Mark 5:1-10:26

New Matthew Bible

He delivers the possessed man from the unclean spirits, and the woman from the flow of blood, and raises the synagogue leader’s daughter.

5 And they went over to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. ² And when he got out of the boat, there met him out of the graves a man possessed by an unclean spirit, ³ who had his dwelling among the graves. And no man could bind him, no, not with chains. ⁴ For he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he pulled the chains apart and broke the shackles in pieces. Neither could anyone quiet him. ⁵ And always, both night and day, he wailed in the mountains and in the graves, and beat himself with stones.

⁶ When he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and knelt before him, ⁷ and cried out with a loud voice and said, What have I to do with you, Jesus Son of the most high God? I call on you in the name of God not to torment me. ⁸ For Jesus had said to him, Come out of the man, you foul spirit! ⁹ And Jesus asked him, What is your name? He answered, saying, My name is Legion, for we are many. ¹⁰ And he pressed Jesus urgently not to send them away out of the region.

¹¹ And there was there, near to the mountains, a great herd of swine feeding. ¹² All the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the herd of swine, so that we may enter into them. ¹³ And at once Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out and entered into the swine. And the herd started, and ran headlong into the sea. There were about 2,000 swine, and they were drowned in the sea.

¹⁴ And the swineherds fled and told this in the town and in the country. And the people came out to see what had happened, ¹⁵ and came to Jesus. They saw the man who had been vexed with the fiend and had the legion sitting both clothed and in his right mind, and were afraid. ¹⁶ And those who had seen it told them what had happened to the man possessed with the devil, and also about the swine. ¹⁷ And they began to urge Jesus to depart from their shores.

¹⁸ And when he got into the boat, the man who had been possessed with the devil asked him if he could be with him. ¹⁹ However Jesus would not allow him, but said to him, Go home to your own house and to your friends, and show them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how he had compassion on you.

²⁰ And he departed and began to tell everywhere in the Ten Cities what great things Jesus had done for him. And all the people marvelled.

²¹ And when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, crowds of people gathered to him. And he was near to the sea. ²² And there came one of the leaders of the synagogue, whose name was Jairus. And when he saw him, he fell down at his feet, ²³ and besought him greatly, saying, My daughter lies at the point of death. Please come and lay your hand on her, so that she can be saved and live.

²⁴ And Jesus went with him, and the crowds followed him and thronged him. ²⁵ And there was a certain woman who had been troubled by a flow of blood for twelve years. ²⁶ She had endured many things from many physicians, and spent all that she had, and was not helped at all, but grew worse and worse. ²⁷ When she heard of Jesus, she penetrated the press behind him and touched his garment. ²⁸ For she thought, If I can but touch his clothes, I shall be healed. ²⁹ And straightaway her flow of blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the illness.

³⁰ And Jesus immediately felt in himself the power that went out of him, and turned around in the press of people and said, Who touched my clothes? ³¹ And his disciples said to him, You see the people thronging you, and yet you ask, Who touched me?

³² And he looked round about to see who had done it. ³³ The woman feared and trembled (for she knew what was done within her), and she came and fell down before him, and told him the truth of everything. ³⁴ And he said to her, Daughter, your faith has made you whole. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.

³⁵ While he was yet speaking, certain people came from the house of the synagogue leader and said, Your daughter is dead; why trouble the Teacher any further? ³⁶ As soon as Jesus heard that word spoken, he said to the leader of the synagogue, Be not afraid; only believe.

³⁷ And he let no one follow him other than Peter, James, and John the brother of James. ³⁸ And he went to the house of the synagogue leader and saw the disturbance, and the people who wept and wailed greatly, ³⁹ and went in and said to them, Why do you make this ado, and weep? The maiden is not dead, but sleeping. ⁴⁰ And they laughed him to scorn.

