GodsWord - Mark

Chapter 1

1:1  This is the beginning of the Good News about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

1:2  The prophet Isaiah wrote, "I am sending my messenger ahead of you to prepare the way for you."

1:3  "A voice cries out in the desert: 'Prepare the way for the Lord! Make his paths straight!'"

1:4  John the Baptizer was in the desert telling people about a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

1:5  All Judea and all the people of Jerusalem went to him. As they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.

1:6  John was dressed in clothes made from camel's hair. He wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey.

1:7  He announced, "The one who comes after me is more powerful than I. I am not worthy to bend down and untie his sandal straps.

1:8  I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

1:9  At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan River.

1:10  As Jesus came out of the water, he saw heaven split open and the Spirit coming down to him as a dove.

1:11  A voice from heaven said, "You are my Son, whom I love. I am pleased with you."

1:12  At once the Spirit brought him into the desert,

1:13  where he was tempted by Satan for 40 days. He was there with the wild animals, and the angels took care of him.

1:14  After John had been put in prison, Jesus went to Galilee and told people the Good News of God.

1:15  He said, "The time has come, and the kingdom of God is near. Change the way you think and act, and believe the Good News."

1:16  As he was going along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were throwing a net into the sea because they were fishermen.

1:17  Jesus said to them, "Come, follow me! I will teach you how to catch people instead of fish."

1:18  They immediately left their nets and followed him.

1:19  As Jesus went on a little farther, he saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat preparing their nets to go fishing.

1:20  He immediately called them, and they left their father Zebedee and the hired men in the boat and followed Jesus.

1:21  Then they went to Capernaum. On the next day of worship, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach.

1:22  The people were amazed at his teachings. Unlike their scribes, he taught them with authority.

1:23  At that time there was a man in the synagogue who was controlled by an evil spirit. He shouted,

1:24  "What do you want with us, Jesus from Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!"

1:25  Jesus ordered the spirit, "Keep quiet, and come out of him!"

1:26  The evil spirit threw the man into convulsions and came out of him with a loud shriek.

1:27  Everyone was stunned. They said to each other, "What is this? This is a new teaching that has authority behind it! He gives orders to evil spirits, and they obey him."

1:28  The news about him spread quickly throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

1:29  After they left the synagogue, they went directly to the house of Simon and Andrew. James and John went with them.

1:30  Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever. The first thing they did was to tell Jesus about her.

1:31  Jesus went to her, took her hand, and helped her get up. The fever went away, and she prepared a meal for them.

1:32  In the evening, when the sun had set, people brought to him everyone who was sick and those possessed by demons.

1:33  The whole city had gathered at his door.

1:34  He cured many who were sick with various diseases and forced many demons out of people. However, he would not allow the demons to speak. After all, they knew who he was.

1:35  In the morning, long before sunrise, Jesus went to a place where he could be alone to pray.

1:36  Simon and his friends searched for him.

1:37  When they found him, they told him, "Everyone is looking for you."

1:38  Jesus said to them, "Let's go somewhere else, to the small towns that are nearby. I have to spread the Good News in them also. This is why I have come."

1:39  So he went to spread the Good News in the synagogues all over Galilee, and he forced demons out of people.

1:40  Then a man with a serious skin disease came to him. The man fell to his knees and begged Jesus, "If you're willing, you can make me clean."

1:41  Jesus felt sorry for him, reached out, touched him, and said, "I'm willing. So be clean!"

1:42  Immediately, his skin disease went away, and he was clean.

1:43  Jesus sent him away at once and warned him,

1:44  "Don't tell anyone about this! Instead, show yourself to the priest. Then offer the sacrifices which Moses commanded as proof to people that you are clean."

1:45  When the man left, he began to talk freely. He spread his story so widely that Jesus could no longer enter any city openly. Instead, he stayed in places where he could be alone. But people still kept coming to him from everywhere.

Chapter 2

2:1  Several days later Jesus came back to Capernaum. The report went out that he was home.

2:2  Many people had gathered. There was no room left, even in front of the door. Jesus was speaking God's word to them.

2:3  Four men came to him carrying a paralyzed man.

2:4  Since they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof over the place where Jesus was. Then they lowered the cot on which the paralyzed man was lying.

2:5  When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, "Friend, your sins are forgiven."

2:6  Some scribes were sitting there. They thought,

2:7  "Why does he talk this way? He's dishonoring God. Who besides God can forgive sins?"

2:8  At once, Jesus knew inwardly what they were thinking. He asked them, "Why do you have these thoughts?

2:9  Is it easier to say to this paralyzed man, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, pick up your cot, and walk'?

2:10  I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." Then he said to the paralyzed man,

2:11  "I'm telling you to get up, pick up your cot, and go home!"

2:12  The man got up, immediately picked up his cot, and walked away while everyone watched. Everyone was amazed and praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this."

2:13  Jesus went to the seashore again. Large crowds came to him, and he taught them.

2:14  When Jesus was leaving, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting in a tax office. Jesus said to him, "Follow me!" So Levi got up and followed him.

2:15  Later Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house. Many tax collectors and sinners who were followers of Jesus were eating with him and his disciples.

2:16  When the scribes who were Pharisees saw him eating with sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?"

2:17  When Jesus heard that, he said to them, "Healthy people don't need a doctor; those who are sick do. I've come to call sinners, not people who think they have God's approval."

2:18  John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came to Jesus and said to him, "Why do John's disciples and the Pharisees' disciples fast, but your disciples don't?"

2:19  Jesus replied, "Can wedding guests fast while the groom is still with them? As long as they have the groom with them, they cannot fast.

2:20  But the time will come when the groom will be taken away from them. Then they will fast.

2:21  "No one patches an old coat with a new piece of cloth that will shrink. Otherwise, the new patch will shrink and rip away some of the old cloth, and the tear will become worse.

2:22  People don't pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the wine will make the skins burst, and both the wine and the skins will be ruined. Rather, new wine is to be poured into fresh skins."

2:23  Once on a day of worship Jesus was going through the grainfields. As the disciples walked along, they began to pick the heads of grain.

2:24  The Pharisees asked him, "Look! Why are your disciples doing something that is not permitted on the day of worship?"

2:25  Jesus asked them, "Haven't you ever read what David did when he and his men were in need and were hungry?

2:26  Haven't you ever read how he went into the house of God when Abiathar was chief priest and ate the bread of the presence? He had no right to eat those loaves. Only the priests have that right. Haven't you ever read how he also gave some of it to his men?"

2:27  Then he added, "The day of worship was made for people, not people for the day of worship.

2:28  For this reason the Son of Man has authority over the day of worship."

Chapter 3

3:1  Jesus went into a synagogue again. A man who had a paralyzed hand was there.

3:2  The people were watching Jesus closely. They wanted to see whether he would heal the man on the day of worship so that they could accuse him of doing something wrong.

3:3  So he told the man with the paralyzed hand, "Stand in the center of the synagogue."

3:4  Then he asked them, "Is it right to do good or to do evil on the day of worship, to give a person back his health or to let him die?" But they were silent.

3:5  Jesus was angry as he looked around at them. He was deeply hurt because their minds were closed. Then he told the man, "Hold out your hand." The man held it out, and his hand became normal again.

3:6  The Pharisees left, and with Herod's followers they immediately plotted to kill Jesus.

3:7  Jesus left with his disciples for the Sea of Galilee. A large crowd from Galilee, Judea,

3:8  Jerusalem, Idumea, and from across the Jordan River, and from around Tyre and Sidon followed him. They came to him because they had heard about everything he was doing.

3:9  Jesus told his disciples to have a boat ready so that the crowd would not crush him.

3:10  He had cured so many that everyone with a disease rushed up to him in order to touch him.

3:11  Whenever people with evil spirits saw him, they would fall down in front of him and shout, "You are the Son of God!"

