CONTENTS

Matthew

Mark

Luke

John

Acts

The Epistles--in correct chronological order

The Epistle to the Galatians (47-48 AD)

The Epistle of James (47-48 AD)

The Epistles of 1st & 2ndThessalonians (51-52 AD)

The Epistle of 1st Corinthians (52-54 AD)

The Epistle of 2nd Corinthians (52-54 AD)

The Epistle to the Romans (52-57 AD)

The Epistle to the Colossians (61-63 AD)

The Epistle to the Ephesians (61-63 AD)

The Epistle to the Philippians (61-63 AD)

The Epistle to Philemon (63 AD)

The Epistle of 1st Timothy (65 AD)

The Epistle of 1st Peter (65-66 AD)

The Epistle to Titus (66 AD)

The Epistle of Jude (65-75 AD)

The Epistle of 2nd Peter (65-67 AD)

The Book of Hebrews (65-67 AD)

The Epistle of 2nd Timothy (67 AD)

The Epistles of John (90-95 AD)

Revelation (96 AD)

Matthew

MATTHEW CHAPTER1

1 This is a record of the ancestry of Jesus the Messiah, descendant of David, and descendant of Abraham.

2 Abraham (Father of a Multitude) fathered Isaac (Laughter); and Isaac fathered Jacob (Heel-catcher or Supplanter); and Jacob fathered Judah (He Shall be Praised) and his brethren;

2 Abraham (Father of a Multitude) fathered Isaac (Laughter); and Isaac fathered Jacob (Heel-catcher or Supplanter); and Jacob fathered Judah (He Shall be Praised) and his brethren;

3 And Judah fathered Perez (A Breach) and Zara (Rising) of Thamar (Date Palm); and Perez fathered Esrom (Enclosed); and Esrom fathered Aram (High);

4 And Aram fathered Aminadab (One of the Prince’s People); and Aminadab fathered Naasson (Enchanter); and Naasson fathered Salmon (A Garment);

5 And Salmon fathered Boaz (In Him is Strength) of Rahab (Wide); and Boaz fathered Obed (Serving) of Ruth (Friend); and Obed fathered Jesse (Wealthy);

6 And Jesse fathered David (Beloved) the king; and David the king fathered Solomon (Peaceful) of her that had been the wife of Urias;

7 And Solomon fathered Roboam (Enlarger of the People); and Roboam fathered Abijah (My Father is Yah); and Abijah fathered Asa (Doctor);

8 And Asa fathered Josaphat (Whom Yahweh Judges); and Josaphat fathered Joram (Whom Yahweh Has Exalted); and Joram fathered Ozias (Strength of Yahweh);

9 And Ozias fathered Joatham (Yahweh is Upright); and Joatham fathered Achaz (Possessor); and Achaz fathered Hezekiah (The Might of Yahweh);

10 And Hezekiah fathered Manasses (Forgetting); and Manasses fathered Amon (Builder); and Amon fathered Josias (Whom Yahweh Heals);

11 And Josias fathered Jechonias (Whom Yahweh Establishes) and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:

12 And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias fathered Salathiel (I Have Asked of God); and Salathiel fathered Zorobabel (Born in Babylon);

13 And Zorobabel fathered Abiud (Father of Praise); and Abiud fathered Eliakim (God Rising); and Eliakim fathered Azor (Helper);

14 And Azor fathered Zadoc (Just); and Zadoc fathered Achim (The Lord Will Establish); and Achim fathered Eliud (God His Praise);

15 And Eliud fathered Eleazar (Help of God); and Eleazar fathered Matthan (Gift); and Matthan fathered Jacob (Heel-catcher or Supplanter);

16 And Jacob fathered Joseph (Let Him Add), the husband of Miriam (Rebel), of whom was born Jesus (Yahweh is Salvation) who is called Christ--the Anointed One.

17 So there are fourteen generations from Abraham to David, fourteen generations from David to the forced exodus to Babylon, and fourteen generations from that to the birth of the Messiah.

18 Now the circumstances of Jesus’ birth were these: While his mother Miriam was still engaged to Joseph--before they had formally been married--she, though a virgin, was found to be pregnant through the power of the Spirit of God.

19 Her fiancé Joseph, a just man (who was unwilling to put her through the public humiliation of the Sotah ceremony for alleged adulteresses), considered divorcing her quietly.

20 But while he was debating what to do about these things, the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a dream and said: Joseph, descendant of David--don’t hesitate to go through with this marriage to Miriam and take her as your wife, for her unborn child was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit.

21 She will give birth to a son whom you will name Yeshua (--or Jesus in the Greek tongue, which means ‘God is Salvation’--) because he will save his people from their sins.

22 This all happened so that a prophecy spoken by the Lord through the prophet Isaiah could come to pass:

23 Behold, a young (virgin) girl shall become pregnant, and give birth to a son that shall be called Emmanuel, which means ‘God is in our midst.'

24 Awakening, Joseph heeded the angel’s words and went through with the marriage.

25 But he did not sleep with Miriam at any time during the pregnancy, and finally a boy child was born whom Joseph named Yeshua (Jesus).

MATTHEW CHAPTER 2

1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the latter days of Herod the Great, some sages came to Jerusalem from the east.

2 They asked: Where is he who is born the King of the Jews? (In Babylon,) we saw his star in the sky proclaiming his birth, and have come to honor him.

3 When Herod the Great heard about this, he became nervous (for his throne), and all Jerusalem trembled with him.

4 So when Herod summoned the chief priests and Torah teachers among the people and demanded to know where the Messiah would be born,

5 They told him: Bethlehem in Judea, for the prophet Micah wrote:

6 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

7 Then Herod (--concerned about word of this child’s existence spreading--) secretly called the visiting sages and asked exactly when they had first seen the star.

8 (When they answered that it was around a year previously,) he then sent them to Bethlehem, saying: Search diligently for this young child, and let me know when and where you find him so I may go pay homage to him as well.

9 At Herod’s word they departed--and the star they had seen in the east moved before them, and led them to a house (in Bethlehem) where the young child was. And there it halted.

10 At seeing the star do this, the sages greatly rejoiced.

11 They came into the house and found the infant with his mother Miriam. They fell prostrate, reverencing him, and then they opened their packs and presented the family with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

12 God warned them in a dream not to go back to Herod, so they returned home by a different route.

13 After they left, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in another dream and told him: Get up, and take the young child and his mother to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you to return, for Herod will try to find and slay him.

14 As soon as the dream was over, Joseph awakened and wasted no time in leading his family out of Bethlehem, and they left that same night, fleeing westward to Egypt.

15 They were there until Herod died a short time later, so that a prophecy of the Lord through Hosea could be fulfilled that said: Out of Egypt have I called my son.

16 After Herod realized that the sages had gotten the better of him he was furious, and sent his men out to slay all the male children in and around Bethlehem who were around (one year old or younger, for the sages said it was around a year earlier that they had seen the star).

17 This was to fulfill a prophecy by Jeremiah the prophet:

18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

19 Herod died soon after this, and in Egypt an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in another dream,

20 Saying: Get up, and take the baby and his mother back to Israel, for the ones who wanted him dead are now dead themselves.

21 So Joseph arose, gathered up the young child and his mother, and they returned to the land of Israel.

22 But when he heard that Herod’s son Archelaus had taken the throne of Judea (--and was already showing himself to be a despot like his father--) he was afraid to go back. On top of that he had a dream from God not to go back as well, and so he turned aside to the region of Galilee.

23 Thus, Joseph came to settle in a hamlet called Nazareth, fulfilling what was said by the prophets: He shall be called a Nazarene.

MATTHEW CHAPTER 3

1 In the days when Jesus had grown to adulthood but still lived in Nazareth, John (--or Yochannon in the Hebrew tongue--) the Baptizer started his ministry in the Judean wilderness,

2 Saying: Repent, all of you, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand!

3 Now John was the one spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he wrote: The voice of one crying in the wilderness, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”

4 This same John (--as had Elijah in olden times--) dressed in a garment of camel’s hair with a leather girdle about his loins, and he ate (carob beans) and wild honey.

5 Everyone in Jerusalem, Judea, and in the region along the Jordan came,

6 And were baptized by him in the Jordan river, confessing their sins.

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees, (the religious leaders who controlled the synagogues,) and Sadducees, (the priests who controlled the great Temple,) come to his baptism, John railed against them, saying: You bunch of snakes! Who warned you to repent and escape God’s coming wrath?!

8 (Change your attitudes and the way that you act if you’ve come to repent!)

9 Don’t think to yourselves, We’re Abraham’s descendants (so we have nothing to fear)! I tell you God can take these rocks you see (--the ones erected by Joshua when the Israelites entered the Promised Land--) and turn them into children of Abraham if He wants to!

10 Be warned that God’s ax is ready to cut down the trees that bear no good fruit, therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and cast into the fire!

11 I am indeed baptizing you with mere water for repentance, but someone is coming after me--one whose sandals I am not even worthy to carry (as a slave would)--who will baptize with the Holy Spirit, and fire!

12 His fan is in his hand, ready to fan the harvest to separate the wheat and gather it into his barn, but the chaff (--John said about the Pharisees and Sadducees--) he will burn with a fire that will never go out!

13 Eventually, Jesus also came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.

14 But John tried to stop him, saying: I need you to baptize me, and yet you come to ask me to baptize you?

15 Jesus answered: Allow it, for we must do this to fulfill the plan of righteousness. So John baptized him.

16 When Jesus came up from the water, John had a vision of the heavens opening up and the Spirit of God descending and resting upon Jesus like a dove.

17 And a voice from heaven said: This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased!

MATTHEW CHAPTER 4

1 Then the Spirit of God led Jesus up into the desert to be tempted by the devil.

2 He fasted a full forty days and nights, and at the end was very hungry.

3 When the Tempter came to him (in his weakness), he said: If you’re really the Son of God, speak a miracle, and turn these rocks into bread.

4 But Jesus answered: It is written in the Scriptures that, Men shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that God speaks.

5 Next, the devil took Jesus to the holy city of Jerusalem and set him upon the pinnacle of the Temple.

6 He said: If you’re the Son of God, jump down--for it’s written in the Scriptures: He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

7 Jesus’ reply was: It is again written in the Scriptures, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

8 Then the devil took Jesus to a very high mountain and gave him a vision of all the world’s kingdoms and their glory.

9 He said to Jesus: All these (people and nations) I will give to you if, falling down, you will do an act of worship to me.

10 Then Jesus said to him: Get away, Satan! It is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve!

11 Then the devil left, and angels came and ministered to Jesus.

12 Now when Jesus heard that Herod Antipas had cast John into a dungeon, he went back to Galilee.

13 And after leaving Nazareth, he moved to Capernaum [the city of Nahum the prophet], which is on the coast of the Sea of Galilee in the regions assigned to the tribes of Zebulon and Napthali,

14 So a prophecy of Isaiah the prophet would be fulfilled:

15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;

16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

17 From that point forward, Jesus took up the message of John, preaching and proclaiming: Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand!

18 One day, Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee and saw two brothers--Shimon, called Peter, and Andrew his brother--who were casting a net into the great lake, for they were fishermen.

19 Jesus said to them: Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men!

20 So they immediately left their nets, and followed him.

21 Going along the shore, he found two other brothers, James and John, who were mending their fishing nets in a boat with their father Zebedee, and Jesus called them too.

22 So they immediately left the boat and their father, and followed Jesus.

23 Jesus then went all around the region of Galilee, teaching in the synagogues, preaching the “Good news” of the Messianic Kingdom, and healing all sorts of sickness and disease troubling the people.

24 Jesus’ reputation spread throughout all Syria, and the people flocked to him with all the sick people who were diseased or in pain; and others who were demon-possessed, insane, or paralyzed--and he healed them!

25 Because of this, massive crowds from Galilee, the “Ten Cities” region, Jerusalem, Judea, and other lands far beyond the Jordan, followed him wherever he went.

MATTHEW CHAPTER 5

1 And seeing the vast host of people, he went up upon a hill (so that his voice could be heard more clearly), and when he had sat down, his disciples came to him.

2 Then Jesus began to speak, and taught them, saying:

3 Blessed are those who are (humble and contrite), for theirs is Kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.

7 Blessed are those who show mercy to others, for they will have mercy shown to them.

8 Blessed are those with pure hearts, for they shall see God.

9 Blessed are those who work to bring peace to the earth, for they shall be called the children of God.

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for doing what is right, for the Kingdom of heaven awaits them.

11 Blessed are you when you’re slandered, persecuted, and lied about because you follow me.

12 Rejoice, and be very glad--for you have a great reward waiting for you in heaven since this is how the prophets were persecuted before you!

13 You are the salt of the earth. But if, like diluted salt, you lose that which makes you a force of seasoning and preservation, what good are you? You are no better than the salt that is strewn in the Temple courts during wintertime that men trample upon.

14 You are all lights in this world, and like a city that is built upon a hill you cannot hide what you are.

15 Men don’t light a candle and hide its light under a basket! They put it in a candlestick so everyone in the house is able to see in the darkness.

16 So let the light of God in you so shine that people will see your good deeds and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

17 Don’t misunderstand my purpose, for I have not come to distort or overturn the Law or the prophets [as some might be claiming]. I have not come to destroy, but to fulfill.

18 I assure you that if it takes to the end of time itself, not so little as one point of minutiae will pass from the commandments until the whole of the Law completes its ordained purpose.

19 So whoever breaks so little as one insignificant commandment, and teaches others some rationale for doing so, will be called the lowest of the low in the Kingdom of heaven! But whoever follows the commandments of God, and teaches others to follow them as well, shall be called a great man in the Kingdom of heaven.

20 For I say to you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of (hypocrites like) the Torah teachers and Pharisees, you have no chance of entering into the Kingdom of heaven.

21 For instance, you’ve heard it was said from ancient times, Thou shalt not kill, and whoever murders shall be in danger of the judgment…

22 But I want you to know that if you even hold a grudge against a brother in the community, you are in danger of the judgment! And if you verbally denounce a brother in the community, you may be taken to court for slander--but if you (pass judgment upon another person’s salvation or right standing with God when it is not your place to do so,) you are in danger of hellfire yourself!

23 Therefore, if you bring a sacrificial gift to the altar and there recall that a brother has something against you,

24 Leave your gift before the altar, go make amends with your brother, and then come back to make the gist offering.

25 If an adversary sues you, settle your debt before the judge intervenes even if it’s on the courthouse steps--because, if you’re in the wrong, the judge may hand you over to the jailer, and he will throw you into Debtor’s Prison!

26 I tell you truly, once the gavel comes down you won’t get out of prison until you find a way to pay off every cent of what you owe from behind bars. (And how could you do that, once you’re in prison?)

27 (With this in mind,) consider the fact that from days of old you’ve heard it said: Thou shalt not commit adultery.

28 But I want you to know that a person who simply looks upon another and fantasizes about them--even if it goes no further--is guilty of adultery in his heart so far as God is concerned (and a price must be paid for that sin)!

29 So if you can’t turn your right eye away from an attractive woman or man--pluck it out, and throw it away! It’s better to lose an eye than to have your whole body wind up in hell! (Where, like the man in Debtor’s Prison, you will stay until you’ve paid the full debt.)

30 As well, if your hand is used for your own lustful self-gratification--cut it off, and throw it away! Better to have no hand than to let your hand lead you to destruction, and your whole body wind up in hell! (Where, like the man in Debtor’s Prison, you will stay until you’ve paid the full debt from behind bars.)

31 It’s been said that, A man who wants to divorce his wife should write out a Bill of Divorce, and send her away.

32 But I tell you that as far as God is concerned, any man who divorces his wife for a reason other than her committing fornication, makes her, and anyone she subsequently marries, both adulterers (because God still considers her married to her first husband--and the man who divorced her to start with will be called to account for his action that caused two others to wind up in sin)!

33 You’ve heard it has been said by people since the olden days, You shall not swear falsely, but will carry out the oaths you make by invoking God as a witness.

34 But I tell you not to make vows at all! Do not swear, invoking heaven as a witness, for that is where God’s throne is.

35 Do not swear by anything upon the earth, for it is God’s footstool; nor should you swear by Jerusalem itself, for as the Psalm says, it is ‘the city of the Great King’ (--the Messiah).

36 Don’t even swear by your own head, because you can’t even make one hair white or black.

37 But just agree or disagree to a thing and leave it at that--because anything else is of the Evil One.

38 You’ve heard it said that it is acceptable to take reasonable vengeance for wrongs done to you--eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.

39 But I tell you, don’t take that attitude and resist evil done to you by someone. And if a person insults you, ignore it.

40 If anyone wants to sue you for your robe--hand over your cloak, too.

41 (If a Roman soldier invokes his right under their law, and compels you to carry his equipment for one mile--carry it for two miles!)

42 Give to anyone who asks, and don’t refuse someone who wants to borrow from you.

43 (You have heard the Essenes say:) “A man should love his neighbor, but hate his enemy.”

44 But I say to love your enemies as well, and bless those who curse you. Do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who take advantage of, or persecute you.

45 In doing this, you will be children of your Father in heaven, for He has the sun rise on the evil as well as the good, and sends rain to good people as well as bad.

46 For if you love only those who love you back, what reward is there in that? Even tax collectors (--the most hated people in our society--) do that!

47 And if you wish Godspeed only to those in your own circle of friends, how are you being any better than the tax collectors who do likewise?

48 By doing these things I’ve told you, you will demonstrate the attributes of your Father in heaven, and thus be perfect as He is perfect!

MATTHEW CHAPTER 6

1 Make sure that you never do a good deed publicly--to be praised by others--or your Father in heaven will not reward you!

2 When you give alms, don’t do it publicly as the hypocrites do, sounding a trumpet so that everyone in synagogues and the streets knows about it and thinks well of you! Those who do their good deeds publicly can count on nothing more than public praise as their only reward.

3 When you do something charitable, do it as secretly as you can, and then never give it another thought.

4 If you do things in secret, the day will come when your Father, who sees things done in secret, rewards you openly, before everyone.

5 Also, when you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who pray loudly and call attention to themselves in the synagogues and the street corners so people marvel at how religious they are! I tell you truly, they have all the reward they will ever get.

6 So when you pray to your Father, go do so in a private place, and shut the door so no one knows. Then your Father, who sees everything done in secret, shall reward you openly.

7 Also, when you pray, don’t be like the pagans who compose an hour-long monologue, thinking God will hear them because of all their words.

8 Don’t be like them--your Father knows what your needs are before you even ask!

9 Pray simply, like this: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

14 Remember--if you forgive men who do wrong to you, God will forgive your own sins that do wrong to Him!

15 But if you refuse to forgive those who wrong you, your Father will not forgive your wrongs either!

16 Also, when you undertake a fast, don’t be like the hypocrites who go around looking weak and sickly so everyone can see how religious they are. I want you to know that’s the only reward they’ll get!

17 So when you fast, (do it in such a way that you look perfectly normal),

18 So no one but your Father will know what you’re doing--and your Father, who sees everything done in secret, shall reward you openly.

19 Don’t set your sights on hoarding earthly wealth and possessions that can break, wear out, or be lost to thieves.

20 But set your sights on heaven (and the eternal), and store your treasure up there, where it can never be lost, stolen, or waste away.

21 For where your treasure is, your heart will be.

22 The body has good light to see by when a man has good eyesight. But a blind man can’t do anything but stumble around in darkness.

23 In the same way, if you have a (greedy, covetous heart), you are trapped in the darkness of spiritual blindness, and are much worse off than a simple blind man.

24 No man can be a slave to two masters; he must choose between them, and love the one while hating the other. So you cannot serve God (who wants you to be a giver), while at the same time you give in to the greedy acquisition of wealth (Satan) tempts you with.

25 This is why I tell you not to worry about your life, wondering what you’ll eat or drink; or worry about your body and what you will clothe it with. Isn’t life meant to be more than food, and the body more than clothing?

26 Look at the birds of the air--they don't buy and sell, or invest and profit. But your heavenly Father feeds them just the same. Don't you think you're more important than birds to Him?

27 Which of you, by worrying about it, can add even one hour to your life?

28 And why are you so worried about your clothing? Look at the beauty of the wild lilies growing around us--they don’t work for a living, nor do they spin cloth.

29 But I tell you, even King Solomon, in all his wealth and glory, wasn’t clothed in garments any more beautiful than the petals of these flowers (which God clothed them with).

30 So if God is concerned enough to clothe the grass in the field, which is here one day and used as kindling the next, why do you have no faith to believe He will clothe you without your minds constantly worrying about money, you doubters?

31 Therefore, stop worrying and saying things like, “What shall we eat?” “What shall we drink?” Or, “What shall we wear?”

32 For those are the sorts of things the pagans spend all their time worrying about! Your Father in heaven already knows you need these things.

33 But make your primary emphasis that of finding your part in God’s kingdom, and following after His righteousness. Then He will see to it you have all these other things.

34 So don’t spend your time worrying about tomorrow, because tomorrow is coming whether you worry about it or not. (God will help you deal with each day’s problems as they come.)

MATTHEW CHAPTER 7

1 Don‘t act as your own judge and jury, lest judgment came back upon you!

2 For God will judge you exactly the same way, and to the same degree, that you judge others!

3 And why do some of you think you can see a splinter in the eyes of your brother when you don’t realize there is actually a log in your own eye?!

4 How can you say to a brother in the community, “Let me pull that splinter out of your eye, friend,” when there’s a log in your own?!

5 You hypocrite--worry about removing the log of your own faults before you concern yourself with removing the splinter of your brother’s!

6 (Don’t give holy things--like the wisdom or oracles of God--to profane people who think they know it all, lest they trample them down and turn on you like a pack of hungry pigs!)

7 (Regarding prayer:) Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you.

8 For everyone who asks shall receive, and everyone who seeks shall find; and the door will be opened to him who knocks.

9 What man of you, for instance, if his son asked him for some bread would give him a rock to eat?

10 Or if he wanted a broiled fish, would hand him a snake?

11 If you fathers, being evil in comparison to your Father in heaven, bless your own children with good things--how much more is your Father wanting to bless with good things His own children who ask things of Him?

12 Therefore, treat everyone with the same goodness and respect you’d want them to treat you with, for this is whole point of the Law and the Prophets.

13 Enter through the small, narrow gate that is often ignored in favor of the wide, easy-to-pass-through gate, for the wide gate leads to destruction and many go through it.

14 You see, the way to life is through the narrow gate, but there are few who find and enter that gate.

15 Beware of false prophets who seem sincere, but inwardly are actually ravening wolves.

16 You’ll know them by the fruit of what they say and do. Grapes aren’t picked off thorn bushes, nor do figs sprout on weeds, do they?

17 Likewise, good trees bring forth good fruit, and rotten trees bring forth evil fruit.

18 A good tree cannot sprout bad fruit, and a rotten tree cannot sprout good fruit.

19 And rotten trees are cut down and burned up, because their fruit is good for nothing.

20 Thus, by the fruit of what they do, you shall know the good ministers from the bad.

21 Not everyone who pays lip service to me, saying, “Lord! Lord!” will enter the Kingdom of heaven--but only the person who does the will of my Father in heaven.

22 At the Last Judgment, many (who thought they were proclaiming my doctrine, but actually perverting it), and some who even cast out demons or worked miracles, thinking it was through my power, will say to me, “Lord! Lord! Haven’t we prophesied in your name, and cast out demons, and worked many miracles in your name?!”

23 But I will say back to them, “(I had no part with you!) Get out of my sight, you workers of iniquity!”

24 Thus, whoever hears, understands, and obeys my teachings, is like a wise man who built his house upon solid bedrock.

25 Rains, floods, and winds could not move the house because it was built on the perfect foundation.

26 But anyone who hears my teachings and ignores them is like a fool who built his house on a sandy flood plain.

27 The rain, floods, and winds came against the house and washed it away, and not a trace of it was left!

28 At the conclusion of Jesus’ speech, the people were amazed at his doctrines he taught.

29 For he taught with the assurance of someone with absolute authority (whose word was not subject to debate), rather than the Torah teachers (who would say this rabbi taught this, while that rabbi taught that, leaving the people to try to decide whose opinion was the right one).

MATTHEW CHAPTER 8

1 When Jesus descended the mountain, great crowds followed him.

2 Then a man whose skin was stricken with psoriasis or leprosy ran up and knelt at his feet, saying: Lord, if you want to, you can cleanse me of this defiling disease!

3 Jesus reached out and touched the man, saying: I want to--be cleansed from this ailment! And his skin disease was cleansed.

4 Then Jesus told him: Don’t tell anyone about this miracle, but go to the High Priest and offer up the Gift of Thanksgiving mandated for it in the Law of Moses. That will be a testimony to the Sadducees (about who I am, and that God does indeed do miracles--unlike what they have come to believe).

5 When Jesus entered into the city of Capernaum, a chief Roman centurion who’d heard of him urgently sought him out,

6 Saying: Lord, my slave lies gravely ill in my house, paralyzed and in anguish.

7 Jesus said: I will come and heal him.

8 But the centurion answered: Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter into my house. Just command the healing be done, and my slave will be healed.

9 For I am a man under authority, with other soldiers under me, and when I give an order to someone there is no question of its being carried out--I know it will be done. I say, “Go!” and one goes; or “Come!” and one comes; or “Do this!” to a servant, and he obeys.

10 Jesus couldn’t believe his ears, and exclaimed to those following along: Truly I say that I have yet to find a Jew in Israel with faith this strong!

11 And I say to you that many (Gentiles) shall come from the east and the west, and rest alongside Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Messianic Kingdom.

12 But the children for whom the Kingdom was created will be cast out of God’s presence into outer darkness where they shall weep and gnash their teeth.

13 Jesus then said to the centurion: Go your way--as you have believed, it will be done! And the (boy) was healed in the same hour!

14 Now when Jesus came into Peter’s house he saw the mother of Peter’s wife in bed, sick with a bad fever.

15 He touched her hand, and immediately the fever vanished. Then the woman got up and prepared food for them.

16 When the sun went down, they brought many people to the house that were plagued by demons, and he cast them out by his command and healed all the people who were sick.

17 This fulfilled a prophecy by Isaiah the prophet: Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

18 When Jesus saw what a commotion was being made over him by the crowd, he told the disciples they should all cross to the other side of the lake.

19 As he was departing, a certain Torah teacher came up and said: Master, I will follow you wherever you go.

20 But Jesus replied: Foxes have dens, birds of the air have nests--but the Son of Man has not so little as a tent to sleep in. (Are you really prepared for the cost of following me?)

21 Another disciple said: Lord--let bury my father first, and then I will come.

22 But Jesus told him: Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead!

22 (Alternate reading--Aramaic): But Jesus told him: Follow me, and let the town bury their dead!

23 Then Jesus entered a boat, and his disciples followed.

24 After they departed, a great storm arose in the Sea of Galilee that threatened to swamp the ship. But Jesus was asleep through it.

25 So the disciples awakened him and cried out: Lord--we’re going to drown! Save us!

26 Jesus replied: Why are you afraid, you doubters? Then he stood up in the boat, rebuked the wind and waves, and everything became completely calm.

27 Those aboard were dumbfounded, and said: What sort of man is this that he commands even (the forces of nature)?!

28 And when he crossed over to the region of the Gergesenes, he encountered two demon-possessed men coming out of the tombs, who haunted the graveyards like ghouls, and no one dared travel near them.

29 The demons in them shouted out: What are you here for, Jesus, Son of God? Are you come to torment us before the time of the final Judgment?

30 Now in the distance was a huge herd of pigs feeding.

31 So the demons implored Jesus, saying: If you cast us out, at least send us into those (unclean) pigs (instead of casting us into perdition)!

32 Jesus to them: Go. So the demons left the men and possessed the herd of pigs, driving them off a cliff and into the lake where they drowned.

33 The flock’s keepers ran away and spread word of what happened at the nearby town--how that the two demon-possessed men had been delivered, and the herd of pigs sent into the lake.

34 And the whole city (--afraid--) came out to meet Jesus. But when they saw him, they urged him to go somewhere else and leave them alone.

MATTHEW CHAPTER 9

1 So Jesus returned to the boat and crossed back to Capernaum.

2 Some people there brought up an infirmed man confined to a bed, hoping Jesus would heal him. Noting their faith, Jesus looked at the man and said: Cheer up, Son--the sins that caused this disease are forgiven.

3 This statement was an affront to some of the Torah teachers who were present, and they thought to themselves, This man is a blasphemer (to put himself in the place of God, and forgive someone’s sins)!

4 Jesus knew what they were thinking, and he asked: Why are you thinking evil in your hearts?

5 Is it any easier (--or any less the province of God--) to tell someone his sins are forgiven, than it is to tell an infirmed man to get up and walk?

6 But that you may know that I, the Son of Man (--the bar Enash prophesied of by Daniel--) have the authority on earth to forgive sins, I say to this sick man: Arise, and carry your bed back home!

7 So the man got up and went home!

8 When the people saw this miracle they were amazed, and rejoiced that God had visited them in such a manner, and given such power to man.

9 Now as Jesus passed the city gates, he saw a tax collector named (Matthew) sitting at the collection table, and he told him: Follow me! So (Matthew) left his table behind and followed him.

10 Jesus spent the night at (Matthew’s) house, and when dinner was served many of the tax collectors under (Matthew’s) control, and many non-religious friends of his as well, sat down with Jesus and his disciples.

11 But when some Pharisees saw this, they asked the disciples: Why is your rabbi eating with these turncoat tax collectors and those other sinners?!

12 When Jesus heard that, he replied: The healthy aren’t the ones who need a doctor--it’s the sick!

13 Go and learn what the Scripture means when God says: I desire mercy, not sacrifice. You see, I’m not here to call righteous men to repentance; I’m here to reach the sinners!

14 Then some of John the Baptist’s followers asked Jesus: Why do we and the Pharisees fast (and afflict our souls) regularly, but your disciples do not?

15 Jesus answered: Do groomsmen mourn at a wedding when the bridegroom is present? But eventually the bridegroom will be taken away from them and then they will fast (and mourn).

16 Also, no one sews a patch of brand new cloth on an old article of clothing, for the mixture of old and new cannot survive the process of washing, and will come apart.

17 Nor do men put fermenting wine in a stiff old wineskin that can crack and spill the contents out. You put new wine into a new wineskin and this keeps both safe.

18 While Jesus was speaking, a head of the local synagogue rushed up and knelt down, saying: My daughter has died, but come touch her, and she will live.

19 So Jesus got up and followed the man back to his house along with his disciples.

20 But as he went, a woman who had suffered a uterine discharge for twelve years hurried up from behind and touched the hem of his prayer shawl.

21 For she said to herself, If I can only touch his clothing, I will be made whole!

22 Jesus turned and saw her. Then he said: Daughter, don’t be afraid (of what you have risked by touching me in the state you are in). Your faith has cured you! And indeed, the woman was made whole from that very hour.

23 Jesus finally made it to the synagogue leader’s house where a loud mourning party of minstrels and others had assembled.

24 He said to the people: Move out! This girl is not dead, but only asleep. But the people laughed in derision.

25 So Jesus had the mourners expelled from the house, then he went inside and took the child by the hand, and she arose.

26 And the tale of this miracle spread throughout the region.

27 When Jesus left the house, a couple of blind men followed along behind, crying out: Son of David--have mercy on us!

28 After Jesus returned to (Matthew’s) house, the two came inside and Jesus asked them: Do you believe I am able to restore your sight? They said: Yes, Lord!

29 He touched each man’s eyes and said: Let it be done to you as you have believed.

30 Then they could see again, and Jesus sternly ordered them: Don’t tell anyone about this miracle!

31 But the two couldn’t contain their excitement, and after leaving spread word throughout the region what had happened.

32 (Things got so chaotic that Jesus and the disciples left town.) As they were departing, someone brought a man to be healed who had been struck dumb by a demon.

33 After Jesus cast the demon out of him the man was able to speak, and the crowds were amazed once again. They said: Israel has never seen anything like this!

34 But the Pharisees said: He is casting out demons because Beelzebub, Prince of demons, is empowering him!

35 Jesus went everywhere, teaching in the synagogues the good news that the Messianic Kingdom had come, and healing every sickness he came upon.

36 When Jesus saw the vast host of people, he was moved with compassion because they were so desperate to see him that they were getting sick from hunger and lack of water, like sheep with no shepherd to watch after them.

37 He told the disciples: The harvest is rich, but there aren’t enough workers to harvest the crops!

38 Pray to the Lord of the Harvest to send workers to bring His harvest in!

MATTHEW CHAPTER 10

1 And when Jesus called his twelve disciples to him, he gave them authority against demonic spirits, to cast them out, and also gave them the power to heal all sickness and disease.

2 These were the names of his twelve apostles: First was Shimon, who is also called Peter. Then Andrew his brother; and James and John, the sons of Zebedee;

3 Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew the tax collector, James, son of Alphaeus, Lebbaeus (Jude), who is surnamed Thaddeus,

4 Simon the Cananean, and finally Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

5 Jesus sent these twelve out, telling them: Don’t go into any Gentile areas or Samaritan cities.

6 Go instead, he said, to the lost sheep of the House of Israel.

7 As you go, preach: The Kingdom of heaven is at hand!

8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, and cast out demons. Take no money for what you do, for freely you have received, so freely give!

9 Don’t even take any money with you when you start out,

10 Nor take a sack, extra clothing, shoes or staffs on your journey, for the laborer deserves his pay. (Your needs will be met as they arise.)

11 Whatever city you enter, ask around until you find a just family of good reputation to lodge with, and stay there until you move on.

12 When you enter a house pronounce a blessing of peace upon it.

13 And if the household is worthy let your blessing remain. If it is not worthy let your blessing of peace return to you.

14 And if anyone doesn’t allow you into their home or their city, or if they reject what you say, shake the dust off your shoes as you leave.

15 Believe me--God will show more mercy to the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah on Judgment Day than He will to that town!

16 I am sending you out as sheep marching toward waiting wolves, so use your heads and be wise as serpents, but also be gentle as doves.

17 Watch out for (unbelieving) men, for they will haul you before religious tribunals, and have you beaten in their synagogues.

18 You will also be brought in front of the chief rulers of both the Jews and the Gentiles because of your commitment to me, and then you will testify of me to them.

19 But when this happens, don’t plan out your strategy for answering the charges that will be brought against you, for the words you will need to say will be provided to you at the right time.

20 They will come from the Spirit of your Father in heaven, and not from your own mind.

21 (Over me,) brother will betray brother to death, father will betray child, and children will betray their parents and cause them to be put to death.

22 Everyone will hate you because of who and what I am, and what I stand for--but he that endures to the end will be saved.

23 When they persecute you in one city, flee to another, for you will not have time to reach every city in Israel before the Son of Man arrives!

24 A student is not greater then his teacher, nor is a slave greater than his master.

25 It is enough that the student be like his master, and the slave like his lord. If they call the Master “Beelzebub,” how much more will they denigrate those of his household in the same way?

26 But don’t fear them (--since you will be vindicated, and they condemned, in the end: for the truth behind all men’s deeds and motivations will be shown clearly for what they are).

27 What I tell you in secret, speak openly. What I whisper to you, shout from the housetops.

28 Don’t fear those who can only kill your body, but not your soul--fear only God, who can destroy body and soul in hell!

29 Aren’t a couple of sparrows sold for pocket change? But your Father knows when one of them falls from the sky, and dies.

30 God knows you so well that He can even tell you how many hairs are on your head.

31 So don’t worry, for you mean more to God than many sparrows.

32 If someone admits he is one of mine before men, I will admit he is one of mine to my Father in heaven.

33 But if someone denies he is one of mine to men, I will deny he is one of mine to my Father in heaven.

34 Don’t assume I’m here to bring forth the universal peace to the earth you’ve been taught the Messianic Age will see. (For now,) I am not here to bring peace, but to wield a sword!

35 For I am come to set a son against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a wife against her husband’s mother.

36 Because of me, a man’s greatest enemies will live in his own house with him!

37 But he who loves his father or mother, or son or daughter more than me is unworthy of me.

38 And whoever does not take up his cross and follow me (--enduring the persecution of standing for me--) is unworthy of me.

39 He who compromises, and finds some way to save his life, shall in the end lose it. And he who gives his life up for me shall find true life.

40 Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me; and if he welcomes me he welcomes Him who sent me.

41 He who welcomes a prophet because of what he is, receives the same reward as the prophet he honors. He who shows hospitality to a righteous man, gains the reward of a righteous man.

42 Any disciple who does so little as give a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers shall in no way lose his reward.

MATTHEW CHAPTER 11

1 Having commissioned his twelve disciples, Jesus departed to teach and preach in their various Galilean cities.

2 Meanwhile John, who was locked up in prison, heard about the things the Messiah was doing (along with his teachings against violence), and so he sent two of his disciples.

3 They said to Jesus: John asks whether you are the only Messiah, or whether another Messiah is coming after you (who will actually be the one to usher in the complete fullness of the Messianic Kingdom).

4 Jesus answered in reply: Go and tell John what you’ve seen and heard.

5 Tell him the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the Gospel preached to them.

6 And blessed is he who does not stumble in his faith (if I don’t do what he wants or expects me to).

7 As they left, Jesus said to the multitudes about John: What did you expect when you went into the wilderness to see John? (Someone whose word would change with the shifting winds of popular opinion like a reed shaking back and forth in the wind?)

8 Or some man dressed in expensive, comfortable attire? No--people who dress like nobles live in kings’ castles.

9 But what was it that you went out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you--and much more than a prophet!

10 For John was the one Malachi foretold of when he wrote: Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

11 I tell you truly, of every child ever born to a woman, there has never been a more important one than John the Baptist. Even so, the lowest-ranking person in the Messianic Kingdom is greater than he is (--and this is how much greater the covenant about to be instituted is than even the covenant under which John functions).

12 (And from the time of John’s appearance to now, Satan has done all he can to keep the Messianic Kingdom from taking root, but it has forcefully sprouted just the same.)

13 For all the prophets and the Law of Moses pointed to the day John would arrive and herald the Kingdom.

14 And if you can accept it, John is Elijah, who was expected to appear before the Messiah himself.

15 If you can understand what I am saying, good!

16 Yet to what can I liken those of this generation who have heard the Message? They are like childish brats in the marketplace, whining out to each other:

17 “You didn’t dance to our wedding march, so we played a funeral dirge, and you wouldn’t mourn in response to that either. (What’s your problem?)”

18 For John was (a Nazirite,) living a Spartan existence and avoiding food and wine, and they said, “He is insane!”

19 But then the Son of Man came, willing to eat and drink, and yet they complain, “He is a gluttonous drunkard who wants to get in good with tax collectors and sinners!” As wise people show what they are by what they say and do, so witless people do likewise!

20 Then he began to criticize the cities where he had done the most miraculous deeds, because they would not repent:

21 Woe to you Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented to a man in goatskin and ashes (and their cities would have been spared).

22 I say to you that the sinners of Tyre and Sidon will see less punishment than you will at the Day of Judgment!

23 And you, Capernaum--will you be exalted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to hell, because if the same things had been done in Sodom it would be standing to this day!

24 I promise you that Sodom will get off easier than you will on the Day of Judgment!

25 At that time Jesus prayed, saying: I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you hid these truths from the intellectuals and the clever, revealing them instead to the simple.

26 Yes, Father, for it seemed good in Your sight to do so.

27 The Father has given me all power and authority, but none of you really knows who or what the Son is, but the Father does. And none of you knows who or what the Father is but the Son, and whoever else the Son chooses to reveal Him to.

28 Come to me, all you who work and are wearied--and I will give you rest.

29 Cast off your single-ox yoke, and take my double-ox yoke upon you, and learn from me--for I am gentle and humble in heart (and will do all the heavy work, that your soul may find rest).

30 Because my burden is not one where you do the work; I am the one who shoulders the burden for you, and thus my yoke is a pleasure to bear!

MATTHEW CHAPTER 12

1 Shortly thereafter, Jesus and his disciples happened to pass through a wheat field on a day that happened to be a Sabbath (for the Feast of Unleavened Bread). The disciples being hungry, they (--but not Jesus--) began to pick some kernels of wheat to snack on.

2 When some Pharisees saw this, they accosted Jesus and said: Look there--your disciples are violating the Sabbath by harvesting grain!

3 But Jesus answered: Did you never read what David did when he and his men were running from King Saul and were hungry?

4 How he entered into the Tent Tabernacle and ate the shewbread, which was unlawful for him and his men to eat, but was supposed to be for the priests only? (And was God mad at that?)

5 Or have you not read in the Torah how the priests in the Temple must work on the Sabbath, attending to their duties, but yet are blameless for that?

6 But I say to you that someone greater than even the Temple is here before you.

7 And again, if you understood the verse--I desire mercy, not sacrifice--you would not have criticized those who have not done wrong in God's eyes.

8 For the Son of Man is even Lord of the Sabbath (and can authoritatively declare what is and is not permissible on that day).

9 Now after leaving, he entered into a synagogue under control of these (Shammaiite) Pharisees.

10 A man was present who had a deformed hand, and the Pharisees asked Jesus: Is it Lawful to heal non-life-threatening disease on the days of Rest? They hoped to have something to use against him if he answered yes.

11 But Jesus replied: Which among you, if he has a sheep fall into a pit on the Sabbath, won’t break the Sabbath by lifting it out (even though lifting or carrying a burden is a violation of the Sabbath laws)?

12 How much more precious is a human than a sheep? Thus, it follows that to do a good deed on the Sabbath (--like healing--) does not violate it.

13 Then he said to the man: Stretch out your hand! The man did, and it was restored whole, just like the other one.

14 (Enraged at this,) the Pharisees then went out and held a meeting, debating how to destroy Jesus.

15 But when word reached Jesus about it, he left the area and the multitudes went with him--and he healed them all.

16 He told them, however, not to spread word of what he was doing.

17 This was to fulfill a prophecy of Isaiah’s:

18 Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.

19 He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.

20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.

21 And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.

22 Then a man who had been struck dumb and blind by a demon was brought to him, and Jesus healed this mute blind man to the extent that he could speak and see!

23 And all the people were amazed, and said: Is this not the Messiah ben David?!

24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they responded: This man casts out demons only because Beelzebub, the Prince of demons, is enabling him to!

25 But Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said to them: Every nation divided by civil war and infighting will fall. Every city or family divided against itself will not stand.

26 If Satan is casting his own demons out, then he is at war with his own forces, so how can his kingdom possibly survive?

27 And if my power comes from Beelzebub, where does your (Pharisee Movement‘s) power come from? (In other words, when is the last time any of you cast out a demon by God‘s power? The answer is, of course, that you can‘t cast demons out at all!) So these fleeing demons are showing who really is, and is not, of God!

28 And if I therefore am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God is apparently before you right now.

29 Otherwise, how can someone go into the house of a strong man and rob his goods unless he first overpowers and ties the man up, leaving him free to strip the place clean?

30 Anyone who is not with me is against me; and he who does not gather with me is helping to scatter the harvest.

31 Because of this (--because you are either helping or opposing me--) I say to you that God will forgive all sorts of sin and blasphemous words. But to (knowingly denounce the redeeming power of God as Satanic) will not be forgiven men!

32 And whoever curses or speaks out against the Son of Man--it will be forgiven him. But whoever curses and opposes God’s Spirit shall not find forgiveness in this Age or the next!

33 Either make the tree of your heart good, and its fruit good; or make the tree of your heart evil and its fruit evil, for the tree is revealed by its fruit.

34 You generation of snakes! How can anyone ever hope to hear anything edifying come out of you and your Movement? The mouth speaks what is in the heart (and all you have in your hearts is venom)!

35 A good man with a good heart brings forth good things, just as an evil man with an evil heart brings forth evil things as the fruit of what lives inside of him.

