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The Harmonized Gospel of JESUS CHRIST
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Bob Headrick
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010/14/2020
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A harmonized version of The Four Gospels of JESUS
CHRIST
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Foreword
When I
started writing this book to help make sense of some of the seeming
contradictions of the Gospels I carried over some of my writing habits and
personal beliefs. One is that I capitalize every letter in GOD and LORD when they specifically refer to the
one true and living GOD,
JESUS and HOLY SPIRIT. I do not capitalize the names of the devil, satan or
lucifer because I do not care about grammatical correctness as much as I care
about giving GOD glory
and not giving any recognition to His enemy. The devil and the fallen heavenly
host who serve him only want to destroy GOD’s favored creation humanity because they cannot be redeemed
and this is the only way they can hurt GOD.
Something
that I mention in My Thoughts is the time line of JESUS’ ministry. This is a non-issue in
the belief of who JESUS
is and what He did in obedience to GOD the Father for humanities salvation. Whatever you understand
and believe about the time line of JESUS’ ministry on the earth has no bearing on your salvation nor
should it have any bearing on your relationship to other CHRISTians.
The Church
already has enough non-important dividing points that cause separation and
breaking of fellowship which is a direct disobedience to one of JESUS’ biggest commandments to all
believers; love one another as I have loved you; be one with each other as I
and the Father are One.
Remember,
salvation is: GOD’s
grace to freely give us the faith to believe that JESUS is the CHRIST, the Son of GOD in the flesh, born of a virgin; who
lived a sinless temptation overcoming life and then obediently went to the
cross to bear the judgment for the sins of humanity and by the shedding of His
Blood wash us clean and by the power of His resurrection make us a new eternal
spiritual being rather than the mortal physical being we were born as. He
changed our destiny from death and hell to life and His Kingdom!
As CHRISTians we will not be judged on what we
believe about the length of His earthly ministry or when the rapture will take
place in the Father’s timeline for humanity or any of the dozens of issues that
we divide ourself over; we will be judged for our unity and love for one
another, for our sharing The Gospel with those who are not believers, for our
laying hands on the sick, for casting out demons, for raising the dead, for
giving to the poor, needy, widows and orphans, for visiting the sick and
imprisoned, and for not sinning!
Robert (Bob) Headrick
JESUS’ HIStory
The
Harmonized Gospel of JESUS CHRIST
Introduction
Many have taken it upon
themselves to set in order a narrative of those things which have been
fulfilled regarding JESUS CHRIST. “Just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses
and ministers of the Word delivered them to us”; it seemed good to me
to write to you a harmonized account that you may know the certainty of
those things which you were told.
In the beginning the LORD GOD created the heavens and the earth. GOD planted a garden in
the east part of Eden and out of the ground GOD made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight
and good for food. The tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of
good and evil were in
the middle of the garden. A river went out of Eden to water the garden and from
there it parted and became four riverheads.
After He had created everything GOD said, “Let Us
make man in Our image according to Our likeness; let them
have responsibility and authority over the fish of the sea, over the birds of
the air and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing
that creeps on the earth.” GOD formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed
into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living being; so GOD created man in His own image; male and female He created them. Then GOD blessed them and told them, “Be fruitful and multiply fill the earth
and subdue it.”
GOD took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and keep
it. GOD commanded the man saying, “Of
every tree of the garden you may freely eat except of the tree of the knowledge
of good and evil you must not eat from it for in the day that you eat of
it you will truly die.”
GOD said, “It is not good that man should be
alone I will make him a helper comparable to him.” Out of the ground GOD had formed every beast of the field and every bird
of the air and brought them to
Adam to see what he would name them. Whatever Adam called each living creature
that was its
name. So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air and to
every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found a helper comparable
to him.
GOD caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam and He took one of his ribs
and closed up the flesh. Then with the rib which GOD had taken from Adam He made into a woman and He
brought her to the man and Adam said, “This is now bone of my bones and
flesh of my flesh, she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of man.
Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife and
the two shall become one flesh.” Adam called his wife’s name Eve because she
was the mother of all living. They were both naked, the man and his wife and
were not ashamed.
Then GOD blessed them and GOD said to them, “Be
fruitful and multiply fill the earth and subdue it take responsibility and
authority over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air and over every
living thing that moves on the earth.” Then GOD saw everything that He had made and indeed it was very good.
So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
Thus the heavens and the earth
and all that live in them were finished and on the seventh day GOD ended His work and He rested from all His
work. Then GOD
blessed the seventh day and set it apart as special because on it He rested
from all His work of creation.
Now the serpent was more
cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD GOD had made; he said to the woman, “Has GOD truly said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of
the garden’?” Eve said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of
the garden except of the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden GOD has said, ‘Do not eat it or touch it or you will
die.’” Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not truly die for GOD knows that in the day you eat it your eyes will be
opened and you will be like GOD
knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food that it was
pleasant to the eyes and a tree desirable to make one wise she took of its fruit and ate. She gave some to
her husband who was with her and he ate, then their eyes were opened and
they knew that they were naked and they sewed fig leaves together and made
themselves coverings.
When they heard the sound of
the LORD GOD walking in the garden in the cool of the day Adam
and Eve hid themselves from the presence of GOD among the trees of the garden. Then GOD called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” Adam said, “I heard
Your voice in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked so I hid myself.”
GOD asked, “Who told you that
you were naked!? Have
you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”
Then Adam said, “The woman You
gave me, she gave me of the tree and I ate.” GOD asked Eve, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent
deceived me and I ate.” So GOD
said to the serpent, “Because you have done this you are cursed more than all
cattle and more than every beast of the field on your belly you shall go and
you shall eat dust all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and
the woman and between your seed and her Seed; He shall crush your head and you
shall bruise His heel.” To Eve GOD said, “I will greatly multiply your sorrow in your conception, in pain
you shall bring forth children; your desire shall be for your husband yet he
shall rule over you.” Then to Adam GOD said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife and have eaten
from the tree of which I commanded you, ‘you shall not eat of it’. Cursed is
the ground for your sake in sweat and hard work you will eat of it all the days of your life.
Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you and you shall eat the
herb of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you
return to the ground for out of it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you shall return.”
GOD killed animals and made tunics of their skins for Adam and Eve and
clothed them. Then GOD
said, “See the man has become like one of Us to know good and evil now he may
put out his hand and take of the tree of life and eat and live forever.” So then
GOD sent him out of the Garden of
Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. He drove out the man and He
placed Cherubim at the east of the Garden of Eden and a flaming sword
which turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.
Chapter 1
In the
beginning was the Word and the Word was with GOD and the
Word was GOD, He was in the beginning with GOD. All
things were made through Him and without Him nothing was made that has been
made. In Him was life and the life was the light of men, the light shines
in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it. That was the True Light
which gives light to every man coming into the world. The Word became flesh and
dwelt among us and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten
of the Heavenly Father, full of grace and truth. He was in the world and
the world was made by Him and the world did not know Him. He came to His
own people and His own people did not receive Him. As many as received Him to
them He gave the right to become children of GOD, to those who believe in His name, who were
born not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man but of GOD.
Top of
Form
There was in the days of
Herod The Great, the king of Judea a certain priest named Zacharias of the
division of Abijah, his wife was of the daughters of Aaron and her name was Elizabeth. They were
both righteous before GOD walking blameless in all the commandments and
ordinances of the LORD. They had no child because Elizabeth was
barren and they were both well advanced in years. So it was that while he was
serving as priest before GOD in the order of his division, according to the
custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into
the temple of the LORD. All of the people were outside praying at
the hour of incense. Then an angel of the LORD appeared to Zacharias standing on the right side
of the altar of incense. When Zacharias saw him he was troubled and fearful,
the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid Zacharias for your prayer is heard and
your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son and you shall call his name
John. You will have joy and gladness and many will rejoice at his birth.
For he will be great in the sight of the LORD, he will drink neither wine nor strong drink. He
will be filled with the HOLY SPIRIT even from his mother’s womb. He will
turn many of the children of Israel to the LORD their GOD. He will go before the CHRIST in the spirit
and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and
the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for
the LORD.”
Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this for I am an old man
and my wife is well advanced in years?” The angel answered him, “I
am Gabriel who stands in the presence of GOD and was sent to speak to you and bring you these
glad tidings. Therefore you will be mute and not able to speak until the
day these things take place because you did not believe my words which will be
fulfilled in their own time.”
The people waited for Zacharias
and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple. When he came out he
could not speak to them and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the
temple; for he motioned to them and remained speechless. So it was as soon
as the days of his service were completed that he departed to his own
house. After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived and she hid herself
five months saying, “Thus the LORD has dealt with me in the days when He looked
on me to take
away my reproach among people.”
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s
pregnancy the angel Gabriel was sent by GOD to a city of Galilee called Nazareth; to a
virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David. The
virgin’s name was Mary
and having come in the angel said to her, “Rejoice highly favored one the LORD is with
you blessed are you
among women!” When she saw him she
was troubled by his words and considered what manner of greeting it was. Then
the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid Mary for you have found favor with GOD. You
will conceive in your womb and give birth to a Son and shall call His name
JESUS, which is translated Jehovah is Salvation, He will be great and will
be called the Son of the Highest and the LORD GOD will give Him the throne of His forefather
David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever and of His Kingdom
there will be no end.” Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be since I am
a virgin?” The angel answered her, “The HOLY
SPIRIT will come upon you and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; the
HOLY ONE who is to be born will be called the Son of GOD. Indeed
Elizabeth your relative has conceived a son in her old age and this is now the
sixth month for her who was called barren. For with GOD nothing
will be impossible.” Then Mary said, “I am the maidservant of the LORD! Let it
be to me according to your word.” and the angel departed from her.
Mary went into the hill country
to a city of Judah and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted
Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary the baby leaped in
her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the HOLY SPIRIT. Then she
spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your
womb! Why is it granted to
me that the mother of my LORD should come to me? For indeed as soon as your
greeting sounded in my ears the babe leaped in my womb for joy. Blessed is she who believed for there
will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the LORD.” Mary
said, “My soul magnifies the LORD and my spirit has rejoiced in GOD my
Savior, for He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant from now on all
generations will call me blessed. For He who is mighty has done great
things for me and Holy is His name. His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation. He
has shown strength with His arm He has scattered the proud in the imagination
of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their thrones and
exalted the lowly. He
has filled the hungry with good things and the rich He has sent away empty. He has helped His servant
Israel in remembrance of His mercy
as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever.” Mary visited
with Elizabeth about three months before returning to her home.
Elizabeth’s full time came for
her to give birth and she brought forth a son. When her neighbors and relatives
heard how the LORD had shown great mercy to her they rejoiced
with her. So it was on the eighth day that they came to circumcise the
child and they would have called him by the name of his father Zacharias. His
mother said, “No he shall be called John.” they said to her, “There is no one
among your relatives who is called by this name.” They made signs to Zacharias
what he would have him called. He motioned for a writing tablet and wrote, “His
name is John.” and they all marveled. Immediately Zacharias was filled with
the HOLY SPIRIT his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed and he spoke praising GOD and
prophesied saying, “Blessed is the LORD GOD of Israel for He has visited and redeemed His
people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant
David as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets who have been since the world began. That
we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, to
perform the mercy promised to
our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, the oath which He swore to our
father Abraham. To grant us that we being delivered from the hand of our
enemies might serve before Him without fear in holiness and righteousness all
the days of our life. You child will be called the prophet of the Highest
for you will go before the face of the LORD to prepare His way, to give knowledge of salvation
to His people by the forgiveness of their sins through the tender mercy of our
GOD,
with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us. To give light to those
who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the
way of peace.” Then fear came on all who dwelt around them and all these
sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea. All those who
heard kept these things in
their hearts saying, “What kind of child will this be?” The hand of the LORD was with
the child so John grew and became strong in spirit and was in the deserts
till the day of his manifestation to Israel.
The birth of JESUS CHRIST
was as follows: After His mother Mary was engaged to Joseph before they came
together she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Joseph being a just man and not wanting to make
her a public example was minded to put her away secretly. While he thought
about these things an angel of the LORD appeared to him in a dream saying, “Joseph son of
David do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife for the child who is
conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bring forth a Son and you
shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” Then
Joseph upon awakening from sleep did as the angel of the LORD
commanded him and took her as his wife and did not know her till she had given
birth to her firstborn Son. All this was done that it might be fulfilled which
was spoken by the LORD through the prophet Isaiah saying, “See, the
virgin shall be with child and bear a Son and they shall call His name
Immanuel,” which is translated, “GOD with us.”
It came to pass in those
days that a decree
went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be registered; this
census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went
to be registered everyone to his own city. Joseph went up from Galilee out of
the city of Nazareth into Judea to the city of David which is called
Bethlehem because he was of the house and lineage of David to be
registered with Mary to whom he was engaged while she was pregnant with JESUS. So
it was that while they were there the days were completed for her to give birth
and she brought forth her firstborn Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling
cloths and laid Him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn
and they named Him JESUS.
There were in the same country
shepherds living out in the fields keeping watch over their flock by
night. An angel of the LORD stood before them and the glory of the LORD shone
around them and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to
them, “Do not be afraid for I bring you good tidings of great
joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the
city of David a Savior, who is CHRIST the LORD. This will be the sign to you, you will find a Baby wrapped in
swaddling cloths lying in a manger.” Suddenly there was with the angel a
multitude of the heavenly host praising GOD and saying, “Glory to GOD in the
highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” So it was when the
angels had gone away from them into heaven that the shepherds said to one
another, “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass which
the LORD
has told us.” They hurried and found Mary and Joseph with the Baby lying
in a manager. Then the shepherds returned glorifying and praising GOD for all
the things that they had heard and seen. They then made known the things the
angel told them concerning this Child. All those who heard it marveled at the
things which the shepherds told them. Mary kept all these things and
pondered them in her
heart.
When eight days were completed
for the circumcision of the child His name was called JESUS, the name given by the
angel before He was conceived in the womb. When the 40 days of Mary’s
purification according to the law of Moses were completed they brought Him to
Jerusalem to present Him to
the LORD
as it is written in the law of the GOD, “Every male who opens the womb shall be
called holy to GOD”, and to offer a sacrifice according to what
is said in the law of GOD, “A pair of turtledoves or two young
pigeons.”
There was a man in Jerusalem
whose name was Simeon and
this man was just and
devout waiting for the Salvation of Israel and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death
before he had seen the LORD’s CHRIST. So he came by the Spirit into
the temple when the parents brought in JESUS to do for Him according to the
custom of the law; he took JESUS up in his arms and blessed GOD and
said, “LORD now
You are letting Your servant depart in peace according to Your Word, for my eyes
have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all
peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of Your
people Israel.” Joseph and Mary marveled at those things which were spoken of Him.
Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, “This Child is destined for
the fall and rising of many in Israel and for a sign which will be
spoken against; yes a sword will pierce through your own soul also;
that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
There was a prophetess, Anna the
daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age,
eighty-four years old, she had been married for seven years and was a widow; she
did not depart from the temple but served GOD with fasting and prayers night and day. Coming in
that instant she gave thanks to the LORD and spoke of JESUS to all those who looked
for redemption in Jerusalem. So when Joseph and Mary had preformed all things
according to the Law of the LORD they returned to Bethlehem and Mary kept all
these things in her heart.
A little
more than a year after JESUS was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of
Herod the Great, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem saying, “Where
is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East
and have come to worship Him.” When Herod the king heard this he was troubled
and all Jerusalem with him. When he had gathered all the chief priests
and scribes of the people together he inquired of them where the CHRIST
was to be born. So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is
written by the prophet Micah, ‘You Bethlehem, in the land of Judah are not the least among the rulers of
Judah, for out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’”
Then Herod when he had secretly called the wise men and determined from them
what time the star appeared sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search
carefully for the young Child and when you have found Him bring back word to me that I
may come and worship Him also.” Then they departed and the star which they had
seen in the East went before them. When they saw the star they rejoiced greatly
following till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they had
come into the house they saw the young Child with Mary His mother and fell down
and worshiped Him. When they had opened their treasures they presented gifts to
Him gold, frankincense and myrrh. Then being divinely warned in a dream that
they should not return to Herod they departed for their own country another
way.
Now when
they had departed an angel of the LORD appeared to Joseph in a dream saying, “Arise take
the young Child and His mother and flee to Egypt and stay there until I bring
you word for Herod will seek to destroy the young Child.” When Joseph arose he
took the child JESUS and His mother by night and departed for Egypt and
was there until the death of Herod the king that it might be fulfilled which
was spoken by the LORD through the prophet Hosea saying, “Out of
Egypt I called My Son.”
Then
Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men was exceedingly angry
and he sent his army to put to death all the male children who were in
Bethlehem and in all its districts from two years old and under according to
the time which he had determined from the wise men. Then the word was
fulfilled which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet saying: “A voice was
heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children refusing to be
comforted, because they are no more.”
When
Herod was dead an angel of the LORD appeared in a dream to Joseph in
Egypt saying, “Arise take the young Child and His mother and go to the
land of Israel for those who sought the young Child’s life are
dead.” Then he arose took JESUS and His mother and came into the land of
Israel. When he heard that Herod Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of
his father Herod the Great he was afraid to go there, being warned by GOD in
a dream he turned aside into the region of Galilee. He came and dwelt
in the city of Nazareth that it might be fulfilled which was spoken
by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene.” JESUS grew and became strong
in spirit filled with wisdom and the grace of GOD was upon Him.
Joseph and Mary took their family
to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover and when JESUS
was twelve years old they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of
the feast. When they had finished as they returned home JESUS lingered
behind in Jerusalem. Joseph and Mary did not know it; they supposed Him to have
been in the company of travelers; they went a day’s journey and sought Him
among their relatives and acquaintances, when they did not find Him they
returned to Jerusalem seeking Him. So it was that after three days they
found Him in the temple sitting in the midst of the teachers both listening to
them and asking them questions. All who heard Him were astonished at His
understanding and answers. When His parents saw Him they were amazed and
His mother said to Him, “Son why have You done this to us? Look Your father and
I have sought You anxiously.” JESUS said to them, “Why
did you seek Me? Do you not understand that I must be about My Father’s
business?” They did not
understand His statement, then He went down with them to Nazareth and was
subject to them and Mary kept all these things in her heart. JESUS
increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with GOD and men.
Chapter
2
There was a man
sent from GOD
whose name was John
this man came to bear witness of the Light that all through him
might believe. He was not that Light but was sent to
bear witness of that Light.
In the fifteenth year of the
reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was
tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of
Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, while Annas and Caiaphas were the
high priests, the word of GOD came to John the son of Zacharias in the
wilderness and he went into all the region around the Jordan preaching a
baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins; as it is written
in the book of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the LORD;
make His paths straight. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and
hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough ways
smooth; and all humanity shall see the salvation of GOD.’”
John himself was clothed in
camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist and his food was locusts and
wild honey. He said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him for
the remission of sin, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath
to come? Bear fruits worthy of repentance and do not begin to say to
yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’
for I say to you that GOD is able to raise up children to Abraham from these
stones and even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees, every tree which
does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” So the people
asked him saying, “What shall we do then?” He answered them, “He who has
two tunics let him give to him who has none and he who has food let him do
likewise.” Then tax collectors came to be baptized and said to him,
“Teacher, what shall we do?” He said to them, “Collect no more than what is
appointed for you.” Likewise the soldiers asked him saying, “What shall we do?”
He said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or falsely accuse and be
content with your wages.”
As the people were in expectation
and all reasoned in their hearts about John whether he was the CHRIST or not
John said, “I indeed baptize you with water yet One mightier than I is
coming whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you
with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand and He will
thoroughly clean out His threshing floor and gather the wheat into His
barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.” The
Pharisees sent and asked him saying, “Why then do you baptize if you are not
the CHRIST or Elijah or the Prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water but there is One among you whom you do not know. It is He who coming after me is preferred before
me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.” These things were done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan where John was
baptizing. With many
other exhortations he preached to the people.
Then JESUS came from Galilee to
John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. John bore witness of Him and
cried out saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is
preferred before me for He was before me.’” John tried to prevent JESUS
saying, “I need to be baptized by You and are You coming to me?” JESUS answered
him, “Permit it to be so for it is fitting for us to fulfill all
righteousness.” Then John baptized Him; when JESUS was coming up from
the water the heavens were opened to Him and He saw the Spirit of GOD descending
like a dove and alighting upon Him. Suddenly a voice came from Heaven
saying, “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” Then JESUS
being filled with the Holy Spirit left the Jordan and the Holy Spirit sent
Him out into the wilderness where He was tempted for forty days by the
devil. In those days He ate nothing and when they had ended He was hungry, the
devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of GOD command this stone to become bread.” JESUS
answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live
by bread alone but by every Word of GOD.’” Then
the devil brought Him to Jerusalem and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple
and said to Him, “If You are the Son of GOD throw Yourself down from here for it is written:
‘He shall give His angels charge over you to keep you,’ and, ‘In their hands
they shall bear you up lest you dash your foot against a stone.’” JESUS
answered him, “It is written, ‘You shall not
tempt the LORD your GOD.’” Then the
devil taking Him up on a high mountain showed Him all the kingdoms of the world
in a moment of time and the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give
You and their glory; for this has
been delivered to me and I give it to whomever I wish; so if You will worship
before me all will be Yours.” JESUS told him, “Get
behind Me Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your GOD and Him only you shall serve.’” When the devil had ended every temptation he
departed from Him until an opportune time. Then angels came and ministered
to JESUS, He returned in the power of the Spirit and news of Him went
through the entire region. Then He taught in their synagogues being
glorified by all.
JESUS Himself began His ministry at about
thirty years of age; being as was supposed the son of Joseph; and from the fullness of the only Begotten
we have all received grace upon grace; for the law was given through Moses
but grace and truth came through JESUS CHRIST. No one has seen GOD at any
time the only begotten Son who is in the bosom of the Father has declared Him as GOD.
Chapter
3
The day after JESUS returned from
His temptations John saw Him coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of GOD who
takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a
Man who is preferred before me for He was before me.’ I did not know Him
only that He should be revealed to Israel, for this reason I was sent
baptizing with water. I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and
He remained upon JESUS. I did not know Him but GOD who sent
me to baptize with water said to me, ‘On whom you see the Spirit descending and
remaining on Him this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ I
have seen and testify that JESUS is the Son of GOD.”
The following day John stood with
two of his disciples and looking at JESUS as He walked he said, “See the Lamb
of GOD!”
John’s disciples heard him speak and they followed JESUS. Then JESUS
turned and seeing them following said to them, “What
do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which is translated Teacher),
“where are You staying?” He said to them, “Come
and see.” They went and saw where He was staying and remained with
Him that day now it was about 4 in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John
speak and followed Him was Andrew, the first thing he did was to find his
brother Simon and say to him, “We have found the Messiah.” (which is translated
the CHRIST) and he brought Simon to JESUS.
When JESUS looked at Simon He
said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah you
shall be called Cephas” (which
is translated A Stone or Peter). The following day JESUS wanted to go to
Galilee and He found Philip and said to him, “Follow
Me.” Philip was from Bethsaida the city of Andrew and Peter. Then Philip
found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the
law and also the prophets wrote, JESUS of Nazareth the son of
Joseph.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”
Philip said to him, “Come and see.” JESUS saw Nathanael coming toward Him and
said to him, “An Israelite indeed in whom is no
deceit!” Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” JESUS answered, “Before Philip called you when you were under the fig
tree I saw you.” Nathanael said to Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of GOD! You
are the King of Israel!” JESUS said to him, “Because
I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see
greater things than these. Truthfully I
tell you from now on you will see Heaven open and the angels of GOD ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”
On the third day there was
a wedding in Cana of Galilee and the mother of JESUS was there, JESUS
and His disciples were also invited to the wedding.
When the wedding ran out of wine
the mother of JESUS said to Him, “They have no wine.” JESUS said to her, “Woman what does your concern have to do with
Me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother ignoring Him said to the
servants, “Whatever He says to you do it.” There were six water pots of stone according to the manner
of purification of the Jews containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. JESUS
said to them, “Fill the water pots with
water.” So they filled them up
to the brim, then He said to them, “Draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” They did so and when the master of the feast had tasted the water it was
wine, and he did not know where it came from; but the servants who had drawn
the water knew; the master of the feast called the bridegroom and he said to
him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine and when the guests have well drunk then the
inferior but you have kept the good wine until now!” This beginning of
signs JESUS did in Cana of Galilee which manifested His glory and His disciples
believed in Him. After this He went down to Capernaum, He, His mother, His
brothers, and His disciples but they only stayed there a few days.
The
Passover of the Jews was at hand, and JESUS went up to Jerusalem. He found
in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves and the money changers
doing business. When He had made a whip of cords He drove them all out of
the temple with the sheep and the oxen and poured out the changers’ money and
overturned the tables. He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s
house a house of merchandise!” Then His disciples remembered that it was
written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.” So the Jews said to
Him, “What sign do You show to us since You do these things?” JESUS
answered them, “Destroy this temple and in three
days I will raise it up.” Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six
years to build this temple and will You raise it up in three days?” They did
not know He was speaking of the temple of His body. Therefore when He had
risen from the dead His disciples remembered that He had said this to them
and they believed the Scripture and the word which JESUS had said. Now when He
was in Jerusalem at the Passover during the feast, many believed in His name
when they saw the miracles which He did. JESUS did not commit
Himself to them because He knew all men and had no need that anyone should testify of Him
for He knew what was in man.
There was
a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to JESUS
by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from GOD
for no one can do these signs that You do unless GOD is with
him.” JESUS said to him, “Honestly I tell you
the truth unless one is born again he cannot see the Kingdom of GOD.” Nicodemus
said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time
into his mother’s womb and be born?” JESUS answered, “I tell you the truth unless one is born of water and the
Spirit he cannot enter the Kingdom of GOD. That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born
of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes and
you hear the sound of it but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes.
So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus asked, “How can these things be?” JESUS answered, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not know these
things? Truthfully
I say to you We speak what We know and testify what We have seen and you
do not receive Our witness. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe
how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has
ascended to Heaven but He who came down from Heaven that is the Son of Man who
is in Heaven. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness even so
must the Son of Man be lifted up that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal
life. GOD so loves the world that He gives His only begotten Son
that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. GOD did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but
that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not
condemned but he who does not believe is condemned already because he has not
believed in the name of the only begotten Son of GOD. This is the condemnation: The light has come into the world
and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For
everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light lest
his deeds are exposed. He who lives by the truth comes to the light that his
deeds may be clearly seen that they have been done in GOD.”