3:12  He gave them orders not to tell people who he was.

3:13  Jesus went up a mountain, called those whom he wanted, and they came to him.

3:14  He appointed twelve whom he called apostles. They were to accompany him and to be sent out by him to spread the Good News.

3:15  They also had the authority to force demons out of people.

3:16  He appointed these twelve: Simon (whom Jesus named Peter),

3:17  James and his brother John (Zebedee's sons whom Jesus named Boanerges, which means "Thunderbolts"),

3:18  Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot,

3:19  and Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed Jesus).

3:20  Then Jesus went home. Another crowd gathered so that Jesus and his disciples could not even eat.

3:21  When his family heard about it, they went to get him. They said, "He's out of his mind!"

3:22  The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said, "Beelzebul is in him," and "He forces demons out of people with the help of the ruler of demons."

3:23  Jesus called them together and used this illustration: "How can Satan force out Satan?

3:24  If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot last.

3:25  And if a household is divided against itself, that household will not last.

3:26  So if Satan rebels against himself and is divided, he cannot last. That will be the end of him.

3:27  "No one can go into a strong man's house and steal his property. First he must tie up the strong man. Then he can go through the strong man's house and steal his property.

3:28  "I can guarantee this truth: People will be forgiven for any sin or curse.

3:29  But whoever curses the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. He is guilty of an everlasting sin."

3:30  Jesus said this because the scribes had said that he had an evil spirit.

3:31  Then his mother and his brothers arrived. They stood outside and sent someone to ask him to come out.

3:32  The crowd sitting around Jesus told him, "Your mother and your brothers are outside looking for you."

3:33  He replied to them, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?"

3:34  Then looking at those who sat in a circle around him, he said, "Look, here are my mother and my brothers.

3:35  Whoever does what God wants is my brother and sister and mother."

Chapter 4

4:1  Jesus began to teach again by the Sea of Galilee. A very large crowd gathered around him, so he got into a boat and sat in it. The boat was in the water while the entire crowd lined the shore.

4:2  He used stories as illustrations to teach them many things. While he was teaching them, he said,

4:3  "Listen! A farmer went to plant seed.

4:4  Some seeds were planted along the road, and birds came and devoured them.

4:5  Other seeds were planted on rocky ground, where there wasn't much soil. The plants sprouted quickly because the soil wasn't deep.

4:6  When the sun came up, they were scorched. They didn't have any roots, so they withered.

4:7  Other seeds were planted among thornbushes. The thornbushes grew up and choked them, and they didn't produce anything.

4:8  But other seeds were planted on good ground, sprouted, and produced thirty, sixty, or one hundred times as much as was planted."

4:9  He added, "Let the person who has ears listen!"

4:10  When he was alone with his followers and the twelve apostles, they asked him about the stories.

4:11  Jesus replied to them, "The mystery about the kingdom of God has been given directly to you. To those on the outside, it is given in stories:

4:12  'They see clearly but don't perceive. They hear clearly but don't understand. They never return to me and are never forgiven.'"

4:13  Jesus asked them, "Don't you understand this story? How, then, will you understand any of the stories I use as illustrations?

4:14  "The farmer plants the word.

4:15  Some people are like seeds that were planted along the road. Whenever they hear the word, Satan comes at once and takes away the word that was planted in them.

4:16  Other people are like seeds that were planted on rocky ground. Whenever they hear the word, they accept it at once with joy.

4:17  But they don't develop any roots. They last for a short time. When suffering or persecution comes along because of the word, they immediately fall from faith.

4:18  Other people are like seeds planted among thornbushes. They hear the word,

4:19  but the worries of life, the deceitful pleasures of riches, and the desires for other things take over. They choke the word so that it can't produce anything.

4:20  Others are like seeds planted on good ground. They hear the word, accept it, and produce crops--thirty, sixty, or one hundred times as much as was planted."

4:21  Jesus said to them, "Does anyone bring a lamp into a room to put it under a basket or under a bed? Isn't it put on a lamp stand?

4:22  There is nothing hidden that will not be revealed. There is nothing kept secret that will not come to light.

4:23  Let the person who has ears listen!"

4:24  He went on to say, "Pay attention to what you're listening to! Knowledge will be measured out to you by the measure of attention you give. This is the way knowledge increases.

4:25  Those who understand these mysteries will be given more knowledge. However, some people don't understand these mysteries. Even what they understand will be taken away from them."

4:26  Jesus said, "The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seeds on the ground.

4:27  He sleeps at night and is awake during the day. The seeds sprout and grow, although the man doesn't know how.

4:28  The ground produces grain by itself. First the green blade appears, then the head, then the head full of grain.

4:29  As soon as the grain is ready, he cuts it with a sickle, because harvest time has come."

4:30  Jesus asked, "How can we show what the kingdom of God is like? To what can we compare it?

4:31  It's like a mustard seed planted in the ground. The mustard seed is one of the smallest seeds on earth.

4:32  However, when planted, it comes up and becomes taller than all the garden plants. It grows such large branches that birds can nest in its shade."

4:33  Jesus spoke God's word to them using many illustrations like these. In this way people could understand what he taught.

4:34  He did not speak to them without using an illustration. But when he was alone with his disciples, he explained everything to them.

4:35  That evening, Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's cross to the other side."

4:36  Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus along in a boat just as he was. Other boats were with him.

4:37  A violent windstorm came up. The waves were breaking into the boat so that it was quickly filling up.

4:38  But he was sleeping on a cushion in the back of the boat. So they woke him up and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care that we're going to die?"

4:39  Then he got up, ordered the wind to stop, and said to the sea, "Be still, absolutely still!" The wind stopped blowing, and the sea became very calm.

4:40  He asked them, "Why are you such cowards? Don't you have any faith yet?"

4:41  They were overcome with fear and asked each other, "Who is this man? Even the wind and the sea obey him!"

Chapter 5

5:1  They arrived in the territory of the Gerasenes on the other side of the Sea of Galilee.

5:2  As Jesus stepped out of the boat, a man came out of the tombs and met him. The man was controlled by an evil spirit

5:3  and lived among the tombs. No one could restrain him any longer, not even with a chain.

5:4  He had often been chained hand and foot. However, he snapped the chains off his hands and broke the chains from his feet. No one could control him.

5:5  Night and day he was among the tombs and on the mountainsides screaming and cutting himself with stones.

5:6  The man saw Jesus at a distance. So he ran to Jesus, bowed down in front of him,

5:7  and shouted, "Why are you bothering me now, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won't torture me."

5:8  He shouted this because Jesus said, "You evil spirit, come out of the man."

5:9  Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" He told Jesus, "My name is Legion Six Thousand, because there are many of us."

5:10  He begged Jesus not to send them out of the territory.

5:11  A large herd of pigs was feeding on a mountainside nearby.

5:12  The demons begged him, "Send us into the pigs! Let us enter them!"

5:13  Jesus let them do this. The evil spirits came out of the man and went into the pigs. The herd of about two thousand pigs rushed down the cliff into the sea and drowned.

5:14  Those who took care of the pigs ran away. In the city and countryside they reported everything that had happened. So the people came to see what had happened.

5:15  They came to Jesus and saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons. The man was sitting there dressed and in his right mind. The people were frightened.

5:16  Those who saw this told what had happened to the demon-possessed man and the pigs.

5:17  Then the people began to beg Jesus to leave their territory.

5:18  As Jesus stepped into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged him, "Let me stay with you."

5:19  But Jesus would not allow it. Instead, he told the man, "Go home to your family, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been to you."

5:20  So the man left. He began to tell how much Jesus had done for him in the Ten Cities. Everyone was amazed.

5:21  Jesus again crossed to the other side of the Sea of Galilee in a boat. A large crowd gathered around him by the seashore.

