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Mark 6-10
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 6
1 Jesus went out from there and *came into His hometown; and His disciples *followed Him. 2 And when the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue; and the many listeners were astonished, saying, 'Where did this man learn these things, and what is this wisdom that has been given to Him, and such miracles as these performed by His hands? 3 Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are His sisters not here with us?' And they took offense at Him. 4 Jesus said to them, 'A prophet is not dishonored except inhis hometown and among his own relatives, and in his own household.' 5 And He could not do any miracle there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.
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And He was amazed at their unbelief. And He was going around the villages, teaching.
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And He *summoned the twelve and began to send them out in pairs, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits;
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and He instructed them that they were to take nothing for their journey, except a mere staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belt—
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but to wear sandals; and He added, 'Do not wear twotunics.'
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And He said to them, 'Wherever you enter a house, stay there until youleave town.
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Any place that does not receive you or listen to you, as you go out from there, shake the dustoff the soles of your feet as a testimony against them.'
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And they went out and preached that people are to repent.
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And they were casting out many demons and were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them.
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And King Herod heard about it, for His name had become well known; and people were saying, 'John the Baptist has risen from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are at work in Him.'
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But others were saying, 'He is Elijah.' And others were saying, 'He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.'
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But when Herod heard about it, he kept saying, 'John, whom I beheaded, has risen!'
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For Herod himself had sent men and had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, because he had married her.
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For John had been saying to Herod, 'It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.'
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And Herodias held a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death, and could not do so;
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for Herod was afraid of John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he had been protecting him. And when he heard him, he was very perplexed; and yet he used to enjoy listening to him.
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An opportune day came when Herod, on his birthday, held a banquet for his nobles and military commanders, and the leading people of Galilee;
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and when the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests; and the king said to the girl, 'Ask me for whatever you want, and I will give it to you.'
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And he swore to her, 'Whatever you ask of me, I will give it to you, up to half of my kingdom.'
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And she went out and said to her mother, 'What shall I ask for?' And she said, 'The head of John the Baptist.'
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Immediately she came in a hurry to the king and asked, saying, 'I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.'
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And although the king was very sorry, because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he was unwilling to refuse her.
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Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded him to bring back his head. And he went and beheaded him in the prison,
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and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother.
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When his disciples heard about this, they came and carried away his body, and laid it in a tomb.
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The apostles *gathered together with Jesus; and they reported to Him all that they had done and taught.
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And He *said to them, 'Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a little while.' (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.)
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And they went away in the boat to a secluded place by themselves.
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The people saw them going, and many recognized them and ran there together on foot from all the cities, and got there ahead of them.
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When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.
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And when it was already late, His disciples came up to Him and said, 'This place is secluded and it is already late;
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send them away so that they may go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.'
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But He answered them, 'You give them something to eat!' And they *said to Him, 'Shall we go and spend two hundred denarii on bread, and give it to them to eat?'
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But He *said to them, 'How many loaves do you have? Go look!' And when they found out, they *said, 'Five, and two fish.'
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And He ordered them all to recline by groups on the green grass.
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They reclined in groups of hundreds and fifties.
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And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food and broke the loaves and He gave them to the disciples again and again to set before them; and He divided the two fish among them all.
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And they all ate and were satisfied;
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and they picked up twelve full baskets of the broken pieces of bread, and of the fish.
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There were five thousand men who ate the loaves.
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And immediately Jesus had His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He Himself *dismissed the crowd.
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And after saying goodbye to them, He left for the mountain to pray.
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When it was evening, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and He was alone on the land.
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Seeing them straining at the oars—for the wind was against them—at about the fourth watch of the night, He *came to them, walking on the sea; and He intended to pass by them.
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But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they thought that it was a ghost, and they cried out;
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for they all saw Him and were terrified. But immediately He spoke with them and *said to them, 'Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid.'
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Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped; and they were utterly astonished,
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for they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.
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When they had crossed over they came to land at Gennesaret, and moored at the shore.
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And when they got out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him,
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and ran about that entire country and began carrying here and there on their pallets those who were sick, to wherever they heard He was.
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And wherever He entered villages, or cities, or a countryside, they were laying the sick in the marketplaces and imploring Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak; and all who touched it were being healed.
Chapter 7
1 The Pharisees and some of the scribes *gathered to Him after they came from Jerusalem, 2 and saw that some of His disciples were eating their bread with unholy hands, that is, unwashed. 3 (For the Pharisees and all the other Jews do not eat unless they carefully wash their hands, thereby holding firmly to the tradition of the elders; 4 and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they completely cleanse themselves; and there are many other things which they have received as traditions to firmly hold, such as the washing of cups, pitchers, and copper pots.) 5 And the Pharisees and the scribes *asked Him, 'Why do Your disciples not walk in accordance with the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with unholy hands?'
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But He said to them, 'Rightly did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME.
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AND IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN.’
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Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.'
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He was also saying to them, 'You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition.
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For Moses said, ‘HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER’; and, ‘THE ONE WHO SPEAKS EVIL OF FATHER OR MOTHER, ISCERTAINLY TO BE PUT TO DEATH’;
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but you say, ‘If a person says to his father or his mother, whatever I have that would help you is Corban (that is, given to God),’
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you no longer allow him to do anything for his father or his mother;
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thereby invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.'
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After He called the crowd to Him again, He began saying to them, 'Listen to Me, all of you, and understand:
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there is nothing outside the person which can defile him if it goes into him; but the things which come out of the person are what defile the person.'
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And when He later entered a house, away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him about the parable.
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And He *said to them, 'Are you so lacking in understanding as well? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the person from outside cannot defile him,
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because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, andis eliminated?' (Thereby He declared all foods clean.)
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And He was saying, 'That which comes out of the person, that is what defiles the person.
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For from within, out of thehearts of people, come the evil thoughts, acts of sexual immorality, thefts, murders, acts of adultery,
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deeds of greed, wickedness, deceit, indecent behavior,envy, slander,pride, and foolishness.
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All these evil things come from within and defile the person.'
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Now Jesus got up and went from there to the region of Tyre. And when He had entered a house, He wanted no one to know about it; and yet He could not escape notice.
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But after hearing about Him, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately came and fell at His feet.
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Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician descent. And she repeatedly asked Him to cast the demon out of her daughter.
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And He was saying to her, 'Let the children be satisfied first, for it is notgood to take the children’s bread and throw it to thedogs.'
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But she answered and *said to Him, 'Yes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table feed on the children’s crumbs.'
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And He said to her, 'Because of thisanswer, go; the demon has gone out of your daughter.'
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And after going back to her home, she found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.
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Again He left the region of Tyre and came through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, within the region of Decapolis.
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And they *brought to Him one who was deaf and had difficulty speaking, and they *begged Him to lay His hand on him.
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And Jesus took him aside from the crowd, by himself, and put His fingers in his ears, and after spitting, He touched his tongue with the saliva;
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and looking up to heaven with a deep sigh, He *said to him, 'Ephphatha!' that is, 'Be opened!'
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And his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was removed, and he began speaking plainly.
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And He gave them orders not to tell anyone; but the more He ordered them, the more widely they continued to proclaim it.
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And they were utterly astonished, saying, 'He has done all things well; He makes even those who are deaf hear, and those who are unable to talk, speak.'
Chapter 8
1 In those days, when there was again a large crowd and they had nothing to eat, Jesus summoned His disciples and *said to them, 2 'I feel compassion for thepeople because they have remained with Me for three days already and have nothing to eat. 3 And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way; and some of them have come from a great distance.' 4 And His disciples replied to Him, 'Where will anyone be able to find enough bread here in this desolate place to satisfy these people?' 5 And He was asking them, 'How many loaves do you have?' And they said, 'Seven.' 6 And He *directed the people to recline on the ground; and taking the seven loaves, He gave thanks and broke them, and started giving them to His disciples to serve, and they served them to the people. 7 They also had a few small fish; and after He had blessed them, He told the disciples to serve these as well. 8 And they ate and were satisfied; and they picked up seven large baskets full of what was left over of the broken pieces. 9 About four thousand men were there; and He dismissed them. 10 And immediately He got into the boat with His disciples and came to the region of Dalmanutha.
