After noticing in the distance a fig tree with leaves, he went to see if he could find any fruit on it. When he came to it he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.

and he would not permit anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts.

Then he began to teach them and said, "Is it not written: 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have turned it into a den of robbers!"

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.

They discussed with one another, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Then why did you not believe him?'

Have you not read this scripture: 'The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

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?"

Now as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God said to him, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'?

He is not the God of the dead but of the living. You are badly mistaken!"

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.

Jesus said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left on another. All will be torn down!"

When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come.

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.

"But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be (let the reader understand), then those in Judea must flee to the mountains.

The one on the roof must not come down or go inside to take anything out of his house.

The one in the field must not turn back to get his cloak.

Pray that it may not be in winter.

And if the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would be saved. But because of the elect, whom he chose, he has cut them short.

Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'Look, there he is!' do not believe him.

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

I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.

Watch out! Stay alert! For you do not know when the time will come.

Stay alert, then, because you do not know when the owner of the house will return -- whether during evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or at dawn --

For they said, "Not during the feast, so there won't be a riot among the people."

For you will always have the poor with you, and you can do good for them whenever you want. But you will not always have me!

They were distressed, and one by one said to him, "Surely not I?"

Peter said to him, "Even if they all fall away, I will not!"

Jesus said to him, "I tell you the truth, today -- this very night -- before a rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times."

He said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."

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

When he came again he found them sleeping; they could not keep their eyes open. And they did not know what to tell him.

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.

Many gave false testimony against him, but their testimony did not agree.

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

Yet even on this point their testimony did not agree.

But he was silent and did not answer. Again the high priest questioned him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?"

Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "Why do we still need witnesses?

Then he began to curse, and he swore with an oath, "I do not know this man you are talking about!"

They offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it.

But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has been raised! He is not here. Look, there is the place where they laid him.

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

They went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.

Then he appeared to the eleven themselves, while they were eating, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen him resurrected.

The one who believes and is baptized will be saved, but the one who does not believe will be condemned.

they will pick up snakes with their hands, and whatever poison they drink will not harm them; they will place their hands on the sick and they will be well."

But they did not have a child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both very old.

But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son; you will name him John.

And now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will be silent, unable to speak, until the day these things take place."

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.

So the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God!

Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?"

Now there were shepherds nearby living out in the field, keeping guard over their flock at night.

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid! Listen carefully, for I proclaim to you good news that brings great joy to all the people:

It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

She had lived as a widow since then for eighty-four years. She never left the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.

But when the feast was over, as they were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it,

When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.

Yet his parents did not understand the remark he made to them.

Even now the ax is laid at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire."

John answered them all, "I baptize you with water, but one more powerful than I am is coming -- I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'Man does not live by bread alone.'"

and 'with their hands they will lift you up, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"

Jesus answered him, "It is said, 'You are not to put the Lord your God to the test.'"

Demons also came out of many, crying out, "You are the Son of God!" But he rebuked them, and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.

Simon answered, "Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing! But at your word I will lower the nets."

and so were James and John, Zebedee's sons, who were Simon's business partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people."

Jesus answered them, "Those who are well don't need a physician, but those who are sick do.

I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

He also told them a parable: "No one tears a patch from a new garment and sews it on an old garment. If he does, he will have torn the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old.

how he entered the house of God, took and ate the sacred bread, which is not lawful for any to eat but the priests alone, and gave it to his companions?"

Now it was during this time that Jesus went out to the mountain to pray, and he spent all night in prayer to God.

To the person who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other as well, and from the person who takes away your coat, do not withhold your tunic either.

Give to everyone who asks you, and do not ask for your possessions back from the person who takes them away.

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven.

A disciple is not greater than his teacher, but everyone when fully trained will be like his teacher.

for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from brambles.

He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep, and laid the foundation on bedrock. When a flood came, the river burst against that house but could not shake it, because it had been well built.

But the person who hears and does not put my words into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against that house, it collapsed immediately, and was utterly destroyed!"

So Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to say to him, "Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof.

That is why I did not presume to come to you. Instead, say the word, and my servant must be healed.

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him. He turned and said to the crowd that followed him, "I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith!"

When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, "Do not weep."

However, the Pharisees and the experts in religious law rejected God's purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)

They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to one another, 'We played the flute for you, yet you did not dance; we wailed in mourning, yet you did not weep.'

When they could not pay, he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"

You gave me no kiss of greeting, but from the time I entered she has not stopped kissing my feet.

You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with perfumed oil.

He said, "You have been given the opportunity to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that although they see they may not see, and although they hear they may not understand.

Those along the path are the ones who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.

As for the seed that fell among thorns, these are the ones who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the worries and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.

For nothing is hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing concealed that will not be made known and brought to light.

So listen carefully, for whoever has will be given more, but whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him."

Now Jesus' mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not get near him because of the crowd.

As Jesus stepped ashore, a certain man from the town met him who was possessed by demons. For a long time this man had worn no clothes and had not lived in a house, but among the tombs.

When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before him, and shouted with a loud voice, "Leave me alone, Jesus, Son of the Most High God! I beg you, do not torment me!"

And they began to beg him not to order them to depart into the abyss.

Now a woman was there who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years but could not be healed by anyone.

When the woman saw that she could not escape notice, she came trembling and fell down before him. In the presence of all the people, she explained why she had touched him and how she had been immediately healed.

While he was still speaking, someone from the synagogue ruler's house came and said, "Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the teacher any longer."