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The Gospel of Mark

The Good News According to
Mark

1

1 The beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ, the
Son of God.
2 As it is written in the prophets,
“Behold,* I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way before you:
3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness,
‘Make ready the way of the Lord!
Make his paths straight!’ ”
4 John came baptizing† in the wilderness and preaching
the baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins. 5 All
the country of Judea and all those of Jerusalem went out
to him. They were baptized by him in the Jordan river,
confessing theirsins. 6 John was clothed with camel’s hair
and a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and
wild honey. 7 He preached, saying, “After me comes he
who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am
not worthy to stoop down and loosen. 8 I baptized you in‡
water, but he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.”
9 In those days, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee,
and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Immediately
coming up from the water, he saw the heavens parting
and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 A voice
came out of the sky, “You are my beloved Son, in whom I
am well pleased.”
12 Immediately the Spirit drove him outinto the wilderness.
13 He was there in the wilderness forty days,
tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals; and the
angels were serving him.
14 Now after John was taken into custody, Jesus came
into Galilee, preaching the Good News of God’s Kingdom,
15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and God’s Kingdom is
at hand! Repent, and believe in the Good News.”
16 Passing along by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and
Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net into the sea,
for they were fishermen. 17 Jesus said to them, “Come
after me, and I will make you into fishers for men.”
18 Immediately they left their nets, and followed him.
19Going on a little furtherfrom there, he saw Jamesthe
son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the
boat mending the nets. 20 Immediately he called them,
and they left their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the
hired servants, and went after him.
21 They went into Capernaum, and immediately on
the Sabbath day he entered into the synagogue and
taught. 22 They were astonished at his teaching, for he
taught them as having authority, and not as the scribes.
23 Immediately there was in their synagogue a man with
an unclean spirit, and he cried out, 24 saying, “Ha! What
do we have to do with you, Jesus, you Nazarene? Have you
come to destroy us? I know you who you are: theHolyOne
of God!”
25 Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out
of him!”
26 The unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a
loud voice, came out of him. 27 They were all amazed, so
that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is
this? A new teaching? For with authority he commands
even the unclean spirits, and they obey him!” 28 The
report of him went out immediately everywhere into all
the region of Galilee and its surrounding area.
29 Immediately, when they had come out of the synagogue,
they came into the house of Simon and Andrew,
with James and John. 30 Now Simon’s wife’s mother lay
sick with a fever, and immediately they told him about
her. 31 He came and took her by the hand and raised her
up. The feverleft herimmediately,§ and she served them.
32 At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to
him all who were sick and those who were possessed by
demons. 33 All the city was gathered together at the door.
34 He healed many who were sick with various diseases
and cast out many demons. He didn’t allow the demons
to speak, because they knew him.
35 Early in the morning, while it was still dark, he rose
up and went out, and departed into a deserted place,
and prayed there. 36 Simon and those who were with
him searched for him. 37 They found him and told him,
“Everyone is looking for you.”
38 He said to them, “Let’s go elsewhere into the next
towns, that I may preach there also, because I came
out for this reason.” 39 He went into their synagogues
throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out demons.
40 A leper came to him, begging him, kneeling down to
him, and saying to him, “If you want to, you can make me
clean.”
41 Being moved with compassion, he stretched out his
hand, and touched him, and said to him, “I want to. Be
made clean.” 42 When he had said this, immediately the
leprosy departed from him and he was made clean. 43 He
strictly warned him and immediately sent him out, 44 and
said to him, “See that you say nothing to anybody, but go
show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing
the things which Moses commanded, for a testimony to
them.”
45 But he went out, and began to proclaim it much, and
to spread about the matter, so that Jesus could no more
openly enter into a city, but was outside in desert places.
People came to him from everywhere.

2

1 When he entered again into Capernaum after some
days, it was heard that he was at home. 2 Immediately
many were gathered together, so that there was no more
room, not even around the door; and he spoke the word
to them. 3 Four people came, carrying a paralytic to him.
4 When they could not come near to him for the crowd,
they removed the roof where he was. When they had
broken it up, they let down the mat that the paralytic was
lying on. 5 Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic,
“Son, your sins are forgiven you.”
6 But there were some of the scribes sitting there and
reasoning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this man speak
blasphemies like that? Who can forgive sins but God
alone?”
8 Immediately Jesus, perceiving in hisspiritthatthey so
reasoned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you
reason these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier,
to tell the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven;’ or to say,
‘Arise, and take up your bed, and walk?’ 10 But that you
may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to
forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— 11 “Itell you, arise,
take up your mat, and go to your house.”
12He arose, and immediately took up the mat and went
out in front of them all, so that they were all amazed and
glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
13 He went out again by the seaside. All the multitude
came to him, and he taught them. 14 As he passed by, he
saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office. He
said to him, “Follow me.” And he arose and followed him.
15 He was reclining at the table in his house, and many
tax collectors and sinners sat down with Jesus and his
disciples, for there were many, and they followed him.
16 The scribes and the Pharisees, when they saw that he
was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, said to
his disciples, “Why is it that he eats and drinks with tax
collectors and sinners?”
17 When Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who
are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who
are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to
repentance.”
18 John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting, and
they came and asked him, “Why do John’s disciples and
the disciples of the Phariseesfast, but your disciples don’t
fast?”
19 Jesus said to them, “Can the groomsmen fast while
the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the
bridegroom with them, they can’t fast. 20 But the days
will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from
them, and then they will fast in that day. 21 No one sews
a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, or else the
patch shrinks and the new tears away from the old, and
a worse hole is made. 22 No one puts new wine into old
wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the skins, and
the wine pours out, and the skins will be destroyed; but
they put new wine into fresh wineskins.”
23 He was going on the Sabbath day through the grain
fields; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the
ears of grain. 24 The Pharisees said to him, “Behold, why
do they do that which is not lawful on the Sabbath day?”
25 He said to them, “Did you never read what David did
when he had need and was hungry—he, and those who
were with him? 26How he entered into God’s house atthe
time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the show bread,
which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and gave
also to those who were with him?”
27He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not
man for the Sabbath. 28 Therefore the Son of Man is lord
even of the Sabbath.”