Then he put them all out, and took the father and the mother of the maiden and those who were with him, and entered in where the maiden lay. ⁴¹ He took the maiden by the hand and said to her, Tabitha, cumi! which translated is, Child, I say to you, arise! ⁴² And at once the maiden arose, and she walked on her feet, for she was twelve years of age. And they were astonished at it beyond measure. ⁴³ And he charged them strictly that no one should know of it, and said to give her food.

Christ sends his apostles to heal people who were diseased. Of John and Herod. Of the five loaves and two fishes, and of the walking on the sea.

6 And he departed from there and went into his own country, and his disciples followed him. ² And when the Sabbath day came, he began to teach in the synagogue. And many who heard him were astonished and said, Where does he have these things from? And what wisdom is this that is given to him? And such miracles that are wrought by his hands! ³ Is this not that carpenter – Mary’s son, the brother of James and Joses, and of Judas and Simon? And are his sisters not here with us?

And they were offended by him. ⁴ And Jesus said to them, A prophet is not without honour but in his own country, and among his own kin, and among those who are of the same household. ⁵ And he could show no miracles there, except he laid his hands upon a few sick folk and healed them. ⁶ And he marvelled at their unbelief.

And he went about by the towns that lay on every side, teaching. ⁷ And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits. ⁸ And he commanded them to take nothing for their journey save only a rod – no bag, no bread, no money in their belts – ⁹ but to be shod with sandals, and not to put on two coats. ¹⁰ And he said to them, Wherever you enter into a house, stay there till you move on from that town. ¹¹ And whoever does not receive you or hear you, when you leave there, shake off the dust that is under your feet, for a witness to them. I say truly to you, it will be easier for Sodom and Gomorrah at the day of judgment than for that place.

¹² And they went out and preached that the people should repent. ¹³ And they cast out many devils, and anointed many who were sick with oil, and healed them.

¹⁴ And King Herod heard of Jesus (for his name was spread abroad) and said, John the Baptist has risen again from death, and therefore  miracles are wrought by him. ¹⁵ Others said, It is Elijah; and some said, It is a prophet, or like one of the prophets. ¹⁶ But when Herod heard of him, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he has risen back up from death. ¹⁷ For Herod himself had sent forth and seized John, and bound him and cast him into prison for the sake of Herodias, who was his brother Philip’s wife. For Herod had married her. ¹⁸ John said to Herod, It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife. ¹⁹ So Herodias was laying in wait for him, and would have killed him. But she could not, ²⁰ because Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and gave him reverence. And he heeded him in many things, and heard him gladly.

²¹ But when an opportune day came, Herod on his birthday put on a supper for the lords, captains, and chief personages of Galilee. ²² And the daughter of the said Herodias came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him. Then the king said to the maiden, Ask of me what you will, and I will give it to you. ²³ And he swore to her, Whatever you ask of me, I will give it to you, even up to one half of my kingdom.

²⁴ And she went out and said to her mother, What should I ask for? And she said, The head of John the Baptist. ²⁵ And the maiden went in straightaway with haste to the king and asked, saying, I would like you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.

²⁶ And the king was sorry. However, for his oath’s sake, and because of those who sat at supper also, he did not want to put her beside her purpose. ²⁷ And immediately the king sent the hangman and commanded John’s head to be brought in. And he went and beheaded him in the prison, ²⁸ and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the maiden, and the maiden gave it to her mother.

²⁹ And when John’s disciples heard of it, they came and took up his body and put it in a tomb.

³⁰ And the apostles gathered themselves together to Jesus and told him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. ³¹ And he said to them, Come apart into the countryside and rest awhile. For there were so many comers and goers that they had no time so much as to eat. ³² And they went by boat out of the way into an isolated place.

³³ But the people noticed them when they departed, and many recognized him. And they ran there by foot out of all the towns and got there before them, and came together to him. ³⁴ And Jesus went out and saw the crowds of people, and had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.

