The Journey to Jerusalem

51 As the days before his being taken up to heaven were growing few, Jesus set his face resolutely in the direction of Jerusalem; and he sent on messengers in advance. 52 On their way, they went into a Samaritan village to make preparations for him, 53 but the people there did not welcome him, because his face was set in the direction of Jerusalem. 54 When James and John saw this, they said, ‘Master, do you wish us to call for fire to come down from the heavens and consume them?’ 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them. 56 And they made their way to another village.

57 And, while they were on their way, a man said to Jesus, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’

58 ‘Foxes have holes,’ he replied, ‘and wild birds their nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’ 59 To another man Jesus said, ‘Follow me.’

‘Let me first go and bury my father,’ said the man. 60 But Jesus said, ‘Leave the dead to bury their dead; but go yourself and carry far and wide the news of the kingdom of God.’

61 ‘Master,’ said another, ‘I will follow you; but first let me say goodbye to my family.’ 62 But Jesus answered, ‘No one who looks back, after putting their hand to the plough, is fitted for the kingdom of God.’

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10 After this, the Master appointed seventy-two other disciples, and sent them on as his messengers, two and two, in advance, to every town and place that he was himself intending to visit.

2 ‘The harvest,’ he said, ‘is abundant, but the labourers are few. Therefore pray to the owner of the harvest to send labourers to gather in his harvest. 3 Now, go. Remember, I am sending you out as my messengers like lambs among wolves. 4 Do not take a purse with you, or a bag, or sandals; and do not stop to greet anyone on your journey. 5 Whatever house you go to stay at, begin by praying for a blessing on it. 6 Then, if anyone there is deserving of a blessing, your blessing will rest on him; but if not, it will come back on yourselves. 7 Remain at that same house, and eat and drink whatever they offer you; for the worker is worth their wages. Do not keep changing from one house to another. 8 Whatever town you visit, if the people welcome you, eat what is set before you; 9 cure the sick there, and tell people that the kingdom of God is close at hand. 10 But, whatever town you go to visit, if the people do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say 11 “We wipe off the dust of your town which has clung to Our feet; still, be assured that the kingdom of God is close at Hand.” 12 I tell you that the doom of Sodom will be more bearable on that day than the doom of that town. 13 Alas for you, Chorazin! Alas for you, Bethsaida! For, if the miracles which have been done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have sat in sackcloth and ashes and repented long ago. 14 Yet the doom of Tyre and Sidon will be more bearable at the judgment than yours. 15 And you, Capernaum! Will you exalt yourself to heaven? You will be flung down to Hades. 16 Anyone who listens to you is listening to me, and anyone who rejects you is rejecting me; while the person who rejects me is rejecting him who sent me as his messenger.’

17 When the seventy-two returned, they exclaimed joyfully, ‘Master, even the demons submit to us when we use your name.’ 18 And Jesus replied, ‘I have had visions of Satan, fallen, like lightning from the heavens. 19 Remember, I have given you the power to trample on snakes and scorpions, and to meet all the strength of the Enemy. Nothing will ever harm you in any way. 20 Yet do not rejoice in the fact that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names have been enrolled in heaven.’

21 At that same time, moved to exultation by the Holy Spirit, Jesus said:

‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that, though you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, you have revealed them to the childlike! Yes, Father, I thank you that this has seemed good to you.

22 Everything has been committed to me by my Father; nor does anyone know who the Son is, except the Father, or who the Father is, except the Son and those to whom the Son may choose to reveal him.’

23 Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said to them alone, ‘Blessed are the eyes that see what you are seeing; 24 for, I tell you, many prophets and kings wished for the sight of the things which you are seeing, yet never heard them.’

25 Just then a student of the Law came forward to test Jesus further. ‘Teacher,’ he said, ‘what must I do if I am to gain eternal life?’

26 ‘What is said in the Law?’ answered Jesus. ‘What do you read there?’ 27 His reply was –

‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as you love yourself.’

28 ‘You have answered right,’ said Jesus, ‘Do that, and you will live.’ 29 But the man, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbour?’

30 To which Jesus replied, ‘A man was once going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him of everything, and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead. 31 As it chanced, a priest was going down by that road. He saw the man, but passed by on the opposite side. 32 A Levite, too, did the same; he came up to the spot, but, when he saw the man, passed by on the opposite side. 33 But a Samaritan, traveling that way, came upon the man, and, when he saw him, he was moved with compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, dressing them with oil and wine, and then put him on his own mule, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. “Take care of him,” he said, “and whatever more you may spend I will myself repay you on my way back.” 36 Now which, do you think, of these three men,’ asked Jesus, ‘proved himself a neighbour to the man who fell into the robbers’ hands?’

