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10 And having called to him his twelve disciples, he gave to them power over unclean spirits, so as to be casting them out, and to be healing every sickness, and every malady.

And of the twelve apostles the names are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James of Zebedee, and John his brother;

Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the tax-gatherer; James of Alpheus, and Lebbeus who was surnamed Thaddeus;

Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who did also deliver him up.

These twelve did Jesus send forth, having given command to them, saying, `To the way of the nations go not away, and into a city of the Samaritans go not in,

and be going rather unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

`And, going on, proclaim saying that, the reign of the heavens hath come nigh;

infirm ones be healing, lepers be cleansing, dead be raising, demons be casting out -- freely ye did receive, freely give.

`Provide not gold, nor silver, nor brass in your girdles,

10 nor scrip for the way, nor two coats, nor sandals, nor staff -- for the workman is worthy of his nourishment.

11 `And into whatever city or village ye may enter, inquire ye who in it is worthy, and there abide, till ye may go forth.

12 And coming to the house salute it,

13 and if indeed the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it; and if it be not worthy, let your peace turn back to you.

14 `And whoever may not receive you nor hear your words, coming forth from that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet,

15 verily I say to you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.

16 `Lo, I do send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves, be ye therefore wise as the serpents, and simple as the doves.

17 And, take ye heed of men, for they will give you up to sanhedrims, and in their synagogues they will scourge you,

18 and before governors and kings ye shall be brought for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the nations.

19 `And whenever they may deliver you up, be not anxious how or what ye may speak, for it shall be given you in that hour what ye shall speak;

20 for ye are not the speakers, but the Spirit of your Father that is speaking in you.

21 `And brother shall deliver up brother to death, and father child, and children shall rise up against parents, and shall put them to death,

22 and ye shall be hated by all because of my name, but he who hath endured to the end, he shall be saved.

23 `And whenever they may persecute you in this city, flee to the other, for verily I say to you, ye may not have completed the cities of Israel till the Son of Man may come.

24 `A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his lord;

25 sufficient to the disciple that he may be as his teacher, and the servant as his lord; if the master of the house they did call Beelzeboul, how much more those of his household?

26 `Ye may not, therefore, fear them, for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed, and hid, that shall not be known;

27 that which I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light, and that which you hear at the ear, proclaim on the house-tops.

28 `And be not afraid of those killing the body, and are not able to kill the soul, but fear rather Him who is able both soul and body to destroy in gehenna.

29 `Are not two sparrows sold for an assar? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father;

30 and of you -- even the hairs of the head are all numbered;

31 be not therefore afraid, than many sparrows ye are better.

32 `Every one, therefore, who shall confess in me before men, I also will confess in him before my Father who is in the heavens;

33 and whoever shall deny me before men, I also will deny him before my Father who is in the heavens.

34 `Ye may not suppose that I came to put peace on the earth; I did not come to put peace, but a sword;

35 for I came to set a man at variance against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law,

36 and the enemies of a man are those of his household.

37 `He who is loving father or mother above me, is not worthy of me, and he who is loving son or daughter above me, is not worthy of me,

38 and whoever doth not receive his cross and follow after me, is not worthy of me.

39 `He who found his life shall lose it, and he who lost his life for my sake shall find it.

40 `He who is receiving you doth receive me, and he who is receiving me doth receive Him who sent me,

41 he who is receiving a prophet in the name of a prophet, shall receive a prophet's reward, and he who is receiving a righteous man in the name of a righteous man, shall receive a righteous man's reward,

42 and whoever may give to drink to one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say to you, he may not lose his reward.'

11 And it came to pass, when Jesus ended directing his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.

And John having heard in the prison the works of the Christ, having sent two of his disciples,

said to him, `Art thou He who is coming, or for another do we look?'

And Jesus answering said to them, `Having gone, declare to John the things that ye hear and see,

blind receive sight, and lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and deaf hear, dead are raised, and poor have good news proclaimed,

and happy is he who may not be stumbled in me.'

And as they are going, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John, `What went ye out to the wilderness to view? -- a reed shaken by the wind?

`But what went ye out to see? -- a man clothed in soft garments? lo, those wearing the soft things are in the kings' houses.

`But what went ye out to see? -- a prophet? yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet,

10 for this is he of whom it hath been written, Lo, I do send My messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee.

11 Verily I say to you, there hath not risen, among those born of women, a greater than John the Baptist, but he who is least in the reign of the heavens is greater than he.

12 `And, from the days of John the Baptist till now, the reign of the heavens doth suffer violence, and violent men do take it by force,

13 for all the prophets and the law till John did prophesy,

14 and if ye are willing to receive [it], he is Elijah who was about to come;

15 he who is having ears to hear -- let him hear.

16 `And to what shall I liken this generation? it is like little children in market-places, sitting and calling to their comrades,

17 and saying, We piped unto you, and ye did not dance, we lamented to you, and ye did not smite the breast.

18 `For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a demon;

19 the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, Lo, a man, a glutton, and a wine-drinker, a friend of tax-gatherers and sinners, and wisdom was justified of her children.'

20 Then began he to reproach the cities in which were done most of his mighty works, because they did not reform.

21 `Wo to thee, Chorazin! wo to thee, Bethsaida! because, if in Tyre and Sidon had been done the mighty works that were done in you, long ago in sackcloth and ashes they had reformed;

22 but I say to you, to Tyre and Sidon it shall be more tolerable in a day of judgment than for you.

