The Work in Galilee

14 After John had been arrested, Jesus went to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God – 15 ‘The time has come, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe the good news.’

16 As Jesus was going along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net in the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 ‘Come and follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will teach you to fish for people.’ 18 They left their nets at once, and followed him.

19 Going on a little further, he saw James, Zebedee’s son, and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 Jesus called them at once, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the crew, and went after him.

21 They walked to Capernaum. On the next Sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, for he taught them like one who had authority, and not like the teachers of the Law. 23 Now there was in their synagogue at the time a man under the power of a foul spirit, who called out, 24 ‘What do you want with us, Jesus the Nazarene? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are – the Holy One of God!’ 25 But Jesus rebuked the spirit, ‘Be silent! Come out from him.’ 26 The foul spirit threw the man into a fit, and with a loud cry came out from him. 27 They were all so amazed that they kept asking each other, ‘What is this? What is this, a new kind of teaching? He gives his commands with authority even to the foul spirits, and they obey him!’ 28 His fame spread at once in all directions, through the whole region of Galilee.

29 As soon as they had left the synagogue, they went to the house of Simon and Andrew, along with James and John. 30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law was lying ill with a fever, and they at once told Jesus about her. 31 Jesus went up to her and, grasping her hand, raised her up; the fever left her, and she began to take care of them.

32 In the evening, after sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who were ill or possessed by demons; 33 and the whole city was gathered round the door. 34 Jesus cured many who were ill with various diseases, and drove out many demons, and would not permit them to speak, because they knew him to be the Christ.

35 In the morning, long before daylight, Jesus got up and went out to a lonely spot, where he began to pray. 36 But Simon and his companions went out searching for him; 37 and, when they found him, they exclaimed, ‘Everyone is looking for you!’ 38 But Jesus said to them, ‘Let us go somewhere else, into the country towns nearby so that I can make my proclamation in them also; for that was why I came.’ 39 And he went about making his proclamation in their synagogues all through Galilee, and driving out the demons.

40 One day a leper came to Jesus and, falling on his knees, begged him for help. ‘If only you are willing,’ he said, ‘you are able to make me clean.’ 41 Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying as he did so, ‘I am willing; become clean.’ 42 Instantly the leprosy left the man, and he became clean; 43 and then Jesus, after sternly warning him, immediately sent him away, 44 and said to him, ‘Be careful not to say anything to anyone; but go and show yourself to the priest, and make the offerings for your cleansing directed by Moses, as evidence of your cure.’ 45 The man, however, went away, and began to speak about it publicly, and to spread the story so widely, that Jesus could no longer go openly into a town, but stayed outside in lonely places; and people came to him from every direction.

2 Some days later, when Jesus came back to Capernaum, the news spread that he was in a house there; 2 and so many people collected together, that after a while there was no room for them even round the door; and he began to tell them his message. 3 Some people came, bringing to him a paralysed man, who was being carried by four of them. 4 They were unable to get him near to Jesus, because of the crowd, so they removed the roof above Jesus, and, when they had made an opening, they let down the mat on which the paralysed man was lying. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, ‘Child, your sins are forgiven.’

6 But some of the teachers of the Law who were sitting there were debating in their minds, 7 ‘Why does this man speak like this? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins except God?’ 8 Jesus, at once intuitively aware that they were debating with themselves in this way, said to them, ‘Why are you debating in your minds about this? 9 Which is easier? – to say to the paralysed man, “Your sins are forgiven”? Or to say “Get up, and take up your mat, and walk”? 10 But so you may know that the Son of Man has power to forgive sins on earth’ – here he said to the paralysed man – 11 ‘To you I say, Get up, take up your mat, and return to your home.’ 12 The man got up, and immediately took up his mat, and went out before them all; at which they were amazed, and, as they praised God, they said, ‘We have never seen anything like this!’

13 Jesus went out again to the sea; and all the people came to him, and he taught them. 14 As he went along, he saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting in the tax office, and said to him, ‘Follow me.’ Levi got up and followed him.

15 Later on he was in his house having dinner, and a number of tax collectors and outcasts took their places at the table with Jesus and his disciples; for many of them were following him. 16 When the teachers of the Law belonging to the party of the Pharisees saw that he was eating in the company of such people, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does he eat with the tax collectors and outcasts?’ 17 Hearing this, Jesus said, ‘It is not those who are healthy who need a doctor, but those who are ill. I did not come to call the religious, but the outcast.’