After those
days JESUS and His disciples went into the land of Judea and there He remained
with them and baptized, He did not baptize but His disciples did. John
was baptizing in Aenon near Salim because there was much water there and
people came and were baptized for John
had not yet been thrown into prison. Then there arose a dispute between some of John’s disciples and the
Jews about purification. So they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who
was with you beyond the Jordan of whom you have testified, He is baptizing
and all are coming to Him!” John answered, “A man can receive nothing
unless it has been given to him from heaven. You yourselves bear witness that I
said, ‘I am not the CHRIST,’ but, ‘I have been sent before
Him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the
bridegroom who stands and hears him rejoices greatly because of the
bridegroom’s voice. For this joy of mine to be fulfilled He must increase
and I must decrease. He who comes from above is above all and he
who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from Heaven
is above all and what He has seen and heard that He testifies and no one
receives His testimony. He who has received His testimony has
certified that GOD is true. For He whom GOD has sent
speaks the words of GOD, for GOD does not give the Spirit by measure. The
Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand. He who
believes in the Son has everlasting life and he who does not believe in the Son
shall not see life for the wrath of GOD abides on him.”
When the LORD knew that the Pharisees
had heard that He made and baptized more disciples than John, though JESUS
Himself did not baptize but His disciples, He left
Judea and went again to Galilee. He needed to go through Samaria so He came to a city of Samaria which is
called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph
and Jacob’s well was there. JESUS was weary from His journey so He sat by the well, it was about noon and
His disciples had gone into the city to buy food. A woman of Samaria came to
draw water and JESUS said to her, “Give Me a
drink.”, then the woman said to Him, “How is it that You being a Jew ask
a drink from me a Samaritan woman?” for Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. JESUS
answered her, “If you knew the gift of GOD and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would
have asked Him and He would have given you living water.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to
draw with and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? Are
You greater than our father Jacob who gave us this well and drank from it
himself as well as his sons and his livestock?” JESUS said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again but
whoever drinks of the water that I give him will never thirst. For the water
that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up
into everlasting life.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water
that I may not thirst nor come here to draw.” JESUS said to her, “Go call your husband and come here.” The woman
said, “I have no husband.” JESUS said to her, “You
have told the truth when you say, ‘I have no husband.’ for you have had five
husbands and the man you now have is not your husband.” The woman said
to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. Our fathers
worshiped on this mountain and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one
ought to worship.” JESUS said to her, “Woman
believe Me the hour is coming when you will not worship the Father on this
mountain or in Jerusalem. You worship what you do not know we know what we worship
for salvation is of the Jews. The hour is coming and now is when the true
worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth for the Father is
seeking such to worship Him. GOD is Spirit and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and
truth.” The woman
said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming and when He comes He will tell
us all things.” JESUS said to her, “I
am He.” At
this point His disciples came and they marveled that He talked with a woman yet
no one said, “What do You seek?” or “Why are You talking with her?” The woman
then left her water pot and went into the city and said to the men, “Come see a
Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the CHRIST?” So
they went out of the city and came to Him at the well.
In the
meantime His disciples urged Him saying, “Rabbi eat.” He said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.” Then
the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?” JESUS said to
them, “My food is to do the will of Him who
sent Me and to finish His work. Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then
comes the harvest’? I say to you lift up your eyes and look at the
fields for they are already white for harvest! He who reaps
receives wages and gathers fruit for eternal life that both he who sows and he
who reaps may rejoice together. For in this the saying is true, ‘One sows and
another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored;
others have labored and you have entered into their labors.”
Many of
the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman
who testified, “He told me all that I ever did.” So when the Samaritans had come to Him they
urged Him to stay with them and He stayed there two days. Many more
believed because of His word, then they said to the woman, “We believe not
because of what you said for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that
this is indeed the CHRIST, the Savior of the world.” After the two days He left
there and went to Galilee.
When He came to Galilee the
Galileans received Him having seen all the things He did in Jerusalem at
the feast for they had gone to the feast.
JESUS came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water
wine. There was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum, when he
heard that JESUS had come out of Judea into Galilee he went to Him and implored
Him to come down and heal his son for he was at the point of death. JESUS
said to him, “Unless you people see signs and
wonders you will by no means believe.” The nobleman said to Him, “Sir, come
down before my child dies!” JESUS said to him, “Go
your way your son lives.” So the
man believed the word that JESUS spoke to him and he went his way. As he was
returning home the next day his servants met him and told him saying, “Your son lives!”
Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better and they said to him,
“Yesterday at 1 in the afternoon the fever left him.” So the father knew
that it was at the same hour in which JESUS
said to him, “Your son lives.” Then he
believed and his whole household. This is the second sign JESUS did when He had
come out of Judea into Galilee.
So He came to Nazareth where He
had been brought up. As His custom was He went into a synagogue on the Sabbath
day and stood up to read. He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah and when
He had opened the book He found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of The LORD is upon Me because He has anointed Me to
preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the
acceptable year of the LORD.” Then
He closed the book and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of
all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. Then He said to
them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled
in your hearing.” So all bore witness of Him and marveled at the
gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. They said, “Is this not
Joseph’s son?” He said to them, “You
will surely tell Me this proverb, ‘Physician heal yourself! Whatever we have
heard done in Capernaum do here in Your country.’” Then He said, “I
tell you the truth, truly no prophet is accepted in his own country. For I tell you
truthfully many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah when the
heaven was shut up three years and six months and there was a great famine
throughout all the land yet to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath, in the region of Sidon. Many lepers were
in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet and none of them was cleansed
except Naaman, the Syrian.” So all those in the synagogue when they
heard these things were filled with wrath and rose up and thrust Him
out of the city and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city
was built that they might throw Him down over the cliff. Then passing
through the midst of them He went His way.
When JESUS
heard that John had been put in prison He departed and leaving Nazareth He came
and dwelt in Capernaum which is by the sea in the regions of Zebulun and
Naphtali; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the
prophet saying: “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, by the way
of the sea beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: the people who sat in
darkness have seen a great Light and upon those who sat in the region and
shadow of death Light has dawned.” From that time JESUS began to preach and to
say, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at
hand.”, and they were astonished at His teaching for His word was
with authority.
On the
same day JESUS went out of the house and sat by the sea and great
multitudes were gathered to Him so that He got into a boat and sat and the
whole multitude stood on the shore. Then He spoke many things to them in parables
saying: “A sower went out to sow and as he
sowed some seed fell
by the wayside and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell on stony places
where they did not have much earth and they immediately sprang up because they
had no depth of earth and when the sun was up they were scorched and because
they had no root they withered away. Some fell among thorns and the thorns sprang up and
choked them. Others fell on good ground and yielded a crop some a
hundredfold some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears to hear let him hear!”
JESUS
told them another parable, “The Kingdom of
Heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; while men slept
his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. When the grain
had sprouted and produced a crop then the tares also appeared. So the servants
of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field?
How then does it have tares?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The
servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ He said, ‘No for
when you gather up the tares you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow
together until the harvest and at the time of harvest I will say to the
reapers, ‘First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them
then gather the wheat into my barn.’”
He told
them another parable, “The Kingdom of Heaven
is like a mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field which indeed is
the least of all the seeds, yet when it is grown it is greater than all herbs
and becomes a tree so that the birds of the air come and nest in its
branches.”
Again He
spoke to them, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like
leaven, which a woman put in three measures of meal till it was
all leavened.
The Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field which a
man found and hid and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has
and buys that field.
Again the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful
pearls who when he had found one pearl of great price went and sold all
that he had and bought it.
Again the Kingdom of Heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into
the sea and gathered some of every kind which when it was full they drew to shore and they sat down and
gathered the good into vessels and threw the bad away. So it will be at the end of the age
the angels will come forth and separate the wicked from among the just and cast them into the furnace of
fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
All these
things JESUS spoke to the multitude in parables and He only spoke to them in
parables that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet saying, “I
will open My mouth in parables, I will utter things kept secret from the
foundation of the world.”
When He
had stopped speaking He said to Simon, “Launch out
into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered Him,
“Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing nevertheless at Your
word I will let down the net.” When they had done this they caught a great
number of fish and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their
partners in the other boat to come and help them. Then they came and filled
both the boats so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it he fell down at JESUS’ knees
saying, “Depart from me for I am a sinful man, O LORD!” For he
and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they
had taken and so were James
and John, the sons of Zebedee who were partners with Simon. JESUS said to
Simon, “Follow Me and I will make you
fishers of men.” So when they
had brought their boats to land they left everything and followed Him.
Later the
disciples came and said to JESUS, “Why do You speak to the people in parables?” He
answered, “Because it has been given to
you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven but it has not been given to
them. Whoever has to him more will be given and he will have abundance; whoever
does not have even what he has will be taken away from him. So I speak to
them in parables, because seeing they do not see and hearing they do not hear
nor do they understand. In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled which says, ‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand and seeing you
will see and not perceive for the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their
ears are hard of hearing and their eyes they have closed lest they should
see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand
with their hearts and turn so that I should heal them.’ Blessed are your eyes for
they see and your ears for they hear for truthfully I tell you that many prophets and righteous men desired
to see what you see and did not see it and
to hear what you hear and did not hear it. So hear the parable of the sower, the sower sows the Word, when anyone hears the Word of the
Kingdom and does not understand it then
the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart, this is he
who received seed by the wayside. He who received the seed on stony places is he who hears the
Word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself but endures only for a while.
When tribulation or persecution arises because of the Word
immediately he stumbles. He who received seed among the thorns is he who
hears the Word and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches
choke the Word and he becomes unfruitful. He who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the Word
and understands it who
indeed bears fruit and produces some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
Then the
disciples said, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.” JESUS
answered them: “He who sows the good seed is
the Son of Man. The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the
Kingdom, the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest
is the end of the age and the reapers are the angels. As the tares are gathered
and burned in the fire so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man
will send out His angels and they will gather out of His Kingdom all things
that offend and those who practice lawlessness and will cast them into the furnace of fire, there will
be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the
Kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear let him hear!
JESUS
said to them, “Have you understood all these
things?” They said to Him, “Yes LORD.” Then He said to them, “Therefore every teacher instructed
concerning the Kingdom of Heaven is like a householder who brings out of
his treasure things new and old.” When JESUS was in public He only spoke
to the people in parables but when He was alone with the disciples He explained
all things to them.
One Sabbath in the synagogue
there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon and he cried out with a
loud voice saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, JESUS of
Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are, the Holy One of
GOD!”
But JESUS rebuked him saying, “Be quiet and
come out of him!” and when the
demon had thrown him in their midst
it came out of him and did not hurt him. Then they were all amazed and
spoke among themselves saying, “What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean
spirits and they come out.” This report about Him went out into every
place in the surrounding region. They were astonished at His teaching for His
word was with authority.
He left the synagogue and entered
Simon’s house, Simon’s wife’s mother was sick with a high fever and
they asked Him to heal her. Standing over her He took her hand and rebuked
the fever and it left her,
immediately she arose and served them. When the sun was setting all those who had
any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him and He laid His
hands on every one of them and healed them. Demons came out of many crying out
and saying, “You are the CHRIST, the Son of GOD!” He rebuked them not allowing them to speak for they
knew that He was the CHRIST; that it might fulfill what was spoken by Isaiah
the prophet saying, “He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.”
When it was day He departed and went into a deserted place and the crowd sought
Him and came to Him and tried to keep Him from leaving them but He said to
them, “I must preach the Kingdom of GOD to the other cities also because for this purpose I have been
sent.”
He was preaching in the
synagogues of Galilee the gospel of the Kingdom and healing all kinds of
sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Then His fame went
throughout all Syria and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted
with various diseases and torments and those who were demon-possessed,
epileptics and paralytics and He healed them. Great multitudes followed
Him from Galilee and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.
It
happened when He was in a certain city that a man who was full of leprosy saw JESUS
and he fell on his face and implored Him saying, “LORD, if You
are willing You can make me clean.” Then JESUS put out His hand and touched him
saying, “I am willing, be cleansed.” Immediately
the leprosy left him and JESUS charged him to tell no one saying, “Go and show yourself to the priest and make an offering
for your cleansing as a testimony to them just as Moses commanded.” However
the report went around concerning Him all the more and great multitudes came
together to hear and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. So He often
withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.
It happened on a certain day as
He was teaching that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting with
the multitudes who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem
and the power of the LORD was present to heal them. Then four men
brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed whom they sought to bring in and lay
before JESUS. When they could not find any way to bring him in because of the
crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into
the room before JESUS. When JESUS saw their faith He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” The scribes and
the Pharisees began to reason saying, “Who is this who speaks
blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but GOD alone?” When JESUS perceived their thoughts He
said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your
hearts? Which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise
up and walk’? So that you may know that the Son of Man has power on
earth to forgive sins,” He said to
the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you arise
take up your bed and go to your house.” Immediately he rose up before
them took up what he had been lying on and departed to his own
house glorifying GOD and they were all amazed and they glorified GOD and were
filled with fear saying, “We have seen strange things today!”
After these things He went out
and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax office and He said to
him, “Follow Me.” So he rose up,
and leaving all followed Him. Then Levi gave Him a great feast in his own
house. There were a great number of tax collectors and others who sat down with
them and the scribes and the Pharisees complained to His disciples
saying, “Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” JESUS
answered them, “Those who are well have no need of
a physician but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to
repentance.” Then they said to Him, “Why do the disciples
of John fast often and make prayers and likewise those of the Pharisees, but
Yours eat and drink?” He said to them, “Can
you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? Yet the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken
away from them, then they will fast in those days.” Then He spoke a
parable to them, “No one puts a piece
from a new garment on an old one otherwise the new has a tear and also the
piece that was taken out
of the new does not match the old. No one puts new wine into old wineskins or else the new
wine will burst the wineskins and it will be spilled and the wineskins will be
ruined. New wine must be put into new wineskins and both are preserved. No
one having drunk old wine immediately
desires new for he says, ‘The old is better.’”
After this there was a feast
of the Jews and JESUS went up to Jerusalem. There is in
Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a
pool which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these
lay many sick people blind, lame or paralyzed waiting for the moving of the
water. For sometimes an angel went down into the pool and stirred up the
water; then whoever stepped in first; after the stirring of the water was made
well of whatever disease he had. A certain man was there who had an
infirmity thirty-eight years. When JESUS saw him lying there and knew that
he already had been in that condition a long time, He asked him, “Do you want to be made well?” The sick man
answered, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred
up but while I am coming another steps down before me.” JESUS said to
him, “Rise take up your bed and walk.” Immediately
the man was made well took up his bed and walked and that day was the
Sabbath. The Jews said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath it is
not lawful for you to carry your bed.” He answered them, “He who made me well
said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’” Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to
you, “Take up your bed and walk?” The one
who was healed did not know who it was for JESUS had withdrawn, a multitude
being in that place. Afterward JESUS found him in the temple and said to
him, “See you have been made well. Sin no
more lest a worse thing come upon you.” The man departed and told the
Jews that it was JESUS who had made him well. For this reason the
Jews persecuted JESUS and sought to kill Him because He had done these
things on the Sabbath.
JESUS told them, “My Father has been working until now and I have been
working.” Then the Jews sought all the more to kill Him because He not
only broke the Sabbath but also said that GOD was His Father making Himself equal with GOD. Then JESUS said to them, “With all honesty I tell you the truth the Son can
do nothing of Himself but only what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does
the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son and shows Him
all things that He Himself does and He will show Him greater works than these
that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them
even so the Son gives life to whom He will. For the Father judges no one but has committed all
judgment to the Son that all should honor the Son just as they honor the
Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent
Him. Truly I say to you he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting
life and shall not come into judgment but has passed from death into life. Truthfully I say to you the hour is coming and now is when the dead
will hear the voice of the Son of GOD and those who hear
will live. For as the Father has life in Himself so He has granted the
Son to have life in Himself and has given
Him authority to execute judgment because He is the Son of Man. Do not
marvel at this for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves
will hear His voice and come forth those who have done good to the
resurrection of life and those who have done evil to the resurrection of
condemnation. I can of Myself do nothing as I hear I judge and My judgment is
righteous because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who
sent Me. If I bear witness of Myself My witness is not true. There is another who bears witness of Me and I know that His witness of Me is true. You have sent to John and he has borne witness to the
truth. Yet I do not receive testimony from man but I say these things
that you may be saved. He was the burning
and shining lamp and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his
light. I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which
the Father has given Me to finish, the very works that I do bear witness
of Me, that the Father has sent Me. The Father Himself who sent Me has
testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time nor seen His
form. You do not have His word abiding in you because whom He sent you
do not believe. You search the Scriptures for in them you think you have
eternal life and they testify of Me but you are not willing to come to Me that
you may have life. I do not receive honor from men. Because I know you,
that you do not have the love of GOD in you. I have come in My
Father’s name and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name him
you will receive. How can you believe you who receive honor from one another
and do not seek the honor that comes only
from GOD? Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father there
is one who accuses you, Moses, in whom you trust. For if you believed
Moses you would believe Me for he wrote about Me. Since you do
not believe his writings how will you believe My words?”
It
happened on the second Sabbath that JESUS went through the grain fields and His
disciples plucked the heads of grain and ate them rubbing them in their hands.
The Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why do they do what is not lawful on the
Sabbath?” JESUS said to them, “Have you never read
what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him, how he
went into the house of GOD in the days of Abiathar the high priest and ate the showbread
which is not lawful to eat except for
the priests and gave some to those who were with him?” Then He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath, therefore the
Son of Man is LORD of the Sabbath.”
When He had departed from there
to Galilee He went into their synagogue. There was a man who had a withered
hand and they asked Him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” that they might
accuse Him. He said to them, “What man is there
among you who has one sheep and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath will not
lay hold of it and pull it out? Of how much more value is a man than a sheep?
So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Yet they kept silent and when He had looked around at them
with anger being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” and he
stretched it out and his hand was restored as whole as the other. Then the
Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the
Herodians against Him how they might destroy Him.
JESUS withdrew with His disciples to the sea, there a
great multitude from Galilee followed Him and from
Judea and Jerusalem and Idumea and beyond the Jordan and those from
Tyre and Sidon, when they heard how many
things He was doing they came to Him. So He told
His disciples that a small boat should be kept ready for Him because of the
multitude lest they should crush Him. Because He healed
many so that as many as had afflictions pressed about Him to touch Him. Unclean
spirits whenever they saw Him fell down before Him and cried out saying, “You are
the Son of GOD.” He sternly warned them that they should not make Him known that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by
Isaiah the prophet saying, “Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen, My
Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased! I will put My Spirit upon Him and
He will declare justice to the Gentiles. He will not quarrel nor cry out nor
will anyone hear His voice in the streets. A bruised reed He will not break and
smoking flax He will not quench till He sends forth justice to victory and in
His name Gentiles will trust.”
Chapter 4
JESUS went up on the mountain and called to Him those He wanted and they came to Him. Then He appointed twelve who He called Apostles that they
might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach and to have power
to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons: Simon to whom He gave the name Peter; Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee and John his brother to whom He gave the name
Boanerges, that is “Sons of Thunder”; Philip; Bartholomew; Matthew; Thomas
called the twin; James the son of Alphaeus; Judas the son of James also called Thaddaeus;
Simon the Cananite called the Zealot; and Judas Iscariot who betrayed Him. Then
they went into a house and He gave them power over unclean spirits to cast them
out and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.
Seeing
the multitudes He went up on a mountain and when He was seated His
disciples came to Him. Then He taught them saying, “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of
Heaven. Blessed are those
who mourn for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who
hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled. Blessed are the
merciful for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see GOD. Blessed are the
peacemakers for they shall be called sons of GOD. Blessed are those
who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you and say all kinds
of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad for
great is your reward in heaven for so they persecuted the prophets who
were before you. Woe to you who are rich for you have received your
consolation. Woe to you who are full for you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh
now for you shall morn and weep. Woe to you when men speak well of you for so
did their fathers to the false prophets.
You are the salt of the earth but if the salt loses its
flavor how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing except to be
thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A
city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket but
on a lamp stand and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before
men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven.
Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets I
did not come to destroy but to fulfill for I tell you the truth, till heaven
and earth pass away not one jot or one tittle will pass from the law until
all is fulfilled. So whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and
teaches men to do so shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven but whoever
does and teaches them he
shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. For I say to you that unless your
righteousness exceeds the
righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees you will by no means
enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You
shall not murder and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ I say to you that whoever is
angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the
judgment and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ (which is translated empty
headed), shall be in danger of the council. But, whoever says, ‘You fool!’
shall be in danger of hell fire.
When you bring your gift to the altar and there remember that
your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, first go and be
reconciled to your brother and then come and offer your gift.
Agree with your adversary quickly while you are on the way
with him or your adversary may deliver you to the judge and the judge hand you
over to the officer and you be thrown into prison. I tell you the truth you will by no
means get out of there until you have paid the last penny.
You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ I say to you that whoever looks at a
woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
If your right eye causes you to sin pluck it out and
cast it from you for
it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish than for your
whole body to be cast into hell. If your right hand causes you to sin cut it off and cast it
from you for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish than
for your whole body to be cast into hell.
Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife
let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason
except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery and whoever
marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.
Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You
shall not swear falsely but shall perform your oaths to GOD.’ I say to you do not swear at all neither by Heaven for it
is GOD’s throne or by the earth for it is His footstool or by Jerusalem for it
is the city of the Great King. You should not swear by your head because you cannot make one
hair white or black. Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No.’ For whatever is
more than these is from the evil one.
You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a
tooth for a tooth.’ I tell you not to resist an evil person but whoever slaps
you on your right cheek turn the other to him. If anyone wants to sue you and take
away your tunic let him have your cloak also. Whoever compels you to go one
mile go with him two. Give to him who asks you and do not turn away from him
who wants to borrow from you.
You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your
neighbor and hate your enemy.’ I say to you love your enemies bless those who curse you do
good to those who hate you and pray for those who spitefully use you and
persecute you that you may be sons of your Father in Heaven. For He makes His
sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the
unjust. For if you love those who love you what reward do you have? Do
not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet your brethren only what do you do more
than others? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? So you should be perfect just as
your Father in Heaven is perfect.
Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men to
be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in Heaven. When
you do a charitable deed do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do
in the synagogues and in the streets that they may have glory from men. I tell
you the truth they have their reward. When you do a charitable deed do not let your left hand know
what your right hand is doing that your charitable deed may be in secret and your Father who
sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
When you pray you should not be like the hypocrites. For
they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets
that they may be seen by men. I tell you the truth they have their reward. When you pray go into your room
and when you have shut your door pray to your Father who is in the secret place and your Father who sees
in secret will reward you openly. When you pray do not use vain
repetitions as the heathen do for
they think that they will be heard for their many words so do not be like them.
Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. So pray in this manner: ‘Our Father in Heaven
Holy is Your name, Your Kingdom come Your will be done in
earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our sins as we forgive
those who sin against us. Do not let us be led into temptation but deliver
us from the evil one. For Yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory
forever. Amen.’
Moreover when you fast do not be like the hypocrites with a
sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to
be fasting. I tell you the truth they have their reward. When you fast anoint your head
and wash your face so that you do not appear to men to be fasting but your Father
who sees in the
secret place will reward
you openly.
If you forgive men their sins your heavenly Father will forgive
you. If you do not forgive men their sins
neither will your Father forgive your sins.
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and
rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. Lay up for yourselves
treasures in heaven where neither moth or rust destroys and where thieves do
not break in and steal. For where your treasure is there your heart will be.
No one can serve two masters for either he will hate the one and
love the other or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the
other. You cannot serve GOD and riches.
The lamp of the body is the eye, if your eye is good your
whole body will be full of light. If your eye is bad your whole body will be full of darkness. If
the light that is in you is darkness how great is that darkness?
I say to you do not worry about your life what you will eat
or what you will drink or about your body what you will wear. Is not life more
than food and the body more than clothing?
Look at the birds of the air for they neither sow or reap or gather into
barns yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not more valuable than they?
Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? Why do you
worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field how they grow they
neither toil nor spin and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory
was not arrayed like one of these. If GOD so clothes the grass of the field which today is and tomorrow
is thrown into the oven will He not
much more clothe you, O
you of little faith? Do not worry saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall
we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek and your Heavenly
Father knows that you need all these things. So seek first the Kingdom of GOD and His Righteousness and all these things will be added to
you. Do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about its own things, the troubles of
today are sufficient.
Judge not and you will not be judged for with the judgment you
judge you will be judged and with the measure you use it will be measured
back to you. Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye but do not
consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck
from your eye.’ and look a plank is in
your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye and then you
will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Do not give what is holy to the dogs or cast your pearls before
swine lest they trample them under their feet and turn and tear you to pieces.
Ask until it is given to you, seek until you find it, knock until
it is opened to you. Everyone who asks receives and he who seeks finds and to
him who knocks it will be opened. For what man is there among you who if his son asks for bread
will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish will he give him a serpent? If you then being evil know how
to give good gifts to your children how much more will your Father who is in
Heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
Whatever you want men to do to you do to them, for this is
the Law and the Prophets.
Enter by the narrow gate for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction and there are many who
go in by it. Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life
and there are few who find it.
Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s
clothing but inwardly they are ravenous wolves you will know them by their
fruit. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Even
so every good tree bears good fruit and a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit
neither can a bad
tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown
into the fire. So by their fruit you will know them.
Not everyone who says to Me, ‘LORD, LORD,’ shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven
only he who does the will of My Father in Heaven. Many will say to Me in the last day, ‘LORD, LORD, have we not prophesied in Your
name, cast out demons in Your name and done many wonders in Your name?’ Then I
will declare to them, ‘I never knew you depart from Me you who practice
lawlessness!’
Whoever hears these sayings of Mine and does them I will liken
him to a wise man who built his house on the rock and the rain descended the
floods came and the winds blew and beat on that house and it did not fall for
it was founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these sayings of Mine and does
not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand and the rain descended the floods
came and the winds blew and beat on that house and it fell and great was its
fall.” When JESUS
had ended these sayings the people were astonished at His teaching for He
taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.
When He concluded all His sayings
in the hearing of the people He entered Capernaum. A certain Centurion’s
servant who was dear to him was sick and ready to die, so when he heard about JESUS
he sent elders of the Jews to Him pleading with Him to come and heal his
servant. When they came to JESUS they begged Him earnestly saying that the one
for whom He should do this was deserving, “For he loves our nation and has
built us a synagogue.” Then JESUS went with them and when He was not far from
the house the Centurion sent friends to Him saying, “LORD, do not
trouble Yourself for I am not worthy that You should enter under my
roof. Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You.
Just say the word and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man
placed under authority having soldiers under me and I say to one, ‘Go,’
and he goes and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes and to my servant, ‘Do this,’
and he does it.” When JESUS
heard these words He marveled at him and turned around and said to the crowd
that followed Him, “I tell you I have not
found such great faith, not even in Israel! I say to you many will come from
east and west and sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of
Heaven but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness and
there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Then JESUS said to the Centurion’s
friends, “Go your way, as you believed so it is
done.” Those who were sent returning to the house found the servant was
well.