5:22  A synagogue leader named Jairus also arrived. When he saw Jesus, he quickly bowed down in front of him.

5:23  He begged Jesus, "My little daughter is dying. Come, lay your hands on her so that she may get well and live."

5:24  Jesus went with the man. A huge crowd followed Jesus and pressed him on every side.

5:25  In the crowd was a woman who had been suffering from chronic bleeding for twelve years.

5:26  Although she had been under the care of many doctors and had spent all her money, she had not been helped at all. Actually, she had become worse.

5:27  Since she had heard about Jesus, she came from behind in the crowd and touched his clothes.

5:28  She said, "If I can just touch his clothes, I'll get well."

5:29  Her bleeding stopped immediately. She felt cured from her illness.

5:30  At that moment Jesus felt power had gone out of him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?"

5:31  His disciples said to him, "How can you ask, 'Who touched me,' when you see the crowd pressing you on all sides?"

5:32  But he kept looking around to see the woman who had done this.

5:33  The woman trembled with fear. She knew what had happened to her. So she quickly bowed in front of him and told him the whole truth.

5:34  Jesus told her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace! Be cured from your illness."

5:35  While Jesus was still speaking to her, some people came from the synagogue leader's home. They told the synagogue leader, "Your daughter has died. Why bother the teacher anymore?"

5:36  When Jesus overheard what they said, he told the synagogue leader, "Don't be afraid! Just believe."

5:37  Jesus allowed no one to go with him except Peter and the two brothers James and John.

5:38  When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a noisy crowd there. People were crying and sobbing loudly.

5:39  When he came into the house, he asked them, "Why are you making so much noise and crying? The child isn't dead. She's just sleeping."

5:40  They laughed at him. So he made all of them go outside. Then he took the child's father, mother, and his three disciples and went to the child.

5:41  Jesus took the child's hand and said to her, "Talitha, koum!" which means, "Little girl, I'm telling you to get up!"

5:42  The girl got up at once and started to walk. (She was twelve years old.) They were astonished.

5:43  Jesus ordered them not to let anyone know about this. He also told them to give the little girl something to eat.

Chapter 6

6:1  Jesus left that place and went to his hometown. His disciples followed him.

6:2  When the day of worship came, he began to teach in the synagogue. He amazed many who heard him. They asked, "Where did this man get these ideas? Who gave him this kind of wisdom and the ability to do such great miracles?

6:3  Isn't this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" So they took offense at him.

6:4  But Jesus told them, "The only place a prophet isn't honored is in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his own house."

6:5  He couldn't work any miracles there except to lay his hands on a few sick people and cure them.

6:6  Their unbelief amazed him. Then Jesus went around to the villages and taught.

6:7  He called the twelve apostles, sent them out two by two, and gave them authority over evil spirits.

6:8  He instructed them to take nothing along on the trip except a walking stick. They were not to take any food, a traveling bag, or money in their pockets.

6:9  They could wear sandals but could not take along a change of clothes.

6:10  He told them, "Whenever you go into a home, stay there until you're ready to leave that place.

6:11  Wherever people don't welcome you or listen to you, leave and shake the dust from your feet as a warning to them."

6:12  So the apostles went and told people that they should turn to God and change the way they think and act.

6:13  They also forced many demons out of people and poured oil on many who were sick to cure them.

6:14  King Herod heard about Jesus, because Jesus' name had become well-known. Some people were saying, "John the Baptizer has come back to life. That's why he has the power to perform these miracles."

6:15  Others said, "He is Elijah." Still others said, "He is a prophet like one of the other prophets."

6:16  But when Herod heard about it, he said, "I had John's head cut off, and he has come back to life!"

6:17  Herod had sent men who had arrested John, tied him up, and put him in prison. Herod did that for Herodias, whom he had married. (She used to be his brother Philip's wife.)

6:18  John had been telling Herod, "It's not right for you to be married to your brother's wife."

6:19  So Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she wasn't allowed to do it

6:20  because Herod was afraid of John. Herod knew that John was a fair and holy man, so he protected him. When he listened to John, he would become very disturbed, and yet he liked to listen to him.

6:21  An opportunity finally came on Herod's birthday. Herod gave a dinner for his top officials, army officers, and the most important people of Galilee.

6:22  His daughter, that is, Herodias' daughter, came in and danced. Herod and his guests were delighted with her. The king told the girl, "Ask me for anything you want, and I'll give it to you."

6:23  He swore an oath to her: "I'll give you anything you ask for, up to half of my kingdom."

6:24  So she went out and asked her mother, "What should I ask for?" Her mother said, "Ask for the head of John the Baptizer."

6:25  So the girl hurried back to the king with her request. She said, "I want you to give me the head of John the Baptizer on a platter at once."

6:26  The king deeply regretted his promise. But because of his oath and his guests, he didn't want to refuse her.

6:27  Immediately, the king sent a guard and ordered him to bring John's head. The guard cut off John's head in prison.

6:28  Then he brought the head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother.

6:29  When John's disciples heard about this, they came for his body and laid it in a tomb.

6:30  The apostles gathered around Jesus. They reported to him everything they had done and taught.

6:31  So he said to them, "Let's go to a place where we can be alone to rest for a while." Many people were coming and going, and Jesus and the apostles didn't even have a chance to eat.

6:32  So they went away in a boat to a place where they could be alone.

6:33  But many people saw them leave and recognized them. The people ran from all the cities and arrived ahead of them.

6:34  When Jesus got out of the boat, he saw a large crowd and felt sorry for them. They were like sheep without a shepherd. So he spent a lot of time teaching them.

6:35  When it was late, his disciples came to him. They said, "No one lives around here, and it's already late.

6:36  Send the people to the closest farms and villages to buy themselves something to eat."

6:37  Jesus replied, "You give them something to eat." They said to him, "Should we go and spend about a year's wages on bread to feed them?"

6:38  He said to them, "How many loaves do you have? Go and see." When they found out, they told him, "Five loaves of bread and two fish."

6:39  Then he ordered all of them to sit down in groups on the green grass.

6:40  They sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties.

6:41  After he took the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed the food. He broke the loaves apart and kept giving them to the disciples to give to the people. He also gave pieces of the two fish to everyone.

6:42  All of them ate as much as they wanted.

6:43  When they picked up the leftover pieces, they filled twelve baskets with bread and fish.

6:44  There were 5,000 men who had eaten the bread.

6:45  Jesus quickly made his disciples get into a boat and cross to Bethsaida ahead of him while he sent the people away.

6:46  After saying goodbye to them, he went up a mountain to pray.

6:47  When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and he was alone on the land.

6:48  Jesus saw that they were in a lot of trouble as they rowed, because they were going against the wind. Between three and six o'clock in the morning, he came to them. He was walking on the sea. He wanted to pass by them.

6:49  When they saw him walking on the sea, they thought, "It's a ghost!" and they began to scream.

6:50  All of them saw him and were terrified. Immediately, he said, "Calm down! It's me. Don't be afraid!"

6:51  He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped blowing. The disciples were astounded.

6:52  (They didn't understand what had happened with the loaves of bread. Instead, their minds were closed.)

6:53  They crossed the sea, came to shore at Gennesaret, and anchored there.

6:54  As soon as they stepped out of the boat, the people recognized Jesus.

6:55  They ran all over the countryside and began to carry the sick on cots to any place where they heard he was.

6:56  Whenever he would go into villages, cities, or farms, people would put their sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch the edge of his clothes. Everyone who touched his clothes was made well.

Chapter 7

7:1  The Pharisees and some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus.

7:2  They saw that some of his disciples were unclean because they ate without washing their hands.

7:3  (The Pharisees, like all other Jewish people, don't eat unless they have properly washed their hands. They follow the traditions of their ancestors.