23 `And thou, Capernaum, which unto the heaven wast exalted, unto hades shalt be brought down, because if in Sodom had been done the mighty works that were done in thee, it had remained unto this day;

24 but I say to you, to the land of Sodom it shall be more tolerable in a day of judgment than to thee.'

25 At that time Jesus answering said, `I do confess to Thee, Father, Lord of the heavens and of the earth, that thou didst hide these things from wise and understanding ones, and didst reveal them to babes.

26 Yes, Father, because so it was good pleasure before Thee.

27 `All things were delivered to me by my Father, and none doth know the Son, except the Father, nor doth any know the Father, except the Son, and he to whom the Son may wish to reveal [Him].

28 `Come unto me, all ye labouring and burdened ones, and I will give you rest,

29 take up my yoke upon you, and learn from me, because I am meek and humble in heart, and ye shall find rest to your souls,

30 for my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light.'

12 At that time did Jesus go on the sabbaths through the corn, and his disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck ears, and to eat,

and the Pharisees having seen, said to him, `Lo, thy disciples do that which it is not lawful to do on a sabbath.'

And he said to them, `Did ye not read what David did, when he was hungry, himself and those with him --

how he went into the house of God, and the loaves of the presentation did eat, which it is not lawful to him to eat, nor to those with him, except to the priests alone?

`Or did ye not read in the Law, that on the sabbaths the priests in the temple do profane the sabbath, and are blameless?

and I say to you, that a greater than the temple is here;

and if ye had known what is: Kindness I will, and not sacrifice -- ye had not condemned the blameless,

for the son of man is lord even of the sabbath.'

And having departed thence, he went to their synagogue,

10 and lo, there was a man having the hand withered, and they questioned him, saying, `Is it lawful to heal on the sabbaths?' that they might accuse him.

11 And he said to them, `What man shall be of you, who shall have one sheep, and if this may fall on the sabbaths into a ditch, will not lay hold on it and raise [it]?

12 How much better, therefore, is a man than a sheep? -- so that it is lawful on the sabbaths to do good.'

13 Then saith he to the man, `Stretch forth thy hand,' and he stretched [it] forth, and it was restored whole as the other.

14 And the Pharisees having gone forth, held a consultation against him, how they might destroy him,

15 and Jesus having known, withdrew thence, and there followed him great multitudes, and he healed them all,

16 and did charge them that they might not make him manifest,

17 that it might be fulfilled that was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying,

18 `Lo, My servant, whom I did choose, My beloved, in whom My soul did delight, I will put My Spirit upon him, and judgment to the nations he shall declare,

19 he shall not strive nor cry, nor shall any hear in the broad places his voice,

20 a bruised reed he shall not break, and smoking flax he shall not quench, till he may put forth judgment to victory,

21 and in his name shall nations hope.'

22 Then was brought to him a demoniac, blind and dumb, and he healed him, so that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.

23 And all the multitudes were amazed, and said, `Is this the Son of David?'

24 but the Pharisees having heard, said, `This one doth not cast out demons, except by Beelzeboul, ruler of the demons.'

25 And Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said to them, `Every kingdom having been divided against itself is desolated, and no city or house having been divided against itself, doth stand,

26 and if the Adversary doth cast out the Adversary, against himself he was divided, how then doth his kingdom stand?

27 `And if I, by Beelzeboul, do cast out the demons, your sons -- by whom do they cast out? because of this they -- they shall be your judges.

28 `But if I, by the Spirit of God, do cast out the demons, then come already unto you did the reign of God.

29 `Or how is one able to go into the house of the strong man, and to plunder his goods, if first he may not bind the strong man? and then his house he will plunder.

30 `He who is not with me is against me, and he who is not gathering with me, doth scatter.

31 Because of this I say to you, all sin and evil speaking shall be forgiven to men, but the evil speaking of the Spirit shall not be forgiven to men.

32 And whoever may speak a word against the Son of Man it shall be forgiven to him, but whoever may speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this age, nor in that which is coming.

33 `Either make the tree good, and its fruit good, or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad, for from the fruit is the tree known.

34 `Brood of vipers! how are ye able to speak good things -- being evil? for out of the abundance of the heart doth the mouth speak.

35 The good man out of the good treasure of the heart doth put forth the good things, and the evil man out of the evil treasure doth put forth evil things.

36 `And I say to you, that every idle word that men may speak, they shall give for it a reckoning in a day of judgment;

37 for from thy words thou shalt be declared righteous, and from thy words thou shalt be declared unrighteous.'

38 Then answered certain of the scribes and Pharisees, saying, `Teacher, we will to see a sign from thee.'

39 And he answering said to them, `A generation, evil and adulterous, doth seek a sign, and a sign shall not be given to it, except the sign of Jonah the prophet;

40 for, as Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights, so shall the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.

41 `Men of Nineveh shall stand up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it, for they reformed at the proclamation of Jonah, and lo, a greater than Jonah here!

42 `A queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and lo, a greater than Solomon here!

43 `And, when the unclean spirit may go forth from the man, it doth walk through dry places seeking rest, and doth not find;

44 then it saith, I will turn back to my house whence I came forth; and having come, it findeth [it] unoccupied, swept, and adorned:

45 then doth it go, and take with itself seven other spirits more evil than itself, and having gone in they dwell there, and the last of that man doth become worse than the first; so shall it be also to this evil generation.'

