And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.

But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.

But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him:

how he entered the house of God and ate the showbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests?

And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—that they might accuse Him.

Behold, My Servant

But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there. And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all.

He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.

The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.

The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.

Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.”

Jesus’ Mother and Brothers Send for Him

While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him.

Then one said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.”

But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away.

For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.’

But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;

But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them.

Prophecy and the Parables

All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them,

The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls,

who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?”

So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.”

Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask.

And the king was sorry; nevertheless, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he commanded it to be given to her.

And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.