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On the first Sabbath after the second day of the feast, they went through the fields of grain. Jesus’ disciples pulled the ears of grain, rubbed them in their hands, and ate. Some of the Pharisees said, “Why do you do that which is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?” Jesus said to them, “Have you not read what David did, when he was hungry, himself and those that were with him? How he entered into the house of God and took the loaves of the presence. Ate and gave also to those that were with him, which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone? The Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath.”
On another Sabbath He went into the synagogue and taught. A man was there, and his right hand was withered. The scribes and Pharisees watched Him if He would cure on the Sabbath, that they might find fault against Him, but He knew their thoughts. He said to the man that had the withered hand, “Rise and stand in the midst.” He rose and stood.
Jesus said to them, “I ask you if it is lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” Looking around at them all, He said to him, “Stretch forth your hand.” He did so, and his hand was restored. They were filled with madness and conferred one with another what they should do to Jesus.
He went into the mountain and spent the night in prayer with God. When day came, He chose twelve disciples, whom he would later call apostles: Simon, whom he also named Peter, Andrew his brother, brothers James and John, Philip, Bartholomew, Levi, whom he called Matthew, Thomas, James, son of Alphaeus, Simon who is called Zealot, Judas brother of James and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
Coming down with them He stood in a plain. A great crowd of His disciples and people from all Judea, Jerusalem, and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon came to hear Him and be cured of their diseases and unclean spirits. They sought to touch Him. He lifted up His eyes upon His disciples and said,
“Blessed are you poor, yours is the kingdom of God.
Blessed are you that hunger now, you will be filled.
Blessed are you that weep now, you will laugh.
Blessed are you when men will hate you, and when they will shut you out from their society, and will reproach you, and cast your name out as evil for the sake of the Son of man. Rejoice on that day and leap for joy. Behold, your reward is great in heaven. So did their fathers to the prophets.
“Woe you that are rich, you have your consolation in full.
“Woe you that are filled now, you will be hungry.
“Woe you that laugh now, you will mourn and weep.
“Woe when all men will speak well of you. So did their fathers to the false prophets.
“I say to you that hear, love your enemies. Do good to them that hate you, bless them that curse you. Pray for them that insult you. To him that smites you on the cheek offer the other also. From him that takes your cloak, give him your coat.
“Give to everyone that asks of you. From him that takes away your goods, ask them not again.
“As you would that men should do to you, do you also to them in a like manner.
“If you love them that love you, what thanks have you? Sinners, love those that love them. If you do good to those that do good to you, what thanks have you? Even sinners do the same.
“If you lend to those of whom you hope to receive, what thanks have you? Even sinners that lend receive the same.
“Love your enemies and do good and lend, hoping for nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Highest. He is kind to the unthankful and the evil. Become merciful, as your Father is merciful.
“Judge not, and you will not be judged...
After finishing His speech Jesus left and went to Capernaum. A certain centurion’s dear servant was sick and about to die, but hearing of Jesus, the centurion sent to Him elders of the Jews asking Him if He would save his life. They came to Jesus and asked Him earnestly, “The centurion is worthy that you do this. He loves our nation, and has himself built for us the synagogue.” Jesus went with them.
When Jesus was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying, “Lord, trouble not yourself. I am not worthy that you come under my roof. Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come to you, but say in a word, and let my servant be restored to health. I am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
When Jesus heard these things, He was amazed. Turning, He said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.” Those that had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.
On the following day, He went to a city called Nain. There went with Him, many of His disciples, and a great crowd. When He came near the gate of the city, a widowed mother came carrying her dead son. A great crowd of the city was with her. Seeing her, the Lord had pity and said to her, “Weep not.” Coming forward, He touched her son.
Everyone stopped, and He said, “Young man, I say to you rise.” The dead son sat up and began to speak. Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, “A great prophet has risen among us. And, God has visited His people.” This saying concerning Him went out into Judea and all the region around it.
John’s disciples told him of all these things. John sent two of them to the Lord to ask, “Are you He that comes, or should we look for another?”
Jesus was curing many diseases, scourges, evil spirits, and many that were blind.
