All language subtitles for The.Gospel.Of.Matthew.English-WWW.MY-SUBS.CO

Narrator:
This is the genealogy
of Jesus the Messiah,

the son of David,
the son of Abraham.

Abraham was the father
of Isaac,

Isaac the father of Jacob,

Jacob the father of Judah
and his brothers,

Judah the father
of Perez and Zerah,

whose mother was Tamar,

Perez the father of Hezron,

Hezron the father of Ram,

Ram the father of Amminadab,

Amminadab the father
of Nahshon,

Nahshon the father
of Salmon,

Salmon the father of Boaz,
whose mother was Rahab,

Boaz the father of Obed,
whose mother was Ruth,

Obed the father of Jesse,

and Jesse the father
of King David.

David was the father
of Solomon,

whose mother had been
Uriah's wife,

Solomon the father
of Rehoboam,

Rehoboam the father
of Abijah,

Abijah the father of Asa,

Asa the father
of Jehoshaphat,

Jehoshaphat the father
of Jehoram,

Jehoram the father
of Uzziah,

Uzziah the father
of Jotham,

Jotham the father of Ahaz,

Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,

Hezekiah the father
of Manasseh,

Manasseh the father of Amon,

Amon the father of Josiah,

and Josiah the father
of Jeconiah and his brothers

at the time of the exile
to Babylon.

After the exile to Babylon,

Jeconiah was the father
of Shealtiel,

Shealtiel the father
of Zerubbabel,

Zerubbabel the father
of Abihud,

Abihud the father
of Eliakim,

Eliakim the father of Azor,

Azor the father of Zadok,

Zadok the father of Akim,

Akim the father of Elihud,

Elihud the father of Eleazar,

Eleazar the father of Matthan,

Matthan the father of Jacob,

and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary,

and Mary was the mother
of Jesus

who is called the Messiah.

Thus there were fourteen
generations in all

from Abraham to David,

fourteen from David
to the exile to Babylon,

and fourteen from the exile
to the Messiah.

This is how the birth of
Jesus the Messiah came about.

His mother Mary was pledged
to be married to Joseph,

but before they came together,

she was found to be pregnant
through the Holy Spirit.

Because Joseph her husband
was faithful to the law,

and yet did not want to expose
her to public disgrace,

he had in mind
to divorce her quietly.

But after he had
considered this,

an angel of the Lord appeared
to him in a dream and said,

"Joseph son of David,

do not be afraid to take
Mary home as your wife,

because what is conceived in
her is from the Holy Spirit.

She will give birth to a son,

and you are to give him
the name Jesus,

because he will save his people from their sins."

All this took place to fulfill
what the Lord had said
through the prophet,

"The virgin will conceive
and give birth to a son,

and they will call him
Immanuel,"

which means "God with us".

When Joseph woke up,

he did what the angel
of the Lord had commanded him

and took Mary home
as his wife.

But he did not consummate
their marriage

until she gave birth
to a son.

And he gave him
the name Jesus.

After Jesus was born
in Bethlehem in Judea,

during the time
of King Herod,

Magia from the east
came to Jerusalem and asked,

"Where is the one who has been
born king of the Jews?

We saw his star when it rose
and have come to worship him."

When King Herod heard this
he was disturbed,

and all Jerusalem with him.

When he had called together
all the people's chief priests

and teachers of the law,

he asked them where
the Messiah was to be born.

"In Bethlehem in Judea,"
they replied,

"for this is what
the prophet has written,

'But you, Bethlehem,
in the land of Judah,

are by no means least
among the rulers of Judah;

for out of you
will come a ruler

who will shepherd
my people Israel.'"

Then Herod called
the Magi secretly

and found out from them

the exact time
the star had appeared.

He sent them
to Bethlehem and said,

"Go and search carefully
for the child.

As soon as you find him,
report to me,

so that I too may go
and worship him."

After they had heard the king,
they went on their way,

and the star they had seen
when it rose

went ahead of them until it stopped over the place

where the child was.

When they saw the star,
they were overjoyed.

On coming to the house,

they saw the child
with his mother Mary,

and they bowed down
and worshiped him.

Then they opened
their treasures

and presented him
with gifts of gold,

frankincense, and myrrh.

And having been warned
in a dream

not to go back to Herod,

they returned to their country
by another route.

When they had gone,

an angel of the Lord
appeared to Joseph in a dream.

"Get up," he said,

"take the child and his mother
and escape to Egypt.

Stay there until I tell you,

for Herod is going to search
for the child to kill him."

So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night

and left for Egypt,

where he stayed
until the death of Herod.

And so was fulfilled
what the Lord had said
through the prophet--

"Out of Egypt
I called my son."

When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi,

he was furious,

and he gave orders to kill all
the boys in Bethlehem

and its vicinity who were two
years old and under,

in accordance with the time
he had learned from the Magi.

Then what was said through
the prophet Jeremiah
was fulfilled--

"A voice is heard in Ramah,

weeping and great mourning,

Rachel weeping
for her children

and refusing
to be comforted,

because they are no more."

After Herod died,

an angel of the Lord appeared
in a dream to Joseph
in Egypt and said,

"Get up, take the child
and his mother

and go to the land
of Israel,

for those who were trying
to take the child's life
are dead."

So he got up,

took the child
and his mother

and went to
the land of Israel.

But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea

in place
of his father Herod,

he was afraid to go there.

Having been warned
in a dream,

he withdrew to the district
of Galilee,

and he went and lived
in a town called Nazareth.

So was fulfilled what was said
through the prophets,

that he would be called
a Nazarene.

In those days
John the Baptist came,

preaching in the wilderness
of Judea and saying,

"Repent, for the kingdom
of heaven has come near."

This is he who was spoken
of through the prophet Isaiah.

"A voice of one
calling in the wilderness,

'Prepare the way
for the Lord,

make straight paths
for him.'"

John's clothes were made
of camel's hair,

and he had a leather belt
around his waist.

His food was locusts
and wild honey.

People went out to him
from Jerusalem

and all Judea

and the whole region
of the Jordan.

Confessing their sins,

they were baptized by him
in the Jordan River.

But when he saw many
of the Pharisees and Sadducees

coming to where
he was baptizing,

he said to them,
"You brood of vipers!

Who warned you to flee
from the coming wrath?

Produce fruit in keeping
with repentance.

And do not think
you can say to yourselves,

'We have Abraham
as our father.'

I tell you that
out of these stones

God can raise up children
for Abraham.

The ax is already at the root
of the trees,

and every tree that does not
produce good fruit

will be cut down
and thrown into the fire.

I baptize you
with water for repentance.

But after me comes one
who is more powerful than I,

whose sandals
I am not worthy to carry.

He will baptize you
with the Holy Spirit and fire.

His winnowing fork
is in his hand,

and he will clear
his threshing floor,

gathering his wheat
into the barn

and burning up the chaff
with unquenchable fire."

Then Jesus came from Galilee
to the Jordan

to be baptized by John.

But John tried to deter him,
saying,

"I need to be
baptized by you,

and do you come to me?"

Jesus replied,
"Let it be so now;

it is proper for us
to do this

to fulfill
all righteousness."

Then John consented.

As soon as Jesus
was baptized,

he went up
out of the water.

At that moment
heaven was opened,

and he saw the Spirit of God
descending like a dove

and alighting on him.

And a voice from heaven said,

"This is my Son,
whom I love.

With him
I am well pleased."

Then Jesus was led
by the Spirit

into the wilderness to be
tempted by the devil.

After fasting forty days
and forty nights,

he was hungry.

The tempter came to him
and said,

"If you are the Son of God,

tell these stones
to become bread."

Jesus answered,
"It is written,

'Man shall not live
on bread alone,

but on every word that comes
from the mouth of God.'"

Then the devil took him
to the holy city

and had him stand on the
highest point of the temple.

"If you are the Son of God,"
he said,

"throw yourself down.

For it is written,

'He will command his angels
concerning you,

and they will lift you up
in their hands,

so that you will not strike
your foot against a stone.'"

Jesus answered him,
"It is also written,

'Do not put the Lord your God
to the test.'"

Again, the devil took him
to a very high mountain

and showed him
all the kingdoms of the world

and their splendor.

"All this I will give you,"
he said,

"if you will bow down
and worship me."

Jesus said to him,
"Away from me, Satan!

For it is written,
'Worship the Lord your God,

and serve him only.'"

Then the devil left him,

and angels came
and attended him.

When Jesus heard that John
had been put in prison,

he withdrew to Galilee.

Leaving Nazareth,

he went and lived
in Capernaum,

which was by the lake in the
area of Zebulun and Naphtali,

to fulfill what was said
through the prophet Isaiah--

"Land of Zebulun
and land of Naphtali,

the Way of the Sea,
beyond the Jordan,

Galilee of the Gentiles,

the people
living in darkness

have seen a great light;

on those living in the land
of the shadow of death

a light has dawned."

From that time on
Jesus began to preach,

"Repent, for the kingdom
of heaven has come near."

As Jesus was walking
beside the Sea of Galilee,

he saw two brothers,

Simon called Peter
and his brother Andrew.

They were casting a net
into the lake,

for they were fishermen.

"Come, follow me,"
Jesus said,

"and I will send you out
to fish for people."

At once they left their nets
and followed him.

Going on from there,
he saw two other brothers,

James son of Zebedee
and his brother John.

They were in a boat
with their father Zebedee,

preparing their nets.

Jesus called them,

and immediately
they left the boat

and their father
and followed him.

Jesus went
throughout Galilee,

teaching in their synagogues,

proclaiming the good news
of the kingdom,

and healing every disease
and sickness among the people.

News about him spread
all over Syria,

and people brought to him all

who were ill
with various diseases,

those suffering severe pain,
the demon-possessed,

those having seizures,
and the paralyzed;

and he healed them.

Large crowds from Galilee,
the Decapolis,

Jerusalem,
Judea,

and the region across
the Jordan followed him.

Now when Jesus
saw the crowds,

he went up on a mountainside
and sat down.

His disciples came to him,

and he began to teach them.

He said,

"Blessed are the poor
in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom
of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,

for they will inherit
the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger
and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart,

for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called
children of God.

Blessed are those
who are persecuted

because of righteousness,

for theirs is
the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you
when people insult you,

persecute you, and falsely say
all kinds of evil against you

because of me.

Rejoice and be glad,

because great is your reward
in heaven,

for in the same way they
persecuted the prophets

who were before you.

[ chattering ]

You are the salt
of the earth.

But if the salt
loses its saltiness,

how can it be made
salty again?

It is no longer
good for anything,

except to be thrown out
and trampled underfoot.

You are the light
of the world.

A town built on a hill
cannot be hidden.

Neither do people light a lamp
and put it under a bowl.

Instead they put it
on its stand,

and it gives light
to everyone in the house.

In the same way, let your light shine before others,

that they may see
your good deeds

and glorify your Father
in heaven.

Do not think
that I have come to abolish

the Law or the Prophets;

I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

For truly I tell you,

until heaven
and earth disappear,

not the smallest letter,

not the least stroke
of a pen,

will by any means disappear
from the Law

until everything is
accomplished.

Therefore anyone
who sets aside

one of the least
of these commands

and teaches others accordingly

will be called least
in the kingdom of heaven,

but whoever practices
and teaches these commands

will be called great
in the kingdom of heaven.

For I tell you that unless
your righteousness

surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law,

you will certainly not enter
the kingdom of heaven.

You have heard that it was said to the people long ago,

'You shall not murder,

and anyone who murders
will be subject to judgment.'

But I tell you that anyone
who is angry

with a brother or sister
will be subject to judgment.

Again, anyone who says
to a brother or sister,

'Raca,'
is answerable to the court.

And anyone who says,
'You fool!'

will be in danger
of the fire of hell.

Therefore, if you are offering
your gift at the altar

and there remember
that your brother or sister

has something against you,

leave your gift there
in front of the altar.

First go
and be reconciled to them;

then come and offer
your gift.

Settle matters quickly
with your adversary

who is taking you to court.

Do it while you are still
together on the way,

or your adversary may
hand you over to the judge,

and the judge may
hand you over to the officer,

and you may be thrown
into prison.

Truly I tell you,

you will not get out until
you have paid the last penny.

You have heard
that it was said,

'You shall not commit
adultery.'

But I tell you that anyone
who looks at a woman lustfully

has already
committed adultery

with her in his heart.

If your right eye
causes you to stumble,

gouge it out
and throw it away.