36 I want you to know that at the Last Judgment, a man will give account for every offhand word he ever spoke.

37 For your words either will justify or condemn you!

38 Then some other Torah teachers and (Hillelite) Pharisees spoke up in response, saying: Teacher, we would see a sign from you (proving that you really speak for God).

39 But he answered: An evil and spiritually-defiled generation wants a sign, and the only sign it will get is that of the prophet Jonah.

40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the fish’s belly (and then came out), the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth (and will then come out).

41 The (Gentile) men of Nineveh will stand as judges over this generation, for they all repented at Jonah’s preaching--and one greater than Jonah stands before you now!

42 The Queen of Sheba (--a Gentile--) shall rise up at the Last Judgment and condemn this generation, because she traveled all the way from Ethiopia to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and yet one greater than Solomon is here before you.

43 (Learn a lesson from demons!) When a demon is gone from a man, it wanders the deserts, hoping to find some place of rest. But finding none,

44 He says to himself, “I’ll go back to the one I left!” So he returns and finds the man he once possessed cleansed from his presence.

45 Then the demon goes and finds seven demons even more evil than himself to come and possess the man, bringing him under their total domination and making him worse off than he ever was before! I therefore warn you that this wicked generation shall be just as controlled by Satan (because it wants to believe a lie instead of the truth)!

46 While Jesus was talking to the people like this, his mother and brethren were outside trying to get near enough to speak to him.

47 Someone told Jesus: Your mother and brethren are outside, and want to speak to you.

48 But Jesus answered: Who is my mother and brethren?

49 Then he gestured toward his disciples, and said: Here is my mother and brethren!

50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, my sister, and my mother!

MATTHEW CHAPTER 13

1 The same day, Jesus left the house he was staying at and sat down by the shore of the Sea of Galilee.

2 Hosts of people crowded around him and he had to sit in a boat and speak from a few yards out in the water as the crowd stood on the shore.

3 Much of his teaching was in telling stories with a moral, such as this one: A farmer went out to sow some seed in a field.

4 As he cast it forth, some seeds fell outside the tilled ground and the birds ate the seeds up.

5 Some fell on rocky ground, and they did initially grow, but they had no deep roots because of the shallow soil.

6 When the sun got hot they withered up because their roots were so shallow.

7 Other seeds fell into thorny weeds and were choked by thorn bushes.

8 But some seeds fell into the tilled soil, grew, and eventually gave good fruit. Some had bountiful fruit; some had a lot of fruit; and some had a little fruit.

9 He who is able to understand, let him understand.

10 Later, the disciples came and asked him: Why do you talk to the people in stories (instead of just speaking plainly)?

11 He answered back: Because you are the ones who have been appointed to hear the mysteries of the Messianic Kingdom in a clear, unambiguous manner. The crowds haven’t been given this privilege.

12 For whoever is able to understand will see his enlightenment continue to grow, while anyone who does not understand will lose what little understanding he may already have.

13 Thus, I speak to the crowds in stories (to illustrate that their stubbornness and spiritual blindness makes them unable to understand my words).

14 In these people is fulfilled what Isaiah prophesied about when he said: By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

16 But blessed are your eyes, for they can see, and blessed are your ears, for they can hear.

17 For truly I tell you that many prophets and righteous men of history looked for the day when the things you see and hear would arrive, but they died without seeing it.

18 So now I will tell you what this parable of the Sower meant:

19 When anyone hears the Message of the Kingdom, but does not understand it, (the devil) comes and takes away the seed of truth that started to grow in his heart. This represents the seeds that fell on the hard ground instead of the tilled soil.

20 The seed that fell onto rocky ground represents people who initially hear the Gospel and enthusiastically respond to it,

21 But they have no strong commitment, and when trials or persecution arise in opposition to the Message they quickly fall away.

22 The seed that fell into the thorn bushes are those who hear the Gospel but still make wealth and having a good life their priority, and thus they never grow any spiritual fruit in their lives because the Message is choked off by their greed.

23 The seeds that fell into the tilled soil represent people who hear and understand the Gospel, making a commitment to it. People like this always bear spiritual fruit, whether bountiful, a lot, or a little.

24 Jesus then spoke another parable: The Kingdom of heaven can be likened to a man who sowed wheat seed in a field.

25 But while everyone was asleep one night, his enemy secretly came and sowed darnel (--which looks like wheat--) in the same field, then went on his way.

26 When the wheat grew and bore fruit, the darnel did likewise.

27 So the field hands came to their master, and said, “Sir, didn’t you sow wheat in this field? Where did the darnel come from?”

28 He replied, “An enemy must have done this (trying to spoil the harvest).” The servants then asked, “Do you want us to go pluck up the weeds?”

29 But he said, “No--lest you pull up some of the wheat along with the weeds.

30 “Let both grow together until harvest time, then I’ll give the reapers the order to pull the bad plants up and tie them into bundles to be burned up. The wheat can then be gathered and stored in the granary.”

31 Jesus spoke another parable: The Kingdom of heaven is likened to a single mustard seed that a man sowed in his field.

32 Even though a mustard seed is one of the smallest of all seeds, it is one of the largest herb plants, and when mature becomes a tree that birds may nest in.

33 This was yet another parable: The Kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman mixed into three cups of flour (until the dough grew so large it practically overflowed the bowl)!

34 All these points of spiritual truth Jesus imparted to the crowds in parables, and without using parables he did not speak.

35 This fulfilled what the prophet said in the Psalms: I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

36 Then Jesus dismissed the crowds and went back into the house. The disciples then came, saying: Explain to us the story about the darnel in the wheat field.

37 He answered them: The man who sowed the wheat in the field represents me, the Son of Man.

38 The field itself is the world, and the good seed the children of God’s Kingdom. The darnel are the children of Satan (masquerading as true wheat).

39 The enemy that sowed the darnel is the devil. The harvest spoken of is the end of the world, and the reapers are the angels.

40 As in real life darnel is bundled up and cast into the fire, so it will be at the end of this world.

41 The Son of Man will send forth his angels to remove everything in his Kingdom that causes men to stumble, and all those who live in unrepentant sin,

42 And they shall be cast into the furnace of hell’s fire, where there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

43 After that, the righteous shall shine as bright as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. If anyone can understand--then understand!

44 The Kingdom of heaven is also like a pot of gold buried in a field that a man happened to stumble upon. Elated, he reburied the gold and sold everything he owned to buy the field and keep the treasure.

45 It’s also like a jeweler who sought quality pearls,

46 Who--when he found a flawless pearl of utter perfection--sold everything he had to acquire it.

47 The Kingdom of heaven is also like a net that was cast into the ocean, and gathered up a wide variety of fish.

48 When it was full, they drew the net to shore and began sorting the catch, tossing the good fish into baskets while throwing the bad fish away.

49 It will be likewise at the end of the world: The angels shall come out and separate the bad men from the good,

50 And will cast the bad into the furnace of hell’s fire, where there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

51 Jesus asked: Have you understood what I have been teaching in all this? The disciples answered: Yes, we have, Lord.

52 Jesus said: Every Torah teacher who adds my teachings to the knowledge he already has about God’s Kingdom is like a man with a warehouse in which are stored precious commodities both old and new.

53 After Jesus had finished these parables, he left the area.

54 When he returned to Nazareth, he taught at the synagogue and everyone was astounded, asking: Where did this man get all this ability to preach? And what about these miracles they say he does?

55 Isn’t he the same Jesus whose father was a carpenter (or stone mason)? Isn’t his mother named Miriam, and doesn’t he have kinsmen here--James, Joses, Simon, and Jude?

56 Don’t his sisters live hereabouts? So how did he gain such knowledge, ability, and notoriety?

57 And they were offended (at his presumption to speak with such apparent authority). Jesus noted: A prophet is honored everywhere but in his own town amongst his own acquaintances and family.

58 So he would not do any great miracles there because they would not believe in him.

MATTHEW CHAPTER 14

1 It was about this time that Herod Antipas heard the commotion about Jesus,

2 And he said to his staff: This must be John the Baptist risen from the dead, and that’s why such miracles are coming forth from him!

3 For Herod had chained and imprisoned John earlier because the Baptist had denounced him for marrying Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife (after the woman used Roman law to divorce her husband).

4 John pointed out: The Law of Moses does not permit a man to marry a woman who divorces her husband through Gentile law!

5 Though Herod would have silenced John for good, he was afraid of sparking a revolution because the multitude revered the Baptist as a prophet.

6 But when Herod was celebrating his birthday, Salome, the daughter of his wife Herodias (and Salome’s uncle Boethus/Philip) did an erotic dance that pleased Herod,

7 Who blurted out a vow that he would give her anything she asked for.

8 Having been instructed earlier on what to say by her mother, she told Herod: Give me John the Baptizer’s head on a platter!

9 Herod was immediately sorry for his blunder, but to keep from losing face before his court, he did as she asked and commanded John’s head be brought and given to her.

10 So he had John’s head cut off down in the dungeon.

11 His head was brought to court on a platter and given to the adolescent girl, who passed it on to her mother.

12 John’s disciples came for his body and then buried it. Afterward, they came and told Jesus what had happened.

13 When Jesus heard that John was dead, he took a boat to an isolated spot, but the people heard about it and left the cities to walk to where he was.

14 Going forth, Jesus saw the host of desperate people, and compassionately healed their sick.

15 As the sun was going down, the disciples came to him and said: It’s getting late and this is a wilderness. Dismiss the crowd, and tell them to go to the local villages and buy food.

16 But Jesus replied: They need not leave--you feed them!

17 They said back: With what? We have only five barley loaves and a couple of fish!

18 Jesus said: Bring them over to me.

19 Then Jesus had the crowd sit in the field, and he took up the five loaves and two fish. Looking up to heaven, he then blessed God and broke the loaves up, distributing the pieces to the disciples who, in turn, handed them out to the people.

20 There was enough for all, and everyone ate until they were full. The leftovers even filled twelve baskets!

21 The crowd numbered five thousand men, not counting women and children!

22 Just after this, Jesus had the disciples depart by boat while he sent the crowds away.

23 After dismissing the crowds, Jesus went up alone into the hills to pray for part of the night.

24 But a storm was arising and the boat with the disciples was having a hard time on the Sea of Galilee, for the wind was against them.

25 Around 3 AM, Jesus came out to the boat, walking upon the water!

26 When the disciples saw this, they panicked and screamed out in fear: It’s a ghost!

26 When the disciples saw this, they screamed out in fear: “It’s a ghost!”

27 But Jesus immediately shouted to them: Don’t worry--it’s me, so don’t be afraid!

28 Peter shouted back: Lord, if it’s really you, bid me to come walk out on the water to you!

29 Jesus said: Come on then! So Peter swung his legs over the side of the boat and began to walk out to Jesus.

30 But when the shrieking wind caused him to become afraid, he started to sink down into the waves and cried out: Lord, save me!

31 Instantly, Jesus came and pulled him back up, saying: O you man of little faith! Why did you stop believing and let doubt defeat you?

32 When they got back to the ship, the wind calmed down.

33 Then those aboard the ship did obeisance, and said: Of a truth, you are (the Messiah and king of Israel)!

34 When they reached shore, they were again in the land of Gennesaret.

35 This time, when people thereabouts found out, everyone brought the sick and diseased.

36 And these came, wanting just to touch the tassels of his prayer shawl, and everyone who did that was completely healed and restored to vigor.

MATTHEW CHAPTER 15

1 Then some Pharisees and Torah teachers from Jerusalem (--who followed the teachings and traditions of Shammai--) came up to Jesus, saying:

2 Why do your disciples transgress rabbinic tradition by not performing the ceremonial hand washing before they eat bread?!

3 But Jesus shot back: Why do you transgress the commandments of God with your rabbinic tradition?

4 For God commanded: See to the needs of your father and mother; and, Anyone who curses his father or mother must be stoned.

5 But your oral rulings on the Law say: If a man donates his money and goods to the Temple (remaining only an overseer of them),

6 He is absolved from the responsibility of using his resources to aid his parents if they need it. Thus, the commandment (--which is far more important than your traditions--) is nullified.

7 You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

10 Jesus then called the multitude and said: Listen and understand!

11 (It’s not things like eating food that isn’t prepared according to strict rabbinic requirements, or eating without first saying this prayer or that, which really defile a person!) What defiles a person is what comes out of him, not what goes into him!

12 Then the disciples came up and said: Don’t you realize the Pharisees were offended when they heard you say those things?

13 But Jesus answered: Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be plucked up by the roots!

14 Let those Pharisees be--they are blind leaders leading blind followers, and when the blind lead the blind they both fall into a ditch.

15 Then Peter spoke to Jesus, saying: Tell us what you meant by what really defiles a person.

16 Jesus replied: Do you all still lack understanding?

17 Do you not comprehend by now that anything you eat passes through your body and eventually goes out into the sewer?

18 But the words that come out of a man are from what lives in his heart--and it’s the words someone speaks that can make a man impure in God’s eyes.

19 For it’s from the heart that evil thoughts, murder, sexual sin, thievery, lies, and blasphemous speech come--

20 And these are what really make a man impure. But to eat without saying a blessing and performing a ritual hand washing does not make a man impure.

21 Then Jesus departed into the area of Tyre and Sidon.

22 There, a Canaanite woman followed after Jesus, crying out: Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! A demon has grievously vexed my little girl!

23 Jesus ignored her, but eventually the disciples became irritated with her and urged Jesus, saying: Tell her to get lost--she’s driving us crazy by following along, begging us!

24 So Jesus answered the woman and said: I have been sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (and not to the Gentiles).

25 Then the woman fell down in obeisance at Jesus’ feet, and begged: Lord, help me!

26 But Jesus answered: It is not appropriate to take the children’s food and toss it to the puppies to eat.

27 She said in response: That may be true, Lord--but even the puppies are fed a few scraps from their master’s table!

28 Then Jesus answered: O woman, you have great faith! Let your request be granted. And the woman’s daughter was made whole from that very hour.

29 Jesus then left the area and returned to the Sea of Galilee where he selected a mountain to sit at.

30 Great multitudes of people came to him with the lame, the blind, the mute, the maimed, and many others that they laid at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them.

31 He healed so many that the multitudes were amazed at seeing mute people speak, maimed people with their limbs back, lame people walking, and blind people recovering their sight. And they glorified the God of Israel.

32 Then Jesus called his disciples to him and told them: I am worried for the people because they have been with me for three days without food. I don’t want to send them away hungry, lest they get sick on the way home.

33 The disciples answered: Where would we get enough bread out here in the wilderness to feed so many?

34 Jesus asked: How many loaves have you? They answered: Seven, and some small fish.

35 So Jesus commanded the people to sit down.

36 Then he took the loaves and fish, blessed God, then handed them out to the disciples who took the food to the people.

37 And everyone ate until they were full, and they had seven basketfuls left over!

38 This crowd consisted of four thousand men, not counting women and children!

39 After Jesus sent the crowds away, he got in a boat and went to (the notorious city of) Magdala, and the region around it.

MATTHEW CHAPTER 16

1 The Pharisees, now joined by some Sadducee priests from the Temple, approached Jesus, challenging him to show a sign from heaven (to prove his legitimacy).

2 He answered them: If the sky at sundown is red, you say there will be good weather the next morning.

3 If it’s red and overcast at dawn, you say the weather will be bad. You hypocrites! You can read the signs in the sky to know what is in store, but are you so utterly incapable of understanding the signs of the times you’re in?

4 A perverted and spiritually-defiled generation wants a sign. Well, the only sign you will get is the sign of the prophet Jonah! Having spoken, Jesus then got in a boat, and departed.

5 When they reached the other side of the lake the disciples realized they had forgotten to bring bread with them.

6 Then Jesus noted: Watch out! Beware of bread yeasted by either the Pharisees or the Sadducees!

7 The disciples didn’t understand, and assumed Jesus was making some comment about bread baked by Pharisees or Sadducees, so they muttered among themselves: He said that because we forgot to bring bread with us.

8 When Jesus realized that, he said: O you men of little faith--why are you muttering among yourselves like I’m talking about food?

9 Do you not understand and recall how I fed five thousand people with five loaves, and how many baskets of leftovers you collected afterwards?

10 Did you forget the seven loaves that fed four thousand, and how many baskets you collected from that?

11 How then can you think I’m referring to baked bread when I warn you about the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees?

12 Then they understood that Jesus was not talking about normal bread yeast, but the spiritual yeast of the doctrines both these groups held.

13 Now when Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked the disciples: Who are the people saying that I, the Son of Man, am?

14 They responded: Some think you’re John the Baptist; others think you must be Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the other ancient prophets returned to the earth.

15 He said to them: But what do you say?

16 Shimon Peter spoke up, saying: You are the Messiah--Son of the living God!

17 Jesus answered Peter: Blessed are you, Shimon, son of Jonah, for no one told you this, nor did you figure it out on your own--but my Father in heaven gave you this revelation!

18 And I also say to you, that you are Peter (--a rock--) and upon this rock I will erect my church, and the gates of death (will neither stop me, nor will they overcome the church I build)!

19 And I will give to you (--not to the Pharisees or Sadducees--) the keys of authority over the Messianic Kingdom in matters of church discipline and doctrine. Whatever you permit shall be permitted, and whatever you deny shall be denied.

20 Then he charged the disciples to tell no one he was affirming that he was Jesus the Messiah.

21 From that point, Jesus now began warning the disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer badly at the hands of the religious leaders, the chief priests, and the Torah teachers--and that he would die, rising again on the third day.

22 Then Peter took him aside and began sharply rebuking him, saying: God forbid, Lord--this will not happen to you!

23 But he turned his back to Peter and spoke (a saying by Abraham when Satan tried to stop him from taking Isaac to the place of sacrifice): “Get behind me, Satan!” You are an obstacle to me because you are not thinking God’s way, but man’s!

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples: If any man wants to be my follower, let him deny his own wants and wishes and take up the cross of following mine.

25 For whoever saves his life will lose it in the end, and whoever loses his life for my sake shall find it in the end.

26 For what is the good of gaining everything on earth only to lose your soul in hell? Or, what price can a man put on his immortal soul?

27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of his Father and His angels; and he will give every man what is coming to him, be it reward or punishment, based on what he has done in his life.

28 And truly I say to you that there are some here who will not die until they glimpse the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom!

MATTHEW CHAPTER 17

1 Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John apart from the other disciples to a high mountain.

2 Then Jesus was transfigured before their eyes, his face shining like the sun and his clothing like pure white light!

3 Moses and Elijah then appeared and began speaking with him.

4 Peter cried out to Jesus: Lord, it is good for us to be here! If you want us to, let us go build three shelters--one for you, Moses, and Elijah--to stay in!

5 While he was speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them and a voice spoke out of it that said: This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear him!

6 At hearing the voice, the disciples fell face down on the ground, cringing in terror.

7 Then Jesus came over and touched them, saying: Get up, and don’t be afraid.

8 When they looked up the vision was gone, and they saw only Jesus.

9 As they descended the mountain, Jesus commanded: Don’t tell anyone about this vision until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.

10 His disciples asked him: Why then do the Torah teachers say Elijah must come back to earth (before the Messiah appears and sets up the Kingdom)?

11 Jesus answered: Elijah will indeed come and restore all things, to set the stage for this.

12 But I point out that he already came but they didn’t realize it, and did to him as they wished. Likewise, the Son of Man will suffer at their hands.

13 Then the disciples realized he was speaking of John the Baptist.

14 When they returned to the waiting multitudes, a certain man came and knelt down, saying:

15 Lord, have mercy on my son. He is vexed (with epileptic fits), often falling down onto the fire or into the water.

16 I brought him to your disciples but they couldn’t cure him.

17 Then Jesus answered, and said: O faithless and perverse generation--how long do you think I will be here with you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring the boy over to me!

18 Jesus then rebuked the demon, which left, and the child was cured right then!

19 Later, the disciples came to Jesus without the crowds, and asked: Why couldn’t we cast it out?

20 Jesus replied: Because you didn’t have faith. I tell you truly, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you could even say to this mountain here, “Up and go elsewhere,” and it would do as you say, for nothing is impossible to those with faith.

21 Even so, this demon is the sort that will not go unless the one casting him out has been spending time in intense prayer (and fasting).

22 Now while they were staying in the region of Galilee, Jesus told them: The Son of Man will be betrayed into the hands of men.

23 They shall kill him, and on the third day he will be raised up again. Hearing this, the disciples were very grieved at these words.

24 When they reached Capernaum, representatives of the Temple, who collected the yearly head tax, came to Peter and said: Doesn’t your teacher pay the tax?

25 Peter said: Yes, he does. Now when he was coming into the house, Jesus stopped him, saying: What do you think, Shimon? Whom do the kings of the earth collect taxes from--their own children, or strangers?

26 Peter answered: Strangers! So Jesus said: Then the children are the ones who are free from debt!

27 But so that we don’t offend them, go out to the lake and cast out a hook, and the first fish you catch will have a coin in its mouth. Use it to pay our tax to the Temple.

MATTHEW CHAPTER 18

1 While they were there in Galilee, the disciples asked Jesus: Who (of us) is the most important in the Kingdom of heaven?

2 In response, Jesus called a small child to him and set him in their midst.

3 He said: I assure you that if you do not change your way of thinking, and become like little children (--who could care less about such things--) you won’t even enter the Kingdom of heaven!

4 Whoever humbles himself like this small child is truly the greatest person in the Kingdom of heaven.

5 And anyone who receives one such child as my representative is receiving me as well.

6 But whoever causes a child who believes in me to stumble would be luckier to have an (anchor) tied to his neck, and to be thrown into the sea to drown.

7 Woe to world because of its offenses. Life is full of trials and temptations, but the one who is the cause of it will pay!

8 So again: If your hand or foot causes you to stumble into sin, cut them off and throw them away, for it is better to enter into life crippled or maimed than to be cast into eternal hellfire with all your limbs.

9 Likewise, if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away, for it is better to enter into life with one eye, than to be cast into eternal hellfire with two eyes.

10 Take heed that you don’t scorn children (--as is common in our society, including new converts who are also called “children”--) for I assure you that their guardian angels always have access to my Father in heaven (and may bring charge against you for this).

11 You see, the Son of Man came to save those who are lost.

12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one wanders off, doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine others who are fine, and head into the mountains to find the stray?

13 And if he does find it, he rejoices more over it than he does over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.

14 Even so, it is the will of your Father in heaven that not one of these children perish.

15 Moreover, if your brother commits wrong against you, speak to him alone about it. If he hears you, you are reconciled.

16 But if he rejects you, take one or two others with you (since the Torah says that two or three witnesses are accepted to establish a fact in court).

17 If he ignores them too, bring your case before the church, and if the church agrees with you and he still refuses to repent--treat him like a pagan or a tax collector!

18 Truly I say that you (have the right to make binding decisions regarding matters of the church).

19 Again, if two of you on earth agree on something, your request shall be granted by my Father in heaven.

20 (For where two or three of my representatives meet, regarding an issue, my authority is there with them.)

21 Then Peter came to him and asked: Lord, just how many times must I forgive my brother? Is seven times enough?

22 Jesus answered: You should forgive not just seven times, but seventy times seven times!

23 I say that because the Messianic Kingdom can be likened to a king who called some of his servants to account for money they owed him.

24 When he started the accounting, a man was brought forth who owed him a million dollars.

25 But since the man was broke, the king ordered everything that man owned to be sold. Then he ordered the man and his family sold off as slaves.

26 Hearing this, the servant fell on his face pleading: “Lord--be merciful, and give me more time. I’ll pay you all that I owe!”

27 The king was so moved with compassion that he unshackled him and forgave the debt altogether.

28 But that same servant went out and found another servant who owed him ten dollars, and he grabbed the man by the throat, saying, “Pay what you owe me!”

29 His fellow servant fell at his feet and cried out: “Have patience with me, and I’ll pay you every cent!”

30 But the man wouldn’t listen, and had his fellow servant tossed into Debtor’s Prison, where he would stay until the debt was somehow paid off.

31 Other servants were very grieved at seeing this, and they went and told the king what had happened.

32 Then the king called that man back and said to him: “You evil servant! I had mercy on you and forgave the whole of your debt because you begged for mercy!

33 “Shouldn’t you have had the same compassion on the man who owed you money as I had for you?!”

34 So the king angrily handed the man over to be tortured until such time as he could find some way to pay off the million dollars that he owed (from behind bars).

35 So will my heavenly Father do to you if you do not fully and sincerely forgive every brother who sins against you.

MATTHEW CHAPTER 19

1 Now after Jesus had finished these teachings he left Galilee and headed into northern Judea beyond Jordan (where he made camp).

2 Hosts of people followed, and he healed them there.

3 Some Pharisees (who followed Hillel’s teachings on divorce) also came and challenged him on the subject, asking: Do you agree that the Law of Moses permits an easy divorce if a man believes he has a good reason?

4 Jesus answered: Have you not read that God in the beginning made them male and female,

5 And said, Because of this, a man shall leave his parents and cleave to his wife, and they shall be one flesh?

6 Thus, they are no longer two individuals, but one flesh in God’s eyes. It is not for man, at his own whim, to thereafter break up a covenantal relationship recognized by God.

7 They answered: Well, then why did Moses allow a man to write up a Bill of Divorce, and put his wife away?

8 Jesus replied: Moses allowed you to divorce your wives because of your hard hearts (--but it was not in God’s original plan).

9 So I want you to know that a man who divorces his wife for any reason other than for adultery--and then marries someone else--stands guilty of adultery; and the divorced woman will cause anyone she subsequently marries to be guilty of adultery as well.

10 The disciples concluded after hearing this: If that’s how things are between a married couple, it’s better to stay single!

11 But Jesus answered: (Not everyone is given the grace to be able to live a celibate lifestyle.)

12 For some are born to be celibate for physical reasons, some become eunuchs or are denied wives in order to serve a master, and some make the choice of celibacy to devote themselves wholly to God and the furtherance of His Kingdom. Whoever can live in that state should do so.

13 Then some mothers brought small children to him to lay hands on and pray over, but the disciples complained and tried to stop it.

14 But Jesus said: Let the little children come, and don’t stop them--for the Kingdom of heaven is made up of children!

15 So Jesus laid hands on them (and blessed them). Then he departed.

16 At one point someone came up, asking: Good Master, what good thing must I do to be absolutely sure of having eternal life?

17 Jesus replied: Why would you call any man “good”? Only God is good. But to answer your question, if you would enter into eternal life, keep the commandments.

18 The man then asked: Which commandments do I have to keep? Jesus replied: Don’t murder; don’t commit adultery; don’t steal or kidnap for ransom; don’t lie about others;

19 Honor and take care of your parents; and love your neighbor as you do yourself.

20 The young man said in response: I’ve done all these from my youth. What am I missing?

21 Jesus replied: To be perfect, go and sell what you have and give it to the poor, storing up treasure in heaven; then come, and follow me.

22 But when the young man heard that, he was very disturbed and left in sorrow since he was extremely wealthy (and could not let go of what he had).

23 Then Jesus told the disciples: I tell you truly that a rich man shall enter heaven only with great difficulty.

24 I say it again--it is easier for a rope to go through an eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of heaven.

25 When the disciples heard that, they were dumbfounded (because the rich are thought by many to be favored by God), so they asked: Who can be saved, then?

26 Jesus looked over, saying: With men, this is impossible--but with God all things are possible.

27 Then Peter spoke up and said to him: Look at us--we’ve given up everything to follow you. What will be our reward?

28 Jesus answered: Truly I say that you who have followed me--when everything is re-created, and the Son of Man sits upon his throne of glory in the Messianic Kingdom--will sit on twelve thrones with me, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

29 And everyone who has left houses, brothers, sisters, parents, children or lands for the sake of following me shall receive them back a hundredfold, and inherit everlasting life.

30 But many who are great and important in this life shall be insignificant in the next; and many who are insignificant in this life shall be great and important in the next.

MATTHEW CHAPTER 20

1 For the Messianic Kingdom is like a farmer who went out early one morning to hire grape-pickers for his vineyard.

2 He found some laborers, each of whom he promised to pay a silver penny for a day’s work; and he sent them out into the vineyard.

3 About nine in the morning, the farmer saw others standing idle in the marketplace,

4 And he told them, “You also go work in my vineyard, and I’ll pay you a fair wage.” So off they went.

5 At noon and three o’clock, he did the same thing.

6 About five PM, he found some others standing around idle, and so he asked, “Why have you been standing around all day, doing nothing?”

7 They answered, “Because no one has hired us today.” So the farmer told them, “You also head out into my vineyard, and I’ll pay you a fair wage.”

8 When the sun began to go down, the man said to his overseer, “Call in the pickers and pay them off, starting with those who have been here the least amount of time.”

9 When the ones hired at five PM came up, they were paid a silver dime.

10 But when the first group came up for payment, they expected more, yet got the same silver piece for their work.

11 Then, when they were paid the same silver piece, they complained to the farmer,

12 Saying, “Look here--these men came along in the last hour, and didn’t endure any of the heat like we did for you, yet you paid them the same wages as you did us?!”

13 But the farmer replied to one of them, “Friend, I didn’t cheat you. Didn’t you agree to work for a silver piece?

14 “Take your money, and go. I choose to pay the last group the same price I paid you.

15 “Aren’t I allowed to do that with my own money? Why are you stingy with my money because you think me too generous?”

16 So the last will be first, and the first shall be last. For many are called, but few are chosen.

17 And Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples apart on the road and spoke to them:

18 Look--we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man shall be handed over to the chief priests and the Torah teachers, and they shall condemn him to death.

19 They will hand him over to the Gentiles to mock him, whip him, and crucify him--but on the third day he will rise again!

20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, came up with them and knelt before Jesus, desiring a favor.

21 He said to her: What is it that you wish? She answered: Grant that my two sons will be the most important officials of your kingdom, sitting at your right and left hands!

22 But Jesus answered back: You two don’t know what you’re asking for! Are you able to drink the cup I must drink, and endure the baptism I must endure? The pair said: Yes, we can!

23 So Jesus answered: Well, you will indeed partake of my cup and my baptism. But to rule at my right and left hands is not mine to give. My Father will decide who will have that honor.

24 When the ten others heard about this, they were furious at the two brothers.

25 But Jesus called them over, and said: Gentile rulers are the ones who lord it over people, and they who are important exercise authority over those under them.

26 But among you, that’s not how it should be. Whoever wants to be important among you should do that by serving the others.

27 And whoever wants to be the greatest among you should do that by being the greatest servant,

28 Just as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

29 As they departed from Jericho, a great host of people followed along.

30 Now there were two men sitting by the road. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out: Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!

31 The crowds tried to hush them up, but they cried out all the louder: Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!

32 But Jesus halted and called them up, asking: What do you want me to do for you?

33 They answered: Lord, we want our sight restored!

34 So Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. When he did that, immediately they could see, and they followed him.

MATTHEW CHAPTER 21

1 Now when they neared Jerusalem and reached Bethphage, which is at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples,

2 Telling them: Go into that village there, and the first thing you’ll see is an ass tied up with her foal. Untie them and bring them to me.

3 If anyone asks what you’re doing, say, “The Lord has need of them, and will send them right back.”

4 All this was done to fulfill a prophecy of Zechariah:

5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

6 So the disciples went out and did as Jesus had ordered them.

7 They brought the ass and her foal, spread their cloaks upon them, then sat Jesus upon the donkey.

8 Many of the people strewed their garments before Jesus, while others cut and laid down tree branches.

9 And a huge multitude went before and followed behind, crying out: “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!”

10 When Jesus reached entered Jerusalem, the whole city was intrigued, and asked: Who is this man?

11 The multitude shouted back: This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee!

12 Jesus, meanwhile, went into the Temple of God and drove out those who transacted business there. He also overturned the tables of the money-changers and the chairs of those who sold sacrificial doves.

13 He 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 The blind and crippled then came to him in the Temple, and Jesus healed them.

15 But when the chief priests and Torah teachers saw the great miracles, and the children (who served the High Priest) crying out in the Temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were enraged.

16 And they said to Jesus: Do you hear what these are saying?! But Jesus said in response: Yes--and have you never read (in the Septuagint): Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?

17 Then he left them and departed the city for Bethany, where he spent the night.

18 The next morning, as he returned to the city, Jesus was hungry.

19 When he saw a good-looking fig tree near the road, he went over to it and found no fruit, but only leaves. So he cursed it, saying: Let no fruit ever grow on you again! And the tree immediately withered away.

20 When the disciples saw this, they were amazed, and said: How did the tree wither away so quickly?

21 Jesus answered and said to them: I tell you truly, if you have faith, and do not give in to doubt, you can not only do what you have seen done to this fig tree, but you can also say to this mountain, “Get up, and be cast into the sea!” and it will be done.

22 And whatever you ask for in prayer, believing--you will receive!

23 When Jesus arrived at the Temple, the chief priests and the local religious authorities came up while he was teaching, and demanded to know: By what authority do you do these things, and who gave you this authority?!

24 Jesus replied: I’ll ask you one thing, and if you can answer it, I will likewise answer by what authority I do these things:

25 John’s baptism (and ministry)--was it from God, or was it his own invention? Having been asked this, the group reasoned how to answer, saying: If we say God gave it to him, he will ask, “Then why didn’t you believe him?”

26 But if we say, “John made it up on his own,” we’ll have an angry mob upon us, for the people hold John to be a prophet.

27 So their answer was: We don’t know. Thus, Jesus said back to them: Then I will not tell you by what authority I do these things!

28 But what do you think about this? A man had two sons, and he went to the first and told him, “Son, go work in my vineyard today.”

29 The son answered, “I will not.” But after he thought about it, he changed his mind and did go.

30 The man said likewise to the second son who answered, “I will, Sir!” But he later changed his mind and did not go work.

31 Of the two, which did the will of his father? The group answered: The first. Jesus then said: I assure you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will go into the Kingdom of God before you will!

32 For John came, living and teaching the way of true righteousness, yet you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him, and when you saw them repenting, you would not repent yourselves and believe him.

33 Now listen to this parable: There was a certain farmer who planted a vineyard, made a fence around it, dug a winepress, set up a watchtower, and leased the vineyard out to sharecroppers while he left for a far-off country.

34 When the time to gather the proceeds arrived, he sent his representatives to the sharecroppers to collect his portion.

35 But the sharecroppers beat, murdered, and stoned his representatives.

36 He sent more representatives to them, and they did this again.

37 Finally, he sent his own son, saying to himself, “They will certainly honor my son!”

38 But when the sharecroppers saw the son, they said to themselves, “Here comes the heir to the estate--let’s kill him, and then we’ll take his inheritance for ourselves!”

39 So they grabbed hold of him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.

40 When the owner of the vineyard comes himself, what will he do to the sharecroppers?

41 The leaders answered: Utterly destroy those wicked men, and lease the vineyard to more trustworthy sharecroppers who will give the owner the fruits he has a right to expect when harvest time comes!

42 Jesus said in conclusion: Well, have you never read in the Scriptures: The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

43 He said back: If that’s true (in the way you think), why did David, under the inspiration of the Spirit, write in the psalms that the Messiah is his Lord (when a son is always in a lesser position than his father in our culture)?

44 For he wrote, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.

45 If David calls the Messiah his “Lord,” how is the Messiah his son?

46 None of them could answer that, and from that day on, no one dared try to trick Jesus with questions.

MATTHEW CHAPTER 22

1 Jesus continued talking in parables, saying:

2 The Kingdom of heaven is like a king who held a marriage for his son.

3 He sent forth his servants to call the invited guests to the feast, but they would not come.

4 So he sent more servants with the message to those invited: I’ve prepared the banquet! The meat is cooked and ready. Come to the marriage banquet!

5 But they didn’t take it seriously, and went about their normal activities, one to his farm and another to his business.

6 The rest disrespected the king’s servants, and killed them.

7 When word reached the king, he was so furious that he sent his armies to kill those murderers and burn their city to the ground.

8 He said to his servants: The wedding is ready, but those who were invited to it weren’t worthy of the invitation!

9 So go out onto the roads and invite anyone you see to the marriage feast.

10 These servants did as they were told, and brought in as many people as they could find on the roads, bad people as well as good. And the wedding was full of guests.

11 But when the king arrived to see the guests, there was a man who did not have on a new robe (which was handed out freely to anyone who came in through the gate).

12 So the king said, “Friend, how did you get in here without the wedding garment (provided for you at the gate)?” But the man was speechless.

13 Then the king said to the servants: “Bind up this party-crasher hand and foot, and cast him forth into outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth! (For he would have been welcome if he had come in through the same gate as everyone else, instead of sneaking in through some other way!)”

14 You see, many are invited, but few are sought out and personally escorted in.

15 Then the Pharisees held a meeting to discuss how to trap Jesus in his own words.

16 So they sent their own representatives, together with some from the Herodian party (who supported returning the Herods to full authority over Judea), and they said: Teacher, we know you are sincere, and always teach the way of God truthfully, since man’s approval means nothing to you.

17 Give us your opinion on this issue: Is it within the Law of Moses that taxes should be paid to Caesar, or not?

18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said: Why do you try to trick me, you hypocrites?

19 Show me the money of the Roman tax! So they brought him a Roman coin.

20 He took it and said: Whose image and name is on this coin?

21 They answered: Caesar’s. So he said in response: Then give to Caesar what he has a right to expect, but give to God what He has a right to expect!

22 When they heard these words, they marveled and left him, going their own way.

23 The same day, some Sadducees, who deny there is (an immortal soul or) a resurrection of the body, came up and asked:

24 Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies childless, his brother must marry his wife, and provide him an heir so his bloodline doesn’t die out.

25 Now we know of seven brothers, and the first--after marrying the woman he was betrothed to--died childless. So his oldest brother married her, but had no children either.

26 Then he died, and the next brother married her, and this pattern continued until all seven men died without the woman’s ever having a child.

27 Finally, the woman died.

28 So at the resurrection of the dead, which of the seven will be her husband since they were all married to her?

29 Jesus answered: You’re wrong from the beginning since you don’t even know or understand the Scriptures or the power of God!

30 In the resurrection, people aren’t married, nor are they given in marriage, but are like the angels in heaven.

31 But as touching whether there even is (an immortal spirit or) a resurrection of the dead, have you never read what God Himself spoke for your benefit when He said:

32 I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God could not be the Lord of three dead men in the grave with no consciousness! (Those men had to be conscious for God to be their Lord, wherever they may have been, and so they will rise in resurrection!)

33 When the crowds heard this, they were amazed at Jesus’ doctrine.

34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they huddled together,

35 And one of them, who was an expert in the whole of Mosaic Law, asked him a trick question:

36 Master, what is the most important commandment in the Law?

37 Jesus replied: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and most important commandment!

39 The second is just as critical: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

40 On these two commandments (hang all the written and oral Law)!

41 While the Pharisees happened to be gathered together, Jesus asked them:

42 What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he? They said: David’s, of course!

43 He said back: If that’s true (in the way you think), why did David, when he was inspired to write the psalm, call the Messiah his Lord (when a son is always in a lesser position than his father in our culture)?

44 For he wrote, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.

45 If David calls the Messiah his “Lord,” how is the Messiah his son?

46 None of them could answer that, and from that day on no one dared try to trick Jesus with questions.

MATTHEW CHAPTER 23

1 Jesus now spoke to both the crowd and his own disciples.

2 He said: The Torah teachers and the Pharisees have come to sit in Moses’ throne of authority.

3 So you must do all that they require you to do. But don’t do it with the same attitudes they have, for they talk a good talk, but they do not walk a good walk.

4 They lay hosts of their own tortuous commandments on the backs of the people to follow, and will not lift a finger to remove them.

5 But everything they do is done for them to look pious in the eyes of others. They wear big phylacteries on their heads, and fringes on their prayer shawls that reach down to their ankles.

6 They love to be invited to the best seats at banquets, and to have the choice seats in the synagogues.

7 They love men in the marketplace to greet them by calling them “Rabbi” or “Teacher.”

8 But don’t you take the title of rabbi to yourself (thinking to make followers of your own). You have but one Lord and rabbi--me! And all of you are equally brothers in my sight.

9 And don’t call any earthly man your “father” (in the sense that the Pharisees do teachers like Hillel and Shammai, or some do the High Priest). Your one true Father is in heaven!

10 Nor should you consider yourselves to be masters, for the Christ is the only master.

11 But whoever would be the most important of you shall be the greatest servant among you.

12 And whoever will advance his own position and agenda within the community will be brought down, and the humble one shall instead be exalted.

13 But woe to you Torah teachers and Pharisees! You hypocrites do all you can to stop people from entering into the Kingdom of heaven that you, yourselves, reject!

14 Woe to you hypocritical Torah teachers and Pharisees! You throw penniless widows into the street, while you stand outside the door in the sight of others and pretend to pray like pious men! Thus, you will receive greater punishment in hell than most sinners!

15 Woe to you hypocrite Torah teachers and Pharisees for the fact that you’ll travel over land and sea to make one convert to your brand of Judaism, then turn him into twice the child of hell that you are!

16 Woe to you blind guides who absolve a man invoking the Temple as witness when he swears an oath--unless the oath is one pertaining to a (business transaction with the Temple)!

17 Blind fools--what is greater? The Temple itself, or the gold housed inside of it that the Temple makes holy?

18 If a person swears by the altar, he can change his mind. Oh, but if he swears by a gift upon the altar (that is promised to the Temple), then he is bound!

19 Blind fools--what is more important? The gift? Or the altar that makes the gift holy?

20 Whoever swears by the altar, swears by its holiness and all it represents!

21 Whoever swears by the Temple, swears by its holiness and Him who dwells in it!

22 And he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God, and God who sits on that throne.

23 Woe to you hypocrite Torah teachers and Pharisees! (You Shammaiites tithe to the last kernel of grain), but when it comes to what truly matters in the Law--justice, mercy, faithfulness--you act like you never heard of these! You should have done all with equal zeal!

24 But no--you are blind guides who make sure you strain out a tiny unclean gnat from the water you drink, while you gulp down an unclean camel without even noticing!

25 Woe to you hypocrite Torah teachers and Pharisees! You ritually wash the cup and the plate to make whatever is served upon them holy, but there is nothing but corruption within you, yourselves!

26 Blind (Shammaiite) Pharisee--worry about cleaning what’s inside the cup and plate of your own soul, and then the outside will take care of itself!

27 Woe to you hypocritical Torah teachers and Pharisees! You are like painted tombs that look good on the outside, but inside are filled with dead bones that cause defilement and corruption to anyone they come into contact with!

28 In the same way, you look righteous on the outside, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and unrepentant sin.

29 Woe to you hypocritical Torah teachers and Pharisees! You build monuments to the prophets and the righteous dead,

30 And say, “If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would never have joined in persecuting and slaying the prophets!”

31 So you admit you’re descended from the murderers of the prophets!

32 Walk in their footsteps, and show the ultimate fruit of what your fathers were then!

33 You snakes! You generation of vipers! What hope is there for you to escape damnation in hell?

34 I’ll send prophets, wise men, and teachers to you. Some you’ll murder or crucify, and some you’ll lash in the synagogues, drive out, and persecute from city to city.

35 Upon your heads, therefore, will come the final responsibility for the blood of every righteous man ever slain, from Abel (in the first scroll of the Scriptures), to Zechariah ben Berechiah (in the last scroll of the Scriptures) who was slain between the Temple and the altar!

36 I tell you truly that the punishment for all this will fall on the heads of this generation!

37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem--the city that kills the prophets and stones all who are sent to you--how often would I have gathered your children together like a hen gathers her chicks under her wing, but you refused!

38 Look now--your Temple is left desolate to you!

39 For I say that you will not see me (--your Messiah--) again until you say (of me,) “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord”!