7:4  When they come from the marketplace, they don't eat unless they have washed first. They have been taught to follow many other rules. For example, they must also wash their cups, jars, brass pots, and dinner tables. )

7:5  The Pharisees and the scribes asked Jesus, "Why don't your disciples follow the traditions taught by our ancestors? They are unclean because they don't wash their hands before they eat!"

7:6  Jesus told them, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites in Scripture: 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.

7:7  Their worship of me is pointless, because their teachings are rules made by humans.'

7:8  "You abandon the commandments of God to follow human traditions."

7:9  He added, "You have no trouble rejecting the commandments of God in order to keep your own traditions!

7:10  For example, Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother' and 'Whoever curses father or mother must be put to death.'

7:11  But you say, 'If a person tells his father or mother that whatever he might have used to help them is corban (that is, an offering to God),

7:12  he no longer has to do anything for his father or mother.'

7:13  Because of your traditions you have destroyed the authority of God's word. And you do many other things like that."

7:14  Then he called the crowd again and said to them, "Listen to me, all of you, and try to understand!

7:15  Nothing that goes into a person from the outside can make him unclean. It's what comes out of a person that makes him unclean.

7:16  Let the person who has ears listen!"

7:17  When he had left the people and gone home, his disciples asked him about this illustration.

7:18  Jesus said to them, "Don't you understand? Don't you know that whatever goes into a person from the outside can't make him unclean?

7:19  It doesn't go into his thoughts but into his stomach and then into a toilet." (By saying this, Jesus declared all foods acceptable.)

7:20  He continued, "It's what comes out of a person that makes him unclean.

7:21  Evil thoughts, sexual sins, stealing, murder,

7:22  adultery, greed, wickedness, cheating, shameless lust, envy, cursing, arrogance, and foolishness come from within a person.

7:23  All these evils come from within and make a person unclean."

7:24  Jesus left that place and went to the territory of Tyre. He didn't want anyone to know that he was staying in a house there. However, it couldn't be kept a secret.

7:25  A woman whose little daughter had an evil spirit heard about Jesus. She went to him and bowed down.

7:26  The woman happened to be Greek, born in Phoenicia in Syria. She asked him to force the demon out of her daughter.

7:27  Jesus said to her, "First, let the children eat all they want. It's not right to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs."

7:28  She answered him, "Lord, even the dogs under the table eat some of the children's scraps."

7:29  Jesus said to her, "Because you have said this, go! The demon has left your daughter."

7:30  The woman went home and found the little child lying on her bed, and the demon was gone.

7:31  Jesus then left the neighborhood of Tyre. He went through Sidon and the territory of the Ten Cities to the Sea of Galilee.

7:32  Some people brought to him a man who was deaf and who also had a speech defect. They begged Jesus to lay his hand on him.

7:33  Jesus took him away from the crowd to be alone with him. He put his fingers into the man's ears, and after spitting, he touched the man's tongue.

7:34  Then he looked up to heaven, sighed, and said to the man, "Ephphatha!" which means, "Be opened!"

7:35  At once the man could hear and talk normally.

7:36  Jesus ordered the people not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them, the more they spread the news.

7:37  Jesus completely amazed the people. They said, "He has done everything well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute talk."

Chapter 8

8:1  About that time there was once again a large crowd with nothing to eat. Jesus called his disciples and said to them,

8:2  "I feel sorry for the people. They have been with me three days now and have nothing to eat.

8:3  If I send them home before they've eaten, they will become exhausted on the road. Some of them have come a long distance."

8:4  His disciples asked him, "Where could anyone get enough bread to feed these people in this place where no one lives?"

8:5  Jesus asked them, "How many loaves of bread do you have?" They answered, "Seven."

8:6  He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. He took the seven loaves and gave thanks to God. Then he broke the bread and gave it to his disciples to serve to the people.

8:7  They also had a few small fish. He blessed them and said that the fish should also be served to the people.

8:8  The people ate as much as they wanted. The disciples picked up the leftover pieces and filled seven large baskets.

8:9  About four thousand people were there. Then he sent the people on their way.

8:10  After that, Jesus and his disciples got into a boat and went into the region of Dalmanutha.

8:11  The Pharisees went to Jesus and began to argue with him. They tested him by demanding that he perform a miraculous sign from heaven.

8:12  With a deep sigh he asked, "Why do these people demand a sign? I can guarantee this truth: If these people are given a sign, it will be far different than what they want!"

8:13  Then he left them there. He got into a boat again and crossed to the other side of the Sea of Galilee.

8:14  The disciples had forgotten to take any bread along and had only one loaf with them in the boat.

8:15  Jesus warned them, "Be careful! Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod!"

8:16  They had been discussing with one another that they didn't have any bread.

8:17  Jesus knew what they were saying and asked them, "Why are you discussing the fact that you don't have any bread? Don't you understand yet? Don't you catch on? Are your minds closed?

8:18  Are you blind and deaf? Don't you remember?

8:19  When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets did you fill with leftover pieces?" They told him, "Twelve."

8:20  "When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many large baskets did you fill with leftover pieces?" They answered him, "Seven."

8:21  He asked them, "Don't you catch on yet?"

8:22  As they came to Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man to Jesus. They begged Jesus to touch him.

8:23  Jesus took the blind man's hand and led him out of the village. He spit into the man's eyes and placed his hands on him. Jesus asked him, "Can you see anything?"

8:24  The man looked up and said, "I see people. They look like trees walking around."

8:25  Then Jesus placed his hands on the man's eyes a second time, and the man saw clearly. His sight was normal again. He could see everything clearly even at a distance.

8:26  Jesus told him when he sent him home, "Don't go into the village."

8:27  Then Jesus and his disciples went to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say I am?"

8:28  They answered him, "Some say you are John the Baptizer, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets."

8:29  He asked them, "But who do you say I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Messiah!"

8:30  He ordered them not to tell anyone about him.

8:31  Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man would have to suffer a lot. He taught them that he would be rejected by the leaders, the chief priests, and the scribes. He would be killed, but after three days he would come back to life.

8:32  He told them very clearly what he meant. Peter took him aside and objected to this.

8:33  Jesus turned, looked at his disciples, and objected to what Peter said. Jesus said, "Get out of my way, Satan! You aren't thinking the way God thinks but the way humans think."

8:34  Then Jesus called the crowd to himself along with his disciples. He said to them, "Those who want to follow me must say no to the things they want, pick up their crosses, and follow me.

8:35  Those who want to save their lives will lose them. But those who lose their lives for me and for the Good News will save them.

8:36  What good does it do for people to win the whole world yet lose their lives?

8:37  Or what should a person give in exchange for life?

8:38  If people are ashamed of me and what I say in this unfaithful and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of those people when he comes with the holy angels in his Father's glory."

Chapter 9

9:1  He said to them, "I can guarantee this truth: Some people who are standing here will not die until they see the kingdom of God arrive with power."

9:2  After six days Jesus took only Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone. Jesus' appearance changed in front of them.

9:3  His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone on earth could bleach them.

9:4  Then Elijah and Moses appeared to them and were talking with Jesus.

9:5  Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it's good that we're here. Let's put up three tents--one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

9:6  (Peter didn't know how to respond. He and the others were terrified.)

9:7  Then a cloud overshadowed them. A voice came out of the cloud and said, "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!"

9:8  Suddenly, as they looked around, they saw no one with them but Jesus.

9:9  On their way down the mountain, Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone what they had seen. They were to wait until the Son of Man had come back to life.

9:10  They kept in mind what he said but argued among themselves what he meant by "come back to life."

9:11  So they asked him, "Don't the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"

9:12  Jesus said to them, "Elijah is coming first and will put everything in order again. But in what sense was it written that the Son of Man must suffer a lot and be treated shamefully?

9:13  Indeed, I can guarantee that Elijah has come. Yet, people treated him as they pleased, as Scripture says about him."

9:14  When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them. Some scribes were arguing with them.

