# verses

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“Behold, you despisers, and look, and wonder marvelously, and vanish: for I work a work in your days which you will by no means believe, though a man declare it to you!


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Wherefore, behold, I stir up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, that walks upon the breadth of the earth, to inherit tabernacles not his own.


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He is terrible and infamous; his judgment shall proceed of himself, and his dignity shall come out of himself.


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And his horses shall bound more swiftly than leopards, and they are fiercer than the wolves of Arabia; and his horsemen shall ride forth, and shall rush from afar; and they shall fly as an eagle <i>that </i>hastens to eat.


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Destruction shall come upon ungodly men, resisting with their adverse front, and he shall gather the captivity as the sand.


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And he shall be at his ease with kings, and princes are his toys, and he shall mock at every stronghold, and shall cast a mound, and take possession of it.


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Then shall he change his spirit, and he shall pass through, and make an atonement, saying, ‘This strength belongs to my God.’”


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Are You not from everlasting, O Lord God, my Holy One? And surely we shall not die. O Lord. You have established it for judgment, and He has formed me to chasten with His correction.


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His eye is too pure to behold evil doings, and to look upon grievous afflictions: why do You look upon despisers? Will You be silent when the ungodly swallows up the just?


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He has brought up destruction with a hook, and drawn one with a casting net, and caught another in his drags: therefore shall his heart rejoice and be glad.


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Therefore will he sacrifice to his drag, and burn incense to his casting net, because by them he has made his portion fat, and his meats choice.


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<n>God’s Reply to the Prophet’s Complaint</n> I will stand upon my watch, and mount upon the rock, and watch to see what He will say to me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.


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And the Lord answered me and said, “Write the vision, and that plainly on a tablet, that he that reads it may run.


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For the vision is yet for a time, and it shall shoot forth at the end, and not in vain: though he should tarry, wait for him; for he will surely come, and will not tarry.


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“But the arrogant man and the scorner, the boastful man, shall not finish anything; who has enlarged his desire as the grave, and like death he is never satisfied, and he will gather to himself all the nations, and will receive to himself all the peoples.


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<n>The Woes of the Wicked</n> “Shall not all these take up a parable against him? And a proverb to tell against him? And they shall say, ‘Woe to him that multiplies to himself the possessions which are not his!’ How long? And who heavily loads his yoke.


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For suddenly there shall arise up those that bite him, and those that plot against you shall awake, and you shall be a plunder to them.


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Because you have plundered many nations, all the nations that are left shall plunder you, because of the blood of men, and the sins of the land and city, and of all that dwell in it.


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“Woe to him that covets an evil gain for his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evils.


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You have devised shame for your house, you have utterly destroyed many nations, and your soul has sinned.


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Are not these things of the Lord Almighty? Surely many people have been exhausted in the fire, and many nations have fainted.


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For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord; it shall cover them as water.


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“Woe to him that gives his neighbor to drink the thick lees of wine, and intoxicates him, that he may look upon their secret parts.


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Drink also your fill of disgrace instead of glory. Shake, O heart, and quake, the cup of the right hand of the Lord has come round upon you, and dishonor has gathered upon your glory.


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For the ungodliness of Lebanon shall cover you, and distress because of wild beasts shall dismay you, because of the blood of men, and the sins of the land and city, and of all that dwell in it.


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“What profit is the graven image, that they have graven it? One has made it a molten work, a false image; for the maker has trusted in his work, to make dumb idols.


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Woe to him that says to the wood, ‘Awake, arise’; and to the stone, ‘Arise!’ For it is an image, and this is a casting of gold and silver, and there is no breath in it.


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<n>The Prophet’s Prayer</n> O Lord, I have heard Your report, and was afraid: I considered Your works, and was amazed: You shall be known between the two living creatures, You shall be acknowledged when the years draw nigh; You shall be manifested when the time is come; when my soul is troubled, You will in wrath remember mercy.


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His excellence covered the heavens, and the earth was full of His praise. And His brightness shall be as light; there were horns in His hands, and He caused a mighty love of His strength.


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the earth stood at His feet and trembled. He beheld, and the nations melted away. The mountains were violently burst through, the everlasting hills melted at His everlasting going forth.


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Because of troubles I looked upon the tents of the Ethiopians. The tabernacles also of the land of Midian shall be dismayed.


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Were You angry, O Lord, with the rivers? Or was Your wrath against the rivers, or Your anger against the sea? For You will mount on Your horses, and Your chariots are salvation.


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“Surely you bent your bow at scepters,” says the Lord. Selah. The land of rivers shall be torn asunder.


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The nations shall see You and be in pain, as You divided the moving waters. The deep uttered her voice, and raised her form on high.


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The sun was exalted, and the moon stood still in her course. Your darts shall go forth at the light, at the brightness of the gleaming of Your spear.


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You went forth for the salvation of Your people, to save Your anointed. You shall bring death on the heads of transgressors; You have brought bands upon their neck. Selah.


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You thrust through the heads of princes with amazement, they shall tremble in it; they shall burst their bridles, they shall be as a poor man devouring in secret.


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I watched, and my belly trembled at the sound of the prayer of my lips, and trembling entered into my bones, and my frame was troubled within me; I will rest in the day of affliction, from going up to the people of my sojourning.


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<n>Trust and Joy in the Midst of Trouble</n> For though the fig tree shall bear no fruit, and there shall be no produce on the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall produce no food. The sheep have failed from the pasture, and there are no oxen at the cribs;


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The Lord God is my strength, and He will perfectly strengthen my feet; He sets me up on high places, that I may conquer by His song.


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The word of the Lord which came to Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amoriah, the son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah.


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<n>The Coming Judgment on Judah</n> “Let there be an utter cutting off from the face of the land,” says the Lord.


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“Let man and cattle be cut off; let the birds of the air and the fish of the sea be cut off; and the ungodly shall fail, and I will take away the transgressors from the face of the land,” says the Lord.


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“And I will stretch out My hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will remove the names of Baal out of this place, and the names of the priests;


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and them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and swear by the Lord, and them that swear by their king;


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and them that turn aside from the Lord, and them that do not seek the Lord, and them that do not cleave to the Lord.”


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Be fearful before the Lord God; for the day of the Lord is near; for the Lord has prepared His sacrifice, and has sanctified His guests.


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“And it shall come to pass in the day of the Lord’s sacrifice, that I will take vengeance on the princes, and on the king’s house, and upon all that wear strange apparel.


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And I will openly take vengeance on the porches in that day, <i>on the men</i> that fill the house of the Lord their God with ungodliness and deceit.


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And there shall be in that day,” says the Lord, “the sound of a cry from the gate of men slaying, and a howling from the second <i>gate</i>, and a great crashing from the hills.


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Lament, you that inhabit the <i>city</i> that has been broken down, for all the people have become like Canaan; and all that were exalted by silver have been utterly destroyed.


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And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will search Jerusalem with a lamp, and I will take vengeance on the men that despise the things committed to them; but they say in their hearts, ‘The Lord will not do any good, neither will He do any evil.’


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And their power shall be for a spoil, and their houses for utter desolation; and they shall build houses, but shall not dwell in them; and they shall plant vineyards, but shall not drink the wine of them.”


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<n>The Great Day of the Lord</n> For the great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hastens quickly; the sound of the day of the Lord is made bitter and harsh.


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A mighty day of wrath is that day, a day of affliction and distress, a day of desolation and destruction, a day of gloominess and darkness, a day of clouds and vapor,


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“And I will greatly afflict the men, and they shall walk as blind men,” because they have sinned against the Lord; therefore He shall pour out their blood as dust, and their flesh as dung.


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And their silver and their gold shall by no means be able to rescue them in the day of the Lord’s wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of His jealously; for He will bring a speedy destruction on all them that inhabit the land.


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before you become as the flower that passes away, before the anger of the Lord come upon you, before the day of the wrath of the Lord come upon you.


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Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth; work righteousness, and seek justice, and answer accordingly; that you may be hid in the day of the wrath of the Lord.


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<n>Judgment on Nations</n> For Gaza shall be utterly forsaken, and Ashkelon shall be destroyed; and Ashdod shall be cast forth at noonday, and Ekron shall be rooted up.


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Woe to them that dwell on the border of the sea, neighbors of the Cretans! “The word of the Lord is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines, and I will destroy you out of your dwelling place.”


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And the sea coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall pasture upon them in the houses of Ashkelon; they shall rest in the evening because of the children of Judah; for the Lord their God has visited them, and He will turn away their captivity.


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“I have heard the revilings of Moab, and the insults of the children of Ammon, wherewith they have reviled My people, and magnified themselves against My coasts.


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Therefore, as I live,” says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, “Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah; and Damascus <i>shall be</i> left as a heap of the threshing floor, and desolate forever; and the remnant of My people shall plunder them, and the remnant of My nations shall inherit them.”


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This is their punishment in return for their haughtiness, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the Lord Almighty.


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The Lord shall appear against them, and shall utterly destroy all the gods of the nations of the earth; and they shall worship Him everyone from his place, <i>even</i> all the islands of the nations.


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And He shall stretch forth His hand against the north and destroy the Assyrian, and make Nineveh a dry wilderness, even as a desert.


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And flocks, and all the wild beasts of the land, and chameleons shall feed in the midst thereof; and hedgehogs shall lodge in the ceilings thereof; and wild beasts shall cry in the breaches thereof, and ravens in her porches, whereas her loftiness was <i>as </i>a cedar.


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This is the scornful city that dwells securely, that says in her heart, “I am <i>it</i>, and there is no longer any <i>to be</i> after me.” How has she become desolate, and a habitation of wild beasts! Everyone that passes through her shall hiss, and shake their hands <i>in contempt</i>.


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The dove would not obey the voice, nor receive correction; she has not trusted in the Lord, and she did not draw near to her God.


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Her princes within her were as roaring lions, her judges as the wolves of Arabia; they did not remain till the morning.


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Her prophets are insolent and scornful men: her priests profane the holy things, and sinfully transgress the law.


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But the righteous Lord is in the midst of her, and He will never do an unjust thing. Morning by morning He will bring out His judgment to the light, and it is not hidden, and He knows not injustice by extortion, nor injustice in strife.


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“I have brought down the proud with destruction; their corners are destroyed: I will make their ways completely waste, so that none shall go through. Their cities have come to an end, by reason of no man living or dwelling <i>in them</i>.


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I said, ‘Fear Me, and receive instruction,’ and you shall not be cut off from the face of the land, for all the vengeance I have brought upon her: prepare yourself; rise early: all their produce is spoiled.


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<n>Punishment and Conversion of the Nations</n> “Therefore wait upon Me,” says the Lord, “until the day when I rise up for a witness; because My judgment shall be on the gatherings of the nations, to draw to Me kings, to pour out upon them all My fierce anger; for the whole earth shall be consumed with the fire of My jealousy.


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For then will I turn to the peoples a tongue for her generation, that all may call on the name of the Lord, to serve Him under one yoke.


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From the boundaries of the rivers of Ethiopia will I receive My dispersed ones; they shall offer sacrifices to Me.


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In that day you shall not be ashamed of all your practices, where you have transgressed against Me: for then will I take away from you your disdainful pride, and you shall no more magnify yourself upon My holy mountain.


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and the remnant of Israel shall fear the name of the Lord, and shall do no iniquity, neither shall they speak vanity; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed, and lie down, and there shall be none to terrify them.”


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<n>A Song of Joy</n> Rejoice, O daughter of Zion; cry aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem; rejoice and delight yourself with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.


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The Lord has taken away your iniquities, He has ransomed you from the hand of your enemies: the Lord, the King of Israel, is in the midst of you: you shall not see evil anymore.


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At that time the Lord shall say to Jerusalem, “Be of good courage, Zion; let not your hands be slack.


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The Lord your God is in you; the Mighty One shall save you: He shall bring joy upon you, and shall refresh you with His love; and He shall rejoice over you with delight as in a day of feasting.


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Behold, I <i>will</i> work in you for your sake at that time,” says the Lord; “and I will save her that was oppressed, and receive her that was rejected; and I will make them a praise, and honored in all the earth.


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And <i>their enemies</i> shall be ashamed at that time, when I shall deal well with you, and at the time when I shall receive you; for I will make you honored and a praise among all the nations of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before you,” says the Lord.


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<n>The Command to Rebuild the Temple</n> In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, on the first <i>day</i> of the month, the word of the Lord came by the hand of the prophet Haggai, saying, “Speak to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, of the tribe of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying,


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Thus says the Lord Almighty, saying, ‘This people say, “The time has not come to build the house of the Lord.”’”


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You have sown much, but brought in little; you have eaten, and are not satisfied; you have drunk, and are not satisfied with drink, you have clothed yourselves, and have not become warm thereby: and he that earns wages has gathered <i>them</i> into a bag full of holes.


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Go up to the mountain, and cut timber; build the house, and I will take pleasure in it, and be glorified,” says the Lord.


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“You looked for much, and there came little; and it was brought into the house, and I blew it away. Therefore thus says the Lord Almighty: ‘Because My house is desolate, and you run everyone into his own house,


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And I will bring a sword upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the grain, and upon the wine, and upon the oil, and all that the earth produces, and upon the men, and upon the cattle, and upon all the labors of their hands.’”


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<n>The People’s Obedience</n> And Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, of the tribe of Judah, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of the prophet Haggai, according as the Lord their God had sent him to them, and the people feared before the Lord.


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And Haggai the Lord’s messenger spoke among the messengers of the Lord to the people, <i>saying</i>, “I am with you,” says the Lord.


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And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, of the tribe of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of the remnant of all the people; and they went in, and worked in the house of the Lord Almighty their God,


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<n>The Future Glory of the Temple</n> In the seventh month, on the twenty-first <i>day</i> of the month, the Lord spoke by Haggai the prophet, saying,


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“Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, of the tribe of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to all the remnant of the people, and say <i>to them</i>,


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‘Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory? And how do you now look upon it, as it were nothing before your eyes?


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Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel,’ says the Lord; ‘and strengthen yourself, O Joshua the high priest, the son of Jehozadak; and let all the people of the land strengthen themselves,’ says the Lord, ‘and work, for I am with you,’ says the Lord Almighty;


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“For thus says the Lord Almighty: ‘Yet once I will shake the heaven, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry <i>land</i>;


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and I will shake all nations, and the choice <i>portions</i> of all the nations shall come; and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord Almighty.


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‘For the glory of this house shall be great, the latter more than the former,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and in this place will I give peace,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘even peace of soul for a possession to everyone that builds, to raise up this temple.’”


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<n>The People Are Defiled</n> On the twenty-fourth <i>day</i> of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to Haggai the prophet, saying,


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‘If a man should take holy meat in the fold of his garment, and the fold of his garment should touch bread, or stew, or wine, or oil, or any food, shall it be holy?’” And the priests answered and said, “No.”


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And Haggai said, “If a defiled person who is unclean by reason of a dead body, touch any of these, shall it be defiled?” And the priests answered and said, “It shall be defiled.”


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And Haggai answered and said, “So is this people, and so is this nation before Me,” says the Lord; “and so are all the works of their hands; and whosoever shall approach them, shall be defiled because of their early burdens; they shall be pained because of their toils, and you have hated him that reproved in the gates.


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<n>Promised Blessing</n> “And now consider from this day forward, before they laid a stone upon a stone in the temple of the Lord, what manner of men you were.


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When you cast into the grain bin twenty measures of barley, and there were <i>only</i> ten measures of barley: and you went to the vat to draw out fifty measures, and there were <i>but</i> twenty.


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I struck you with blight and with mildew, and all the works of your hands with hail; yet you returned not to Me,” says the Lord.


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“Set your hearts now <i>to think</i> from this day forward, from the twenty-fourth <i>day</i> of the ninth month, even from the day when the foundation of the temple of the Lord was laid;


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consider in your hearts, whether <i>this</i> shall be known on the grain floor, and whether yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive trees that bear no fruit <i>are with you</i>: from this day will I bless <i>you</i>.”


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And the word of the Lord came the second time to Haggai the prophet, on the twenty-fourth <i>day</i> of the month, saying,


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“Speak to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, of the tribe of Judah, and say <i>to him</i>, ‘I shake the heaven, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry <i>land</i>;


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and I will overthrow the thrones of kings, and I will destroy the power of the kings of the nations; and I will overthrow chariots and riders; and the horses and their riders shall come down, everyone by the sword striving against his brother.


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In that day,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘I will take you, O Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, My servant,’ says the Lord, ‘and I will make you as a seal; for I have chosen you,’” says the Lord Almighty.


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<n>Israel Urged to Repent</n> In the eighth month, in the second year of <i>the reign of</i> Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, the prophet, saying,


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And you shall say to them, Thus says the Lord Almighty: ‘Turn to Me,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘and I will turn to you,’ says the Lord of hosts.


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‘And do not be as your fathers, whom the prophets before charged, saying, Thus says the Lord Almighty: “Turn from your evil ways, and from your evil practices”; but they did not hear, nor heed Me,’ says the Lord.


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But do you receive My words and My ordinances, all that I command by My Spirit to My servants the prophets, who lived in the days of your fathers? And they answered and said, “As the Lord Almighty determined to do to us, according to our ways, and according to our practices, so has He done to us.”’”


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<n>First Vision: The Horsemen</n> On the twenty-fourth <i>day</i> in the eleventh month, this is the month of Shebat, in the second year of <i>the reign of</i> Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,


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I saw by night, and behold, a man mounted on a red horse, and he stood between the shady mountains; and behind him were red horses, and gray, and spotted, and white.


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And I said, “What are these, <i>my</i> lord?” And the angel who talked with me said to me, “I will show you what these <i>things</i> are.”


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And the man that stood between the mountains answered, and said to me, “These are <i>those</i> whom the Lord has sent forth to go around the earth.”


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And they answered the Angel of the Lord that stood between the mountains, and said, “We have gone around all the earth, and behold, all the earth is inhabited, and is at rest.”


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Then the Angel of the Lord answered and said, “O Lord Almighty, how long will You have no mercy on Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah, which You has disregarded these seventy years?”


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And the angel that spoke with me said to me, “Cry out and say, ‘Thus says the Lord Almighty: I have been jealous for Jerusalem and Zion with great jealousy.


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And I am very angry with the heathen that combine to attack <i>her</i>; for as I indeed was a little angry, but they combined to attack <i>her</i> for evil.


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Therefore thus says the Lord: “I will return to Jerusalem with compassion; and My house shall be rebuilt in her,” says the Lord Almighty, “and a measuring line shall yet be stretched out over Jerusalem.”’”


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And the angel that spoke with me said to me, “Cry yet, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord Almighty: “Yet shall cities be spread abroad through prosperity; and the Lord shall yet have mercy upon Zion, and shall choose Jerusalem.”’”


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And I said to the angel that spoke with me, “What are these things, my lord?” And he said to me, “These are the horns that have scattered Judah and Israel, and Jerusalem.”


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And I said, “What are these coming to do?” And he said, “These are the horns that scattered Judah, and they broke Israel in pieces, and none of them lifted up his head: and these have come forth to sharpen them for their hands, even the four horns, the nations that lifted up the horn against the land of the Lord to scatter it.”


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<n>Third Vision: The Man With a Measuring Line</n> And I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man, and in his hand a measuring line.


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And I said to him, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth of it, and what is the length of it.”


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and spoke to him, saying, “Run and speak to that young man, saying, ‘Jerusalem shall be fully inhabited by reason of the abundance of men and cattle in the midst of her.’


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‘For I,’ says the Lord, ‘will be to her a wall of fire round about, and I will be for a glory in the midst of her.’


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<n>Future Joy of Zion and Many Nations</n> “Up, up! Flee from the land of the north,” says the Lord; “for I will gather you from the four winds of heaven,” says the Lord,


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“For thus says the Lord Almighty: ‘After the glory has he sent Me to the nations that spoiled you: for he that touches you is as one that touches the apple of His eye.


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For behold, I bring My hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to them that serve them: and you shall know that the Lord Almighty has sent Me.


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“Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I come, and will dwell in the midst of you,” says the Lord.


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And many nations shall flee for refuge to the Lord in that day, and they shall be for a people to Him, and they shall dwell in the midst of you; and you shall know that the Lord Almighty has sent Me to you.


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And the Lord shall take possession of Judah, His portion in the holy land, and He will yet choose Jerusalem.


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<n>Fourth Vision: Joshua and Satan</n> And the Lord showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and the devil stood on his right hand to resist him.


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And the Lord said to the devil, “The Lord rebuke you, O devil, even the Lord that has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you. Behold, is not this as a brand plucked from the fire?”


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And <i>the Lord</i> answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, “Take away the filthy garments from him.” And He said to him, “Behold, I have taken away your iniquities, and clothed you with a long robe,


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and place a clean turban upon his head.” So they placed a clean turban upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the Angel of the Lord stood by.


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“Thus says the Lord Almighty: ‘If you will walk in My ways, and keep My commandments, then shall you judge My house; and if you will diligently keep My court, then will I give you men to walk in the midst of these that stand here.


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Hear now O Joshua, high priest, you and your neighbors that are sitting before you—for they are diviners; for behold, I bring forth My servant the Branch.


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And as for the stone which I have set before the face of Joshua, on the one stone are seven eyes: behold, I am digging a trench,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will search out all the iniquity of that land in one day.


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In that day,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘you shall call together every man his neighbor under the vine and under the fig tree.’”


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<n>Fifth Vision: The Lampstand and Olive Trees</n> And the angel that talked with me returned, and awakened me, as when a man is awakened out of his sleep.


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And he said to me, “What do you see?” And I said, “I am looking, and behold, a lampstand of solid gold, with a bowl upon it, and seven lamps upon it, and seven oil funnels to the lamps upon it.


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And I inquired, and spoke to the angel that talked with me, saying, “What are these things, my lord?”


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And the angel that talked with me answered, and spoke to me, saying, “Don’t you know what these things are?” And I said, “No, my lord.”


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And he answered and spoke to me, saying, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel, saying, ‘Not by mighty power, nor by strength, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.


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‘Who are you, O great mountain, before Zerubbabel, that you should prosper? Whereas I will bring out the stone of the inheritance, its grace equal to My grace.’”


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“The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands shall finish it; and you shall know that the Lord Almighty has sent Me to you.


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For who has despised the small days? Surely they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet of tin in the hand of Zerubbabel: these are the seven eyes that look upon all the earth.”


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And I answered, and said to him, “What are these two olive trees, which are on the right and left hand of the lampstand?”


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And I asked the second time, and said to him, “What are the two branches of the olive trees that are by the side of the two golden pipes that pour into and communicate with the golden oil funnels?”


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<n>Sixth Vision: The Flying Sickle</n> And I turned, and lifted up my eyes, and I beheld a flying sickle.


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And he said to me, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see a flying sickle, its length <i>is</i> twenty cubits, and its width <i>is</i> ten cubits.”


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And he said to me, “This is the curse that goes out over the face of the whole earth; for every thief shall be punished with death on this side, and everyone who swears falsely shall be punished on that side.”


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“And I will bring it forth,” says the Lord Almighty, “and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that swears falsely by My name, and it shall rest in the midst of his house, and shall consume it, and the timber of it, and the stones of it.”


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<n>Seventh Vision: The Woman in a Basket</n> And the angel that talked with me went forth, and said to me, “Lift up your eyes, and see this that goes forth.”


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And I said, “What is it?” And he said, “This is the measure that goes forth.” And he said, “This is their iniquity in all the earth.”


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And he said, “This is iniquity.” And he cast it into the midst of the measure, and cast the weight of lead on the mouth of it.


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And I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and behold, two women coming forth, and the wind was in their wings; and they had stork’s wings; and they lifted up the measure between the earth and the sky.


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And he said to me, “To build a house for it in the land of Babylon, and to prepare <i>a place for it</i>; and they shall set it there on its own base.”


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<n>Eighth Vision: Four Chariots</n> And I turned, and lifted up my eyes, and looked, and behold, four chariots coming out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of bronze.


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And the angel that talked with me answered and said, “These are the four winds of heaven, and they are going forth to stand before the Lord of all the earth.


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<i>As for the chariot</i> in which were the black horses, they went out to the land of the north; and the white went out after them; and the spotted went out to the land of the south.”


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And the ash-colored went out, and looked to go and compass the earth. And he said, Go, and compass the earth. And they compassed the earth.


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And He cried out and spoke to me, saying, “Behold, these go out to the land of the north, and they have quieted My anger in the land of the north.”


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“Take the things of the captivity from the chief men, and from the useful men of it, and from them that have understood it; and you shall enter in that day into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah that came out of Babylon.


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And you shall take silver and gold, and make crowns, and you shall put them upon the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak the high priest;


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and you shall say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord Almighty: “Behold the man whose name is the Branch; from His place He shall branch out, and build the house of the Lord.


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And He shall receive power, and shall sit and rule upon His throne; and there shall be a priest on His right hand, and a peaceable counsel shall be between them both.


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And the crown shall be to them that wait patiently, and to the useful men of the captivity, and to them that have known it, and for the favor of the son of Zephaniah, and for a psalm in the house of the Lord.


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And they <i>that are</i> far from them shall come and build in the house of the Lord, and you shall know that the Lord Almighty has sent Me to you: and this shall come to pass, if you will diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God.”


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<n>Obedience Better than Fasting</n> And it came to pass in the fourth year of Darius the king, <i>that</i> the word of the Lord came to Zechariah on the fourth day of the ninth month, which is Chislev.


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speaking to the priests that were in the house of the Lord Almighty, and to the prophets, saying, “The holy offering has come in here in the fifth month, as it has done already for many years.”


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“Speak to the whole people of the land, and to the priests, saying, ‘Though you fasted or lamented in the fifth or seventh <i>months</i> (yea, behold, these seventy years) have you at all fasted to Me?


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Are not these the words which the Lord spoke by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and her cities round about her, and the hill country and the low country was inhabited?’”


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Thus says the Lord Almighty; Judge righteous judgment, and deal mercifully and compassionately, everyone with his brother,


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and oppress not the widow, or the fatherless, or the stranger, or the poor; and let not one of you remember in his heart the injury of his brother.


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But they refused to attend, and madly turned their back, and made their ears heavy, so that they should not hear.


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And they made their heart disobedient, so as not to hearken to My law, and the words which the Lord Almighty sent forth by His Spirit by the former prophets: so there was great wrath from the Lord Almighty.


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Therefore it came to pass, <i>that</i> as He spoke and they did not listen, so they shall cry, and I will not listen, says the Lord Almighty.


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And I will cast them out among all the nations, whom they know not; and the land behind them shall be made utterly destitute of any going through or returning; for they have made the choice land a desolation.


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“Thus says the Lord Almighty: ‘I have been jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with great jealousy, and I have been jealous for her with great fury.’


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Thus says the Lord: ‘I will return to Zion, and dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; and Jerusalem shall be called a true city, and the mountain of the Lord Almighty a holy mountain.’


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Thus says the Lord Almighty: ‘There shall yet dwell old men and old women in the streets of Jerusalem, everyone holding his staff in his hand for age.


