Bible in 90 Days

Chapter 5

The Sermon on the Mount—Magna Carta of the Christian Life^[a]

The Beatitudes.^[b] When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on the mountain. After he was seated, his disciples gathered around him. ² Then he began to teach them as follows:

¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and utter all kinds of calumnies against you for my sake. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. In the same manner, they persecuted the prophets who preceded you.

¹³ Salt of the Earth and Light of the World.^[c]“You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, what can be done to make it salty once again? It is no longer good for anything, and thus it is cast out and trampled underfoot.

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city built upon a mountain cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Nor would someone light a lamp and then put it under a basket; rather, it is placed upon a lampstand so that it may afford light to all in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, your light must shine so that it can be seen by others; this will enable them to observe your good works and give praise to your Father in heaven.

The New Law^[d]

¹⁷ The Fulfillment of the Law.“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill them. ¹⁸ Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single letter,^[e] not even a tiny portion of a letter, will disappear from the Law until all things have been accomplished. ¹⁹ Therefore, whoever breaks even one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be considered least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever observes these commandments and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰ I tell you, if your righteousness does not exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

²¹ Anger.^[f]“You have heard that your ancestors were told: ‘You shall not kill, and anyone who kills will be subject to judgment.’ ²² But I say this to you: Anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment, and whoever addresses his brother in an insulting way will answer for it before the Sanhedrin, and whoever calls his brother a fool will be liable to the fires of Gehenna.^[g]

²³ “Therefore, when offering your gift at the altar, if you should remember that your brother has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there at the altar and first go to be reconciled with your brother. Then return and offer your gift.

²⁵ “Come to terms quickly with your opponent while you are on the way to court with him. If you fail to do so, he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge will put you in the custody of the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. ²⁶ Believe the truth of what I tell you: you will not be given your freedom until you have paid your debt down to the last penny.^[h]

²⁷ Adultery.^[i]“You have heard that it was said of old: ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ ²⁸ But I say to you that anyone who looks with lust at a woman has already committed adultery with her in his heart. ²⁹ If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is preferable for you to lose one part of your body than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna. ³⁰ And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is preferable for you to lose one of your limbs than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna.

³¹ Divorce.“It has also been said: ‘Whoever divorces his wife shall give her a certificate of dismissal.’ ³² But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except if the marriage was unlawful, causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

³³ Oaths.^[j]“Again, you have heard that our ancestors were told: ‘Do not swear falsely, but fulfill the vows you have made to the Lord.’ ³⁴ But what I tell you is this: Do not swear at all, either by heaven, since it is God’s throne, ³⁵ or by earth, since that is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, since that is the city of the great King. ³⁶ Nor should you swear by your head, for you cannot turn one hair of it white or black. ³⁷ All you need to do is to say ‘Yes’ if you mean ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ if you mean ‘No.’ Anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

³⁸ Retaliation.^[k]“You have heard that it was said: ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ ³⁹ But I say to you: Offer no resistance to someone who is wicked. If someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn and offer him the other cheek as well. ⁴⁰ If anyone wishes to sue you to gain possession of your tunic, give him your cloak as well. ⁴¹ If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him for a second mile. ⁴² Give to anyone who begs from you, and do not turn your back on anyone who wishes to borrow from you.

⁴³ Love for Enemies.^[l]“You have heard that it was said: ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I say to you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. ⁴⁵ This will make you children of your heavenly Father. For he causes his sun to rise on evil people as well as on those who are good, and his rain falls on both the righteous and the wicked. ⁴⁶ If you love only those who love you, what reward will you receive? Do not even tax collectors^[m] do the same? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your brethren, what about that is so extraordinary? Even the pagans do as much.

⁴⁸ Perfection.^[n]“Therefore, strive to be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.

The True Practice of Religion^[o]

Chapter 6

Giving Alms in Secret. ¹ “Beware of performing righteous deeds before others in order to impress them. If you do so, you will receive no reward from your Father in heaven. ² Therefore, whenever you give alms, do not trumpet your generosity, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets in order to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have already received their reward. ³ But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. ⁴ Your almsgiving must be done in secret. And your Father who sees everything that is done in secret will reward you.

Praying in Secret. ⁵ “Whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may observe them doing so. Amen, I say to you, they have already received their reward. ⁶ But when you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees everything that is done in secret will reward you.