46 And while he was yet speaking to the multitudes, lo, his mother and brethren had stood without, seeking to speak to him,

47 and one said to him, `Lo, thy mother and thy brethren do stand without, seeking to speak to thee.'

48 And he answering said to him who spake to him, `Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?'

49 And having stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, he said, `Lo, my mother and my brethren!

50 for whoever may do the will of my Father who is in the heavens, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.'

13 And in that day Jesus, having gone forth from the house, was sitting by the sea,

and gathered together unto him were many multitudes, so that he having gone into the boat did sit down, and all the multitude on the beach did stand,

and he spake to them many things in similes, saying: `Lo, the sower went forth to sow,

and in his sowing, some indeed fell by the way, and the fowls did come and devour them,

and others fell upon the rocky places, where they had not much earth, and immediately they sprang forth, through not having depth of earth,

and the sun having risen they were scorched, and through not having root, they withered,

and others fell upon the thorns, and the thorns did come up and choke them,

and others fell upon the good ground, and were giving fruit, some indeed a hundredfold, and some sixty, and some thirty.

He who is having ears to hear -- let him hear.'

10 And the disciples having come near, said to him, `Wherefore in similes dost thou speak to them?'

11 And he answering said to them that -- `To you it hath been given to know the secrets of the reign of the heavens, and to these it hath not been given,

12 for whoever hath, it shall be given to him, and he shall have overabundance, and whoever hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken from him.

13 `Because of this, in similes do I speak to them, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor understand,

14 and fulfilled on them is the prophecy of Isaiah, that saith, With hearing ye shall hear, and ye shall not understand, and seeing ye shall see, and ye shall not perceive,

15 for made gross was the heart of this people, and with the ears they heard heavily, and their eyes they did close, lest they might see with the eyes, and with the ears might hear, and with the heart understand, and turn back, and I might heal them.

16 `And happy are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear,

17 for verily I say to you, that many prophets and righteous men did desire to see that which ye look on, and they did not see, and to hear that which ye hear, and they did not hear.

18 `Ye, therefore, hear ye the simile of the sower:

19 Every one hearing the word of the reign, and not understanding -- the evil one doth come, and doth catch that which hath been sown in his heart; this is that sown by the way.

20 `And that sown on the rocky places, this is he who is hearing the word, and immediately with joy is receiving it,

21 and he hath not root in himself, but is temporary, and persecution or tribulation having happened because of the word, immediately he is stumbled.

22 `And that sown toward the thorns, this is he who is hearing the word, and the anxiety of this age, and the deceitfulness of the riches, do choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

23 `And that sown on the good ground: this is he who is hearing the word, and is understanding, who indeed doth bear fruit, and doth make, some indeed a hundredfold, and some sixty, and some thirty.'

24 Another simile he set before them, saying: `The reign of the heavens was likened to a man sowing good seed in his field,

25 and, while men are sleeping, his enemy came and sowed darnel in the midst of the wheat, and went away,

26 and when the herb sprang up, and yielded fruit, then appeared also the darnel.

27 `And the servants of the householder, having come near, said to him, Sir, good seed didst thou not sow in thy field? whence then hath it the darnel?

28 And he saith to them, A man, an enemy, did this; and the servants said to him, Wilt thou, then, [that] having gone away we may gather it up?

29 `And he said, No, lest -- gathering up the darnel -- ye root up with it the wheat,

30 suffer both to grow together till the harvest, and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather up first the darnel, and bind it in bundles, to burn it, and the wheat gather up into my storehouse.'

31 Another simile he set before them, saying: `The reign of the heavens is like to a grain of mustard, which a man having taken, did sow in his field,

32 which less, indeed, is than all the seeds, but when it may be grown, is greatest of the herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the heaven do come and rest in its branches.'

33 Another simile spake he to them: `The reign of the heavens is like to leaven, which a woman having taken, hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.'

34 All these things spake Jesus in similes to the multitudes, and without a simile he was not speaking to them,

35 that it might be fulfilled that was spoken through the prophet, saying, `I will open in similes my mouth, I will utter things having been hidden from the foundation of the world.'

36 Then having let away the multitudes, Jesus came to the house, and his disciples came near to him, saying, `Explain to us the simile of the darnel of the field.'

37 And he answering said to them, `He who is sowing the good seed is the Son of Man,

38 and the field is the world, and the good seed, these are the sons of the reign, and the darnel are the sons of the evil one,

39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is a full end of the age, and the reapers are messengers.

40 `As, then, the darnel is gathered up, and is burned with fire, so shall it be in the full end of this age,

41 the Son of Man shall send forth his messengers, and they shall gather up out of his kingdom all the stumbling-blocks, and those doing the unlawlessness,

42 and shall cast them to the furnace of the fire; there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of the teeth.

43 `Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the reign of their Father. He who is having ears to hear -- let him hear.

44 `Again, the reign of the heavens is like to treasure hid in the field, which a man having found did hide, and from his joy goeth, and all, as much as he hath, he selleth, and buyeth that field.

45 `Again, the reign of the heavens is like to a man, a merchant, seeking goodly pearls,

46 who having found one pearl of great price, having gone away, hath sold all, as much as he had, and bought it.