9:15  All the people were very surprised to see Jesus and ran to welcome him.

9:16  Jesus asked the scribes, "What are you arguing about with them?"

9:17  A man in the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought you my son. He is possessed by a spirit that won't let him talk.

9:18  Whenever the spirit brings on a seizure, it throws him to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes exhausted. I asked your disciples to force the spirit out, but they didn't have the power to do it."

9:19  Jesus said to them, "You unbelieving generation! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to me!"

9:20  They brought the boy to him. As soon as the spirit saw Jesus, it threw the boy into convulsions. He fell on the ground, rolled around, and foamed at the mouth.

9:21  Jesus asked his father, "How long has he been like this?" The father replied, "He has been this way since he was a child.

9:22  The demon has often thrown him into fire or into water to destroy him. If it's possible for you, put yourself in our place, and help us!"

9:23  Jesus said to him, "As far as possibilities go, everything is possible for the person who believes."

9:24  The child's father cried out at once, "I believe! Help my lack of faith."

9:25  When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he gave an order to the evil spirit. He said, "You spirit that won't let him talk, I command you to come out of him and never enter him again."

9:26  The evil spirit screamed, shook the child violently, and came out. The boy looked as if he were dead, and everyone said, "He's dead!"

9:27  Jesus took his hand and helped him to stand up.

9:28  When Jesus went into a house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we force the spirit out of the boy?"

9:29  He told them, "This kind of spirit can be forced out only by prayer."

9:30  They left that place and were passing through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where he was

9:31  because he was teaching his disciples. He taught them, "The Son of Man will be betrayed and handed over to people. They will kill him, but on the third day he will come back to life."

9:32  The disciples didn't understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him.

9:33  Then they came to Capernaum. While Jesus was at home, he asked the disciples, "What were you arguing about on the road?"

9:34  They were silent. On the road they had argued about who was the greatest.

9:35  He sat down and called the twelve apostles. He told them, "Whoever wants to be the most important person must take the last place and be a servant to everyone else."

9:36  Then he took a little child and had him stand among them. He put his arms around the child and said to them,

9:37  "Whoever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me. Whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me."

9:38  John said to Jesus, "Teacher, we saw someone forcing demons out of a person by using the power and authority of your name. We tried to stop him because he was not one of us."

9:39  Jesus said, "Don't stop him! No one who works a miracle in my name can turn around and speak evil of me.

9:40  Whoever isn't against us is for us.

9:41  I can guarantee this truth: Whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward."

9:42  "These little ones believe in me. It would be best for the person who causes one of them to lose faith to be thrown into the sea with a large stone hung around his neck.

9:43  "So if your hand causes you to lose your faith, cut it off! It is better for you to enter life disabled than to have two hands and go to hell, to the fire that cannot be put out.

9:45  If your foot causes you to lose your faith, cut it off! It is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.

9:47  If your eye causes you to lose your faith, tear it out! It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell.

9:48  In hell worms that eat the body never die, and the fire is never put out.

9:49  Everyone will be salted with fire.

9:50  Salt is good. But if salt loses its taste, how will you restore its flavor? Have salt within you, and live in peace with one another."

Chapter 10

10:1  Jesus left there and went into the territory of Judea along the other side of the Jordan River. Crowds gathered around him again, and he taught them as he usually did.

10:2  Some Pharisees came to test him. They asked, "Can a husband divorce his wife?"

10:3  Jesus answered them, "What command did Moses give you?"

10:4  They said, "Moses allowed a man to give his wife a written notice to divorce her."

10:5  Jesus said to them, "He wrote this command for you because you're heartless.

10:6  But God made them male and female in the beginning, at creation.

10:7  That's why a man will leave his father and mother and will remain united with his wife,

10:8  and the two will be one. So they are no longer two but one.

10:9  Therefore, don't let anyone separate what God has joined together."

10:10  When they were in a house, the disciples asked him about this.

10:11  He answered them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman is committing adultery.

10:12  If a wife divorces her husband and marries another man, she is committing adultery."

10:13  Some people brought little children to Jesus to have him hold them. But the disciples told the people not to do that.

10:14  When Jesus saw this, he became irritated. He told them, "Don't stop the children from coming to me. Children like these are part of the kingdom of God.

10:15  I can guarantee this truth: Whoever doesn't receive the kingdom of God as a little child receives it will never enter it."

10:16  Jesus put his arms around the children and blessed them by placing his hands on them.

10:17  As Jesus was coming out to the road, a man came running to him and knelt in front of him. He asked Jesus, "Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?"

10:18  Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.

10:19  You know the commandments: Never murder. Never commit adultery. Never steal. Never give false testimony. Never cheat. Honor your father and mother."

10:20  The man replied, "Teacher, I've obeyed all these commandments since I was a boy."

10:21  Jesus looked at him and loved him. He told him, "You're still missing one thing. Sell everything you have. Give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then follow me!"

10:22  When the man heard that, he looked unhappy and went away sad, because he owned a lot of property.

10:23  Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it will be for rich people to enter the kingdom of God!"

10:24  The disciples were stunned by his words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!

10:25  It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."

10:26  This amazed his disciples more than ever. They asked each other, "Who, then, can be saved?"

10:27  Jesus looked at them and said, "It's impossible for people to save themselves, but it's not impossible for God to save them. Everything is possible for God."

10:28  Then Peter spoke up, "We've given up everything to follow you."

10:29  Jesus said, "I can guarantee this truth: Anyone who gave up his home, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or fields because of me and the Good News

10:30  will certainly receive a hundred times as much here in this life. They will certainly receive homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields, along with persecutions. But in the world to come they will receive eternal life.

10:31  But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first."

10:32  Jesus and his disciples were on their way to Jerusalem. Jesus was walking ahead of them. His disciples were shocked that he was going to Jerusalem. The others who followed were afraid. Once again he took the twelve apostles aside. He began to tell them what was going to happen to him.

10:33  "We're going to Jerusalem. There the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the scribes. They will condemn him to death and hand him over to foreigners.

10:34  They will make fun of him, spit on him, whip him, and kill him. But after three days he will come back to life."

10:35  James and John, sons of Zebedee, went to Jesus. They said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do us a favor."

10:36  "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked them.

10:37  They said to him, "Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory."

10:38  Jesus said, "You don't realize what you're asking. Can you drink the cup that I'm going to drink? Can you be baptized with the baptism that I'm going to receive?"

10:39  "We can," they told him. Jesus told them, "You will drink the cup that I'm going to drink. You will be baptized with the baptism that I'm going to receive.

10:40  But I don't have the authority to grant you a seat at my right or left. Those positions have already been prepared for certain people."

10:41  When the other ten apostles heard about it, they were irritated with James and John.

10:42  Jesus called the apostles and said, "You know that the acknowledged rulers of nations have absolute power over people and their officials have absolute authority over people.

10:43  But that's not the way it's going to be among you. Whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant.

10:44  Whoever wants to be most important among you will be a slave for everyone.

10:45  It's the same way with the Son of Man. He didn't come so that others could serve him. He came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many people."

10:46  Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus, his disciples, and many people were leaving Jericho, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road.

10:47  When he heard that Jesus from Nazareth was passing by, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

10:48  The people told him to be quiet. But he shouted even louder, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"

10:49  Jesus stopped and said, "Call him!" They called the blind man and told him, "Cheer up! Get up! He's calling you."

10:50  The blind man threw off his coat, jumped up, and went to Jesus.

10:51  Jesus asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man said, "Teacher, I want to see again."

10:52  Jesus told him, "Go, your faith has made you well." At once he could see again, and he followed Jesus on the road.

Chapter 11

11:1  When they came near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples ahead of him.

11:2  He said to them, "Go into the village ahead of you. As you enter it, you will find a young donkey tied there. No one has ever sat on it. Untie it, and bring it.