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And the Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, demanding from Him a sign from heaven, to test Him.
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Sighing deeply in His spirit, He *said, 'Why does this generation demand asign? Truly I say to you,nosign will be given to this generation!'
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And leaving them, He again embarked and went away to the other side.
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And the disciples had forgotten to take bread, and did not have more than one loaf in the boat with them.
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And He was giving orders to them, saying, 'Watch out! Beware of theleaven of the Pharisees, and the leaven of Herod.'
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And they began to discuss with one another the fact that they had no bread.
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And Jesus, aware of this, *said to them, 'Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet comprehend or understand? Do you still have your hearthardened?
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HAVING EYES, DO YOU NOT SEE? AND HAVING EARS, DO YOU NOT HEAR? And do you not remember,
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when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces you picked up?' They *said to Him, 'Twelve.'
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'When I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?' And they *said to Him, 'Seven.'
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And He was saying to them, 'Do you not yet understand?'
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And they *came to Bethsaida. And some people *brought a man who was blind to Jesus and *begged Him to touch him.
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Taking the man who was blind by the hand, He brought him out of the village; and after spitting in his eyes and laying His hands on him, He asked him, 'Do you see anything?'
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And he looked up and said, 'I see people, for I see them like trees, walking around.'
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Then again He laid His hands on his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and began to see everything clearly.
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And He sent him to his home, saying, 'Do not even enter the village.'
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Jesus went out, along with His disciples, to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way He questioned His disciples, saying to them, 'Who do people say that I am?'
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They told Him, saying, 'John the Baptist; and others say Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.'
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And He continued questioning them: 'But who do you say that I am?' Peter answered and *said to Him, 'You are the Christ.'
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And He warned them to tell no one about Him.
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And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise from the dead.
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And He was stating the matter plainly. And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him.
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But turning around and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter and *said, 'Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind onGod’s purposes, but on man’s.'
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And He summoned the crowd together with His disciples, and said to them, 'If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.
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For whoever wants to save hislife will lose it, but whoever loses hislife for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.
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For what does it benefit a person to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?
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For what could a person give in exchange for his soul?
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For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.'
Chapter 9
1 And Jesus was saying to them, 'Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God when it has come with power.'
2
And six days later Jesus *took with Him Peter, James, and John, and *brought them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them;
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and His garments became radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them.
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And Elijah appeared to them along with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus.
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Peter responded and *said to Jesus, 'Rabbi, it is good that we are here; let’s make three tabernacles, one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.'
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For he did not know how to reply; for they became terrified.
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Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud: 'This is My beloved Son; listen to Him!'
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And suddenly they looked around and saw no one with them anymore, except Jesus alone.
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As they were coming down from the mountain, He gave them orders not to relate to anyone what they had seen, until the Son of Man rose from the dead.
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They seized upon that statement, discussing with one another what rising from the dead meant.
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And they asked Him, saying, 'Why is it that the scribes say that Elijah must come first?'
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And He said to them, 'Elijah does come first and he restores all things. And yet how is it written of the Son of Man that He will suffer many things and be treated with contempt?
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But I say to you that Elijah hasindeed come, and they did to him whatever they wanted, just as it is written of him.'
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And when they came back to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them.
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Immediately, when the entire crowd saw Him, they were amazed and began running up to greet Him.
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And He asked them, 'What are you disputing with them?'
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And one person from the crowd answered Him, 'Teacher, I brought You my son, because he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak;
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and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground, and he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes stiff. And I told Your disciples so that they would cast it out, but they could not do it.'
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And He answered them and *said, 'O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!'
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And they brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, the spirit immediately threw him into convulsions, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth.
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And He asked his father, 'How long has this been happening to him?' And he said, 'From childhood.
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It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to kill him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!'
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But Jesus said to him, '?‘If You can?’ All things are possible for the one who believes.'
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Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, 'I do believe; help my unbelief!'
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When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, 'You mute and deaf spirit, Icommand you, come out of him and do not enter himagain!'
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And after crying out and throwing him into terrible convulsions, it came out; and the boy became so much like a corpse that most of them said, 'He is dead!'
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But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him, and he got up.
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When He came into the house, His disciples began asking Him privately, 'Why is it that we could not cast it out?'
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And He said to them, 'This kind cannot come out by anything except prayer.'
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And from there they went out and began to go through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know about it.
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For He was teaching His disciples and telling them, 'The Son of Man is to behanded over to men, and they will kill Him; and when He has been killed, He will rise three days later.'
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But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him.
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They came to Capernaum; and when He was in the house, He began to question them: 'What were you discussing on the way?'
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But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest.
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And sitting down, He called the twelve and *said to them, 'If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.'
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And He took a child and placed him among them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them,
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'Whoeverreceivesone child like this in My namereceives Me; and whoeverreceives Me does notreceive Me, but Him who sent Me.'
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John said to Him, 'Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.'
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But Jesus said, 'Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me.
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For the one who is not against us isfor us.
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For whoever gives you a cup of water to drinkbecause of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.
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'Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it is better for him if a heavy millstone is hung around his neck and he is thrown into the sea.
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And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed, than, having your two hands, to go intohell, into the unquenchable fire.
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And if your foot is causing you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life without a foot, than, having your two feet, to be thrown intohell.
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And if your eye is causing you to sin, throw it away; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be thrown intohell,
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where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT EXTINGUISHED.
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For everyone will be salted with fire.
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Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will youmake it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.'
Chapter 10
1 Setting out from there, Jesus *went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan; crowds *gathered to Him again, and, as He was accustomed, He once more began to teach them.
2
And some Pharisees came up to Jesus, testing Him, and began questioning Him whether it was lawful for a man to divorce his wife.
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And He answered and said to them, 'What did Moses command you?'
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They said, 'Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send his wife away.'
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But Jesus said to them, 'Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.
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But from the beginning of creation, God CREATED THEM MALE AND FEMALE.
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FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER,
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AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH; so they are no longer two, but one flesh.
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Therefore, what God has joined together, no person is to separate.'
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And in the house the disciples again began questioning Him about this.
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And He *said to them, 'Whoeverdivorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her;
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and if she herselfdivorces her husband and marries another man, she is committing adultery.'
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And they were bringing children to Him so that He would touch them; but the disciples rebuked them.
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But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, 'Allow the children to come to Me; do notforbid them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
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Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.'
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And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them.
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As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, 'Good Teacher, what shall I do so that I may inherit eternal life?'
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But Jesus said to him, 'Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.
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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.’?'
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And he said to Him, 'Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth.'
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Looking at him, Jesus showed love to him and said to him, 'One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.'
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But he was deeply dismayed by these words, and he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.
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And Jesus, looking around, *said to His disciples, 'How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!'
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And the disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus responded again and *said to them, 'Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!
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It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.'
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And they were even more astonished, and said to Him, 'Then who can be saved?'
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Looking at them, Jesus *said, 'With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.'
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Peter began to say to Him, 'Behold, we have left everything and have followed You.'
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Jesus said, 'Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake,
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but that he will receive a hundred times as much now inthe present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.
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But many who are first will be last, and the last, first.'
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Now they were on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking on ahead of them; and they were amazed, and those who followed were fearful. And again He took the twelve aside and began to tell them what was going to happen to Him,
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saying, 'Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will behanded over to the chief priests and the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and willhand Him over to the Gentiles.
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And they will mock Him and spit on Him, and flog Him and kill Him; and three days later He will rise from the dead.'
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James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, *came up to Jesus, saying to Him, 'Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask of You.'
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And He said to them, 'What do you want Me to do for you?'
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They said to Him, 'Grant that we may sit, one on Your right and one on Your left, in Your glory.'
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But Jesus said to them, 'You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?'
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They said to Him, 'We are able.' And Jesus said to them, 'The cup that I drink you shall drink; and you shall be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized.
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But to sit on My right or on My left is not Mine to give; but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.'
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Hearing this, the other ten began to feel indignant with James and John.
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Calling them to Himself, Jesus *said to them, 'You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles domineer over them; and theirpeople in high position exercise authority over them.
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But it is not this way among you; rather, whoever wants to becomeprominent among you shall be your servant;
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and whoever wants to be first among you shall be slave of all.