The Lord’s Prayer.^{[p] 7} “When you pray do not go on babbling endlessly as the pagans do, for they believe that they are more likely to be heard because of their many words. ⁸ Do not imitate them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

⁹ “This is how you should pray:

¹⁴ If you forgive others for the wrongs they have done, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

¹⁶ Fasting in Secret.^[r]“Whenever you fast, do not assume a gloomy expression like the hypocrites who contort their faces so that others may realize that they are fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. ¹⁷ But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, ¹⁸ so that the fact that you are fasting will not be obvious to others but only to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees everything that is done in secret will reward you.

¹⁹ Treasures in Heaven.^[s]“Do not store up treasures for yourselves on earth, where they will be destroyed by moth and rust and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ Rather, store up treasure for yourselves in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves cannot break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there will your heart also be.

²² The Lamp of the Body.^[t]“The eyes are the lamp of the body. If your eyes are sound, your whole body will be filled with light. ²³ However, if your eyes are diseased, your whole body will be in darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great will that darkness be!

²⁴ God and Money.“No one can serve two masters. For you will either hate the one and love the other or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.^[u]

²⁵ Seek First the Kingdom of God.^[v]“Therefore, heed my words. Do not be concerned about your life and what you will have to eat or drink, or about your body and what you will wear. Surely life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.

²⁶ “Gaze upon the birds in the sky. They do not sow or reap or store in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of far greater value than they? ²⁷ Can any of you through worrying add a single moment to your span of life?

²⁸ “And why are you concerned about what you are to wear? Consider the lilies of the field and how they grow. They neither labor nor spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his royal splendor was clothed like one of these. ³⁰ If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will he not all the more clothe you, O you of little faith?

³¹ “Therefore, stop being anxious about such things. Do not say: ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² These are things that are of concern to the Gentiles. Your heavenly Father is fully aware of all your needs. ³³ Rather, seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

³⁴ “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough troubles of its own.

Chapter 7

Do Not Judge.^{[w] 1} “Do not judge, so that you in turn may not be judged. ² For you will be judged in the same way that you judge others, and the measure that you use for others will be used to measure you.

³ “Why do you take note of the splinter in your brother’s eye but do not notice the wooden plank in your own eye? ⁴ How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while all the time the wooden plank remains in your own? ⁵ You hypocrite! First remove the wooden plank from your own eye, and then you will be able to see clearly enough to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.

Do Not Profane Sacred Things.^{[x] 6} “Do not give to dogs anything that is holy. And do not cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet and then proceed to tear you to pieces.

Ask, Seek, Knock.^{[y] 7} “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks will receive, and those who seek will find, and to those who knock the door will be opened.

⁹ “Is there anyone among you who would give a stone to his son if he asks for bread, ¹⁰ or hand him a snake if he asks for a fish? ¹¹ If you then, despite your evil nature, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

¹² The Golden Rule of Love.^[z]“In everything, deal with others as you would like them to deal with you. This is the Law and the Prophets.

¹³ The Two Ways.^[aa]“Enter through the narrow gate, for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. ¹⁴ But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and those who find it are few in number.

¹⁵ False Prophets and True Disciples.^[ab]“Be on guard against false prophets who come to you disguised in sheep’s clothing, but who inwardly are ravenous wolves. ¹⁶ By their fruits you will know them. Does one pick grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but a rotten tree produces bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Thus, by their fruits you will know them.

²¹ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my heavenly Father. ²² Many will say to me on that day,^[ac] ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not perform many miracles in your name?’ ²³ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers!’

²⁴ The Wise and Foolish Builders.^[ad]“Everyone who hears these words of mine and acts in accordance with them will be like a wise man who constructed his house on a rock foundation. ²⁵ The rain came down, the flood waters rose, and fierce winds battered that house. However, it did not collapse, because it had its foundations on rock.

²⁶ “In contrast, everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act in accordance with them will be like a fool who constructed his house on a foundation of sand. ²⁷ The rain came down, the flood waters rose, and the winds blew and buffeted that house. And it collapsed with a great crash.”

²⁸ The Authority of Jesus.^[ae] When Jesus had finished this discourse, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, ²⁹ because he taught them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

The Signs of the Kingdom of God^[af]

Ten Miracles^[ag]

Chapter 8

Jesus Heals a Man with Leprosy.^{[ah] 1} When he had come down from the mountain, large crowds followed him. ² Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached, knelt before him, and said, “Lord, if you choose to do so, you can make me clean.” ³ He stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I do choose. Be made clean.” Immediately, his leprosy was cured. ⁴ Then Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one, but go and show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses prescribed. That will be proof for them.”