37 ‘The one that took pity on him,’ was the answer; at which Jesus said, ‘Go and do the same yourself.’Titleless Section Break

38 As they continued their journey, Jesus came to a village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him to her house. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who seated herself at the Master’s feet, and listened to his teaching; 40 but Martha was distracted by the many preparations that she was making. So she went up to Jesus and said, ‘Master, do you approve of my sister’s leaving me to make preparations alone? Tell her to help me.’

41 ‘Martha, Martha,’ replied the Master, ‘you are anxious and trouble yourself about many things; 42 but only a few are necessary, or rather one. Mary has chosen the good part, and it will not be taken away from her.’

11 One day Jesus was at a certain place praying, and, when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Master, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.’

2 ‘When you pray,’ Jesus answered, ‘say –

“Father,

may your name be held holy,

your kingdom come.

3 Give us each day the bread that we will need;

4 and forgive us our sins,

for we ourselves forgive everyone who wrongs us;

and take us not into temptation.”’

5 Jesus also said to them, ‘Suppose that one of you who has a friend were to go to him in the middle of the night and say “Friend, lend me three loaves, 6 for a friend of mine has arrived at my house after a journey, and I have nothing to offer him;” 7 And suppose that the other should answer from inside “Do not trouble me; the door is already fastened, and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything”; 8 I tell you that, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is a friend, yet because of his persistence he will rouse himself and give him what he wants.

9 ‘And so I say to you – Ask, and your prayer will be granted, search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. 10 For the person who asks receives, everyone who searches finds, and to the person who knocks the door will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks him for a fish, will give him a snake instead, 12 or, if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you, then, naturally wicked though you are, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!’Titleless Section Break

14 Once Jesus was driving out a mute demon, and, when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke. The people were amazed at this; 15 but some of them said, ‘He drives out demons by the help of Beelzebul, the chief of the demons’; 16 while others, to test him, asked him for some sign from the heavens. 17 Jesus himself, however, was aware of what they were thinking, and said to them, ‘Any kingdom wholly divided against itself becomes a desolation; and a divided house falls. 18 So, too, if Satan is wholly divided against himself, how can his kingdom last? Yet you say that I drive out demons by the help of Beelzebul. 19 But, if it is by Beelzebul’s help that I drive out demons, by whose help is it that your own sons drive them out? Therefore they will themselves be your judges. 20 But, if it is by the hand of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God must already be upon you. 21 When a strong man is keeping guard, fully armed, over his own mansion, his property is in safety; 22 but, when one still stronger has attacked and overpowered him, he takes away all the weapons on which the other had relied, and divides his spoil. 23 Whoever is not with me is against me, and the person who does not help me to gather is scattering. 24 No sooner does a foul spirit leave someone, than it passes through places where there is no water, in search of rest; and finding none, it says “I will go back to the home which I left”; 25 but, on coming there, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. 26 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in, and make their home there; and the last state of that person proves to be worse than the first.’ 27 As Jesus was saying this, a woman in the crowd, raising her voice, exclaimed, ‘Happy was the mother who bore you and nursed you!’ 28 But Jesus replied, ‘Rather, happy are those who listen to God’s message and keep it.’

29 As the crowds increased, Jesus began to speak, ‘This generation is a wicked generation. It is asking a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah. 30 For, as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 At the judgment the Queen of the South will rise up with the people of this generation, and will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon; and here is more than a Solomon! 32 At the judgment the men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation, and will condemn it, because they repented at Jonah’s proclamation; and here is more than a Jonah! 33 No one lights a lamp, and then puts it in the cellar or under a basket, but he puts it on the lamp-stand, so that anyone who comes in may see the light. 34 The lamp of the body is your eye. When your eye is unclouded, your whole body, also, is lit up; but, as soon as your eye is diseased, your body, also, is darkened. 35 Take care, therefore, that the inner light is not darkness. 36 If, then, your whole body is lit up, and no corner of it darkened, the whole will be lit up, just as when a lamp gives you light by its brilliance.’
37 As Jesus finished speaking, a Pharisee asked him to breakfast with him, and Jesus went in and took his place at the table. 38 The Pharisee noticed, to his astonishment, that Jesus omitted the ceremonial washing before breakfast. 39 But the Master said to him, ‘You Pharisees do, it is true, clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside you yourselves are filled with greed and wickedness. 40 Fools! Did not the maker of the outside make the inside too? 41 Only give away what is in them in charity, and at once you have the whole clean. 42 But alas for you Pharisees! You pay tithes on mint, rue, and herbs of all kinds, and pass over justice and love to God. These last you ought to have put into practice without neglecting the first. 43 Alas for you Pharisees! You delight to have the front seat in the synagogues, and to be greeted in the markets with respect. 44 Alas for you! You are like unsuspected graves, over which men walk unawares.’