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For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give Hislife as a ransom for many.'
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Then they *came to Jericho. And later, as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, a beggar who was blind named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road.
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And when he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, 'Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!'
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Many were sternly telling him to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, 'Son of David, have mercy on me!'
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And Jesus stopped and said, 'Call him here.' So they *called the man who was blind, saying to him, 'Take courage, stand up! He is calling for you.'
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And throwing off his cloak, he jumped up and came to Jesus.
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And replying to him, Jesus said, 'What do you want Me to do for you?' And the man who was blind said to Him, 'Rabboni, I want to regain my sight!'
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And Jesus said to him, 'Go; your faith hasmade you well.' And immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road.
King James Version
Chapter 6
1 And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him. 2 And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. 4 But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. 5 And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. 6 And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.
7
And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;
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And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse:
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But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats.
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And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place.
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And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
12
And they went out, and preached that men should repent.
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And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.
14
And king Herod heard of him; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.
15
Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets.
16
But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.
17
For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her.
18
For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.
19
Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not:
20
For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.
21
And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee;
22
And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.
23
And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.
24
And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.
25
And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist.
26
And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.
27
And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,
28
And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.
29
And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.
30
And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.
31
And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.
32
And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.
33
And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him.
34
And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.
35
And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed:
36
Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat.
37
He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?
38
He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.
39
And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.
40
And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.
41
And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.
42
And they did all eat, and were filled.
43
And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.
44
And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.
45
And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people.
46
And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.
47
And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land.
48
And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.
49
But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:
50
For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.
51
And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.
52
For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.
53
And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.
54
And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him,
55
And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was.
56
And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.
Chapter 7
1 Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. 2 And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault. 3 For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. 4 And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables. 5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? 6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. 9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. 10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: 11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. 12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; 13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. 14 And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand: 15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. 16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. 17 And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable. 18 And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; 19 Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? 20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
24
And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid.
25
For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet:
26
The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.
27
But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.
28
And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs.
29
And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.
30
And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.
31
And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.
32
And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him.
33
And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;
34
And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.
35
And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.
36
And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;
37
And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.
Chapter 8
1 In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them, 2 I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat: 3 And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far. 4 And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness? 5 And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven. 6 And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people. 7 And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them. 8 So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets. 9 And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.
10
And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.
11
And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.
12
And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.
13
And he left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side.
14
Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf.
15
And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.
16
And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.
17
And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?
18
Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?
19
When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve.
20
And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven.
21
And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?
22
And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.
23
And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.
24
And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.
25
After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.
26
And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.
27
And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?
28
And they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.
29
And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.
30
And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.
31
And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
32
And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.
33
But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.
34
And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
35
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
36
For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
37
Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
38
Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
Chapter 9
1 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power. 2 And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them. 3 And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. 4 And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus. 5 And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. 6 For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid. 7 And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. 8 And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves. 9 And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead. 10 And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean. 11 And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come? 12 And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought. 13 But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.
14
And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.
15
And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.
16
And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?
17
And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;
18
And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.
19
He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.
20
And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.
21
And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.
22
And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.
23
Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
24
And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
25
When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.
26
And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.
27
But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.
28
And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?
29
And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
30
And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it.
31
For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.
32
But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.
33
And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?
34
But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.
35
And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.
36
And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them,
37
Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.
38
And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.
39
But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.
40
For he that is not against us is on our part.
41
For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.
42
And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.
43
And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
44
Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
45
And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
46
Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
47
And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
48
Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
49
For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.
50
Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.
Chapter 10
1 And he arose from thence, and cometh into the coasts of Judaea by the farther side of Jordan: and the people resort unto him again; and, as he was wont, he taught them again. 2 And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him. 3 And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you? 4 And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away. 5 And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. 6 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. 7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; 8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. 9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. 10 And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter. 11 And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. 12 And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.
13
And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.
14
But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
15
Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
16
And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.
17
And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
18
And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
19
Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
20
And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
21
Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
22
And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
23
And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
24
And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
25
It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
26
And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?
27
And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
28
Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
29
And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,
30
But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
31
But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.
32
And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him,
33
Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles:
34
And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.
35
And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.
36
And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?
37
They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.
38
But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?
39
And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:
40
But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.
41
And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John.
42
But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.
43
But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
44
And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
45
For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
46
And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.
47
And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
48
And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
49
And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.
50
And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.
51
And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.
52
And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 6
1 He left there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. "Where did this man get these things? " they said. "What is this wisdom that has been given to him, and how are these miracles performed by his hands? 3 Isn't this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And aren't his sisters here with us? " So they were offended by him.
4
Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his household."
5
He was not able to do a miracle there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them.
6
And he was amazed at their unbelief. He was going around the villages teaching.
7
He summoned the Twelve and began to send them out in pairs and gave them authority over unclean spirits.
8
He instructed them to take nothing for the road except a staff--no bread, no traveling bag, no money in their belts,
9
but to wear sandals and not put on an extra shirt.
10
He said to them, "Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that place.
11
If any place does not welcome you or listen to you, when you leave there, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them."
12
So they went out and preached that people should repent.
13
They drove out many demons, anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.
14
King Herod heard about it, because Jesus's name had become well known. Some said, "John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that's why miraculous powers are at work in him."
15
But others said, "He's Elijah." Still others said, "He's a prophet, like one of the prophets from long ago."
16
When Herod heard of it, he said, "John, the one I beheaded, has been raised! "
17
For Herod himself had given orders to arrest John and to chain him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because he had married her.
18
John had been telling Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."
19
So Herodias held a grudge against him and wanted to kill him. But she could not,
20
because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing he was a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard him he would be very perplexed, and yet he liked to listen to him.
21
An opportune time came on his birthday, when Herod gave a banquet for his nobles, military commanders, and the leading men of Galilee.
22
When Herodias's own daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, "Ask me whatever you want, and I'll give it to you."
23
He promised her with an oath: "Whatever you ask me I will give you, up to half my kingdom."
24
She went out and said to her mother, "What should I ask for? ""John the Baptist's head," she said.
25
At once she hurried to the king and said, "I want you to give me John the Baptist's head on a platter immediately."
26
Although the king was deeply distressed, because of his oaths and the guests he did not want to refuse her.
27
The king immediately sent for an executioner and commanded him to bring John's head. So he went and beheaded him in prison,
28
brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother.
29
When John's disciples heard about it, they came and removed his corpse and placed it in a tomb.
30
The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all that they had done and taught.
31
He said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a remote place and rest for a while." For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.
32
So they went away in the boat by themselves to a remote place,
33
but many saw them leaving and recognized them, and they ran on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them.
34
When he went ashore, he saw a large crowd and had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Then he began to teach them many things.
35
When it grew late, his disciples approached him and said, "This place is deserted, and it is already late.
36
Send them away so that they can go into the surrounding countryside and villages to buy themselves something to eat."
37
"You give them something to eat," he responded.They said to him, "Should we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat? "
38
He asked them, "How many loaves do you have? Go and see."When they found out they said, "Five, and two fish."
39
Then he instructed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass.
40
So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties.
41
He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke the loaves. He kept giving them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all.
42
Everyone ate and was satisfied.
43
They picked up twelve baskets full of pieces of bread and fish.
44
Now those who had eaten the loaves were five thousand men.
45
Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.
46
After he said good-bye to them, he went away to the mountain to pray.
47
Well into the night, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and he was alone on the land.
48
He saw them straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Very early in the morning he came toward them walking on the sea and wanted to pass by them.
49
When they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out,
50
because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke with them and said, "Have courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."
51
Then he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. They were completely astounded,
52
because they had not understood about the loaves. Instead, their hearts were hardened.
53
When they had crossed over, they came to shore at Gennesaret and anchored there.
54
As they got out of the boat, people immediately recognized him.
55
They hurried throughout that region and began to carry the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was.
56
Wherever he went, into villages, towns, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch just the end of his robe. And everyone who touched it was healed.