18 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting, and people came and asked Jesus, ‘Why is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, while yours do not?’ 19 Jesus answered, ‘Can the groom’s friends fast, while the groom is with them? As long as they have the groom with them, they cannot fast. 20 But the days will come, when the groom will be taken away from them, and they will fast then – when that day comes.’

21 ‘No one ever sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; if they do, the patch tears away from it – the new from the old – and a worse tear is made. 22 And no one ever puts new wine into old wine-skins; if they do, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins are lost. But new wine is put into fresh skins.’

23 One Sabbath, as Jesus was walking through the cornfields, his disciples began to pick the ears of wheat as they went along. 24 ‘Look!’ the Pharisees said to him, ‘why are they doing what is not allowed on the Sabbath?’

25 ‘Have you never read,’ answered Jesus, ‘what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and his companions – 26 how he went into the house of God, in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the consecrated bread, which only the priests are allowed to eat, and gave some to his comrades as well?’

27 Then Jesus added, ‘The Sabbath was made for people, and not people for the Sabbath; 28 so the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.’

3 On another occasion Jesus went in to a synagogue, where there was a man whose hand was withered. 2 And they watched Jesus closely, to see if he would cure the man on the Sabbath, so that they might have a charge to bring against him. 3 ‘Stand out in the middle,’ Jesus said to the man with the withered hand; 4 and to the people he said, ‘Is it allowable to do good at the Sabbath – or harm? To save a life, or destroy it?’ 5 As they remained silent, Jesus looked round at them in anger, grieving at the hardness of their hearts, and said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ The man stretched it out; and his hand had become sound. 6 Immediately on leaving the synagogue, the Pharisees and the Herodians united in laying a plot against Jesus, to put him to death.Titleless Section Break

7 Then Jesus went away with his disciples to the sea, followed by a great number of people from Galilee. 8 A great number, hearing of all that he was doing, came to him from Judea, from Jerusalem, from Edom, from beyond the Jordan, and from the country round Tyre and Sidon. 9 So Jesus told his disciples to keep a small boat close by, so that the crowd would not crush him. 10 For he had cured many of them, and so people kept crowding around him, so all who were sick might touch him. 11 The foul spirits, too, whenever they caught sight of him, flung themselves down before him, and screamed out, ‘You are the Son of God’! 12 But he repeatedly warned them not to make him known.

13 Jesus made his way up the hill, and called those whom he wished; and they went to him. 14 He appointed twelve – whom he also named “apostles” – so that they might be with him, and that he might send them out as his messengers, to preach, 15 and with power to drive out demons. 16 So he appointed the Twelve – Peter (which was the name that Jesus gave to Simon), 17 James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John (to whom he gave the name of Boanerges, which means the Thunderers), 18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, 19 and Judas Iscariot, the man who betrayed him.

20 Jesus went into a house; and again a crowd collected, so that they were not even able to eat their food. 21 When his relatives heard of it, they went to take charge of him, for they said that he was out of his mind.

22 The teachers of the Law, who had come down from Jerusalem, said, ‘He has Beelzebul in him! He drives the demons out by the help of their chief.’ 23 So Jesus called them to him, and answered them in parables, ‘How can Satan drive out Satan? 24 When a kingdom is divided against itself, it cannot last; 25 and when a household is divided against itself, it will not be able to last. 26 So, if Satan is in revolt against himself and is divided, he cannot last – his end has come!

27 ‘No man who has broken into a strong man’s house can carry off his goods, without first tying him up; and not until then will he plunder his house. 28 I tell you that people will be forgiven everything – their sins, and all the slanders that they utter; 29 but whoever slanders the Holy Spirit remains unforgiven to the end; he has to answer for an enduring sin.’ 30 This was said in reply to the charge that he had a foul spirit in him. 31 His mother and his brothers came, and stood outside, and sent to ask him to come to them. 32 There was a crowd sitting round Jesus, and some of them said to him, ‘Look, your mother and your brothers are outside, asking for you.’

33 ‘Who is my mother? And my brothers?’ was his reply. 34 Then he looked around on the people sitting in a circle round him, and said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.’

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4 Jesus again began to teach by the sea; and, as an immense crowd was gathering round him, he got into a boat, and sat in it on the sea, while all the people were on the shore at the water’s edge.