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Thus says the Lord Almighty: ‘If it shall be impossible in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, shall it also be impossible in My sight?’” Says the Lord Almighty.


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“Thus says the Lord Almighty: ‘Behold, I <i>will</i> save My people from the east country, and the west country;


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and I will bring them in, and cause <i>them</i> to dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and they shall be to Me a people, and I will be to them a God, in truth and in righteousness.’


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“Thus says the Lord Almighty: ‘Let your hands be strong, <i>you that</i> hear in these days these words out of the mouth of the prophets, from the day that the house of the Lord Almighty was founded, and from the time that the temple was built.


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For before those days the wages of men could not be profitable, and there could be no hire of cattle, and there could be no peace by reason of the affliction to him that went out, or to him that came in, for I would have let loose all men, everyone against his neighbor.


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But now I <i>will</i> not do to the remnant of this people according to the former days,’” says the Lord Almighty.


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“But I will show peace: the vine shall yield her fruit, and the land shall yield her produce, and the heaven shall give its dew; and I will give as an inheritance all these things to the remnant of My people.


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And it shall come to pass, as you were a curse among the nations, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and you shall be a blessing: be of good courage, and strengthen your hands.


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“For thus says the Lord Almighty: ‘As I took counsel to afflict you when your fathers provoked Me,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and I did not relent,


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so have I prepared and taken counsel in these days to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah: be of good courage.


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These are the things which you shall do: speak truth everyone with his neighbor; judge truth and peaceable judgment in your gates;


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and let none of you devise evil in his heart against his neighbor, and do not love a false oath; for all these things I hate,’” says the Lord Almighty.


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“Thus says the Lord Almighty: ‘The fourth fast, and the fifth fast, and the seventh fast, and the tenth fast, shall be to the house of Judah for joy and gladness, and for good feasts; and you shall rejoice; therefore love the truth, and peace.’


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and the inhabitants of five cities shall come together to one city, saying, “Let us go to make supplication to the Lord, and to seek the face of the Lord Almighty”; I will go also.


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And many peoples and many nations shall come to seek earnestly the face of the Lord Almighty in Jerusalem, and to obtain <i>the </i>favor of the Lord.’


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Thus says the Lord Almighty: ‘In those days <i>My word shall be fulfilled</i> if ten men of all the languages of the nations should take hold—even take hold of the hem of a Jew, saying, “We will go with you; for we have heard that God is with you.”’”


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<n>Judgment on Israel’s Enemies</n> The burden of the word of the Lord, in the land of Hadrach, and His sacrifice shall be in Damascus; for the Lord looks upon men, and upon all the tribes of Israel.


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And Tyre built strongholds for herself, and heaped up silver as dust, and gathered gold as the mire of the ways.


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And therefore the Lord will take them for a possession, and will destroy her power in the sea; and she shall be consumed with fire.


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Ashkelon shall see and fear; Gaza also, and shall be greatly pained, and Ekron; for she is ashamed at her trespass; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.


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And I will take their blood out of their mouth, and their abominations from between their teeth; and these also shall be left to our God, and they shall be as a captain of a thousand in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite.


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And I will set up a defense for My house, that they may not pass through, nor turn back, neither shall an oppressor come upon them to drive them away: for now have I seen with My eyes.


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<n>The Coming King</n> “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; proclaim it aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem; behold, your King is coming to you, righteous, and <i>your</i> Savior; He is meek and riding on a donkey, a young foal of a donkey.


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And He shall destroy the chariots out of Ephraim, and the horse out of Jerusalem, and the bow of war shall be utterly destroyed; and there shall be abundance and peace out of the nations; and He shall rule over the waters as far as the sea, and the rivers to the ends of the earth.


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You shall dwell in strongholds, you prisoners of the congregation: and for one day of your captivity I will recompense you double.


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For I have bent you, O Judah, for Myself as a bow, I have filled Ephraim; and I will raise up your children, O Zion, against the children of the Greeks, and I will handle you as the sword of a warrior.”


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And the Lord shall be over them, and His arrow shall go forth as lightning: and the Lord Almighty shall blow with the trumpet; and shall proceed with the tumult of His threatening.


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The Lord Almighty shall protect them, and they shall destroy them, and overwhelm them with slingstones; and they shall swallow them down as wine, and fill the bowls as the altar.


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And the Lord their God shall save them in that day, even His people as a flock; for holy stones are rolled upon His land.


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For if He has anything good, and if He has anything fair, the young men shall have grain, and there shall be fragrant wine to the virgins.


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<n>Restoration of Judah and Israel</n> Ask of the Lord rain in <i>its </i>season, the early and the latter rain. The Lord has given bright signs, and will give them abundant rain, grass in the field for everyone.


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For the speakers have uttered grievous things, and the diviners have seen false visions, and they have spoken false dreams, they have given vain comfort; therefore have they fallen away like sheep, and been afflicted, because there was no healing.


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“My anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I will visit the lambs; and the Lord God Almighty shall visit His flock, the house of Judah, and He shall make them as His royal horse in war.


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And from Him he looked, and from Him He set the battle in order, and from Him came the bow in anger, and from Him shall come forth every oppressor together.


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And they shall be as warriors treading clay in the ways in war; and they shall set the battle in array, because the Lord is with them, and the riders on horses shall be put to shame.


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And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and save the house of Joseph, and I will settle them; because I have loved them: and they shall be as if I had not cast them off: for I am the Lord their God, and I will hear them.


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And they shall be as the warriors of Ephraim, and their heart shall rejoice as with wine; and their children also shall see it, and be glad; and their heart shall rejoice in the Lord.


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I will make a sign to them, and gather them in; for I will redeem them, and they shall be multiplied according to their number before.


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And I will sow them among the people, and they that are afar off shall remember Me. They shall nourish their children, and they shall return.


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And I will bring them again from the land of Egypt, and I will gather them in from among the Assyrians; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and to Lebanon; and not one of them shall be left behind.


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And they shall pass through a narrow sea, they shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deep places of the rivers shall be dried up: and all the pride of the Assyrians shall be taken away, and the scepter of Egypt shall be removed.


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Let the pine howl, because the cedar has fallen; for the mighty men have been greatly afflicted. Howl, you oaks of the land of Bashan, for the thickly planted forest has been torn down.


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There is a voice of the shepherds mourning, for their greatness is brought low; a voice of roaring lions, for the pride of the Jordan is brought down.


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which their possessors have slain, and have not repented. And they that sold them said, ‘Blessed be the Lord; for we have become rich’; and their shepherds have suffered no sorrow for them.


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Therefore I will no longer have mercy upon the inhabitants of the land,” says the Lord; “but behold, I will deliver up the men, everyone <i>of them, </i>into the hand of his neighbor, and into the hand of his king; and they shall destroy the land, and I will not rescue out of their hand.


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And I will tend the flock of slaughter in the land of Canaan: and I will take for Myself two rods; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Line; and I will tend the flock.


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And I will cut off three shepherds in one month, and My soul shall grieve over them, for their souls cried out against Me.


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And I said, ‘I will not tend you: that which dies, let it die; and that which falls off, let it fall off; and let the rest eat the flesh of his neighbor.’


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And I will take My beautiful staff, and cast it away, that I may break My covenant which I made with all the people.


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And it shall be broken in that day. And the Canaanites, the sheep that are kept for me, shall know that it is the word of the Lord.”


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And I will say to them, ‘If it is good in your eyes, give me my price, or refuse it. And they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.


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And the Lord said to me, “Drop them into the furnace, and I will see if it is good metal, as I was proved for their sakes.” And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them into the furnace in the house of the Lord.


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And I cast away my second rod, even Line, that I might break the possession between Judah and Israel.


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And the Lord said to me, “Take to yourself shepherd’s implements belonging to an unskillful shepherd.


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For behold, I will raise up a shepherd against the land: he shall not visit that which is perishing, and he shall not seek that which is scattered, and he shall not heal that which is bruised, nor guide that which is whole; but he shall devour the flesh of the choice ones, and shall dislocate the joints of their necks.


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Alas for the vain shepherds that have forsaken the sheep! The sword shall be upon the arms of such a one, and upon his right eye; his arm shall be completely withered, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened.”


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<n>The Coming Deliverance of Judah</n> The burden of the word of the Lord for Israel. Thus says the Lord, that stretches out the sky, and lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him.


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“Behold, I <i>will</i> make Jerusalem as trembling door posts to all the nations round about, and in Judea there shall be a siege against Jerusalem.


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And it shall come to pass in that day <i>that</i> I will make Jerusalem a trodden stone to all the nations; everyone that tramples on it shall utterly mock at it, and all the nations of the earth shall be gathered together against it.


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In that day,” says the Lord Almighty, “I will strike every horse with amazement, and his rider with madness: but I will open My eyes upon the house of Judah, and I will strike all the horses of the nations with blindness.


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And the captains of thousands of Judah shall say in their hearts, ‘We shall find for ourselves the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the Lord Almighty their God.’


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In that day I will make the captains of thousands of Judah as a firebrand among wood, and as a torch of fire in stubble; and they shall devour on the right hand and on the left all the nations round about; and Jerusalem shall dwell again by herself, even in Jerusalem.


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And the Lord shall save the tabernacles of Judah as at the beginning, that the boast of the house of David, and the pride of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, may not magnify themselves against Judah.


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And it shall come to pass in that day, <i>that</i> the Lord shall defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the weak one among them in that day shall be as David, and the house of David as the house of God, as the Angel of the Lord before them.


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And it shall come to pass in that day, <i>that</i> I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.


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“And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and compassion: and they shall look upon Me, because they have mocked Me, and they shall make lamentation for Him, as for a beloved <i>friend</i>, and they shall grieve intensely, as for a firstborn son.


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In that day the lamentation in Jerusalem shall be very great, as the mourning for the pomegranate grove cut down in the plain.


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And the land shall lament in separate families, the family of the house of David by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Nathan by itself, and their wives by themselves;


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the family of the house of Levi by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of Simeon by itself, and their wives by themselves.


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<n>Idolatry Cut Off</n> “In that day every place shall be opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for removal and for separation.


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“And it shall come to pass in that day,” says the Lord of hosts, “that I will utterly destroy the names of the idols from off the land, and there shall be no longer any remembrance of them; and I will cut off the false prophets and the evil spirit from the land.


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And it shall come to pass, if a man will yet prophesy, that his father and his mother which gave birth to him shall say to him, ‘You shall not live; for you have spoken lies in the name of the Lord.’ And his father and his mother who gave him birth shall bind him as he is prophesying.


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“And it shall come to pass in that day, <i>that</i> the prophets shall be ashamed, everyone of his vision, when he prophesies; and they shall clothe themselves with a garment of hair, because they have lied.


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And one shall say, ‘I am not a prophet, but I am a farmer, for a man brought me up <i>thus</i> from my youth.’


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And I will say to him, ‘What are these wounds between your hands?’ And he shall say, ‘<i>Those</i> with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.’


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<n>The Shepherd Savior</n> “Awake, O sword, against My shepherds, and against the man who is My citizen,” says the Lord Almighty. “Strike the shepherds, and draw out the sheep: and I will bring My hand upon the little ones.


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And it shall come to pass that in all the land,” says the Lord, “that two-thirds in it shall be cut off and perish, but one-third shall be left in it.


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And I will bring the third <i>part</i> through the fire, and I will try them as silver is tried, and I will prove them as gold is proved: they shall call upon My name, and I will hear them, and say, ‘This is My people’; and they shall say, ‘The Lord is my God.’”


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<n>The Day of the Lord</n> Behold, the day of the Lord is coming, and your spoils shall be divided in you.


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And I will gather all the Gentiles to Jerusalem to war, and the city shall be taken, and the houses plundered, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, but the rest of My people shall not be utterly cut off from the city.


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And His feet shall stand in that day on the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, from east to west, a very great division; half the mountain shall lean to the north, and half of it to the south.


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And the valley of My mountains shall be closed up, and the valley of the mountains shall be joined on to Jasod, and shall be blocked up as it was blocked up in the days of the earthquake, in the days of Uzziah king of Judah; and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with Him.


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and there shall be for one day cold and frost, and that day <i>shall be</i> known to the Lord, and <i>it shall</i> not <i>be</i> day, nor night: but towards evening it shall be light.


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And in that day living water shall come forth out of Jerusalem; half of it toward the former sea, and half of it toward the latter sea; and so shall it be in summer and spring.


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And the Lord shall be king over all the earth. In that day there shall be one Lord, and His name one,


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compassing all the earth, and the wilderness from Geba unto Rimmon south of Jerusalem. And Rama shall remain in its place. From the gate of Benjamin to the place of the first gate, to the gate of the corners, and to the tower of Hananel, as far as the king’s winepresses,


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And this shall be the plague with which the Lord will smite all the nations, as many as have fought against Jerusalem: their flesh shall dissolve while they are standing upon their feet, and their eyes shall melt out of their sockets, and their tongue shall dissolve in their mouth.


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And there shall be in that day a great panic from the Lord upon them; and they shall lay hold every man of the hand of his neighbor, and his hand shall be clasped with the hand of his neighbor.


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Judah also shall fight in Jerusalem; and <i>God</i> shall gather the strength of all the nations round about—gold, silver, and apparel, in great abundance.


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And this shall be the overthrow of the horses, mules, camels, donkeys, and all the beasts that are in those camps, according to this overthrow.


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<n>The Nations Worship the King</n> And it shall come to pass, <i>that</i> whoever shall be left of all the nations that came against Jerusalem, shall come up every year to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.


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And it shall come to pass, that whichever of all the families of the earth shall not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, even these shall be added to the others.


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And if the family of Egypt shall not go up, nor come; then upon them shall be the plague with which the Lord shall strike all the nations, whichever of them shall not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.


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This shall be the sin of Egypt, and the sin of all the nations, those that shall not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.


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In that day there shall be <i>engraved </i>upon the bridle of every horse, Holiness to the Lord Almighty. And the caldrons in the house of the Lord shall be as bowls before the altar.


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And every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holy to the Lord Almighty, and all that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and shall cook <i>meat</i> in them. And in that day there shall be no more Canaanites in the house of the Lord Almighty.


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The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by the hand of his messenger. Take this to heart, I pray.


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<n>Israel Preferred to Edom</n> “I have loved you,” says the Lord. “Yet you say, ‘How have You loved us?’ Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” says the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob,


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Because one will say, ‘Edom has been overthrown, but let us return and rebuild the desolate places’; thus says the Lord Almighty: ‘They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall be called “The borders of wickedness,” and, “The people against whom the Lord has set Himself forever.”


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And your eyes shall see, and you shall say, “The Lord has been magnified upon the borders of Israel.”


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<n>Polluted Offerings</n> “A son honors <i>his</i> father, and a servant his master: if then I am a Father, where is My honor? And if I am a Master, where is My fear?” says the Lord Almighty. “You the priests are they that despise My name. Yet you say, ‘In what way have we despised Your name?’


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In that you bring to My altar polluted bread; and you say, ‘In what way have we polluted it?’ In that you say, ‘The table of the Lord is polluted, and that which was set on it you have despised.’


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For if you bring a blind <i>victim</i> for sacrifices, is it not evil? And if you bring the lame or the sick, <i>is it</i> not evil? Offer it now to your ruler, and see if he will receive you, if he will accept your person,” says the Lord Almighty.


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“And now entreat the face of your God, and make supplication to Him. These things have been done by your hands; shall I accept you?” says the Lord Almighty.


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“Because even among you the doors shall be shut, and one will not kindle <i>the fire of</i> My altar for nothing, I have no pleasure in you,” says the Lord Almighty, “and I will not accept the sacrifice from your hands.


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For from the rising of the sun, even to the going down thereof, My name has been glorified among the Gentiles; and in every place incense is offered to My name, and a pure offering: for My name is great among the Gentiles,” says the Lord Almighty.


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“But you profane it, in that you say, ‘The table of the Lord is polluted, and His foods set on it are despised.’


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And you said, ‘These <i>services</i> are troublesome’: therefore I have utterly rejected them with scorn,” says the Lord Almighty. And you brought in torn victims, and lame, and sick: if then you should bring an offering, shall I accept them at your hands?” says the Lord Almighty.


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“And cursed is <i>the man</i> who had the power, and possessed a male in his flock, and whose vow is upon him, and who sacrifices a corrupt thing to the Lord: for I am a great King,” says the Lord Almighty, “and My name is glorious among the nations.”


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If you will not hear, and if you will not take it to heart, to give glory to My name,” says the Lord Almighty, “then I will send forth the curse upon you, and I will bring a curse upon your blessing: yes, I will curse it, and I will scatter your blessing, and it shall not exist among you, because you take this not to heart.


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Behold, I turn My back upon you, and I will scatter dung upon your faces, the dung of your feasts, and I will carry you away at the same time.


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And you shall know that I have sent this commandment to you, that My covenant might be with the sons of Levi,” says the Lord Almighty.


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“My covenant of life and peace was with him, and I gave it to him that he might reverently fear Me, and that he might be awe struck at My name.


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The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked before Me directing <i>his way</i> in peace, and he turned many from unrighteousness.


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For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord Almighty.


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But you have turned aside from the way, and caused many to fail in <i>following</i> the law. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi,” says the Lord Almighty,


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“and I have made you despised and cast out among all the people, because you have not kept My ways, but have been partial in the law.


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<n>The Covenant Profaned by Judah</n> Have you not all one Father? Did not one God create you? Why have you forsaken every man his brother, to profane the covenant of your fathers?


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Judah has been forsaken, and an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah has profaned the holy things of the Lord, which He delighted in, and has gone after other gods.


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The Lord will utterly destroy the man that does these things, until he be even cast down from out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and from among them that offer sacrifice to the Lord Almighty.


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“And these things which I hated, you did: you covered with tears the altar of the Lord, and with weeping and groaning because of troubles: <i>is it</i> right <i>for Me</i> to have respect for your sacrifice, or to receive <i>anything</i> from your hands with goodwill?


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Yet you said, ‘For what reason?’ Because the Lord has borne witness between you and the wife of your youth, whom you have forsaken, and yet she was your partner, and the wife of your covenant.


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And did he not do well? And <i>there was</i> the residue of his spirit. But you said, ‘What does God seek but a seed?’ But take heed to your own spirit, and do not forsake the wife of your youth.


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But if you should hate <i>your wife</i> and put her away,” says the Lord God of Israel, “then ungodliness shall cover your thoughts,” says the Lord Almighty. “Therefore take heed to your own spirit, and do not forsake them,


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<i>all </i>you that have provoked God with your words. But you said, ‘In what way have we provoked Him?’ In that you say, ‘Everyone that does evil is a pleasing object in the sight of the Lord, and He takes pleasure in such; and where is the God of justice?’


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<n>The Coming Messenger</n> “Behold, I send forth My messenger, and he shall prepare the way before Me: and the Lord, whom you seek, shall suddenly come into His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, whom you take pleasure in: behold, He is coming,” says the Lord Almighty.


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“And who will abide the day of His coming? Or who will withstand at His appearing? For He is coming in as the fire of a furnace and as the herb of fullers.


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He shall sit to melt and purify as it were silver, and as it were gold; and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and refine them as gold and silver, and they shall offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness.


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And the sacrifice of Judah and Jerusalem shall be pleasing to the Lord, according to the former days, and according to the former years.


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And I will draw near to you in judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the witches, and against the adulteresses, and against them that swear falsely by My name, and against them that keep back the hireling’s wages, and them that oppress the widow, and afflict orphans, and that wrest the judgment of the stranger, and do not fear Me,” says the Lord Almighty.


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but you, the sons of Jacob, have not refrained from the iniquities of your fathers: you have perverted My statutes, and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty. “But you said, ‘In what way shall we return?’


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Will a man insult God? For you insult Me. But you say, ‘How have we insulted You?’ In that the tithes and firstfruits are with you <i>still</i>.


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The year is completed, and you have brought all the produce into the storehouses; but there shall be the plunder thereof in its house. Return now on this behalf,” says the Lord Almighty; “<i>and</i> <i>see</i> if I will not open to you the torrents of heaven, and pour out My blessing upon you, until you are satisfied.


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And I will appoint food for you, and I will not destroy the fruit of your land; and your vine in the field shall not fail,” says the Lord Almighty.


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“You have spoken grievous words against Me,” says the Lord. “Yet you said, ‘In what way have we spoken against You?’


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You said, ‘He that serves God labors in vain: and what have we gained in that we have kept His ordinances, and in that we have walked as suppliants before the face of the Lord Almighty?


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And now we pronounce strangers blessed; and all they who act unlawfully are built up; and they have resisted God, and yet have been delivered.’”


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<n>The People Complain Harshly</n> Thus they spoke, <i>those</i> that feared the Lord, everyone to his neighbor: and the Lord gave heed, and listened, and He wrote a book of remembrance before him for them that feared the Lord and reverenced His name.


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“And they shall be Mine,” says the Lord Almighty, “in the day which I appoint for a peculiar possession; and I will make choice of them, as a man makes choice of his son that serves him.


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Then shall you return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, and between him that serves God, and him that does not serve Him.


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<n>The Great Day of God</n> “For behold, the day is coming, burning as an oven, and it shall consume them; and all the aliens, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble, And the day that is coming shall set them on fire,” says the Lord Almighty, “and there shall not be left of them root or branch.


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But to you that fear My name shall the Sun of righteousness arise, and healing <i>shall be</i> in His wings: and you shall go forth, and bound as young calves let loose from bonds.


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And you shall trample the wicked; for they shall be ashes underneath your feet in the day which I appoint,” says the Lord Almighty.


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“Remember the law of My servant Moses, accordingly as I charged him <i>with it</i> in Horeb for all Israel, even the commandments and ordinances.


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And, behold, I will send to you Elijah the Tishbite, before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes;


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who shall turn again the heart of the father to the son, and the heart of a man to his neighbor, lest I come and smite the earth grievously.”


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<n>The Genealogy of Jesus</n> The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:


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and Jesse fathered David the king. David the king fathered Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah.


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So all the generations from Abraham till David <i>were</i> fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon <i>were</i> fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ <i>were</i> fourteen generations.


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<n>The Birth of Jesus</n> Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this: After His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit.


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Then Joseph her husband, being righteous and not wanting to disgrace her, purposed to put her away secretly.


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But while he was thinking about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take unto <i>you</i> Mary your wife, for that which is begotten in her is of the Holy Spirit.


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And she shall bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name <span class='smcaps'>Jesus</span>, for He shall save His people from their sins."


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Now all this came to pass that the thing spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying,


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"<span class='smcaps'>Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel</span>," which is translated, "God with us."


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Then Joseph, having been aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had ordered him and took to <i>him</i> his wife,


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but did not know her till she brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name <span class='smcaps'>Jesus</span>.


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<n>The Visit of the wise men</n> Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East arrived in Jerusalem,


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saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East, and have come to worship Him."


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And having gathered together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired from them where the Christ would be born.


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<span class='smcaps'>'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you shall come forth a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel</span>.' "


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Then Herod, secretly having called the wise men, ascertained from them the time that the star appeared.


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And having sent them to Bethlehem, he said, "Go and search diligently for the young Child, and as soon as you find <i>Him</i>, report back to me, so that I also may come and worship Him."


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When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.


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And having come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and falling down, they worshipped Him, and opening their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.


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And having been divinely instructed in a dream not to return to Herod, they withdrew into their own country by another way.


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<n>The Escape to Egypt</n> Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, and take along the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you; for Herod is about to seek the young Child to destroy Him."


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and was there until the death of Herod, so that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "<span class='smcaps'>Out of Egypt I called My Son</span>."


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<n>The Massacre of the Infants</n> Then Herod, seeing that he had been deceived by the wise men, was greatly enraged; and he sent and executed all the boys in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the wise men.


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"<span class='smcaps'>A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted, because they are no more</span>."


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<n>The Return from Egypt</n> Now after Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,


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saying, "Arise, and take with <i>you</i> the young Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the life of the young Child have died."


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But hearing that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being divinely instructed in a dream, he withdrew into the regions of Galilee.


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And when he arrived, he settled down in a city called Nazareth, so that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, "He shall be called a Nazarene."


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<n>John the Baptist Prepares the Way</n> In those days John the Baptist arrived preaching in the wilderness of Judea,


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For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: "<span class='smcaps'>A voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight</span>.' "


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And John himself had his clothing <i>made</i> from camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.


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But seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?


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and do not think to say among yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham out of these stones.


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But even now, the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree not producing good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire.


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I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with <i>the</i> Holy Spirit,


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whose winnowing shovel is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His threshing floor, and He will gather His wheat into the barn; but the chaff He will burn up with unquenchable fire."


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<n>The Baptism of Jesus</n> Then Jesus arrived from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him.


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But John <i>tried to </i>prevent Him, saying, "I have need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?"


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But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he permitted Him.


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And having been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming upon Him.


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And behold, a voice came out of the heavens, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I have found delight."


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<n>The Temptation of Jesus</n> Then Jesus was led up into the wilderness by the Spirit, to be tempted by the devil.


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And approaching Him, the tempter said, "If You are the Son of God, speak so that these stones may become bread."


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But He answered and said, "It is written, <span class='smcaps'>'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.</span>' "


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and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: <span class='smcaps'>'He shall give His angels orders concerning you</span>,' and, <span class='smcaps'>'In their hands they will lift you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone</span>.' "


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Jesus said to him, "Again, it is written, <span class='smcaps'>'You shall not tempt the Lord your God</span>.' "


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Again, the devil took Him up on a very high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory.


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Then Jesus said to him, "Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, <span class='smcaps'>'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him alone you shall serve</span>.' "


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<n>Jesus Begins His Ministry in Galilee</n> Now when Jesus heard that John had been imprisoned, He departed into Galilee.


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And leaving Nazareth behind, He came and settled down in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali,


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"<span class='smcaps'>The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,</span><span class='smcaps'><i> by</i></span><span class='smcaps'> the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, </span>


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<span class='smcaps'> the people sitting in darkness have seen a great light, and to those who sat in the land and the shadow of death, light sprang up on them</span>."


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<n>Jesus Calls the First Disciples</n> Now as He was walking alongside the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.


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And having gone forth from there, He saw two other brothers, James the <i>son</i> of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. And He called them.


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<n>Jesus Ministers to the Multitudes</n> And Jesus went about all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every illness among the people.


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And the report of Him went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all those who were ill, and <i>who were </i>suffering with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them.


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And large crowds followed Him from Galilee and from Decapolis, and Jerusalem, and Judea, and beyond the Jordan.


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<n>The Beatitudes</n> And seeing the crowds, He went up into the mountain, and after He had sat down, His disciples approached Him.


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Blessed <i>are</i> those who have been persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.


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"Blessed are you whenever they revile you, and they persecute you, and they say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.


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Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great <i>is</i> your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.


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<n>Believers Are Salt and Light</n> "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt becomes tasteless, with what shall it be salted? It is then good for nothing but to be cast out and to be trampled underfoot by men.


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Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it shines on everything in the house.


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Thus let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works, and they may glorify your Father who is in heaven.


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<n>The Law and the Prophets </n> "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill.