MATTHEW CHAPTER 24

1 Jesus left the Temple court, and the disciples directed his attention to some of the magnificent structures of the Temple complex.

2 But Jesus said in response: You see all these things? Truly I say to you, there won’t be so little as two stones left cemented together of these buildings--they’ll all be thrown down in rubble!

3 Later, as Jesus sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him without the crowds and asked: Tell us--when will the Temple be thrown down? And what will the sign be of your ushering in the Kingdom, and the end of this age (before the Messianic Age begins)?

4 Jesus replied: Don’t let anyone trick you!

5 Many false messiahs will come, claiming to be the Messiah, and hosts will be deceived by them.

6 And you will hear about wars and rumors of war coming. Don’t worry, for these things must happen, but that will not signal the end yet.

7 For race will rise up against race, and nation against nation; and there will be famines, pestilence, and earthquakes in different places.

8 These are only the start of the Birthpangs of the Messiah.

9 Then you will be delivered over to torture and death because of your testimony for me. All nations will hate you because of who and what I am.

10 And many shall (lose their faith and) stumble, betraying each other and hating each other.

11 And many false teachers will arise, deceiving hosts of people.

12 And because of all the sin on the earth, people’s love (and fear of God) will wane.

13 But he who endures to the end will be saved!

14 And this Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world for a witness to all peoples, and then shall the end come.

15 So when you see the Abomination of Desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet standing in the Holy of Holies,

16 Let everyone in Judea run for the hills!

17 Don’t even stop to take anything out of your house!

18 Let anyone working in the field not even return home to get anything!

19 Woe to pregnant and nursing women at that time!

20 And pray that your time to flee doesn’t fall in the cold of winter or on the Sabbath (when you are commanded not to travel).

21 For at that time shall be a great tribulation, the like of which has never been seen, nor ever will be seen again.

22 And unless God intervenes to halt things, no one will survive. But for the sake of His elect people, God will intervene and cut things short.

23 In those days, if any man says, “The Messiah may be found in this place or that”--don’t believe him!

24 For false Messiahs and false prophets will arise and do great signs and wonders that would fool even the true followers of God if that were possible.

25 Remember I’ve told you this before:

26 If they say the “real” Messiah is in the desert, don’t go! If they say the “real” Messiah is hidden in some secret place--don’t believe it!

27 For my coming shall be as fast as lightning flashing from east to west!

28 For, “Where the body is, the vultures gather.”

29 Just after the tribulation period, the sun and moon will grow dark, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the demonic powers of the heavens will be shaken (and thrown down).

30 Then shall the sign of the Son of Man appear in the sky, and all the nations on earth will mourn as they see him coming down with the hosts of heaven in all of his power and great glory!

31 And he shall send out his angels with the blast of a shofar, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

32 Now learn a lesson from the fig tree: When the branches are green and full of leaves, you know that summer is at hand.

33 So when you see these signs appearing, know that what has been prophesied is close, and even at the doors!

34 I tell you truly, the generation that sees these things will not die out before what I prophesied comes to pass.

35 The universe and the earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away!

36 But as for the (Rosh Hashanah) that will see the culmination of these things, no one knows when it will be--not man, not angel, but my Father alone.

37 But as the days of Noah were, so will the days be when the Son of Man returns.

38 In the days before the flood they were going about life as usual: Eating, drinking, marrying, and so on, up to the point Noah entered the ark (and God shut the door).

39 They didn’t realize what was happening until the flood swept them away. So will the Son of Man’s coming be!

40 At that time, two shall be working in a field--one will be accepted and taken, and the other will be rejected and left.

41 Two women will be grinding flour at a mill--one will be accepted and taken, and the other will be rejected and left.

42 Watch then, for you don’t know just when your Lord will return!

43 And keep in mind that if the owner of a mansion had known what time of night a thief was coming, he would have stayed awake, waiting--and his house wouldn’t have been burgled!

44 So be likewise vigilant, for in such an hour that you’re not expecting it, the Son of Man will come!

45 Who is a faithful and wise steward the master can leave in charge to feed those in the household while he is away?

46 The steward who does that will be blessed when his master comes and sees him being faithful in doing these things.

47 Truly I say to you, that master will elevate him to overseer over all he has.

48 But if an evil steward says to himself, “My master isn’t going to return for a long time,”

49 And beats his underlings, and then goes out to party with the drunkards,

50 The master will return on a day and hour the steward doesn’t expect,

51 And cut him into pieces and throw him out into the same place of punishment as the hypocrites--a place where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.

MATTHEW CHAPTER 25

1 When that happens, the Messianic Kingdom will be likened to ten virgins who took oil lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom.

2 Five of these were wise, and five were foolish.

3 The foolish brought lamps, but no spare oil.

4 The wise brought spare oil flasks with their lamps.

5 The bridegroom took his time and didn’t immediately appear, so they fell asleep waiting (and their lamps went out).

6 Then, at midnight. someone cried out: “The bridegroom is coming--go out and meet him!”

7 Then the virgins arose and began to ready their lamps.

8 The foolish said to the wise, “Loan us some oil--our lamps went out!”

9 But the wise replied, “We can’t, lest we run out of oil ourselves. Go and buy some oil for yourselves from a vendor!”

10 So the foolish went to buy some, but the bridegroom came in the meantime and the wedding party went into the house, and the door was shut behind them.

11 Finally, the foolish virgins returned. They tried to enter, calling out, “Lord! Lord! Open up the door for us!”

12 But he answered from behind the door, “I tell you in truth, I don’t know you!”

13 So keep watch, for you do not know ‘The Day and the Hour’ that the Son of Man will return.

14 For the Messianic Kingdom is like a man who was going on a long trip to a faraway country, who called his servants and assigned some money to them for investment.

15 He gave five ounces of gold to one, two ounces to another, and one ounce to a last, according to how wise he thought they were. Then he left on his journey.

16 The man with five ounces of gold did some buying and trading, and he doubled the money.

17 The one with two ounces of gold did likewise.

18 But the one with only an ounce of gold simply went out and buried his lord’s money in the ground.

19 After a long time, the lord of the servants returned and called them to account for what they had done.

20 The one with five ounces of gold brought back ten, saying, “Lord, I’ve turned the five ounces of gold you gave me into ten!”

21 His lord said, “Well done, you good and faithful servant! You have been faithful over a few things--now I will make you ruler over many things. (Come rejoice in the new duties your lord has for you!)”

22 The one with two ounces of gold came up, and said, “Lord, I have turned your two ounces of gold into four ounces!”

23 His lord said, “Well done, you good and faithful servant! You have been faithful over a few things--now I will make you ruler over many things. (Come rejoice in the new responsibilities your lord has for you as well!)”

24 But the servant with only one ounce of gold came up and said, “Lord, I know you are a stern man who lets others take the risks for him and keeps whatever profits they make.

25 “I was afraid of what you’d do if I lost your money so I hid your gold in a hole. Here it is!”

26 His lord was furious, and answered, “You wicked, lazy servant--so you know I let others take the risks, and then take the profits they make?!

27 “Then you should have at least loaned the money out so I could get some interest on what I gave you. (Instead, you did nothing with it, and took no risks at all, showing you to be utterly useless!)

28 “Take that ounce of gold from him and give it to the servant with ten ounces of gold!”

29 “For everyone who has (understanding) shall be rewarded with much more. But he who has not (understanding) will lose what little he may have had!

30 “So cast that useless servant into outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth!”

31 When the Son of Man comes in his glory, escorted by all the holy angels, then he will sit upon his glorious throne.

32 And before him will be gathered all peoples of the earth, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd does with sheep and goats (which are never allowed to be in the same flock).

33 He will set the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left.

34 Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, blessed of my Father, and inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world,

35 “For I was hungry, and you fed me; thirsty, and you gave me water; homeless, and you took me in;

36 “Naked, and you clothed me; sick, and you came and aided me; in prison, and you visited me!”

37 Then the righteous will answer: “Lord, when did we ever see you hungry, and fed you? Or thirsty, and gave you water?

38 “Or homeless, and took you in? Or naked, and gave you clothing?

39 “Or when did we see you sick or in prison, and come visit you?”

40 And the King will answer: “I tell you that when you did such things to even the least of these who are my brothers, you did it to me, personally!”

41 Then the King will say to those on his left, “Depart from me, you accursed ones! Go forth into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels!

42 “For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me; thirsty, and you gave me no water;

43 “A homeless stranger, and you didn’t take me in; naked, and you gave me no clothes; in prison, and you didn’t visit me.”

44 These shall also answer, saying, “Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a homeless stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn’t aid you?”

45 And he will answer them, “I say to you that any time you did not help the least of these, you rejected helping me as well!”

46 So these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.

MATTHEW CHAPTER 26

1 Now when Jesus finally completed all these comments, he told the disciples:

2 As you know, in a couple of days will be the Passover. The Son of Man will then be betrayed to be crucified.

3 At this time, the chief Sadducee priests, along with some hostile Torah teachers and assorted religious and city leaders, met at the palace of the High Priest who was named Caiaphas.

4 They debated how to trick Jesus into being captured so they could kill him in a safe manner (that would avoid a public riot).

5 They said: It must not be on the Feast day, lest the people rise up and make trouble.

6 Jesus, meanwhile, retired to Bethany, and happened to be eating dinner in the house of Simon the leper (father of Judas).

7 While he was there, a woman came into the house with an alabaster container filled with costly ointment. She poured it upon his head as he reclined at the table.

8 But when the disciples saw this, they were disgusted and said: Why this waste?!

9 This ointment could have been sold for a lot of money that could have been given to the poor!

10 When Jesus knew what they were saying, he answered them: Why are you troubling this woman? She has performed a righteous act upon me.

11 You will always have the poor with you, but I won’t always be here.

12 She has anointed my body like this in preparation for my burial.

13 And I want you to know that wherever in the world the Gospel is preached, what she did will be remembered and preached about too.

14 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief Sadducee priests.

15 He said to them: What price would you pay for me to deliver Jesus into your hands? They agreed to pay him thirty silver coins.

16 From that time, Judas waited for an opportunity to betray him.

17 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus, and asked: Where do you want us to prepare a Passover seder for you?

18 Jesus answered: Go into Jerusalem to a certain man you will meet, and tell him, “My time is at hand. I, and my disciples, will observe the Passover at your house.”

19 The disciples did as Jesus commanded, and they prepared the seder.

20 Now when the evening came, Jesus reclined with the Twelve.

21 As they ate, Jesus said: Truly, one of you will betray me.

22 They were all very troubled, and each began to ask: Lord--is it I?

23 Jesus replied: He who dips his hand in the dish with me is the same who will betray me.

24 The son of Man will go to what awaits him as the Scripture foretells--but woe to the man responsible for it! It would be better for him to have never been born!

25 Then Judas, who was the one to betray him, said (quietly): Rabbi, is it I? Jesus answered (quietly as well): You have said it.

26 As they continued the meal, Jesus took unleavened bread, said a blessing, and broke it, handing out pieces to his disciples. He said: Take and eat, for this is my body.

27 Then he took the cup, said a blessing, and gave it to the disciples, saying: Drink this, all of you.

28 This is the New covenant in my blood, which shall be shed for many so that their sins will be forgiven.

29 I tell you that I will not drink fruit of the grapevine again until I drink it new with you in the Kingdom of my Father.

30 And after they had sung one of the Hymns of Ascent, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

31 Jesus said to them: All of you will stumble tonight because of me, for it is written: I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.

32 But after I rise again, I will wait for you in Galilee.

33 Peter spoke up, saying: Even if all these other men stumble because of you--I never will!

34 Jesus said back to him: Truly I tell you, Peter, that before the “rooster” crows, you will deny me three times.

35 Peter assured him: Even if I have to die at your side, I will not deny you! The other disciples also said things like this.

36 Then Jesus and the rest arrived at an (olive press) called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to the disciples: Sit here, while I go pray over there.

37 Jesus took Peter, along with Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, a few yards away. Then he began to be very sorrowful and troubled in spirit.

38 He said to them: This is almost more than I can bear. Wait here, and keep watch with me.

39 Jesus went a little farther and fell on his face, praying: O my Father--if it is possible, let me not have to drink this cup that awaits me. But not my will be done, but Yours!

40 He came back to the disciples and found them asleep, so he awakened Peter, and said: What--you couldn’t watch with me for one hour?!

41 Watch and pray, lest you fall to temptation. Your spirit may be willing but your flesh is weak!

42 Jesus went back, and for the second time prayed: O my Father, if this cup cannot pass from me unless I must drink from it, Your will be done!

43 Again, Jesus went back to find the disciples asleep, for they had become very tired.

44 So he left them alone and went back, praying likewise for the third time.

45 Then he returned to the disciples, saying: Go ahead, and sleep. The hour is come, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.

46 Get up--let us go on to what awaits. See--the one who is betraying me has arrived!

47 While he was yet speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived at the head of a great crowd armed with swords and clubs that had been sent by the chief priests and Jewish elders.

48 The traitor had told them beforehand to watch for his signal: The one I go up and kiss is Jesus--take him into custody.

49 So he came right up to Jesus and said: Hail, master! And he kissed him.

50 Jesus said: Why are you here, “friend”?! Then they came up, laid hold on Jesus, and took him away.

51 Now Peter, at seeing all this, drew out a sword and swung it, cutting off an ear of a servant of the High Priest.

52 Jesus told him: Sheath your sword, for those who live by the sword will die by the sword.

53 Don’t you think I could ask to my Father and He would instantly send twelve legions of angels to help me?

54 But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must be this way.

55 Jesus then said to the crowd: Why do you come with swords and clubs to take me into custody like I’m some kind of bandit? I sat in the Temple daily, and taught in your presence--and you did not take me then, did you?

56 But all this was done so that what the prophets foretold in the Scriptures would be fulfilled. It was then that the disciples abandoned him and ran for their lives.

57 Meanwhile, the ones who had hold of Jesus led him away to the palace of Caiaphas, the High Priest, where the Torah teachers and assorted religious leaders had assembled.

58 Peter, meanwhile, followed from a safe distance and finally made his way into Caiaphas’ palace where he mingled with some of the servants in the courtyard, hoping to see what would happen.

59 Now the chief Sadducee priests, other religious leaders, and all the members of the (city) Sanhedrin, looked for pairs of liars who would falsely swear that Jesus had done something worthy of death.

60 But they found none who could get their stories straight, until one pair of false witnesses came up,

61 Who declared: This man said, “I am able to destroy the Temple of God, and rebuild it in three days.”

62 Caiaphas, hearing this, arose and spoke: You have no answer to this? The comments these men say you made--what did you mean?

63 But Jesus remained silent. The High Priest, irritated, finally said to him: I demand, by the Living God, that you tell us whether you claim to be the Messiah and (King of Israel)!

64 Jesus now answered: You have said it! Nevertheless, I say to you all, that the day will come when you see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of “The Power,” and coming in the clouds of heaven!

65 Then the High Priest tore his robes (disqualifying himself from making the Passover sacrifice for the people), saying: He has blasphemed God! Who needs more witnesses? You all heard his blasphemy!

66 What is your verdict? They answered: He is guilty, and must die!

67 Then they spit in his face and struck him; and others slapped him in the face with their palms,

68 Saying: Prophesy to us, Messiah! What is the name of the man who struck you?

69 While this was going on, Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came up who said: You were with Jesus of Galilee too!

70 But he denied it to the crowd, saying: I don’t know what you’re talking about!

71 He left, and eventually found his way near the gate to the street where another female servant caught sight of him and told the others: This man was also with Jesus of Nazareth!

72 Then Peter swore: I don’t know the man!

73 A while later, others standing around came up, saying: You must be one of them--you have a Galilean accent!

74 Peter then unleashed a stream of profanity, swearing an oath, saying: I don’t know that man! And as he did, the “rooster” cried out.

75 Then Peter remembered the words of Jesus: “Before the ‘rooster’ crows, you will deny me three times.” And he left, weeping bitterly.

MATTHEW CHAPTER 27

1 At dawn, the chief Sadducee priests and the religious leaders of the people debated how to put Jesus to death.

2 After they had tied his hands together, they led him to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor (who had come from Caesarea to Jerusalem because of the Passover Festival).

3 Then Judas, who had betrayed him, when he saw that Jesus was condemned by the religious authorities, regretted what he had done, and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and elders.

4 He said: I have sinned in betraying an innocent man to you. They answered: That’s your problem, not ours!

5 Then Judas threw down the silver in the Holy Place of the Temple, and left to go hang himself.

6 The chief Sadducee priests took back the silver, but said: This is blood money, and the Torah does not allow it to go into the treasury to be used for holy purposes.

7 So they debated, and wound up using it for a public work: They purchased a field from a potter and used it as a place to bury foreigners in.

8 That‘s why the field is called the Field of Blood, even to this day.

9 This fulfilled a prophecy in the books categorized under the Jeremiah scroll: And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value;

10 And gave them for the potter‘s field, as the Lord appointed me.

11 When Jesus stood before the governor, Pilate asked him: Are you the King of the Jews? Jesus replied: You said it!

12 But when the religious leaders who brought him made accusations, Jesus did not reply to them.

13 Then Pilate said: Do you hear all the crimes they accuse you of?

14 But Jesus said nothing, which caused Pilate to be amazed.

15 Now at the Passover (and other) Festivals, the governor had a habit of releasing to the people a prisoner chosen by them (as a measure of good will).

16 Pilate happened to have a notorious criminal named bar Abbas (--meaning Son of the Father--) in jail.

17 Thus, with a crowd handy, Pilate asked: Whom do you wish released to you--bar Abbas? Or Jesus, who is called ‘the Anointed One’?

18 Pilate, you see, knew the priests had brought Jesus to him out of petty jealousy.

19 Beyond that, when he had taken the Judgment Seat, he had received an urgent letter from his wife that read: Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man! I’ve been troubled all day over a horrible dream about him!

20 But the Sadducees and other religious leaders, meanwhile, had persuaded the crowd to ask for bar Abbas, and to demand Jesus be slain.

21 So when the governor asked which of the two they wanted released, they shouted out: bar Abbas!

22 Pilate then said: So what shall I do with Jesus, who is called ‘the Anointed One’? The crowd shouted back: Let him be crucified!

23 And the governor said: Why? For what crime does he deserve this? But they cried out all the louder: Let him be crucified!

24 When Pilate saw the crowd was getting riotous and would not be persuaded by him, he called for a bowl of water and washed his hands before them, saying: I am innocent of this guiltless person’s blood! You see to it!

25 Then all the crowd answered: Fine--his blood be on us and our children then!

26 So Pilate released bar Abbas to the crowd; then he had Jesus flogged, and ordered him to be crucified.

27 The legionnaires then took Jesus into their barracks and gathered round with their fellows.

28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him.

29 When they had woven a crown from a thorny vine, they placed it on his head and stuck a reed stick in his right hand. Then they mockingly got on their knees before him, shouting: Hail, King of the Jews!

30 And they spat on him, and hit him over the head with the stick.

31 After they tired of this, they took the robe off him and put back on his own clothing, then led him away to be crucified.

32 As they were going out of the city, they found a man--Simon of Cyrene--whom they ordered to help Jesus carry his cross.

33 And when they had come to a place outside the city called Golgotha, which means, Place of the Skull,

34 They offered him some vinegar mixed with gall to drink--but when Jesus tasted it, he would not drink it down.

35 And they crucified him, then cast dice for his clothing, so that which was spoken by the prophet could be fulfilled: They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.

36 Then they sat down to watch the spectacle.

37 A sign nailed over Jesus‘ head read: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

38 Two thieves were also crucified with Jesus, one at his right hand, and the other on his left.

39 Those that passed by wagged their heads and cursed Jesus, saying:

40 You who can destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days--if you are the Son of God, come down from that cross (and prove it)!

41 The Sadducee priests, the Torah teachers, and other religious elders of Israel also noted:

42 He saved others, but he can’t save himself! If he is the King of Israel, let him come down off that cross now, and we will believe him!

43 He trusted in God, so let God deliver him now if He wants him! He said, after all, ‘I am the Son of God‘!

44 The thieves crucified with him likewise railed in his face.

45 Now from noon to 3 PM, there was a great darkness over all the area.

46 About 3 in the afternoon, Jesus cried out in a loud voice: Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani, which in Aramaic means: My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

47 (Because the words for My God and the name of Elijah in Aramaic are both pronounced “Eli,”) some thought Jesus was calling for Elijah.

48 And immediately one of them ran, took a sponge, and dipped it in non-kosher vinegar wine. Then he put it on a stick and lifted it up to Jesus’ lips to drink.

49 The rest said: Leave him alone, and let’s see if Elijah comes to save him!

50 Jesus, when he cried out again in a loud voice, gave up the ghost.

51 When he did, the great curtain sealing off the Holy of Holies was split in two from the top to the bottom, and the rocks split from a great earthquake!

52 And some of the graves opened up, and many righteous people who had been asleep in death arose,

53 And for a time after Jesus’ resurrection, they went into the holy city of Jerusalem and appeared to many people (before returning to their graves).

54 Now when the centurion and some of his men watching Jesus saw the earthquake and what was happening, they were greatly afraid, and said: Truly this was the son of God!

55 Many women were at the scene, watching from a distance. These were women from Galilee who were followers of Jesus, and had ministered to him.

56 Among these was Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children, James and John.

57 When dusk approached, there came a rich man from Arimathaea named Joseph who was a disciple of Jesus,

58 He went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Pilate agreed, and gave permission for him to take the body.

59 After Joseph received the body, he wrapped it in clean linen,

60 And laid it in his own new tomb that had been carved out of the rock, rolling a large stone over the door. Then he departed.

61 And Mary of Magdala, and the other Mary (--mother of James, Joses, and Salome--) sat and watched over against the tomb.

62 The next day, which followed Preparation Day, the chief Sadducee priests and the Pharisees came in a group to Pilate.

63 They said: Sir--we recall that this deceiver said, while he was still alive, “After three days, I will rise again.”

64 Command that the tomb be sealed and watched until after three days pass, lest his followers come by night and steal the body, saying to the people, “He has risen from the dead!” Then this last lie will be even worse than all the others!

65 Pilate said in response: You have your own Temple guards--use them and secure the tomb yourselves!

66 So they went and sealed the tomb, setting some guards to watch over it.

MATTHEW CHAPTER 28

1 Early Sunday morning at the Sabbath’s end, Mary of Magdala, and Mary (--mother of James, Joses and Salome--) went to see the tomb.

2 And a great earthquake happened, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and rolled the stone away from the tomb. Then he sat down upon it.

3 His face was like lightning, and his garment was white as snow,

4 And the terrified guards fainted dead away at sight of him.

5 Then the angel said to the women: Don’t be afraid! I know you seek Jesus, who was crucified.

6 He is gone, for he is risen as he said he would! Come and see where the Lord was laying,

7 Then go quickly to his disciples, and tell them that he has risen from the dead and is waiting for them in Galilee, where they will see him. Lo, I have told you!

8 The women ran in awe and great joy from the place, intending to report to the disciples what they had been told.

9 But as they went to tell the disciples, Jesus met them, and said: Greetings to you all! And they fell down and held him by his feet, reverencing him.

10 Then Jesus said: Don’t be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, where they will see me.

11 Now as the women departed, some of the guards awakened and went into Jerusalem to tell the chief Sadducee priests what had happened.

12 Then the tribunal was hastily assembled once more, and after a discussion decided to pay a great deal of money to the guards,

13 Saying: Make sure your story is that you fell asleep, and Jesus’ disciples stole the body in the night.

14 If any heat comes down to you from Pilate, we’ll back you up, and intercede for you.

15 So the men took the bribe and proclaimed this story, which is believed and claimed by many Jews to this day.

16 Eventually, the eleven disciples made it to a mountain in Galilee where Jesus awaited them.

17 When they saw him, they did obeisance to him, but some (weren’t certain what to think).

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying: All authority is given to me in heaven and on earth.

19 As you go to the nations of the earth, teach the Gospel to them, and baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit:

20 Teach them to observe all the things I have taught you, and remember--I will be with you always, even to the end of the world! Amen.

Mark

MARK CHAPTER 1

1 This is how the “Good News” regarding Jesus, the Messiah and Son of God began!

2 It was written in the scroll of the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

4 John the Baptizer immersed people out in the wilderness, and proclaimed the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

5 And everyone from Judea and Jerusalem went out to be baptized by him in the Jordan river, (publicly) confessing their sins.

6 John dressed in a garment of camel hair with a leather girdle around his loins. He ate (carob) and wild honey.

7 And he preached, saying: There is one coming after me who is mightier than I am, whose sandal straps I am not even worthy to bend down and untie!

8 I have certainly baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!

9 It came to pass in the days of John’s ministry that Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and was baptized by him in the Jordan.

10 And as Jesus came up out of the water, John had a vision of the heavens opening and the Spirit of God descending upon Jesus like a dove;

11 And a heavenly voice spoke and said: You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!

12 Immediately after this, the Spirit compelled Jesus to go into the desert.

13 He was there for forty days, being tempted by Satan, and facing wild animals; and angels ministered to him.

14 Now after Herod Antipas had put John in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the “Good News” of the Kingdom of God,

15 Saying: The time is here, and the Kingdom of God is at hand! Repent, all of you, and believe the Gospel!

16 Now as Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Shimon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea from a boat, for they were fishermen.

17 Jesus said to them: Come follow me, and I will cause you to fish for men!

18 And they immediately left their nets behind, and followed him.

19 When he’d gone a bit further down the shore, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his (younger) brother, who were also in a boat mending their nets.

20 He immediately called them too, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired hands, and followed after him.

21 The group went to Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue, and taught.

22 The people were amazed at his doctrine, for he taught as one who had authority, and not as the Torah teachers (who offered up opinion after opinion from the sages, living and dead, on what the Law meant).

23 Now in the synagogue was a man with a demon who cried out:

24 Let us alone! Why are you bothering us, Jesus of Nazareth? Are you here to destroy us? I know who you are--you are the Holy One of God!

25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying: Shut up, and come out of him!

26 When the demon had thrown the man to the ground in convulsions, it screamed out and left him.

27 Everyone was amazed, and wondered amongst themselves things like: What sort of new teaching is this? He even has authority to command demon spirits, and they must obey him!

28 And his fame immediately spread throughout Galilee and the region.

29 After they left the synagogue, Jesus, James, and John went to stay at the house of Shimon and Andrew.

30 There, Shimon’s mother-in-law was sick with a fever, and they told Jesus about her.

31 He came and took her by the hand, lifted her to her feet, and immediately the fever left. Then she prepared food for them.

32 At sunset, a host of sick people, along with many who were afflicted by demons, were brought to the house.

33 The whole city, in fact, was outside Shimon’s door!

34 Jesus healed many who were ill, and he cast out many demons, though he did not allow the demons to speak because they knew who and what he was.

35 Hours before dawn, Jesus sought out an isolated place to go pray.

36 A while later, Shimon and the others followed after him.

37 When they found Jesus, they told him: Everyone is looking for you!

38 But Jesus said: Let us go instead to the next towns so I can preach there as well, for this is why I came.

39 So Jesus preached in the synagogues throughout Galilee, and he cast out demons too.

40 At one point, a leper came to him and knelt down, pleading: If you will it to be done, you can cleanse me of this disease!

41 Jesus, moved with compassion, extended his hand and touched him, saying: I do will it--so be cleansed!

42 As soon as he spoke this, the leprosy vanished, and he was cleansed!

43 Before he sent him away, Jesus sternly warned him:

44 Don’t say anything to anyone about this healing, but go to the High Priest and make the required offering in the Law for a cleansed leper. This will be a testimony for the priests (of whom I am, and that miracles still happen).

45 But the man couldn’t contain his joy as he left, and told everyone he saw. So many people descended upon Jesus after this that he could no longer go into any city, but had to retreat into the deserts; and people still came to him from every direction.

MARK CHAPTER 2

1 After a few days, Jesus returned to Shimon’s house in Capernaum. It didn’t take long for word to spread.

2 And in no time there was a crowd so thick that they couldn’t even fit through the door as Jesus preached the Message to them.

3 Four men, meanwhile, brought a paralytic man (who could not move off his bed).

4 But when they saw it was impossible to get near Jesus because of the throng of people, they went around back, climbed upon the roof of the house; then pried off the tiles of the roof above Jesus so they could lower the sick man down--bed and all--into the house!

5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic man: Son--your sins are forgiven you!

6 But some of the Torah teachers sitting there who heard that were offended, and thought to themselves:

7 Why does this man say blasphemous things?! Who but God can forgive sins?

8 But Jesus immediately knew in his spirit what their thoughts were, and he answered by saying: Why are you debating such things inside your hearts?

9 Is it easier to say that a man’s sins are forgiven than it is to tell a paralytic to get up, pick up his bed, and walk?

10 But so that you can know that the Son of Man (--the bar Enash, prophesied of by Daniel--) has the authority on earth to forgive sins,

11 I say to you--get up, pick up your bed, and go back home!

12 And immediately he got up, picked up his bed, and walked out before the whole crowd! Everyone was dumbfounded, and glorified God, saying: We’ve never seen anything like this!

13 Jesus went out again to the shore, where a crowd soon gathered, and he taught them.

14 As he walked along, he saw (Matthew), son of Alphaeus, sitting at his tax-collecting booth, and he told him: Follow me! So he arose and followed him.

15 That evening, as Jesus dined in (Matthew’s) house, many tax collectors and unrighteous people--some of whom followed Jesus about as he traveled--sat with Jesus and his disciples.

16 But when the Pharisee Torah teachers saw Jesus dining with tax collectors and sinners, they asked the disciples: How is it that he eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?

17 When Jesus heard this, he said: The well have no need of a doctor; it’s the sick who do! I came not to call the righteous to repent, but to call those who are sinners.

18 Now both the disciples of John and the Pharisees, would often fast (and afflict their souls by rejecting anything pleasurable, while offering up many prayers). Once, they were all fasting, and some (of John’s disciples) came to Jesus to ask: Why do both the disciples of John and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not?

19 Jesus responded: Can the bridegroom’s retinue fast (and mourn) while the bridegroom is in their midst? As long as the bridegroom is with them they cannot fast (for the joy they have).

20 But soon enough, the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them. When those days come, they will indeed fast (and mourn).

21 No one sews a patch of brand new cloth on an old article of clothing, for the new patch will shrink in the wash and tear an even bigger hole in the garment.

22 Nor do men put fresh fermenting wine in stiff old wineskins that can crack and spill the contents out. You put new wine into new wineskins.

23 One Sabbath (during the Feast of Unleavened Bread), Jesus was passing through a wheat field, and as they walked along making a path, the disciples plucked some of the wheat heads to eat.

24 Some Pharisees who watched this were offended, and said: Look there--why are they doing what is forbidden on the Sabbath?!

25 But Jesus responded: Have you never read what David did when he and his men were hungry, and had no food?

26 How he went into the Tabernacle of God when Abiathar was High Priest, and ate the shewbread that the Law restricts to the priests? And how he gave some to his men as well? (Was God offended by this “transgression?“)

27 Jesus concluded: The Sabbath came into existence to serve man; man did not come into existence to serve the Sabbath!

28 Therefore, the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath (with the right to determine what acts are, and are not, permissible to do on it).

MARK CHAPTER 3

1 Jesus again returned to the synagogue where there was a man with a deformed hand.

2. (Offended by his Sabbath comments,) the religious leaders were also there to see if Jesus would heal him on the Sabbath so they could have some accusation to make against him.

3 Jesus said to the man with the deformed hand: Stand forth!

4 Then he asked the religious leaders: Does the Law permit doing good on the Sabbath? Or does it permit doing evil? Does it allow saving life on the Sabbath? Or does it allow killing? But they would not answer.

5 After he had stared angrily at them, frustrated at their hard hearts, Jesus said to the man: Stretch out your hand! He did, and the hand was made whole like the other!

6 These Pharisees then left, and quickly made an alliance with a group of elite priests--supporters of the Herods--and they all debated how to destroy Jesus.

7 But Jesus and his disciples left for the shore of the lake, and a great multitude from Galilee and Judea followed him.

8 Crowds from Jerusalem, Idumea, from the east side of the Jordan River, and even Tyre and Sidon also joined them after hearing what great miracles Jesus was doing.

9 But Jesus ordered the disciples to find and keep a boat handy in case he was forced into the water by the crowd thronging him.

10 For people were being whipped into a frenzy at seeing Jesus healing many people, and hosts tried to get close enough just to touch him, because many had serious diseases.

11 Demon spirits, when they saw him, caused the people they inhabited to fall down, and they shouted: You are the Son of God!

12 But he sternly commanded them to keep silent, and not reveal who and what he was.

13 In time, he went up to a mountain calling for some of his disciples to follow, and they went with him.

14 He (laid hands on, and) ordained twelve, making them his chief disciples, that they might travel with him (and learn); then go out to preach.

15 He also gave them the power to heal people, and to exorcise demon spirits.

16 And Jesus gave Shimon the surname of Peter--or Rock.

17 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, he dubbed Thunderheads.

18 The disciples also included: Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddeus (Jude), Simon the Cannanean (Zealot),

19 Along with Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. (After they were all ordained,) they returned to a house in town.

20 The multitude quickly assembled again, and Jesus and the disciples couldn’t even find time to eat a snack.

21 When Jesus’ friends heard about all this, they tried to usher him away from the scene, saying: He must have lost his mind!

22 Meanwhile, the Torah teachers from Jerusalem were saying: He is possessed by Beelzebub, and by the dark power of the prince of devils he is casting out all these demons!

23 When he heard this, Jesus summoned the Torah teachers over and spoke parables to them, saying: Why would Satan cast out his own demons?

24 If a kingdom is divided by civil war, it will fall.

25 A family divided will not stand.

26 And if Satan rises up against his own forces and turns against them, then he, himself, cannot stand--and is actually bringing about his own downfall!

27 Look--no man enters into the house of a mighty man and takes his goods unless he first confronts the mighty man, overcomes him, and ties him up. Then he takes every item of value from the house with impunity.

28 And I want you to know that all sins will be forgiven mankind, and all evil words they speak will also be forgiven.

29 But he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, for he is caught in an everlasting sin he cannot repent of.

30 He told them this because they said, ‘He has a demon spirit!’

31 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent word for Jesus to come out.

32 As the crowd sat around him, Jesus was told: Your mother and brethren are here, and want to see you.

33 But he answered: Who are my mother and brethren?

34 Then he looked about to those who sat around him (listening to his words), and said: These are my mother and brethren!

35 For anyone who does the will of God is my brother, my sister, and my mother!

MARK CHAPTER 4

1 And Jesus again taught along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, but so many people came that he had to get into a boat and preach from a few yards out on the water as the crowd listened on shore.

2 He used many parables in teaching his doctrine, including this one:

3 Listen! A farmer went out to sow some seeds.

4 As he sowed, some fell by the side of the road, and the birds came and ate the seed up.

5 Some fell on rocky ground where there wasn’t much soil, and the seed sprouted immediately because it lay on the surface of the dirt.

6 But when the sun grew hot, it withered up and died because it had no roots.

7 Some seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns choked the plants so that they gave no fruit.

8 But some fell on good ground, and grew up to yield fruit: Some a little; some a lot; and some bountiful.

9 Jesus said to them: He who is able to understand, let him understand.

10 When Jesus was alone, his followers and the twelve apostles asked him what the parable meant.

11 He replied: You have been given the privilege to understand the mysteries regarding the Messianic Kingdom, but those outside of our group do not have that privilege, and so I speak to them in parables,

12 That (as was prophesied), seeing they will see, yet not perceive; and hearing they shall hear, but not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins forgiven.

13 Jesus added: Do you really not understand this parable? If not, how can you understand anything I am going to teach in parables?

14 The sower sows the Message (of the Gospel).

15 Those by the wayside represent people who hear the Message. But after they’ve heard it, Satan comes immediately to steal away the Message that was sown in their hearts.

16 Likewise, the seed sown on stony ground represents people who hear the Message, and immediately receive it with joy,

17 But they have no root of the Message in their hearts, so these endure for a time, but when trouble or persecution comes upon them for the sake of the Message, they immediately stumble (in their faith).

18 The seed sown amongst the thorns represents those who hear the Message,

19 But the burdens of this world, the lie that wealth is the answer to all problems, and the lust for possessions choke the Message so that it never bears fruit in their lives (because they set their priorities on these other things).

20 But the seed sown on good ground represents those who hear the Message, receive it into their hearts, and bring forth fruit: Some a little; some a lot; and some bountiful.

21 Jesus added: Is a candle meant to be put under a basket or to be hid under a bed? Isn’t it meant to be put in a candlestick?

22 So nothing is hidden without its eventually being meant to be revealed, and nothing is kept secret without the intent of its being known.

23 If any man can understand what I mean, then let him understand!

24 Jesus continued: Be sure to listen carefully: What you hear, and your degree of understanding of it, will affect how much revelation you will receive, and the more you understand, the more revelation you will receive.

25 For he that has (understanding) shall be given more; and he that does not have (understanding) will have what little (revelation) he has taken from him.

26 He added: This is why the Messianic Kingdom itself is akin to a farmer who sows seed into the ground,

27 And then goes to bed and gets up every morning. The seed will grow of its own accord, and it doesn’t matter that the farmer doesn’t understand how that happens.

28 For the earth will produce the growth--first, a blade of grass, then a sprout, and finally a full stalk of wheat.

29 Then, when the fruit that sprang from the earth that birthed it is ripe, the farmer immediately goes out and puts the sickle to his harvest because the time has come for it.

30 Jesus asked: What shall we compare the Kingdom of God to? What is it like?

31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of seeds on earth.

32 But it grows to be among the largest of herbs, shooting out great branches the birds of the air nest in.

33 With many parables like this, Jesus conveyed his doctrine as best as they were able to understand it.

34 But he never spoke to the crowds without using parables. Then later, when they were alone, he would explain the meanings to his disciples.

35 Now the same day as he spoke this parable, as dusk approached, he said: Let us go to the other side of the lake.

36 After the crowds were sent away, they conveyed Jesus across the Sea of Galilee in a boat. A few other boats followed as well.

37 But a great storm arose, and the waves washed into the boat and threatened to swamp it.

38 Jesus, meanwhile, was asleep at the stern, resting upon a cushion. They awakened him, and said: Master--don’t you care that we’re going to drown?!

39 So Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and waves, saying: Peace! Be still! And the wind halted, and the sea became very calm.

40 Jesus then asked the disciples: Why are you so afraid? How is it that you have no faith?

41 Yet they feared greatly, and said to one another: What sort of man is this that even the wind and the sea obey his commands?!

MARK CHAPTER 5

1 So they made it to the country of the Gadarenes, across the Sea of Galilee.

2 When Jesus stepped out of the boat, a (naked,) demon-possessed man ran out of the tombs and came up to him.

3 He lived there among the graves and tombs, and no one could overpower and bind him--even with chains!

4 They had often tried that with leg irons and manacles, and he would just tear them into pieces, then turn on those who tried to overcome him. The man simply could not be controlled or reasoned with.

5 Day and night, he would stalk about the hills and tombs, howling and making cuts in his flesh with sharp stones.

6 But when he saw Jesus in the distance, he ran up and kneeled.

7 He shouted out: What do I and you have to do with each other, Jesus--Son of the Most High God?! Swear by God that you won’t torment me (if I go, for Judgment Day isn’t here yet)!

8 He said this after Jesus told the demon: “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”

9 (Surprised at the demon’s power,) Jesus asked him: What’s your name? It answered: “Legion”--for there are many of us in here!

10 The demon then implored Jesus not to send him and his fellow demons out of the area.

11 Now there was a large herd of pigs feeding in the nearby hills.

12 And the demons begged Jesus, saying: Send us into those (unclean) pigs, that we may at least possess them!

13 Jesus agreed, and the demons went out from the man and possessed the pigs. Then the herd--numbering two thousand pigs--ran off a cliff and drowned in the lake!

14 The overseers of the herd saw this, and ran into town and the outlying area to spread word of what had happened. Then everyone came out to see for himself.

15 The people then approached Jesus and saw the man who had formerly been possessed by the legion of demons sitting down clothed and apparently in his right mind, and they were afraid.

16 Others who had seen the incident told the story of how the demons left the man and entered into the pigs.

17 But the people urged Jesus to go away from their territory.

18 Now when Jesus had returned to the boat, the former demoniac begged to go with him.

19 But Jesus said no, and told him: Go home, and tell your friends what a great thing the Lord has done for you, and how he had compassion on you.

20 So the man departed, and spread the tale throughout the “Ten Cities” region--and everyone was amazed (for they all knew about this wild man and were stunned at his deliverance).

21 When Jesus sailed back to the other side of the lake, so many people were waiting on the shore that he could hardly even land and get out of the boat!

22 Now one of the rulers of the local synagogue, whose name was Jairus, came and fell at Jesus’ feet when he saw him,

23 And pleaded with him, saying: My little girl is dying! Please come and lay hands on her so she will be healed; and she will live!

24 So Jesus accompanied Jairus with the crowd following and thronging about him.

25 Now there was a certain woman who had suffered from a uterine discharge for twelve years,

26 Who had followed all the advice of the doctors, and spent every cent she had on medicine and painful cures--but she never improved, and actually got worse.

27 Having heard about Jesus, she forced her way through the crowd behind him and reached out from to touch his prayer shawl.

28 For she said to herself, If I can but touch his clothing, I will be healed!

29 The moment she touched him, she felt the change in her, and realized she was healed!

30 Immediately Jesus halted, realizing that power had gone out from him. So he turned and looked all around, asking: Who touched my clothes?

31 Puzzled, the disciples shouted back: You see that you’re almost being crushed to death by this crowd, yet you’re asking, “Who touched me”?!

32 But Jesus kept looking around, trying to find the woman who had touched him.

33 Then the woman, fearing and trembling, and knowing it was she Jesus was looking for, fell at his feet and told him the whole truth.

34 And Jesus answered: Daughter, your faith has made you whole. Go with peace upon you, and be healed of your ailment.

35 While he was speaking this, some from Jairus’ house came up, and said: Your daughter has died. Why trouble the Master any further?

36 When Jesus heard that, he said to Jairus: Don’t give in to fear--just believe!

37 And he wouldn’t let anyone other than Peter, James, and John the brother of James, accompany him.

38 When he came to Jairus’ house, he saw a great commotion being made by the mourners.

39 Upon Jesus entering, he said: Why are you making such a commotion? This girl is not dead, but only asleep.

40 When they heard that, they laughed derisively. But after Jesus expelled them all from the house except for the girl’s parents and his three disciples, he went to where the girl was lying.

41 He took her by the hand, and said in Aramaic: Little girl, arise!

42 And immediately the girl, who was twelve years old, arose and walked. Everyone there was shocked to the core.

43 Jesus, however, warned them not to spread word of this miracle, and he instructed them to give the girl something to eat.

MARK CHAPTER 6

1 Jesus now left Capernaum to return to Nazareth, and his disciples accompanied him.

2 When the Sabbath came, he taught in the synagogue, and many of the people were amazed, saying: Where did he get all this (knowledge and talent)? What sort of wisdom has been given to him that he can work such incredible miracles?

3 Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Miriam? The brother of James, Joses, Judah, and Simon? Don’t we know his sisters? So the people were offended by him.

4 But Jesus responded: A prophet is not without honor--except in his own country, among his own family, and in his own house.

5 So he could do no great miracles there except for healing a few sick people by laying hands on them.

6 He was amazed at their lack of faith, so (instead of working miracles,) he went about the area, teaching in the villages.

7 Then he called the twelve and began sending them out in pairs, giving them the power to exorcise demon spirits.

8 He told them not to take anything for their journey except a staff. They were not to take so little as a scrap of bread, a sack, or any money in a purse.

