Bible in 90 Days
The Pharisees seek a sign. Jesus warns his disciples of the Pharisees’ doctrine. Peter’s confession. The keys of heaven. The faithful must bear their cross after Christ.
16 Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came and tempted Jesus, asking him to show them some sign from heaven. 2 He answered and said to them, At evening you say the weather will be fair, and that because the sky is red; 3 and in the morning you say it will be bad weather today, and that because the sky is cloudy and red. O ye hypocrites, you can discern the aspect of the sky, and can you not discern the signs of the times? 4 The froward and adulterous nation seeks a sign, but no other sign shall be given to them than the sign of the prophet Jonah.
So he left them, and departed.
5 And when his disciples had come to the other side of the water, they had forgotten to take bread with them. 6 Then Jesus said to them, Take heed, and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. 7 And they thought in themselves, saying, It is because we have brought no bread with us.
8 When Jesus understood this, he said to them, O ye of little faith, why are your minds cumbered because you have brought no bread? 9 Do you not yet perceive? Nor remember those five loaves when there were 5,000 men, and how many baskets you took up? 10 Nor the seven loaves when there were 4,000, and how many baskets you took up? 11 Why do you not perceive then that I was not speaking to you about bread when I said to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?
12 Then they understood that he was not telling them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
13 When Jesus arrived in the vicinity of the city which is called Caesarea Phillippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Who do men say that I, the Son of man, am? 14 They said, Some say you are John the Baptist, some Elijah, some Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. 15 He said to them, But who do you say that I am? 16 Simon Peter answered and said, You are Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said to him, Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed that to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I say also to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my congregation. And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind upon earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
20 Then he charged his disciples to tell no one that he was Jesus the Christ.
21 From that time on, Jesus began to explain to his disciples how he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, and from the high priests and from the scribes, and must be killed, and rise up again the third day. 22 But Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, Master, spare yourself! This should not happen to you. 23 Then Jesus turned about and said to Peter, Get behind me, Satan! You offend me, because you savour not the things of God, but things of the world.
24 Jesus then said to his disciples, If any person would follow me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whosoever would save his life, will lose it. And whosoever loses his life for my sake, will find it. 26 What will it profit a man, though he should win all the whole world, if he loses his own soul? Or, what can a man give to redeem his soul? 27 For the Son of man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then shall he reward every person according to his deeds.
28 Truly I say to you, some there are among them that stand here who shall not taste of death till they have seen the Son of man come in his kingdom.
The transfiguration of Christ upon the Mount of Tabor. He heals the frenzied boy, and pays the tribute levy to Rome.
17 And after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and James’ brother John, and brought them up into a high mountain out of the way. 2 And he was transfigured before them. And his face did shine like the sun, and his clothes were as white as the light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.
4 Then Peter spoke and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here. If you will, let us make here three tabernacles: one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.
5 While he was yet speaking, behold, a bright cloud covered them. And behold, there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my dear Son, in whom I delight. Hear him!
6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were sore afraid. 7 And Jesus came and touched them and said, Arise, and do not be afraid. 8 And when they looked up, they saw no one but Jesus only.
9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, See that you tell no one about the vision until the Son of man is risen up again from death. 10 And his disciples asked of him, saying, Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first? 11 Jesus answered and said to them, Elijah does come first, and restore all things. 12 And I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him, but have done to him whatever they pleased. In like manner will the Son of man also suffer at their hands. 13 Then the disciples perceived that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.
14 And when they had come to the people, a certain man came to Jesus and kneeled down to him and said, 15 Master, have mercy on my son, for he is delirious, and is sorely vexed. And often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. 16 And I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him. 17 Jesus answered and said, O generation faithless and perverse, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you? Bring him here to me.
18 And Jesus rebuked the devil, and he came out of him. And the child was healed even at that same hour.
19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and asked, Why could we not cast him out? 20 Jesus said to them, Because of your unbelief. For I say truly to you, if you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, Move over there, and it would move; neither should anything be impossible for you to do. 21 However, this kind does not go out but by prayer and fasting.
