But when a stronger man attacks him and[bb] conquers him, he takes away his full armor in which he trusted and distributes his plunder. 23 The one who is not with me is against me, and the one who does not gather with me scatters.
An Unclean Spirit Returns
24 “Whenever an unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it travels through waterless places searching for rest, and does not find it.[bc] It says,[bd] ‘I will return to my house from which I came out.’ 25 And when it[be] arrives it finds the house[bf] swept and put in order. 26 Then it goes and brings along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and[bg] live there. And the last state of that person becomes worse than the first!”
27 Now it happened that as he said these things, a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and[bh] said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” 28 But he said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and follow it!”[bi]
The Sign of Jonah
29 And as[bj] the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation! It demands a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah! 30 For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation. 31 The queen of the south will rise up at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something[bk] greater than Solomon is here! 32 The people of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and behold, something[bl] greater than Jonah is here!
Light and Darkness
33 “No one after[bm] lighting a lamp puts it[bn] in a cellar or under a bushel basket, but on a lampstand, so that those who come in can see the light. 34 Your eye is the lamp of the body. When your eye is sincere, your whole body is full of light also. But when it is evil, your body is dark also. 35 Therefore pay careful attention that the light in you is not darkness! 36 If therefore your whole body is full of light, not having any part dark, it will be completely full of light, as when the lamp with its light gives light to you.”
Pharisees and Legal Experts Denounced
37 And as he was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to have a meal[bo] with him, and he went in and[bp] reclined at table. 38 And the Pharisee, when he[bq] saw it,[br] was astonished that he did not first wash before the meal. 39 But the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but your inside is full of greediness and wickedness. 40 Fools! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? 41 But give as charitable giving the things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you.
42 “But woe to you, Pharisees, because you pay a tenth of mint and rue and every garden herb, and neglect justice and love for God! But it was necessary to do these things without neglecting those things also. 43 Woe to you, Pharisees, because you love the best seat in the synagogues and the greetings in the marketplaces! 44 Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, and the people who walk over them[bs] do not know it![bt]
45 And one of the legal experts answered and[bu] said to him, “Teacher, when you[bv] say these things, you insult us also!” 46 So he said, “Woe to you also, legal experts, because you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers! 47 Woe to you, because you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them! 48 As a result you are witnesses, and you approve of the deeds of your fathers, because they killed them and you build their tombs![bw] 49 For this reason also the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send to them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,’ 50 so that the blood of all the prophets that has been shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation, 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the temple building.[bx] Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation! 52 Woe to you, legal experts, because you have taken away the key to knowledge! You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering!”
53 And when[by] he departed from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to be terribly hostile, and to question him closely about many things, 54 plotting to catch him with reference to something he might say.[bz]
Warning Against Hypocrisy
12 During this time[ca] when[cb] a crowd of many thousands had gathered together, so that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware for yourselves of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 But nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, and secret that will not be made known. 3 Therefore everything that you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered[cc] in the inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.
Fear God Rather Than People
4 “And I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after these things do not have anything more to do. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: fear the one who has authority, after the killing, to throw you[cd] into hell! Yes, I tell you, fear this one! 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten in the sight of God. 7 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered! Do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Acknowledgement of Christ and Persecution of Disciples
8 “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before people, the Son of Man also will acknowledge him before the angels of God, 9 but the one who denies me before people will be denied before the angels of God. 10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him, but to the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven. 11 But when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious how or what you should speak in your own defense or what you should say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that same hour what it is necessary to say.”
The Parable of the Rich Landowner Who Was a Fool
13 Now someone from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me!” 14 But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Watch out and guard yourselves from all greediness, because not even when someone has an abundance does[ce] his life consist of his possessions.” 16 And he told a parable to them, saying, “The land of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 And he reasoned to himself, saying, ‘What should I do? For I do not have anywhere I can gather in my crops.’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and I will gather in there all my grain and possessions. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many possessions stored up for many years. Relax, eat, drink, celebrate!”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your life[cf] is demanded from you, and the things which you have prepared—whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who stores up treasure for himself, and who is not rich toward God!”
