Bible in 90 Days
The Mission of the Seventy
10 After this, the Lord appointed 70[a] other disciples[b] and was about to send them ahead of him in pairs to every town and place that he intended to go. 2 So he instructed them, “The harvest is vast, but the workers are few. So ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers out into his harvest. 3 Get going! See, I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4 Don’t carry a wallet, a traveling bag, or sandals, and don’t greet anyone on the way.
5 “Whatever house you go into, first say, ‘May there be peace in this house.’ 6 If a peaceful person lives there, your greeting of peace will remain with him. But if that’s not the case, your greeting[c] will come back to you. 7 Stay with the same family, eating and drinking whatever they provide, because the worker deserves his pay. Don’t move from house to house.
8 “Whenever you go into a town and the people[d] welcome you, eat whatever they serve you, 9 heal the sick that are there, and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you!’ 10 But whenever you go into a town and people[e] don’t welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 11 ‘We’re wiping off your town’s dust that clings to our feet in protest against you! But realize this: the kingdom of God is near!’ 12 I tell you, on the last[f] day it will be easier for Sodom than for that town!”
Jesus Denounces Unrepentant Cities(A)
13 “How terrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How terrible it will be for you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that happened in you had taken place in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 It will be easier for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you!
15 And you, Capernaum! You won’t be lifted up to heaven, will you? You’ll go down to Hell![g] 16 The person who listens to you listens to me, and the person who rejects you rejects me. The person who rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”
The Return of the Seventy
17 The 70[h] disciples[i] came back and joyously reported, “Lord, even the demons are submitting to us in your name!”
18 He told them, “I watched Satan falling from heaven like lightning. 19 Look! I have given you the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to destroy[j] all the enemy’s power, and nothing will ever hurt you. 20 However, stop rejoicing because the spirits are submitting to you. Instead, rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
Jesus Praises the Father(B)
21 At that moment, the Holy Spirit[k] made Jesus[l] extremely joyful, so Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from wise and intelligent people and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, because this is what was pleasing to you. 22 All things have been entrusted to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows[m] who the Father is except the Son and the person to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
23 Then turning to his disciples in private, he told them, “How blessed are the eyes that see what you see! 24 Because I tell you, many prophets and kings wanted to see the things you see but didn’t see them, and to hear the things you hear but didn’t hear them.”
The Good Samaritan
25 Just then an expert in the Law stood up to test Jesus.[n] He asked, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 Jesus[o] answered him, “What is written in the Law? What do you read there?”
27 He answered, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind.[p] And you must love[q] your neighbor as yourself.”[r]
28 Jesus[s] told him, “You have answered correctly. ‘Do this, and you will live.’”[t]
29 But the man wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 After careful consideration, Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell into the hands of bandits. They stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 By chance, a priest was traveling along that road. When he saw the man,[u] he went by on the other side. 32 Similarly, a descendant of Levi came to that place. When he saw the man,[v] he also went by on the other side. 33 But as he was traveling along, a Samaritan came across the man.[w] When the Samaritan[x] saw him, he was moved with compassion. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day, he took out two denarii[y] and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take good care of him. If you spend more than that, I’ll repay you when I come back.’
36 “Of these three men, who do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the bandits?”
37 He said, “The one who showed mercy to him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do what he did.”
Jesus Visits Mary and Martha
38 Now as they were traveling along, Jesus[z] went into a village. A woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 She had a sister named Mary, who sat down at the Lord’s feet and kept listening to what he was saying. 40 But Martha was worrying about all the things she had to do, so she came to him and asked, “Lord, you do care that my sister has left me to do the work all by myself, don’t you? Then tell her to help me.”
41 The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha! You worry and fuss about a lot of things. 42 But there’s only[aa] one thing you need. Mary has chosen what is better,[ab] and it is not to be taken away from her.”
Teaching about Prayer(C)
11 Once Jesus[ac] was praying in a certain place. After he had finished, one of his disciples told him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”
2 So he told them, “Whenever you pray you are to say,
‘Father,[ad] may your name be kept holy.
May your kingdom come.[ae]
3 Keep giving us every day our daily bread,[af]
4 and forgive us our sins,
as we forgive everyone who sins against us.[ag]
And never bring us into temptation.’”[ah]
5 Then he told them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, let me borrow three loaves of bread. 6 A friend of mine on a trip has dropped in on me, and I don’t have anything to serve him.’ 7 Suppose he answers from inside, ‘Stop bothering me! The door is already locked, and my children are here with us in the bedroom.[ai] I can’t get up and give you anything!’ 8 I tell you, even though that man[aj] doesn’t want to get up and give him anything because he is his friend, he will get up and give him whatever he needs because of his persistence.
Ask, Search, Knock(D)
9 So I say to you: Keep asking, and it will be given you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door[ak] will be opened for you, 10 because everyone who keeps asking will receive, and the person who keeps searching will find, and the person who keeps knocking will have the door[al] opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for bread, would give him a stone, or if he asks for a fish,[am] would give him a snake instead of the fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, would he give him a scorpion? 13 So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who keep asking him!”