45 Here one of the students of the Law interrupted him by saying, ‘Teacher, when you say this, you are insulting us also.’ 46 But Jesus went on, ‘Alas for you, too, you students of the Law! You load people with loads that are too heavy to carry, but do not, yourselves, touch them with one of your fingers. 47 Alas for you! You build the monuments of the prophets whom your ancestors killed. 48 You are actually witnesses to your ancestors’ acts and show your approval of them, because, while they killed the prophets, you build tombs for them. 49 That is why the wisdom of God said – “I will send to them prophets and apostles, 50 some of whom they will persecute and kill, in order that the blood of all the prophets that has been spilt since the creation of the world may be exacted from this generation – 51 from the blood of Abel down to the blood of Zechariah, who was slain between the altar and the house of God.” Yes, I tell you, it will be exacted from this generation. 52 Alas for you students of the Law! You have taken away the key of the door of knowledge. You have not gone in yourselves and you have hindered those who try to go in.’

53 When Jesus left the house, the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees began to press him hard and question him closely on many subjects, 54 laying traps for him, so as to seize on anything that he might say.

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12 Meanwhile the people had gathered in thousands, so that they trod on one another, when Jesus, addressing himself to his disciples, began by saying to them, ‘Be on your guard against the leaven – that is, the hypocrisy – of the Pharisees. 2 There is nothing, however covered up, which will not be uncovered, nor anything kept secret which will not become known. 3 So all that you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear, within closed doors, will be proclaimed on the housetops. 4 To you who are my friends I say, Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but after that can do no more. 5 I will show you of whom you should be afraid. Be afraid of him who, after killing you, has the power to fling you into Gehenna. Yes, I say, be afraid of him. 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? Yet not one of them has escaped God’s notice. 7 No, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows. 8 Everyone, I tell you, who publicly acknowledges me, the Son of Man, also, will acknowledge before God’s angels; 9 but the person who publicly disowns me will be altogether disowned before God’s angels. 10 Everyone who will say anything against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but for the person who slanders the Holy Spirit there will be no forgiveness. 11 Whenever they take you before the synagogue Courts or the magistrates or other authorities, do not be anxious as to how you will defend yourselves, or what your defence will be, or what you will say; 12 for the Holy Spirit will show you at the moment what you ought to say.’

13 ‘Teacher,’ a man in the crowd said to Jesus, ‘tell my brother to share the property with me.’ 14 But Jesus said to him, ‘Man, who made me a judge or an arbiter between you?’ 15 And then he added, ‘Take care to keep yourselves free from every form of covetousness; for even in the height of their prosperity a person’s true life does not depend on what they have.’

16 Then Jesus told them this parable – ‘There was once a rich man whose land was very fertile; 17 and he began to ask himself “What will I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops? 18 This is what I will do,” he said; “I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and store all my grain and my goods in them; 19 and I will say to myself, Now you have plenty of good things put by for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.” 20 But God said to the man “Fool! This very night your life is being demanded; and as for all you have prepared – who will have it?” 21 So it is with those who lay by wealth for themselves and are not rich to the glory of God.’

22 And Jesus said to his disciples, ‘That is why I say to you, Do not be anxious about the life here – what you can get to eat; or about your body – what you can get to wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body than its clothes. 24 Think of the ravens – they neither sow nor reap; they have neither storehouse nor barn; and yet God feeds them! And how much more precious are you than birds! 25 But which of you, by being anxious, can prolong your life a moment? 26 And, if you cannot do even the smallest thing, why be anxious about other things? 27 Think of the lilies, and how they grow. They neither toil nor spin; yet, I tell you, even Solomon in all his splendour was not robed like one of these. 28 If, even in the field, God so clothes the grass which is living today and tomorrow will be thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, you of little faith! 29 And you – do not be always seeking what you can get to eat or what you can get to drink; and do not waver. 30 These are the things for which all the nations of the world are seeking, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 No, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added for you. 32 So do not be afraid, my little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.

33 ‘Sell what belongs to you, and give in charity. Make yourselves purses that will not wear out – an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near, or moth works ruin. 34 For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be. 35 Make yourselves ready, with your lamps alight; 36 and be like servants who are waiting for their Master’s return from his wedding, so that, when he comes and knocks, they may open the door for him at once. 37 Happy are those servants whom, on his return, the Master will find watching. I tell you that he will make himself ready, and have them take their places at the table, and will come and serve them. 38 Whether it is late at night, or in the early morning that he comes, if he finds all as it should be, then happy are they. 39 This you do know, that, had the owner of the house known at what time the thief was coming, he would have been on the watch, and would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You must also prepare, for when you are least expecting him the Son of Man will come.’

41 ‘Master,’ said Peter, ‘are you telling this parable with reference to us or to everyone?’

