and in this way fulfilled the saying spoken by the prophet Isaiah:

"This is My servant whom I have chosen, My dearly loved One in whom My soul takes pleasure. I will put My spirit upon Him, and He will announce justice to the nations.

And all the crowds were amazed and began saying, "Perhaps this one is the Son of David!"

But the Pharisees, [when they] heard [it], said, "This man does not expel demons except by Beelzebul the ruler of demons!"

And if I expel demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons expel [them]? For this [reason] they will be your judges!

For this [reason] I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven!

And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him. But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him either in this age or in the coming one!

Then some of the scribes and Pharisees, hearing this, said to him, Master, we are looking for a sign from you.

but he answered them, this wicked degenerate race demand a miracle; but no other miracle shall they have, except that of the prophet Jonas.

The people of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and behold, [something] greater than Jonah [is] here!

The queen of the south will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, [something] greater than Solomon [is] here!

Then it goes and brings along with itself seven other spirits more evil than itself, and [they] go in [and] live there. And the last [state] of that person becomes worse than the first. So it will be for this evil generation also!"

Someone told him this, and Jesus replied:

To the one who had said this, Jesus replied, "Who is my mother and who are my brothers?"

But other [seed] fell on the good soil and produced grain, this one a hundred [times as much] and this one sixty and this one thirty.

The person who has ears to hear with ought to listen [to this] carefully."

For this [reason] I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand,

And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, Ye shall hear by the hearing of the ear, and not understand; and in seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: for the heart of this people is grown stupid,

For the heart of this people has become dull, and with their ears they hear with difficulty, and they have shut their eyes, so that they would not see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them."

Hear then the meaning of this parable of the sower.

[When] anyone hears the word about the kingdom and does not understand [it], the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is what was sown on the side of the path.

And what was sown on the rocky ground--this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy.

And what was sown into the thorn plants--this is the one who hears the word, and the anxiety of this world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word and it becomes unproductive.

But what was sown on the good soil--this is the one who hears the word and understands [it], who indeed bears fruit and produces, this one a hundred [times as much], and this one sixty, and this one thirty."

Another parable he propos'd to them in these words. the state of the gospel in this world may be compar'd to a man who sowed good grain in his field:

The servants of the householder came and said to him, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where did this darnel come from?'

And he said to them, 'An enemy has done this!' So the slaves said to him, 'Then do you want us to go [and] gather them?'

He told them this story, as follows: "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field.

This seed is indeed [one of] the smallest of all seeds, but when it is [fully] grown, it is larger than [other] plants, and [even] becomes a tree, so that the birds of the sky come and roost on its branches."

Another of his parables was this; the gospel-state is like unto leaven, which a woman took and mixt with three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

Jesus told the crowds all this in stories, and without a story He told them nothing,

so that this saying of the prophet was fulfilled, "I will talk in parables, I will utter what has been kept secret from the foundation of the world."

For even as the tares are gathered, and burnt in the fire, so shall it be in the end of this world.

Then the people who did what was right will shine out like the sun in their Father's kingdom. The person who has ears [to hear with] ought to listen [to this] carefully.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hid in a field: a man finds this treasure and buries it again, then goes in great joy, sells all that he hath, and purchases that field.

Just so shall it be at the end of this world: the angels shall go forth, and shall separate the wicked from amidst the just,

Then Jesus said to them, have ye understood all this?

And he said to them, "For this [reason] every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of the house who brings out of his storeroom new [things] and old [things]."

Jesus concluded this series of parables and then departed.

And he came to his hometown [and] began to teach them in their synagogue, so that they were amazed and said, "From where did this man [get] this wisdom and these miracles?

Is not this one the son of the carpenter? Is not his mother called Mary and his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?

And are not all his sisters with us? From where then did this man [get] all these [things]?"

This kept them from believing in him. Wherefore Jesus said, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and among his own family."

At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the fame of Jesus, And said to his servants, This is John the Baptist:

and he said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist! He has been raised from the dead, and for this [reason] miraculous powers are at work in him."

Her mother persuaded her to say, "Give me the head of John, the Immerser, here on this [large] platter."

The king was displeased because of this, but because of his oaths and his guests he ordered it to be given her.

When Jesus heard about it, He withdrew from there by boat to a remote place to be alone. When the crowds heard this, they followed Him on foot from the towns.

When even was come, his disciples came to him saying, "This is a desert place, and the day is spent, let the people depart that they may go in to the towns, and buy them victuals."