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For assuredly I say to you, until heaven and earth may pass away, one iota or one tittle shall by no means pass away from the law until all things are fulfilled.


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Whoever therefore shall break one of the least of these commandments, and shall teach men thus, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does <i>them</i> and teaches <i>them</i>, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.


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For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.


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<n>Concerning Anger </n> "You have heard that it was said to the ancients, 'You shall not murder,' and whoever murders will be liable to the judgment.


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But I say to you that whoever gets angry with his brother without cause will be liable to the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Empty-head!' will be liable to the council. But whoever says, ' fool!' will be liable to the fiery hell.


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Therefore if you offer your gift on the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you,


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leave your gift there before the altar, and go, first be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.


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Make friends with your adversary quickly, while you are on the road with him, lest your adversary hand you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be cast into prison.


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<n>Concerning Adultery </n> "You have heard that it was said, <span class='smcaps'>'You shall not commit adultery</span>.'


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But I say to you, that whoever looks at a woman in order to lust after her has already committed adultery <i>with</i> her in his heart.


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If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is better for you that one of your members be lost, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.


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And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is better for you that one of your members be lost, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.


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<n>Concerning Divorce </n> "Furthermore it has been said, <span class='smcaps'>'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a divorce certificate</span>.'


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"But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife, except for a matter of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorcee commits adultery.


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<n>Concerning Oaths </n> "Again you have heard that it was said to the ancients, 'You shall not swear falsely, but you shall pay your oaths to the Lord.'


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But let your word be 'Yes', 'yes,' <i>or </i>'No,' 'no.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil <i>one</i>.


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<n>Concerning Retaliation</n> "You have heard that it was said, <span class='smcaps'>'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth</span>.'


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But I say to you not to resist an evil person. But whoever shall slap you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.


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Give to the <i>one</i> asking you, and to the <i>one</i> desiring to borrow from you, do not turn away.


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<n>Love for Enemies </n> "You have heard that it was said, <span class='smcaps'>'You shall love your neighbor</span>, and you shall hate your enemy.'


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But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you,


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so that you may prove to be sons of your Father in heaven; because He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and He sends rain on the just and on the unjust.


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For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?


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And if you greet your friends only, what more are you doing <i>than others</i>? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?


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<n>Concerning Almsgiving</n> "Take care not to be doing your charitable giving before men, so as to be seen by them. Otherwise, you have not a reward from your Father in heaven.


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Whenever therefore you do charitable giving, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by men. Assuredly I say to you, they receive their reward in full.


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so that your charitable giving may be in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret, will Himself reward you openly.


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<n>Concerning Prayer </n> "And whenever you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues, and on the street corners, so that they may be seen by men. Assuredly I say to you, that they receive their reward in full.


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But you, whenever you pray, enter into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you openly.


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But when you pray, do not babble like the heathen, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.


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Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows what things you have need of before you ask Him.


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And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil <i>one</i>. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.


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<n>Concerning Fasting </n> "Moreover, when you fast, do not become gloomy, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men <i>to be</i> fasting. Assuredly I say to you, that they receive their reward in full.


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so that you do not appear to men <i>to be</i> fasting, but to your Father who <i>is</i> in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.


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<n>Concerning Treasures </n> "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust corrupt, and where thieves dig through and steal;


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but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust corrupts, and where thieves do not dig through and steal.


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<n>The Sound Eye</n> "The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light.


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But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be dark. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great <i>is</i> that darkness!


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<n>Serving Two Masters </n> "No one is able to serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and he will love the other, or else he will be devoted to the one, and he will despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.


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<n>Do Not Worry </n> "Because of this I say to you, do not worry <i>about </i>your life—what you shall eat, or what you shall drink—nor <i>about</i> your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food and the body <i>more than</i> clothing?


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Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap, nor do they gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth more than they?


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So why do you worry about clothes? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither labor, nor spin;


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But if God thus clothes the grass of the field, which exists today, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, <i>will He</i> not much more <i>clothe</i> you, <i>O you</i> of little faith?


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Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we put on?'


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"For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.


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But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.


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Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own affairs. Each day has enough trouble of its own.


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For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with what measure you measure, it will be measured <i>back</i> to you.


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And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not notice the plank in your own eye?


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Or how will you say to your brother, 'Permit me to remove the speck from your eye'; and look, <i>there is</i> a plank in your own eye?


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Hypocrite! First remove the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother's eye.


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Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.


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<n>Ask, Seek, Knock</n> "Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.


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For everyone that asks receives, and he that seeks finds, and to him that knocks, it shall be opened.


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If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, by how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!


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Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, thus also you do to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.


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<n>The Narrow Gate </n> "Enter in through the narrow gate; because wide is the gate, and broad is the way which leads to destruction, and many are those who enter in through it.


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O how narrow the gate, and confined <i>is </i>the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it!


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<n>Warning Against False Prophets </n> "But beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.


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You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grape clusters from thorns, or figs from thistles?


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<n>Concerning Self-Deception </n> "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.


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Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name we cast out demons, and in Your name we did many mighty works?’


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<n>Hearers and Doers</n> "Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and does them, I will compare him to a wise man who built his house upon the rock:


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and the rain came down, and the floods came, and the winds blew and fell against that house; and it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock.


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And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them, will be compared to a foolish man who built his house on the sand:


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and the rain came down, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And its fall was great."


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And behold, a leper came and worshipped Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean."


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And reaching out His hand, Jesus touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.


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And Jesus said to him, "See that you tell no one; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."


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<n>Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant </n> Now when He had entered Capernaum, a centurion approached Him, begging Him,


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The centurion answered and said, "Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But just say the word and my servant will be healed.


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For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this <i>one</i>, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."


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When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who were following, "Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!


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And I say to you that many shall come from east and west, and recline <i>to eat</i> with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven;


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but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."


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Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go; and as you believed, may it be unto you." And his servant was healed that same hour.


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<n>Jesus Heals many at Peter’s House </n> Now when Jesus had come into Peter's house, He saw his wife's mother having been laid up, and burning with fever.


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When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and He healed all that were ill,


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so that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying: "He Himself took our infirmities, and bore our diseases."


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<n>The Cost of Discipleship</n> And when Jesus saw great crowds around Him, He gave orders to depart to the other side.


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And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have dens, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."


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And behold, a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered by waves; but He was sleeping.


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But He said to them, "Why are you fearful, O <i>you</i> of little faith?" Then having risen, He rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.


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So the men marveled, saying, "What kind <i>of Man</i> is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?"


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<n>Jesus Heals the Demoniacs</n> And when He came to the other side, to the region of the Gergesenes, <i>there</i> met Him two demon-possessed <i>men</i>, coming out of the tombs; exceedingly violent, so that no one was able to pass by that way.


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And suddenly they cried out, saying, "What have we to do with You, Jesus, Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?"


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So the demons implored Him, saying, "If You cast us out, permit us to go off into the herd of swine."


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And He said to them, "Go." So they came out, and went off into the herd of swine. And behold, the whole herd of swine rushed violently down the steep bank into the sea, and died in the waters.


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Then those who tended them fled; and going off into the city, they reported everything, including what had happened to the demon-possessed <i>men</i>.


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And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus. And seeing Him, they implored Him that He might go away from their region.


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<n>Jesus Heals a Paralytic</n> And getting into the boat, He crossed over and went into His own city.


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And behold, they were carrying a paralytic to Him lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Have courage, child; your sins are forgiven you."


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But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on the earth to forgive sins"—then He said to the paralytic, "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."


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<n>The Call of Matthew</n> And as Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow Me." And arising, he followed Him.


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Now it came to pass, as He reclined <i>to eat</i> in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners, having come, were reclining <i>to eat</i> with Jesus and His disciples.


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And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, "Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"


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When Jesus heard that, He said to them, "Those who are healthy have no need of a physician, but those who are ill.


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But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice.' For I did not come to call <i>the </i>righteous, but sinners, to repentance."


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<n>The Question About Fasting </n> Then the disciples of John approached Him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?"


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And Jesus said to them, "Can the groomsmen mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.


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No one puts on a patch of a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for it takes away its completeness from the garment, and the tear is made worse.


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Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins burst, and the wine spills out, and the wineskins will be ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved."


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<n>A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed</n> As He spoke these things to them, behold, a certain leader came and worshipped Him, saying, "My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her, and she shall live."


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And behold, a woman hemorrhaging for twelve years, approaching from behind, touched the hem of His garment.


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But Jesus, turning around and seeing her, said, "Take courage, daughter; your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed from that hour.


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And when Jesus came into the house of the leader, and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion,


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He said to them, "Make room, for the girl has not died, but she is sleeping." And they were ridiculing Him.


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<n>Jesus Heals Two Blind Men </n> And as Jesus passed by from there, two blind <i>men</i> followed Him, crying out and saying, "Son of David, have pity on us!"


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And when He came into the house, the blind <i>men</i> approached Him, and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to Him, "Yes, Lord."


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And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, "See <i>that you</i> let no one know."


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<n>A Mute Man Healed </n> And as they were going out, behold, they brought to Him a mute man, being demon-possessed.


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And when the demon was cast out, the mute spoke. And the crowds marveled, saying, "It was never seen like this in Israel!"


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And Jesus was going about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every illness and every disease among the people.


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But seeing the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and prostrated, like sheep having no shepherd.


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<n>The Twelve Apostles</n> And summoning His twelve disciples, He gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every illness.


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Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the <i>son</i> of Zebedee, and John his brother;


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Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the <i>son</i> of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, who was surnamed Thaddaeus;


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<n>The Mission of the Twelve </n> These twelve Jesus sent forth, commanding them, saying, "Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter <i>any</i> city of the Samaritans.


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not a knapsack for the road, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.


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And whatever city or village you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there until you go out.


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And if indeed the house should be worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it should not be worthy, let your peace return to you.


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And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.


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Assuredly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!


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<n>Coming Persecutions </n> "Behold, I am sending you forth like sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be as wise as serpents and innocent as doves.


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But beware of men, for they will hand you over to councils and they will flog you in their synagogues.


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And you will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the nations.


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But whenever they hand you over, do not worry how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak;


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Now brother will hand over brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents, and put them to death.


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And you will be hated by all <i>people </i>for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.


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But whenever they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly I say to you, by no means will you have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.


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It is enough for a disciple that he become like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call his household members!


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Therefore do not fear them. For nothing is concealed that shall not be unveiled, and secret that shall not be made known.


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<n>Jesus Teaches the Fear of God </n> "What I say to you in the dark, say in the light; and what you hear in the ear, proclaim on the housetops.


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And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.


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Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them shall fall on the ground apart from the <i>will</i> of your Father.


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"Therefore whoever who will confess Me before men, I also will confess Him before My Father who is in heaven.


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For I have come to <span class='smcaps'>'turn a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother</span>, and <span class='smcaps'>a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law</span>';


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He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.


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He that receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward. And he that receives a righteous <i>man</i> in the name of a righteous <i>man</i> shall receive a righteous <i>man’s</i> reward.


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And whoever gives one of these little <i>ones</i> only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward."


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<n>John’s Questions</n> Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished directing His twelve disciples, that He moved on from there to teach and to preach in their cities.


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<i>The</i> blind receive sight, and <i>the</i> lame walk; <i>the </i>lepers are cleansed, and <i>the</i> deaf hear; the dead are raised up, and<i> the </i>poor have the gospel preached to them.


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<n>Jesus’ Tribute to John</n> Now as these men were going, Jesus began to say to the crowds concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?


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But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft garments are in kings' houses.


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For this is he about whom it is written: <span class='smcaps'>'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You</span>.'


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"Assuredly I say to you, among <i>those</i> born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.


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And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men seize it.


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But to what shall I compare this generation? It is similar to children who sit in the marketplaces and call to their playmates,


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and say, 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; We mourned to you, and you did not lament.'


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"The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' And so wisdom is justified by her children."


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<n>Woes to Unrepentant Cities </n> Then He began to reproach the cities in which His very many miracles had been done, because they did not repent:


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"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! Because if the miracles which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.


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Nevertheless I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you.


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And you, Capernaum, the <i>one</i> having been exalted to heaven, you will be brought down to Hades; because if the miracles which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained to this day.


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But I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you."


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At that time Jesus answered and said, "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent, and have revealed them to babes.


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All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one fully knows the Son except the Father, nor does anyone fully know the Father except the Son, and <i>the one</i> to whom the Son wills to reveal <i>Him</i>.


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Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.


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<n>Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath</n> At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. And His disciples became hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat.


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But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, "Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!"


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But He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he became hungry, he and those who were with him:


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how they entered the house of God, and ate the showbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, except only for the priests?


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Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are guiltless?


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But if you had known what this means, <span class='smcaps'>'I desire mercy and not sacrifice</span>,' you would not have condemned the guiltless.


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And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"—that they might accuse Him.


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Then He said to them, "What man is there among you who shall have one sheep, and if it should fall into a ditch on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out?


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Then He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and it was restored whole like the other.


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But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there. And great crowds followed Him, and He healed them all.


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"<span class='smcaps'>Behold, My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased! I will put My Spirit upon Him, and He will announce justice to the Gentiles. </span>


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<span class='smcaps'> He will not quarrel nor cry out, nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets. </span>


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<span class='smcaps'> A bruised reed He shall not break, and a smoldering wick He shall not quench, till He bring forth justice to victory; </span>


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<span class='smcaps'> And in His name </span><span class='smcaps'><i>the</i></span><span class='smcaps'> nations shall hope</span>."


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<n>The Pharisees Rebuked</n> Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute <i>man</i> both spoke and saw.


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But the Pharisees, having heard, said, "This <i>Man</i> does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, ruler of the demons."


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But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself is made desolate, and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.


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And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast <i>them</i> out? Therefore they shall be your judges.


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Or how is one able to enter a strong <i>man’s</i> house to plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong <i>man</i>? And then he will plunder his household.


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<n>The Unpardonable Sin </n> "Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven unto men.


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And whoever says a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age, or in the <i>age</i> to come<i>.</i>


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<n>A Tree and Its Fruit </n> "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree rotten and its fruit rotten; for a tree is known by its fruit.


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Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.


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A good man out of his good treasure brings forth good things, and an evil man out of his evil treasure brings forth evil things.


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But I say to you, that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.


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<n>The Sign of Jonah </n> Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from You."


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But He answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.


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For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.


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The men of Nineveh shall stand up in the judgment with this generation and shall condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, a greater<i> than</i> Jonah <i>is</i> here.


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The queen of the South shall rise up in the judgment with this generation and she shall condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, a greater<i> than</i> Solomon <i>is</i> here.


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"When an unclean spirit goes out from a man, he goes through waterless places, seeking rest, and does not find <i>any</i>.


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Then he says, 'I will return to my house from where I came out.' And when he comes, he finds it unoccupied, swept, and adorned.


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Then he goes and takes along with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and entering in they dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Thus it shall also be for this wicked generation."


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<n>Changed Relationships</n> And while He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him.


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Then one said to Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You."


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And great crowds were gathered together to Him, so that He got into the boat and sat; and the crowd stood on the shore.


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But others fell on the stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth.


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But others fell on good ground and it was yielding fruit: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.


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He answered and said to them, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.


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For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he shall have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.


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Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.


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And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which says: <span class='smcaps'>'Hearing you shall hear and by no means understand, and seeing you shall see and by no means perceive. </span>


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<span class='smcaps'> For the heart of this people has become dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes have closed, lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn back, that I should heal them</span>.'


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For assuredly I say to you, that many prophets and righteous <i>men</i> desired to see what you see, and they did not see, and to hear what you hear, and they did not hear.”


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When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand, then the evil <i>one</i> comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the <i>seed</i> that was sown beside the road.


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But the <i>seed</i> sown on stony ground, is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;


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yet he has no root in himself, but is short-lived. For when tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he falls away.


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But the <i>seed</i> sown in the thorns is he who hears the word, and the anxiety of this age, and the deceitfulness of riches chokes out the word, and it becomes fruitless.


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But the <i>seed</i> sown on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold some sixty, some thirty."


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<n>The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares </n> Another parable He set before them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man sowing good seed in his field.


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So the servants of the master of the house approached and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? From where then does it have tares?'


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"He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' So the servants said to him, 'Do you wish then that we should go and gather them up?'


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Leave both to grow together until the harvest; and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares, and bind them into bundles to burn them, but gather together the wheat into my barn." ' "


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<n>The Parable of the Mustard Seed </n> Another parable He set before them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field,


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which indeed is smaller <i>than</i> all the seeds; but whenever it is grown, it is greater <i>than</i> the garden vegetables and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches."


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<n>The Parable of the Leaven </n> Another parable He spoke to them: "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, until it was all leavened."


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Jesus spoke all these things in parables to the crowds, and without a parable He did not speak to them,


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so that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: "<span class='smcaps'>I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things having been hidden from the foundation of the world</span>."


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<n>The Parable of the Tares Explained </n> Then having dismissed the crowds, Jesus went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field."


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And the field is the world, and the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the evil <i>one</i>.


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The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.


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Therefore just as the tares are gathered and burned with fire, thus it will be at the end of this age.


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The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who work iniquity,


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Then the righteous will shine forth like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”


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<n>The Hidden Treasure</n> "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure having been hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it, he went and sold everything he had, and bought that field.”


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<n>The Pearl of Great Price</n> “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls,


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<n>A Dragnet </n> “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet having been cast into the sea, and gathering some of every kind,


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which, when it was filled, they pulled up on the shore; and sitting down, they collected the good into vessels, but the rotten they threw out.


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Thus it shall be at the end of the age: the angels shall go forth and separate the evil from among the righteous,


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Then He said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a house who brings out of his treasure <i>both </i>new <i>things </i>and old."


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<n>Jesus Rejected at Nazareth </n> Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, He went away from there.


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And coming into His hometown, He began to teach them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, "Where did this Man get this wisdom and the powerful works?


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Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Jude?


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So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, and in his <i>own </i>house."


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and said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist; he has been raised from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him."


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For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife.


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Now when Herod's birthday was being celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and she pleased Herod.


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So she, being urged on by her mother, said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist."


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And the king was grieved, but because of the oaths, and because of those who reclined <i>to eat</i> with him, he commanded it to be given.


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And his head was brought on a platter and it was given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother.


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Then his disciples came forward and took the body and buried it, and coming, they reported it to Jesus.


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<n>Feeding the Five Thousand </n> When Jesus heard it, He withdrew from there in a boat for a deserted place privately. But when the crowds heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities.


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And coming out, Jesus saw a large crowd, and He was moved with compassion towards them, and healed their sick.


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Now when evening came, His disciples came to Him, saying, "The place is deserted, and the hour is already late. Dismiss the crowds, that they may go to the villages and buy food for themselves."


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And they said to Him, "We do not have <i>anything </i>here except five loaves of bread and two fish."


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And commanding the crowds to recline on the grass, taking the five loaves of bread and the two fish, looking up to heaven, He blessed, and breaking <i>them,</i> He gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples <i>gave</i> to the crowds.


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So they all ate and were satisfied, and they took up what they had left of the fragments, twelve baskets full.


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<n>Jesus Walks on Water </n> And immediately Jesus compelled the disciples to get into the boat, and to go ahead of Him to the other side, until He could dismiss the crowds.


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And having dismissed the crowds, He went up on the mountain privately to pray. And when evening had come, He was there alone.


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But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, being harassed by the waves, for the wind was against <i>them</i>.


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And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear.


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But seeing the strong wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!"


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And immediately, Jesus reaching out His hand, laid hold of him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"


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And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent out into all that surrounding region, and they brought to Him all those who were ill,


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and implored Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched <i>Him</i> were completely healed.


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<n>The Tradition of the Elders</n> Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem approached Jesus, saying,


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"Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands whenever they eat bread."


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He answered and said to them, "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God on account of your tradition?


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For God commanded, saying, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, with death let him die.'


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But you say, 'Whoever says to his father or mother, "<i>It is</i> a gift <i>to God</i>, whatever profit you might have received from me"—


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then by no means should he honor his father or mother.' Thus you have invalidated the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition.


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<span class='smcaps'>'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and they honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me. </span>


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<span class='smcaps'> And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men</span>.' "


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<i>It is </i>not what goes into the mouth <i>that </i>defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man."


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Then His disciples approached and said to Him, " You know that when the Pharisees heard this message they were offended?"


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Leave them alone. They are blind guides of the blind. And if the blind guides the blind, both will fall into a ditch."


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Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach, and is cast out into a latrine?


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For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.


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<n>The Canaanite Woman’s Faith </n> And going out from there, Jesus withdrew into the region of Tyre and Sidon.


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And behold, a Canaanite woman coming forth from that region cried out to Him, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed."


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But He answered her not a word. And His disciples approached and urged Him, saying, "Send her away, for she cries out after us."


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But He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and to throw <i>it</i> to the little dogs."


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But she said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat from the crumbs falling from their masters' table."


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Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.


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<n>Jesus Heals Many People </n> And moving on from there, Jesus came alongside the Sea of Galilee, and going up into a mountain, He sat down there.


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And great crowds came to Him, having with them <i>the</i> lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they put them down at Jesus' feet, and He healed them.


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So the multitude marveled when they saw <i>the</i> mute speaking, <i>the</i> maimed made whole, <i>the</i> lame walking, and <i>the</i> blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.


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<n>Jesus Feeds Four Thousand </n> Now Jesus, having summoned His disciples, He said, "I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been remaining with Me three days, and they do not have anything to eat. And I do not desire to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way."


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Then His disciples said to Him, "Where could we get so many loaves of bread in <i>this</i> deserted place, so as to satisfy so great a crowd?"


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And He took the seven loaves and the fish, <i>and </i>having given thanks, He broke <i>them</i>, and gave <i>them</i> to His disciples; and the disciples <i>gave</i> to the crowd.


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So they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up what they had left of the fragments, seven hampers full.


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<n>The Demand for a Sign</n> Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing <i>Him</i>, they asked Him to show them a sign out of heaven.


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And in the morning, 'Today <i>will be </i>stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.' Hypocrites! Indeed you know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot <i>discern</i> the signs of the times.


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An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah." And leaving them behind He went away.


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<n>The Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees</n> Now when His disciples had come to the other side, they forgot to take bread.


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But Jesus, knowing <i>about it</i>, said to them, "O you of little faith, why are you reasoning among yourselves, because you did not take bread?


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Do you not yet perceive, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took <i>up</i>?


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How is it you do not perceive that I did not speak to you about bread, but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees?"


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Then they understood that He did not say to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.


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<n>Peter Confesses Christ </n> When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He was questioning His disciples, saying, "Who do men pronounce Me, the Son of Man, to be?"


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So they said, "Some <i>say</i> John the Baptist, but others <i>say</i> Elijah, and <i>yet </i>others <i>say </i>Jeremiah, or one of the prophets."


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Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal <i>this</i> to you, but My Father who is in heaven.


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And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I shall build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.


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And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on the earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on the earth will have been loosed in heaven."


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<n>Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection </n> From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go off to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and to be killed, and to be raised the third day.


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And taking Him aside, Peter began to rebuke Him, saying, "God be gracious to You, Lord! This shall by no means happen to You!"


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But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me, because you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men."


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<n>The Cross and Self-Denial</n> Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.


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For whoever desires to save his life shall lose it, but whoever loses his life on account of Me shall find it.


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For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, but forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give <i>as</i> an exchange for his soul?


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For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will render to each according to his works.


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Assuredly I say to you, there are some standing here who will by no means taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom."


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<n>The Transfiguration</n> Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain in private;


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and He was transfigured before them, and His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.


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Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You desire, let us make here three tents: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."


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While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and behold, a voice <i>came</i> out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!"


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And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, "Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead."


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But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they desired. Thus also the Son of Man is about to suffer by them."


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<n>Jesus Cures a Boy with a Demon </n> And when they came to the crowd, a man approached Him, kneeling down to Him, and saying,


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"Lord, have pity on my son, for he is moonstruck and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water.


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Then Jesus answered and said, "O unfaithful and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me."


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So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly I say to you, if you have faith like a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, 'Be moved from here to there,' and it shall move; and nothing shall be impossible for you.


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<n>Jesus Again Foretells His Death and Resurrection</n> And while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men,


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and they will kill Him, and on the third day He shall be raised." And they were exceedingly sorrowful.


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<n>Jesus and the Temple Tax </n> When they had come to Capernaum, those who collected the temple tax came to Peter and said, "Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?"


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He said, "Yes." And when he entered into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?"


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Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, and cast in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a coin. Take that, <i>and </i>give it to them for Me and for yourself."


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<n>True Greatness</n> At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is <i>the </i>greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"


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and said, "Assuredly I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you shall by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.


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Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.


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<n>Jesus Warns of Offenses </n> "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him that a huge millstone be hanged on his neck, and he be drowned in the depth of the sea.


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


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And if your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut them off and cast <i>them</i> from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, than having two hands or two feet, to be thrown into the eternal fire.


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And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, than having two eyes, to be thrown into the fiery hell.


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<n>The Parable of the Lost Sheep</n> "See that you do not despise one of these little <i>ones</i>, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.


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What do you think? If a certain man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains, and go and search for the <i>one </i>gone astray?


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And if he happens to find it, assuredly I say to you that he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which did not go astray.


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Thus it is not the will before your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.


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<n>Reproving Another Who Sins</n> "And if your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have won your brother.


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But if he does not hear, take along with you one or two more, so that <span class='smcaps'>'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established</span>.'


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But if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you as a heathen and a tax collector.


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Assuredly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.


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Again, assuredly I say to you that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.


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<n>Forgiveness </n> Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?"


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Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.


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But since he had nothing with which to repay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and everything that he had, and to be repaid.


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Therefore falling down before him, the servant said, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will repay everything to you.'


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But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. And taking hold of him, he was choking him, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!'


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So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and kept begging him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you back.'


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But he was not willing, but going off, he cast him into prison till he should pay back what was owed.


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So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were deeply grieved, and they came and narrated to their master all that had taken place.


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Then summoning him, his master said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.


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And being angered, his master handed him over to the tormentors until he should pay all that was owed to him.


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Thus also My heavenly Father will do to you, if you do not forgive each one his brother their trespasses, from your hearts."


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<n>Marriage and Divorce</n> Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these words, that He departed from Galilee and went to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.


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The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?"


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And He answered and said to them, "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning <span class='smcaps'>'made them male and female</span>,'


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and He said, <span class='smcaps'>'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'</span>?


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So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."


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They said to Him, "Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?"


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He said to them, "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it has not been this way.


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And I say to you, that whoever shall put away his wife, except <i>it be </i>for fornication, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marrying a divorcee commits adultery."


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His disciples said to Him, "If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry."


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But He said to them, "All cannot accept this saying, but <i>it is for those</i> to whom it has been given:


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For there are eunuchs who were born this way from <i>their</i> mother's womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He who is able to accept <i>this</i>, let him accept <i>it</i>."


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<n>Jesus Blesses Little Children </n> Then little children were brought to Him, that He might put His hands on them and pray; but the disciples rebuked them.


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But Jesus said, "Allow the little children to come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven."