11:3  If anyone asks you what you are doing, say that the Lord needs it. That person will send it here at once."

11:4  The disciples found the young donkey in the street. It was tied to the door of a house. As they were untying it,

11:5  some men standing there asked them, "Why are you untying that donkey?"

11:6  The disciples answered them as Jesus had told them. So the men let them go.

11:7  They brought the donkey to Jesus, put their coats on it, and he sat on it.

11:8  Many spread their coats on the road. Others cut leafy branches in the fields and spread them on the road.

11:9  Those who went ahead and those who followed him were shouting, "Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!

11:10  Blessed is our ancestor David's kingdom that is coming! Hosanna in the highest heaven!"

11:11  Jesus came into Jerusalem and went into the temple courtyard, where he looked around at everything. Since it was already late, he went out with the twelve apostles to Bethany.

11:12  The next day, when they left Bethany, Jesus became hungry.

11:13  In the distance he saw a fig tree with leaves. He went to see if he could find any figs on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves because it wasn't the season for figs.

11:14  Then he said to the tree, "No one will ever eat fruit from you again!" His disciples heard this.

11:15  When they came to Jerusalem, Jesus went into the temple courtyard and began to throw out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the moneychangers' tables and the chairs of those who sold pigeons.

11:16  He would not let anyone carry anything across the temple courtyard.

11:17  Then he taught them by saying, "Scripture says, 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations,' but you have turned it into a gathering place for thieves."

11:18  When the chief priests and scribes heard him, they looked for a way to kill him. They were afraid of him because he amazed all the crowds with his teaching.

11:19  (Every evening Jesus and his disciples would leave the city.)

11:20  While Jesus and his disciples were walking early in the morning, they saw that the fig tree had dried up.

11:21  Peter remembered what Jesus had said, so he said to Jesus, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has dried up."

11:22  Jesus said to them, "Have faith in God!

11:23  I can guarantee this truth: This is what will be done for someone who doesn't doubt but believes what he says will happen: He can say to this mountain, 'Be uprooted and thrown into the sea,' and it will be done for him.

11:24  That's why I tell you to have faith that you have already received whatever you pray for, and it will be yours.

11:25  Whenever you pray, forgive anything you have against anyone. Then your Father in heaven will forgive your failures."

11:27  Jesus and his disciples returned to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple courtyard, the chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders came to him.

11:28  They asked him, "What gives you the right to do these things? Who told you that you could do this?"

11:29  Jesus said to them, "I'll ask you a question. Answer me, and then I'll tell you why I have the right to do these things.

11:30  Did John's right to baptize come from heaven or from humans? Answer me!"

11:31  They discussed this among themselves. They said, "If we say, 'from heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him?'

11:32  But if we say, 'from humans,' then what will happen?" They were afraid of the people. All the people thought of John as a true prophet.

11:33  So they answered Jesus, "We don't know." Jesus told them, "Then I won't tell you why I have the right to do these things."

Chapter 12

12:1  Then, using this illustration, Jesus spoke to them. He said, "A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, made a vat for the winepress, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to vineyard workers and went on a trip.

12:2  "At the right time he sent a servant to the workers to collect from them a share of the grapes from the vineyard.

12:3  The workers took the servant, beat him, and sent him back with nothing.

12:4  So the man sent another servant to them. They hit the servant on the head and treated him shamefully.

12:5  The man sent another, and they killed that servant. Then he sent many other servants. Some of these they beat, and others they killed.

12:6  "He had one more person to send. That person was his son, whom he loved. Finally, he sent his son to them. He thought, 'They will respect my son.'

12:7  "But those workers said to one another, 'This is the heir. Let's kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.'

12:8  So they took him, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.

12:9  "What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the workers and give the vineyard to others.

12:10  Have you never read the Scripture passage: 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

12:11  The Lord has done this, and it is amazing for us to see'?"

12:12  They wanted to arrest him but were afraid of the crowd. They knew that he had directed this illustration at them. So they left him alone and went away.

12:13  The leaders sent some of the Pharisees and some of Herod's followers to Jesus. They wanted to trap him into saying the wrong thing.

12:14  When they came to him, they said, "Teacher, we know that you tell the truth. You don't favor individuals because of who they are. Rather, you teach the way of God truthfully. Is it right to pay taxes to the emperor or not? Should we pay taxes or not?"

12:15  Jesus recognized their hypocrisy, so he asked them, "Why do you test me? Bring me a coin so that I can look at it."

12:16  They brought a coin. He said to them, "Whose face and name is this?" They told him, "The emperor's."

12:17  Jesus said to them, "Give the emperor what belongs to the emperor, and give God what belongs to God." They were surprised at his reply.

12:18  Some Sadducees, who say that people will never come back to life, came to Jesus. They asked him,

12:19  "Teacher, Moses wrote for us, 'If a man dies and leaves a wife but no child, his brother should marry his widow and have children for his brother.'

12:20  There were seven brothers. The first got married and died without having children.

12:21  The second married her and died without having children. So did the third.

12:22  None of the seven brothers had any children. Last of all, the woman died.

12:23  When the dead come back to life, whose wife will she be? The seven brothers had married her."

12:24  Jesus said to them, "Aren't you mistaken because you don't know the Scriptures or God's power?

12:25  When the dead come back to life, they don't marry. Rather, they are like the angels in heaven.

12:26  Haven't you read in the book of Moses that the dead come back to life? It's in the passage about the bush, where God said, 'I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.'

12:27  He's not the God of the dead but of the living. You're badly mistaken!"

12:28  One of the scribes went to Jesus during the argument with the Sadducees. He saw how well Jesus answered them, so he asked him, "Which commandment is the most important of them all?"

12:29  Jesus answered, "The most important is, 'Listen, Israel, the Lord our God is the only Lord.

12:30  So love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.'

12:31  The second most important commandment is this: 'Love your neighbor as you love yourself.' No other commandment is greater than these."

12:32  The scribe said to Jesus, "Teacher, that was well said! You've told the truth that there is only one God and no other besides him!

12:33  To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as you love yourself is more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices."

12:34  When Jesus heard how wisely the man answered, he told the man, "You're not too far from the kingdom of God." After that, no one dared to ask him another question.

12:35  While Jesus was teaching in the temple courtyard, he asked, "How can the scribes say that the Messiah is David's son?

12:36  David, guided by the Holy Spirit, said, 'The Lord said to my Lord: "Take the highest position in heaven until I put your enemies under your control."'

12:37  David calls him Lord. So how can he be his son?" The large crowd enjoyed listening to him.

12:38  As he taught, he said, "Watch out for the scribes! They like to walk around in long robes, to be greeted in the marketplaces,

12:39  and to have the front seats in synagogues and the places of honor at dinners.

12:40  They rob widows by taking their houses and then say long prayers to make themselves look good. The scribes will receive the most severe punishment."

12:41  As Jesus sat facing the temple offering box, he watched how much money people put into it. Many rich people put in large amounts.

12:42  A poor widow dropped in two small coins, worth less than a cent.

12:43  He called his disciples and said to them, "I can guarantee this truth: This poor widow has given more than all the others.

12:44  All of them have given what they could spare. But she, in her poverty, has given everything she had to live on."

Chapter 13

13:1  As Jesus was going out of the temple courtyard, one of his disciples said to him, "Teacher, look at these huge stones and these beautiful buildings!"

13:2  Jesus said to him, "Do you see these large buildings? Not one of these stones will be left on top of another. Each one will be torn down."

13:3  As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives facing the temple buildings, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately,

13:4  "Tell us, when will this happen? What will be the sign when all this will come to an end?"

13:5  Jesus answered them, "Be careful not to let anyone deceive you.

13:6  Many will come using my name. They will say, 'I am he,' and they will deceive many people.

13:7  "When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, don't be alarmed! These things must happen, but they don't mean that the end has come.