Chapter 7
1 The Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him. 2 They observed that some of his disciples were eating bread with unclean--that is, unwashed--hands. 3 (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, keeping the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they have washed. And there are many other customs they have received and keep, like the washing of cups, pitchers, kettles, and dining couches. ) 5 So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, "Why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders, instead of eating bread with ceremonially unclean hands? "
6
He answered them, "Isaiah prophesied correctly about 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 human commands.
8
Abandoning the command of God, you hold on to human tradition."
9
He also said to them, "You have a fine way of invalidating God's command in order to set up your tradition!
10
For Moses said: Honor your father and your mother; and Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must be put to death.
11
But you say, 'If anyone tells his father or mother: Whatever benefit you might have received from me is corban' " (that is, an offering devoted to God),
12
"you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother.
13
You nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many other similar things."
14
Summoning the crowd again, he told them, "Listen to me, all of you, and understand:
15
Nothing that goes into a person from outside can defile him but the things that come out of a person are what defile him."
16
17
When he went into the house away from the crowd, his disciples asked him about the parable.
18
He said to them, "Are you also as lacking in understanding? Don't you realize that nothing going into a person from the outside can defile him?
19
For it doesn't go into his heart but into the stomach and is eliminated" (thus he declared all foods clean ).
20
And he said, "What comes out of a person is what defiles him.
21
For from within, out of people's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immoralities, thefts, murders,
22
adulteries, greed, evil actions, deceit, self-indulgence, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness.
23
All these evil things come from within and defile a person."
24
He got up and departed from there to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it, but he could not escape notice.
25
Instead, immediately after hearing about him, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit came and fell at his feet.
26
The woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth, and she was asking him to cast the demon out of her daughter.
27
He said to her, "Let the children be fed first, because it isn't right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."
28
But she replied to him, "Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs."
29
Then he told her, "Because of this reply, you may go. The demon has left your daughter."
30
When she went back to her home, she found her child lying on the bed, and the demon was gone.
31
Again, leaving the region of Tyre, he went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, through the region of the Decapolis.
32
They brought to him a deaf man who had difficulty speaking and begged Jesus to lay his hand on him.
33
So he took him away from the crowd in private. After putting his fingers in the man's ears and spitting, he touched his tongue.
34
Looking up to heaven, he sighed deeply and said to him, "Ephphatha! " (that is, "Be opened! ").
35
Immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was loosened, and he began to speak clearly.
36
He ordered them to tell no one, but the more he ordered them, the more they proclaimed it.
37
They were extremely astonished and said, "He has done everything well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak."
Chapter 8
1 In those days there was again a large crowd, and they had nothing to eat. He called the disciples and said to them, 2 "I have compassion on the crowd, because they've already stayed with me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a long distance."
4
His disciples answered him, "Where can anyone get enough bread here in this desolate place to feed these people? "
5
"How many loaves do you have? " he asked them."Seven," they said.
6
He commanded the crowd to sit down on the ground. Taking the seven loaves, he gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people. So they served them to the crowd.
7
They also had a few small fish, and after he had blessed them, he said these were to be served as well.
8
They ate and were satisfied. Then they collected seven large baskets of leftover pieces.
9
About four thousand were there. He dismissed them.
10
And he immediately got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.
11
The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, demanding of him a sign from heaven to test him.
12
Sighing deeply in his spirit, he said, "Why does this generation demand a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation."
13
Then he left them, got back into the boat, and went to the other side.
14
The disciples had forgotten to take bread and had only one loaf with them in the boat.
15
Then he gave them strict orders: "Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod."
16
They were discussing among themselves that they did not have any bread.
17
Aware of this, he said to them, "Why are you discussing the fact you have no bread? Don't you understand or comprehend? Do you have hardened hearts?
18
Do you have eyes and not see; do you have ears and not hear? And do you not remember?
19
When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of leftovers did you collect? ""Twelve," they told him.
20
"When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many baskets full of pieces did you collect? ""Seven," they said.
21
And he said to them, "Don't you understand yet? "
22
They came to Bethsaida. They brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him.
23
He took the blind man by the hand and brought him out of the village. Spitting on his eyes and laying his hands on him, he asked him, "Do you see anything? "
24
He looked up and said, "I see people--they look like trees walking."
25
Again Jesus placed his hands on the man's eyes. The man looked intently and his sight was restored and he saw everything clearly.
26
Then he sent him home, saying, "Don't even go into the village."
27
Jesus went out with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the road he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am? "
28
They answered him, "John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, one of the prophets."
29
"But you," he asked them, "who do you say that I am? "Peter answered him, "You are the Messiah."
30
And he strictly warned them to tell no one about him.
31
Then he began to teach them that it was necessary for the Son of Man to suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and rise after three days.
32
He spoke openly about this. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
33
But turning around and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan! You are not thinking about God's concerns but human concerns."
34
Calling the crowd along with his disciples, he said to them, "If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.
35
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me and the gospel will save it.
36
For what does it benefit someone to gain the whole world and yet lose his life?
37
What can anyone give in exchange for his life?
38
For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."
Chapter 9
1 Then he said to them, "Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God come in power."
2
After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain by themselves to be alone. He was transfigured in front of them,
3
and his clothes became dazzling--extremely white as no launderer on earth could whiten them.
4
Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.
5
Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it's good for us to be here. Let's set up three shelters: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah"--
6
because he did not know what to say, since they were terrified.
7
A cloud appeared, overshadowing them, and a voice came from the cloud: "This is my beloved Son; listen to him! "
8
Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.
9
As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
10
They kept this word to themselves, questioning what "rising from the dead" meant.
11
Then they asked him, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first? "
12
"Elijah does come first and restores all things," he replied. "Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be treated with contempt?
13
But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did whatever they pleased to him, just as it is written about him."
14
When they came to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes disputing with them.
15
When the whole crowd saw him, they were amazed and ran to greet him.
16
He asked them, "What are you arguing with them about? "
17
Someone from the crowd answered him, "Teacher, I brought my son to you. He has a spirit that makes him unable to speak.
18
Whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn't."
19
He replied to them, "You unbelieving generation, how long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to me."
20
So they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, it immediately threw the boy into convulsions. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.
21
"How long has this been happening to him? " Jesus asked his father."From childhood," he said.
22
"And many times it has thrown him into fire or 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'? Everything is possible for the one who believes."
24
Immediately the father of the boy cried out, "I do believe; help my unbelief! "
25
When Jesus saw that a crowd was quickly gathering, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You mute and deaf spirit, I command you: Come out of him and never enter him again."
26
Then it came out, shrieking and throwing him into terrible convulsions. The boy became like a corpse, so that many said, "He's dead."
27
But Jesus, taking him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up.
28
After he had gone into the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we drive it out? "
29
And he told them, "This kind can come out by nothing but prayer."
30
Then they left that place and made their way through Galilee, but he did not want anyone to know it.
31
For he was teaching his disciples and telling them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after he is killed, he will rise three days later."
32
But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask him.
33
They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the way? "
34
But they were silent, because on the way they had been arguing with one another about who was the greatest.
35
Sitting down, he called the Twelve and said to them, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be last and servant of all."
36
He took a child, had him stand among them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them,
37
"Whoever welcomes one little child such as this in my name welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me does not welcome me, but him who sent me."
38
John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he wasn't following us."
39
"Don't stop him," said Jesus, "because there is no one who will perform a miracle in my name who can soon afterward speak evil of me.
40
For whoever is not against us is for us.
41
And whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you belong to Christ--truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.
42
"But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall away--it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.
43
"And if your hand causes you to fall away, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and go to hell, the unquenchable fire.
44
45
And if your foot causes you to fall away, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.
46
47
And if your eye causes you to fall away, gouge it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,
48
where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.
49
For everyone will be salted with fire.
50
Salt is good, but if the salt should lose its flavor, how can you season it? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with one another."
Chapter 10
1 He set out from there and went to the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Then crowds converged on him again, and as was his custom he taught them again.
2
Some Pharisees came to test him, asking, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife? "
3
He replied to them, "What did Moses command you? "
4
They said, "Moses permitted us to write divorce papers and send her away."
5
But Jesus told them, "He wrote this command for you because of the hardness of your hearts.
6
But from the beginning of creation God made them male and female.
