Read the Gospels in 40 Days
Divorce
10 Then[a] Jesus[b] left that place and went to the region of Judea and[c] beyond the Jordan River.[d] Again crowds gathered to him, and again, as was his custom, he taught them. 2 Then some Pharisees[e] came, and to test him[f] they asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his[g] wife?”[h] 3 He answered them,[i] “What did Moses command you?” 4 They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her.”[j] 5 But Jesus said to them, “He wrote this commandment for you because of your hard hearts.[k] 6 But from the beginning of creation he[l] made them male and female.[m] 7 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother,[n] 8 and the two will become one flesh.[o] So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
10 In the house once again, the disciples asked him about this. 11 So[p] he told them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. 12 And if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”[q]
Jesus and Little Children
13 Now[r] people were bringing little children to him for him to touch,[s] but the disciples scolded those who brought them.[t] 14 But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of God[u] belongs to such as these.[v] 15 I tell you the truth,[w] whoever does not receive[x] the kingdom of God like a child[y] will never[z] enter it.” 16 After he took the children in his arms, he placed his hands on them and blessed them.
The Rich Man
17 Now[aa] as Jesus[ab] was starting out on his way, someone ran up to him, fell on his knees, and said, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”[ac] 18 Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good?[ad] No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.’”[ae] 20 The man[af] said to him, “Teacher, I have wholeheartedly obeyed[ag] all these laws[ah] since my youth.”[ai] 21 As Jesus looked at him, he felt love for him and said, “You lack one thing. Go, sell whatever you have and give the money[aj] to the poor, and you will have treasure[ak] in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 But at this statement, the man[al] looked sad and went away sorrowful, for he was very rich.[am]
23 Then[an] Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”[ao] 24 The disciples were astonished at these words. But again Jesus said to them,[ap] “Children, how hard it is[aq] to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel[ar] to go through the eye of a needle[as] than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 They were even more astonished and said[at] to one another, “Then[au] who can be saved?”[av] 27 Jesus looked at them and replied, “This is impossible for mere humans,[aw] but not for God; all things are possible for God.”
28 Peter began to speak to him, “Look,[ax] we have left everything to follow you!”[ay] 29 Jesus said, “I tell you the truth,[az] there is no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the gospel 30 who will not receive in this age[ba] a hundred times as much—homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, fields, all with persecutions[bb]—and in the age to come, eternal life.[bc] 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
Third Prediction of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection
32 They were on the way, going up to Jerusalem. Jesus was going ahead of them, and they were amazed, but those who followed were afraid. He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what was going to happen to him. 33 “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and experts in the law.[bd] They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles. 34 They will mock him, spit on him, flog[be] him severely, and kill him. Yet[bf] after three days,[bg] he will rise again.”
The Request of James and John
35 Then[bh] James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him and said, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” 36 He said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” 37 They said to him, “Permit one of us to sit at your right hand and the other at your left in your glory.” 38 But Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I experience?”[bi] 39 They said to him, “We are able.”[bj] Then Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism I experience, 40 but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give. It is for those for whom it has been prepared.”[bk]
41 Now[bl] when the other ten[bm] heard this,[bn] they became angry with James and John. 42 Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions use their authority over them. 43 But it is not this way among you. Instead whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave[bo] of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom[bp] for many.”
Healing Blind Bartimaeus
46 They came to Jericho. As Jesus[bq] and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus the son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the road. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to shout,[br] “Jesus, Son of David,[bs] have mercy[bt] on me!” 48 Many scolded[bu] him to get him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So[bv] they called the blind man and said to him, “Have courage! Get up! He is calling you.” 50 He threw off his cloak, jumped up, and came to Jesus. 51 Then[bw] Jesus said to him,[bx] “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man replied, “Rabbi,[by] let me see again.”[bz] 52 Jesus said to him, “Go, your faith has healed you.” Immediately he regained[ca] his sight and followed him on the road.
The Triumphal Entry
11 Now[cb] as they approached Jerusalem, near Bethphage[cc] and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives,[cd] Jesus[ce] sent two of his disciples 2 and said to them, “Go to the village ahead of you.[cf] As soon as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there that has never been ridden.[cg] Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it[ch] and will send it back here soon.’” 4 So[ci] they went and found a colt tied at a door, outside in the street, and untied it. 5 Some people standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They replied as Jesus had told them, and the bystanders[cj] let them go. 7 Then[ck] they brought the colt to Jesus, threw their cloaks[cl] on it, and he sat on it.[cm] 8 Many spread their cloaks on the road and others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Both those who went ahead and those who followed kept shouting, “Hosanna![cn] Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord![co] 10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!” 11 Then[cp] Jesus[cq] entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. And after looking around at everything, he went out to Bethany with the twelve since it was already late.
Cursing of the Fig Tree
12 Now[cr] the next day, as they went out from Bethany, he was hungry. 13 After noticing in the distance a fig tree with leaves, he went to see if he could find any fruit[cs] on it. When he came to it he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 He said to it,[ct] “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.[cu]
Cleansing the Temple
15 Then[cv] they came to Jerusalem. Jesus[cw] entered the temple area[cx] and began to drive out those who were selling and buying in the temple courts.[cy] He turned over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves, 16 and he would not permit anyone to carry merchandise[cz] through the temple courts.[da] 17 Then he began to teach[db] them and said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’?[dc] But you have turned it into a den[dd] of robbers!”[de] 18 The chief priests and the experts in the law[df] heard it and they considered how they could assassinate[dg] him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed by his teaching. 19 When evening came, Jesus and his disciples[dh] went out of the city.