42 ‘Who, then,’ replied the Master, ‘is that trustworthy steward, the careful man, who will be placed by his master over his establishment, to give them their rations at the proper time? 43 Happy will that servant be whom his master, when he comes home, will find doing this. 44 His master, I tell you, will put him in charge of the whole of his property. 45 But should that servant say to himself “My master is a long time coming,” and begin to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 that servant’s master will come on a day when he does not expect him, and at an hour of which he is unaware, and will flog him severely and assign him his place among the untrustworthy. 47 The servant who knows his master’s wishes and yet does not prepare and act accordingly will receive many lashes; 48 while one who does not know his master’s wishes, but acts so as to deserve a flogging, will receive but few. From everyone to whom much has been given much will be expected, and from the man to whom much has been entrusted the more will be demanded. 49 I came to cast fire on the earth; and what more can I wish, if it is already kindled? 50 There is a baptism that I must undergo, and how great is my distress until it is over! 51 Do you think that I am here to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but to cause division. 52 For from this time, if there are five people in a house, they will be divided, three against two, and two against three. 53 Father will be opposed to son and son to father, mother to daughter and daughter to mother, mother-in-law to her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law to her mother-in-law.’

54 And to the people Jesus said, ‘When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once “There is a storm coming,” and come it does. 55 And when you see that the wind is in the south, you say “It will be burning hot,” and so it proves. 56 Hypocrites! You know how to judge of the earth and the sky; how is it, then, that you cannot judge of this time? 57 Why don’t you yourselves decide what is right? 58 When, for instance, you are going with your opponent before a magistrate, on your way to the court do your best to be quit of him; otherwise he might drag you before the judge, then the judge will hand you over to the bailiff of the court, and the bailiff throw you into prison. 59 You will not, I tell you, come out until you have paid the very last cent.’
13 Just at that time some people had come to tell Jesus about the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. 2 ‘Do you suppose,’ replied Jesus, ‘that, because these Galileans have suffered in this way, they were worse sinners than any other Galileans? 3 No, I tell you; but, unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. 4 Or those eighteen men at Siloam on whom the tower fell, killing them all, do you suppose that they were worse offenders than any other inhabitants of Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but, unless you repent, you will all perish in the same manner.’

6 And Jesus told them this parable – ‘A man, who had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, came to look for fruit on it, but could not find any. 7 So he said to his gardener “Three years now I have come to look for fruit on this fig tree, without finding any! Cut it down. Why should it rob the soil?” 8 “Leave it this one year more, Sir,” the man answered, “until I have dug round it and manured it. 9 Then, if it bears in future, well and good; but if not, you can have it cut down.”’Titleless Section Break

10 Jesus was teaching on a Sabbath in one of the synagogues, 11 and he saw before him a woman who for eighteen years had suffered from weakness owing to her having an evil spirit in her. She was bent double, and was wholly unable to raise herself. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said, ‘Woman, you are released from your weakness.’ 13 He placed his hands on her, and she was instantly made straight, and began to praise God. 14 But the synagogue leader, indignant that Jesus had worked the cure on the Sabbath, intervened and said to the people, ‘There are six days on which work ought to be done; come to be cured on one of those, and not on the Sabbath.’

15 ‘You hypocrites!’ the Master answered him. ‘Does not everyone of you let your ox or your donkey loose from its manger, and take it out to drink, on the Sabbath? 16 But this woman, a daughter of Abraham, who has been kept in bondage by Satan for now eighteen years, ought not she to have been released from her bondage on the Sabbath?’ 17 As he said this, his opponents all felt ashamed; but all the people rejoiced to see all the wonderful things that he was doing.

18 So Jesus said, ‘What is the kingdom of God like? And to what can I liken it? 19 It is like a mustard seed which a man took and put in his garden. The seed grew and became a tree, and the wild birds roosted in its branches.’ 20 And again Jesus said, ‘To what can I liken the kingdom of God? 21 It is like some yeast which a woman took and covered in three pecks of flour, until the whole had risen.’

22 Jesus went through towns and villages, teaching as he went, and making his way towards Jerusalem. 23 ‘Master,’ someone asked, ‘are there but few in the path of salvation?’ And Jesus answered, 24 ‘Strive to go in by the narrow door. Many, I tell you, will seek to go in, but they will not be able, 25 when once the master of the house has got up and shut the door, while you begin to say, as you stand outside and knock, “Sir, open the door for us.” His answer will be – “I do not know where you come from.” 26 Then you will begin to say “We have eaten and drunk in your presence, and you have taught in our streets,” and his reply will be – 27 “I do not know where you come from. Leave my presence, all you who are living in wickedness.” 28 There, there will be weeping and grinding of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, while you yourselves are being driven outside. 29 People will come from East and West, and from North and South, and take their places at the banquet in the kingdom of God. 30 There are some who are last now who will then be first, and some who are first now who will then be last!’