3

1 He entered again into the synagogue, and there was
a man there whose hand was withered. 2 They watched
him, whether he would heal him on the Sabbath day, that
they might accuse him. 3 He said to the man whose hand
was withered, “Stand up.” 4 He said to them, “Is it lawful
on the Sabbath day to do good or to do harm? To save
a life or to kill?” But they were silent. 5 When he had
looked around at them with anger, being grieved at the
hardening of their hearts, he said to the man, “Stretch
out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was
restored as healthy asthe other. 6The Pharisees went out,
and immediately conspired with the Herodians against
him, how they might destroy him.
7 Jesus withdrew to the sea with his disciples; and a
great multitude followed him from Galilee, from Judea,
8 from Jerusalem, from Idumaea, beyond the Jordan, and
those from around Tyre and Sidon. A great multitude,
hearing what great things he did, came to him. 9He spoke
to his disciples that a little boat should stay near him
because of the crowd, so that they wouldn’t press on him.
10 For he had healed many,so that as many as had diseases
pressed on him thatthey mighttouch him. 11The unclean
spirits, wheneverthey saw him, fell down before him and
cried, “You are the Son of God!” 12 He sternly warned
them that they should not make him known.
13 He went up into the mountain and called to himself
those whom he wanted, and they went to him. 14 He
appointed twelve, that they might be with him, and that
he mightsend them outto preach 15 and to have authority
to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons: 16 Simon
(to whom he gave the name Peter); 17 James the son of
Zebedee; and John, the brother of James, (whom he called
Boanerges, which means, Sons of Thunder); 18 Andrew;
Philip; Bartholomew; Matthew; Thomas; James, the son
of Alphaeus; Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot; 19 and Judas
Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
Then he came into a house. 20 The multitude came
together again, so that they could not so much as eat
bread. 21When hisfriends heard it, they went out to seize
him; forthey said, “He isinsane.” 22The scribes who came
down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebul,” and, “By
the prince of the demons he casts out the demons.”
23 He summoned them and said to them in parables,
“How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided
against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 If a house
is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 If
Satan hasrisen up against himself, and is divided, he can’t
stand, but has an end. 27 But no one can enter into the
house of the strong man to plunder unless he first binds
the strong man; then he will plunder his house.
28 “Most certainly I tell you, all sins of the descendants
of man will be forgiven, including their blasphemies
with which they may blaspheme; 29 but whoever may
blaspheme against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness,
but is subject to eternal condemnation.”* 30 —because
they said, “He has an unclean spirit.”
31 His mother and his brothers came, and standing
outside, they sent to him, calling him. 32 A multitude
was sitting around him, and they told him, “Behold,
your mother, your brothers, and your sisters† are outside
looking for you.”
33 He answered them, “Who are my mother and my
brothers?” 34 Looking around at those who sat around
him, he said, “Behold, my mother and my brothers! 35For
whoever doesthe will of God is my brother, my sister, and
mother.”

4

1 Again he began to teach by the seaside. A great
multitude was gathered to him, so that he entered into
a boat in the sea and sat down. All the multitude were
on the land by the sea. 2 He taught them many things in
parables, and told them in histeaching, 3 “Listen! Behold,
the farmer went out to sow. 4 As he sowed, some seed
fell by the road, and the birds*
came and devoured it.
5 Others fell on the rocky ground, where it had little soil,
and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth
of soil. 6 When the sun had risen, it was scorched; and
because it had no root, it withered away. 7 Others fell
among the thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked
it, and it yielded no fruit. 8 Others fell into the good
ground and yielded fruit, growing up and increasing.
Some produced thirty times, some sixty times, and some
one hundred times as much.” 9 He said, “Whoever has
ears to hear, let him hear.”
10When he was alone, those who were around him with
the twelve asked him about the parables. 11 He said to
them, “To you is given the mystery of God’s Kingdom, but
to those who are outside, all things are done in parables,
12 that ‘seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing
they may hear and not understand, lest perhaps they
should turn again, and their sins should be forgiven
them.’ ”
13He said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable?
How will you understand all of the parables? 14 The
farmer sows the word. 15 The ones by the road are
the ones where the word is sown; and when they have
heard, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word
which has been sown in them. 16 These in the same way
are those who are sown on the rocky places, who, when
they have heard the word, immediately receive it with
joy. 17 They have no root in themselves, but are shortlived.
When oppression or persecution arises because of
the word, immediately they stumble. 18 Others are those
who are sown among the thorns. These are those who
have heard the word, 19 and the cares of this age, and
the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things
entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
20 Those which were sown on the good ground are those
who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit, some thirty
times, some sixty times, and some one hundred times.”
21 He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under
a basket or under a bed? Isn’t it put on a stand? 22 For
there is nothing hidden except that it should be made
known, neither was anything made secret but that it
should come to light. 23 If any man has ears to hear, let
him hear.”
24 He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With
whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to
you; and more will be given to you who hear. 25 For
whoever has, to him more will be given; and he who
doesn’t have, even that which he has will be taken away
from him.”
26 He said, “God’s Kingdom is as if a man should cast
seed on the earth, 27 and should sleep and rise night and
day, and the seed should spring up and grow, though he
doesn’t know how. 28 For the earth bears fruit by itself:
first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.
29 But when the fruit is ripe, immediately he puts in the
sickle, because the harvest has come.”
30 He said, “How will we liken God’s Kingdom? Or with
what parable will we illustrate it? 31 It’s like a grain of
mustard seed, which, when it issown in the earth, though
it is less than all the seeds that are on the earth, 32 yet
when it is sown, grows up and becomes greater than all
the herbs, and puts out great branches, so that the birds
of the sky can lodge under its shadow.”
33With many such parables he spoke the word to them,
as they were able to hear it. 34 Without a parable he
didn’t speak to them; but privately to his own disciples
he explained everything.
35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to
them, “Let’s go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the
multitude, they took him with them, even as he was, in
the boat. Other small boats were also with him. 37 A big
wind storm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so
much that the boat was already filled. 38 He himself was
in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him
up and asked him, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are
dying?”
39 He awoke and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea,
“Peace! Be still!” The wind ceased and there was a great
calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? How is
it that you have no faith?”
41 They were greatly afraid and said to one another,
“Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey
him?”

5

1 They came to the other side of the sea, into the
country of the Gadarenes. 2 When he had come out of
the boat, immediately a man with an unclean spirit met
him out of the tombs. 3 He lived in the tombs. Nobody
could bind him any more, not even with chains, 4 because
he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the
chains had been torn apart by him, and the fetters broken
in pieces. Nobody had the strength to tame him. 5Always,
night and day, in the tombs and in the mountains, he
was crying out, and cutting himself with stones. 6 When
he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and bowed down to him,
7 and crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have I
to do with you, Jesus, you Son of the Most High God? I
adjure you by God, don’t torment me.” 8 For he said to
him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”
9 He asked him, “What is your name?”
He said to him, “My name is Legion, for we are many.”
10He begged him much that he would notsend them away
out of the country. 11Now on the mountainside there was
a great herd of pigs feeding. 12 All the demons begged
him,saying, “Send usinto the pigs,that we may enterinto
them.”
13 At once Jesus gave them permission. The unclean
spirits came out and entered into the pigs. The herd of
about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the
sea, and they were drowned in the sea. 14 Those who fed
the pigs fled, and told it in the city and in the country.
The people came to see what it was that had happened.
15 They came to Jesus, and saw him who had been
possessed by demons sitting, clothed, and in his right
mind, even him who had the legion; and they were afraid.
16 Those who saw it declared to them what happened to
him who was possessed by demons, and about the pigs.
17 They began to beg him to depart from their region.
18 As he was entering into the boat, he who had been
possessed by demons begged him that he might be with
him. 19 He didn’t allow him, but said to him, “Go to your
house, to your friends, and tell them what great things
the Lord has done for you and how he had mercy on you.”
20 He went his way, and began to proclaim in Decapolis
how Jesus had done great things for him, and everyone
marveled.
21 When Jesus had crossed back over in the boat to the
other side, a great multitude was gathered to him; and
he was by the sea. 22 Behold, one of the rulers of the
synagogue, Jairus by name, came; and seeing him, he fell
at his feet 23 and begged him much, saying, “My little
daughter is at the point of death. Please come and lay
your hands on her, that she may be made healthy, and
live.”
24 He went with him, and a great multitude followed
him, and they pressed upon him on all sides. 25 A certain
woman who had a discharge of blood for twelve years,
26 and had suffered many things by many physicians, and
had spent all that she had, and was no better, but rather
grew worse, 27 having heard the things concerning Jesus,
came up behind him in the crowd and touched his clothes.
28 For she said, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be made
well.” 29 Immediately the flow of her blood was dried
up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her
affliction.
30 Immediately Jesus, perceiving in himself that the
power had gone out from him, turned around in the
crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”
31 His disciples said to him, “You see the multitude
pressing against you, and you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ”
32He looked around to see her who had done thisthing.
33 But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what
had been done to her, came and fell down before him, and
told him all the truth.
34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you
well. Go in peace, and be cured of your disease.”
35 While he was still speaking, people came from the
synagogue ruler’s house, saying, “Your daughter is dead.
Why bother the Teacher any more?”
36But Jesus, when he heard the message spoken,
immediately said to the ruler ofthe synagogue, “Don’t be afraid,
only believe.” 37 He allowed no one to follow him except
Peter, James, and John the brother of James. 38 He came
to the synagogue ruler’s house, and he saw an uproar,
weeping, and great wailing. 39 When he had entered in,
he said to them, “Why do you make an uproar and weep?
The child is not dead, but is asleep.”
40 They ridiculed him. But he, having put them all out,
took the father of the child, her mother, and those who
were with him, and went in where the child was lying.
41 Taking the child by the hand, he said to her, “Talitha
cumi!” which means, being interpreted, “Girl, I tell you,
get up!” 42 Immediately the girl rose up and walked,
for she was twelve years old. They were amazed with
great amazement. 43He strictly ordered them that no one
should know this, and commanded thatsomething should
be given to her to eat.

