turned around and said to them, If any man comes to me, and does not
forsake his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren,
and sisters, yes, and his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever
does not bear his cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and
count the cost, to see whether you have what is needed to finish it?
Lest, after you have laid the foundation, and are not able to finish
it, all that behold it begin to mock you and say, This man began to
build but was not able to finish.
Or what king, contemplating war against another king, does not first
sit and consult whether he is able, with ten thousand, to meet him
that comes against him with twenty thousand? If not, while the other
is yet a great way off, he sends his ambassadors to discuss conditions
of peace.
So likewise, any of you that does not forsake all he has, cannot be my
disciple. Salt is good: but if the salt has lost its savour, with what
can it be seasoned? It is not fit for the land, yet not ready for the
dunghill; so men cast it aside. He that has ears to hear, let him
hear.
15 Seeing how Jesus was often surrounded by publicans and
sinners who listened closely to his sayings, the Pharisees and scribes
murmured, This man receives sinners and even eats with them. Thus,
Jesus spoke another parable.
He said, What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of
them, does not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and search
for the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it,
he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. When he comes home, he calls
his friends and neighbors together, saying, Rejoice with me. I have
found my sheep which was lost. I say to you, there is more joy in
heaven over one sinner that repents, than over ninety and nine just
persons who need no repentance.
What woman, having ten pieces of silver, if she loses one piece, does
not light a candle, sweep the house, and seek diligently until she
finds it? And when she has found it, she calls her friends and her
neighbors together, saying, Rejoice with me. I have found the piece
that was lost. I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the
angels of God over one sinner that repents.
And He said, A man had two sons. The younger of them said to his
father, Father, give me the portion of my inheritance. The father gave
him his portion and the younger son journeyed into a far country.
After he spent everything on riotous living and had nothing left,
there arose a mighty famine in that land. He began to be in want and
the only work he could get was feeding swine in a countryman's field.
And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine
ate because he had nothing to eat.
When he came to his senses, he said, How many of my father's hired
servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I
will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have
sinned against heaven, and before thee. I am no longer worthy to be
called thy son; but make me one of thy hired servants.
He arose and went to his father. But when he was yet a great way off,
his father saw him and had compassion. He ran, and fell on his neck,
and kissed him. The son said to him, Father, I have sinned against
heaven, and in thy sight, and am not worthy to be called thy son.
But the father said to his servants, Bring out the best robe and put
it on him. Put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet. Butcher the
fatted calf. Let us eat and be merry for my son was dead and is alive
again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to celebrate.
The elder son was in the field. As he drew near the house, he heard
music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what these
things meant. The servant said, Thy brother is home and thy father has
killed the fatted calf because he has received him safe and sound.
The elder son was angry and would not go inside. His father came out
and entreated him; but he said to his father, Lo, these many years I
have served thee. I have never once disobeyed you. Yet, you never gave
me a fatted calf that I might make merry with my friends. But, as soon
as he came home, who wasted all you gave him on harlots, you kill a
fatted calf for him.
The father said to him, Son, you are always with me, and all that I
have is yours. It was fitting for us to celebrate and be glad for
this, thy brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost and now
is found.
16 Jesus said, There was a rich man who had a steward who was
accused of wasting the rich man's goods. The master called him and
said, How is it that I hear this of thee? Give me an account of your
stewardship; for you may no longer be the steward.
The steward thought about his situation, then said to himself, I know
what to do so when I am put out of this stewardship, I will find favor
in other houses. He called on each of his lord's debtors. He said to
the first, How much do you owe to my lord? The first said, A hundred
measures of oil. He said, Take your bill and quickly write fifty. He
said to another, How much do you owe? The other said, A hundred
measures of wheat. He said, Take your bill and quickly write eighty.
And so, likewise, the steward did with all his master's debtors. When
he gave his accont, the rich man had to commend the unjust steward for
his cleverness.
The children of this world are better at dealing with their own
generation than the children of light. But, I tell you, use what you
have wisely and do good with it and you shall find favor in heavenly
houses.
The one who is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in
much. The one that is unjust in the least, is unjust also in much. If
you are not trustworthy with worldly goods, who will commit to your
trust the true riches? If you have not been faithful in that which
belongs to another, who will give you what is your own? No servant can
serve two masters: either he will hate the one, and love the other; or
he will cleave to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God
and mammon.
The Pharisees, who were covetous, heard all these things and derided
Him. Jesus said to them, Ye are they who justify yourselves before men
but God knows your hearts. That which is highly esteemed among men is
abomination in the sight of God.