³⁵ And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came to him, saying, This is an isolated place, and now the day is far gone. ³⁶ Let the people depart so that they can go into the country round about and into the towns and buy themselves bread, for they have nothing to eat. ³⁷ He answered and said to them, You give them to eat. And they said to him, Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them to eat? ³⁸ He said to them, How many loaves do you have? Go and look. And when they had searched, they said, Five, and two fishes.

³⁹ And Jesus directed them to make all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. ⁴⁰ And they sat down here a row and there a row, by hundreds and by fifties. ⁴¹ And he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to put before the people. And he divided the two fishes among them all. ⁴² And they all did eat and were satisfied. ⁴³ And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments and of the fishes. ⁴⁴ And those who ate were about 5,000 men.

⁴⁵ And straightaway he made his disciples get into the boat and go ahead over the water to Bethsaida while he sent the people away. ⁴⁶ And as soon as he had sent them away, he went apart to a mountain to pray.

⁴⁷ And when evening was come, the boat was in the middle of the sea and he was alone on the land. ⁴⁸ And he saw them having trouble rowing, for the wind was contrary to them. And about the fourth quarter of the night he went out to them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. ⁴⁹ When they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it was a spirit and cried out. ⁵⁰ For they all saw him and were afraid. And immediately he spoke to them and said to them, Be of good cheer, it is I. Be not afraid. ⁵¹ And he went up to them into the boat, and the wind ceased; and they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and taken aback. ⁵² For they did not remember about the loaves, because their hearts were blinded.

⁵³ And they crossed over and went into the land of Gennesaret, and drew up to anchorage. ⁵⁴ And as soon as they got out of the boat, people quickly recognized Jesus, ⁵⁵ and ran everywhere throughout all the region round about, and began to carry all who were sick in beds to the place where they heard he was. ⁵⁶ And wherever he entered into towns, cities, or villages, they laid their sick in the streets and begged to touch even just the edge of his vesture. And as many as touched him were made well.

The disciples eat with unwashed hands. The commandment of God is transgressed by man’s precepts. Of the woman of Syro-Phoenicia. Of the Sabbath.

7 And the Pharisees came together to him, and some of the scribes who came from Jerusalem. ² And when they saw certain of his disciples eat bread with common hands (that is to say, with unwashed hands), they complained. ³ For the Pharisees and all the Jews, unless they wash their hands often, will not eat, observing the precepts of the elders. ⁴ And when they come from the market, unless they wash, they will not eat. And there are many other things that they have taken upon themselves to observe, such as the washing of cups and pitchers, and of copper pots, and of tables.

⁵ Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why do your disciples not walk according to the precepts of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands? ⁶ He answered and said to them, Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honours me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. ⁷ In vain they worship me, teaching doctrines which are nothing but the commandments of men. ⁸ For you lay the commandment of God aside, and observe the precepts of men, such as the washing of pitchers and of cups. And many other suchlike things you do.

⁹ And he said to them, All too well do you cast aside the commandment of God to maintain your own precepts. ¹⁰ For Moses said, Honour your father and your mother, and whosoever curses father or mother, let him die for it. ¹¹ But you say a man should say to father or mother, Corban, which is, What you ask me for, to help you with, is dedicated to God. ¹² And so you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, ¹³ making the word of God of no effect through your own precepts, which you have established. And many such things you do.

¹⁴ And he called all the people to him and said to them, Hearken unto me, every one of you, and understand. ¹⁵ There is nothing outside a man that can defile him when it enters into him. But those things that proceed out of him are the things that defile a man. ¹⁶ If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.

¹⁷ And when he went indoors, away from the people, his disciples asked him about the similitude. ¹⁸ And he said to them, Are you also without understanding? Do you not yet perceive that whatever thing from without enters into a person, it cannot defile him, ¹⁹ because it enters not into his heart, but into the stomach, and goes out into the drain that carries away all foods?

²⁰ And he said, What defiles a man is that which comes out of a man. ²¹ For from within, namely out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts: adultery, fornication, murder, ²² theft, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, uncleanness, a wicked eye, slander, pride, foolishness. ²³ All these evil things come from within, and defile a person.

