and as they could not get near Jesus on account of the crowd they tore up the roof under which he stood and through the opening they lowered the pallet on which the paralytic lay.

Which is the easier thing, to tell the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to tell him, 'Rise, lift your pallet, and go away'?

"Rise, I tell you, lift your pallet, and go home."

And he rose, lifted his pallet at once, and went off before them all; at this they were all amazed and glorified God saying, "We never saw the like of it!"

On this the Pharisees withdrew and at once joined the Herodians in a plot against him, to destroy him.

(For the earth bears crops by itself, the blade first, the ear of corn next, and then the grain full in the ear.)

Then he proceeded to address them in parables. "A man planted a vineyard, fenced it round, dug a trough for the winepress, and built a tower; then he leased it to vinedressers and went abroad.

he said to them, "This means my covenant-blood which is shed for many;

"We heard him say, 'I will destroy this temple made by hands, and in three days I will build another temple not made by hands.'"

Those who passed by scoffed at him, nodding at him in derision and calling, "Ha! You were to destroy the temple and build it in three days!