When the experts in the law and the Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?"

But the days are coming when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and at that time they will fast.

They watched Jesus closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they could accuse him.

For he had healed many, so that all who were afflicted with diseases pressed toward him in order to touch him.

He appointed twelve (whom he named apostles), so that they would be with him and he could send them to preach

to James and his brother John, the sons of Zebedee, he gave the name Boanerges (that is, "sons of thunder");

Now Jesus went home, and a crowd gathered so that they were not able to eat.

If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom will not be able to stand.

If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.

Again he began to teach by the lake. Such a large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat on the lake and sat there while the whole crowd was on the shore by the lake.

so that although they look they may look but not see, and although they hear they may hear but not understand, so they may not repent and be forgiven."

These are the ones on the path where the word is sown: Whenever they hear, immediately Satan comes and snatches the word that was sown in them.

It is like a mustard seed that when sown in the ground, even though it is the smallest of all the seeds in the ground --

when it is sown, it grows up, becomes the greatest of all garden plants, and grows large branches so that the wild birds can nest in its shade."

On that day, when evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's go across to the other side of the lake."

Now a great windstorm developed and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was nearly swamped.

But he was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. They woke him up and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care that we are about to die?"

(For Jesus had said to him, "Come out of that man, you unclean spirit!")

But Jesus did not permit him to do so. Instead, he said to him, "Go to your home and to your people and tell them what the Lord has done for you, that he had mercy on you."

He asked him urgently, "My little daughter is near death. Come and lay your hands on her so that she may be healed and live."

She had endured a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet instead of getting better, she grew worse.

At once the bleeding stopped, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.

Jesus knew at once that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and said, "Who touched my clothes?"

He strictly ordered that no one should know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Now Jesus left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him.

When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue. Many who heard him were astonished, saying, "Where did he get these ideas? And what is this wisdom that has been given to him? What are these miracles that are done through his hands?

So they went out and preached that all should repent.

because Herod stood in awe of John and protected him, since he knew that John was a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard him, he was thoroughly baffled, and yet he liked to listen to John.

Send them away so that they can go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy something for themselves to eat."

and they picked up the broken pieces and fish that were left over, twelve baskets full.

They ran through that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever he was rumored to be.

And they saw that some of Jesus' disciples ate their bread with unclean hands, that is, unwashed.

But you say that if anyone tells his father or mother, 'Whatever help you would have received from me is corban' (that is, a gift for God),

Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like this."

There is nothing outside of a person that can defile him by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles him."

He said to them, "Are you so foolish? Don't you understand that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him?

Then he looked up to heaven and said with a sigh, "Ephphatha" (that is, "Be opened").

Then Jesus and his disciples went to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?"

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

Then Jesus began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

Then they asked him, "Why do the experts in the law say that Elijah must come first?"

He said to them, "Elijah does indeed come first, and restores all things. And why is it written that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be despised?

But I tell you that Elijah has certainly come, and they did to him whatever they wanted, just as it is written about him."

A member of the crowd said to him, "Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that makes him mute.

Now when Jesus saw that a crowd was quickly gathering, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "Mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again."

It shrieked, threw him into terrible convulsions, and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, "He is dead!"

Then Jesus left that place and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan River. Again crowds gathered to him, and again, as was his custom, he taught them.

Jesus called them and said to them, "You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions use their authority over them.

When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

and said to them, "Go to the village ahead of you. As soon as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here.

Some people standing there said to them, "What are you doing, untying that colt?"

I tell you the truth, if someone says to this mountain, 'Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.

For this reason I tell you, whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven will also forgive you your sins."

He sent another, and that one they killed. This happened to many others, some of whom were beaten, others killed.

Now they wanted to arrest him (but they feared the crowd), because they realized that he told this parable against them. So they left him and went away.

When they came they said to him, "Teacher, we know that you are truthful and do not court anyone's favor, because you show no partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn't we?"

Then Jesus said to them, "Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they were utterly amazed at him.

"Teacher, Moses wrote for us: 'If a man's brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, that man must marry the widow and father children for his brother.'

Now one of the experts in the law came and heard them debating. When he saw that Jesus answered them well, he asked him, "Which commandment is the most important of all?"

The expert in the law said to him, "That is true, Teacher; you are right to say that he is one, and there is no one else besides him.

When Jesus saw that he had answered thoughtfully, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." Then no one dared any longer to question him.

While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he said, "How is it that the experts in the law say that the Christ is David's son?

"Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that all these things are about to take place?"

Jesus began to say to them, "Watch out that no one misleads you.

When they arrest you and hand you over for trial, do not worry about what to speak. But say whatever is given you at that time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

Pray that it may not be in winter.

For in those days there will be suffering unlike anything that has happened from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, or ever will happen.

"But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light;

"Learn this parable from the fig tree: Whenever its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near.

So also you, when you see these things happening, know that he is near, right at the door.

"But as for that day or hour no one knows it -- neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son -- except the Father.

For the Son of Man will go as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for him if he had never been born."

He said to them, "This is my blood, the blood of the covenant, that is poured out for many.

I tell you the truth, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."

Going a little farther, he threw himself to the ground and prayed that if it were possible the hour would pass from him.

Stay awake and pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

He came a third time and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough of that! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Day after day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, yet you did not arrest me. But this has happened so that the scriptures would be fulfilled."

The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find anything.

Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, "Have you no answer? What is this that they are testifying against you?"

When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked directly at him and said, "You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus."

But Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was amazed.

(For he knew that the chief priests had handed him over because of envy.)

So the soldiers led him into the palace (that is, the governor's residence) and called together the whole cohort.

Let the Christ, the king of Israel, come down from the cross now, that we may see and believe!" Those who were crucified with him also spoke abusively to him.

Now when evening had already come, since it was the day of preparation (that is, the day before the Sabbath),

Pilate was surprised that he was already dead. He called the centurion and asked him if he had been dead for some time.

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought aromatic spices so that they might go and anoint him.

But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled back.

But go, tell his disciples, even Peter, that he is going ahead of you into Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you."

And when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.

Now many have undertaken to compile an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,

so that you may know for certain the things you were taught.

When he came out, he was not able to speak to them. They realized that he had seen a vision in the holy place, because he was making signs to them and remained unable to speak.

And who am I that the mother of my Lord should come and visit me?

And blessed is she who believed that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled."

Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.

that we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us.

the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham. This oath grants