22 As they passed the time in Galilee, Jesus said to them, The Son of man will be betrayed into the hands of men, 23 and they will kill him; and the third day he will rise again. And they sorrowed greatly.
24 And when they had come to Capernaum, men that collected the poll money came to Peter and asked, Does your teacher pay tribute? 25 He said, Yes. And when he had come into the house, Jesus spoke first to him, saying, What do you think, Simon: from whom do the kings of the earth take tribute or poll money? From their children, or from others? 26 Peter answered, From others. And Jesus said to him, Then the children are free. 27 Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea and cast in your hook, and take the fish that first comes up. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a coin. Take it, and pay for me and you.
He teaches his disciples to be humble and harmless, to avoid occasions of inducement to sin, and to forgive one another their offences.
18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 2 Jesus called a child to him, and set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, Truly I say to you, unless you turn and become as children, you cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever therefore humbles himself like this child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever receives such a child in my name, receives me. 6 But whoever hurts one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung about his neck and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe be to the world because of offences. However, it cannot be avoided but that offences will come. Nevertheless, woe be to the man by whom the offence comes.
8 And so if your hand or your foot causes you to offend, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed than for you, having two hands or two feet, to be cast into everlasting fire. 9 And if also your eye causes you to offend, tear it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.
10 See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I say to you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven. 11 Yea, and the Son of man has come to save that which is lost. 12 What do you think: if a man has a hundred sheep and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine in the mountains and go and seek that one which has gone astray? 13 If it happens that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. 14 In the same way, it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
15 Moreover, if your brother trespasses against you, go and tell him his fault between him and you alone. If he hears you, you have redeemed your brother. 16 But if he does not hear you, then take along with you one or two others, so that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every matter may be established. 17 If he does not hear them, tell it to the congregation. If he does not hear the congregation, take him as a heathen man and as a publican. 18 Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree in earth about any manner of thing, whatsoever they desire, it shall be given them by my Father who is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
21 Then Peter came to him and said, Master, how often should I forgive my brother if he sins against me? Seven times?
22 Jesus said to him, I say to you, not seven times, but seventy times seven times. 23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is likened to a certain king who wished to take accounts from his servants. 24 And when he had begun the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him 10,000 talents. 25 Because he had nothing to pay with, his master ordered him to be sold, and his wife and his children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 The servant fell down and besought him, saying, Sir, give me respite, and I will pay it every whit. 27 Then the lord had pity on that servant and released him, and forgave him the debt.
28 And that same servant went out and found one of his fellows who owed him 100 denarii, and laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me what you owe! 29 And his fellow servant fell down and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything. 30 But he would not, and went and cast him into prison till he should pay the debt.
31 When the other servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and went and told their lord all that had happened. 32 Then his lord called the man and said to him, O evil servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Was it not right also that you should have had compassion on your fellow, just as I had pity on you? 34 And his lord was angry, and delivered him to the jailers till he should pay all that was due to him. 35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do with you, unless you forgive with your hearts each one his brother’s trespasses.
Christ gives answer concerning marriage, accepts the young children, and teaches not to be full of cares, nor to love worldly riches.
19 And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished those sayings, he left Galilee, and went into the region of Judea, beyond the Jordan. 2 And crowds of people followed him, and he healed them there. 3 Then the Pharisees came to him, testing him and saying to him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for any reason at all? 4 He answered and said to them, Have you not read how it was that he who made man at the beginning made them man and woman, 5 and said, For this thing shall a man leave father and mother and cleave unto his wife, and the two shall be one flesh? 6 So then, now they are not two, but one flesh. Let not man therefore put apart that which God has joined together.
7 Then they said to him, Why did Moses direct to give a testimonial of divorce and to put her away? 8 He said to them, Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, suffered you to put away your wives. But from the beginning it was not so. 9 I say therefore to you, whoever puts away his wife (unless it be for fornication) and marries another, breaks wedlock. And whoever marries her who is divorced, commits adultery.