Jesus Heals the Centurion’s Servant.^{[ai] 5} When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and pleaded for his help. ⁶ “Lord,” he said, “my servant is lying at home paralyzed and enduring agonizing sufferings.” ⁷ Jesus said to him, “I will come and cure him.” ⁸ The centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. But simply say the word and my servant will be healed.^{[aj] 9} For I myself am a man subject to authority, with soldiers who are subject to me. I say to one ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

¹⁰ When Jesus heard this, he was amazed, and he said to those who were following him, “Amen, I say to you, in no one throughout Israel have I found faith as great as this. ¹¹ Many, I tell you, will come from the east and the west to sit with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob at the banquet in the kingdom of heaven. ¹² But the heirs of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

¹³ Jesus then said to the centurion, “Return home. Your petition has been granted because of your faith.” And at that very hour the servant was healed.

¹⁴ Jesus Heals Peter’s Mother-in-Law. Jesus then entered the house of Peter and found Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. ¹⁵ He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to serve him.

¹⁶ Jesus Drives Out the Evil Spirits.^[ak] That evening they brought to him many who were possessed by demons. He cast out the spirits with a command and cured all who were sick. ¹⁷ This was to fulfill the words of the prophet Isaiah:

¹⁸ The Cost of Following Jesus.^[al] When Jesus saw the great crowds around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. ¹⁹ A scribe approached him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” ²⁰ Jesus told him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man^[am] has nowhere to lay his head.” ²¹ Another man, one of the disciples, said, “Lord, allow me to go first and bury my father.” ²² Jesus answered him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”

²³ Jesus Calms the Storm.^[an] He then got into the boat, followed by his disciples. ²⁴ Suddenly, a great storm came up on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves. But he was asleep. ²⁵ And so they went to him and awakened him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are going to die!” ²⁶ He said to them in reply, “Why are you so frightened, O you of little faith?”

Then he stood up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. ²⁷ They were amazed and asked, “What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and the sea obey?”

²⁸ Jesus Heals Two Demon-Possessed Men.^[ao] When he reached the region of the Gadarenes^[ap] on the other side of the lake, two men who were possessed by demons came out of the tombs and approached him. They were so fiercely violent that no one dared to pass that way. ²⁹ Suddenly, they shouted, “What do you want with us, Son of God?^[aq] Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?”

³⁰ Some distance away a large herd of pigs was feeding. ³¹ The demons pleaded with him, “If you cast us out, send us into the herd of pigs.” ³² He said to them, “Go, then!” They came out and entered the pigs. The entire herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake, and they perished in the water. ³³ Those tending the pigs ran off, and when they reached the town, they related the whole story including what had happened to the men who had been possessed. ³⁴ Then the whole town came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him they begged him to leave their region.

Chapter 9

The Healing of a Paralyzed Man.^{[ar] 1} Therefore, Jesus got into a boat and, crossing over the lake, arrived at his hometown.^{[as] 2} Some people then approached him, carrying a paralyzed man lying on a bed. On perceiving their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Take heart, son. Your sins are forgiven.”

³ On hearing this, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.”^{[at] 4} Jesus perceived what they were thinking, and he said, “Why do you harbor evil thoughts in your hearts? ^5 [au]Which is easier, to say: ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say: ‘Stand up and walk’? ⁶ But so that you may come to realize that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralyzed man—“Stand up, take your bed, and go to your home.” ⁷ The man got up and returned to his home. ⁸ When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe, and they glorified God for having given such authority to men.

Jesus Calls Matthew.^{[av] 9} As Jesus walked on from there, he noticed a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. Jesus said to him, “Follow me,” and he got up and followed him.

¹⁰ Jesus Dines with Sinners. When he was sitting at dinner in the house, many tax collectors^[aw] and sinners were seated with Jesus and his disciples. ¹¹ On seeing this, the Pharisees said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” ¹² When Jesus heard this, he said, “It is not the healthy who need a physician, but rather those who are sick. ¹³ Go and learn what this text means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.”

¹⁴ A Time of Joy and Grace.^[ax] Then the disciples of John came to him and asked, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast but your disciples do not do so?” ¹⁵ Jesus answered, “How can the wedding guests mourn while the bridegroom is still with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.