13:8  Nation will fight against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes and famines in various places. These are only the beginning pains of the end.

13:9  "Be on your guard! People will hand you over to the Jewish courts and whip you in their synagogues. You will stand in front of governors and kings to testify to them because of me.

13:10  But first, the Good News must be spread to all nations.

13:11  When they take you away to hand you over to the authorities, don't worry ahead of time about what you will say. Instead, say whatever is given to you to say when the time comes. Indeed, you are not the one who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit will.

13:12  "Brother will hand over brother to death; a father will hand over his child. Children will rebel against their parents and kill them.

13:13  Everyone will hate you because you are committed to me. But the person who endures to the end will be saved.

13:14  "When you see the disgusting thing that will cause destruction standing where it should not (let the reader take note), those of you in Judea should flee to the mountains.

13:15  Those who are on the roof should not come down to get anything out of their houses.

13:16  Those who are in the field should not turn back to get their coats.

13:17  "How horrible it will be for the women who are pregnant or who are nursing babies in those days.

13:18  Pray that it will not be in winter.

13:19  It will be a time of misery that has not happened from the beginning of God's creation until now, and will certainly never happen again.

13:20  If the Lord does not reduce that time, no one will be saved. But those days will be reduced because of those whom God has chosen.

13:21  "At that time don't believe anyone who tells you, 'Here is the Messiah!' or 'There he is!'

13:22  False messiahs and false prophets will appear. They will work miraculous signs and do wonderful things to deceive, if possible, those whom God has chosen.

13:23  Be on your guard! I have told you everything before it happens.

13:24  "Now, after the misery of those days, the sun will turn dark, the moon will not give light,

13:25  the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the universe will be shaken.

13:26  "Then people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.

13:27  He will send out his angels, and from every direction under the sky, they will gather those whom God has chosen.

13:28  "Learn from the story of the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and it sprouts leaves, you know summer is near.

13:29  In the same way, when you see these things happen, you know that he is near, at the door.

13:30  "I can guarantee this truth: This generation will not disappear until all these things take place.

13:31  The earth and the heavens will disappear, but my words will never disappear.

13:32  "No one knows when that day or hour will come. Even the angels in heaven and the Son don't know. Only the Father knows.

13:33  Be careful! Watch! You don't know the exact time.

13:34  It is like a man who went on a trip. As he left home, he put his servants in charge. He assigned work to each one and ordered the guard to be alert.

13:35  Therefore, be alert, because you don't know when the owner of the house will return. It could be in the evening or at midnight or at dawn or in the morning.

13:36  Make sure he doesn't come suddenly and find you asleep.

13:37  I'm telling everyone what I'm telling you: 'Be alert!'"

Chapter 14

14:1  It was two days before the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for some underhanded way to arrest Jesus and to kill him.

14:2  However, they said, "We shouldn't arrest him during the festival, or else there will be a riot among the people."

14:3  Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had suffered from a skin disease. While Jesus was sitting there, a woman went to him. She had a bottle of very expensive perfume made from pure nard. She opened the bottle and poured the perfume on his head.

14:4  Some who were there were irritated and said to one another, "Why was the perfume wasted like this?

14:5  This perfume could have been sold for a high price, and the money could have been given to the poor." So they said some very unkind things to her.

14:6  Jesus said, "Leave her alone! Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing for me.

14:7  You will always have the poor with you and can help them whenever you want. But you will not always have me with you.

14:8  She did what she could. She came to pour perfume on my body before it is placed in a tomb.

14:9  I can guarantee this truth: Wherever the Good News is spoken in the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her."

14:10  Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve apostles, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus.

14:11  They were pleased to hear what Judas had to say and promised to give him money. So he kept looking for a chance to betray Jesus.

14:12  Killing the Passover lamb was customary on the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The disciples asked Jesus, "Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you?"

14:13  He sent two of his disciples and told them, "Go into the city. You will meet a man carrying a jug of water. Follow him.

14:14  When he goes into a house, tell the owner that the teacher asks, 'Where is my room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?'

14:15  He will take you upstairs and show you a large room. The room will be completely furnished. Get everything ready for us there."

14:16  The disciples left. They went into the city and found everything as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.

14:17  When evening came, Jesus arrived with the twelve apostles.

14:18  While they were at the table eating, Jesus said, "I can guarantee this truth: One of you is going to betray me, one who is eating with me!"

14:19  Feeling hurt, they asked him one by one, "You don't mean me, do you?"

14:20  He said to them, "It's one of you twelve, someone dipping his hand into the bowl with me.

14:21  The Son of Man is going to die as the Scriptures say he will. But how horrible it will be for that person who betrays the Son of Man! It would have been better for that person if he had never been born."

14:22  While they were eating, Jesus took bread and blessed it. He broke the bread, gave it to them, and said, "Take this. This is my body."

14:23  Then he took a cup, spoke a prayer of thanksgiving, and gave the cup to them. They all drank from it.

14:24  He said to them, "This is my blood, the blood of the promise. It is poured out for many people.

14:25  "I can guarantee this truth: I won't drink this wine again until that day when I drink new wine in the kingdom of God."

14:26  After they sang a hymn, they went to the Mount of Olives.

14:27  Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will abandon me. Scripture says, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.'

14:28  "But after I am brought back to life, I will go to Galilee ahead of you."

14:29  Peter said to him, "Even if everyone else abandons you, I won't."

14:30  Jesus said to Peter, "I can guarantee this truth: Tonight, before a rooster crows twice, you will say three times that you don't know me."

14:31  But Peter said very strongly, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never say that I don't know you." All the other disciples said the same thing.

14:32  Then they came to a place called Gethsemane. He said to his disciples, "Stay here while I pray."

14:33  He took Peter, James, and John with him and began to feel distressed and anguished.

14:34  He said to them, "My anguish is so great that I feel as if I'm dying. Wait here, and stay awake."

14:35  After walking a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if it were possible he might not have to suffer what was ahead of him.

14:36  He said, "Abba! Father! You can do anything. Take this cup of suffering away from me. But let your will be done rather than mine."

14:37  He went back and found them asleep. He said to Peter, "Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn't you stay awake for one hour?

14:38  Stay awake, and pray that you won't be tempted. You want to do what's right, but you're weak."

14:39  He went away again and prayed the same prayer as before.

14:40  He found them asleep because they couldn't keep their eyes open. They didn't even know what they should say to him.

14:41  He came back a third time and said to them, "You might as well sleep now. It's all over. The time has come for the Son of Man to be handed over to sinners.

14:42  Get up! Let's go! The one who is betraying me is near."

14:43  Just then, while Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve apostles, arrived. A crowd carrying swords and clubs was with him. They were from the chief priests, scribes, and leaders of the people.

14:44  Now, the traitor had given them a signal. He said, "The one I kiss is the man you want. Arrest him, and guard him closely as you take him away."

14:45  Then Judas quickly stepped up to Jesus and said, "Rabbi!" and kissed him.

14:46  Some men took hold of Jesus and arrested him.

14:47  One of those standing there pulled out his sword and cut off the ear of the chief priest's servant.

14:48  Jesus asked them, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as if I were a criminal?

14:49  I used to teach in the temple courtyard every day. But you didn't arrest me then. But what the Scriptures say must come true."

14:50  Then all the disciples abandoned him and ran away.

14:51  A certain young man was following Jesus. He had nothing on but a linen sheet. They tried to arrest him,

14:52  but he left the linen sheet behind and ran away naked.

14:53  The men took Jesus to the chief priest. All the chief priests, leaders, and scribes had gathered together.

14:54  Peter followed him at a distance and went into the chief priest's courtyard. He sat with the guards and warmed himself facing the glow of a fire.

14:55  The chief priests and the whole Jewish council were searching for some testimony against Jesus in order to execute him. But they couldn't find any.