10 Then Jesus’ disciples said to him, If this is the case between man and wife, then it is not good to marry. 11 He said to them, Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. 12 Some are chaste who were so born from their mother’s womb. And others are chaste who were made so by men. And others are chaste who have made themselves chaste for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He who can receive it, let him receive it.
13 Then young children were brought to him so that he could put his hands on them and pray. And the disciples rebuked the people. 14 But Jesus said, Allow the children, and do not forbid them to come to me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven. 15 And when he had put his hands on them, he departed from there.
16 And a man came and said to Jesus, Good Teacher, what good thing should I do so that I may have eternal life? 17 He said to him, Why do you call me good? There is none good but one, and that is God. But if you would enter into life, keep the commandments. 18 The other asked him, Which? And Jesus said, Break no wedlock. Do not kill. Do not steal. Do not bear false witness. 19 Honour father and mother. And love your neighbour as yourself.
20 The young man said to him, I have observed all these things from my youth. What do I yet lack? 21 And Jesus said to him, If you would be perfect, go and sell what you have, and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, and follow me.
22 When the young man heard these words, he went away grieved, for he had great wealth.
23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven. 24 And moreover I say to you, 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.
25 When his disciples heard that, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? 26 Jesus regarded them and said to them, With men it is not possible, but with God all things are possible.
27 Then Peter answered and said to him, Behold, we have left everything and followed you. What will we have?
28 Jesus said to them, Truly I say to you, when the Son of man sits in the seat of his majesty, you who have followed me in the new birth shall sit also upon twelve seats and judge the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And whosoever gives up houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my name’s sake, the same shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. 30 Many that are first shall be last, and the last shall be first.
Christ teaches by a similitude that God is debtor to no man, and how he is always calling people to his work. He teaches his disciples to be lowly, and gives two blind men their sight.
20 For the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a householder who went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. 2 And he agreed with the labourers for a denarius a day, and sent them into his vineyard. 3 And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the market place, 4 and said to them, Go ye also into my vineyard, and whatever is right, I will give you. And they went their way.
5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. 6 And he went out about the eleventh hour and found others standing idle, and said to them, Why do you stand here idle all the day? 7 They said to him, Because no one has hired us. He said to them, Go ye also into my vineyard, and whatever is right, that you will receive.
8 When evening was come, the lord of the vineyard said to his steward, Call the labourers and give them their wages, beginning at the last till you come to the first.
9 And those who were hired about the eleventh hour came and received every man a denarius. 10 Then came the first, supposing that they would receive more, but they likewise received every man a denarius. 11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the master of the house, 12 saying, These last have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and heat of the day.
13 He answered to one of them, saying, Friend, I do you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take that which is your due, and go your way. I want to give to the last one as much as to you. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do as I please with what belongs to me? Is your eye evil because I am good?
16 In like manner the last may be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen.
17 And Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and took the twelve disciples apart along the way and said to them, 18 Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, 19 and will deliver him to the Gentiles to be mocked, to be scourged, and to be crucified; and the third day he will rise again.
20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s children came to him with her sons, doing reverence to him and desiring a certain thing of him. 21 He said to her, What would you like? She answered him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on your right hand and the other on your left hand, in your kingdom.
22 Jesus answered and said, You know not what you ask. Are you able to drink of the cup that I must drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I must be baptized with?
They answered to him, That we are.
23 And he said to them, You shall drink of my cup, and shall be baptized with the baptism that I will be baptized with. But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give, but is for those for whom it is prepared by my Father.
24 And when the ten heard about this, they were indignant at the two brethren. 25 But Jesus called them to him and said, You know that the lords of the Gentiles have dominion over them, and those who are great exercise power over them. 26 It shall not be this way among you, but whosoever would be great among you, let him minister to you, 27 and whoever would be chief, let him be your servant – 28 even as the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life for the redemption of many.
29 And as they departed from Jericho, crowds of people followed Jesus. 30 And two blind men sitting by the wayside, when they heard Jesus pass by, cried out, saying, Lord Son of David, have mercy on us! 31 And the people admonished them to hold their peace. But they cried out all the more, saying, Have mercy on us, Lord Son of David!