Anxiety
22 And he said to his disciples, “For this reason I tell you, do not be anxious for your[cg] life, what you will eat, or for your[ch] body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens, that they neither sow nor reap; to them there is neither storeroom nor barn, and God feeds them. How much more are you worth than the birds? 25 And which of you by[ci] being anxious is able to add an hour[cj] to his life span? 26 If then you are not even able to do a very little thing, why are you anxious about the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they do not toil or spin, but I say to you, not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like one of these. 28 But if God clothes the grass in the field in this way, although it[ck] is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he do so for[cl] you, you of little faith? 29 And you, do not consider what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not be anxious. 30 For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need these things. 31 But seek his kingdom and these things will be added to you.
32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, because your Father is well pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give charitable gifts. Make for yourselves money bags that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven[cm] where thief does not approach or moth destroy. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
On the Alert for the Master’s Return
35 “You must be prepared for action[cn] and your[co] lamps burning. 36 And you, be like people who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast,[cp] so that when he[cq] comes back and knocks, they can open the door[cr] for him immediately. 37 Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he returns! Truly I say to you that he will dress himself for service and have them recline at the table and will come by and[cs] serve them. 38 Even if he should come back in the second or in the third watch of the night and find them[ct] like this, blessed are they! 39 But understand this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not think he will come.”[cu]
A Faithful Slave and an Unfaithful Slave
41 And Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us, or also for everyone?” 42 And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful wise manager whom the master will put in charge over his servants to give them[cv] their[cw] food allowance at the right time? 43 Blessed is that slave whom his master will find so doing when he[cx] comes back. 44 Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45 But if that slave should say to himself,[cy] ‘My master is taking a long time to return,’ and he begins to beat the male slaves and the female slaves and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 the master of that slave will come on a day that he does not expect and at an hour that he does not know, and will cut him in two and assign his place with the unbelievers. 47 And that slave who knew the will of his master and did not prepare or do according to his will will be given a severe beating.[cz] 48 But the one who did not know and did things deserving blows will be given a light beating.[da] And from everyone to whom much has been given, much will be demanded, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will ask him for even more.
Not Peace, But a Sword of Divisiveness
49 “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish that it had been kindled already! 50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how I am distressed until it is accomplished! 51 Do you think that I have come to grant peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! 52 For from now on there will be five in one household, divided three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
The Signs of the Times
54 And he also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud coming up in the west, you say at once, ‘A rainstorm is coming,’ and so it happens. 55 And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be burning heat,’ and it happens. 56 Hypocrites! You know how to evaluate the appearance of the earth and the sky, but how is it you do not know how to evaluate this present time?
Settle Accounts Quickly
57 And why do you not also judge for yourselves what is right? 58 For as you are going with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to come to a settlement with him on the way, so that he will not drag you to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the bailiff, and the bailiff will throw you into prison. 59 I tell you, you will never get out of there until you have paid back even the last cent!”[db]
Repent or Perish
13 Now at the same time some had come to tell him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered and[dc] said to them, “Do you think that these Galileans were sinners worse than all the Galileans, because they suffered these things? 3 No, I tell you, but unless you repent you will all perish as well! 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them—do you think that they were sinners worse than all the people who live in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you, but unless you repent, you will all perish as well!”
The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree
6 And he told this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any.[dd] 7 So he said to the gardener, ‘Behold, for three years[de] I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and did not find any.[df] Cut it down![dg] Why should it even exhaust the soil?’ 8 But he answered and[dh] said to him, ‘Sir, leave it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put manure on it.[di] 9 And if indeed it produces fruit in the coming year, so much the better,[dj] but if not, you can cut it down.’”
A Woman with a Disabling Spirit Healed
10 Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 And behold, a woman was there[dk] who had a spirit that had disabled her[dl] for eighteen years, and she was bent over and not able to straighten herself up completely.[dm] 12 And when he[dn] saw her, Jesus summoned her[do] and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability!” 13 And he placed his[dp] hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and glorified God. 14 But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, answered and[dq] said to the crowd, “There are six days on which it is necessary to work. Therefore come and[dr] be healed on them, and not on the day of the Sabbath!” 15 But the Lord answered and said to him, “Hypocrites! Does not each one of you untie his ox or his[ds] donkey from the feeding trough on the Sabbath and lead it[dt] away to water it?[du] 16 And this woman, who is a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan bound eighteen[dv] long years—is it not necessary that she be released from this bond on the day of the Sabbath?” 17 And when[dw] he said these things, all those who opposed him were humiliated, and the whole crowd was rejoicing at all the splendid things that were being done by him.