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<n>The Rich Young Ruler</n> And behold, one came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what good <i>thing</i> shall I do that I may have eternal life?"


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So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except One, <i>that is</i>, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."


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He said to Him, "Which ones?" Jesus said, " <span class='smcaps'>'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,' </span>


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'<span class='smcaps'> Honor your father and your mother</span>,' and, <span class='smcaps'>'You shall love your neighbor as yourself</span>.' "


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Jesus said to him, "If you desire to be perfect, go, sell your belongings and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."


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<n>Riches a Snare </n> Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Assuredly I say to you, that with difficulty a rich <i>man</i> shall enter the kingdom of heaven.


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And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than <i>for</i> a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."


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And when His disciples heard, they were greatly astonished, and said, "Who then is able to be saved?"


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And looking at <i>them</i>, Jesus said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."


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Then Peter answered and said to Him, "See, we have left all and followed You. What then shall we have?"


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So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the Regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.


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And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit eternal life.


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<n>The Laborers in the Vineyard</n> "For the kingdom of heaven is like a certain landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.


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And said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and whatever may be right I will give you.' So they went.


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And about the eleventh hour, going out he found others standing idle, and said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all day?'


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"They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you shall receive.'


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"So when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.'


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But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they also received each a denarius.


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saying, 'These last <i>men</i> have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.'


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"But he answered one of them and said, 'Friend, I am not wronging you. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?


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Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own <i>things</i>? Or is your eye evil because I am good?'


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<n>A Third Time Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection </n> And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, He took aside the twelve disciples privately on the road, and He said to them,


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“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death,


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and they will hand Him over to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He shall rise again."


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<n>Greatness is Serving </n> Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Him with her sons, worshipping <i>Him,</i> and asking something from Him.


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And He said to her, "What do you desire?" She said to Him, "Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and one on Your left, in Your kingdom."


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But Jesus answered and said, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup which I am about to drink, or to be baptized <i>with</i> the baptism that I am baptized with?" They said to Him, "We are able."


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So He said to them, "You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism <i>with </i>which I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is to <i>those</i> for whom it has been prepared by My Father."


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But Jesus, having summoned them, said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.


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Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, shall be your servant.


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just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life <i>as </i>a ransom for many."


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And behold, two blind men sitting alongside the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, "Have pity on us, O Lord, Son of David!"


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But the crowd warned them that they should be silent; but they cried out all the more, saying, "Have pity on us, O Lord, Son of David!"


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And having stood still, Jesus called them, and said, "What do you desire <i>that</i> I should do for you?"


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And Jesus, having compassion, touched their eyes, and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.


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<n>The Triumphal Entry</n> Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethsphage, towards the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,


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saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied up, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me.


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And if anyone asks you anything, you shall say, 'The Lord has need of them,' and immediately he will send them."


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"<span class='smcaps'>Say to the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your King is coming to you, humble, and sitting on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey</span>.' "


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They brought the donkey and the colt, and they laid their clothes on them, and they set <i>Him</i> on them.


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And a very large crowd spread their clothes on the road; but others were cutting down branches from the trees and were spreading <i>them</i> on the road.


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Then the crowds who went before, and those following were crying out, saying: "Hosanna to the Son of David! <span class='smcaps'>'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord</span>!' Hosanna in the highest!"


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<n>Jesus Cleanses the Temple </n> Then Jesus went into the temple of God and He cast out all those buying and selling in the temple, and He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves.


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And He said to them, "It is written, <span class='smcaps'>'My house shall be called a house of prayer</span>,' but you have made it a <span class='smcaps'>'den of thieves</span>.'"


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But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonders which He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they became indignant


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and said to Him, "Do You hear what these <i>children </i>are saying?" And Jesus said to them, "Yes. Have you never read, <span class='smcaps'>'Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise'</span>?"


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<n>Jesus Curses the Fig Tree </n> Now in the early morning, returning to the city, He became hungry.


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And seeing a fig tree by the road, He went up to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, "May no fruit come from you ever again!" And immediately the fig tree withered away.


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So Jesus answered and said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you should say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' it will happen.


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<n>The Authority of Jesus Questioned</n> Now as He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, "By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?"


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But Jesus answered and said to them, "I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things:


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The baptism of John—where was it from? From heaven or from men?" And they were arguing among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?'


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So they answered Jesus and said, "We do not know." And He said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.


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<n>The Parable of the Two Sons</n> "But what do you think? A man had two children. And having come to the first, he said, 'Son, go work today in my vineyard.'


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And having come to the other, he said likewise. And he answered and said, 'I <i>am going</i>, sir,' but he did not go.


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Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said to Him, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you.


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For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; but you, having seen, did not repent afterwards, that you might believe him.


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<n>The Parable of the Wicked Tenants </n> "Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to farmers and went on a journey.


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Now when the harvest time of fruits drew near, he sent his servants to the farmers, that they might collect his fruits.


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"But when the farmers saw the son, they said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and let us gain possession of his inheritance.'


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They said to Him, "He will destroy <i>those</i> wicked <i>men</i> miserably, and lease his vineyard to other farmers, who will render to him the fruits in their seasons."


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Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: <span class='smcaps'>'The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'</span>?


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"Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God shall be taken away from you, and it shall be given to a nation producing the fruits of it.


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And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder."


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Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they knew that He was speaking about them.


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<n>The Parable of the Wedding Banquet</n> And Jesus answered and spoke to them again in parables, saying,


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and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they did not want to come.


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Again, he sent out other servants, saying, 'Say to those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things <i>are</i> ready. Come to the wedding." '


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And when that king heard, he was furious. And he sent out his troops, and he destroyed those murderers, and he burned up their city.


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Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding indeed is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy.


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"So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding <i>hall</i> was filled with guests.


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So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here not having wedding clothes?' And he was speechless.


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Then the king said to the servants, 'Tie him up hands and feet, take him away, and cast <i>him</i> into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'


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<n>The Question about Paying Taxes </n> Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might trap Him in His speech.


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And they sent their disciples to Him with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You show favoritism to anyone.


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They said to Him, "Caesar's." And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."


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<n>The Question about the Resurrection </n> The same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him, and they questioned Him,


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saying: "Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife as next of kin, and shall raise up offspring for his brother.


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Now there were with us seven brothers. The first died, after having married, and having no offspring, he left his wife to his brother.


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Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For <i>they</i> all had <i>married </i>her."


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For in the resurrection neither do they marry, nor are they given in marriage, but they are like angels of God in heaven.


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But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying,


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<span class='smcaps'>'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'</span>? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living."


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<n>The Greatest Commandment </n> But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together.


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Jesus said to him, “ <span class='smcaps'>'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind</span>.'


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<n>The Question about David’s Son</n> And when the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,


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'<span class='smcaps'>The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet</span>" '?


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And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him any longer.


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Therefore whatever they may say to you to observe, observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.


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For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay <i>them</i> on men's shoulders; but they do not desire to move them with their finger.


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But all their works they do in order to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and they enlarge the borders of their garments.


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But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.


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Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you shut up the kingdom of heaven before men; for you do not enter, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.


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Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you travel around land and sea to make one proselyte, and whenever he becomes <i>one</i>, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you.


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Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, is obligated.'


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And, 'Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, is obligated.'


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Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the more important <i>things</i> of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These things you should have done, and not have neglected the others.


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Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and unrighteousness.


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Blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and dish, so that the outside of them may be clean also.


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Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and of all uncleanness.


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Thus also you outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.


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Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous,


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and say, 'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.'


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Therefore, behold, I send you prophets, wise <i>men</i>, and scribes: some of them you will kill and you will crucify, and <i>some</i> of them you will flog in your synagogues and you will persecute from city to city,


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so that on you may come all the righteous blood being shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.


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<n>Jesus Laments over Jerusalem </n> "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, <i>you</i> who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often would I have gathered your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!


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For I say to you, you shall by no means see Me from now until you say, 'Blessed <i>is</i> He who comes in the name of the Lord!' "


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<n>The Destruction of the Temple Foretold</n> Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came to <i>Him</i> to point out to Him the buildings of the temple.


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But Jesus said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Assuredly I say to you, by no means will a stone be left here upon a stone, which shall not be thrown down."


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<n>Signs of the End of the Age</n> And as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when shall these things be? And what <i>shall be</i> the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?"


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And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See <i>that</i> you are not disturbed; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.


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For nation shall rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.


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Then they will hand you over to tribulation and they will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations, on account of My name.


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And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.


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<n>The Great Tribulation </n> "Therefore when you see the ‘<span class='smcaps'>abomination of desolation</span>,’ spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand),


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But woe to those <i>women </i>who are pregnant, and to the <i>women</i> nursing a baby in those days!


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For then there shall be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until now, nor by any means shall be.


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And unless those days were cut short, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake, those days will be cut short.


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For false christs and false prophets will be raised up, and they will show great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect.


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Therefore if they should say to you, 'Look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; or 'Look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not believe <i>it</i>.


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For as the lightning comes out from the east and flashes to the west, so shall also be the coming of the Son of Man.


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<n>The Coming of the Son of Man</n> "Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give its light; and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.


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And then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth shall mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.


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And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.


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<n>The Parable of the Fig Tree</n> "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: Whenever its branch already becomes tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.


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Assuredly I say to you, this generation shall by no means pass away till all these things are fulfilled.


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<n>The Necessity for Watchfulness </n> "But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.


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For just as they were in the days before the flood, eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark,


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and they didn’t know <i>a thing</i> until the flood came and took <i>them</i> all away, so also shall be the coming of the Son of Man.


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But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have kept watch, and he would not have allowed his house to be broken into.


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<n>The Faithful Servant and the Evil Servant </n> "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master appointed over his household, to give them food in due season?


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the master of that servant will come on a day which he does not expect, and in an hour which he does not know,


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and he will cut him in two, and will appoint his share with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.


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<n>The Parable of the Ten Virgins</n> "Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, who having taken their lamps, went out to meet the bridegroom.


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But the wise answered, saying, 'No, lest there should not be enough for you and us; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.'


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But as they went away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.


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<n>The Parable of the Talents </n> "For <i>it is </i>as<i> if</i> a man leaving on a journey, who called his own servants and handed over his possessions to them.


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And to the one he gave five talents, and to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.


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Then the <i>one</i> receiving the five talents went and traded with them, and made five other talents.


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And the <i>one</i> who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I gained five more talents besides them.'


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His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'


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And also the <i>one </i>receiving the two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.'


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His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'


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Then the <i>one</i> having received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you, that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter.


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But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and slothful servant, you knew that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter.


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Therefore you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received what is mine with interest.


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For to everyone who has, <i>more</i> shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but to him who does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.


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And cast the useless servant into the outer darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'


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<n>The Judgment of the Nations</n> "And when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then will He sit upon His glorious throne.


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All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.


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Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:


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for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;


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Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?


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And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you did it to Me.'


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Then He will also say to those on the left, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels:


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I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.'


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Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and we did not minister to You?'


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Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, neither did you do<i> it </i>to Me.'


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<n>The Plot to Kill Jesus</n> Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these words, that He said to His disciples,


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


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Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people were assembled into the court of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,


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a woman came to Him having an alabaster <i>flask</i> of very expensive perfume, and she began to pour it on His head as He reclined <i>to eat</i>.


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But when Jesus became aware of it, He said to them, "Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful work for Me.


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Assuredly I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what this <i>woman</i> did will be spoken of as a memorial to her."


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<n>Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus </n> Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests


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and said, "What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?" And they weighed out for him thirty silver <i>coins</i>.


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<n>Jesus Celebrates the Passover</n> Now on the first day of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, "Where do You desire <i>that</i> we shall prepare for You to eat the Passover?"


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And He said, "Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, 'The Teacher says, "My time is near; at your house I will keep the Passover with My disciples." ' "


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Indeed, the Son of Man goes just as it is written about Him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born."


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Then Judas, the <i>one</i> betraying Him, answered and said, "<i>Surely </i>not I am <i>the one</i>, Rabbi?" He said to him, "You have said <i>it</i>."


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<n>The Institution of the Lord’s Supper</n> And as they were eating, Jesus took the bread, and giving thanks, He broke <i>it</i>, and gave <i>it</i> to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is My body."


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Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave <i>it</i> to them, saying, "Drink of it, all <i>of you</i>,


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But I say to you, that I will by no means drink of this fruit of the vine from now <i>on,</i> until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom."


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<n>Peter’s Denial Foretold </n> Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me on this night, for it is written: <span class='smcaps'>'I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered</span>.'


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Peter answered and said to Him, "Even if all may fall away because of You, yet I will never fall away."


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Jesus said to him, "Assuredly I say to you that on this night, before <i>the</i> rooster crows, you will deny Me three times."


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Peter said to Him, "Even if I have to die with You, by no means will I deny You!" And likewise said all the disciples.


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<n>Jesus Prays in Gethsemane</n> Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, "Sit here while I go off and pray <i>over</i> there."


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Then Jesus said to them, "My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me."


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He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You <i>will</i>."


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Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "What? Were you not strong <i>enough</i> to watch with Me one hour?


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Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. Indeed the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."


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Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, let Your will be done."


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Then He came to His disciples and said to them, "Sleep now, and rest. Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.


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<n>The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus</n> And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve came, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, <i>sent</i> from the chief priests and elders of the people.


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Now the <i>one</i> betraying Him had given them a sign, saying, "Whomever I shall kiss, He is <i>the One</i>; seize Him."


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But Jesus said to him, "Friend, why have you come?" Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him.


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And behold, one of those with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, and striking the servant of the high priest, he cut off his ear.


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But Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place, for all those who take the sword shall perish by the sword.


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Or do you think that I cannot now call upon My Father, and He will furnish Me with more than twelve legions of angels?


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In that hour Jesus said to the crowds, "Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to arrest Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me.


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But all this has happened so that the Scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled." Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.


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<n>Jesus Before the High Priest </n> And those having seized Jesus led <i>Him</i> away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together.


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But Peter was following Him from a distance, up to the courtyard of the high priest. And entering inside, he sat down with the attendants to see the end.


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Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the Sanhedrin were seeking false witnesses against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death,


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and they did not find <i>any</i>. And though many false witnesses came forward, they did not find <i>any</i>. But at last two false witnesses came forward


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and said, "This <i>Man</i> said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God, and after three days to rebuild it.' "


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And standing up the high priest said to Him, "Do You answer nothing? What is it these men are testifying against You?"


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But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, "I adjure You by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!"


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Jesus said to him, "You said <i>it</i>. Nevertheless, I say to you, from now <i>on,</i> you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven."


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Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, "He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy!


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<n>Peter’s Denial of Jesus</n> Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, "You also were with Jesus of Galilee."


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And when he had gone out to the gateway, another <i>girl</i> saw him and said to them there, "This <i>man</i> was with Jesus the Nazarene."


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And after a little <i>while</i>, those standing by came up and said to Peter, "Surely you also are one of them, for your accent gives you away."


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Then he began to curse and swear, saying, "I do not know the Man!" And immediately a rooster crowed.


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And Peter remembered the word of Jesus which He said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." And going out, he wept bitterly.


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<n>Jesus Brought Before Pilate</n> When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus, so as to put Him to death.


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<n>Judas Hangs Himself</n> Then Judas, the <i>one</i> betraying Him, seeing that He was condemned, feeling regret, returned the thirty silver <i>coins</i> to the chief priests and elders,


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saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." And they said, "What is <i>that</i> to us? You see to it!"


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And throwing the silver <i>coins</i> in the sanctuary, he departed; and going away, he hanged himself.


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But the chief priests, taking the silver <i>coins</i> said, "It is not lawful to put them into the temple treasury, since they are the price of blood."


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Then was fulfilled the thing spoken through Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "<span class='smcaps'>And they took the thirty </span><span class='smcaps'><i>coins</i></span><span class='smcaps'>, the value of Him who was priced</span>, whom they of the sons of Israel priced,


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<n>Pilate Questions Jesus</n> Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?" So Jesus said to him, "<i>It is as</i> you say."


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<n>Barabbus or Jesus? </n> Now at the feast, the governor was accustomed to release to the crowd one prisoner whom they wished.


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Therefore when they had assembled, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you wish <i>that</i> I should release to you, Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?"


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Now as he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him."


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But the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowds that they should ask for Barabbas, but they should destroy Jesus.


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The governor answered and said to them, "Which of the two do you wish me to release to you?" They said, "Barabbas!"


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Pilate said to them, "What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said to him, "Let Him be crucified!"


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Then the governor said, "Why, what evil did He do?" But they cried out all the more, saying, "Let Him be crucified!"


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And Pilate, seeing that nothing was being gained, but rather a riot was starting, taking water, he washed his hands clean in front of the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this just <i>Man</i>. You see to it."


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<n>The Soldiers Mock Jesus </n> Then the soldiers of the governor, having taken Jesus to the Praetorium, gathered the whole garrison around Him.


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When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put <i>it</i> on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And kneeling before Him, they mocked Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!"


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And when they had mocked Him, they stripped Him of the robe, and dressed Him in His own clothes, and led Him away in order to crucify <i>Him</i>.


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<n>The Crucifixion of Jesus</n> And going out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. Him they pressed into service that he might carry His cross.


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And they put up over His head the crime having been written <i>against</i> Him: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.


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and saying, "You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross."


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Likewise the chief priests also, mocking <i>Him </i>with the scribes and elders, and Pharisees, said,


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He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe on Him.


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He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now, if He will have Him; for He said, 'I am the Son of God.' "


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<n>The Death of Jesus </n> Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour, darkness came upon all the land.


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And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lima sabachthani?" that is, "<span class='smcaps'>My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me</span>?"


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Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, and filled it with sour wine and put it around a reed, and offered it to Him to drink.


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And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth was shaken, and the rocks were split,


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and coming forth out of the tombs after His resurrection, they entered into the holy city and appeared to many.


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So when the centurion and those with him guarding Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they were greatly afraid, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God!"


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And there were many women there observing from a distance, who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him,


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among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.


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<n>The Burial of Jesus </n> Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus.


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This <i>man</i> went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him.


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and placed it in his new tomb which he had cut in the rock; and having rolled a large stone <i>against</i> the door of the tomb, he departed.


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<n>The Guard at the Tomb </n> On the next day, which is after the Preparation <i>Day</i>, the chief priests and Pharisees were gathered together to Pilate,


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saying, "Sir, we remember how that deceiver said while He was still alive, 'After three days I will rise.'


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"Therefore command that the grave be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him, and say to the people, 'He was raised from the dead.' So the last deception will be worse <i>than</i> the first."


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<n>The Resurrection of Jesus</n> But after <i>the</i> Sabbath, at the dawning toward <i>the</i> first <i>day</i> of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.


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And behold, a great earthquake occurred; for an angel of the Lord, having come down out of heaven, came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.


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But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.


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And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and behold, He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you."


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And as they were going to report to His disciples, that behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Rejoice!" So they came and held His feet and worshipped Him.


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Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go, report to My brothers that they should go to Galilee, and there they will see Me."


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<n>The Report of the Guard</n> Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened.


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When they had assembled with the elders and taking counsel, they gave sufficient silver <i>coins</i> to the soldiers,


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So they took the silver and did as they were instructed. And this saying has been widely spread among the Jews until this day.


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<n>The Great Commission </n> Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them.


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And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.


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Go <i>therefore</i> and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,


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teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.


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<n>The Proclamation of John the Baptist</n> THE BEGINNING OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD.


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As it is written in the Prophets: "<span class='smcaps'>Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You." </span>


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<span class='smcaps'> "A voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight</span>.' "


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John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.


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And all the Judean country and the inhabitants of Jerusalem went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.


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Now John was clothed with camel's hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and was eating locusts and wild honey.


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And he was preaching, saying, "There comes One after me who is stronger than me, of whom I am not worthy to stoop down and to loose the strap of His sandal.


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<n>The Baptism of Jesus </n> It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.


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And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit coming down upon Him like a dove.


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And He was there in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan, and was with the wild animals; and the angels were ministering to Him.


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<n>The Beginning of the Galilean Ministry </n> Now after John was imprisoned, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,


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and saying, "The time has been fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."


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<n>Jesus Calls the First Disciple </n> And as He was walking alongside the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.


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And having gone forth from there a little, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets.


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And immediately He called them. And after they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired workers, they went away after Him.


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<n>The Man with an Unclean Spirit</n> And they were going into Capernaum. And immediately on the Sabbath, He entered the synagogue and began teaching.


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And they were astonished at His doctrine, for He was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.


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saying, "Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!"


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And when the unclean spirit threw him into a convulsion, and crying out with a loud voice, came out from him.


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Then they were all amazed, so that they were disputing among themselves, saying, "What is this? What new doctrine is this, that He commands even the unclean spirits with authority, and they obey Him?"


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<n>Jesus Heals Many at Simon’s House</n> And immediately when they went out from the synagogue, they came to the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.


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And the mother-in-law of Simon was lying sick with a fever, and immediately they spoke to Him about her.


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So He came and He raised her up, grasping her hand; and immediately the fever left her. And she began to serve them.


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Now when evening came, when the sun set, they were bringing to Him all those who were ill, and those who were demon-possessed.


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And He healed many who were ill with various diseases, and He cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.


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<n>A Preaching Tour in Galilee</n> And in the very early morning before dawn, He arose and He went out, and went away to a deserted place; and there He was praying.


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But He said to them, "Let us go to the neighboring towns, that I may preach there also, because for this reason I have come forth."


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<n>Jesus Cleanses a Leper</n> Then a leper came to Him, beseeching Him, kneeling before Him and saying to Him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean."


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And Jesus, being moved with compassion, <i>and</i> reaching out His hand, touched him, and said to him, "I am willing, be cleansed."


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and said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and bring as an offering concerning your cleansing those things which Moses prescribed, as a testimony to them."


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But he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread widely the report, so that He was no longer able to enter into a city, but was outside in deserted places; and they were coming to Him from everywhere.


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<n>Jesus Heals a Paralytic</n> And He entered again into Capernaum after <i>some</i> days, and it was heard that He was in a certain house.


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And immediately many were gathered together, so that there was no longer any room, not even near the door. And He was speaking the word to them.


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And not being able to get near Him because of the crowd, they removed the tiles from the roof where He was, and having dug through they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.


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And immediately, when Jesus recognized in His spirit that they were reasoning thus among themselves, He said to them, "Why are you reasoning these things in your hearts?


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Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins have been forgiven,' or to say, 'Arise, take up your bed and walk'?


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But in order that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on the earth to forgive sins"—He said to the paralytic,


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And immediately he arose, and taking his bed, he went out before <i>them</i> all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw <i>anything</i> like this!"


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<n>Jesus Calls Levi (Matthew) </n> Then He went out again alongside the sea; and all the crowd was coming to Him, and He was teaching them.


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And passing by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office, and He said to him, "Follow Me." And arising, he followed Him.


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Now it came about, as He was dining in Levi's house, that many tax collectors and sinners were dining together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him.


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And the scribes and Pharisees, seeing Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, said to His disciples, "Why does He eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?"


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When Jesus heard <i>it</i>, He said to them, "Those who are healthy have no need of a physician, but those who are ill. I did not come to call <i>the </i>righteous, but sinners, to repentance."


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<n>The Question about Fasting</n> And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting. Then they came and said to Him, "Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?"


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And Jesus said to them, "Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they are not able to fast.


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But the days shall come when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then they shall fast in those days.


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No one sews a patch of a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; or else <i>it</i> takes away its completeness, the new <i>piece</i> from the old <i>garment</i>, and the tear becomes worse.


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And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine spills out, and the wineskins will be ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins."


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<n>Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath </n> Now it came about as He was going through the grainfields on the Sabbath, that His disciples began to make <i>their</i> way picking the heads of grain.


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But He said to them, "Have you never read what David did when he was in need, and became hungry, he and those with him?


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How he entered into the house of God at the time Abiathar <i>was</i> high priest, and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat, except for the priests, and also gave to those who were with him?"


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<n>Healing on the Sabbath</n> And He entered again into the synagogue. And a man was there who had a withered hand.


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And they were observing Him, <i>to see </i>if He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him.


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Then He said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they kept silent.


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And looking around at them with anger, being grieved at the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.


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Then the Pharisees went out with the Herodians and immediately conspired against Him, how they might destroy Him.


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<n>A Great Multitude Follows Jesus</n> But Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea. And a large multitude from Galilee followed Him, and from Judea


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and from Jerusalem and Idumea and beyond the Jordan, and those around Tyre and Sidon, a large multitude, when they heard everything He was doing, came to Him.


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So He told His disciples that a small boat should be kept ready for Him because of the crowd, lest they should crush Him.


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For He had healed many, so that all who had afflictions were crowding upon Him, so that they might touch Him.


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And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw Him, fell down before Him and would cry out, saying, "You are the Son of God."


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<n>Jesus Appoints the Twelve</n> And He went up on the mountain and summoned those whom He wanted, and they came to Him.


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And He appointed twelve, so that they might be with Him, and so that He might send them out to preach,


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James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, He gave them the names Boanerges, which is, "Sons of Thunder";


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Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite;


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<n>Jesus and Beelzebul </n> And they came into a house. Then again a crowd assembled, so that they were not even able to eat food.


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But when His relatives heard, they came out to seize Him, for they were saying, "He has lost His mind."


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And the scribes who were from Jerusalem came down and were saying, "He has Beelzebul," and, "By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons."


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No one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his possessions, unless he first binds the strong man, and then he may plunder his house.


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<n>The Unpardonable Sin</n> "Assuredly I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, also blasphemies, as many as they may blaspheme;


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but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is under sentence of eternal condemnation"—


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And a crowd was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers and Your sisters are seeking You outside."


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And when He had looked around in a circle at those sitting around Him, He said, "Here are My mother and My brothers!


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<n>The Parable of the Sower</n> And again He began to teach beside the sea. And a large crowd was gathered to Him, so that He got aboard into the boat, and sat on the sea; and all the crowd was upon the land by the sea.


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And it happened, as he sowed, that some <i>seed</i> fell alongside the road; and the birds came and devoured it.


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And some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth.


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And some <i>seed </i>fell into the thorns; and the thorns came up and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.


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But other <i>seed </i>fell on good ground, and it was yielding fruit coming up and growing, and it was producing—some thirtyfold, some sixty<i>,</i> and some a hundred.”


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<n>The Purpose of Parables </n> But when He was by himself, those around Him together with the twelve asked Him about the parable.


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And He said to them, "Unto you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come to be <i>spoken</i> in parables,


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so that <span class='smcaps'>'Seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand; Lest they should turn, and their sins be forgiven them</span>.' "


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<n>The Parable of the Sower Explained</n> And He said to them, "Do you not know this parable? How then will you know all the parables?


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And these are the <i>seeds</i> beside the road where the word is sown, and whenever they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word which was sown in their hearts.


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And these are similarly the <i>seeds</i> being sown on stony ground which, whenever they hear the word, immediately they receive it with joy;


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and they have no root in themselves, but are shortlived. Afterward, when trials or persecution arise because of the word, immediately they fall away.


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And these are the <i>seeds</i> being sown in the thorns; they are the <i>ones</i> who are hearing the word,


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and the anxieties of this age, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things coming in choke out the word, and it becomes fruitless.