9 They were only to take a pair of sandals and one set of clothing.

10 And he instructed them: Stay in whatever house you enter into until your work in that city is done.

11 As for anyone who does not welcome you or receive your message--shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them when you leave. Truly, Sodom and Gomorrah will be better off than that city will, come Judgment Day!

12 So they went out, preaching that men should repent.

13 They also cast out many demons, and anointed many of the sick with oil, healing them.

14 Finally, Herod Antipas heard about Jesus and all he was doing, because his reputation was spreading everywhere. And he said: This must be John the Baptist risen from the dead, and that’s why he can do such miracles!

15 But others said: “It is Elijah!” Or, “It is one of the ancient prophets returned, or else a new prophet like the ones in days of old!”

16 But Herod was convinced it was John, and when he heard that said: It is John, whom I beheaded--he has risen from the dead for sure!

17 For Herod Antipas had captured and cast John into prison for the sake of his brother Philip’s wife Herodias, whom he had taken and married.

18 John had condemned him for this, saying: The Torah does not permit you to marry your brother’s wife (through using Roman divorce)!

19 Therefore, Herodias hated John and would have killed him, but she could not,

20 For Herod feared John, realizing he was a holy and just man of God. He even watched over him, and liked to hear him regularly, though he was troubled by what John said. (Thus, Herodias was forced to bide her time.)

21 Her chance finally came when Herod threw a banquet on his birthday, inviting all the chief officers, officials, and well-to-do businessmen in the region of Galilee.

22 It was during the banquet that Herodias’ young daughter Salome came in and did a striptease for Herod that pleased him and those sitting at the feast. Antipas exclaimed to her: Ask anything you wish, and I will give it to you!

23 He was so worked up, he even swore: Whatever you ask, I will give it--even half my kingdom!

24 So she went to her mother, and said: What should I ask for? Herodias told her: Ask for the head of John the Baptizer!

25 So she ran back to the banquet and announced: I want you to bring me the head of John the Baptizer on a platter right now!

26 Herod was exceedingly sorry to hear this, but for the sake of his pride before his guests, he had to honor his oath and accede to her request.

27 So king Herod immediately sent an executioner out to the prison to behead John and bring back his head.

28 She responded: True, Lord--but even the family dogs beneath the table get to eat the children’s crumbs!

29 When John’s disciples heard about this, they came and took the body, laying it in a tomb.

30 Meanwhile, Jesus’ apostles returned in a group, and gave a report of all they had been doing and teaching.

31 Jesus said: Let's go to some isolated spot for some privacy and rest. He said this because there was a constant flow of people following him everywhere, and no one had time to even eat.

32 So they sailed off to a secluded place.

33 But some people saw him leave, and many guessed where he might be going--so the crowd actually ran around the lake and beat the ship to where it was heading!

34 Moved with compassion as he exited the boat, Jesus began to teach many things to the vast crowd, because they were like lost sheep without a shepherd.

35 Now when night was about to fall, the disciples came and said: This is an isolated area, and night is coming.

36 Send the people away to the villages to buy food, for they have nothing to eat.

37 Jesus answered: You feed them! They said back: (Shall we just create money out of thin air, and go buy them all dinner?!)

38 Jesus then replied: How much bread do we have amongst us? Go see. After the disciples checked, they answered: Five loaves, and a couple of fish.

39 So Jesus commanded the crowd to break into small groups and sit on the green grass.

40 So they sat down in groups of fifty and a hundred.

41 When Jesus had taken the loaves and fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed God. Then he broke up the loaves, dividing them and the fish among the disciples, and fed the crowd out of what was there.

42 Everyone ate until they were full,

43 And the leftover bread fragments and fish filled twelve baskets!

44 Moreover, the crowd that had eaten the bread numbered nearly five thousand men!

45 Just after this, he commanded the disciples to sail to Bethsaida, while he sent the crowds away.

46 After sending them away, Jesus departed to a mountain to pray.

47 During the night, the ship was on the lake, while Jesus was alone on shore.

48 He could see them rowing, but making no headway against the wind, for it was blowing against them. Around 3 AM, he then came out to them, walking upon the surface of the lake, and would have actually walked on by them!

49 But when they saw him walking on the water, they screamed in fear, thinking it was a ghost,

50 For they all saw him, and were terrified. But he immediately called out to them: Cheer up--it’s me! Don’t be afraid!

51 And he walked up, entered the ship, and the winds calmed down. To say everyone was amazed was an understatement!

52 For the miracle of the loaves hadn’t even caused them to expect that Jesus could do such things, for they had hard hearts.

53 When they had crossed to where they were going, they were now again in the land of the Gadarenes, and there they landed.

54 On disembarking from the ship, everyone recognized Jesus.

55 This time, he was welcomed, and some ran to spread word. Then everyone from the area brought the bed-ridden to be healed when they heard where Jesus was.

56 And anyplace Jesus went--be it village, town, or the countryside--they brought out the sick to lay in the streets, and they begged to be permitted to touch his prayer shawl; and everyone who did that was healed fully!

MARK CHAPTER 7

1 About this time, a group of Pharisees and Torah teachers from Jerusalem came on the scene.

2 But when they saw some of the disciples eating bread with unclean hands--that is, without first performing a ritual hand washing and prayer--they criticized them.

3 You see, the Pharisees, and all the Jews of Judea, do not eat without regularly immersing their arms to the elbows, for this is a tradition instituted by the elders of Israel.

4 When they return from the marketplace, for instance, they will not eat unless they perform this ritual, called the Nitilat Yada’im. They also perform similar immersions upon cups, pots, bronze vessels, and tables (to make them ritually pure).

5 So these Judean Pharisees and Torah teachers asked Jesus: Why do your disciples not keep rabbinic tradition, and immerse their hands before eating?!

6 But Jesus answered them by saying: Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites when he wrote: This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

8 For, ignoring the commandments in the written Law, you elevate oral laws, like baptizing pots and cups, to even more importance than written commandments, and you do things like that all the time!

9 And he said: Yes, you cunningly rationalize ways for your oral laws to take precedence over the written Law!

10 For instance, Moses said, See to the needs of your parents; and, Anyone who curses his mother or father must be put to death.

11 But then you teach that if a man says to his father or mother: “My goods are Korban (--dedicated to the Temple--) and so I do not have to help you out of my own resources,” he is relieved from observing that commandment.

12 So you permit him to turn his back on the needs of his parents,

13 Thus making the command of God meaningless because of your oral tradition. You do a lot of things like this!

14 Then Jesus summoned the crowd and told them: Listen and understand, whoever can.

15 There is nothing from outside a man that can defile him when it enters him; it’s what comes out of him that defiles him in God’s eyes.

16 If you can understand--then understand!

17 When Jesus left the crowd and returned into  the house he was staying at, the disciples asked him to explain what he meant.

18 He replied: Do you have no more understanding than those Pharisees? Do you not understand that a man cannot be defiled by things like the sort of food that he eats?

19 Because what he eats doesn’t enter his heart, but his stomach, and eventually leaves him, going into the sewer. (Thus, Jesus pronounced all foods clean.)

20 (But what comes out of his mouth can defile his soul.)

21 For what comes out, comes from within the heart of man, where adultery, fornication, murder,

22 Theft, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lust, greed, blasphemy, pride and foolishness make their home.

23 All these evil things dwell in the heart of a man and are what really defile him!

24 Jesus now left for the region of Tyre and Sidon, where he hoped to abide secretly in the house of someone there--but word got out,

25 For a certain woman, whose daughter was possessed by a demon, heard about him and came, falling at his feet.

26 She was a Gentile--a Syrophenician--and she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter.

27 But Jesus replied: Let the children eat their fill first, for it is not right to take their bread and simply toss it to the puppies.

28 She responded: True, Lord--but even the family dogs beneath the table get to eat the children’s crumbs!

29 And Jesus answered: For saying this, go home--the demon is gone from your daughter.

30 When she returned home, she found it was so, the demon was gone, and her daughter was resting peacefully in bed.

31 And again leaving the area of Tyre and Sidon, Jesus returned to the Sea of Galilee by way of the “Ten Cities” region of Jordan.

32 At one point, they brought a man who was deaf and (dumb); and they begged Jesus to touch and heal him.

33 Jesus took him away from the crowd and put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit, and touched the spittle to the man’s tongue.

34 Looking up to heaven, he sighed, then said in Aramaic: Be opened!

35 And immediately the man could hear, and was able to speak clearly!

36 Jesus told the man and his friends not to tell anyone about the miracle, but the more he told people to keep silent, the more they seemed to tell everyone!

37 And everyone who heard was utterly astonished, saying: Everything he does is (pure and wondrous)! He can even make the deaf and dumb able to hear and speak!

MARK CHAPTER 8

1 Once, there was a great crowd gathered who had nothing to eat, so Jesus summoned the disciples and said:

2 I worry for this huge crowd, because they have been with me for three days and have nothing to eat.

3 If I send them home hungry, some may faint on the way since they may have come from a far distance.

4 But the disciples answered: What can we do? How could anyone get food enough to feed this crowd out here in the desert?

5 Jesus asked them: How many loaves do you have? They replied: Seven.

6 Then he commanded the people to sit down on the ground, and he took the seven loaves and gave thanks to God. Then he broke them and began distributing them to the disciples to set before the people, and they did so.

7 They also had a few small fish, and after Jesus blessed God, he did the same thing as he had done with the bread, having the disciples hand them out to the crowd.

8 So everyone ate until they were full, and the leftovers filled seven baskets!

9 The crowd numbered about four thousand, by the way. After they had eaten, Jesus told them to return home.

10 Then Jesus took to sea again with the disciples and made his way to the region of Dalmanutha (on the west side of the Sea of Galilee, near Magdala).

11 There, some Pharisees wasted no time in confronting him and demanding he produce a sign from heaven (to prove God was with him).

12 But Jesus sighed deeply in his spirit (for their hard hearts and blind eyes), and said: Why does this generation always demand a sign? I tell you truly, no sign will be given you!

13 So Jesus turned his back on them and re-entered the boat. He then sailed to the other side of the lake.

14 Now the disciples themselves had forgotten to bring any bread with them, and all they had in the boat was one loaf.

15 Jesus warned them, saying: Watch out! Don’t eat bread yeasted by either the Pharisees or the Herodians!

16 The disciples didn’t understand, so they murmured, speculating: Since we forgot to bring bread, he must mean we shouldn’t buy any bread from the Pharisees or the Herodian priests.

17 When Jesus realized their train of thought, he said to them: Why do you think I’m talking about normal bread? Are you still not able to see past my language to the heart of what I mean? Are your hearts still hard?

18 Having eyes, do you see not? Having ears, do you hear not? Do you not remember what you’ve seen?

19 How I broke up the five loaves to feed five thousand people? How many baskets were left after that? They replied: Twelve.

20 And when I fed four thousand with seven loaves, how many baskets of leftover bread did you recover? They answered: Seven.

21 So Jesus replied: How is it that you don’t understand me then?

22 When the boat brought Jesus to Bethsaida, upon his arrival some people brought a blind man up to him, begging Jesus to touch (and heal) him.

23 Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him out of town. Then he put some spittle on the man’s eyes, laid hands upon him, and asked if he could see.

24 The man looked up, saying: I can see, but my vision is blurry--people look like trees moving about!

25 Jesus again placed his hands upon the man’s eyes and then bade him to look up. When he did, his sight was fully restored and he could see people clearly.

26 Jesus then sent him back to his home, saying: Don’t go into town, or tell anyone from the town about this miracle!

27 Jesus and the disciples, meanwhile, made their way to Caesarea Philippi, and on the way Jesus asked them: Who are men saying that I am?

28 They answered: John the Baptist, risen from the dead. Others say Elijah, or one of the other prophets.

29 Jesus asked: But whom do you say that I am? Peter spoke up, and said back to him: You are the Messiah!

30 Then he solemnly told them not to tell anyone this.

31 He also began to teach them that the Son of Man would have to suffer greatly, and be rejected and killed by the elders of Israel, the chief priests, and the Torah teachers of the various factions. But after three days he would rise again.

32 He said this clearly (without talking in a parable), and Peter took him aside, and started rebuking him.

33 But when Jesus turned and saw the other disciples, he rebuked Peter (using the words Abraham had used to Satan during the journey to sacrifice Isaac,) saying: “Get behind me, Satan”! You are thinking man’s way, not God’s!

34 Later he called both the people and his disciples to him, and said: Whoever chooses to follow me must take up his cross and follow me!

35 For whoever will save his own life (by living his own way), will lose it in the end; but whoever shall lose his life for my sake, and the Gospel’s, shall save it.

36 For what profit is there to gain the world but lose one’s eternal soul?

37 What price will a man sell his eternal soul for?

38 Therefore, whoever shall be ashamed of me and my teachings in this (spiritually) adulterous and sinful generation, of him shall the Son of Man also be ashamed when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels!

MARK CHAPTER 9

1 And he added: Truly I say to you, there are some standing here who will not see death before they glimpse the Kingdom of God come in power!

2 Six days after this, Jesus took Peter, James, and John with him up onto a high mountain by themselves--and he was transfigured before their very eyes!

3 His clothing shone white as snow--so white, in fact, that no bleached garment on earth could compare to it!

4 Then Elijah and Moses appeared and began talking with him!

5 Peter, dumbfounded, blurted out: Rabbi, it is good for us to be here! We’ll make three shelters--one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah!

6 But he really didn’t know what to say because they were all terrified.

7 Then a cloud overshadowed them and a heavenly voice came forth that said: This is my beloved Son--listen to him!

8 In the next instant when they looked up, they saw no one else, for only Jesus was there with them.

9 And as they descended the mountain, he told them to say nothing of what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

10 They did keep the secret, but the disciples kept wondering amongst themselves what “rising from the dead” meant. (For their minds were closed so they could not fully understand Jesus’ words.)

11 They finally asked him: Why do the Torah teachers say Elijah must come before the Messiah?

12 Jesus answered: Truly, Elijah will return and make everything right again. And it’s also written that the Son of Man will endure much suffering and be treated badly (before entering into his kingdom).

13 I also say that Elijah has already come, but they did as they wanted with him, as the Scriptures said they would.

14 Now when Jesus returned to the other disciples waiting with the crowd in the valley below, he saw some Torah teachers questioning them.

15 When the people saw Jesus, they were very amazed, and ran up to greet him.

16 But Jesus queried the Torah teachers: What are you arguing about with them?

17 A man in the crowd answered: Master, I brought my son who has a demon of muteness (and epilepsy).

18 And whenever the demon manifests, it causes him to writhe about, gnash his teeth, and fall comatose. I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.

19 Jesus answered them: O faithless generation! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you (and your weakness of faith)? Bring the boy to me.

20 So they brought the boy, and when the lad saw Jesus, the demon in him caused an immediate epileptic fit, and he fell down frothing at the mouth as he convulsed.

21 Jesus asked the father: When did this first start? The man answered: Since he was a young child.

22 And it often causes him to fall into the fire, or into the waters to drown him--so if you can do anything, please have mercy, and help us!

23 Jesus replied: (If I can do anything?) If you can believe, all things are possible!

24 Then the father burst into tears, and said: Lord, I believe--help the part of me that doesn’t!

25 When Jesus saw the whole crowd now running up, he rebuked the foul demon with these words: You deaf and dumb spirit, I order you to come out, and never return into him!

26 The demon screamed, and caused him to writhe all the worse. Then it was gone, and the boy seemed to be in a coma. Many even said: He is dead!

27 But Jesus grasped his hand, lifted him up, and the boy got to his feet.

28 When Jesus had returned to the house that was his headquarters, the disciples asked him privately: Why couldn’t we cast it out?

29 He replied: One like this won’t come out without intense prayer (and fasting).

30 Eventually they left the area, and Jesus hoped to discreetly travel through Galilee.

31 For on the way he taught the disciples, and told them: The Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him--but after they kill him, he will rise again on the third day!

32 But they did not comprehend his words, and were afraid to ask for an explanation.

33 Now after Jesus had returned to Capernaum, the disciples eventually joined him. When they entered the house he was in, Jesus asked: What were you arguing about on your way here?

34 But they hemmed and hawed and kept silent, because on the road they had been arguing over which of them was the most important Disciple.

35 So Jesus sat down and called the twelve, saying: If any man wants to be the most important, he must make himself the least of all, and the greatest servant of all.

36 Then Jesus took a child and set him before them, and taking him into his arms, said:

37 Whoever receives a child like this receives me as well. And whoever receives me, actually receives God who sent me!

38 John now spoke up, saying: Master--we saw a man exorcising demons in your name, and we told him to stop doing that because he wasn’t a part of our group.

39 But Jesus answered: Don’t stop him! No man can do a miracle in my name and then just go out and denounce me.

40 If he’s not against us, then he is for us!

41 And truly, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name, because you belong to Christ, will in no way lose his reward.

42 But whoever causes one of the little ones who believes in me to stumble--well, it would be better if an (anchor) were tied to his neck, and he was thrown into the sea to drown.

43 So if your hand causes you to sin--cut it off! It’s better to enter into life maimed, than to have two good hands and be cast into hell--and the fire that shall never quenched.

44 Where (--as you’ve heard in the legends of sinners who are eaten by maggots every day, over and over again--) the maggots do not die, nor does the fire go out!

45 So if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off! It’s better to enter into life a cripple, than to have two good legs and be cast into eternal hellfire,

46 Where the maggots (of the tormented) do not die, and the fire does not go out!

47 Likewise, if your eye makes you to sin--pluck it out! Better to enter the Kingdom of God with one eye, than to have two good eyes, and be cast into hell’s fire,

48 Where the maggots of the lost do not die, and the fire does not go out!

49 For the fire of God will purify everyone, even as salt draws out the lifeblood from a sacrificial offering. (Thus, the life from you will be drawn out until you have died to yourselves and become a pure sacrifice in God’s eyes, while the wicked will be consumed.)

50 Now salt is a good thing, but what can be done with it if the salt loses its flavor? Keep your flavor pure, and live in peace with each other (instead of arguing over who is the most important).

MARK CHAPTER 10

1 Jesus then arose and left the area, arriving at the border of Judea at the farther side of Jordan. The people, as usual, came to him; and as he always did, Jesus reiterated his doctrines to them.

2 Eventually the Pharisees came up, hoping to trick him. They asked: Do you agree that the Law allows a man to divorce his wife if he deems it necessary?

3 Jesus answered: What is your understanding of what Moses ordered about divorce?

4 The Pharisees replied: Moses allowed a man to write a Bill of Divorce, and to put her away.

5 Yes, Jesus agreed, he said that--but he wrote it into the Law because of your hard and stubborn hearts.

6 From the beginning of time (and the Garden of Eden, divorce was never a part of God’s plan, and) He created man as male and female.

7 That’s why a man shall leave his father and mother, and become one with his wife;

8 And they shall no longer be two separate people, but one flesh.

9 So what God has joined together, man must not tear apart.

10 When Jesus entered back into a house he was staying at, the disciples asked him for more clarification on the matter of divorce.

11 He told them: A man who divorces his wife and marries another person commits adultery against his original wife.

12 Likewise, if a woman (--Herodias, for example--) divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.

13 Now some mothers brought small children to Jesus so he would lay hands on them (and bless them), but the disciples were offended at this, and rebuked them.

14 When Jesus realized this, he was angry at them, and said: You let the little children come to me, and don’t stop them--for the Kingdom of God is made up of ones just like them!

15 And I tell you truly, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God just like a little child will never enter it!

16 Then Jesus took the children into his arms, laid hands on them, and blessed them.

17 Now later, when he was leaving the area, a man ran up the road and kneeled, asking: Good Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?

18 Jesus replied: Why call any man “Good” when only God is good?

19 However, you know the commandments: Don’t commit adultery; Don’t kill; Don’t (kidnap or rob); Don’t lie about others; Don’t cheat; Honor, and take care of your parents.

20 The man answered, and said: Master, I have done all these things from my youth.

21 Jesus looked back, and his heart went out to him in love. He said: You only lack one thing: Go, sell whatever you have, give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, take up the cross, and follow me!

22 The man was sad at hearing this, and left with his head hung low, for he had great possessions.

23 Jesus looked around, then said to the disciples: Only with difficulty will people with riches enter into the Kingdom of God.

24 The disciples (--who, like everyone, thought prosperity was a sign of God’s favor--) were amazed at hearing this. Jesus reiterated: Children, it is very hard for those who trust in wealth to enter into the Kingdom of God!

25 It is easier for a rope to pass through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.

26 Now the disciples were really shocked, and said among themselves: Who can be saved then?!

27 Jesus, looking back to them, said: With men, it is impossible, but not with God--for with God, anything is possible!

28 Peter began saying: Look at us…we have left all, and followed you--

29 Jesus spoke up: Truly I tell you, there is no man who has forsaken his house, his brothers, his sisters, his parents, his wife, or even his children or lands for my sake and that of the Gospel,

30 Who will not receive back, in this lifetime, a hundredfold houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and lands--along with persecution--and in the Messianic Age eternal life as well!

31 But many who are most important in the here-and-now will be the lowest-of-the-low then; and those least esteemed now will be the most important then!

32 Now as they were going along the road to Jerusalem with Jesus leading the way, a feeling of unnatural dread and concern came upon the disciples. So Jesus took the twelve aside and began to elaborate on what was ahead of him.

33 He said: We are near Jerusalem now, and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief Sadducee priests and the Torah teachers. They will condemn him to death, and hand him over to the Gentiles.

34 The Gentiles will then mock him, whip him, and spit upon him before killing him--but on the third day he will rise again.

35 (Despite the gravity of what lay ahead,) James and John, Zebedee’s sons, came up to Jesus and said: Master, we want you to agree to do whatever we ask of you.

36 Jesus replied: And just what is it that you two want me to do for you?

37 They responded: Grant that the two of us can sit at your right and left hands (as the highest officials in your Kingdom).

38 But Jesus replied: Do you have any idea what you’re asking?! (Do you know the price that comes with that?!) Can you drink from the cup I must drink from, and endure the baptism I must undergo?!

39 They said: We can! Then Jesus replied: Well, you will drink from that cup, and you will share the baptism I must undergo.

40 But to sit on my right or left hand is not mine to give, but God shall appoint those who will occupy those positions.

41 When word made its way back to the other ten about this, they started to get furious at James and John.

42 But Jesus summoned the disciples and said to them: You know that among the Gentiles, everyone tries to lord it over everyone else; and the higher you climb, the more you trod upon those beneath you, treating them as your servants.

43 (As I said before:) Among you, it must not be that way! Whoever wants to be important must be servant to the others.

44 And the most important of you must be the greatest servant of all.

45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve others, and give his life to ransom many.

46 Now they came to Jericho, and as he departed with the disciples, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the side of the road, begging.

47 When he asked what the commotion was, and heard that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by, he cried out: Jesus, Son of David--have mercy on me!

48 Many of the crowd told him to be still, but he shouted out all the louder: You who are the Son of David, have mercy on me!

49 Jesus heard, and halted. Then he commanded that the man be brought up to him. They ran and told bar Timaeus: This is your day--get up, for Jesus is calling you!

50 So bar Timaeus cast away his cloak, and arose. Then he stumbled toward Jesus.

51 Jesus said to him: What is it that I can do for you? Bar Timaeus answered: Great Rabbi--let me receive my sight!

52 Jesus responded: Go your way--your faith has made you whole! And immediately, bar Timaeus received his sight and followed down the road behind Jesus.

MARK CHAPTER 11

1 When they approached Jerusalem and arrived at the villages of Bethany and Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent out two disciples,

2 Saying to them: Go into the village there, and as soon as you enter it you will find a young donkey upon which no man has ever sat. Untie it, and bring it back here.

3 If anyone asks, “Why are you doing that?”, just say: “The Lord has need of him, and will send him right back here.”

4 So the two went, and it happened just as Jesus said: A donkey was tied up next to the door of a house at the crossroads, and they untied it.

5 Sure enough, some who were standing around (--thinking they were thieves--) demanded to know: What do you think you’re doing, untying that donkey?!

6 The disciples answered as Jesus had told them, and the men let them go.

7 So they brought the donkey to Jesus and spread their cloaks upon its back, and Jesus sat upon it.

8 The crowd now began to lay their cloaks on the road before the beast, while others cut down tree branches and laid them down on the road as well.

9 And those who went on ahead of Jesus, and the crowd behind, started shouting: Save now! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

10 Blessed be the Kingdom of our father David that the Lord is bringing forth! Save now, O God in the highest heaven!

11 And Jesus entered Jerusalem and made his way up to the Temple (where he assessed the practices there). Then, it being near dusk, he and the twelve returned to Bethany.

12 Now the next morning, when he was returning to the city, Jesus was hungry.

13 He saw a nice looking fig tree in the distance, and made his way over to it, hoping to find some figs. But there was nothing but leaves on it yet, for harvest time hadn’t come (--the fig tree only looked like it might have fruit).

14 In response to this, Jesus answered: May no man ever eat fruit off of you again! And his disciples heard him say this.

15 After this, they re-entered Jerusalem. Jesus then went up to the Temple and began to throw out those in the Court of Gentiles who did business there. He also overturned the tables of the money-changers and the chairs of the sacrificial dove-sellers (who should not have been sitting in that court of the Temple).

16 He also wouldn’t allow people to carry any wares for sale on the Temple grounds.

17 And he taught, saying: Is it not written: My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? But you have made it into a den of thieves!

18 The Torah teachers and the chief Sadducee priests heard him say this, and they yearned to find some way to kill him--but they were afraid to take action because the multitudes were enraptured by his words and teachings.

19 When evening was come, Jesus left the city.

20 Now the next morning, when they were going back to Jerusalem, the disciples saw the fig tree from the day before was dried up from its roots.

21 Peter, remembering Jesus’ words, said: Rabbi, look--the fig tree you cursed has dried up, and died!

22 Jesus’ reply to this was: Have faith in God!

23 For truly I tell you that whoever says to this mountain, “Get up and be cast into the sea”--without doubting in his heart, but believing what he says shall happen--will have whatever he has asked for!

24 I thus say to you, whatever things you desire when you pray, believe you already have them, and you shall!

25 And when you stand praying, forgive if you have a grudge against someone so your Father in heaven can forgive your own trespasses!

26 But if you don’t forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your wrongdoing!

27 They returned to Jerusalem and the Temple, and this time as Jesus walked through it the chief priests, the Torah teachers, and the elders of the city accosted him.

28 They said: By what authority do you presume to come in and do all these things, and who gave you that authority?!

29 Jesus replied to them: I’ll ask one question of you, and if you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things!

30 John’s baptism: Was it given him from heaven, or was it his own invention? Answer that.

31 The authorities talked it over, and concluded: If we say heaven gave it to him, he’ll ask: “Then why didn’t you believe him?”

32 But if we say he made it up on his own, who knows what the crowd will do, seeing they count him as a true prophet?

33 So they answered by saying: We can’t tell. Jesus replied: Then I will not tell you by what authority I do these things!

MARK CHAPTER 12

1 Jesus began to preach in parables once again, saying: A man once planted a vineyard, made a fence around it, dug a winepress, erected a guard tower, and then handed it over to some sharecroppers to run while he left for a faraway country.

2 When harvest time arrived, he sent a servant to the sharecroppers to collect his share of the vineyard’s fruits.

3 But the sharecroppers grabbed hold of him, beat him, and ran him out of the vineyard empty-handed.

4 The man sent another servant who had rocks thrown at him, and had to leave with a bad head wound after being treated shamefully.

5 He sent a third, and this one they killed. They beat or killed many other servants sent to them as well.

6 At the end, he sent his one beloved son to them, saying to himself: “Surely, they’ll respect my own son!”

7 But the sharecroppers said: “Here is the man’s heir--let’s kill him, and then the vineyard will be ours forever!”

8 So they took the son, killed him, and then threw his body out of the vineyard.

9 What would you expect the lord of the vineyard to do to these evil men? He will come and destroy them, and hand over the vineyard they wanted to keep for themselves to others (who are worthy).

10 Now: Have you ever read the Scripture that says, The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:

11 This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

12 The group knew this parable was directed straight at them, and they wanted to arrest Jesus on the spot. But they feared the people so they went away to bide their time.

13 They later sent a select group of (Shammaiite) Pharisees with some of the Herodian priests, hoping to outsmart Jesus and catch him in his own words.

14 When the group arrived, they said to Jesus: Teacher--we know you’re sincere, and that you could care less about the opinion of man, but stand up for the truth of God regardless of the consequences. Now we have a question: Does the Law of Moses permit paying taxes to Caesar (and thus supporting the empire that oppresses the nation)?

15 Should we pay, or should we not pay? Jesus, however, knew their hypocrisy, and said: Why do you try to trick me? Show me a coin of the tribute!

16 They sent someone for a denarius, and Jesus asked them: Whose image and inscription is on this coin? They replied: Caesar’s.

17 Jesus responded by saying: Then give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, but give to God what is God’s! And they were astonished by the wisdom of this answer.

18 Then some Sadducee priests--who deny there is a resurrection of the dead--took a crack at him, saying:

19 Teacher--Moses wrote that if a man dies childless, his brother must marry his wife, and produce an heir for him.

20 Now there were seven brothers, and the first married a woman, and died childless.

21 The second then married her, and also died. The third married her, and died too.

22 Eventually, all seven married the woman and died childless, and finally she also died.

23 Now--in the resurrection, whose wife would she be, since all seven married her?

24 Jesus replied by saying: Don’t you fall into error from the start since you don’t even know or understand the Scriptures, and you deny the miracle power of God on top of that?!

25 When people rise from the dead in the resurrection, they will neither marry, nor be given in marriage, but will be like the angels in heaven.

26 Now as regards your error over whether men (have immortal souls, and whether or not they) will rise in resurrection: Haven’t you read in the Torah how God spoke to Moses in the bush, saying, “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob”?

27 (Not “I was the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”) So God is the God of those who still live and worship him even in the grave, rather than a God of those who have gone to the grave and forever lost all consciousness. Thus, you greatly err in your theology.

28 One of the (Hillelite) Torah teachers came up, and overhearing the discussion, knew Jesus had answered them brilliantly, so he asked him: What do you believe is the most important command in the Law?

29 Jesus answered: The first, and most critical, of all the commandments is: Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. This is the first commandment given.

31 The second is like it: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There are no other commandments more important than these.

32 (Hillel had a similar teaching, and) the Torah teacher responded: Master, you have spoken well, for there is only one God, and no others.

33 And to love Him with all one’s being and understanding, along with loving one’s neighbor as himself, is more important than any burnt offerings or sin sacrifices!

34 When Jesus saw the man displayed wisdom in his statement, he told him: You are close to the Kingdom of God. After this, none of Jesus’ enemies dared try to outsmart him.

35 But while Jesus was teaching in the Temple courts, he asked: Why do the Torah teachers say the Messiah is the son of David (and thus in an inferior position to him)?

36 For the Holy Spirit inspired David to write in the Psalms: The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.

37 David thus calls the Messiah his own Lord, so how can he be nothing more than his descendant and heir? The common people delighted at hearing new teachings and revelations like this.

38 And he warned them in his doctrine: Beware of Torah teachers who love to walk around in richly embroidered prayer shawls with their long commandment threads, and to be greeted in the marketplaces with deference to their positions,

39 And love the best seats in the synagogues, and the best seats at feasts,

40 Yet turn widows out into the streets where they make long, hypocritical public prayers. In hell, these men will have a greater punishment than the worst sinners!

41 Jesus then took a place near the collection boxes in the court, and watched people casting their money in. Many rich people deposited great amounts.

42 In time, a poor widow came up and deposited two copper coins.

43 Jesus called the disciples and said: Truly I say to you, this poor widow gave more than any of the others,

44 For they gave from their surplus (after their own needs were met), while she gave all that she owned!

MARK CHAPTER 13

1 As Jesus exited the Temple grounds, one of his disciples excitedly said: Master--look what magnificent huge stones and architecture are here!

2 Jesus replied: You see these great buildings? I tell you there will not be so much as two bricks left cemented together that will not be thrown down!

3 Later, as Jesus sat upon the Mount of Olives in the shadow of the great Temple, Peter and Andrew, and James and John, came privately to him and asked:

4 Tell us when these things will happen to the Temple. And what will be the signs that it is approaching fulfillment?

5 Jesus began to say in response: Beware, lest someone deceive you.

6 For between now and then, many will come, usurping my position, and saying, “I am the Messiah”. Many will be deceived by them.

7 And when you hear of impending war or rumors of war, don’t be worried. Such things must happen, but the end of the Age will not come yet.

8 Nation will indeed rise against nation, and race will battle race, and there will be great earthquakes and famines. These will be the start of the Birthpangs of the Messiah.

9 But watch out for yourselves, for you will be tried before religious courts, and they will beat you in the synagogues. You will also be taken before rulers and kings because of your stand for me; and then you will testify of me to them.

10 (But before the end,) the Gospel must be preached to all people.

11 And when the time comes that they haul you before these tribunals, don’t plan what you’re going to say beforehand. The Holy Spirit will give you the words to respond with in the hour you need them, and it will be He, not you, who speaks.

12 In the times to come, brother will betray brother to death, as will the father betray his son, and the children their parents, causing them to be put to death.

13 You will be hated by all men for your commitment to me, but those who endure the persecution to the end will be saved!

14 But note: When you see the Abomination of Desolation prophesied of by Daniel the prophet standing (in the Holy of Holies), let those in Judea flee to the mountains.

15 Let him on the housetop run for the hills without even stopping long enough to grab anything from his house.

16 Let him in the field not even go back to grab his cloak before fleeing.

17 And woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days!

18 And keep praying that the time of your flight does not come in the cold of winter.

19 For in those days shall be tribulation such as has never been seen before, nor will be seen again.

20 And unless God cuts those days short, everyone will die. But God will intervene on behalf of His elect people, and the days of tribulation will be cut short.

21 In those days if any man says, “Look--the Messiah is in this place or that,” don’t believe him!

22 For false messiahs and false prophets will arise and produce (false) miracles to deceive many, including God’s elect if that were possible.

23 But stay on guard, because I have warned you about this.

24 In those days, at the climax of the tribulation, the sun will grow dark and the moon will give no light.

25 And the stars in the sky will fall (as the demonic powers in the heavens are cast down to perdition).

26 Then all will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.

27 And he shall send forth his angels to gather his elect people from every part of creation, from the four corners of the earth, to the four corners of heaven.

28 Learn a parable from the fig tree: When its branches are supple and sprout leaves, you know summer is near.

29 In like manner, when you see these things come to pass, know that the culmination of this Age, and the start of the Messianic Age, is at hand.

30 I assure you that the generation alive to see each of these things will not vanish before it sees the culmination of those things come to pass.

31 The cosmos and the earth will pass away, but what I say never will!

32 But the day and the hour (--the Rosh Hashanah--) that all these things will happen, no one, including the angels, knows; but the Father alone. Even I do not know it.

33 So stay in prayer, remaining faithful and on watch--because you don‘t know when that time will be.

34 For the Son of Man is like a man who went on a long journey, leaving his holdings in care of his servants, and commanding the gatekeeper to keep watch.

35 So (you gatekeepers) keep yourselves ready, for you don’t know when your Master will return to call you to account for what you’ve done with what he’s left in your possession. He may come at dusk, at midnight, at dawn, or in the morning!

36 You don‘t want him to arrive without warning and find you asleep at your post!

37 So what I say to one, I say to all--watch (and be faithful)!

MARK CHAPTER 14

1 After two days was the Feast of Passover, and then Unleavened Bread. As this day approached, the chief Sadducee priests and the Torah teachers sought to find a way to trick Jesus into being taken into custody so they could kill him.

2 But they said: Not on the Passover itself, lest the crowds rise up.

3 Now as Jesus was in Bethany eating dinner at the house of Simon the Leper (father of Judas), a woman with an alabaster vial filled with precious perfumed ointment came in and broke the vial, pouring its contents upon Jesus’ head.

4 Some present were offended at the act, and asked: Why was this vial of ointment wasted like this?

5 It could have been sold for nearly a year’s wages that could have been given to the poor! And they grumbled against her.

6 But Jesus said: Leave her be! Why do you bother her? She has performed a righteous act on me.

7 The poor will always be there for you to help, but you will not always have me.

8 She has done what she could in the time remaining, for she has anointed my body for burial.

9 I want you to know that wherever in the world this Gospel is preached, the tale of what she did will be preached too as a memorial of her and what she did.

10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief Sadducee priests, offering to betray Jesus to them.

11 When he made the offer they were delighted, and offered him money in return. So from that point, he began looking for the best way to deliver Jesus into their hands.

12 On the eve of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lambs were slain, the disciples asked Jesus: Where do you want us to hold our Passover?

13 And he sent out two disciples, telling them: Go into Jerusalem, and you’ll spot something unusual: A man (--not a woman--) carrying a pitcher of water. Follow him to the house he goes to.

14 Then seek out the owner of the house, and say to him: “The Master says, ‘Where is the guest chamber where I can eat the Passover with my disciples?’”

15 He will show you a large room on an upper floor furnished and ready. Prepare our Passover there.

16 So the disciples went into Jerusalem and found things as Jesus had told them. Then they prepared for the Passover Festival.

17 Jesus arrived that evening with the twelve disciples.

18 As they reclined and ate, Jesus said: I assure you that one of you eating with me tonight will betray me.

19 The disciples were all filled with sorrow, and began asking in turn: Is it I? Is it me? Even (Judas) asked: Is it I?

20 Jesus’ reply was: It is one of you twelve who dip in the dish with me.

21 And sure enough, the Son of Man will go on to what is prophesied about him in the Scriptures, but woe to the one who is sending him down that road! It would be good for that man if he had never been born!

22 As they ate the meal, Jesus took unleavened bread, blessed God, and handed it out, saying: Take and eat this. This is my body.

23 Then he took the cup of wine, and after giving thanks to God, he passed it around and they all drank from it.

24 He said: This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.

25 I assure you that I will never drink any fruit of the vine again until the day I drink it new in the Kingdom of God!

26 After they had sung one of the Hymns of Ascent, they made their way to the Mount of Olives.

27 As they went, Jesus said to them: All of you will (stumble in your faith and abandon me tonight,) for it is written: I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.

28 But after I rise, I will go and wait for you in Galilee.

29 Peter, however, assured him: Even if everyone else here stumbles (and abandons you)--I won’t!

30 Jesus’ reply was: I assure you that this day, even this very night, before the “rooster” crows twice--you will deny even knowing me, not just once, but three times!

31 But Peter denied it all the more vehemently, declaring: If I have to die at your side, I will not deny you in any way! The other disciples said likewise.

32 Eventually they came to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to the disciples: Sit here, while I go pray.

33 And he took Peter, James, and John with him a few yards away. But as he went, a feeling of utter dread and sorrow came upon him.

34 Jesus told them: My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, almost to the point of death. Wait here, and keep watch.

35 Jesus went forward a few steps, and fell prostrate upon the ground, praying that what lay ahead could be avoided if possible.

36 He prayed: Abba Father, all things are possible for You...take this cup away from me--yet not my will, but Yours be done.

37 After a while, he returned to find everyone asleep. So he awakened Peter and said: Shimon--are you asleep?! Could you not stay on watch for just one hour?!

38 Stay alert and pray, lest you enter into temptation. Your spirit is willing, but your flesh is weak (and may be your downfall).

39 And he went back, praying the same words as before.

40 When he returned, the disciples were once more asleep, and they had no good answer as to why they could not stay awake.

41 When this happened a third time, Jesus said: Fine, sleep on, and rest. Enough is enough--the hour is come. Behold, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

42 Get up! Let’s go--my betrayer has come!

43 Now while he was speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived at the head of a crowd armed with swords and clubs that had been sent by the Sadducees, the Torah teachers, and the city elders.

44 Earlier, the betrayer had told them to look for the sign he would give them: The one I give the customary kiss of greeting to is Jesus. Take him into custody, and you’ll be able to lead him away in safety!

45 As soon as he arrived, Judas went over to Jesus, calling out: Rabbi! Rabbi! Then he gave him a kiss of greeting.

46 The others then rushed up and took Jesus into custody.

47 Now one of the disciples (--trying to help Jesus--) drew a sword and cut the ear off a man in the crowd who happened to be a servant of the High Priest.

48 (Before things could escalate,) Jesus said: Why do you come out, armed to the teeth, like you’re apprehending some bandit?

49 You saw me in the Temple each day preaching, and you didn’t touch me then--but the Scriptures must be fulfilled, mustn’t they?

50 At this, the disciples all scattered and ran for their lives.

51 Now a young man (--John Mark, who was present in the house during their Passover--) had slipped out to follow and see what would happen, but he was clad only in a fine linen sheet. Some of the young men in the crowd spotted him and tried to catch him,

52 But he managed to slip from their grasp, leaving the sheet in their hands as he ran away naked.

53 The others, meanwhile, led Jesus to the palace of the High Priest where all chief priests, the key city elders, and the Torah teachers were gathered.

54 Peter was following along in the distance, and he managed to slip into the palace of the High Priest. He then mingled with some of the servants in the courtyard, warming himself at a bright bonfire.

55 Meanwhile, the chief Sadducee priests and their (city) Sanhedrin sought for two witnesses who could say something giving them leave to kill Jesus, but found none.

56 All sorts of people spoke lies against him, but they couldn’t find two who could get their stories straight.

57 Finally, a couple of men testified falsely against Jesus, saying:

58 We heard him say: “I will destroy this Temple made by human hands, and within three days will erect another built without human hands”!

59 But even these didn’t say exactly the same thing.

60 Finally, the High Priest stood up in the midst of the gathering and asked Jesus: Do you have nothing to say? What are all these things you’re being accused of by the people?

61 But Jesus kept silent, and finally the High Priest demanded: Are you the Messiah, Son of the Blessed?!

62 And Jesus said: I AM! And you all will see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of Power, and coming in the clouds of heaven!

63 Then the High Priest (broke the Law of Moses, and) rent his clothing. He said: What need is there of more witnesses?

64 You all heard him (blasphemously apply the name of God to himself), so what is your judgment? So they held a quick vote, and all of them voted Jesus guilty, and deserving of death.

65 Some now began to spit on Jesus, and blindfolded him so he couldn’t see while they slapped him. They shouted out: Prophesy (who it was that struck you)! The servants also slapped him in the face with their palms.

66 Now as Peter was in the courtyard below, one of the female servants of the High Priest came along.

67 She noticed Peter warming himself at the fire, and fixed her gaze at him, saying: You were with Jesus of Nazareth too!

68 But he immediately denied it, saying: I have no idea what you could possibly be talking about! Then he began to walk toward the gate leading outside to the street as the “rooster” crowed.

69 Another female servant then saw him and cried out to those there: This is one of them!

70 Again Peter denied it (--this time, with an oath). But after a while, others standing there said: You must be one of them--you even have a Galilean accent!

71 Then Peter began cursing and swearing, stating: I don’t know that man you’re talking about!

72 Now the “rooster” cried out again, and Peter recalled Jesus telling him: “Before the ‘rooster’ crows twice--you will deny even knowing me, not just once, but three times!” When he remembered that, he went out and wept bitterly.

MARK CHAPTER 15

1 At dawn, the chief Sadducee priests consulted with the religious leaders, the Torah teachers, and the entire (city) Sanhedrin. Then they bound Jesus and sent him to the Roman governor Pilate.

2 When he met him, Pilate asked: Are you “The King of the Jews”? Jesus’ response was: You are saying that I am (by what you are doing).