Jesus is Accused of Working with Beelzebul(E)
14 Jesus[an] was driving a demon out of a man who was[ao] unable to talk. When the demon had gone out, the man[ap] began to speak, and the crowds were amazed. 15 But some of them said, “He drives out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.” 16 Others, wanting to test Jesus,[aq] kept asking him for a sign from heaven.
17 Since he knew what they were thinking, he told them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is devastated, and a divided household collapses.[ar] 18 Now, if Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom last? After all, you say that I drive out demons by Beelzebul. 19 If I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own followers[as] drive them out? That is why they will be your judges! 20 But if I drive out demons by the power[at] of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.
21 “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own mansion, his property is safe. 22 But when a stronger man than he attacks and defeats him, the stronger man[au] strips off that man’s armor in which he trusted and then divides his plunder.
23 “The person who isn’t with me is against me, and the person who doesn’t gather with me scatters.”
The Return of the Unclean Spirit(F)
24 “Whenever an unclean spirit goes out of a person, it wanders through dry places looking for a place to rest but doesn’t find any. So it says, ‘I will go back to my home that I left.’ 25 When it gets back home, it finds it swept clean and put in order. 26 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all go in and settle there. And so the final condition of that person is worse than the first.”
True Blessedness
27 As Jesus[av] was saying this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and told him, “How blessed is the womb that gave birth to you and the breasts that nursed you!”
28 But he said, “Instead, how blessed are those who hear God’s word and obey it!”
The Sign of Jonah(G)
29 Now as the crowds continued to throng around Jesus,[aw] he went on to say, “This people living today are[ax] an evil generation. It craves a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah, 30 because just as Jonah became a sign[ay] to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be a sign to this generation. 31 The queen of the south will stand up at the judgment and condemn the people living today,[az] because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon. But look, something greater than Solomon is here! 32 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment and condemn the people living today,[ba] because they repented at the preaching of Jonah. But look, something greater than Jonah is here!”
The Lamp of the Body(H)
33 “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a hiding place[bb] or under a basket,[bc] but on a lamp stand, so that those who enter may see its light. 34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light. But when it’s evil, your body is full of darkness. 35 Therefore, be careful that the light in you isn’t darkness. 36 Now if your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be as full of light as when a lamp gives you light with its rays.”
Jesus Denounces the Pharisees and the Experts in the Law(I)
37 After Jesus[bd] had said this, a Pharisee invited him to have a meal with him. So Jesus[be] went and took his place at the table. 38 The Pharisee was surprised to see that he didn’t first wash before the meal. 39 But the Lord told him, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but on the inside you are full of greed and evil. 40 You fools! The one who made the outside made the inside, too, didn’t he? 41 So give what is inside to the poor, and then everything will be clean for you.
42 “How terrible it will be for you Pharisees! You give a tenth of your mint, spices, and every kind of herb, but you neglect justice and the love of God. These are the things you should have practiced, without neglecting the others.
43 How terrible it will be for you Pharisees! You love to have the places of honor in the synagogues and to be greeted in the marketplaces.
44 How terrible it will be for you! You are like unmarked graves—people walk on them without realizing it.”
45 Then one of the experts in the Law told him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us, too.”
46 Jesus[bf] said, “How terrible it will be for you experts in the Law, too! You load people with burdens that are hard to carry, yet you don’t even lift a finger to ease those burdens.
47 How terrible it will be for you! You build monuments for the prophets, and it was your ancestors who killed them! 48 So you are witnesses and approve of the deeds of your ancestors, because they killed those for whom you are building monuments. 49 That is why the Wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles. They will kill some of them and persecute others,’[bg] 50 so those living today[bh] will be charged with the blood of all the prophets that was shed since the foundation of the world, 51 from the blood of Abel[bi] to the blood of Zechariah,[bj] who died between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be charged against this generation!
52 How terrible it will be for you experts in the Law! You have taken away the key to knowledge. You didn’t go in yourselves, and you kept out those who were trying to go in.”
53 As Jesus[bk] was leaving, the scribes and the Pharisees began to oppose him fiercely, interrogating him about many things. 54 They watched him closely in an effort to trap him in something he might say.
A Warning against Hypocrisy
12 Meanwhile, the people[bl] had gathered by the thousands and were trampling on one another. Jesus[bm] began to speak first to his disciples. “Watch out for the yeast—that is, the hypocrisy—of the Pharisees! 2 There is nothing covered up that won’t be exposed and nothing secret that won’t be made known. 3 Therefore, what you have said in darkness will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered[bn] in private rooms will be shouted from the housetops.”
Fear God(J)
4 “But I tell you, my friends, never be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can’t do anything more. 5 I’ll show you the one you should be afraid of. Be afraid of the one who has the authority to throw you into hell[bo] after killing you. Yes, I tell you, be afraid of him!
6 “Five sparrows are sold for two pennies, aren’t they? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 Why, even all the hairs on your head have been counted! Stop being afraid. You are worth more than a bunch of sparrows.”