¹⁶ “No one sews a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak, because the patch eventually pulls away from the cloak and a worse tear results. ¹⁷ Nor do people pour new wine into old wineskins, for if they do, the wineskins burst, the wine spills forth, and the skins are ruined. Rather, they pour new wine into fresh wineskins. In this way both are preserved.”

¹⁸ Jesus Heals a Sick Woman and Raises a Dead Girl.^[ay] While he was saying these things to them, an official^[az] came forward. He knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But if you come and lay your hand on her, she will live.” ¹⁹ Jesus then rose and followed him, together with his disciples.

²⁰ Suddenly, a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak. ²¹ For she thought to herself, “If only I touch his cloak, I shall be healed.” ²² Jesus turned and saw her, and he said, “Take heart, daughter! Your faith has healed you.” And from that moment the woman was cured.

²³ When Jesus arrived at the official’s house and saw the flute players^[ba] and the crowd making a commotion, ²⁴ he said, “Go away! The girl is not dead; she is asleep,”^[bb] but they laughed at him. ²⁵ When the people had been sent outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the little girl stood up. ²⁶ And the news of this spread throughout the entire district.

²⁷ Jesus Heals Two Blind Men. As Jesus proceeded from there, two blind men followed him, crying out loudly, “Son of David,^[bc] have pity on us.” ²⁸ When he had gone indoors, the blind men approached him. Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I can do this?” They replied, “Yes, Lord, we do.” ²⁹ Then Jesus touched their eyes, saying, “Let it be done for you according to your faith.” ³⁰ And their sight was restored. Then Jesus sternly warned them, “See to it that no one learns about this.” ³¹ But as soon as they had departed, they spread the news about him throughout that entire district.

³² Jesus Heals a Mute Demoniac. As they left, a man who was possessed and unable to speak was brought to him. ³³ When the demon had been driven out, the man who had been mute was able to speak. The crowds were amazed, and they said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” ³⁴ But the Pharisees responded, “He casts out demons by the prince of demons.”^[bd]

³⁵ The Harvest Is Abundant.^[be] Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every kind of illness and disease. ³⁶ When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were distressed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷ Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few. ³⁸ Therefore, ask the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers for his harvest.”

Instructions to the Apostles: The Charter of the Apostolate^[bf]

Chapter 10

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles.^{[bg] 1} Calling his twelve disciples together, he gave them authority over unclean spirits, with the power to drive them out and to cure every kind of disease and illness.

² These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; ³ Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; ⁴ Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot,^[bh] the one who betrayed him.

⁵ These twelve Jesus sent forth after giving them the following instructions: “Do not travel^[bi] to the territory of the Gentiles, and enter no Samaritan town. ⁶ Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. ⁷ And as you go, proclaim: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ ⁸ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. You received without payment; give in the same way. ⁹ Take along no gold or silver or copper in your purses, ¹⁰ no sack for your journey, or an extra tunic, or sandals, or a staff. For the laborer deserves his keep.

¹¹ “Whatever town or village you enter, look for some honorable person who lives there, and stay with him until you leave. ¹² As you enter a house, extend your blessing upon it. ¹³ If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. ¹⁴ If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your message, shake the dust from your feet^[bj] as you leave that house or town. ¹⁵ Amen, I say to you, it will be more bearable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah^[bk] on the day of judgment than for that town.

¹⁶ No Servant Is above His Master.^[bl]“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore, be as cunning as serpents and yet as innocent as doves. ¹⁷ Be on your guard, for people will hand you over to courts^[bm] and scourge you in their synagogues, ¹⁸ and you will be brought before governors and kings because of me to testify before them and the Gentiles.

¹⁹ “When they hand you over, do not be concerned about how you are to speak or what you are to say. When the time comes, you will be given what you are to say. ²⁰ For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

²¹ “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise up against their parents and have them put to death. ²² You will be hated by all because of my name, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. ²³ When you are persecuted in one town, flee to another. Amen, I say to you, you will not have finished traveling through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.^[bn]

²⁴ “No student is greater than his teacher, nor a servant greater than his master. ²⁵ It is enough for the student to be like his teacher and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul,^[bo] how much more those of his household?

²⁶ The Conditions of Discipleship.^[bp]“Therefore, do not be afraid of them. There is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing secret that will not become known. ²⁷ What I say to you in the dark, proclaim in the daylight, and what you hear whispered, shout from the housetops.