6

1 He went out from there. He came into his own
country, and his disciples followed him. 2 When the
Sabbath had come, he began to teach in the synagogue,
and many hearing him were astonished, saying, “Where
did this man get these things?” and, “What isthe wisdom
that is given to this man, that such mighty works come
about by his hands? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter, the son
of Mary and brother of James, Joses, Judah, and Simon?
Aren’t his sisters here with us?” So they were offended at
him.
4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor,
except in his own country, and among his own relatives,
and in his own house.” 5 He could do no mighty work
there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people
and healed them. 6He marveled because oftheir unbelief.
He went around the villages teaching. 7 He called to
himself the twelve, and began to send them out two by
two; and he gave them authority overthe unclean spirits.
8 He commanded them that they should take nothing for
their journey, except a staff only: no bread, no wallet,
no money in their purse, 9 but to wear sandals, and not
put on two tunics. 10 He said to them, “Wherever you
enterinto a house,stay there until you depart from there.
11 Whoever will not receive you nor hear you, as you
depart from there, shake off the dust that is under your
feet for a testimony against them. Assuredly, I tell you,
it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the
day of judgment than for that city!”
12 They went out and preached that people should
repent. 13 They cast out many demons, and anointed
many with oil who were sick and healed them. 14 King
Herod heard this, for his name had become known, and
he said, “John the Baptizer has risen from the dead, and
therefore these powers are at work in him.” 15 But others
said, “He is Elijah.” Others said, “He is a prophet, or like
one of the prophets.” 16 But Herod, when he heard this,
said, “This is John, whom I beheaded. He has risen from
the dead.” 17 For Herod himself had sent out and arrested
John and bound him in prison forthe sake of Herodias, his
brother Philip’s wife, for he had married her. 18 For John
had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your
brother’s wife.” 19 Herodias set herself against him and
desired to kill him, but she couldn’t, 20 for Herod feared
John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and
kept him safe. When he heard him, he did many things,
and he heard him gladly.
21 Then a convenient day came when Herod on his
birthday made a supper for his nobles, the high officers,
and the chief men of Galilee. 22 When the daughter of
Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod
and those sitting with him. The king said to the young
lady, “Ask me whatever you want, and I will give itto you.”
23 He swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give
you, up to half of my kingdom.”
24 She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I
ask?”
She said, “The head of John the Baptizer.”
25 She came in immediately with haste to the king and
requested, “I want you to give me right now the head of
John the Baptizer on a platter.”
26 The king was exceedingly sorry, but for the sake of
his oaths and of his dinner guests, he didn’t wish to refuse
her. 27 Immediately the king sent out a soldier of his guard
and commanded to bring John’s head; and he went and
beheaded him in the prison, 28 and brought his head on a
platter, and gave it to the young lady; and the young lady
gave it to her mother.
29When his disciples heard this, they came and took up
his corpse and laid it in a tomb.
30 The apostles gathered themselves together to Jesus,
and they told him all things, whatever they had done,
and whatever they had taught. 31He said to them, “Come
away into a deserted place, and rest awhile.” For there
were many coming and going, and they had no leisure
so much as to eat. 32 They went away in the boat to a
deserted place by themselves. 33 They*
saw them going,
and many recognized him and ran there on foot from all
the cities. They arrived before them and came together
to him. 34 Jesus came out, saw a great multitude, and he
had compassion on them because they were like sheep
without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many
things. 35 When it was late in the day, his disciples came
to him and said, “This place is deserted, and it is late
in the day. 36 Send them away, that they may go into
the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves
bread, for they have nothing to eat.”
37 But he answered them, “You give them something to
eat.”
They asked him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred
denarii† worth of bread and give them something to eat?”
38 He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go
see.”
When they knew, they said, “Five, and two fish.”
39 He commanded them that everyone should sit down
in groups on the green grass. 40They sat down in ranks, by
hundreds and by fifties. 41He took the five loaves and the
two fish; and looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke
the loaves, and he gave to his disciplesto set before them,
and he divided the two fish among them all. 42 They all
ate and were filled. 43 They took up twelve baskets full of
broken pieces and also of the fish. 44 Those who ate the
loaves were‡ five thousand men.
45 Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat
and go ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he
himself sent the multitude away. 46 After he had taken
leave of them, he went up the mountain to pray.
47 When evening had come, the boat was in the middle
of the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48 Seeing them
distressed in rowing, for the wind was contrary to them,
about the fourth watch of the night he came to them,
walking on the sea;  and he would have passed by
them, 49 but they, when they saw him walking on the sea,
supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out; 50 for they all
saw him and were troubled. But he immediately spoke
with them and said to them, “Cheer up! It is I!§ Don’t be
afraid.” 51 He got into the boat with them; and the wind
ceased, and they were very amazed among themselves,
and marveled; 52 for they hadn’t understood about the
loaves, but their hearts were hardened.
53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at
Gennesaret and moored to the shore. 54 When they had
come out of the boat, immediately the people recognized
him, 55 and ran around that whole region, and began to
bring those who were sick on their mats to where they
heard he was. 56 Wherever he entered—into villages, or
into cities, or into the country—they laid the sick in the
marketplaces and begged him that they might just touch
the fringe* of his garment; and as many as touched him
were made well.