²⁴ From there he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into a house, and wanted no one to know. But he could not be hid. ²⁵ For a certain woman whose daughter had a foul spirit heard of him, and came and fell at his feet. ²⁶ The woman was a Greek out of Syro-Phoenicia, and she besought him to cast the devil out of her daughter. ²⁷ And Jesus said to her, Let the children first be fed. For it is not meet to take the children’s bread and cast it to dogs. ²⁸ She answered and said to him, Quite so, Master. Nevertheless, the dogs also eat under the table of the children’s crumbs. ²⁹ And he said to her, For this saying, go your way; the devil has gone out of your daughter. ³⁰ And when she arrived home, she found the devil departed, and her daughter lying on the bed.

³¹ And he departed again from the region of Tyre and Sidon, and went to the Sea of Galilee through the region of the Ten Cities. ³² And some people brought to him a man who was deaf and stammered in his speech, and asked him to put his hand upon him. ³³ And he took him aside from the people, and put his fingers in his ears, and spat, and touched his tongue, ³⁴ and looked up to heaven and sighed, and said to him, Ephatha; that is to say, Be opened. ³⁵ And straightaway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly.

³⁶ And Jesus directed them to tell no one. But the more he forbad them, so much the more greatly they spoke of it. ³⁷ And they were beyond measure astonished, saying, He has done all things well, and has made both the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak.

The miracle of the seven loaves. The Pharisees ask for a sign. The leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod. The blind man receives his sight.

8 In the days when there was a great multitude, and they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said to them, ² I have compassion on this people, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat. ³ And if I send them away to their own houses without eating, they might faint on the way, because some of them have come from far. ⁴ And his disciples answered him, Where could anyone obtain bread here in this remote place to satisfy all these? ⁵ And he asked them, How many loaves do you have? They said, Seven.

⁶ And he directed the people to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, gave thanks, broke, and gave to his disciples to set before them. And they set them before the people. ⁷ And they had a few small fishes, and he blessed them, and directed them also to be set before the people. ⁸ And they ate and were filled. And they took up of the broken food that was left seven baskets full. ⁹ And those who had eaten were in number about 4,000. And Jesus sent them away.

¹⁰ And shortly he entered into a boat with his disciples, and went into the region of Dalmanutha. ¹¹ And the Pharisees came out and began to dispute with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven, and testing him. ¹² And he sighed in his spirit and said, Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly I say to you, there will be no sign given to this generation.

¹³ And he left them and went into the boat again, and departed over the water.

¹⁴ And the disciples had forgotten to take bread with them, and had in the boat with them no more than one loaf. ¹⁵ And he charged them, saying, Take heed, and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod. ¹⁶ And they deliberated among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.

¹⁷ And when Jesus knew this, he said to them, Why are you troubled because you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts still blinded? ¹⁸ Do you have eyes, but not see? And do you have ears, and not hear? Do you not remember? ¹⁹ When I broke five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up? They said to him, Twelve.

²⁰ When I broke seven among four thousand, how many baskets of the leftover fragments did you take up? They said, Seven.

²¹ And he said to them, How is it that you do not understand?

²² And he came to Bethsaida, and people brought a blind man to him and asked him to touch him. ²³ And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town, and spat in his eyes, and put his hands upon him, and asked him whether he could see anything. ²⁴ And the man looked up and said, I see the people, for I see them walk, as if they were trees. ²⁵ After that Jesus put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him see. And his sight was restored, and he saw every person clearly. ²⁶ And Jesus sent him home to his house, saying, Do not go into the town, nor tell anyone in town about this.

²⁷ And Jesus went out with his disciples into the towns around the city called Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, saying, Who do people say that I am? ²⁸ And they answered, Some say that you are John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and some, one of the prophets. ²⁹ And he said to them, But who do you say that I am? Peter answered and said to him, You are the Christ. ³⁰ And he charged them to tell no one of it.