31 Just then some Pharisees came up to Jesus and said, ‘Go away and leave this place, for Herod wants to kill you.’ 32 But Jesus answered, ‘Go and say to that fox “Look you, I am driving out demons and will be completing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will have done.” 33 But today and tomorrow and the day after I must go on my way, because it cannot be that a prophet should meet his end outside Jerusalem. 34 Jerusalem! Jerusalem! You who slays the prophets and stones the messengers sent to you – Oh, how often have I wished to gather your children round me, as a hen takes her brood under her wings, and you would not come! 35 Verily your house is left to you desolate! And never, I tell you, will you see me, until you say –

“Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”’

14 On one occasion, as Jesus was going, on a Sabbath into the house of one of the leading Pharisees to dine, they were watching him closely. 2 There he saw before him a man who was suffering from dropsy. 3 ‘Is it allowable,’ said Jesus, addressing the students of the Law and the Pharisees, ‘to work a cure on the Sabbath, or is it not?’ 4 They remained silent. Jesus took hold of the man and cured him, and sent him away. 5 And he said to them, ‘Which of you, finding that your son or your ox has fallen into a well, will not immediately pull them out on the Sabbath day?’ 6 And they could not make any answer to that.

7 Observing that the guests were choosing the best places for themselves, Jesus told them this parable – 8 ‘When you are invited by anyone to a wedding banquet, do not seat yourself in the best place. Someone of higher rank might have been invited by your host; 9 and the host who invited you both will come and say to you “Make room for this person,” and then you will begin in confusion to take the lowest place. 10 No, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place, so that, when the host who has invited you comes, he may say to you “Friend, come higher up”; and then you will be honoured in the eyes of all your fellow guests. 11 For everyone who exalts themselves will be humbled, and everyone who humbles themselves will be exalted.’

12 Then Jesus went on to say to the man who had invited him, ‘When you give a breakfast or a dinner, do not ask your friends, or your brothers or sisters, or your relatives, or rich neighbours, because they might invite you in return, and so you should be repaid. 13 No, when you entertain, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; 14 and then you will be happy indeed, since they cannot reward you; for you will be rewarded at the resurrection of the just.’

15 One of the guests heard what he said and exclaimed, ‘Happy will be the person who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!’ 16 But Jesus said to him, ‘A man was once giving a great dinner. He invited many people, 17 and sent his servant, when it was time for the dinner, to say to those who had been invited “Come, for everything is now ready.” 18 They all with one accord began to ask to be excused. The first said to the servant “I have bought a field and am obliged to go and look at it. I must ask you to consider me excused.” 19 The next said “I have bought five pairs of bullocks, and I am on my way to try them. I must ask you to consider me excused”; 20 while the next said “I am just married, and for that reason I am unable to come.” 21 On his return the servant told his master all these answers. Then in anger the owner of the house said to his servant “Go out at once into the streets and alleys of the town, and bring in here the poor, and the crippled, and the blind, and the lame.” 22 Presently the servant said “Sir, your order has been carried out, and still there is room.” 23 “Go out,” the master said, “into the roads and hedgerows, and make people come in, so that my house may be filled; 24 for I tell you all that not one of those people who were invited will taste my dinner.”’

25 One day, when great crowds of people were walking with Jesus, he turned and said to them, 26 ‘If any one comes to me and does not hate their father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, yes and even their life, he can be no disciple of mine. 27 Whoever does not carry their own cross, and walk in my steps, can be no disciple of mine. 28 Why, which of you, when you want to build a tower, does not first sit down and reckon the cost, to see if you have enough to complete it? – 29 Otherwise, if you have laid the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will laugh at you, 30 and say “Here is a person who began to build and was not able to finish!” 31 Or what king, when he is setting out to fight another king, does not first sit down and consider if with ten thousand men he is able to meet one who is coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if he cannot, then, while the other is still at a distance, he sends envoys and asks for terms of peace. 33 And so with everyone of you who does not bid farewell to all you have – you cannot be a disciple of mine. 34 Yes, salt is good; but, if the salt itself should lose its strength, what will be used to season it? 35 It is not fit either for the land or for the manure heap. People throw it away. Let those who have ears to hear with hear!’

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15 The tax collectors and the outcasts were all drawing near to Jesus to listen to him; 2 but the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law found fault.

‘This man always welcomes outcasts, and takes meals with them!’ they complained.

3 So Jesus told them this parable – 4 ‘Who among you who has a hundred sheep, and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine out in the open country, and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And, when he has found it, he puts in on his shoulders rejoicing; 6 and, on reaching home, he calls his friends and his neighbours together, and says “Come and rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.” 7 So, I tell you, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one outcast who repents, than over ninety-nine religious people, who have no need to repent. 8 Or again, what woman who has ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And, when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbours together, and says “Come and rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I lost.” 10 So, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of God’s angels over one outcast who repents.’