It is better for you
to lose one part of your body

than for your whole body
to be thrown into hell.

And if your right hand
causes you to stumble,

cut it off
and throw it away.

It is better for you
to lose one part of your body

than for your whole body
to go into hell.

It has been said,

'Anyone who divorces his wife

must give her
a certificate of divorce.'

But I tell you that anyone
who divorces his wife,

except for sexual immorality,

makes her the victim
of adultery,

and anyone who marries
a divorced woman

commits adultery.

Again, you have heard
that it was said

to the people long ago,

'Do not break your oath,

but fulfill to the Lord
the vows you have made.'

But I tell you,
do not swear an oath at all,

either by heaven,
for it is God's throne;

or by the earth,
for it is his footstool;

or by Jerusalem,

for it is the city
of the Great King.

And do not swear
by your head,

for you cannot make
even one hair white or black.

All you need to say
is simply 'Yes' or 'No';

anything beyond this
comes from the evil one.

You have heard
that it was said,

'Eye for eye,
and tooth for tooth.'

But I tell you,
do not resist an evil person.

If anyone slaps you
on the right cheek,

turn to them
the other cheek also.

And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt,

hand over your coat as well.

If anyone forces you
to go one mile,

go with them two miles.

Give to the one
who asks you,

and do not turn away
from the one

who wants to borrow
from you.

You have heard
that it was said,

'Love your neighbor
and hate your enemy.'

But I tell you,
love your enemies

and pray for those
who persecute you,

that you may be children
of your Father in heaven.

He causes his sun to rise
on the evil and the good,

and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?

Are not even the tax collectors doing that?

And if you greet only
your own people,

what are you doing
more than others?

Do not even pagans do that?

Be perfect, therefore,

as your heavenly Father
is perfect.

Be careful not to practice
your righteousness

in front of others
to be seen by them.

If you do,
you will have no reward

from your Father in heaven.

So when you give
to the needy,

do not announce it
with trumpets,

as the hypocrites do in the
synagogues and on the streets,

to be honored by others.

Truly I tell you,

they have received
their reward in full.

But when you give
to the needy,

do not let
your left hand know

what your right hand
is doing,

so that your giving
may be in secret.

Then your Father,

who sees what is done
in secret,

will reward you.

And when you pray,

do not be like
the hypocrites,

for they love to pray
standing in the synagogues

and on the street corners
to be seen by others.

Truly I tell you,

they have received
their reward in full.

But when you pray,
go into your room,

close the door,

and pray to your Father,
who is unseen.

Then your Father,

who sees what is done
in secret,

will reward you.

And when you pray,

do not keep on babbling
like pagans,

for they think
they will be heard

because of their many words.

Do not be like them,

for your Father knows what
you need before you ask him.

This, then,
is how you should pray.

'Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth
as it is in heaven.

Give us today
our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven
our debtors.

And lead us not
into temptation,

but deliver us
from the evil one.'

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you,

your heavenly Father
will also forgive you.

But if you do not forgive
others their sins,

your Father will not forgive
your sins.

When you fast, do not look
somber as the hypocrites do,

for they disfigure
their faces

to show others
they are fasting.

Truly I tell you, they have
received their reward in full.

But when you fast, put oil on
your head and wash your face,

so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting,

but only to your Father,
who is unseen;

and your Father, who sees
what is done in secret,

will reward you.

Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth,

where moths and vermin destroy,

and where thieves
break in and steal.

But store up for yourselves
treasures in heaven,

where moths and vermin
do not destroy,

and where thieves
do not break in and steal.

For where your treasure is,
there your heart will be also.

The eye is the lamp
of the body.

If your eyes are healthy,

your whole body
will be full of light.

But if your eyes
are unhealthy,

your whole body
will be full of darkness.

If then the light within you
is darkness,

how great is that darkness!

No one can serve two masters.

Either you will hate
the one and love the other,

or you will be devoted to
the one and despise the other.

You cannot serve
both God and money.

Therefore I tell you,

do not worry
about your life,

what you will eat or drink;
or about your body,

what you will wear.

Is not life
more than food,

and the body
more than clothes?

Look at the birds
of the air;

they do not sow or reap
or store away in barns,

and yet your heavenly Father
feeds them.

Are you not much
more valuable than they?

Can any one of you
by worrying

add a single hour
to your life?

[ chattering ]

And why do you worry
about clothes?

See how the flowers
of the field grow.

They do not labor or spin.

Yet I tell you that not even
Solomon in all his splendor

was dressed
like one of these.

If that is how God clothes
the grass of the field,

which is here today

and tomorrow is thrown
into the fire,

will he not much more clothe
you, you of little faith?

So do not worry, saying,
'What shall we eat?'

or 'What shall we drink?'
or 'What shall we wear?'

For the pagans run
after all these things,

and your heavenly Father
knows that you need them.

But seek first his kingdom
and his righteousness,

and all these things
will be given to you as well.

Therefore do not worry
about tomorrow,

for tomorrow will worry
about itself.

Each day has enough trouble
of its own.

Do not judge,
or you too will be judged.

For in the same way
you judge others,

you will be judged,
and with the measure you use,

it will be measured to you.

Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye

and pay no attention
to the plank in your own eye?

How can you say
to your brother,

'Let me take the speck
out of your eye,'

when all the time there is
a plank in your own eye?

You hypocrite,

first take the plank
out of your own eye,

and then you will see clearly

to remove the speck
from your brother's eye.

Do not give dogs
what is sacred.

Do not throw your pearls
to pigs.

If you do, they may trample
them under their feet,

and turn and tear you
to pieces.

Ask and it will be given
to you;

seek and you will find;

knock and the door
will be opened to you.

For everyone
who asks receives;

the one who seeks finds;

and to the one who knocks,

the door will be opened.

Which of you,
if your son asks for bread,

will give him a stone?

Or if he asks for a fish,

will give him a snake?

If you, then,
though you are evil,

know how to give good gifts
to your children,

how much more
will your Father in heaven

give good gifts
to those who ask him!

So in everything,
do to others

what you would have them
do to you,

for this sums up
the Law and the Prophets.

Enter through
the narrow gate.

For wide is the gate
and broad is the road

that leads to destruction,
and many enter through it.

But small is the gate
and narrow the road

that leads to life,
and only a few find it.

Watch out
for false prophets.

They come to you
in sheep's clothing,

but inwardly
they are ferocious wolves.

By their fruit
you will recognize them.

Do people pick grapes
from thorn bushes,

or figs from thistles?

Likewise, every good tree
bears good fruit,

but a bad tree
bears bad fruit.

A good tree
cannot bear bad fruit,

and a bad tree
cannot bear good fruit.

Every tree that does not
bear good fruit

is cut down
and thrown into the fire.

Thus, by their fruit
you will recognize them.

Not everyone who says to me,
'Lord, Lord,'

will enter the kingdom
of heaven,

but only the one who does
the will of my Father

who is in heaven.

Many will say to me
on that day,

'Lord, Lord, did we not
prophesy in your name

and in your name
drive out demons

and in your name
perform many miracles?'

Then I will
tell them plainly,

'I never knew you.
Away from me, you evildoers!'

Therefore everyone
who hears these words of mine

and puts them into practice

is like a wise man who built
his house on the rock.

The rain came down,
the streams rose,

and the winds blew
and beat against that house;

yet it did not fall,

because it had
its foundations on the rock.

But everyone who hears
these words of mine

and does not put them
into practice

is like a foolish man
who built his house on sand.

The rain came down,
the streams rose,

and the winds blew and beat
against that house,

and it fell
with a great crash."

When Jesus had finished
saying these things,

the crowds were amazed
at his teaching,

because he taught as one
who had authority,

and not as their teachers
of the law.

When Jesus came down
from the mountainside,

large crowds followed him.

A man with leprosy came
and knelt before him and said,

"Lord, if you are willing,
you can make me clean."

Jesus reached out his hand
and touched the man.

"I am willing," he said.
"Be clean!"

Immediately he was cleansed
of his leprosy.

Then Jesus said to him,

"See that you don't
tell anyone.

But go,
show yourself to the priest

and offer the gift
Moses commanded,

as a testimony to them."

When Jesus had entered
Capernaum,

a centurion came to him,
asking for help.

"Lord," he said,

"my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly."

Jesus said to him,
"Shall I come and heal him?"

The centurion replied,

"Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof.

But just say the word,
and my servant will be healed.

For I myself am a man
under authority,

with soldiers under me.

I tell this one, 'Go,'
and he goes;

and that one, 'Come,'
and he comes.

I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."

When Jesus heard this,
he was amazed

and said to those
following him,

"Truly I tell you,

I have not found anyone in
Israel with such great faith.

I say to you
that many will come

from the east
and the west,

and will take their places
at the feast with Abraham,

Isaac, and Jacob
in the kingdom of heaven.

But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside,

into the darkness,

where there will be weeping
and gnashing of teeth."

Then Jesus said to the
centurion,

"Go! Let it be done just
as you believed it would."

And his servant was healed
at that moment.

When Jesus
came into Peter's house,

he saw Peter's mother-in-law
lying in bed with a fever.

He touched her hand
and the fever left her,

and she got up
and began to wait on him.

When evening came,

many who were demon-possessed
were brought to him,

and he drove out the spirits

with a word
and healed all the sick.

This was to fulfill
what was spoken

through the prophet Isaiah--

"He took up our infirmities

and bore our diseases."

When Jesus saw the crowd
around him,

he gave orders to cross
to the other side of the lake.

Then a teacher of the law
came to him and said,

"Teacher, I will follow you
wherever you go."

Jesus replied,
"Foxes have dens

and birds have nests,

but the Son of Man has
no place to lay his head."

[ chattering ]

Another disciple said to him,

"Lord, first let me go
and bury my father."

But Jesus told him,
"Follow me,

and let the dead
bury their own dead."

[ speaking Aramaic ]

Then he got into the boat

and his disciples
followed him.

Suddenly a furious storm
came up on the lake,

so that the waves swept
over the boat.

[ thunder ]

But Jesus was sleeping.

The disciples went
and woke him, saying,

"Lord, save us!
We're going to drown!"

He replied,

"You of little faith,
why are you so afraid?"

Then he got up and rebuked
the winds and the waves...

[ yelling ]

and it was completely calm.

The men were amazed
and asked,

"What kind of man is this?

Even the winds
and the waves obey him!"

When he arrived
at the other side

in the region
of the Gadarenes,

two demon-possessed men
coming from the tombs met him.

They were so violent that
no one could pass that way.

"What do you want with us,
Son of God?", they shouted.

"Have you come here
to torture us

before the appointed time?"

Some distance from them

a large herd of pigs
was feeding.

The demons begged Jesus,

"If you drive us out,

send us into the herd
of pigs."

He said to them, "Go!"

So they came out
and went into the pigs,

and the whole herd
rushed down the steep bank

into the lake
and died in the water.

Those tending the pigs
ran off,

went into the town,
and reported all this,

including what had happened
to the demon-possessed men.

Then the whole town
went out to meet Jesus.

And when they saw him,

they pleaded with him
to leave their region.

Jesus stepped into a boat,

crossed over
and came to his own town.

Some men brought to him

a paralyzed man
lying on a mat.

When Jesus saw their faith,
he said to the man,

"Take heart, son.
Your sins are forgiven."

At this, some of
the teachers of the law

said to themselves,
"This fellow is blaspheming!"

Knowing their thoughts,
Jesus said,

"Why do you entertain
evil thoughts in your hearts?

Which is easier? To say,
'Your sins are forgiven,'

or to say,
'Get up and walk'?

But I want you to know
that the Son of Man

has authority on earth
to forgive sins."

So he said
to the paralyzed man,

"Get up, take your mat,
and go home."

Then the man got up
and went home.

When the crowd saw this,
they were filled with awe;

and they praised God,

who had given
such authority to man.

[ chattering ]

[ chattering ]

As Jesus went on from there,

he saw a man named Matthew

sitting at
the tax collector's booth.

"Follow me," he told him,

and Matthew got up
and followed him.

While Jesus was having dinner
at Matthew's house,

many tax collectors
and sinners

came and ate with him
and his disciples.

When the Pharisees saw this,
they asked his disciples,

"Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"

On hearing this,
Jesus said,

"It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.

But go and learn
what this means--

'I desire mercy,
not sacrifice.'

For I have not come to call
the righteous, but sinners."

