Now as He approached the gate of the city, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a sizeable crowd from the city was with her.

This report concerning Him went out all over Judea and in all the surrounding district.

At that very time He cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits; and He gave sight to many who were blind.

And He answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have the gospel preached to them.

Blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.”

When the messengers of John had left, He began to speak to the crowds about John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who are splendidly clothed and live in luxury are found in royal palaces!

But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and one who is more than a prophet.

This is the one about whom it is written,
‘Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You,
Who will prepare Your way before You.’

I say to you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

“To what then shall I compare the men of this generation, and what are they like?

Yet wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”

Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.

And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume,

and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume.

Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.”

And Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he replied, “Say it, Teacher.”

Turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.

Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?”

and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,

and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means.

“The sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell beside the road, and it was trampled under foot and the birds of the air ate it up.

Other seed fell on rocky soil, and as soon as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture.

Other seed fell among the thorns; and the thorns grew up with it and choked it out.

Other seed fell into the good soil, and grew up, and produced a crop a hundred times as great.” As He said these things, He would call out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

His disciples began questioning Him as to what this parable meant.

And He said, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.

But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.

“Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light.

So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.”

And it was reported to Him, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, wishing to see You.”

But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”

Now on one of those days Jesus and His disciples got into a boat, and He said to them, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they launched out.

They came to Jesus and woke Him up, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped, and it became calm.

And when He came out onto the land, He was met by a man from the city who was possessed with demons; and who had not put on any clothing for a long time, and was not living in a house, but in the tombs.

Seeing Jesus, he cried out and fell before Him, and said in a loud voice, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me.”

For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had seized him many times; and he was bound with chains and shackles and kept under guard, and yet he would break his bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert.

And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion”; for many demons had entered him.

And the demons came out of the man and entered the swine; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.

When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they ran away and reported it in the city and out in the country.

The people went out to see what had happened; and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting down at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they became frightened.

Those who had seen it reported to them how the man who was demon-possessed had been made well.

But the man from whom the demons had gone out was begging Him that he might accompany Him; but He sent him away, saying,

“Return to your house and describe what great things God has done for you.” So he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.

And there came a man named Jairus, and he was an official of the synagogue; and he fell at Jesus’ feet, and began to implore Him to come to his house;

And Jesus said, “Who is the one who touched Me?” And while they were all denying it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing in on You.”

But Jesus said, “Someone did touch Me, for I was aware that power had gone out of Me.”

And they began laughing at Him, knowing that she had died.

And her spirit returned, and she got up immediately; and He gave orders for something to be given her to eat.

Her parents were amazed; but He instructed them to tell no one what had happened.

And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing.

And as for those who do not receive you, as you go out from that city, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”

Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was happening; and he was greatly perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead,

Now the day was ending, and the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the crowd away, that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside and find lodging and get something to eat; for here we are in a desolate place.”

But He said to them, “You give them something to eat!” And they said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless perhaps we go and buy food for all these people.”

(For there were about five thousand men.) And He said to His disciples, “Have them sit down to eat in groups of about fifty each.”

And they all ate and were satisfied; and the broken pieces which they had left over were picked up, twelve baskets full.

And it happened that while He was praying alone, the disciples were with Him, and He questioned them, saying, “Who do the people say that I am?”

For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.

For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?

Some eight days after these sayings, He took along Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray.

And while He was praying, the appearance of His face became different, and His clothing became white and gleaming.

who, appearing in glory, were speaking of His departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

And as these were leaving Him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles: one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not realizing what he was saying.

Then a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!”

And a man from the crowd shouted, saying, “Teacher, I beg You to look at my son, for he is my only boy,

and a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly screams, and it throws him into a convulsion with foaming at the mouth; and only with difficulty does it leave him, mauling him as it leaves.

I begged Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not.”

And they were all amazed at the greatness of God.But while everyone was marveling at all that He was doing, He said to His disciples,

But they did not understand this statement, and it was concealed from them so that they would not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this statement.

But Jesus, knowing what they were thinking in their heart, took a child and stood him by His side,

John answered and said, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name; and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow along with us.”

But He turned and rebuked them, [and said, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of;

Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.”

And He was saying to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.

Go; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.

If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you.

Stay in that house, eating and drinking what they give you; for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not keep moving from house to house.

Whatever city you enter and they receive you, eat what is set before you;

and heal those in it who are sick, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’

But whatever city you enter and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say,

‘Even the dust of your city which clings to our feet we wipe off in protest against you; yet be sure of this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’

I say to you, it will be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that city.

But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment than for you.

At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight.

And a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

And He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?”

On the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you.’

She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word.

It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.”

Then He said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves;

I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened.

And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute; when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke; and the crowds were amazed.

But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.”

If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul.

And if I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? So they will be your judges.

But if I cast out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

“When the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and not finding any, it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’