³¹ And he began to teach them how the Son of man must suffer many things, and would be reproved by the elders and by the high priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days arise again. ³² And he spoke this word plainly. But Peter took him aside and began to chide him. ³³ Then he turned around and looked on his disciples, and rebuked Peter, saying, Get behind me, Satan, for you savour not the things of God, but the things of men.

³⁴ And he called the people to him with his disciples also, and said to them, Whoever would follow me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me. ³⁵ For whoever would save his life, will lose it. But whoever loses his life for my sake and the sake of the gospel, shall save it. ³⁶ What does it profit a man, if he should win all the world and lose his own soul? ³⁷ Or what can a person give to redeem his soul? ³⁸ Whosoever therefore is ashamed of me and of my words among this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

9 And he said to them, Truly I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste of death till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.

The transfiguration. The frenzied boy is healed. Who should be the greatest. Offences are forbidden.

² And after six days, Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up into a high mountain out of the way alone. And he was transfigured before them. ³ And his raiment did shine, and was made very white, even as snow: such a white as no fuller can make upon the earth. ⁴ And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they talked with Jesus.

⁵ And Peter spoke and said to Jesus, Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three tabernacles: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. ⁶ And yet he did not know what he was saying, for they were afraid. ⁷ And there was a cloud that covered them. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my dear Son; hear him! ⁸ And suddenly, when they looked round about them, they saw no one but Jesus with them.

⁹ And as they came down from the hill, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen until the Son of man was risen from death again. ¹⁰ And they kept that saying with them, and wondered amongst themselves what rising from death again might mean. ¹¹ And they asked him, saying, Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first? ¹² He answered and said to them, Indeed, Elijah does first come, and restore all things. And also the Son of man, as it is written, will suffer many things, and will be rejected. ¹³ Moreover I say to you that Elijah has come, and they have done to him whatsoever pleased them, as it is written of him.

¹⁴ And he came to his disciples and saw crowds of people about them, and the scribes disputing with them. ¹⁵ And straightaway all the people, when they saw Jesus, were moved with wonder, and ran to him and greeted him. ¹⁶ And he said to the scribes, What are you disputing with them? ¹⁷ A man from the crowd answered and said, Teacher, I have brought my son to you, who has a dumb spirit, ¹⁸ and whenever it takes him, it tears him, and he foams and gnashes with his teeth, and collapses. And I spoke to your disciples, to cast it out, but they could not.

¹⁹ Jesus answered him and said, O generation without faith, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you? Bring him to me. ²⁰ And they brought the boy to him. And as soon as the spirit saw him, it tore the boy, and he fell down on the ground, wallowing and foaming. ²¹ And Jesus asked his father, How long has this been happening to him? And he said, Since childhood. ²² And often it casts him into the fire, and also into the water, to kill him. But if you can do anything, have mercy on us and help us! ²³ And Jesus said to him, If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes. ²⁴ And straightaway the father of the child exclaimed with tears, saying, Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!

²⁵ When Jesus saw that the people came running to gather to him, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying to him, Deaf and dumb spirit, I charge you to come out of him, and enter no more into him! ²⁶ And the spirit cried out, and rent him badly, and came out. And the boy was as one dead, insomuch that many said, He is dead. ²⁷ But Jesus caught his hand and lifted him up, and he arose.

²⁸ And when Jesus had entered into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could we not cast him out? ²⁹ And he said to them, This kind can come out no other way but by prayer and fasting.

³⁰ And they left that place, and took their journey through Galilee. But Jesus did not want anyone to know of it, ³¹ because he was teaching his disciples. And he said to them, The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And after he has been killed, he will arise again on the third day. ³² But they did not comprehend what that saying meant, and were afraid to ask him.