3 The chief Sadducee priests then made numerous accusations against Jesus, but he remained silent.

4 Pilate again spoke to Jesus, saying: Have you nothing to say at all? Look how many charges they’re bringing against you!

5 But still Jesus kept silent, and Pilate was amazed at this.

6 Now at the Feasts (as a gesture of goodwill) the governor would release a condemned criminal of their choice to the people.

7 In custody was a violent, murderous revolutionary named bar Abbas, who with his gang had been apprehended and now awaited execution.

8 The crowd now began calling for Pilate to follow the custom, and release one man (--namely, this same bar Abbas).

9 But Pilate answered: Do you want me to release “The King of the Jews” to you?

10 For Pilate knew full well that the chief Sadducee priests had delivered Jesus solely out of envy.

11 But those chief priests moved the crowd to holler for bar Abbas instead.

12 So Pilate answered again: Then what shall I do with the one you call, “The King of the Jews”?

13 The crowd screamed out again: Crucify him!

14 Pilate responded by asking: Why? For what crime? But they shouted out all the louder: Crucify him!

15 And so Pilate--desiring to placate the people--gave in to the crowd, and released bar Abbas to them. Then, after flogging Jesus, he ordered him to be crucified.

16 The legionnaires now led Jesus into the Praetorium hall and called their fellow soldiers out to see the spectacle.

17 They threw a purple cloak upon his back, wove together a crown of thorns, then placed it upon his head,

18 And began mockingly shouting: Hail, King of the Jews!

19 And they beat him with a reed stick, and spat upon him, and mockingly got on their knees in obeisance to him.

20 When they tired of this mocking, they took back the cloak and dressed him back in his own robe. Then they led him out to be crucified.

21 As they were going, a man named Simon of Cyrene was coming from the country into Jerusalem for the Festival. This Simon, who was father to Alexander and Rufus, was forced by the Romans to help Jesus bear his cross.

22 And they brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha, which means Place of the Skull (of Adam).

23 There, they offered him some drugged wine to drink, but he refused it.

24 When they crucified Jesus, they divided his clothing and diced to see who would get to choose what.

25 It was 9 AM when all this happened.

26 And above Jesus’ head on the cross was an inscription that read: THE KING OF THE JEWS.

27 Crucified on both sides of Jesus were also two thieves.

28 This fulfilled a prophecy that said: And he was numbered with the transgressors.

29 Those who passed by mocked Jesus, saying: So, you who were going to destroy the Temple, and rebuild it in three days--

30 Save yourself, and come down off that cross!

31 Likewise, the key Sadducee priests and Torah teachers mockingly said among themselves: He saved others, but he can’t save himself!

32 Let us see the “Messiah and King of Israel” come down now from that cross, and we’ll believe! The two thieves being crucified also mocked him like this.

33 Now when noon came, a great darkness fell over all the land until 3 PM (when the High Priest sacrificed the Passover lamb).

34 At 3 PM, Jesus cried out on a loud voice in the Aramaic language, quoting a Psalm, and saying: My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

35 (Because the words “My God” and the name of Elijah in Aramaic are both pronounced “Eli,”) some said: Look--he’s calling for Elijah!

36 Someone ran off and soaked a sponge with non-kosher vinegar wine, placed the sponge on a stick, and then lifted it up to Jesus to drink. Others said: Leave him alone, and let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down from that cross!

37 Jesus then cried out with a loud voice, and expired.

38 At the same instant, the curtain sealing off the Holy of Holies was ripped apart from top to bottom!

39 When a centurion present saw how Jesus cried out and yielded his spirit up to death, he noted: This man truly was the Son of God!

40 Now some female followers of Jesus were watching the scene from a distance. They included Mary of Magdala, and Mary the mother of James the younger, Joses, and Salome.

41 These women followers had ministered to Jesus in Galilee, and many other women had come with them to Jerusalem.

42 Now as evening drew near, since it was the preparation for the Sabbath,

43 Joseph of Arimathaea, a just man on the Great Sanhedrin who also was looking for the Kingdom of God to come, boldly went before Pilate and asked to be given Jesus’ body.

44 Pilate was amazed that Jesus was already dead, so he summoned the centurion in charge of the crucifixion to verify the fact that Jesus had been dead for a while.

45 When the officer confirmed it, he allowed Joseph to take the body.

46 So Joseph took a fine linen shroud, took him down, wrapped Jesus in it, and placed him in a tomb hewn out of a rocky outcrop. He then had a large stone rolled in front of the opening to seal it.

47 And Mary of Magdala and Mary the mother of Joses observed where he was laid to rest in a tomb.

MARK CHAPTER 16

1 After the Sabbath was over, Mary of Magdala, and Mary the mother of James and Salome, brought spices to smear on the body of Jesus.

2 At sunrise on Sunday morning, they came to the tomb.

3 They were wondering among themselves: Who will roll the stone away for us from the entrance of the tomb?

4 But when they came to the tomb and looked, they found the very large stone was already rolled aside.

5 The women entered into the tomb and there saw what looked like a young man clothed in a long white garment sitting on the right side of where the body had lain--and they were terrified!

6 But he said: Don’t be afraid. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, and is not here! See--this was where they laid him.

7 But go your way, and tell his disciples, including Peter, that he has gone to Galilee, and is waiting for them there--and there they will see him as he said earlier.

8 Yet the women fled from the tomb in terror and amazement, and said nothing to anyone because of their fear.

9 Now when Jesus had risen early Sunday, he first appeared to Mary of Magdala, who had once been totally possessed by seven demons.

10 This same Mary went and told the disciples, who were mourning Jesus’ death with tears.

11 But though she swore she had seen Jesus alive, the disciples did not believe her.

12 After this, Jesus appeared in another form to two of his followers as they were walking in the country.

13 They came and reported this to the disciples, but they wouldn’t believe them either.

14 Finally, Jesus appeared to the eleven as they were having dinner, and he gave them a severe tongue lashing for their hardness of heart in refusing to believe those who had seen him alive after his resurrection.

15 Then he said: As you go forth into the world, preach the Gospel to every creature.

16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned.

17 And these signs will follow those who have believed: As my representatives and followers, they will cast out devils; they will speak with new tongues;

18 They will handle snakes with impunity; if they drink anything dangerous, it will not harm them; and they will lay hands on the sick and the sick shall recover.

19 After the Lord had spoken to them, he was received up into heaven and sat down at God’s right hand.

20 And the disciples went out and preached everywhere, the Lord’s power being with them, and the Message was confirmed by many signs following. Amen.

LUKE

LUKE CHAPTER 1

1 Since many have attempted to write an account of the things that we certainly believe,

2 Through the stories passed down to us by those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the Message,

3 I also thought it a good idea that, since my knowledge of the events comes from first-hand sources and exhaustive research, I write you this account, most excellent Theophilus,

4 So you too can know the absolute truth of the things you’ve been taught.

5 In the days of Herod the Great, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias, who was one of the priests in the division of Abijah (established by David). Zacharias’ wife Elizabeth was descended from Aaron (the first High Priest).

6 Now these two were highly religious and devoted before God, obeying all of the Torah in a blameless manner.

7 Even so, they had no children, for Elizabeth was barren, and now they were both very old.

8 And it came to pass that during one of the two times a year that Zacharias was called upon to serve at the Temple with the other priests of the division of Abijah,

9 For the first time in his life, when they enacted the ritual to cast lots to determine which priest would have the honor of burning incense before the Holy of Holies, it fell to him.

10 At the appointed time, while he was inside burning incense, the Temple courts outside were filled with a multitude of people praying.

11 As he was doing this, an angel of the Lord appeared, standing to the right of the altar of incense!

12 When Zacharias saw him, he was stunned and greatly afraid.

13 But the angel said: Don’t be afraid, Zacharias! Your prayer (for a son) has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear a son whom you are to name John (Yochannon).

14 You will have great joy and gladness at this, and many will rejoice at his birth.

15 This child will be great in the Lord’s sight (and will be consecrated to God as a Nazirite from his birth). He must never drink wine or strong drink; and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.

16 He will bring revival to the children of Israel, and turn many to the Lord their God.

17 He will go before Him, walking in the spirit and power of Elijah to: turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

18 Zacharias replied to the angel: How do I know this is true? I am an old man, and my wife too is getting on in years.

19 The angel then answered: I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and who was sent to give you these glad tidings.

20 Because you did not believe my words that will be fulfilled in the due course of time, you will be made (deaf and) dumb, unable to speak!

21 Now while this was going on, the people waited for Zacharias, and couldn’t understand why he was taking so long in the Temple (so they repeated their prayer over and over again until he came out).

22 When he finally did emerge, he could not speak--he could only make hand signs--and they knew he must have had some sort of vision in the Temple.

23 Now when his period of service was over, he went home to his wife.

24 Elizabeth then conceived, and hid herself for five months. And she said,

25 “The Lord has been good and merciful to me to look upon me in my old age, and take away the disgrace of being childless!”

26 Now in the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, the same angel Gabriel was sent by God to the village of Nazareth in Galilee,

27 To a young virgin who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The young woman’s name was Miriam (meaning Rebel).

28 The angel came to her, and said: Greetings, you who have been greatly graced! The Lord is with you! Blessed are you among women!

29 When Miriam saw the angel, she was troubled and perplexed, wondering what sort of greeting this was.

30 But the angel said to her: Don’t be afraid, Miriam--for you have found favor with God!

31 You are going to become pregnant and give birth to a son whom you will name Jesus (Yeshua).

32 He will be a great man, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David!

33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never have an end!

34 Then Miriam asked: How can such a thing happen since I am a virgin?

35 The angel answered: The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you. For this reason, the holy child born of you will be called the Son of God (--and he will be more than merely the king of Israel through that title).

36 Your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month of a pregnancy for a woman who was called “barren.”

37 For no command or decree of God is without power!

38 And Miriam replied: Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Let it happen as you have said. The angel then departed from her.

39 Miriam left her home and speedily made her way to the hill country of Judea and the village where Elizabeth lived.

40 Upon entering Zacharias’ home, she called out a greeting to Elizabeth.

41 When Elizabeth heard the sound of her voice, the baby leapt for joy in her womb, and the Holy Spirit filled her, causing her to prophesy.

42 She cried out: Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

43 And why am I so honored that the mother of my Lord has come to me?

44 For as soon as I heard your voice and greeting, the baby inside me leapt for joy!

45 Blessed is she who believed what the Lord told her, for what she has believed will come to pass!

46 And Miriam exclaimed: My soul exalts the Lord!

47 And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!

48 For He has regarded the humble state of His handmaid--for from this point, all generations will call me blessed!

49 For the Mighty One has done great things to me, and Holy is His name!

50 His mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

51 His mighty arm has scattered those who are arrogant in their hearts’ intentions.

52 He has thrown down the mighty from their thrones and replaced them with the humble.

53 He has filled the starving with delicacies and the rich have been turned away with nothing.

54 He has come to the rescue of His servant Israel, remembering the promise He made out of mercy for us,

55 The promise He made to our ancestors, and Abraham, and his descendants forever!

56 After this, Miriam remained with Elizabeth for around three more months. Then she went back home.

57 Now Elizabeth’s time had come, and she delivered a male child.

58 All her neighbors and relatives heard of the great mercy God had shown her by this miracle, and they rejoiced with her.

59 And after eight days, according to custom, they came to circumcise the child and give him a name. They started to call him Zacharias, after his father.

60 But Elizabeth said: No--name him John!

61 They answered back: But there are none of your relatives (or ancestors) with that name.

62 So they made signs to (the deaf) Zacharias, trying to get him to communicate what the child should be named.

63 Zacharias then gestured for a writing tablet, and when given one wrote: His name is John. And everyone was amazed.

64 Then his affliction immediately left him, and Zacharias opened his mouth to praise God.

65 And a great fear came about everyone in the area, and word of these events circulated about all the Judean hill country.

66 Everyone who heard about all this wondered what sort of child the infant would grow up to be. And sure enough, the Lord’s hand was with him.

67 The Holy Spirit also filled his father Zacharias, and he prophesied, saying:

68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has come to the aid of his people, and redeemed them.

69 He has raised up a (mighty sovereign) of deliverance and salvation for us in the house of his servant David,

70 As He said He would do through the mouths of the holy prophets, who have foretold this since the world began!

71 He will save us from our enemies and from the hands of all who hate us,

72 So He can enact the mercy promised to our ancestors, and remember His holy covenant,

73 The oath He made to our father Abraham:

74 That He would deliver us out of the hands of our enemies so we could serve Him freely, without fear,

75 In all holiness and righteousness before Him, all the days of our lives.

76 And you, child, shall be called a prophet of the Highest, for you will go before the face of the Lord to set the stage;

77 To teach the way of salvation to God’s people through the remission of sins,

78 Accomplished through the tender mercy of our God, by whom the rising sun itself has descended to earth and come to us,

79 To give light to those trapped in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace!

80 And so the child grew, and became very powerful in spirit; and was in the deserts until the day he was revealed to Israel.

LUKE CHAPTER 2

1 And it came to pass in that time that Augustus Caesar issued an edict throughout the Roman Empire to take a census (for purposes of taxation).

2 (This first affected Judea when Cyrenius was controlling Syria.)

3 So everyone went to register for the census at the town his ancestors were from.

4 Joseph also came from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem of Judea, the city of David his ancestor,

5 To be counted with his betrothed wife, Miriam, who was now in her ninth month of pregnancy. (This took place in early fall, during the Feast of Tabernacles, called the Festival of Sukkot by the Jews.)

6 It happened that while they were in Bethlehem, she was ready to give birth.

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him up in swaddling clothes, laying him inside a manger because there was no room for them in (Joseph’s family’s tabernacle).

8 In the same region, one night some shepherds were out in the fields, keeping watch on flocks of lambs (used for Temple sacrifices).

9 The angel of the Lord appeared to them, shining with God’s radiance, and they were terrified.

10 But the angel said to them: Fear not! For look--I bring you news of great joy that shall bless all people!

11 For this night is born to you, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord!

12 Here is how you will know him: You will find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger!

13 Suddenly the angel was joined by a host of other angelic beings who were praising God, saying:

14 Glory to God in the highest! On earth, peace and good will to men!

15 As the angels left them and ascended into the sky, the shepherds said to each other: Let’s go into Bethlehem,and see this thing the Lord has made known to us!

16 So they rushed toward town and found Miriam, Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.

17 After they had seen this, they spread word to others about what they had been told about the child they saw.

18 And everyone who heard this wondered about what the shepherds said about the child.

19 But Miriam remembered all of these events, and pondered them in her heart.

20 Meanwhile, the shepherds returned to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen as a result of what the angel had told them.

21 Now after eight days, when they came to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus because of what the angel had told Miriam before he was conceived in the womb.

22 And when the period of ritual defilement according to the Law of Moses was over, they brought the child to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.

23 As it is written in the Torah of the Lord: Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord.

24 They also made the required (sin) sacrifice in the Torah of the Lord (for the mother): A pair of two turtledoves or pigeons.

25 Now in Jerusalem at that time was a man named Simeon. This man was just and religious, waiting for the redemption of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

26 The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die before seeing the Lord’s Messiah.

27 Led by the Spirit one day, Simeon came to the Temple, and when Jesus’ parents came to present him and offer up the required sacrifice,

28 He took the babe into his arms and blessed God, saying:

29 Lord, now let Your servant die in peace, according to Your word,

30 For my eyes have now seen your salvation,

31 Which you have prepared in the sight of all people;

32 A light to enlighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel!

33 Joseph and his mother were amazed at the things that had been spoken about the child.

34 And Simeon blessed them, and said to Miriam his mother: Behold--this child is fated to be the fall of some, and the rising up of many others in Israel; and for a sign that will be spoken against,

35 (So that what is in men’s hearts will be revealed for all to see. A sword will pierce your own soul also!)

36 Now also there was a prophetess named Anna, daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very, very old, and had been widowed after seven years of marriage.

37 She was now eighty-four years old, and spent day and night in the Temple, serving God (as an intercessor,) fasting and praying.

38 She happened to approach while this was going on, and when she had seen the child she also gave prophetic praise to God for him, and spread word about him to everyone in Jerusalem faithfully awaiting deliverance.

39 When Joseph and Miriam had completed the requirements of the Law of the Lord, they returned to their own town of Nazareth, in Galilee.

40 And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was filled with wisdom, and God’s grace was with him.

41 Now every year his parents would go to Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover as was customary (for devout Jews).

42 And when Jesus was twelve, they journeyed to Jerusalem, observing the custom of the Feast.

43 After everything was over, as they returned in a caravan to Galilee, the young Jesus slipped away and remained in Jerusalem, but Joseph and his mother didn’t realize it.

44 They thought he was with friends or relatives in the caravan, and it was a full day before they started asking their family and friends if they had seen him.

45 When they realized he wasn’t there, they rushed back to Jerusalem, trying to find him.

46 On the third day, they found him at the Temple sitting amidst the sages of Israel, listening to them and asking them questions.

47 Everyone there was amazed at the boy’s wisdom of understanding, and the questions he answered.

48 When his parents saw him they were amazed, and his mother said: Son--why have you done this?! Your father and I have been going out of our minds with worry! We couldn’t find you anywhere!

49 Jesus replied: How is it that you didn’t know where to find me? Where else would I be but doing my Father’s business (in His house)?

50 But they did not understand what he meant

51 So Jesus returned home with them, and was obedient to them. Meanwhile, his mother kept all these things in her heart.

52 And in the years that followed, Jesus grew in wisdom and in size (for he was a large man), and increased in favor with both God and man.

LUKE CHAPTER 3

1 Now in the fifteenth year Tiberius Caesar ruled Rome (27 AD), Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod Antipas was Tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip was Tetrarch of Ituraea and the region of Trachonitis; and Lysanias was the Tetrarch of Abilene.

2 Caipahas was then the reigning High Priest (though his father-in-law, Annas, was still alive and had occupied that position before him). It was at this time that John, the son of Zacharias, received a revelation from God out in the deserts.

3 And he went throughout Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins,

4 Fulfilling the prophecies of Isaiah the prophet: The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;

6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

7 And he railed against many (Pharisees and Sadducees) who sought baptism from him, saying: You generation of snakes! Who warned you to repent and escape God’s coming wrath?

8 If you want to repent, prove it by changing the way that you think and act--and don’t feel secure because you’re physically descended from Abraham (and think that guarantees your being accepted by God). I tell you that God can take these rocks (erected by Joshua) and turn them into children of Abraham if He wants to!

9 God’s ax is ready to fell the trees that bear no good fruit, and those trees will be cast into the fire!

10 The people, meanwhile, asked John: What shall we do then?

11 He answered: Let the man with two coats give one to someone without any; and let the man with food on his table share with him who is starving!

12 Even some hated tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked: Rabbi--what should we do?

13 John’s answer was: Take no more than the minimal taxes Rome demands.

14 Some soldiers likewise asked: What should we do? And John answered: Do violence to no man (unnecessarily); do not make a false accusation against anyone; and don’t extort money, but be content with your wages.

15 Now since the people were in heightened expectation that the Messiah might come in their lifetime, they all debated whether John could be he.

16 But John denied it, saying: I am indeed baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming whose sandal straps I am unworthy to untie--and he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire!

17 His fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly clean out the threshing floor, gathering the wheat into his storage bin while burning the chaff with everlasting fire!

18 John taught and exhorted many other things to the people as well.

19 But Herod Antipas, Tetrarch of Galilee, was a target of John’s criticism for taking his brother Philip’s wife, Herodias, for himself; and for his many other atrocities.

20 Bad as all these crimes were, even worse was that he cast John into a dungeon!

21 Now when all the people had been baptized, Jesus also came to be baptized, and when he arose from the water and prayed, the heavens parted,

22 And the Holy Spirit descended in the form of a dove upon him, and a voice from heaven said: You are my beloved Son! In you, I am well pleased!

23 Jesus was now about thirty years old, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph (Let Him Add), who became son of Heli (Ascending),

24 Who was son of Matthat (Gift of God), who was son of Levi (Joined), who was son of Melchi (My King), who was son of Janna (Flourishing), who was son of Joseph (Let Him Add),

25 Who was son of Mattathias (Gift of Yahweh), who was son of Amos (Burden), who was son of Naum (Consolation), who was son of Esli (Reserved of Yahweh), who was son of Nagge (Illuminating),

26 Who was son of Maath (Small), who was son of Mattathias (Gift of Yahweh), who was son of Semei (Listen), who was son of Joseph (Let Him Add), who was son of Judah (He Shall Be Praised),

27 Who was son of Joanna (Gift of God), who was son of Rhesa (Head), who was son of Zorobabel (Born in Babylon), who was son of Salathiel Asked of God), who was son of Neri (Yahweh is my Lamp),

28 Who was son of Melchi (My King), who was son of Addi (Ornament), who was son of Cosam (Divining), who was son of Elmodam (Measure), who was son of Er (Watchful),

29 Who was son of Jose (He Will be Sustained by Yahweh), who was son of Eliezer (God is His Help), who was son of Jorim (Whom Yahweh Has Exalted), who was son of Matthat (Gift of God), who was son of Levi (Joined),

30 Who was son of Simeon (Harkening), who was son of Judah (He Shall be Praised), who was son of Joseph (Let Him Add), who was son of Jonan (Yahweh is a Gracious Giver), who was son of Eliakim (God Rising),

31 Who was son of Melea (My Dear Friend), who was son of Menan (Numbered), who was son of Mattatha (Givingness), who was son of Nathan (Given), who was son of David (Beloved),

32 Who was son of Jesse (Wealthy), who was son of Obed (Serving), who was son of Boaz (In Him is Strength), who was son of Salmon (A Garment), who was son of Naasson (Enchanter),

33 Who was son of Aminadab (One of the Prince’s People), who was son of Aram (High), who was son of Esrom (Enclosed), who was son of Phares (a Breach), who was son of Judah (He Shall be Praised),

34 Who was son of Jacob (Heel-catcher or Supplanter), who was son of Isaac (Laughter), who was son of Abraham (Father of a Multitude), who was son of Thera (Station), who was son of Nahor (Snorting),

35 Who was son of Saruch (Intertwined), who was son of Ragau (Friend, Shepherd), who was son of Phalec (Division), who was son of Heber (The Region Beyond), who was son of Sala (Sprout),

36 Who was son of Cainan (Their Smith), who was son of Arphaxad (Stronghold of Chaldees), who was son of Shem (Name), who was son of Noe (Rest), who was son of Lamech (Powerful),

37 Who was son of Methuselah (Man of the Spear), who was son of Enoch (Dedicated), who was son of Jared (Descent), who was son of Maleleel (Praise of God), who was son of Cainan (Their Smith),

38 Who was son of Enos (Mortal Man), who was son of Seth (Compensation or Foundation), who was son of Adam (Of the Red Earth or Red), who was son of God (I WILL BE or I AM).

LUKE CHAPTER 4

1 And Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the deserts,

2 Where he was tempted for forty days by the devil. During this time he ate nothing, and at the end he was very hungry.

3 Then the devil said to him: If you’re the Son of God, command this rock to become bread!

4 Jesus answered him by saying: It is written that, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from God’s mouth!

5 The devil took him up to a high mountain where he showed Jesus all the empires of the world in a moment of time.

6 The devil then said to him: I will give you all the power and glory of these kingdoms, for they have been handed over to me and to whomever I wish to bestow them.

7 If you will now bend your knee and do homage to me, all of it will be yours!

8 Jesus answered him: Get behind me, Satan! It is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve!

9 Then the devil brought him to Jerusalem and set him on the highest pinnacle of the Temple. He said: If you’re the Son of God, jump off from here (for the people to see),

10 For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:

11 And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

12 But Jesus answered him: It is said, You shall not tempt the Lord your God!

13 When the devil had finished all his temptations, he left Jesus until a more opportune time.

14 Then Jesus returned with the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and word of his exploits spread throughout the region.

15 And he taught in the synagogues, being highly honored by all who heard him.

16 Eventually, he came to Nazareth, where he had grown up; and as he usually did, he went into the synagogue one Sabbath and stood up to give the Torah reading.

17 It happened that he was given the scroll of Isaiah that Sabbath, and he unrolled the scroll to a certain place, and read:

18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

20 Jesus stopped reading at that point and rolled up the scroll, handing it to the attendant to be put away. Then he sat down with every eye in the synagogue on him.

21 He began saying to the assembly: This day, the Scriptures you have heard are being fulfilled.

22 Everyone knew there was something unique about him, and that he spoke with amazing brilliance and authority, but still they said: Isn’t this Joseph’s son?

23 And Jesus replied: You will no doubt quote me the saying, “‘Doctor, heal yourself’! Let’s see you do the same miracles at home that you did in Capernaum!”

24 Truly, no prophet is accepted in his own country!

25 But I tell you truthfully, there were many Jewish widows in Israel during the days of Elijah when the rain was shut up in the heavens for three and-a-half years, causing a great famine in all the land.

26 But Elijah was sent to none of these, but to Sarepta in Sidon, to a Gentile widow there!

27 There were also many lepers in Israel when Elisha the prophet had his ministry, yet none were healed except Naaman, a Syrian!

28 When the men in the synagogue heard these words (about Gentiles being preferred over Jews), they were enraged!

29 And they rose up, and forced Jesus out of the city to the edge of a cliff the city was built on, planning to throw him off (as a precursor to stoning him).

30 But he (became invisible, and) passed through the crowd. Then he left the area,

31 And came to Capernaum, in Galilee, where he began teaching each Sabbath.

32 Everyone was amazed at his teachings, for he spoke with unquestioned authority.

33 Now in the synagogue was a man possessed by a demon, and he cried out loudly:

34 Leave us alone! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!

35 Jesus rebuked the spirit, saying: Shut up, and come out of him! And after the demon cast the man onto the ground in the midst of the assembly, it came out of him and left the man unharmed.

36 All the synagogue was amazed, and spoke amongst themselves, saying: What new sort of preaching is this?! He commands demons with authority and power, and they come out!

37 And his reputation spread to every part of the region.

38 Jesus left the synagogue and went into Shimon’s house. There, Shimon’s mother-in-law had a serious fever, and they asked him to heal her.

39 He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and immediately it left her. The woman then arose and prepared food for everyone.

40 Now at dusk, people brought the sick and diseased to him, and he laid hands on them and healed every one!

41 Demon spirits came out of many of them, crying out: “You are the Anointed One, the Son of God!” as they did. But Jesus rebuked them, and commanded them not to speak, for they knew he was the Messiah.

42 At dawn, Jesus left the house and went out to a deserted place (to pray), and the people sought him out. When they found him, they begged him not to leave them.

43 But he said: I must preach the message of the Kingdom of God to other cities as well, for that is why I have been sent.

44 So he went about Galilee, preaching in the synagogues.

LUKE CHAPTER 5

1 In time, as Jesus stood by the shore of the Sea of Galilee and the people thronged about him to hear him proclaim the Message of God,

2 He saw a couple of boats beached along the shore as their owners were on land, washing their nets.

3 Jesus climbed into one, which happened to be Shimon’s, and he asked him to row out a few yards into the lake. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

4 When his teaching was over, he said to Shimon: Row out to a deep place and let your nets down for a catch.

5 But Shimon answered: Rabbi--we worked like slaves all night, and caught nothing (and daytime is the wrong time to fish, since they will see and avoid the nets). Nevertheless, I’ll let down a net at your word.

6 After they did this, the net was filled with so many fish that it started to break!

7 Peter and Andrew then waved for their partners in the other boat to come help them, so they came to their aid. Even so, there were so many fish between the two boats that they were nearly swamped!

8 When Shimon Peter saw this, he fell down at Jesus’ knees and exclaimed: Go away from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!

9 For he and the others in the boat were astonished at the great haul of fish they caught,

10 As were James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, who were Shimon’s partners in the other boat. But Jesus replied to Shimon: Fear not, for from now on you will fish for men!

11 After the boats landed, the fishermen left all behind, and followed Jesus.

12 Now it came to pass that Jesus entered into a certain city, and a man with leprosy who saw him fell on his face and pleaded with him, saying: Lord--if you want, you can make me clean!

13 Jesus reached out and touched him, saying: I will--be cleansed! And immediately the leprosy vanished!

14 Jesus warned him: Tell no one about this, but go and show yourself to the High Priest, and offer up the sacrifice for a cleansed leper Moses required, as a testimony to the priests.

15 But after this, his fame spread everywhere, and vast hosts of people came to hear him teach, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.

16 Eventually, Jesus withdrew into the desert, and prayed.

17 Some time after this, Jesus was teaching, and sitting there were Pharisees and masters of Mosaic Law who had come from every part of Israel to listen to him; and on that day the power of the Lord was available to heal them.

18 While this was going on, some men arrived carrying a litter upon which lay a paralytic man; and they tried to get him inside the house so they could lay him before Jesus (for healing).

19 But when they couldn’t get through the crowd, they found a way up to the roof of the house and pried some tiles off to make a hole. Then they lowered the man and his litter down into the midst of the crowd before Jesus.

20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic: Man, the sins you committed (that caused this malady) are forgiven you.

21 Now the Torah teachers and Pharisees were offended at hearing this, and wondered such things as: Why is this man speaking blasphemously (as if he is God)? Who can forgive sins but God alone?!

22 But when Jesus perceived what was in their minds, he answered: What are you debating in your hearts--

23 Whether it’s easier to say, “Your sins are forgiven,” than it is to say, “Rise up and walk”?

24 But so you can know that the Son of Man has the right on earth to forgive sins, I say: Rise, pick up your bed, and walk home!

25 And the man was immediately healed, picked up his litter, and walked home, glorifying God.

26 Everyone was astonished beyond comprehension, and glorified God as well. They were also filled with awe, and said among themselves: We have seen strange things today!

27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named (Matthew) sitting at the customs table, and he told him: Follow me!

28 Hearing this, (Matthew) dropped everything, and rose up to follow.

29 Later that night, (Matthew) held a banquet in his honor, and he invited his fellow tax collectors, along with many others, to come sit and dine.

30 But the Torah teachers among the Pharisees grumbled to the disciples, asking: Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinful people?!

31 Jesus heard, and replied: The well don’t need a doctor--the sick do!

32 I came not to call the righteous to repentance, but the sinners!

33 Some (of John’s disciples) asked: Why do John’s followers--and the Pharisees--fast, and pray (and afflict their souls on a regular basis), while your followers feast and drink?

34 Jesus responded: What groomsmen fast (and mourn) in the presence of the bridegroom?

35 But the days will come soon enough when the bridegroom will be taken away, and then they will fast (and mourn).

36 Jesus also spoke a parable to them: No one sews a patch of new cloth on an old, used garment because they are incompatible: The new patch will shrink in the wash, and pull the garment apart!

37 Likewise, no one puts new wine into old, stiff wineskins, or the fermenting wine will split the wineskins and leak out.

38 Fresh wine must be put in fresh wineskins, and both will be preserved!

39 And no man who’s used to drinking old wine wants new wine, for he says, “Old wine is better.”

LUKE CHAPTER 6

1 One day, during a Sabbath for the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Jesus and the disciples were passing through a wheat field, and the disciples (--but not Jesus--) plucked some of the wheat heads and rolled them in their palms to loosen some of the kernels to eat.

2 Some Pharisees who saw this said: (Why are you breaking the Sabbath by harvesting grain?!)

3 Jesus answered: Did you never even read so much as what David did when he and his men were hungry?

4 How he went into the House of God, and brought out the shewbread so they could all eat? As you know, the Law technically says the shewbread is only for the priests to eat. (Yet God wasn’t offended by this, was He?)

5 So I tell you, the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath (and can rule with authority on what may and may not be done on it).

6 On another Sabbath, Jesus entered a synagogue to teach, and in it was a man whose right hand was deformed.

7 The Torah teachers and Pharisees now were watching to see if Jesus would heal him on the Sabbath so they could have a basis for criticizing him.

8 But Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said to the man with the deformed hand: Arise, and stand before us. And the man did so.

9 Then Jesus said to the religious leaders: I have just one question for you: Does the Law teach you to do good on the Sabbath, or to do evil? To save life, or to destroy it?

10 When no one answered, Jesus looked around at all of them, and then told the man: Stretch out your hand! The man did so, and it was healed and made whole just like his other hand!

11 The religious leaders were furious at this, so they met together and began debating what to do to Jesus.

12 Around this time, Jesus went up upon a mountain to pray, and he was in prayer all night to God.

13 At dawn, he selected twelve men from his disciples to become apostles. They included:

14 Shimon, whom he also named Peter; and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,

15 Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot,

16 Jude, the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, who was the traitor.

17 And he came down to a plain with his disciples where a throng of people from Judea and Jerusalem, and the coasts of Tyre and Sidon were waiting. They had all come to hear him, and to be healed of their afflictions,

18 And to be delivered from the influence of demons; and all of them were healed.

19 Everyone tried to touch Jesus, for power went out from him and healed all!

20 Jesus looked upon his disciples and said: Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours.

21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall eat, and be full. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.

22 Blessed are you when men shall hate, shun, and speak ill of your name for the Son of Man’s sake.

23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for your reward in heaven will be great! Their fathers treated the prophets the same way!

24 But woe to you who are rich, for you have received all the comfort you will ever get!

25 Woe to you who are full, for you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.

26 Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that was how the false prophets were treated by their fathers!

27 But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, and do good to those who hate you.

28 Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who take advantage of you.

29 And if someone insults you, ignore it and keep silent. If someone takes your coat away, don’t try to stop him from taking your shirt away too.

30 Give to anyone who asks, and don’t seek to recover what someone else has taken from you.

31 And treat men the way you would want them to treat you.

32 For if you do no more than love those who love you back, what good is there in that? Even sinners love their own friends and family!

33 And if you only do good to those who likewise do good to you in return, what merit is there in that? Even sinners do that!

34 And if you lend money or goods only to those you can expect to help you in like manner someday, what good is that? Even sinners loan back and forth to each other.

35 But love your enemies, and do them good. Lend to them when they are in need, and don’t think of repayment. In doing this, your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Highest, for He is kind even to the ungrateful and the evil (in hope they will realize their wrongs, and repent).

36 So be merciful, as your Father is merciful.

37 Don’t become your own judge and jury (and take vengeance for wrongs done to you)! Don’t condemn someone for what they’ve done to you, and then God won’t condemn you for what you’ve done to Him. Instead, forgive--and God will likewise forgive your wrongdoing.

38 Give to others, and it will be given back to you in great abundance. For the same measure that you give will return to you.

39 Then Jesus spoke this parable: Can the blind lead the blind? Won’t they both fall into a ditch?

40 The student is not above his master, and the perfect disciple is the one who is just like the master he was taught by.

41 So then--why do some see a splinter in their brother’s eye, yet miss the log that is in their own?

42 Or how can one be so foolish as to say, “Brother--let me pull that splinter out of your eye,” when there is a log in his own? You hypocrite--take the log out of your own eye first, and then you will be able to see well enough to take the splinter out of your brother’s!

43 You see, a good tree doesn’t sprout bad fruit, nor does a rotten tree sprout good fruit.

44 A tree--good or bad--is what it is, and reveals what it is by the fruit that it bears. You don’t get figs off thorn vines, nor do you pluck grapes from a bramble bush.

45 Likewise, a good man with a good heart bears good fruit, just as an evil man with an evil heart brings forth bad fruit--and the things you say reveal what sort of heart you have!

46 So why would you pay lip service to me, saying, “Lord! Lord!” and then ignore what I tell you to do?

47 Whoever comes to me, hears and understands my teachings, and does put them into practice in his life, is like this:

48 He’s like a man who built a house with a good, deep foundation laid in the bedrock, and when the flood came and washed against the house, it could not be destroyed because it was founded upon solid rock.

49 But he who hears my teachings and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on a flood plain with no foundation. As soon as the storm came and the river rose, it immediately fell and was washed away!

LUKE CHAPTER 7

1 After Jesus finished teaching the people, he entered Capernaum.

2 Now there was a chief Roman centurion (--a Principale--) who had a slave that was very dear to him. This same slave was ill, and on the verge of death.

3 When the centurion heard of Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to beg Jesus to come heal his slave.

4 When the elders found Jesus, they urgently begged him to help, saying that the officer was worthy of his intervention.

5 Because, they said, he loves our people, and even paid for our synagogue to be built.

6 So Jesus went with them, and as he neared the centurion’s house, the officer sent some friends to him, saying: Lord--don’t trouble yourself on account of me, for I am not worthy that you should enter my house.

7 Nor did I think myself worthy to come ask your help myself, but just command my boy be healed, and that will be enough.

8 For I am a man under authority, with soldiers under me, and I tell one “Go,” and he goes; or say to another, “Come,” and he comes; and to my servant, “Do this,” and he does.

9 When Jesus heard these things, he was amazed at what the man related, and turned toward the crowd following, saying: I have yet to find a Jew in Israel with such strong faith!

10 The people then returned to the house and found the slave who had been sick was now healed.

11 The next day, Jesus went into the city of Nain, and many of his disciples followed, along with a large crowd.

12 Now as Jesus approached the city gate, a funeral procession was leaving, for a man had died who was an only child, and his mother--a widow--was leaving to bury him. A large crowd of mourners from the city also accompanied her.

13 When the Lord saw the woman, he had compassion on her, and said: Don’t cry!

14 And he came up and touched the bier, and those carrying it halted. Then he said: Young man, I say to you--arise!

15 Then the man who was dead sat up and started speaking, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.

16 Great fear fell upon the people, and they gave glory to God, saying: “A great prophet has arisen among us!”; and, “God has visited His people!”

17 This story spread throughout Judea and everywhere near it.

18 Meanwhile, John the Baptist’s disciples told him about all Jesus was doing (along with reports of his teachings not to use violence, but to love one’s enemies).

19 So John summoned and sent two of these disciples to ask Jesus: Are you the only Messiah coming, or is there another Messiah coming after you (who will deliver the people from Rome)?

20 When the men arrived, they said: John the Baptizer has sent us to ask: Are you the one who was prophesied to come? Or should we look for another coming after you (who will fulfill all the promises regarding the Messianic Age)?

21 Jesus said nothing, but turned about, healing everyone in sight, casting out demons, and giving sight to the blind. He did this for quite a few minutes.

22 Then Jesus returned to John’s disciples and told them: Go back and tell John what you just saw--how the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the Gospel is preached to the poor.

23 And tell him: “Blessed is he who is not offended (if I don’t do what he wants or expects me to do)!”

24 As the two disciples of John departed, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about him: What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed blowing back and forth in the wind?

25 What did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft, costly garments? No--those who wear regal robes, and live in comfort, are found in kings’ courts.

26 So what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, he was, I tell you--and much more!

27 John was he about whom it was written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

28 For I tell you, among all the children ever born of women, there has not been a greater prophet than John the Baptist! Even so, the lowest-ranking member in the Kingdom of God is greater than he!

29 Now everyone who believed John, including the tax collectors, agreed with the plan of God, receiving John’s baptism of repentance.

30 But the Pharisees and the Torah teachers rejected the plan God had for them because they rejected John’s baptism.

31 And (regarding these groups,) Jesus said: What shall I liken the men of this generation to? What sort of men are they?

32 They are like spoiled brats sitting in a marketplace, calling out to each other: “You didn’t dance to the tune of our wedding march, so we played a funeral dirge and you wouldn’t respond to that either. (What’s your problem?)”

33 For John the Baptist was (a Nazirite,) living a Spartan existence in the deserts, neither eating bread nor drinking wine--and you said, (“He’s crazy!”)

34 But then the Son of Man came, willing to eat and drink with you in your houses, and yet you say: “This is a gluttonous drunkard who wants to get in good with tax collectors and sinners!”

35 (As all wise people display what they are by what they say and do, so do all witless people!)

36 One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to dine with him, so he went to the man’s house and reclined to eat.

37 A woman in the town with a bad reputation as a sinner, after hearing that Jesus was having dinner at the Pharisee’s house, came and brought an alabaster vial.

38 She stood at his feet behind him, weeping, and began to wash his feet with her tears. Then she dried them with her long hair. Finally, she kissed his feet and anointed them with perfumed oil from the vial.

39 When the Pharisee who invited him saw this, he was offended by such an inappropriate act, and thought to himself, If this man were truly a prophet, he‘d know who and what sort of woman he is letting touch him, for she is a sinner.

40 Jesus knew what he was thinking, and so he spoke, saying: Simon--I have something to tell you. Simon replied: Teacher, say on!

41 Once, there was a banker that had two debtors who owed him money. One owed him five hundred coins, and the other fifty.

42 Neither could repay the debt, and he decided to freely forgive both of them, and write the debts off. Now--which of the two do you think (would be more grateful,) and love him the most?

43 Simon answered: I suppose the one who was forgiven the greater debt. And Jesus replied: You have answered correctly.

44 Then Jesus turned to the woman, and said: See this woman? I entered into your house and you didn’t even offer me some water to wash my feet, but she came and washed my feet with her tears, and dried them with the hair of her head.

45 You gave me no kiss of greeting, but since I came in, she has not stopped covering my feet with kisses.

46 You didn’t even use simple oil to anoint my head, but she anointed my feet with perfumed ointment.

47 Because of this, I tell you her many sins are forgiven, for she loved greatly. But he who is forgiven little, also loves little.

48 Then he told the woman: Your sins are forgiven you!

49 Others sitting at the dinner table began thinking: Who does he think he is, pronouncing sins forgiven? (Only God can do that!)

50 But Jesus said to the woman: Your faith has saved you--go with peace upon you.

LUKE CHAPTER 8

1 After this, Jesus went throughout every village and town that he could, preaching the message of the Messianic Kingdom, while doing many miracles; and the twelve disciples followed him,

2 Along with certain women whom he had healed of demons and infirmities. These included Mary, called Magdalene, who had been possessed by seven demons,

3 Joanna--wife to Herod’s steward Chuza--Susanna, and many others who supported Jesus’ ministry with their own funds.

4 And when a great crowd from a variety of places were assembled to hear Jesus speak, he told them a parable:

5 A farmer went out to sow a field. As he did, some seed fell by the side of the road, was trodden down, and the birds came and ate it up.

6 Other seed fell on a rock with thin topsoil, and as soon as it sprouted, it withered away because it could get no water.

7 Some seed fell into weeds, and they sprang up with it, and choked it.

8 But other seed fell on good ground and sprang up, eventually bearing fruit a hundredfold! When Jesus had said these things, he cried out: Whoever can understand, let him understand.

9 The disciples asked: What does this parable mean?

10 Jesus answered: To you disciples is given the honor of understanding the mysteries of the Messianic Kingdom. But outsiders must hear only parables, that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

11 Now here is what it all meant: The seed is the Message of God.

12 Those by the wayside are the ones who hear the Message, but the devil comes and takes the Message from their hearts, lest they believe and be saved.

13 The ones on the rock are those who hear the Message, and receive it joyfully at first--but they have shallow roots (and temporary faith). Thus, they eventually fall away because of temptation (or trial).

14 Those among the thorns are the people who, after they’ve heard the Message, get distracted by focusing on riches, cares, and pleasures of this life so they bear no mature fruit of the Message in their lives.

15 But those on good ground are those with good and honest hearts who hear the Message, do what it says, and show the fruit of that in their lives through their endurance.

16 No man, when he has lit a candle, covers it with a basket or hides it under a bed--you put it in a candlestick so anyone coming near can see by its light.

17 For nothing can be hidden forever; (the truth of what a man is will eventually be revealed for all to see).

18 So be careful of how you hear, for (he who listens with the right sort of heart will be given more light of truth; but he who listens with a corrupted heart will have taken from him what little truth he may already have as he grows in the darkness of deception)!