7

1 Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes gathered
together to him, having come from Jerusalem. 2 Now
when they saw some of his disciples eating bread with
defiled, that is unwashed, hands, they found fault. 3 (For
the Pharisees and all the Jews don’t eat unless they wash
their hands and forearms, holding to the tradition of
the elders. 4 They don’t eat when they come from the
marketplace unless they bathe themselves, and there are
many other things which they have received to hold to:
washings of cups, pitchers, bronze vessels, and couches.)
5 The Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why don’t
your disciples walk according to the tradition of the
elders, but eat their bread with unwashed hands?”
6 He answered them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you
hypocrites, as it is written,
‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me.
7 They worship me in vain,
teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’
8 “For you set aside the commandment of God, and hold
tightly to the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers
and cups, and you do many other such things.” 9 He said
to them, “Full well do you reject the commandment of
God, that you may keep your tradition. 10 For Moses
said, ‘Honor your father and your mother;’ and, ‘He
who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to
death.’ 11 But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his
mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from
me is Corban,” ’ ”* thatisto say, given to God, 12 “then you
no longer allow him to do anything for his father or his
mother, 13 making void the word of God by yourtradition
which you have handed down. You do many things like
this.”
14 He called all the multitude to himself and said to
them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. 15 There
is nothing from outside of the man that going into him
can defile him; but the things which proceed out of the
man are those that defile the man. 16 If anyone has ears
to hear, let him hear!Ӡ
17 When he had entered into a house away from the
multitude, his disciples asked him about the parable.
18 He said to them, “Are you also without understanding?
Don’t you perceive that whatever goes into the man from
outside can’t defile him, 19 because it doesn’t go into his
heart, but into his stomach, then into the latrine, making
all foods clean?”‡ 20He said, “That which proceeds out of
the man, that defiles the man. 21 For from within, out
of the hearts of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries,
sexual sins, murders, thefts, 22 covetings, wickedness,
deceit, lustful desires, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, and
foolishness. 23Allthese evilthings come from within and
defile the man.”
24 From there he arose and went away into the borders
of Tyre and Sidon. He entered into a house and didn’t
want anyone to know it, but he couldn’t escape notice.
25 For a woman whose little daughter had an unclean
spirit, having heard of him, came and fell down at hisfeet.
26Now the woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by race.
She begged him that he would cast the demon out of her
daughter. 27 But Jesus said to her, “Let the children be
filled first, for it is not appropriate to take the children’s
bread and throw it to the dogs.”
28 But she answered him, “Yes, Lord. Yet even the dogs
under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”
29 He said to her, “For this saying, go your way. The
demon has gone out of your daughter.”
30 She went away to her house, and found the child
having been laid on the bed, with the demon gone out.
31 Again he departed from the borders of Tyre and
Sidon, and came to the sea of Galilee through the middle
of the region of Decapolis. 32 They brought to him one
who was deaf and had an impediment in hisspeech. They
begged him to lay his hand on him. 33 He took him aside
from the multitude privately and put his fingers into his
ears; and he spat and touched histongue. 34 Looking up to
heaven, he sighed, and said to him, “Ephphatha!” that is,
“Be opened!” 35 Immediately his ears were opened, and
the impediment of his tongue was released, and he spoke
clearly. 36 He commanded them that they should tell no
one, but the more he commanded them, so much the
more widely they proclaimed it. 37 They were astonished
beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He
makes even the deaf hear and the mute speak!”

8

1 In those days, when there was a very great multitude,
and they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to
himself and said to them, 2 “I have compassion on the
multitude, because they have stayed with me now three
days and have nothing to eat. 3 If I send them away
fasting to their home, they will faint on the way, forsome
of them have come a long way.”
4 His disciples answered him, “From where could one
satisfy these people with bread here in a deserted place?”
5 He asked them, “How many loaves do you have?”
They said, “Seven.”
6 He commanded the multitude to sit down on the
ground, and he took the seven loaves. Having given
thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to
serve, and they served the multitude. 7 They also had
a few small fish. Having blessed them, he said to serve
these also. 8 They ate and were filled. They took up seven
baskets of broken pieces that were left over. 9 Those who
had eaten were about four thousand. Then he sent them
away.
10 Immediately he entered into the boat with his disciples
and came into the region of Dalmanutha. 11 The
Pharisees came out and began to question him, seeking
from him a sign from heaven and testing him. 12He sighed
deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation*
seek a sign? Most certainly I tell you, no sign will be given
to this generation.”
13 He left them, and again entering into the boat,
departed to the other side. 14 They forgot to take bread;
and they didn’t have more than one loaf in the boat with
them. 15 He warned them, saying, “Take heed: beware of
the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.”
16 They reasoned with one another, saying, “It’s because we have no bread.”
17 Jesus, perceiving it, said to them, “Why do you
reason that it’s because you have no bread? Don’t you
perceive yet or understand? Is your heart still hardened?
18 Having eyes, don’t you see? Having ears, don’t you
hear? Don’t you remember? 19 When I broke the five
loaves among the five thousand, how many basketsfull of
broken pieces did you take up?”
They told him, “Twelve.”
20 “When the seven loaves fed the four thousand, how
many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?”
They told him, “Seven.”
21 He asked them, “Don’t you understand yet?”
22 He came to Bethsaida. They brought a blind man to
him and begged him to touch him. 23 He took hold of the
blind man by the hand, and brought him out ofthe village.
When he had spat on his eyes, and laid his hands on him,
he asked him if he saw anything.
24He looked up, and said, “Isee men, but Isee them like
walking trees.”
25 Then again he laid his hands on his eyes. He looked
intently, and wasrestored, and saw everyone clearly. 26He
sent him away to his house, saying, “Don’t enter into the
village, nor tell anyone in the village.”
27 Jesus went out, with his disciples, into the villages
of Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked his disciples,
“Who do men say that I am?”
28 They told him, “John the Baptizer, and others say
Elijah, but others, one of the prophets.”
29 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Peter answered, “You are the Christ.”
30 He commanded them that they should tell no one
about him. 31He began to teach them that the Son of Man
must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders,
the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after
three days rise again. 32 He spoke to them openly. Peter
took him and began to rebuke him. 33 But he, turning
around and seeing his disciples, rebuked Peter, and said,
“Get behind me, Satan! For you have in mind not the
things of God, but the things of men.”
34 He called the multitude to himself with his disciples
and said to them, “Whoever wants to come after me,
let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow
me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; and
whoever will lose his life for my sake and the sake of the
Good News willsave it. 36 For what doesit profit a man to
gain the whole world and forfeit his life? 37 For what will
a man give in exchange for his life? 38 For whoever will
be ashamed of me and of my wordsin this adulterous and
sinful generation, the Son of Man also will be ashamed
of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy
angels.”