²⁸ “Have no fear of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, fear the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.^[bq]

²⁹ “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them can fall to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. ³⁰ Even the hairs on your head have all been counted. ³¹ So do not be afraid; you are worth far more than any number of sparrows.

³² “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. ³³ But whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my heavenly Father.

³⁴ “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace but a sword.^[br]

³⁷ Whoever Receives You Receives Me.“Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me, ³⁸ and anyone who does not take up his cross^[bs] and follow me is not worthy of me. ³⁹ Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.^[bt]

⁴⁰ “Whoever receives you receives me; and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. ⁴¹ Whoever receives a prophet^[bu] because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous man because he is righteous will receive a righteous man’s reward. ⁴² And whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple, amen, I say to you, he will not go unrewarded.”

Jesus Is the Expected Messiah^[bv]

Jesus and John the Baptist^[bw]

Chapter 11

Report to John What You Hear and See.^{[bx] 1} When Jesus had finished giving these instructions to his twelve disciples, he moved on from there to teach and preach in their towns.

² When John who was in prison heard what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples ³ to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come,^[by] or are we to wait for another?” ⁴ Jesus answered them, “Go back and tell John what you hear and see: ⁵ the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. ⁶ And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”^[bz]

John Is the Elijah Who Was Destined To Return.^{[ca] 7} As John’s disciples were departing, Jesus spoke to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swaying in the wind? ⁸ Then what did you go out to see? Someone robed in fine clothing? Those who wear fine clothing are found in royal palaces. ⁹ What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and far more than a prophet. ¹⁰ This is the one about whom it is written:

¹¹ “Amen, I say to you, among those born of women, no one has been greater than John the Baptist, and yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.^{[cb] 12} From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and the violent are taking it by force. ¹³ For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until the arrival of John. ¹⁴ And if you are willing to accept it, John is the Elijah who was destined to return. ¹⁵ He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

¹⁶ Indecisive Children.^[cc]“To what shall I compare this generation? It is like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another:

¹⁸ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said, ‘He is possessed.’ ¹⁹ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! He is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ Yet wisdom is proved right by her actions.”

²⁰ Woe to the Cities of Galilee.^[cd] Then he began to reproach the cities in which most of his mighty deeds had been performed because they had refused to repent. ²¹ “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the mighty deeds performed in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. ²² But I tell you, on the day of judgment it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than for you. ²³ And as for you, Capernaum:

For if the mighty deeds performed in your midst had been done in Sodom, it would be standing to this day. ²⁴ But I tell you, on the day of judgment it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom than for you.”

²⁵ The Self-Revelation of Jesus.^[ce] At that time, Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned and have revealed them to children. ²⁶ Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.

²⁷ “All things have been entrusted to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.

²⁸ The Gentle Mastery of Christ.^[cf]“Come to me, all you who are weary and overburdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Jesus Is the True Servant of God^[cg]

Chapter 12

Picking Grain on the Sabbath.^{[ch] 1} At that time, Jesus was walking through a field of grain on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. ² When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look at your disciples. They are doing what is forbidden on the Sabbath.”^[ci]

^3 [cj]He answered, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? ⁴ He entered the house of God and they ate the consecrated bread, which neither he nor his companions but only the priests were permitted to eat. ^5 [ck]Or have you not read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple violate the Sabbath, but they are considered to be without guilt? ⁶ I tell you, one greater than the temple is here. ⁷ If you had truly understood what is meant by the words, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned these men who are without guilt. ⁸ For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”^[cl]

The Man with a Withered Hand.^{[cm] 9} Moving on from that place, Jesus entered their synagogue. ¹⁰ A man was there who had a withered hand, and hoping to find some reason to accuse Jesus they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”

¹¹ He said to them, “Suppose you had only one sheep and it fell into a pit on the Sabbath. Would you not lay hold of it and lift it out? ¹² How much more valuable a man is than a sheep! Therefore, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” ¹³ Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and it was restored, so that it was as sound as the other one. ¹⁴ But the Pharisees went out and began to plot how they might put him to death.^[cn]

¹⁵ The Servant of the Lord.^[co] When Jesus became aware of this, he departed from that place. Many people followed him, and he healed all who were ill, ¹⁶ but he warned them not to make him known. ¹⁷ This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

²² Whoever Is Not with Me Is against Me.^[cp] Then they brought to him a man who was unable to either see or speak and who was possessed by a demon. He cured him, so that the man who was mute both spoke and saw. ²³ All the people were astonished, and they said, “Is this not the Son of David?”^{[cq] 24} But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul,^[cr] the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.”