Now it happened the next day that He went to a city called
Nain and many of His disciples and a large crowd went with Him. When He
came near the gate of the city a dead man was being carried out the only son of
his mother, a widow. A large crowd from the city was with her and when the LORD saw her
He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do
not weep.” Then He came and touched the open coffin and those who
carried him stood
still. JESUS said, “Young man I tell you to
arise.” Then he who was dead sat up and began to speak and JESUS
presented him to his mother. Then fear came upon all and they glorified GOD
saying, “A great prophet has risen up among us.” and, “GOD has
visited His people.” this report about Him went throughout all Judea and
the surrounding region.
The disciples of John reported to
him concerning all these things and John calling two of his disciples to him sent them to JESUS saying, “Are
You the coming One or do we look for another?” When the men had come to JESUS
they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You saying, ‘Are You the coming One
or do we look for another?’” That very hour He cured many of infirmities,
afflictions and evil spirits and to many blind He gave sight. So JESUS said to
them, “Go and tell John the things you have
seen and heard that the blind see the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised and the poor have the gospel
preached to them. Blessed is he who
is not
offended because of
Me.”
When the messengers of John had
departed JESUS began to speak to the multitudes concerning John, “What did you go
out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? What did you go
out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed those who are gorgeously
appareled and live in luxury are in kings’ courts. So what did you
go out to see? A prophet? Yes I say to you and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written;
‘Behold! I send My messenger before Your face who will prepare Your way before
You.’ For I say to you among those born of women there is not
a greater prophet than John the Baptist yet he who is least in the
Kingdom of GOD is greater than he.”
When all the people heard Him even the tax collectors
justified GOD
having been baptized with the baptism of John. The Pharisees and lawyers rejected
the will of GOD
for themselves not having been baptized by him. The LORD
said, “To what then shall I liken the men of
this generation and what are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and
calling to one another saying, ‘We played the flute for you and you did not dance; we
mourned to you and you did not weep.’ For John the Baptist
came neither eating bread or drinking wine and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man has come eating
and drinking and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax
collectors and sinners!’ But Wisdom is justified by all her children.”
Then He
began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done
because they did not repent: “Woe to you
Chorazin! Woe to you Bethsaida! If the mighty works which were done in you had
been done in Tyre and Sidon they would have repented long ago in sackcloth
and ashes. I say to you it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon
in the Day of Judgment than for you. And you Capernaum, who are exalted to Heaven will
be brought down to hell for if the mighty works which were done in you had
been done in Sodom it would have remained until this day. I say to
you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the Day of
Judgment than for you.
I thank You Father, LORD of Heaven and earth that You have hidden these things
from the wise and
prudent and have revealed them to babes for so it seemed good in Your
sight. All things have been delivered to Me by My Father and no one knows the
Son except the Father. Neither does anyone know the Father except the Son
and the one to whom
the Son wills to reveal Him.
Come to Me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will
give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me for I
am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is
light.”
Later one
was brought to Him who was demon-possessed blind and mute and He healed him so
that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. All the multitudes were
amazed and said, “Could this be the Son of David?” When the Pharisees
heard it they said,
“This fellow does not cast
out demons except by Beelzebub the ruler of the demons.” JESUS knew their
thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom
divided against itself is brought to desolation and every city or house divided
against itself will not stand. If Satan casts out Satan he is divided against himself.
How then will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub by whom do your
sons cast them out?
They shall be your judges. So if I cast out demons by the Spirit of GOD truly the Kingdom of GOD has come to you. Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and
plunder his goods unless he first binds the strong man? Then he will plunder
his house.
He who is not with Me is against Me and he who does not gather
with Me scatters abroad. I say to you every sin and blasphemy will be
forgiven men, only the blasphemy against the
Holy Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son
of Man it will be forgiven him, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit
it will not be forgiven him either in this age or in the age to come.” He said this because they said, “He cast out demons
by Beelzebub.
When He saw the multitudes JESUS was moved with compassion for them
because they were weary and scattered like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful but the laborers are few. So
pray the LORD of the harvest to send out laborers into
His harvest.
Either make the tree good
and its fruit good or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for a tree
is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! How can you
being evil speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the
mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings
forth good things and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings
forth evil things. I say to you that for every idle word men may speak they
will give account of it in the Day of Judgment. For by your words you will be
justified and by your words you will be condemned.”
Then some
of the scribes and Pharisees said, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”
He said to them, “An evil and adulterous
generation seeks after a sign and no sign will be given to it except the sign
of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly
of the great fish so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the
heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this
generation and condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah
and indeed a greater than Jonah is here. The queen of the
South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it for she
came from the ends of the earth to hear the Wisdom of Solomon and indeed a
greater than Solomon is here.
When an unclean spirit goes out of a man it goes through
dry places seeking rest and finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which
I came.’ When it comes and finds it empty swept and put in order it goes and
takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself and they enter and
dwell there and the last state of
that man is worse than the first. So shall it be with this wicked generation.”
While He
was still talking to the multitudes His mother and brothers stood outside
seeking to speak with Him. Then one said to Him, “Look, Your mother and
Your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak with You.” He asked,
“Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” He stretched out His hand toward His
disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My
brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and
sister and mother.”
Chapter 5
Another
day when JESUS saw great multitudes about Him He gave a command to depart to
the other side of the lake. Then a scribe came and said to Him, “Teacher,
I will follow You wherever You go.” JESUS said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests but the Son of Man
has nowhere to lay His head.”
Then another of His disciples said to Him, “LORD, let me first go and bury my father.” JESUS
said to him, “Follow Me and let the dead bury their
own dead.”
When they
had left the multitude they got in the boat and other little boats were also
with them. A great windstorm arose and the waves beat into the boat so
that it was already filling. JESUS was in the stern asleep on a pillow and
they woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher do You not care that we are
perishing?” He
rose and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace be
still!” then the wind ceased and there was a great calm. He
said to them, “Why are you so fearful?
How is it that you have no
faith?” Then they were greatly afraid and said to one another, “Who
can this be that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”
Then they
came to the other side of the sea to the country of the Gadarenes. When He had
come out of the boat immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with
an unclean spirit who had his dwelling
among the tombs and no one could bind him not even with chains. He had often
been bound with shackles and chains and the chains had been pulled apart by him
and the shackles broken in pieces neither could anyone tame him. Always
night and day he was in the mountains and in the tombs crying out and cutting
himself with stones.
When he
saw JESUS he ran and worshiped Him. JESUS said to him, “Come out of the man unclean spirit!” and he
cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You JESUS, Son of
the Most High GOD? I implore You by GOD that You
do not torment me.” Then JESUS asked him, “What is your name?” and he
answered, “My name is Legion
for we are many.” he begged JESUS earnestly that He would not send them
out of the country. A large herd of swine was feeding near the mountains, and all
the demons begged Him saying, “Send us to the swine that we may enter
them.” At once JESUS gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went
out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran
violently down the steep place into the sea and drowned. So those who fed the
swine fled and they told it in
the city and in the country and they went out to see what it was that had
happened. They came to JESUS and saw the one who had been demon possessed
and had the legion sitting clothed and in his right mind. They were afraid and
those who had seen it told them how JESUS had cat the demons out of him who had
been demon possessed and how they entered the swine. Then they began to
plead with JESUS to depart from their region. When He got into the boat he who
had been demon possessed begged Him that he might go with Him. However JESUS
did not permit him but said to him, “Go home
to your friends and tell them what great things GOD has done for you and how He has had compassion on you.” Then he departed and began to proclaim in
Decapolis all that JESUS had done for him and all marveled.
When JESUS
had crossed back over by boat to the other side a great multitude gathered to
Him. Then one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name, and
when he saw JESUS he fell at His feet and begged Him earnestly saying, “My
little daughter lies at the point of death come and lay Your hands on her
that she may be healed and she will live.” So JESUS went with him and a great multitude followed Him and
thronged Him. A certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve
years and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all
that she had and was no better but rather grew worse. When she heard about JESUS
she came behind Him in
the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, “If only I may touch His
clothes I will be made well.” Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried
up and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. JESUS
immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him turned
around in the crowd and said, “Who touched Me?”
His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You and You
ask, ‘Who touched Me?’” He looked
around to see her who had done it, the woman fearing and trembling knowing what
had happened to her came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole
truth. Then He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well go in peace and be healed of
your affliction.”
While He
was still speaking some came
from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who
said, “Your daughter is dead why trouble the Teacher any further?” As soon
as JESUS heard what was said, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid only believe.” JESUS permitted
no one to follow Him except Peter, James and his brother John. Then He
came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue and saw a tumult and those
who wept and wailed loudly. When He came in He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead
only sleeping.” and they ridiculed Him. When He had put them
all outside He took the father and the mother of the child and those who were
with Him and entered where the child was
lying. Then He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl I say to you arise.” Immediately the
girl arose and walked for she was twelve years of age. They were overcome with
great amazement. He commanded them strictly that no one should know it and
said that something should be given her to eat.
When JESUS
departed from there two blind men followed Him crying out and
saying, “Son of David have mercy on us!” and when He had come into the
house the blind men came to Him. JESUS said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They
said to Him, “Yes LORD.” then He touched their eyes saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.” their
eyes were opened and JESUS sternly warned them saying, “See
that no one knows it.” When
they had departed they spread the news about Him in all that country.
Then He
went out from there and came to His own country and His disciples followed
Him. When the Sabbath had come He began to teach in the synagogue and many
hearing Him were astonished
saying, “Where did this
Man get these things
and what wisdom is this
which is given to Him that such mighty works are performed by His
hands? Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary and brother of
James, Joses, Judas, and Simon and are not
His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him then JESUS said to
them, “A prophet is not without honor except
in his own country among his own relatives and in his own house.” He
could do no mighty work there except that He laid His hands on a few sick
people and healed them. He
marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a
circuit teaching.
JESUS called
His twelve disciples and gave them power over unclean spirits to cast them out
and to heal all kinds of sicknesses and disease. Then He sent them out in pairs
and commanded them saying, “Do not go into the
way of the Gentiles and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. Go rather to
the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go preach saying, ‘The
Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the
dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received freely give. Provide neither
gold or silver or copper in your money belts, or bag for your journey, or two tunics, or
sandals, or staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food. Whatever city or
town you enter inquire who in it is worthy and stay there till you go out. When you go into
a household greet it, if the household is worthy let your peace come upon
it. If it is not worthy let your peace return to you, whoever will not
receive you or hear your words when you depart from that house or
city shake off the dust from your feet. I tell you the truth it will
be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the Day of Judgment
than for that city! I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Be
wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Beware of men for they
will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be
brought before governors and kings for My sake as a testimony to them and to
the Gentiles. When they deliver you up do not
worry about how or what you should speak. It will be given to you in that hour
what you should speak; for it is not you who speak but the Spirit of your Father
who speaks in you. Brother will deliver up brother to death and a father his child and children will rise
up against parents and cause them to be put to death. You will be hated by all
for My name’s sake only he who endures to the end will be saved. When they
persecute you in this city flee to another, truthfully I say to you, you will
not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. A
disciple is not above his teacher neither a servant above his master. It is enough for
a disciple that he is like his teacher and a servant like his master.
If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub how much
more will they call those
of his household! Do not fear them, for there is nothing covered that will not
be revealed and hidden that will not be made known. Whatever I tell you in the
dark speak in the light and what you hear in the ear preach on the
housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.
Rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not
two sparrows sold for a copper coin, and not one of them falls to the
ground apart from your Father’s will? The very hairs of your head are all numbered do not fear
because you are of more value than many sparrows.
Whoever confesses Me before men him I will confess before
My Father who is in Heaven. Whoever denies Me before men him I will deny before My Father
who is in Heaven. Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not
come to bring peace but a sword, I have come to set a man against his father, a
daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
and a man’s enemies will be those of his own household. He who loves father or mother more
than Me is not worthy of Me and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is
not worthy of Me. He who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not
worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it and he who loses his life for
My sake will find it. He who receives you receives Me and he who receives Me
receives Him who sent Me. He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive
a prophet’s reward. He who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous
man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. Whoever gives one of these little
ones only a cup of cold water in
the name of a disciple truly I say to you he will by no means lose his reward.”
Then they departed and went through
the towns preaching that men should repent they cast out many demons and
anointing with oil healed many. When JESUS
finished commanding His twelve disciples He departed from there to teach and to
preach in their cities.
To all
the evils Herod had done he added this above all for He had sent John to prison
for the sake of Herodias; his brother Philip’s wife; for he had married her. John
had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
Therefore Herodias held it against him and wanted to kill him but she could
not for Herod feared John knowing that he was a just and holy man, so he
protected him and listened to him whenever he could.
Then an
opportune day came when Herod on his birthday gave a feast for his nobles,
the high officers and the chief men of
Galilee. When Herodias’ daughter herself came in and danced and pleased
Herod and those who sat with him the king said to the girl, “Ask me for
whatever you want and I will give it to
you.” He swore to her, “Whatever you ask me I will give you up to
half my kingdom.” So she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?”
her mother said, “The head of John the Baptist!” Immediately the girl came in
to the king saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist
on a platter.” The king was exceedingly sorry yet because of the oaths and because of those who sat with
him he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent an executioner and
commanded John’s head to be brought. So they beheaded John in prison
and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl and the girl
gave it to her mother. When John’s disciples heard of it they came
and took away his corpse and laid it in a tomb and went and told JESUS.
Then the
apostles returned to JESUS and told Him everything that they had done and what
they had taught. He said to them, “Come
aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there
were many people coming and going and they did not even have time to
eat. So they departed to a deserted place belonging to the city of
Bethsaidia in the boat by themselves.
The
multitudes saw them departing and many knew where and ran there on foot.
The multitudes arrived before them and JESUS when He came out saw a great
multitude and was moved with compassion for them because they were
like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them about the
Kingdom of GOD
and healed those who needed healing. When the day was far spent His
disciples came to Him and said, “This is a deserted place and already the
hour is late. Send
them away that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy
bread for themselves for they have nothing to eat.” He said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They said to Him,
“Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?” He said to
them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and
see.” When they found out Simon Peter said, “There is a lad here
who has five loves and two small fish, but what is that among so many?” Then JESUS
commanded them to make the people all sit down in groups on the green grass. So
they sat down in groups in hundreds and fifties. When JESUS had taken the five
loaves and the two fish He looked up to heaven blessed and broke the
loaves and gave them to
His disciples to set before the people and the two fish He divided among them
all. So they all ate and were filled and they took up twelve baskets full of
fragments of bread and fish. Those who had eaten the loaves were about
five thousand men besides women and children.
Chapter 6
Immediately
JESUS made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side
while He sent the multitudes away. When He had sent the multitudes away He
went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came He was there
alone and the boat was now in the middle of the sea tossed by the waves for the
wind was contrary. In the fourth watch of the night (just before dawn) JESUS went
to them walking on the sea, when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea they
were troubled saying, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out for fear. Immediately
JESUS spoke to them, “Be of good cheer! It
is I do not be afraid.” Peter said, “LORD, if it is You command me to come to You on the
water.” So JESUS said, “Come.” and when
Peter had climbed out of the boat he walked on the water to go to JESUS. When
Peter saw that the wind was boisterous he was afraid and beginning to sink he
cried out, “LORD
save me!” Immediately JESUS stretched out His hand
and caught him and said to him, “O you
of little faith why did you doubt?” When
they got into the boat the wind ceased then those who were in the boat came and
worshipped JESUS saying, “Truly You are the Son of GOD.”
When they had crossed over they
came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there. When they came out of
the boat immediately the people recognized Him and ran through that whole
surrounding region and began to carry about on beds those who were sick to wherever
they heard He was, wherever He entered into villages, cities, or the country. They
laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged Him that they might just
touch the hem of His garment and as many as touched Him were made well.
The
people who were standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no
other boat there beside the one which His disciples had entered and that JESUS
had not entered the boat with His disciples but that His disciples had gone
away alone. However other boats came from Tiberias near the place where they
ate the bread that JESUS had given thanks for. When the people saw that JESUS
was not there or His disciples they got into boats and came to Capernaum
seeking JESUS. When they found Him on the other side of the sea they said
to Him, “Rabbi, when did You come here?” JESUS said to them, “Truthfully you seek Me not because you saw the signs but
because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not labor for the food which
perishes but for the food which endures to everlasting life which the Son
of Man will give you because GOD the Father has set His seal on Him.” Then they said to Him, “What shall we do that we
may work the works of GOD?” JESUS answered them, “This is the work of GOD that you believe in Him whom He sent.” They said to Him, “What sign will You perform
then that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do? Our
fathers ate the manna in the desert as it is written, ‘He gave them bread
from heaven to eat.’” Then JESUS said, “Truthfully,
I say to you Moses did not give you the bread from Heaven but My Father
gives you the true bread from Heaven. The bread of GOD is He who comes down from Heaven and gives life to the world.” Then
they said to Him, “LORD give us this bread always.” JESUS
answered, “I am the Bread of Life. He who
comes to Me shall never hunger and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. I said to you
that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. All that the
Father gives Me will come to Me and the one who comes to Me I will by
no means cast out. I have come down from Heaven not to do My own
will but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of the Father who sent Me that of all He
has given Me I should lose nothing but should raise it up at the last day. This is the will
of Him who sent Me that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have
everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day.”
The Jews
then complained about Him because He said, “I
am the bread which came down from Heaven.” They said, “Is this not JESUS
the son of Joseph whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says,
‘I have come down from Heaven’?” JESUS
answered them, “Do not murmur among yourselves. No one can come
to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him and I will raise him up at
the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be
taught by GOD.’ So that everyone who has
heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. Not that anyone has seen the Father
except He who is from GOD, He has seen the Father. Truly I say to you he who
believes in Me has everlasting life. I am the Bread of Life. Your fathers ate the manna in the
wilderness and are dead. This is the Bread which comes down from Heaven that one may eat
of it and not die. I am the living Bread which came down from Heaven. If
anyone eats of this Bread he will live forever and the Bread that I give
is My flesh which I shall give for the life of the world.” The Jews
quarreled among themselves saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?” Then JESUS
said, “Truthfully I say to you unless you
eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood you have no life in you.
Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life and I will raise him
up at the last day. My flesh is food indeed and My blood
is drink indeed. He who eats My
flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me and I in him. As the living Father
sent Me and I live because of the Father so he who feeds on Me will live
because of Me. This is the Bread which came down from Heaven not as
your fathers ate the manna and are dead. He who eats this Bread will live
forever.” These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in
Capernaum.
Then many
of His disciples when they heard this said,
“This is a hard saying who can understand it?” When JESUS knew in Himself that His disciples
complained about this He said to them, “Does
this offend you? What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where
He was before? It is the Spirit who gives life the flesh profits
nothing. The Words that I speak to you are Spirit and they are Life. There are some
of you who do not believe.” For JESUS knew from the beginning
who they were who did not believe and who would betray Him. He said, “I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it
has been granted to him by My Father.” From that time many of His disciples went
back and walked with Him no more. Then JESUS said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” Simon Peter
answered, “LORD
to whom shall we go? You have the Words of eternal life. We have come
to believe and know that You are the CHRIST the Son of the living GOD.” JESUS
said to them, “Did I not choose you the twelve and one of you
is a devil?” He spoke of Judas Iscariot the son of
Simon for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve. After these things JESUS walked in Galilee for He did not want to walk
in Judea because the Jews sought to kill Him.
Then the
Pharisees and some of the scribes came to Him having come from
Jerusalem. When they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled,
that is with unwashed hands, they found fault. For the Pharisees and
all the religious Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way holding the tradition of the
elders. When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash
and there are many other things which they have received and do like the
washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels and couches. Then the Pharisees and
scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition
of the elders but eat bread with unwashed hands?” JESUS answered them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites as it is
written: ‘This people honor Me with their lips but their
heart is far from Me. In vain they worship Me teaching as doctrines the
commandments of men.’ For laying aside the commandment of GOD you hold the tradition of men the washing of pitchers and cups
and many other such things.”
He continued, “All too well you reject the commandment of GOD that you may keep your tradition. For Moses said, ‘Honor
your father and your mother’ and, ‘He who curses father or mother let
him be put to death.’ You say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother,
“Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban”’ (that is a gift to GOD), then you no
longer let him do anything for his father or his mother making the word
of GOD of no effect through your tradition which you have handed
down and many other things you do.” When He had called the multitude to Himself He said to them, “Hear
Me everyone and understand there is nothing that enters a man from outside
which can defile him but the things which come out of him, those are the things
that defile a man. If anyone has ears to hear let him hear!”
When He
had entered a house away from the crowd Peter asked Him concerning the
parable. So He said, “Are you still without
understanding? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside
cannot defile him because it does not enter his heart but his stomach and
is eliminated, thus purifying
all foods? What comes out of a man that
defiles a man. From within out of the heart of men proceed evil
thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness,
wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride,
foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”
Then His disciples said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended
when they heard this saying?” He said, “Every plant
which My Heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone
they are blind leaders of the blind and if the blind leads the blind both will
fall into a ditch.”
Then JESUS
went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A
Syro-Phoenician woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him
saying, “Have mercy on me O LORD, Son of David! My daughter is severely
demon-possessed.” He did not say a word so His disciples came and urged Him
saying, “Send her away for she cries out after us.” He said
to her, “I was not sent except to the lost
sheep of the house of Israel.” Then she came and worshiped Him saying,
“LORD,
help me!” He
answered, “It is not good to take the
children’s bread and throw it to
the little dogs.” She said, “Yes LORD, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which
fall from their masters’ table.” Then JESUS said to her, “Woman great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” and
her daughter was healed from that very hour.
Departing
from the region of Tyre and Sidon He came through the midst of the region of
Decapolis to the Sea of Galilee. Then they brought to Him one who was
deaf and had an impediment in his speech and they begged Him to put His hand on
him. He took him aside from the multitude and put His fingers in his ears
and He spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven He
sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that
is, “Be opened.” Immediately his ears
were opened and the impediment of his tongue was loosed and he spoke plainly.
Then He commanded them that they should tell no one yet the more He
commanded them the more widely they proclaimed it. They were astonished beyond measure saying, “He has
done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”
Now Herod
the tetrarch heard of all that was done by JESUS and he was perplexed because
some said that John the Baptist had risen from the dead, some said that Elijah
had appeared and others said that one of the prophets of old had risen from the
dead. Herod said, “John I have beheaded so who is this of whom I hear such
things?” So he tried to see him.
Chapter
7
JESUS departed from there skirted the Sea of Galilee and went up on the mountain and
sat down there. Then great multitudes came to Him having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others and they laid them
down at JESUS’ feet and He healed them. So the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking and the blind seeing and they glorified the GOD of Israel.
In those
days the multitude being very great and having nothing to eat JESUS called
His disciples to Him and said to them, “I have compassion on the multitude because they have
continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them
away hungry to their own houses they will faint on the way for some of them
have come from far away.” Then His disciples asked Him, “How can one
satisfy these people with bread here in the wilderness?” He asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven.”
So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. He took the seven
loaves and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples to set before the people. They
also had a few small fish and having blessed them, He said to set them
also before the people. So
they ate and were filled and they took up seven large baskets of leftover
fragments. Those who had eaten were about four thousand men besides women
and children. Then He sent them away and immediately got into the boat
with His disciples and came to the region of Dalmanutha, also called Magdala.
Then the
Pharisees came out and began to dispute with Him seeking from Him a sign from
heaven testing Him. He sighed deeply in His
Spirit and said, “When it is evening
you say, ‘It will be fair weather for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘it
will be foul weather today for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You
know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of
the times. A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign. Truthfully I
say to you no sign shall be given to this generation except the sign of
the prophet Jonah.” He left them and getting into the boat again
departed to the other side, the disciples had forgotten to take bread and they
did not have more than one loaf with them in the boat. Then He charged them
saying, “Take heed beware of the leaven
of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”
So they reasoned among themselves,
“It is because we have no bread.” JESUS
being aware of it said
to them, “Why do you reason because you have
no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Is your heart still hardened? Having eyes do
you not see? Having ears do you not hear? Do you not remember? When I broke the
five loaves for the five thousand how many baskets full of fragments did you
take up?” They said, “Twelve.” “When I broke
the seven for the four thousand how many large baskets full of fragments did
you take up?” They said, “Seven.” So He said to them, “How is it you do not
understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread but to beware of the leaven of the
Pharisees and Sadducees?” Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread but of the doctrine of the
Pharisees and Sadducees.
Then He
came to Bethsaida and they brought a blind man to Him and begged Him
to touch him. So 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 on him He
asked him if he saw anything. He looked up and said, “I see men like trees
walking.” Then He put His hands
on his eyes again and made him look up and he was restored and saw everyone
clearly. Then He sent him away to his house saying, “Neither go into the town nor tell anyone in the town.”
When JESUS
came into the region of Caesarea Philippi He asked His disciples, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” So
they said, “Some say John
the Baptist some Elijah and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He
said to them, “Who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the CHRIST, the Son of the living GOD.” JESUS
said to him, “Blessed are you Simon
Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you but My Father
who is in heaven. I say to you that you are Peter; on this rock I
will build My Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. I will give you the
keys of the Kingdom of Heaven and whatever you bind on earth will be bound
in Heaven and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in Heaven.” Then
He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was JESUS the CHRIST. He began
to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected
by the elders, chief priests, scribes and be killed and after three days
rise again, He spoke this word openly. Then Peter took Him aside and began to
rebuke Him, when He had turned around and looked at His disciples He rebuked
Peter saying, “Get behind Me Satan! For you
are not mindful of the things of GOD but the things of men.”
When He
had called the people to Himself along
with His disciples He said to them, “Whoever
desires to come after Me let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and
follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it
but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it
profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what will a
man give in exchange for his soul? Whoever is ashamed of Me and My Words
in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed
when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” He said to them, “Truly I say to
you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the Kingdom of GOD present with power.”
After six
days JESUS took Peter, James and John and led them up on a high mountain apart
by themselves to pray. As JESUS prayed He was transfigured before them the
appearance of His face was altered and His clothes became shining
exceedingly white like snow such as no launderer on earth can whiten
them. Elijah and Moses appeared in glory to them and they were talking
with JESUS about His impending death; which He was to accomplish at Jerusalem. Peter
and those with him were heavy with sleep but as Moses and Elijah were departing
they came fully awake and Peter said to JESUS, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be
here let us make three tabernacles one for You one for Moses and one for
Elijah”, because he did not know what to say for they were greatly afraid.
A bright cloud came overshadowing them and a voice came out of the cloud
saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” When the disciples
heard it they fell on
their faces and were greatly afraid. JESUS came and touched them and said,
“Rise and do not be afraid.” When they had
lifted up their eyes they saw no one but JESUS. As they came down from the
mountain JESUS commanded them saying, “Tell
the vision to no one until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.” So
they kept this word to themselves questioning what the rising from the dead
meant. They asked Him, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come
first?” He answered, “Indeed Elijah is coming
first and restores all things. How is it written concerning the Son of Man,
that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt? I say to you
that Elijah has come and they did to him whatever they wished as it is
written of him.” Then they understood that He spoke to them of John the
Baptist.