When He had done this, He climbed the hill to pray in solitude. Night came on, and he was there alone.

by this time the vessel was half sea over, violently toss'd with the waves, for the wind was contrary.

for this is a commandment of God, "honour thy father and mother; and, he that curses father or mother, let him be punish'd with death."

but your doctrine is this, if any man declares to his father or mother, that whatever he has to give for their relief is dedicated to the temple; he is not oblig'd to regard his father or his mother.

he does not have to honor his father.’ In this way, you have revoked God’s word because of your tradition.

'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far, far away from me,

And He called the people to Him and said, "Listen to this and learn it!

It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth--this defiles a person."

Then the disciples came [and] said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended [when they] heard this saying?"

But Peter answered [and] said to him, "Explain this parable to us."

And, he, said, To this moment, are, ye also, without discernment?

But what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this defiles a man.

On leaving that place, Jesus went to the shore of the Sea of Galilee; and then went up the hill, and sat down., you will do what not only what has been done to the fig tree, but, even if you should say to this hill 'Be lifted up and hurled into the sea!' it would be done.

And there came unto him great multitudes, having with them the lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and they cast them down at this feet; and he healed them:

This made the crowd wonder, to see dumb people speaking, the lame walking, and the blind seeing.

Then Jesus called his disciples, and said to them, I am concern'd for this people; they have attended me now three days, without eating: I will not send them away fasting, lest they saint by the way. but his disciples said to him,

And the disciples said to him, "Where in [this] desolate place {can we get} so much bread that such a great crowd could be satisfied?"

This wicked and degenerate race demand a sign; but no sign shall be given them, except that of the prophet Jonah. And so He left them and went away.

So they were discussing [this] among themselves, saying, "[It is] because we did not take bread."

But knowing [this], Jesus said, "Why are you discussing among yourselves that you did not take bread, [you] of little faith?

On coming into the neighborhood of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked his disciples this question-- "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"

And to this Simon Peter answered: "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God."

And Jesus answered [and] said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal [this] to you, but my Father [who is] in heaven.

And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it!

From this time Jesus began to explain to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer much cruelty from the Elders and the High Priests and the Scribes, and be put to death, and on the third day be raised to life again.

And Peter took him aside [and] began to rebuke him, saying, {God forbid}, Lord! This will never happen to you!"

But He turned and said to Peter, "Get out of my way, you Satan! You are a hindrance to me, for this view of yours is not from God but from men."

Six days after this, Jesus took Peter and James and his brother John, and led them up on a high mountain, by themselves.

[While] he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him!"

And [when] the disciples heard [this], they fell down on their faces and were extremely frightened.

As they went down the mountain, Jesus gave them this charge, don't speak of the vision, said he, to any body, till the son of man be risen again from the dead: but his disciples asked him,

"Lord, take pity on my son, for he has violent seizures and suffers intense pain. He often falls into a fire or into water. [Note: This man was also dominated by an evil spirit. See verse 18].

And he said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly I say to you, if you have faith like a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here [to] there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you."

But this kind does not go out but by prayer and fasting.

and they will kill Him, but on the third day He will be raised up [from the dead]." And they were very grieved [when they heard this].

When Jesus and His disciples came to Capernaum, the collectors of the tax [Note: This was the annual tax used for meeting the expenses of the Temple service and consisted of two days' worth of a farm laborer's pay, or about $140 in 1994] came to Peter and said, "Does not your teacher [also] pay the [Temple] tax?"

"Yes," he replied, and then went into the house. But before he spoke a word Jesus said, "What think you, Simon? From whom do this world's kings receive customs or capitation tax? from their own children, or from others?"

Therefore whoever humbles himself like this child, this person is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven,

and whoever welcomes one child such as this in my name welcomes me.

But that person who causes one of these little ones [i.e., humble followers of the Lord] who believes in me to be led astray [from God], he would have been better off to have had a huge millstone tied around his neck and dumped into a deep ocean [Note: This "millstone" was a heavy circular stone rolled over grain to crush it and was moved by an animal walking in a circle].

At this point Peter came to Him with the question, "Master, how often shall my brother act wrongly towards me and I forgive him? seven times?"

"For this [reason] the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man--a king--who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves.

“At this, the slave fell facedown before him and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you everything!’

but this very servant presently after met with one of his fellow-servants, who owed him an hundred pence: and violently seizing him, said, pay me the debt.

“At this, his fellow slave fell down and began begging him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’

his fellow-servants upon seeing this were very much concern'd, and went to acquaint their master with what had pass'd.

This is the way my heavenly Father too will deal with you, if you do not, each one, heartily forgive your brother."

When Jesus had finished this discourse, He left Galilee and went into the district of Judea that is on the other side of the Jordan.

The Pharisees likewise came to him, and maliciously propos'd this question, may a man lawfully put away his wife at discretion?

And He answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that He, who made them at first, made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother,

and said, 'On account of this a man will leave his father and his mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'?