7
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother
8
and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh.
9
Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate."
10
When they were in the house again, the disciples questioned him about this matter.
11
He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her.
12
Also, if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."
13
People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them.
14
When Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, "Let the little children come to me. Don't stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
15
Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
16
After taking them in his arms, he laid his hands on them and blessed them.
17
As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? "
18
"Why do you call me good? " Jesus asked him. "No one is good except God alone.
19
You know the commandments: Do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness; do not defraud; honor your father and mother."
20
He said to him, "Teacher, I have kept all these from my youth."
21
Looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, "You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
22
But he was dismayed by this demand, and he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.
23
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! "
24
The disciples were astonished at his words. Again Jesus said to them, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!
25
It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."
26
They were even more astonished, saying to one another, "Then who can be saved? "
27
Looking at them, Jesus said, "With man it is impossible, but not with God, because all things are possible with God."
28
Peter began to tell him, "Look, we have left everything and followed you."
29
"Truly I tell you," Jesus said, "there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the gospel,
30
who will not receive a hundred times more, now at this time--houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions--and eternal life in the age to come.
31
But many who are first will be last, and the last first."
32
They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were astonished, but those who followed him were afraid. Taking the Twelve aside again, he began to tell them the things that would happen to him.
33
"See, we are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death. Then they will hand him over to the Gentiles,
34
and they will mock him, spit on him, flog him, and kill him, and he will rise after three days."
35
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached him and said, "Teacher, we want you to do whatever we ask you."
36
"What do you want me to do for you? " he asked them.
37
They answered him, "Allow us to sit at your right and at your left in your glory."
38
Jesus said to them, "You don't know what you're asking. Are you able to drink the cup I drink or to be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with? "
39
"We are able," they told him.Jesus said to them, "You will drink the cup I drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with.
40
But to sit at my right or left is not mine to give; instead, it is for those for whom it has been prepared."
41
When the ten disciples heard this, they began to be indignant with James and John.
42
Jesus called them over and said to them, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them.
43
But it is not so among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant,
44
and whoever wants to be first among you will be a slave to all.
45
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
46
They came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus (the son of Timaeus), a blind beggar, was sitting by the road.
47
When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! "
48
Many warned him to keep quiet, but he was crying out all the more, "Have mercy on me, Son of David! "
49
Jesus stopped and said, "Call him."So they called the blind man and said to him, "Have courage! Get up; he's calling for you."
50
He threw off his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.
51
Then Jesus answered him, "What do you want me to do for you? ""Rabboni," the blind man said to him, "I want to see."
52
Jesus said to him, "Go, your faith has saved you." Immediately he could see and began to follow Jesus on the road.
New Living Translation
Chapter 6
1 Jesus left that part of the country and returned with his disciples to Nazareth, his hometown. 2 The next Sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. They asked, 'Where did he get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?' 3 Then they scoffed, 'He's just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.' They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.
4
Then Jesus told them, 'A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.'
5
And because of their unbelief, he couldn't do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them.
6
And he was amazed at their unbelief. Then Jesus went from village to village, teaching the people.
7
And he called his twelve disciples together and began sending them out two by two, giving them authority to cast out evil spirits.
8
He told them to take nothing for their journey except a walking stick--no food, no traveler's bag, no money.
9
He allowed them to wear sandals but not to take a change of clothes.
10
'Wherever you go,' he said, 'stay in the same house until you leave town.
11
But if any place refuses to welcome you or listen to you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate.'
12
So the disciples went out, telling everyone they met to repent of their sins and turn to God.
13
And they cast out many demons and healed many sick people, anointing them with olive oil.
14
Herod Antipas, the king, soon heard about Jesus, because everyone was talking about him. Some were saying, 'This must be John the Baptist raised from the dead. That is why he can do such miracles.'
15
Others said, 'He's the prophet Elijah.' Still others said, 'He's a prophet like the other great prophets of the past.'
16
When Herod heard about Jesus, he said, 'John, the man I beheaded, has come back from the dead.'
17
For Herod had sent soldiers to arrest and imprison John as a favor to Herodias. She had been his brother Philip's wife, but Herod had married her.
18
John had been telling Herod, 'It is against God's law for you to marry your brother's wife.'
19
So Herodias bore a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But without Herod's approval she was powerless,
20
for Herod respected John; and knowing that he was a good and holy man, he protected him. Herod was greatly disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so, he liked to listen to him.
21
Herodias's chance finally came on Herod's birthday. He gave a party for his high government officials, army officers, and the leading citizens of Galilee.
22
Then his daughter, also named Herodias, came in and performed a dance that greatly pleased Herod and his guests. 'Ask me for anything you like,' the king said to the girl, 'and I will give it to you.'
23
He even vowed, 'I will give you whatever you ask, up to half my kingdom!'
24
She went out and asked her mother, 'What should I ask for?' Her mother told her, 'Ask for the head of John the Baptist!'
25
So the girl hurried back to the king and told him, 'I want the head of John the Baptist, right now, on a tray!'
26
Then the king deeply regretted what he had said; but because of the vows he had made in front of his guests, he couldn't refuse her.
27
So he immediately sent an executioner to the prison to cut off John's head and bring it to him. The soldier beheaded John in the prison,
28
brought his head on a tray, and gave it to the girl, who took it to her mother.
29
When John's disciples heard what had happened, they came to get his body and buried it in a tomb.
30
The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught.
31
Then Jesus said, 'Let's go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.' He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn't even have time to eat.
32
So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone.
33
But many people recognized them and saw them leaving, and people from many towns ran ahead along the shore and got there ahead of them.
34
Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
35
Late in the afternoon his disciples came to him and said, 'This is a remote place, and it's already getting late.
36
Send the crowds away so they can go to the nearby farms and villages and buy something to eat.'
37
But Jesus said, 'You feed them.' 'With what?' they asked. 'We'd have to work for months to earn enough money to buy food for all these people!'
38
'How much bread do you have?' he asked. 'Go and find out.' They came back and reported, 'We have five loaves of bread and two fish.'
39
Then Jesus told the disciples to have the people sit down in groups on the green grass.
40
So they sat down in groups of fifty or a hundred.
41
Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. He also divided the fish for everyone to share.
42
They all ate as much as they wanted,
43
and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftover bread and fish.
44
A total of 5,000 men and their families were fed from those loaves!
45
Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and head across the lake to Bethsaida, while he sent the people home.
46
After telling everyone good-bye, he went up into the hills by himself to pray.
47
Late that night, the disciples were in their boat in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on land.
48
He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves. About three o'clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. He intended to go past them,
49
but when they saw him walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost.
50
They were all terrified when they saw him. But Jesus spoke to them at once. 'Don't be afraid,' he said. 'Take courage! I am here!'
51
Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were totally amazed,
52
for they still didn't understand the significance of the miracle of the loaves. Their hearts were too hard to take it in.
53
After they had crossed the lake, they landed at Gennesaret. They brought the boat to shore
54
and climbed out. The people recognized Jesus at once,
55
and they ran throughout the whole area, carrying sick people on mats to wherever they heard he was.
56
Wherever he went--in villages, cities, or the countryside--they brought the sick out to the marketplaces. They begged him to let the sick touch at least the fringe of his robe, and all who touched him were healed.
Chapter 7
1 One day some Pharisees and teachers of religious law arrived from Jerusalem to see Jesus. 2 They noticed that some of his disciples failed to follow the Jewish ritual of hand washing before eating. 3 (The Jews, especially the Pharisees, do not eat until they have poured water over their cupped hands, as required by their ancient traditions. 4 Similarly, they don't eat anything from the market until they immerse their hands in water. This is but one of many traditions they have clung to--such as their ceremonial washing of cups, pitchers, and kettles.)
5
So the Pharisees and teachers of religious law asked him, 'Why don't your disciples follow our age-old tradition? They eat without first performing the hand-washing ceremony.'
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Jesus replied, 'You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
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Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.'
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For you ignore God's law and substitute your own tradition.'
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Then he said, 'You skillfully sidestep God's law in order to hold on to your own tradition.