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And these are the <i>seeds</i> sown on good ground, such as who hear the word and welcome it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred."


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<n>Light Under a Basket</n> And He said to them, "A lamp is not brought so that it may be put under a measuring basket or under a bed, <i>is it?</i> <i>Is it</i> not<i> brought</i> so that it may be put on a lampstand?


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For there is nothing hidden which shall not be made manifest, nor was it hidden but that it might come to light.


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Then He said to them, "Watch what you hear. By what measure you measure, it will be measured out to you; and <i>more</i> will be added to you who hear.


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For whoever has, <i>more</i> will be given to him; and he who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him."


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<n>The Parable of the Growing Seed</n> And He said, "Thus is the kingdom of God as if a man should cast seed on the ground,


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and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and should grow, he himself does not know how.


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For the earth produces fruit of itself: first a shoot, then a head of grain, then full wheat in the head of grain.


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But whenever the fruit permits, immediately he sends forth the sickle, because the harvest has come."


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<n>The Parable of the Mustard Seed</n> Then He said, "To what shall we compare the kingdom of God? Or by what sort of parable shall we illustrate it?


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It is like a mustard seed, which whenever it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on the earth;


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but whenever it is sown, it comes up and becomes greater than all the garden vegetables, and produces great branches, so that the birds of heaven are able to nest under its shade."


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And apart from a parable He did not speak to them, however, privately to His disciples, he would explain all things.


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<n>Jesus Calms a Storm</n> On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us go across to the other side."


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And leaving the crowd, they took Him along as He was in the boat. And other little boats were also with Him.


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And there was a severe windstorm, and the waves dashed up into the boat, so that it was already filling up.


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But He was in the stern, sleeping upon the cushion. And they woke Him up and said to Him, "Teacher! Does it not matter to You that we are perishing?"


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And having awakened He rebuked the wind, and He said to the sea, "Peace, be still." And the wind abated and there was a great calm.


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And they feared exceedingly, and were saying to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!"


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<n>Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Man</n> Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the region of the Gadarenes.


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And when He got out of the boat, immediately there met Him from the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,


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because he often had been bound with shackles and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him, and the shackles had been broken, and no one was able to subdue him.


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And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and bruising himself with stones.


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and crying out with a great voice he said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure You by God, do not torment me!"


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And He was asking him, "What is your name?" And he answered, saying, "My name is Legion; for we are many."


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And immediately Jesus gave them permission. And when the unclean spirits came out, they entered into the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, (there were about two thousand) and drowned in the sea.


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But those feeding the swine fled, and they reported it in the city and in the country. And they came out to see what it was that had happened.


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Then they came to Jesus, and observed him who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and having been clothed and being of sound mind, and they were afraid.


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And those who saw it related to them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine.


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And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed implored Him that he might be with Him.


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But Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, "Go home to your own family, and report to them all the things that the Lord has done for you, and how He had compassion on you."


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And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all the things Jesus did for him; and all were marveling.


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<n>A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed </n> Now when Jesus had crossed over again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd was gathered to Him; and He was beside the sea.


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And behold, there came one of the rulers of the synagogue, named Jairus. And seeing Him, he fell at His feet


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and was imploring Him many <i>times</i>, saying, "My little daughter is near death, please come and lay Your hands on her, so that she may be healed, and live."


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and who had suffered many things under many physicians, and who had spent everything at her disposal, and was no better, but rather having become worse,


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And immediately the flow of her blood was dried up, and she knew in her body that she had been healed from her affliction.


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And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, He turned in the crowd <i>and</i> said, "Who touched My clothes?"


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But His disciples said to Him, "You see the crowd pressing against You, and You say, 'Who touched Me?' "


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But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth.


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And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction."


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While He was still speaking, they came from the synagogue leader, saying, "Your daughter <i>has</i> died. Why do you still trouble the Teacher?"


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But Jesus, immediately when He heard the word being spoken, said to the synagogue leader, "Do not be afraid; only believe."


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And He did not permit anyone to follow along with Him except for Peter, James, and John the brother of James.


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And He went to the house of the synagogue leader, and observed a commotion, and <i>people</i> weeping and wailing, very much.


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And when He went in, He said to them, "Why are you making such commotion and weeping? The child is not dead, but she is asleep."


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And they were ridiculing Him. But putting them all out, He took along the father and the mother of the child, and those with Him, and He went in where the child was lying.


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And having grasped the hand of the child, He said to her, "Talitha, koumi," which means, "Little girl, I say to you, arise."


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And immediately the little girl arose and was walking about, for she was twelve years old. And they were overcome with great amazement.


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But He ordered them strictly that no one should know this, and said that something should be given her to eat.


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<n>The Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth</n> Then He went out from there and came to His hometown, and His disciples followed Him.


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And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many when they heard were astonished, saying, "Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, and such miracles are coming about by His hands?


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Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?" And they were offended at Him.


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But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own hometown, and among his relatives, and in his own house."


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and He could do no miracle there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick <i>people</i> and healed <i>them</i>.


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<n>The Mission of the Twelve </n> And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits.


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He commanded them that they should take nothing for the journey except a staff, only—no knapsack, no bread, nor a copper <i>coin</i> for their money belts—


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And as many as do not receive you nor hear you, as you leave from there, shake off the dust underneath your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom or for Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!"


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And they were casting out many demons, and they were anointing with oil many who were sick, and were healing <i>them</i>.


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<n>The Death of John the Baptist</n> And King Herod heard, for His name became well known. And he said, "John the Baptizer has been raised from the dead, and for this reason the miracles are at work in him."


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For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; because he had married her.


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for Herod was afraid of John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he was protecting him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and he would hear him gladly.


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And when an opportune day arrived, when Herod for his birthday festivities was putting on a supper for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee,


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and when Herodias' daughter herself came in and danced, and pleased Herod and his dinner guests, the king said to the girl, "Ask me whatever you may want, and I will give it to you."


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And when she had gone out, she said to her mother, "What shall I ask?" And she said, "The head of John the Baptist!"


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Immediately she came in with haste to the king and she requested, saying, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter."


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And the king became exceedingly sorry; yet, because of his oaths and of those who reclined with him, he did not want to refuse her.


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And immediately the king, having sent an executioner, commanded his head to be brought. And having departed, he beheaded him in the prison,


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<n>Feeding the Five Thousand </n> Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and they reported to Him all things, both everything they had done and everything they had taught.


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And He said to them, "Come, you yourselves privately, to a deserted place and rest a little." For there were many coming and going, and they were not even finding opportunity to eat.


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But the multitudes saw them going, and many recognized Him, and ran together there on foot from all the cities, and preceded them, and they came together to Him.


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And when He came out, Jesus saw a large crowd, and He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.


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And when it grew late, His disciples came to Him and said, "The place is deserted, and already the hour is late.


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Dismiss them, so that they may go into the surrounding farms and villages and may buy themselves food; for they have nothing to eat."


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But answering, He said to them, "You give them <i>something</i> to eat." And they said to Him, "Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii <i>worth of</i> bread and give them <i>something </i>to eat?"


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But He said to them, "How many loaves do you have? Go and see." And when they found out they said, "Five, and two fish."


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And taking the five loaves and the two fish, looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke the loaves, and was giving <i>them</i> to His disciples, so that they might set them before them; and the two fish He divided to all.


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<n>Jesus Walks on the Water </n> And immediately He compelled His disciples to step into the boat and to go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, until He could dismiss the crowd.


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Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them walking on the sea, and He intended to pass by them.


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for they all saw Him and were troubled. But immediately He spoke with them, and said to them, "Have courage! <i>It is</i> I AM; do not be afraid."


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Then He went up with them into the boat and the wind ceased. And they were greatly astounded among themselves beyond measure, and were marveling.


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<n>Healing the Sick in Gennesaret </n> And having crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there.


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running about that whole surrounding region, they began to carry about on beds those who were ill to wherever they would hear that He was.


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And wherever He would enter into villages, or towns, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and they would beg Him at least that they might touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were healed.


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<n>The Tradition of the Elders</n> Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes gathered together to Him, having come from Jerusalem.


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Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with ceremonially unclean, that is, with unwashed <i>hands</i>, they found fault.


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For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands with <i>their</i> fist, holding the tradition of the elders.


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And <i>coming</i> from the marketplace, unless they bathe, they do not eat. And there are many other things which they have received <i>by tradition</i>, like the washing of cups and pitchers, copper vessels and couches.


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Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, "Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but they eat bread with unwashed hands?"


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And answering He said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: <span class='smcaps'>'This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. </span>


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<span class='smcaps'> And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men</span>.'


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"For having left the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other similar things you do."


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And He said to them, "Well do you set aside the commandment of God, so that you may keep your tradition.


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For Moses said, <span class='smcaps'>'Honor your father and your mother'</span>; and, <span class='smcaps'>'Whoever speaks evil of father or mother, let him surely die</span>.'


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But you say, 'If a man says to <i>his</i> father or to <i>his </i>mother, "Whatever you might be profited by me is Corban"— (that is, a gift),


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<i>thus</i> nullifying the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down. And many similar things you do."


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There is nothing from outside a man, that entering into him, can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man.


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When He had entered a house <i>away</i> from the crowd, His disciples were asking Him about the parable.


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So He said to them, "Are you also without understanding? Do you not understand that everything entering a man from outside cannot defile him,


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because it does not enter into his heart but into his stomach, and passes into the latrine, <i>thus</i> purifying all foods?"


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For from within, out of the heart of men, come forth evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,


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<n>The Syro-Phoenician Woman’s Faith</n> From there He arose and He went away into the region of Tyre and Sidon. And having entered into a house, He wanted no one to know it, but He was not able to escape notice.


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For a woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit heard about Him, and she came and fell at His feet.


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Now the woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by race, and she was asking Him to cast the demon out from her daughter.


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But Jesus said to her, "Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs."


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And she answered and said to Him, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs underneath the table eat from the crumbs of the children."


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And going away to her house, she found the demon having gone out, and her daughter having been placed on the bed.


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<n>Jesus Heals a Deaf Man </n> Again, coming out from the region of Tyre and Sidon, He went to the Sea of Galilee, in the midst of the region of Decapolis.


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Then they brought to Him a deaf man impeded in speech, and they begged Him that He would lay His hand upon him.


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And when he had taken him aside from the crowd privately, He put His fingers in his ears, and having spit, He touched his tongue.


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Immediately his ears were opened, and the bond of his tongue was loosed, and he was speaking correctly.


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And He ordered them that they should tell no one; but the more He ordered them, the more exceedingly they would proclaim it.


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And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak."


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<n>Feeding the Four Thousand</n> In those days, when a great crowd had gathered, and not having anything to eat, Jesus, having summoned His disciples and said to them,


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I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been remaining with Me three days and have nothing to eat.


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And if I dismiss them hungry to their own houses, they will faint on the way; for some of them have come from a <i>great </i>distance."


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Then His disciples answered Him, "From where will anyone be able to satisfy these <i>people</i> with bread here in this deserted place?"


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So He commanded the crowd to recline on the ground. And He took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, He broke <i>them </i>and was giving <i>them</i> to His disciples, so that they might set <i>them</i> before <i>the people</i>; and they set them before the crowd.


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And they had a few small fish; and having blessed <i>them</i>, He said to set them before <i>the people</i>.


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<n>The Pharisees Seek a Sign</n> Then the Pharisees came out and began to question Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, testing Him.


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And sighing deeply in His spirit, He said, "Why does this generation seek a sign? Assuredly I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation."


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<n>Beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees and Herod</n> And having dismissed them, and stepping into the boat again, He went away to the other side.


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And they forgot to take bread, and except <i>for</i> one loaf, they did not have <i>any</i> with themselves in the boat.


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Then He charged them, saying, "Look out, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod."


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But Jesus, knowing about it, said to them, "Why are you reasoning because you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Is your heart still hardened?


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When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments did you take up?" They said to Him, "Twelve."


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"And when <i>I broke</i> the seven for the four thousand, how many hampers full of fragments did you take up?" And they said, "Seven."


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<n>Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida </n> Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and implored Him to touch him.


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And having taken the hand of the blind <i>man</i>, He led him outside the village, and having spit on his eyes, and having laid His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything.


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Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him to look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly again.


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Then He sent him away to his house, saying, "Neither go into the village, nor tell anyone in the village."


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<n>Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ </n> Now Jesus and His disciples went out to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the road He was questioning His disciples, saying to them, "Who do men pronounce Me to be?"


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So they answered, "John the Baptist; and others <i>say</i>, Elijah; but others, one of the prophets."


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He said to them, "But who do you pronounce Me to be?" Peter answered and said to Him, "You are the Christ."


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<n>Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection </n> And He began to teach them that it was necessary for the Son of Man to suffer many things, and to be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and to be killed, and after three days to rise.


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But when He had turned and saw His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, "Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men."


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<n>Take up the Cross and Follow Him</n> And having summoned the crowd together with His disciples, He said to them, "Whoever is willing to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.


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For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s, will save it.


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For whosoever is ashamed of Me and My words among this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him, whenever He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."


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<n>Jesus Transfigured on the Mount</n> And He said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will by no means taste death till they see the kingdom of God actually come in power."


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Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up into a high mountain alone by themselves. And He was transfigured before them,


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and His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth is able to whiten.


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Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tents: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah"—


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And a cloud appeared overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, <i>saying</i>, "This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him!"


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And as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should relate to no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man should rise from the dead.


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And answering He said to them, "Indeed, Elijah is coming first and restores all things. And how is it written concerning the Son of Man, that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt?


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But I say to you that indeed Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they wished, just as it is written concerning him."


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<n>The Healing of a Boy with a Spirit</n> And when He came to the disciples, He saw a large crowd around them, and scribes disputing with them.


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Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, they greeted Him.


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Then one of the crowd answered and said, "Teacher, I brought my son to You, because he has a mute spirit.


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And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, and gnashes his teeth, and he becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they might cast it out, but they were not able."


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He answered him and said, "O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me."


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Then they brought the boy to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and having fallen on the ground he was rolling about, foaming at the mouth.


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And often it threw him both into the fire and into the waters so that it may destroy him. But if You are able <i>to do</i> anything, help us and have compassion on us."


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And immediately crying out, the father of the child said with tears, "I believe, Lord; help my unbelief!"


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When Jesus saw that a crowd was running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to him, "Mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!"


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Then having cried out and having convulsed him greatly, it came out. And he became as one dead, so that many were saying, "He is dead."


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And after He entered into a house, His disciples asked Him privately, "Why were we not able to cast it out?"


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<n>Jesus Again Foretells His Death and Resurrection</n> And having gone out from there they were passing through Galilee, and He did not wish that anyone should know.


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For He was teaching His disciples and said to them, "The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise on the third day."


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<n>Who is the Greatest?</n> Then He came to Capernaum. And being in the house He asked them, "What were you disputing about with one another on the road?"


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But they were silent, for on the road they had discussed with one another who <i>was</i> <i>the </i>greatest.


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And having sat down He called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all."


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whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me, but Him who sent Me."


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Now John answered Him, saying, "Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow with us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us."


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But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name that will be able to soon speak evil of Me.


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For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you are Christ’s, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.


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<n>Jesus Warns of Offenses </n> "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were around his neck, and he be cast into the sea.


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If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It would be better for you to enter into life maimed, than to enter having two hands, to go into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched—


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And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It would be better for you to enter into life lame, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched—


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And if your eye causes you to stumble, cast it out. It would be better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into the fiery hell,


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Salt is good, but if the salt becomes unsalty, by what will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."


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<n>Marriage and Divorce</n> Then He arose from there and came to the region of Judea by the other side of the Jordan. And again crowds came together to Him, and as He was accustomed, He was teaching them.


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And some Pharisees approached and asked Him, "Is it lawful for a husband to put away his wife?" testing Him.


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And Jesus answered and said to them, "In view of your hardheartedness he wrote this commandment for you.


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But from the beginning of the creation, God <span class='smcaps'>'made them male and female.' </span>


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<span class='smcaps'> ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, </span>


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<span class='smcaps'> 'and the two shall become one flesh'</span>; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh.


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So He said to them, "Whoever should put away his wife and marry another commits adultery against her.


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<n>Jesus Blesses Little Children </n> And they were bringing to Him little children, that He might touch them; but the disciples were rebuking those who brought them.


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But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, "Allow the little children come to Me, do not hinder them; for of such is the kingdom of God.


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Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."


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<n>The Rich Young Ruler </n> Now as He was going out into the road, one came running up, and having knelt before Him, he asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?"


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You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not commit murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not bear false witness,' 'Do not defraud,' 'Honor your father and your mother.' "


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Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go, sell all that you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me."


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<n>All Things are Possible with God</n> And looking around, Jesus says to His disciples, "How difficult it is for those having riches to enter the kingdom of God!"


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And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus, answering again, says to them, "Children, how difficult it is for those who trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!


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It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of God."


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But looking at them Jesus said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God."


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So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields, for My sake and for the sake of the gospel,


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who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and fields, along with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.


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<n>A Third Time Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection</n> Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going ahead of them; and they were astonished, and <i>as they were</i> following they were afraid. And taking the twelve aside again, He began to tell them the things which were about to happen to Him.


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"Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and will deliver Him over to the Gentiles;


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and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And on the third day He will rise again."


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<n>Greatness is Serving</n> Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, "Teacher, we desire that You to do for us whatever we may ask."


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They said to Him, "Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and one on Your left, in Your glory."


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But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup which I drink, and to be baptized with the baptism <i>with </i>which I am baptized?"


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They said to Him, "We are able." So Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink the cup which I drink, and with the baptism <i>with </i>which I am baptized you will be baptized <i>with</i>;


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but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but <i>to those</i> for whom it has been prepared."


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But Jesus, having called them to <i>Himself</i>, said to them, "You know that those being reputed to be ruling the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.


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Yet it will not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.


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For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."


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<n>Jesus Heals Blind Bartimaeus</n> And they came to Jericho. And as He was going out from Jericho along with His disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus the blind man, the son of Timaeus, was sitting alongside the road begging.


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And when he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!"


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And many rebuked him, that he should be silent. But he cried out all the more, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!"


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And having stopped, Jesus asked for him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, "Have courage, rise up; He is calling you."


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So Jesus answered and said to him, "What do you desire <i>that </i>I should do for you?" And the blind man said to Him, "Rabboni, that I may receive sight."


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Then Jesus said to him, "Go; your faith has healed you." And immediately he received sight, and he followed Jesus on the road.


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<n>The Triumphal Entry</n> And when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, towards the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples;


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and He said to them, "Go into the village opposite you; and immediately entering into it you will find a colt tied up on which no one has sat. When you have untied him, bring <i>him</i>.


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And if anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?' say, 'The Lord has need of him,' and immediately he will send it here."


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And they departed, and found the colt tied up by the door outside in the street, and they untied him.


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And many spread their garments on the road, and others were cutting down branches from the trees and were spreading <i>them</i> on the road.


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And those going before, and those that were following were crying out, saying: "Hosanna! <span class='smcaps'>'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord</span>!'


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Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"


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And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple. And having looked around at all things, the hour already being late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve.


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<n>Jesus Curses the Fig Tree</n> Now the next day, after they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry.


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And seeing from a distance a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. And having come to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.


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And answering, Jesus said to it, "May no one eat fruit from you ever again." And His disciples were listening.


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<n>Jesus Cleanses the Temple</n> And they came to Jerusalem. And when Jesus entered into the temple, He began to throw out those selling and buying in the temple, and He overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of those that sold doves.


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And He was teaching, saying to them, "Is it not written, <span class='smcaps'>'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations'</span>? But you have made it a <span class='smcaps'>'den of thieves</span>!' "


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And the scribes and chief priests heard it and they sought how they might destroy Him; for they were afraid of Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching.


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<n>The Lesson of the Withered Fig Tree</n> Now in the morning while passing by, they saw the fig tree dried up from <i>its</i> roots.


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For assuredly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that the things which he says are coming to pass, whatever he says shall be his.


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For this reason I say to you, all things whatsoever you ask for in prayer, believe that you <i>will</i> receive <i>them</i>, and they will be yours.


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<n>Forgiveness and Prayer </n> "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive <i>them</i>, that your Father in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.


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<n>Jesus’ Authority Questioned</n> Then they came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking about in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to Him.


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And they said to Him, "By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority to do these things?"


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But Jesus answered and said to them, "I also will ask you one thing, and you answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things:


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And they were debating among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?'


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"But should we say, 'From men' "—they feared the people, for all had considered John to have been a prophet indeed.


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And answering they said to Jesus, "We do not know." And Jesus answered and said to them, "Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things."


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<n>The Parable of theWicked Tenants</n> Then He began to speak to them in parables: "A man planted a vineyard and set a fence around it, dug a wine vat and built a tower. And he leased it to farmers, and went on a journey.


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And at <i>harvest</i> time he sent a servant to the farmers, in order that he might receive <i>his part</i> from the fruit of the vineyard.


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Again he sent them another servant, and that one they wounded in the head with stones, and they sent him away shamefully treated.


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And again he sent another, and that one they killed, and <i>so with </i>many others, beating some and killing others.


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Therefore still having one son, his beloved, he even sent him to them last, saying, '<i>Surely </i>they will respect my son.'


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"But those farmers said to one another, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.'


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Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and will destroy the farmers, and give the vineyard to others.


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Have you not even read this Scripture: <span class='smcaps'>'The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. </span>


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And they sought to lay hold of Him, but they feared the crowd, for they knew that He had spoken the parable against them. And leaving Him, they went away.


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<n>The Question about Paying Taxes </n> Then they sent to Him some of the Pharisees and the Herodians, in order that they might catch Him in <i>His </i>discourse.


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And they came and said to Him, "Teacher, we know that You are true, and it does not make a difference to you about anyone; for You do not look on the face of men, but you teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?


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Should we give, or should we not give?" But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, "Why do you test Me? Bring Me a denarius, that I may see it."


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So they brought <i>one</i>. And He said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?" And they said to Him, "Caesar's."


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And Jesus answered and said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they marveled at Him.


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<n>The Question about the Resurrection </n> Then some Sadducees came to Him, who say that there is no resurrection, and they asked Him, saying:


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"Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man's brother dies and leaves behind a wife and leaves no children, that his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.


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<i>Therefore</i>, in the resurrection, when they shall arise, whose wife of them will she be? For all seven had her <i>as</i> wife."


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Jesus answered and said to them, "Is this not the reason you are mistaken, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God?


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For whenever they rise from among the dead, neither do they marry nor are they given in marriage, but they are like angels in heaven.


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But concerning the dead, that they rise, have you not read in the book of Moses, in connection with <i>the burning</i> bush <i>passage</i>, how God spoke to him, saying, <span class='smcaps'>'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'</span>?


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He is not the God of <i>the </i>dead, but the God of <i>the</i> living. Therefore you are greatly mistaken."


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<n>The First Commandment </n> Then one of the scribes came, after he heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, "Which is the first commandment of all?"


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Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is: <span class='smcaps'>'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord. </span>


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<span class='smcaps'> ' And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.</span>' This is the first commandment.


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And the second, like it, is this: <span class='smcaps'>'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.</span>' There is no other commandment greater than these."


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So the scribe said to Him, "Well <i>said</i>, Teacher, in truth You said that He is one, and there is no other besides Him.


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And to love Him with the whole heart, and with the whole understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is more than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices."


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Now when Jesus saw that he answered intelligently, He said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And no one dared any longer to question Him.


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<n>The Question about David’s Son </n> Then Jesus answered and said, as <i>He was</i> teaching in the temple, "How say the scribes that the Christ is the Son of David?


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For David himself said by the Holy Spirit: <span class='smcaps'>'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.</span>" '


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Therefore David himself calls Him 'Lord'; how then is He his Son?" And the large crowd was hearing Him gladly.


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<n>Jesus Denounces the Scribes</n> Then He said to them in His teaching, "Take heed of the scribes, who like to walk about in long robes, and <i>like</i> greetings in the marketplaces,


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who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense pray at length. These will receive more abundant judgment."


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<n>The Widow’s Offering</n> And Jesus sat down opposite the treasury, and was observing how the crowd was putting money into the treasury. And many rich <i>people</i> were putting in much.


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And having summoned His disciples, He said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who are putting into the treasury.


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For they all put in out of their excess, but this woman, out of her destitution, put in everything she had, her whole livelihood."


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<n>The Destruction of the Temple Foretold</n> And as He was going out from the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, "Teacher, see what sort of stones and what sort of buildings!"


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And Jesus answered and said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? By no means shall one stone be left upon another, which shall in any way escape destruction."


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<n>The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age</n> And as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately,


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Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things are about to be fulfilled?"


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But whenever you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be disturbed; for these things must occur, but the end is not yet.


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For nation will be raised up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and disturbances. These <i>are</i> the beginnings of birth pangs.


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But take heed to yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be flogged in the synagogues. You will stand before rulers and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them.


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But whenever they lead you forth to deliver you over, do not worry beforehand <i>as to </i>what you will say, nor rack your brains. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak this; for it is not you who is speaking, but the Holy Spirit.


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Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and will cause them to be put to death.


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<n>The Great Tribulation</n> "So whenever you see the ‘<span class='smcaps'>abomination of desolation</span>,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where he must not"—he who reads, let him understand—"then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.


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And let him on the housetop not go down into the house, nor enter to take anything out of his house.


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For in those days will be tribulation, such as there has not been the like from the beginning of creation which God created until now, and never again shall be.


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And unless the Lord had cut short the days, no flesh would be saved; but on account of the elect, whom He chose, He cut short the days.


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For false christs and false prophets will arise, and they will give signs and wonders in order to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.


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<n>The Coming of the Son of Man</n> "But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its radiance;


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And then He will send His angels, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the extremity of earth to the extremity of heaven.


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<n>The Parable of the Fig Tree</n> "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender, and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near.


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Assuredly I say to you, that by no means will this generation have passed away until all these things have taken place.


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<n>The Necessity of Watchfulness</n> "But concerning that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father.


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It is like a man going away on a journey, having left his house and having given authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper that he should watch.


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Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—at evening, or at midnight, or at dawn, or early in the morning—


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<n>The Plot to Kill Jesus</n> Now after two days it was the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how they might get hold of Him by guile, and <i>how </i>they might kill <i>Him</i>.


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<n>The Anointing at Bethany</n> And while He was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as He was reclining for a meal, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly pure nard. And having broken the flask, she began to pour it out over His head.


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But some were expressing indignation to one another and saying, "Why has this waste of the perfume occurred?


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For it was possible <i>for</i> this to be sold for more than three hundred denarii, and to be given to the poor." And they were scolding her.


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For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you are able to do them good; but you do not always have Me.


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And assuredly I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what this woman did will also be spoken as a memorial of her."


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<n>Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus</n> Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went off to the chief priests to betray Him to them.


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And having heard, they rejoiced and promised to give him money. So he was seeking how at some good time he might deliver Him up.


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<n>Jesus Celebrates the Passover </n> Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was sacrificed, His disciples said to Him, "Where do You desire that we go and prepare, that You may eat the Passover?"