32 Then Jesus stood still and called them, and said, What do you want me to do for you? 33 They said to him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened! 34 Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes, and immediately their eyes received sight. And they followed him.
He rides into Jerusalem, drives the merchants out of the temple, curses the fig tree, and rebukes the Pharisees with the similitudes of the two sons and of the husbandmen who slew such as were sent to them.
21 When they drew near to Jerusalem and had come to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, Go into the town that lies in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and her colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 And if anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord has need of them, and straightaway he will let them go.
4 All this was done to fulfil that which was spoken by the prophet, saying: 5 Tell ye the daughter of Zion: Behold, your king comes to you, humble and sitting upon a donkey and a colt, the foal of a donkey bred to the yoke.
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus told them, 7 and brought the donkey and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and set him thereon. 8 And many of the people spread their garments in the road. Others cut down branches from the trees and strew them in the road. 9 Moreover, the people who went ahead, and also those who came after, cried out, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!
10 And when he came to Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? 11 And the people said, This is Jesus, the prophet of Nazareth, a town of Galilee.
12 And Jesus went into the temple of God and cast out all the people who sold and bought in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of the people who sold doves, 13 and said to them, It is written: My house shall be called the house of prayer. But you have made it a den of thieves.
14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them.
15 When the chief priests and scribes saw the marvels that he did, and the children calling out in the temple and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David, they were indignant 16 and said to him, Do you hear what they say? Jesus said to them, Yea, have you never read: From the mouth of babes and sucklings, you have ordained praise?
17 And he left them, and went out of the city to Bethany, and had his lodging there.
18 In the morning, as he returned into the city again, he hungered, 19 and saw a fig tree by the road, and went to it, and found nothing on it but leaves only, and said to it, Let fruit never grow on you from this time forward. And at once the fig tree withered away. 20 And when his disciples saw that, they marvelled, saying, How has the fig tree withered away so suddenly? 21 Jesus answered and said to them, Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what I have done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, Take yourself away and cast yourself into the sea, it will be done. 22 And whatever you ask in prayer (if you believe), you will receive it.
23 And when he had come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching and said, By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?
24 Jesus answered and said to them, I also will ask of you a certain question, which, if you answer me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John: whence was it? from heaven, or of men?
Then they reasoned among themselves, saying, If we say from heaven, he will say to us, why did you not then believe him? 26 But if we say it was of men, then we fear the people. (For everyone held John to be a prophet.)
27 And they answered Jesus and said, We don’t know.
And he likewise said to them, Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things. 28 What do you say to this: A certain man had two sons, and went to the elder and said, Son, go and work today in my vineyard. 29 He answered and said, I will not, but afterward he repented and went. 30 Then the father went to the second son and said likewise. And he answered and said, I will, Sir. Yet he did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of the father?
And they said to him, The first.
Jesus said to them, Truly I say to you that the publicans and the harlots shall come into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him. But the publicans and the harlots believed him. And yet you, though you saw it, were still not moved with repentance, so that you might afterward have believed him.
33 Hear another similitude: There was a certain householder who planted a vineyard. He hedged it round about and made a winepress in it, and built a tower and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country. 34 And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen to receive the fruits of it. 35 And the husbandmen caught his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again he sent other servants, more than at the first, and they treated them likewise. 37 Then last of all he sent to them his own son, saying, They will respect my son. 38 But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us take his inheritance for ourselves. 39 And they caught him and thrust him out of the vineyard, and slew him. 40 Now when the lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do with those husbandmen?
41 They said to him, He will miserably destroy those evil persons, and will let out his vineyard to other husbandmen who will render to him the fruit in their seasons.
42 Jesus said to them, Did you never read in the scriptures: The stone which the builders refused, the same is set in the principal part of the corner; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? 43 Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and will be given to the Gentiles, who will bring forth the fruits of it. 44 And whosoever falls on this stone, he shall be broken; but whomever it falls upon, it will grind him to powder.
45 When the chief priests and Pharisees heard these similitudes, they perceived that he was speaking of them. 46 And they went about to lay hands on him, but they feared the people because they took him as a prophet.