11 Then Jesus continued, ‘A man had two sons; 12 and the younger of them said to his father “Father, give me my share of the inheritance.” So the father divided the property between them. 13 A few days later the younger son got together all that he had, and went away into a distant land; and there he squandered his inheritance by leading a dissolute life. 14 After he has spent all that he had, there was a severe famine through all that country, and he began to be in actual want. 15 So he went and engaged himself to one of the people of that country, who sent him into his fields to tend pigs. 16 He even longed to satisfy his hunger with the bean-pods on which the pigs were feeding; and no one gave him anything. 17 But, when he came to himself, he said “How many of my father’s hired servants have more bread than they can eat, while here am I starving to death! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and say to him ‘Father, I sinned against heaven and against you; 19 I am no longer fit to be called your son; make me one of your hired servants.’” 20 And he got up and went to his father. But, while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was deeply moved; he ran and threw his arms round his neck and kissed him. 21 “Father,” the son said, “I sinned against heaven and against you; I am no longer fit to be called your son; make me one of your hired servants.” 22 But the father turned to his servants and said “Be quick and fetch a robe – the very best – and put it on him; give him a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet; 23 and bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; 24 for here is my son who was dead, and is alive again, was lost, and is found.” So they began making merry. 25 Meanwhile the elder son was out in the fields; but, on coming home, when he got near the house, he heard music and dancing, 26 and he called one of the servants and asked what it all meant. 27 “Your brother has come back,” the servant told him, “and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has him back safe and sound.” 28 This made him angry, and he would not go in. But his father came out and begged him to do so. 29 “No,” he said to his father, “look at all the years I have been serving you, without ever once disobeying you, and yet you have never given me even a young goat, so that I might have a party with my friends. 30 But, no sooner has this son of yours come, who has eaten up your property in the company of prostitutes, than you have killed the fattened calf for him.” 31 “Child,” the father answered, “you are always with me, and everything that I have is yours. 32 We could but make merry and rejoice, for here is your brother who was dead, and is alive; who was lost, and is found.”’

16 Jesus said to his disciples, ‘There was a rich man who had a steward; and this steward was maliciously accused to him of wasting his estate. 2 So the master called him and said “What is this that I hear about you? Give in your accounts, for you cannot act as steward any longer.” 3 “What am I to do,” the steward asked himself, “now that my master is taking the steward’s place away from me? I have not strength to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. 4 I know what I will do, so that, as soon as I am turned out of my stewardship, people may welcome me into their homes.” 5 One by one he called up his master’s debtors. “How much do you owe my master?” he asked of the first. 6 “Four hundred and forty gallons of oil,” answered the man. “Here is your agreement,” he said; “sit down at once and make it two hundred and twenty.” 7 And you, the steward said to the next, “how much do you owe?” “Seventy quarters of wheat,” he replied. “Here is your agreement,” the steward said; “make it fifty-six.” 8 His master complimented this dishonest steward on the shrewdness of his action. And indeed men of the world are shrewder in dealing with their fellow men than those who have the light. 9 And I say to you “Win friends for yourselves with your dishonest money,” so that, when it comes to an end, there may be a welcome for you into the Eternal Home. 10 The person who is trustworthy in the smallest matter is trustworthy in a great one also; and the person who is dishonest in the smallest matter is dishonest in a great one also. 11 So, if you have proved untrustworthy with the dishonest money, who will trust you with the true? 12 And, if you have proved untrustworthy with what does not belong to us, who will give you what is really our own? 13 No servant can serve two masters, for, either they will hate one and love the other, or else they will attach themselves to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.’

14 All this was said within hearing of the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, and they began to sneer at Jesus.

15 ‘You,’ said Jesus, ‘are the ones who justify themselves before the world, but God can read your hearts; and what is highly esteemed among people may be an abomination in the sight of God. 16 The Law and the prophets sufficed until the time of John. Since then the good news of the kingdom of God has been told, and everybody has been forcing their way into it. 17 It would be easier for the heavens and the earth to disappear than for one stroke of a letter in the Law to be lost. 18 Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman is an adulterer, and the man who marries a divorced woman is an adulterer. 19 There was once a rich man, who dressed in purple robes and fine linen, and feasted every day in great splendour. 20 Near his gateway there had been laid a beggar named Lazarus, who was covered with sores, 21 and who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 After a time the beggar died, and was taken by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades he looked up in his torment, and saw Abraham at a distance and Lazarus at his side. 24 So he called out “Pity me, Father Abraham, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering agony in this flame.” 25 “Child,” answered Abraham, “remember that you in your lifetime received what you thought desirable, just as Lazarus received what was not desirable; but now he has his consolation here, while you are suffering agony. 26 And not only that, but between you and us there lies a great chasm, so that those who wish to pass from here to you cannot, nor can they cross from there to us.” 27 “Then, Father,” he said, “I beg you to send Lazarus to my father’s house – 28 For I have five brothers to warn them, so that they may not come to this place of torture also.” 29 “They have the writings of Moses and the prophets,” replied Abraham; “let them listen to them.” 30 “But, Father Abraham,” he urged, “if someone from the dead were to go to them, they would repent.” 31 “If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets,” answered Abraham, “they will not be persuaded, even if someone were to rise from the dead.”’
17 Jesus said to his disciples, ‘It is inevitable that there should be temptations but sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting! 2 It would be better for them if they had been flung into the sea with a millstone round their neck, rather than that they should cause even one of these little ones to stumble. 3 Be on your guard! If your brother or sister does wrong, rebuke them; but if they repent, forgive them. 4 Even if they wrong you seven times a day, but turns to you every time and says “I am sorry,” you must forgive them.’