Then John's disciples came
and asked him,

"How is it that we
and the Pharisees fast often,

but your disciples
do not fast?"

Jesus answered,

"How can the guests
of the bridegroom

mourn while he is with them?

The time will come
when the bridegroom

will be taken from them;
then they will fast.

"No one sews a patch
of unshrunk cloth

on an old garment,

for the patch will pull away
from the garment,

making the tear worse.

Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins.

If they do,
the skins will burst;

the wine will run out, and the
wineskins will be ruined.

No, they pour new wine
into new wineskins,

and both are preserved."

[ laughter ]

While he was saying this,

a synagogue leader came,
and knelt before him and said,

"My daughter has just died.

But come and put your hand
on her,

and she will live."

Jesus got up
and went with him,

and so did his disciples.

Just then a woman who had been
subject to bleeding

for twelve years
came up behind him

and touched the edge
of his cloak.

She said to herself,

"If I only touch his cloak,
I will be healed."

Jesus turned and saw her.

"Take heart, daughter,"
he said,

"your faith has healed you."

And the woman was healed
at that moment.

[ chattering ]

When Jesus entered the
synagogue leader's house

and saw the noisy crowd
and people playing pipes,

he said, "Go away.

The girl is not dead,
but asleep."

But they laughed at him.

After the crowd
had been put outside,

he went in and took the girl
by the hand...

...and she got up.

News of this spread
through all that region.

As Jesus went on from there,

two blind men followed him,
calling out,

"Have mercy on us,
Son of David!"

When he had gone indoors,

the blind men came to him,

and he asked them,

"Do you believe
that I am able to do this?"

"Yes, Lord," they replied.

Then he touched their eyes
and said,

"According to your faith
let it be done to you";

and their sight
was restored.

Jesus warned them sternly,

"See that no one knows
about this."

But they went out
and spread the news about him

all over that region.

While they were going out,

a man who was demon-possessed

and could not talk
was brought to Jesus.

And when the demon
was driven out,

the man who had been mute
spoke.

The crowd was amazed
and said,

"Nothing like this has ever
been seen in Israel."

But the Pharisees said,

"It is by the prince of demons
that he drives out demons."

Jesus went through
all the towns and villages,

teaching in their synagogues,

proclaiming the good news
of the kingdom,

and healing every disease
and sickness.

When he saw the crowds,
he had compassion on them,

because they were harassed
and helpless,

like sheep
without a shepherd.

Then he said
to his disciples,

"The harvest is plentiful
but the workers are few.

Ask the Lord of the harvest,
therefore,

to send out workers
into his harvest field."

Jesus called his twelve
disciples to him

and gave them authority
to drive out impure spirits

and to heal every disease
and sickness.

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.

These twelve
Jesus sent out

with the following
instructions--

"Do not go
among the Gentiles

or enter any town
of the Samaritans.

Go rather to the lost sheep
of Israel.

As you go,
proclaim this message,

'The kingdom of heaven
has come near.'

Heal the sick,
raise the dead,

cleanse those who have leprosy, 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,

no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff,

for the worker
is worth his keep.

Whatever town
or village you enter,

search there
for some worthy person

and stay at their house
until you leave.

As you enter the home,
give it your greeting.

If the home is deserving,
let your peace rest on it;

if it is not,
let your peace return to you.

If anyone will not welcome you
or listen to your words,

leave that home or town

and shake the dust
off your feet.

Truly I tell you,

it will be more bearable
for Sodom and Gomorrah

on the day of judgment
than for that town.

I am sending you out
like sheep among wolves.

Therefore be as shrewd
as snakes

and as innocent
as doves.

Be on your guard;

you will be handed over
to the local councils

and be flogged
in the synagogues.

On my account you will be
brought before governors

and kings as witnesses to them
and to the Gentiles.

But when they arrest you,

do not worry about what to say
or how to say it.

At that time you will be
given what to say,

for it will not
be you speaking,

but the Spirit of your Father
speaking through you.

Brother will betray
brother to death,

and a father his child;

children will rebel
against their parents

and have them put to death.

You will be hated by everyone
because of me,

but the one who stands firm
to the end will be saved.

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.

The student is not
above the teacher,

nor a servant
above his master.

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,

how much more the members
of his household!

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.

What I tell you in the dark,
speak in the daylight;

what is whispered
in your ear,

proclaim from the roofs.

Do not be afraid of those
who kill the body

but cannot kill the soul.

Rather, be afraid of the One
who can destroy

both soul and body in hell.

Are not two sparrows
sold for a penny?

Yet not one of them
will fall to the ground

outside your Father's care.

And even the very hairs
of your head are all numbered.

So don't be afraid;

you are worth more
than many sparrows.

Whoever acknowledges me
before others,

I will also acknowledge
before my Father in heaven.

But whoever disowns me
before others,

I will disown
before my Father in heaven.

Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth.

I did not come to bring peace,
but a sword.

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,

a man's enemies will be the
members of his own household.

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.

Whoever does not take up
their cross and follow me

is not worthy of me.

Whoever finds their life
will lose it,

and whoever loses their life
for my sake will find it.

Anyone who welcomes you
welcomes me,

and anyone who welcomes me

welcomes the one
who sent me.

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.

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."

After Jesus had finished
instructing

his twelve disciples,

he went on from there
to teach and preach

in the towns of Galilee.

When John,
who was in prison,

heard about the deeds
of the Messiah,

he sent his disciples
to ask him,

"Are you the one
who is to come,

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
are cleansed,

the deaf hear,
the dead are raised,

and the good news
is proclaimed to the poor.

Blessed is anyone who does not
stumble on account of me."

As John's disciples
were leaving,

Jesus began to speak
to the crowd about John.

"What did you go out
into the wilderness 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?

Yes, I tell you,

and more than a prophet.

This is the one
about whom it is written,

'I will send my messenger
ahead of you,

who will prepare
your way before you.'

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.

From the days
of John the Baptist until now,

the kingdom of heaven has been
subjected to violence,

and violent people
have been raiding it.

For all the Prophets and
the Law prophesied until John.

And if you are willing
to accept it,

he is the Elijah
who was to come.

Whoever has ears,
let them hear.

To what can I compare
this generation?

They are like children
sitting in the marketplaces

and calling out to others,

'We played the pipe for you,
and you did not dance;

we sang a dirge,
and you did not mourn.'

For John came
neither eating nor drinking,

and they say,
'He has a demon.'

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.'

But wisdom is proved right
by her deeds."

Then Jesus began
to denounce the towns

in which most of his miracles
had been performed,

because they did not repent.

"Woe to you, Chorazin!
Woe to you, Bethsaida!

For if the miracles that were
performed in you

had been performed
in Tyre and Sidon,

they would have repented long
ago in sackcloth and ashes.

But I tell you,

it will be more bearable
for Tyre and Sidon

on the day of judgment
than for you.

And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens?

No, you will go down
to Hades.

For if the miracles
that were performed in you

had been performed
in Sodom,

it would have remained
to this day.

But I tell you that it will be
more bearable for Sodom

on the day of judgment
than for you."

At that time Jesus said,

"I praise you, Father,
Lord of heaven and earth,

because you have hidden
these things

from the wise and learned,

and revealed them
to little children.

Yes, Father, for this is what
you were pleased to do.

All things have been committed
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 chooses to reveal him.

Come to me, all you who are
weary and burdened,

and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you
and learn from me,

for I am gentle
and humble in heart,

and you will find rest
for your souls.

For my yoke is easy
and my burden is light."

At that time,
Jesus went through

the grain fields
on the Sabbath.

His disciples were hungry

and began to pick some heads
of grain and eat them.

When the Pharisees saw this,
they said to him,

"Look!
Your disciples are doing

what is unlawful
on the Sabbath."

He answered, "Haven't you
read what David did

when he and his companions
were hungry?

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.

Or haven't you read
in the Law

that the priests
on Sabbath duty in the temple

desecrate the Sabbath
and yet are innocent?

I tell you
that something greater

than the temple is here.

If you had known
what these words mean,

'I desire mercy,
not sacrifice,'

you would not have condemned
the innocent.

For the Son of Man
is Lord of the Sabbath."

Going on from that place,
he went into their synagogue,

and a man
with a shriveled hand
was there.

Looking for a reason to bring
charges against Jesus,

they asked him, "Is it lawful
to heal on the Sabbath?"

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?

How much more valuable
is a person than a sheep!

Therefore it is lawful
to do good on the Sabbath."

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.

But the Pharisees went out

and plotted
how they might kill Jesus.

Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place.

A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill.

He warned them not to tell
others about him.

This was to fulfill
what was spoken

through the prophet Isaiah--

"Here is my servant
whom I have chosen,

the one I love,
in whom I delight;

I will put my Spirit on him,

and he will proclaim
justice to the nations.

He will not quarrel
or cry out;

no one will hear his voice
in the streets.

A bruised reed
he will not break,

and a smoldering wick
he will not snuff out,

till he has brought justice
through to victory.

In his name the nations
will put their hope."

Then they brought him
a demon-possessed man

who was blind and mute...

[ moaning ]

...and Jesus healed him,

so that he could
both talk and see.

All the people
were astonished and said,

"Could this be
the Son of David?"

But when the Pharisees
heard this, they said,

"It is only by Beelzebul,
the prince of demons,

that this fellow
drives out demons."

Jesus knew their thoughts
and said to them,

"Every kingdom divided against
itself will be ruined,

and every city or household
divided against itself

will not stand.

If Satan drives out Satan,

he is divided
against himself.

How then
can his kingdom stand?

And if I drive out demons
by Beelzebul,

by whom do your people drive
them out?

So then,
they will be your judges.

But if it is
by the Spirit of God

that I drive out demons,

then the kingdom of God
has come upon you.

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.

Whoever is not with me
is against me,

and whoever does not gather
with me scatters.

And so I tell you,

every kind of sin and slander
can be forgiven,

but blasphemy against the
Spirit will not be forgiven.

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
or in the age to come.

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.

You brood of vipers,

how can you who are evil
say anything good?

For the mouth speaks
what the heart is full of.

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.

But I tell you that everyone
will to give account

on the day of judgment

for every empty word
they have spoken.

For by your words
you will be acquitted,

and by your words
you will be condemned."

Then some of the Pharisees

and teachers of the law
said to him,

"Teacher, we want to see
a sign from you."

He answered,

"A wicked and adulterous
generation asks for a sign!

But none will be given it

except the sign
of the prophet Jonah.

For as Jonah was three days
and three nights

in the belly of a huge fish,

so the Son of Man will be
three days and three nights

in the heart of the earth.

The men of Nineveh
will stand up at the judgment

with this generation
and condemn it;

for they repented at the
preaching of Jonah,

and now something greater
than Jonah is here.

The Queen of the South
will rise at the judgment

with this generation
and condemn it;

for she came from the ends
of the earth

to listen
to Solomon's wisdom,

and now something greater
than Solomon is here.

When an impure spirit
comes out of a person,

it goes through arid places
seeking rest

and does not find it.

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.

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.

That is how it will be
with this wicked generation."

While Jesus was still talking
to the crowd,

his mother and brothers
stood outside,

wanting to speak to him.

Someone told him,

"Your mother and brothers
are standing outside,

wanting to speak to you."

He replied to them,

"Who is my mother,
and who are my brothers?"

Pointing to his disciples,
he said,

"Here are my mother
and my brothers.

For whoever does the will
of my Father in heaven

is my brother
and sister and mother."

That same day,
Jesus went out of the house

and sat by the lake.

Such large crowds
gathered around him

that he got into a boat
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, sixty,
or thirty times what was sown.

Whoever has ears,
let them hear."

The disciples came to him
and asked,

"Why do you speak
to the people in parables?"

He replied,

"Because the knowledge
of the secrets

of the kingdom of heaven
has been given to you,

but not to them.

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.

This is why I speak to them
in parables.

Though seeing,
they do not see;

though hearing,
they do not hear
or understand.

In them is fulfilled
the prophecy of Isaiah--

'You will be ever hearing
but never understanding;

you will be ever seeing
but never perceiving.

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.'

But blessed are your eyes
because they see,

and your ears
because they hear.

For truly I tell 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.

Listen then
to what the parable of
the sower means.

When anyone hears the message

about the kingdom
and does not understand it,

the evil one comes
and snatches away

what was sown in their heart.

This is the seed sown
along the path.

The seed falling
on rocky ground

refers to someone
who hears the word

and at once receives it
with joy.