The marriage of the king’s son. Tribute should be given to the emperor. Christ confutes the opinion of the Sadducees concerning the resurrection, and answers the question posed by the scribe.
22 And Jesus spoke to them again in similitudes, saying, 2 The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, 3 and sent forth his servants to call those who were bid to the wedding, and they would not come. 4 Again he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell those who are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fatted calves are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the marriage.
5 But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his farmstead, another about his wares. 6 The rest took his servants and shamefully abused them, and slew them.
7 When the king heard about this, he was furious, and sent forth his warriors and destroyed those murderers and burnt up their city. 8 Then said the king to his servants, The wedding was prepared, but those who were bidden were not worthy. 9 Go therefore out into the highways, and as many as you find, bid them to the marriage.
10 The servants went out into the highways and gathered together as many as they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding was furnished with guests. 11 Then the king came in to visit the guests, and spotted there a man who did not have on a wedding garment, 12 and said to him, Friend, how did it happen that you came in here and do not have on a wedding garment? And the man was quite speechless. 13 Then said the king to his servants, Take and bind him hand and foot, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
15 Then the Pharisees went and took counsel, how they might tangle him in his words. 16 And they sent to him their disciples with Herod’s servants, saying, Master, we know that you are true, and teach the way of God truly, neither mind any person, for you do not consider men’s estate. 17 Tell us therefore what you think: is it lawful to remit tribute to Caesar, or not?
18 Jesus perceived their wickedness and said, Why do you bait me, you hypocrites? 19 Let me see the tribute coin. So they brought him a denarius. 20 And he said to them, Whose image and superscription is this? 21 They said to him, Caesar’s. Then he said to them, Give therefore to Caesar that which is Caesar’s, and give to God that which is God’s.
22 When they heard that, they marvelled, and left him and went their way.
23 The same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him and asked him, 24 saying, Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies having no children, the brother should marry the widow and raise up seed for his brother. 25 There were with us seven brethren. The first married and died without issue, and left his wife to his brother. 26 Likewise the second and the third, down to the seventh. 27 Last of all the woman died also. 28 Now in the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven? For they all had her.
29 Jesus answered and said to them, You are deceived, and do not understand the scriptures, nor yet the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection people neither marry nor are married, but are as the angels in heaven. 31 As for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what is spoken to you by God, who says, 32 I am Abraham’s God, and Isaac’s God, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
33 And when the people heard that, they were astonished at his teaching.
34 When the Pharisees heard how he had put the Sadducees to silence, they drew together. 35 One of them, who was a doctor of the law, asked him a question, testing him and saying, 36 Teacher, which is the chief commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said to him, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind; 38 this is the first and the chief commandment. 39 And there is another like this: Love your neighbour as yourself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 saying, What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he? They said to him, The son of David. 43 He said to them, How then does David in the Spirit call him Lord, saying, 44 The Lord said to my Lord, Sit on my right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool? 45 If David calls him Lord, how is he then his son?
46 And no one could answer him a word. Neither did anyone from that day forth dare ask him any more questions.
Christ cries woe over the Pharisees, scribes, and hypocrites, and prophesies the destruction of Jerusalem.
23 Then Jesus spoke to the people and to his disciples, 2 saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 All therefore that they bid you to observe, that observe and do. But do not follow their works. For they say, but do not do. 4 Yea and they bind up heavy burdens, grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to carry them themselves.
5 All their works they do to be seen by men. They enlarge their phylacteries, and make large borders on their garments. 6 They love to sit uppermost at feasts, and to have the chief seats in the synagogues, 7 and greetings in the markets, and to be called Rabbi by men.
8 But you shall not suffer yourselves to be called Rabbi. For one is your Master, that is, Christ, and you are all brethren. 9 And call no man upon the earth your father, for there is but one your Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Do not be called teachers, for there is but one your Teacher, and he is Christ. 11 He who is greatest among you will be your servant. 12 But whosoever exalts himself, shall be brought low. And he who humbles himself, shall be exalted.