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And He sent two of His disciples and said to them, "Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water. Follow him;


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and wherever he may enter, say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says, "Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?" '


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So His disciples went away, and came into the city, and found it just as He had said to them; and they prepared the Passover.


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And while they were reclining and eating, Jesus said, "Assuredly, I say to you, one of you eating with Me will betray Me."


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And they began to be sorrowful, and to say to Him one by one, "<i>Is it</i> I?" And another said, "<i>Is it</i> I?"


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But answering He said to them, "<i>It is</i> one of the twelve, the <i>one</i> dipping with Me in the bowl.


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The Son of Man indeed is going away just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man not to have been born."


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<n>The Institution of the Lord’s Supper</n> And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, "Take, eat; this is My body."


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


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<n>Peter’s Denial Foretold</n> Then Jesus said to them, "You all will be made to stumble because of Me on this night, for it is written: <span class='smcaps'>'I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered</span>.'


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Jesus said to him, "Assuredly I say to you, that you, today on this night, before the rooster crows twice, you shall deny Me three times."


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But he kept saying all the more profusely, "If it is necessary for me to die with You, by no means will I deny You!" And they all said likewise.


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<n>Jesus Prays in Gethsemane</n> And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, "Sit here while I pray."


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And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be greatly amazed, and deeply depressed.


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And having gone forward a little, He fell on the ground, and He was praying, that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him.


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And He said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You <i>will</i>."


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Then He came and found them sleeping, and He said to Peter, "Simon, are you sleeping? Were you not strong <i>enough</i> to watch one hour?


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And having returned, He found them sleeping again, for their eyes were heavy; and they did not know what they should answer Him.


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Then He came the third time and said to them, "Sleep on now, and take your rest. It is enough! The hour has come. Behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.


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<n>The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus</n> And immediately, while He was still speaking, Judas arrived, being one of the twelve, and with him a large crowd with swords and clubs, <i>sent</i> from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.


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Now His betrayer had given to them a sign, saying, "Whomever I shall kiss, He is <i>the One</i>; take Him and lead <i>Him</i> away safely."


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And when he arrived, immediately he approached Him and said to Him, "Rabbi, Rabbi!" and he affectionately kissed Him.


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But a certain one of those standing by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.


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Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Have you come out, as against a bandit, with swords and clubs to arrest Me?


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Daily I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me. But that the Scriptures may be fulfilled."


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<n>A Young Man Flees Naked</n> Now a certain young man had followed Him, having a linen cloth thrown around his naked body. And the young men seized him,


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<n>Jesus Before the Sanhedrin </n> And they led Jesus away to the high priest; and with him were assembled all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes.


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But Peter followed Him from a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest, and he was sitting together with the attendants and warming himself at the fire.


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Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking testimony against Jesus, in order to put Him to death, but found none.


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"We heard Him saying, 'I will destroy this temple made with hands, and after three days I will build another <i>one </i>not made with hands.' "


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And the high priest stood up and came forward and questioned Jesus, saying, "Do You answer nothing? What are these men testifying against You?"


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But He kept silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest was questioning Him, saying to Him, "Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?"


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And Jesus said, "I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven."


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You have heard the blasphemy! How does it appear to you?" And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death.


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Then some began to spit on Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him with <i>their</i> fists, and to say to Him, "Prophesy!" And the attendants were striking Him with slaps <i>to the face.</i>


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<n>Peter Denies Jesus</n> Now as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came.


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And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, "You also were with Jesus the Nazarene."


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But he denied it, saying, "I neither know nor understand what you are saying." And he went outside into the forecourt, and a rooster crowed.


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And the servant girl seeing him again, began to say to those standing by, "This <i>man</i> is one of them."


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But again he was denying <i>it</i>. And a little later those who were standing by said to Peter again, "Truly you are one of them; for you are also a Galilean, and your accent is like <i>theirs</i>."


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And for the second <i>time</i> a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had said to him, "Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times." And when he thought about it, he began to weep.


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<n>Jesus Before Pilate</n> Immediately, in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation, along with the elders and scribes and the whole Sanhedrin; and having bound Jesus, they led <i>Him</i> away, and delivered <i>Him</i> to Pilate.


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Then Pilate asked Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?" And He answered and said to him, "<i>It is as </i>you say."


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Then Pilate questioned Him again, saying, "Do You answer nothing? See how many things they testify against You!"


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<n>Pilate Hands Jesus Over to be Crucified</n> Now at the feast he would release one prisoner to them, whomever they would request.


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And there was one called Barabbas, having been bound with his fellow rebels, who had committed murder in the rebellion.


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Then the crowd cried out and began to request <i>that</i> just as always he would do <i>this</i> for them.


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But Pilate answered and said to them again, "What then do you desire <i>that</i> I should do <i>with Him </i>whom you call King of the Jews?"


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But Pilate said to them, "Why, what evil did He do?" But they cried out all the more, "Crucify Him!"


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So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered up Jesus, after he had Him flogged, so that He might be crucified.


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<n>The Soldiers Mock Jesus</n> Then the soldiers led Him away into the courtyard, which is the Praetorium, and assembled the whole garrison.


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And they clothed Him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, and they put it around His head,


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And they were striking His head with a reed and were spitting on Him; and bowing the knee, they <i>mockingly </i>worshipped Him.


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And when they had mocked Him, they stripped Him of the purple, and dressed Him in His own clothing. And led Him out so that they might crucify Him.


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<n>The Crucifixion of Jesus</n> And they pressed into service a certain <i>man</i> <i>that was</i> passing by <i>named</i> Simon, a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming from the country, that he might carry His cross.


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And having crucified Him, they divided His clothes by casting lots over them,<i> to determine</i> who would take what.


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So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "<span class='smcaps'>And He was numbered with the transgressors.</span>"


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And those passing by were blaspheming Him, shaking their heads and saying, "Aha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days,


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Likewise the chief priests also, mocking <i>Him</i> to each other with the scribes said, "He saved others; Himself He is not able to save.


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Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, so that we may see and believe Him." Even those who were crucified with Him were reviling Him.


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<n>The Death of Jesus</n> Now when the sixth hour had come, darkness came upon the whole land until the ninth hour.


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And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eloi, Eloi, lima sabachthani?" which is translated, "<span class='smcaps'>My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me</span>?"


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And one, running and having filled a sponge <i>with</i> vinegar, and having put it around a reed, was giving a drink to Him, saying, "Leave Him alone; let us see if Elijah is coming to take Him down."


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Now when the centurion who stood across from Him saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, "Truly this Man was the Son of God!"


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There were also women looking on from a distance, among whom were both Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome,


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who also would follow Him and would minister to Him when He was in Galilee; and many other women who had come up together with Him to Jerusalem.


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<n>The Burial of Jesus</n> And now evening having come, since it was Preparation Day, which is the day before the Sabbath,


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Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, he went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.


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And Pilate wondered if He was already dead; and having summoned the centurion, he questioned him if He had been dead long.


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And having bought linen cloth, and having taken Him down, he wrapped Him in the linen cloth and set Him down in a tomb which had been cut out of a rock, and rolled a stone upon the door of the tomb.


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<n>The Resurrection of Jesus</n> Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary<i> the mother</i> of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might come and anoint Him.


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And entering into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right clothed with a white robe, and they were alarmed.


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But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You are seeking Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has arisen! He is not here! See the place where they put Him.


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But go, say to His disciples, and Peter, that He is going before you into Galilee; there you shall see Him, just as He said to you."


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And going out, they fled from the tomb, but trembling and amazement held them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.


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<n>Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene </n> Now having arisen early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons.


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<n>Jesus Appears to Two Disciples</n> After that, He appeared in a different form to two of them as they were going into the country.


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<n>The Great Commission</n> Afterwards He appeared to the eleven as they were reclining at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who saw Him after He had been raised.


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And these signs shall accompany those who have believed: In My name they shall cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues;


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they shall pick up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it shall by no means hurt them; they shall lay hands on <i>the</i> sick, and they shall be well."


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<n>The Ascension of Jesus</n> So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.


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And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with <i>them</i> and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.


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<n>Dedication to Theophilus</n> Since many have attempted to arrange a narrative about the matters which have taken place among us,


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just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered <i>them</i> to us,


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it seemed good to me also, having followed up accurately all things from above, to write to you in orderly fashion, most distinguished Theophilus,


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<n>The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold </n> There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.


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And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.


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according to the custom of the priesthood, he was selected to burn incense when he entered into the temple of the Lord.


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


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For he shall be great before the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, while still in his mother's womb.


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And he himself will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, <span class='smcaps'>'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children</span>,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."


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And Zacharias said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years."


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And the angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands before God, and I was sent to speak to you and to proclaim the good news to you of these things<i>.</i>


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But behold, you shall be silent and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which shall be fulfilled in their season."


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But having come out, he was unable to speak to them; and they recognized that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he was making signs to them and remained speechless.


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"Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on <i>me</i>, to take away my reproach among men."


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<n>The Birth of Jesus Foretold</n> Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,


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to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name <i>was</i> Mary.


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And the angel came to her and said, "Greetings, O favored <i>one</i>, the Lord is with you; blessed <i>are</i> you among women!"


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But when she saw <i>him</i>, she was greatly perplexed by his saying, and she wondered what sort of greeting this was.


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And behold, you shall conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name <span class='smcaps'>JESUS</span>.


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He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God shall give Him the throne of His father David.


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And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow you; therefore, also, that holy child which is to be born shall be called the Son of God.


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And behold, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for she who was called barren.


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Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! May it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.


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<n>Mary Visits Elizabeth</n> Now Mary rose up in those days and traveled into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah,


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And it came to pass, that when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.


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Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!


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For behold, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the baby leaped for joy in my womb.


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And blessed is she who has believed, because there shall be a fulfillment to the things having been spoken to her from the Lord."


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Because He looked upon the lowly state of His maidservant; for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.


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And when her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her.


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Now it came to pass on the eighth day, <i>that</i> they came to circumcise the child; and they started to call him by the name of his father, Zacharias.


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Then fear came on all who lived around them; and all these things were being talked about throughout all the hill country of Judea.


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And all those who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying, "What kind of child will this be?" And the hand of the Lord was with him.


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And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,


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to give light to them that sit in darkness and <i>in </i>the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."


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So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.


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<n>The Birth of Jesus</n> And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census be taken of all the empire.


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Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,


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And she bore her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.


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And shepherds were in the same country, living in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.


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And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.


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Then the angel said to them, "Do not fear, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.


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And this <i>will be</i> the sign to you: You will find a Baby wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."


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So it was, when the angels had departed from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go then to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us."


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And when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.


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Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was spoken to them.


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<n>The Circumcision of Jesus</n> And when eight days were completed, so they could circumcise Him, His name was called <span class='smcaps'>Jesus</span>, the <i>name</i> given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.


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<n>Jesus Presented in the Temple</n> Now when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present <i>Him</i> to the Lord


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(just as it is written in the law of the Lord, "<span class='smcaps'>Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord</span>"),


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and to offer a sacrifice according to what had been said in the law of the Lord, "<span class='smcaps'>A pair of doves or two young pigeons</span>."


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<n>The Song and Prophecy of Simeon</n> And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.


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And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he should see the Lord's Christ.


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So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, that they might do for Him according to the custom of the law,


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Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against


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(yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."


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<n>The Testimony of Hannah</n> Now there was one, Hannah, a prophetess, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity;


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and she <i>was</i> a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.


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And coming in that instant she was giving thanks to the Lord, and was speaking about Him to all those who waited for redemption in Jerusalem.


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So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.


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And the Child was growing and becoming strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.


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<n>The Young Jesus in the Temple</n> And His parents traveled to Jerusalem every year to the Feast of the Passover.


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And when He was twelve years old, when they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast,


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and when they completed the days, while they were returning, the Child Jesus remained in Jerusalem; and Joseph and His mother did not know it.


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But supposing Him to be in the caravan, they went a day's journey, and sought Him among their relatives and among their acquaintances.


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Now it came to pass that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both hearing them and questioning them.


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And when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, "Child, why have You treated us this way? Look, Your father and I were seeking You anxiously."


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And He said to them, "Why <i>is it</i> that you were seeking Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?"


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Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them. And His mother kept all these things in her heart.


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<n>The Ministry of John the Baptist</n> Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, while Pontius Pilate was governing Judea, and while Herod governed as tetrarch of Galilee, and while Philip his brother governed as tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and while Lysanias governed as tetrarch of Abilene,


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in the time of the high priest Annas and <i>the high priest </i>Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.


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And he went into all the surrounding region of the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,


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as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying: "<span class='smcaps'>A voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight. </span>


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<span class='smcaps'> Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be humbled; the crooked roads shall become straight, and the rough </span><span class='smcaps'><i>roads</i></span><span class='smcaps'> shall become smooth; </span>


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<n>John Preaches to the People</n> Then he said to the crowds which came out to be baptized by him, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?


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Therefore produce fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say among yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham out of these stones.


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And even now the ax is being laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and is thrown into the fire."


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He answered and said to them, "He who has two shirts, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise."


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Likewise the soldiers also were asking him, saying, "And what shall we do?" So he said to them, "Do not intimidate anyone or accuse <i>anyone </i>falsely, and be content with your wages."


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Now while the people waited, and all considered in their hearts about John, whether he might be the Christ,


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John answered, saying to all, "I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire;


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whose winnowing shovel is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His threshing floor, and will gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn up with unquenchable fire."


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But Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked by him concerning Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,


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<n>The Baptism of Jesus</n> Now it came to pass that when all the people were baptized, that Jesus also was baptized. And while He was praying, heaven was opened;


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and the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came out of heaven, saying, "You are My beloved Son; in You I have found delight."


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<n>The Genealogy of Jesus</n> Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being (as it was supposed) the son of Joseph, the <i>son</i> of Heli,


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the <i>son</i> of Matthat, the <i>son</i> of Levi, the <i>son</i> of Melchi, the <i>son</i> of Janna, the <i>son</i> of Joseph,


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the <i>son</i> of Mattathiah, the <i>son</i> of Amos, the <i>son</i> of Nahum, the <i>son</i> of Esli, the <i>son</i> of Naggai,


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the <i>son</i> of Maath, the <i>son</i> of Mattathiah, the <i>son</i> of Semei, the <i>son</i> of Joseph, the <i>son</i> of Judah,


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the <i>son</i> of Joannas, the <i>son</i> of Rhesa, the <i>son</i> of Zerubbabel, the <i>son</i> of Shealtiel, the <i>son</i> of Neri,


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the <i>son</i> of Melchi, the <i>son</i> of Addi, the <i>son</i> of Cosam, the <i>son</i> of Elmodam, the <i>son</i> of Er,


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the <i>son</i> of Jose, the <i>son</i> of Eliezer, the <i>son</i> of Jorim, the <i>son</i> of Matthat, the <i>son</i> of Levi,


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the <i>son</i> of Simeon, the <i>son</i> of Judah, the <i>son</i> of Joseph, the <i>son</i> of Jonan, the <i>son</i> of Eliakim,


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the <i>son</i> of Melea, the <i>son</i> of Menan, the <i>son</i> of Mattathah, the <i>son</i> of Nathan, the <i>son</i> of David,


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the <i>son</i> of Jesse, the <i>son</i> of Obed, the <i>son</i> of Boaz, the <i>son</i> of Salmon, the <i>son</i> of Nahshon,


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the <i>son</i> of Amminadab, the <i>son</i> of Aram, the <i>son </i>of Joram, the <i>son</i> of Hezron, the <i>son</i> of Perez, the <i>son</i> of Judah,


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the <i>son</i> of Jacob, the <i>son</i> of Isaac, the <i>son</i> of Abraham, the <i>son</i> of Terah, the <i>son</i> of Nahor,


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the <i>son</i> of Serug, the <i>son</i> of Reu, the <i>son</i> of Peleg, the <i>son</i> of Eber, the <i>son</i> of Shelah,


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the <i>son</i> of Cainan, the <i>son</i> of Arphaxad, the <i>son</i> of Shem, the <i>son</i> of Noah, the <i>son</i> of Lamech,


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the <i>son</i> of Methuselah, the <i>son</i> of Enoch, the <i>son</i> of Jared, the <i>son</i> of Mahalalel, the <i>son</i> of Cainan,


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<n>Jesus Tempted by the Devil</n> Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,


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being tempted <i>for</i> forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they were completed, He was hungry.


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And the devil said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, speak to this stone that it may become bread."


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But Jesus answered him, saying, "<span class='smcaps'>It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God</span>.' "


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Then the devil, leading Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.


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And the devil said to Him, "All this authority I will give You, and their glory; because it has been given to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.


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And Jesus answered and said to him, "Get behind Me, Satan! It is written, <span class='smcaps'>'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.</span>' "


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Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here.


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For it is written: <span class='smcaps'>'He shall give His angels charge over You, to guard You,' </span>


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"and, <span class='smcaps'>'In </span><span class='smcaps'><i>their</i></span><span class='smcaps'> hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone</span>.' "


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And Jesus answered and said to him, "It has been said, <span class='smcaps'>'You shall not tempt the Lord your God.' " </span>


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<n>The Beginning of Jesus’ Ministry in Galilee</n> Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news about Him went out through all the surrounding region.


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<n>Jesus Rejected at Nazareth</n> And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He entered into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and He stood up to read.


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And the book of Isaiah the prophet was given to Him. And having unrolled the scroll, He found the place where it was written:


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"<span class='smcaps'>The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; </span>


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And having rolled up the scroll, when He had given <i>it</i> to the attendant, He sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were looking intently at Him.


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And all were bearing witness to Him, and were marveling at the gracious words which came out of His mouth. And they said, "Is this not Joseph's son?"


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He said to them, "You will surely say this proverb to Me, 'Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in Your hometown.' "


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But I tell you truly, <i>there</i> were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine all over the land;


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And <i>there</i> were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian."


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and rising up they threw Him out of the city; and brought Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, in order to throw Him down.


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<n>Ministry in Capernaum</n> Then He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and He was teaching them on the Sabbath.


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Now in the synagogue <i>there</i> was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice,


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saying, “Ah! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy <i>One</i> of God!"


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But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silenced, and come out from him!" And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, it came out from him, and did not hurt him.


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And amazement came upon all, and they spoke among themselves, saying, "What <i>is</i> this word! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out."


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<n>Peter’s Mother-in-Law Healed</n> And when He arose from the synagogue, He entered into the house of Simon. But Simon's mother-in-law was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him about her.


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And when He stood over her, He rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately rising up, she began to serve them.


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Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on each one of them and healed them.


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And also demons were coming out of many, crying out and saying, "You are the Christ, the Son of God!" And rebuking <i>them</i>, He did not allow them to speak, because they knew that He was the Messiah.


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Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowds were searching for Him, and they came to Him, and tried to restrain Him from leaving them;


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but He said to them, "I must proclaim the good news <i>of</i> the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this <i>purpose</i> I have been sent."


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<n>The Call of the Disciples</n> Now it came to pass, while the crowd pressed upon Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret,


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and He saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen, <i>after</i> getting out of them, were washing their nets.


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Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon's, and He asked him to put out a little from the land. And sitting down, He began to teach the crowds from the boat.


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Now when He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and lower your nets for a catch."


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But Simon answered and said to Him, "Master, we have labored all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will lower the net."


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So they beckoned to their partners who were in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they were sinking.


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When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!"


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And likewise also <i>it gripped</i> James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not fear; from now on you shall be catching men."


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<n>Jesus Cleanses a Leper </n> And it came to pass while He was in a certain city, that behold, there was a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, falling on his face he begged Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can cleanse me."


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And reaching out His hand, He touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." Immediately the leprosy departed from him.


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And He ordered him to tell no one, "But go and show yourself to the priest, and bring an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them, just as Moses prescribed."


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But the report about Him spread all the more; and great crowds came together to hear, and to be healed by Him from their sicknesses.


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<n>Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralytic</n> Now it happened on a certain day that He was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there<i>,</i> who had come out of every village of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was <i>present</i> to heal them.


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And behold, men <i>were</i> carrying on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and to lay <i>him </i>before Him.


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And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, going up on the roof, they lowered him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst in front of Jesus.


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And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, "Who is this <i>Man </i>who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins except God alone?"


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But when Jesus perceived their reasonings, He answered and said to them, "Why are you reasoning in your hearts?


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But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"—He said to the man who was paralyzed, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."


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Immediately he rose up before them, taking up <i>the bed</i> which he had been lying on, he went off to his own house, glorifying God.


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And amazement gripped <i>them</i> all, and they were glorifying God, and they were filled with fear, saying, "We have seen extraordinary things today!"


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<n>The Calling of Levi (Matthew)</n> After these things He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow Me."


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Then Levi made a great banquet for Him in his own house. And there was a great number of tax collectors and others who were reclining with them <i>to eat.</i>


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And their scribes and the Pharisees complained against His disciples, saying, "Why do You eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?"


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Jesus answered and said to them, "Those who are healthy have no need of a physician, but those who are ill.


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<n>The Superiority of the New</n> Then they said to Him, "Why do the disciples of John fast often and make prayers, and likewise also the <i>disciples</i> of the Pharisees, but Yours eat and drink?"


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But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast in those days."


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Then He spoke a parable to them: "No one puts a patch of a new garment on an old one; otherwise both the new <i>garment</i> tears, and also the patch that was taken out of the new <i>garment </i>does not match with the old <i>garment</i>.


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And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the wineskins and it will be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined.


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And no one, having drunk old <i>wine</i>, immediately desires new; for he says, 'The old is better.' "


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<n>Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath</n> Now it came to pass on the first Sabbath of the second month that He was going through the grainfields. And His disciples were picking the heads of grain and were eating <i>them</i>, rubbing them in their hands.


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But Jesus answering them said, "Have you not even read this, what David did when he became hungry, he and those who were with him:


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how he entered into the house of God, took and ate the showbread, and also gave some to those with him, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat?"


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Now it happened that on another Sabbath, He entered the synagogue and was teaching. And there was a man there whose right hand was withered.


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And the scribes and Pharisees were observing if whether He would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against Him.


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But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, "Arise and stand in the midst." And he arose and stood.


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Then Jesus said to them, "I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?"


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And when He had looked around at them all, He said to him, "Stretch out your hand." And he did so, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.


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But they were filled with fury, and they were discussing with one another what they might do to Jesus.


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<n>The Twelve Apostles</n> Now it came to pass in those days <i>that</i> He went out to the mountain to pray, and He was spending the night in prayer to God.


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And when it became day, He summoned His disciples, and having chosen twelve from them, whom He also named apostles:


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<i>He chose </i>Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew;


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And having come down with them, He stood on a level place, with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases,


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And all the crowd was trying to touch Him, because power was going out from Him, and was healing <i>them</i> all.


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<n>The Beatitudes</n> Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: "Blessed <i>are</i> you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.


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Blessed <i>are</i> you who hunger now, for you shall be filled. Blessed <i>are</i> you who weep now, for you shall laugh.


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Blessed are you when men shall hate you, and when they shall exclude you, and shall revile <i>you</i>, and cast out your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.


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Rejoice in that day and leap <i>for joy</i>! For behold, your reward is great in heaven; for in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.


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<n>Jesus Pronounces Woes </n> "But woe to you who are rich, because you have received your consolation.


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Woe to you who have been filled, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.


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Woe <i>to you</i> when men speak well of you, for in like manner their fathers would do to the false prophets.


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<n>Love Your Enemies </n> "But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,


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To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes your <i>outer</i> garment, do not forbid the tunic either.


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Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your belongings, do not ask for <i>them</i> back.


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But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.


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And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.


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And if you lend <i>to those</i> from whom you hope to receive <i>it </i>back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners, so that they may receive the same amount back.


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But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping to receive nothing back; and your reward shall be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.


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<n>Do Not Judge </n> "And do not judge, and you shall not be judged. Do not condemn, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you shall be forgiven.


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Give, and it shall be given to you: good measure, pressed down and shaken and running over they shall give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it shall be measured back to you."


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And He spoke a parable to them: "Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch?


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A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone, having been fully trained, will be like his teacher.


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Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, permit me to remove the speck which is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck which is in your brother's eye.


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For each tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a thorn bush.


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A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth that which is evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.


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<n>Build on the Rock</n> "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say?


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He is like a man building a house, who dug and went deep and laid a foundation on the rock. And when a flood occurred, the stream burst upon that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.


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But he who hears and does not do is like a man building a house on the ground without a foundation, <i>against</i> which the stream burst upon; and immediately it fell. And the destruction of that house was great."


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<n>Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant</n> Now when He finished all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum.


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And when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, asking Him that He might come and heal his servant.


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And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying he was worthy for whom He should grant this,


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Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far away from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, "Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof.


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Therefore I did not even consider myself worthy to come to You. But <i>just</i> say the word, and my servant shall be healed.


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For I also am a man appointed under authority, having soldiers under myself. And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does <i>it</i>."


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When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turning to the crowd following Him, He said, "I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!"


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<n>Jesus Raises a Dead Man in Nain</n> Now it happened on the next <i>day</i>, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a great crowd.


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And when He came near the gate of the city, that behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And many people from the city was with her.


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Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, "Young man, I say to you, arise."


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Then fear took hold of all, and they were glorifying God, saying, "A great prophet has risen up among us"; and, "God has visited His people."


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<n>Jesus and John the Baptist</n> Then the disciples of John reported to him concerning all these things.


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And summoning two of his disciples, John sent <i>them</i> to Jesus, saying, "Are You the Coming <i>One</i>, or do we look for another?"


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And when they came to Him, the men said, "John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, 'Are You the Coming <i>One</i>, or do we look for another?' "


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And in that very hour He healed many from diseases, and torments, and evil spirits; and to many blind <i>people</i> He granted sight.


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Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: that the blind regain sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor are evangelized.


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Now when John’s messengers had departed, He began to speak to the crowds concerning John: "What have you gone out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?


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But what have you gone out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in royal <i>palaces</i>.


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This is he about whom it is written: <span class='smcaps'>'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You.</span>'


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"For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater <i>than</i> he."


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And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John.


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But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God for themselves, because they had not been baptized by him.


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They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, saying: 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we mourned for you, and you did not weep.'


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"For John the Baptist has come neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.'


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The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'


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<n>A Sinful Woman Forgiven </n> Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And entering into the Pharisee's house, He reclined <i>to eat</i>.


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And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she found out that He was reclining in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of perfume,


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and standing by His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and was wiping <i>them</i> with the hair of her head; and she was kissing His feet and anointing <i>them</i> with the perfume.


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Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke within himself, saying, "This <i>Man</i>, if He were a prophet, would know who and what sort of woman <i>this is</i> who touches Him, for she is a sinner."


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And Jesus answered and said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And he said, "Teacher, say it."


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There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other <i>owed </i>fifty.


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And when they had nothing with which to pay back, he freely forgave them both. Tell <i>Me</i>, therefore, which of them will love him more?"


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Simon answered and said, "I suppose <i>it is the one</i> to whom he forgave more." And He said to him, "You have judged correctly."


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And turning to the woman, He said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered into your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but this <i>woman</i> has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head.