2 Then he taught them many truths in parables; and in the course of his teaching he said to them:

3 ‘Listen! The sower went out to sow; 4 and presently, as he was sowing, some of the seed fell along the path; and the birds came, and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky ground, where it had not much soil, and, because the soil wasn’t deep, sprang up at once; 6 but, when the sun rose, it was scorched, and, because their roots were not deep enough, withered away. 7 Some of the seed fell among brambles; but the brambles shot up and completely choked it, and it yielded no return. 8 Some fell into good soil, and, shooting up and growing, yielded a return, amounting to thirty, sixty, and even a hundred fold.’ 9 And Jesus said, ‘Let anyone who has ears to hear with hear.’

10 Afterwards, when he was alone, his followers and the Twelve asked him about his parables; 11 and he said, ‘To you the hidden truth of the kingdom of God has been imparted; but to those who are outside it all teaching takes the form of parables so that – 12 “Though they have eyes, they may see without perceiving; and though they have ears, they may hear without understanding; otherwise some day they might turn and be forgiven.” ’

13 ‘You do not know the meaning of this parable?’ he went on, ‘Then how will you understand all the other parables? 14 The sower sows the message. 15 The people meant by the seed that falls along the path are these – where the message is sown, but, as soon as they have heard it, Satan immediately comes and carries away the message that has been sown in them. 16 So, too, those meant by the seed sown on the rocky places are the people who, when they have heard the message, at once accept it joyfully; 17 but, as they have no root, they stand only for a short time; and so, when trouble or persecution arises because of the message, they fall away at once. 18 Those meant by the seed sown among the brambles are different; they are the people who hear the message, 19 but the cares of life, and the glamour of wealth, and cravings for many other things come in and completely choke the message, so that it gives no return. 20 But the people meant by the seed sown on the good ground are those who hear the message, and welcome it, and yield a return, thirty, sixty, and even a hundred fold.’

21 Jesus said to them, ‘Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under the couch, instead of being put on the lamp-stand? 22 There is nothing hidden that will not come to light and nothing is concealed that will not be brought into the open. 23 Let all who have ears to hear with hear.

24 ‘Take care what you listen to,’ said Jesus. ‘The standard you use will be used for you, and more will be added for you. 25 For, to those who have, more will be given; while, from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.’

26 Jesus also said, ‘This is what the kingdom of God is like – like a man who has scattered seed on the ground, 27 and then sleeps by night and rises by day, while the seed is shooting up and growing – he knows not how. 28 The ground bears the crop of itself – first the blade, then the ear, and then the full grain in the ear; 29 but, as soon as the crop is ready, immediately he puts in the sickle because harvest has come.’

30 Jesus also said, ‘To what can we liken the kingdom of God? 31 By what can we illustrate it? Perhaps by the growth of a mustard seed. This seed, when sown in the ground, though it is smaller than all other seeds, 32 yet, when sown, shoots up, and becomes larger than any other herb, and puts out great branches, so that even the wild birds can roost in its shelter.’

33 With many such parables Jesus used to speak to the people of his message, as far as they were able to receive it; 34 and to them he never used to speak except in parables; but in private to his own disciples he explained everything.Titleless Section Break

35 In the evening of the same day, Jesus said to them, ‘Let us go across.’ 36 So, leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them, just as he was, in the boat; and there were other boats with him. 37 A violent squall came on, and the waves kept dashing into the boat, so that the boat was actually filling. 38 Jesus was in the stern asleep on the cushion; and the disciples roused him and cried, ‘Teacher! Is it nothing to you that we are lost?’ 39 Jesus rose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Hush! Be still!’ Then the wind dropped, and a great calm followed. 40 ‘Why are you so timid?’ he exclaimed. ‘Have you no faith yet?’ 41 But they were struck with great awe, and said to one another, ‘Who can this be that even the wind and the sea obey him?’

5 They came to the other side of the sea – the region of the Gerasenes; 2 and, as soon as Jesus had got out of the boat, he met a man coming out of the tombs, who was under the power of a foul spirit, 3 and who made his home in the tombs. No one had ever been able to secure him, even with a chain; 4 for, though he had many times been left secured with fetters and chains, he had snapped the chains and broken the fetters to pieces, and no one could master him. 5 Night and day alike, he was continually shrieking in the tombs and among the hills, and cutting himself with stones. 6 Catching sight of Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed to the ground before him, 7 shrieking out in a loud voice, ‘What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? For God’s sake do not torment me!’ 8 For Jesus had said, ‘Come out from the man, you foul spirit.’ 9 And he asked him, ‘What is your name?’ ‘My name,’ he said, ‘is Legion, for there are many of us;’ 10 and he begged Jesus again and again not to send them away out of that country.