13 Woe is to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven before men. You yourselves go not in, neither do you suffer those who come to enter in.
14 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You devour widows’ houses, and that under a colour of praying long prayers, for which you shall receive the greater damnation.
15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, who compass land and sea to bring one person into your belief. And when he is brought in, you make him twofold more the child of hell than you yourselves are.
16 Woe to you, blind guides, who say that if someone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but whosoever swears by the gold of the temple, he offends. 17 O fools, and blind! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that sanctifies the gold? 18 And whosoever swears by the altar, it is nothing, but whoever swears by the offering that lies on the altar, offends – 19 Ye fools, and blind! Which is greater: the offering, or the altar that sanctifies the offering? 20 Whoever therefore swears by the altar, swears by it and by all that is on it. 21 And whoever swears by the temple, swears by it and by him who dwells therein. 22 And he who swears by heaven, swears by the seat of God and by him who sits upon it.
23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, who tithe mint, anise, and cummin, and leave the weightier matters of the law undone: judgment, mercy, and faith. These you ought to have done, and not to have left the others undone. 24 Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
25 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, who make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of greed and excess. 26 You blind Pharisee: cleanse first the inside of the cup and platter, so that the outside of them may be clean also.
27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like painted tombs, which appear beautiful outwardly, but within are full of dead bones and of all uncleanness. 28 This is how you are, for outwardly you appear righteous to men, when within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
29 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You build the tombs of the prophets, and adorn the sepulchres of the righteous, 30 and say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in the blood of the prophets. 31 So then, you are witnesses against yourselves, that you are the children of those who killed the prophets! 32 Fill up then likewise the cup of your fathers. 33 Serpents and offspring of vipers, how can you escape the judgment of hell?
34 And so behold: I send to you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, 35 so that upon you may come all the righteous blood that was shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, whom you slew between the temple and the altar. 36 Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.
37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills prophets, and stones those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together, as the hen gathers her chicks under her wings. But you would not. 38 Behold, your habitation shall be left to you desolate. 39 For I say to you, you will not see me henceforth until you say, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Christ reveals to his disciples the destruction of the temple, the end of the world, and the signs of the latter days. He warns them to awake, for the world will suddenly perish.
24 And Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and his disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple. 2 Jesus said to them, Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, there shall not be left here one stone upon another that will not be cast down.
3 And as he sat on the Mount of Olives, his disciples came to him privately, saying, Tell us when these things will be, and what sign will be of your coming, and of the end of the world.
4 And Jesus answered and said to them, Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name saying, I am Christ! and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of wars and of the infamy of wars. But see that you be not troubled. For all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and realm against realm. And there will be pestilence, hunger, and earthquakes in all quarters. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9 Then they will put you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then shall many fall into offence, and will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise, and will deceive many. 12 And because iniquity will have the upper hand, the love of many will abate.
13 But he who endures to the end, the same will be saved. 14 And this glad tidings of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a witness to all nations; and then shall the end come.
15 When you therefore see the abomination that betokens desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet stand in the holy place, let him who reads it, understand it. 16 Then let those who are in Judea flee into the mountains. 17 And let him who is on the housetop not come down to fetch anything out of his house. 18 Neither let him who is in the field return back to fetch his clothes. 19 Woe shall be in those days to women that are with child, and to those who give suck. 20 But pray that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day. 21 For then will be great tribulation, such as was not from the beginning of the world to this time, nor will be. 22 Yea and unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved. But for the sake of the chosen, those days will be shortened.
23 Then if anyone says to you, See, here is Christ! or, There is Christ! – believe it not. 24 For false christs and false prophets will arise, and will do great miracles and wonders, insomuch that if it were possible, the very elect should be deceived. 25 Take heed, I have told you beforehand. 26 So if they say to you, Behold, he is in the desert! go not forth; or, Behold, he is in the secret places! believe it not. 27 For as the lightning comes out of the east and shines to the west, so will the coming of the Son of man be. 28 For wherever the dead body is, there will the eagles resort.