5 ‘Give us more faith,’ said the apostles to the Master; 6 but the Master said, ‘If your faith were only like a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree “Be uprooted and planted in the sea,” and it would obey you. 7 Which of you, if he had a servant ploughing, or tending the sheep, would say to him, when he came in from the fields, “Come at once and take your place at the table,” 8 Instead of saying “Prepare my dinner, and then make yourself ready and serve me while I am eating and drinking, and after that you will eat and drink yourself”? 9 Does he feel grateful to his servant for doing what he is told? 10 And so with you – when you have done all that you have been told, still say “We are but useless servants; we have done no more than we ought to have done.”’Titleless Section Break

11 On the way to Jerusalem Jesus passed between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him. 13 Standing still, some distance off, they called out loudly, ‘Jesus! Sir! Pity us!’ 14 When Jesus saw them, he said, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priest.’ And, as they were on their way, they were made clean. 15 One of them, finding he was cured, came back, praising God loudly, 16 and threw himself on his face at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done; and this man was a Samaritan. 17 ‘Were not all the ten made clean? exclaimed Jesus. But the nine – where are they? 18 Were there none to come back and praise God except this foreigner? 19 Get up,’ he said to him, ‘and go on your way. Your faith has delivered you.’Titleless Section Break

20 Being once asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was to come, Jesus answered, ‘The kingdom of God does not come in a way that can be seen, 21 nor will people say “Look, here it is!” or “There it is!”; for the kingdom of God is within you! 22 The day will come,’ he said to his disciples, ‘when you will long to see but one of the days of the Son of Man, and will not see it. 23 People will say to you “There he is!” Or “Here he is!” Do not go and follow them. 24 For, just as lightning will lighten and flare from one side of the heavens to the other, so will it be with the Son of Man. 25 But first he must undergo much suffering, and he must be rejected by the present generation. 26 As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be again in the days of the Son of Man. 27 They were eating and drinking and marrying and being married, up to the very day on which Noah entered the ark, and then the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 So, too, in the days of Lot. People were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building; 29 but, on the very day on which Lot came out of Sodom, it rained fire and sulphur from the skies and destroyed them all. 30 It will be the same on the day on which the Son of Man reveals himself. 31 On that day, if a person is on their house-top and their goods in the house, they must not go down to get them; nor again must one who is on the farm turn back. 32 Remember Lot’s wife. 33 Whoever is eager to get the most out of their life will lose it; but whoever will lose it will preserve it. 34 On that night, I tell you, of two people on the same bed, one will be taken and the other left; 35 of two women grinding grain together, one will be taken and the other left.’ 36 [fn]

37 ‘Where will it be, Master?’ asked the disciples. ‘Where there is a body,’ said Jesus, ‘there will the vultures flock.’

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18 Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and never despair. 2 ‘There was,’ he said, ‘in a certain town a judge, who had no fear of God nor regard for people. 3 In the same town there was a widow who went to him again and again, and said “Grant me justice against my opponent.” 4 For a time the judge refused, but afterwards he said to himself “Although I am without fear of God or regard for people, 5 yet, as this widow is so troublesome, I will grant her justice, to stop her from plaguing me with her endless visits.”’ 6 Then the Master added, ‘Listen to what this iniquitous judge says! 7 And God – won’t he see that his own people, who cry to him night and day, have justice done them – though he holds his hand? 8 He will, I tell you, give them justice soon enough! Yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?’

9 Another time, speaking to people who were satisfied that they were religious, and who regarded everyone else with scorn, Jesus told this parable – 10 ‘Two men went up into the Temple Courts to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax-gatherer. 11 The Pharisee stood forward and began praying to himself in this way – “God, I thank you that I am not like other men – thieves, rogues, adulterers – or even like this tax-gatherer. 12 I fast twice a week, and give a tenth of everything I get to God.” 13 Meanwhile the tax-gatherer stood at a distance, not venturing even to raise his eyes to heaven, but he kept striking his breast and saying “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” 14 This man, I tell you, went home pardoned, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, while everyone who humbles himself will be exalted.’

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15 Some of the people were bringing even their babies to Jesus, for him to touch them; but, when the disciples saw it, they began to find fault with those who had brought them. 16 Jesus, however, called the little children to him. ‘Let the little children come to me,’ he said, ‘and do not hinder them, for it is to the childlike that the kingdom of God belongs. 17 I tell you, unless a man receives the kingdom of God like a child, he will not enter it at all.’