11 There was a large herd of pigs close by, feeding on the hillside; 12 and the spirits begged Jesus, ‘Send us into the pigs so that we can take possession of them.’ 13 Jesus gave them leave. They came out, and entered into the pigs; and the herd – about two thousand in number – rushed down the steep slope into the sea and were drowned in the sea.

14 Then the men who tended them ran away, and carried the news to the town, and to the country round; and the people went to see what had happened. 15 When they came to Jesus, they found the possessed man sitting there, clothed and in his right mind – the man who had had the “Legion” in him – and they were awe-struck. 16 Then those who had seen it related to them all that had happened to the possessed man, as well as about the pigs; 17 so they began to beg Jesus to leave their region.

18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the possessed man begged him to let him stay with him. 19 But Jesus refused. ‘Go back to your home, to your own people,’ he said, ‘and tell them of all that the Lord has done for you, and how he took pity on you.’ 20 So the man went, and began to proclaim in the district of the Ten Towns all that Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed.

21 By the time Jesus had recrossed in the boat to the opposite shore, a great number of people had gathered to meet him, and were standing by the sea. 22 One of the leaders of the synagogue, whose name was Jairus, came and, as soon as he saw Jesus, threw himself at his feet and begged him repeatedly, 23 saying, ‘My little daughter is at death’s door. Please come and place your hands on her so that she may recover and live.’ 24 So Jesus went with him. A great number of people followed Jesus, and kept pressing round him.

25 Meanwhile a woman who for twelve years had suffered from haemorrhage, 26 and undergone much at the hands of many doctors, (spending all she had without obtaining any relief, but, on the contrary, growing worse), 27 heard about Jesus, came behind in the crowd, and touched his cloak. 28 ‘If I can only touch his clothes,’ she said, ‘I will get well!’ 29 At once her bleeding stopped, and she felt in herself that she was cured of her affliction. 30 Jesus at once became aware of the power that had gone out from him, and, turning round in the crowd, he said, ‘Who touched my clothes?’

31 ‘You see the people pressing round you,’ exclaimed his disciples, ‘and yet you say “Who touched me?” ’ 32 But Jesus looked about to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, in fear and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and threw herself down before him, and told him the whole truth. 34 ‘Daughter,’ he said, ‘your faith has delivered you. Go, and peace be with you; be free from your affliction.’

35 Before he had finished speaking, some people from the house of the synagogue leader came and said, ‘Your daughter is dead! Why should you trouble the teacher further?’ 36 But Jesus, overhearing what they were saying, said to the synagogue leader, ‘Do not be afraid; only have faith.’ 37 And he allowed no one to accompany him, except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. 38 Presently they reached the leader’s house, where Jesus saw a scene of confusion – people weeping and wailing incessantly. 39 ‘Why this confusion and weeping?’ he said on entering. ‘The little child is not dead; she is asleep.’ 40 They began to laugh at him; but he sent them all out, and then, with the child’s father and mother and his companions, went into the room where she was lying. 41 Taking her hand, Jesus said to her, ‘Talitha, koum!’ – which means “little girl, I am speaking to you – Rise!” 42 The little girl stood up at once, and began to walk about; for she was twelve years old. And, as soon as they saw it, they were overwhelmed with amazement; 43 but Jesus repeatedly cautioned them not to let anyone know of it, and told them to give her something to eat.

6 On leaving that place, Jesus, followed by his disciples, went to his own part of the country. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue; and the people, as they listened, were deeply impressed. ‘Where did he get this?’ they said, ‘and what is this wisdom that has been given him? And these miracles which he is doing? 3 Isn’t he the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, and Joses, and Judas, and Simon? And aren’t his sisters, too, living here among us?’ This proved a hindrance to their believing in him; 4 at which Jesus said, ‘A prophet is not without honour, except in his home town, and among his own relatives, and in his own home.’ 5 And he could not work any miracle there, beyond placing his hands on a few infirm persons, and curing them; 6 and he wondered at the want of faith shown by the people. Jesus went round the villages, one after another, teaching.Titleless Section Break

7 He called the Twelve to him, and began to send them out as his messengers, two and two, and gave them authority over foul spirits. 8 He instructed them to take nothing but a staff for the journey – not even bread, or a bag, or coins in their purse; 9 but they were to wear sandals, and not to put on a second coat. 10 ‘Whenever you go to stay at a house,’ he said, ‘remain there until you leave that place; 11 and if a place does not welcome you, or listen to you, as you go out of it shake off the dust that is on the soles of your feet, as a protest against them.’ 12 So they set out, and proclaimed the need of repentance. 13 They drove out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were infirm, and cured them.