29 Immediately after the tribulations of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give her light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven shall move. 30 And then will appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven. And then shall all the kindreds of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man come in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with the great voice of a trumpet, and they will gather together his chosen from the four winds, and from the one end of the world to the other.
32 Learn from a similitude of the fig tree: when its branches are yet tender and its leaves sprung, you know that summer is near. 33 So likewise you, when you see all these things, may be sure that it is near, even at the doors. 34 Truly I say to you that this generation shall not pass till all these things be fulfilled.
35 Heaven and earth shall perish, but my words will abide. 36 But of that day and hour no man knows – no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37 As the time of Noah was, so likewise will the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and were married, right up to the day that Noah entered into the ship, 39 and knew of nothing till the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of man be. 40 Then two will be in the fields; the one will be received, and the other will be refused. 41 Two will be grinding at the mill; the one will be received, and the other will be refused.
42 Watch therefore, because you do not know what hour your master will come. 43 Of this be sure: if the householder knew what hour the thief would come, he would surely watch, and not allow his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, because in the hour you think he would not, the Son of man will come.
45 If there be any servant faithful and wise, whom his master has appointed over his household, to give them food in due season, 46 happy is that servant whom his master (when he comes) finds so doing. 47 Truly I say to you, he will appoint him over all his goods. 48 But if the evil servant says in his heart, My master will defer his coming, 49 and begins to smite his fellow servants, yea and to eat and to drink with the drunken, 50 the servant’s master will come in a day when he is not expecting him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, 51 and will separate him, and give him his reward with the hypocrites. And there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The ten virgins, the talents delivered to the servants, and of the general judgment.
25 Then the kingdom of heaven will be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 The foolish took their lamps, but took no oil with them. 4 But the wise took oil with them in their vessels, with their lamps also.
5 While the bridegroom tarried, all slumbered and slept. 6 And right at midnight there was a cry made: Behold, the bridegroom comes! Go out to meet him! 7 Then all those virgins arose and prepared their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so, lest there not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came. And those who were ready went in with him to the wedding, and the gate was shut up. 11 Afterwards came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us! 12 But he answered and said, Truly I say to you, I know you not.
13 Watch, therefore. For you know neither the day nor yet the hour when the Son of man will come.
14 Likewise it will be as a certain man, ready to take his journey to a strange country, called his servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one – to every man according to his ability – and straightaway departed. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and won another five talents. 17 Likewise, he who received two gained another two. 18 But he who received the one went and dug a hole in the earth, and hid his master’s money.
19 After a long season, the lord of those servants came and reckoned with them. 20 Then came he that had received five talents, and brought another five talents, saying, Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have gained with them five talents more. 21 Then his master said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in a little; I will appoint you over much. Enter into your master’s joy!
22 Also he who received two talents came and said, Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have won two other talents with them. 23 And his master said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in a little; I will appoint you over much. Go in, into your master’s joy.
24 Then he who had received the one talent came and said, Master, I considered that you were a hard man, who reaps where you did not sow and gathers where you did not scatter, 25 and was therefore afraid, and went and hid your talent in the earth. Here, have your talent.
26 His master answered and said to him, You evil servant, and slothful: you knew that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? 27 You ought therefore to have put my money with the moneychangers, and then at my coming I would have received what is my own with profit. 28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it to the one who has ten talents. 29 For every person who has will be given more, and he will have abundance; and from him who has not, shall be taken away even what he has. 30 And cast that unprofitable servant into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
31 When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the seat of his glory. 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will set the sheep on his right hand and the goats on the left. 34 Then shall the king say to those on his right hand, Come ye blessed children of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was homeless and you lodged me. 36 I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me.
37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, Master, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 When did we see you homeless and lodge you, or naked and clothe you? 39 Or when did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you? 40 And the king will answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, inasmuch as you did it for one of the least of these my brethren, you did it for me.
41 Then shall the king say to those who will be on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, which is prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food. I was thirsty and you gave me no drink. 43 I was homeless and you did not lodge me. I was naked and you did not clothe me. I was sick, and in prison, and you did not visit me.