14:56  Many gave false testimony against him, but their statements did not agree.

14:57  Then some men stood up and gave false testimony against him. They said,

14:58  "We heard him say, 'I'll tear down this temple made by humans, and in three days I'll build another temple, one not made by human hands.'"

14:59  But their testimony did not agree even on this point.

14:60  So the chief priest stood up in the center and asked Jesus, "Don't you have any answer to what these men testify against you?"

14:61  But he was silent. The chief priest asked him again, "Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?"

14:62  Jesus answered, "Yes, I am, and you will see the Son of Man in the highest position in heaven. He will be coming with the clouds of heaven."

14:63  The chief priest tore his clothes in horror and said, "Why do we need any more witnesses?

14:64  You've heard him dishonor God! What's your verdict?" All of them condemned him with the death sentence.

14:65  Some of them began to spit on him. They covered his face and hit him with their fists. They said to him, "Prophesy!" Even the guards took him and slapped him.

14:66  Peter was in the courtyard. One of the chief priest's female servants

14:67  saw Peter warming himself. She looked at him and said, "You, too, were with Jesus from Nazareth!"

14:68  But Peter denied it by saying, "I don't know him, and I don't understand what you're talking about." He went to the entrance. Then a rooster crowed.

14:69  The servant saw him. Once again she said to those who were standing around, "This man is one of them!"

14:70  Peter again denied it. After a little while the men standing there said to Peter again, "It's obvious you're one of them. You're a Galilean!"

14:71  Then Peter began to curse and swear with an oath, "I don't know this man you're talking about!"

14:72  Just then a rooster crowed a second time. Peter remembered that Jesus said to him, "Before a rooster crows twice, you will say three times that you don't know me." Then Peter began to cry very hard.

Chapter 15

15:1  Early in the morning the chief priests immediately came to a decision with the leaders and the scribes. The whole Jewish council decided to tie Jesus up, lead him away, and hand him over to Pilate.

15:2  Pilate asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" "Yes, I am," Jesus answered him.

15:3  The chief priests were accusing him of many things.

15:4  So Pilate asked him again, "Don't you have any answer? Look how many accusations they're bringing against you!"

15:5  But Jesus no longer answered anything, so Pilate was surprised.

15:6  At every Passover festival, Pilate would free one prisoner whom the people asked for.

15:7  There was a man named Barabbas in prison. He was with some rebels who had committed murder during a riot.

15:8  The crowd asked Pilate to do for them what he always did.

15:9  Pilate answered them, "Do you want me to free the king of the Jews for you?"

15:10  Pilate knew that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him because they were jealous.

15:11  The chief priests stirred up the crowd so that Pilate would free Barabbas for them instead.

15:12  So Pilate again asked them, "Then what should I do with the king of the Jews?"

15:13  "Crucify him!" they shouted back.

15:14  Pilate said to them, "Why? What has he done wrong?" But they shouted even louder, "Crucify him!"

15:15  Pilate wanted to satisfy the people, so he freed Barabbas for them. But he had Jesus whipped and handed over to be crucified.

15:16  The soldiers led Jesus into the courtyard of the palace and called together the whole troop.

15:17  They dressed him in purple, twisted some thorns into a crown, and placed it on his head.

15:18  Then they began to greet him, "Long live the king of the Jews!"

15:19  They kept hitting him on the head with a stick, spitting on him, and kneeling in front of him with false humility.

15:20  After the soldiers finished making fun of Jesus, they took off the purple cape and put his own clothes back on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.

15:21  A man named Simon from the city of Cyrene was coming into Jerusalem from his home in the country. He was the father of Alexander and Rufus. As he was about to pass by, the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus' cross.

15:22  They took Jesus to Golgotha (which means "the place of the skull").

15:23  They tried to give him wine mixed with a drug called myrrh, but he wouldn't take it.

15:24  Next they crucified him. Then they divided his clothes among themselves by throwing dice to see what each one would get.

15:25  It was nine in the morning when they crucified him.

15:26  There was a written notice of the accusation against him. It read, "The king of the Jews."

15:27  They crucified two criminals with him, one on his right and the other on his left.

15:29  Those who passed by insulted him. They shook their heads and said, "What a joke! You were going to tear down God's temple and build it again in three days.

15:30  Come down from the cross, and save yourself!"

15:31  The chief priests and the scribes made fun of him among themselves in the same way. They said, "He saved others, but he can't save himself.

15:32  Let the Messiah, the king of Israel, come down from the cross now so that we may see and believe." Even those who were crucified with him were insulting him.

15:33  At noon darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.

15:34  At three o'clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?"

15:35  When some of the people standing there heard him say that, they said, "Listen! He's calling Elijah."

15:36  Someone ran and soaked a sponge in vinegar. Then he put it on a stick and offered Jesus a drink. The man said, "Let's see if Elijah comes to take him down."

15:37  Then Jesus cried out in a loud voice and died.

15:38  The curtain in the temple was split in two from top to bottom.

15:39  When the officer who stood facing Jesus saw how he gave up his spirit, he said, "Certainly, this man was the Son of God!"

15:40  Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary from Magdala, Mary (the mother of young James and Joseph), and Salome.

15:41  They had followed him and supported him while he was in Galilee. Many other women who had come to Jerusalem with him were there too.

15:42  It was Friday evening, before the day of worship,

15:43  when Joseph arrived. He was from the city of Arimathea and was an important member of the Jewish council. He, too, was waiting for the kingdom of God. Joseph boldly went to Pilate's quarters to ask for the body of Jesus.

15:44  Pilate wondered if Jesus had already died. So he summoned the officer to ask him if Jesus was, in fact, dead.

15:45  When the officer had assured him that Jesus was dead, Pilate let Joseph have the corpse.

15:46  Joseph had purchased some linen cloth. He took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in the cloth. Then he laid the body in a tomb, which had been cut out of rock, and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.

15:47  Mary from Magdala and Mary (the mother of Joses) watched where Jesus was laid.

Chapter 16

16:1  When the day of worship was over, Mary from Magdala, Mary (the mother of James), and Salome bought spices to go and anoint Jesus.

16:2  On Sunday they were going to the tomb very early when the sun had just come up.

16:3  They said to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?"

16:4  When they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away. It was a very large stone.

16:5  As they went into the tomb, they saw a young man. He was dressed in a white robe and sat on the right side. They were panic-stricken.

16:6  The young man said to them, "Don't panic! You're looking for Jesus from Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been brought back to life. He's not here. Look at the place where they laid him.

16:7  Go and tell his disciples and Peter that he's going ahead of them to Galilee. There they will see him, just as he told them."

16:8  They went out of the tomb and ran away. Shock and trembling had overwhelmed them. They didn't say a thing to anyone, because they were afraid.

16:9  After Jesus came back to life early on Sunday, he appeared first to Mary from Magdala, from whom he had forced out seven demons.

16:10  She went and told his friends, who were grieving and crying.

16:11  They didn't believe her when they heard that he was alive and that she had seen him.

16:12  Later Jesus appeared to two disciples as they were walking to their home in the country. He did not look as he usually did.

16:13  They went back and told the others, who did not believe them either.

16:14  Still later Jesus appeared to the eleven apostles while they were eating. He put them to shame for their unbelief and because they were too stubborn to believe those who had seen him alive.

16:15  Then Jesus said to them, "So wherever you go in the world, tell everyone the Good News.

16:16  Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

16:17  "These are the miraculous signs that will accompany believers: They will use the power and authority of my name to force demons out of people. They will speak new languages.

16:18  They will pick up snakes, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them. They will place their hands on the sick and cure them."

16:19  After talking with the apostles, the Lord was taken to heaven, where God gave him the highest position.

16:20  The disciples spread the Good News everywhere. The Lord worked with them. He confirmed his word by the miraculous signs that accompanied it.