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
18 Therefore he said, “What is the kingdom of God like, and to what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a mustard seed that a man took and[dx] sowed in his own garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the sky nested in its branches.”
The Parable of the Yeast
20 And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? 21 It is like yeast that a woman took and[dy] hid in[dz] three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened.”
The Narrow Door
22 And he was going throughout towns and villages, teaching and making his journey toward Jerusalem. 23 And someone said to him, “Lord, are there only[ea] a few who are saved?” And he said to them, 24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able to, 25 when once the master of the house has gotten up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open the door[eb] for us!’ And he will answer and[ec] say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from!’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets!’ 27 And he will reply, saying to you, ‘I do not know where you are from! Go away from me, all you evildoers!’[ed] 28 In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves thrown outside! 29 And they will come from east and west, and from north and south, and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”
The Lament over Jerusalem
31 At that same hour some Pharisees came up and[ee] said to him, “Go out and depart from here, because Herod wants to kill you!” 32 And he said to them, “Go and[ef] tell that fox, ‘Behold, I am expelling demons and performing healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will complete my work.’[eg] 33 Nevertheless, it is necessary for me to be on the way today and tomorrow and on the next day, because it is not possible for a prophet to perish outside Jerusalem.
34 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How many times I wanted to gather your children together the way[eh] a hen gathers[ei] her own brood under her[ej] wings, and you were not willing! 35 Behold, your house has been left to you! And I tell you, you will never see me until the time[ek] will come when you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’”[el]
A Man Suffering from Edema Healed
14 And it happened that when he came to the house of a certain one of the leaders of the Pharisees on a Sabbath to eat a meal,[em] they were watching him closely. 2 And behold, a certain man was in front of him, suffering from edema. 3 And Jesus answered and[en] said to the legal experts and Pharisees, saying, “Is it permitted to heal on the Sabbath, or not?” 4 But they remained silent. And he took hold of him[eo] and[ep] healed him, and sent him[eq] away. 5 And he said to them, “Who among you, if your[er] son or your ox falls into a well[es] on the day of the Sabbath, will not immediately pull him out?” 6 And they were not able to make a reply to these things.
The Parable of the Guests at the Wedding Feast
7 Now he told a parable to those who had been invited when he[et] noticed how they were choosing for themselves the places of honor, saying to them, 8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast,[eu] do not recline at the table in the place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you has been invited by him, 9 and the one who invited you both[ev] will come and[ew] say to you, ‘Give the place to this person,’ and then with shame you will begin to take the last place. 10 But when you are invited, go and[ex] recline at the table in the last place, so that when the one who invited you comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then it will be an honor to you in the presence of all those who are reclining at the table with you. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
The Parable of the Great Banquet
12 And he also said to the one who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or wealthy neighbors, lest they also invite you in return, and repayment come to you. 13 But whenever you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, because they are not able to repay you. For it will be paid back to you at the resurrection of the righteous.”
15 Now when[ey] one of those reclining at the table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who[ez] will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” 16 But he said to him, “A certain man was giving a large banquet and invited many. 17 And he sent his slave at the hour of the banquet to say to those who have been invited, ‘Come, because now it is ready!’ 18 And they all alike[fa] began to excuse themselves. The first said to him, ‘I have purchased a field, and I must[fb] go out to look at it. I ask you, consider me excused.’ 19 And another said, ‘I have purchased five yoke of oxen, and I am going to examine them. I ask you, consider me excused.’ 20 And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and for this reason I am not able to come.’ 21 And the slave came and[fc] reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and[fd] said to his slave, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the city and bring in here the poor and crippled and blind and lame!’ 22 And the slave said, ‘Sir, what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.’ 23 And the master said to the slave, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges and press them[fe] to come in, so that my house will be filled! 24 For I say to you that none of those persons who were invited will taste my banquet!’”
The Cost of Discipleship
25 Now large crowds were going along with him, and he turned around and[ff] said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, and furthermore, even his own life, he cannot be[fg] my disciple. 27 Whoever does not carry his own cross and follow[fh] me cannot be[fi] my disciple. 28 For which of you, wanting to build a tower, does not first sit down and[fj] calculate the cost to see if he has enough[fk] to complete it?[fl] 29 Otherwise[fm] after[fn] he has laid the foundation and is not able to finish it,[fo] all who see it[fp] will begin to ridicule him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish!’ 31 Or what king, going out to engage another king in battle, does not sit down first and[fq] deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand. 32 But if not, while[fr] the other is still far away, he sends an ambassador and[fs] asks for terms of[ft] peace. 33 In the same way, therefore, every one of you who does not renounce all his own possessions cannot be[fu] my disciple.
