"'You wicked and slothful servant,' replied his master, 'did you know that I reap where I have not sown, and garner what I have not winnowed?

"But the King will answer them, "'In solemn truth I tell you that in so far as you rendered such services to one of the humblest of these my brethren, you rendered them to myself.'

"But he will reply, "'In solemn truth I tell you that in so far as you withheld such services from one of the humblest of these, you withheld them from me.'

"You know that in two days' time the Passover comes. And the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified."

In solemn truth I tell you that wherever in the whole world this Good News shall be proclaimed, this deed of hers shall be spoken of in memory of her."

At that time one of the Twelve, the one called Judas Iscariot, went to the High Priests

and from that moment he was on the look out for an opportunity to betray Him.

"Go into the city," He replied, "to a certain man, and tell him, 'The Teacher says, My time is close at hand. It is at your house that I shall keep the Passover with my disciples.'"

and the meal was proceeding, when Jesus said, "In solemn truth I tell you that one of you will betray me."

The Son of Man is indeed going as is written concerning Him; but alas for that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It had been a happy thing for that man if he had never been born."

I tell you that I will never again take the produce of the vine till that day when I shall drink the new wine with you in my Father's Kingdom."

"In solemn truth I tell you," replied Jesus, "that this very night, before the cock crows, you will three times disown me."

Keep awake, and pray that you may not enter into temptation: the spirit is right willing, but the body is frail."

Or do you suppose I cannot entreat my Father and He would instantly send to my help more than twelve legions of angels?

In that case how are the Scriptures to be fulfilled which declare that thus it must be?"

But all this has taken place in order that the writings of the Prophets may be fulfilled." At this point the disciples all left Him and fled.

"I am He," replied Jesus. "But I tell you that, later on, you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Omnipotence, and coming on the clouds of the sky."

while they taunted Him, saying, "Christ, prove yourself a Prophet by telling us who it was that struck you."

Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He was condemned, smitten with remorse he brought back the thirty shekels to the High Priests and Elders

and said, "I have sinned, in betraying to death one who is innocent." "What does that matter to us?" they replied; it is your business."

for which reason that piece of ground received the name, which it still bears, of 'the Field of Blood.'

But He made no reply to a single accusation, so that the Governor was greatly astonished.

For he knew that it was from envious hatred that Jesus had been brought before him.

While he was sitting on the tribunal a message came to him from his wife. "Have nothing to do with that innocent man," she said, "for during the night I have suffered terribly in a dream through him."

So when he saw that he could gain nothing, but that on the contrary there was a riot threatening, he called for water and washed his hands in sight of them all, saying, "I am not responsible for this murder: you must answer for it."

but about three o'clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is to say, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me?"

"Sir," they said, "we recollect that during his lifetime that impostor pretended that after two days he was to rise to life again.

So give orders for the sepulchre to be securely guarded till the third day, for fear his disciples should come by night and steal the body, and then tell the people that he has come back to life; and so the last imposture will be more serious than the first."

But the angel said to the women, "As for you, dismiss your fears. I know that it is Jesus that you are looking for--the crucified One.

And go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead and is going before you into Galilee: there you shall see Him. Remember, I have told you."

His announcement was, "There is One coming after me mightier than I--One whose sandal-strap I am unworthy to stoop down and unfasten.

At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan;

The people listened with amazement to His teaching--for there was authority about it: it was very different from that of the Scribes--

And His fame spread at once everywhere in all that part of Galilee.

"Let us go elsewhere, to the neighbouring country towns," He replied, "that I may proclaim my Message there also; because for that purpose I came from God."

and saying, "Be careful not to tell any one, but go and show yourself to the Priest, and for your purification present the offerings that Moses appointed as evidence for them."

But the man, when he went out, began to tell every one and to publish the matter abroad, so that it was no longer possible for Jesus to go openly into any town; but He had to remain outside in unfrequented places, where people came to Him from all parts.

After some days He entered Capernaum again, and it soon became known that He was at home;

and such numbers of people came together that there was no longer room for them even round the door. He was speaking His Message to them,

"Why does this man use such words?" they said; "he is blaspheming. Who can pardon sins but One--that is, God?"

At once perceiving by His spirit that they were reasoning within themselves, Jesus asked them, "Why do you thus argue in your minds?

But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to pardon sins" --He turned to the paralytic, and said,

The man rose, and immediately under the eyes of all took up his mat and went out, so that they were all filled with astonishment, gave the glory to God, and said, "We never saw anything like this."

so that the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."

But no sooner had the Pharisees left the synagogue than they held a consultation with the Herodians against Jesus, to devise some means of destroying Him.

and from Judaea and Jerusalem and Idumaea and from beyond the Jordan and from the district of Tyre and Sidon there came to Him a vast crowd, hearing of all that He was doing.

For He had cured many of the people, so that all who had any ailments pressed upon Him, to touch Him.

He appointed twelve of them, that they might be with Him, and that He might also send them to proclaim His Message,

James the son of Zabdi and John the brother of James (these two He surnamed Boanerges, that is 'Sons of Thunder')

And He went into a house. But again the crowd assembled, so that there was no opportunity for them even to snatch a meal.