Acknowledging the Messiah(K)
8 “But I tell you, the Son of Man will acknowledge before God’s angels everyone who acknowledges me before people. 9 But whoever denies me before people will be denied before God’s angels. 10 Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the person who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit won’t be forgiven. 11 When people[bp] bring you before synagogue leaders,[bq] rulers, or authorities, don’t worry about how you will defend yourselves or what[br] you will say, 12 because at that time the Holy Spirit will teach you what you are to say.”
The Parable of the Rich Fool
13 Then someone in the crowd told him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.”
14 But Jesus[bs] asked him, “Mister,[bt] who appointed me to be a judge or arbitrator over you people?” 15 Then he told them, “Be careful to guard yourselves against every kind of greed, because a person’s life doesn’t consist of the amount of possessions he has.”
16 Then he told them a parable. He said, “The land of a certain rich man produced good crops. 17 So he began to think to himself, ‘What should I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ 18 Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and I’ll store all my grain and goods in them. 19 Then I’ll say to myself, “You’ve stored up plenty of good things for many years. Take it easy, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.”’ 20 But God told him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded back from you. Now who will get the things you’ve accumulated?’ 21 That’s how it is with the person who stores up treasures for himself rather than with God.”
Stop Worrying(L)
22 Then Jesus[bu] told his disciples, “That’s why I’m telling you to stop worrying about your life—what you will eat—or about your body—what you will wear, 23 because life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the crows.[bv] They don’t plant or harvest, they don’t even have a storeroom or barn, yet God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds! 25 Can any of you add an hour to the length of your life[bw] by worrying? 26 So if you can’t do a small thing like that, why worry about other things? 27 Consider how the lilies grow. They don’t work or spin yarn, but I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. 28 Now if that’s the way God clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and thrown into an oven tomorrow, how much more will he clothe you—you who have little faith?
29 “So stop concerning yourselves about what you will eat or what you will drink, and stop being distressed, 30 because it is the unbelievers[bx] who are concerned about all these things. Surely your Father knows that you need them! 31 Instead, be concerned about his[by] kingdom, and these things will be provided for you as well. 32 Stop being afraid, little flock, because your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.
33 “Sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor. Make yourselves wallets that don’t wear out—a dependable treasure in heaven, where no thief can get close and no moth can destroy anything. 34 Because where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
The Watchful Servants(M)
35 “You must keep your belts fastened and your lamps burning. 36 Be like people who are waiting for their master to return from a wedding. As soon as he arrives and knocks, they will open the door for him. 37 How blessed are those servants whom the master finds watching for him when he comes! I tell all of you[bz] with certainty, he himself will put on an apron, make them sit down at the table, and go around and serve them. 38 How blessed they will be if their master[ca] comes in the middle of the night or near dawn[cb] and finds them awake![cc] 39 But be sure of this: if the homeowner had known at what time the thief were coming, he would have watched and[cd] would not have let his house be broken into. 40 So be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at a time when you don’t expect him.”
41 Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable just for us or for everyone?”
42 The Lord said, “Who, then, is the faithful and careful servant manager whom his master will put in charge of giving all his other servants their share of food at the right time? 43 How blessed is that servant whom his master finds doing this when he comes! 44 I tell you with certainty, he will put him in charge of all his property. 45 But if that servant says to himself,[ce] ‘My master is taking a long time to come back,’ and begins to beat the other servants and to eat, drink, and get drunk, 46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he doesn’t expect him and at an hour that he doesn’t know. Then his master[cf] will punish him severely[cg] and assign him a place with unfaithful people. 47 That servant who knew what his master wanted but didn’t prepare himself or do what was wanted will receive a severe beating. 48 But the servant[ch] who did things that deserved a beating without knowing it will receive a light beating. Much will be required from everyone to whom much has been given. But even more will be demanded from the one to whom much has been entrusted.”
Not Peace, but Division(N)
49 “I’ve come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already ablaze! 50 I have a baptism to be baptized with, and what stress I am under until it’s completed! 51 Do you think that I came to bring peace on earth? Not at all, I tell you, but rather division! 52 From now on, five people in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided father against son, son against father, mother against daughter, daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
Interpreting the Time(O)
54 Then Jesus[ci] told the crowds, “When you see a cloud coming in from the west, you immediately say, ‘There’s going to be a storm,’ and that’s what happens. 55 When you see a south wind blowing, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and so it is. 56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, yet you don’t know how to interpret the present time?”
Settling with Your Opponent(P)
57 “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 58 For example, when you go with your opponent in front of a ruler, do your best to settle with him on the way there. Otherwise, you will be dragged in front of the judge, and the judge will hand you over to an officer, and the officer will throw you into prison. 59 I tell you, you will never get out of there until you pay back the last penny!”