14 Now King Herod heard of Jesus; for his name had become well known. People were saying – ‘John the Baptizer must have risen from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are active in him.’ 15 Others again said – ‘He is Elijah,’ and others – ‘He is a prophet, like one of the great prophets.’ 16 But when Herod heard of him, he said – ‘The man whom I beheaded – John – he must be risen!’

17 For Herod himself had sent and arrested John, and put him in prison, in chains, to please Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, because Herod had married her. 18 For John had said to Herod – ‘You have no right to be living with your brother’s wife.’ 19 So Herodias was incensed against John, and wanted to put him to death, but was unable to do so, 20 because Herod stood in fear of John, knowing him to be an upright and holy man, and protected him. He had listened to John, but still remained much perplexed, and yet he found pleasure in listening to him.

21 A suitable opportunity, however, occurred when Herod, on his birthday, gave a dinner to his high officials, and his generals, and the foremost men in Galilee. 22 When his daughter – that is, the daughter of Herodias – came in and danced, she delighted Herod and those who were dining with him. ‘Ask me for whatever you like,’ the king said to the girl, ‘and I will give it to you’; 23 and he swore to her that he would give her whatever she asked him – up to half his kingdom. 24 The girl went out, and said to her mother ‘What must I ask for?’

‘The head of John the Baptizer,’ answered her mother. 25 So she went in as quickly as possible to the king, and made her request. ‘I want you,’ she said, ‘to give me at once, on a dish, the head of John the Baptist.’ 26 The king was much distressed; yet, because of his oath and of the guests at his table, he did not like to refuse her. 27 He immediately dispatched one of his bodyguard, with orders to bring John’s head. The man went and beheaded John in the prison, 28 and, bringing his head on a dish, gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother.

29 When John’s disciples heard of it, they came and took his body away, and laid it in a tomb.

30 When the apostles came back to Jesus, they told him all that they had done and all that they had taught. 31 ‘Come by yourselves privately to some lonely spot,’ he said, ‘and rest for a while’ – for there were so many people coming and going that they had not time even to eat. 32 So they set off privately in their boat for a lonely spot. 33 Many people saw them going, and recognised them, and from all the towns they flocked together to the place on foot, and got there before them. 34 On getting out of the boat, Jesus saw a great crowd, and his heart was moved at the sight of them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. 35 When it grew late, his disciples came up to him, and said, ‘This is a lonely spot, and it is already late. 36 Send the people away, so that they may go to the farms and villages around and buy themselves something to eat.’ 37 But Jesus answered, ‘It is for you to give them something to eat.’ ‘Are we to go and spend almost a year’s wages on bread,’ they asked, ‘to give them to eat?’

38 ‘How many loaves have you?’ he asked, ‘Go, and see.’ When they had found out, they told him, ‘Five, and two fish.’ 39 Jesus directed them to make all the people take their seats on the green grass, in parties; 40 and they sat down in groups – in hundreds, and in fifties. 41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish, Jesus looked up to heaven, and said the blessing; he broke the loaves into pieces, and gave them to his disciples for them to serve out to the people, and he divided the two fish also among them all. 42 Everyone had sufficient to eat; 43 and they picked up enough broken pieces to fill twelve baskets, as well as some of the fish. 44 The people who ate the bread were five thousand in number.