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For instance, Moses gave you this law from God: 'Honor your father and mother,' and 'Anyone who speaks disrespectfully of father or mother must be put to death.'
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But you say it is all right for people to say to their parents, 'Sorry, I can't help you. For I have vowed to give to God what I would have given to you.'
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In this way, you let them disregard their needy parents.
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And so you cancel the word of God in order to hand down your own tradition. And this is only one example among many others.'
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Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear. 'All of you listen,' he said, 'and try to understand.
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It's not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart.'
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Then Jesus went into a house to get away from the crowd, and his disciples asked him what he meant by the parable he had just used.
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'Don't you understand either?' he asked. 'Can't you see that the food you put into your body cannot defile you?
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Food doesn't go into your heart, but only passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer.' (By saying this, he declared that every kind of food is acceptable in God's eyes.)
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And then he added, 'It is what comes from inside that defiles you.
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For from within, out of a person's heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder,
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adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness.
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All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.'
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Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre. He didn't want anyone to know which house he was staying in, but he couldn't keep it a secret.
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Right away a woman who had heard about him came and fell at his feet. Her little girl was possessed by an evil spirit,
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and she begged him to cast out the demon from her daughter. Since she was a Gentile, born in Syrian Phoenicia,
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Jesus told her, 'First I should feed the children--my own family, the Jews. It isn't right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.'
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She replied, 'That's true, Lord, but even the dogs under the table are allowed to eat the scraps from the children's plates.'
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'Good answer!' he said. 'Now go home, for the demon has left your daughter.'
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And when she arrived home, she found her little girl lying quietly in bed, and the demon was gone.
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Jesus left Tyre and went up to Sidon before going back to the Sea of Galilee and the region of the Ten Towns.
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A deaf man with a speech impediment was brought to him, and the people begged Jesus to lay his hands on the man to heal him.
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Jesus led him away from the crowd so they could be alone. He put his fingers into the man's ears. Then, spitting on his own fingers, he touched the man's tongue.
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Looking up to heaven, he sighed and said, 'Ephphatha,' which means, 'Be opened!'
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Instantly the man could hear perfectly, and his tongue was freed so he could speak plainly!
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Jesus told the crowd not to tell anyone, but the more he told them not to, the more they spread the news.
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They were completely amazed and said again and again, 'Everything he does is wonderful. He even makes the deaf to hear and gives speech to those who cannot speak.'
Chapter 8
1 About this time another large crowd had gathered, and the people ran out of food again. Jesus called his disciples and told them, 2 'I feel sorry for these people. They have been here with me for three days, and they have nothing left to eat. 3 If I send them home hungry, they will faint along the way. For some of them have come a long distance.'
4
His disciples replied, 'How are we supposed to find enough food to feed them out here in the wilderness?'
5
Jesus asked, 'How much bread do you have?' 'Seven loaves,' they replied.
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So Jesus told all the people to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves, thanked God for them, and broke them into pieces. He gave them to his disciples, who distributed the bread to the crowd.
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A few small fish were found, too, so Jesus also blessed these and told the disciples to distribute them.
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They ate as much as they wanted. Afterward, the disciples picked up seven large baskets of leftover food.
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There were about 4,000 people in the crowd that day, and Jesus sent them home after they had eaten.
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Immediately after this, he got into a boat with his disciples and crossed over to the region of Dalmanutha.
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When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had arrived, they came and started to argue with him. Testing him, they demanded that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority.
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When he heard this, he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, 'Why do these people keep demanding a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, I will not give this generation any such sign.'
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So he got back into the boat and left them, and he crossed to the other side of the lake.
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But the disciples had forgotten to bring any food. They had only one loaf of bread with them in the boat.
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As they were crossing the lake, Jesus warned them, 'Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod.'
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At this they began to argue with each other because they hadn't brought any bread.
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Jesus knew what they were saying, so he said, 'Why are you arguing about having no bread? Don't you know or understand even yet? Are your hearts too hard to take it in?
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'You have eyes--can't you see? You have ears--can't you hear?' Don't you remember anything at all?
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When I fed the 5,000 with five loaves of bread, how many baskets of leftovers did you pick up afterward?' 'Twelve,' they said.
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'And when I fed the 4,000 with seven loaves, how many large baskets of leftovers did you pick up?' 'Seven,' they said.
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'Don't you understand yet?' he asked them.
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When they arrived at Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man to Jesus, and they begged him to touch the man and heal him.
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Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. Then, spitting on the man's eyes, he laid his hands on him and asked, 'Can you see anything now?'
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The man looked around. 'Yes,' he said, 'I see people, but I can't see them very clearly. They look like trees walking around.'
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Then Jesus placed his hands on the man's eyes again, and his eyes were opened. His sight was completely restored, and he could see everything clearly.
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Jesus sent him away, saying, 'Don't go back into the village on your way home.'
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Jesus and his disciples left Galilee and went up to the villages near Caesarea Philippi. As they were walking along, he asked them, 'Who do people say I am?'
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'Well,' they replied, 'some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other prophets.'
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Then he asked them, 'But who do you say I am?' Peter replied, 'You are the Messiah.'
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But Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.
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Then Jesus began to tell them that the Son of Man must suffer many terrible things and be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but three days later he would rise from the dead.
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As he talked about this openly with his disciples, Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things.
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Jesus turned around and looked at his disciples, then reprimanded Peter. 'Get away from me, Satan!' he said. 'You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God's.'
34
Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, 'If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.
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If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.
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And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?
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Is anything worth more than your soul?
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If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.'
Chapter 9
1 Jesus went on to say, 'I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Kingdom of God arrive in great power!'
2
Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus' appearance was transformed,
3
and his clothes became dazzling white, far whiter than any earthly bleach could ever make them.
4
Then Elijah and Moses appeared and began talking with Jesus.
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Peter exclaimed, 'Rabbi, it's wonderful for us to be here! Let's make three shelters as memorials--one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.'
6
He said this because he didn't really know what else to say, for they were all terrified.
7
Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, 'This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him.'
8
Suddenly, when they looked around, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus with them.
9
As they went back down the mountain, he told them not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
10
So they kept it to themselves, but they often asked each other what he meant by 'rising from the dead.'
11
Then they asked him, 'Why do the teachers of religious law insist that Elijah must return before the Messiah comes?'
12
Jesus responded, 'Elijah is indeed coming first to get everything ready. Yet why do the Scriptures say that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be treated with utter contempt?
13
But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they chose to abuse him, just as the Scriptures predicted.'
14
When they returned to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd surrounding them, and some teachers of religious law were arguing with them.
15
When the crowd saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with awe, and they ran to greet him.
16
'What is all this arguing about?' Jesus asked.
17
One of the men in the crowd spoke up and said, 'Teacher, I brought my son so you could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won't let him talk.
18
And whenever this spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn't do it.'
19
Jesus said to them, 'You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.'
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So they brought the boy. But when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth.
21
'How long has this been happening?' Jesus asked the boy's father. He replied, 'Since he was a little boy.
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The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.'
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'What do you mean, 'If I can'?' Jesus asked. 'Anything is possible if a person believes.'
24
The father instantly cried out, 'I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!'
25
When Jesus saw that the crowd of onlookers was growing, he rebuked the evil spirit. 'Listen, you spirit that makes this boy unable to hear and speak,' he said. 'I command you to come out of this child and never enter him again!'
26
Then the spirit screamed and threw the boy into another violent convulsion and left him. The boy appeared to be dead. A murmur ran through the crowd as people said, 'He's dead.'
27
But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up.
28
Afterward, when Jesus was alone in the house with his disciples, they asked him, 'Why couldn't we cast out that evil spirit?'
29
Jesus replied, 'This kind can be cast out only by prayer.'
30
Leaving that region, they traveled through Galilee. Jesus didn't want anyone to know he was there,
31
for he wanted to spend more time with his disciples and teach them. He said to them, 'The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies. He will be killed, but three days later he will rise from the dead.'
32
They didn't understand what he was saying, however, and they were afraid to ask him what he meant.
33
After they arrived at Capernaum and settled in a house, Jesus asked his disciples, 'What were you discussing out on the road?'
34
But they didn't answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest.
35
He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, 'Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.'