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.

The seed falling
among the thorns

refers to someone
who hears the word,

but the worries
of this life

and the deceitfulness
of wealth choke the word,

making it unfruitful.

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."

Jesus told them
another parable.

"The kingdom of heaven

is like a man who sowed
good seed in his field.

But while everyone
was sleeping,

his enemy came
and sowed weeds

among the wheat,
and went away.

When the wheat sprouted
and formed heads,

then the weeds also appeared.

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?'

'An enemy did this,'
he replied.

The servants asked him,

'Do you want us to go
and pull them up?'

'No,' he answered,

'because while you are
pulling the weeds,

you may uproot the wheat
with them.

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.'"

[ speaking Aramaic ]

He told them
another parable.

"The kingdom of heaven
is like a mustard seed,

which a man took
and planted in his field.

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."

He told them
still another parable.

"The kingdom of heaven is like
yeast that a woman took

and mixed into
about sixty pounds of flour

until it worked
all through the dough."

Jesus spoke all these things
to the crowd in parables;

he did not say anything to them without using a parable.

So was fulfilled what was
spoken through the prophet,

"I will open my mouth
in parables,

I will utter things hidden

since the creation
of the world."

Then he left the crowd
and went into the house.

His disciples came to him
and said,

"Explain to us the parable
of the weeds in the field."

He answered,

"The one who sowed the good
seed is the Son of Man.

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,

and the enemy who sows them
is the devil.

The harvest is the end
of the age,

and the harvesters
are angels.

As the weeds are pulled up
and burned in the fire,

so it will be
at the end of the age.

The Son of Man
will send out his angels,

and they will weed out
of his kingdom

everything that causes sin
and all who do evil.

They will throw them
into the blazing furnace,

where there will be weeping
and gnashing of teeth.

Then the righteous
will shine like the sun

in the kingdom
of their Father.

Whoever has ears,
let them hear.

The kingdom of heaven is like
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.

Again, the kingdom of heaven
is like a merchant

looking for fine pearls.

When he found one
of great value,

he went away
and sold everything he had

and bought it.

Once again, the kingdom
of heaven is like a net

that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish.

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.

This is how it will be
at the end of the age.

The angels will come
and separate

the wicked
from the righteous

and throw them
into the blazing furnace,

where there will be weeping
and gnashing of teeth.

"Have you understood
all these things?",
Jesus asked.

"Yes," they replied.

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."

[ speaking Aramaic ]

When Jesus had finished
these parables,

he moved on from there.

Coming to his hometown,

he began teaching the people
in their synagogue,

and they were amazed.

"Where did this man
get this wisdom

and these miraculous powers?",
they asked.

"Isn't this
the carpenter's son?

Isn't his mother's name Mary,

and aren't his brothers James,
Joseph, Simon, and Judas?

Aren't all his sisters
with us?

Where then did this man
get all these things?

And they took offense
at him.

But Jesus said to them,

"A prophet
is not without honor

except in his own town
and in his own home."

[ chattering ]

And he did not
do many miracles there

because of their lack
of faith.

At that time,
Herod the tetrarch heard
the reports about Jesus,

and he said
to his attendants,

"This is John the Baptist.

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
because of Herodias,

his brother Philip's wife,

for John had been
saying to him,

"It is not lawful
for you to have her."

Herod wanted to kill John,

but he was afraid
of the people,

because they considered
John a prophet.

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

and had John beheaded
in the prison.

His head was brought in
on a platter

and given to the girl,

who carried it
to her mother.

John's disciples came
and took his body

and buried it.

Then they went
and told Jesus.

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.

When Jesus landed
and saw a large crowd,

he had compassion on them
and healed their sick.

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."

Jesus replied,
"They do not need to go away.

You give them something
to eat."

"We have here
only five loaves of bread

and two fish,"
they answered.

"Bring them here to me,"
he said.

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.

Then he gave them
to the disciples,

and the disciples gave them
to the people.

They all ate
and were satisfied,

and the disciples picked up
twelve basketfuls

of broken pieces
that were left over.

The number of those who ate
was about five thousand men,

besides woman and children.

Immediately,
Jesus made the disciples
get into the boat

and go on ahead of him
to the other side,

while he dismissed the crowd.

After he had dismissed them,

he went up on a mountainside
by himself to pray.

Later that night,
he was there alone,

and the boat was already

a considerable distance
from land,

buffeted by the waves

because the wind
was against it.

Shortly before dawn
Jesus went out to them,

walking on the lake.

When the disciples saw him
walking on the lake,

they were terrified.

"It's a ghost," they said,
and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately
said to them,

"Take courage! It is I.
Don't be afraid."

"Lord, if it's you,"
Peter replied,

"tell me to come to you
on the water."

"Come," he said.

Then Peter got down
out of the boat,

walked on the water
and came toward Jesus.

But when he saw the wind,

he was afraid and,
beginning to sink,

cried out,
"Lord, save me!"

Immediately Jesus reached out
his hand and caught him.

"You of little faith,"
he said.

"Why did you doubt?"

And when they climbed
into the boat,

the wind died down.

Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying,

"Truly you are
the Son of God."

When they had crossed over,
they landed at Gennesaret.

And when the men of that place
recognized Jesus,

they sent word to all
the surrounding country.

People brought
all their sick to him

and begged him
to let the sick

just touch the edge
of his cloak,

and all who touched it
were healed.

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!"

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'

and 'Anyone who curses
their father or mother

is to be put to death.'

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.'"

Jesus called the crowd
to him and said,

"Listen and understand.

What goes into someone's mouth
does not defile them,

but what comes out
of their mouth,

that is what defiles them."

Then the disciples
came to him and asked,

"Do you know that
the Pharisees were offended

when they heard this?"

He replied, "Every plant
that my heavenly Father

has not planted will be
pulled up by the roots.

Leave them.
They are blind guides.

If the blind lead the blind,
both will fall into a pit."

Peter said,
"Explain the parable to us."

"Are you still so dull?",
Jesus asked them.

"Don't you see that whatever
enters the mouth

goes into the stomach
and then out of the body?

But the things that come out
of a person's mouth

come from the heart,
and these defile them.

For out of the heart
come evil thoughts,

murder, adultery,
sexual immorality,

theft, false testimony,
slander.

These are what defile
a person;

but eating with unwashed hands
does not defile them."

Leaving that place,

Jesus withdrew to the region
of Tyre and Sidon.

A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him,

crying out,
"Lord, Son of David,
have mercy on me!

My daughter is demon-possessed
and suffering terribly."

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."

He answered, "I was sent only
to the lost sheep of Israel."

The woman came
and knelt before him.

"Lord, help me!" she said.

He replied, "It is not right
to take the children's bread

and toss it to the dogs."

"Yes it is, Lord,"
she said.

"Even the dogs
eat the crumbs

that fall
from their master's table."

Then Jesus said to her,

"Woman, you have great faith!

Your request is granted."

And her daughter was healed
at that moment.

Mama?

Jesus left there and went
along the Sea of Galilee.

Then he went up on
a mountainside and sat down.

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.

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.

Jesus called his disciples
to him and said,

"I have compassion
for these people;

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."

His disciples answered,

"Where could we
get enough bread

in this remote place
to feed such a crowd?"

"How many loaves
do you have?", Jesus asked.

"Seven," they replied,
"and a few small fish."

He told the crowd
to sit down on the ground.

Then he took the seven loaves
and the fish,

and when he had given thanks,

he broke them...

...and gave them
to the disciples,

and they in turn
to the people.

They all ate
and were satisfied.

Afterward the disciples
picked up seven basketfuls

of broken pieces
that were left over.

The number of those who ate
was four thousand men,

besides women and children.

After Jesus had sent
the crowd away,

he got into the boat,

and went to the vicinity
of Magadan.

The Pharisees and Sadducees
came to Jesus and tested him

by asking him to show them
a sign from heaven.

He replied,
"When evening comes, you say,

'It will be fair weather,
for the sky is red,'

and in the morning,
'Today it will be stormy,

for the sky is red
and overcast.'

You know how to interpret
the appearance of the sky,

but you cannot interpret
the signs of the times.

A wicked and adulterous
generation looks for a sign,

but none will be given it
except the sign of Jonah."

Jesus then left them
and went away.

When they went
across the lake,

the disciples forgot
to take bread.

"Be careful,"
Jesus said to them.

"Be on your guard
against the yeast

of the Pharisees
and Sadducees."

They discussed this among
themselves and said,

"It is because
we didn't bring any bread."

Aware of their discussion,
Jesus asked,

"You of little faith,

why are you talking
among yourselves

about having no bread?

Do you still not understand?

Don't you remember
the five loaves

for the five thousand,

and how many basketfuls
you gathered?

Or the seven loaves
for the four thousand,

and how many basketfuls
you gathered?

How is it
you don't understand

that I was not talking
to you about bread?

But be on your guard
against the yeast

of the Pharisees
and Sadducees."

Then they understood that
he was not telling them

to guard against the yeast
used in bread,

but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

When Jesus came to the region
of Caesarea Philippi,

he asked his disciples,

"Who do people say
the Son of Man is?"

They replied,
"Some say John the Baptist;

others say Elijah;
and still others,

Jeremiah or one
of the prophets."

"But what about you?",
he asked.

"Who do you say I am?"

Simon Peter answered,

"You are the Messiah,
the Son of the living God."

Jesus replied,

"Blessed are you,
Simon son of Jonah,

for this was not revealed
to you by flesh and blood,

but by my Father in heaven.

And I tell you
that you are Peter,

and on this rock
I will build my church,

and the gates of Hades
will not overcome it.

I will give you the keys
of the kingdom of heaven;

whatever you bind on earth
will be bound in heaven,

and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

Then he ordered his disciples

not to tell anyone
that he was the Messiah.

From that time on Jesus began
to explain to his disciples

that he must go to Jerusalem

and suffer many things
at the hands of the elders,

the chief priests,
and the teachers of the law,

and that he must be killed

and on the third day
be raised to life.

Peter took him aside
and began to rebuke him.

"Never, Lord!",
he said.

"This shall never
happen to you!"

Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan!

You are a stumbling block
to me;

you do not have in mind
the concerns of God,

but merely human concerns."

Then Jesus said
to his disciples,

"Whoever wants to be my
disciple must deny themselves

and take up their cross
and follow me.

For whoever wants to save
their life will lose it,

but whoever loses their life
for me will find it.

What good will it be

for someone to gain
the whole world,

yet forfeit their soul?

Or what can anyone give
in exchange for their soul?

For the Son of Man is going
to come in his Father's glory

with his angels
and then he will reward

each person according
to what they have done.

Truly I tell you,

some who are standing here
will not taste death

before they see the Son of Man
coming in his kingdom."

After six days Jesus
took with him Peter,

James and John
the brother of James,

and led them up
a high mountain by themselves.

There he was transfigured
before them.

His face shone like the sun,

and his clothes
became as white as the light.

Just then there appeared
before them Moses and Elijah,

talking with Jesus.

Peter said to Jesus, "Lord,
it is good for us to be here.

If you wish,
I will put up three shelters,

one for you, one for Moses,
and one for Elijah."

While he was still speaking,
a bright cloud covered them,

and a voice
from the cloud said,

"This is my Son,
whom I love;

with him I am well pleased.

Listen to him!"

When the disciples
heard this,

they fell face down
to the ground, terrified.

But Jesus came
and touched them.

"Get up," he said.
"Don't be afraid."

When they looked up,
they saw no one except Jesus.

As they were coming down
the mountain,

Jesus instructed them,

"Don't tell anyone
what you have seen,

until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."

The disciples asked him,

"Why then do the teachers
of the law

say that Elijah
must come first?"

Jesus replied,

"To be sure, Elijah comes
and will restore all things.

But I tell you,
Elijah has already come,

and they did not
recognize him,

but have done to him
everything they wished.

In the same way
the Son of Man

is going to suffer
at their hands."

Then the disciples understood

that he was talking to them
about John the Baptist.

When they came to the crowd,

a man approached Jesus
and knelt before him.

"Lord, have mercy on my son,"
he said.

"He has seizures
and is suffering greatly.

He often falls into the fire
or into the water.

I brought him
to your disciples,

but they could not
heal him."

"You unbelieving and perverse
generation," Jesus replied,

"how long shall I stay
with you?

How long shall I put up
with you?

Bring the boy here to me."

[ chattering ]

Jesus rebuked the demon,

and it came out of the boy,

and he was healed
at that moment.