45 Immediately afterwards Jesus made his disciples get into the boat, and cross over in advance, in the direction of Bethsaida, while he himself was dismissing the crowd. 46 After he had taken leave of the people, he went away up the hill to pray. 47 When evening fell, the boat was out in the middle of the sea, and Jesus on the shore alone. 48 Seeing them labouring at the oars – for the wind was against them – about three hours after midnight Jesus came towards them, walking on the water, intending to join them. 49 But, when they saw him walking on the water, they thought it was a ghost, and cried out; 50 for all of them saw him, and were terrified. But Jesus at once spoke to them. ‘Courage!’ he said, ‘it is I; do not be afraid!’ 51 Then he got into the boat with them, and the wind dropped. The disciples were utterly amazed, 52 for they had not understood about the loaves, their minds being slow to learn. 53 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret, and moored the boat. 54 But they had no sooner left her than the people, recognising Jesus, 55 hurried over the whole countryside, and began to carry about on mats those who were ill, wherever they heard he was. 56 So wherever he went – to villages, or towns, or farms – they would lay their sick in the market-places, begging him to let them touch only the tassel of his cloak; and all who touched were made well.

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7 One day the Pharisees and some of the teachers of the Law who had come from Jerusalem gathered round Jesus. 2 They had noticed that some of his disciples ate their food with their hands “defiled,” by which they meant unwashed. 3 (For the Pharisees, and indeed all strict Jews, will not eat without first scrupulously washing their hands, holding in this to the traditions of their ancestors. 4 When they come from market, they will not eat without first sprinkling themselves; and there are many other customs which they have inherited and hold to, such as the ceremonial washing of cups, and jugs, and copper pans). 5 So the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law asked Jesus this question – ‘How is it that your disciples do not follow the traditions of our ancestors, but eat their food with defiled hands?’ 6 His answer was, ‘It was well said by Isaiah when he prophesied about you hypocrites in the words – “This is a people who honour me with their lips, while their hearts are far removed from me; 7 but vainly do they worship me, For they teach but human precepts.” 8 You neglect God’s commandments and hold to human traditions. 9 Wisely do you set aside God’s commandments,’ he exclaimed, ‘to keep your own traditions! 10 For while Moses said “Honour your father and your mother,” and “Let anyone who abuses their father or mother suffer death,” 11 you say “If a person says to their father or mother ‘Whatever of mine might have been of service to you is Corban’ ” (which means “Set apart for God”) – 12 why, then you do not allow them to do anything further for their father or mother! 13 In this way you nullify the words of God by your traditions, which you hand down; and you do many similar things.’

14 Then Jesus called the people to him again, and said, ‘Listen to me, all of you, and mark my words. 15 There is nothing external to a person, which by going into them can defile them; but the things that come out of a person are the things that defile them.’ 16 [fn]

17 When Jesus went indoors, away from the crowd, his disciples began questioning him about this saying. 18 ‘What, do even you understand so little?’ exclaimed Jesus. ‘Don’t you see that there is nothing external to a person, which by going into a person, can defile them, 19 because it does not pass into his heart, but into his stomach, and is afterwards got rid of?’ – in saying this Jesus pronounced all food clean. 20 ‘It is what comes out from a person,’ he added, ‘that defiles them, 21 for it is from within, out of the hearts of people, that there come evil thoughts – sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 greed, wickedness, deceit, indecency, envy, slander, haughtiness, folly; 23 all these wicked things come from within, and do defile a person.’

24 On leaving that place, Jesus went to the district of Tyre and Sidon. He went into a house, and did not wish anyone to know it, but could not escape notice. 25 For a woman, whose little daughter had a foul spirit in her, heard of him immediately, and came and threw herself at his feet – 26 the woman was a foreigner, from Syrian Phoenicia – and she begged him to drive the demon out of her daughter. 27 ‘Let the children be satisfied first,’ answered Jesus. ‘For it is not fair to take the children’s food, and throw it to dogs.’

28 ‘Yes, Master,’ she replied. ‘Even the dogs under the table do feed on the children’s crumbs.’

29 ‘For saying that,’ he answered, ‘you may go. The demon has gone out of your daughter.’ 30 The woman went home, and found the child lying on her bed, and the demon gone.

31 On returning from the district of Tyre, Jesus went, by way of Sidon, to the Sea of Galilee, across the district of the Ten Towns. 32 Some people brought to him a man who was deaf and almost dumb, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him. 33 Jesus took him aside from the crowd quietly, put his fingers into the man’s ears, and touched his tongue with saliva. 34 Then, looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to the man, ‘Ephphatha!’ which means “Be opened.” 35 The man’s ears were opened, the string of his tongue was freed, and he began to talk plainly. 36 Jesus insisted on their not telling anyone; but the more he insisted, the more perseveringly they made it known, 37 and a profound impression was made on the people. ‘He has done everything well!’ they exclaimed. ‘He makes even the deaf hear and the dumb speak!’