Coming to Him, John’s disciples said, “John the Baptist has sent us to ask if you are He that comes, or should we look for another?” He said to them, “Go tell John what things you have seen and heard, that the blind receive sight, the handicap walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. Blessed is he whoever is not offended at me.”
When the messengers of John departed, He began to say to the crowds concerning John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? What did you see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they that wear soft clothing and live in luxury are in kings’ houses.
“What did you see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more. This is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face who will prepare your way before you.’ I say to you, among those born of women there is no prophet greater than John. The least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
All the people and tax collectors that heard justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John, but the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, not having been baptized by him. Jesus said to them, “To what then will I liken the men of this generation? They are like children that sit in the market and call one another, ‘We piped to you, and you did not dance, we mourned, and you did not lament.’
“John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say: ‘He has a demon.’
“The Son of man has come eating and drinking, and you say: ‘Behold, a man, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of sinners and tax collectors.’
“Yet Wisdom is justified on the part of all her children.”
One of the Pharisees asked Him to eat...
Jesus went through every city and village, preaching and telling the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. The twelve and some women who had been cured of evil spirits were with Him. Mary called Magdalene, out of whom seven demons had gone, Joanna, wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, Susanna and many others gave to Him of their goods.
As a great crowd had come together from every city, He spoke by a parable, “The Sower went forth to sow his seed. As he sowed, some fell by the wayside, and was trod down, and the birds of heaven ate it up.
“Others fell upon the rock, and springing up it withered because it had no moisture.
“Others fell in the midst of thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it.
“Others fell on the good ground, and springing up it produced fruit a hundredfold.
“He that has ears to hear, let him hear.”
His disciples asked Him what the parable means. He said, “To you is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables. That seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.
“The parable is this: the seed is the word of God. They, by the way, are the ones that hear. The Devil comes and takes away the word from their heart if they have believed they would be saved.
“They on the rock are those who when they hear receive the word with joy. These have no root, they believe for a time, but in the time of temptation apostatize.
“That which fell among thorns, are they that hear and going forth, are choked by the cares, riches and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
“On the good ground are those that have a good and honest heart having heard the word they keep it and bring forth fruit in patience.
“No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand, so that they who come in may see the light. There is nothing concealed that will not become manifest, neither hid which will not be known and come into view.
“Take heed how you hear. Whoever has, to him will be given. Whoever has not, even that which he has will be taken from him.”
Jesus’ mother and brothers were coming to Him but were not able to because of the crowd. He was told, “Your mother and brothers desire to see you.” He said to them, “My mother and brothers are the ones that hear the word of God and do it.”
Jesus and His disciples entered a ship. He said to them, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.”
They set out to sea, but as they were sailing, He fell asleep. A squall of wind came down on the lake, and the water became rough. They came forward and woke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we perish.” He scolded the wind and the raging water.
The winds ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?” They were amazed, saying to one another, “Who is this? He commands the winds and water, and they obey Him.”
They sailed opposite to Gergesenes. Coming to land, a man from the city that had demons met Him. For a long time, he wore no clothing and lived in the tombs. The demons had seized him many times and he had been imprisoned with chains around the wrists and ankles. Breaking the bonds, the demons drove him into the desert.
Seeing Jesus, he cried out and fell before Him, and with a loud voice said, “What have I to do with you, Jesus, Son of God? I beg you to not torment me.”
Jesus commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. He asked him, “What is your name?” He said, “Legion.” Many demons had entered him, and they begged Him that He would not command them to go away into the abyss.
There was a herd of swine feeding in the mountain. They begged Him that He would permit them to enter them. He permitted it. The demons came out of the man and entered the swine. The herd rushed down the steep into the lake and drowned. Those who fed them saw, fled and told it in the city and country.
A crowd came out to see what had been done. When they came to Jesus, they found the once-possessed man sitting, clothed and in his right mind at Jesus’ feet. They were afraid. Those who saw what happened told them how the man possessed by demons had been saved.
The crowd from the surrounding country were seized...
Calling together the twelve, Jesus gave them power and authority over demons and to cure diseases. He sent them to heal and preach the kingdom of God, and He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, either staff, bag, bread, silver or have two coats apiece. Whatever house you enter, stay there, and don’t depart. As many that may not receive you, when going out from that city shake off the dust from your feet for a testimony against them.” They left and passed through every village, preaching the gospel and curing everyone.