19 Then Jesus’ mother and brethren came, but could not get near Jesus because of the crowds.

20 Word reached him, and he was told: Your mother and brethren are standing outside, wanting to see you.

21 But Jesus answered: My mother and brethren are those who hear and do the Message of God!

22 One day, Jesus got in a boat with the disciples, and he said: Let’s go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. So they hoisted sail.

23 Now as they sailed off, Jesus fell asleep, and a great storm arose that threatened to swamp the boat.

24 The disciples scrambled to awaken him, saying: Master! Master! We’re going to drown! Then Jesus stood up and rebuked the wind, then rebuked the tumultuous water, and they immediately quieted down.

25 Jesus said to the disciples: Where is your faith? But they, being afraid, mumbled to one another: What kind of man is this, that he commands the wind and the waves, and they obey him?!

26 They eventually arrived in the land of the Gadarenes, which is on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee, next to the district of Galilee.

27 When they landed, they were met by a naked man from Gadara who had been possessed by demons for a long time. He dwelt in no house, but in the graveyard tombs.

28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting: What do we have to do with each other, Jesus, Son of God Most High?! I beg you not to torment me!

29 He said this because Jesus had been ordering the demon to come out. Now this demon had often manifested itself with great violence. The man had, for instance, frequently been bound hand and foot with chains and ropes, but the demon in him had snapped them with ease, and drove him into the wilderness.

30 (Because the demon wasn’t going quickly,) Jesus asked: What is your name? Since there were many of them, it answered: We’re a whole legion of demons!

31 And they begged him not to send them to the Abyss.

32 It happened that there was a large herd of pigs feeding on a nearby hill, and the demons begged Jesus to allow them to possess the animals, to which he agreed.

33 So the demons went out of the man and possessed the pigs. Then the maddened herd ran off a cliff, and drowned.

34 When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they ran into the city and spread word of it throughout the area.

35 Then everyone came to see for themselves, and found Jesus. The former demoniac was with him, sitting at Jesus’ feet clothed and back in his right mind. Seeing this, the people didn’t know what to think, and were afraid.

36 Others explained to them how the demon-possessed man had been delivered.

37 This made them even more afraid, and everyone from the Gadarene area started begging Jesus to go somewhere else, so Jesus started to board the ship, and leave.

38 The former demoniac begged to go with him, but Jesus refused, saying:

39 Return to your family, and tell what great things God has done for you today! This he did, telling the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.

40 When Jesus crossed back to the east side of the lake, the usual crowd was waiting, and joyfully welcomed him back.

41 Now there was a ruler of the local synagogue named Jairus, and he fell at Jesus’ feet, begging him to come to his house.

42 For his only child, a daughter twelve years of age, was dying from an illness. Jesus agreed to go with him, but he could hardly move for the press of the crowd.

43 Among the crowd was a woman who had been stricken with a uterine discharge for twelve years. She had spent every cent she had on doctors, but they could not heal her malady.

44 She came up behind Jesus and touched the tassels of his prayer shawl--and instantly the blood ceased flowing!

45 Jesus immediately halted and asked: Who touched me? When everyone denied touching him, Peter and the others spoke up, saying: Master--the crowd is almost crushing you, and you’re asking, “Who touched me?!”

46 But Jesus said: Someone touched me, for I felt power go out from me.

47 When the woman realized she was found out, she came up, shaking in fear, and fell before him. Then she told her story in front of everyone, and how she was immediately healed.

48 Jesus told her: Daughter, don’t worry. Your faith has made you whole. Go in with peace upon you.

49 While he was speaking, someone came from Jairus’ house, and said: Your daughter has died. Don’t trouble the Master further.

50 But when Jesus heard this, he told Jairus: Don’t fear! Just believe, and she will be made whole!

51 When he reached the house, he allowed no one else inside except for Peter, James, and John, and the girl’s parents.

52 The mourners, meanwhile, were weeping, but Jesus said: Stop weeping! She is not dead--only asleep!

53 They laughed derisively at this statement, because they knew she was dead.

54 He then cast out the mourners and took the girl by the hand, calling out: Girl, arise!

55 Her spirit then returned to her body, and she woke up. Jesus then told them to give her some meat.

56 Her parents were amazed, but he ordered them not to tell anyone about this miracle.

LUKE CHAPTER 9

1 Then Jesus gathered the twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure disease.

2 He sent them out to preach the Kingdom of God, and heal the sick.

3 And he told them: Take nothing for your journey. Not a staff. Not a bag. Not bread. Not money. Not more than one coat.

4 And whatever house you enter into, stay there until your work in that town is done, then depart.

5 And if people do not accept you, shake off the dust of your feet when you leave that city for a testimony against them.

6 So the disciples departed to the various towns, preaching the Gospel and healing everywhere they went.

7 Now Herod Antipas, the Tetrarch of Galilee, heard about what Jesus was doing and wasn’t sure what to think, for some were saying John the Baptist must have risen from the dead.

8 Others thought it must be the coming of Elijah, or else that it was one of the ancient prophets risen from the dead.

9 But Herod said: I beheaded John, but who is this new man I’m hearing about? And he wanted to see Jesus.

10 Meanwhile, the apostles returned and told Jesus how their activities had gone. Then Jesus took them into a desert place near Bethsaida.

11 When the crowd knew this, they followed, and Jesus welcomed them; and he taught everyone about the Kingdom of God. He also healed everyone who needed it.

12 Near dusk, the twelve came to Jesus and said: Send the crowd away so they can go into the towns and countryside for food and lodging since we are in a desert.

13 But Jesus’ reply was: You feed them! They said: All we have are five loaves and a couple of fish, unless we find some way to go buy enough food to feed this army of people!

14 You see, there were about five thousand men there. So Jesus said to the disciples: Sit them down in groups of fifty.

15 The disciples did as they were told, and sat the crowd down in groups of fifty or so.

16 Then Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, and looking up into the sky he blessed God and began distributing to the disciples who, in turn, gave to the people.

17 And everyone ate until they were full, and the leftovers filled twelve baskets.

18 Some time after this incident, Jesus was praying by himself, and the disciples were with him. Ending his prayer, he asked them: Whom are the people saying that I am?

19 They answered: John the Baptist. Elijah. Some even think you’re one of the other ancient prophets, returned from the dead.

20 But Jesus asked: Whom do you say that I am? Peter replied: The Anointed One of God!

21 And he solemnly instructed them to tell no man this.

22 Then he warned them: The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the religious leaders, the Temple priests, and the Torah teachers. Then he will be slain, but be raised the third day.

23 And he said to them all: If any man will follow me, let him deny his own wants, and take up his cross and follow me day by day.

24 For whoever seeks to save his life will ultimately lose it, but whoever will lose his life for my sake will ultimately save it!

25 For what advantage is there to gain the whole world and in the end (lose your soul or be cast away from God)?

26 For anyone who shall be ashamed of me and my words will see me ashamed of him when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and that of his Father and the holy angels.

27 But I tell you truthfully, some are standing here who will not die before they glimpse the Kingdom of God!

28 Now about eight days after saying this, Jesus took Peter, John, and James up onto a mountain to pray.

29 As he prayed, his face was transformed, and his clothing became white and shining.

30 Then two men--Moses and Elijah--appeared, and began speaking with him!

31 Both prophets were in a glorified state, and they discussed what he would accomplish in Jerusalem, and his eventual departure.

32 While this was happening, Peter and the others had fallen deeply asleep; and when they awakened, they saw Jesus’ glory and the two men standing with him.

33 (They were speechless,) but then, as the two prophets began to depart from Jesus, Peter called out to Jesus without thinking: Master--it is good that we are here! Let us make three shelters for you, Moses, and Elijah!

34 As he was speaking, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they feared as the cloud engulfed them.

35 A voice came forth from the cloud that said: This is my beloved Son--listen to him!

36 When the voice echoed away, the cloud vanished, and Jesus was alone with them. They kept this event to themselves, telling no one for quite some time what they had seen.

37 The next day, when they descended the mountain, a large crowd met Jesus.

38 Someone in the crowd caught Jesus’ attention by saying: Master, I beg you--look upon my son, for he is my only child!

39 A demon comes upon him and causes him to fall down in an epileptic fit, making him foam at the mouth and thrash about, bruising him--and it simply won’t leave him alone!

40 I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they couldn’t!

41 Jesus replied: O faithless and perverse generation! How long must I be here, and put up with you? Bring your son here.

42 As the boy was being brought up, the demon caused him to drop to the ground with an epileptic fit. Jesus then rebuked the demon and healed the boy, thereafter returning him to his father.

43 Everyone was amazed at this mighty demonstration of God’s power, but while they wondered about the things Jesus was doing, he said to the disciples:

44 Listen to me--the Son of Man will soon be delivered into the hands of men.

45 But they did not understand this, and were prevented from grasping Jesus’ meaning, and were afraid to ask him what he meant.

46 After this, an argument arose amongst them as to whom was the most important disciple.

47 Realizing what they were thinking, Jesus took a small child and set him by his side.

48 He told them: Whoever receives a child as a follower of mine receives me; and whoever receives me, receives Him who sent me. And the one among you who thinks himself to be the least of all shall be the greatest.

49 John now answered, and said: Master, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we made him stop because he wasn’t one of our group.

50 But Jesus replied: Don’t stop him! Anyone who is not against us is for us!

51 Now it came to pass that when the time neared for Jesus to return to heaven, he resolutely determined to go on to Jerusalem.

52 He sent some messengers on ahead of him, and they entered into a Samaritan village to prepare for his arrival.

53 But the people turned him away when they realized he was going on to Jerusalem.

54 When his disciples James and John saw this, they urged Jesus, saying: Lord--shall we call fire down from heaven to burn them up as Elijah did?

55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them, saying: You have no idea what sort of demon you’re listening to when you say stupid things like that!

56 The Son of Man didn’t come to take men’s lives, but to save men’s lives! So they went on to another village.

57 As they continued down the road, a man came up, saying: Lord--I will follow you wherever you go!

58 Jesus replied: Foxes have dens, birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head. (Are you really sure you can pay the price of following me?)

59 Jesus told another: Follow me! But he said: Lord, please let me bury my father first.

60 Jesus replied: Let the dead bury their dead--you go proclaim the Kingdom of God!

61 Another said: Lord--I will come with you, but let me first go tell my family farewell.

62 But Jesus said: No man who starts to plow, but turns from what is ahead to look to what is behind, is worthy of the Kingdom of God!

LUKE CHAPTER 10

1 After this, the Lord selected seventy other disciples to go in pairs to every city and place he later planned to visit.

2 So he told them: The harvest is truly great, but there are few laborers to take it in. Pray that the Lord of the Harvest will send laborers to gather His harvest in.

3 Go as I’ve sent you, but know that I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.

4 Take neither purse, nor sack, nor sandals (--go with only the clothes on your back). Speak to no one until you arrive at your destination.

5 And in whatever house you enter, first say: “Peace be to this house.”

6 If a man of peace lives there, your peace will rest upon his house. If not, then your blessing shall return to you.

7 Stay in only one house when you are in a city, and eat and drink whatever they offer you, for a workman has the right to expect his wages. Don’t change residences.

8 And in whatever city you happen to be in that they welcome you, eat what they offer you.

9 Heal the sick in those cities, and proclaim: “The Kingdom of God has come near to you!”

10 But if a city does not welcome you, go into the street and proclaim in everyone’s hearing:

11 “We wipe off even the dust of your town to you as a sign (of what will happen to you)--but be certain that the Kingdom of God is near you just the same!”

12 I tell you, Sodom will fare better on Judgment Day than that city will!

13 Woe to you, Chorazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they long ago would have repented to a man, sitting in goatskin and ashes!

14 Tyre and Sidon will get off easier at the Last Judgment than you will!

15 And you, Capernaum--shall you be exalted up to heaven? No, you will be cast down to Sheol instead.

16 He who receives you, receives me! And he who rejects you, rejects me--and he who rejects me, also rejects Him who sent me!

17 In time, the seventy returned joyfully, saying: Lord--even the demons obey us when we use your name!

18 Jesus answered: I beheld (the power and authority of) Satan broken with the speed of lightning (before he even knew what was happening)!

19 Behold, I give you authority to trample upon snakes and scorpions; and I grant you authority over all the power of the enemy--and nothing will harm you in any way!

20 But don’t rejoice at the fact that demon spirits are subject to you; rejoice that your names are enrolled in heaven!

21 Then Jesus shouted in the joy of the Spirit, and said: I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You hid the secrets of the Kingdom from the learned, and revealed them instead to simple people, for it seemed good in Your sight to do that!

22 All things have been entrusted to me by my Father, yet no man truly knows the Son and what he is but the Father; and no one knows who and what the Father is but His Son, and he to whom the Son reveals Him.

23 Jesus turned to the disciples and said privately to them: Blessed are your eyes, which are seeing these things!

24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings yearned to see and hear what you are beholding, and died without that honor.

25 Now a certain expert on Mosaic Law stood up and tried to entrap Jesus by asking: Master--what must I do to inherit eternal life?

26 Jesus replied: What’s your understanding of what the Law says about that?

27 He answered: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind, and you must love your neighbor as yourself.

28 Jesus agreed, saying: You’ve answered correctly. If you really do that, you will have eternal life.

29 But the man, wanting to justify himself (and the fact that he didn’t love everyone), responded: Who qualifies as my neighbor, though?

30 Jesus answered with a parable: A man was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho, and on the way he was accosted by bandits who beat him half to death, and left him naked by the side of the road.

31 A priest came along, but when he saw him crossed to the other side of the road and continued on his way.

32 Later, a Levite came along and did likewise (because, like the priest, he didn’t want to be bothered).

33 But then a Samaritan on a journey came along, saw the man, and had compassion on him.

34 He went over and picked him up, washed and bound his wounds with oil and wine, and set the man on his donkey. Then he led him to an inn and took care of him.

35 The next day, when he was to depart, he paid two silver pennies to the innkeeper, telling him: “Take care of the man until he can travel, and I will reimburse you whatever it costs when I return this way.”

36 Jesus now asked: Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man whom the bandits wounded?

37 The man said: The one who showed mercy to him. Jesus added: Go have the same attitude, and be the same sort of man.

38 Now it came to pass that they entered the village of Bethany, and a woman named Martha invited Jesus (and the twelve) into her house.

39 This Martha had a sister named Mary who, with the disciples, sat in a group and learned from Jesus’ teachings.

40 But Martha was busily trying to prepare dinner for them all by herself, so she came to Jesus and said: Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to prepare the meal by myself? Please tell her to get up and help me!

41 But Jesus answered: Martha, Martha--you have too much on your mind.

42 The truth is, there is only one thing you should be concerned about, and Mary has found it. What she has found will not be lost merely to have dinner.

LUKE CHAPTER 11

1 Some time after this, Jesus was praying at a certain place. When he finished, one of the disciples asked: Lord, teach us to pray, just as John used to teach his disciples.

2 And he answered: When you pray, say: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

3 Give us day by day our daily bread.

4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

5 Jesus added: With respect to prayer, say one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight, saying, “My friend--lend me three loaves of bread,

6 “For an acquaintance of mine has suddenly paid me a visit on his travels, and I have nothing to give him!”

7 Your friend may well call out from within, “Don’t bother me--the door is locked, and we’re all in bed! I can’t get up and help you!”

8 But if you persist in knocking, even if he won’t help you out of friendship, I tell you he’ll rise up and give you as many loaves as you need because of your persistence.

9 So I say to you: Ask God, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you.

10 For everyone who asks shall receive, and anyone who seeks will find, and he who knocks will have the door opened.

11 Look--if a son comes to any of you men who are fathers and asks for some bread, do you give him a rock? Or if he begs for a broiled fish, do you hand him a snake?

12 Or if he wants an egg, do you offer him a scorpion?

13 Of course not! So if you earthly fathers, who are evil in comparison to your Father in heaven, give good things to your own children, how much more do you think your heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask?

14 Later, Jesus was casting out a demon that caused a man to be mute. When the demon left, the man could speak once more, and the people were amazed.

15 But some said: He’s casting out demons by the authority of Beelzebub, the chief of demons!

16 Others, challenging him, demanded he produce a sign from heaven (to prove he was of God).

17 But he knew their thoughts, and said to them: Every kingdom in civil war is brought to desolation; and every house divided against itself shall not stand.

18 If Satan is at war with his own forces, how can his kingdom possibly survive? That must be the case because you claim I am casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub!

19 And if my power comes from Beelzebub, what power do you have to cast them out? So these fleeing demons shall pass judgment on you!

20 But if I am doing this by the [power] of God, then no doubt the Kingdom of God must be in front of your very eyes!

21 For when an armed warlord oversees his stronghold, all his booty is safe.

22 But when a hero stronger than the warlord bests him, and ties him up helpless, the hero takes the armor the warlord trusted would protect him, and then picks through the warlord’s treasure with impunity.

23 You are either for me or against me! If you don’t help me gather in the harvest, then you are trying to scatter the harvest into the wind to be lost.

24 (You all are just like demon spirits!) When a demon is cast out of a man, he wanders the deserts seeking a place of rest, but finding none, he says to himself, “I’ll go back to the one I was cast out of!”

25 So he returns and finds the man he once possessed (cleansed from his presence).

26 Then the demon goes out and finds seven others more evil than he is to come possess the man and make him worse off than he ever was before! (Thus, those who hear the Word and are freed from your clutches are infinitely worse off than they were before if they ever let your perverted teachings of what Judaism is back into their hearts!)

27 While he was speaking these things, a woman in the crowd shouted out: Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that nursed you!

28 Jesus answered: Yes--but more blessed are those who hear the Message of God, and keep it!

29 When there was a huge crowd, Jesus told them: This is an evil generation who always seek a sign. The only sign they will get is the sign of Jonah the prophet!

30 For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites (that they must repent or perish), so is the Son of Man a sign to this generation!

31 The Queen of Sheba (--a Gentile--) will rise in resurrection, and at the Last Judgment denounce the men of this generation, for she came all the way from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and a greater than Solomon is here before you!

32 The (Gentile) men of Nineveh will arise in resurrection, and at the Last Judgment will denounce this generation, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and a greater than Jonah is here before you!

33 No man who has lit a candle hides it in a closet or under a basket--he puts it in a candlestick so everyone who comes in can see by its light.

34 Now the light to the body is the eye. (When you see and operate through eyes of unselfishness and compassion, the whole body has light to see clearly by. But when you see through eyes of greed and selfishness, the whole body walks in darkness and deception.)

35 Watch out that the light in you is not actually the darkness of deception!

36 So if your whole body is full of light, with no darkness, then you will be filled with (enlightenment) as if a candle were shining upon you.

37 As Jesus spoke, a (Shammaiite) Pharisee asked him to come have dinner in his house. Jesus agreed, and reclined to eat in his house.

38 But Jesus did not perform the usual ceremonial hand washing before reaching for food, and the Pharisee couldn’t believe it.

39 The Lord realized this, and said: You Pharisees are good at cleaning the outside of things, but your inside is full of barbarism and evil.

40 You fools! Did not He who made the outside make the inside too? (So cleanse the inside as well!)

41 For instance, give alms out of the compassion that should live in you, and not out of commandment, and you will be clean inside and out, and everything will be clean to you!

42 But woe to you Pharisees, for you tithe to the last kernel of grain, while totally missing the “law” of justice and God’s love! You should have learned to do all with equal zeal (and then your tithes would be pure offerings)!

43 Woe to you Pharisees, for you love the best seats in the synagogue, and crave being greeted with honor in the marketplace!

44 Woe to you hypocrite Torah teachers and Pharisees! You are like graves covered over by grass--you defile people coming into contact with you without their even knowing it!

45 Then answered one of the Torah teachers: Teacher, in speaking as you do (against the Pharisees), you also insult us.

45 (Alternate reading): Then answered one of the (Hillelite) Torah teachers: Teacher, in speaking as you do (against the Shammaiites), you also insult us.

46 Jesus answered: Then woe to you lawyers as well! For you fail to stand against the crushing load of legalism around you, and do nothing to lift it off the backs of the people!

47 Woe to all of you! For you erect monuments to the prophets your fathers killed!

48 Yet your own deeds show you agree with everything they did! They kill, while you build the tombs of their victims--but you’re both the same!

49 God, in His wisdom, warned you and prophesied: I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute.

50 (Now the full fruition of that prophecy is at hand!) The blood of all the prophets ever slain will now fall on this generation of people:

51 From the blood of Abel (in the first scroll of the Scriptures), to Zechariah ben Berechiah (in the last scroll of the Scriptures) who was slain between the altar and the Temple--I tell you, all their blood shall be on your heads!

52 Woe to you expositors of the Torah! (You usurped the Scriptures to your own perverted interpretations, then tried to keep others from entering into the truth where you, yourselves, would not go!)

53 As Jesus was saying these things, the outraged religious leaders all started shouting questions, trying to get him to take their bait,

54 And say something they could use against him.

LUKE CHAPTER 12

1 Meanwhile, when an enormous crowd so thick that they were piling atop one another had gathered, Jesus began to speak first to the disciples. He told them: Beware the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

2 For in the end, there is nothing covered that shall not be uncovered for all to see, neither will there be anything hidden that will remain a secret.

3 Whatever you have spoken in darkness will be heard in the light; and the things you whispered in secret will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear.

4 And I tell you, my friends, don’t fear men who can only take your physical life and then can do no more.

5 I’ll tell you whom you should fear: Fear God, who--after He has slain the body--can cast the soul into hell! Yes, fear Him!

6 Aren’t five sparrows sold for a couple of copper pieces, yet God has His eye on every one of them?

7 God even knows the exact number of hairs on your head, and that’s how much He cares about you! So don’t fear, because you are worth more than many sparrows to Him.

8 I also tell you that whoever shall acknowledge me before men, him shall the Son of Man acknowledge before the angels of God.

9 But he who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God.

10 And whoever slanders the Son of Man can be forgiven, but whoever slanders the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven.

11 And when they bring you into the synagogues to accuse you, or hand you over to magistrates or sovereigns, don’t plan beforehand what you will say to defend yourself.

12 For the Holy Spirit will show you what to say in the same hour you need it.

13 Someone in the crowd said: Master--tell my brother to give me my share of our family inheritance!

14 Jesus replied: Sir--who made me a judge or arbiter over you and your brother?

15 Jesus then spoke up for all to hear: Take care that you avoid greed, for what counts in life is not how many material possessions you have!

16 Then Jesus spoke a parable: A rich man once took in a great harvest from his fields.

17 And he thought to himself, What shall I do? I have so much abundance that I can‘t store it all!

18 I know--I‘ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then all my grain and goods will be safe in storage.

19 Then I will be able to say to myself, “You have enough stored to last you many years, so relax. Eat, drink, and be merry!”

20 But God heard this and said: “You fool--this night you will die, and then who will make use of what you stored up for yourself?”

21 Jesus concluded: That’s typical of the fate of a man who works for his own earthly profit instead of working for God and storing up treasure in heaven!

22 And he told the disciples: This is why I tell you to take no thought for your earthly life, or what you’ll eat, or your body and what clothes you’ll wear.

23 Life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.

24 Take the ravens: They don’t sow or reap. They have no granaries or barns, yet God feeds them every day. How much more important are you than mere birds in God’s eyes?

25 And which of you, by worrying, can add even one hour to his life?

26 If you can’t do a simple thing like that, why are you so worried about the future? (The future is in God’s hands.)

27 Consider the lilies and how they grow in the fields: They don’t work, they don’t spin cloth--yet I tell you that Solomon’s clothing, in all its splendor, wasn’t as beautiful as their coverings!

28 If God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is used for kindling, how much more will he clothe you, you doubting men of little faith?!

29 So don’t spend all your time focusing on what you’ll eat and drink--and don’t let your mind cause you to worry about it.

30 That’s what the Gentile nations (which have no hope) do. But you have a Father who knows and cares about your needs.

31 So make the Kingdom of God your primary concern, and all you need will be added to you.

32 Don’t be afraid, my little flock--it is your Father’s delight to give you the Kingdom.

33 Sell what you have and give to the needy, thus storing your earthly treasure not in a pouch that can wear out, but in a heavenly place where it will be safe from loss, where no thief can get to it, and it does not get eaten by moths.

34 For where your treasure is, your heart will be too.

35 Be like vigilant servants who are dressed and have lanterns lit,

36 Ready for their master’s return from the wedding, so when he arrives and knocks on the door they can open for him immediately (and show him they are fully prepared).

37 Blessed are those servants whom their master finds on watch. I tell you truly, their master will put on an apron, seat his servants, and serve them dinner!

38 Even if he comes at midnight, or before dawn, blessed are the servants he finds waiting in preparation for him!

39 Remember this: If the owner of a house had known what time a thief was coming, he would have stayed up and kept watch for him so his house wasn’t burgled.

40 Likewise, you keep on your toes, for the Son of Man will come at an hour when you’re not expecting him.

41 Peter asked: Lord--is this warning for us, or for everyone?

42 The Lord answered: Who then is the faithful and wise sort of servant whom his lord can trust with the authority to feed the underlings of his household?

43 Blessed is the servant whom his lord finds doing that upon his arrival.

44 I tell you truly, the master of that servant will make him ruler over all that he has!

45 But if that servant thinks in his heart, “My master is delaying his return,” then mistreats the men and women under him, and goes out and gets drunk--

46 The lord of that servant will return on a day when the servant isn’t looking for him, and at an hour the servant doesn’t expect, and his fate will be to be drawn and quartered, and punished with the unbelievers!

47 That servant, who knew what his lord’s will was and ignored it, shall be punished greatly.

48 But the servant who didn’t know, and yet did things worthy of punishment, will have a light punishment. Because one who is given a lot, has a lot required of him. And he who has been entrusted with much is expected to do much.

49 I have come to set the world afire, and how I wish that fire were already kindled!

50 But I have a baptism yet to undergo, and I must bear its burden until all is completed.

51 Did you think I had come to bring peace to the earth? (No, not yet!) I have come to bring division, not unity.

52 From now on, there will be a household of five--and three will be divided against two, and two against three.

53 The father shall be at odds with the son, and the son against the father. The mother will be against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother. The mother-in law-will be against the daughter-in-law, and the daughter-in-law against the mother-in-law.

54 And Jesus said to the crowd: When you see a cloud coming from the west, you say, “Rain is coming!” And it does.

55 When a wind from the south blows, you say, “It’s going to get hot!” And it does.

56 You hypocrites! You can read the signs in nature, but why can’t you perceive the signs of the times you’re in?

57 Why can’t you even judge right from wrong among your own selves?

58 If someone sues you and you’re both on your way to court--settle with him before the judge intervenes, because if you’re in the wrong, the judge may hand you over to the jailer, and he will cast you into Debtor’s Prison!

59 I tell you that once you find yourself there, you won’t get out of prison until you find a way to pay off every cent of what you owe. (And how could you do that from behind bars?)

LUKE CHAPTER 13

1 Around that time some told Jesus about a group of Galilean Jews whom Pilate had slain as they made sacrificial offerings.

2 Jesus’ response was: Do you think this bad thing happened because these men were worse sinners than any other Galileans?

3 No! But I tell you that if you all do not repent, your end will be just as bad.

4 Or how about the eighteen Jews who were killed when the tower of Siloam collapsed? Do you think they were worse sinners than any other men in Jerusalem?

5 In both cases, no. (Bad things happen to even the best people!) But I tell you that if you all do not repent, you will perish in like manner.

6 Jesus then spoke a parable: A man had a fig tree in his orchard, and he came looking for fruit but never found any.

7 So he told his overseer: For three years, I’ve been looking for this fig tree to bear some fruit, and there is none. Why let it take up space in my orchard anymore? Cut it down (and plant a new tree)!

8 The overseer answered: Lord, give it one more year. I’ll dig a watering trench around it, and fertilize it.

9 And if it bears fruit next season, fine. If not, then you can cut it down (and be rid of it in favor of a new seedling that will bear the fruit you want).

10 One Sabbath, Jesus was teaching in a synagogue.

11 At the back of the synagogue was a hunchbacked woman who had been in that state for eighteen years because of a demon that caused the condition.

12 When Jesus caught sight of her, he called her over to him, and said: Woman--you are freed from your infirmity!

13 Then he laid hands on her, and instantly she stood up and praised God.

14 However, the chief rabbi of the synagogue was offended that Jesus had healed non-life-threatening disease on the day of Rest, and he grumbled to the assembly: There are six days a man is allowed to work--come be healed on those days, and not on the Sabbath when God commands rest!

15 But the Lord answered: You hypocrite! Doesn’t each one of you lead your animals out from the stall to be watered on the Sabbath when, by your own words, you’re commanded to rest?

16 Ought not this daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound for eighteen years, be freed from bondage on the Sabbath day?

17 When Jesus said this, his opponents were put to shame, and the people rejoiced for the miracles he did.

18 Then Jesus said: What does the Kingdom of God resemble? What can I liken it to?

19 It’s like a grain of mustard seed that a man cast into his garden. That small seed grew into a large tree, and the birds of the air made their nests in it.

20 And he repeated: To what shall I liken the Kingdom of God?

21 It’s like a pinch of yeast that a woman kneaded into three cups of flour until the whole dough was completely leavened (and then overflowed the bowl)!

22 And Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching and making his way toward Jerusalem.

23 Someone asked: Lord--are there only a few who are saved? And Jesus answered:

24 Endeavor to enter in at the narrow gate--for I tell you that many will want to enter in, but shall not be able.

25 When the master of the house decides the time has come and rises up to bar the door closed, people will stand outside knocking and calling out, “Lord! Lord! Open up for us!” But he will answer, “I don’t know where you come from!”

26 Then you’ll try to say, “But we ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets!”

27 But he will say, “I tell you, I don’t know where you come from! Leave me, all you workers of iniquity!”

28 Yes, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, with the prophets, enjoying the Kingdom of God while you, yourselves, are cast out of it!

29 (Gentiles) from the four corners of the earth outside of Israel will sit down in the Kingdom of God too!

30 And there are some (Gentiles) who were last that shall be made first, and there are some (Jews) who were first, that will be made last.

31 That same day, some friendly Pharisees came and told Jesus: You better leave the area fast, for Herod Antipas wants to kill you!

32 But he told them: Go tell that “Fox” I plan to cast out demons and heal for the next two days, and on the third day what I have come to do will be complete!

33 Nevertheless, I must continue on the journey today and tomorrow and the next day, for it will not do for a prophet to die outside of Jerusalem.

34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets, and stones those whom God sends to you! How often would I have gathered your people as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you refused!

35 Look, for now your Temple will be left in desolation, and I assure you, you will not see me again until the day comes that you (and your leaders say of me), “Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord!”

LUKE CHAPTER 14

1 It came to pass one Sabbath day that Jesus went into the house of a chief Pharisee to dine, and they watched him.

2 Now a man was present who was stricken with swollen limbs.

3 Jesus asked the experts on the Law, along with the Pharisees: Does the Torah allow healing on the Sabbath?

4 But they were silent. So he took the man, healed him, and released him.

5 Then he spoke to the people there, saying: Which of you who has a (donkey or) ox wouldn’t think twice about pulling it out if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath?

6 And they had no answer to that point.

7 He then spoke a parable about those invited there, whom he observed sought the best seats at the table:

8 When you’re invited to a wedding banquet, don’t sit in the seat nearest the host, lest he call for someone he esteems more than you,

9 And you face the man who invited you both bringing him up, telling you: “Please let this man have your seat.” Then you, embarrassed, will have to take a seat at the bottom of the table, furthest from the host.

10 When you’re invited, go sit in the worst seat, and then he who invited you will come and say, “Friend, come sit up here!” Then you will be honored in front of the other dinner guests.

11 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.

12 Then Jesus told the man who had invited him there: When you have a banquet, don’t call your friends, or family, or your rich neighbors--anyone who can possibly return the favor.

13 Instead, when you host a banquet, invite the poor, the maimed, the crippled, and the blind,

14 And you will be blessed by God--for they cannot return the favor--and at the resurrection of the just you will be rewarded.

15 When one of those eating at the table heard these things, he exclaimed to him: Blessed is he who eats bread in the Kingdom of God!

16 Then Jesus said in response to him: A man once held a great banquet, and invited many guests.

17 When it was ready, he sent out his servant to those who were invited, saying, “Come--everything is ready!”

18 But they all began to make excuses not to come. The first said, “I just bought some property and must go see it. Please excuse my absence.”

19 Another said, “I just bought five yoke of oxen and need to test them out. Please excuse my absence.”

20 A third said, “I am on my honeymoon, and can’t attend.”

21 So the servant returned and told these things to his master. The master of the estate was furious at this, and told the servant, “Go out into the streets and alleys of the city and invite everyone you see: the homeless, the crippled, the lame, and the blind--invite them all here to feast!”

22 The servant did this and reported to his master, “Lord, it is done as you ordered, but there are still empty seats.”

23 So the master told the servant, “Go out of town and compel anyone you come across in the fields or on the roads to come--I will have my house filled!

24 “I tell you that none of those who were invited shall even taste my banquet!”

25 There was a great crowd with Jesus, and he turned to them, saying:

26 If any man comes to me and doesn’t hate by comparison his parents, wife, children, brothers and sisters--and yes, even his own life as well--he cannot be my disciple!

27 Whoever does not pick up his cross and follow me to the end, cannot be my disciple.

28 What man, if he sets out to construct a tower, doesn’t first sit down and figure the cost to see if he can afford it?

29 If he doesn’t, he may run short of funds after laying out the foundation. Then he’ll have to stop construction, and everyone who sees it will laugh at his folly,

30 Saying, “This man started to build, but couldn’t afford to finish what he started!”

31 Or what king going to war with another king doesn’t first sit down with his officers and reckon whether his ten thousand troops can defeat the twenty thousand troops of his enemy?

32 And if he can’t, he sends ambassadors to try to broker a peace agreement while his enemy is still a long way off.

33 Likewise, any of you who does not forsake all that he has cannot be my disciple.

34 Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?

35 It is unfit for either soil or fertilizer, and men simply throw it away! He who can understand--let him understand!

LUKE CHAPTER 15

1 Then the tax collectors and sinners came near to hear Jesus.

2 But the Pharisees and the Torah teachers were offended, and murmured: This man welcomes sinners to eat with him!

3 So Jesus spoke a parable to them, saying:

4 Which of you, if you have a hundred sheep, won’t drop everything and leave the flock of ninety-nine in the wilderness to search until you find the single lost sheep?

5 Then, after you’ve rescued it, you carry the sheep home on your shoulders, rejoicing.

6 And when you return home, you summon your friends and neighbors, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep!”

7 I tell you that heaven likewise rejoices more over one lost sinner that repents than it does over ninety-nine just people who have no need of repentance.

8 Or, say a woman loses one of ten silver coins (from her wedding adornment). Doesn’t she light a candle and tear the house apart until she finds it (because it is precious to her)?

9 And when she does, she calls her friends and neighbors to her, saying, “Rejoice with me, for I found my lost coin!”

10 Likewise, the angels of God rejoice over one sinner who repents.

11 Jesus then said: A certain man had two sons.

12 And the younger said to his father, “Father, I don’t want to wait until you die to get my inheritance--give it to me now!” So the father divided up the estate.

13 Soon afterward, the son converted it all to cash and left for a distant country where he squandered it all on partying.

14 When the money was gone, a famine happened to strike, and he started to go hungry.

15 So the young man sought work with a man of that country, but the only job he could find was to slop hogs (for a roof over his head).

16 He would have loved to eat some of the (sour) carob pods fed to the hogs, but he wasn‘t permitted to, and no one gave him anything else.

17 When he realized what a fool he had been, he said to himself, “Even my father’s hired hands have more than enough to eat--and here I am, starving to death!

18 “I will humble myself, return to my father, and say, ‘Father, I have sinned against both (God) and you,

19 “‘And am no longer worthy to be called your son. Take me on as one of your hired hands.’”

20 So he arose and returned to his father. But while he was still a long way off from home, his father (--who had been waiting all this time for him--) had compassion on him, and actually ran to meet him, embracing and kissing the boy.

21 The son began his prepared speech, saying, “Father, I have sinned against (God) and you, and am no longer worthy to be called your son--”

22 But his father said to the servants: “Bring out my best robe and put it on him--and give him a (signet) ring, and shoes for his feet!

23 “Also, bring the fattened calf, and slaughter it for a banquet. Let us eat, and rejoice!

24 “For this son of mine, who was dead, has returned to life. He was lost, but now he’s found!” So they began to throw a great party.

25 Now the older son was out working in the field, and as he was returning to the house he heard the sound of music and merriment.

26 So he called one of the village children and asked what was going on.

27 He was told: “Your brother has come home, and your father has killed the wheat-fed calf to celebrate his safe return back to him.”

28 He was angry at hearing that so he stayed outside and sulked. His father then came out and urged him to come in to the banquet.

29 But he answered his father: “I have faithfully served you for all my life, and at no time have I ever disrespected you or your commands to me, but you‘ve never so much as given me a goat to barbecue up for my friends!

30 “Yet as soon as this son of yours comes crawling back home after squandering a third of your estate on prostitutes, you serve him up the fattened calf (reserved for esteemed guests), and throw a party in his honor!”

31 So the father said: “My boy, you are always in my thoughts, and everything I have is yours. (All you had to do was ask, and I would have given you a goat, or anything else, you requested.)

32 “Isn‘t it only proper that we should celebrate and rejoice over the fact that your brother who was dead is reborn; and the one who was lost has been found again?“

LUKE CHAPTER 16

1 Jesus also spoke to his disciples: There was a rich man who was told that his overseer was wasting his goods.

2 He summoned the overseer and told him, “What is this I’ve heard about you?! Get the books together for an audit, and plan on finding another job if this accusation against you is true!”

3 The overseer, knowing he was caught, thought to himself, What will I do now? My master will fire me for sure. I’m not strong enough to dig ditches, and I refuse to be a beggar!

4 I know! I’ll ingratiate myself with my master’s debtors so after I’m fired they’ll owe me a favor! (I’m going to be fired anyway, so I’ll debit their accounts the portion that would have been my commission. Then they’ll love me, and give me a roof over my head!)

5 So the overseer called every one of his master’s debtors to him, and said to the first of them, “How much do you owe my master?”

6 The debtor answered, “A hundred gallons of oil.” So the overseer said, “Take this invoice, and write down that you owe only fifty!”

7 The overseer asked another, “How much do you owe my master?“ He answered, “A hundred bushels of wheat.“ So the overseer said, “Take this new invoice, and write that you only owe eighty!”

8 And the master of the overseer commended the crooked overseer for his shrewd thinking. It’s thus true that the people of this world are shrewd to a point, even more than the righteous are (who don’t rely on such machinations).

9 And I say to you, though money is part of an unrighteous system, use it wisely, in a way God would be pleased with, and you will make friends in heaven who--after the money is gone and your life ended--will welcome you into an eternal dwelling place.

10 He who is faithful in the littlest thing will be faithful in more important things. And he who is unjust in the smallest matters will be unjust in greater ones.

11 If you have thus been unfaithful with the unrighteous things like money you have on earth, how can you expect God to place into your trust the true treasures?

12 If you have not been faithful in stewarding someone else’s goods, who will give you your own goods to watch over?

13 No servant can serve two masters; he must love the one he will serve, and hate the one he does not serve, and honor one while despising the other. Thus, you cannot serve God (--who wants you to be a giver--) and Mammon (the false god of wealth who wants you to work only to enrich yourself at the expense of others).

14 When the Pharisees, who were greedy businessmen, overheard these statements they mocked Jesus (for they believed material prosperity was a sign of God’s approval).

15 But Jesus said: You Pharisees try to look good in the eyes of men, but God knows what’s really in your hearts--and in His view, what society highly respects is actually an abomination in His sight!

16 The written Law and the prophets all prophesied until John. Since then, the Kingdom of God has been announced, and people of every sort are pressing into it.

17 Remember, it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away, than it is for the smallest point of the Law to be overturned (--even through some so-called “authority of the elders” you claim to have).

18 Therefore (whatever your rulings on the subject are), whoever divorces his wife so he can marry someone else is guilty of adultery, and anyone who marries her is likewise guilty of adultery.

19 (Beyond that, listen to this parable:) There was a certain rich man who was clothed in regal garments, and dined sumptuously each day.

20 And there was a beggar named Lazarus who was laid by the gate outside the man’s house. He had many sores from malnutrition.

21 Lazarus yearned just to eat some crumbs off the rich man’s table (but was never given any). Worse, the dogs came and licked his open sores (and he was too weak to even fend them off).

22 Eventually, Lazarus died, and the angels carried him (to Paradise--where Abraham is with the righteous dead). The rich man died too, and they buried him.

23 In Hades, the rich man lifted up his eyes in torment and saw Lazarus in the distance being comforted by Abraham.

24 And he cried out, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me! Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and touch my tongue with it, for I am tormented in these flames!”

25 But Abraham shouted back, “Son, remember that in your lifetime you received good and Lazarus evil. (You never showed mercy to him when you should have,) so now he is comforted, and your fate is to be tormented!

26 “Besides that, there is a great chasm between us, and no one can pass back and forth.”

27 The rich man then said, “Then I beg you, father, to send Lazarus back to my father’s house,

28 “To warn my five brothers to repent and avoid this place of torment!”

29 Abraham answered, “Their warning is in the Scriptures--they can read them whenever they want!”

30 But the rich man said, “No, father Abraham--they won’t read them or believe them, but if one from the dead comes back and warns them, they’ll repent!”

31 Abraham’s last words to him were, “If they won’t regard the Scriptures, they won’t even believe if a man rises from the dead (and warns them)!”

LUKE CHAPTER 17

1 Then Jesus told the disciples: It is inevitable that testing and opposition to my followers will arise, but woe to the one who brings it!

2 It would be better for that man to have an (anchor) tied around his neck and to be thrown into the sea, than that he should cause a young follower of mine to stumble.

3 So watch yourselves. If a fellow believer does some wrong to you, let him know how he has hurt you. If he repents, forgive (and forget).

4 If he wrongs you seven times a day, and seven times a day comes back saying, “I apologize,” forgive him every time!

5 The apostles now said to the Lord: Increase our faith.

6 The Lord replied: If you had faith as small as a mustard seed, you could cause that sycamine tree over there to be plucked up by the roots and be cast into the sea if you spoke the command to it in faith, believing.

7 Now which of you, whose servant comes in from the fieldwork or the pasture, says to him, “Go sit down, and enjoy dinner”?

8 Don’t you instead tell the servant, “Go prepare my dinner, and after I’ve dined, you can have dinner yourself”?

9 Do you praise the servant for doing nothing more than what is expected of him? Of course not!

10 So likewise you, when you have done all that God commands you to, should have an attitude that says, “We are nothing special--we are only servants doing our duty!” (When you understand that, faith--no matter how small--will help you to effectively do what God has ordained you to.)

11 In time, Jesus passed along the border of Samaria and Galilee on his way to Jerusalem.

12 And as he entered a village, ten lepers who saw him at a distance ran up and halted in the distance from him.

13 They cried out: Jesus! Master! Have mercy on us!

14 When Jesus saw them, he said: Go to the Temple and show yourselves to the priests. As they were on their way to do that, their diseases dried up.

15 One man, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus and shouted praise to God for the miracle.

16 Then he fell face down at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. This man was a Samaritan, by the way.

17 Jesus looked about, and said: I thought there were ten men cleansed. Where are the other nine?

18 Only one--a Samaritan “stranger” at that--has returned to give God glory.

19 So Jesus told the Samaritan: Arise, and go your way--your faith has made you whole! (And his skin became as if he had never had leprosy.)