The law and the prophets lasted up until John. From that time the
kingdom of God is proclaimed and every man presses into it. Far easier
it is for heaven and earth to pass away than for one letter of the law
to fail.
Whoever puts away his wife and marries another, commits adultery.
Whoever marries a woman that has been put away from her husband
commits adultery.
There was a rich man who wore clothes of purple and fine linen, and
who dined sumptuously each day. Lying at his gate, was a poor man
named Lazarus. He was covered with sores, and often the dogs came and
licked them. He would gladly accept the crumbs which fell from the
rich man's table.
When the poor man died, he was carried by the angels into Abraham's
bosom. The rich man also died and, from hell, he lifted his eyes, in
torment, and saw Abraham far off with Lazarus at his bosom. He cried
out, Father Abraham, have mercy on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of
his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am tormented in this flame.
But Abraham said, Son, remember that you received your good things
during your lifetime and Lazarus got the evil things. Now he is
comforted, and you are tormented. And, beside all this, there is a
great gulf between us that cannot be crossed from either side.
Then the rich man said, Then I beg you, father, send him to my
father's house. I have five brothers. Let him testify to them so they
do not also come into this place of torment.
Abraham answered, They have Moses and the prophets. Let them hear
them. The rich man said, No, father Abraham. Only if one went to them
from the dead will they repent. Then Abraham said to him, If they do
not hear Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded by one who
rose from the dead.
17 Then He said to the disciples, It is certain that offences
must come: but woe to him, through whom they come! It would be better
for him that a millstone were hung around his neck and he be cast into
the sea, than to have offended one of these little ones.
Take heed: If thy brother trespasses against thee, rebuke him. If he
repents, forgive him. If he trespasses against you seven times in a
day, and seven times in a day, repents; forgive him. Then the apostles
said to the Lord, Increase our faith.
The Lord said, If you have faith even as small as a grain of mustard
seed, you can say to this tree, Be thou plucked up by the root and
planted in the sea; and it will obey you.
Who among you, when your servant comes in from plowing or feeding
cattle, will say, Go and sit down to eat? Instead, you say to him,
Wash yourself and change your clothes; prepare and serve me my supper;
and then you shall eat and drink. Does the servant deserve thanks
because he did what he was obliged to do? Likewise, when you have done
all the things which are required of you, say, I am an unprofitable
servant. I have done that which was my duty to do.
It came to pass, as Jesus continued toward Jerusalem, He passed
through the middle of Samaria and Galilee. As He went into a village,
ten lepers met Him. Standing at a distance, they lifted their voices
and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. When He saw them, Jesus
said, Go show yourselves to the priests. And, it happened that, as
they went, they were cleansed.
When one of them, a Samaritan, saw that he was healed, he turned back,
and with a loud voice, glorified God. He fell down at Jesus' feet and
thanked Him. Jesus said, Were there not ten cleansed? Where are the
other nine? Of the ten, the only one to return thanks to God is the
foreigner. Jesus said to him, Arise and go thy way. Thy faith has made
thee whole.
When the Pharisees demanded to know when the kingdom of God should
come, He answered, The kingdom of God does not come by observation. No
one will say, Look here! or, look there! for, behold, the kingdom of
God is within you.
Then He said to the disciples, The days will come, when you will long
to see one of the days of the Son of man, but you will not see it.
They will say to you, See here; or, see there. Do not go after them or
follow them. For just as lightning flashes and lights the heavens from
one part to another; so also shall the Son of man be in His day.
But first you must suffer many things, and be rejected by this
generation. As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be in the days
of the Son of man. People ate and drank, they married and were given
in marriage up until the day that Noah entered the ark when the flood
came and destroyed them all.
It was the same in the days of Lot. They ate and drank, bought and
sold, planted and built. But the same day that Lot left Sodom, it
rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.
This is how it shall be on the day when the Son of man is revealed. On
that day, he who is up on the housetop, and his belongings downstairs
in the house should not go down for them. He who is in the field
should not turn back. Remember Lot's wife.
Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his
life will save it. In that night there will be two sleeping in a bed;
one will be taken, the other will be left. Two women will be grinding
meal together; one will be taken, and the other left. Two men will be
in the field; one will be taken, and the other left. Then they asked
Him, Where, Lord? He said to them, Wherever the body is, there will
also the vultures be gathered.
18 Jesus told another parable. In a certain city, there was a
judge who feared neither God nor man. A widow in that city came to him
and said, Avenge me of my adversary. At first, the judge gave her no
attention. But afterward he said to himself, Though I do not fear God
nor man; I will avenge her because she bothers me and her continual
coming to me will wear me out.
The Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge said. Shall God not avenge
His own elect, who cry day and night to Him, though He has great
patience with them? I tell you, He will avenge them speedily.
Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, shall He find faith on the
earth?
He spoke this parable to those who trusted in their own righteousness,
and despised others: Two men went into the temple to pray. One was a
Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed,
God, I thank thee that I am not like other men who are extortioners,
unjust, adulterers, or even publicans. I fast twice a week and I give
tithes of all that I possess.
The publican, standing far off, would not so much as lift his eyes to
heaven, but struck his breast, said, God be merciful to me a sinner. I
tell you, this second man went home justified, but not the first man,
for every one that exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbles
himself shall be exalted.
Many people brought infants to Jesus that He would touch them. But
when the disciples saw the large crowd, they rebuked them. But Jesus
called them to Him and said, Let the little children come to me. Do
not forbid them for of such is the kingdom of God. Whoever shall not
receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no way enter
therein.
A certain ruler asked Him, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit
eternal life? Jesus said to him, Why do you call me good? No one is
good, except one, that is, God. Know the commandments. Do not commit
adultery. Do not kill. Do not steal. Do not bear false witness. Honor
thy father and thy mother.
And he said, All these commandments I have kept from my youth up. Then
Jesus said to him, Yet you lack one thing. Sell all you have and give
to the poor. You will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow
me.
When he heard this, he was very sorrowful because he was very rich and
had many possessions. And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful,
He said, How difficult it is for those who have riches to enter the
kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye,
than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Those who heard this asked, Who then can be saved? Jesus answered, The
things which are not possible for men are possible for God. And Peter
said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. Jesus said to them,
Verily I say to you, There is no one who has left house, or parents,
or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, who
shall not receive a great reward in this present time and in life
everlasting.
Then Jesus took the twelve aside and said to them, Behold, we are
going up to Jerusalem where all things that are written by the
prophets about the Son of man will be accomplished. He shall be
delivered to the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully
treated, and spit on. They will scourge Him and put Him to death. And,
on the third day, He shall rise again.
And it came to pass, as He was near Jericho, a blind man sat begging
by the wayside. When he was told that Jesus was passing by, he cried,
Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me. When some told him to hold
his peace, he cried out again, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.
Jesus stopped and commanded that the blind man be brought to Him. Then
Jesus said to the man, What do you want me to do for you? The man
said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. Jesus said, Receive thy
sight. Thy faith has saved thee. And immediately he received his sight
and followed Him, glorifying God. The people, also, when they saw it,
gave praise to God.
19 In Jericho there was rich man named Zacchaeus, who was the
head of the publicans. When Jesus passed through the town, Zacchaeus
wanted to see Him. Zacchaeus was short of stature and could not see
Jesus through the press of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a
tree to see Jesus as He passed by.
When Jesus came to the place, He looked up, saw him and said,
Zacchaeus, make haste and come down. Today I must abide at your house.
He hurried down from the tree and received Jesus joyfully. When the
people saw this, they all murmured and said that Jesus was gone to be
the guest of a man who is a sinner.
Then Zacchaeus said, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. If
I have taken anything from any one by false accusation, I restore him
fourfold. Jesus said to him, Today salvation comes to this house, for
now you are also a son of Abraham. The Son of man is come to seek and
to save those who were lost.
As the people listened to these things, Jesus added a parable, because
He was now near Jerusalem and many thought that the kingdom of God
should appear immediately.
He said therefore, A nobleman went a great distance to receive for
himself a kingdom, and to return. He called his ten servants together
and delivered over to them ten talents. He said to them, Handle my
business until I return. But the citizens hated this nobleman, and
sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man reign over
us.
After he received the kingdom, he returned and called the servants to
him for an accounting of what they had done with the talents. The
first servant said, Lord, thy talent has gained ten more. He said to
him, Very good. Because you have been faithful in this little matter,
you now have authority over ten cities. The second servant said, Lord,
the talent has gained another five. He said likewise to him, You now
have authority over five cities.
Then came another servant who said, Lord, here is your talent which I
have kept tied up in a cloth for I feared thee because thou art a hard
man. You take up what you have not laid down and reap what you have
not sown.
He said to this servant, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee,
thou wicked servant. If you knew that I was a hard man, taking up what
I laid not down, and reaping what I did not sow, why, then, did you
not put the talents in the bank, that, on my return, I would get my
own back with interest? Give this talent to the servant who gained ten
more. To every one who has, more shall be given. And from him who has
not, even the little he has shall be taken away from him. And those
who are my enemies and say I should reign over them, bring them here
and slay them before me.