When they
came down from the mountain to the disciples JESUS saw a great multitude around
them and scribes disputing with them. Immediately when they saw Him all
the people were greatly amazed and ran to greet Him. He asked the scribes,
“What are you discussing with them?” Then one
of the crowd answered, “Teacher I brought You my son who is an
epileptic and suffers severely it throws him down, he foams at the mouth,
gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. So I told Your disciples that they should
cast it out but they could not.” JESUS said, “O
faithless generation how long shall I be
with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.” Then
they brought him to JESUS and when he saw JESUS immediately the spirit
convulsed him and he fell on the ground and wallowed foaming at the mouth. So
He asked his father, “How long has this been
happening to him?” He said, “From childhood and often he has thrown him
both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. If You can do anything
have compassion on us and help us.” JESUS said to him, “If
you can believe, all things are possible
to him who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and
said with tears, “LORD I believe help my unbelief!” JESUS rebuked
the unclean spirit saying to it, “Deaf and
dumb spirit I command you come out of him and enter him no more!” Then the spirit cried out convulsed him greatly and came out of him
and he became as one dead so that many said, “He is dead.” JESUS took him by
the hand and lifted him up and he rose up and they were all amazed at the
majesty of GOD.
While
everyone marveled at all the things which JESUS did when He had come into the
house His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” He
said to them, “Because of your unbelief, truly
I tell you if you have faith as a mustard seed you will say to this mountain,
‘Move from here to there’ and it will move and nothing will be impossible for
you. But this kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”
He said to His disciples, “Let these words sink
down into your ears for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands
of men.” They did not understand this saying and it was hidden from
them so that they did not perceive it and they were afraid to ask Him about
this saying.
When they
had come to Capernaum those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, “Does your Teacher not
pay the temple tax?” He said, “Yes.”
When he had come into the house JESUS anticipated him saying, “What do you think Simon? From whom do the kings of the
earth take customs or taxes from their sons or from strangers?” Peter
said to Him, “From strangers.” JESUS said, “Then
the sons are free. Nevertheless lest we offend them go to the sea cast in a
hook and take the fish that comes up first. When you open its mouth you will
find a piece of money take that and give it to them for Me and you.”
When He was in the house He asked
them, “What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?” They kept silent for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest. He sat down called the twelve and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first he shall be last
of all and servant of all.” Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. When
He had taken him in His arms He said to them, “Whoever
humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven
and whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me and whoever
receives Me receives not just Me but Him who sent Me. Whoever causes one of
these little ones who believe in Me to sin it would be better for him if a
millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depth of the
sea. Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones for I
say to you that in Heaven their angels always see the face of My
Father who is in Heaven. For the Son of Man has come to save that which
was lost.
What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them
goes astray does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek
the one that is straying? If he should find it truly I say to you he rejoices more over that
sheep than over the
ninety-nine that did not go astray. Even so it is not the will of your
Father who is in Heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come but
woe to that man by whom the offense comes! If your hand causes you to sin cut
it off, it is better for you to enter into life maimed rather than having
two hands and go to hell fire where ‘Their worm does not die and the fire
is not quenched.’ If your foot causes you to sin cut it off, it is better for
you to enter life lame rather than having two feet to be cast into hell fire
where ‘Their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ If your eye
causes you to sin pluck it out, it is better for you to enter the Kingdom of GOD with one eye rather than having two eyes to be cast
into hell fire where ‘Their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ Everyone will be seasoned
with fire and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. Salt is good yet if the salt loses its flavor how will you
season it? Have salt in yourselves and have peace with one another.
Moreover if your brother sins against you go and tell him his
fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your
brother. If he will not hear you take with you one or two more that ‘by
the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ If he
refuses to hear them tell it to
the church and if he refuses even to hear the church let him be like
a heathen and a tax collector.
Truly I say to you whatever you bind on earth will be bound in
heaven and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth
concerning anything that they ask it will be done for them by My Father in
heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name I
am there 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, up to seven times?” JESUS said, “I
do not say up to seven times but up to seventy times seven. The Kingdom of
Heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
When he had begun to settle accounts one was brought to him who owed him ten
thousand talents. He was not able to pay so his master commanded that he
be sold with his wife and children and all that he had and that payment be
made. The
servant then fell down before him saying, ‘Master, have patience with me and I
will pay you all!’ Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion
released him and forgave him the debt. Then that servant went out and found one
of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii and he laid hands on him
and took him by the
throat saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and
begged him saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will pay you all!’ But he
would not and went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. So
when his fellow servants saw what had been done they were very grieved and came
and told their master all that had been done. Then his master after he had called him said to him, ‘You
wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you
not also have had compassion on your fellow servant just as I had pity on you?’
His master was angry and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all
that was due to him. My Heavenly Father will do the same to you if each of you
from his heart does not forgive his brother his sins.”
John
said, “Master we saw someone casting out demons in your name and we told him to
stop because he is not with us.” JESUS said, “Do
not forbid him for whoever is not against us is on our side. For no one can
work a miracle in My name and soon afterward speak evil of Me. For whoever
gives you a cup of water in My name because you belong to CHRIST, truly I tell
you he will by no means lose his reward.”
It
happened as they journeyed on the road that someone said to Him, “LORD, I will follow You wherever You go.” JESUS said to
him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have
nests but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” To another JESUS
said, “Follow Me.” But he said, “LORD, let me
first go and bury my father.” JESUS said, “Let the
dead bury their own dead but you go and preach the Kingdom of GOD.” Another
said, “LORD, I
will follow You but let me first go and bid farewell to those who are at my
house.” JESUS
said to him, “No one having put his hand to
the plow and looking back is fit for the Kingdom of GOD.”
Chapter 8
The Jews’
Feast of Tabernacles was at hand and his brothers said to Him, “Go to Judea so
that Your disciples may see the works that You are doing. Because no one does
anything in secret while he seeks to be known openly. If You do these things
show Yourself to the world.” for even His brothers did not believe in Him.
Then JESUS said to them, “My time has not yet
come but your time is always ready. The world cannot hate you but it hates Me because I
testify of it that its works are evil. You go up to this feast I am not going up yet for My time
has not fully come.” When He said these things to them He remained
in Galilee.
When His
brothers had gone up then He went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were
in secret. Then the people sought Him at the feast and said, “Where
is He?” There was much complaining among the people concerning
Him. Some said, “He is good” others said, “No, on the contrary He deceives
the people.” However no one spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews. Now
about the middle of the feast JESUS went up into the temple
and taught. The Jews marveled saying, “How does this Man know letters
having never studied?”
JESUS
said, “My doctrine is not Mine but His who
sent Me. If anyone wills to do His will he shall know concerning the doctrine
whether it is from GOD or whether I speak on My own authority. He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory but He
who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true and no
unrighteousness is in Him. Did not Moses give you the law yet none of you keeps the
law? Why do you seek to kill Me?” The people said, “You have a demon who is seeking to kill You?” JESUS
answered, “I did one work and you all marvel.
Moses gave you circumcision not that it is from Moses but from the fathers
and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the
law of Moses should not be broken are you angry with Me because I made a
man completely well on the Sabbath? Do not judge according to appearance but
judge with righteous judgment.”
Some of
them from Jerusalem said, “Is this not He whom they seek to kill? Look! He
speaks boldly and they say nothing to Him. Do the rulers know that this is
truly the CHRIST? However we know where this Man is from yet when the CHRIST
comes no one will know where He is from.”
Then JESUS
cried out as He taught in the temple saying, “You
both know Me and you know where I am from, I have not come of Myself but
He who sent Me, whom you do not know. is true, I know Him for I
am from Him and He sent Me.”
Then they
sought to take Him yet no one laid a hand on Him because His hour had not
yet come. Many of the people believed in Him and said, “When the CHRIST
comes will He do more signs than these which this Man has done?” The Pharisees
heard the crowd murmuring these things concerning Him and the Pharisees and the
chief priests sent officers to take Him. Then JESUS said to them, “I shall be with you a little while longer and then I go
to Him who sent Me. You will seek Me and not find Me and where I am
you cannot come.” Then the Jews said among themselves, “Where does
He intend to go that we shall not find Him? Does He intend to go to the
Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? What is this thing that
He said, ‘You will seek Me and not find Me and
where I am you cannot come’?”
Then the
officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees who said to them, “Why have
you not brought Him?” The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this
Man!” Then the Pharisees answered them, “Are you deceived? Have any of the
rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him? This crowd that does not know the law
is accursed.” Nicodemus; he who came to JESUS by night being one of them;
said to them, “Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what
he is doing?” They
answered him, “Are you from Galilee? Search and look for no prophet has
arisen out of Galilee.” Then everyone went to his own house and JESUS went to
the Mount of Olives.
On the
last day, that great day of
the feast, JESUS stood and cried out saying, “If
anyone thirsts let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has
said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” This
He spoke concerning the Spirit whom those believing in Him would receive; for
the Holy Spirit was not yet given because
JESUS was not yet glorified. Then many from the crowd when they heard this
saying said, “Truly this is the Prophet.” Others said, “This is the CHRIST.”
Some said, “Will the CHRIST come out of Galilee? Has not the Scripture
said that the CHRIST comes from the seed of David and from the town of
Bethlehem where David was?” So there was a division among the
people because of Him. Some of them wanted to take Him yet no one laid
hands on Him.
Early in
the morning He came again into the temple and all the people came to Him and He
sat down and taught them. Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to
Him a woman caught in adultery. When they had set her in the midst they
said to Him, “Teacher this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Moses
in the law commanded us that such should be stoned. What do You say?” This they
said testing Him that they might have something of which to accuse Him. JESUS stooped down and
wrote on the ground with His finger as though He did not hear. So when they
continued asking Him He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you throw the first stone at
her.” Again He stooped down and wrote
on the ground. Then those who heard it being convicted by their conscience went out one by
one beginning with the oldest even to
the youngest. Then JESUS was left alone with the woman, when JESUS had raised
Himself up and saw only the woman He said to her, “Woman
where are your accusers, has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one LORD.” JESUS
said to her, “Neither do I condemn you
go and sin no more.”
Then JESUS spoke again saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me will not walk in
darkness but have the light of life.” So the Pharisees said to Him, “You bear witness of Yourself, Your
witness is not true.” JESUS answered them, “Even
if I bear witness of Myself My witness is true for I know where I came from and
where I am going. You do not know where I come from and where I am going. You judge
according to the flesh I judge no one and yet if I do judge My judgment is
true; for I am not alone but I am with
the Father who sent Me. It is written in your law that the testimony of two men
is true. I am One who bears witness of Myself and the Father who sent Me
bears witness of Me.” Then they said to Him, “Where is Your Father?” JESUS
answered, “You know neither Me nor My
Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father.” These
words JESUS spoke in the treasury as He taught in the temple.
Then JESUS
said to them again, “I am going away
and you will seek Me and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot
come.” So the Jews said, “Will He kill Himself because He says, ‘Where I go you cannot come’?” He said to them, “You are from beneath I am from above. You are of
this world I am not of this world. So I said to you that you will die in your sins if you do
not believe that I am He, you
will die in your sins.” Then they said to Him, “Who are You?” JESUS said
to them, “Just what I have been saying to
you from the beginning. I have many things to say and to judge concerning you
because He who sent Me is true and I speak to the world those things
which I heard from Him.” They did not understand that He spoke to them
of the Father.
Then JESUS
said to them, “When you lift up the
Son of Man then you will know that I am He and that I
do nothing of Myself but as My Father taught Me I speak these things. He who sent Me
is with Me, the Father has not left Me alone for I always do those things
that please Him.” As He spoke these words many believed in Him.
Then JESUS
said to those Jews who believed Him, “If
you abide in My Word you are My disciples indeed and you shall know
the truth and the truth shall make you free.” They answered
Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been in bondage to
anyone. How can You
say, ‘You will be made free’?” JESUS
said, “Truthfully I say to you whoever commits
sin is a slave of sin and a slave does not abide in the house
forever, yet a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free you
shall be free indeed. I know that you are Abraham’s descendants yet you
seek to kill Me because My Word has no place in you. I speak what I
have seen with My Father and you do what you have seen with your father.”
They
answered Him, “Abraham is our father.” JESUS said, “If you were Abraham’s children you would do the works of Abraham. You seek to kill
Me a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from GOD, Abraham did not do this, you do the deeds of your father.” Then they said to Him, “We were not born of
fornication we have one Father, GOD.” JESUS said to them, “If GOD were your Father you would love Me
for I proceeded forth and came from GOD neither have I come of Myself but He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? Because
you are not able to listen to My Word, you are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you
want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand
in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie he speaks
from his own resources, for
he is a liar and the father of it. Because I tell the truth you do not believe Me. Which of you
convicts Me of sin? If I tell the truth why do you not believe Me? He who is of GOD hears GOD’s Words but you do not hear because
you are not of GOD.”
Then the
Jews said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have
a demon?” JESUS answered, “I do not have a
demon for I honor My Father and you dishonor Me. I do not seek
My own glory there is
One who seeks and judges. Truly I say to you if anyone keeps My Word he shall
never see death.” Then the Jews said to Him, “Now we know that
You have a demon! Abraham is dead and the prophets and You
say, ‘If anyone keeps My Word he shall never
taste death.’ Are You greater
than our father Abraham who is dead and the prophets who are dead? Who do
You make Yourself out to be?”
JESUS
answered, “If I honor Myself, My honor is
nothing. It is My Father who honors Me of whom you say that He
is your GOD. Yet you have not known Him but I know Him. If I say, ‘I do
not know Him,’ I shall be a liar like you but I do know Him and keep His
Word. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see
My day and he saw it and
was glad.” Then the
Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old and have You seen Abraham?” JESUS
said, “Truthfully I say to you before Abraham
was I AM.” Then they took up stones to throw at Him so JESUS
went out of the temple going through the midst of them unseen.
As JESUS was passing by He saw a
man who was blind from birth. His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi who
sinned this man or his parents that he was born blind?” JESUS answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned this is so the
works of GOD should be revealed in him. I must do the works of Him who
sent Me while it is day, the night
is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world I am the light of the world.” When He had said these things He spat on the
ground and made clay with the saliva and He anointed the eyes of the blind man
with the clay. He said to him, “Go,
wash in the pool of Siloam”; which is translated Sent. So he
went and washed and came back seeing. Then the neighbors and those who
previously had seen that he was blind said, “Is not this he who sat and
begged?” Some said, “This is he.” Others said, “He is like him.” He said, “I
am him.” They asked him,
“How were your eyes opened?” He answered, “A Man called JESUS made clay
and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go
to the pool of Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed and I
received sight.” Then they said to him, “Where is He?” He said, “I do not
know.”
They
brought him who had been blind to the Pharisees. It was a Sabbath when JESUS
made the clay and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees asked him again how
he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes and I
washed and I see.” Then some of the Pharisees said, “This Man is not
from GOD
because He does not keep the Sabbath.” Others said, “How can a man who is
a sinner do such signs?” and there was a division among them. They said to
the blind man again, “What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes?”
He said, “He is a prophet.” The Jews did not believe concerning him that he had
been blind and received his sight until they called the parents of him who had
received his sight. They asked them, “Is this your son who you say was
born blind? How then does he now see?” His parents answered, “We know that this
is our son and that he was born blind but by what means he now sees we do
not know or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age ask him he will
speak for himself.” His parents said these things because they feared the
Jews for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that JESUS was CHRIST
he would be put out of the synagogue. So his parents said, “He is of age
ask him.” So they again called the man who was blind and said to him, “Give GOD the
glory! We know that this Man is a sinner.” The man said, “Whether He is a
sinner or not I do not know. One thing I
know that though I was blind now I see.” Then they said to him again, “What did
He do to you? How did He open your eyes?” He answered them, “I told you already
and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?” Then
they reviled him and said, “You are His disciple but we are Moses’
disciples. We know that GOD spoke to Moses as for this fellow we do not know where He
is from.” The man answered, “Why this is a marvelous thing that you do not
know where He is from yet He has opened my eyes! We know that GOD does not
hear sinners only if anyone is a worshiper of GOD and does His will does GOD hear
him. Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the
eyes of one who was born blind. If this Man were not from GOD He could
do nothing.” They said to him, “You were completely born in sins and are you
teaching us?” and they threw him out.
JESUS
heard that they had thrown him out and went and found him, He said to
him, “Do you believe in the Son
of GOD?” The man answered, “Who is He LORD that I may believe in Him?” JESUS said to
him, “You have both seen Him and it is He
who is talking with you.” Then he said, “LORD I believe!” and he worshiped
JESUS.
JESUS
said, “For judgment I have come into this
world that those who do not see may see and that those who see may be made
blind.” Then some of
the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words and said to Him, “Are we
blind also?” JESUS said to them, “If you were
blind you would have no sin yet you say, ‘We see.’ so your sin remains.
Truly I say to you he who does not enter the sheepfold by the
door but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. He who enters by the door is the
shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens and the sheep hear his voice and he
calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he brings out his own
sheep he goes before them and the sheep follow him for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow
a stranger they will flee from him for they do not know the voice of
strangers.” JESUS
used this illustration but they did not understand the things which He spoke to
them.
Then JESUS
said again, “Truthfully I say to you I am the
door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and
robbers but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door, if anyone enters by Me he will be saved
and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal and to kill and
to destroy. I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly. I am the
good shepherd the good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. A hireling who is not the shepherd, one who
does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and
flees and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling
flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. I am the good
shepherd and I know My sheep and am known by My own. As the Father
knows Me even so I know the Father and I lay down My life for the sheep. Other sheep I
have which are not of this fold them I must also bring and they will hear My
voice and there will be one flock and one
shepherd. My Father loves Me because I lay down My life that I may take it
again, no one takes it from Me I lay it down of Myself. I have power to
lay it down and I have power to take it again, this command I have received
from My Father.”
There was
a division again among the Jews because of these sayings. Many of them
said, “He has a demon and is mad. Why do you listen to Him?” Others said,
“These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes
of the blind?”
Chapter
9
After
these things JESUS appointed seventy more disciples and sent them two by
two into every city and place where He was about to go and He said to
them, “The harvest truly is great and the laborers are few so pray the LORD of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Go your way know that I send you out
as lambs among wolves. Do not carry money bag, knapsack or sandals and greet no one along the
road. Whatever house you enter first say,
‘Peace to this house.’ If a son of peace is there your peace will rest on it, if not it
will return to you. Remain in the same house eating and drinking such
things as they give for the laborer is worthy of his wages, do not go from
house to house. Whatever city you enter and they receive you heal the sick there
and say to them, ‘The Kingdom of GOD has come near to you.’ Whatever city you enter and they do not receive you go out into
its streets and say, ‘The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe
off against you. Nevertheless know this that the Kingdom of GOD has come near you.’ I say to you that it will be more tolerable in the Last Day
for Sodom than for that city. Woe to you Chorazin! Woe to you
Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done
in Tyre and Sidon they would have repented long ago sitting in sackcloth and
ashes but it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for
you. And you Capernaum, who
are exalted to Heaven will be brought down to hell. He who hears you
hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him
who sent Me.”
When the
seventy returned they joyously said, “LORD even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” JESUS
said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning
from heaven. I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions and
over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless
do not rejoice in this that the spirits are subject to you, rather rejoice
because your names are written in Heaven.”
At that time
JESUS rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I
thank You Father, LORD of Heaven and earth that You have
hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes, for
it seemed good in Your sight. All things
have been delivered to Me by My Father and no one knows who the Son is
except the Father and who the Father is except the Son and the one to whom the Son reveals Him.” Then He turned to His disciples and said privately.
“Blessed are
the eyes which see the things you see for I tell
you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see and have
not seen it and to
hear what you hear and have not heard it.”
One time
a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him saying, “Teacher what shall I do
to inherit eternal life?” JESUS said, “What is
written in the law, what is your reading of it?” He answered, “‘You shall love the LORD your GOD with all your heart with all your soul with all
your strength and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’” JESUS
said to him, “You have answered correctly do
this and you will live.” The lawyer wanting to justify himself
said to JESUS, “Who is my neighbor?” Then JESUS answered, “A certain man went
down from Jerusalem to Jericho and was attacked by thieves who stripped
him of his clothing wounded him and departed leaving him half dead. By chance a certain
priest came down that road when he saw the wounded man he passed by on the
other side. Likewise a Levite when he arrived at the place came and looked and
passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan as he journeyed came where
he was, when he saw the man he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged
his wounds pouring on oil and wine and he set him on his own animal brought him
to an inn and took care of him. The next day when he departed he took out two
denarii and gave them to
the innkeeper and said to him, ‘Take care of him and whatever more you spend
when I come again I will repay you,’ So which of these three do you think was
neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” The lawyer said, “He who
showed mercy on him.” Then JESUS said to him, “Go
and do likewise.”
It
happened as they went that He entered the village of Bethany and a woman
named Martha welcomed Him into her house. She had a brother named
Lazarus and a sister named Mary who sat at JESUS’ feet and heard His word.
Martha was distracted with much serving and she approached JESUS and said, “LORD, do You
not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me.” He said
to her, “Martha,
Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things, only one thing is
needful and Mary has chosen that good part which will not be taken away from
her.”
JESUS
said to those gathered, “Which of you shall
have a friend and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend lend me three
loaves for
a friend of mine has come to me on his journey and I have nothing to set before
him’. Your
friend will answer from within, ‘Do not trouble me the door is shut and my
children are with me in bed I cannot rise and give to you.’ I say to you
though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend yet because of
his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs. So I say to you
ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and it will
be opened to you. Everyone who asks receives and he who seeks finds and to him
who knocks it will be opened. If a son asks for bread from any father
among you will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish will he give him a serpent instead of a
fish? Or
if he asks for an egg will he offer him a scorpion? If you then
being evil know how to give good gifts to your children how much more will
your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”
One time JESUS
was casting out a demon and it was mute. So when the demon had gone out the
mute spoke and the multitudes marveled. Some of them said, “He casts
out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.” Others testing Him sought a sign from heaven
but He knowing their thoughts said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to
desolation and a house divided against
a house falls. If Satan is divided against himself how will his kingdom stand? You
say I cast out demons by Beelzebub, if I cast out demons by Beelzebub by whom
do your sons cast them out?
They will be your judges. If I cast out demons with the finger of GOD surely the Kingdom of GOD has come upon you. When a strong man fully armed guards
his own palace his goods are in peace. When one stronger than him comes upon him and overcomes him he
takes from him all his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoils. He who is not with Me is against Me
and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
When an unclean spirit goes out of a man he goes through dry
places seeking rest and finding none he says, ‘I will return to my house from
which I came.’ When he comes he finds it swept and put in order then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more
wicked than himself and they enter and dwell there and the last state of that man is worse than
the first.” It
happened as He spoke these things that a woman from the crowd raised her voice
and said to Him, “Blessed is the
womb that bore You and the breasts
which nursed You!” JESUS said, “More than that
blessed are those who
hear the Word of GOD and keep it!”
While the
crowds were thickly gathered together He said, “This is an evil generation. It seeks a sign and no
sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet, for
as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites so the Son of Man will be to this
generation. The
men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it
for they repented at the preaching of Jonah and indeed one greater than
Jonah is here. The
queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation
and condemn them for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of
Solomon and indeed one greater than Solomon is here.
No one when he has lit a lamp puts it in a secret place or under a basket but on a lamp stand
that those who come in may see the light. The lamp of the body is the eye. When
your eye is good your whole body is full of light and when your eye is bad your
body is full of
darkness. So then take heed that the light which is in you is not
darkness. If then your whole body is full of light having no part dark the whole body will be full of light as
when the bright shining of a lamp gives you light.”
As He
spoke a Pharisee asked Him to dine with him. So He went in and sat down to
eat. When the Pharisee saw that He had not first washed before dinner he
marveled at it. Then the LORD said to him, “You
Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean but your inward part
is full of greed and wickedness. Foolish ones! Did not He who made
the outside make the inside also? Rather give alms of such things as you have then indeed
all things are clean to you. Woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner
of herbs and pass by justice and the love of GOD. These you ought to have done without leaving the others
undone. Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seats in the
synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. Woe to you scribes and
Pharisees hypocrites! For you are like graves which are not seen and the men
who walk over them are
not aware of them.” Then one of the lawyers said to Him, “Teacher by
saying these things You reproach us also.” JESUS said, “Woe
to you lawyers! For you load men with burdens hard to bear and you yourselves
do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. Woe to you! For you build
the tombs of the prophets and your fathers killed them. In fact you bear
witness that you approve the deeds of your fathers for they indeed killed them
and you build their tombs. The wisdom of GOD said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles and some of them they will kill and
persecute,’ that the blood of all the prophets which was shed from the
foundation of the world may be required of this generation. From the blood of Abel to the
blood of Zechariah who perished between the altar and the temple. Yes I say to
you it shall be required of this generation. Woe to you lawyers! You have taken
away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves and those who were
entering in you hindered.” As
He said these things to them the scribes and the Pharisees began to
assail Him vehemently
and to cross examine Him about many things lying in wait for Him and
seeking to catch Him in something He might say that they might accuse Him.
Another time
when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together so that they
trampled one another He began to say to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of
the Pharisees which is hypocrisy. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed or
hidden that will not be known. So whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in
the light and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed
on the housetops. I say to you My friends do not be
afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. I will show you whom you should fear:
Fear Him who after He has killed has power to cast into hell. Yes I say to
you fear Him! Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? Not
one of them is forgotten before GOD. The very hairs of your head are all numbered, do not fear
because you are of more value than many sparrows.
I say to you whoever confesses Me before men him the Son of
Man will confess before the angels of GOD. He who denies Me before men will be denied before the
angels of GOD. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man it will
be forgiven him but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit it will not
be forgiven. When they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and
authorities do not worry about how or what you should answer or what you should
say. For the Holy Spirit will teach
you in that very hour what you ought to say.”
Then one
from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance
with me.” He said to him, “Man who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you? Take
heed and beware of covetousness for one’s life does not consist in the
abundance of the things he possesses.”
Then He
spoke a parable to them, “The ground of a
certain rich man yielded plentifully. He thought within himself saying, ‘What shall I do since
I have no room to store my crops?’ So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns
and build greater ones and there I will store all my crops and my goods, then I will say to my
soul, ‘Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years take your ease, eat,
drink and be merry.’ GOD said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required
of you then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ So is he
who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward GOD.”
Chapter
10
It was
the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem and it was winter and JESUS walked into the
temple at Solomon’s porch, then the people surrounded Him and said to Him, “How
long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the CHRIST tell us plainly.” JESUS
answered them, “I told you and you do not
believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name they bear witness of
Me. You
do not believe because you are not of My sheep as I said to you. ‘My sheep hear
My voice and I know them and they follow Me.’ I give them eternal life and they
shall never perish neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father who
has given them to Me
is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand, I and My Father are one.”
