When the people heard this, they followed Him on foot out of the
cities. As Jesus went forth He saw a great multitude. He was moved with
compassion toward them and He healed their sick. When it was evening,
His disciples came to Him and said, This is a desert place and it is
late. Send the multitude away so they may go into the villages and buy
food. But Jesus said, They need not depart. Give them food to eat. They
said, We have only five loaves and two fish. Jesus said, Bring them to
me.
He told the multitude to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves
and the two fish, and, looking up to heaven, He blessed it. Then He
broke and gave the loaves to His disciples, and the disciples gave them
to the multitude. They all ate and were full. Afterwards, they took up
the fragments that remained, twelve baskets full. Those who had eaten
numbered about five thousand men, in addition to women and children.
Immediately, Jesus instructed His disciples to get into a boat and go
ahead of Him to the other side. After He sent the multitude away, He
went up into a mountain to pray. When evening came He was there alone.
But the boat was now in the midst of the sea and tossed with waves by
the strong wind. In the fourth watch of the night, the disciples saw
Jesus walking toward them on the sea. They were afraid and said, It is
a spirit. They cried out for fear. But Jesus said, Be of good cheer. It
is I. Be not afraid.
Peter answered and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on
the water. Jesus said, Come. Peter got out of the boat and walked on
the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he became afraid and
immediately began to sink. He cried, Lord, save me. Jesus stretched out
His hand, caught Peter, and said, O thou of little faith. Why did thou
doubt?
When they got into the boat the wind ceased. Then those who were in the
boat came and worshipped Jesus. They said, Surely thou art the Son of
God. Then they reached the land of Gennesaret. When the people there
had knowledge of Him, they sent word all around the country. They
brought to Jesus all who were diseased. They besought Him that they
might only touch the hem of His garment. And all who touched His
garment were made perfectly whole.
15
Then scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem came to Jesus. They asked,
Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? They do
not wash their hands when they eat bread. Jesus answered, Why do ye
also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? God
commanded: Honor thy father and mother. Let him be put to death who
curses father or mother. But ye say that whoever says to his father or
mother that it is a gift by whatever thou might profit by me,
dishonoring the father or mother, shall be free. Your tradition has
made the commandment of God useless.
Ye hypocrites. Well did Esaias prophesy: This people draw nigh unto me
with their mouth, and honor me with their lips. But their hearts are
far from me. In vain do they worship me. They teach the commandments of
men as doctrines.
Jesus then called the multitude and said, Hear and understand. Nothing
that goes into the mouth defiles a man. But that which comes out of the
mouth defiles a man. His disciples approached him and said, Know thou
that the Pharisees were offended after they heard these words? Jesus
said, Every plant that was not planted by my heavenly Father shall be
uprooted. Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. If the
blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
Next, Peter approached Him and said, Explain the parable to us. Jesus
replied, Are ye still without understanding? Do ye not yet understand
that whatever goes in at the mouth goes into the belly and is expelled.
But those things which come out of the mouth come from the heart. They
defile the man because out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders,
adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, and blasphemies. These
are the things that defile a man. To eat with unwashed hands does not
defile a man.
Then Jesus went into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. A woman of Canaan
came to Him and said, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David. My
daughter is grievously tormented with a devil. Jesus said not a word to
her. Finally, His disciples came and said, Send her away for she cries
after us. Jesus replied, I am not here for the lost sheep of the house
of Israel only.
She came forward and worshipped Him. She said, Lord, help me. He
answered, It is not fit to take the children's bread and cast it to
dogs. She answered, True, Lord. Yet dogs eat the crumbs that fall from
their masters' table. Jesus said to her, O woman, great is thy faith.
Be it done unto thee as thou wilt. So her daughter was made whole from
that very hour.
Jesus left and went near the sea of Galilee where He went up into a
mountain to rest. Soon, great multitudes came to Him. They brought
those who were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others. They placed
them at Jesus' feet and He healed them. The multitude wondered when
they saw the dumb speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking,
and the blind seeing. They glorified the God of Israel.
Jesus called His disciples aside and said, I have compassion on the
multitude because they have been with me three days and have nothing to
eat. I will not send them away hungry lest they faint on the way. His
disciples said, Where should we find enough bread in the wilderness to
fill so great a multitude? Jesus asked them, How many loaves have ye?
They said, Seven and a few little fish.
Jesus commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. He took the
seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks. He broke them and gave them
to His disciples and the disciples gave them to the multitude. They all
ate and were full. They took up the food that was left, seven baskets
full. Those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.