Then the disciples came
to Jesus in private and asked,

"Why couldn't
we drive it out?"

He replied, "Because you have
so little faith.

Truly I tell you,

if you have faith
as small as a mustard seed,

you can say
to this mountain,

'Move from here to there,'
and it will move.

Nothing will be
impossible for you."

When they came together
in Galilee,

he said to them,

"The Son of Man
is going to be delivered

into the hands of men.

They will kill him,

and on the third day
he will be raised to life."

And the disciples
were filled with grief.

After Jesus and his disciples
arrived in Capernaum,

the collectors of the
two-drachma temple tax

came to Peter and asked,

"Doesn't your teacher
pay the temple tax?"

"Yes, he does," he replied.

When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak.

"What do you think, Simon?",
he asked.

"From whom do the kings
of the earth

collect duty and taxes?

From their own children
or from others?"

"From others,"
Peter answered.

"Then the children are exempt," Jesus said to him.

"But so that
we may not cause offense,

go to the lake
and throw out your line.

Take the first fish
you catch;

open its mouth and you will
find a four-drachma coin.

Take it and give it to them
for my tax and yours."

At that time the disciples
came to Jesus and asked,

"Who, then, is the greatest
in the kingdom of heaven?"

He called
a little child to him,

and placed the child
among them.

And he said,
"Truly I tell you,

unless you change and become
like little children,

you will never enter
the kingdom of heaven.

Therefore, whoever takes the
lowly position of this child

is the greatest
in the kingdom of heaven.

And whoever welcomes
one such child in my name
welcomes me.

If anyone causes
one of these little ones,

those who believe in me,
to stumble,

it would be better for them
to have a large millstone

hung around their neck
and to be drowned

in the depths of the sea.

Woe to the world
because of the things

that cause people
to stumble!

Such things must come,

but woe to the person
through whom they come!

If your hand or your foot
causes you to stumble,

cut it off
and throw it away.

It is better for you to enter
life maimed or crippled

than to have two hands
or two feet

and be thrown
into eternal fire.

And if your eye
causes you to stumble,

gouge it out
and throw it away.

It is better for you
to enter life with one eye

than to have two eyes

and be thrown into
the fire of hell.

See that you do not despise
one of these little ones.

For I tell you
that their angels in heaven

always see the face
of my Father in heaven.

What do you think?

If a man owns
a hundred sheep,

and one of them wanders away,

will he not leave
the ninety-nine on the hills

and go to look for the one
that wandered off?

And if he finds it,
truly I tell you,

he is happier
about that one sheep

than about the ninety-nine
that did not wander off.

In the same way your Father
in heaven is not willing

that any of these little ones
should perish.

If your brother
or sister sins,

go and point out
their fault,

just between
the two of you.

If they listen to you,
you have won them over.

But if they will not listen,
take one or two others along,

so that every matter
may be established

by the testimony
of two or three witnesses.

If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church.

And if they refuse to listen
even to the church,

treat them as you would
a pagan or a tax collector.

Truly I tell you,

whatever you bind on earth
will be bound in heaven,

and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

Again, truly I tell you

that if two of you on earth

agree about anything
they ask for,

it will be done for them
by my Father in heaven.

For where two or three
gather in my name,

there am I with them."

Then Peter came to Jesus
and asked,

"Lord, how many times
shall I forgive

my brother or sister
who sins against me?

Up to seven times?"

Jesus answered,
"I tell you, not seven times,

but seventy-seven times.

Therefore, the kingdom
of heaven is like a king

who wanted to settle accounts
with his servants.

As he began the settlement,
a man who owed him

ten thousand bags of gold
was brought to him.

Since he was not
able to pay,

the master ordered that he
and his wife and his children

and all that he had be sold
to repay the debt.

At this the servant
fell on his knees before him.

'Be patient with me,'
he begged,

'and I will pay back
everything.'

The servant's master
took pity on him,

canceled the debt,
and let him go.

But when that servant
went out,

he found one
of his fellow servants

who owed him
a hundred silver coins.

He grabbed him
and began to choke him.

'Pay back what you owe me!'
he demanded.

His fellow servant fell
to his knees and begged him,

'Be patient with me,
and I will pay it back.'

But he refused.

Instead, he went off and had
the man thrown into prison

until he could pay the debt.

When the other servants
saw what had happened,

they were outraged
and went and told their master

everything that had happened.

Then the master
called the servant in.

'You wicked servant,'
he said,

'I canceled
all that debt of yours

because you begged me to.

Shouldn't you have had mercy
on your fellow servant

just as I had on you?'

In anger his master
handed him over

to the jailers
to be tortured,

until he should pay back
all he owed.

This is how my heavenly Father
will treat each of you

unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart."

When Jesus had finished
saying these things,

he left Galilee and went into
the region of Judea

to the other side
of the Jordan.

Large crowds followed him,

and he healed them there.

Some Pharisees came to him
to test him.

They asked,
"Is it lawful for a man

to divorce his wife
for any and every reason?"

"Haven't you read,"
he replied,

"that at the beginning
the Creator

'made them male and female,'
and said,

'For this reason a man will
leave his father and mother

and be united to his wife,

and the two
will become one flesh'?

So they are no longer two,
but one flesh.

Therefore what God
has joined together,

let no one separate."

"Why then," they asked,

"did Moses command
that a man give his wife

a certificate of divorce
and send her away?"

Jesus replied,
"Moses permitted you
to divorce your wives

because your hearts
were hard.

But it was not this way
from the beginning.

I tell you that anyone
who divorces his wife,

except for sexual immorality,

and marries another woman
commits adultery."

The disciples said to him,

"If this is the situation
between a husband and wife,

it is better not to marry."

Jesus replied, "Not everyone
can accept this word,

but only those
to whom it has been given.

For there are eunuchs
who were born that way,

and there are eunuchs who have
been made eunuchs by others,

and there are those who choose
to live like eunuchs

for the sake
of the kingdom of heaven.

The one who can accept this
should accept it."

Then people brought
little children to Jesus

for him to place his hands
on them and pray for them.

But the disciples
rebuked them.

Jesus said, "Let the little
children come to me,

and do not hinder them,

for the kingdom of heaven
belongs to such as these."

When he had placed
his hands on them,

he went on from there.

Just then a man came up
to Jesus and asked,

"Teacher, what good thing must
I do to get eternal life?"

"Why do you ask me about what
is good?", Jesus replied.

"There is only One
who is good.

If you want to enter life,
keep the commandments."

"Which ones?", he inquired.

Jesus replied,
"You shall not murder,

you shall not commit adultery,
you shall not steal,

you shall not give
false testimony,

honor your father
and mother,

and love your neighbor
as yourself."

"All these I have kept,"
the young man said.

"What do I still lack?"

Jesus answered,
"If you want to be perfect,

go, sell your possessions,
and give to the poor,

and you will have treasure
in heaven.

Then come, follow me."

When the young man
heard this,

he went away sad,
because he had great wealth.

Then Jesus said
to his disciples,

"Truly I tell you,

it is hard
for someone who is rich

to enter
the kingdom of heaven.

Again I tell you,

it is easier for a camel

to go through the eye
of a needle

than for someone
who is rich

to enter
the kingdom of God."

When the disciples
heard this,

they were greatly astonished
and asked,

"Who then can be saved?"

Jesus looked at them
and said,

"With man
this is impossible,

but with God
all things are possible."

Peter answered him,
"We have left everything
to follow you!

What then will there be
for us?"

Jesus said to them,
"Truly I tell you,

at the renewal
of all things,

when the Son of Man
sits on his glorious throne,

you who have followed me

will also sit
on twelve thrones,

judging the twelve tribes
of Israel.

And everyone who has left
houses or brothers or sisters

or father or mother
or wife

or children or fields
for my sake

will receive a hundred times
as much

and will inherit
eternal life.

But many who are first
will be last,

and many who are last
will be first.

For the kingdom of heaven
is like a landowner

who went out
early in the morning

to hire workers
for his vineyard.

He agreed to pay them
a denarius for the day

and sent them
into his vineyard.

About nine in the morning
he went out

and saw others standing in
the marketplace doing nothing.

He told them, 'You also go
and work in my vineyard,

and I will pay you
whatever is right.'

So they went.

He went out again
about noon

and about three
in the afternoon

and did the same thing.

About five in the afternoon
he went out

and found still others
standing around.

He asked them, 'Why have you
been standing here

all day long doing nothing?'

'Because no one has hired us,'
they answered.

He said to them, 'You also go
and work in my vineyard.'

When evening came,

the owner of the vineyard
said to his foreman,

'Call the workers
and pay them their wages,

beginning with
the last ones hired

and going on to the first.'

The workers who were hired
about five in the afternoon

came and each received
a denarius.

So when those came
who were hired first,

they expected
to receive more.

But each one of them also
received a denarius.

When they received it,

they began to grumble
against the landowner.

'These who were hired last
worked only one hour,'
they said,

'and you have made them
equal to us

who have borne
the burden of the work

and the heat of the day.'

But he answered one of them,

'I am not being
unfair to you, friend.

Didn't you agree to work
for a denarius?

Take your pay and go.

I want to give the one
who was hired last

the same as I gave you.

Don't I have the right
to do what I want

with my own money?

Or are you envious
because I am generous?'

So the last will be first,

and the first will be last."

Now Jesus was going
up to Jerusalem.

On the way,
he took the Twelve aside
and said to them,

"We are going
up to Jerusalem,

and the Son of Man
will be delivered over

to the chief priests
and the teachers of the law.

They will condemn him
to death

and will hand him over
to the Gentiles

to be mocked and flogged
and crucified.

On the third day,
he will be raised to life!"

Then the mother of Zebedee's
sons came to Jesus

with her sons and,
kneeling down,

asked a favor of him.

"What is it you want?",
he asked.

She said, "Grant that one
of these two sons of mine

may sit at your right hand

and the other at your left
in your kingdom."

"You don't know
what you are asking,"

Jesus said to them.

"Can you drink the cup
I am going to drink?"

"We can," they answered.

Jesus said to them, "You will
indeed drink from my cup,

but to sit at my right or left
is not for me to grant.

These places belong to those

for whom they have been
prepared by my Father."

When the ten heard
about this,

they were indignant
with the two brothers.

Jesus called them together
and said,

"You know that
the rulers of the Gentiles
lord it over them,

and their high officials
exercise authority over them.

Not so with you.

Instead, whoever wants
to become great among you

must be your servant,

and whoever wants to be first
must be your slave,

just as the Son of Man
did not come to be served,

but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."

As Jesus and his disciples
were leaving Jericho,

a large crowd followed him.

Two blind men were sitting
by the roadside,

and when they heard that Jesus
was going by, they shouted,

"Lord, Son of David,
have mercy on us!"

The crowd rebuked them
and told them to be quiet,

but they shouted
all the louder,

"Lord, Son of David,
have mercy on us!"

Jesus stopped
and called them.

"What do you want me to do
for you?", he asked.

"Lord," they answered,
"we want our sight."

Jesus had compassion on them
and touched their eyes.

Immediately they received
their sight and followed him.

As they approached
Jerusalem

and came to Bethphage
on the Mount of Olives,

Jesus sent two disciples,
saying to them,

"Go to the village
ahead of you,

and at once you will find
a donkey tied there,

with her colt by her.

Untie them
and bring them to me.

If anyone says anything
to you,

say that the Lord needs them,

and he will send them
right away."

This took place to fulfill

what was spoken through
the prophet--

"Say to Daughter Zion,

'See, your king comes to you,

gentle,
and riding on a donkey,

and on a colt,
the foal of a donkey.'"

The disciples went and did
as Jesus had instructed them.

They brought the donkey
and the colt

and placed their cloaks
on them for Jesus to sit on.

A very large crowd spread
their cloaks on the road,

while others cut branches
from the trees

and spread them
on the road.

The crowds that went
ahead of him

and those that followed
shouted,

"Hosanna to
the Son of David!

Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord!

Hosanna in
the highest heaven!"

When Jesus entered Jerusalem,

the whole city was stirred
and asked, "Who is this?"

The crowds answered,
"This is Jesus,

the prophet from Nazareth
in Galilee."

[ chattering ]

Jesus entered
the temple courts...

[ yelling ]

...and drove out all who were
buying and selling there.

He overturned the tables
of the money changers

and the benches
of those selling doves.