44 Then they also will answer him, saying, Master, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or homeless, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to you? 45 Then shall he answer them and say, Truly I say to you, inasmuch as you did it not for one of the least of these, you did it not for me. 46 And these shall go into everlasting pain, but the righteous into life eternal.
The Magdalene anoints Christ. They eat the Passover lamb and the supper of the Lord. Christ prays in the garden. Judas betrays him. Peter strikes off Malcus’ ear. Christ is accused by false witnesses. Peter denies him.
26 And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, 2 You know that after two days will be the Passover. And the Son of man will be delivered to be crucified.
3 Then the chief priests, scribes, and elders of the people assembled together at the palace of the high priest called Caiaphas 4 and held a council, how they might take Jesus by subtlety and kill him. 5 But, they said, not on the holy day, lest any uproar arise among the people.
6 When Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, 7 there came to him a woman who had an alabaster jar of precious anointing oil, and poured it on his head as he sat at the board. 8 When his disciples saw that, they were indignant, saying, Why this waste? 9 This oyntment might well have been sold, and the money given to the poor. 10 When Jesus understood this he said to them, Why do you trouble the woman? She has wrought a good work upon me. 11 For you will have poor folk always with you, but me you will not have always. 12 And in that she poured this oyntment on my body, she did it to bury me with. 13 Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout all the world, there also will this that she has done be told, for a memorial of her.
14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, What will you give me, and I will deliver him to you? And they agreed with him for thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from that time, he sought an opportunity to betray him.
17 On the first day of sweet bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to him, Where would you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover lamb? 18 And he said, Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, The Master says, My time is at hand; I will keep my Passover at your place with my disciples.
19 And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and made ready the Passover lamb.
20 When the evening was come, he sat down with the twelve. 21 And as they were eating he said, Truly I say to you that one of you will betray me. 22 And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say to him, Is it I, Master? 23 He answered and said, He who dips his hand with me in the dish, the same will betray me. 24 The Son of man goes as it is written of him. But woe is to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed. It would have been good for that man if he had never been born.
25 Then Judas who betrayed him answered and said, Is it I, Master? Jesus said to him, You have said it.
26 As they were eating, Jesus took bread and gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 27 And he took the cup, and thanked, and gave it to them, saying, Drink of it, everyone. 28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29 I say to you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine until that day when I shall drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.
30 And when they had sung praises, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 31 Then Jesus said to them, You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written: I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered abroad. 32 But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.
33 Peter answered and said to him, Even if everyone were to fall away because of you, yet I would never fall away. 34 Jesus said to him, Truly I say to you that this same night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times. 35 Peter said to him, If I had to die with you, yet I would not deny you. Likewise also said all the disciples.
36 Then Jesus went with them to a place which is called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, Sit here while I go and pray yonder. 37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful, and to be in an agony. 38 Then said Jesus to them, My soul is heavy, even unto death. You stay here, and watch with me.
39 And he went a little apart and fell flat on his face and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.
40 And he came back to the disciples and found them asleep, and said to Peter, What, could you not watch with me for one hour? 41 Watch, and pray that you do not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
42 He went away once more and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup cannot pass away from me but that I drink of it, thy will be fulfilled. 43 And he came and found his disciples asleep again. For their eyes were heavy. 44 And he left them and went again and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then he came to his disciples and said to them, Sleep on now, and take your rest! Take heed: the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Arise, let us be going. Behold, he who betrays me is at hand.
47 While he was yet speaking, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a large band of men bearing swords and clubs, sent by the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 And he who betrayed him had arranged a sign, saying, Whomever I kiss, he is the one; lay hands on him. 49 And at once he went up to Jesus and said, Hail, Master! and kissed him. 50 And Jesus said to him, Friend, why have you come? Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took him.
51 And at that, one of the men who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. 52 Then said Jesus to him, Put your sword back in its sheath. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Or do you think I cannot now pray to my Father, and he would send me more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled? For this is how it must be.
55 At the same time Jesus said to the throng, You have come out as if against a thief, with swords and clubs to take me. I sat daily teaching in the temple among you, and you did not take me. 56 All this was done so that the scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled.
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.