Then Jesus sent away the multitude and took a boat to the coasts of
Magdala.
16
The Pharisees and the Sadducees came and, testing Jesus, asked Him to
show them a sign from heaven. He answered and said, When it is evening,
ye say it will be fair weather because the sky is red. In the morning,
ye say it will be foul weather because the sky is red.
O ye hypocrites. Ye can discern the face of the sky but cannot discern
the signs of the times! It is a wicked and adulterous generation that
seeks a sign. There shall be no sign given except the sign of the
prophet, Jonas. Then He left them, and departed to the other side.
Jesus uttered, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and
of the Sadducees. The disciples thought He referred to their not
remembering to bring bread along with them. When Jesus perceived this,
He said, O ye of little faith, why do you concern yourselves because ye
have brought no bread? Do ye not yet understand or remember the five
loaves for the five thousand and how many baskets of leftovers ye took
up? Do ye not remember the seven loaves for the four thousand and how
many baskets of leftovers ye took up?
How is it that ye do not understand that I spoke not about the leaven
of bread but that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and
of the Sadducees? Then they understood that the leaven was the doctrine
and teachings of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.
When Jesus came to the coast of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His
disciples, Who do men say that I, the Son of man, am? They answered,
Some say that thou art John the Baptist. Some say Elias. Others say
Jeremias or one of the prophets.
Then Jesus asked them, But who do ye say that I am? Simon Peter spoke
up, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus answered and
said, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood has not
revealed it to thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
I say also unto thee, Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build
my church. The gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give
thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatsoever thou shalt bind on
earth, shall be bound in heaven. Whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth,
shall be loosed in heaven. Then He charged His disciples to tell no man
that He was Jesus the Christ.
From that time forward Jesus instructed His disciples about how He
must go into Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the
elders, chief priests, and scribes. He told them He would be killed and
be raised again on the third day. Peter began to rebuke Him and said,
Far be it from thee, Lord. This shall not be. Jesus turned quickly,
stopped Peter, and said, Get thee behind me, Satan. Thou art an offence
to me. Thou savor not the things of God, but those of men.
Then Jesus said to His disciples, If any man will come after me, let
him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. Whoever saves his
life shall lose it. Whoever loses his life, for my sake, shall find it.
What is a man profited if he gains the whole world and loses his own
soul? What can a man give in exchange for his soul? The Son of man
shall come in the glory of His Father, with His angels and shall reward
every man according to his works. Verily, I say unto you, there are
some standing here who shall not taste death until they see the Son of
man coming in His kingdom.
17
After six days Jesus took Peter, James and his brother, John up into a
high mountain. Here Jesus was transfigured before them. His face shone
as bright as the sun. His raiment was as white as pure light. And,
behold, Moses and Elias appeared and talked with Him.
Peter then said, Lord, it is good for us to be here. If thou wilt, let
us make three tabernacles; one for thee, one for Moses, and one for
Elias. But, as he was speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them. From
the cloud, a voice said, This is my beloved Son in whom I am well
pleased. Hear ye Him.
When the disciples heard, they fell on their faces and were afraid.
Then Jesus came, touched them, and said, Arise. Be not afraid. When
they looked up they saw no one but Jesus. As they came down from the
mountain, Jesus charged them to tell no one what they witnessed until
the Son of man had risen from the dead.
His disciples asked Him, Why, then, do the scribes say that Elias must
come first? Jesus answered, Elias comes first and restores all things.
But I tell you that Elias has already come. They knew him not and
caused him to suffer at their hands. Likewise, the Son of man shall
also suffer of them. Then the disciples understood that Jesus meant
John the Baptist.
As they approached the multitude, a man came up to Jesus. Kneeling
down, the man said, Lord, have mercy on my son. He is lunatic and
greatly vexed. He often falls into the fire and into the water. I
brought my son to thy disciples but they could not cure him.
Jesus said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be
with you? How long shall I suffer you? Bring the boy here to me. When
Jesus rebuked the devil, he departed out of the child and the boy was
cured from that very hour.
The disciples took Jesus aside and asked, Why could we not cast the
devil out? Jesus answered, Because of your unbelief. Verily, I say unto
you, if ye have the faith of a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say to
this mountain, Move yonder and it shall move. Nothing shall be
impossible. This kind of devil goes out only after much strengthening
of faith by prayer and fasting.
During their time in Galilee, Jesus told all His disciples, The Son of
man shall be betrayed into the hands of men. They shall kill Him and,
on the third day, He shall be raised again. The disciples felt great
sorrow.