36
Then he put a little child among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them,
37
'Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me.'
38
John said to Jesus, 'Teacher, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he wasn't in our group.'
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'Don't stop him!' Jesus said. 'No one who performs a miracle in my name will soon be able to speak evil of me.
40
Anyone who is not against us is for us.
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If anyone gives you even a cup of water because you belong to the Messiah, I tell you the truth, that person will surely be rewarded.
42
'But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone hung around your neck.
43
If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It's better to enter eternal life with only one hand than to go into the unquenchable fires of hell with two hands.
44
45
If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It's better to enter eternal life with only one foot than to be thrown into hell with two feet.
46
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And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out. It's better to enter the Kingdom of God with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,
48
'where the maggots never die and the fire never goes out.'
49
'For everyone will be tested with fire.
50
Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? You must have the qualities of salt among yourselves and live in peace with each other.'
Chapter 10
1 Then Jesus left Capernaum and went down to the region of Judea and into the area east of the Jordan River. Once again crowds gathered around him, and as usual he was teaching them.
2
Some Pharisees came and tried to trap him with this question: 'Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife?'
3
Jesus answered them with a question: 'What did Moses say in the law about divorce?'
4
'Well, he permitted it,' they replied. 'He said a man can give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away.'
5
But Jesus responded, 'He wrote this commandment only as a concession to your hard hearts.
6
But 'God made them male and female' from the beginning of creation.
7
'This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife,
8
and the two are united into one.' Since they are no longer two but one,
9
let no one split apart what God has joined together.'
10
Later, when he was alone with his disciples in the house, they brought up the subject again.
11
He told them, 'Whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery against her.
12
And if a woman divorces her husband and marries someone else, she commits adultery.'
13
One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.
14
When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, 'Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children.
15
I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn't receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.'
16
Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.
17
As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, 'Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?'
18
'Why do you call me good?' Jesus asked. 'Only God is truly good.
19
But to answer your question, you know the commandments: 'You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.''
20
'Teacher,' the man replied, 'I've obeyed all these commandments since I was young.'
21
Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. 'There is still one thing you haven't done,' he told him. 'Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.'
22
At this the man's face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
23
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, 'How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!'
24
This amazed them. But Jesus said again, 'Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God.
25
In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!'
26
The disciples were astounded. 'Then who in the world can be saved?' they asked.
27
Jesus looked at them intently and said, 'Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.'
28
Then Peter began to speak up. 'We've given up everything to follow you,' he said.
29
'Yes,' Jesus replied, 'and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News,
30
will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property--along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life.
31
But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.'
32
They were now on the way up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were filled with awe, and the people following behind were overwhelmed with fear. Taking the twelve disciples aside, Jesus once more began to describe everything that was about to happen to him.
33
'Listen,' he said, 'we're going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die and hand him over to the Romans.
34
They will mock him, spit on him, flog him with a whip, and kill him, but after three days he will rise again.'
35
Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came over and spoke to him. 'Teacher,' they said, 'we want you to do us a favor.'
36
'What is your request?' he asked.
37
They replied, 'When you sit on your glorious throne, we want to sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.'
38
But Jesus said to them, 'You don't know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink? Are you able to be baptized with the baptism of suffering I must be baptized with?'
39
'Oh yes,' they replied, 'we are able!' Then Jesus told them, 'You will indeed drink from my bitter cup and be baptized with my baptism of suffering.
40
But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. God has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen.'
41
When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant.
42
So Jesus called them together and said, 'You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them.
43
But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant,
44
and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else.
45
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
46
Then they reached Jericho, and as Jesus and his disciples left town, a large crowd followed him. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road.
47
When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, 'Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!'
48
'Be quiet!' many of the people yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, 'Son of David, have mercy on me!'
49
When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, 'Tell him to come here.' So they called the blind man. 'Cheer up,' they said. 'Come on, he's calling you!'
50
Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.
51
'What do you want me to do for you?' Jesus asked. 'My rabbi,' the blind man said, 'I want to see!'
52
And Jesus said to him, 'Go, for your faith has healed you.' Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.
English Standard Version
Chapter 6
1 He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 2 And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. 4 And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” 5 And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching.
7
And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.
8
He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts—
9
but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics.
10
And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there.
11
And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.”
12
So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent.
13
And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.
14
King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.”
15
But others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.”
16
But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”
17
For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her.
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For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
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And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not,
20
for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.
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But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.
22
For when Herodias’s daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.”
23
And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.”
24
And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.”
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And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”
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And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her.
27
And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison
28
and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother.
29
When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
30
The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught.
31
And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.
32
And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves.
33
Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them.
34
When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.
35
And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late.
36
Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”
37
But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?”
38
And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.”
39
Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass.
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So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties.
41
And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all.
42
And they all ate and were satisfied.
43
And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish.
44
And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.
45
Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.
46
And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray.
47
And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land.
48
And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them,
49
but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out,
50
for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”
51
And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded,
52
for they did not understand 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
And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized him
55
and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was.
56
And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.
Chapter 7
1 Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, 2 they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. 3 (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands properly, holding to the tradition of the elders, 4 and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.) 5 And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” 6 And he said to 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
in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’
8
You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”
9
And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition!
10
For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’
11
But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban”’ (that is, given to God)—
12
then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother,
13
thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”
14
And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand:
15
There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.”
16
17
And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable.
18
And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him,
19
since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.)
20
And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him.
21
For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,
22
coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.
23
All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
24
And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden.
25
But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet.
26
Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter.
27
And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right 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
And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.”
30
And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.
31
Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis.
32
And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him.
33
And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue.
34
And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.”
35
And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly.
36
And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it.
37
And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
Chapter 8
1 In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, he called his disciples to him and said to them, 2 “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. 3 And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away.” 4 And his disciples answered him, “How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?” 5 And he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven.” 6 And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd. 7 And they had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them. 8 And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. 9 And there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away. 10 And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.
11
The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him.
12
And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.”
13
And he left them, got into the boat again, and went to the other side.
14
Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat.
15
And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”
16
And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread.
17
And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened?
18
Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember?
19
When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.”
20
“And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.”
21
And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”
22
And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him.
23
And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?”
24
And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.”
25
Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.
26
And he sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”
27
And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?”
28
And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.”
29
And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.”
30
And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.
31
And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.
32
And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
33
But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
34
And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
35
For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.
36
For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?
37
For what can a man give in return for his soul?
38
For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
Chapter 9
1 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”
2
And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them,
3
and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them.
4
And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.
5
And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
6
For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified.
7
And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.”
8
And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.
9
And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
10
So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean.
11
And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?”
12
And he said to them, “Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt?
13
But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.”
14
And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them.
15
And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him.
16
And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?”
17
And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute.
18
And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.”
19
And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.”
20
And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth.
21
And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood.
22
And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
23
And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”
24
Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”
25
And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”
26
And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.”
27
But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.
28
And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”
29
And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”
30
They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know,
31
for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.”
32
But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.
33
And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?”
34
But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.
35
And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”
36
And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them,
37
“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”
38
John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.”
39
But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me.
40
For the one who is not against us is for us.
41
For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.
42
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.
43
And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.
44
45
And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell.
46
47
And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell,
48
‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’
49
For everyone will be salted with fire.
50
Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
Chapter 10
1 And he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds gathered to him again. And again, as was his custom, he taught them.
2
And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”
3
He answered them, “What did Moses command you?”
4
They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.”
5
And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.
6
But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’
7
‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife,
8
and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh.
9
What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”
10
And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter.
11
And he said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her,
12
and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”
13
And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them.
14
But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.
15
Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
16
And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.
17
And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
18
And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.
19
You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’”
20
And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.”
21
And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
22
Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
23
And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”
24
And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God!
25
It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
26
And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?”
27
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”
28
Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.”
29
Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel,
30
who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.
31
But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
32
And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him,
33
saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles.
34
And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.”
35
And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.”
36
And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?”
37
And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.”
38
Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?”
39
And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized,
40
but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”
41
And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John.
42
And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.
43
But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,
44
and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.
45
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
46
And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside.
47
And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
48
And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
49
And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.”
50
And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus.