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You gave Me no kiss, but this <i>woman</i> has not stopped kissing My feet since the time I came in.


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For which reason I say to you, her many sins have been forgiven, because she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little."


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And those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say within themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"


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<n>Many Women Minister to Jesus</n> Now it came to pass afterward, that He was traveling through every city and village, preaching and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom of God, and the twelve were with Him,


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and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities; Mary called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,


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and Joanna the wife of Chuza, a supervisor of Herod, and Susanna, and many others who were ministering to them from their belongings.


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<n>The Parable of the Sower</n> And when a large crowd had gathered, and the <i>people</i> came to Him from every city, He spoke by a parable:


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The sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell alongside the road; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it.


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And other <i>seed</i> fell on rock; and when it grew up, it withered away because it had no moisture.


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But other <i>seed</i> fell into good ground, and when it grew up, it produced fruit a hundredfold." Saying these things He was calling out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"


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And He said, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest <i>they are</i> in parables, that 'Seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.'


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And those beside the road are they that hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, lest they believe and be saved.


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But those on the rock are they that, whenever they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of testing fall away.


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And that which fell among thorns, these are those, who when they heard, go out and are choked with anxieties, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.


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But that which fell on the good ground, these are such who when they heard the word, with a noble and good heart, hold on to it and bear fruit with endurance.


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"No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts <i>it</i> under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light.


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For there is nothing hidden which will not become manifest, nor anything concealed which will not be known and come to light.


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Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, <i>more</i> shall be given to him; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him."


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<n>Jesus and His Family</n> Then His mother and brothers came to Him, and could not approach Him because of the crowd.


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And it was told Him by some, who said, "Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see You."


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


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<n>Jesus Calms the Storm </n> Now it came to pass on a certain day, that He got into a boat with His disciples. And He said to them, "Let us go across to the other side of the lake." And they put out to sea.


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But as they sailed, He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down onto the lake, and they were being filled <i>with water</i>, and were in danger.


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And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm.


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But He said to them, "Where is your faith?" But becoming afraid, they marveled, saying to one another, "Who then is this? For He commands both the winds and the water, and they obey Him!"


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<n>Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Man </n> Then they sailed to the region of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee.


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And when He got out on the land, there met Him a certain man from the city who had demons for a long time. And he wore no clothes, nor did he live in a house, but among the tombs.


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And seeing Jesus and crying out, he fell down before Him, and with a loud voice he said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me!"


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For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out from the man. For it had seized him at times, and he was bound, kept under guard, with chains and shackles; and he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the wilderness.


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Jesus asked him, saying, "What is your name?" And he said, "Legion," because many demons had entered into him.


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Now there was a herd of many swine feeding there on the mountain. And they kept imploring Him that He would permit them to enter them. And He permitted them.


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Then when the demons came out from the man, they entered into the swine, and the herd ran violently down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.


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And when those who fed <i>them</i> saw what had happened, they fled and reported <i>it</i> in the city and in the country.


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Then they went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had come out <i>of</i>, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and being of sound mind. And they were afraid.


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Then the whole multitude from the surrounding region of the Gadarenes asked Him to go away from them, because they were gripped with great fear. And He got into the boat and returned.


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Now the man from whom the demons had come out was begging Him that he might be with Him. But Jesus sent him away, saying,


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"Return to your house, and tell what great things God has done for you." And he departed, proclaiming throughout the whole city all the things that Jesus did for him.


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<n>Restoration and Healing</n> So it was, when Jesus returned, that the crowd welcomed Him, for they were all waiting for Him.


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And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a leader of the synagogue. And falling at the feet of Jesus, he was imploring Him to enter into his house,


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for he had an only daughter about twelve years of age, and she was dying. But as He was going, the crowds were pressing against Him.


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Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who though she had spent <i>her</i> whole livelihood on physicians, was not able to be healed by anyone,


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And Jesus said, "Who touched Me?" When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, "Master, the crowds are pressing You hard and crowding You, and You say, 'Who touched Me?'


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Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she recounted to Him before all the people the reason why she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately.


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While He was still speaking, someone came from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, "Your daughter has died. Do not trouble the Teacher."


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But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, "Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be healed."


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When He came into the house, He permitted no one to enter except Peter, John, and James, and the father and mother of the child.


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Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. And He commanded <i>something</i> to be given to her to eat.


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<n>The Sending of the Twelve Apostles</n> And having called together the twelve, He gave them power and authority over all demons, and to heal diseases.


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And He said to them, "Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor knapsack nor bread nor silver; and do not have two tunics apiece.


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And as many as will not receive you, when you go out from that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them."


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As they went out, they were going about village by village, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.


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<n>Herod Seeks to See Jesus</n> Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all the things being done by Him; and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead,


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And Herod said, "John I have beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?" And he was seeking to see Him.


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<n>The Feeding of the Five Thousand</n> And the apostles, when they had returned, recounted to Him all that they had done. And taking them along, He withdrew privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida.


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But when the crowds found out, they followed Him; and He welcomed them, and was speaking to them about the kingdom of God, and He cured those who needed healing.


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Now when the day began to decline, the twelve came and said to Him, "Dismiss the crowd, so that they may go into the surrounding villages and farms, and they may find lodging and find provisions; for we are in a deserted place here."


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But He said to them, "You give them <i>something</i> to eat." And they said, "We have no more than five loaves of bread and two fish, unless we go and buy food for all these people."


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For there were about five thousand men. And He said to His disciples, "Make them recline in groups of fifty."


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And taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.


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So they all ate and were satisfied, and twelve baskets of the remaining fragments were taken up by them.


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<n>The Confession of Peter</n> And it came to pass, while He was alone praying, that His disciples joined Him, and He questioned them, saying, "Who do the crowds pronounce Me to be?"


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So they answered and said, "John the Baptist, but some say Elijah; and others say that one of the ancient prophets has arisen."


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<n>Jesus Foretells of His Death and Resurrection</n> And He strictly warned and commanded <i>them</i> to tell this to no one,


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saying, "The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and to be killed, and to be raised on the third day."


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<n>A Call to Discipleship </n> Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.


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For whoever desires to save his life shall lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake shall save it.


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For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels.


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“But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will by no means taste death until they see the kingdom of God."


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<n>Jesus Transfigured on the Mount </n> Now it came to pass, about eight days after these words, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray.


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And while He was praying, the appearance of His face <i>became </i>different, and His clothing <i>became</i> white and glistening.


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who appearing in glory were talking about His decease which He was about to accomplish in Jerusalem.


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But Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep; but becoming fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him.


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And it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good <i>for</i> us to be here; and let us make three tents: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah," not knowing what he was saying.


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Now as he said these things, a cloud appeared and overshadowed them; and they were afraid as they entered into the cloud.


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When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found alone. But they kept silent, and reported to no one in those days any of the things they had seen.


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<n>A Boy is Healed</n> Now it happened on the next day, when they came down from the mountain, that a great crowd met Him.


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And behold, a man from the crowd cried out, saying, "Teacher, I beg You, look upon my son, for he is my only child.


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And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out, and it convulses him so that he foams at the mouth, and it departs from him with great difficulty, bruising him.


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Then Jesus answered and said, "O faithless and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here."


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And as he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed <i>him</i>. Then Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and gave him back to his father.


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<n>Jesus Again Foretells of His Death </n> And they were all amazed at the majesty of God. But while everyone marveled at all the things which Jesus did, He said to His disciples,


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Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men."


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


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<n>Who is the Greatest?</n> Then a dispute came up among them as to which of them might be <i>the </i>greatest.


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But Jesus, having seen the thought of their heart, taking a little child, He stood him beside Himself,


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and said to them, "Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all shall be great."


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Now John answered and said, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us."


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<n>A Samaritan Village Rejects the Savior </n> Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem,


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and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, so they might prepare for Him.


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And when they saw this, James and John His disciples said, "Lord, do You wish <i>that</i> we should call down fire from heaven and consume them, as Elijah did?"


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For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save <i>them</i>." And they went to another village.


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<n>The Cost of Discipleship</n> Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, "Lord, I will follow You wherever You go."


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And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."


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Then He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father."


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Jesus said to him, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."


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And another also said, "Lord, I will follow You, but first permit me to say farewell to those who are at my house."


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But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."


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<n>The Seventy Sent Out</n> Now after these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and He sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to come.


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Then He said to them, "The harvest indeed <i>is</i> great, but the workers <i>are</i> few; therefore pray <i>to </i>the Lord of the harvest that He may send forth workers into His harvest.


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And remain in that very house, eating and drinking what they have, for the worker is worthy of his wages. Do not move from house to house.


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‘The very dust from your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has drawn near to you.'


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<n>Jesus Pronounces Woes to Impenitent Cities</n> "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! Because if the miracles which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.


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He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me."


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<n>The Return of the Seventy </n> Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name."


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Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.


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Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names have been written in heaven."


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<n>Jesus Rejoices in the Spirit</n> In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent, and have revealed them to babes. Yes, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.”


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And turning to His disciples He said, “All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and <i>the one</i> to whom the Son wills to reveal <i>Him</i>."


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for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and they did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and they did not hear it."


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<n>The Parable of the Good Samaritan</n> And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"


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So he answered and said, " <span class='smcaps'>'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind</span>,' and <span class='smcaps'>'your neighbor as yourself.' " </span>


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Then Jesus answered and said: "A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and encountered bandits, who after having stripped him of his clothing and having wounded him, departed, leaving <i>him</i> half dead.


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Now by coincidence a certain priest was coming down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.


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But a certain Samaritan, as he traveled, came by him; and when he saw him, he was moved with compassion.


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And coming to him, he bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and putting him on his own animal, he brought him to an inn, and took care of him.


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On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, and gave <i>them</i> to the innkeeper, and said to him, 'Take care of him; and whatever you spend in addition, when I come back, I will repay you.'


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So which of these three does it seem to you proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the bandits?"


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And he said, "the <i>one</i> who showed mercy to him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."


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<n>Mary and Martha </n> Now it came to pass as they traveled, that He entered into a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house.


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And the <i>woman</i> had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and was listening to His word.


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But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, don’t You care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me."


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And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.


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But one <i>thing</i> is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."


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<n>Instructions on Prayer</n> Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples."


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So He said to them, "Whenever you pray, say: Our Father in the heavens, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.


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And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil <i>one</i>."


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And He said to them, "Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves;


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and he will answer from within and say, 'Do not trouble me; the door has already been shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give to you'?


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I say to you, even if he will not get up and give to him, because he is his friend, yet on account of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs.


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<n>Keep Asking, Seeking, Knocking</n> "So I say to you, ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.


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And which father among you, if his son asks for bread, will he give him a stone? Or <i>if he asks for</i> a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?


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If you then, being evil, know <i>how</i> to give good gifts to your children, by how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"


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<n>Jesus and Beelzebub</n> And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. So it was, when the demon came out, that the mute man spoke; and the crowds marveled.


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But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself is made desolate, and a house divided against a house falls.


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And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? Because you say <i>that </i>I cast out demons by Beelzebub.


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And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast <i>them</i> out? Therefore they will be your judges.


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But when someone stronger <i>than</i> he comes upon <i>him,</i> he overcomes him, <i>and </i>he takes away his full armor in which he had trusted, and distributes his spoils.


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<n>An Unclean Spirit Returns</n> "When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through waterless places, seeking rest; and not finding <i>any</i>, he says, 'I will return to my house from where I came out.'


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Then he goes and takes along seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they come and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first."


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<n>Keeping the Word</n> And it happened, while He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised <i>her</i> voice and said to Him, "Blessed is the womb which bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!"


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<n>Seeking a Sign</n> Now as the crowds gathered even more, He began to say, "This generation is evil. It seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet.


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For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation.


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The queen of the South shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation and shall condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed <i>one</i> greater than Solomon is here.


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The men of Nineveh shall stand up in the judgment with this generation and shall condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed <i>one</i> greater than Jonah is here.


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<n>The Lamp of the Body </n> "No one, having lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light.


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The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is clear, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is evil, your body also is dark.


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Therefore if your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole body will be full of light, as when the bright shining of a lamp gives light to you."


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<n>Jesus Pronounces More Woes</n> And as He spoke, a certain Pharisee asked that He would eat with him. And having entered, He reclined <i>to eat</i>.


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But the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but the inside of you is full of greed and evil.


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But woe to you Pharisees! Because you pay a tithe of mint and rue and every vegetable, and you pass over justice and the love of God. These things you ought to have done, without leaving the others <i>undone</i>.


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Woe to you Pharisees! Because you love the first seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces.


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Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you are like unmarked graves, and the men walking over them do not know it."


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Then one of the lawyers answered and said to Him, "Teacher, by saying these things You insult us also."


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And He said, "Woe to you lawyers as well! Because you load men with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.


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Consequently, you bear witness to and approve of the deeds of your fathers; because they indeed killed them, but you build their tombs.


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Therefore the wisdom of God also said, 'I will send to them prophets and apostles, and <i>some</i> of them they will kill and persecute,'


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so that the blood of all the prophets which was shed from the foundation of the world may be required from this generation,


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from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who perished between the altar and the temple. Yes, I say to you, it shall be required of this generation.


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Woe to you lawyers! Because you have taken away the key of knowledge. You yourselves did not enter in, and those who were entering in you hindered."


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And as He said these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to be dreadfully hostile, and to cross-examine Him about many things,


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lying in wait for Him, and seeking to catch Him in something He might say, so that they might accuse Him.


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<n>Beware of Hypocrisy </n> Now in the meantime, as an innumerable crowd had gathered together so that they were stepping on one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.


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For there is nothing covered that shall not be unveiled, and <i>nothing</i> secret that shall not be made known.


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Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in behind closed doors shall be proclaimed on the housetops.


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<n>Jesus Teaches the Fear of God</n> "And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have nothing further they can do.


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But I will show you whom you should fear: fear Him who after He kills, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!


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But the very hairs of your head have all been numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.


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<n>Whoever Confesses Christ</n> "Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God.


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And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.


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Now whenever they bring you to the synagogues and rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say.


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<n>The Parable of the Rich Fool</n> Then someone from the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."


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And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."


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And he reasoned within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, because I have nowhere to gather my crops?'


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So he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and I will build bigger <i>ones</i>, and there I will gather all my crops and my goods.


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And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid away for many years; relax; eat, drink, and be merry." '


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But God said to him, <i>'You </i>fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have prepared?'


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<n>Do Not Worry</n> Then He said to His disciples, "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will wear.


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Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storeroom nor barn; and yet God feeds them. How much more are you worth than birds?


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Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed like one of these.


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But if God so clothes the grass, although it is in the field today, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, by how much rather <i>will He clothe</i> you, O you of little faith?


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For all these things the nations of the world seek after, but your Father knows that you need these things.


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Sell your possessions and give alms; make for yourselves money bags which do not grow old, an unfailing treasure in the heavens, where a thief does not come near, nor does a moth destroy.


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and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding celebration, so that when he comes and knocks, immediately they may open to him.


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Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly I say to you, that he will gird himself and have them recline <i>to eat</i>, and he will come and serve them.


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And if he comes in the second watch, or comes in the third watch, and find <i>them</i> so, blessed are those servants.


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But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have kept watch, and not allowed his house to be broken into.


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And the Lord said, "Who then is a faithful and wise manager, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season?


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But if that servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk,


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the master of that servant will come on a day which he does not expect, and at an hour which he does not know, and he will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.


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And that servant who knew his master's will, and did not get ready or do according to his will, shall be beaten <i>with</i> many <i>blows</i>.


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But he who did not know, yet did things worthy of <i>blows</i>, shall be beaten <i>with</i> few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be demanded; and to whom much has been entrusted, of him they will ask much more.


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<n>Christ Brings Division </n> "I came to cast fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!


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Father will be divided against a son and a son against father, a mother against a daughter and a daughter against a mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."


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<n>Discerning the Times</n> Then He also said to the crowds, "Whenever you see a cloud rising from the west, immediately you say, 'A rainstorm is coming'; and it happens thus.


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Hypocrites! You know <i>how</i> to discern the face of the earth and of the sky, but how is it you do not discern this time?


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When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, make an effort to make a settlement with him on the road, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the bailiff, and the bailiff throw you into prison.


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<n>A Call to Repent</n> And some <i>people</i> were present at that very time, reporting to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.


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And Jesus answered and said to them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all <i>other</i> Galileans, because they suffered such things?


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Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that these were offenders more than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem?


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He also spoke this parable: "A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it and found none.


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Then he said to the vinedresser, 'Look, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and I haven’t found <i>any</i>. Cut it down; why does it even waste the ground?'


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But he answered and said to him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.


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And if it produces fruit, <i>fine</i>. But if not, in the coming <i>year,</i> you can cut it down.' "


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And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and she was bent over and was not able to straighten herself up.


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And seeing her, Jesus called her to <i>Him</i> and said, "Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity."


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But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, and he said to the crowd, "There are six days in which one should work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day."


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The Lord then answered him and said, "Hypocrites! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it?


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So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound these eighteen years, should she not be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?"


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And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the crowd was rejoicing over all the glorious things which were done by Him.


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<n>The Kingdom of God</n> Then He said, "What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?


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It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches."


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<n>The Narrow Gate</n> And He was traveling through various cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.


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“Strive to enter through the narrow gate, because many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.


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When once the Master of the house has risen up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open for us,' and answering He will say to you, 'I do not know you, where you are from.'


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But He will say, 'I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.'


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There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves being cast out.


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And they will come from the east and the west, and the north and the south, and will recline <i>to eat</i> in the kingdom of God.


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On that very day some Pharisees came, saying to Him, "Get out and go from here, for Herod wants to kill You."


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And He said to them, "Go and say to that fox, 'Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.'


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Nevertheless I must journey today, tomorrow, and the next day; for it is not possible <i>for</i> a prophet to perish outside of Jerusalem.


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<n>Jesus Laments over Jerusalem</n> "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, like a hen <i>gathers</i> her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!


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See! Your house is left to you desolate; and I say to you, you shall by no means see Me until <i>the time</i> comes when you say, <span class='smcaps'>'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord</span>!' "


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<n>Healing Again on the Sabbath</n> Now it came to pass, when He came into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath, that they were watching Him closely.


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And Jesus, answering, spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"


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Then He answered them, saying, "Which of you, having a son or an ox that has fallen into a pit, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?"


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<n>Taking the Lowly Place </n> So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the places of honor, saying to them:


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Whenever you are invited by someone to a wedding celebration, do not sit down in the place of honor, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him;


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and he who invited you and him shall come and say to you, 'Give place to this <i>man</i>,' and then you begin with shame to take the last place.


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But when you are invited, go and sit down in the last place, so that when he who invited you comes, he shall say to you, 'Friend, go up higher.' Then you will have glory in the presence of those who recline with you.


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Then He also said to him who invited Him, "When you give a dinner or a supper, do not call your friends, nor your brothers, nor your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid.


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and you will be blessed, because they do not have <i>anything</i> to repay you; for it will be repaid to you in the resurrection of the just."


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<n>The Parable of the Great Supper</n> Now when one of those who sat at the table with Him heard these things, he said to Him, "Blessed is he who shall eat dinner in the kingdom of God!"


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and he sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, 'Come, for all things are now ready.'


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But they all with one <i>accord</i> began to excuse themselves. The first said to him, 'I bought a field, and I must go and see it. I ask you, have me excused.'


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And another said, 'I bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you, have me excused.'


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So that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here <i>the</i> poor and <i>the</i> maimed and<i> the</i> lame and<i> the</i> blind.'


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Then the master said to the servant, 'Go out into the roads and hedges, and compel <i>them</i> to come in, so that my house may be filled.


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“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.


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For which of you, intending to build a tower, <i>does</i> not first sit down and count up the cost, whether he has the resources to complete it?


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Lest perhaps after he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all those who see it begin to mock him,


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Or what king, going to engage another king in battle, <i>does</i> not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?


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Otherwise, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks the <i>terms</i> for peace.


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It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men cast it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"


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<n>The Parable of the Lost Sheep</n> Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were drawing near to Him to hear Him.


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And the Pharisees and scribes were grumbling, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them."


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“What man among you, having a hundred sheep, and loses one of them, does not leave behind the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and goes after the one which is lost until he finds it?


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And coming into the house, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'


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I say to you that likewise <i>there</i> shall be more joy in heaven over one sinner repenting than over ninety-nine righteous who need no repentance.


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<n>The Parable of the Lost Coin </n> "Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds <i>it</i>?


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And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I lost!'


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Just so, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."


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And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give to me the share of the wealth which falls to <i>me</i>.' So he divided to them his livelihood.


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And not many days after, having gathered together all things, the younger son went on a journey to a distant country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.


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But when he had spent everything, there arose a severe famine throughout that country, and he began to be in need.


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Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.


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And he was longing to fill his stomach with the carob pods which the swine were eating, and no one gave him anything.


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But having come to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have an abundance of bread, and I am perishing with hunger!


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I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you,


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And he arose and went to his father. But when he was still far off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion, and he ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.


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And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.'


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But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put <i>it</i> on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.


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for this my son was dead and came to life, and he was lost and was found.' And they began to be merry.


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“Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.


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And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and because he has received him back in good health, your father has killed the fatted calf.'


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So he answered and said to his father, 'Lo, so many years I have been serving you and I never transgressed your commandment; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends.


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But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with prostitutes, you slaughtered the fatted calf for him.'


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But it was necessary to be merry and to rejoice, because your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.'


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<n>The Parable of the Unjust Steward</n> He also said to His disciples: "There was a certain rich man who had a manager, and this <i>man</i> was accused to him as squandering his possessions.


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And calling him, he said to him, 'What is this I hear about you? Render an account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.'


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"Then the manager said within himself, 'What shall I do? For my master is taking the management away from me. I cannot dig; I am ashamed to beg.


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I know what I will do, so that whenever I am removed from the management, they will receive me into their houses.'


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And having summoned each one of his master's debtors to him, he said to the first, 'How much do you owe my master?'


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And he said, 'A hundred baths of olive oil.' So he said to him, 'Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.'


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Then he said to another, 'And how much do you owe?' So he said, 'A hundred measures of wheat.' And he said to him, 'Take your bill, and write eighty.'


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So the master praised the unrighteous manager because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this age are shrewder in their own generation than the sons of light.


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And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by the mammon of unrighteousness, so that whenever you fail, they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.


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“He that <i>is</i> faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he that is unjust in what is least is also unjust in much.


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Therefore if you were not faithful with the unrighteous mammon, who will entrust to you what is genuine?


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No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."


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<n>More Warnings about the Pharisees</n> Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were hearing all these things, and they were mocking Him.


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And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. Because that which is exalted among men is an abomination before God.


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The law and the prophets <i>were</i> until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone enters forcibly into it.


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“Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and everyone who marries a woman who is divorced from her husband commits adultery.


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<n>The Rich Man and Lazarus</n> "Now there was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen, enjoying himself splendidly every day.


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and longing to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. And even the dogs came and would lick his sores.


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And it came to pass that the beggar died, and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.


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And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham from afar, and Lazarus in his bosom.


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Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am suffering in this flame.'


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But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things, but now here he is comforted and you are suffering.


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And besides all this, between us and you a great gulf has been fixed, so that those who desire to cross <i>over </i>from here to you are not able, nor may those from there cross over to us.'


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for I have five brothers, so that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.'


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And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if someone from the dead should go to them, they will repent.'


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But he said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded should one rise from the dead.' "


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<n>Jesus Warns of Offenses</n> Then He said to the disciples, "It is impossible for offenses not to come, but woe <i>to the one</i> through whom they do come!


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It would be better for him if a millstone were around his neck, and he be cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.


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Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.


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And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day he returns, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him."


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So the Lord said, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.


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And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come and recline <i>to eat</i>'?


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But will he not say to him, 'Prepare something for me to eat, and gird yourself and serve me until I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink'?


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So likewise you, whenever you do all the things having been commanded to you, say, 'We are unprofitable servants. We have done what we ought to do.' "


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<n>Ten Lepers Cleansed </n> And it happened while He was traveling to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.


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Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood at a distance.


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And seeing <i>them</i>, He said to them, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And so it was that as they went away, they were cleansed.


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<n>The Coming of the Kingdom </n> Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation;


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neither will they say, 'Look here!' or 'Look, there <i>it is</i>!' For behold, the kingdom of God is among you."


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Then He said to the disciples, " Days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you shall not see it.


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For just as the lightning which flashes out of the <i>one part</i> under heaven shines to the <i>other part</i> under heaven, so <i>also</i> the Son of Man will be in His day.


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They were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed <i>them</i> all.


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Likewise also as it happened in the days of Lot; they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building;


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but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed <i>them</i> all.


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In that day, <i>he</i> who shall be on the housetop, and his goods in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise he who is in the field, let him not turn back for the things<i> left</i> behind.


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I say to you, in that night two shall be on one bed: one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.


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And they answered and said to Him, "Where, Lord?" So He said to them, "Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together."


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<n>The Parable of the Persistent Widow</n> Then He spoke a parable to them, that one must always pray and not lose heart,


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Now there was a widow in that city; and she kept coming to him, saying, 'Give justice to me against my adversary.'


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And he did not want to for a time; but afterward he said within himself, 'although I do not fear God, nor have regard for man,


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yet because this widow bothers me I will give justice to her, lest she wear me out by forever coming to me.'


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And God, shall He not execute justice for His own elect, who cry out day and night to Him, and yet He is patient with them?


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I tell you that He will execute justice for them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"


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<n>The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector</n> Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised the others:


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The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men—swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.


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And the tax collector, standing far away, would not so much as lift his eyes towards heaven, but beat on his chest, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!'


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I say to you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted."


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<n>Jesus Blesses Little Children </n> And they were bringing infants to Him, that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.


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But Jesus, summoning them, said, "Allow the little children to come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.


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Assuredly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter into it."


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<n>The Rich Young Ruler </n> Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"


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You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not bear false witness,' 'Honor your father and your mother.' "


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So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, "Still one thing you lack: sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."


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<n>The Snare of Riches </n> And when Jesus saw that he became very sad, He said, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!


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For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."


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So He said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,


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<n>Jesus a Third Time Foretells of His Death and Resurrection </n> Then taking the twelve aside, He said to them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished.


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But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know what was being said.


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<n>Jesus Heals a Blind Man </n> Now it came to pass, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat alongside the road begging.


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Then those who went before warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have pity on me!"


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saying, "What do you desire <i>that</i> I should do for you?" And he said, "Lord, that I may receive <i>my</i> sight."


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And immediately he received <i>his</i> sight, and was following Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw <i>this</i>, gave praise to God.


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And behold, there<i> was</i> a man named Zacchaeus, and he was a chief tax collector, and this <i>man</i> was rich.


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And he was trying to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature.


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And running up ahead in front, he went up into a sycamore tree so that he might see Him, because He was about to pass by that way.


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And when He came upon that place, Jesus looked up and saw him, and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay in your house."


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But when they saw it, they all were complaining, saying, "He has gone to be a guest with a sinful man."


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Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my possessions to the poor; and if I have extorted anything from anyone, I restore fourfold."