Repent or Die
13 At that time, some people who were there told Jesus[cj] about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.[ck] 2 He asked them, “Do you think that these Galileans were more sinful than all the other Galileans because they suffered like this? 3 Absolutely not, I tell you! But if you don’t repent, then you, too, will all die. 4 What about those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them? Do you think they were worse offenders than all the other people living in Jerusalem? 5 Absolutely not, I tell you! But if you don’t repent, then you, too, will all die.”
The Parable about an Unfruitful Fig Tree
6 Then Jesus[cl] told them this parable: “A man had a fig tree that had been planted in his vineyard. He went to look for fruit on it but didn’t find any. 7 So he told the gardener, ‘Look here! For three years I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this tree but I haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it waste the soil?’ 8 But the gardener[cm] replied, ‘Sir, leave it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and fertilize it. 9 Maybe next year it will bear fruit. If not, then cut it down.’”
Jesus Heals a Woman on the Sabbath
10 Jesus[cn] was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 A woman was there who had a spirit that had disabled her for eighteen years. She was hunched over and completely unable to stand up straight. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said, “Woman, you are free from your illness.” 13 Then he placed his hands on her, and immediately she stood up straight and began praising God.
14 But the synagogue leader, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, told the crowd, “There are six days when work is to be done. So come on those days to be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.”
15 The Lord replied to him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey and lead it out of its stall to give it some water? 16 Shouldn’t this woman, a descendant of Abraham whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the Sabbath day?” 17 Even as he was saying this, all of his opponents were blushing with shame. But the rest of the crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things he was doing.
The Parables about a Mustard Seed and Yeast(Q)
18 So Jesus[co] went on to say, “What is the kingdom of God like? What can I compare it to? 19 It is like a mustard seed that someone took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the sky nested in its branches.”
20 Again he said, “To what can I compare the kingdom of God? 21 It’s like yeast that a woman took and mixed with[cp] three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”
The Narrow Door(R)
22 Then Jesus[cq] taught in one town and village after another as he made his way to Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, “Lord,[cr] are only a few people going to be saved?”
He told them, 24 “Keep on struggling to enter through the narrow door, because I tell you that many people will try to enter, but won’t be able to do so. 25 After the homeowner gets up and closes the door, you can stand[cs] outside, knock on the door, and say again and again, ‘Lord, open the door for us!’ But he will answer you, ‘I don’t know where you come from.’ 26 Then you will say,[ct] ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But he will tell you, ‘I don’t know where you come from. Get away from me, all you who practice evil!’ 28 In that place there will be crying and gnashing of teeth[cu] when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves being driven away on the outside. 29 People will come from east and west, and from north and south, and will eat in the kingdom of God. 30 You see, some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last.
Jesus Rebukes Jerusalem(S)
31 At that hour some Pharisees came and told Jesus,[cv] “Leave and get away from here, because Herod wants to kill you!”
32 He told them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Listen! I am driving out demons and healing today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will finish my work. 33 But I must be on my way today, tomorrow, and the next day, because it’s not possible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.’ 34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones to death those who have been sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you people were unwilling! 35 Look! Your house is left vacant to you. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘How blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’”[cw]
Jesus Heals a Man on the Sabbath
14 One Sabbath, Jesus[cx] went to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal. The guests[cy] were watching Jesus[cz] closely. 2 A man whose body was swollen with fluid suddenly appeared in front of him. 3 So Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the Law, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” 4 But they kept silent. So he took hold of the man,[da] healed him, and sent him away. 5 Then he asked them, “If your son[db] or ox falls into a well on the Sabbath day, you would pull him out immediately, wouldn’t you?” 6 And they couldn’t argue with him about this.
A Lesson about Guests
7 When Jesus[dc] noticed how the guests were choosing the places of honor, he told them a parable. 8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, don’t sit down at the place of honor in case someone more important than you was invited by the host.[dd] 9 Then the host who invited both of you would come to you and say, ‘Give this person your place.’ In disgrace, you would have to take the place of least honor. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit down at the place of least honor. Then, when your host comes, he will tell you, ‘Friend, move up higher,’ and you will be honored in the presence of everyone who eats with you. 11 Because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the person who humbles himself will be exalted.”
12 Then he told the man who had invited him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, stop inviting only[de] your friends, brothers, relatives, or rich neighbors. Otherwise, they may invite you in return and you would be repaid. 13 Instead, when you give a banquet, make it your habit to invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14 Then you will be blessed because they can’t repay you. And you will be repaid when the righteous are resurrected.”
The Parable about a Banquet(T)
15 Now one of those eating with him heard this and told him, “How blessed is the person who will eat[df] in the kingdom of God!”
16 Jesus[dg] told him, “A man gave a large banquet and invited many people. 17 When it was time for the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who were invited, ‘Come! Everything is now ready.’ 18 Every single one of them began asking to be excused. The first told him, ‘I bought a field, and I need to go out and inspect it. Please excuse me.’ 19 Another said, ‘I bought five pairs of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ 20 Still another said, ‘I recently got married, so I can’t come.’