47 `Again, the reign of the heavens is like to a net that was cast into the sea, and did gather together of every kind,

48 which, when it was filled, having drawn up again upon the beach, and having sat down, they gathered the good into vessels, and the bad they did cast out,

49 so shall it be in the full end of the age, the messengers shall come forth and separate the evil out of the midst of the righteous,

50 and shall cast them to the furnace of the fire, there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of the teeth.'

51 Jesus saith to them, `Did ye understand all these?' They say to him, `Yes, sir.'

52 And he said to them, `Because of this every scribe having been discipled in regard to the reign of the heavens, is like to a man, a householder, who doth bring forth out of his treasure things new and old.'

53 And it came to pass, when Jesus finished these similes, he removed thence,

54 and having come to his own country, he was teaching them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and were saying, `Whence to this one this wisdom and the mighty works?

55 is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary, and his brethren James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

56 and his sisters -- are they not all with us? whence, then, to this one all these?'

57 and they were stumbled at him. And Jesus said to them, `A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, and in his own house:'

58 and he did not there many mighty works, because of their unbelief.

14 At that time did Herod the tetrarch hear the fame of Jesus,

and said to his servants, `This is John the Baptist, he did rise from the dead, and because of this the mighty energies are working in him.'

For Herod having laid hold on John, did bind him, and did put him in prison, because of Herodias his brother Philip's wife,

for John was saying to him, `It is not lawful to thee to have her,'

and, willing to kill him, he feared the multitude, because as a prophet they were holding him.

But the birthday of Herod being kept, the daughter of Herodias danced in the midst, and did please Herod,

whereupon with an oath he professed to give her whatever she might ask.

And she having been instigated by her mother -- `Give me (says she) here upon a plate the head of John the Baptist;

and the king was grieved, but because of the oaths and of those reclining with him, he commanded [it] to be given;

10 and having sent, he beheaded John in the prison,

11 and his head was brought upon a plate, and was given to the damsel, and she brought [it] nigh to her mother.

12 And his disciples having come, took up the body, and buried it, and having come, they told Jesus,

13 and Jesus having heard, withdrew thence in a boat to a desolate place by himself, and the multitudes having heard did follow him on land from the cities.

14 And Jesus having come forth, saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion upon them, and did heal their infirm;

15 and evening having come, his disciples came to him, saying, `The place is desolate, and the hour hath now past, let away the multitudes that, having gone to the villages, they may buy to themselves food.'

16 And Jesus said to them, `They have no need to go away -- give ye them to eat.'

17 And they say to him, `We have not here except five loaves, and two fishes.'

18 And he said, `Bring ye them to me hither.'

19 And having commanded the multitudes to recline upon the grass, and having taken the five loaves and the two fishes, having looked up to the heaven, he did bless, and having broken, he gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes,

20 and they did all eat, and were filled, and they took up what was over of the broken pieces twelve hand-baskets full;

21 and those eating were about five thousand men, apart from women and children.

22 And immediately Jesus constrained his disciples to go into the boat, and to go before him to the other side, till he might let away the multitudes;

23 and having let away the multitudes, he went up to the mountain by himself to pray, and evening having come, he was there alone,

24 and the boat was now in the midst of the sea, distressed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.

25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went away to them, walking upon the sea,

26 and the disciples having seen him walking upon the sea, were troubled saying -- `It is an apparition,' and from the fear they cried out;

27 and immediately Jesus spake to them, saying, `Be of good courage, I am [he], be not afraid.'

28 And Peter answering him said, `Sir, if it is thou, bid me come to thee upon the waters;'

29 and he said, `Come;' and having gone down from the boat, Peter walked upon the waters to come unto Jesus,

30 but seeing the wind vehement, he was afraid, and having begun to sink, he cried out, saying, `Sir, save me.'

31 And immediately Jesus, having stretched forth the hand, laid hold of him, and saith to him, `Little faith! for what didst thou waver?'

32 and they having gone to the boat the wind lulled,

33 and those in the boat having come, did bow to him, saying, `Truly -- God's Son art thou.'

34 And having passed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret,

35 and having recognized him, the men of that place sent forth to all that region round about, and they brought to him all who were ill,

36 and were calling on him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment, and as many as did touch were saved.

15 Then come unto Jesus do they from Jerusalem -- scribes and Pharisees -- saying,

`Wherefore do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they do not wash their hands when they may eat bread.'

And he answering said to them, `Wherefore also do ye transgress the command of God because of your tradition?

for God did command, saying, Honour thy father and mother; and, He who is speaking evil of father or mother -- let him die the death;

but ye say, Whoever may say to father or mother, An offering [is] whatever thou mayest be profited by me; --

and he may not honour his father or his mother, and ye did set aside the command of God because of your tradition.

`Hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying,

This people doth draw nigh to Me with their mouth, and with the lips it doth honour Me, but their heart is far off from Me;

and in vain do they worship Me, teaching teachings -- commands of men.'

10 And having called near the multitude, he said to them, `Hear and understand:

11 not that which is coming into the mouth doth defile the man, but that which is coming forth from the mouth, this defileth the man.'

12 Then his disciples having come near, said to him, `Hast thou known that the Pharisees, having heard the word, were stumbled?'

13 And he answering said, `Every plant that my heavenly Father did not plant shall be rooted up;

14 let them alone, guides they are -- blind of blind; and if blind may guide blind, both into a ditch shall fall.'

15 And Peter answering said to him, `Explain to us this simile.'

16 And Jesus said, `Are ye also yet without understanding?

17 do ye not understand that all that is going into the mouth doth pass into the belly, and into the drain is cast forth?