20 Now later, the Pharisees came to Jesus and demanded to know when the Kingdom of God would appear (since they knew Jesus had been claiming it was being offered to them). But Jesus said: The Kingdom of God will not start as something you can see with your eyes. (That’s why you all make the mistake of thinking expelling the Romans from Israel is the real proof the Kingdom of God has arrived!)

21 No one will say, “You can see it here,” or, “You can see it there.” The Kingdom of God (starts with the human heart).

22 Jesus told the disciples: The days [of persecution] will come when you will yearn to see one of the wonderful days of the Kingdom that the Son of Man has promised will come, and he will reign in. But you will not see that happen.

23 They will tell you, “He’s here!” or “He’s there!” But don’t believe it or follow them to see if it’s true.

24 For as lightning flashes across the sky from east to west, that’s how quickly the Son of Man will return in his Day (and all the earth will see it).

25 But first, he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation of Israel.

26 When the Son of Man does return, it will be in days similar to when Noah built the ark.

27 In those days, (they didn’t realize judgment was at hand, and) life went on perfectly normal--people marrying and giving in marriage--until the day Noah entered the ark and the flood came and destroyed them all.

28 Likewise, in the day Lot left Sodom, they were eating, drinking, transacting business, planting and building.

29 Yet the same day that Lot left, fire and brimstone fell down from heaven and destroyed all who were left behind.

30 It will be exactly the same when the Son of Man is finally seen by the world for what he is!

31 In that day, let the man on his housetop not pause to take anything out of the house before fleeing. Let the man in the fields not turn back either.

32 Remember Lot’s wife (and how she turned to salt when she looked back)!

33 Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it. Whoever shall lose his life will save it.

34 I tell you that in that night two will be sleeping in bed, and one will be received and taken, while the other will be rejected and left behind.

36 Two men will be out in a field. One will be received and taken, and the other left behind.

37 The disciples asked: Where will they be taken to, Lord? Jesus answered: (To safety above the carnage, as the vultures beneath hover above the battlefield below until the slaughter is over and the feast begins!)

LUKE CHAPTER 18

1 Jesus now spoke a parable to the disciples, illustrating the need for persistent prayer, and not to grow faint:

2 There was once a corrupt judge in a city who had no fear of God, nor respect for man.

3 A widow in that city came to him and (repeatedly) said, “Give me justice against the one who wronged me!”

4 He ignored her for a while, but eventually he said to himself, “I may not regard God nor man,

5 “But this troublesome widow is driving me crazy! I’ll give her the justice she asks for so she’ll get lost!”

6 And the Lord concluded: Note what the corrupt judge said.

7 (If an unjust judge would give justice to a widow he cared nothing for because of her persistence,) won’t God avenge His own elect people who cry out for His help, even if He delays the answer for a long time?

8 I tell you that He will avenge them all at once. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man returns to earth, will his people still have faith in him (or will they have lost their faith, and given up)?

9 Then he spoke this parable about those who thought they were righteous before God, and despised others (who did not measure up to their standard):

10 Two men--a Pharisee and a tax collector--went up to the Temple to pray.

11 The Pharisee stood and prayed like this to himself: “God, I thank you that I am not like the sinners--a thug, an unjust man, or an adulterer. I’m not even like this tax collector!

12 “I fast two days a week, and tithe on all I own!”

13 Meanwhile, the tax collector, standing afar off, would not even lift his eyes up to heaven, but struck his breast, saying, “God--be merciful to me a sinner!”

14 I tell you, the tax collector went home with God’s approval and forgiveness, rather than the Pharisee. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and everyone who humbles himself will be exalted.

15 Later, women brought their babies for Jesus to touch (and bless), but when the disciples saw this, they criticized them.

16 But Jesus called the children to him, and said: Allow the little children to come to me, and don’t hold them back, for the Kingdom of God is made up of ones just like them.

17 And I tell you truly that anyone who does not receive the Kingdom of God (into his heart) like a child will not enter it!

18 Some time later, an important official asked: Good master--what must I do to inherit eternal life?

19 Jesus replied: No man is good--only God is good!

20 But you know the commandments: Don’t commit adultery. Don’t murder. Don’t (kidnap or rob). Don’t lie about someone. Take care of your father and mother.

21 The official then said: I’ve kept all these from my youth, on up!

22 When Jesus heard that, he said: There’s only one thing you haven’t done: Sell all you have, give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, and follow me!

23 When the official heard this, he was very grieved, for he was very rich.

24 When Jesus saw that, he became very grieved himself, and said: How hard it will be for those with riches to enter the Kingdom of God.

25 It is easier for a rope to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God.

26 Those who heard this asked: Who can be saved then?

27 Jesus said: The things that are impossible for man are fully possible with God!

28 Then Peter said: We’ve left all to follow you.

29 And he responded: I tell you truly, no man has left house, parents, brothers, wife or children for the sake of God’s Kingdom,

30 Who will not receive much more of these things in this life, and--in the Messianic Age--eternal life.

31 Then he took the twelve aside and told them: We are going to Jerusalem, and all the things the prophets wrote about the Son of Man will come to pass.

32 He will be handed over to the Gentiles, and will be mocked, abused, and spat on.

33 They will whip him and put him to death--but on the third day he will rise again!

34 But the disciples didn’t understand anything Jesus told them. It was as if the meaning of Jesus’ words was supernaturally hidden from them.

35 Now later, as Jesus approached Jericho, there was a blind man sitting by the side of the road, begging.

36 Hearing the crowd move by, he asked what was happening.

37 They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was coming down the road.

38 When he heard that, he screamed out at the top of his lungs: Jesus--Son of David--have mercy on me!

39 The crowd moving down the road with Jesus tried to silence him, but he screamed out all the louder: Son of David--have mercy on me!

40 Jesus came to a halt, and ordered that the man be brought forth. When they led him over, he asked the beggar:

41 What would you like me to do for you? He said: Lord, let me receive my sight!

42 And Jesus said: Receive your sight then--your faith has saved you!

43 And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, shouting praises to God; and all the people praised God with him when they saw this miracle.

LUKE CHAPTER 19

1 Jesus then entered and passed through Jericho.

2 Now there was a chief tax collector who lived there named Zacchaeus, and he was extremely wealthy.

3 He wanted to catch a glimpse of Jesus, but could not see through the crowd because he was a very short man.

4 So he ran on ahead and climbed into a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus, since he was coming that way.

5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and saw him. Then he halted, and said: Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today!

6 So Zacchaeus quickly climbed down from the tree and received him into his house with joy.

7 When the crowd saw it, they all murmured: He’s being the guest of a sinner!

8 But Zacchaeus (--touched in his heart--) stood there, and said to Jesus: Lord, I am giving half my wealth to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I am restoring it to him fourfold!

9 Jesus replied to him: Today salvation has come to this house, as Zacchaeus is also a son of Abraham.

10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and save what was lost.

11 As the crowd heard this, he added a parable because he was nearing Jerusalem, and he knew they mistakenly believed he would immediately bring forth the Kingdom of God (and deliver Israel from Rome).

12 So he told them: A (prince) departed for a far country to be corronated king, and he planned to return.

13 Before he left, he called his ten servants and gave each of them an ounce of gold, saying, “Invest my treasures until I return.”

14 But the citizens of his lands hated him, and sent a delegation after him that told his father: “We will not have this man reign over us!”

15 When he returned as king, in complete authority of the kingdom, he called for the servants he had given the money to, wishing to see what they had done with it and how much they had earned for him through buying and trading.

16 The first came up, and said, “Lord, I have turned your one ounce of gold into ten ounces!”

17 The King said, “Well done, you good servant! Because you have been faithful with very little, have charge over ten of my cities!”

18 The second came, and said, “Lord, I’ve turned your one ounce into five ounces of gold!”

19 The King said likewise, “Have charge over five of my cities!”

20 But another came up, and said, “Lord--here is your ounce, which I’ve kept hidden in a pouch.

21 “I feared you, because you’re an austere man who leaves others to take the responsibility for your goods, and then you take from them anything they earn.”

22 Then the King told him, “You wicked servant! I will judge you by the words you just spoke! So you knew I was an austere man who lays the responsibility for my goods on the backs of others, and takes from them the profits they make, eh?

23 “Then why didn’t you at least put my gold in the bank so I could get some interest? (You have shown yourself to be totally useless!)”

24 Then the King said to his guards, “Take his ounce of gold and give it to the man who made ten ounces!”

25 And the guards said, “Lord--he already has ten ounces!”

26 The King replied: “Everyone who has will be given more, and he who doesn’t have shall see taken away from him whatever he seems to have!

27 “Now as for those enemies of mine who said they would not have me to rule over them--bring them here, and slay them before my eyes!”

28 After he had spoken this, Jesus led the way, ascending to Jerusalem.

29 And as he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he called two disciples, and told them:

30 Go into that village over there, and as you enter it you will find a donkey tied up that no one has ever ridden before. Untie it, and bring it here.

31 If anyone asks, “Why are you untying the donkey?” say to them, “Because the Lord has need of him!”

32 So they went out and found it as Jesus had said.

33 And indeed, as they were untying the donkey, its owners accosted them and demanded to know: Why are you untying the donkey?!

34 They replied: The Lord has need of him!

35 So they brought the donkey to Jesus, placed their cloaks upon its back, and sat Jesus upon it.

36 And as Jesus went, the people tossed their cloaks on the road before the beast.

37 When he had come to the peak of the Mount of Olives and began the descent, all Jesus’ disciples loudly began to shout praises to God for all the miracles they had seen,

38 Saying: Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd were offended, and said: Teacher--rebuke your disciples!

40 But Jesus answered: I assure you that if they keep silent, the rocks themselves will immediately shout out!

41 When he neared the city, he looked upon it and began to cry in grief,

42 Saying: Even if today you had recognized God’s peace (and what you should have done to receive it)--but now it is too late, and your eyes are blinded.

43 The days will come where your enemies will dig a trench around you, and they’ll surround you on every side.

44 And they will tear you down, along with your people inside of you, and they will not leave two bricks cemented together--and all this because you did not recognize the day of your visitation.

45 Jesus then went into the Temple and began to throw out those who bought and sold there,

46 Saying: It is written: My house is the house of prayer; but you have made it a den of thieves!

47 And he taught daily in the courts of the Temple, but the chief Sadducee priests, the Torah teachers, and the influential people of the city sought to destroy him.

48 But they didn’t know how, for the people hung on every word Jesus spoke.

LUKE CHAPTER 20

1 During one of the days Jesus was teaching at the Temple and preaching the Gospel, the Boethusians (--the elite of the Sadducee priests--) along with the Torah teachers and city elders, finally came to Jesus.

2 They demanded to know: Tell us by what authority you presume to come here and do these things! Or who was it who gave you permission to do these things?!

3 Jesus replied: I’ll answer that if you’ll answer one thing for me:

4 John’s Baptism (and ministry)--did God give it to him, or was it his own invention?

5 And they reasoned how to answer, saying: If we say God gave it to him, he will ask: “Why didn’t you believe him then?”

6 But if we say John made it up on his own, we’ll be stoned by the people, for they are convinced he was a prophet.

7 So they answered that they didn’t know.

8 Jesus responded by saying: Then I will not tell you by what authority I do these things!

9 Then he told them a parable: A man planted a vineyard, and leased it out to sharecroppers before leaving for a long time to go to a distant country.

10 At harvest time, he sent a servant to the sharecroppers to collect his share of the harvest, but the sharecroppers beat him and sent him back empty-handed.

11 He sent another servant who was also beaten, treated shamefully, and sent back empty-handed as well.

12 So he sent a third. This one was also wounded, and thrown out of the vineyard.

13 Then the lord of the vineyard said, “What shall I do? I know! I’ll send my own beloved son. They may respect him, at least, when they see him!”

14 But when the sharecroppers saw the son coming, they huddled together, and said, “This is the heir--let’s kill him, and take the inheritance for ourselves!”

15 So they threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. Now what do you think the lord of the vineyard will do in response?

16 He will destroy the sharecroppers, and give the vineyard to others (who will be faithful). When Jesus’ opponents heard this, they said: God forbid!

17 But Jesus looked them up and down, and said: Then what do you think these verses mean? The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner.

18 Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

19 That did it. The chief Sadducee priests and the Torah teachers realized Jesus was speaking about them directly, and they would have taken him then and there. But they didn’t dare make a move because of the crowds.

20 So they watched him, using spies who infiltrated the crowds, posing as righteous men. They hoped to hear something they could use as evidence allowing them to turn Jesus over to the Roman governor to deal with, using his own power and authority (thus absolving them from blame for whatever happened).

21 These spies told Jesus: Master--we know we can count on you to give an honest answer to a question, because you teach the truth of God without respect for what anyone else thinks.

22 Is it acceptable in the Law for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?

23 But he knew their deception, and said: Why are you trying to trick me?

24 Show me a coin of the tribute. Now whose image and name are on it? They answered: Caesar’s.

25 So Jesus answered: Then give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, but give to God what is God’s!

26 Thus, they could not get Jesus to say anything incriminating in public, and they were so amazed at his answer that they kept silent after that.

27 Then certain of the  Sadducees, who deny there is (an immortal soul or) a resurrection of the body, came up,

28 Saying: Master--Moses wrote that if a man dies childless, his brother must marry his wife and provide him an heir so his bloodline doesn’t die out.

29 Now there were once seven brothers, and the first--after marrying the woman he was betrothed to--died childless.

30 So his oldest brother married her, but had no children either.

31 Then he died and the third brother married her, and this pattern continued until all seven men died without the woman’s ever having a child.

32 Finally, the woman died.

33 Now at the resurrection of the dead, which of the seven would be her husband, since they all were married to her?

34 Jesus answered: Humans in this age marry and are given in marriage.

35 But those worthy of entering into that age and the resurrection of the dead, will neither marry nor be given in marriage.

36 They can’t die either, for they are like the angels of God, and are the children of God, being children of the resurrection.

37 But as touching whether there even is (an immortal spirit or) a resurrection of the dead, even Moses showed that there is at the incident of the burning bush, when he called God, “The God who is the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”

38 For God is not a God of the dead, but of those who are alive, (for anyone in Him can never die)!

39 Then a few of the (Pharisee) Torah teachers called out: Master, that was a marvelous answer!

40 After that, the Sadducees gave up, and dared not ask more questions.

41 Jesus now asked (the Pharisees): How is it said that the Messiah is the son of David?

42 For didn’t David himself, in the book of Psalms, say: The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

43 Till I make thine enemies thy footstool?

44 (Since, in our culture, a father always outranks his son,) how is it that the Messiah is David’s lord if he is David’s son? (The Messiah must thus be the son of a father even greater than David!)

45 Then, in the presence of all the people, Jesus told his disciples:

46 Beware the Torah teachers who wear prayer shawls with long threads, and love to be greeted in the marketplace; and crave the most prestigious seats in the synagogue, and the best seats at banquets,

47 Who oppress widows, seizing their homes while making a show of piety outside by their loud public prayers. These will receive greater damnation than the worst sinners!

LUKE CHAPTER 21

1 Jesus then looked up and noted how the rich were casting money into the (trumpet-shaped) collection boxes.

2 Finally, a poor widow came along and cast in two pennies.

3 Jesus said: I tell you truly--of all the people here, this poor widow gave the most!

4 For they gave offerings to God out of their surplus (after they had paid off all their bills), but she, despite her poverty, gave all that she had to live on.

5 Now some were remarking about how impressed they were with the majesty of the Temple complex, and the way it was built and adorned with carved stones and elaborate gifts consecrated by wealthy patrons to God, but Jesus said:

6 These things you’re looking at--the days will come when not so many as two stones will be left cemented together. All will be thrown down into rubble!

7 So they asked him: Master--when will these things happen? What sign will be happening to show the season is at hand for that?

8 Jesus said: Take care that you are not deceived! As the time draws near, many will come, usurping my position, and saying, “I am the Messiah,” and, “The time (of the Kingdom) is near!” Don’t listen to them or follow them.

9 And when you hear about wars and uprisings, don’t be terrified. These things will come, but the end won’t come quite yet.

10 Then he added: Race will battle race, and kingdom will battle kingdom.

11 There will be great earthquakes, famines, and plagues--and fearful sights and great signs in the skies above!

12 But before all this, they will capture and persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues (and their religious tribunals), and into prisons; and you’ll be taken before kings and governors for proclaiming that I am Lord.

13 But all these persecutions will be an opportunity to testify of me.

14 So decide beforehand not to plan what your defense will be,

15 For I (through the Spirit) will give you the words of wisdom to speak that no one will be able to counter.

16 You will be betrayed by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and some of you they will even cause to be put to death.

17 All men will hate you for your being my ambassadors and heralds.

18 But not so much as a hair of your head will be lost (for you will enter into resurrection life).

19 (By standing firm in your faith, you will deliver your souls from true death!)

20 And when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, know that its destruction has come.

21 Let all who are in Judea escape to the mountains, and let those in the city run for their lives. But let no one in the country go to Jerusalem for refuge!

22 For those will be the days of vengeance, so everything that has been prophesied in Scripture will be fulfilled.

23 Woe to those who are pregnant then, and those who nurse infants. At that time will be great distress in the land, and great wrath unleashed upon this people.

24 And the Jews will fall to the sword and be led away as captives to all the Gentile nations, and Jerusalem will be in the control of the Gentiles until the Age of the Gentiles has ended.

25 And (when that Age ends,) there will be things seen in the sun, the moon, and the stars that have never been seen before, while on the earth mankind will be perplexed and powerless to stop nature from turning itself inside and out. Tidal waves will roar across the seas.

26 Men’s hearts will stop out of sheer terror for what they see happening on earth, for the demonic entities in the heavens will be shaken (and cast down to perdition--and the entire universe will heave to and fro with their downfall).

27 Then certain of the Sadducees, who deny there is (an immortal soul or) a resurrection of the body, came up,

28 So when you see these things start to happen--look up and lift your heads, for your redemption is at hand!

29 Jesus then spoke a parable: Consider the fig tree, and other sorts of trees.

30 When they sprout leaves, you know summer is near.

31 In the same way, when you begin to see these things happen, know that the Kingdom of God is at hand.

32 I tell you truthfully, the generation that sees these things will not pass away before everything will be fulfilled.

33 The entire universe and the earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

34 And take care that you not get lazy, letting your hearts lead you into dissipation, drunkenness, easy living, and worrying about the cares of this life--lest the day catch you by surprise [for it will be too late to repent at that time].

35 That day will come as fast as a trap catches an animal to those dwelling upon the face of the earth.

36 Keep watch then, and pray always that you will be counted worthy to escape the things that will be coming, and to stand before the Son of Man!

37 Now Jesus would teach in the Temple during the day, and at night he would go out to the Mount of Olives to camp on its slopes.

38 And everyone came early in the morning to hear him preach at the Temple.

LUKE CHAPTER 22

1 (Now the feasts of Passover and Unleavened bread had come.)

2 And the chief Sadducee priests and the Torah teachers debated how to kill Jesus safely, for they feared the people.

3 Satan then entered Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve apostles.

4 And he went out and conspired with the chief priests and the Temple officers to betray Jesus to them.

5 Jesus’ enemies rejoiced at this, and agreed to pay Judas a bribe for his aid.

6 So Judas agreed to betray Jesus at a time when the crowds weren’t around him.

7 Then came the days of Unleavened Bread, and the time when the Passover lamb was slain.

8 Jesus sent Peter and John into Jerusalem, telling them: Go prepare our Passover so we may eat the lamb.

9 They asked: Where do you want us to prepare it?

10 Jesus answered: When you go into town, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him to the house he goes into.

11 Tell the owner of the house, “The Master asks, ‘Where is the guest chamber where I can eat the Passover with my disciples?’”

12 He will show you a large furnished room on an upper floor. Prepare there.

13 So the two went. It happened as Jesus had said, and they made preparations to hold their Passover seder.

14 Then, when the hour had come, Jesus reclined at the table along with the twelve apostles.

15 Jesus said: I have been anxious to eat this Passover with you before my time of suffering.

16 For I say to you that I will not eat it again until what it represents is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.

17 And he took the cup, gave thanks, and said: Take this, and each of you drink from it.

18 I tell you, I will not drink wine again (until what this represents is on the earth in its fullness in the Kingdom of God).

19 Then Jesus took bread and blessed God. He broke it and handed it out, saying: This is my body, which is given up for you. Continue eating it in remembrance of me.

20 He said the same about the cup, adding: This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

21 But look--the hand of my betrayer is with me on the table.

22 It’s true that the Son of Man will go on to what awaits him, as it was determined--but woe to that man who is betraying him to that!

23 The disciples then began wondering among themselves who would be the betrayer.

24 Then they fell to arguing over which was the most important of them.

25 Jesus watched this, and said: Gentile kings act like gods over their subjects, and the people esteem them for their position and call them benefactors.

26 But you must not be like that! He that is the most important of you must think of himself as no greater than a teacher’s youngest pupil. And the one who considers himself the leader must prove it by being the greatest servant to the rest.

27 For (normally) who is more important? The one who sits and eats, or the servant who brings the meal? The one who sits and eats, right? Yet here I am as the servant (so follow my example).

28 You are the ones who have stood with me during my trials.

29 And I appoint for you a kingdom as my Father has reserved one for me,

30 So you can eat and drink at my table, in my kingdom, and then occupy twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

31 The Lord then spoke to Peter, saying: Shimon! Shimon! Satan has plotted against you (all), to try to sift you like wheat.

32 But I have prayed that your faith not fail you, and when you have found yourself and turned back, strengthen your brothers.

33 But Peter replied to him: Lord, I am ready to go with you to the dungeon and to death if need be!

34 Jesus replied: Peter, the “rooster” won’t crow this morning before you deny knowing me three times!

35 And he added: When I sent you out with nothing but the clothes on your backs, what did you wind up lacking? They answered: Nothing.

36 Then he said to them: Now things are different. He who has a purse, let him carry it (along with his money). He who has no sword, let him sell his cloak and buy one.

37 For I tell you, this prophecy must be fulfilled: And he was reckoned among the transgressors. The things prophesied about me are coming to a head (and you may need to protect yourselves).

38 They said in response: Look, Lord--we have two swords here. Jesus replied: Those will be enough.

39 Then Jesus departed, and as was his custom he went to the Mount of Olives, his disciples following along.

40 When he arrived at his destination, he said to the disciples: Pray that you won’t fall into temptation.

41 Jesus then went ahead a few yards, and knelt down to pray,

42 Saying: Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but Your will be done.

43 Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him.

44 Being in great agony, Jesus prayed more earnestly, and sweat great drops of blood that fell to the ground.

45 When he rose up from prayer and came back to the disciples, he found them asleep, their grief having sapped the strength from them.

46 And he asked them: Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray, lest temptation get the better of you!

47 While he was speaking, a crowd of people led by Judas drew near, and Judas came up to kiss Jesus in greeting.

48 But Jesus said to him: Judas--must you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?

49 When the disciples realized what was happening, they cried out: Lord--do we use the swords?!

50 Then (Peter) struck a servant of the High Priest, cutting off his right ear.

51 Jesus answered: No more! And he touched the man’s ear, and healed it.

52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, officers, and city elders who had come for him: So you come out, armed to the teeth, like you’re on the hunt for some bandit?

53 When I was at the Temple every day, you didn’t lay a hand on me, but this is your hour, and the zenith of the Power who rules over Darkness.

54 Then they took him off to the High Priest’s palace. Peter, meanwhile, followed from a safe distance to see what would happen.

55 When the crowd had kindled a bonfire in the courtyard, Peter managed to sit down and mingle with them.

56 But a maid saw him by the light of the fire, and fixed her gaze upon him. She said: This man was with him too!

57 Peter immediately denied it, saying: Woman, I don’t know him.

58 After a little while, someone else saw him, and said: You’re also one of them! Peter replied: Sir, I am not!

59 After about an hour, someone else said confidently: I’m sure this man was with him, for he’s a Galilean!

60 Peter responded: Sir, I have no idea what you’re talking about! And as he said this, the “rooster” cried out.

61 It was then that the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered what the Lord had said: “The ‘rooster’ won’t crow before you deny me three times!”

62 And Peter went off and wept bitterly.

63 Meanwhile, the men holding Jesus mocked and struck him.

64 And when they had blindfolded him, they pummeled his face, and said: Prophesy the name of the man who struck you!

65 And many other blasphemous things they spoke against him.

66 When dawn came, the elders of the people, along with the most important priests and the Torah teachers, led Jesus into the chamber of their impromptu sanhedrin. They asked:

67 Are you the Messiah? Tell us! And Jesus replied: If I tell you, you won’t believe;

68 And if I try to defend myself by questioning you, you will neither answer me nor let me go.

69 From now on, the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the Power of God.

70 Then they all said: So you are the Son of God? And he said back: You're proving that I am!

71 So they said: Who needs more witnesses or evidence? We’ve heard him blaspheme out of his own mouth!

LUKE CHAPTER 23

1 Then the whole crowd rose up and dragged Jesus off to Pilate.

2 Once there, they began to make accusations against him, saying: We found this man troubling the nation, and forbidding taxes to be paid to Caesar, saying that he, himself, is the Messiah--a king!

3 So Pilate asked: Are you the King of the Jews?! Jesus answered: You said it!

4 Then Pilate said to the chief Sadducee priests and the crowd: I find no fault in this man.

5 Then they became raucous, saying: By his teaching, he’s been stirring up all the Jews from Galilee to Jerusalem!

6 When Pilate heard the word “Galilee,” he asked if Jesus were a Galilean.

7 When they affirmed this, he decided Jesus was Herod Antipas’ responsibility, so he sent him off to Herod, who happened to be in Jerusalem for Passover.

8 When Jesus arrived, Herod was delighted, for he had long wanted to see him, having heard of his miracles. He hoped Jesus would show him one.

9 So Herod interrogated him with many questions, but Jesus wouldn’t even dignify him with an answer.

10 Meanwhile, the chief priests and the Torah teachers had no shortage of vehement accusations to make against him to Herod.

11 Then Herod and his officers set Jesus before them, and mocked him. After draping a rich cloak upon him, they returned him to Pilate.

12 That same day, Herod and Pilate became fast friends. Before this, they were enemies.

13 And Pilate, when he had summoned the chief Sadducee priests, the elders, and the people,

14 Told them: You bring this man to me, and claim he is stirring up an insurrection, but after listening to your charges, I have ruled that he is guiltless of the things you accuse him of.

15 Herod must apparently concur, since I sent you to him, and he returned Jesus alive (--and we know his usual treatment for those threatening him).

16 I will therefore whip him and set him loose (instead of applying a death sentence).

17 For it was a custom at each Feast to give clemency to someone.

18 And they all cried out on the spot: Take this man away! Release bar Abbas instead!

19 Now this bar Abbas was in the dungeon for causing a riot in Jerusalem, and committing murder.

20 Pilate, who still wanted to release Jesus, spoke again, trying to convince them.

21 But they just shouted out: Crucify him! Crucify him!

22 For the third time Pilate spoke, saying: Why? For what crime? I haven’t found anything he’s done that is worthy of the death penalty. I will therefore whip him, and then release him.

23 But they shouted back, insisting on crucifixion. And the voices of the crowd and the chief priests prevailed.

24 Pilate thus gave them the sentence they sought.

25 So he released from prison the seditious murderer they called for, and consigned Jesus to be treated as they demanded.

26 Then the Romans led him away, but they collared a man from Cyrene named Simon, who was coming into town from the country, and laid the cross upon him since Jesus was too exhausted to carry it further. So Simon bore the cross behind Jesus as he walked.

27 A great crowd of people also walked behind, including some women who wailed over what was happening.

28 But Jesus turned to them, saying: Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t cry for me--cry for you and your children.

29 For the days are coming when they will say, “Blessed are the sterile, and the women who have never given birth and nursed children!”

30 People will then say to the mountains, “Fall on us!’ And to the hills they’ll say, “Cover us!”

31 For if they do these things in the spring, when the tree is green (and God has reached out to them), what will happen when the tree dries in winter (and God utterly abandons them)?

32 Two other criminals were also led out to be crucified with him.

33 And when they came to the place called Calvary, they crucified him with the criminals on either side of him.

34 Then Jesus said: Father, forgive them--for they don’t know what they’re doing. Then the guards divided his clothing, and diced for it.

35 And the people stood watching this. The rulers were there with them, jeering: He saved others--let him save himself if he is the so-called ‘Anointed One,’ the Chosen of God.

36 And the soldiers mocked him as well, coming forward to offer him some non-kosher vinegar wine,

37 And saying: If you’re the King of the Jews, save yourself!

38 A sign was nailed over Jesus’ head that said in Greek, Latin and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

39 (Hearing the crowd and seeing the sign,) one of the criminals who was being crucified lashed out at Jesus, saying: If you are the Messiah, save yourself and us!

40 But the other rebuked him, saying: Have you no fear of God, knowing we are all to die this day?

41 And we deserve it for what we’ve done. But this man did nothing to warrant being here.

42 Then the man said to Jesus: Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.

43 Jesus answered: I tell you in all truth, today you be with me in Paradise.

44 It was about noon, and a great shadow was over all the earth until about 3 PM.

45 And the sun was dark. Then the curtain in the Holy of Holies was torn down the middle.

46 And when Jesus cried out in a loud voice, he said: Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. Having spoken that, Jesus let go, and died.

47 Now when the centurion overseeing the crucifixion saw this, he glorified God, saying: This man must certainly have been righteous!

48 All the people who had come to (Calvary) saw these events and smote their breasts in grief. Then they returned to Jerusalem.

49 And all Jesus’ acquaintances, and the women who followed him from Galilee, stood a distance away, watching.

50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Great Sanhedrin, who was a good and just man.

51 This same man had opposed the sanhedrin that was formed against Jesus, along with what its members ruled. He was from the city of Arimathaea (Ramallah), a Judean city; and he was one of those who awaited the arrival of the Kingdom of God.

52 He went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body.

53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in fine linen, and had it lain in a new stone sepulcher where no one had ever been interred before. (So it was not an unclean sepulcher.)

54 Now this was the preparation day, and the Sabbath drew on.

55 And the women from Galilee followed along and saw the sepulcher and how Jesus’ body was laid in it.

52 He went to Pilate, and asked for Jesus’ body.

53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in fine linen, and had it lain in a new stone sepulcher where no one had ever been interred before. (So it was not an unclean sepulcher.)

54 Now this was the preparation day, and the Sabbath drew on.

55 And the women from Galilee followed along and saw the sepulcher, and how Jesus’ body was laid in it.

56 They returned home and prepared spices and ointments. But they rested until the Sabbath had passed, as the commandment required.

LUKE CHAPTER 24

1 Very early Sunday morning, the women, with a few others, returned to the tomb with the spices they had prepared.

2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb’s entrance.

3 Then they entered in, but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

4 As they stood about, very perplexed, two men appeared in sparkling clothing.

5 As they fell prostrate before them, being terrified, the men said: Why are you looking for the living among the dead?

6 He is not here, but has risen! Don’t you remember how he told you of this in Galilee,

7 Saying, The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and on the third day he will rise again?

8 Then they remembered Jesus’ words.

9 So they returned from the tomb and told all this to the eleven, along with the other followers of Jesus.

10 It was Mary of Magdala, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and some other women with them who told the apostles about this.

11 But their words sounded like women’s rambling, so they would not believe them.

12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. When he got there, he stooped down to look in and saw the linen wraps laid down by themselves. He then left, wondering what to make of this.

13 That same day, two other of Jesus’ followers were heading for Emmaus, which is seven miles from Jerusalem.

14 The pair were discussing recent events.

15 As they walked and talked, another man caught up to them and began walking with them. It was Jesus.

16 But their eyes were supernaturally closed to seeing him for who he was.

17 And Jesus spoke up, saying: What are you talking about as you walk that makes you look so grieved?

18 One of the two, named Cleopas, answered: Where have you been? Are you a stranger in Jerusalem, that you don’t know what has been happening there over the past few days?!

19 Jesus asked: What things do you mean? So they answered: The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in word and deed before God and all the people.

20 The chief priests and our leaders handed him over to the Romans, who condemned him to death, and they crucified him.

21 We believed that he would be the one who would save and free Israel. It’s now three days since he died.

22 The strange thing is, some women we know told an astounding story about when they visited his tomb early today.

23 They did not find his body, and they claimed they had a vision of angels who told them he was alive.

24 And others we know went to the tomb and found it empty as the women had said, and Jesus was not there. (So we don’t know what to think about all this.)

25 Then Jesus said to them: O fools, with hearts slow to believe what the prophets said in the Scriptures...

26 Wasn’t the Messiah supposed to suffer these things before entering into his glory?!

27 Then, beginning with Moses’ writings and going forward through all the prophets, he showed how the Scriptures foretold all that he would endure.

28 And as they approached the village the two were headed for, he kept walking as though he would continue on.

29 But the pair urged him to come home with them, saying: Stay with us tonight, for evening approaches and the day departs. So Jesus went home to stay with them as they asked.

30 And it came to pass as he sat at dinner with them, that he took bread, blessed and broke it, then gave it to them.

31 Then the mist was gone from their eyes, and they knew at once it was Jesus--but he vanished before they could say a word!

32 Then they said to one another: Didn’t our hearts burn inside of us when he talked to us on the road and explained the Scriptures?

33 So they rushed back to Jerusalem, finding the eleven together with other followers.

34 They were told: The Lord has indeed risen--he appeared to Shimon!

35 Then they shared what had happened during their travels, and how they recognized him when the bread was broken.

36 As they were speaking, Jesus himself appeared in the midst of them, and said: Peace be to you.

37 They were terrified and shocked, thinking it was a ghost.

38 But he said to them: Why are you troubled, and why are such thoughts arising in your hearts?

39 Look at the nail holes in my hands and feet, and see it is I. Touch me, and see. A spirit hasn’t got flesh and bones as you see me have.

40 After saying this, he displayed the wounds in his hands and feet.

41 They were so stunned with joy that they couldn’t believe their eyes, so he said to them: Is there any meat here to eat?

42 So they gave hima a piece of broiled fish and part of a honeycomb.

43 He took these and ate in front of them.

44 And he said: Remember when I was with you before, I told you all the things had to be fulfilled that were prophesied in the books of Moses, the prophets, and in the Psalms about me.

45 Then he opened their understanding so they could (infallibly) understand the Scriptures.

46 And he said to them: Thus it was written, and thus it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and rise from the dead on the third day;

47 And that, in his name repentance and forgiveness of sins would be preached to all nations, starting in Jerusalem.

48 All of you are witnesses to spread that message.

49 And behold, I will send the promise of my Father (--the power and wisdom of the Holy Spirit--) upon you. But stay in Jerusalem until you receive the power from on High.

50 He led them out as far as Bethany. Then he raised his hands and blessed them.

51 And as he was blessing them, he was parted from them and ascended into heaven.

52 And the disciples worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.

53 And they were continuously in the courts of the Temple, praising and thanking God. Amen.

John

JOHN CHAPTER 1

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God!

2 He was with God when the universe began.

3 Everything that exists was made by him, and nothing came into existence without him.

4 In him was (divine) life, and that life was the light of man.

5 And the Light is shining in the darkness, and the darkness has not extinguished it.

6 Now there was a man sent by God whose name was John (Yochannon).

7 John came to proclaim the Light and lead people to it, that all men might believe through him.

8 John himself was not the Light, but he was sent to bear witness of the Light,

9 Which was the true Light that enlightens every man who comes into the world.

10 He was in the world and made the world, but the world did not know who he was.

11 He came to his own people, and they would not accept him.

12 But to as many as did accept him and believe in his person and position, he gave the power to become the sons of God.

13 For these sons were born not of blood, nor through the will of man, but (were born in spirit) through the will of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we beheld his glory--which was the glory of one begotten by the Father, full of grace and truth!

15 John bore witness of him, and proclaimed: This is the one about whom I have been saying, “He who is coming after me is preferred to me, for he existed before me!”

16 And we have all partaken from his fullness, and received (undeserved) grace upon grace.

17 For the Law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

18 No man has ever seen God, but the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, has revealed Him to us.

19 Now this is what happened during John’s ministry: The Judeans sent priests and Levites to him from Jerusalem, asking: Just who are you?

20 He didn’t hold back, and made it clear: I am not the Messiah!

21 So they asked: If you’re not the Messiah, what are you? Are you Elijah? John said: I am not. So they asked: Then are you the prophet Moses said was coming (whom all the people were required to hear)? And John answered: No.

22 To this, they said: Then who are you? Tell us who you claim to be so we can report to the elders who sent us.

23 John’s answer was: I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the path of the Lord, as Isaiah prophesied.

24 Now those who had been sent, went out at the behest of the Pharisees.

25 And they asked John: Why are you baptizing if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?

26 John answered: I am immersing in mere water, but there is a man standing amongst you all, whom you don’t know.

27 He’s the one coming after me, who is preferred to me--a man whose sandal straps I am unworthy to untie.

28 These things happened in Bethabara, beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing people.

29 The next day, John saw Jesus coming to him, and he exclaimed: Behold the (sacrificial) lamb of God, who will take away the sins of the world!

30 He is the one of whom I said, “After me, a man is coming who is preferred to me, for he existed before me.”

31 I did not know who he was, but I knew he was coming to be revealed to Israel, and so I started baptizing with water (as a precursor to his arrival).

32 And John testified about him, saying: I saw the Holy Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and resting upon him.

33 And as I say, I did not know who he was, but (God) who sent me to baptize with water also told me, “The one upon whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who will baptize people with the Holy Spirit.”

34 And I saw this happen, and I proclaim that he is the Son of God!

35 The next day, John was standing (at the river) with two of his disciples.

36 He saw Jesus walking in the distance, and once more said: Behold the lamb of God!

37 The two disciples heard this, and followed after Jesus.

38 Jesus turned and saw them following, and he said: What is it that you are looking for? They answered: Rabbi--which is interpreted as master--where are you staying?

39 He said to them: Come and see. So they followed to where he was staying and remained with him that day, for it was around (4 PM).

40 One of the two who had heard John speak, and followed Jesus, was Andrew, Shimon Peter’s brother.

41 He went out and found his own brother, Shimon, and told him: We have found the Messiah--which, by interpretation, means the Christ.

43 The next day, Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip, and told him: Follow me!

44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city Andrew and Peter (Cephas) were from.

45 Philip went and found Nathanael, and told him: We have found the one Moses and the prophets wrote about in the Scriptures--Jesus of Nazareth, son of Joseph!

46 Nathanael wondered in response: Can any good thing come out of a place like Nazareth? Philip said: Come see for yourself!

47 When they arrived and Jesus saw Nathanael approach, he said about him: Behold! A true Israelite of honesty and integrity!

48 Nathanael replied: Where do you know me from? Jesus answered: Before Philip called you, when you happened to be under the fig tree, I saw you (in a vision).

49 Nathanael answered back: Rabbi--you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!

50 Jesus said in response: Simply because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree you believe in me? You will see much greater things than that before we’re done!

51 Truly, truly, I say to you that hereafter you will see heaven revealed, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man!

JOHN CHAPTER 2

1 The third day thereafter, a wedding took place in Cana of Galilee, and Jesus’ mother was there.

2 Jesus, along with the twelve disciples, was invited to it.

3 When they ran low on wine, Jesus’ mother said to her son: They have no wine.

4 Jesus responded: Ma’am--what is that to you and me? My time has not come yet.

5 But his mother told the servants: Do whatever he tells you to.

6 Now there were six stone water pots used for Jewish ritual purification of objects, and they held around twenty gallons each.

7 Jesus ordered the servants: Fill those up with water. So they did, all the way up to the brim.

8 Then Jesus told them: Go ladle some out and take it to the Levite presiding over the feast. So they brought it to the man.

9 When the Levite presiding over the feast tasted the wine created out of the water and didn’t know where it came from--though the servants knew--he summoned the groom,

10 And told him: Everyone always puts the best wine out at the beginning of the banquet, and after the guests have drunk their fill, they bring the watered-down wine to finish up with. But you kept the best wine until the end!

11 This was the first of Jesus’ miracles, manifesting his glory, that took place in Cana of Galilee; and the event anchored the disciples’ faith in him.

12 After this, Jesus, his mother, his kinsmen, and his twelve disciples, went down to Capernaum, but remained there for only a few days.

13 Now the Jewish feast of Passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

14 At the Temple, he found people selling sacrificial oxen, sheep, and doves, along with changing money (--and they were actually disrespecting the Temple by sitting down while doing these things)!

15 After making a whip of ropes, he lashed them all out of the Court of Gentiles, drove out the sheep and oxen, poured out the money-changers’ cash boxes, and overturned their tables.

16 He shouted to the dove sellers: Get these things out of here--don’t make my Father’s house a place of business!

17 When he did this, the disciples recalled the Scripture verse, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.

19 Jesus replied to them: Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

20 Then the Judeans spat back: It took forty-six years to build this Temple complex, and you’ll raise it up in three days, will you?!

20 Then the Judeans spat back: It took forty-six years to build this Temple complex, and you’ll rebuild it in three days, will you?!

21 But he meant the temple of his body.

22 So after Jesus had risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had told them this, and they believed the Scripture and what Jesus had said (about rising from the dead).

23 Now when Jesus was in Jerusalem at the Passover, by the time the Day of Sacrifice came, many (placed faith in him as Messiah) when they saw all the miracles he did.

24 But Jesus did not trust or rely on them, because he knew the truth about every person he met,

25 And did not need anyone to tell him any details about them, for he, himself, already knew what was in the heart of every man.

JOHN CHAPTER 3

1 There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a member of the panel in Jerusalem that interpreted Jewish Law.

2 He came secretly by night and told Jesus: Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who comes from God, for no man can do the miracles you do if God is not with him.

3 Jesus answered: Truly, truly, I say to you: Unless a man is born twice, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus then asked: How can an old man be born twice? Can he climb back into his mother’s womb, and be born a second time?

5 Jesus answered: Truly, truly, I say to you: Unless a man is born both of water and Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God!

6 That which is birthed of flesh is mere flesh. But that which is birthed of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Don’t wonder that I said to you, ‘You must be born twice.'

8 The wind blows where it wants, and you see and hear its effects, but you can’t comprehend where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is birthed through the Spirit.

9 Nicodemus then asked: How can this be the case?

10 Jesus answered: Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you have no knowledge of the concepts I’m expressing?

11 Truly, truly, I say to you: We have testified about what we know and have seen, yet none of you accepts our witness.

12 If I have told you about earthly things and you can’t believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?

13 No man has ascended into heaven but he who came down from heaven--even the Son of Man who is in heaven.

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,

15 That whosoever will place faith in him will not perish, but have everlasting life!

16 For God so loved humanity that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever places faith in him will not perish, but have everlasting life!

17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn it, but to save the world through him!

18 He who places faith in him is not condemned, but he who does not place faith in him is already condemned, because he did not believe in the person and position of the only begotten Son of God.

19 And this is what condemns them: That the light came into the world, but men preferred darkness rather than light, as evidenced by the fact that their deeds were evil.

20 For everyone who practices evil hates the light and won’t come to it, lest his deeds be shown for what they are (--that they are of Satan).

21 But he who practices truth is drawn to the light so his deeds may be seen for what they are: that they are done in God.

22 After these things, Jesus and the disciples went out and encamped in the Judean wilderness, baptizing people there.

23 John was also baptizing in Aenon, near Salim, because there was a lot of water there, and people came there to be baptized.

24 This was before Herod Antipas threw John into a dungeon.

25 Now a question arose between John’s disciples and the Judeans about ritual purification (because some were wondering if Jesus’ baptism was in conflict with John’s).

26 So they came to him and said: Rabbi--the man who was with you beyond the Jordan, the one you testified about--is baptizing, and the people are all flocking to him. (Is he right to be baptizing?)