9

1 He said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, there are
some standing here who will in no way taste death until
they see God’s Kingdom come with power.”
2 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James,
and John, and brought them up onto a high mountain
privately by themselves, and he was changed into another
form in front of them. 3 His clothing became glistening,
exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on
earth can whiten them. 4 Elijah and Moses appeared to
them, and they were talking with Jesus.
5 Peter answered Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be
here. Let’s make three tents: one for you, one for Moses,
and one for Elijah.” 6 For he didn’t know what to say, for
they were very afraid.
7A cloud came, overshadowing them, and a voice came
out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”
8 Suddenly looking around, they saw no one with them
any more, except Jesus only.
9 As they were coming down from the mountain, he
commanded them that they should tell no one what
thingsthey had seen, until afterthe Son of Man had risen
from the dead. 10 They kept this saying to themselves,
questioning what the “rising from the dead” meant.
11 They asked him, saying, “Why do the scribessay that
Elijah must come first?”
12 He said to them, “Elijah indeed comes first, and
restores allthings. How isit written aboutthe Son of Man,
that he should suffer many things and be despised? 13But
I tell you that Elijah has come, and they have also done to
him whatever they wanted to, even as it is written about
him.”
14 Coming to the disciples, he saw a great multitude
around them, and scribes questioning them.
15 Immediately all the multitude, when they saw him,
were greatly amazed, and running to him, greeted him.
16 He asked the scribes, “What are you asking them?”
17 One of the multitude answered, “Teacher, I brought
to you my son, who has a mute spirit; 18 and wherever
it seizes him, it throws him down; and he foams at the
mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your
disciples to cast it out, and they weren’t able.”
19 He answered him, “Unbelieving generation, how
long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you?
Bring him to me.”
20 They brought him to him, and when he saw him,
immediately the spirit convulsed him and he fell on the
ground, wallowing and foaming at the mouth.
21 He asked his father, “How long has it been since this
has been happening to him?”
He said, “From childhood. 22 Often it has cast him both
into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if you
can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are
possible to him who believes.”
24 Immediately the father of the child cried out with
tears, “I believe. Help my unbelief!”
25 When Jesus saw that a multitude came running
together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to him,
“You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of
him, and never enter him again!”
26 After crying out and convulsing him greatly, it came
out of him. The boy became like one dead, so much that
most of them said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by
the hand and raised him up; and he arose.
28When he had come into the house, his disciples asked
him privately, “Why couldn’t we cast it out?”
29He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing
but by prayer and fasting.”
30 They went out from there and passed through
Galilee. He didn’t want anyone to know it, 31 for he was
teaching his disciples, and said to them, “The Son of Man
is being handed over to the hands of men, and they will
kill him; and when he is killed, on the third day he will
rise again.”
32 But they didn’t understand the saying, and were
afraid to ask him.
33 He came to Capernaum, and when he was in the
house he asked them, “What were you arguing among
yourselves on the way?”
34 But they were silent, for they had disputed with one
another on the way about who was the greatest.
35 He sat down and called the twelve; and he said to
them, “If any man wants to be first, he shall be last of
all, and servant of all.” 36 He took a little child and set
him in the middle of them. Taking him in his arms, he
said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one such little child in
my name receives me; and whoever receives me, doesn’t
receive me, but him who sent me.”
38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone who
doesn’t follow us casting out demons in your name; and
we forbade him, because he doesn’t follow us.”
39 But Jesus said, “Don’t forbid him, for there is no one
who will do a mighty work in my name and be able quickly
to speak evil of me. 40 For whoever is not against us is on
our side. 41 For whoever will give you a cup of water to
drink in my name because you are Christ’s, most certainly
I tell you, he will in no way lose his reward.
42 “Whoever will cause one of these little ones who
believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him if he
were thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around
his neck. 43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it
off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather
than having your two hands to go into Gehenna, * into
the unquenchable fire, 44 ‘where their worm doesn’t die,
and the fire is not quenched.’  45 If your foot causes
you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter
into life lame, rather than having your two feet to be cast
into Gehenna, ‡ into the fire that will never be quenched
— 46 ‘where their worm doesn’t die, and the fire is not
quenched.’ § 47 If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it
out. It is better for you to enter into God’s Kingdom with
one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the
Gehenna* of fire, 48 ‘where their worm doesn’t die, and
the fire is not quenched.’  49 For everyone will be salted
with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt.
50 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, with
what will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at
peace with one another.”

10

1 He arose from there and came into the borders of
Judea and beyond the Jordan. Multitudes came together
to him again. As he usually did, he was again teaching
them.
2 Pharisees came to him testing him, and asked him, “Is
it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”
3 He answered, “What did Moses command you?”
4 They said, “Moses allowed a certificate of divorce to
be written, and to divorce her.”
5ButJesussaid to them, “For your hardness of heart, he
wrote you this commandment. 6 But from the beginning
of the creation, God made them male and female. 7 For
this cause a man will leave hisfather and mother, and will
join to his wife, 8 and the two will become one flesh,
so that they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 What
therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”
10 In the house, his disciples asked him again about the
same matter. 11 He said to them, “Whoever divorces his
wife and marries another commits adultery against her.
12 If a woman herself divorces her husband and marries
another, she commits adultery.”
13 They were bringing to him little children, that he
should touch them, but the disciples rebuked those who
were bringing them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was
moved with indignation and said to them, “Allow the little
children to come to me! Don’t forbid them, for God’s
Kingdom belongsto such as these. 15 Most certainly I tell
you, whoever will not receive God’s Kingdom like a little
child, he will in no way enter into it.” 16 He took them in
his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.
17 As he was going out into the way, one ran to him,
knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what
shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”
18 Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one
is good except one—God. 19 You know the commandments:
Do not murder,’ ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do
not steal,’ ‘Do not give false testimony,’ ‘Do not defraud,’
‘Honor your father and mother.’ ”
20 He said to him, “Teacher, I have observed all these
things from my youth.”
21 Jesuslooking at him loved him, and said to him, “One
thing you lack. Go, sell whatever you have and give to
the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come,
follow me, taking up the cross.”
22 But his face fell at that saying, and he went away
sorrowful, for he was one who had great possessions.
23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How
difficult it isforthose who have richesto enterinto God’s
Kingdom!”
24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus
answered again, “Children, how hard it is for those who
trust in riches to enter into God’s Kingdom! 25 It is easier
for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for a rich
man to enter into God’s Kingdom.”
26 They were exceedingly astonished, saying to him,
“Then who can be saved?”
27 Jesus, looking at them, said, “With men it is impossible,
but not with God, for all things are possible with
God.”
28 Peter began to tell him, “Behold, we have left all and
have followed you.”
29 Jesus said, “Most certainly I tell you, there is no one
who has left house, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or
mother, or wife, or children, or land, for my sake, and
for the sake of the Good News, 30 but he will receive one
hundred times more now in this time: houses, brothers,
sisters, mothers, children, and land, with persecutions;
and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who
are first will be last, and the last first.”
32 They were on the way, going up to Jerusalem; and
Jesus was going in front of them, and they were amazed;
and those who followed were afraid. He again took the
twelve, and began to tell them the things that were
going to happen to him. 33 “Behold, we are going up to
Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be delivered to the chief
priests and the scribes. They will condemn him to death,
and will deliver him to the Gentiles. 34 They will mock
him, spit on him, scourge him, and kill him. On the third
day he will rise again.”
35 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came near to
him, saying, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever
we will ask.”
36 He said to them, “What do you want me to do for
you?”
37 They said to him, “Grant to usthat we may sit, one at
your right hand and one at your left hand, in your glory.”
38But Jesussaid to them, “You don’t know what you are
asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and to
be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”
39 They said to him, “We are able.”
Jesussaid to them, “You shall indeed drink the cup that
I drink, and you shall be baptized with the baptism that I
am baptized with; 40 but to sit at my right hand and at
my left hand is not mine to give, but for whom it has been
prepared.”
41 When the ten heard it, they began to be indignant
toward James and John.
42 Jesus summoned them and said to them, “You know
that they who are recognized as rulers over the nations
lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority
over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you, but
whoever wants to become great among you shall be your
servant. 44 Whoever of you wants to become first among
you shall be bondservant of all. 45 Forthe Son of Man also
came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as
a ransom for many.”
46 They came to Jericho. As he went out from Jericho
with his disciples and a great multitude, the son of
Timaeus, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the
road. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he
began to cry out and say, “Jesus, you son of David, have
mercy on me!” 48 Many rebuked him, that he should be
quiet, but he cried out much more, “You son of David,
have mercy on me!”
49 Jesus stood still and said, “Call him.”
They called the blind man, saying to him, “Cheer up!
Get up. He is calling you!”
50 He, casting away his cloak, sprang up, and came to
Jesus.
51 Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for
you?”
The blind man said to him, “Rabboni,* that I may see
again.”
52 Jesus said to him, “Go your way. Your faith has
made you well.” Immediately he received his sight and
followed Jesus on the way.