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8 About that time, when there was again a great crowd of people who had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him, and said, 2 ‘My heart is moved at the sight of all these people, for they have already been with me three days and they have nothing to eat; 3 and if I send them away to their homes hungry, they will break down on the way; and some of them have come a long distance.’

4 ‘Where will it be possible,’ his disciples answered, ‘to get sufficient bread for these people in this lonely place?’

5 ‘How many loaves have you?’ he asked. ‘Seven,’ they answered. 6 Jesus told the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves, and, after saying the thanksgiving, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to serve out; and they served them out to the crowd. 7 They had also a few small fish; and, after he had said the blessing, he told the disciples to serve out these as well. 8 The people had sufficient to eat, and they picked up seven baskets full of the broken pieces that were left. 9 There were about four thousand people. Then Jesus dismissed them. 10 Immediately afterwards, getting into the boat with his disciples, Jesus went to the district of Dalmanutha.

11 Here the Pharisees came out, and began to argue with Jesus, asking him for some sign from the heavens, to test him. 12 Sighing deeply, Jesus said, ‘Why does this generation ask for a sign? I tell you, no sign will be given it.’ 13 So he left them to themselves, and, getting into the boat again, went away to the opposite shore.

14 Now the disciples had forgotten to take any bread with them, one loaf being all that they had in the boat. 15 So Jesus gave them this warning. ‘Take care,’ he said, ‘beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.’ 16 They began talking to one another about their being short of bread; 17 and, noticing this, Jesus said to them, ‘Why are you talking about your being short of bread? Don’t you yet see or understand? Are your minds still so slow or comprehension? 18 Though you have eyes, do you not see? And though you have ears, do you not hear? Don’t you remember, 19 when I broke up the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets of broken pieces you picked up?’

‘Twelve,’ they said. 20 ‘And when the seven for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of broken pieces did you pick up?’

‘Seven,’ they said. 21 ‘Don’t you understand now?’ he repeated.

22 They came to Bethsaida. There some people brought a blind man to Jesus, and begged him to touch him. 23 Taking the blind man’s hand, Jesus led him to the outskirts of the village, and, when he had put saliva on the man’s eyes, he placed his hands on him, and asked him, ‘Do you see anything?’ 24 The man looked up, and said, ‘I see the people, for, as they walk about, they look to me like trees.’ 25 Then Jesus again placed his hands on the man’s eyes; and the man saw clearly, his sight was restored, and he saw everything with perfect distinctness. 26 Jesus sent him to his home, and said, ‘Do not go even into the village.’Titleless Section Break

27 Afterwards Jesus and his disciples went into the villages round Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples this question – ‘Who do people say that I am?’

28 ‘John the Baptist,’ they answered, ‘but others say Elijah, while others say one of the prophets.’

29 ‘But you,’ he asked, ‘who do you say that I am?’ To this Peter replied, ‘You are the Christ.’ 30 At which Jesus charged them not to say this about him to anyone. 31 Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo much suffering, and that he must be rejected by the elders, and the chief priests, and the teachers of the Law, and be put to death, and rise again after three days. 32 He said all this quite openly. But Peter took Jesus aside, and began to rebuke him. 33 Jesus, however, turning round and seeing his disciples, rebuked Peter. ‘Out of my sight, Satan!’ he exclaimed. ‘For you look at things, not as God does, but as people do.’

34 Calling the people and his disciples to him, Jesus said, ‘If anyone wishes to walk in my steps, they must renounce self, take up their cross, and follow me. 35 For whoever wishes to save their life will lose it, and whoever, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, will lose their life will save it. 36 What good is it to a person to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? 37 For what could a person give that is of equal value with their life? 38 Whoever is ashamed of me and of my teaching, in this unfaithful and wicked generation, of them will the Son of Man be ashamed, when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.’

9 ‘I tell you,’ he added, ‘that some of those who are standing here will not know death until they have seen the kingdom of God come in power.’

2 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain alone by themselves. There his appearance was transformed before their eyes, 3 and his clothes became whiter than any launderer in the whole world could bleach them. 4 And Elijah appeared to them, in company with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus. 5 ‘Rabbi,’ said Peter, interposing, ‘it is good to be here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ 6 For he did not know what to say, because they were much afraid. 7 Then a cloud came down and enveloped them; and from the cloud there came a voice – ‘This is my dearly loved son; listen to him.’ 8 And suddenly, on looking round, they saw that there was now no one with them but Jesus alone.