34 “Now salt is good, but if salt becomes tasteless, with what will it be made salty? 35 It is usable neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; they throw it out. The one who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
15 Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were drawing near to hear him. 2 And both the Pharisees and the scribes were complaining, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them!”
3 So he told them this parable, saying, 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the grassland and go after the one that was lost until he finds it? 5 And when he[fv] has found it,[fw] he places it[fx] on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he[fy] returns to his[fz] home, he calls together his[ga] friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost!’ 7 I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.
The Parable of the Lost Coin
8 Or what woman who has ten drachmas, if she loses one drachma, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?[gb] 9 And when she[gc] has found it,[gd] she calls together her[ge] friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found the drachma that I had lost!’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
The Parable of the Lost Son
11 And he said, “A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his[gf] father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that is coming to me.’ So he divided his[gg] assets between them. 13 And after not many days, the younger son gathered everything and[gh] went on a journey to a distant country, and there he squandered his wealth by[gi] living wastefully. 14 And after[gj] he had spent everything, there was a severe famine throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15 And he went and[gk] hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to tend pigs. 16 And he was longing to fill his stomach with[gl] the carob pods that the pigs were eating, and no one was giving anything[gm] to him.
17 “But when he[gn] came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have an abundance of food,[go] and I am dying here from hunger! 18 I will set out and[gp] go to my father and will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight![gq] 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son! Make me like one of your hired workers.’ 20 And he set out and[gr] came to his own father. But while[gs] he was still a long way away, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him[gt] and kissed him. 21 And his[gu] son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight![gv] I am no longer worthy to be called your son!’ 22 But his[gw] father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it[gx] on him, and put a ring on his finger[gy] and sandals on his[gz] feet! 23 And bring the fattened calf—kill it[ha] and let us eat and[hb] celebrate, 24 because this son of mine was dead, and is alive again! He was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.
25 “Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and[hc] approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he summoned one of the slaves and[hd] asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has gotten him back healthy.’ 28 But he became angry and did not want to go in. So his father came out and[he] began to implore[hf] him. 29 But he answered and[hg] said to his father, ‘Behold, so many years I have served you, and have never disobeyed your command! And you never gave me a young goat so that I could celebrate with my friends! 30 But when this son of yours returned—who has consumed your assets with prostitutes—you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 But he said to him, ‘Child, you are always with me, and everything I have belongs to you.[hh] 32 But it was necessary to celebrate and to rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead, and is alive, and was lost, and is found!’”
The Parable of the Dishonest Manager
16 And he also said to the disciples, “A certain man was rich, who had a manager. And charges were brought to him that this person was squandering his possessions. 2 And he summoned him and[hi] said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give the account of your management, because you can no longer manage.’ 3 And the manager said to himself, ‘What should I do, because my master is taking away the management from me? I am not strong enough to dig; I am ashamed to beg. 4 I know what I should do, so that when I am removed from the management they will welcome me into their homes!’ 5 And he summoned each one of his own master’s debtors and[hj] said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6 And he said, ‘A hundred measures of olive oil.’ So he said to him, ‘Take your promissory note and sit down quickly and[hk] write fifty.’ 7 Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ And he said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your promissory note and write eighty.’ 8 And the master praised the dishonest manager, because he had acted shrewdly. For the sons of this age are shrewder than the sons of light with regard to their own generation.[hl] 9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it runs out they will welcome you into the eternal dwellings.
10 “The one who is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and the one who is dishonest in very little is also dishonest in much. 11 If then you have not been faithful with unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?[hm] 12 And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you your own? 13 No domestic slave is able to serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and will despise the other. You are not able to serve God and money.”
Hypocrisy, Law, and the Kingdom of God
14 Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. 15 And he said to them, “You are the ones who justify themselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts! For what is considered exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
16 “The law and the prophets were until John; from that time on the kingdom of God has been proclaimed, and everyone is urgently pressed[hn] into it. 17 But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter of the law to become invalid.