²⁵ He knew what they were thinking, and he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and every city or household divided against itself cannot survive. ²⁶ If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom survive? ²⁷ If it is by Beelzebul that I cast out demons, by whom do your own children cast them out? Therefore, they will be your judges. ²⁸ But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you.

²⁹ “Or again, how can anyone break into a strong man’s house and steal his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then indeed he can ransack the house.

³⁰ “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. ³¹ Therefore, I tell you that every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. ³² Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.^[cs]

³³ A Tree and Its Fruits.^[ct]“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad. For a tree is known by its fruit. ³⁴ You brood of vipers! How can your speech be virtuous when you yourselves are evil? For the mouth speaks from the abundance of the heart. ³⁵ A good man brings forth good things from the good stored up within him, but an evil man brings forth evil things from his store of evil. ³⁶ I tell you that on the day of judgment people will have to render an account for every careless word they utter. ³⁷ For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

³⁸ The Sign of Jonah.^[cu] Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, “Teacher, we would like you to show us a sign.” ³⁹ He replied, “An evil and adulterous^[cv] generation asks for a sign, but the only sign it will be given is the sign of the prophet Jonah. ⁴⁰ For just as Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.^[cw]

^41 [cx]“On the day of judgment the inhabitants of Nineveh will rise up with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here. ⁴² On the day of judgment the queen of the south will rise up with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the farthest reaches of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now one greater than Solomon is here.

⁴³ New Offensive from the Evil Spirit.^[cy]“When an unclean spirit goes out of a person, it wanders through waterless regions seeking a place to rest, but it finds none. ⁴⁴ Then it says, ‘I will return to the home from which I departed.’And when it returns, it finds that home empty, swept clean, and put in order. ⁴⁵ Then it goes off and brings back with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they enter and settle there. As a result, the plight of that person is worse than before. So it will also be with this evil generation.”

⁴⁶ The True Family of Jesus.^[cz] While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brethren^[da] appeared. They were standing outside, wishing to speak with him. [ ⁴⁷ Someone told him, “Behold, your mother and your brothers are standing outside. They want to speak with you.”]^{[db] 48} But Jesus replied to that man, “Who is my mother? Who are my brethren?” ⁴⁹ Then, pointing to his disciples, he said, “Behold, my mother and my brethren. ⁵⁰ Whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother and sister and mother.”

Chapter 13

Jesus Teaches in Parables^[dc]

The Day of Parables. ¹ That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the side of the lake. ² However, such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down while all the people stood on the shore. ³ Then he told them many things in parables.^[dd]

The Parable of the Sower.^[de] He said: “A sower went out to sow. ⁴ As he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. ⁵ Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where there was little soil. They sprouted quickly, since the soil had very little depth, ⁶ but when the sun rose they were scorched, and since they lacked roots, they withered away. ⁷ Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. ⁸ But some seeds fell on rich soil and produced a crop—some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times what was sown. ⁹ He who has ears, let him hear!”

¹⁰ The Reason for Parables.^[df] Then his disciples approached and asked him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” ¹¹ He replied, “To you has been granted knowledge of the mysteries^[dg] of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. ¹² To the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance. As for the one who does not have, even what little he has will be taken away. ¹³ The reason I speak to them in parables is that they see but do not perceive and they listen but do not hear or understand. ¹⁴ In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says:

¹⁶ The Privilege of Discipleship.^[dh]“But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. ¹⁷ Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

¹⁸ The Explanation of the Parable of the Sower.^[di]“Therefore listen to the parable of the sower. ¹⁹ When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart; that is the seed sown on the path. ²⁰ As for the seed sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. ²¹ But such a person has no deep root, and he endures for only a short time. When some trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, he immediately falls away.

²² “The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, but worldly cares and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit. ²³ However, the seed sown in rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it; he indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

²⁴ The Parable of the Weeds.^[dj] He then proposed another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. ²⁵ While everyone was asleep, his enemy came, sowed weeds^[dk] among the wheat, and then went away. ²⁶ When the wheat sprouted and ripened, the weeds also appeared.