21 “So the servant went back and reported all this to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and told his servant, ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring back the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ 22 The servant said, ‘Sir, what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.’ 23 Then the master told the servant, ‘Go out into the streets and the lanes and make the people come in, so that my house may be full. 24 Because I tell all of you, none of those men who were invited will taste anything at my banquet.’”
The Cost of Discipleship(U)
25 Now large crowds were traveling with Jesus.[dh] He turned and told them, 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters, as well as his own life, he can’t be my disciple. 27 Whoever doesn’t carry his cross and follow me can’t be my disciple.
28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. He will first sit down and estimate the cost to see whether he has enough money to finish it, won’t he? 29 Otherwise, if he lays a foundation and can’t finish the building,[di] everyone who watches will begin to ridicule him 30 and say, ‘This person started a building but couldn’t finish it.’
31 “Or suppose a king is going to war against another king. He will first sit down and consider whether with 10,000 men he can fight the one coming against him with 20,000 men, won’t he? 32 If he can’t, he will send a delegation to ask for terms of peace while the other king[dj] is still far away. 33 In the same way, none of you can be my disciple unless he gives up all his possessions.”
Tasteless Salt(V)
34 “Now, salt is good. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can its flavor be restored? 35 It’s suitable neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. People[dk] throw it away. Let the person who has ears to hear, listen!”
The Parable about the Faithful Shepherd(W)
15 Now all the tax collectors and sinners kept coming to listen to Jesus.[dl] 2 But the Pharisees and the scribes kept complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 So he told them this parable:
4 “Suppose one of you has 100 sheep and loses one of them. He leaves the 99 in the wilderness and looks for the one that is lost until he finds it, doesn’t he? 5 When he finds it, he puts it on his shoulders and rejoices. 6 Then he goes home, calls his friends and neighbors together, and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I’ve found my lost sheep!’ 7 In the same way, I tell you that there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous people who don’t need to repent.”
The Story of the Diligent Housewife
8 “Or suppose a woman has ten coins and loses one of them.[dm] She lights a lamp, sweeps the house, and searches carefully until she finds it, doesn’t she? 9 When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found the coin that I lost!’ 10 In the same way, I tell you that there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”
The Story of the Loving Father
11 Then Jesus[dn] said, “A man had two sons. 12 The younger one told his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So the father[do] divided his property between them. 13 A few days later, the younger son gathered everything he owned and traveled to a distant country. There he wasted it all[dp] on wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went out to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 No one would give him anything, even though he would gladly have filled himself with the husks the pigs were eating.
17 “Then he came to his senses and said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more food than they can eat, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will get up, go to my father, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven[dq] and you. 19 I don’t deserve to be called your son anymore. Treat me like one of your hired men.”’
20 “So he got up and went to his father. While he was still far away, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son,[dr] threw his arms around him, and kissed him affectionately. 21 Then his son told him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven[ds] and you. I don’t deserve to be called your son anymore.’[dt] 22 But the father told his servants, ‘Hurry! Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let’s eat and celebrate! 24 Because my son was dead and has come back to life. He was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.
25 “Now the father’s[du] older son was in the field. As he was coming back to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called to one of the servants and asked what was happening. 27 The servant[dv] told him, ‘Your brother has come home, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he got him back safely.’
28 “Then the older son[dw] became angry and wouldn’t go into the house.[dx] So his father came out and began to plead with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Listen! All these years I’ve worked like a slave for you. I’ve never disobeyed a command of yours. Yet you’ve never given me so much as a young goat for a festival[dy] so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But this son of yours spent your money on prostitutes, and when he came back, you killed the fattened calf for him!’
31 “His father[dz] told him, ‘My child, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come back to life. He was lost and has been found.’”
The Parable about a Dishonest Manager
16 Now Jesus[ea] was saying to the disciples, “A rich man had a servant manager who was accused of wasting his assets. 2 So he called for him and asked him, ‘What’s this I hear about you? You can’t be my manager any longer. Now give me a report about your management!’
3 “Then the servant manager told himself, ‘What should I do? My master is taking my position away from me. I’m not strong enough to plow, and I’m ashamed to beg. 4 I know what I’ll do so that people[eb] will welcome me into their homes when I’m dismissed from my job.’
5 “So he called for each of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6 The man replied, ‘A hundred jars of olive oil.’ The manager[ec] told him, ‘Get your bill. Sit down quickly and write “50.”’ 7 Then he asked another debtor,[ed] ‘How much do you owe?’ The man replied, ‘A hundred containers of wheat.’ The manager[ee] told him, ‘Get your bill and write “80.”’ 8 The master praised the dishonest servant manager for being so clever, because worldly people[ef] are more clever than enlightened people[eg] in dealing with their own.[eh]
9 “I’m telling you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails, they will welcome you into eternal homes.[ei] 10 Whoever is faithful with very little is also faithful with a lot, and whoever is dishonest with very little is also dishonest with a lot. 11 So if you haven’t been faithful with unrighteous wealth, who will trust you with true wealth? 12 And if you haven’t been faithful with what belongs to foreigners, who will give you what is your own?