9 As they were going down the mountainside, Jesus cautioned them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 They seized on these words and discussed with one another what this “rising from the dead” meant. 11 ‘How is it,’ they asked Jesus, ‘that our teachers of the Law say that Elijah has to come first?’

12 ‘Elijah does indeed come first,’ answered Jesus, ‘and re-establish everything; and does not scripture speak, with regard to the Son of Man, of his undergoing much suffering and being utterly despised? 13 But I tell you that Elijah has come, and people have treated him just as they pleased, as scripture says of him.’

14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a great crowd round them, and some teachers of the Law arguing with them. 15 But, as soon as they saw Jesus, all the people, in great astonishment, ran up and greeted him. 16 ‘What are you arguing about with them?’ Jesus asked. 17 ‘Teacher,’ answered a man in the crowd, ‘I brought my son to see you, as he has a spirit in him that makes him mute; 18 and, wherever it seizes him, it dashes him down; he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth, and he is pining away. I asked your disciples to drive the spirit out, but they failed.’

19 ‘Faithless generation!’ exclaimed Jesus. ‘How long must I be with you? How long must I have patience with you? Bring the boy to me.’ 20 They brought him to Jesus; but no sooner did the boy see him than the spirit threw him into convulsions; and he fell on the ground, and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21 ‘How long has he been like this?’ Jesus asked the boy’s father. 22 ‘From his childhood,’ he answered. ‘It has often thrown him into fire and into water to put an end to his life; but, if you can possibly do anything, take pity on us, and help us!’ 23 ‘Why say “possibly”?’ Jesus replied. ‘Everything is possible for one who has faith.’ 24 The boy’s father immediately cried out, ‘I have faith; help my want of faith!’ 25 But, when Jesus saw that a crowd was quickly collecting, he rebuked the foul spirit, ‘Deaf and dumb spirit, it is I who command you. Come out from him and never enter him again.’ 26 With a loud cry the spirit threw the boy into repeated convulsions, and then came out from him. The boy looked like a corpse, so that most of them said that he was dead. 27 But Jesus took his hand, and lifted him; and he stood up.

28 When Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, ‘Why couldn’t we drive it out?’

29 ‘A spirit of this kind,’ he said, ‘can be driven out only by prayer.’Titleless Section Break

30 Leaving that place, Jesus and his disciples went on their way through Galilee; but he did not wish anyone to know it, 31 for he was instructing his disciples, and telling them – ‘The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of his fellow men, and they will put him to death, but, when he has been put to death, he will rise again after three days.’ 32 But the disciples did not understand his meaning and were afraid to question him.

33 They came to Capernaum. When Jesus had gone into the house, he asked them, ‘What were you discussing on the way?’ 34 But they were silent; for on the way they had been arguing with one another which was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, ‘If anyone wishes to be first, he must be last of all, and servant of all.’ 36 Then Jesus took a little child, and placed it in the middle of them. Taking it in his arms, he said to them, 37 ‘Anyone who, for the sake of my name, welcomes even a little child like this is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming not me, but him who sent me as his messenger.’

38 ‘Teacher,’ said John, ‘we saw a man driving out demons by using your name, and we tried to prevent him, because he did not follow us.’

39 ‘None of you must prevent the man,’ answered Jesus, ‘for no one will use my name in working a miracle, and yet find it easy to speak evil of me. 40 He who is not against us is for us. 41 If anyone gives you a cup of water because you belong to Christ, I tell you, he will assuredly not lose his reward.

42 ‘And, if anyone puts temptation in the way of one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be far better for him if he had been thrown into the sea with a great millstone round his neck. 43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It would be better for you to enter the life maimed, than to have both your hands and go into Gehenna, into the fire that cannot be put out. 44 [fn] 45 If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It would be better for you to enter the life lame, than to have both your feet and be thrown into Gehenna. 46 [fn] 47 If your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It would be better for you to enter the kingdom of God with only one eye, than to have both eyes and be thrown into Gehenna, 48 where their worm does not die, and the fire is not put out.

49 For it is by fire that everyone will be salted.

50 Salt is good, but, if the salt should lose its saltiness, what will you use to season it?

You must have salt in yourselves, and live at peace with one another.’