Then the
Jews took up stones to stone Him; JESUS asked them, “Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For
which of those works do you stone Me?” They
answered, “For a good work we do not stone You but for blasphemy, because
You being a Man make Yourself GOD.” JESUS said, “Is
it not written in your law, ‘I said, “You are gods”’? If He called
them gods to whom the word of GOD came and the Scripture cannot be broken do you say of Him whom the
Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because
I said, ‘I am the Son of GOD.’? If I do not do the works of My Father do not believe Me but if I do though you do not believe
Me, believe the works that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me and I in Him.” So they sought again to seize Him yet He escaped
out of their hand. So He went away beyond the Jordan to the place where John
was baptizing at first and stayed there. Then many came to Him and said,
“John performed no sign but all the things that John spoke about this Man were
true.” and many believed in Him.
JESUS
went through the cities and villages teaching and journeying toward
Jerusalem. Then one said to Him, “LORD are there few who are saved?” and He said to
them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate
for many will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the
Master of the house has risen up and shut the door and you begin to stand
outside and knock at the door saying, ‘LORD, LORD, open for us,’ He will answer
you, ‘I do not know you where are you from,’ then you will begin to say, ‘We ate
and drank in Your presence and You taught in our streets.’ He will say, ‘I tell you I do not
know you, where you are from. Depart from Me all you workers of
iniquity.’ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see
Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the Kingdom of GOD and yourselves thrust out. They will come from the east and the west from the north and the
south and sit down in the Kingdom of GOD. Indeed there are those who are last who will be first and there
are first who will be last.”
On that
very day some Pharisees came to Him saying, “Get out and depart from here for
Herod wants to kill You.” He said to them, “Go
tell that fox, ‘Look I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow and
the third day I shall
be perfected.’ Nevertheless I must journey today, tomorrow and the day following
for it cannot be that a prophet should perish outside of Jerusalem. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and
stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children
together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you
desolate and truly I say to you. You shall not see Me until the time comes when you
say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
It
happened as He went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees to eat
bread on the Sabbath that they watched Him closely. There was a certain man
before Him who had dropsy. JESUS spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” But
they kept silent. So He took him and
healed him and let him go. Then He said, “Which of you having a donkey or an ox that has
fallen into a pit will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?”
and they could not answer Him regarding these things.
So He
told a parable to those who were invited when He noted how they chose the best
places saying, “When you are invited by anyone
to a wedding feast do not sit down in the best place in case one more honorable
than you has been invited and he who invited you and him come and says to you,
‘Give place to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place.
When you are invited sit down in the lowest place so that when he who invited
you comes he may say to you ‘Friend go up higher.’ Then you will have glory in
the presence of those who sit at the table with you, for whoever exalts himself
will be humbled and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Then He
said to the one who invited Him, “When you
give a dinner or a supper do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives,
or rich neighbors because they will invite you back and you are repaid. When you give a
feast invite the poor, the maimed, the lame
and the blind. Then you will
be blessed because they cannot repay you and you shall be repaid at the
resurrection of the just.”
When one
of those who sat at the table with Him heard these things, he said to
Him, “Blessed is he
who shall eat bread in the Kingdom of GOD!” Then JESUS said to him, “A certain man gave a great supper and invited many and sent
his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come for all
things are ready.’ they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first
said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground and I must go and see it, I ask
you to have me excused.’ Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen and I am
going to test them, I ask you to have me excused.’ Still another said,
‘I have married a wife so that I cannot come.’ So that servant came and reported these things to his
master. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, ‘Go out
quickly into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame
and the blind.’ And the servant said, ‘Master it is done as you commanded and
still there is room.’ Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the
highways and hedges and compel them to
come in that my house may be filled. I say to you that none of those men who were invited
shall taste my supper.’”
Great
multitudes went with Him and He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to
Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers
and sisters, yes, and his own life also he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not bear
his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you
intending to build a tower does not sit down first and count the cost whether
he has enough to
finish it; lest after he
has laid the foundation he is not able to finish then all who see it begin to
mock him saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? Or what king
going to make war against another king does not sit down first and consider
whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with
twenty thousand? Or else while the other is still a great way off he sends
a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise whoever of you does
not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. Salt is good but if the salt has lost
its flavor how shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill and men
throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
When all
the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him the Pharisees
and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with
them.” So He spoke this parable, “What man of you, having a hundred
sheep, if he loses one of them does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness
and go after the one which is lost until he finds it. When he has found it he lays it on his shoulders rejoicing.
When he comes home he calls together his friends and neighbors saying to
them, ‘Rejoice with me for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I say to you that likewise there will
be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over
ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. Or what woman having ten silver coins if she loses one
coin does not light a lamp sweep the house and search carefully until she finds
it? When she has found it she
calls her friends and
neighbors together saying, ‘Rejoice with me for I have found the piece which I lost!’
Likewise I say to you there is much joy in the presence of the angels of GOD over one sinner who repents.”
Then He
said: “A certain man had two sons, the younger
of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me my inheritance.’ So he divided to them his
livelihood. Not many days after the younger son gathered all together and
journeyed to a far country and there wasted his possessions with prodigal
living. When
he had spent all he had there was a severe famine in that land and he began to
be in need. Then he went and got a job with a citizen of that country
and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. He would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods
that the swine ate yet no one gave him anything. When he came to himself 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 you and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me
like one of your hired servants.”’ He arose and went to his father when
he was still a great way off his father saw him and had compassion and ran and
fell on his neck and kissed him. The son said to him, ‘Father I have sinned against
heaven and in your sight and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ The father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and
put it on him and put
a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. Bring the fatted calf here and
kill it and let us
eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is
found.’ and they began to be merry. His older son was in the field as he came
and drew near to the house he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and
asked what was going on and he said to him, ‘Your brother has come and because
he has received him safe and sound your father has killed the fatted calf.’
Then the brother was angry and would not go in so his father came out and
pleaded with him, he said to his father, ‘All these many years I have been
serving you, I never transgressed your commandment at any time and yet you
never gave me a young goat that I might have fun with my friends. As soon as this son of yours came who
has devoured your livelihood with harlots you killed the fatted calf for him.’
The father said to him, ‘Son you are always with me and all that I have is
yours. It was right that we should make merry and be glad for your
brother was dead and is alive again and was lost and is found.’”
One time JESUS
said to His disciples: “There was a certain
rich man who had a steward and an accusation was brought to him that this man
was wasting his goods. So he called him and said, ‘What is this I hear about
you? Give an account of your stewardship for you can no longer be
steward.’ Then the steward said within himself, ‘What shall I do? For my master
is taking the stewardship away from me. I cannot dig and I am ashamed to beg. I have resolved
what to do that when I am put out of the stewardship they may receive me into their
houses.’ So the steward called every one of his master’s debtors to him and said to the first, ‘How
much do you owe my master?’ he said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ so
he said to him, ‘Take your bill and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ Then the steward
said to another, ‘How much do you owe?’ he said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’
he said to him, ‘Take your bill and write eighty.’ Then the master
commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of
this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light. I
say to you make friends for yourselves by unrighteous riches that
when you fail they may receive you into an everlasting home. He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in
much; and he who is unjust in what
is least is also unjust in much. If you have not been faithful in unrighteous riches who
will commit to your trust Heavenly riches? If you have not
been faithful in what is another man’s who will give you what is your own? No
servant can serve two masters for either he will hate the one and love the
other or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot
serve GOD and riches.”
The
Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things and they
derided Him. JESUS said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men
but GOD knows your hearts. What is highly
esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of GOD. The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the Kingdom of GOD has been preached and everyone is pressing into it. It is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one
tittle of the law to fail. Whoever divorces his wife and marries another
commits adultery and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery.
There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine
linen and fared sumptuously every day and there was a certain beggar named
Lazarus, full of sores who was laid at his gate desiring to be fed with the crumbs
which fell from the rich man’s table, moreover the dogs came and licked his
sores. So it was that the beggar died and was carried by the angels
to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried and being in
torments in Hell he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus in
his bosom. Then he cried, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus
that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue for
I am tormented in this flame.’ Abraham said, ‘Son remember that in
your lifetime you received your good things and likewise Lazarus bad things and
now he is comforted and you are tormented. Besides all this, between us and you
there is a great gulf fixed so that those who want to pass from here to you
cannot nor can those from there pass to us.’ Then the rich man said, ‘Then I beg you father that you would
send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers that he may testify to
them lest they also come to this place of torment.’ Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses
and the prophets let them hear them.’ He said, ‘No father Abraham, but if one goes to them from the
dead they will repent.’ Abraham said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the
prophets neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’”
Then JESUS
said to the disciples, “It is impossible that
no offenses should come but woe to him through whom they do come! It would be
better for him if a millstone was hung around his neck, and he was thrown into
the sea than that he should offend one of these little ones. Take heed to yourselves. If
your brother sins against you rebuke him and if he repents forgive him. If he sins against
you seven times in a day and seven times in a day returns to you saying, ‘I
repent,’ you shall forgive him.”
The
apostles said to JESUS, “Increase our faith.” So the LORD
said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed you
can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the
sea,’ and it would obey you. Which of you having a servant plowing or tending
sheep will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit
down to eat’? Will he not rather say to
him, ‘Prepare something for my supper and gird yourself and serve me till
I have eaten and drunk and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank
that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think
not, so likewise you when you have done all those things which you are
commanded say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have only done what was our
duty to do.’”
Chapter
11
In
Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha, their brother Lazarus was
sick. The sisters sent to JESUS saying, “LORD, he whom You love is sick.” When JESUS heard that He said, “This sickness is not unto death but for the glory of GOD that the Son of GOD may be glorified through it.” He stayed two more days in the place where He
was. Then He said to the disciples, “Let us go
to Judea again.” The disciples
said to Him, “Rabbi lately the Jews sought to stone You and You are going there
again?” JESUS said, “Are there not twelve
hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day he does not stumble because
he sees the light of this world. If one walks in the night he stumbles because
the light is not in him.” Then He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps so I go that I may wake him
up.” Then His disciples said, “LORD if he sleeps he will get well.” However JESUS
spoke of his death but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in
sleep. JESUS said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead
and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there that you may believe, nevertheless
let us go to him.” Then Thomas who is called the Twin said to his
fellow disciples, “Let us go as well so that we may die with Him.”
So when JESUS
came He found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Bethany
was near Jerusalem, about two miles away, and many of the Jews had joined
Martha and Mary to comfort them concerning their brother. As soon
as Martha heard that JESUS was coming she went and met Him, Mary was sitting in
the house. Martha said to JESUS, “LORD if You would have been here my brother would not
have died, even now I know that whatever You ask of GOD, GOD will
give You.” JESUS said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to
Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
JESUS said, “I am the resurrection and
the life he who believes in Me though he may die he will live and whoever
lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said
to Him, “Yes LORD I believe that You are the CHRIST the Son of
GOD
who is to come into the world.” Then she went and secretly called Mary her
sister saying, “The Teacher has come and is calling for you.” As soon as
she heard that Mary rose and went to Him, JESUS had not yet come into the
town but was in the place where Martha had met Him. Then the Jews who were
with Mary in the house and comforting her when they saw that she rose up
quickly and went out followed her saying, “She is going to the tomb to weep
there.” Then when Mary came to where JESUS was she fell down at His feet saying
to Him, “LORD if You had been here my brother would not have
died.” JESUS
saw her weeping and the Jews who came with her weeping and He groaned in the
Spirit and was troubled. He said, “Where have
you laid him?” They said to Him, “LORD come and see.”, then JESUS wept. The Jews said,
“See how He loved him!” Some of them said, “Could not this Man who opened
the eyes of the blind also have kept Lazarus from dying?” Then JESUS again
groaning in Himself came to the tomb, it was a cave and a stone lay
against it. He said, “Take away the
stone.” Martha said to Him, “LORD by this time there is a stench for he has
been dead four days.”
JESUS said to her, “Did I not say to you that
if you would believe you would see the glory of GOD?” Then they
took away the stone from the place where Lazarus was lying, JESUS
lifted up His eyes
and said, “Father I thank You that You have
heard Me, I know that You always hear Me but because of the people
who are standing by I said this
so that they may believe that You sent Me.” When He had said
these things He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus
come forth!” Then Lazarus came out bound hand and foot
with grave clothes and his face was wrapped with a cloth. JESUS said
to them, “Loose him and let him go.”
Then many
of the Jews who had come with Mary and had seen what JESUS did believed in
Him. Some went away to the Pharisees and told them what JESUS had done. Then
the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, “What shall we
do? For this Man works many signs, if we let Him alone like this everyone will
believe in Him and the Romans will come and take away both our position and
nation.” Then Caiaphas being high priest that year said to them,
“You know nothing at all nor do you consider that it is expedient for us
that one man should die for the people so that the whole nation should not perish.”
This he did not say on his own authority but
being high priest that year he prophesied that JESUS would die for the nation,
and not for that nation only but also that He would gather together in one
the children of GOD who were scattered abroad.
From that
day on they plotted to put Him to death. So JESUS no longer walked
openly among the Jews but went from there into the country near the wilderness
to a city called Ephraim and there remained with His disciples.
It
happened later as He returned to Jerusalem that He passed through the
midst of Samaria and Galilee. Then as He entered a certain village there
met Him ten men who were lepers who stood far off. They lifted
up their voices and
said, “JESUS, Master, have mercy on us!” So when He saw them He said to them, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” and so it was
that as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them when he saw that he was
healed returned and with a loud voice glorified GOD and fell down on his face at JESUS’ feet giving Him thanks, he was
a Samaritan. So JESUS said, “Were there
not ten cleansed, where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to GOD except this foreigner?” He said to him, “Arise go your
way, your faith has made you well.”
Once He
was asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of GOD would come He answered them, “The Kingdom of GOD does not come with observation nor will they say, ‘See here!’
or ‘See there!’ For indeed the Kingdom of GOD is within you.”
Then He
said to the disciples, “The days will come when you
will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man and you will not see it. They will say to you, ‘Look
here!’ or ‘Look there!’ Do not go after them or follow them. For as the lightning
that flashes out of one part under
heaven shines to the other part under
heaven so also the Son of Man will be in His day. First He must suffer many
things and be rejected by this generation. As it was in the days of Noah so it will
be also in the days of the Son of Man. They ate, they drank, they were given in marriage until
the day that Noah entered the ark and the flood came and destroyed
them all. Likewise as it was in the days of Lot they ate, they
drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built but on the day
that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and
destroyed them all. Even so will it
be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed. In that day he who is
on the housetop and his goods are in
the house he should not come down to take them away. Likewise one who is in the
field he should not turn back, remember Lot’s wife. Whoever seeks to
save his life will lose it and whoever loses his life will preserve it. I tell you in
that night there will be two men in
one bed the one will be taken and the other will be left. Two women will be grinding together
the one will be taken and the other left. Two men will be in the field the one
will be taken and the other left.” They asked Him, “Where LORD?” He said,
“Wherever the body is there the eagles will be
gathered together.”
Then He
spoke a parable to them that men should always pray and not lose
heart, “There was in a certain city a judge
who did not fear GOD nor regard man. There was a widow in that city and
she came to him saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ He would
not for a while but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear GOD nor regard man yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her so
that by her continual coming she does not wear me out.’” Then the LORD said, “Hear what the
unjust judge said. Shall GOD not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him
though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them
speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of Man comes will He really find faith on
the earth?”
Also He
spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were
righteous and despised others, “Two men went
up to the temple to pray one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The
Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘GOD I thank You that I am not like other men extortionists, unjust,
adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week and I give tithes of all that I possess.’ The tax collector standing far off
would not so much as raise his eyes
to heaven but beat his chest saying, ‘GOD be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you this man went down to his house justified rather than the
Pharisee for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and he who
humbles himself will be exalted.”
The
Pharisees came to Him testing Him asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce
his wife for just any
reason?” He answered them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made
them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his
father and mother and be joined to his wife and the two shall become one
flesh’? So then they are no longer two but one flesh. What GOD has joined together let no man separate.” They said to Him, “Why then did Moses command to
give a certificate of divorce and to put her away?” He said to them, “Moses because of the hardness of your hearts
permitted you to divorce your wives yet from the beginning it was not so. I say to you
whoever divorces his wife except for sexual immorality and marries another
commits adultery and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.”
In the house His disciples asked
Him again about the same matter saying, “If such is the case of the man with his wife it is better not to
marry.” JESUS said to them, “All cannot accept this
saying only those to whom it has been given. For there are eunuchs who were born that way
from their mother’s
womb and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men and there are eunuchs
who have made themselves eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven’s sake. He who is
able to accept it let him accept it.
Whoever divorces his
wife and marries someone else commits adultery against her and if a woman
divorces her husband and marries another she commits adultery.”
Some brought
little children to Him that He might bless them but the disciples rebuked those
who brought them. When JESUS saw it He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me and do not forbid them
for of such is the Kingdom of GOD. Truthfully I say to you whoever does not receive the Kingdom of GOD as a little child will by no means enter it.” Then He took them up in His arms laid His hands on them and blessed them.
A ruler
came and said, “Good Teacher what good thing shall I do that I may have
eternal life?” So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is GOD. If you want to enter into life keep the
commandments.” He asked
Him, “Which ones?” JESUS said, “‘You shall not
murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not
bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You
shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” The young man said to Him, “All
these things I have kept from my youth what do I still lack?” JESUS said
to him, “If you want to be perfect go
sell what you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven
and come follow Me.” When the young man heard that saying he went away
sorrowful for he had great possessions.
Then JESUS
said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you that it is hard for a rich man
to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Again I tell you it is easier for a camel to go through
the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of GOD.” When His
disciples heard it they
were greatly astonished saying, “Who then can be saved?” JESUS looked at them and said, “With men this is impossible but with GOD all things are possible.” Then Peter said to Him, “We have left all and followed You so what
shall we have?” JESUS said to them, “Truthfully I
say to you that in the regeneration when the Son of Man sits on the throne of
His glory you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones judging the
twelve tribes of Israel. I say to you there is no one who has left house or
brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children
or lands for My sake and the gospel’s who shall not receive a hundredfold in this time houses
and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands
with persecutions and in the age to come eternal life. Many who are first
will be last and the last first.
The Kingdom of Heaven is like a landowner who went out early in
the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. When he had agreed with the laborers
for a denarius a day he sent them into his vineyard. He went out about nine in the morning
and saw others standing idle in the marketplace and said to them, ‘You go into
my vineyard with the others and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they
went. Again he went out about noon and three
in the afternoon and did likewise. About five in the afternoon he went out and found others
standing idle he asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’
They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into my
vineyard and whatever is right you will receive.’ So when evening had come
the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them
their wages beginning with the last to the first.’ When those came who were hired about five o’clock
they each received a denarius. When the first ones came they supposed that they would receive
more but they each received a denarius. When they had received it they
complained to the landowner saying, ‘These last men have worked only one
hour and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of
the day.’ He answered one of them, ‘Friend I am doing you no wrong, did
you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours
and go your way. If I wish to give to this last man the same as to you, is it not lawful for me to do what I
wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ So the last will be first and the
first last. For many are called but few chosen.”
They were on the
road going up to Jerusalem and JESUS was going before them and they were
amazed. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things
that would happen to Him, “We are going up to Jerusalem and all
things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be
accomplished. He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked
and insulted and spit upon. They will whip Him and
kill Him and the third day He will rise again.” They did not understand any of the things JESUS
spoke to them for these saying were hidden from them.
Then the
mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons kneeling down and
asking something from Him. He said to her, “What
do you wish?” She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine may
sit one on Your right hand and the other on the left in Your Kingdom.” JESUS
answered, “You do not know what you ask. Are
you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink and be baptized
with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to Him, “We
are able.” So He said to them, “You will
indeed drink My cup and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized
with but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give
but it is for those for
whom it is prepared by My Father.”
When the ten
heard it they were
greatly displeased with the two brothers. JESUS called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over
them and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it
shall not be so among you, whoever desires to become great among you let
him be your servant. Whoever desires to be first among you let him be your
slave just as the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve
and to give His life a ransom for many.”
When JESUS
entered Jericho, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax
collector and he was rich. He sought to see who JESUS was but could
not because of the crowd for he was of short stature. So he ran ahead and
climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him for He was going to pass that way. When
JESUS came to the place He looked up and saw him and said to him, “Zacchaeus hurry down
for today I must stay at your house.” He came down quickly and
received Him joyfully. When everyone saw it they all complained saying, “He has gone to be a
guest with a man who is a sinner.” Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the LORD, “Look LORD I give
half of my goods to the poor and if I have taken anything from anyone
by false accusation I restore fourfold.” JESUS
said to him, “Today
salvation has come to this house because he also is a son of Abraham for the Son of
Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
As He
went out of Jericho with His disciples a great multitude followed; blind
Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus sat by the road begging. When he heard that
it was JESUS of Nazareth he began to cry out and say, “JESUS, Son of
David, have mercy on me!” Then many warned him to be quiet but he cried
out all the more, “Son of David have mercy on me!” So JESUS stopped and
commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man saying to him, “Be
of good cheer, rise He is calling you.” Throwing aside his garment he rose and
came to JESUS. JESUS said to him, “What do you
want Me to do for you?” Bartimaeus said to Him, “Rabboni, I want to
receive my sight.” JESUS said to him, “Go your
way your faith has made you well.” and immediately he
received his sight and followed JESUS on the road.
When the
time had come for JESUS to be received up He steadfastly set His face to go to
Jerusalem. He sent messengers ahead and they entered a village in Samaria to
prepare for Him. The Samaritans did not receive Him because He was set on going
to Jerusalem. When James and John saw this they said to JESUS, “LORD, do You
want us to command fire to come down from Heaven and consume them just as
Elijah did?” JESUS rebuked them saying, “You do not
know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to
destroy men’s lives but to save them.” Then they went to another
village.
JESUS spoke another parable because He was near
Jerusalem and because they thought the Kingdom of GOD would
appear immediately He said, “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive
for himself a kingdom and to return. So he called ten of his servants delivered to them
ten minas and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’ His citizens
hated him and sent a delegation after him saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’ So it was
that when he returned having received the kingdom he then commanded the ten
servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him that he might know
how much every man had gained by trading. The first came saying, ‘Master your
mina has earned ten minas.’ He said to him, ‘Well done good servant because you were faithful in a very
little have authority over ten cities.’ The second came saying, ‘Master your mina has earned five
minas.’ Likewise the master said to him, ‘You be over five cities.’ Then another came saying, ‘Master here is your mina which I have kept put away in a
handkerchief, because I feared you for you are an austere man. You collect
what you did not deposit and reap what you did not sow.’ The master said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth I will
judge you, you wicked
servant. You knew that I was an austere man collecting what I did not
deposit and reaping what I did not sow. Why then did you not put my money in the bank that at my
coming I might have collected it with interest?’ He said to those who stood by,
‘Take the mina from him and give it to
him who has ten minas.’ They said to him, ‘Master he has ten minas.’ ‘I say to
you that to everyone who has more will be given and from him who does not have
even what he has will be taken away from him. Now bring here those enemies of
mine who did not want me to reign over them and slay them before me.’”
Then six days
before the Passover JESUS came to Bethany where Lazarus whom He had raised from
the dead lived. As the Passover of the Jews was near many went from the
country up to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. They sought JESUS and spoke among themselves as they
stood in the temple, “What do you think, will He come to the feast?” Both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a command that if
anyone knew where He was he should report it that they might seize Him. A great many of the Jews knew that He was
there and they came not for JESUS’ sake only but that they might also see
Lazarus whom He had raised from the dead. The chief priests plotted to put
Lazarus to death also because on
account of him many of the Jews believed in JESUS.
Chapter 12
When they
drew near Jerusalem to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, He said to
two of His disciples, “Go into the village
opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied on
which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say,
‘The LORD has need of it,’ and immediately he
will send it here.”
So they went their way and found the colt tied by the door outside on the
street and they loosed it. Some of those who stood there said to them,
“What are you doing loosening the colt?” They spoke to them just as JESUS had
commanded so they let them go. Then they brought the colt to JESUS and
threw their clothes on it and He sat on it. All this was done to fulfill
what the prophet Zechariah said, “Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold your King
is coming to you lowly and sitting on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”
A very
great multitude spread their clothes on the road others cut down branches
from the palm trees and spread them on
the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried
out saying,
“Hosanna
to the Son of David! Blessed is He
who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Hosanna in the highest!” Some of the Pharisees
called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher rebuke Your disciples.” JESUS answered
them, “I tell you that if these should keep
silent the stones would immediately cry out.”
As He
drew near He saw the city and wept over it saying, “If you had known, even you especially in this your
day, the things that make for your peace! They are hidden from your eyes. For days will
come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you,
surround you and close you in on every side and level you and your children within you to the ground
and they will not leave in you one stone upon another because you did
not know the time of your visitation.”
When He
had come into Jerusalem all the city was moved saying, “Who is this?” So the
multitudes said, “This is JESUS the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”
Then JESUS
went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the
temple and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those
who sold doves. He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the
temple. Then He taught saying to them, “Is
it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all
nations’? You have made it a ‘den of thieves!’” The
scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him. They
feared Him because all the people were astonished at His teaching.
Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the
temple and He healed them. When the chief priests and scribes saw the
wonderful things that He did and the children crying out in the temple and
saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant and said
to Him, “Do You hear what these are saying?” JESUS said, “Yes. Have you never read, ‘out of the mouth of babes and
nursing infants You have perfected praise’?”
While JESUS was teaching daily in the temple the chief priests, the
scribes and the leaders of the people sought to destroy Him and were
unable to do anything for all the people were very attentive to hear Him.
Then He
left them and went out of the city to Bethany and He lodged there. His
disciples did not understand these things at first but when JESUS was
glorified then they remembered that these things were written about Him
and that they had
done these things to Him. Therefore the people who were with Him when He called
Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead bore witness. For
this reason the people met Him because they heard that He had done this sign.
The Pharisees said among themselves, “You see that you are accomplishing
nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!”
The next
day, when they had come from Bethany, He was hungry and seeing a fig tree
having leaves in the distance, He went to see if perhaps He would find
something on it. When He came to it He found nothing but leaves, for it was not
the season for figs. In response JESUS said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.” and
His disciples heard it.
There were
certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast they came
to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and said to him “Sir we wish
to see JESUS.” Philip came and told Andrew and in turn Andrew and Philip told JESUS.
JESUS said, “The hour has come that the Son of Man
should be glorified. Most Truly I say to you unless a grain of wheat falls
into the ground and dies it remains alone, if it dies it produces much grain.
He who loves his life will lose it and he who hates his life in this world will
keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me let him follow Me and where I am
there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.