On Divorce
18 “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and the one who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.
The Rich Man and Lazarus
19 “Now a certain man was rich, and dressed in purple cloth and fine linen, feasting sumptuously every day. 20 And a certain poor man named[ho] Lazarus, covered with sores, lay at his gate, 21 and was longing to be filled with what fell from the table of the rich man. But even the dogs came and[hp] licked his sores. 22 Now it happened that the poor man died, and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s side.[hq] And the rich man also died and was buried. 23 And in Hades he lifted up his eyes as he[hr] was in torment and[hs] saw Abraham from a distance, and Lazarus at his side.[ht] 24 And he called out and[hu] said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he could dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am suffering pain in this flame!’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you received your good things during your life, and Lazarus likewise bad things. But now he is comforted here, but you are suffering pain. 26 And in addition to all these things, a great chasm has been established between us and you, so that those who want to cross over from here to you are not able to do so,[hv] nor can they cross over from there to us.’ 27 So he said, ‘Then I ask you, father, that you send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, so that he could warn them, in order that they also should not come to this place of torment!’ 29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they must listen to them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent!’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone rises from the dead.’”
Sin, Forgiveness, Faith, and Service
17 And he said to his disciples, “It is impossible for causes for stumbling not to come, but woe to him through whom they come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone[hw] is placed around his neck and he is thrown into the sea than that he causes one of these little ones to sin.
3 “Be concerned about yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. 4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times he returns to you saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
5 And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6 So the Lord said, “If you have faith like a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
7 “And which of you who has a slave plowing or shepherding sheep[hx] who comes in from the field will say to him, ‘Come here at once and[hy] recline at the table’? 8 Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something that I may eat, and dress yourself to serve me while I eat and drink, and after these things you will eat and drink.’ 9 He will not be grateful[hz] to the slave because he did what was ordered, will he?[ia] 10 Thus you also, when you have done all the things you were ordered to do,[ib] say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done what we were obligated to do.’”
Ten Lepers Cleansed
11 And it happened that while traveling toward Jerusalem, he was passing through the region between[ic] Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as[id] he was entering into a certain village, ten men met him[ie][if]—lepers, who stood at a distance. 13 And they raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 And when he[ig] saw them[ih] he said to them, “Go and[ii] show yourselves to the priests.” And it happened that as they were going, they were cleansed. 15 But one of them, when he[ij] saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. 16 And he fell on his face at his feet, giving thanks to him. And he was a Samaritan. 17 So Jesus answered and[ik] said, “Were not ten cleansed? And where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to turn back and[il] give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 And he said to him, “Get up and[im] go your way. Your faith has saved you.”
The Coming of the Kingdom of God
20 Now when he[in] was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with things that can be observed,[io] 21 nor will they say, ‘Behold, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”
The Coming of the Son of Man
22 And he said to the disciples, “Days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.[ip] 23 And they will say to you, ‘Behold, there!’ ‘Behold, here!’[iq] Do not go out or run after them![ir] 24 For just as the lightning shines forth, flashing from one place under heaven to another place under heaven, so the Son of Man will be in his day. 25 But first it is necessary for him to suffer many things, and to be rejected by this generation. 26 And just as it was in the days of Noah, so also it will be in the days of the Son of Man— 27 they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building. 29 But on the day that Lot went out from Sodom, it rained fire and sulphur from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 It will be just the same[is] on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. 31 On that day, whoever is on the housetop and his goods are in the house must not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field must not turn back 32 Remember Lot’s wife! 33 Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses it[it] will keep it. 34 I tell you that in that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other will be left. 35 There will be two women[iu] grinding at the same place; one will be taken and the other will be left.”[iv]
37 And they answered and[iw] said to him, “Where, Lord?” So he said to them, “Where the dead body is, there also the vultures will be gathered.”
The Parable of the Unjust Judge
18 And he told them a parable to show that they must always pray and not be discouraged, 2 saying, “There was a certain judge in a certain town who did not fear God and did not respect people. 3 And there was a widow in that town, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary!’ 4 And he was not willing for a time, but after these things he said to himself, ‘Even if I do not fear God or respect people, 5 yet because this widow is causing trouble for me, I will grant her justice, so that she does not wear me down in the end by her[ix] coming back!’” 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unrighteous judge is saying! 7 And will not God surely see to it that justice is done[iy] to his chosen ones who cry out to him day and night, and will he delay toward them? 8 I tell you that he will see to it that justice is done[iz] for them soon! Nevertheless, when[ja] the Son of Man comes, then will he find faith on earth?”