13 “No servant can serve two masters, because either he will hate one and love the other, or be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and wealth!”
The Law and the Kingdom of God(X)
14 Now the Pharisees, who love money, had been listening to all this and began to ridicule Jesus.[ej] 15 So he told them, “You try to justify yourselves in front of people, but God knows your hearts, because what is highly valued by people is detestable to God.
16 “The Law and the Prophets were fulfilled[ek] with John. Since then, the good news about the kingdom of God is being proclaimed, and everybody enters it enthusiastically.[el] 17 However, it is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for one stroke of a letter in the Law to be dropped. 18 Any man who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.”
The Rich Man and Lazarus
19 “Once there was a rich man who used to dress in purple and fine linen and live in great luxury every day. 20 A beggar named Lazarus, who was covered with sores, was brought to his gate. 21 He was always trying to satisfy his hunger with what fell[em] from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs used to come and lick his sores.
22 “One day, the beggar died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In the afterlife,[en] where he was in constant torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus by his side. 24 So he shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me! Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water to cool off my tongue, because I am suffering in this fire.’
25 “But Abraham said, ‘My child, remember that during your lifetime you received blessings,[eo] while Lazarus received hardships.[ep] But now he is being comforted here, while you suffer. 26 Besides all this, a wide chasm has been fixed between us, so that those who want to cross from this side to you cannot do so, nor can they cross from your side to us.’
27 “The rich man[eq] said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus[er] to my father’s house— 28 because I have five brothers—to warn them, so that they won’t end up in this place of torture, too.’
29 “Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets. They should listen to them!’
30 “But the rich man[es] replied, ‘No, father Abraham! But if someone from the dead went to them, they would repent.’
31 “Then Abraham[et] told him, ‘If your brothers[eu] do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded, even if someone were to rise from the dead.’”
Causing Others to Sin(Y)
17 Jesus[ev] told his disciples, “It is inevitable that temptations to sin will come, but how terrible it will be for the person through whom they come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.
3 “Watch yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. 4 Even if he sins against you seven times in a day and comes back to you seven times and says, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
Faith and Obedience
5 Then the apostles told the Lord, “Give us more faith!”
6 The Lord replied, “If you have faith the size of[ew] a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you!
7 “Suppose a man among you has a servant plowing or watching sheep. Would he say to him when he comes in from the field, ‘Come at once and have something to eat’? 8 Of course not. Instead, he would say to him, ‘Get dinner ready for me, and put on your apron and wait on me until I eat and drink. Then you can eat and drink.’ 9 He doesn’t praise the servant for doing what was commanded, does he? 10 That’s the way it is with you. When you have done everything you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are worthless servants. We have done only what we ought to have done.’”
Jesus Cleanses Ten Lepers
11 One day, Jesus[ex] was traveling along the border between Samaria and Galilee on the way to Jerusalem. 12 As he was going into a village, ten lepers met him. They stood at a distance 13 and shouted, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
14 When Jesus[ey] saw them, he told them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” While they were going, they were made clean. 15 But one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, came back and praised God with a loud voice. 16 He fell on his face at Jesus’[ez] feet and thanked him. Now that man[fa] was a Samaritan.
17 Jesus asked, “Ten men were made clean, weren’t they? Where are the other nine? 18 Except for this foreigner, were any of them found to return and give praise to God?” 19 Then he told the man,[fb] “Get up, and go home! Your faith has saved you.”[fc]
The Coming of the Kingdom(Z)
20 Once Jesus[fd] was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come. He answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming with a visible display. 21 People[fe] won’t be saying, ‘Look! Here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’ because now the kingdom of God is among[ff] you.”
22 Then Jesus[fg] told the disciples, “The time will come during which you will long to see one of these days when the Son of Man is with you,[fh] but you won’t see it. 23 People[fi] will say to you, ‘Look! There he is!’ or ‘Look! Here he is!’ But don’t go and chase after him. 24 Because just as lightning flashes and shines from one end of the sky to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his time.[fj] 25 But first he must suffer a great deal and be rejected by those living today.[fk]
26 “Just as it was in Noah’s time, so it will be in the Son of Man’s time. 27 People[fl] were eating, drinking, marrying, and being given in marriage right up to the day when Noah went into the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed all of them. 28 So it was in Lot’s time. People[fm] were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. 29 But on the very day when Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed all of them. 30 The day when the Son of Man is revealed will be like that.
31 “The person who is on the housetop that day must not come down to get his belongings out of his house. The person in the field, too, must not turn back to what’s left behind. 32 Remember Lot’s wife! 33 Whoever tries to save his life[fn] will lose it, but whoever loses his life will preserve it. 34 I tell you, two will be seated on the same couch[fo] that night. The one will be taken, and the other will be left behind. 35 Two women will be grinding grain[fp] together. The one will be taken, and the other will be left behind.”[fq]
37 Then they asked him, “Where, Lord, will this take place?”[fr]
He told them, “Wherever there’s a corpse, that’s where the vultures[fs] will gather.”