27 John replied: A man can receive nothing (--such as commission to a ministry--) unless it is given by God in heaven.

28 You, yourselves, recall that I denied being the Messiah, but that I was sent on ahead to announce him.

29 It’s the groom who possesses the bride, not the best man. But the best man stands at the groom’s side and greatly rejoices when he hears the groom’s approaching voice. Thus, I rejoice in this.

30 (And, like the best man, I now step aside, having played my role.) He must grow greater, and I must now recede into the background.

31 He who came from heaven above is above everything. But I, who am of the earth, am nothing more than a man, and can only speak the limited revelations of a man. He who is from heaven outranks everything and everyone (and his revelations and understanding are far greater than my own).

32 And what he has seen and heard (in heaven), he testifies to, but no man accepts what he is testifying about.

33 But anyone who receives his message has made a declaration that he agrees that God is true,

34 For he whom God has sent speaks the very words of God Himself, for God has given him an unlimited amount of wisdom of the Spirit.

35 The Father loves the Son, and has given control of everything to him.

36 He who places faith in the Son has everlasting life, but he who does not place faith in the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God will remain upon him!

JOHN CHAPTER 4

1 When the Lord came to know that the Pharisees were aware that he was baptizing more disciples than John--

2 Though Jesus did not do the baptizing, the disciples did--

3 He left Judea for Galilee.

4 But he had to pass through Samaria to reach his destination.

5 On the way, Jesus came to a city in Samaria called Sychar, which is near the parcel of land that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.

6 Now Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus--being exhausted from the long walk--sat on it to rest. It was about [noon].

7 It happened that a Samaritan woman came out to draw water from the well, and Jesus told her: Give me a drink of water.

8 His disciples, you see, had gone into town to buy meat.

9 Then the Samaritan woman said: How is it that you--a Jew--ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink, seeing that you Jews won’t even drink out of the same cups we use?

10 Jesus answered back: If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that’s asking “Give me a drink of water,” you would have asked him for water, and he would give you the real living water!

11 The woman said: Sir--the water down in the well is too deep to reach without a rope and bucket, so how could you have any living water to give me?

12 Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well and drank from it along with his children and livestock? (Even he needed a rope and bucket.)

13 Jesus answered: Whoever drinks the water down in that well will get thirsty again.

14 But whoever drinks the living water I offer will never thirst again. The living water I give shall be a wellspring inside him that springs forth to everlasting life.

15 The woman then said: Sir, then give me this water so I never thirst again, and won’t have to walk all the way out here for water!

16 Jesus answered: Go get your husband, then return.

17 To this, the woman replied: I have no husband. Jesus said back: You’ve answered well to say you have no husband.

18 You’ve had five husbands, and the man you’re living with now isn’t married to you, so you’ve spoken truthfully.

19 The woman now said: Sir, I realize you must be a prophet!

20 Now tell me--our fathers worshipped God in the temple here, at Mount Gerazim, but you Jews say Jerusalem is the place to worship God. (Which is right, or does it make a difference?)

21 Jesus said in response: Woman, believe me--the time is coming when whether you worship the Father at Mount Gerazim or Jerusalem will be irrelevant.

22 But more importantly, you Samaritans worship a God you don’t really know, while we Jews know Whom we worship, for salvation comes from us.

23 But the time is coming, and now is beginning, when the true worshippers of the Father will worship Him in spirit and in truth, for those are the sorts of worshippers the Father wants. (Thus, where you worship God is irrelevant, for the place to worship God is in your heart.)

24 For God is a spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.

25 Then the woman said: I know that the Messiah is coming--the one they call Christ--and when he does, he will tell us everything we have to do.

26 Jesus said to her: I, who speak to you, am the Messiah!

27 About this time, the disciples returned and were amazed to see that he was talking with a Samaritan woman, of all things. But none of them asked her, “What do you want?” or asked Jesus, “Why are you talking to her?”

28 The woman, meanwhile, actually left her rope and bucket, and ran back into town where she found the townsmen, whom she told:

29 Come see a man who told me all I ever did! Is this not the Messiah?!

30 So (out of curiosity) they came out of the city, and followed her back to the well where Jesus was.

31 Meantime, the disciples encouraged Jesus, saying: Rabbi, eat something.

32 But he said: I have food to eat that you don’t know about.

33 Therefore, they asked one another: Did someone else bring him some food to eat?

34 Jesus said: My food is to do the will of Him who sent me, and to finish the work He gave me to do.

35 Isn’t there a saying, In four months comes the harvest? I tell you, lift up your eyes and look upon the fields, for the harvest is ripened and ready even now!

36 (The wages of both the sower and the reaper is the harvest of souls who will gain eternal life--and both can rejoice together with the same pay.)

37 It’s a true saying that, One plants/another harvests.

38 I sent you to reap a harvest you had no part in planting. It was others, who came before you, that did the planting, and you are now doing your part in continuing and being blessed by their past labors.

39 Now many of the Samaritans there put faith in Jesus because of what the woman had told them: “Come see a man who told me all I ever did.”

40 So when the Samaritans reached him, they begged him to stay in Sychar, so Jesus remained there for two days.

41 And many more placed faith in Jesus because of the teachings they heard from his own mouth,

42 And they told the woman: Now we believe, not because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves, and we realize this is the Christ, the savior of the world!

43 After the two days, Jesus went on to Galilee.

44 Jesus had said, “A prophet receives no honor in his own country.”

45 But when he arrived in Galilee the people received him, having seen the things he had done at the Feast, because they had been there as well.

46 Jesus eventually returned to Cana of Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain nobleman from Capernaum whose son was deathly ill.

47 When he heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he found him and begged him to come back and heal his son who was near death.

48 Jesus said to him: Except you people see miraculous signs and wonders, you will not believe.

49 The nobleman begged him, saying: Sir--please come back with me before my child dies!

50 Jesus replied: Go home--your son lives. So the man believed what Jesus told him, and went back home.

51 As he was on the way back, his servants met him, and announced: Your son is alive and well!

52 Then the nobleman asked what time his son began to improve, and they told him it was around (1 PM).

53 So the nobleman realized it was at the same time Jesus had told him, “Your son lives.” And he and his entire household believed in Jesus.

54 This was the second miracle Jesus did when he was in Galilee, having returned from Judea.

JOHN CHAPTER 5

1 After this, Jesus returned to Jerusalem during another Passover.

2 Now at Jerusalem is a spring with five porches called in Hebrew Bethesda (meaning House of Mercy), which is down by the sheep market.

3 In the porches lay a great crowd of sick and infirmed people waiting for the water to be disturbed.

4 (For every so often, an angel would disturb the water, and whoever stepped in first would be healed of whatever ailments he had.)

5 A certain cripple was there who had been in that state for thirty-eight years.

6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and came to understand he had been crippled for that many years, he asked: Do you really want to be made whole?

7 The cripple answered: Sir, I have no one who can lift me into the spring when the water is stirred up--someone always beats me in!

8 Jesus told him: Rise, pick up your mat, and walk!

9 And immediately the man was healed, took up his mat, and began walking home. This happened to be done on a Sabbath.

10 Some Judeans spotted him, and said: This is the Sabbath--you’re violating the Law by carrying the burden of a mat!

11 But the man answered back: The man who healed me told me to pick up my mat, and walk.

12 So they demanded to know: Who told you that?!

13 But the man who had been healed couldn’t show them, for Jesus had left the area due to the large crowd that had gathered.

14 Jesus later spotted him in one of the Temple courts and came up to him, saying: You are made whole now--sin no more, lest a worse thing befall you!

15 Then the man went out and told the Judeans that Jesus was the one who had restored his limbs to full strength.

16 Therefore, the Judeans persecuted Jesus and wanted to slay him for doing these things on the Sabbath.

17 But Jesus told them: My Father works (--doing good on the Sabbath--) and so do I!

18 That statement made the Judeans seek to kill him all the more, for not only had Jesus broken the Sabbath, but he also called God his Father, making himself equal with God.

19 Then Jesus added: Truly, truly, I say to you: The Son can do nothing on his own--only what he sees the Father do! Thus, the things the Father does, the Son does likewise!

20 For the Father is very fond of the Son, and shows him all the things He does, and will show him even greater things--things that will amaze you.

21 For as the Father raises and gives life to the dead, even so the Son will give (eternal) life to whomever he chooses.

22 For the Father judges no man, but has given the right to pass judgment to the Son,

23 So that all men may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him!

24 Truly, truly, I tell you: He who hears my Message and believes on Him who sent me has everlasting life, and shall not face condemnation, but has made the transition from death to life.

25 Truly, truly, I tell you: The time is coming, and is now starting, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and the ones who hear it will live.

26 For as the Father is the source of life, so He has enabled the Son to also be a source of life,

27 And has given him the authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of Man (--the bar Enash DSaniel prophesied of)!

28 Don’t be shocked by this, for the time is coming in which all who are in the grave will hear his voice,

29 And will come out. Those who have done good will come out to enter the resurrection of life, while those who did evil will come out to the resurrection of damnation!

30 I can’t do anything of my own volition. As God tells me, I judge--and my judgment is fair, because I am not seeking my own will, but the will of the Father who sent me.

31 If I testify on my own behalf (for my own glory), I am a fraud.

32 There is another who testifies on my behalf, and I know his testimony of me is true. (That person is John.)

33 You sent inquisitors to John, and he testified about the truth.

34 But the only testimony about me that I receive is not from man (but from God). Even so, I boast of John’s testimony for your own good, that you might be saved.

35 John was a bright and shining light, and for a short time you were willing to rejoice in his light (until you realized he wouldn’t dance to your tune).

36 But I have a greater testimony than John: the miracles my Father has given me to accomplish. These miracles testify that I haven’t come on my own, but that the Father sent me.

37 And the Father Himself, who did send me, has testified about me. But you have never heard His voice, nor ever seen Him in person (as I have).

38 Nor does His Word live in your hearts, because you don’t believe the one He has sent to you.

39 You constantly study the Scriptures, for you think they will lead you to eternal life, and those very Scriptures tell you about me.

40 Yet you will not come to me in order to have true life.

41 I don’t say that because I seek honor honor from men,

42 But because I know you don’t have the love of God dwelling in your hearts!

43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you reject me. (Someday,) one will come in his own name, and him you’ll eagerly accept.

44 How can you believe in the first place, when you crave the approval of each other instead of the approval of God alone?

45 Don’t think I will be the one bringing accusations against you to the Father. The one who will do that is Moses, in whom you trust!

46 For if you had believed Moses, you would have believed me as well, because Moses wrote (and prophesied) about me.

47 But if you won’t believe his writings, how can you believe what I tell you?

JOHN CHAPTER 6

1 After these events, Jesus sailed across the Sea of Galilee, which is called the Sea of Tiberius by the Romans.

2 And a great multitude of people followed him because of all the miracles they had seen him perform on the diseased.

3 Meanwhile, Jesus went up onto a mountain, and sat down there with his disciples.

4 This was when the Jewish Feast of Passover was at hand.

5 When Jesus looked up and saw what a great crowd was gathering, he asked Philip: Where will we ever buy enough bread to feed all these people?

6 But he said this to test Philip’s faith, because he knew what he had in mind.

7 Philip answered: Six months’ wages wouldn’t buy enough bread for everyone in this mob to take one bite!

8 Now one of the other disciples, Andrew, the brother of Shimon Peter, spoke up, and said:

9 There’s a boy here who has five barley loaves and a pair of small fish--but what good is that among so many?

10 But Jesus said: Make the men sit down. Now it was a very grassy area, so the men, who numbered five thousand, sat down as ordered.

11 Then Jesus took the barley loaves, and when he had given thanks to God, he broke them up and distributed them to the disciples who then distributed them to the people. He did that with the fish as well, giving the people as much as they wanted.

12 When everyone was full, he told the disciples: Gather up the leftovers so nothing is lost.

13 They did this, and filled twelve baskets with leftover bread from the five barley loaves!

14 Then, when the men in the crowd saw this miracle of Jesus, they said: Surely this is the prophet Moses said would come into the world!

15 When Jesus concluded they would try to take him by force and make him a king, he left the area and went alone to a mountain.

16 That evening, the disciples went down to the sea of Galilee,

17 And entered a boat with the intention of sailing to Capernaum. Now it became dark, and Jesus still had not returned to them,

18 And then the lake was hit by a tremendous windstorm, whipping the water into a maelstrom.

19 So when they had rowed several miles in the face of the storm, they saw Jesus walking atop the sea, making his way toward them, and they were terrified.

20 But he called out to them: It’s I--don’t be afraid!

21 Then they let him board, and the boat immediately arrived at its destination.

22 The next day, the crowds on other side of the lake saw only one small boat on shore after Jesus’ disciples had sailed off. They knew that Jesus hadn’t departed with them, but that the disciples had left by themselves.

23 Meanwhile, word of the miracle had spread to Tiberius, and boatloads of people began arriving near the place where the Lord had performed the miracle of the loaves after giving thanks.

24 When the people on shore saw that neither Jesus nor the disciples were there, they took to the boats and sailed over to Capernaum, hoping to find him.

25 When they found him there on the other side of the sea, they said: Rabbi, when did you come here?

26 Jesus answered, and said: Truly, truly, I tell you: You’re not looking for me because you saw miracles (and believed in who I am)--you’re only here because you ate the loaves I fed you with!

27 Don’t seek for the meat that is here today, and gone tomorrow--seek for the meat leading to eternal life that the Son of Man will give you, for God the Father has ordained him to that task!

28 (Frustrated,) the crowd then asked: Well, then what must we do to be able to perform miracle works of God (like you do)?

29 Jesus responded: The foundation for that is to place faith in the one who was sent by Him.

30 They therefore replied: Then what sign do you have to show us so we can see it, and place faith in you? What deed will you do?

31 Our ancestors received manna to eat in the desert. The Scripture says, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. (Since you want us to follow you, is it not reasonable--even Scriptural--for you to do the same for us as well?)

32 Then Jesus said to them: Truly, truly, I tell you: Moses didn’t give you that bread from heaven; but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven!

33 For the true bread of God is he who came down from heaven and gives life to the world.

34 Then they said to him: Lord, forever give us this bread you speak of.

35 Jesus’ reply was: I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me shall never hunger; and he who places faith in me will never thirst either!

36 But as I said, you do not believe, even though you have seen me.

37 All whom the father gives me shall find their way to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out!

38 For I came down from heaven not to do my own will, but the will of Him who sent me.

39 And this is the will of the Father who sent me: That of all He has given me, I shall lose none, but will raise them up on the last day.

40 And this too is the will of the Father who sent me: That everyone who sees and believes on the Son may have everlasting life, and I will raise him up on the last day.

41 Then the Judeans murmured at him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”

42 And they said: Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? Then how can he claim, ‘I came down from heaven’?

43 Jesus then answered the crowd: Stop murmuring amongst yourselves.

44 No man can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him to me, and I will raise him up on the last day.

45 It is written in the scrolls of the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Thus, every man who has heard and been taught by the Father will come to me.

46 Not that any mortal man has ever seen the Father, except him who is of God--he has seen the Father!

47 Truly, truly, I tell you: He who believes on me has everlasting life!

48 I am the bread of life!

49 The bread you spoke of in the wilderness? Your ancestors ate that manna, and they are all dead.

50 But I am the bread that came down from heaven, which a man can eat and never die!

51 For I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If any man eats this bread, he will live forever, and the bread I give is my flesh, which I will offer up to give life to the world.

52 Hearing this, the Judeans argued amongst themselves, saying: How can this man give us his flesh to eat?

53 Then Jesus answered: Truly, truly, I tell you: Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink his blood, you will have no life in you.

54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day!

55 For indeed, my flesh is meat, and my blood is drink.

56 He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood dwells in me and I in him.

57 As the living Father has sent me, and as I live by the Father, so he who consumes me will live by me!

58 So then, I am the bread that came down from heaven, not the manna your ancestors ate--all of whom are now dead! The bread I am will give eternal life to whoever eats it!

59 These things Jesus said as he taught in the synagogue in Capernaum.

60 Many of his disciples, when they heard all this, said to each other: (This is outrageous, and makes no sense. Who can understand and accept what he says?)

61 When Jesus perceived that his disciples murmured at his words, he said to them: Does this offend you?

62 What if you were to see the Son of Man ascend back to where he was before?

63 It is the Spirit that gives life, and man’s efforts (to find life on his own, through efforts of his own) are pointless! The teachings I impart to you are (revelation), and they are life.

64 But there are some of you here who do not believe. For Jesus knew from the beginning who did not truly believe, and who would betray him.

65 Jesus concluded: This is why I said to you that no man can come to me unless the Father enables him to.

66 From that point, many of Jesus’ disciples returned home, and no longer followed him.

67 Then Jesus said to the twelve: Will you leave as well?

68 Then Shimon Peter answered: Lord, to whom would we go? You alone have the teachings of eternal life.

69 And we are absolutely convinced, and believe, that you are the Messiah, Son of the Living God!

70 Jesus answered: Have I not chosen you all, and one of you is a devil?

71 He was referring to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, who was one of the twelve, and the one who would betray him.

JOHN CHAPTER 7

1 After these events, Jesus traveled about Galilee, but would not go into Judea because the Judeans wanted to kill him.

2 Now the Jewish Festival of Sukkot (Tabernacles) was at hand.

3 Jesus’ kinsmen thus told him: Go back to Judea, and let your disciples there see the same miracles you’re doing here.

4 No man makes a name for himself by staying hidden. If you can do all these miraculous things, don’t do them in secret--do them openly, for the whole world to see!

5 For his kinsmen didn’t believe in him either.

6 Jesus answered: My time is not yet come, but any time is a good time for you, isn’t it?

7 The world has no reason to hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its whole system is evil.

8 If you want to go to the Feast, then go! I’m not ready to go (because God hasn’t released me to go yet).

9 After saying this, Jesus remained in Galilee for a time.

10 But after his kinsmen had gone up, he subsequently followed, but he did so in secret.

11 Now the Judeans looked for him amongst the crowd assembled for the Feast, and they wondered: Where is he?

12 And there was a great debate among the people with some saying, “He is a good man,” while others said, “No, he’s deceiving the people!”

13 But no one voiced their opinion loudly, because they were afraid of saying something that would offend the (Judean religious leaders).

14 Now during the middle part of the Feast, Jesus went into the Temple courts and taught the people.

15 And the Judeans marveled, saying: How did this man learn to read and teach the Scriptures, seeing as he has never been trained by any yeshiva?

16 Jesus answered them: This is not my doctrine--it is the doctrine of Him who sent me.

17 If any man does His will, he will know if the doctrines I teach are of myself, or of God.

18 He who preaches his own doctrine seeks his own glory. He who seeks the glory of the One who sent him is sincere and guiltless.

19 Didn’t Moses give you the Torah, yet none of you keeps it? Why are you plotting to kill me?

20 The crowd (of leaders) answered: You have a demon! Who here is plotting to kill you?

21 Jesus replied: I did one miracle on the Sabbath, and you all were amazed I would do such a thing on that day.

22 Now Moses gave you the laws about circumcision--though it came down from the Patriarchs first, of course--and you have no problem breaking the law of Resting by circumcising an infant on the Sabbath yourselves.

23 So if you agree it is permissible to work on the Sabbath by doing a physical operation of circumcision, why would you be angry that I had made a sick man completely whole on the Sabbath?

24 Judge not according to outward appearance, but judge righteously!

25 Then some residents of Jerusalem said: Isn’t this the man they want to kill?

26 But look--he speaks boldly, in their faces, and they can’t respond. Do the elders actually know he is the Messiah?

27 The strange thing is, we know where this man comes from, but won’t the Messiah arrive out of nowhere?

28 Then Jesus cried out to the crowd in the Temple courtyard as he taught: You may know me and where I come from, yet I did not come on my own, but the One who sent me is true--and you don’t know Him!

29 But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent me!

30 Then the elders sought to take him into custody, but no one could because his hour had not yet arrived.

31 And many people believed in him, saying: (If he’s not the Messiah,) when the Messiah does come, will he do more miracles than this man?

32 When the Pharisees heard the people saying such things, they and the chief Sadducee priests assigned some Temple officers to take him.

33 Jesus said to them: I will be with you only for a little while longer, and then I will go to Him who sent me.

34 You will seek me, but not find me, for where I am you cannot come.

35 The Judeans said among themselves: Where will he go that we can’t find him? Does he mean he’ll go to the Jews living abroad, and teach the Gentiles?

36 What kind of saying is this, ‘You will seek me, but not find me,’ and ‘Where I am, you cannot come’?

37 In the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood forth, and shouted out: If any man is thirsty--let him come to me, and drink!

38 He who places faith in me, as the Scripture says, Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

39 Jesus here was referring to the Spirit of God, which those who placed faith in him would receive, for the Holy Spirit had not yet been given to man because Jesus had not been glorified yet.

40 Many of those present, when they heard him speak these words, said: This man is certainly the prophet Moses spoke about!

41 Others said: This is the Messiah! But some wondered: Will the Messiah come out of Galilee?

42 Hasn’t the Scripture prophesied that the Messiah will come from David’s line, out of Bethlehem where David was from?

43 So the people were divided over him.

44 Some still wanted to take him into custody, but no man laid hands on him.

45 Then the officers ordered to apprehend Jesus returned to the chief Sadducee priests and Pharisees who had sent them. They were asked: Why haven’t you brought him in?

46 They replied: No man ever spoke like this man!

47 Then the Pharisees who were present said: Are you deceived too?

48 Have any of the elders of Israel, or any of the schools of the Pharisees believed on him?

49 (Only) these common people (have,) who don’t know the Torah, and are cursed by God!

50 Nicodemus, the one who had come to Jesus by night, replied:

51 Does our Torah judge any man before he has a chance to defend himself?

52 They answered: Are you a Galilean too? Search the Scriptures--no prophet is prophesied to come out of Galilee!

53 After this, everyone went back home.

JOHN CHAPTER 8

1 Jesus now went to the Mount of Olives.

2 Early the next morning, he returned to the Temple and sat down to teach the throng of people.

3 As he was doing this, the Torah teachers and Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught committing adultery. When they made her stand forth with them,

4 They said to Jesus: Rabbi--this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery!

5 Moses, in the Torah, commanded us to stone women like her. What do you say?

6 They said this to try to trick Jesus and get something to use against him. But Jesus simply stooped down, and with a finger began writing in the dust on the ground as though he hadn't heard them.

7 When they pressed the point, he stood up and said: Fine--let whichever of you who has never committed (the same) sin cast the first stone at her.

8 Then he bent down, and began to write again.

9 Those who heard his statement, being convicted by their consciences, now began drifting away, one by one, starting with the oldest, down to the youngest. Finally, the woman was left behind with the crowd that had assembled to hear Jesus preach.

10 When Jesus stood up and saw the woman left alone, he said: Woman, where are the ones who accused you? Has no one condemned you?

11 She said: No one, Lord. And Jesus replied: Neither do I condemn you. Go, and sin no more.

12 Then Jesus proclaimed to everyone: I am the light of the world! He who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life!

13 The Pharisees thus said to him: You’re testifying about yourself, so your testimony is not true!

14 Jesus replied: Even though I testify about myself, my testimony is still true, because I know where I came from, and where I’m returning to. But you have no idea of where I came from or where I’m returning to.

15 You pass judgment (on me) according to fleshly logic, even though I judge no man.

16 But if I did set myself up as judge, my judgment would be accurate, because I would not be the only one doing the judging--so would the Father who sent me.

17 It’s written in your own Torah that the testimony of two witnesses is acceptable proof in court.

18 I testify about who and what I am, and so does my Father.

19 Then they asked him: Where is your father? Jesus answered: You don’t know me or my Father! If you knew me, you would know my Father as well!

20 Jesus spoke these words in the Courtyard of Women as he taught at the Temple, and no one laid a hand on him, for his hour had not yet come.

21 Then Jesus added: I will go where I must, and you will seek me, but will continue on without repenting until you die and are lost--for where I am going you cannot come!

22 Then the Judean (Pharisees there) said: Will he kill himself? Is that what he means when he says, “Where I am going, you cannot come?”

23 Jesus’ response was: You are from beneath, and I am from above. You are of this world, and I am not of this world.

24 That is why I said that you all will die in your sins, for if you do not believe I am He, you will continue in your sins until you die (and are lost)!

25 They asked: Then who are you? Jesus retorted: I am the same one I’ve told you I was from the beginning!

26 I have many things to say to you and to pass judgment on--but He who sent me is true, and I tell the world what I heard Him say.

27 They did not understand that he was speaking about the Father.

28 Then Jesus added: When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will realize I am He, and that I am doing nothing on my own, but I am only speaking what my Father has taught me.

29 And He that sent me is with me. The Father has not abandoned me, for I always do the things that please Him.

30 As Jesus spoke these words, many believed on him.

31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed on him: If you continue in my teachings, you are indeed my disciples.

32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free!

33 The (Pharisees) answered: We are Abraham‘s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, ‘You shall be set free‘?

34 Jesus answered: Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever continually commits sin is the slave of sin (and in bondage to it and its god).

35 And the slave (to sin) does not remain in the House (--meaning the Temple--) forever. But the Son will abide there forever!

36 So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

37 I know you are descended from Abraham, but you plot to kill me because my teachings cannot take root in your hearts.

38 I tell about what I have seen with my Father, but you do the works of your father!

39 They answered back: Abraham is our father! But Jesus said: If you really were Abraham’s children, you would do the things Abraham did.

40 Instead, you seek to kill me--a man who cared enough about you to tell you the truth God had for you. Abraham never acted like that!

41 No, you do the deeds of your real father. They snapped back: We’re not the ones who were conceived out-of-wedlock! We have one father (--not two, like you--) and our father is God Himself!

42 Jesus said: If God were your father, you would love me, because I came out from Him to you, for I didn’t come on my own--He sent me to you.

43 You wonder why you can’t understand my manner of speech? It’s because you cannot understand what I say (because of your hardness of heart).

44 You are the children of your father the devil, and the things he enjoys doing, you likewise enjoy doing. He was a murderer from the beginning, and did not remain in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks what comes naturally to him, because he is a liar and the father of lies (and liars).

45 And so, because I tell you the truth, you don’t believe me.

46 Which of you can convict me of committing sin? And if I tell you the truth, why don’t you believe me?

47 He who is of God, hears God’s words. You don’t hear them because you obviously are not of God!

48 Then the Judeans retorted: Aren’t we right to say you’re nothing but a demon-possessed Samaritan?!

49 Jesus replied: I have no demon. I simply honor my Father in the face of your dishonoring me.

50 And I care nothing about my own glory. It is (God) who judges what I do, and desires to glorify me because of it.

51 Truly, truly, I say to you: If a man follows my teachings, he will never see death!

52 Then the Judeans spat back: Now we know you have a demon! Abraham and the prophets are all dead, yet you say, “If a man follows my teachings, he will never die”!

53 Are you greater than our father Abraham or the prophets, who are dead? Just how high are you trying to elevate yourself?!

54 Jesus answered: If I‘m trying to bring honor to myself, my honor is worthless. It is the Father who honors me--the One you claim is your God.

55 But you don’t know Him, whereas I do. And if I were to deny that, I would be a liar like you. But I know Him, and (obey what He has said to do).

56 Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced when he glimpsed my day. He saw it, and was glad.

57 The Judeans retorted: You aren’t fifty years old, but you’ve seen Abraham, have you?

58 Jesus answered: Truly, truly, I say to you: Before Abraham was even born--I AM!

59 (At hearing Jesus use the name of God in reference to Himself), they grabbed up rocks to stone him, but he vanished and walked invisibly through their midst, leaving the Temple.

JOHN CHAPTER 9

1 As Jesus was walking along, he came upon a beggar who had been blind from his birth.

2 His disciples asked him: Rabbi--who sinned, that this man was born blind? Was it his parents? Or was it himself (in a previous life, and God cursed him to be reborn blind)?

3 Jesus replied: Neither. This happened so that the works of God can be displayed in him, and

4 I must perform the works of Him who sent me while it is still day. The night is coming when no man can work.

5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

6 After he had spoken that, Jesus spat on the ground, kneaded it into mud, and placed the mud upon the man’s eyes.

7 He told him: Go wash in the pool of Siloam--a word meaning “sent.” He went as he was told, washed himself in the pool, and came up seeing!

8 When he came walking home, his neighbors--and those who had seen him blind from before--were amazed, and said: Isn’t that the blind man who used to sit, and beg?

9 Some said: It’s he! Others said: No, he just looks like him. But he said: I am the man.

10 Therefore, they asked: How did you get your sight back?!

11 He answered: A man named Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes with it, then he told me, “Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash.” I did so, and could see!

12 Then they asked: Where is he? And the man answered: I don’t know.

13 So they brought him to the Pharisees.

14 It so happened that this was the Sabbath when Jesus had made the mud and opened his eyes.

15 The Pharisees repeated the question, asking how he had received his sight. The man said: He put mud on my eyes, I washed it out, and I can now see.

16 Therefore some of the (Shammaiite) Pharisees said: This man is not of God, because he violates the command to rest on the Sabbath! Others (from the school of Hillel) said: How can a sinner work miracles like this? So there was a division of opinion about Jesus.

17 They turned back to the man and asked: What do you think about this man, since you’re the one whose eyes he opened? He answered: That he is a prophet!

18 But the Judeans became skeptical that the man had even been blind until they summoned his parents.

19 So they asked them: Is this your son, whom you say was born blind? How is it that he now sees?

20 The parents replied: This is indeed our son, and he was indeed born blind.

21 But how he can see now, we have no idea. Nor do we know who did it. He’s an adult--ask him! He can speak for himself!

22 His parents spoke like this because they feared the Judean authorities, for they had already issued an edict that anyone who proclaimed Jesus to be the Messiah would be excommunicated from the synagogues.

23 So his parents ducked the question, and told the Pharisees: “He’s an adult--ask him!”

24 The Pharisees again summoned the man and told him: Give glory to God for this--we know this man is a sinner!

25 He answered them: I have no idea whether he is a sinner or not--I only know that where before I was blind, now I can see!

26 Then they asked again: Well, just how did he do it?! How did he heal your eyes?!

27 He answered back: I already told you, and you didn’t hear it--are you deaf? Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?

28 Then they rose up, enraged at him, and said: You may be his disciple, but we are Moses‘ disciples!

29 We know God spoke to Moses. As for this man, we know nothing about him, or where he comes from!

30 To this, the man said: Now this is a great thing--he made me, a blind man, able to see, yet you know nothing about him, or where he’s from?

31 We all know God doesn‘t hear the prayer of sinners, but if any man worships God and does His will--God hears that man‘s call!

32 Since the world began, no one has ever made a person born blind able to see (including the greatest of prophets).

33 If this man weren‘t of God, he could do nothing!

34 Furious, they answered: You were born blind because of your sins to start with--and you dare teach us?! So they (excommunicated him, and) threw him out.

34 (Alternate reading): Furious, they answered: You mamser--who do you think you are to teach us?! So they (excommunicated him, and) threw him out.

35 Jesus heard about this, and when he found the man, he asked him: Do you believe on the Son of God?

36 The man replied: Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?

37 Jesus answered: You have seen him--he is the one talking with you now!

38 And he said: Lord, I believe! Then he did obeisance to him.

39 Jesus said: I have come so that judgment would come to this world, so the blind would be made to see, and so those who see would become blind.

40 Some of the Pharisees who were with him and heard this asked: Are we also blind in your opinion?

41 Jesus said in response: If you were truly blind, you would have no sin. But you insist you are not, saying, “We can see just fine.“ Therefore, (you cannot repent, and) your sin remains upon you.

JOHN CHAPTER 10

1 Truly, truly, I tell you: A man who comes into the sheep pen by some way other than through the gate is obviously a thief and robber.

2 But he who comes in through the gate is obviously the shepherd of the sheep.

3 To him, the gatekeeper opens the gate up, and the sheep hear his voice calling them each by name, and so he leads them out.

4 And after he brings the sheep out, he walks before them and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.

5 They won’t follow a stranger, but will run from him because they don’t recognize the voice of strangers.

6 Jesus spoke this parable to them, but they didn’t understand its meaning.

7 So he said again: Truly, truly, I tell you: I am the gate to the sheep.

8 All who ever came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them.

9 I am the gate. If any man comes in through me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

10 The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I have come so that all might find supernatural fullness of life, and have it in abundance.

11 I am the good shepherd, and a good shepherd will sacrifice his life to save his sheep.

12 But a hired hand, who doesn’t consider the sheep his own, will run at the first sight of a wolf, leaving the sheep to fend for themselves, and the wolf will ravage the whole flock.

13 The hired hand runs because he doesn’t work unless he is paid to, and he cares nothing for the sheep he has charge over.

14 I am the good shepherd, and I know my sheep, and they know me,

15 Just the Father knows me, and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.

16 And there are other sheep I have that are not of this flock. I must gather them into the flock as well, and they will respond to my voice, and come. Then there will be one flock with one shepherd.

17 Thus, because I willingly lay down my life (for my sheep), that I might take it up again, my Father loves me.

18 No man takes my life from me; I freely lay it down. I have the power both to lay it down, and to pick it up again. This permission I received from my Father.

19 These words caused a new split amongst the Judean leaders over Jesus.

20 Many said: He’s demon-possessed, and insane! Why do you listen to him?

21 Others said: These don’t sound like the words of a demon-possessed man. How can a demon make a blind man see?

22 Now it was winter at Jerusalem during the Feast of Hanukkah,

23 And Jesus happened to be walking in Solomon’s porch in the Temple complex.

24 Then a group of Judean leaders encircled him, and demanded to know: How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, say it plainly!

25 Jesus answered: I already told you what I was, but you didn’t believe it. The miracles I do in my Father’s name prove who and what I am!

26 But as I told you, you don't believe it because you're not my sheep.

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man take them from my hand.

29 My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than anyone or anything, and no one is able to take them out of my Father’s hand.

30 Thus, I and my Father are one!

31 The Judeans, upon hearing this, again reached for rocks to stone Jesus.

32 But Jesus replied: Many good deeds have I shown you from my Father. For which of them are you stoning me?

33 The Judeans answered: We’re stoning you for blasphemy, not for doing good deeds! You, being a mere man, have the gall to equate yourself with God!

34 Jesus answered back: Doesn’t your own Torah say: I said, Ye are gods?

35 If God called mortal men “gods” to whom the Word of God came, and since the Scripture cannot fail,

36 Why do you say to the one God sanctified and sent to the earth, 'You're blaspheming,' because I affirm that I am the Son of God?

37 If I don’t do the deeds my Father does, then don’t believe me.

38 But if I do, even if you won’t believe me, then believe what you see, and accept that the Father is in me and I in Him.

39 Therefore, the crowd sought to drag him off to be stoned, but he escaped from them,

40 And departed the city to the place at the far side of the Jordan where John first baptized. There he encamped (with the disciples).

41 Many people came to him there, and said: John did no miraculous deeds, but everything he said about this man is true!

42 And many people put faith in him at that place.

JOHN CHAPTER 11

1 Now a certain man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the town where he and his two sisters, Mary and Martha, lived.

2 (It was Mary, the sister of this same sick man Lazarus, who anointed Jesus with ointment, and dried his feet with her hair.)

3 Therefore, his sisters sent word to Jesus, saying: Lord--the man you love is sick!

4 When Jesus heard that, he said: This sickness is not for death, but to glorify God so both He and the Son may be glorified together.

5 Now Jesus loved Martha, her sister, and Lazarus.

6 But when Jesus heard that Lazarus was sick, he remained where he was for two more days.

7 After that, he told the disciples: Let’s return to Judea.

8 The disciples said in response: Master--the Judeans just tried to stone you, and you’re going back?!

9 Jesus replied: Aren’t there twelve hours of daylight during which a man can walk without stumbling?

10 But if a man walks in the night, he will stumble because no light is in him.

11 He added after saying that: Our friend Lazarus is sleeping, and I must go to awaken him from that sleep.

12 But the disciples said: Lord, if he’s resting we don’t need to go, for he will be fine.

13 But Jesus was talking about Lazarus’ death, and the disciples misunderstood him to be talking of normal sleep.

14 Finally, Jesus said plainly: Lazarus is dead.

15 And I rejoice for your sakes I was not there (to heal him), because your faith will now be strengthened. Let us go to him.

16 Then said Thomas, called Didymus (“the twin”), to the other disciples: We may as well go too--and die with him.

17 When Jesus arrived a couple of days later, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.

18 Now Bethany is only a couple of miles from Jerusalem.

19 And many Jews from there came to Martha and Mary to comfort them at their brother’s loss.

20 Then Martha, when she heard that Jesus was approaching, went out to meet him, but Mary remained sitting shiva in the house, and did not stir.

21 When she met him, Martha said to Jesus: Lord--if you had come when we called you, my brother wouldn’t have died!

22 But I know that even now, God will do whatever you ask Him to.

23 Jesus told her: Your brother will rise again.

24 Martha said in response: I know he will rise in the resurrection on the last day.

25 Jesus proclaimed: I am the resurrection, and the life! He who places faith in me, though he is dead, yet shall he live!

26 And whoever lives, and places faith in me, shall never die. Do you believe this?

27 Martha said: Yes, Lord--I have faith that you are the Messiah and Son of God who was to come into the world!

28 After she said this, she went her way and secretly called Mary, saying: The Master is here, and is calling for you.

29 As soon as Mary heard that, she hastily rose up and came to where Jesus was.

30 Now Jesus wasn’t in town yet, but outside it (where the graveyard was). It was there Martha met him.

31 When the Jews who had been in the house saw Mary hurry out, they followed her, saying: She must be going to the grave to weep there.

32 When Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and cried out: Lord--if you had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died!

33 When Jesus saw that both she and the Judeans who came with her were weeping, he groaned in his spirit, and was troubled.

34 He asked: Where have you laid him? They said: Lord, come see!

35 Jesus began to sob.

36 (When they saw this,) the Judeans said: See how he loved him?

37 But some said: Couldn’t this man, who made that blind fellow see, have saved this man from dying?

38 Jesus, groaning in himself (at these statements), came to the tomb, which was inside a cave over whose mouth a large stone had been placed.

39 Jesus said: Some of you go remove the stone. Martha, the sister of the dead man, replied: Lord, by now he smells terrible--it’s been four days since he died and was interred!

40 Jesus said in response: Did I not say that if you will have faith, you will see the glory of God?

41 So they rolled the stone away from the tomb where the dead Lazarus lay. Then Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said: Father, I thank You that You have heard me.

42 And I know You always hear me, but because of the people standing here, I said that to help them have faith that You sent me.

43 After saying this, Jesus shouted: Lazarus, come out!

44 And the dead man did come out, wrapped up in linen like a mummy, with even his face wrapped in a swath of cloth. Jesus said: Get him free of those wrappings.

45 Then many of the Judeans who had come to Mary and seen this spectacular miracle placed faith in Jesus.

46 But others went to tell the Pharisees what Jesus had done.

47 Then the chief Sadducee priests and some of the key Pharisees formed a sanhedrin, and debated: What shall we do about this man, for he does many miracles?

48 If we don’t stop him, all the people will believe on him, and the Romans will come and destroy our Temple and nation.

49 And one of them named Caiaphas, who was High Priest that year, said to them: You know nothing at all!

50 Nor have you enough brains to realize it is better for us that one man die for the people so that Israel itself does not die!

52 And not only for Israel, but that he also would gather together, in one, all the children of God who were scattered upon the earth (--both Jew and Gentile).

52 And not only for Israel, but he also referred to all the children of God who were scattered upon the earth (--both Jew and Gentile--) who would be gathered together.

53 From that point on, they all plotted how to put Jesus to death.

54 Jesus thus no longer walked openly among the Judeans, but retreated into the desert countryside to the city of Ephraim, where he remained with the disciples.

55 Then came the Jewish Passover, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem beforehand in order to ritually purify themselves.

56 These people looked for Jesus, and debated amongst themselves as they stood around at the Temple: What do you think? Won’t he come for the Festival?

57 Meanwhile, both the chief Sadducee priests and the Pharisees had issued a joint edict that if anyone knew where Jesus was, they should inform them so they could take him into custody.

JOHN CHAPTER 12

1 In the six days before Passover, Jesus went to Bethany where Lazarus, the man he had raised from the dead, was.

2 They prepared dinner for him, Martha doing the serving, while Lazarus reclined at the table with him.

3 Then Mary took a pound of expensive spikenard ointment and anointed Jesus’ feet with it. Then she dried them with her long hair, and the whole house smelled from the scent of the ointment.

4 Seeing this, Simon’s son, Judas Iscariot--who would betray him--grumbled:

5 This ointment could be sold for nearly a year’s wages! Why not do so, and give it to the poor?

6 He said this not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief--for he was the group’s treasurer, and would often embezzle money.

7 Jesus answered: Let her alone. She has done this to prepare for the day of my burial.

8 You will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me with you.

9 Many of the Judeans, by the way, knew Jesus was there and so they came not just to see him, but also Lazarus whom he had resurrected from the dead.

10 Then the chief priests of the Temple plotted to kill Lazarus as well,

11 Because the miracle involving him caused many of the Judeans to leave, rejecting them and placing faith in Jesus.

12 The next day, when they heard Jesus was on his way to the Festival, many people who were coming to Jerusalem,

13 Took palm fronds and went out to meet him, crying: Save now! Blessed is the King of Israel who comes in the name of the Lord!

14 And Jesus, when he had found a young donkey, sat upon it, fulfilling a prophecy:

15 Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt.

16 When such things were happening, the disciples did not understand their implications. But after Jesus was glorified, they remembered all these various prophecies, and things like this that they had done to fulfill them.

17 Meanwhile, the people who were there when Jesus called Lazarus forth from the grave, and raised him up from the dead, were spreading word of the miracle.

18 Because of this, others flocked to Jesus after hearing word of this miracle he had done.

19 When the Pharisees saw this, they said amongst themselves: See? You can’t stop him. Look--the whole world has gone after him!

20 Now there were certain Greek proselytes to Judaism who had also come to Jerusalem to participate in the Feast.

21 They came to Philip, who was from the town of Bethsaida (--meaning House of the Hunt--) in Galilee, and told him: Sir, we would like to speak to Jesus.

22 Philip passed word to Andrew, and Andrew and Philip both went and told Jesus.

23 And Jesus answered: (Now even the Gentiles are coming!) The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

24 Truly, truly, I say to you: Except a kernel of wheat be buried in the ground and die, it will remain a single seed. But if it dies, it will provide a great harvest of grain.

25 The person who loves his life shall lose it, but he who hates his earthly life shall keep it into eternity and eternal life.

26 If any man will serve me, let him follow me, and where I am my servant shall be also. And if any man serves me my Father will honor him.

27 Now my soul is distressed (at what lies ahead). But what shall I say: “Father, save me from this hour”? No--it was for this approaching hour that I came.

28 Father, glorify Your name. Then a voice thundered from heaven that said: I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again!

29 Some of the people (with hard hearts) who were there said: That was only thunder. But others: An angel spoke to him.

30 But Jesus said: This voice was for your sake, not mine.

31 Now this world shall be judged. Now the prince of this world will be cast out.

32 And I, if I be lifted up above the earth, will draw all men to me.

33 He said this to signify the sort of death he would die.

34 But the people now said: We’ve heard that the Torah says that the Messiah will live forever. How is it you say, “The Son of Man must be lifted up”? Who is this “Son of Man”?

35 Jesus responded: For only a little while longer will the light be with you. Walk while you have the light, lest the darkness overtake you, for he who walks in darkness doesn’t know where he is going.

36 While you have the light with you, place faith in the light, that you may be the children of enlightenment. Jesus spoke these things and then left,