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
9 And he also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and looked down on everyone else:[jb] 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and[jc] prayed these things with reference to himself: ‘God, I give thanks to you that I am not like other people—swindlers, unrighteous people, adulterers, or even like this tax collector! 12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far away, did not want even to raise his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than that one! For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Little Children Brought to Jesus
15 Now they were bringing even their[jd] babies to him so that he could touch them. But when[je] the disciples saw it,[jf] they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called them to himself, saying, “Allow the children to come to me, and do not forbid them, for to such belongs[jg] the kingdom of God. 17 Truly I say to you, whoever does not welcome the kingdom of God like a young child will never enter into it.”
A Rich Young Man
18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, “Good Teacher, by[jh] doing what will I inherit eternal life?” 19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’”[ji] 21 And he said, “All these I have observed from my[jj] youth.” 22 And when he[jk] heard this,[jl] Jesus said to him, “You still lack one thing:[jm] Sell all that you have, and distribute the proceeds[jn] to the poor—and you will have treasure in heaven—and come, follow me.” 23 But when he[jo] heard these things he became very sad, because he was extremely wealthy.
24 And Jesus took notice of him[jp] and[jq] said, “How difficult it is for[jr] those who possess wealth to enter into the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of God. 26 So those who heard this[js] said, “And who can be saved?” 27 But he said, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.”
28 And Peter said, “Behold, we have left all that is ours[jt] and[ju] followed you.” 29 And he said to them, “Truly I say to you that there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children on account of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive many times more in this time and in the age to come, eternal life.”
Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection a Third Time
31 And taking aside the twelve, he said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all the things that are written by the prophets with reference to the Son of Man will be accomplished. 32 For he will be handed over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and mistreated and spit on, 33 and after[jv] flogging him[jw] they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.” 34 And they understood none of these things, and this saying was concealed from them, and they did not comprehend the things that were said.
A Blind Man Healed at Jericho
35 Now it happened that as he drew near to Jericho, a certain blind man was sitting on the side of the road begging. 36 And when he[jx] heard a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant. 37 And they told him, “Jesus the Nazarene is passing by.” 38 And he called out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 And those who were in front rebuked him, that he should be silent, but he cried out even more loudly,[jy] “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 So Jesus stopped and[jz] ordered him to be brought to him. And when[ka] he approached, he asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?” And he said, “Lord, that I may regain my sight. 42 And Jesus said to him, “Regain your sight! Your faith has saved you.” 43 And immediately he regained his sight and began to follow[kb] him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they[kc] saw it,[kd] gave praise to God.
Jesus and Zacchaeus
19 And he entered and[ke] traveled through Jericho. 2 And there was[kf] a man named[kg] Zacchaeus, and he was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 And he was seeking to see Jesus—who he was—and he was not able to as a result of the crowd, because he was short in stature. 4 And he ran on ahead and[kh] climbed up into a sycamore tree so that he could see him, because he was going to go through that way. 5 And when he came to the place, Jesus looked up and[ki] said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, because it is necessary for me to stay at your house today!” 6 And he came down quickly and welcomed him joyfully. 7 And when they[kj] saw it,[kk] they all began to complain,[kl] saying, “He has gone in to find lodging with a man who is a sinner!” 8 And Zacchaeus stopped and[km] said to the Lord, “Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I am giving to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone, I am paying it[kn] back four times as much!” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save those who are lost.”
The Parable of the Ten Minas
11 Now while[ko] they were listening to these things, he went on and[kp] told a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and they thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately. 12 Therefore he said, “A certain nobleman traveled to a distant country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. 13 And summoning ten of his own slaves, he gave them ten minas[kq] and said to them, ‘Do business until I come back.’[kr] 14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to be king over us!’ 15 And it happened that when he returned after[ks] receiving the kingdom, he ordered these slaves to whom he had given the money to be summoned to him, so that he could know what they had gained by trading. 16 So the first arrived, saying, ‘Sir, your mina has made ten minas more!’ 17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good slave! Because you have been faithful in a very small thing, have authority[kt] over ten cities.’ 18 And the second came, saying, ‘Sir, your mina has made five minas.’ 19 So he said to this one also, ‘And you be over five cities.’ 20 And another came, saying, ‘Sir, behold your mina, which I had put away for safekeeping in a piece of cloth. 21 For I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man—you withdraw what you did not deposit, and you reap what you did not sow!’ 22 He said to him, ‘By your own words[ku] I will judge you, wicked slave! You knew that I am a severe man, withdrawing what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow. 23 And why did you not give my money to the bank, and I, when I[kv] returned, would have collected it with interest?’ 24 And to the bystanders he said, ‘Take away from him the mina and give it[kw] to the one who has the ten minas!’ 25 And they said to him, ‘Sir, he has ten minas.’ 26 ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given. But from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 27 But these enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them[kx] here and slaughter them in my presence!’”