My soul is troubled and what shall I say? ‘Father save Me from this hour’? For
this purpose I came to this hour rather Father glorify Your name.” Then
a voice came from heaven saying, “I
have both glorified it and will glorify it again.” The people who stood by and heard it said that
it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.” JESUS
answered, “This voice did not come because of
Me but for your sake. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of
this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth will draw
all peoples to Myself.” This
He said signifying by what death He would die.
The
people answered Him, “We have heard from the law that the CHRIST remains
forever and how can You
say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’,
who is this Son of Man?” JESUS said to them, “A
little while longer the light is with you walk while you have the light lest
darkness overtake you, he who walks in darkness does not know where he is
going. While
you have the light, believe in the light that you may become sons of
light.”
Then JESUS
cried out, “He who believes in
Me believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. He who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. I have
come as a light into
the world that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. If anyone hears
My words and does not believe I do not judge him for I did not come to judge the
world but to save the world. He who rejects Me and does not receive My words has that
which judges him the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.
For I have not spoken on My own authority but
the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I
should speak. I know that His command is everlasting life. I speak
whatever the Father has told Me.”
Although
He had done so many signs before them they did not believe in
Him that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, “LORD, who has
believed our report and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” So they
could not believe because Isaiah said again: “He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their hearts lest they should see with their eyes, lest they should
understand with their hearts
and turn so that I should heal them.” These things Isaiah said when he saw His
glory and spoke of Him. Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him
but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him lest they should be put out
of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of
GOD. These
things JESUS spoke then departed and was hidden from them.
In the
morning as they passed by they saw the fig tree dried up from the
roots. Peter remembering said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You
cursed has withered away.” So JESUS said, “Have
faith in GOD. For truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be
removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes
that those things he says will be done he will have whatever he says. So I say to you whatever things
you ask when you pray believe that you receive them and you will have them. Whenever you stand praying if you have anything against anyone forgive him that your Father in
heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. If you do not forgive neither will your Father
in Heaven forgive your trespasses.”
When He
came into the temple the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted
Him as He was teaching and said, “By what authority are You doing these
things? Who gave You this authority?” JESUS answered, “I also will ask you one thing which if you tell Me I
likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism
of John was it from Heaven or from men?” They reasoned among
themselves, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you not
believe him?’ If we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude for
all count John as a prophet.” So they answered JESUS, “We do not know.” So
He said, “Neither will I tell you by what
authority I do these things.”
“What do you think? A man had two sons and he came to the first
and said, ‘Son go work today in my vineyard.’ He answered, ‘I will not,’ but
afterward he regretted it and went. Then he came to the second and said likewise. He answered,
‘I go sir,’ but he
did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to Him, “The first.” JESUS said to them,
“Truly I say to you that tax collectors and harlots
enter the Kingdom of GOD before you. For John came to you in the way
of righteousness and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed
him; and when you saw it you
did not afterward relent and believe him.”
“Hear another parable, There was a certain landowner who
planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a
tower. He leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. When
vintage-time drew near he sent his servants to the vinedressers that they might
receive its fruit. The vinedressers took his servants beat one, killed one, and
stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first and they did
likewise to them. Then last of all he sent his son to them saying, ‘They will
respect my son.’ When the vinedressers saw the son they said among themselves,
‘This is the heir come let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and
killed him. So when the
owner of the vineyard comes what will he do to those vinedressers?” They said to Him, “He
will destroy those wicked men miserably and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him
the fruits in their seasons.” JESUS said to them, “Have
you never read in the Scriptures, ‘The stone which the builders rejected has
become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our
eyes’? Therefore I say to you the Kingdom of GOD will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits
of it. Whoever falls on this stone will be broken but on whom-ever it
falls it will grind him to powder.” When the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables they perceived
that He was speaking of them. When they sought to lay hands on Him
they feared the multitudes because they took Him for a prophet.
JESUS
spoke to them again by parables and said, “The
Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son and sent out his
servants to call those who were invited to the wedding and they were not
willing to come. Again he sent out other servants saying, ‘Tell those who are
invited, “See I have prepared my dinner my oxen and fatted cattle are killed and all things are ready
come to the wedding.”’ They made light
of it and went their ways one to his own farm, another to his business and the
rest seized his servants treated them spitefully and
killed them. So when the king
heard about it he was
furious he sent out his armies and destroyed those murderers and burned up
their city. Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready but
those who were invited were not worthy therefore go into the highways and
as many as you find invite to the wedding.’ So those servants went out into the highways
and gathered together all whom they found both bad and good. Then the
wedding hall was
filled with guests. When the king came in to see the guests he saw a man there
who did not have on a wedding garment. So he said to him, ‘Friend how did you come in here
without a wedding garment?’ the man was speechless. Then the king
said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot take him away
and cast him into outer
darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called but
few are chosen.”
So the Pharisees watched Him and sent spies who pretended
to be righteous that they might seize on His words in order to deliver Him to
the power and the authority of the governor. Then they asked Him, “Teacher we
know that You say and teach rightly and You do not show personal favoritism but
teach the way of GOD
in truth. Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” JESUS perceived
their craftiness and said to them, “Why do you test Me? Show Me a denarius whose image and
inscription does it have?” They answered, “Caesar’s.” He said to
them, “Render to Caesar the things that
are Caesar’s and to GOD the things that are GOD’s.” They could not catch Him in His words in the presence of the people and
they marveled at His answer and kept silent.
Then some Sadducees who say there is no resurrection came
to Him and they asked Him, “Teacher Moses wrote to us that if a man’s
brother dies and leaves his wife
behind and leaves no children his brother should take his wife and raise up
offspring for his brother. There were seven brothers the first took a wife
and dying he left no offspring. The second took her and he died and did not
leave any offspring. Then the third likewise, so the seven had her and left no
offspring. Lastly the woman died, so in the resurrection when they rise whose
wife will she be for all seven had her as wife?” JESUS said to them, “Are you not mistaken because you do not know the
Scriptures or the power of GOD? The sons of this age marry and are
given in marriage. Those who are counted worthy to attain that age 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 sons of GOD being sons of
the resurrection. Even Moses showed in the burning bush passage that
the dead are raised when he called the LORD ‘the GOD of Abraham, the GOD of Isaac and the GOD of Jacob.’ He is not the GOD of the dead but of
the living for all live to Him.” Then
they said, “Teacher You have spoken well.” after that they dared not
question Him anymore.
Then one of the scribes came and
having heard them reasoning together and perceiving that He had answered them
well asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?” JESUS answered
him, “The first of all the
commandments is, ‘Hear, O
Israel, the LORD our GOD, the LORD is one and you shall love the LORD your GOD with all your
heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength.’ This
is the first commandment. The second like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as
yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” So the scribe said to Him, “Well said Teacher,
You have spoken the truth for there is one GOD, and there is no other but Him and to love Him with all the heart,
with all the understanding, with all the soul and with all the strength and to
love one’s neighbor as oneself is more than all the whole burnt offerings and
sacrifices.” When JESUS saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far
from the Kingdom of GOD.” After that no one dared question
Him.
While the Pharisees were gathered
together JESUS asked them saying, “What do you
think about the CHRIST? Whose Son is He?” They said to Him, “The Son of David.” He said to
them, “How then does David in the Spirit call
Him ‘LORD,’ saying, ‘The LORD said to my LORD, “Sit at My right
hand till I make Your enemies Your footstool”’? If David then calls Him ‘LORD,’ how is He
his Son?” and
no one was able to answer Him a word and from that day on no one dared question
Him.
Then JESUS spoke to the
multitudes and to His disciples saying, “The
scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat so that whatever they tell
you to observe that observe and do but do not do according to their works
for they say and do not do. For they bind heavy burdens hard to bear and lay them on men’s shoulders but
they themselves will
not move them with one of their fingers all their works they do to be seen
by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their
garments. They love the best places at feasts, the best seats
in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces and to be called by men,
‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ Do not be called ‘Rabbi’, for One is your Teacher, the CHRIST
and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father for One is
your Father, He who is in heaven. He who is greatest among you shall be your servant,
whoever exalts himself will be humbled and he who humbles himself will
be exalted. Woe to you scribes and Pharisees hypocrites! For you shut up
the Kingdom of Heaven against men. You neither go in yourselves nor do you allow
those who are entering to go in. Woe to you scribes and Pharisees hypocrites! For you
devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers so you will receive
greater condemnation. Woe to you scribes and Pharisees hypocrites! For you
travel land and sea to win one proselyte and when he is won you make him twice
as much a son of hell as yourselves. Woe to you blind guides who
say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple it is nothing but whoever swears by the
gold of the temple he is obliged to
perform it.’ Fools and blind! Which is greater the gold or the
temple that sanctifies the gold? You say, ‘Whoever swears by the
altar it is nothing but whoever swears by the gift that is on it he is
obliged to perform it.’ Fools and blind!
Which is greater the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? So that he who swears
by the altar swears by it and by all things on it. He who swears by
the temple swears by it and by Him who dwells in it. He who swears by
Heaven swears by the throne of GOD and by Him who
sits on it. Woe to you scribes and Pharisees hypocrites! For you pay tithe of
mint and anise and cummin and have neglected the weightier matters of the law justice and
mercy and faith. These you ought to have done without leaving the others
undone. Blind guides who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! Woe to you
scribes and Pharisees hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and
dish but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisees
first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish that the outside of them may be
clean also. Woe to you scribes and Pharisees hypocrites! You are like
whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly but inside are full
of dead men’s bones
and all uncleanness. Even so you outwardly appear righteous to men but inside
you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. Woe to you scribes
and Pharisees hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn
the monuments of the righteous and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers we
would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’ So you are
witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the
prophets, fill up then the measure of your fathers’ guilt. Serpents, brood of
vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? Indeed I send you
prophets wise men and scribes some of
them you will kill and crucify and some of
them you will whip in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, that on you may
come all the righteous bloodshed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel
to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the
temple and the altar. Most Truly I say to you all these things will come upon
this generation.
O Jerusalem,
Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to
her! How often I wanted to gather your children together as a hen gathers her
chicks under her wings
but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate for I say to you,
you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’”
One day as JESUS sat opposite the
treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury, many who were rich put in much. Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a
quadrans. So He called His disciples to Himself and said, “Truthfully I say to you that this poor
widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury. They all
put in out of their abundance but she out of her poverty put in all that she
had, her whole livelihood.”
Chapter
13
JESUS left the temple and His
disciples came to Him and pointed out the buildings of the temple. JESUS said
to them, “Do you see all these things? Truly I
say to you that not one stone
will be left here upon another, they all will be thrown down.”
As He sat on the Mount of Olives the
disciples came to Him privately saying, “Tell us when will these things be
and what will be the sign of Your coming and
of the end of the age?” JESUS answered, “Take
heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name saying, ‘I am the CHRIST,’ and
will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars ee that you
are not troubled for all these
things must come to pass but the end is not yet. Nation will rise
against nation and kingdom against kingdom, there will be famines,
pestilences and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you and you will be hated
by all nations for My name’s sake. Then many will be offended will betray one another
and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive
many because lawlessness will abound and the love of many will grow cold.
He who endures to the end will be saved. This gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in the world as a
witness to all the nations and then the end will come.
When you see
the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet
standing in the holy place then let those who are in Judea flee to the
mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out
of his house and let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. Woe to those who
are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! Pray that your
flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. Then there will be
great tribulation such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this
time or ever will be again. Unless those days were shortened no flesh would be
saved but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened. Then if anyone says
to you ‘Look, here is the
CHRIST!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it for false CHRISTs and false prophets
will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive if possible even the
elect, see I have told you beforehand.
So if they say to
you, ‘Look He is in the desert!’ do not go out or ‘Look He is in the inner rooms!’ do
not believe it. As the
lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming
of the Son of Man be. Wherever the carcass is there the eagles will be gathered
together.
Immediately after
the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened and the moon will
not give its light. The stars will fall from heaven and the powers of the
heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in
heaven and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn and they will see
the Son of Man coming on the clouds of Heaven with power and great glory. He will send His
angels with a great sound of a trumpet and they will gather together His elect
from the four winds, from one end of Heaven to the other.
Learn this
parable from the fig tree, ‘When its branch has already become tender and puts
forth leaves you know that summer is near.’ So you also when you see all these
things know that it is near – at the doors! Truly I say to
you this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take
place. Heaven and earth will pass away but My Words will by no means
pass away. No one knows of that day and hour not even the angels of heaven but only My Father. As in the days of
Noah so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man, for as in the days before
the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage until
the day that Noah entered the ark and did not know
until the flood came and took them all away. So will the coming of the Son of
Man be. Then two men will
be in the field, one will be taken and the other left two women will be grinding at the
mill, one will be taken and the other left. Watch for you do
not know what hour your LORD is coming know
this that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would
come he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. So then you be
ready for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Who then is a
faithful and wise servant whom his master made ruler over his household to give
them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so
doing. Truly I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. If that evil
servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat
his fellow servants and to eat and drink with the drunkards the master of that
servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that
he is not aware of and will cut him in
two and appoint him his
portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Then the Kingdom of Heaven shall be like ten
virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of
them were wise and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps
and took no oil with them but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
While the bridegroom was delayed they all slumbered and slept. At
midnight a cry was heard, ‘Attention
the
bridegroom is coming go out to meet him!’ Then all those
virgins arose and trimmed their lamps and the foolish said to the wise,
‘Give us some of your
oil for our lamps are going out.’ The wise answered,
‘No lest there should not
be enough for us and you rather go to those who sell and buy for yourselves.’
While they went to buy the bridegroom came and those who were ready went in
with him to the wedding and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came
saying, ‘LORD, LORD, open to us!’ He answered,
‘Truly I do not know you.’ Watch for you do not know the day or the hour in which the Son of
Man is coming.
The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man
traveling to a far country who called his own servants and delivered his goods
to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two and to another one,
to each according to his own ability and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had
received the five talents went and traded with them and made another five
talents. Likewise he who had received two gained two
more. He who had received one went and dug in the ground and hid his
lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled
accounts with them. So he who had received five talents came and brought five
more talents saying, ‘Lord you delivered to me five talents look I have gained
five more talents besides them.’ His lord said to
him, ‘Well done good
and faithful servant you were faithful over a few things I will make
you ruler over many things, enter into the joy of your lord.’ He who had received
two talents came and said, ‘Lord you delivered to me two talents look I have
gained two more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him,
“Well done good and
faithful servant you have been faithful over a few things I will make you ruler
over many things, enter into the joy of your lord.’ Then he who had
received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord I knew you to be a hard man
reaping where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered
seed. I was afraid and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look there you have what is yours.’ His lord
answered him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant you knew that I reap where I
have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to
have deposited my money with the bankers and at my coming I would have received
back my own with interest. Take the talent from him and give it to him who has ten talents.
For to everyone who has more will be given and he will have abundance; but from
him who does not have even what he has will be taken away and cast the
unprofitable servant into the outer darkness where there will be weeping
and gnashing of teeth.’
When the Son of Man
comes in His glory and all the holy angels with Him then He will sit
on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him and He
will separate them one from another as a shepherd divides his sheep from the
goats. He will set the sheep on His right hand but the goats on
the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come you
blessed of My Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the
foundation of the world for I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and
you gave Me drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in, I was naked and you clothed Me, I was
sick and you visited Me, I was in prison and you came to Me.’ Then the
righteous will answer Him, ‘LORD when did we see You hungry and feed You or thirsty and
give You drink? When did we see You
a stranger and take You in
or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see
You sick or in prison and come to You?’ The King will
answer them, ‘Truthfully I tell you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these
My brethren you did it to
Me.’
Then He will say to
those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me you cursed into the everlasting
fire prepared for the devil and his angels for I was hungry and you gave
Me no food, I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink, I was a stranger
and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison
and you did not visit Me.’ Then they will answer Him, ‘LORD when did we see
You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not
minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you inasmuch
as you did not do it to
one of the least of these you did not do it to Me.’ These will go away into ever-lasting punishment but the
righteous into eternal life.
But take heed so
that your hearts are not weighted down with carousing, drunkenness and the
cares of this life or that day will come on you unexpectedly. It will come as a
snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. So watch and pray
always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come
to pass and to stand before the Son of Man.”
When JESUS had finished all these
sayings He said to His disciples, “You
know that after two days is the Passover and the Son of Man will be delivered
up to be crucified.”
In the
daytime JESUS was teaching in the temple but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called
Olivet. Early in
the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him.
The chief priests, the scribes
and the elders of the people assembled at the palace of the high priest,
Caiaphas, and plotted to take JESUS by trickery and kill Him but they said, “Not during the
feast lest there be an uproar among the people.”
JESUS was in Bethany at the house
of a Pharisee, Simon the leper who threw a feast for Him, Lazarus was also a
guest and Martha served. Many of the Jews were at the dinner not just because
of JESUS but to see Lazarus who He had raised from the dead. The chief priests
plotted to kill Lazarus also, because of him many of the Jews believed in JESUS.
Mary came to JESUS having an
alabaster flask of very costly spikenard oil and she anointed JESUS as He
sat at the table. When His disciples
saw it they were indignant saying, “Why this waste? For this fragrant oil
might have been sold for much and given to the poor.” When
the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this he
spoke to himself saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet would know who
and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him for she is a sinner.” JESUS
said to him, “Simon, I have something to say
to you.” So he said, “Teacher, say it.” “There was a certain creditor who had
two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii and the other fifty. When they had nothing with which to
repay he freely forgave them both. Tell Me which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “I suppose the one to whom he
forgave more.” JESUS said to him, “You
have rightly judged.”
Then He
turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you
see this woman? I entered your house and you gave Me no water for My feet but
she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave Me
no kiss but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I
came in. You
did not anoint My head with oil but this woman has anointed My feet with
fragrant oil, I say to you her sins which are many are forgiven for she loved much to whom little is
forgiven the same loves
little.”
Then looking at the disciples JESUS
said, “Why do you trouble the woman? She has
done a good work for Me. You have the poor with you always but Me you do not always
have. In pouring this fragrant oil on My body she did it for My burial, truly I say to
you wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world what this woman has
done will also be told as a memorial to her.”
Then He
said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Those
who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who
even forgives sins?” Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you go in peace.”
Later one of the twelve, Judas
Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me
if I deliver JESUS to you?” and they counted out to him thirty pieces of
silver. So from that time Judas sought opportunity to betray JESUS.
Chapter 14
Then came the Day of Unleavened
Bread when the Passover must be killed. JESUS sent Peter and John saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us that we may eat.” So they said to Him, “Where do You want
us to prepare?” and He said to them, “When you
have entered the city a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water follow
him into the house which he enters. Then you say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher
says to you, “Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My
disciples?”’ Then he will show you a large furnished upper room, there
make ready.” So they went and found it just as He had said and they
prepared the Passover.
When the hour had come He sat
down and the twelve apostles were with Him. He said to them, “With fervent desire
I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer for I say to you
I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of GOD.” Then He took the cup and gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves for I say to you I will not drink
of the fruit of the vine until the Kingdom of GOD comes.” Then He took bread gave thanks and broke it and gave it to them saying, “This is My body which is given for you do this in
remembrance of Me.” Likewise He took the cup after supper saying, “This cup is the
new covenant in My blood which is shed for you. The hand of My betrayer is with Me on the table; truly
the Son of Man goes as it has been determined but woe to that man by whom
He is betrayed!” Then they began to question among themselves which of
them it was who would do this thing. “I do not
speak concerning all of you I know whom I have chosen but that
the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up
his heel against Me.’ I tell you before it comes that when it does come to pass
you may believe that I am He. Truly I say to you he who receives whomever I send receives
Me and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”
Supper being ended the devil
having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son to betray Him, JESUS
knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands and that
He had come from GOD
and was going to GOD rose
from supper and laid aside His garments took a towel and girded Himself. He
poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which
He was girded. When He came to Simon Peter, Peter said to Him, “LORD are You washing my feet?” JESUS answered “What I am doing you do not understand now but
you will after this.” Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!”
JESUS answered, “If I do not wash you, you have no
part with Me.” Simon Peter said to Him, “LORD not only my feet but also my hands
and my head!” JESUS said to him, “He who is
bathed needs only to wash his feet
and is completely clean you are clean but not all of you.” He
knew who would betray Him when He said, “You
are not all clean.” So when He had washed their feet taken His garments
and sat down again He said, “Do you know what
I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and LORD and you say true,
for I am. If I then your LORD and Teacher have
washed your feet you also should wash one another’s feet. I have given you an
example that you should do as I have done to you. Truthfully I say to you a
servant is not greater than his master nor is he who is sent greater than he
who sent him. If you know these things you are blessed if you do them.”
John was leaning on JESUS’ bosom
Simon Peter motioned to him to ask who it was. Then leaning back on JESUS’
breast he asked Him, “LORD
who is it?” JESUS answered, “It is he to whom
I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” and having dipped
the bread He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. Then JESUS said to
him, “What you do, do quickly.” No
one at the table knew for what reason He said this to him. Some thought
because Judas had the money box that JESUS had said to him, “Buy those things we need for the feast,”
or that he should give something to the poor. Having received the piece of
bread he then went out immediately and it was night.
So when he had gone out JESUS
said, “The Son of Man is glorified and GOD is glorified in
Him. If GOD is glorified in Him GOD will also glorify
Him in Himself and glorify Him immediately. Little children I
shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me and as I said to
the Jews, ‘Where I am going you cannot come,’ so a new commandment I give to
you; that you love one another; as I have loved you; that you love one another. By this all will
know that you are My disciples if you have love for one another.” Simon Peter said to Him, “LORD where are You going?” JESUS answered him, “Where I am going you cannot
follow Me now but you will follow Me afterward.” Peter said to Him, “LORD why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my
life for Your sake.”
There was a dispute among them as
to which of them should be considered the greatest. JESUS said to
them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise
lordship over them and those who exercise authority over them are called
‘benefactors’ but not so among you.
On the contrary he who is greatest among you let him be as the younger and
he who governs as he who serves. Who is greater
he who sits at the table or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you
as the One who serves. You are those who have continued with Me in My trials. I bestow upon
you a Kingdom just as My Father bestowed one on Me that you may eat and
drink at My table in My Kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of
Israel.”
Then He said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me
this night for it is written, ‘I will strike the Shepherd and the sheep of the
flock will be scattered.’ After I have been raised I will go before you to
Galilee.” Peter said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of
You I will never be made to stumble.” The LORD said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed Satan has
asked for you that he may sift you as
wheat, I have prayed for you that your faith should not fail and when you have
returned to Me strengthen
your brethren.” Peter said to Him, “LORD I am ready to go with You both to prison and to death.” Then JESUS
said, “I tell you Peter before this day is out the
rooster will not crow until you will deny three times that you know Me.”
JESUS said to them, “When I sent you without money bag, knapsack and sandals
did you lack anything?” “Nothing.” they said, He said, “He who has a money bag let him take it and likewise a knap-sack and
he who has no sword let him sell his garment and buy one. I say to you
that which is written must still be accomplished in Me, ‘He was numbered
with the transgressors.’ the things concerning Me have an end.” So they
said, “LORD look here are two swords.” He said, “It is enough.
Let not your
heart be troubled you believe in GOD believe also in
Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions if it were not so I would have told
you. I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare
a place for you I will come again and receive you to Myself
that where I am there you
may be and where I go you know and the way you know.” Thomas said, “LORD
we do not know where You are going and how can we know the way?” JESUS said, “I am the way, the truth and the
life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me
you would have known My Father also and from now on you know Him and have seen
Him.” Philip said, “LORD
show us the Father and it is sufficient for us.” JESUS said, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known
Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father so how can you say,
‘Show us the Father?’ Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the
Father in Me? The Words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority but the Father who
dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me or else believe Me
for the sake of the works themselves. Truthfully I say to you he who believes
in Me the works that I do he will do also and greater works than these he will do
because I go to My Father.
Whatever you ask in
My name that I will do that the Father may be glorified in the Son, if
you ask anything in My name I will do it. If you love Me keep My commandments and I will
pray to the Father and He will give you another Helper that He may abide
with you forever, the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive
because it neither sees Him nor knows Him but you know Him for He lives with
you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans I will come to you. A
little while longer and the world will see Me no more yet you will see Me
because I live you will live. At that day you will know that I am in My Father and you in Me
and I in you. He who has My commandments and keeps them is he who loves Me and
he who loves Me will be loved by My Father and I will love him
and manifest Myself to him.” “LORD how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us
and not to the world?” JESUS answered, “If anyone
loves Me he will keep My Word and My Father will love him and We will come to
him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My Words
and the Word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.
These things I have
spoken to you while being present with you. The Helper, the
Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you
all things and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you not as the world gives do I give
to you. Let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid. You have heard
Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me you would rejoice
because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater
than I. I have told you before it happens that when it does come to pass
you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you for the ruler of
this world is coming and he has nothing in Me. So that the world may know
that I love the Father, I do as the Father commanded Me.
I am the true vine
and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me
that does not bear fruit He takes away and every branch that bears fruit He
prunes that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the
Word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me and I will abide in you. As the
branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can
you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine you are the branches he who abides in Me and I in him bears
much fruit for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not
abide in Me he is cast out as a branch and is withered and they gather
them and throw them into
the fire and they are burned. If you abide in Me and My Words abide in
you, you will ask what you desire and it shall be done for you.
By this My Father is glorified that you bear much fruit so you will be My
disciples.
As the Father loved
Me I also have loved you abide in My love. If you keep My
commandments you will abide in My love just as I have kept My Father’s
commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you that My
joy may remain in you and that your
joy may be full. This is My commandment that you love one another as I have loved you.
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call
you servants for a servant does not know what his master is doing; I have
called you friends for all things that I heard from My Father I have made
known to you. You did not choose Me but I chose you and appointed you that
you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should remain that whatever
you ask the Father in My name He may give you. These things I
command you that you love one another. If the world hates you, you know that it
hated Me first, if you were of the world the world would love its own. Yet you
are not of the world because I chose you out of the world, therefore the world
hates you. Remember the Word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater
than his master.’ If they persecuted Me they will also persecute you, if they
kept My Word they will keep yours also. All these things
they will do to you for My name’s sake because they do not know Him who sent
Me. If I had not come and spoken to them they would have no sin but now they
have no excuse for their sin, he who hates Me hates My Father also. If I had not done among
them the works which no one else did they would have no sin but now they
have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. But this happened that the word
might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a
cause.’
When the Helper
comes whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who
proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. You will bear witness
because you have been with Me from the beginning. These things I have
spoken to you that you should not be made to stumble. They will put you
out of the synagogues, yes the time is coming that whoever kills you will
think that he offers GOD service. These things they will do to you because they have not
known the Father or Me. These things I have told you so that when the time comes
you may remember that I told you of them. These things I did not say to you at
the beginning because I was with you. I go away to Him
who sent Me and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ Because I have said
these things to you sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the
truth, it is to your advantage that I go away for if I do not go away the
Helper will not come to you but when I depart I will send Him to you. When He has come He
will convict the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment of sin because they
do not believe in Me; of righteousness because I go to My Father and you
see Me no more; of judgment because the ruler of this world is judged.