18 but the things coming forth from the mouth from the heart do come forth, and these defile the man;

19 for out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, whoredoms, thefts, false witnessings, evil speakings:

20 these are the things defiling the man; but to eat with unwashen hands doth not defile the man.'

21 And Jesus having come forth thence, withdrew to the parts of Tyre and Sidon,

22 and lo, a woman, a Canaanitess, from those borders having come forth, did call to him, saying, `Deal kindly with me, Sir -- Son of David; my daughter is miserably demonized.'

23 And he did not answer her a word; and his disciples having come to him, were asking him, saying -- `Let her away, because she crieth after us;'

24 and he answering said, `I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.'

25 And having come, she was bowing to him, saying, `Sir, help me;'

26 and he answering said, `It is not good to take the children's bread, and to cast to the little dogs.'

27 And she said, `Yes, sir, for even the little dogs do eat of the crumbs that are falling from their lords' table;'

28 then answering, Jesus said to her, `O woman, great [is] thy faith, let it be to thee as thou wilt;' and her daughter was healed from that hour.

29 And Jesus having passed thence, came nigh unto the sea of Galilee, and having gone up to the mountain, he was sitting there,

30 and there came to him great multitudes, having with them lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and they did cast them at the feet of Jesus, and he healed them,

31 so that the multitudes did wonder, seeing dumb ones speaking, maimed whole, lame walking, and blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.

32 And Jesus having called near his disciples, said, `I have compassion upon the multitude, because now three days they continue with me, and they have not what they may eat; and to let them away fasting I will not, lest they faint in the way.'

33 And his disciples say to him, `Whence to us, in a wilderness, so many loaves, as to fill so great a multitude?'

34 And Jesus saith to them, `How many loaves have ye?' and they said, `Seven, and a few little fishes.'

35 And he commanded the multitudes to sit down upon the ground,

36 and having taken the seven loaves and the fishes, having given thanks, he did break, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.

37 And they did all eat, and were filled, and they took up what was over of the broken pieces seven baskets full,

38 and those eating were four thousand men, apart from women and children.

39 And having let away the multitudes, he went into the boat, and did come to the borders of Magdala.

16 And the Pharisees and Sadducees having come, tempting, did question him, to shew to them a sign from the heaven,

and he answering said to them, `Evening having come, ye say, Fair weather, for the heaven is red,

and at morning, Foul weather to-day, for the heaven is red -- gloomy; hypocrites, the face of the heavens indeed ye do know to discern, but the signs of the times ye are not able!

`A generation evil and adulterous doth seek a sign, and a sign shall not be given to it, except the sign of Jonah the prophet;' and having left them he went away.

And his disciples having come to the other side, forgot to take loaves,

and Jesus said to them, `Beware, and take heed of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees;'

and they were reasoning in themselves, saying, `Because we took no loaves.'

And Jesus having known, said to them, `Why reason ye in yourselves, ye of little faith, because ye took no loaves?

do ye not yet understand, nor remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many hand-baskets ye took up?

10 nor the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

11 how do ye not understand that I did not speak to you of bread -- to take heed of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees?'

12 Then they understood that he did not say to take heed of the leaven of the bread, but of the teaching, of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

13 And Jesus, having come to the parts of Cesarea Philippi, was asking his disciples, saying, `Who do men say me to be -- the Son of Man?'

14 and they said, `Some, John the Baptist, and others, Elijah, and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.'

15 He saith to them, `And ye -- who do ye say me to be?'

16 and Simon Peter answering said, `Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.'

17 And Jesus answering said to him, `Happy art thou, Simon Bar-Jona, because flesh and blood did not reveal [it] to thee, but my Father who is in the heavens.

18 `And I also say to thee, that thou art a rock, and upon this rock I will build my assembly, and gates of Hades shall not prevail against it;

19 and I will give to thee the keys of the reign of the heavens, and whatever thou mayest bind upon the earth shall be having been bound in the heavens, and whatever thou mayest loose upon the earth shall be having been loosed in the heavens.'

20 Then did he charge his disciples that they may say to no one that he is Jesus the Christ.

21 From that time began Jesus to shew to his disciples that it is necessary for him to go away to Jerusalem, and to suffer many things from the elders, and chief priests, and scribes, and to be put to death, and the third day to rise.

22 And having taken him aside, Peter began to rebuke him, saying, `Be kind to thyself, sir; this shall not be to thee;'

23 and he having turned, said to Peter, `Get thee behind me, adversary! thou art a stumbling-block to me, for thou dost not mind the things of God, but the things of men.'

24 Then said Jesus to his disciples, `If any one doth will to come after me, let him disown himself, and take up his cross, and follow me,

25 for whoever may will to save his life, shall lose it, and whoever may lose his life for my sake shall find it,

26 for what is a man profited if he may gain the whole world, but of his life suffer loss? or what shall a man give as an exchange for his life?

27 `For, the Son of Man is about to come in the glory of his Father, with his messengers, and then he will reward each, according to his work.

28 Verily I say to you, there are certain of those standing here who shall not taste of death till they may see the Son of Man coming in his reign.'

17 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, and James, and John his brother, and doth bring them up to a high mount by themselves,

and he was transfigured before them, and his face shone as the sun, and his garments did become white as the light,

and lo, appear to them did Moses and Elijah, talking together with him.

And Peter answering said to Jesus, `Sir, it is good to us to be here; if thou wilt, we may make here three booths -- for thee one, and for Moses one, and one for Elijah.'

While he is yet speaking, lo, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and lo, a voice out of the cloud, saying, `This is My Son, -- the Beloved, in whom I did delight; hear him.'

And the disciples having heard, did fall upon their face, and were exceedingly afraid,

and Jesus having come near, touched them, and said, `Rise, be not afraid,'

and having lifted up their eyes, they saw no one, except Jesus only.

And as they are coming down from the mount, Jesus charged them, saying, `Say to no one the vision, till the Son of Man out of the dead may rise.'

10 And his disciples questioned him, saying, `Why then do the scribes say that Elijah it behoveth to come first?'

11 And Jesus answering said to them, `Elijah doth indeed come first, and shall restore all things,

12 and I say to you -- Elijah did already come, and they did not know him, but did with him whatever they would, so also the Son of Man is about to suffer by them.'

13 Then understood the disciples that concerning John the Baptist he spake to them.

14 And when they came unto the multitude, there came to him a man, kneeling down to him,

15 and saying, `Sir, deal kindly with my son, for he is lunatic, and doth suffer miserably, for often he doth fall into the fire, and often into the water,

16 and I brought him near to thy disciples, and they were not able to heal him.'

17 And Jesus answering said, `O generation, unstedfast and perverse, till when shall I be with you? till when shall I bear you? bring him to me hither;'

18 and Jesus rebuked him, and the demon went out of him, and the lad was healed from that hour.

19 Then the disciples having come to Jesus by himself, said, `Wherefore were we not able to cast him out?'

20 And Jesus said to them, `Through your want of faith; for verily I say to you, if ye may have faith as a grain of mustard, ye shall say to this mount, Remove hence to yonder place, and it shall remove, and nothing shall be impossible to you,

21 and this kind doth not go forth except in prayer and fasting.'

22 And while they are living in Galilee, Jesus said to them, `The Son of Man is about to be delivered up to the hands of men,

23 and they shall kill him, and the third day he shall rise,' and they were exceeding sorry.

24 And they having come to Capernaum, those receiving the didrachms came near to Peter, and said, `Your teacher -- doth he not pay the didrachms?' He saith, `Yes.'

25 And when he came into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, `What thinkest thou, Simon? the kings of the earth -- from whom do they receive custom or poll-tax? from their sons or from the strangers?'

26 Peter saith to him, `From the strangers.' Jesus said to him, `Then are the sons free;

27 but, that we may not cause them to stumble, having gone to the sea, cast a hook, and the fish that hath come up first take thou up, and having opened its mouth, thou shalt find a stater, that having taken, give to them for me and thee.'

18 At that hour came the disciples near to Jesus, saying, `Who, now, is greater in the reign of the heavens?'

And Jesus having called near a child, did set him in the midst of them,

and said, `Verily I say to you, if ye may not be turned and become as the children, ye may not enter into the reign of the heavens;

whoever then may humble himself as this child, he is the greater in the reign of the heavens.

`And he who may receive one such child in my name, doth receive me,

and whoever may cause to stumble one of those little ones who are believing in me, it is better for him that a weighty millstone may be hanged upon his neck, and he may be sunk in the depth of the sea.

`Wo to the world from the stumbling-blocks! for there is a necessity for the stumbling-blocks to come, but wo to that man through whom the stumbling-block doth come!

`And if thy hand or thy foot doth cause thee to stumble, cut them off and cast from thee; it is good for thee to enter into the life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast to the fire the age-during.

`And if thine eye doth cause thee to stumble, pluck it out and cast from thee; it is good for thee one-eyed to enter into the life, rather than having two eyes to be cast to the gehenna of the fire.

10 `Beware! -- ye may not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you, that their messengers in the heavens do always behold the face of my Father who is in the heavens,

11 for the Son of Man did come to save the lost.

12 `What think ye? if a man may have an hundred sheep, and there may go astray one of them, doth he not -- having left the ninety-nine, having gone on the mountains -- seek that which is gone astray?

13 and if it may come to pass that he doth find it, verily I say to you, that he doth rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that have not gone astray;

14 so it is not will in presence of your Father who is in the heavens, that one of these little ones may perish.

15 `And if thy brother may sin against thee, go and show him his fault between thee and him alone, if he may hear thee, thou didst gain thy brother;

16 and if he may not hear, take with thee yet one or two, that by the mouth of two witnesses or three every word may stand.

17 `And if he may not hear them, say [it] to the assembly, and if also the assembly he may not hear, let him be to thee as the heathen man and the tax-gatherer.

18 `Verily I say to you, Whatever things ye may bind upon the earth shall be having been bound in the heavens, and whatever things ye may loose on the earth shall be having been loosed in the heavens.

19 `Again, I say to you, that, if two of you may agree on the earth concerning anything, whatever they may ask -- it shall be done to them from my Father who is in the heavens,

20 for where there are two or three gathered together -- to my name, there am I in the midst of them.'

21 Then Peter having come near to him, said, `Sir, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him -- till seven times?'

22 Jesus saith to him, `I do not say to thee till seven times, but till seventy times seven.

23 `Because of this was the reign of the heavens likened to a man, a king, who did will to take reckoning with his servants,

24 and he having begun to take account, there was brought near to him one debtor of a myriad of talents,

25 and he having nothing to pay, his lord did command him to be sold, and his wife, and the children, and all, whatever he had, and payment to be made.

26 The servant then, having fallen down, was bowing to him, saying, Sir, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all;

27 and the lord of that servant having been moved with compassion did release him, and the debt he forgave him.

28 `And, that servant having come forth, found one of his fellow-servants who was owing him an hundred denaries, and having laid hold, he took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that which thou owest.

29 His fellow-servant then, having fallen down at his feet, was calling on him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all;

30 and he would not, but having gone away, he cast him into prison, till he might pay that which was owing.

31 `And his fellow-servants having seen the things that were done, were grieved exceedingly, and having come, shewed fully to their lord all the things that were done;

32 then having called him, his lord saith to him, Evil servant! all that debt I did forgive thee, seeing thou didst call upon me,

33 did it not behove also thee to have dealt kindly with thy fellow-servant, as I also dealt kindly with thee?

34 `And having been wroth, his lord delivered him to the inquisitors, till he might pay all that was owing to him;

35 so also my heavenly Father will do to you, if ye may not forgive each one his brother from your hearts their trespasses.'

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve(A)(B)(C)(D)(E)

10 Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits(F) and to heal every disease and sickness.(G)

These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.(H)

These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.(I) Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.(J) As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven(K) has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,[a] drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

“Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts(L) 10 no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep.(M) 11 Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. 12 As you enter the home, give it your greeting.(N) 13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.(O) 15 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah(P) on the day of judgment(Q) than for that town.(R)

16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.(S) Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.(T) 17 Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils(U) and be flogged in the synagogues.(V) 18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings(W) as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it.(X) At that time you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father(Y) speaking through you.

21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents(Z) and have them put to death.(AA) 22 You will be hated by everyone because of me,(AB) but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.(AC) 23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.(AD)

24 “The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master.(AE) 25 It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul,(AF) how much more the members of his household!

26 “So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.(AG) 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One(AH) who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.[b] 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.(AI) 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.(AJ)

32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others,(AK) I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.(AL)

34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn

“‘a man against his father,
    a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law(AM)
36     a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’[c](AN)

37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.(AO) 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.(AP) 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.(AQ)

40 “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me,(AR) and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.(AS) 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”(AT)

Jesus and John the Baptist(AU)

11 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples,(AV) he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.[d]

When John,(AW) who was in prison,(AX) heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come,(AY) or should we expect someone else?”

Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy[e] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.(AZ) Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”(BA)

As John’s(BB) disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness(BC) to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet?(BD) Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written:

“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,(BE)
    who will prepare your way before you.’[f](BF)

11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence,[g] and violent people have been raiding it. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.(BG) 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.(BH) 15 Whoever has ears, let them hear.(BI)

16 “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:

17 “‘We played the pipe for you,
    and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
    and you did not mourn.’

18 For John came neither eating(BJ) nor drinking,(BK) and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’(BL) But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”

Woe on Unrepentant Towns(BM)

20 Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!(BN) For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon,(BO) they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.(BP) 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.(BQ) 23 And you, Capernaum,(BR) will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.[h](BS) For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”(BT)

The Father Revealed in the Son(BU)

25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father,(BV) Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.(BW) 26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

27 “All things have been committed to me(BX) by my Father.(BY) No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.(BZ)

28 “Come to me,(CA) all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.(CB) 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,(CC) for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.(CD) 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”(CE)

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath(CF)(CG)

12 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain(CH) and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”(CI)

He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?(CJ) He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests.(CK) Or haven’t you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath(CL) and yet are innocent? I tell you that something greater than the temple is here.(CM) If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’[i](CN) you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man(CO) is Lord of the Sabbath.”

Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, 10 and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus,(CP) they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”(CQ)

11 He said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out?(CR) 12 How much more valuable is a person than a sheep!(CS) Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”

13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.(CT)

God’s Chosen Servant

15 Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill.(CU) 16 He warned them not to tell others about him.(CV) 17 This was to fulfill(CW) what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

18 “Here is my servant whom I have chosen,
    the one I love, in whom I delight;(CX)
I will put my Spirit on him,(CY)
    and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
19 He will not quarrel or cry out;
    no one will hear his voice in the streets.
20 A bruised reed he will not break,
    and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out,
till he has brought justice through to victory.
21     In his name the nations will put their hope.”[j](CZ)

Jesus and Beelzebul(DA)

22 Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see.(DB) 23 All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”(DC)

24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul,(DD) the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.”(DE)

25 Jesus knew their thoughts(DF) and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satan(DG) drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? 27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul,(DH) by whom do your people(DI) drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God(DJ) has come upon you.

29 “Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.

30 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.(DK) 31 And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.(DL) 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age(DM) or in the age to come.(DN)

33 “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 recognized by its fruit.(DO) 34 You brood of vipers,(DP) how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks(DQ) what the heart is full of. 35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”(DR)

The Sign of Jonah(DS)(DT)

38 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign(DU) from you.”(DV)

39 He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.(DW) 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish,(DX) so the Son of Man(DY) will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.(DZ) 41 The men of Nineveh(EA) will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah,(EB) and now something greater than Jonah is here. 42 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came(EC) from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here.

43 “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45 Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.(ED) That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”

Jesus’ Mother and Brothers(EE)

46 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother(EF) and brothers(EG) stood outside, wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”

48 He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven(EH) is my brother and sister and mother.”

The Parable of the Sower(EI)(EJ)(EK)

13 That same day Jesus went out of the house(EL) and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat(EM) and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred,(EN) sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.”(EO)

10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”

11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven(EP) has been given to you,(EQ) but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.(ER) 13 This is why I speak to them in parables:

“Though seeing, they do not see;
    though hearing, they do not hear or understand.(ES)

14 In them is fulfilled(ET) the prophecy of Isaiah:

“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
    you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15 For this people’s heart has become calloused;
    they hardly hear with their ears,
    and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
    hear with their ears,
    understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’[k](EU)

16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.(EV) 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see(EW) but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom(EX) and does not understand it, the evil one(EY) comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.(EZ) 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth(FA) choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”(FB)

The Parable of the Weeds

24 Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like(FC) a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

27 “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’

28 “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.

“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’

29 “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”(FD)

The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast(FE)(FF)

31 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like(FG) a mustard seed,(FH) which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”(FI)

33 He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like(FJ) yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds[l] of flour(FK) until it worked all through the dough.”(FL)

34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable.(FM) 35 So was fulfilled(FN) what was spoken through the prophet:

“I will open my mouth in parables,
    I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.”[m](FO)

The Parable of the Weeds Explained

36 Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable(FP) of the weeds in the field.”

37 He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man.(FQ) 38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one,(FR) 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest(FS) is the end of the age,(FT) and the harvesters are angels.(FU)

40 “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man(FV) will send out his angels,(FW) and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.(FX) 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun(FY) in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.(FZ)

The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like(GA) treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.(GB)

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

The Parable of the Net

47 “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like(GD) a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds(GE) of fish. 48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49 This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous(GF) 50 and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.(GG)

51 “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked.

“Yes,” they replied.

52 He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”

A Prophet Without Honor(GH)

53 When Jesus had finished these parables,(GI) he moved on from there. 54 Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue,(GJ) and they were amazed.(GK) “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. 55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son?(GL) Isn’t his mother’s(GM) name Mary, and aren’t his brothers(GN) James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56 Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they took offense(GO) at him.

But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.”(GP)

58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

John the Baptist Beheaded(GQ)

14 At that time Herod(GR) the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus,(GS) and he said to his attendants, “This is John the Baptist;(GT) he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison(GU) because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,(GV) for John had been saying to him: “It is not lawful for you to have her.”(GW) Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered John a prophet.(GX)

On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted 10 and had John beheaded(GY) in the prison. 11 His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. 12 John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it.(GZ) Then they went and told Jesus.

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand(HA)(HB)

13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them(HC) and healed their sick.(HD)

15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”

16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

17 “We have here only five loaves(HE) of bread and two fish,” they answered.

18 “Bring them here to me,” he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves.(HF) Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Jesus Walks on the Water(HG)(HH)

22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.(HI) Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,”(HJ) they said, and cried out in fear.

27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage!(HK) It is I. Don’t be afraid.”(HL)

28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

29 “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,”(HM) he said, “why did you doubt?”

32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”(HN)

34 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him 36 and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak,(HO) and all who touched it were healed.

That Which Defiles(HP)

15 Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!”(HQ)

Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’[n](HR) and ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’[o](HS) But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is ‘devoted to God,’ they are not to ‘honor their father or mother’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:

“‘These people honor me with their lips,
    but their hearts are far from me.
They worship me in vain;
    their teachings are merely human rules.(HT)[p](HU)

10 Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. 11 What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them,(HV) but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”(HW)

12 Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?”

13 He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted(HX) will be pulled up by the roots. 14 Leave them; they are blind guides.[q](HY) If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”(HZ)

15 Peter said, “Explain the parable to us.”(IA)

16 “Are you still so dull?”(IB) Jesus asked them. 17 “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? 18 But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart,(IC) and these defile them. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.(ID) 20 These are what defile a person;(IE) but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.”

The Faith of a Canaanite Woman(IF)

21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.(IG) 22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David,(IH) have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”(II)

23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”

24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”(IJ)

25 The woman came and knelt before him.(IK) “Lord, help me!” she said.

26 He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

27 “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

28 Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith!(IL) Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.

Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand(IM)(IN)(IO)

29 Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down. 30 Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them.(IP) 31 The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.(IQ)

32 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people;(IR) they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.”

33 His disciples answered, “Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?”

34 “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.

“Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.”

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 10:8 The Greek word traditionally translated leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin.
  2. Matthew 10:29 Or will; or knowledge
  3. Matthew 10:36 Micah 7:6
  4. Matthew 11:1 Greek in their towns
  5. Matthew 11:5 The Greek word traditionally translated leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin.
  6. Matthew 11:10 Mal. 3:1
  7. Matthew 11:12 Or been forcefully advancing
  8. Matthew 11:23 That is, the realm of the dead
  9. Matthew 12:7 Hosea 6:6
  10. Matthew 12:21 Isaiah 42:1-4
  11. Matthew 13:15 Isaiah 6:9,10 (see Septuagint)
  12. Matthew 13:33 Or about 27 kilograms
  13. Matthew 13:35 Psalm 78:2
  14. Matthew 15:4 Exodus 20:12; Deut. 5:16
  15. Matthew 15:4 Exodus 21:17; Lev. 20:9
  16. Matthew 15:9 Isaiah 29:13
  17. Matthew 15:14 Some manuscripts blind guides of the blind