The Scribes, too, who had come down from Jerusalem said, "He has Baal-zebul in him; and it is by the power of the Prince of the demons that he expels the demons."

For if civil war breaks out in a kingdom, nothing can make that kingdom last;

and if a family splits into parties, that family cannot continue.

In solemn truth I tell you that all their sins may be pardoned to the sons of men, and all their blasphemies, however they may have blasphemed;

Some, again, falls among the thorns; and the thorns spring up and stifle it, so that it yields no crop.

that "'They may look and look but not see, and listen and listen but not understand, lest perchance they should return and be pardoned.'"

He went on to say, "Is the lamp brought in in order to be put under the bushel or under the bed? Is it not rather in order that it may be placed on the lampstand?

Why, there is nothing hidden except with a view to its being ultimately disclosed, nor has anything been made a secret but that it may at last come to light.

He also said to them, "Take care what you hear. With what measure you measure, it will be measured to you, and that with interest.

But no sooner is the crop ripe, than he sends the reapers, because the time of harvest has come."

yet when sown it springs up and becomes larger than all the herbs, and throws out great branches, so that the birds build under its shadow."

But a heavy squall came on, and the waves were now dashing into the boat, so that it was fast filling.

But He Himself was in the stern asleep, with His head on the cushion: so they woke Him. "Rabbi," they cried, "is it nothing to you that we are drowning?"

So they besought Jesus. "Send us to the swine," they said, "so that we may enter into them."

The swineherds fled, and spread the news in town and country. So the people came to see what it was that had happened;

But He would not allow it. "Go home to your family," He said, "and report to them all that the Lord has done for you, and the mercy He has shown you."

So the man departed, and related publicly everywhere in the Ten Towns all that Jesus had done for him; and all were astonished.

and besought Him with many entreaties. "My little daughter," he said, "is at the point of death: I pray you come and lay your hands upon her, that she may recover and live."

In a moment the flow of her blood ceased, and she felt in herself that her complaint was cured.

Immediately Jesus, well knowing that healing power had gone from within Him, turned round in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?"

Then, taking her by the hand, He says to her, "Talitha, koum;" that is to say, "Little girl, I command you to wake!"

but He gave strict injunctions that the matter should not be made known, and directed them to give her something to eat.

Leaving that place He came into His own country, accompanied by His disciples.

On the Sabbath He proceeded to teach in the synagogue; and many, as they heard Him, were astonished. "Where did he acquire all this?" they asked. "What is this wisdom that has been given to him? And what are these marvellous miracles which his hands perform?

And He could not do any miracle there, except that He laid His hands on a few who were out of health and cured them; and

Wherever you enter a house, make it your home till you leave that place.

So they set out, and preached in order that men might repent.

Others asserted that He was Elijah. Others again said, "He is a Prophet, like one of the great Prophets."

at which Herodias's own daughter came in and danced, and so charmed Herod and his guests that he said to her, "Ask me for anything you please, and I will give it to you."

The girl immediately came in, in haste, to the King and made her request. "My desire is," she said, "that you will give me, here and now, on a dish, the head of John the Baptist."

Then He said to them, "Come away, all of you, to a quiet place, and rest awhile." For there were many coming and going, so that they had no time even for meals.

send them away that they may go to the farms and villages near here and buy themselves something to eat."

They saw Him walking on the water, and thinking that it was a spirit they cried out;

But no sooner had they gone ashore than the people immediately recognized Him.

They had noticed that some of His disciples were eating their food with 'unclean' (that is to say, unwashed)

But *you* say, 'If a man says to his father or mother, It is a Korban (that is, a thing devoted to God)

thus nullifying God's precept by your tradition which you have handed down. And many things of that kind you do."

There is nothing outside a man which entering him can make him unclean; but it is the things which come out of a man that make him unclean."

"Have *you* also so little understanding?" He replied; "do you not understand that anything whatever that enters a man from outside cannot make him unclean,

"What comes out of a man," He added, "that it is which makes him unclean.

Then He rose and left that place and went into the neighbourhood of Tyre and Sidon. Here He entered a house and wished no one to know it, but He could not escape observation.

Here they brought to Him a deaf man that stammered, on whom they begged Him to lay His hands.

and looking up to Heaven He sighed, and said to him, "Ephphatha!" (that is, "Open!")

About that time there was again an immense crowd, and they found themselves with nothing to eat. So He called His disciples to Him.

Heaving a deep and troubled sigh, He said, "Why do the men of to-day ask for a sign? In solemn truth I tell you that no sign will be given to the men of to-day."

Now they had forgotten to take bread, nor had they more than a single loaf with them in the boat;

From that place Jesus and His disciples went to the villages belonging to Caesarea Philippi. On the way He began to ask His disciples, "Who do people say that I am?"

"John the Baptist," they replied, "but others say Elijah, and others, that it is one of the Prophets."

Then He asked them pointedly, "But you yourselves, who do you say that I am?" "You are the Christ," answered Peter.

He went on to say, "In solemn truth I tell you that some of those who are standing here will certainly not taste death till they have seen the Kingdom of God already come in power."