When they arrived at Capernaum, those who collected tribute money came
to Peter and questioned him saying, Does your master pay tribute? Peter
said, Yes.
When Peter came into the house, Jesus stopped him and said, What think
thou, Simon? Should the kings of the earth take custom or tribute of
their own children or of strangers? Peter replied, Of strangers. Jesus
said, So then, the children are free.
Then Jesus added, Nonetheless, so we do not offend them, go to the sea,
cast a hook, and take up the first fish that comes up. In his mouth
thou shalt find a coin. Take that and give it to those who collect the
tribute money for me and thee.
18
At the same time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, Who is the
greatest in the kingdom of heaven? Jesus called a little child to Him,
set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, Unless
you are converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter
into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever, therefore, shall humble himself
like this little child, is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Whoever shall receive a little child in my name receives me. But
whoever offends one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be
better for him that a millstone were hung around his neck and he drown
in the deep of the sea.
Woe unto the world because of offences! It must needs be that offences
come; but woe to the one by whom the offence comes! Therefore, if thy
hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off and cast them from thee. It
is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than
having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. And if
thine eye offend thee, pluck it out and cast it from thee. It is better
for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes
to be cast into hell fire. Take heed that ye despise not one of these
little ones; for I say unto you, In heaven their angels always look
upon the face of my Father.
The Son of man is here to save that which was lost. How think ye? If a
man has a hundred sheep, and one of them is gone astray, does he not
leave the ninety and nine and go into the mountains to seek the one
gone astray? And if he find it, he rejoices more over that sheep than
of the ninety and nine which did not stray. So, it is not the will of
your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
If thy brother trespasses against thee, go and tell him his fault
between thee and him alone. If he will hear thee, thou has gained thy
brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two
more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be
established. If he neglects to hear them, tell it to the church. But if
he neglects to hear the church, let him be treated as a heathen and a
publican.
Whatever ye shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven. Whatever ye
shall loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven. If two of you shall
agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be
done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are
gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Then Peter came to Him and said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin
against me and I forgive him? Until seven times? Jesus replied, I say
unto thee, not until seven times but until seventy times seven.
The kingdom of heaven is like a king who took an account of his
servants. When he began to reckon, one was brought to him who owed him
ten thousand talents. But since he was unable to pay, his lord
commanded him to be sold, along with his wife, and children, and all
that he had, and payment to be made. The servant fell down and
worshipped him saying, Lord, have patience with me and I will pay thee
all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, loosed
him, and forgave him the debt.
This same servant left and met one of his fellowservants who owed him a
small sum. He laid hands on him and took him by the throat saying, Pay
me what thou owe. The fellowservant fell down at his feet and besought
him saying, have patience with me and I will pay thee all. But he would
not. He cast him into prison until the debt was paid. When the rest of
the servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and went to their
lord and told him everything.
Then the servant's lord called him and said, O, thou wicked servant! I
forgave thee all that debt because thou desired it of me. Should not
thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant as I had pity on
thee? His lord was angry and delivered him to the tormentors until he
paid all that was due. So also shall my heavenly Father do to you if ye
do not forgive other's trespasses.
19
It came to pass, when Jesus had finished these sayings, He departed
from Galilee and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan. Great
multitudes followed Him and He healed many there. The Pharisees also
came to test Him. They questioned Him saying, Is it lawful for a man to
put away his wife for every cause?
Jesus answered, have ye not read that He who made them at the beginning
made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave
father and mother and shall cleave to his wife. The two shall be one?
Therefore, they are no longer two but one flesh. What God has joined
together, let no man put asunder.
They said, Why, then, did Moses allow a writing of divorcement to put a
wife away? Jesus said, Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts,
suffered you to put away your wives. But, from the beginning, it was
not so. I say to you, Whoever shall put away his wife, except it be for
fornication, and shall marry another, commits adultery. Whoever marries
her who is put away also commits adultery.
His disciples said, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is
not good to marry. Jesus said, All men cannot receive this saying,
except those to whom this saying is given. There are some eunuchs who
were so born from their mother's womb. There are some eunuchs who were
made eunuchs by men. And there are eunuchs who have made themselves
eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive
it, let him receive it.
Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on
them and pray. When the disciples rebuked them Jesus said, Allow these
little children and do not forbid them to come to me; for of such is
the kingdom of heaven. Jesus laid His hands on them, and then departed.