It came to pass, when Jesus was near Bethphage and Bethany not far
from Jerusalem, He called two of His disciples and said, Go into the
village over there. When you enter you will find a colt whereon no man
has ever sat. Loose him and bring him here. If any man asks you why
you untie him say, Because the Lord has need of him.
And they that were sent went their way and found everything as He had
said to them. As they were loosing the colt, the owners said to them,
Why do you loose the colt? They said, The Lord has need of him. And
they brought him to Jesus, cast their garments upon the colt, and set
Jesus thereon. And as He went, they spread their clothes in the way.
When He was near the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole
multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud
voice for all the mighty works they had seen. They called out, Blessed
be the King that comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and
glory in the highest.
Some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said to Him, Master,
rebuke thy disciples. Jesus answered, I tell you, if they held their
peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
When He was near, He beheld the city, and wept over it, saying, If
thou had known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which
belong to thy peace! But now they are hid from your eyes. For the days
shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about
thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, and
shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and
they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because you knew
not the time of thy visitation.
Jesus went into the temple and began to cast out those who sold and
those who bought; saying to them, It is written: My house is the house
of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves.
He taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests, scribes, and
ruler of the people sought to destroy Him, but could not find a way to
do it because all the people were very glad to hear Him.
20 One day, as Jesus taught the people in the temple and
preached the gospel, the chief priests and scribes came in with the
elders, and said to Him, Tell us by what authority you do these things
and who gives you this authority? Jesus said to them, I will ask you
something also. Tell me, the baptism of John, was it from heaven, or
of men?
They discussed it among themselves, saying, If we say, From heaven; He
will say, Why, then, did you not believe him? And if we say, Of men;
the people will stone us for they are persuaded that John was a
prophet.
Finally, they told Jesus that they could not tell where it came from.
And Jesus said to them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do
these things. Then Jesus told the people a parable.
A man planted a vineyard, then let it out to husbandmen, and he went
into a far country for a long time. At the season he sent a servant to
the husbandmen to get the fruit of the vineyard, but the husbandmen
beat him, and sent him away empty.
Again he sent another servant. They beat him also, and treated him
shamefully, and sent him away empty. And again he sent a third
servant. They wounded him and cast him out.
Then the lord of the vineyard said, What shall I do? I will send my
beloved son. They will respect him when they see him. But, when the
husbandmen saw him, they said, This is the heir. Let us kill him so
the inheritance will be ours. So they cast him out of the vineyard and
killed him.
What, therefore, shall the lord of the vineyard do to them? He shall
come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to
others. When the people heard this, they said, God forbid.
Jesus looked at them and said, What is this then that is written: The
stone that the builders rejected, has become the cornerstone? Whoever
falls on that stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will
grind him to powder.
The chief priests and the scribes then wanted to lay hands on Him but
they feared the people who saw clearly that He had spoken this parable
against them.
They had Him watched and they sent out spies. They looked for ways to
take hold of His words so they could deliver Him to the power and
authority of the governor. They asked Him, Master, we know that you
say and teach the way of God. Is it lawful for us to give tribute to
Caesar?
Jesus perceived their craftiness and said, Why test me? Show me a
coin. Whose image and superscription is on it? They answered and said,
Caesar's. Jesus said to them, Render, therefore, to Caesar the things
that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. They
marvelled at His answer and had to hold their peace.
Then some of the Sadducees, who deny the resurrection, came to Him and
said, Master, Moses wrote, If any man's brother dies, having a wife,
and he dies without children, his brother should take his wife, and
raise up seed to his brother. Now there were seven brothers. The first
took a wife and died without children. The second took her as a wife
and he died childless. The third took her; and, in like manner, all
seven. They died and left no children. Last of all the woman died
also. Now, in the resurrection, whose wife is she? Each of the seven
had her as a wife.
Jesus said to them, The children of this world marry, and are given in
marriage. But those who are worthy of obtaining that world and the
resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage,
nor can they die anymore. They are equal to the angels; and are the
children of God, being the children of the resurrection. And,
furthermore, Moses, at the bush, called the Lord the God of Abraham,
and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. He is not a God of the
dead, but of the living. All live for Him.
Then some of the scribes said, Master, thou has said well. And, after
that, they dared not ask Him any more questions. But Jesus said to
them, How can they say that Christ is David's son? David, himself,
said in the book of Psalms, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou on my
right hand until I make your enemies your footstool. David, therefore,
called him Lord, how is he, then, his son?
Then, before the multitude, He said to His disciples, Beware of the
scribes who like to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the
markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms
at feasts. They devour widows' houses, and, for a show, make long
prayers. They shall receive greater damnation.