11

1 When they came near to Jerusalem, to Bethsphage*
and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his
disciples 2 and said to them, “Go your way into the village
that is opposite you. Immediately as you enter into it,
you will find a young donkey tied, on which no one has
sat. Untie him and bring him. 3 If anyone asks you,
‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs him;’ and
immediately he will send him back here.”
4 They went away, and found a young donkey tied at
the door outside in the open street, and they untied him.
5 Some of those who stood there asked them, “What are
you doing, untying the young donkey?” 6 They said to
them just as Jesus had said, and they let them go.
7 They brought the young donkey to Jesus and threw
their garments on it, and Jesus sat on it. 8 Many spread
their garments on the way, and others were cutting down
branches from the trees and spreading them on the road.
9 Those who went in front and those who followed cried
out, “Hosanna!† Blessed is he who comes in the name of
the Lord! 10 Blessed is the kingdom of our father David
that is coming in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the
highest!”
11 Jesus entered into the temple in Jerusalem. When he
had looked around at everything, it being now evening,
he went out to Bethany with the twelve.
12The next day, when they had come out from Bethany,
he was hungry. 13 Seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves,
he came to see if perhaps he might find anything on it.
When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it
was not the season for figs. 14 Jesus told it, “May no one
ever eat fruit from you again!” and his disciples heard it.
15 They came to Jerusalem, and Jesus entered into the
temple and began to throw out those who sold and those
who bought in the temple, and overthrew the money
changers’tables and the seats ofthose who sold the doves.
16He would not allow anyone to carry a containerthrough
the temple. 17He taught, saying to them, “Isn’t it written,
‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all the
nations?’ But you have made it a den of robbers!”
18 The chief priests and the scribes heard it, and sought
how they might destroy him. For they feared him,
because all the multitude was astonished at his teaching.
19 When evening came, he went out of the city. 20 As
they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree
withered away from the roots. 21 Peter, remembering,
said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which you cursed
has withered away.”
22 Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. 23 For
most certainly I tell you, whoever may tell this mountain,
‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and doesn’t doubt in
his heart, but believes that what he says is happening,
he shall have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I tell
you, all things whatever you pray and ask for, believe
that you have received them, and you shall have them.
25 Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have
anything against anyone; so that your Father, who is in
heaven, may also forgive you your transgressions. 26 But
if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven
forgive your transgressions.”‡
27They came again to Jerusalem, and as he was walking
in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders
came to him, 28 and they began saying to him, “By what
authority do you do these things? Or who gave you this
authority to do these things?”
29 Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question.
Answer me, and I willtell you by what authority I do these
things. 30 The baptism of John—was it from heaven, or
from men? Answer me.”
31They reasoned with themselves,saying, “If we should
say, ‘From heaven;’ he will say, ‘Why then did you not
believe him?’ 32 If we should say, ‘From men’ ”—they
feared the people, for all held John to really be a prophet.
33 They answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”

12

1 He began to speak to them in parables. “A man
planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a pit for
the wine press, built a tower, rented it out to a farmer,
and went into another country. 2 When it was time, he
sent a servant to the farmer to get from the farmer his
share of the fruit of the vineyard. 3 They took him, beat
him, and sent him away empty. 4 Again, he sent another
servant to them; and they threw stones at him, wounded
him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated.
5 Again he sent another, and they killed him, and many
others, beating some, and killing some. 6 Therefore still
having one, his beloved son, he sent him last to them,
saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 7 But those farmers
said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill
him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 8 They took him,
killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. 9 What
therefore will the lord of the vineyard do? He will come
and destroy the farmers, and will give the vineyard to
others. 10 Haven’t you even read this Scripture:
‘The stone which the builders rejected
was made the head of the corner.
11 This was from the Lord.
It is marvelous in our eyes’?”
12 They tried to seize him, but they feared the multitude;
forthey perceived that he spoke the parable against
them. They left him and went away. 13 They sent some of
the Pharisees and the Herodians to him, that they might
trap him with words. 14 When they had come, they asked
him, “Teacher, we know that you are honest, and don’t
deferto anyone; for you aren’t partialto anyone, buttruly
teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar,
or not? 15 Shall we give, or shall we not give?”
But he, knowing their hypocrisy,said to them, “Why do
you test me? Bring me a denarius, that I may see it.”
16 They brought it.
He said to them, “Whose isthisimage and inscription?”
They said to him, “Caesar’s.”
17 Jesus answered them, “Render to Caesar the things
that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
They marveled greatly at him.
18 Some Sadducees, who say that there is no resurrection,
came to him. They asked him, saying, 19 “Teacher,
Moses wrote to us, ‘If a man’s brother dies and leaves
a wife behind him, and leaves no children, that his
brothershould take his wife and raise up offspring for his
brother.’ 20 There were seven brothers. The first took
a wife, and dying left no offspring. 21 The second took
her, and died, leaving no children behind him. The third
likewise; 22 and the seven took her and left no children.
Last of all the woman also died. 23 In the resurrection,
when they rise, whose wife will she be of them? For the
seven had her as a wife.”
24 Jesus answered them, “Isn’t this because you are
mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of
God? 25 For when they will rise from the dead, they
neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like
angels in heaven. 26 But about the dead, that they are
raised, haven’t you read in the book of Moses about the
Bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of
Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? 27 He
is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are
therefore badly mistaken.”
28 One of the scribes came and heard them questioning
together, and knowing that he had answered them well,
asked him, “Which commandment is the greatest of all?”
29 Jesus answered, “The greatest is: ‘Hear, Israel, the
Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 You shall love the
Lord your God with all your heart, with all yoursoul, with
all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the
first commandment. 31 The second is like this: ‘You
shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other
commandment greater than these.”
32 The scribe said to him, “Truly, teacher, you have said
well that he is one, and there is none other but he; 33 and
to love him with all the heart, with all the understanding,
all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his
neighbor as himself, is more important than all whole
burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
34 When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to
him, “You are not far from God’s Kingdom.”
No one dared ask him any question after that. 35 Jesus
responded, as he taught in the temple, “How is it that the
scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? 36 For
David himself said in the Holy Spirit,
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies the footstool of your
feet.” ’
37 Therefore David himself calls him Lord, so how can
he be his son?”
The common people heard him gladly. 38 In his teaching he said to them,
“Beware of the scribes, who like to
walk in long robes, and to get greetings in the marketplaces,
39 and to get the best seats in the synagogues and
the best places at feasts, 40 those who devour widows’
houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will
receive greater condemnation.”
41 Jesus sat down opposite the treasury and saw how
the multitude cast money into the treasury. Many who
were rich castin much. 42A poor widow came and she cast
in two small brass coins,* which equal a quadrans coin.†
43 He called his disciples to himself and said to them,
“Most certainly Itell you,this poor widow gave more than
all those who are giving into the treasury, 44 for they all
gave out of their abundance, but she, out of her poverty,
gave all that she had to live on.”