18 And one of the leaders asked Jesus this question – ‘Good teacher, what must I do if I am to gain eternal life?’

19 ‘Why do you call me good?’ answered Jesus. ‘No one is good but God. 20 You know the commandments – Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not say what is false about others, Honour your father and your mother.’

21 ‘I have observed all these,’ he replied, ‘from childhood.’ 22 Hearing this, Jesus said to him, ‘There is one thing still lacking in you; sell everything that you have, and distribute to the poor, and you will have wealth in heaven; then come and follow me.’ 23 But the man became greatly distressed on hearing this, for he was extremely rich. 24 Seeing this, Jesus said to his disciples, ‘How hard it is for the wealthy to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier, indeed, for a camel to get through a needle’s eye than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God!’

26 ‘Then who can be saved?’ asked those who heard this. 27 But Jesus said, ‘What is impossible with people is possible with God.’

28 ‘But we,’ said Peter, ‘we left what belonged to us and followed you.’

29 ‘I tell you,’ he answered, ‘that there is no one who has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive many times as much in the present, and in the age that is coming eternal life.’

31 Gathering the Twelve round him, Jesus said to them, ‘Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem; and there everything that is written in the prophets will be done to the Son of Man. 32 For he will be given up to the Gentiles, mocked, insulted and spat on; 33 they will scourge him, and then put him to death; and on the third day he will rise again.’ 34 The apostles did not comprehend any of this. His meaning was unintelligible to them and they did not understand what he was saying.

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35 As Jesus was getting near Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside, begging. 36 Hearing a crowd going by, the man asked what was the matter; 37 and, when people told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing, 38 he shouted out, ‘Jesus, Son of David, take pity on me!’ 39 Those who were in front kept telling him to be quiet, but he continued to call out the louder, ‘Son of David, take pity on me!’ 40 Then Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. And, when he had come close up to him, Jesus asked him, 41 ‘What do you want me to do for you?’

‘Master,’ he said, ‘I want to recover my sight.’ 42 And Jesus said, ‘Recover your sight, your faith has delivered you.’ 43 Instantly he recovered his sight, and began to follow Jesus, praising God. And all the people, on seeing it, gave glory to God.

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19 Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. 2 There was a man there, known by the name of Zacchaeus, who was a senior tax collector and a rich man. 3 He tried to see what Jesus was like; but, being short, he was unable to do so because of the crowd. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed into a mulberry tree to see Jesus, for he knew that he must pass that way. 5 When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, be quick and come down, for I must stop at your house today.’ 6 So Zacchaeus got down quickly, and joyfully welcomed him. 7 On seeing this, everyone began to complain, ‘He has gone to stay with a man who is an outcast.’ 8 But Zacchaeus stood forward and said to the Master, ‘Listen, Master! I will give half my property to the poor, and, if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give him back four times as much.’

9 ‘Salvation has come to this house today,’ answered Jesus, ‘for even this man is a son of Abraham. 10 The Son of Man has come to search for those who are lost and to save them.’

11 As the people were listening to this, Jesus went on to tell them a parable. He did so because he was near Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God was going to be proclaimed at once. 12 He said, ‘A nobleman once went to a distant country to receive his appointment to a kingdom and then return. 13 He called ten of his servants and gave them ten pounds of silver each, and told them to trade with them during his absence. 14 But his subjects hated him and sent envoys after him to say “We will not have this man as our king.” 15 On his return, after having been appointed king, he directed that the servants to whom he had given his money should be summoned, so that he might learn what amount of trade they had done. 16 The first came up, and said “Sir, your ten pounds have made a hundred.” 17 “Well done, good servant!” exclaimed the master. “As you have proved trustworthy in a very small matter, I appoint you governor over ten towns.” 18 When the second came, he said “Your ten pounds, Sir, have produced fifty.” 19 So the master said to him “And you I appoint over five towns.” 20 Another servant also came and said “Sir, here are your ten pounds; I have kept them put away in a handkerchief. 21 For I was afraid of you, because you are a stern man. You take what you have not planted, and reap what you have not sown.” 22 The master answered “Out of your own mouth I judge you, you worthless servant. You knew that I am a stern man, that I take what I have not planted, and reap what I have not sown? 23 Then why didn’t you put my money into a bank? And I, on my return, could have claimed it with interest. 24 Take away from him the ten pounds,” he said to those standing by, “and give them to the one who has the hundred.” 25 “But, Sir,” they said, “he has a hundred pounds already!” 26 “I tell you,” he answered, “that, to him who has, more will be given, but, from him who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. 27 But as for my enemies, these men who would not have me as their king, bring them here and put them to death in my presence.”’

28 After saying this, Jesus went on in front, going up to Jerusalem.