51
And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.”
52
And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.
New International Version
Chapter 6
1 Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples.
2
When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. 'Where did this man get these things?' they asked. 'What's this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing?
3
Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?' And they took offense at him.
4
Jesus said to them, 'A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.'
5
He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.
6
He was amazed at their lack of faith. Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village.
7
Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.
8
These were his instructions: 'Take nothing for the journey except a staff--no bread, no bag, no money in your belts.
9
Wear sandals but not an extra shirt.
10
Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town.
11
And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.'
12
They went out and preached that people should repent.
13
They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.
14
King Herod heard about this, for Jesus' name had become well known. Some were saying, 'John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.'
15
Others said, 'He is Elijah.' And still others claimed, 'He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.'
16
But when Herod heard this, he said, 'John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!'
17
For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, whom he had married.
18
For John had been saying to Herod, 'It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife.'
19
So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to,
20
because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him.
21
Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.
22
When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, 'Ask me for anything you want, and I'll give it to you.'
23
And he promised her with an oath, 'Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.'
24
She went out and said to her mother, 'What shall I ask for?' 'The head of John the Baptist,' she answered.
25
At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: 'I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.'
26
The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her.
27
So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison,
28
and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother.
29
On hearing of this, John's disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
30
The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught.
31
Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, 'Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.'
32
So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.
33
But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them.
34
When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
35
By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. 'This is a remote place,' they said, 'and it's already very late.
36
Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.'
37
But he answered, 'You give them something to eat.' They said to him, 'That would take more than half a year's wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?'
38
How many loaves do you have?' he asked. 'Go and see.' When they found out, they said, 'Five--and two fish.'
39
Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass.
40
So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties.
41
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 his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all.
42
They all ate and were satisfied,
43
and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish.
44
The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.
45
Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.
46
After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.
47
Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land.
48
He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them,
49
but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out,
50
because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, 'Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid.'
51
Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed,
52
for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.
53
When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there.
54
As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus.
55
They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was.
56
And wherever he went--into villages, towns or countryside--they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.
Chapter 7
1 The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus 2 and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. 3 (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.)
5
So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, 'Why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?'
6
He replied, 'Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: ''These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
7
They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.'
8
You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.'
9
And he continued, 'You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!
10
For Moses said, 'Honor your father and mother,' and, 'Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.'
11
But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God)--
12
then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother.
13
Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.'
14
Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, 'Listen to me, everyone, and understand this.
15
Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.'
16
17
After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable.
18
Are you so dull?' he asked. 'Don't you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them?
19
For it doesn't go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.' (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.)
20
He went on: 'What comes out of a person is what defiles them.
21
For it is from within, out of a person's heart, that evil thoughts come--sexual immorality, theft, murder,
22
adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.
23
All these evils come from inside and defile a person.'
24
Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret.
25
In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit came and fell at his feet.
26
The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.
27
First let the children eat all they want,' he told her, 'for it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs.'
28
Lord,' she replied, 'even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.'
29
Then he told her, 'For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.'
30
She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.
31
Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis.
32
There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him.
33
After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man's ears. Then he spit and touched the man's tongue.
34
He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, 'Ephphatha!' (which means 'Be opened!').
35
At this, the man's ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.
36
Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it.
37
People were overwhelmed with amazement. 'He has done everything well,' they said. 'He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.'
Chapter 8
1 During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, 2 I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.'
4
His disciples answered, 'But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?'
5
How many loaves do you have?' Jesus asked. 'Seven,' they replied.
6
He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people, and they did so.
7
They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them.
8
The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
9
About four thousand were present. After he had sent them away,
10
he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha.
11
The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven.
12
He sighed deeply and said, 'Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it.'
13
Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side.
14
The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat.
15
Be careful,' Jesus warned them. 'Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.'
16
They discussed this with one another and said, 'It is because we have no bread.'
17
Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: 'Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened?
18
Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don't you remember?
19
When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?' 'Twelve,' they replied.
20
And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?' They answered, 'Seven.'
21
He said to them, 'Do you still not understand?'
22
They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him.
23
He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man's eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, 'Do you see anything?'
24
He looked up and said, 'I see people; they look like trees walking around.'
25
Once more Jesus put his hands on the man's eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.
26
Jesus sent him home, saying, 'Don't even go into the village.'
27
Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, 'Who do people say I am?'
28
They replied, 'Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.'
29
But what about you?' he asked. 'Who do you say I am?' Peter answered, 'You are the Messiah.'
30
Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.
31
He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.
32
He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
33
But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. 'Get behind me, Satan!' he said. 'You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.'
34
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
35
For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.
36
What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?
37
Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?
38
If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels.'
Chapter 9
1 And he said to them, 'Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.'
2
After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them.
3
His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.
4
And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.
5
Peter said to Jesus, 'Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters--one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.'
6
(He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)
7
Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: 'This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!'
8
Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.
9
As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
10
They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what 'rising from the dead' meant.
11
And they asked him, 'Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?'
12
Jesus replied, 'To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected?
13
But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him.'
14
When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them.
15
As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.
16
What are you arguing with them about?' he asked.
17
A man in the crowd answered, 'Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech.
18
Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.'
19
You unbelieving generation,' Jesus replied, 'how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.'
20
So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.
21
Jesus asked the boy's father, 'How long has he been like this?' 'From childhood,' he answered.
22
It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.'
23
'If you can'?' said Jesus. 'Everything is possible for one who believes.'
24
Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, 'I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!'
25
When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. 'You deaf and mute spirit,' he said, 'I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.'
26
The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, 'He's dead.'
27
But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.
28
After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, 'Why couldn't we drive it out?'
29
He replied, 'This kind can come out only by prayer.'
30
They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were,
31
because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, 'The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.'
32
But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.
33
They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, 'What were you arguing about on the road?'
34
But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.
35
Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, 'Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.'
36
He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them,
37
Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.'
38
Teacher,' said John, 'we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.'
39
Do not stop him,' Jesus said. 'For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me,
40
for whoever is not against us is for us.
41
Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.
42
If anyone causes one of these little ones--those who believe in me--to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.
43
If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out.
44
45
And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.
46
47
And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,
48
where ''the worms that eat them do not die, and the fire is not quenched.'
49
Everyone will be salted with fire.
50
Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.'
Chapter 10
1 Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them.
2
Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, 'Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?'
3
What did Moses command you?' he replied.
4
They said, 'Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.'
5
It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,' Jesus replied.
6
But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.'
7
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,
8
and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one flesh.
9
Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.'
10
When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this.
11
He answered, 'Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her.
12
And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.'
13
People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them.
14
When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
15
Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.'
16
And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.
17
As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. 'Good teacher,' he asked, 'what must I do to inherit eternal life?'
18
Why do you call me good?' Jesus answered. 'No one is good--except God alone.
19
You know the commandments: 'You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.''
20
Teacher,' he declared, 'all these I have kept since I was a boy.'
21
Jesus looked at him and loved him. 'One thing you lack,' he said. 'Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.'
22
At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
23
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, 'How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!'
24
The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, 'Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!
25
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.'
26
The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, 'Who then can be saved?'
27
Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.'
28
Then Peter spoke up, 'We have left everything to follow you!'
29
Truly I tell you,' Jesus replied, 'no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel
30
will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields--along 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 their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him.
33
We are going up to Jerusalem,' he said, '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,
34
who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.'
35
Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. 'Teacher,' they said, 'we want you to do for us whatever we ask.'
36
What do you want me to do for you?' he asked.
37
They replied, 'Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.'
38
You don't know what you are asking,' Jesus said. 'Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?'
39
We can,' they answered. Jesus said to them, 'You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with,
40
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.'
41
When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John.
42
Jesus called them together and said, 'You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.
43
Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,
44
and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.
45
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
46
Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means 'son of Timaeus'), was sitting by the roadside begging.
47
When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, 'Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!'
48
Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, 'Son of David, have mercy on me!'
49
Jesus stopped and said, 'Call him.' So they called to the blind man, 'Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you.'
50
Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.
51
What do you want me to do for you?' Jesus asked him. The blind man said, 'Rabbi, I want to see.'
52
Go,' said Jesus, 'your faith has healed you.' Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
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The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® Copyright© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New American Standard Bible Copyright© 1960 - 2020 by The Lockman Foundation.
Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright© 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.