13

1 As he went out of the temple, one of his disciples said
to him, “Teacher, see what kind of stones and what kind
of buildings!”
2 Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings?
There will not be left here one stone on another, which
will not be thrown down.”
3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple,
Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately,
4 “Tell us, when will these things be? What isthe sign that
these things are all about to be fulfilled?”
5 Jesus, answering, began to tell them, “Be careful that
no one leads you astray. 6 For many will come in my
name, saying, ‘I am he!’* and will lead many astray.
7 “When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, don’t
be troubled. For those must happen, but the end is not
yet. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom
against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various
places. There will be famines and troubles. These things
are the beginning of birth pains.
9 “But watch yourselves, for they will deliver you up to
councils. You will be beaten in synagogues. You willstand
before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony to
them. 10 The Good News must first be preached to all
the nations. 11 When they lead you away and deliver you
up, don’t be anxious beforehand or premeditate what you
will say, but say whatever will be given you in that hour.
For it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.
12 “Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the
father his child. Children will rise up against parents and
cause them to be put to death. 13 You will be hated by all
men for my name’s sake, but he who endures to the end
will be saved.
14 “But when you see the abomination of desolation,
spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought
not” (let the reader understand), “then let those who are
in Judea flee to the mountains, 15 and let him who is on
the housetop not go down, nor enter in, to take anything
out of his house. 16 Let him who is in the field not return
back to take his cloak. 17 But woe to those who are with
child and to those who nurse babiesin those days! 18Pray
that your flight won’t be in the winter. 19 For in those
days there will be oppression, such as there has not been
the like from the beginning of the creation which God
created until now, and never will be. 20 Unless the Lord
had shortened the days, no flesh would have been saved;
but for the sake of the chosen ones, whom he picked out,
he shortened the days. 21 Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look,
here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, there!’ don’t believe it.
22 For false christs and false prophets will arise and will
show signs and wonders, that they may lead astray, if
possible, even the chosen ones. 23 But you watch.
“Behold, I have told you all things beforehand. 24 But
in those days, after that oppression, the sun will be
darkened, the moon will not give its light, 25 the stars
will be falling from the sky, and the powers that are
in the heavens will be shaken. 26 Then they will see
the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and
glory. 27 Then he will send out his angels, and will gather
together his chosen ones from the four winds, from the
ends of the earth to the ends of the sky.
28 “Now from the fig tree, learn this parable. When the
branch has now become tender and produces its leaves,
you know that the summer is near; 29 even so you also,
when you see these things coming to pass, know that it
is near, at the doors. 30 Most certainly I say to you,
this generation† will not pass away until all these things
happen. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my
words will not pass away.
32 “But ofthat day orthat hour no one knows—not even
the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
33 Watch, keep alert, and pray; for you don’t know when
the time is.
34 “It is like a man traveling to another country, having
left his house and given authority to his servants, and to
each one his work, and also commanded the doorkeeper
to keep watch. 35 Watch therefore, for you don’t
know when the lord of the house is coming—whether at
evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in
the morning; 36 lest, coming suddenly, he might find you
sleeping. 37 What I tell you, I tell all: Watch!”

14

1 It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast
of Unleavened Bread, and the chief priests and the scribes
sought how they might seize him by deception and kill
him. 2 For they said, “Not during the feast, because there
might be a riot among the people.”
3 While he was at Bethany, in the house of Simon the
leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came having an
alabaster jar of ointment of pure nard—very costly. She
broke the jar and poured it over his head. 4But there were
some who were indignant among themselves, saying,
“Why has this ointment been wasted? 5 For this might
have been sold for more than three hundred denarii* and
given to the poor.” So they grumbled against her.
6 But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble
her? She has done a good work for me. 7 For you always
have the poor with you, and whenever you want to, you
can do them good; but you will not always have me. 8 She
has done what she could. She has anointed my body
beforehand for the burying. 9 Most certainly I tell you,
wherever this Good News may be preached throughout
the whole world, that which this woman has done will
also be spoken of for a memorial of her.”
10 Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went away
to the chief priests, that he might deliver him to them.
11 They, when they heard it, were glad, and promised to
give him money. He sought how he might conveniently
deliver him.
12 On the first day of unleavened bread, when they
sacrificed the Passover, his disciples asked him, “Where
do you want us to go and prepare that you may eat the
Passover?”
13 He sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go
into the city, and there a man carrying a pitcher of water
will meet you. Follow him, 14 and wherever he enters in,
tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is
the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my
disciples?” ’ 15 He will himself show you a large upper
room furnished and ready. Get ready for us there.”
16 His disciples went out, and came into the city, and
found things as he had said to them, and they prepared
the Passover.
17 When it was evening he came with the twelve. 18 As
they sat and were eating, Jesus said, “Most certainly I tell
you, one of you will betray me—he who eats with me.”
19 They began to be sorrowful, and to ask him one by
one, “Surely not I?” And another said, “Surely not I?”
20 He answered them, “It is one of the twelve, he who
dips with me in the dish. 21 For the Son of Man goes as it
is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the
Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for that man if
he had not been born.”
22 As they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he
had blessed it, he broke it and gave to them, and said,
“Take, eat. This is my body.”
23 He took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he
gave to them. They all drank of it. 24 He said to them,
“This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured
out for many. 25 Most certainly I tell you, I will no more
drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it
anew in God’s Kingdom.” 26 When they had sung a hymn,
they went out to the Mount of Olives.
27 Jesussaid to them, “All of you will be made to stumble
because of me tonight, for it is written, ‘I will strike the
shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ 28 However,
after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee.”
29 But Peter said to him, “Although all will be offended,
yet I will not.”
30 Jesus said to him, “Most certainly I tell you that you
today, even this night, before the rooster crowstwice, you
will deny me three times.”
31 But he spoke all the more, “If I must die with you, I
will not deny you.” They all said the same thing.
32 They came to a place which was named Gethsemane.
He said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He
took with him Peter, James, and John, and began to be
greatly troubled and distressed. 34 He said to them, “My
soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here
and watch.”
35 He went forward a little, and fell on the ground,
and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass
away from him. 36 He said, “Abba,† Father, all things
are possible to you. Please remove this cup from me.
However, not what I desire, but what you desire.”
37 He came and found them sleeping, and said to
Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn’t you watch one
hour? 38 Watch and pray, that you may not enter into
temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is
weak.”
39 Again he went away and prayed, saying the same
words. 40 Again he returned and found them sleeping, for
their eyes were very heavy; and they didn’t know what to
answer him. 41 He came the third time and said to them,
“Sleep on now, and take your rest. It is enough. The hour
has come. Behold, the Son of Man is betrayed into the
hands of sinners. 42 Arise! Let’s get going. Behold, he
who betrays me is at hand.”
43 Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one
of the twelve, came —and with him a multitude with
swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and
the elders. 44 Now he who betrayed him had given them
a sign, saying, “Whomever I will kiss, that is he. Seize
him, and lead him away safely.” 45 When he had come,
immediately he came to him and said, “Rabbi! Rabbi!”
and kissed him. 46They laid their hands on him and seized
him. 47 But a certain one of those who stood by drew his
sword and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut
off his ear.
48 Jesus answered them, “Have you come out, as against
a robber, with swords and clubsto seize me? 49 I was daily
with you in the temple teaching, and you didn’t arrest me.
But this is so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled.”
50 They all left him, and fled. 51 A certain young man
followed him, having a linen cloth thrown around himself
over his naked body. The young men grabbed him, 52 but
he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked. 53 They
led Jesus away to the high priest. All the chief priests, the
elders, and the scribes came together with him.
54 Peter had followed him from a distance, until he
came into the court of the high priest. He was sitting
with the officers, and warming himself in the light of the
fire. 55Now the chief priests and the whole councilsought
witnesses against Jesus to put him to death, and found
none. 56 For many gave false testimony against him, and
their testimony didn’t agree with each other. 57 Some
stood up and gave false testimony against him, saying,
58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is
made with hands, and in three days I will build another
made without hands.’ ” 59 Even so, their testimony didn’t
agree.
60 The high priest stood up in the middle, and asked
Jesus, “Have you no answer? What is it which these
testify against you?” 61 But he stayed quiet, and answered
nothing. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the
Christ, the Son of the Blessed?”
62 Jesus said, “I am. You will see the Son of Man sitting
at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of
the sky.”
63 The high priest tore his clothes and said, “What
further need have we of witnesses? 64 You have heard the
blasphemy! What do you think?” They all condemned
him to be worthy of death. 65 Some began to spit on him,
and to cover hisface, and to beat him with fists, and to tell
him, “Prophesy!” The officers struck him with the palms
of their hands.
66As Peter wasin the courtyard below, one of the maids
of the high priest came, 67 and seeing Peter warming
himself, she looked at him and said, “You were also with
the Nazarene, Jesus!”
68 But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand
what you are saying.” He went out on the porch,
and the rooster crowed.
69 The maid saw him and began again to tell those who
stood by, “This is one of them.” 70 But he again denied
it. After a little while again those who stood by said to
Peter, “You truly are one of them, for you are a Galilean,
and your speech shows it.” 71 But he began to curse and
to swear, “I don’t know this man of whom you speak!”
72 The rooster crowed the second time. Peter remembered the
wordsthatJesussaid to him, “Before the rooster
crows twice, you will deny me three times.” When he
thought about that, he wept.