I still have many things to say to you but you cannot bear them now.
However when He, the Spirit of
Truth, has come He will guide you into all truth for He will not speak on
His own authority but
whatever He hears He will speak and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me
for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine, I say that
He will take of Mine and declare it to you. A little while and you will not see Me
and again a little while and you will see Me because I go to the Father.”
Then some of His disciples said among themselves, “What is this
that He says to us, ‘A little while and you
will not see Me and again a little while and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I go to
the Father’?” They said ”What is this that He says, ‘A little
while’? We do not know what He is saying.” JESUS knew that they desired to ask
Him and He said to them, “Are you inquiring
among yourselves about what I said, ‘A little while and you will not see Me and
again a little while and you will see Me’? Truly I say to you that you will weep and lament but the
world will rejoice and you will be sorrowful but your sorrow will be turned into
joy. A woman when she is in labor has sorrow because her hour has come but as
soon as she has given birth to the child she no longer remembers the anguish for
the joy that a human being has been born into the world. Now you have sorrow
but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice and your joy no one will
take from you. In that day you will ask Me nothing. Truthfully I say to you
whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have
asked nothing in My name, ask and you will receive that your joy may
be full. These things I have spoken to you in figurative language but the
time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language but I
will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in My name and I do not say to
you that I will pray to the Father for you for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved
Me and have believed that I came forth from GOD, I came forth from
the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the
Father.”
His disciples said, “See now You
are speaking plainly and using no figure of speech! Now we are sure
that You know all things and have no need that anyone should question You.
By this we believe that You came forth from GOD.” JESUS answered, “Do
you now believe? Indeed the hour is coming, yes has now come that you will be
scattered each to his own and will leave Me alone, yet I am not alone
because the Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you that in Me you
may have peace, in the world you will have tribulation; be of good
cheer I have overcome the world.”
JESUS spoke these words then
lifted up His eyes to heaven and said, “O Father,
the hour has come. Glorify Your Son that Your Son also may glorify You, as You
have given Him authority over all flesh that He should give eternal
life to as many as You have given Him. This is eternal life that they may
know You the only true GOD and JESUS CHRIST whom
You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the
work which You have given Me to do. Now Father, glorify Me
together with Yourself with the glory which I had with You before the
world was.
I
have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of
the world. They were Yours You gave them to Me and they have kept Your
word. They have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. I have given to
them the Words which You have given Me and they have received them and have known
truly that I came forth from You and they have believed that You sent Me.
I pray for them, I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have
given Me for they are Yours. All Mine are Yours and Yours are Mine and I am
glorified in them. I am no longer in the world but these are in the world and I
come to You, Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given
Me that they may be one as We are. While I was with
them in the world I kept them in Your name those whom You gave Me I
have kept and none of them is lost except the son
of perdition that the scripture might be fulfilled. I come to You and
these things I speak in the world that they may have My joy fulfilled in
themselves. I have given them Your Word and the world has hated them because
they are not of the world just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that
You should take them out of the world but that You should keep them from the
evil one. They are not of the world just as I am not of the world.
Sanctify them by Your truth, Your Word is truth. As You sent Me into
the world I have sent them into the world for their sakes I sanctify Myself
that they also may be sanctified by the truth.
I do not pray for
these alone but also for those who will believe in Me through their
word that they all may be one as You, Father are in Me and I in You that they
also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. The glory
which You gave Me I have given them that they may be one just as We are
one I in them and You in Me that they may be made perfect in one and
that the world may know that You have sent Me and have loved them as You have
loved Me. O Father I desire that they whom You gave Me may be with Me where I
am that they may understand My glory which You have given Me for You loved
Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous
Father! The world has not known You but I have known You
and these have known that You sent Me. I have declared to them Your name
and will declare it that
the love with which You loved Me may be in them and I in them.”
When JESUS had spoken
these words they sang a hymn then they went out to the Mount of Olives. They
went over the Brook Kidron
where there was a garden which He and His disciples entered. Judas, who betrayed Him knew the place for JESUS often met there with His disciples.
Chapter
15
Then they came to a place which
was named Gethsemane and He said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James, and John with
Him and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed. Then He said to
them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful even to death stay here and
watch.” He went about a stones throw farther and fell on the ground and
prayed that if it were possible the hour might pass from Him. He
said, “Abba, Father all things are
possible for You. Take this cup away from Me nevertheless not what I will but
what You will.”
Then He came and found them sleeping and said to Peter, “Simon are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray lest
you enter into temptation the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak.”
A second time He went away and
prayed, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass from
Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” When He returned He found
them asleep again for their eyes were heavy and they did not know what to say. He
walked away and prayed a third time being in agony He prayed more earnestly then
His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground then an
angel appeared to Him from heaven strengthening Him.
When He rose up from prayer and
had come to His disciples He found them sleeping from sorrow. He said, “Rise let us be going.
See My betrayer is at hand.”
Then Judas, having received a
detachment of troops and
officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns,
torches and weapons. JESUS knowing all things that would come upon Him went
forward and said to them, “Who are you seeking?”
They answered Him, “JESUS of Nazareth.” JESUS said to them, “I am He.” Judas who betrayed Him also stood with
them. When He said to them, “I am He,” they
drew back and fell to the ground. Then He asked them again, “Who are you seeking?” standing they said, “JESUS
of Nazareth.” JESUS answered, “I have told you
that I am He. Because you seek Me let these go their way,” that the saying might be fulfilled which He
spoke, “Of those whom You gave Me I have lost
none.”
His betrayer had
given them a sign saying, “Whomever I kiss He is the One seize Him.” Immediately he went up to JESUS and said, “Greetings
Rabbi!” and kissed Him. JESUS said to him, “Judas are you
betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” When those around Him saw
what was going to happen they said to Him, “LORD shall we strike with the sword?”
Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it and struck the high priest’s servant
Malchus, and cut off his right ear. JESUS said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath! Shall I not
drink the cup which My Father has given Me? Permit even this.” JESUS
touched the man’s ear and healed him then said, ”All this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets
might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.
Then JESUS said to the chief
priests, captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to Him, “Have you come out as against a robber with swords
and clubs? When I was with you daily in the temple you did not
try to seize Me but this is your hour and the power of darkness.” Then
the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested JESUS
bound Him and led Him away to Annas first for he was the father-in-law
of Caiaphas who was high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who
advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.
A certain young man followed Him
having a linen cloth thrown around his naked body. The young men of the arresting party laid hold of him and he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked. Simon Peter followed JESUS and so did John. John was known to the
high priest and went with JESUS into the courtyard of the high priest but Peter
stood at the door outside. Then John, who was known to the high priest, went
out and spoke to her who kept the door and brought Peter in. Then the
servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are also one of this Man’s disciples
aren’t you?” He said, “I am not.” The servants and officers who had made a
fire of coals stood there for it was cold and they warmed themselves and Peter
stood with them and warmed himself.
The high priest then asked JESUS
about His disciples and His doctrine. JESUS answered him, “I spoke openly to the world I always taught in
synagogues and in the temple where the Jews always meet and I
have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what
I said to them indeed they know what I said.” When He had said these
things one of the officers who stood by struck JESUS with the palm of his
hand saying, “Do You answer the high priest like that?” JESUS answered
him, “If I have spoken evil bear witness of
the evil but if well why do you strike Me?” Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas
the high priest.
One of the servants of the high
priest a relative of him whose ear Peter
cut off said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” Peter then denied again saying, “I do not know what you are talking
about!”
The chief priests, the elders and
all the council sought false testimony against JESUS to put Him to
death but found none even though many false witnesses came forward
but their testimony did not agree. At last two false witnesses came
forward and said, “This fellow said,
‘I am able to destroy the temple of GOD and to build it in three days.’”
The high priest rose and said to Him, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against
You?” JESUS kept silent and answered nothing.
About an hour had passed and
another of the High Priests servants confidently affirmed saying about Peter,
“Surely this fellow was
with Him, for he is a Galilean, his accent gives him away.” Peter cursing
vehemently deigned it. Immediately, while he was still speaking the rooster
crowed and the LORD turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered
the Word of the LORD, how He had said to him, “Before
the rooster crows you will deny Me three times.” then
Peter went out and wept bitterly.
The High Priest said, “If You are
the CHRIST tell us.” JESUS said to them, “If I
tell you, you will not believe and if I ask you, you will not answer Me or let Me go. Hereafter the Son of Man
will sit on the right hand of the power of GOD.” Then
they all said, “Are You then the Son of GOD?” He said to them, “You are right
to say that I am.”
The High Priest tore his clothes
and said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from
His own mouth what do you think?” They all condemned Him to be deserving of
death. Then some began to spit on Him they blindfolded Him and to beat Him and
to said to Him, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” The officers struck Him with the palms
of their hands and spoke many blasphemous things against Him.
Chapter
16
Then they led JESUS from Caiaphas
to the Praetorium and it was early morning. They themselves did not go into the
Praetorium, or they would be defiled, so that they could eat the
Passover. Pilate then went out to them and said, “What accusation do you
bring against this Man?” They answered him, “If He were not an evildoer we
would not have delivered Him up to you.” Then Pilate said, “You take Him and
judge Him according to your law.” The Jews said, “It is not lawful for us to
put anyone to death,” that the saying of JESUS might be fulfilled which He
spoke signifying by what death He would die.
Then Pilate entered the
Praetorium again called JESUS and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” JESUS
answered, “Are you speaking for yourself about
this or did others tell you this concerning Me?” Pilate answered, “Am I
a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me what have
You done?” JESUS answered, “My Kingdom is not of
this world. If My Kingdom were of this world My servants would fight so that I
should not be delivered to the Jews but now My Kingdom is not from here.”
Pilate asked Him, “Are You a king then?” JESUS answered, “You say rightly that
I am a King. For this cause I was born and for this cause I have come into the
world that I should bear witness to the truth, everyone who is
of the truth hears My voice.” Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?”
When he had said this, he went
out again to the Jews and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all.” They
were all the more fierce saying, “He stirs up the people teaching throughout
all Judea beginning from Galilee to this place.” When Pilate heard of Galilee
he asked if the Man were a Galilean. As soon as he knew that He belonged
to Herod’s jurisdiction he sent Him to Herod who was in Jerusalem at that time.
When Herod saw JESUS he was
exceedingly glad for he had desired for a long time to see Him because he had heard many things about
Him and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him. Then he questioned Him
with many words but JESUS did not answer him. The chief priests and
scribes stood and vehemently accused Him. Then Herod with his men of war
treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe and
sent Him back to Pilate. That very day Pilate and Herod became
friends, for previously they had been at enmity with each other.
Then the Roman soldiers led Him
away into the hall called Praetorium and they called together the whole
garrison. They clothed Him
with purple and they twisted a crown of thorns put it on His head and began to salute Him, “Hail King of the Jews!” Then they struck Him on the head with a rod and spat on Him and
bowing the knee they worshiped Him. Then they scourged him with a whip. After they had mocked Him then they led Him out when JESUS came out wearing the crown of thorns and
the purple robe Pilate said to them, “Behold the Man!” When the chief priests
and officers saw Him they cried out, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”
Pilate said to them, “You take Him and crucify Him for I find no fault in Him.” The Jews answered him, “We
have a law and according to our law He ought to die because He made
Himself the Son of GOD.” When Pilate heard that saying he was
apprehensive and went again into the Praetorium and said to JESUS, “Where are
You from?” JESUS gave him no answer, Pilate marveled and said to Him, “Are You
not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You and power
to release You?” JESUS answered, “You could
have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above, so the
one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”
From then on Pilate sought to
release Him but the Jews cried out saying, “If you let this Man go you are not
Caesar’s friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.” When
Pilate heard that saying he brought JESUS out and sat down in the judgment seat
in a place that is called The Pavement,
but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. It was the Preparation Day of the Passover and Pilate
said to the Jews, “See your King!” They cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!” Pilate said
to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no
king but Caesar!”
At the feast the governor was
accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished, at that
time they had a notorious prisoner named Barabbas. Pilate said to them, “Whom
do you want me to release to you Barabbas or JESUS who is called CHRIST?” for
he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy. While he was
sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do
with that just Man for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of
Him.”
Then the chief priests and elders
persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy JESUS.
The governor said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?”
They said, “Barabbas!” Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with JESUS
who is called CHRIST?” They all
said to him, “Let Him be crucified!”
Then the governor said, “Why,
what evil has He done?” but they cried out all the more saying, “Let Him be
crucified!” When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all but rather that a tumult was rising,
he took water and washed his hands
before the multitude saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person you
see to it.” All the people said, “His
blood is on us and on
our children.” Then he released Barabbas to them and delivered JESUS to be crucified.
Judas, His betrayer seeing that JESUS
had been condemned was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of
silver to the chief priests and elders saying, “I have sinned by betraying
innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? You see to it!” Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed
and went and hanged himself. The chief priests took the silver pieces and said,
“It is not lawful to put them into the treasury because they are the price of
blood.” They consulted together and bought with them the potter’s field to
bury strangers in. So that field has been called the Field of Blood to
this day. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet
saying, “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was
priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced and gave them for the
potter’s field, as the LORD directed me.”
Chapter
17
It was the third hour as they led
JESUS away and they took hold of a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of
Alexander and Rufus who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on
him that he might bear it after
JESUS. A great multitude of the people followed Him and women who also mourned
and lamented for Him. JESUS turning to them said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, weep for
yourselves and for your children. Indeed the days are coming in which they will
say, ‘Blessed are the
barren wombs that never bore and breasts which never nursed!’ Then they will
begin to say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!”’ For
if they do these things in the green wood what will be done in the dry?”
There were two others, criminals,
led with Him to be put to death. When they had come to the place called
Calvary also called Golgotha which is translated Place of a Skull they
crucified Him and the two criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the
left. So the scripture was fulfilled which says, “He was numbered with the
transgressors.” They gave Him wine mixed with myrrh to drink but He did not
take it. Then JESUS said, “Father, forgive
them for they do not know what they do.” Those who passed by
blasphemed Him wagging their heads and saying “Aha! You who would destroy the
Temple and rebuild it in three days save Yourself and come down from the
cross!” Likewise the chief priests and the scribes mocked among themselves
saying, “He saved others He cannot save Himself. Let the CHRIST the King of
Israel descend now from the cross that we may see and believe.”
The people stood looking on and even
the rulers with them sneered saying, “He saved others let Him save Himself
if He is the CHRIST the chosen of GOD.” The soldiers mocked Him coming
and offering Him sour wine and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews save
Yourself.”
Pilate wrote a title and had it put on
the cross that said:
JESUS
OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Then many of the Jews read this
title for the place where JESUS was crucified was near the city; and it was
written in Hebrew, Greek and Latin. So the chief priests of the Jews said to
Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ rather, ‘He said, “I am the King
of the Jews.”’” Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”
The soldiers when they had
crucified JESUS took His garments and made four parts, one part for each
soldier and also His tunic which was without seam woven from the top in one
piece. They said among themselves, “Let us not tear it but cast lots for
it to see who gets it,” that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says, “They
divided My garments among them and for My clothing they cast lots.”
Then one of the criminals who
were crucified blasphemed JESUS saying, “If You are the CHRIST save Yourself
and us.” The other rebuked him saying, “Do you not even fear GOD
seeing you are under the same condemnation? We justly, for we receive the
results of our deeds but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to
JESUS, “LORD remember me when You come into Your Kingdom.” JESUS said to him, “Truly I say today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
There stood by the cross of JESUS
His mother and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary
Magdalene, Solame
and the mother of Zebedee’s sons. When JESUS saw His mother and His disciple John, whom He loved, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then He said to John, “Behold your mother!” and from that hour John took her to his own home.
When the sixth hour had come
there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. At the ninth
hour JESUS cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi,
Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which
is translated, “My GOD, My GOD, why have You forsaken Me?” Some of
those who stood by when they heard JESUS said, “Look He is calling for
Elijah!” Then someone ran and filled a sponge full of sour wine put it on a reed and offered it to Him to drink saying, “Let
Him alone let us see if Elijah will come to take Him down.” Then JESUS cried
out with a loud voice, “It is finished Father into
Your hands I commit My Spirit” having said this He breathed His last.
Then the earth quaked and the
rocks were split, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom and
the graves of many of the saints who had fallen asleep were opened and they came
out of the graves after His resurrection, going into the holy city they
appeared to many.
So when the centurion and those
with him who were guarding JESUS saw the earthquake and the things that had
happened, they feared greatly saying, “Truly this was the Son of GOD!”
Because it was the Preparation Day, so that the bodies should not remain on the cross during
the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high holy day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs
might be broken and that they might be
taken away. Then the soldiers
came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who were crucified with
Him. When they came to JESUS and saw that He was already
dead they did not break His legs. One of the soldiers pierced His side with a
spear and immediately blood and water came out and John who has seen this has testified
and his testimony is true and he knows
that he is telling the truth so that you may believe. For these things were done that the Scripture should be
fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.” another Scripture
says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”
When evening had come, because it
was the Preparation Day, that is the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was
himself waiting for the Kingdom of GOD, taking courage
went in to Pilate and asked for the body of JESUS. Pilate marveled that He was already dead and summoning
the centurion, he asked him if He had been dead for some time. So when he found out from the centurion he granted the
body to Joseph. Nicodemus, who at
first came to JESUS by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes about
a hundred pounds. Then they took
the body of JESUS and bound it in strips of linen with the spices as was the
custom of the Jews to bury. In the place
where He was crucified there was a garden and in the garden Joseph had a new
tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So they laid JESUS in the tomb then they rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb and departed. The women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after and they observed the
tomb and where His body was laid. Then they went home and prepared spices and fragrant oils and they rested on the Sabbath according
to the commandment.
On the next day, which was the
high holy Sabbath, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together and went
to Pilate saying, “Sir we remember while He was still alive how that
deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise.’ Therefore command that the
tomb be made secure until the third day lest His disciples come by night and
steal Him away and
say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.’ So the last deception will be
worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “You have a guard go your way make it as secure as you know how.” So
they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the
guard.
Chapter 18
After the Sabbath as the
first day of the week
began to dawn there was a great earthquake for an angel of the LORD
descended from heaven and rolled back the stone from the tomb then sat on it.
His countenance was like lightning and his clothing as white as snow. The
guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men.
Mary Magdalene and Mary JESUS’
mother came to see the tomb. The angel said to the women, “Do not be
afraid for I know that you seek JESUS who was crucified, He is not here for He
is risen as He said. Come see the place where the LORD lay
then go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead and
indeed He is going before you into Galilee there you will see Him; Pat
attention I have told you.”
Then they went in and did not
find the body of the LORD JESUS. It happened as they were greatly
perplexed about this that two men stood by them in shining garments and they
were afraid and bowed their faces
to the earth. The angel said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the
dead? He is not here, He is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when
He was still in Galilee saying, “The Son of Man
must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and the third
day rise again.”
Mary stood outside by the tomb
weeping and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. She
saw the two angels in white sitting one at the head and the other at the feet
where the body of JESUS had lain. Then they said to her, “Woman why are you
weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my LORD and
I do not know where they have laid Him.” When she had said this she turned
around and saw JESUS standing there, she
did not know that it was JESUS, He said to her, “Woman
why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She supposing Him to be the
gardener, said to Him, “Sir if You have carried Him away tell me where You have
laid Him and I will take Him.” JESUS said, “Mary!”
She said, “Rabboni!” JESUS said, “Do not cling to
Me for I have not yet ascended to My Father, but go to My brethren and say to
them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father and to
My GOD and your GOD.’” Then
Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the LORD
and that He had
spoken these things to her.
Then Mary Magdalene ran to Simon
Peter and John whom JESUS loved and said to them, “They have taken away the LORD out
of the tomb and we do not know where they have laid Him.” Peter and John went
out and ran to the tomb. John outran Peter and came to the tomb first, stooping
down and looking in he saw the linen cloths lying there, yet he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came and
went into the tomb and he saw the linen cloths lying there and the handkerchief
that had been around His head not lying with the linen cloths but folded in a
place by itself. Then John also went in and he saw and believed yet they
did not know the Scripture that He must rise again from the dead. Then the
disciples went away.
While they were going to tell the
disciples some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief
priests all the things that had happened. When they had assembled with the
elders and consulted together they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers
saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’ and if this comes to the governor’s ears we will appease
him and make you secure.” So they took the
money and did as they were instructed and this saying is commonly reported
among the Jews to this day.
Two
of the disciples were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which
was seven miles from Jerusalem, and they talked together of all these things
which had happened. So it was while they conversed and reasoned that JESUS
Himself drew near and went with them. Their eyes were restrained so that
they did not know Him. He said He said
to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one
another as you walk and are sad?” Then the one whose name was
Cleopas answered Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem and do You not
know the things which happened there in these days?” JESUS said, “What things?” So they said, “The things
concerning JESUS of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and
word before GOD and all the people and how the chief priests
and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death and crucified
Him. We were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Besides
all this today is the third day since these things happened certain women of
our company who arrived at the tomb early astonished us when they did not find
His body, they came saying that they had seen a vision of angels who said He
was alive. Some of those who were with
us went to the tomb and found it just
as the women had said but they did not see Him.”
Then JESUS said to them, “You foolish ones and slow of heart to believe in all
that the prophets have spoken! Should not the CHRIST have suffered these things and
entered into His glory?” Beginning
at Moses and all the Prophets, JESUS expounded to them in all the
Scriptures the things concerning Himself. When they drew near to the village
where they were going, He indicated that He would have gone
farther. They constrained Him saying, “Abide with us for it is toward
evening and the day is far spent.” so He went in to stay with them. As He sat
at the table with them He took bread blessed and broke it and gave it to them then
their eyes were opened and they knew Him and He vanished from their sight. They
said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us
on the road and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” So they rose up
that very hour and returned to Jerusalem and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together. So they told the
things that had happened on the road and how He
was known to them in the breaking of bread.
As they said these things, JESUS
Himself stood in the midst of them and said to them, “Peace to you.” They were terrified and
supposed they had seen a spirit. He said to them, “Why are you troubled and why do doubts arise in your
hearts? See
My hands and My feet that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see for a spirit
does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.” When He had said this
He showed them His hands and His feet. They still did not fully believe yet
they marveled, He said, “Have you any food
here?” So they gave Him a piece
of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. He took it and ate in their presence then He said, “These are the
words which I spoke to you while I was still with you that all things must be
fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” Then He
opened their understanding that they might comprehend the Scriptures.
JESUS said again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me I send you.” When He had said this He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any
they are forgiven them, if you retain the sins of any they are retained.”
Thomas, called the Twin, one
of the twelve was not with them when JESUS came. The other disciples said
to him, “We have seen the LORD.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands
the print of the nails and put my finger into the print of the nails and put my
hand into His side I will not believe.” After eight days His disciples were
again inside and Thomas was with them. JESUS came, the doors being shut, and
stood in the midst and said, “Peace to you!” Then
He said to Thomas “Reach
your finger here and look at My hands and reach your hand here and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving but believing.” Thomas said to Him, “My LORD and
my GOD!” JESUS said, “Thomas because you have
seen Me you have believed, blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
JESUS rebuked them for their hardness of heart and not
believing those who had seen Him, so He said, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
Go into all the
world and
preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be
saved but
he who does not believe will be condemned.
These signs will follow those who believe in My
name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues, they will take up serpents and if they drink
anything deadly it will not hurt them, they will lay hands on the sick and they
will recover.”
After these things JESUS showed
Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Galilee also called the Sea of
Tiberias. It happened like this, Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael
of Cana in Galilee, the sons of
Zebedee and two others of His disciples were together. Simon Peter said to
them, “I am going fishing.” they said to him, “We are going with you.” They
went out and immediately got into the boat and that night they caught nothing.
When the morning had come JESUS stood on the shore yet the disciples did
not know that it was Him.
Then JESUS said to them, “Children have you any food?” They answered Him,
“No.” He said, “Cast the net on the right side
of the boat and you will find some.” So they cast the net and now they were not
able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish. Then John said to Peter,
“It is the LORD!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the LORD, he
put on his outer
garment, for he had removed it and plunged into the sea. The other disciples
came in the little boat for they were not far from land, about one hundred yards,
dragging the net with fish. As soon as they had come to land they saw a
fire of coals with fish and bread laid on it. JESUS said to them, “Bring some of the
fish which you have just caught.”
Simon Peter went and dragged the
net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three and although there
were so many the net was not broken. JESUS said, “Come and eat
breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”
knowing that it was the LORD. JESUS then took the bread and fish and gave
it to them. This is the
third time JESUS showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the
dead.
So when they had eaten breakfast JESUS
said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah do you love Me
more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, LORD You know that I love You.” JESUS
said to him, “Feed My lambs.” JESUS said to
him a second time, “Simon son of Jonah do you
love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes LORD You know that I love You.” He
said to him, “Tend My sheep.” JESUS said to
him the third time, “Simon son of Jonah do you love
Me?” Peter was grieved because He asked him the third time, “Do you love Me?” he said to Him, “LORD,
You know all things, You know that I love You.” JESUS said to him, “Feed My sheep. Truly I say to you when you were younger
you girded yourself and walked where you wished but when you are old you will
stretch out your hands and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” This He spoke signifying by what death Peter
would glorify GOD then He said to Peter, “Follow
Me.”
Then Peter turning around saw the
disciple John whom JESUS loved following them. Peter seeing him said to JESUS,
“LORD what about this
man?” JESUS said, “If I will that he
remain till I come what is
that to you? You follow Me.” Then the saying went out among
the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet JESUS did not say to him
that he would not die only, “If I will that he
remain till I come what is that to
you?”
Then the eleven disciples went to
the mountain in Galilee that JESUS had
appointed for them. When
they saw Him they worshiped Him yet some still
doubted, JESUS came and spoke to
them saying, “Go and make disciples of all the
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you, for
I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.”
Later JESUS led them to Bethany,
to mount Olivet, He lifted His hands and blessed them saying, “It is written and it was necessary for the CHRIST to
suffer and to rise from the dead the third day and that repentance
and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations
beginning at Jerusalem, you are witnesses of these things. I send the Promise
of My Father to you so wait in the city of Jerusalem until you are
endued with power from on high. For
John truly baptized with water and you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many
days from now.”
They asked Him, “LORD will You at this time restore the
kingdom to Israel?” He said, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own
authority. You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon
you and you shall be witnesses of Me in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.”
When He had spoken these things,
while they watched, He was taken up and a cloud received Him out of their sight into Heaven
and He sat down at the right hand of GOD. While they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up two men stood
by them in white apparel who said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into Heaven? This same JESUS, who was taken up from you into Heaven will come
in like manner as you have seen Him go into Heaven.” Then they worshipped Him
and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. They were continually in the temple
praising and blessing GOD.