The Withered Fig Tree
20 In the morning as they passed by, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. 21 Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered.” 22 Jesus said to them, “Have faith in God. 23 I tell you the truth,[di] if someone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24 For this reason I tell you, whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven will[dj] also forgive you your sins.”[dk]
The Authority of Jesus
27 They came again to Jerusalem. While Jesus[dl] was walking in the temple courts,[dm] the chief priests, the experts in the law,[dn] and the elders came up to him 28 and said, “By what authority[do] are you doing these things? Or who gave you this authority to do these things?” 29 Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question. Answer me and I will tell you by what authority I do these things: 30 John’s baptism—was it from heaven or from people?[dp] Answer me.” 31 They discussed with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ 32 But if we say, ‘From people—’” (they feared the crowd, for they all considered John to be truly a prophet). 33 So[dq] they answered Jesus,[dr] “We don’t know.”[ds] Then Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you[dt] by what authority[du] I am doing these things.”
The Parable of the Tenants
12 Then[dv] he began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard.[dw] He put a fence around it, dug a pit for its winepress, and built a watchtower. Then[dx] he leased it to tenant farmers[dy] and went on a journey. 2 At harvest time he sent a slave[dz] to the tenants to collect from them[ea] his portion of the crop.[eb] 3 But[ec] those tenants[ed] seized his slave,[ee] beat him,[ef] and sent him away empty-handed.[eg] 4 So[eh] he sent another slave to them again. This one they struck on the head and treated outrageously. 5 He sent another, and that one they killed. This happened to many others, some of whom were beaten, others killed. 6 He had one left, his one dear son.[ei] Finally he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 7 But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and the inheritance will be ours!’ 8 So[ej] they seized him,[ek] killed him, and threw his body[el] out of the vineyard.[em] 9 What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy[en] those tenants and give the vineyard to others.[eo] 10 Have you not read this scripture:
‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.[ep]
11 This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?”[eq]
12 Now[er] they wanted to arrest him (but they feared the crowd), because they realized that he told this parable against them. So[es] they left him and went away.[et]
Paying Taxes to Caesar
13 Then[eu] they sent some of the Pharisees[ev] and Herodians[ew] to trap him with his own words.[ex] 14 When they came they said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are truthful and do not court anyone’s favor, because you show no partiality[ey] but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.[ez] Is it right[fa] to pay taxes[fb] to Caesar[fc] or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?” 15 But he saw through their hypocrisy and said[fd] to them, “Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius[fe] and let me look at it.” 16 So[ff] they brought one, and he said to them, “Whose image[fg] is this, and whose inscription?” They replied,[fh] “Caesar’s.” 17 Then Jesus said to them, “Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”[fi] And they were utterly amazed at him.
Marriage and the Resurrection
18 Sadducees[fj] (who say there is no resurrection)[fk] also came to him and asked him,[fl] 19 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us: ‘If a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, that man[fm] must marry[fn] the widow and father children[fo] for his brother.’[fp] 20 There were seven brothers. The first one married,[fq] and when he died he had no children. 21 The second married her and died without any children, and likewise the third. 22 None of the seven had children. Finally, the woman died too. 23 In the resurrection, when they rise again,[fr] whose wife will she be? For all seven had married her.”[fs] 24 Jesus said to them, “Aren’t you deceived[ft] for this reason, because you don’t know the scriptures or the power of God? 25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels[fu] in heaven. 26 Now as for the dead being raised,[fv] have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush,[fw] how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the[fx] God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?[fy] 27 He is not the God of the dead but of the living.[fz] You are badly mistaken!”
The Greatest Commandment
28 Now[ga] one of the experts in the law[gb] came and heard them debating. When he saw that Jesus[gc] answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is: ‘Listen, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love[gd] the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’[ge] 31 The second is: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[gf] There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 The expert in the law said to him, “That is true, Teacher; you are right to say that he is one, and there is no one else besides him.[gg] 33 And to love him with all your heart, with all your mind, and with all your strength[gh] and to love your neighbor as yourself[gi] is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 When Jesus saw that he had answered thoughtfully, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”[gj] Then no one dared any longer to question him.
The Messiah: David’s Son and Lord
35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he said, “How is it that the experts in the law[gk] say that the Christ[gl] is David’s son?[gm] 36 David himself, by the Holy Spirit, said,
37 If David himself calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?”[gp] And the large crowd was listening to him with delight.
Warnings About Experts in the Law
38 In his teaching Jesus[gq] also said, “Watch out for the experts in the law.[gr] They like walking[gs] around in long robes and elaborate greetings[gt] in the marketplaces,[gu] 39 and the best seats in the synagogues[gv] and the places of honor at banquets. 40 They[gw] devour widows’ property,[gx] and as a show make long prayers. These men will receive a more severe punishment.”
The Widow’s Offering
41 Then[gy] he[gz] sat down opposite the offering box,[ha] and watched the crowd putting coins into it. Many rich people were throwing in large amounts. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins,[hb] worth less than a penny. 43 He called his disciples and said to them, “I tell you the truth,[hc] this poor widow has put more into the offering box[hd] than all the others.[he] 44 For they all gave out of their wealth.[hf] But she, out of her poverty, put in what she had to live on, everything she had.”[hg]
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