³³ And they came to Capernaum. And once he was indoors, he asked them, What was it that you were disputing between yourselves along the way? ³⁴ And they held their peace, for on the road they had been debating among themselves who should be chief. ³⁵ And he sat down and called the twelve to him and said to them, If any man desires to be first, let him be last of all, and servant to all. ³⁶ And he took a child and set him in the midst of them, and took him in his arms and said to them, ³⁷ Whosoever receives any such a child in my name, receives me. And whosoever receives me, receives not me, but him who sent me.

³⁸ John answered him, saying, Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out devils in your name, and we told him not to because he does not follow us. ³⁹ But Jesus said, Do not forbid him. For no one who does a miracle in my name can lightly speak evil of me. ⁴⁰ Whosoever is not against you, is on your side.

⁴¹ And whosoever gives you a cup of water to drink for my name’s sake, because you belong to Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward. ⁴² But whoever hurts one of these little ones that believe in me, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea. ⁴³ Therefore if your hand causes you to offend, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than, having two hands, to go into hell, into fire that never shall be quenched, ⁴⁴ where their worm dies not and the fire never goes out. ⁴⁵ Likewise, if your foot causes you to offend, cut it off. For it is better for you to go lame into life than, having two feet, to be cast into hell, into fire that never shall be quenched, ⁴⁶ where their worm dies not and the fire never goes out. ⁴⁷ So also if your eye causes you to offend, tear it out. It is better for you to go into the kingdom of God with one eye than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire, ⁴⁸ where their worm dies not and the fire never goes out.

⁴⁹ Every man therefore must be salted with fire. And every sacrifice must be seasoned with salt. ⁵⁰ Salt is good. But if the salt is unsavoury, what can you salt with it? See that you have salt in yourselves. And have peace among yourselves, one with another.

On divorce. The rich man questions Christ. Of the sons of Zebedee. Bartimaeus the blind man.

10 And he arose from there and went into the borders of Judea, through the region that is beyond the Jordan. And the people resorted to him afresh, and as his custom was, he taught them again. ² And the Pharisees came and asked him a question, whether it was lawful for a man to put away his wife, in order to prove him. ³ And he answered and said to them, What did Moses tell you to do? ⁴ And they said, Moses permitted us to write a testimonial of divorce and to put her away.

⁵ And Jesus answered and said to them, For the hardness of your hearts he wrote this precept for you. ⁶ But at the first creation, God made them man and woman. ⁷ And for the sake of this, a man must leave his father and mother and abide by his wife, ⁸ and the two shall be one flesh. So then they are now not two, but are one flesh. ⁹ Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.

¹⁰ And in the house, his disciples asked him again about that matter. ¹¹ And he said to them, Whoever puts away his wife and marries another, breaks wedlock to her. ¹² And if a woman forsakes her husband and is married to another, she commits adultery.

¹³ And they brought children to him, for him to touch them. And his disciples rebuked the people who brought them. ¹⁴ When Jesus saw that, he was displeased, and said to them, Suffer the children to come to me, and forbid them not. For of such is the kingdom of God. ¹⁵ Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child, he shall not enter therein. ¹⁶ And he took them up in his arms, and put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

¹⁷ And when he had gone out to the road, a man came running, and kneeled to him and asked him, Good Teacher, what should I do so that I may inherit eternal life? ¹⁸ Jesus said to him, Why do you call me good? There is none good but one, who is God. ¹⁹ You know the commandments: do not break matrimony, do not kill, do not steal, bear no false witness, defraud no man, honour your father and mother. ²⁰ He answered and said to him, Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth.

²¹ Jesus regarded him with favour and said to him, One thing is lacking to you. Go and sell all that you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. And come and follow me, and take up the cross.

²² But the man was downcast with that saying, and went away grieved, for he had great possessions.

²³ And Jesus looked round about and said to his disciples, What a hard thing it is for those who have riches to enter into the kingdom of God. ²⁴ And his disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus spoke again and said to them, Children, how hard is it for those who trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God? ²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

²⁶ And they were astonished out of measure, saying between themselves, Who then can be saved?