The Parable about the Judge and the Widow
18 Jesus[ft] told his disciples[fu] a parable about their need to pray all the time and never give up. 2 He said, “In a city there was a judge who didn’t fear God or respect people. 3 In that city there was also a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while the judge[fv] refused. But later, he told himself, ‘I don’t fear God or respect people, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice. Otherwise, she will keep coming and wear me out.’”
6 Then the Lord added, “Listen to what the unrighteous judge says. 7 Won’t God grant his chosen people justice when they cry out to him day and night? Is he slow to help them? 8 I tell you, he will give them justice quickly. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
The Parable about the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
9 Jesus[fw] also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves, thinking they were righteous, but who looked down on everyone else: 10 “Two men went up to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘O God, I thank you that I’m not like other people—thieves, dishonest people, adulterers, or even this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week, and I give a tenth of my entire income.’
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance and would not even look up to heaven. Instead, he continued to beat his chest and said, ‘O God, be merciful to me, the sinner that I am!’[fx] 14 I tell you, this man, rather than the other one, went down to his home justified, because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the person who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Jesus Blesses the Little Children(AA)
15 Now some people[fy] were even bringing their infants to Jesus[fz] to have him touch them. But when the disciples saw this, they sternly told the people[ga] not to do that. 16 Jesus, however, called for the children[gb] and said, “Let the little children come to me, and stop keeping them away, because the kingdom of God belongs to people like these. 17 I tell all of you[gc] with certainty, whoever doesn’t receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never get into it at all.”
A Rich Man Comes to Jesus(AB)
18 Then an official asked Jesus,[gd] “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “Nobody is good except for one—God. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Never commit adultery.[ge] Never murder.[gf] Never steal.[gg] Never give false testimony.[gh] Honor your father and mother.’”[gi]
21 The official[gj] replied, “I have kept all of these since I was a young man.”
22 When Jesus heard this, he told him, “You still need to do one thing. Sell everything you have and give the money[gk] to the destitute, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come back and follow me.” 23 But when the official[gl] heard this he became sad, because he was very rich.
Salvation and Reward(AC)
24 So when Jesus saw how sad he was, he[gm] said, “How hard it is for rich people to get into the kingdom of God! 25 Indeed, it’s easier for a camel to squeeze through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to get into the kingdom of God.”
26 Those who were listening to Jesus[gn] asked, “Then who can be saved?”
27 Jesus[go] replied, “The things that are impossible for people are possible for God.”
28 Then Peter said, “See, we have left everything we have and followed you.”
29 Jesus[gp] told them, “I tell all of you[gq] with certainty, there is no one who has left his home, wife, brothers, parents, or children because of the kingdom of God 30 who will not receive many times as much in this world, as well as eternal life in the age to come.”
Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection a Third Time(AD)
31 Jesus[gr] took the Twelve aside and told them, “Pay attention! We’re going up to Jerusalem. Everything written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled, 32 because he’ll be handed over to the unbelievers,[gs] and will be mocked, insulted, and spit on. 33 After they have whipped him, they’ll kill him, but on the third day he’ll rise again.” 34 But they didn’t understand any of this. What he said was hidden from them, and they didn’t know what he meant.
Jesus Heals a Blind Man(AE)
35 As Jesus[gt] was approaching Jericho, there was a blind man sitting by the road begging. 36 When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him that Jesus from Nazareth[gu] was coming by. 38 So he shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 The people at the front of the crowd[gv] sternly told him to be quiet, but he started shouting even louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
40 Then Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus[gw] asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?”
He said, “Lord, I want to see again!”
42 So Jesus told him, “See again! Your faith has made you well.” 43 Immediately the man[gx] could see again and began to follow Jesus,[gy] glorifying God. All the people saw this and gave praise to God.
Jesus and Zacchaeus
19 As Jesus[gz] entered Jericho and was passing through it, 2 a man named Zacchaeus appeared. He was a leading tax collector, and a rich one at that! 3 He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he couldn’t do so due to the crowd, since he was a short man. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus,[ha] who was going to pass that way.
5 When Jesus came to the tree,[hb] he looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down! I must stay at your house today.” 6 Zacchaeus[hc] came down quickly and was glad to welcome him into his home.[hd]
7 But all the people who saw this began to complain: “Jesus[he] is going to be the guest of a notorious[hf] sinner!”
8 Later, Zacchaeus stood up and announced to the Lord, “Look! I’m giving half of my possessions to the destitute, and if I have accused anyone falsely, I’m repaying four times as much as I owe.”[hg]
9 Then Jesus told him, “Today salvation has come to this home, because this man[hh] is also a descendant of Abraham, 10 and the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”
The Parable about the Coins
11 As they were listening to this, Jesus[hi] went on to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem and because the people[hj] thought that the kingdom of God would appear immediately. 12 So he said, “A prince went to a distant country to be appointed king and then to return. 13 He called ten of his servants and gave them ten coins.[hk] He told them, ‘Invest this money until I come back.’ 14 But the citizens of his country hated him and sent a delegation to follow him and to announce, ‘We don’t want this man to rule over us!’