The Triumphal Entry
28 And after he[ky] had said these things, he traveled on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 And it happened that when he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, to the hill[kz] called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, ‘Go into the village in front of you, in which as you[la] enter you will find a colt tied, on which no person has ever[lb] sat, and untie it and[lc] bring it.[ld] 31 And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’[le] you will say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’” 32 So those who were sent went and[lf] found it[lg] just as he had told them. 33 And as[lh] they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, ‘Why are you untying the colt?’ 34 So they said, ‘The Lord has need of it.’ 35 And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they put Jesus on it. 36 And as[li] he was going along, they were spreading out their cloaks on the road. 37 Now as[lj] he was drawing near by this time to the descent from the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began rejoicing to praise God with a loud voice for all the miracles that they had seen, 38 saying,
“Blessed is the king,
the one who comes in the name of the Lord![lk]
Peace in heaven
and glory in the highest!”
39 And some of the Pharisees from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” 40 And he answered and[ll] said, “I tell you that[lm] if these keep silent, the stones will cry out!”
Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem
41 And when he approached and[ln] saw the city, he wept over it, 42 saying, “If you had known on this day—even you—the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For days will come upon you and your enemies will put up an embankment[lo] against you, and will surround you and press you hard from all directions. 44 And they will raze you to the ground, you and your children within you, and will not leave a stone upon a stone within you, because[lp] you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”
The Cleansing of the Temple
45 And he entered into the temple courts[lq] and[lr] began to drive out those who were selling, 46 saying to them, “It is written, ‘And my house will be a house of prayer,’[ls] but you have made it a cave of robbers!”
47 And he was teaching every day in the temple courts,[lt] and the chief priests and the scribes and the most prominent men of the people were seeking to destroy him. 48 And they did not find anything they could do, because all the people were paying close attention to what they were hearing from him.
Jesus’ Authority Challenged
20 And it happened that on one of the days while[lu] he was teaching the people in the temple courts[lv] and proclaiming the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes approached together with the elders 2 and said, saying to him, “Tell us, by what authority you are doing these things, or who is the one who gave you this authority? 3 And he answered and[lw] said to them, “I also will ask you a question, and you tell me: 4 The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men? 5 And they discussed this[lx] with one another, saying, “If we say ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ 6 But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us to death, because they are convinced that John was a prophet.” 7 And they replied that they did not know where it was from. 8 And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”
The Parable of the Tenant Farmers in the Vineyard
9 And he began to tell the people this parable: “A man[ly] planted a vineyard, and leased it to tenant farmers, and went on a journey for a long time. 10 And at the proper time he sent a slave to the tenant farmers, so that they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenant farmers sent him away empty-handed after[lz] beating him.[ma] 11 And he proceeded to send another slave, but they beat and dishonored that one also, and[mb] sent him[mc] away empty-handed. 12 And he proceeded to send a third, but they wounded and[md] threw out this one also. 13 So the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What should I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.’ 14 But when[me] the tenant farmers saw him, they began to reason[mf] with one another, saying, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him so that the inheritance will become ours!’ 15 And they threw him out of the vineyard and[mg] killed him.[mh] What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and destroy those tenant farmers and give the vineyard to others.” And when they[mi] heard this,[mj] they said, “May this never happen!” 17 But he looked intently at them and[mk] said, “What then is this that is written:
‘The stone which the builders rejected,
this has become the cornerstone.’[ml]
18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and the one on whom it falls—it will crush him!” 19 And the scribes and the chief priests sought to lay their[mm] hands on him at that same hour, and they were afraid of the people, for they knew that he had told this parable with reference to them.
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