“This is John the Baptist!” he told his servants. “He has been raised from the dead, and that’s why supernatural powers are at work in him.”

Although the king regretted it, he commanded that it be granted because of his oaths and his guests.

When the men of that place recognized Him, they alerted the whole vicinity and brought to Him all who were sick.

They were begging Him that they might only touch the tassel on His robe. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well.

It’s not what goes into the mouth that defiles a man, but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

Then the disciples came up and told Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard this statement?”

He replied, “Every plant that My heavenly Father didn’t plant will be uprooted.

“Don’t you realize that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is eliminated?

These are the things that defile a man, but eating with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”

Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came and kept crying out, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is cruelly tormented by a demon.”

“Yes, Lord,” she said, “yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table!”

Then Jesus replied to her, “Woman, your faith is great. Let it be done for you as you want.” And from that moment her daughter was cured.

Aware of this, Jesus said, “You of little faith! Why are you discussing among yourselves that you do not have bread?

Why is it you don’t understand that when I told you, ‘Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees,’ it wasn’t about bread?”

Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the yeast in bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

“But you,” He asked them, “who do you say that I am?”

And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the forces of Hades will not overpower it.

And He gave the disciples orders to tell no one that He was the Messiah.

From then on Jesus began to point out to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and be raised the third day.

So the disciples questioned Him, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them about John the Baptist.

Then Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and from that moment the boy was healed.

“But, so we won’t offend them, go to the sea, cast in a fishhook, and take the first fish that you catch. When you open its mouth you’ll find a coin. Take it and give it to them for Me and you.”

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

Woe to the world because of offenses. For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes.

If your hand or your foot causes your downfall, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into the eternal fire.

And if your eye causes your downfall, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, rather than to have two eyes and be thrown into hellfire!

“See that you don’t look down on one of these little ones, because I tell you that in heaven their angels continually view the face of My Father in heaven.

And if he finds it, I assure you: He rejoices over that sheep more than over the 99 that did not go astray.

In the same way, it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones perish.

But if he won’t listen, take one or two more with you, so that by the testimony of two or three witnesses every fact may be established.

Again, I assure you: If two of you on earth agree about any matter that you pray for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven.

Since he had no way to pay it back, his master commanded that he, his wife, his children, and everything he had be sold to pay the debt.

Then the master of that slave had compassion, released him, and forgave him the loan.

“But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him 100 denarii. He grabbed him, started choking him, and said, ‘Pay what you owe!’

When the other slaves saw what had taken place, they were deeply distressed and went and reported to their master everything that had happened.

“Then, after he had summoned him, his master said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.

And his master got angry and handed him over to the jailers to be tortured until he could pay everything that was owed.

“Haven’t you read,” He replied, “that He who created them in the beginning made them male and female,”

He told them, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of the hardness of your hearts. But it was not like that from the beginning.

For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb, there are eunuchs who were made by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves that way because of the kingdom of heaven. Let anyone accept this who can.”

When the young man heard that command, he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.

Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

“What do you want?” He asked her.

“Promise,” she said to Him, “that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right and the other on Your left, in Your kingdom.”

But Jesus answered, “You don’t know what you’re asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?”

“We are able,” they said to Him.

But Jesus called them over and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles dominate them, and the men of high position exercise power over them.

It must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,

There were two blind men sitting by the road. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!”

If anyone says anything to you, you should say that the Lord needs them, and immediately he will send them.”

This took place so that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled:

When the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonders that He did and the children shouting in the temple complex, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant

Again, he sent other slaves, more than the first group, and they did the same to them.

Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:

The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
This came from the Lord
and is wonderful in our eyes?

They sent their disciples to Him, with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are truthful and teach truthfully the way of God. You defer to no one, for You don’t show partiality.

“Caesar’s,” they said to Him.

Then He said to them, “Therefore give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

When the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they came together.

He asked them, “How is it then that David, inspired by the Spirit, calls Him ‘Lord’:

No one was able to answer Him at all, and from that day no one dared to question Him anymore.

They tie up heavy loads that are hard to carry and put them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves aren’t willing to lift a finger to move them.

Blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the sanctuary that sanctified the gold?

Also, ‘Whoever takes an oath by the altar, it means nothing. But whoever takes an oath by the gift that is on it is bound by his oath.’

Blind people! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift?

You, therefore, testify against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets.

Then He replied to them, “Don’t you see all these things? I assure you: Not one stone will be left here on another that will not be thrown down!”

Then Jesus replied to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you.

You are going to hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, because these things must take place, but the end is not yet.

“So when you see the abomination that causes desolation, spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place” (let the reader understand),

Pray that your escape may not be in winter or on a Sabbath.

For at that time there will be great tribulation, the kind that hasn’t taken place from the beginning of the world until now and never will again!

“Now learn this parable from the fig tree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near.

In the same way, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near—at the door!

“Now concerning that day and hour no one knows—neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son —except the Father only.

That slave whose master finds him working when he comes will be rewarded.

But if that wicked slave says in his heart, ‘My master is delayed,’

that slave’s master will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not know.

He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

“But his master replied to him, ‘You evil, lazy slave! If you knew that I reap where I haven’t sown and gather where I haven’t scattered,

For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have more than enough. But from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

And throw this good-for-nothing slave into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

“You know that the Passover takes place after two days, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”

And from that time he started looking for a good opportunity to betray Him.

The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”

For this is My blood that establishes the covenant; it is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins.

But I tell you, from this moment I will not drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it in a new way in My Father’s kingdom with you.”

Stay awake and pray, so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

At that moment one of those with Jesus reached out his hand and drew his sword. He struck the high priest’s slave and cut off his ear.

Or do you think that I cannot call on My Father, and He will provide Me at once with more than 12 legions of angels?

How, then, would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?”

At that time Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs, as if I were a criminal, to capture Me? Every day I used to sit, teaching in the temple complex, and you didn’t arrest Me.

But all this has happened so that the prophetic Scriptures would be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted Him and ran away.

Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was full of remorse and returned the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders.

“I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said.

“What’s that to us?” they said. “See to it yourself!”

Therefore that field has been called “Blood Field” to this day.

But He didn’t answer him on even one charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

At that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.

While he was sitting on the judge’s bench, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for today I’ve suffered terribly in a dream because of Him!”

When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that a riot was starting instead, he took some water, washed his hands in front of the crowd, and said, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. See to it yourselves!”

About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Elí, Elí, lemá sabachtháni?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

When the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they were terrified and said, “This man really was God’s Son!”