15 “After he was appointed king, the prince[hl] came back. He ordered the servants to whom he had given the money to be called so he could find out what they had earned by investing. 16 The first servant[hm] came and said, ‘Sir, your coin has earned ten more coins.’ 17 The king[hn] told him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been trustworthy in a very small thing, take charge of ten cities.’
18 “The second servant[ho] came and said, ‘Your coin, sir, has earned five coins.’ 19 The king[hp] told him, ‘You take charge of five cities.’
20 “Then the other servant[hq] came and said, ‘Sir, look! Here’s your coin. I’ve kept it in a cloth for safekeeping 21 because I was afraid of you. You are a hard man. You withdraw what you didn’t deposit and harvest what you didn’t plant.’ 22 The king[hr] told him, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you evil servant! You knew, did you, that I was a hard man, and that I withdraw what I didn’t deposit and harvest what I didn’t plant? 23 Then why didn’t you put my money in the bank? When I returned, I could have collected it with interest.’
24 “So the king[hs] told those standing nearby, ‘Take the coin away from him and give it to the man who has the ten coins.’ 25 They answered him, ‘Sir, he already[ht] has ten coins!’ 26 ‘I tell you, to everyone who has something, more will be given, but from the person who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. 27 But as for these enemies of mine who didn’t want me to be their king—bring them here and slaughter them in my presence!’”
The King Enters Jerusalem(AF)
28 After Jesus[hu] had said this, he traveled on and went up to Jerusalem. 29 As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples on ahead. 30 “Go into the village ahead of you,” he said. “As you enter, you will find a colt tied up that no one has ever ridden.[hv] Untie it and bring it along. 31 If anyone asks you why you are untying it, say this: ‘The Lord needs it.’”
32 So those who were sent went off and found it as Jesus[hw] had told them. 33 While they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”
34 The disciples[hx] answered, “The Lord needs it.” 35 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and put their coats on it, and Jesus sat upon it.
36 As he was riding along, people[hy] kept spreading their coats on the road. 37 He was now approaching the descent from the Mount of Olives. The whole crowd of disciples began to rejoice and to praise God with a loud voice because of all the miracles they had seen. 38 They said,
“How blessed is the king
who comes in the name of the Lord![hz]
Peace in heaven,
and glory in the highest heaven!”
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd told Jesus,[ia] “Teacher, tell your disciples to be quiet.”
40 He replied, “I tell you, if they were quiet, the stones would cry out!”
41 When he came closer and saw the city, he began to grieve over it: 42 “If you[ib] had only known today what could have brought you peace! But now it is hidden from your sight, 43 because the days will come[ic] when your enemies will build walls around you, surround you, and close you in on every side. 44 They will level you to the ground—you and those who live[id] within your city limits.[ie] They will not leave one stone on another within your walls,[if] because you didn’t recognize the time when you were visited.”[ig]
Confrontation in the Temple over Money(AG)
45 Then Jesus[ih] went into the Temple and began to throw out those who were selling things. 46 He told them, “It is written, ‘My house is to be called a house of prayer,’[ii] but you have turned it into a hideout[ij] for bandits!”
47 Then he began teaching in the Temple every day. The high priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people kept looking for a way to kill him, 48 but they couldn’t find a way to do it, because all the people were eager to hear him.
Jesus’ Authority is Challenged(AH)
20 One day, while Jesus[ik] was teaching the people in the Temple and telling them the good news, the high priests and the scribes came with the elders 2 and asked him, “Tell us: By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?”
3 He answered them, “I, too, will ask you a question.[il] Tell me: 4 Was John’s authority to baptize[im] from heaven or from humans?”
5 They discussed this among themselves: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 6 But if we say, ‘From humans,’ all the people will stone us to death, because they are convinced that John was a prophet.” 7 So they answered that they didn’t know where it was from.
8 Then Jesus told them, “Then I won’t tell you by what authority I’m doing these things.”
The Parable about the Tenant Farmers(AI)
9 Then he began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, leased it to tenant farmers, and went abroad for a long time. 10 At the right time he sent a servant to the farmers in order to get his share of the produce of the vineyard. But the farmers beat him and sent him back empty-handed. 11 He sent another servant, and they beat him, too, treated him shamefully, and sent him back empty-handed. 12 Then he sent a third, and they wounded him and threw him out, too.
13 “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What should I do? I’ll send my son whom I love. Maybe they’ll respect him.’ 14 But when the farmers saw him, they talked it over among themselves and said, ‘This is the heir. Let’s kill him so that the inheritance will be ours!’ 15 So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. Now what will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and destroy those farmers and give the vineyard to others.”
Those who heard him said, “That must never happen!”
17 But Jesus[in] looked at them and asked, “What does this text mean:
‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone’?[io]
18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.”
19 When the scribes and the high priests realized that Jesus[ip] had told this parable about them, they wanted to arrest him right then, but they were afraid of the crowd.
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