15

1 Immediately in the morning the chief priests, with the
elders, scribes, and the whole council, held a consultation,
bound Jesus, carried him away, and delivered him
up to Pilate. 2 Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the
Jews?”
He answered, “So you say.”
3 The chief priests accused him of many things. 4 Pilate
again asked him, “Have you no answer? See how many
things they testify against you!”
5 But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate
marveled.
6 Now at the feast he used to release to them one
prisoner, whomever they asked of him. 7 There was one
called Barabbas, bound with his fellow insurgents, men
who in the insurrection had committed murder. 8 The
multitude, crying aloud, began to ask him to do as he
always did for them. 9 Pilate answered them, saying, “Do
you want me to release to you the King ofthe Jews?” 10 For
he perceived that for envy the chief priests had delivered
him up. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the multitude,
that he should release Barabbas to them instead. 12 Pilate
again asked them, “What then should I do to him whom
you call the King of the Jews?”
13 They cried out again, “Crucify him!”
14 Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has he done?”
But they cried out exceedingly, “Crucify him!”
15 Pilate, wishing to please the multitude, released
Barabbas to them, and handed over Jesus, when he had
flogged him, to be crucified.
16 The soldiers led him away within the court, which
is the Praetorium; and they called together the whole
cohort. 17 They clothed him with purple; and weaving
a crown of thorns, they put it on him. 18 They began to
salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 They struck his
head with a reed and spat on him, and bowing their knees,
did homage to him. 20 When they had mocked him, they
took the purple cloak off him, and put his own garments
on him. They led him out to crucify him.
21 They compelled one passing by, coming from the
country, Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and
Rufus, to go with them that he might bear his cross.
22 They brought him to the place called Golgotha, which
is, being interpreted, “The place of a skull.” 23 They
offered him wine mixed with myrrh to drink, but he
didn’t take it.
24 Crucifying him, they parted his garments among
them, casting lots on them, what each should take. 25 It
was the third hour* when they crucified him. 26 The
superscription of his accusation was written over him:
“THE KING OF THE JEWS.” 27 With him they crucified two
robbers, one on his right hand, and one on his left. 28 The
Scripture was fulfilled which says, “He was counted with
transgressors.Ӡ
29Those who passed by blasphemed him, wagging their
heads and saying, “Ha! You who destroy the temple and
build it in three days, 30 save yourself, and come down
from the cross!”
31Likewise, also the chief priests mocking among themselves
with the scribes said, “He saved others. He can’t
save himself. 32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, now
come down from the cross, that we may see and believe
him.” Those who were crucified with him also insulted
him.
33 When the sixth hour§ had come, there was darkness
over the whole land until the ninth hour.* 34 At the ninth
hourJesus cried with a loud voice,saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama
sabachthani?” which is, being interpreted, “My God, my
God, why have you forsaken me?”
35 Some ofthose who stood by, when they heard it,said,
“Behold, he is calling Elijah.”
36 One ran, and filling a sponge full of vinegar, put it on
a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Let him be.
Let’s see whether Elijah comes to take him down.”
37 Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and gave up the
spirit. 38 The veil of the temple was torn in two from the
top to the bottom. 39 When the centurion, who stood by
opposite him, saw that he cried out like this and breathed
his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”
40 There were also women watching from afar, among
whom were both Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother
of James the less and of Joses, and Salome; 41 who, when
he wasin Galilee, followed him and served him; and many
other women who came up with him to Jerusalem.
42 When evening had now come, because it was the
Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath,
43 Joseph of Arimathaea, a prominent council member
who also himself was looking for God’s Kingdom, came.
He boldly went in to Pilate, and asked for Jesus’ body.
44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead;
and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether
he had been dead long. 45 When he found out from the
centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. 46 He bought
a linen cloth, and taking him down, wound him in the
linen cloth and laid him in a tomb which had been cut
out of a rock. He rolled a stone against the door of the
tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses,
saw where he was laid.

16

1 When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and
Mary the mother ofJames, and Salome boughtspices,that
they might come and anoint him. 2Very early on the first
day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had
risen. 3 They were saying among themselves, “Who will
roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?”
4 for it was very big. Looking up, they saw that the stone
was rolled back.
5 Entering into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting
on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were
amazed. 6 He said to them, “Don’t be amazed. You seek
Jesus, the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He hasrisen!
He is not here. See the place where they laid him! 7 But
go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He goes before you into
Galilee. There you will see him, as he said to you.’ ”
8They went out,* and fled from the tomb, fortrembling
and astonishment had come on them. They said nothing
9 ‡Now when he had risen early on the first day of the
week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom
he had cast out seven demons. 10 She went and told
those who had been with him, asthey mourned and wept.
11 When they heard that he was alive and had been seen
by her, they disbelieved.
12Afterthese things he wasrevealed in anotherform to
two ofthem asthey walked, on their way into the country.
13 They went away and told it to the rest. They didn’t
believe them, either.
14 Afterward he was revealed to the eleven themselves
asthey sat at the table; and he rebuked them fortheir unbelief
and hardness of heart, because they didn’t believe
those who had seen him after he had risen. 15 He said to
them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good Newsto
the whole creation. 16 He who believes and is baptized
will be saved; but he who disbelieves will be condemned.
17 These signs will accompany those who believe: in my
name they will cast out demons; they willspeak with new
languages; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink
any deadly thing, it will in no way hurt them; they will lay
hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
19 So then the Lord,§ after he had spoken to them, was
received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand
of God. 20 They went out and preached everywhere, the
Lord working with them and confirming the word by the
signs that followed. Amen.

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We are all leaves, flowers
And fruits
On the different religion-branches
Of the birthless and deathless
Life-tree.

(Sri Chinmoy)

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