²⁷ “The owner’s servants came to him and asked, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where then did these weeds come from?’ ²⁸ He answered, ‘One of my enemies has done this.’ The servants then asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull up the weeds?’

²⁹ “He replied, ‘No, because in gathering the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them. ³⁰ Let them both grow together until the harvest. At harvest time, I will tell the reapers, “Collect the weeds first and tie them in bundles to be burned. Then gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”

³¹ The Parable of the Mustard Seed.^[dl] He proposed still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. ³² It is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of plants and becomes a tree large enough for the birds to come and make nests in its branches.”^[dm]

³³ The Parable of the Yeast.^[dn] And he offered them yet another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of flour until it was completely leavened.”

³⁴ The Use of Parables.^[do] Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables. Indeed he never spoke to them except in parables. ³⁵ This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet:

³⁶ Explanation of the Parable of the Weeds.^[dp] Then he dismissed the crowds and went into the house. His disciples approached him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” ³⁷ He answered, “The one who sows good seed is the Son of Man. ³⁸ The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the children of the kingdom. The weeds are the children of the evil one, ³⁹ and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world, and the reapers are angels.

⁴⁰ “Just as the weeds are collected and burned in the fire, so will it be at the end of the world. ⁴¹ The Son of Man will send forth his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all who cause sin and all whose deeds are evil. ⁴² They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ⁴³ Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

⁴⁴ The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl.^[dq]“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure buried in a field, which a man found and buried again. Then in his joy he went off and sold everything he had and bought that field.

⁴⁵ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. ⁴⁶ When he found one of great value, he went off and sold everything he had and bought it.

⁴⁷ The Parable of the Net.^[dr]“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net cast into the sea where it caught fish of every kind. ⁴⁸ When it was full, they hauled it ashore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish into baskets but discarded those that were worthless. ⁴⁹ Thus will it be at the end of the world. The angels will go forth and separate the wicked from the righteous ⁵⁰ and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

⁵¹ Conclusion.^[ds]“Have you understood all this?” he asked. They answered, “Yes.” ⁵² Then he said to them, “Therefore, every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings forth from his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”

The Authentic Faith of Those Converted^[dt]

Jesus Encounters Mixed Receptions^[du]

⁵³ Jesus Is Rejected at Nazareth.^[dv] When Jesus had finished these parables, he departed from that district.

⁵⁴ He came to his hometown, and he began to teach the people in the synagogue. They were astonished and wondered, “Where did this man get such wisdom and these mighty deeds? ⁵⁵ Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? Are not James and Joseph and Simon and Judas his brethren? ⁵⁶ And are not all his sisters here with us? Where then did this man get all this?” ⁵⁷ And so they took offense at him.

But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is always treated with honor except in his hometown and in his own house.” ⁵⁸ And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith.

Chapter 14

John the Baptist, Herod, and Jesus.^{[dw] 1} At that time Herod the tetrarch^[dx] heard reports about Jesus, ² and he said to his servants, “This man is John the Baptist. He has risen from the dead. That is why such powers are at work in him.”

³ Now Herod had ordered the arrest of John, put him in chains, and imprisoned him on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. ⁴ For John had told him, “It is against the law for you to have her.”

⁵ Herod wanted to put John to death, but he was afraid of the people because they regarded John as a prophet. ⁶ But at a birthday celebration for Herod, the daughter of Herodias^[dy] danced in front of the guests, and she pleased Herod so much ⁷ that he promised with an oath to give her anything she asked for. ⁸ Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”

⁹ The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests present there, he ordered that her request be granted. ¹⁰ He had John beheaded in the prison.^{[dz] 11} The head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who took it to her mother. ¹² John’s disciples came and removed the body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.

¹³ Jesus Feeds Five Thousand Men.^[ea]When Jesus received this news, he withdrew from there in a boat by himself to a deserted place, but when the people learned of it, they followed him on foot from the towns.^{[eb] 14} When he came ashore and saw the vast crowd, he had compassion on them and healed those who were sick.

¹⁵ When evening approached, the disciples came up to him and said, “This is a deserted place and the hour is now late. Send the people away now so that they can go to the villages to buy some food for themselves.” ¹⁶ Jesus replied, “There is no need for them to depart. Give them something to eat yourselves.” ¹⁷ But they answered, “All we have here are five loaves of bread and two fish.” ¹⁸ Jesus said, “Bring them here to me.”