Behold, a young man came to Him and asked, Good Master, what shall I do
that I may have eternal life? He said to him, Why call me good? There
is none good but one, and that is God. But if thou wilt enter into
life, keep the commandments. The young man asked, Which? Jesus said,
Thou shalt not murder. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not
steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness. Honour thy father and thy
mother. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
The young man said, All these things I have kept from my youth up. What
do I yet lack? Jesus answered, If thou will be perfect, go and sell
what you have and give to the poor. Thou shalt have treasure in heaven.
Then come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying he
went away sorrowful because he had many possessions.
Then said Jesus to His disciples, Hardly a rich man shall enter into
the kingdom of heaven. 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. When
His disciples heard this they were greatly amazed. They asked, Who,
then, can be saved? Jesus beheld them and said, With men it is
impossible; but with God all things are possible.
Peter asked, Behold, we have forsaken all and followed thee. What shall
we have? Jesus said, Verily, at the regeneration, when the Son of man
shall sit in the throne of His glory, ye who have followed me shall
also sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Everyone who has forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father,
or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall
receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. But many
that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.
20
The kingdom of heaven is like a householder who went out early in the
morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. When he had agreed with the
laborers for a coin a day, he sent them into his vineyard. Then, about
the third hour he went out and saw others standing idle in the
marketplace. He said to them, Go ye also into my vineyard and whatever
is right I will give you.
He went out again about the sixth and the ninth hour and did the same.
About the eleventh hour he went out, found others standing idle, and
said, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They answered, Because no man
has hired us. He then replied, Go ye also into the vineyard and
whatever is right you shall receive.
When evening came, the lord of the vineyard said to his steward, Call
the laborers and give them their pay, beginning from the last unto the
first. When those who were hired about the eleventh hour came, every
man received a coin. But when the first came, supposing they should
receive more, they each also received a coin. When they received it,
they murmured against the good man of the house and said, These last
have worked but one hour and thou has made them equal to those of us
who have borne the burden and heat of the day.
He answered one of them and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong. Did thou
not agree with me for a coin? Take what is thine and go thy way. I will
give to the last the same as I give to thee. Is it not lawful for me to
do what I will with my own coins? Must you see evil in my goodness?
So, the last shall be first, and the first last: for many are called,
but few are chosen. Then Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve
disciples aside and said, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem where the Son
of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and scribes. They will
condemn Him to death. They will deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock,
scourge, and crucify Him. And on the third day He shall rise again.
The mother of the sons of Zebedee and her sons, James and John,
approached Jesus. She praised Him, desiring something of Him. He said
to her, What wilt thou? She replied, Grant that my two sons may sit,
one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left, in thy kingdom. But
Jesus answered, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the
cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I
am baptized with?
They said to Him, We are able. And Jesus said, Ye shall drink indeed of
my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but
to sit on my right hand or on my left is not mine to give. It shall be
given to them for whom it is prepared by my Father.
When the remaining ten heard this they were moved with indignation
against the two brethren. But Jesus called them to Him and said, Ye
know that the princes of worldliness and ambition influence them. But
it shall not be so among you. Whoever will be great among you, let him
be your minister. Whoever will be chief among you, let him be your
servant. Likewise, the Son of man came not to be ministered to, but to
minister, and to give His life as a ransom for many.
When they departed from Jericho a great multitude followed. Behold,
when they heard that Jesus passed by, two blind men who were sitting by
the wayside cried out, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David. The
multitude rebuked them and told them to keep quiet. But they cried
more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David.
Jesus stood still and said to them, What shall I do for you? They
answered, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. Jesus had compassion and
touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and they
followed Him.
21
As they drew close to Jerusalem, they came to Bethphage by the mount of
Olives. Jesus sent two disciples ahead and said, Go into the village
and ye shall find tied there an ass with her colt. Untie them and bring
them to me. If a man says anything to you, say, The Lord has need of
them and, straightway, he will send them. All this was done so this
saying of the prophet might be fulfilled: Tell ye the daughter of Sion,
Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon a colt, the
foal of an ass.
The disciples did as Jesus directed. They brought the ass and the colt
and set Jesus thereupon. A multitude spread out their garments and
others cut down tree branches and lined the way. They cried out,
Hosanna to the son of David. Blessed is He that comes in the name of
the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. When Jesus came into Jerusalem, all
the city was stirred. They asked, Who is this? The multitude said, This
is Jesus the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.
Jesus went into the temple of God and cast out all who bought and sold.
He overthrew the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of those who
sold doves. He said to them, It is written that my house shall be
called a house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.