"It is written,"
he said to them,

"'My house will be called
a house of prayer.'

But you are making it
den of robbers!"

The blind and the lame
came to him at the temple,

and he healed them.

But when the chief priests
and the teachers of the law

saw the wonderful things
he did

and the children shouting
in the temple courts,

"Hosanna to
the Son of David,"

they were indignant.

"Do you hear what these
children are saying?",

they asked him.

"Yes," replied Jesus,
"have you never read,

'From the lips
of children and infants

you, Lord, have called forth
your praise'?"

And he left them and went
out of the city to Bethany,

where he spent the night.

Early in the morning,

as Jesus was on his way
back to the city,

he was hungry.

Seeing a fig tree
by the road,

he went up to it but found
nothing on it except leaves.

Then he said to it,

"May you never
bear fruit again!"

Immediately,
the tree withered.

When the disciples saw this,
they were amazed.

"How did the fig tree wither
so quickly?", they asked.

Jesus replied,
"Truly I tell you,

if you have faith
and do not doubt,

not only can you do what
was done to the fig tree,

but also you can say
to this mountain,

'Go, throw yourself
into the sea,'

and it will be done.

If you believe,

you will receive whatever
you ask for in prayer."

Jesus entered
the temple courts,

and while he was teaching,

the chief priests
and the elders

of the people came to him.

"By what authority

are you doing these things?",
they asked,

"And who gave you
this authority?"

Jesus replied,
"I will also ask you
one question.

If you answer me,

I will tell you
by what authority

I am doing these things.

John's baptism,
where did it come from?

Was it from heaven,
or of human origin?"

They discussed it
among themselves and said,

"If we say, 'From heaven,'
he will ask,

'Then why didn't
you believe him?'

But if we say,
'Of human origin,'

we are afraid
of the people,

for they all hold
that John was a prophet."

So they answered Jesus,
"We don't know."

Then he said,

"Neither will I tell you
by what authority

I am doing these things.

What do you think?

There was a man
who had two sons.

He went to the first
and said,

'Son, go and work today
in the vineyard.'

'I will not,' he answered,

but later he changed
his mind and went.

Then the father
went to the other son

and said the same thing.

He answered,
'I will, sir,'

but he did not go.

"Which of the two did
what his father wanted?"

"The first," they answered.

Jesus said to them,
"Truly I tell you,

the tax collectors
and the prostitutes

are entering the kingdom
of God ahead of you.

For John came to you
to show you the way
of righteousness,

and you did not believe him,

but the tax collectors
and the prostitutes did.

And even after you saw this,

you did not repent
and believe him.

Listen to another parable.

There was a landowner
who planted a vineyard.

He put a wall around it,

dug a winepress in it,
and built a watchtower.

Then he rented the vineyard
to some farmers

and moved to another place.

When the harvest time
approached,

he sent his servants
to the tenants

to collect his fruit.

The tenants seized
his servants.

They beat one, killed another,
and stoned a third.

Then he sent
other servants to them,

more than the first time,

and the tenants
treated them the same way.

Last of all,
he sent his son to them.

'They will respect my son,'
he said.

But when the tenants
saw the son,

they said to each other,
'This is the heir.

Come, let's kill him
and take his inheritance.'

So they took him and threw him
out of the vineyard

and killed him.

Therefore, when the owner
of the vineyard comes,

what will he do
to those tenants?"

"He will bring those wretches

to a wretched end,"
they replied,

"and he will rent
the vineyard to other tenants,

who will give him his share

of the crop
at harvest time."

Jesus said to them,

"Have you never read
in the Scriptures,

'The stone
the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone;

the Lord has done this,

and it is marvelous
in our eyes'?

Therefore I tell you
that the kingdom of God

will be taken away from you

and given to a people
who will produce its fruit.

Anyone who falls on this stone
will be broken to pieces.

Anyone on whom it falls
will be crushed."

When the chief priests
and the Pharisees

heard Jesus' parables,

they knew he was talking
about them.

They looked for a way
to arrest him,

but they were afraid
of the crowd

because the people held
that he was a prophet.

Jesus spoke to them again
in parables, saying,

"The kingdom of heaven
is like a king who prepared

a wedding banquet
for his son.

He sent his servants to those

who had been invited
to the banquet

to tell them to come,

but they refused to come.

Then he sent
some more servants and said,

'Tell those
who have been invited

that I have prepared
my dinner.

My oxen and fattened cattle
have been butchered,

and everything is ready.

Come to the wedding banquet.'

But they paid no attention
and went off,

one to his field,
another to his business.

The rest seized his servants,

mistreated them,
and killed them.

The king was enraged.

He sent his army
and destroyed those murderers

and burned their city.

Then he said to his servants,

'The wedding banquet
is ready,

but those I invited
did not deserve to come.

So go to
the street corners

and invite to the banquet
anyone you find.'

So the servants went out
into the streets

and gathered all the people
they could find,

the bad as well
as the good,

and the wedding hall
was filled with guests.

But when the king came in
to see the guests,

he noticed a man there

who was not wearing
wedding clothes.

He asked,
'How did you get in here

without wedding clothes,
friend?'

The man was speechless.

Then the king
told the attendants,

'Tie him hand and foot,

and throw him outside,
into the darkness,

where there will be weeping
and gnashing of teeth.'

For many are invited,
but few are chosen."

Then the Pharisees went out

and laid plans
to trap him in his words.

They sent
their disciples to him

along with the Herodians.

"Teacher," they said,

"we know that you are
a man of integrity

and that you teach
the way of God

in accordance
with the truth.

You aren't swayed by others,

because you pay no attention
to who they are.

Tell us then,
what is your opinion?

Is it right to pay
the imperial tax

to Caesar or not?"

But Jesus, knowing
their evil intent, said,

"You hypocrites,
why are you trying to trap me?

Show me the coin used
for paying the tax."

They brought him a denarius,
and he asked them,

"Whose image is this?
And whose inscription?"

"Caesar's," they replied.

Then he said to them,

"So give back to Caesar
what is Caesar's,

and to God
what is God's."

When they heard this,
they were amazed.

So they left him
and went away.

That same day
the Sadducees,

who say there is no
resurrection,

came to him
with a question.

"Teacher," they said,

"Moses told us
that if a man dies

without having children,

his brother
must marry the widow

and raise up offspring
for him.

Now there were seven
brothers among us.

The first one married
and died,

and since he had no children,

he left his wife
to his brother.

The same thing happened to
the second and third brother,

right on down
to the seventh.

Finally, the woman died.

Now then,
at the resurrection,

whose wife will she be
of the seven,

since all of them
were married to her?"

Jesus replied,
"You are in error

because you do not know
the Scriptures

or the power of God.

At the resurrection
people will neither marry

nor be given in marriage;

they will be like
the angels in heaven.

But about the resurrection
of the dead,

have you not read
what God said to you,

'I am the God of Abraham,
the God of Isaac,

and the God of Jacob'?

He is not the God
of the dead,

but of the living."

When the crowds heard this,

they were astonished
at his teaching.

Hearing that Jesus
had silenced the Sadducees,

the Pharisees got together.

One of them,
an expert in the law,

tested him
with this question--

"Teacher, which is
the greatest commandment
in the Law?"

Jesus replied,

"Love the Lord your God
with all your heart

and with all your soul
and with all your mind.

This is the first
and greatest commandment.

And the second is like it.

Love your neighbor
as yourself.

All the Law
and the Prophets

hang on these
two commandments."

While the Pharisees were
gathered together,

Jesus asked them,

"What do you think
about the Messiah?

Whose son is he?"

"The son of David,"
they replied.

He said to them,

"How is it then that David,
speaking by the Spirit,

calls him 'Lord'?

For he says,
'The Lord said to my Lord,

"Sit at my right hand

until I put your enemies

under your feet."'

If then David
calls him 'Lord,'

how can he be his son?"

No one could say a word
in reply,

and from that day on

no one dared to ask him
any more questions.

Then Jesus said to the crowds
and to his disciples,

"The teachers of the law

and the Pharisees
sit in Moses' seat.

So you must be careful to do
everything they tell you.

But do not do what they do,

for they do not practice
what they preach.

They tie up heavy,
cumbersome loads

and put them
on other people's shoulders,

but they themselves
are not willing

to lift a finger
to move them.

Everything they do
is done for people to see.

They make
their phylacteries wide

and the tassels
on their garments long;

they love the place of honor
at banquets

and the most important seats
in the synagogues;

they love to be greeted with
respect in the marketplaces

and to be called 'Rabbi'
by others.

"But you are not to be called
'Rabbi,'

for you have one Teacher,

and you are all brothers.

And do not call
anyone on earth 'father,'

for you have one Father,
and he is in heaven.

Nor are you to be called
instructors,

for you have one Instructor,
the Messiah.

The greatest among you
will be your servant.

For those who exalt themselves
will be humbled,

and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

[ speaking Aramaic ]

Woe to you,
teachers of the law
and Pharisees,

you hypocrites!

You shut the door

of the kingdom of heaven
in people's faces.

You yourselves
do not enter,

nor will you let those enter
who are trying to.

Woe to you,
teachers of the law
and Pharisees,

you hypocrites!

You travel over land and sea
to win a single convert,

and when you have succeeded,

you make them twice as much
a child of hell as you are.

Woe to you, blind guides!

You say,
'If anyone swears
by the temple,

it means nothing.

But anyone who swears by
the gold of the temple

is bound by that oath.'

You blind fools!

Which is greater, the gold,

or the temple
that makes the gold sacred?

You also say,
'If anyone swears by
the altar,

it means nothing.

But anyone who swears by
the gift on the altar,

is bound by that oath.'

You blind men!

Which is greater,
the gift,

or the altar
that makes the gift sacred?

Therefore, anyone
who swears by the altar

swears by it
and by everything on it.

And anyone who swears
by the temple swears by it

and by the one
who dwells in it.

And anyone who swears
by heaven

swears by God's throne

and by the one
who sits on it.

Woe to you,
teachers of the law
and Pharisees,

you hypocrites!

You give a tenth
of your spices,

mint, dill and cumin.

But you have neglected
the more important

matters of the law--

justice, mercy,
and faithfulness.

You should have practiced
the latter,

without neglecting
the former.

You blind guides!

You strain out a gnat
but swallow a camel.

Woe to you,
teachers of the law
and Pharisees,

you hypocrites!

You clean the outside
of the cup and dish,

but inside they are full
of greed and self-indulgence.

Blind Pharisee!

First clean the inside
of the cup and dish,

and then the outside
also will be clean.

Woe to you,
teachers of the law
and Pharisees,

you hypocrites!

You are like
whitewashed tombs,

which look beautiful
on the outside,

but on the inside are full
of the bones of the dead

and everything unclean.

In the same way,

on the outside you appear
to people as righteous,

but on the inside

you are full of hypocrisy
and wickedness.

Woe to you,
teachers of the law
and Pharisees,

you hypocrites!

You build tombs
for the prophets

and decorate the graves
of the righteous.

And you say,
'If we had lived in the days
of our ancestors,

we would not have
taken part with them

in shedding the blood
of the prophets.'

So you testify
against yourselves

that you are the descendants

of those who murdered
the prophets.

Go ahead, then, and complete
what your ancestors started!

You snakes!
You brood of vipers!

How will you escape being
condemned to hell?

Therefore I am sending you

prophets and sages
and teachers.

Some of them
you will kill and crucify;

others you will flog
in your synagogues

and pursue
from town to town.

And so upon you will come all
the righteous blood

that has been shed on earth,

from the blood
of righteous Abel

to the blood of Zechariah
son of Berekiah,

whom you murdered between
the temple and the altar.

Truly I tell you,

all this will
come on this generation.

Jerusalem, Jerusalem,

you who kill the prophets
and stone those sent to you,

how often I have longed to
gather your children together

as a hen gathers her chicks
under her wings,

and you were not willing.

Look, your house
is left to you desolate.

For I tell you,

you will not see me again
until you say,

'Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord.'"

Jesus left the temple

and was walking away when
his disciples came up to him

to call his attention
to its buildings.

"Do you see
all these things?",
he asked.

[ speaking Aramaic ]

"Truly I tell you,

not one stone here
will be left on another.

Every one
will be thrown down."

As Jesus was sitting
on the Mount of Olives,

the disciples came
to him privately.

"Tell us," they said,

"when will this happen,

and what will be
the sign of your coming

and of the end of the age?"

Jesus answered,

"Watch out that no one
deceives you.

For many will come
in my name, claiming,

'I am the Messiah,'

and will deceive many.

You will hear of wars
and rumors of wars,

but see to it
that you are not alarmed.

Such things must happen,

but the end
is still to come.

Nation will rise
against nation,

and kingdom
against kingdom.

There will be famines

and earthquakes
in various places.

All these are the beginning
of birth pains.

Then you will be handed over

to be persecuted
and put to death,

and you will be hated by
all nations because of me.

At that time,
many will turn away
from the faith

and will betray
and hate each other,

and many false prophets
will appear

and deceive many people.

Because of the increase
of wickedness,

the love of most
will grow cold,

but the one who stands firm
to the end will be saved.

And this gospel
of the kingdom

will be preached
in the whole world

as a testimony
to all nations,

and then the end will come.

So when you see
standing in the holy place

the abomination
that causes desolation

spoken of through
the prophet Daniel,

let the reader understand,

then let those
who are in Judea

flee to the mountains.

Let no one on
the housetop go down

to take anything out
of the house.

Let no one in the field
go back to get their cloak.

How dreadful it will be
in those days

for pregnant women
and nursing mothers!

Pray that your flight
will not take place

in winter
or on the Sabbath.

For then there will be
great distress,

unequaled from the beginning
of the world until now,

and never
to be equaled again.

If those days
had not been cut short,

no one would survive,

but for the sake
of the elect,

those days
will be shortened.

At that time
if anyone says to you,

'Look,
here is the Messiah!'

or, 'There he is!',
do not believe it.

For false messiahs

and false prophets
will appear

and perform great signs
and wonders to deceive,

if possible,
even the elect.

See, I have told you
ahead of time.

So if anyone tells you,

'There he is,
out in the wilderness,'

do not go out;

or, 'Here he is,
in the inner rooms,'

do not believe it.

For as lightning
that comes from the east

is visible
even in the west,

so will be the coming
of the Son of Man.

Wherever there is a carcass,

there the vultures
will gather.

Immediately after
the distress of those days,

the sun will be darkened,

and the moon
will not give its light;

the stars will fall
from the sky,

and the heavenly bodies
will be shaken.

Then will appear the sign
of the Son of Man in heaven.

And then all the peoples
of the earth will mourn

when they see the Son of Man

coming on
the clouds of heaven

with power and great glory.

And he will send his angels
with a loud trumpet call,

and they will gather his elect
from the four winds,

from one end of the heavens
to the other.

Now learn this lesson
from the fig tree.

As soon as its twigs
get tender

and its leaves come out,

you know
that summer is near.

Even so, when you see
all these things,

you know that it is near,

right at the door.

Truly I tell you,

this generation
will certainly not pass away

until all these things
have happened.

Heaven and earth
will pass away,

but my words
will never pass away.

But about that day or hour
no one knows,

not even the angels
in heaven,

nor the Son,
but only the Father.

As it was
in the days of Noah,

so it will be at the coming
of the Son of Man.

For in the days
before the flood,

people were eating
and drinking,

marrying and giving
in marriage,

up to the day Noah
entered the ark;

and they knew nothing
about what would happen

until the flood came
and took them all away.

That is how it will be at
the coming of the Son of Man.

Two men will be
in the field.

One will be taken
and the other left.

Two women will be grinding
with a hand mill.

One will be taken
and the other left.

Therefore keep watch,

because you do not know
on what day

your Lord will come.

But understand this,

if the owner of the house
had known

at what time of night
the thief was coming,

he would have kept watch

and would not have let
his house be broken into.

So you also must be ready,

because the Son of Man
will come at an hour

when you do not expect him.

Who then is the faithful
and wise servant

whom the master
has put in charge

of the servants
in his household

to give them their food
at the proper time?

It will be good
for that servant

whose master finds him
doing so when he returns.

Truly I tell you,

he will put him in charge
of all his possessions.

But suppose that servant
is wicked and says to himself,

'My master is staying away
a long time,'

and he then begins
to beat his fellow servants

and to eat and drink
with drunkards.

The master of that servant
will come on a day

when he does not expect him

and at an hour
he is not aware of.

He will cut him to pieces

and assign him a place
with the hypocrites,

where there will be weeping
and gnashing of teeth.

At that time
the kingdom of heaven

will be like ten virgins
who took their lamps

and went out to meet
the bridegroom.

Five of them were foolish
and five were wise.

The foolish ones
took their lamps,

but did not take any oil
with them.

The wise ones, however,

took oil in jars
along with their lamps.

The bridegroom
was a long time in coming,

and they all became drowsy
and fell asleep.

At midnight
the cry rang out,

'Here's the bridegroom!
Come out to meet him!'

Then all the virgins woke up
and trimmed their lamps.

The foolish ones
said to the wise,

'Give us some of your oil.
Our lamps are going out.'

'No,' they replied,

'there may not be enough
for both us and you.

Instead, go to those
who sell oil

and buy some for yourselves.'

But while they were on their
way to buy the oil,

the bridegroom arrived.

The virgins who were ready

went in with him
to the wedding banquet

and the door was shut.

Later the others also came.

'Lord, Lord,' they said,
'open the door for us!'

But he replied,

'Truly I tell you,
I don't know you.'

Therefore keep watch,

because you do not know
the day or the hour.

Again, it will be like a man
going on a journey

who called his servants and
entrusted his wealth to them.

To one he gave
five bags of gold,

to another two bags,
and to another one bag,

each according
to his ability.

Then he went on his journey.

The man who had received
five bags of gold

went at once
and put his money to work

and gained five bags more.

So also, the one
with two bags of gold
gained two more.

But the man who had received
one bag went off,

dug a hole in the ground,
and hid his master's money.

After a long time the master
of those servants returned

and settled accounts
with them.

The man who had received
five bags of gold

brought the other five.

'Master,' he said,

'you entrusted me
with five bags of gold.

See,
I have gained five more.'

His master replied,

'Well done,
good and faithful servant!

You have been faithful
with a few things.

I will put you in charge
of many things.

Come and share
your master's happiness!'

The man with two bags of gold
also came.

'Master,' he said,

'you entrusted me
with two bags of gold.

See,
I have gained two more.'

His master replied,

'Well done,
good and faithful servant!

You have been faithful
with a few things.

I will put you in charge
of many things.

Come and share
your master's happiness!'

Then the man who had received
one bag of gold came.

'Master,' he said,

'I knew that
you are a hard man,

harvesting where you
have not sown

and gathering where you
have not scattered seed.

So I was afraid
and went out

and hid your gold
in the ground.

See, here is what
belongs to you.'

His master replied,
'You wicked, lazy servant!

So you knew that I harvest
where I have not sown

and gather where I have not
scattered seed?

Well then, you should
have put my money

on deposit with the bankers,
so that when I returned

I would have received it
back with interest.

So take the bag of gold
from him

and give it to the one
who has ten bags.

For 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.

And throw that worthless
servant outside,

into the darkness,

where there will be weeping
and gnashing of teeth.'

When the Son of Man
comes in his glory,

and all the angels
with him,

he will sit
on his glorious throne.

All the nations will be
gathered before him,

and he will separate
the people one from another

as a shepherd separates
the sheep from the goats.

He will put the sheep
on his right

and the goats on his left.

Then the King will say
to those on his right,

'Come, you who are blessed
by my Father;

take your inheritance,

the kingdom prepared for you

since the creation
of the world.

For I was hungry and you
gave me something to eat,

I was thirsty and you gave me
something to drink,

I was a stranger
and you invited me in,

I needed clothes
and you clothed me,

I was sick
and you looked after me,

I was in prison
and you came to visit me.'

Then the righteous
will answer him,

'Lord, when did we see you
hungry and feed you,

or thirsty and give you
something to drink?

When did we see you a stranger
and invite you in,

or needing clothes
and clothe you?

When did we see you sick

or in prison
and go to visit you?'

The King will reply,
'Truly I tell you,

whatever you did
for one of the least

of these brothers and sisters
of mine, you did for me.'

Then he will say
to those on his left,

'Depart from me,
you who are cursed,

into the eternal fire

prepared for the devil
and his angels.

For I was hungry

and you gave me
nothing to eat.

I was thirsty
and you gave me
nothing to drink.

I was a stranger
and you did not invite me in.

I needed clothes
and you did not clothe me.

I was sick and in prison

and you did not
look after me.'

They also will answer,

'Lord, when did we see you
hungry or thirsty

or a stranger
or needing clothes

or sick or in prison,

and did not help you?'

He will reply,
'Truly I tell you,

whatever you did not do

for one of
the least of these,

you did not do for me.'

Then they will go away
to eternal punishment,

but the righteous
to eternal life."

When Jesus had finished
saying all these things,

he said to his disciples,

"As you know, the Passover
is two days away,

and the Son of Man will be
handed over to be crucified."

Then the chief priests
and the elders of the people

assembled in the palace
of the high priest,

whose name was Caiaphas,

and they schemed to arrest
Jesus secretly and kill him.

"But not during
the festival," they said,

"or there may be a riot
among the people."

While Jesus was in Bethany

in the home
of Simon the Leper,

a woman came to him
with an alabaster jar

of very expensive perfume,

which she poured on his head

as he was reclining
at the table.

When the disciples saw this,
they were indignant.

"Why this waste?",
they asked.

"This perfume could have been
sold at a high price

and the money given
to the poor."

Aware of this,
Jesus said to them,

"Why are you bothering
this woman?

She has done
a beautiful thing to me.

The poor you will always
have with you,

but you will not always
have me.

When she poured this perfume
on my body,

she did it to prepare me
for burial.

Truly I tell you,

wherever this gospel is
preached throughout the world,

what she has done will also be
told, in memory of her."

Then one of the Twelve,

the one called
Judas Iscariot,

went to the chief priests
and asked,

"What are you willing
to give me

if I deliver him
over to you?"

So they counted out for him
thirty pieces of silver.

From then on Judas watched
for an opportunity

to hand him over.

On the first day of the
Festival of Unleavened Bread,

the disciples came to Jesus
and asked,

"Where do you want us
to make preparations

for you to eat
the Passover?"

He replied,
"Go into the city

to a certain man
and tell him,

'The teacher says
my appointed time is near.

I am going to celebrate
the Passover

with my disciples
at your house."

So the disciples did
as Jesus had directed them

and prepared the Passover.

When evening came,

Jesus was reclining
at the table with the Twelve.

And while they were eating,
he said,

"Truly I tell you,
one of you will betray me."

They were very sad
and began to say to him
one after the other,

"Surely you don't mean me,
Lord?"

Jesus replied,

"The one who has dipped
his hand

into the bowl with me
will betray me.

The Son of Man will go just
as it is written about him.

But woe to that man
who betrays the Son of Man!

It would be better for him
if he had not been born."

Then Judas, the one who would
betray him, said,

"Surely you don't mean me,
Rabbi?"

Jesus answered,
"You have said so."

While they were eating,
Jesus took bread,

and when he had given thanks,

he broke it and gave it
to his disciples, saying,

"Take and eat;
this is my body."

Then he took a cup,
and when he had given thanks,

he gave it to them,
saying,

"Drink from it,
all of you.

This is my blood
of the covenant,

which is poured out for many
for the forgiveness of sins.

I tell you, I will not drink
from this fruit of the vine

from now on until that day
when I drink it new

with you
in my Father's kingdom."

When they had sung a hymn,

they went out
to the Mount of Olives.

Then Jesus told them,

"This very night you will all
fall away on account of me,

for it is written,

'I will strike the shepherd,

and the sheep of the flock
will be scattered.'

But after I have risen,

I will go ahead of you
into Galilee."

Peter replied,

"Even if all fall away
on account of you,

I never will."

"Truly I tell you,"
Jesus answered,

"this very night,
before the rooster crows,

you will disown me
three times."

But Peter declared,

"Even if I have to die
with you,

I will never disown you."

And all the other disciples
said the same.

Then Jesus went
with his disciples

to a place called Gethsemane,

and he said to them,

"Sit here while I go
over there and pray."

He took Peter and the two sons
of Zebedee along with him,

and he began to be sorrowful
and troubled.

Then he said to them,

"My soul is overwhelmed

with sorrow
to the point of death.

Stay here and keep watch
with me."

Going a little farther,

he fell with his face
to the ground and prayed,

"My Father,
if it is possible,

may this cup
be taken from me.

Yet not as I will,
but as you will."

Then he returned
to his disciples

and found them sleeping.

"Couldn't you men keep watch
with me for one hour?",

he asked Peter.

"Watch and pray
so that you will not fall
into temptation.

The spirit is willing,
but the flesh is weak."

He went away a second time
and prayed,

"My Father,

if it is not possible
for this cup to be taken away

unless I drink it,
may your will be done."

When he came back,
he again found them sleeping,

because their eyes
were heavy.

So he left them
and went away once more

and prayed the third time,
saying the same thing.

Then he returned
to the disciples

and said to them,

"Are you still sleeping
and resting?

Look, the hour has come,

and the Son of Man
is delivered

into the hands of sinners.

Rise! Let us go!
Here comes my betrayer!"

While he was still speaking,

Judas, one of the Twelve,
arrived.

With him was a large crowd
armed with swords and clubs

sent from the chief priests
and the elders of the people.

Now the betrayer had arranged
a signal with them,

"The one I kiss is the man.
Arrest him."

Going at once to Jesus,
Judas said,

"Greetings, Rabbi!",
and kissed him.

Jesus replied, "Do what you came for, friend."

Then the men
stepped forward,

seized Jesus
and arrested him.

With that,
one of Jesus' companions

reached for his sword,
drew it out,

and struck the servant
of the high priest,

cutting off his ear.

"Put your sword
back in its place,"

Jesus said to him,

"for all who draw the sword
will die by the sword.

Do you think
I cannot call on my Father,

and he will at once
put at my disposal

more than twelve legions
of angels?

But how then would
the Scriptures be fulfilled

that say it must happen
in this way?"

In that hour
Jesus said to the crowd,

"Am I leading a rebellion,

that you have come out
with swords and clubs

to capture me?

Every day I sat in
the temple courts teaching,

and you did not arrest me.

But this has all taken place
that the writings

of the prophets
might be fulfilled."

Then all the disciples
deserted him and fled.

Those who had arrested Jesus

took him to Caiaphas
the high priest,

where the teachers of the law

and the elders had assembled.

But Peter followed him
at a distance,

right up to the courtyard
of the high priest.

He entered and sat down
with the guards

to see the outcome.

The chief priests
and the whole Sanhedrin

were looking for
false evidence against Jesus

so that they could
put him to death.

But they did not find any,

though many false witnesses
came forward.

Finally two came forward
and declared,

"This fellow said,

'I am able to destroy
the temple of God

and rebuild it
in three days.'"

Then the high priest stood up
and said to Jesus,

"Are you not going
to answer?

What is this testimony
that these men are bringing
against you?"

But Jesus remained silent.

The high priest
said to him,

"I charge you under oath
by the living God,

tell us
if you are the Messiah,

the Son of God."

"You have said so,"
Jesus replied.

"But I say to all of you,

from now on you will see
the Son of Man

sitting at the right hand
of the Mighty One

and coming on the clouds
of heaven."

Then the high priest
tore his clothes and said,

"He has spoken blasphemy!

Why do we need
any more witnesses?

Look, now you have heard
the blasphemy.

What do you think?"

"He is worthy of death,"
they answered.

Then they spit in his face

and struck him
with their fists.

Others slapped him and said,

"Prophesy to us, Messiah.

Who hit you?"

Now Peter was sitting out
in the courtyard,

and a servant girl
came to him.

"You also were with Jesus
of Galilee," she said.

But he denied it
before them all.

"I don't know what you're
talking about," he said.

Then he went out
to the gateway,

where another servant girl
saw him

and said
to the people there,

"This fellow was
with Jesus of Nazareth."

He denied it again,
with an oath,

"I don't know the man!"

After a little while,

those standing there
went up to Peter and said,

"Surely you are one of them.

Your accent gives you away."

Then he began
to call down curses,

and he swore to them,
"I don't know the man!"

Immediately a rooster crowed.

Then Peter remembered
the word Jesus had spoken--

"Before the rooster crows,

you will disown me
three times."

And he went outside
and wept bitterly.

[ sobbing ]

[ crowd shouting ]

Early in the morning,
all the chief priests

and the elders of the people

made their plans
how to have Jesus executed.

So they bound him,
led him away,

and handed him over
to Pilate the governor.

When Judas,
who had betrayed him,

saw that Jesus
was condemned,

he was seized with remorse

and returned
the thirty pieces of silver

to the chief priests
and the elders.

"I have sinned," he said,

"for I have betrayed
innocent blood."

"What is that to us?",
they replied.

"That's your responsibility."

So Judas threw the money
into the temple and left.

Then he went away
and hanged himself.

The chief priests picked up
the coins and said,

"It is against the law

to put this
into the treasury,

since it is blood money."

So they decided
to use the money

to buy the potter's field

as a burial place
for foreigners.

That is why
it has been called

the Field of Blood
to this day.

Then what was spoken

by Jeremiah the prophet
was fulfilled--

"They took the thirty pieces
of silver,

the price set on him
by the people of Israel,

and they used them
to buy the potter's field,

as the Lord commanded me."

Meanwhile, Jesus stood
before the governor,

and the governor asked him,

"Are you the king
of the Jews?"

"You have said so,"
Jesus replied.

When he was accused
by the chief priests

and the elders,
he gave no answer.

Then Pilate asked him,

"Don't you hear the testimony

they are bringing
against you?"

But Jesus made no reply,

not even to a single charge,

to the great amazement
of the governor.

Now it was the governor's
custom at the festival

to release a prisoner
chosen by the crowd.

At that time they had
a well-known prisoner

whose name
was Jesus Barabbas.

So when the crowd
had gathered,

Pilate asked them,

"Which one do you want me
to release to you,

Jesus Barabbas,

or Jesus who is called
the Messiah?"

For he knew it was out
of self-interest

that they had handed Jesus
over to him.

While Pilate was sitting
on the judge's seat,

his wife sent him
this message--

"Don't have anything to do
with that innocent man,

for I have suffered
a great deal today

in a dream because of him."

But the chief priests
and the elders

persuaded the crowd
to ask for Barabbas

and to have Jesus executed.

"Which of the two do you
want me to release to you?",

asked the governor.

"Barabbas," they answered.

"What shall I do, then,

with Jesus who is called
the Messiah?", Pilate asked.

They all answered,
"Crucify him!"

"Why? What crime has he
committed?", asked Pilate.

But they shouted
all the louder,

"Crucify him!"

When Pilate saw
that he was getting nowhere,

but that instead
an uproar was starting,

he took water
and washed his hands

in front of the crowd.

"I am innocent of
this man's blood," he said.

"It is your responsibility!"

All the people answered,

"His blood is on us
and on our children!"

Then he released
Barabbas to them,

but he had Jesus flogged,

and handed him over
to be crucified.

Then the governor's soldiers

took Jesus
into the Praetorium

and gathered the whole company
of soldiers around him.

They stripped him
and put a scarlet robe on him,

and then twisted together
a crown of thorns

and set it on his head.

They put a staff
in his right hand.

Then they knelt
in front of him

and mocked him.

"Hail, king of the Jews!",
they said.

They spit on him,

and took the staff and struck
him on the head

again and again.

After they had mocked him,
they took off the robe

and put his own
clothes on him.

Then they led him away
to crucify him.

[ crowd shouting ]

As they were going out,

they met a man from Cyrene
named Simon,

and they forced him
to carry the cross.

They came to a place
called Golgotha,

which means
"the place of the skull".

There they offered Jesus wine
to drink, mixed with gall;

but after tasting it,
he refused to drink it.

[ shouting ]

When they had crucified him,

they divided up his clothes
by casting lots.

And sitting down, they kept watch over him there.

Above his head they placed

the written charge
against him--

"This is Jesus,
the king of the Jews."

Two rebels were crucified
with him,

one on his right
and one on his left.

Those who passed by
hurled insults at him,

shaking their heads
and saying,

"You who are going
to destroy the temple

and build it in three days,
save yourself!

Come down from the cross,
if you are the Son of God!"

In the same way
the chief priests,

the teachers of the law,
and the elders mocked him.

"He saved others,"
they said,

"but he can't save himself!

He's the king of Israel!

Let him come down now
from the cross,

and we will believe in him.

He trusts in God.

Let God rescue him now
if he wants him,

for he said,
'I am the Son of God.'"

In the same way,
the rebels who were
crucified with him

also heaped insults on him.

From noon until three
in the afternoon,

darkness came over
all the land.

About three
in the afternoon,

Jesus cried out
in a loud voice,

"Eloi, Eloi,
lama sabachthani?",

which means,

"My God, my God,

why have you forsaken me?"

When some of those
standing there heard this,

they said,
"He's calling Elijah."

Immediately one of them ran
and got a sponge.

He filled it
with wine vinegar,

put it on a staff,

and offered it
to Jesus to drink.

The rest said,
"Now leave him alone.

Let's see if Elijah
comes to save him."

And when Jesus had cried out
again in a loud voice,

he gave up his spirit.

At that moment,

the curtain of the temple
was torn in two

from top to bottom.

The earth shook,
the rocks split,

and the tombs broke open.

The bodies
of many holy people

who had died
were raised to life.

They came out of the tombs
after Jesus' resurrection

and went into the holy city

and appeared to many people.

When the centurion
and those with him

who were guarding Jesus

saw the earthquake
and all that had happened,

they were terrified,
and exclaimed,

"Surely he was
the Son of God!"

Many women were there,
watching from a distance.

They had followed
Jesus from Galilee

to care for his needs.

Among them
were Mary Magdalene,

Mary the mother
of James and Joseph,

and the mother
of Zebedee's sons.

As evening approached,

there came a rich man
from Arimathea named Joseph,

who had himself become
a disciple of Jesus.

Going to Pilate,
he asked for Jesus' body,

and Pilate ordered
that it be given to him.

Joseph took the body,

wrapped it in
a clean linen cloth,

and placed it
in his own new tomb

that he had cut out
of the rock.

He rolled a big stone

in front of the entrance
to the tomb

and went away.

Mary Magdalene
and the other Mary

were sitting there
opposite the tomb.

The next day,

the one after
Preparation Day,

the chief priests and
the Pharisees went to Pilate.

"Sir," they said,

"we remember that while
he was still alive

that deceiver said,

'After three days
I will rise again.'

So give the order for
the tomb to be made secure

until the third day.

Otherwise, his disciples
may come and steal the body

and tell the people
that he has been raised
from the dead.

This last deception will be
worse than the first."

"Take a guard,"
Pilate answered.

"Go, make the tomb
as secure as you know how."

So they went
and made the tomb secure

by putting a seal on the stone
and posting the guard.

After the Sabbath,

at dawn on the first day
of the week,

Mary Magdalene
and the other Mary

went to look at the tomb.

There was
a violent earthquake,

for an angel of the Lord
came down from heaven and,

going to the tomb,

rolled back the stone
and sat on it.

His appearance
was like lightning,

and his clothes
were white as snow.

The guards
were so afraid of him

that they shook
and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women,

"Do not be afraid,

for I know that you
are looking for Jesus,

who was crucified.

He is not here.

He has risen,
just as he said.

Come and see the place
where he lay.

Then go quickly
and tell his disciples,

'He has risen from the dead

and is going ahead of you
into Galilee.

There you will see him.'

Now I have told you."

So the women hurried away
from the tomb,

afraid yet filled with joy,

and ran to tell
his disciples.

Suddenly Jesus met them.

"Greetings," he said.

They came to him,

clasped his feet,
and worshiped him.

Then Jesus said to them,
"Do not be afraid.

Go and tell my brothers
to go to Galilee;

there they will see me."

While the women
were on their way,

some of the guards
went into the city

and reported
to the chief priests

everything that had happened.

When the chief priests
had met with the elders

and devised a plan,

they gave the soldiers
a large sum of money,

telling them,
"You are to say,

'His disciples came
during the night

and stole him away
while we were asleep.'

If this report
gets to the governor,

we will satisfy him

and keep you
out of trouble."

So the soldiers
took the money

and did as they were
instructed.

And this story
has been widely circulated

among the Jews
to this very day.

Then the eleven disciples
went to Galilee

to the mountain where Jesus
had told them to go.

When they saw him,
they worshiped him;

but some doubted.

Then Jesus came to them
and said,

"All authority
in heaven and on earth

has been given to me.

Therefore go and make
disciples of all nations,

baptizing them in the name
of the Father

and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit,

and teaching them
to obey everything

I have commanded you.

And surely
I am with you always,

to the very end
of the age."