¹⁹ Then he ordered the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.^{[ec] 20} They all ate and were satisfied. Then they gathered up the fragments that were left over—twelve full baskets. ²¹ Those who had eaten numbered about five thousand men, in addition to women and children.^[ed]

²² Jesus Walks on the Water.^[ee] Then Jesus instructed the disciples to get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he dismissed the crowds. ²³ After he sent them away, he went by himself up on the mountain to pray. When evening came, he was there alone. ²⁴ Meanwhile, the boat was already some distance from the shore, battered by waves and a strong wind.

²⁵ During the fourth watch^[ef] of the night, Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. ²⁶ When the disciples saw him walking on the water they were terrified, and they cried out in their fright, “It is a ghost!” ²⁷ But Jesus immediately spoke to them, saying, “Have courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”

²⁸ Peter answered, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you across the water.” ²⁹ He said, “Come!” Then Peter got out of the boat and started walking on the water toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he realized the force of the wind, he became frightened. As he began to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” ³¹ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught hold of him, saying, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” ³² After they got into the boat, the wind died down. ³³ Those in the boat fell to their knees in worship, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”^[eg]

³⁴ Jesus Heals the Sick at Gennesaret. After they had completed the crossing, they landed at Gennesaret.^{[eh] 35} When the people there recognized him, they sent word of his presence throughout the region. They also brought him all those who were sick ³⁶ and begged him to let them touch only the edge of his cloak. All who touched it were completely healed.

Chapter 15

Traditions That Falsify the Law of God. ¹ Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, ^2 [ei]“Why do your disciples ignore the tradition of the elders? They do not wash their hands before eating.” ³ He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? ⁴ For God said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and ‘Whoever curses his father or mother shall be put to death.’ ⁵ But you say, ‘If anyone says to his father or mother, “Anything I might have used for your support is dedicated to God,” ⁶ then he is excused from his duty to honor his father or mother.’ To uphold your tradition you have made God’s word null and void. ⁷ You hypocrites! How rightly did Isaiah prophesy about you when he said:

¹⁰ Clean and Unclean.^[ej] Then he called the people to him and said to them, “Listen and understand. ¹¹ It is not what goes into one’s mouth that defiles a person; what comes out of the mouth is what defiles him.”

¹² The disciples approached and said to him, “Do you realize that the Pharisees were greatly offended when they heard what you said?” ¹³ He answered, “Every plant that my Father has not planted will be uprooted. ¹⁴ Leave them alone. They are blind guides. And if one blind person guides another, they will both fall into a pit.”

¹⁵ Peter said to him, “Explain that parable to us.” ¹⁶ Jesus replied, “Are even you still without understanding? ¹⁷ Do you not realize that whatever goes into the mouth passes through the stomach and is discharged into the sewer? ¹⁸ But what comes out of the mouth originates in the heart, and this is what defiles a person. ¹⁹ For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, perjury, slander. ²⁰ These are the things that defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not make anyone unclean.”

²¹ The Faith of a Pagan Woman.^[ek] Jesus then left that place and withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.^{[el] 22} And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out to meet him and cried out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David. My daughter is sorely tormented by a demon.” ²³ But he did not say a word to her in reply.

So his disciples came and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.” ²⁴ He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” ²⁵ But she came and knelt at his feet, saying, “Lord, help me!” ²⁶ He answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” ²⁷ She replied, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from their masters’ table.” ²⁸ Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, you have great faith. Let it be done for you as you wish.” And from that moment her daughter was healed.

²⁹ Jesus Heals Many People.^[em]After leaving that region, Jesus walked along the shores of the Sea of Galilee, and going up onto the mountain, he sat down. ³⁰ Large crowds flocked to him, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the deformed, the mute, and many others. They placed them at his feet, and he cured them. ³¹ The crowds were amazed when they observed the mute speaking, the crippled made whole, the lame walking, and the blind with their sight restored, and they gave praise to the God of Israel.

³² Jesus Feeds Four Thousand Men. Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I am moved with compassion for these people, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.”

³³ The disciples said to him, “Where can we ever get enough bread in this deserted place to feed such a great crowd?” ³⁴ Jesus asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” “Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.”

³⁵ He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. ³⁶ Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. ³⁷ They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward, they picked up seven baskets full of what remained. ³⁸ Those who had eaten numbered four thousand men, not counting women and children. ³⁹ And when he had sent away the crowds, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan.