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Jesus left and came to His own country. His disciples followed Him. On the Sabbath, He began to teach in the synagogue. Many were amazed, “Where has this man learned these things, and what wisdom is given to Him? How are such mighty deeds done through His hands? Is not this the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judah and Simon? Aren't His sisters here with us?” They were offended by Him. Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, unless in his own country, and among his relatives, and in his own house.”
He was unable to do any mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick persons and cured them. He wondered if it were because of their unbelief. He went to the villages nearby teaching.
He called the twelve and began to send them forth two by two. He gave them authority over unclean spirits and charged them to take nothing for the journey but a staff, no bread, bag or brass in their belt, but be shod with sandals, and bring not two coats. He said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay until you leave from there. Whatever place will not receive you nor hear you, when you go out from there, shake off the dust from your feet, a testimony is against them.” They preached that men should have a life-changing mindset, cast out many demons and anointed with oil the sick and cured them.
Herod heard about Jesus and said, “John has risen from the dead, and for this reason, the powers are active within Him.”
Some said, “It is Elijah.” Others said, “He is a prophet.” Herod said, “John whom I beheaded, he has risen.”
Herod had taken John the Baptist and bound him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
Herodias was angry and desired to kill John, but Herod could not. He feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and he kept him in safety instead. Hearing him, he was perplexed, but heard him with pleasure.
A suitable time had come, when Herod on his birthday made a supper for his great men, the officers of thousands and the first men of Galilee. The daughter of Herodias came in and danced. She pleased Herod and those that sat with him at the table. The king said to the maiden, “Ask me whatever you will, and I will give it to you.” He swore to her, “Whatever you should ask, I will give to you up to half of my kingdom.”
She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” Her mother said, “The head of John the Baptist.”
Coming in with haste to the king, she asked, “I ask that you give me on a dish the head of John the Baptist.”
The king became very sad, because of the oaths and those that sat at the table with him would not reject her. He sent an executioner and ordered to bring his head. He went and beheaded him in the prison and brought his head in on a dish. He gave it to the maiden, and she gave it to her mother. His disciples heard it and came and took away his corpse and laid him in a sepulcher.
John’s apostles came to Jesus and told Him all things that he had done and taught. He said to them, “Go to a desert place, and rest a little.” Many were coming and going, and they had leisure not even to eat.
Jesus and His disciples left by ship to a desert place. Many saw them going, and ran on foot from the cities, and outwent them.
Coming out He saw a great crowd, and was moved with pity for them, because they were as sheep that had no shepherd, and began to teach them many things.
Much time had passed, and His disciples came and said, “It is deserted here; we have been here long. Dismiss them, so they may go into the country and villages and buy what they may eat.”
He said to them, “What do you give them to eat?” They said to him, “Should we buy two hundred denarii worth of bread, and give them this to eat?” He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go, see.” Having learned this they said, “Five and two fish.”
He ordered that all sit on the green grass. They sat in oblong squares, by hundreds and by fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven and blessed them. He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to sit before them. The two fish He divided among all.
All ate and were filled. They took up the broken pieces and filled twelve provision baskets full of bread and fish. Those that had eaten the loaves were five thousand men.
He asked His disciples to enter the ship and go before Him to the other side to Bethsaida until He sent away the crowd.
Having sent them away He went into the mountain to pray. When evening had come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and Himself alone on the land. They were toiling rowing, for the wind was against them.
About the fourth watch of the night Jesus came to them walking on the sea intending to pass by them. Seeing Jesus walking on the sea they thought that it was a specter and cried out. They were alarmed, but He said to them, “Take courage, it is I, be not afraid.” He entered the ship and the wind ceased. They were greatly amazed beyond measure. They had not learned the meaning of the loaves, for their hearts were hardened.
When they had passed over to the land, they came to Gennesaret, and drew to shore. When they had come out of the ship, the people knew Him, and ran about the whole country. They began to carry the sick about in beds.
Whenever He went into villages, cities or the country, they laid the sick in the markets, and begged that they touch the fringe of His cloak. As many as touched Him they were saved.
The Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem came to Jesus, and some of His disciples were eating bread with dirty hands. Holding the traditions of the elders, the Pharisees and Jews don’t eat unless they wash their hands. When they come from the market, unless they wash themselves, they do not eat. There are many other things that they do, the washing of cups, pitchers and brazen vessels.
The Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, “Why do your disciples not do according to the tradition of the elders but eat bread with unwashed hands?” He said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: “They honor me with their lips, but their heart is far distant from me. In vain do they offer reverence to me, teaching the commandments of men. Leaving the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men.”
“Well do you set aside the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. Moses said: ‘Honor your father and your mother, and He that curses father or mother let him surely die.’
“You say: ‘If a man will say to his father or mother, that, by whatever you might receive from me, is corban, which is a gift.’ You no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother. Making the word of God of no effect by your tradition which you have delivered. Many things like these you do.”
Again, calling the crowd to Him He said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. There is nothing outside a man that entering into him can defile him, but the things that proceed from a man are they that defile a man.”
When He had entered the house apart from the crowd, His disciples asked Him about the parable. He said to them, “You are without understanding? Do you not perceive that nothing from outside by entering into a man can defile him? Because it goes not into his heart, but into his belly, and is cast out, making all meats clean. That which proceeds from a man, defiles a man. From within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, lewdness, deceit, thefts, murders, adulteries, covetousness, wicked counsels, wantonness, an evil eye, blasphemy, haughtiness and folly. All these wicked things proceed from within and defile a man.”
He went away to the borders of Tyre, entering...
The crowd again had nothing to eat. Jesus called His disciples to Him and said to them, “I pity the crowd, they have continued with me for three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away to their homes, they will faint on the way. Some of them have come from afar.”
His disciples answered Him, “How are we to satisfy them with bread here in the wilderness?” He asked them, “How many loaves do we have?” They said, “Seven.”
He commanded the crowd to sit. He took seven loaves, gave thanks, broke and gave them to His disciples to set before the crowd. They also had a few little fish, which He blessed and set before them.
They ate and were satisfied and took up what remained of the broken pieces into seven provision baskets. There were about four thousand, and He sent them away.
Leaving by ship with His disciples, they came into the regions of Dalmanutha. The Pharisees came out and began to dispute with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven. Sighing deeply in His spirit, Jesus said, “Why does this generation seek for a sign? Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.”
They embarked and went to the other side of Dalmanutha. They had forgotten to take bread, and except for one loaf they had nothing with them in the ship. Jesus charged them, “Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the leaven of Herod.” They reasoned with one another, “Because we have no bread.”
Perceiving it He said to them, “Why do you reason, because you have no bread? Do you not yet understand? Have your hearts been hardened? Having eyes, you do not see, and having ears you do not hear. Do you not remember, when I broke the five loaves among the five thousand, and how many traveling baskets full of broken pieces you took up?” They said to Him, “Twelve.”
He said to them, “The four thousand, how many provision baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said, “Seven.” He said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”
They came to Bethsaida and they brought Him a blind man, and begged Him to touch him. Taking the blind man by the hand, He brought him out of the village. Having spit on his eyes, he laid His hands on him, and asked him if he saw anything. He looked up and said, “I behold men, for I perceive them as walking trees.”
Then He again laid his hands on his eyes, and he saw clearly and beheld all things distinctly. He sent him away to his house, saying, “Go not into the village.”
Jesus and His disciples went forth into the villages of Caesarea Philippi. On the way He asked His disciples, “Who do men...
After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them into a high mountain. He was transfigured before them, and His clothing became shining, very white, as no fuller on earth can whiten. There appeared Elijah with Moses speaking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here, and let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He knew not what he should answer. They were afraid.
A voice came from a cloud that overshadowed them, “This is my beloved Son, hear Him.” Looking around they no longer saw anyone but Jesus.
As they were coming down from the mountain, He charged them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, until the Son of man has risen from the dead. They kept the saying amongst themselves, inquiring what to rise from the dead was.
They asked Him, “Why do the Pharisees say that Elijah must first come?” He said to them, “Elijah coming first restores all things. How is it written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things? I say to you that Elijah has come, and they have done to him what they wished, as it is written of him.”
A crowd came to the disciples, but scribes were arguing with them. Seeing Jesus, they were amazed, and ran to greet Him. He asked them, “Why are you arguing with them?” One from the crowd answered Him, “Teacher, I brought to you my son that has a dumb spirit. Wherever he seizes him he throws him down, and he foams and gnashes with his teeth and pines away. I spoke to your disciples that they would cast him out, and they were not able.”
He said to them, “O faithless generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I bear with you? Bring him to me.”
They brought him, and when he saw Him, the spirit threw him into convulsions. He fell upon the ground and rolled foaming.
Jesus asked his father, “How long ago did this happen to him?” He replied, “From childhood, he was often thrown into the fire and water, but if in any way you can, have pity on us and help us.”
Jesus said to him, “What is this ‘If you can?’ All things are possible to him that believes.” The father of the child immediately crying out said, “I believe! Help you my unbelief.”
Jesus scolded the unclean spirit, “Dumb and deaf spirit, I charge you, come out of him, and enter no more into him.” After crying out and throwing him into strong convulsions he came out. He became like one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.” Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he rose.
When he came into the house, his disciples asked Him privately, “Why were we not able to cast him out?” He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but by prayer.”
Going out they passed through Galilee, and He wished that no one would know it. He taught His disciples and said to them, “I am to be delivered into the hands of men, they will kill me and when I have been killed, I will rise after three days.” They didn’t understand what He said and were afraid to ask Him.
Coming into Capernaum He sat in a house and asked them, “What were you disputing on the way?” They were silent, for they had disputed who was greatest. Calling the twelve, Jesus said, “If anyone will be first, he will be last of all and minister of all.”
He took a little child into His arms and said to them, “Whoever will receive one of these little children in my name, receives me. Whoever will receive me, receives not me, but Him that sent me.”
John said to him, “Teacher, we saw one casting out demons in your name, but he doesn’t follow us. We forbade...
Coming into the borders of Judea beyond the Jordan, crowds came together to Jesus. As He was accustomed, He taught them. Tempting Him, the Pharisees came and asked Him if it is lawful for a man to put away his wife. He said to them, “What did Moses command you?” They replied, “Moses permitted to write a bill of divorce and put her away.”
Jesus said to them, “Because of the hardness of your hearts he wrote for you this commandment, but from the beginning of creation, God made male and female. For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother, and the two will be one flesh. What God has joined together, let no man put asunder.”
In the house, the disciples asked Him about this matter. He said to them, “Whoever puts away his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. If she puts away her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”
They brought little children to Him so that He might touch them, but the disciples scolded them. Displeased, Jesus said, “Forbid them not to come to me. Such belongs to the kingdom of God. Truly I say to you, whoever will not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, will in no way enter into it.” He took them in His arms and blessed them, putting His hands upon them.
As He went on the road, a man ran to Him and knelt, asking, “Good Teacher, what will I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? None is good, but God. You know the commandments, you will not commit adultery, murder, steal, bear false testimony, or defraud. Honor your father and your mother.”
He said to Him, “Teacher, all these have I kept from my youth.” Jesus looked upon him with loved and said to him, “One thing you lack, go, sell whatever you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, and come follow me.”
He became sad and went away. Because he had great possessions. Looking around, Jesus said to His disciples, “It is hard for those that have riches to enter into the kingdom of God.”
The disciples were amazed at His words. Jesus answered again, “Children, how hard is it to enter into the kingdom of God? It is easier for a rope to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”
They said among themselves, “Who then can be saved?” Looking at them, Jesus said, “With men, impossible, but not with God. All things are possible with God.”
Peter said to Him, “Behold, we have left all things and followed you.” Jesus replied, “Truly I say to you, there is no one that has left house, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children or lands for my sake and gospel that will not receive a hundredfold now at this time, houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and land with persecutions, and in the age to come in eternal life. Many first will be last, and last first.”
Jesus and the twelve were on the road going to Jerusalem. Jesus was walking ahead of them, and they were amazed. As they followed, they were afraid. Taking the twelve aside He began to tell them the things that were about to befall Him, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief of priests and scribes. They will condemn...