Herod the tetrarch heard of all these things that were done and was perplexed because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead, and by some that Elijah had appeared and by others that a prophet, someone of the ancients, had risen. Herod said, “I beheaded John. Who is this that I hear so much about?” He sought to see who it was.
The apostles returned and told Him all things that they had done. He took them and withdrew to a city called Bethsaida. The crowds knew it and followed Him. He received them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God, and healed those that were sick.
The day began to decline. The twelve came and said to Him, “Send the crowd away, that they may go into the villages and country and lodge and find food. We are here in a desert place.”
He said to them, “What do you give them to eat?” They replied, “We have not more than five loaves and two fish, unless we go and buy food for all these people.”
There were about five thousand men. He said to His disciples, “Make them sit in table-parties of fifty each.” They did so and made them all sit.
Taking the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. All ate and were filled. There was taken up what remained of the broken pieces, twelve traveling baskets full.
As He was praying alone, the disciples were with Him. He asked them, “Who do the crowd say that I am?” They answered, “John the Baptist. Others, Elijah. And others, a prophet, someone of the ancients, has risen.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said, “The Anointed One of God.”
Charging them strictly, He commanded them to tell this to no one, “The Son of man must suffer many things, be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be put to death, and rise on the third day.”
He said to all, “If anyone will come after me, let him deny himself, pull up his stake daily and follow me. Whoever will save his life, will lose it, but whoever may lose his life for my sake, will save it. What is a man profited if he gains the whole world, but destroys himself or is lost?
“Whoever will be ashamed of me and my words, of him will the Son of man be ashamed, when he will come into his glory, that of the Father and of the holy angels.
“I tell you truly, there are some of these standing here that will not taste death until they have seen the kingdom of God.”
About eight days after this, He took Peter, James, and John up into a mountain to pray. As He prayed, the appearance of His face was changed, and His clothing became glittering white. Moses and Elijah conversed with Him. They appeared in His glory and spoke of His departure, which He was about to accomplish in Jerusalem.
Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep but keeping awake they saw His glory and the two men that stood with Him. Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here, and let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” Not knowing what he said.
As he spoke these things there came a cloud and overshadowed them. They were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, “This is my Son, the chosen ones, hear Him.” When the voice had passed, Jesus was found alone. They kept silent and told no one, in those days, any of the things that they had seen.
On the next day coming down from the mountain a great crowd met Him. A man cried out, “Teacher, look upon my son, for he is my only born. A spirit seizes him, suddenly cries out, convulses him so that he foams and after bruising him hardly departs from him. I requested your disciples to cast out the demon, but they were not able to.” Jesus said, “O generation faithless...
After these things Jesus appointed seventy other disciples and sent them two by two before Him into every city and place where He was about to go. He said to them, “The harvest indeed is great, but the laborers are few. Pray the Lord of the harvest sends laborers into the harvest. Go! Behold, I send you forth as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, bag or sandals. Greet no one on the way.
“Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ If a son of peace be there, your peace will rest upon it, but if not, it will return to you. Stay there eating and drinking the things they have. The laborer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.
“Whatever city you enter, if they receive you, eat what is set before you, and cure those that are sick, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ Whatever city you enter, and they receive you not, go out into the streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your city that cleaves to us on we wipe off against you. Yet know this that the kingdom of God is near.’ I say to you that it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that city.
“Woe Chorazin. Woe Bethsaida. If the mighty works which have been done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have taken on a life-changing mindset long ago.
“Furthermore, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment, than for you. You, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to hades.
“He that hears you hears me. He that rejects you rejects me. He that rejects me rejects Him that sent me.”
The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subjected to us in your name.” He said to them, “I beheld Satan like lightning from heaven fallen. I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will in any way hurt you. Yet in this rejoice not but rejoice that your names are written in the heavens.”
In that hour He rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I give thanks, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, because you have concealed these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. Yes, Father, for so it seemed good in your sight.”
Turning to the disciples, He said, “All things have been delivered to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is but the Father, and who the Father is but the Son, and he to whomever the Son will reveal Him.”
He said privately to the apostles, “Blessed...