This account I
made of all that JESUS began both to do and teach until the day in which He was taken up, after He
through the Holy Spirit had given
commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He presented Himself
alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during
forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of GOD. JESUS was seen by up to 500 people at one time. Truly JESUS did many
other signs in the presence of His disciples which are not written in this
book. These are written that you may
believe that JESUS is the CHRIST, the
Son of GOD, and that believing you may have life in His
name. There are many other things that JESUS did which if
they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could
not contain the books that would be written. Amen!
Postscript
Then the disciples returned to
Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath
day’s journey. When they had entered they went up into the
upper room where they were staying, Peter, James,
John and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of
Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. They all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication with the women
and Mary the mother of JESUS and His
brothers.
In those
days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, altogether the number of names
was about a hundred and twenty, and said, “Men and brethren this Scripture had
to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning
Judas Iscariot, who became a guide to those who arrested JESUS, for he was
numbered with us and obtained a part in this
ministry.” (This man purchased a field with the wages
of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his
entrails gushed out, and it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem, so
that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of
Blood.) “For it is written in the Book of Psalms: ‘Let his dwelling place be
desolate and let no one live in it’ and ‘Let
another take his office.’ So of these men who have accompanied us all the time
that the LORD JESUS went in and out among us, beginning
from the baptism of John to that day when He was
taken up from us, one of these must become a
witness with us of His resurrection.”
They
proposed two, Joseph called Barsabas who was surnamed Justus and Matthias and they prayed and said,
“You LORD who know
the hearts of all show which of these two You have chosen to take
part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas Iscariot by
transgression fell that he might go to his own place.” Then they cast their lots and the lot fell on Matthias, so he was numbered
with the eleven apostles.
After ten days on the day of
Pentecost the disciples were all together in one place and suddenly there was a
sound of a mighty rushing wind from heaven. It filled the whole house where
they were then there appeared to them tongues of fire one tongue sitting on
each of those present. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to
speak in other languages as the Spirit gave them utterance and they all went
out and preached everywhere the LORD working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying
signs. Amen!
Appendix
1
The
Genealogy of JESUS
“The book of the genealogy
of JESUS CHRIST, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham: Abraham begot
Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his
brothers. Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and
Hezron begot Ram. Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and
Nahshon begot Salmon. Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth,
Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David the king. David the king begot Solomon
by her who had been the wife of Uriah (Bathsheba). Solomon begot Rehoboam, Rehoboam
begot Abijah, and Abijah begot Asa (Asaph). Asa begot Jehoshaphat,
Jehoshaphat begot Joram, and Joram begot Uzziah. Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz,
and Ahaz begot Hezekiah. Hezekiah begot Manasseh, Manasseh begot Amon (Amos),
and Amon begot Josiah. Josiah begot Jeconiah (Coniah or Jehoiachin)
and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon. After
they were brought to Babaylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot
Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel begot Abiud, Abiud begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot
Azor. Azor begot Zadok, Zadok begot Achim, and Achim begot
Eliud. Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot
Jacob. Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born JESUS
who is called CHRIST. So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from
David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations and from the captivity in Babylon
until the CHRIST are fourteen
generations.”
The Holy Bible New King James
Version, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1994
“JESUS Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of
Joseph, the son of Heli, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Janna, the son of Joseph, the son of Mattathiah, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum,
the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, the son of Maath, the son of
Mattathiah, the son of Semei, the son of Joseph, the son of Judah, the son of
Joannas, the son of Rhesa,
the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of
Elmodam, the son of Er, the son of Jose, the son of
Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonan,
the son of Eliakim, the son of Melea, the son of Menan, the son of
Mattathah, the son of Nathan, the son of David, the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz,
the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, the son of Amminadob, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of
Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son
of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan, the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of GOD.”
The Holy Bible New King James
Version, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1994
“Two genealogies are given in the
NT; in Matthew 1:1-17, and in Luke 3:23-38. Matthew traces the descent of JESUS
from Abraham and David, and divides it into three sets of fourteen generations
each. Matthew omits three generations after Poram, namely Ahaziah, Joash and
Zmaziah (1 Chronicles 3:11, 12). Contrary to Hebrew practice, he names five
women: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba (the wife of Uriah), and Mary, each name
evoking associations, dark or bright, with the history of the chosen people.
Matthew carefully excludes the physical paternity of Joseph by saying ‘Joseph
the husband of Mary, of whom’ (feminine singular in Greek) ‘was born JESUS’
(1:16). The sense of ‘begat’ in Hebrew genealogies was not exact: it indicated
immediate or remote descent, an adoptive relationship, or legal heirship, as
well as procreation.
Luke’s genealogy moves from JESUS
to Adam. Between Abraham and Adam it is the same as in 1 Chronicles 1:1-7,
24-28, or the more detailed genealogies in Genesis; making allowance for the
different spelling of names in transliteration from Hebrew or Greek. From David
to Abraham Luke agrees with OT genealogies and with Matthew. Between JESUS and
David Luke’s list differs from Matthew’s. Perhaps Matthew gives the line of
legal heirship, while Luke gives the line of physical descent. Matthew’s
genealogy establishes the legal claim to the throne of David through his
foster-father Joseph; Luke’s establishes His actual descent from David through
Mary. Isaiah 11:1 indicates that Messiah is to be physically a descendant of
David’s father Jesse. The genealogies must be seen in the light of this fact.
(Compare Matthew 22:41-46 and parallels with the answer in Romans 1:4.)” The
New Compact Bible Dictionary, Zondervan Publishing House, 1967
For further study of the
genealogy of JESUS see Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the whole Bible, Complete
and Unabridged in Two Volumes, Volume 2, Sovereign Grace Publishers, 1972. An
Exposition, with Practical Observations, of the Gospel According to St.
Matthew, pgs. 2 – 3 and An Exposition, with Practical Observations, of the
Gospel According to St. Luke pgs. 355 –
356.
Appendix 2
My Thoughts
As I read through the Gospels
regularly questions would arise about the timing of some events and the order
of them in the different books. The question of why some stories were not in
all the Gospel accounts and why there were differences in the telling of some
events. These questions motivated me to seek understanding so that I could read
the Gospels without questioning and doubt. I wrote this book to harmonize the
events in the Four Gospels, not to set them any particular order. Some of CHRIST’s
life’s events have their natural order; His birth and childhood, His baptism,
first miracle, His last Passover, arrest, crucifixion, resurrection and
ascension.
Due to the much handling of the
scriptures through the centuries the hand copying until the printing press was
invented and the many times the scriptures have been translated and paraphrased
into languages and then updated for modern languages; plus due to the many
cannons of scripture authorized through the centuries by differing CHRISTian
organizations and governments there are many people who feel that the Bible is
not reliable, that it has mistakes and errors. There are questions about books
that have been removed from the cannon of some Church organizations, after all
the Bible was written by men!
In Bible College I learned a
little Bible history, enough to not doubt the GOD inspired authenticity of the
Bible as His Word to humanity. In learning about the Gospel accounts I
understand that they were written by four different men at different times for
different reasons. While all four men were alive when JESUS was ministering
only two of them are eyewitness accounts, Matthew and John; Mark’s account is
believed to have been dictated by Peter and of course Luke’s account is from
his interviews of those who knew JESUS and served His Kingdom with their lives.
When JESUS was referring to the
Word of GOD (the Law and the Prophets) He referred to it as infallible and that
it would not pass away until it was fulfilled. That is our Old Testament that
is what He and the Apostles quoted from in their teachings and writings.
We are reminded by the writers of
the Law, Psalms, Proverbs, Prophets, Gospels, Epistles and Revelation that all
scripture is Divinely inspired so that humanity can know GOD and be saved from
eternal damnation to live with and serve Him in His eternal Kingdom. The True
and Living GOD is more than able to preserve the truth and revelation of His
Word (the Bible) to humanity so that no matter what man has done accidently or
purposely the message remains the same throughout time.
I used the Harmony of the Gospels
in the back of my regular reading and study Bible, The Holy Bible, New King
James Version, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1994 edition, as a guide.
After over 40 years as a CHRISTian
I have studied and prayed about what is taught in the Church about the Bible.
Though I am not a Bible scholar here is what I believe about the life of JESUS.
His ministry was just over one
year not two to three and a half as is commonly taught. I base this on the fact
that JESUS goes to two Passovers in each He cleanses the Temple, He also goes
to Jerusalem for other feasts where He does not cleanse the Temple, this is
significant. In John 6:4 it says, “Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was
near.” many believe that this means that JESUS went to three Passover feasts.
In John 7:2 it says, “Now the Jew’s feast of Tabernacles was at hand.” Passover
is in the spring and Tabernacles is in the fall was it possible that it took as
long as six months to accomplish the things that He did in between, yes. The
difference is that in 6:5 and following JESUS goes on to teach and minister
where He was then when to Capernaum. In 7:2 His brothers tells Him to go to
Jerusalem to show Himself to His followers and in a couple of days He did. To
me this shows that He did not go to the mentioned Passover but that as the
biggest and most important feast of the Jews it was mentioned like we mention CHRISTmas,
the biggest and most important holiday in Western culture, in fact we start
counting the days to CHRISTmas the day after CHRISTmas.
Another reason I believe that JESUS’
ministry was only a little over one year is that at the end of His ministry His
disciples who had been with him from His baptism until His ascension (Acts
1:21-22) still did not understand when He told them that He had to be crucified
and rise from the dead on the third day. None of the twelve for sure was so
dumb that after two to three years with JESUS daily they would not understand
what He was talking about. In the whirlwind year that they walked and lived
with Him they were seeing and learning so much that it is reasonable to believe
that they could not comprehend all that He taught. In fact that is why He told
them He had to leave so that the Father could send His Holy Spirit to teach and
show them the things of His Kingdom and to remind them of everything JESUS had
told them.
Appendix 3
Scriptures used (related scriptures)
Introduction: Genesis 1-3; Luke
1:1-4 (Job 38:1-12; Psalm 19:1-6, 102:24-27; Proverbs 8; John 1:1-5, 8:42-44;
Acts 1:1-2, 21-22; 1 Corinthians 15:35-58; 2 Corinthians 11:3; Colossians
1:16-17; 1 Timothy 2:13-15; Hebrews 2:1-4; Revelation 12:9)
Chapter 1: Matthew 1-2; Luke 1-2;
John 1:1-5, 9-14; (Genesis 12:1-3, 22:16-18; Exodus 13:1-2; Leviticus 12;
Numbers 24:17; Deuteronomy 16:1-17; Isaiah 7:14, 9:1-2, 6-7, 40:1-5, 49:5-6;
Jeremiah 23:5-6, 31:15; Ezekiel 29:21; Daniel 2:44-45; Micah 5:2; Hosea 11:1;
Galatians 4:4-7; Colossians 1:16-19; 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1, 6:13-14; 1 John
1:1-5, 5:11, 20; Revelation 19:13)
Chapter 2: Matthew 3:1-4:11; Mark
1:1-13; Luke 3:1-23, 4:1-13; John 1:6-8, 19-28 (Exodus 20:16, 23:1; Numbers
4:3; Deuteronomy 6, 8:3; Psalm 2:7-9, 91:11-12; Isaiah 9:2, 40:1-5, 49:6,
52:10, 58:7; Ezekiel 18:30-32; Malachi 3:1-3; Luke 7:24-30; Acts 2:38-39; 2
Corinthians 7:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; Hebrews 1:13-14; James 4:7; 2 Peter
1:17; Revelation 13:1-2, 7)
Chapter 3: Matthew 4:12-25,
8:1-4, 14-17, 9:1-17; Mark 1:16-3:12; Luke 4:14-44, 5, 6:1-11; John 1:29-51, 2,
3, 4, 5 (Genesis 48:21-22; Exodus 20:8-11, 31:15; Leviticus 13:1-46, 14:1-32,
24:5-9; Numbers 21:4-9; Deuteronomy 16:1-8, 18:15-18, 23:24-25, 24:8; Joshua
24:32; 1 Samuel 21:1-6; 1 Kings 17:8-16; 2 Kings 5:1-14; Psalm 40:6-8,
51:14-17, 69:9, 122; Ecclesiastes 11:5; Isaiah 9:1-2, 6-7, 12:2-3, 43:25,
49:8-9, 52:13, 53:4, 61:1-2; Jeremiah 2:13; Hosea 2:16-20, 6:6; Zechariah
6:12-13, 7:12, 13:1, 14:8; Acts 2:38, 17:31; Romans 1:16-19, 3:23, 5:8; 1
Corinthians 3:5-9, 16-17, 15:45-50; 2 Corinthians 6:16, 11:1-2; Ephesians
5:8-14; 1 Timothy 1:15-17; James 2:19; 1 Peter 2:21-25; Revelation 5:5-14,
21:1-2)
Chapter 4: Matthew 5, 6, 7,
8:5-13, 9:36-38; 10: 1-4, 11:2-30, 12:22-50; Mark 3:20-35; Luke 6:12-49, 7:1-35,
8:19-21, 11:1-26, 29-36, 12:22-40 (Genesis 18:4, 19:2, 24, 43:24; Exodus
20:13-14, 21:23-25; Leviticus 19:12, 16-18, 24:16-21; Numbers 27:15-17; Deuteronomy
15:7-11, 19:15-21, 23:3-8, 23, 24:1-4, 25:1-3, 32:35; Judges 19:21; 1 Kings
10:1-13; Job 19:25; Job 38:41; Psalm 5:4-6, 8:1-2, 23:5, 24:4-5, 37:9-11,
25-26, 69:7-9, 103:19-22, 107:17-22, 126:5-6; Proverbs 6:25-26, 12:28, 14:13,
19:17, 23:4-5, 26:11, 28:27, 30:7-9; Ecclesiastes 5:1-5, 9-20; Isaiah 35:4-6,
40:1-5, 49:24-25, 50:6, 53:4, 55:1-6, 58:1-8, 60:1-3, 61:1-3, 65:13-16;
Jeremiah 23:9-40, 33:3; Micah 3:5-7; Malachi 1:6, 3:1, 14 4:4-6; John 13:1-17;
Acts 7:51-53, 59-60, 17:22-31; Romans 2:13, 4:17, 8:26-27, 10:1-13, 12:19-21,
13:8-10, 14:1-13, 16:16; 1 Corinthians 6:1-11; Galatians 5:14; Ephesians 4:32,
5:1-14; Philippians 2:12-16; Colossians 1:28, 2:15, 3:5, 4:6, 12; 1 Timothy
4:8, 5:9-10; 2 Timothy 2:14-19; Hebrews 4:14-16, 13:16; James 1:2-6, 9-10,
12-17, 21-27, 2:10-13, 4:8-10, 5:1-6, 12-18; 1 Peter 2:19-21, 3:13-14, 4:12-14;
2 Peter 2:9, 20-22; 1 John 3:4-9, 15, 22, 5:3, 14-16; Revelation 7:16, 16:15,
21:3-4)
Chapter 5: Matthew 8:18-34,
9:18-34, 10, 11:1, 14:3-21; Mark 4:35-41, 5, 6:1-13, 17-44; Luke 3:19-20, 8:22-56,
9:1-6, 10-17 (Exodus 4:10-12; Leviticus 11:7-8, 15:19, 18:16, 20:21; 1 Kings
1:8-16, 19:19-21; 2 Samuel 23:1-2; Psalm 107:23-32; Jeremiah 50:6; Micah 7:5-6;
Acts 3:11-4:31, 8:1, 14:19-20, 24:1-26:32; 1 Corinthians 9:14)
Chapter 6: Matthew 14:22-36,
15:1-28, 16; Mark 6:45-56, 7; Luke 9:7-9; John 6:15-7:1 (Genesis 6:5; Exodus 16,
21:17; Numbers 15:38-41; Nehemiah 9:15; Job 9:1-13; Psalm 2:7-9, 39:1, 49:5-9,
78:23-25; Proverbs 6:12-15, 20:20; Isaiah 7:9-10, 29:13, 54:13; Romans 1:18-32,
2:5-11; Galatians 1:15-16, 5:19-21; Ephesians 2:8-10, 19-22; Colossians
2:18-23; 2 Timothy 3:12; James 3:5-8; 1 Peter 2:21, 4:3; 2 Peter 2:12-17; 1
John 2:15-17, 3:23-24, 4:15-16; Revelation 20:11-15)
Chapter 7: Matthew 15:29-39, 16,
17, 18; Mark 8, 9; Luke 9:18-50, 57-62 (Exodus 30:11-15; Leviticus 2:13;
Deuteronomy 19:15; 1 Kings 19:19-21; 2 Kings 4:42-44; Psalm 49:5-9; Proverbs
13:10, 24:12; Isaiah 35:5-6, 42:1, 53:3, 66:22-4; Jeremiah 5:21, 7:20; Daniel
7:9-10; Malachi 4:5-6; Romans 2:1-11; 1 Corinthians 12:3, 15:3-6; Ephesians
2:8, 19-22; Philippians 2:5-8; Colossians 4:6; 2Thessalonians 3:6; 2 Timothy
3:12; James 2:12-13, 5:15-16; 1 Peter 2:21; 2 Peter 1:16-21, 3:9; 1 John 5:14)
Chapter 8: John 7:2-10:21
(Genesis 17:9-14; Exodus 3:13-14, 20:14; Leviticus 12:1-3, 20:10, 23:33-44;
Numbers 12:6-8; Deuteronomy 1:16, 16:18, 17:6, 18:15-19, 33:4; 1 Samuel
4:1-13;Psalm 100:3; Proverbs 24:23-25;
Isaiah 6:9, 12:3, 40:11, 42:6, 43:20, 55:1; Hosea 5:4-6; Micah 5:2; Zechariah
7:11-13; John 1:1-5; Romans 1:1-4, 6:22-23; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians
4:1-7, 5:1; Ephesians 2:11-18; Colossians 1:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 5:4-5;
Hebrews 2:9; 1 Peter 3:21-22; 1 John 3:8-10, 5:1-3; Revelation 1:18, 3:14,
22:13)
Chapter 9: Luke 10-12, 13:1-21 (Genesis
4:6-11; Exodus 20:8-11; Leviticus 18:4-5, 19:17-18, 20:10; Deuteronomy 5:12-5,
6:4-5, 25:2, 4; 1 Kings 10:1-9; 2 Chronicles 7:13-15, 24:20-22; Job 38:41;
Psalm 27:4, 39:5-6, 52:6-7, 119:1-8, 46, 119-120; Proverbs 14:21, 25:8-10;
Ecclesiastes 2:24, 11:9; Isaiah 6:9, 48:17-18, 51:7-8, 12-13, 55:6; Jeremiah
33:3; Ezekiel 3:4-7, 20:11; Micah 6:8, 7:6; 1 Corinthians 1:22, 4:5, 10:27,
15:3-4; Colossians 2:15; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8, 5:3; 1 Timothy 6:6-10; Hebrews
10:26-27; James 1:5, 16-17, 25, 4:17, 5:1-3; 1 Peter 1:10-12; 2 Peter 2:20,
3:3-4; 1 John 5:14-16; Revelation 3:3, 16:15, 20:12)
Chapter 10: Luke 13:22-35, 14-16,
17:1-10; John 10:22-42 (Deuteronomy 33:9; 1 Samuel 16:7; Nehemiah 8:10; Psalm
6:8-10, 18:27, 51:1-4, 82:6-7; Proverbs 3:34, 25:6-7, 29:3; Isaiah 40:8, 51:6;
Romans 14:11-13; 1 Corinthians 7:10-11; 2 Corinthians 5:9-11; Ephesians 2:1-10;
Colossians 2:11-14; 2 Timothy 3:12; James 4:6-10; 1 Peter 1:3-5, 2:25, 4:1-6,
5:5-7; Revelation 19:9)
Chapter 11: Matthew 19-20; Mark
10; Luke 9:51-56, 17:11-19:27; John 11:1-12:11 (Genesis 1:27, 2:23-25, 6-7, 19;
Exodus 20:12-16; Leviticus 13:45-46, 18:5, 19:18; Numbers 6:11-14; Deuteronomy
24:1-4; 1 Samuel 2:2; 2 Samuel 1:16; 2 Kings 1:9-12; Psalm 22, 41:1, 73:1,
131:2; Proverbs 3:5-6, 34, 11:28, 30:12; Isaiah 9:2, 49:6, 53; Jeremiah 32:17;
Ezekiel 37:21-28; Nahum 1:7; Habakkuk 2:2-4; Malachi 2:16; Acts 3:13-15,
12:1-4; Romans 5:14-21, 13:9; 1 Corinthians 6:16, 7:1-17, 25-40 15:22;
Ephesians 2:14-18; Philippians 2:5-11; Titus 2:11-14; James 1:9-11, 4:3; 1
Peter 3:18-20, 4:12-19, 5:1-4; 1 John 5:10-12; Revelation 3:17, 6:9-11, 22:16)
Chapter 12: Matthew 21-23; Mark
11-12; Luke 19:28-21:4; John 12:12-50 (Genesis 4:8; Exodus 3:1-6, 29:37,
30:25-29; Leviticus 14:21-22, 19:18, 27:30; Deuteronomy 4:39, 6:4-5, 10:12,
18:15-18, 25:5-6; 2 Chronicles 24:20-21, 36:15-16; Psalm 2:2, 8:2, 17:8, 91:4, 110:1,
118:22-28, 148:1; Proverbs 9:1-2; Ecclesiastes 5:4-5; Isaiah 5:1-2, 6:1, 9-10,
8:12-15, 53:1, 56:7; Jeremiah 6:3, 6, 7:11; Daniel 2:44-45; Hosea 6:6; Zechariah
9:9; Acts 2:22-24; Romans 13:1-7; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 15:42-55; Ephesians
4:32; Hebrews 1:1-4; James 1:5-8; 1 Peter 2:13-17; 1 John 3:2-3; Revelation
19:7-9, 20:11-13)
Chapter 13: Matthew 24-25,
26:1-16; Mark 14:1-31; Luke 7:36-50, 21:5-38 (Genesis 6:1-8; Exodus 12:1-27;
Deuteronomy 15:11; Psalm 16:9-11, 41:9, 112:10; Proverbs 14:31; Isaiah 40:6-8,
53:6, 58:7, 65:8-9; Lamentations 2:8-9; Ezekiel 32:7-8; Daniel 7:11-14, 11:31, 12:1-2,
14:7; Micah 3:8-12; Haggai 2:20-22; Zechariah 11:12, 13:7, 14:5-7; Acts 1:9-11,
15-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-30, 15:50-55; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Ephesians 6:10-18;
Colossians 2:8, 18-19; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 5:1-6; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12;
1 Timothy 4:1-3; Hebrews 12:2, 13:1-3; James 2:15-16, 5:9; 2 Peter 2:1-9, 3;
Revelation 1:7, 3:3, 6:1-8, 14:14-16, 16:15)
Chapter 14: Matthew 26:17-35; Mark
14:11-31; Luke 22:1-38; John 13:1-18:1, (Exodus 12:14-28, 24:7-8; Psalm 35:19,
41:9, 69:4, 109:1-5, 119:142, 151; Isaiah 13:6-8, 53:5, 10-12; Jeremiah 31:34;
Ezekiel 3:7; Hosea 14:8; Zechariah 11:12-1, 13:7; Acts 1:15-20; Romans 8:12-17,
7; 1 Corinthians 10:16, 11:23-34; Ephesians 2:14-15; Philippians 2:5-8;
Colossians 1:15; 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12; 2 Timothy 3:10-12; Hebrew 2:18, 4:15,
10:8-25; James 1:25; 1 Peter 2:18-25, 5:1-4, 8-9; Revelation 21:3)
Chapter 15: Matthew 26:36-75;
Mark 14: 32-72; Luke 22:39-71; John 18:1-27 (Exodus 20:16; Leviticus 24:16;
Deuteronomy 19:15-19; Psalm 35:11-12, 69:7-9, 109:8; Proverbs 27:6; Isaiah
50:5-6, 52:14, 53:3-4, 7; Daniel 7:13-14; Romans 8:15; Galatians 5:16-17;
Hebrews 1:1-4, 5:1-8, 8:1; Revelation 1:10)
Chapter 16: Matthew 27:1-31; Mark
15:1-20; Luke 23:1-25; John18:28-19:16 (Leviticus 24:16; Deuteronomy 21:6-9;
Psalm 2:2, 38:12, 110:1; Isaiah 50:6, 52:13-15, 53:1-8; Daniel 2:36-45,
7:13-14; Jeremiah 32:6-9; Zechariah 11:12-13; Acts 1:18-19, 3:11-21, 4:23-28, 17:5-9;
1 Timothy 3:16; 1 Peter 2:20-24)
Chapter 17: Matthew 27:32-66;
Mark 15:21-47; Luke 23:26-56; John 19:17-42 (Exodus 12:12, 46, 20:8-11,
26:31-33; Leviticus 23:4-8; Deuteronomy 21:22-23; Psalm 22:1, 6-8, 15-18, 34:20,
38:11, 69:7, 21; Isaiah 50:4-9, 50:6, 52:13-15, 53:9-12; Hosea 10:8; Zechariah
12:10; Acts 1:18-19, 3:11-18; Hebrews 5:7-10, 7:1-8:6, 13:12-13; 1 John 5:6-8;
Revelation 6:12-17, 9:6)
Chapter 18: Matthew 28; Mark 16;
Luke 24; John 20-21 (Deuteronomy 18:15; Psalm 16:9-11, 22:16-18, 96:1-6; Isaiah
7:14, 9:6; Jeremiah 31:34; Daniel 7:9, 13-14, 10:6; Zechariah 12:10; Acts
10:34-43; 1 Corinthians 15:5-6, 50; Ephesians 1:15-23; Hebrews 4:14-16, 13:5-6;
James 5:14-15; 1 Peter 1:3-12; 1 John 1:1-4, 5:13)
Postscript: Mark 16:20; Acts
1:1-2:4 (Leviticus 23:15; Psalm 41:9, 69:25, 109:8, 110; Joel 2:28-29; Mark
16:17; Hebrews 2:1-4)
Appendix 1: Matthew 1:1-17; Luke 3:23-38
(Genesis 5, 10:22-24, 11:10-26, 17:5, 21:2-3, 25:23-26, 29:35, 38:27-30; Ruth
4:13-22; 1 Samuel 16:10-13; 2 Samuel 3:2-5, 5:13-16, 7, 12:24-25; 1 Kings
11:41-43, 14:31, 15:8, 24, 22:50; 2 Kings 8:24, 11, 12:19-21, 14:1-2, 21, 15:7,
32, 38, 16:20, 20:21, 21:18, 25-26, 23:30-35, 24:6, 17; 1 Chronicles 1:1-28,
34-37, 2:1-17, 3:1-4:1; 2 Chronicles 11:18-23, 12:16, 14:1, 16:14-17:1, 21:1-2,
20-22:1, 10-12, 24:1, 27, 26:1, 23, 27:9, 28:27, 32:33, 33:20, 24-25, 36:1-4,
8,-10; Matthew 13:55-56, 22:41-46; John 6:42; Romans 1:1-4)