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And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham;


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<n>The Parable of the Minas</n> Now as they heard these things, He told another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately.


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Therefore He said: "A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return.


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And having called ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, 'Do business till I come.'


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But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We will not have this man to reign over us.'


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And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, that he commanded those servants to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, so that he might know who gained what by trading.


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And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.'


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For I feared you, because you are a harsh man. You take up what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.'


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And he said to him, 'Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was a harsh man, taking up what I did not deposit, and reaping what I did not sow.


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Why then did you not give my money to a bank, and when I came, I would have collected it with interest?'


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And he said to those standing by, 'Take the mina away from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.'


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For I say to you that to everyone who has, <i>more</i> shall be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.


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Nevertheless bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay <i>them</i> before me.' "


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And it came to pass, as He drew near to Bethsphage and Bethany, to the mountain which is called Olivet, that He sent two of His disciples,


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saying, "Go into the village opposite you, in which when you enter you will find a colt tied up, on which no one of men has ever sat. Loose him and bring <i>him</i> <i>here</i>.


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And if anyone asks you, 'Why are you loosing <i>him</i>?' thus you shall say to him, 'Because the Lord has need of him.' "


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Then they brought him to Jesus. And when they threw their own clothes on the colt, they set Jesus on him.


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And as He was approaching the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen,


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saying: " <span class='smcaps'>'Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord</span>!' Peace in heaven and glory in the highest! "


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But He answered and said to them, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out."


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saying, "If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things pertaining to your peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes.


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For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and hem you in from every side,


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and they will level you to the ground, and your children with you; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the season of your visitation."


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<n>Jesus Cleanses the Temple</n> And when He entered into the temple, He began to drive out those buying and selling in it,


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saying to them, "It is written, 'My house is a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves.' "


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And He was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people were seeking to destroy Him,


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<n>Jesus’ Authority Questioned</n> Now it came to pass on one of those days, as He taught the people in the temple and preached the gospel, that the priests and the scribes, together with the elders, confronted Him


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and they spoke to Him, saying, "Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Or who is he who gave You this authority?"


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And they debated among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Why <i>then</i> did you not believe him?'


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But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded <i>that</i> John was a prophet."


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<n>The Parable of the Wicked Tenants </n> Then He began to tell the people this parable: "A man planted a vineyard, leased it to farmers, and went on a journey for a long time.


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Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the farmers, that they might give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the farmers flogged him and sent him away empty-handed.


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And again he sent another servant; and they flogged him also, treated him shamefully, and sent <i>him</i> away empty-handed.


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Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. Perhaps when they see him they will respect <i>him</i>.'


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But when the farmers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours.'


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And casting him out of the vineyard, they killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them?


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He will come and destroy those farmers and give the vineyard to others." And when they heard it they said, "May it never be!"


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Then He looked at them and said, "What then is this which is written: 'The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone'?


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"Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder."


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And the chief priests and the scribes sought to lay hands on Him that very hour, but they were afraid—for they knew that He had spoken this parable against them.


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<n>The Question of Paying Taxes </n> And having watched <i>Him</i> closely, they sent spies who pretended to be righteous, that they might seize on His words, in order to deliver Him to the rule and the authority of the governor.


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Then they asked Him, saying, "Teacher, we know that You say and teach rightly, and You do not show favoritism, but teach the way of God in truth:


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And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."


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But they could not catch Him in His words in front of the people. And marveling at His answer, they kept silent.


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<n>The Question About the Resurrection</n> Then some of the Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, coming to Him and asked Him,


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saying: "Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man's brother dies, having a wife, and this <i>man </i>dies childless, that his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.


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Then the third took her, and in like manner the seven also; and they left no children, and they died.


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But those who have been counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage;


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nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.


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Now even Moses revealed that the dead are raised, in <i>the burning </i>bush <i>passage</i>, when he called the Lord '<span class='smcaps'>the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob</span>.'


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<n>The Question About the Son of David</n> And He said to them, "How <i>is it that</i> they say the Christ is the Son of David?


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Even David himself said in the Book of Psalms, '<span class='smcaps'>The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, </span>


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“Beware of the scribes, who desire to walk about in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces, and the first seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at dinners,


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who devour widows' houses, and for a show make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation."


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For all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put <i>in</i> all the livelihood which she had."


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<n>Jesus Predicts the Destruction of the Temple</n> Then, as some spoke about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said,


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“These things which you see—the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down."


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<n>The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age </n> So they asked Him, saying, "Teacher, when will these things be? And what <i>will be </i>the sign when these things are about to happen?"


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And He said: "Take heed that no one deceive you. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I AM,' and, 'The time has drawn near.' Therefore do not go after them.


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But whenever you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must happen first, but the end will not come immediately."


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And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful events and great signs from heaven.


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But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and they will persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers on account of My name.


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for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict, nor to withstand.


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You will be betrayed even by parents and relatives, friends and brothers; and they will put <i>some</i> of you to death.


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<n>The Destruction of Jerusalem</n> "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has drawn near.


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Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the fields enter into her.


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But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing a baby in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath among this people.


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And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.


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<n>The Coming of the Son of Man</n> "And there shall be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, as the sea and the waves roar,


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men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming upon the earth, for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.


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Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."


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<n>The Parable of the Fig Tree</n> Then He spoke to them a parable: "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.


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<n>Be Ready!</n> "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and worries of life, and that Day come upon you unexpectedly.


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Watch therefore, praying always that you may be counted worthy to escape everything that is about to happen, and to stand before the Son of Man."


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And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet.


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<n>The Plot to Kill Jesus</n> Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover.


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And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how they might kill Him, for they feared the people.


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And he went off and spoke with the chief priests and captains <i>about</i> how he might betray Him to them.


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<n>Preparations for the Passover </n> Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Pascal Lamb must be killed.


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And He sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us, so that we may eat <i>it</i>."


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And He said to them, "Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he goes in.


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Then you shall say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says to you, "Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?" '


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<n>The Institution of the Lord’s Supper </n> When the hour had come, He reclined <i>to eat</i>, and the twelve apostles with Him.


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for I say to you, that I will by no means drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."


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And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me."


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Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.


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And indeed the Son of Man goes according to what is determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!"


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Then they began to discuss with one another, which of them might be the <i>one</i> who was about to do this.


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<n>The Disciples Argue About Greatness </n> And there arose also a dispute among them, <i>as to</i> which one of them was the greatest.


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But He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called 'benefactors.'


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But <i>it is </i>not this way with you; but let the greatest among you, let him be as the youngest, and he who leads as he who serves.


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For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.


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so that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."


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<n>Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial </n> And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Behold, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.


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But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."


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Then He said, "I say to you, Peter, the rooster will by no means crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me."


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And He said to them, "When I sent you without a money bag, and a knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?" And they said, "Nothing."


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Then He said to them, "But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise also a knapsack; and he who has no sword shall sell his garment and buy one.


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For I say to you that this which has been written must still be accomplished in Me—the <i>saying,</i> 'And He was numbered with the transgressors.' For the things concerning Me have a fulfillment."


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<n>Jesus Prays in Gethsemane</n> And going out, He went to the Mount of Olives, according to His custom, and His disciples also followed Him.


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saying, "Father, if You will, remove this cup from Me—nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done."


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And being in agony, He prayed more fervently. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down onto the ground.


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<n>Betrayal and Arrest at Gethsemane </n> And while He was still speaking, behold, a crowd; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, was going before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him.


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And those around Him, seeing what was about to happen, they said to Him, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?"


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Then Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to Him, "Have you come out, as against a bandit, with swords and clubs?


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When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness."


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<n>Peter Denies Jesus, Weeps Bitterly</n> And having arrested Him, they led Him and brought Him into the house of the high priest. And Peter was following from a distance.


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Now when they had lit a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat in their midst.


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And a certain servant girl, seeing him sitting at the fire and gazing at him, said, "This <i>man</i> was also with Him."


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And after a little <i>while</i> another <i>person </i>saw him and said, "You also are <i>one </i>of them." But Peter said, "Man, I am not!"


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Then after about one hour had passed, another was firmly insisting, saying, "Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean."


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But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are saying!" And immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed.


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And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, "Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times."


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<n>Jesus Mocked and Beaten</n> Now the men who were holding Jesus were mocking Him and beating <i>Him</i>.


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And having blindfolded Him, they were striking His face and asking Him, saying, "Prophesy! Who is the one who struck You?"


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<n>Jesus and the Sanhedrin</n> And when it became day, the council of the elders of the people, the chief priests and scribes, came together and led Him into their council, saying,


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"If You are the Messiah, tell us." But He said to them, "If I tell you, you will by no means believe.


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Then they all said, "Are You then the Son of God?" So He said to them, "You <i>rightly</i> say that I am."


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And they said, "What further testimony do we need? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth!"


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<n>Jesus Handed Over to Pontius Pilate</n> Then the whole multitude of them arose and led Him to Pilate.


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And they began to accuse Him, saying, "We found this <i>Man</i> perverting the nation, and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King."


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Then Pilate questioned Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?" He answered him and said, "You are saying <i>what is</i> <i>so</i>."


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But they insisted, saying, "He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to here."


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And when he found out that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem in those days.


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Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, and he was hoping to see some miracle being done by Him.


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Then Herod, with his men of war, having treated Him with contempt, and having mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate.


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That very day Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for previously they had been at enmity with each other.


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<n>Jesus or Barabbas? </n> And Pilate, having called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people,


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said to them, "You have brought this Man to me, on the charge of misleading the people. And indeed, when I examined Him in your presence, I found no guilt in this Man in the matters which you bring as charges against Him;


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and neither <i>did</i> Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing worthy of death has been done by Him.


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who because of a certain insurrection having occurred in the city had been thrown into prison, and for murder.


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Then he said to them the third <i>time</i>, "Why, what evil did He do? I have found no guilt deserving death in Him. Therefore when I have flogged Him, I will release <i>Him</i>."


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But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified. And their voices and <i>those</i> of the chief priests prevailed.


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And he released whom they were requesting, who because of insurrection and murder had been thrown into prison; but he delivered Jesus to their will.


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<n>Jesus Crucified</n> And as they led Him away, they laid hold of a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, <i>as he was</i> coming from the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might carry it behind Jesus.


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And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also were mourning and lamenting Him.


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But Jesus, turning to them, said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.


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For behold, the days are coming in which they will say, 'Blessed <i>are</i> the barren, and <i>the</i> wombs which did not give birth, and breasts which did not nurse!'


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And when they came to the place which is called Calvary, there they crucified Him and the evildoers, one on the right, and one on the left.


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Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." And dividing His garments, they cast lots.


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And the people stood, observing. And the rulers with them also were sneering, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the elect of God."


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And an inscription also was written over Him, in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew letters: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.


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Then one of the evildoers who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us."


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But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?


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And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this Man did nothing wrong."


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<n>The Death of Jesus</n> Now it was about the sixth hour, and darkness came upon the whole land until the ninth hour.


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And Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, "Father, <span class='smcaps'>'into Your hands I will commit My spirit</span>.' " And after He said these things, He expired.


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And when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, "Certainly this was a righteous Man!"


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And all the crowds which came together for this spectacle, when they saw what had happened, beat their own chests and returned.


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But all His acquaintances, and the women who followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.


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<n>The Burial of Jesus</n> And behold, there was a man named Joseph, a council member, a good and just man


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(this <i>man</i> had not agreed to their decision and deed), from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who himself was also waiting for the kingdom of God.


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And having taken it down, he wrapped it in a linen cloth, and put it in a tomb cut out of rock, where no one had ever lain before.


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And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was placed.


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Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. And they rested on the Sabbath, according to the commandment.


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<n>The Resurrection of Jesus</n> And on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.


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And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel.


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Then, as they became afraid and bowed their faces to the ground, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?


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saying, 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.' "


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It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary <i>the mother</i> of James, and the rest with them, who told these things to the apostles.


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But Peter rose up and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen strips lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.


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<n>The Road to Emmaus</n> Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem.


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So it was, as they were conversing and discussing, that Jesus Himself drew near and started to travel with them.


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And He said to them, "What <i>are </i>these words which you are exchanging with one another as you walk, and you have a gloomy look?"


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Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, "Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and do not know what has happened in it in these days?"


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And He said to them, "What things?" So they said to Him, "The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene, who proved to be a man <i>who was </i>a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,


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and how the chief priests and our rulers handed Him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified Him.


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But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened.


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And not finding His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive.


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And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see."


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Then He said to them, "O <i>you </i>foolish, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!


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And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.


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<n>The Disciples’ Eyes Opened</n> Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He made as though He was going farther.


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But they constrained Him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent." And He went in to stay with them.


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Now it came to pass, as He was reclining <i>to eat</i> with them, having taken bread, He blessed and broke it, and He gave <i>it</i> to them.


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And they said to one another, "Was not our heart burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, and while He was interpreting the Scriptures to us?"


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So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together,


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And they described the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.


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<n>Jesus Appears to His Disciples</n> Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, "Peace to you."


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Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have."


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<n>Jesus’ Final Commission </n> Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me."


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Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day,


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and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.


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And behold, I am sending the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."


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<n>Jesus Taken up to Heaven</n> And He led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up His hands, He blessed them.


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And it happened, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and was carried up into heaven.


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<n>Jesus the Eternal Word of God</n> In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.


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This <i>man</i> came for a testimony, so that he might testify concerning the Light, so that all through him might believe.


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But as many as received Him, to them He gave the authority to become children of God, <i>even </i>to those who believe in His name;


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<n>God Takes a Body</n> And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.


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John testified concerning Him and has cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because He was before me.' "


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No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared <i>Him</i>.


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<n>The Witness of John the Baptist</n> And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem so that they might ask him, "Who are you?"


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And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, "No."


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Then they said to him, "Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?"


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He said: "I am ‘<span class='smcaps'>The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Make straight the way of the Lord</span>,"’ as Isaiah the prophet said."


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And they asked him, saying, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"


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John answered them, saying, "I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know.


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He is the <i>One </i>who comes after me, who ranks before me, of whom I am not worthy that I should loose the strap of His sandal."


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<n>The Lamb of God </n> The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!


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This is the <i>One</i> about whom I said, 'After me comes a Man who ranks before me, because He was before me.'


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"I did not know Him; but that He should be made manifest to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water."


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And John testified, saying, "I have beheld the Spirit coming down from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him.


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I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending and abiding on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'


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Then Jesus turned and observed them following, and said to them, "What are you seeking?" They said to Him, "Rabbi" (which is translated, Teacher), "where are You staying?"


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He said to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where He was staying, and they stayed with Him that day. It was about the tenth hour.


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He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated, the Christ).


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And he led him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, "You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas" (which means Peter).


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<n>Philip and Nathanael</n> On the next day He wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, "Follow Me."


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Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found the <i>One</i> about whom Moses wrote in the Law, and the Prophets—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."


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And Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see."


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Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said about him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!"


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Nathanael said to Him, "From where do You know me?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, while you were under the fig tree, I saw you."


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Jesus answered and said to him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these."


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And He said to him, "Most assuredly I say to you, from now on you shall see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."


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<n>Jesus at Cana of Galilee: The First Miracle</n> And on the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.


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Now there were six stone water jars standing there, according to the purification rites of the Jews, each holding two or three measures.


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And He said to them, "Draw out now, and carry <i>some</i> to the head steward." And they carried <i>it</i>.


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Now when the head steward tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the head steward called the bridegroom


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and said to him, "Every man first sets out the good wine, and when they have well drunk, then the inferior. <i>But </i>you have kept the good wine until now!"


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This beginning of the signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.


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After this He went down to Capernaum, He, His mother, His brothers, and His disciples; and there they remained not many days.


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<n>Jesus Cleanses the Temple</n> Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.


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And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the moneychangers sitting there.


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And having made a scourge out of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and He poured out the coins of the moneychangers, and He overturned the tables.


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And He said to those selling the doves, "Take these things <i>away</i> from here! Do not make My Father's house a house of merchandise!"


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Then His disciples remembered that it was written, "<span class='smcaps'>The zeal for Your house will consume Me</span>."


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Therefore the Jews answered and said to Him, "What sign do You show to us, seeing that You do these things?"


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Then the Jews said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?"


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Therefore, when He was raised up from among the dead, His disciples remembered that He spoke this <i>thing,</i> and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken.


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<n>Jesus at the Passover Feast </n> Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed on His name when they saw the signs that He was doing.


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<n>Jesus and Nicodemus: The New Birth</n> Now there was a man of the Pharisees whose name <i>was</i> Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.


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This man came to Him by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You have come from God <i>as</i> a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him."


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Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."


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Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born, being old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"


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Jesus answered, "Most assuredly I say to you, unless one is born of water and of Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.


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"The wind blows where it wills, and you hear its sound, but you do not know from where it comes and where it goes. So is everyone who has been born of the Spirit."


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Most assuredly I say to you, that which We know, We speak, and that which We have seen, We bear witness to, and you do not receive Our witness.


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If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?


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And no one has gone up into heaven except He who came down out of heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven.


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And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,


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For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.


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For God did not send His Son into the world so that He might condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.


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He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe has been condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.


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And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness more than the light, because their works were evil.


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For everyone that does evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works be exposed.


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But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God."


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<n>John the Baptist’s Further Testimony </n> After these things Jesus, along with His disciples, came into the land of Judea, and there He was staying with them and He was baptizing.


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Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salem, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized.


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And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, this <i>Man</i> is baptizing, and all <i>men</i> are coming to Him!"


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You yourselves bear witness that I said, 'I am not the Messiah,' but, 'I have been sent before Him.'


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"He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the voice of the bridegroom. Therefore my joy has been fulfilled.


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“He who comes from above is above all; he who is from the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.


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He who believes in the Son has eternal life; and he who does not believe the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."


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<n>Jesus and the Samaritan Woman</n> Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and was baptizing more disciples than John


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Therefore He came to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near the piece of land which Jacob gave to his son Joseph.


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Now Jacob's well was there. Therefore Jesus, having become tired from the journey, was sitting thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.


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Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, "How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?" For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.


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Jesus answered and said to her, "If you had known the gift of God, and who it is that says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given to you living water."


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The woman said to Him, "Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water?


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Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?"


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but whoever drinks of the water which I shall give him will by no means ever thirst again. But the water which I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into eternal life."


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The woman answered and said, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You have said well, 'I have no husband,'


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"for you have had five husbands, and <i>the one</i> whom you now have is not your husband; in this you have said truly."


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Our fathers worshipped on this mountain, and you <i>Jews</i> say that in Jerusalem is the place where it is necessary to worship."


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Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father.


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You worship what you do not know; we <i>Jews </i>worship what we know, because salvation is of the Jews.


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But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.


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The woman said to Him, "I know that Messiah is coming" (who is called Christ). "When He comes, He will proclaim to us all things."


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<n>The Disciples Return </n> And at this point His disciples came, and they marveled that He was speaking with a woman; however no one said, "What do You seek?" or, "Why are You speaking with her?"


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Therefore the disciples were saying to one another, "Has anyone brought Him <i>something</i> to eat?"


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Do you not say, 'There are still four months and the harvest comes'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and see the fields, for they are already white for harvest!


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And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit unto eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.


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"I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors."


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<n>Jesus Christ, Savior of the World</n> And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman testifying, "He told me everything I ever did."


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So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they were asking Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days.


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Then they were saying to the woman, "No longer because of your speech do we believe, for we ourselves have heard and know that this is truly the Christ, the Savior of the world."


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Therefore when He came into Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things which He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they also went to the feast.


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Then Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick in Capernaum.


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When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and asked Him that He might come down and heal his son, for he was about to die.


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Then Jesus said to him, "Unless you <i>people</i> see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe."


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Jesus said to him, "Go; your son lives." And the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and went away.


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Then he inquired from them the hour at which he got better. And they said to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him."


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Therefore the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, "Your son lives." And he himself believed, and his whole household.


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<n>A Healing at Bethesda</n> After these things there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.


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Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep <i>Gate</i> a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches.


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In these <i>porches</i> were lying a great multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water.


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For an angel from time to time descended into the pool and stirred up the water; therefore the first <i>one</i> having gone in after the stirring up of the water, became well of whatever disease he was suffering <i>from</i>.


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When Jesus saw this <i>man</i> lying there, and knew that he already had been in <i>that condition</i> a long time, He said to him, "Do you wish to become well?"


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The sick man answered Him, "Sir, I do not have a man, so that whenever the water is stirred up, he may put me into the pool; but while I am coming, another steps down before me."


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And immediately the man became well, and took up his bed, and began to walk. And that day was the Sabbath.


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Therefore the Jews said to the man who was healed, "It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry <i>your</i> bed."


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But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had turned aside, while a crowd was in that place.


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After these things Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you have become well. Sin no more, lest something worse may happen to you."


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<n>Responding to Jewish Leaders </n> And on account of this the Jews began to persecute Jesus, and were seeking to kill Him, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath.


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Because of this the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because not only was He breaking the Sabbath, but also He called God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.


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Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father doing; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.


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For the Father loves the Son, and shows to Him all things which He Himself does; and greater works than these He will show Him, so that you may marvel.


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so that all may honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.


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<n>The Testimony of the Father to the Son</n> "Most assuredly I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has eternal life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.


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Most assuredly I say to you, that an hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those having heard shall live.


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and shall come forth—those who have done good, to <i>the</i> resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to <i>the</i> resurrection of damnation.


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I can of My own self do nothing. Even as I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.


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There is another who testifies about Me, and I know that the testimony which He testifies concerning Me is true.


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But I have a testimony greater than John's; for the works which the Father gave to Me, that I should complete them, these very works which I do, testify of Me, that the Father has sent Me.


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And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified about Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form.


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But you do not have His word abiding in you, because <i>Him </i>whom He sent, Him you do not believe.


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You search the Scriptures, because you think <i>that</i> in them you have eternal life; and these are they which testify about Me.


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I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.


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How can you believe, who receive glory from one another, and do not seek the glory which is from the only God?


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Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you—Moses, in whom you have hoped.


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<n>Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand</n> After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, that is, of Tiberias.


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And a large crowd was following Him, because they were seeing His signs which He was doing upon those who were sick.


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Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, that these <i>people </i>may eat?"


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Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii <i>worth of</i> bread is not enough for them, that each of them might receive a little."


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“There is a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they for so many?"


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Then Jesus said, "Make the people to recline." Now there was much grass in that place. Therefore the men reclined, in number about five thousand.


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And Jesus took the loaves, and having given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those who were reclining; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wished.


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But when they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the leftover fragments, so that nothing may be lost."


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Therefore they gathered <i>them</i> up, and they filled twelve baskets of fragments from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.


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Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."


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<n>Jesus Walks on Water</n> Therefore Jesus, knowing that they were about to come and seize Him, that they might make Him king, withdrew to the mountain by Himself.


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and having entered into the boat, they were going across the sea to Capernaum. And darkness had already come, and Jesus had not come to them.


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Therefore having rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat; and they were frightened.


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Then they were willing to receive Him into the boat, and immediately the boat arrived at the land to which they were going.


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<n>The Bread from Heaven </n> On the next day, when the crowd which had remained on the other side of the sea, having seen that there was no other boat there, except that one in which His disciples had entered, and that Jesus had not entered into the boat with His disciples, but His disciples had gone away alone—


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however, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks—


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when the crowd therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.


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And having found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, "Rabbi, when did You come here?"


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Jesus answered them and said, "Most assuredly I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.


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Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you; for <i>upon</i> Him God the Father has set <i>His</i> seal."


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Therefore they said to Him, "What sign will You do then, so that we may see it and believe You? What work do You perform?


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Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.' "


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Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly I say to you, Moses has not given you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.


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And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.


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And this is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me, I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.


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And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day."


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<n>Jesus Rejected by His Own</n> Therefore the Jews were murmuring about Him, because He said, "I am the bread which came down from heaven."


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And they were saying, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then does this <i>Man</i> say, 'I have come down from heaven'?"


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No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me should draw him; and I will raise him up at the last day.


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It is written in the prophets, <span class='smcaps'>'And they shall all be taught of God</span>.' Therefore everyone who hears from the Father, and has learned, comes to Me.


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I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world."


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Therefore the Jews were contending with one another, saying, "How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?"


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Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves.


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Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up in the last day.


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Just as the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me.


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This is the bread which came down from heaven, not as your fathers ate the manna, and died. Whoever eats this bread shall live forever."


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<n>Many Disciples Fall Away</n> Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, "This is a hard saying; who can hear it?"


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And Jesus, knowing in Himself that His disciples were murmuring about this, He said to them, "Does this offend you?


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It is the Spirit who makes alive; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and <i>they</i> are life.


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But there are some of you who do not believe." (For Jesus knew from the beginning who were the ones who did not believe, and who was the one who would betray Him).


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And He said, "Because of this I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father."


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Now He was speaking <i>about</i> Judas Iscariot, <i>the son</i> of Simon, for he was intending to betray Him, though he was one of the twelve.


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<n>Jesus’ Brothers Disbelieve</n> And after these things Jesus was walking in Galilee; for He did not wish to walk in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill Him.


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His brothers therefore said to Him, "Depart from here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see the works that You do.


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For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known publicly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world."


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You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, because My time has not yet been fulfilled."


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<n>Jesus Sought at the Feast of Tabernacles</n> But when His brothers had gone up, then also He Himself went up to the feast, not openly, but in private.


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And there was much murmuring among the crowds concerning Him. Some on the one hand were saying, "He is a good <i>Man</i>"; <i>while </i>others were saying, "No, on the contrary, He deceives the people."


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And the Jews were marveling, saying, "How has this Man become learned, since He has not been educated?"


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If anyone desires to do His will, he will know about the doctrine, whether it is from God, or whether I am speaking on My own <i>authority</i>.


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He who speaks from himself is seeking his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.


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Because of this Moses has given you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath.


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If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath?


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<n>Questions about Jesus’ Identity </n> Therefore some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, "Is this not He whom they are seeking to kill?


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And look! He is speaking publicly, and they say nothing to Him. Can it be that the rulers know indeed that this is truly the Messiah?


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However, we know where this Man is from; but whenever the Messiah comes, no one knows where He is from."


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Therefore Jesus cried out, as He was teaching in the temple, saying, "You both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come of my own accord, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know.


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Therefore they were seeking to arrest Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come.


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But many of the crowd believed in Him, and were saying, "When the Messiah comes, will He do more signs than these which this <i>Man</i> did?"


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<n>Jesus and the Religious Leaders</n> The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things about Him, and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent attendants so that they might arrest Him.


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Therefore the Jews said among themselves, "Where does this <i>man</i> intend to go that we will not find Him? Does He intend to go into the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks?


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What is this thing which He said, 'You will seek Me and you will not find <i>Me</i>, and where I am you cannot come'?"


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<n>The Promise of the Holy Spirit</n> Now on the last day, the great <i>day</i> of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.


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He that believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his belly will flow rivers of living water."


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(But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him were about to receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet <i>given</i>, because Jesus was not yet glorified).


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<n>Differing Opinions About Jesus</n> Therefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, "Truly this is the Prophet."


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Others said, "This is the Messiah." Others said, "Surely the Messiah is not to come out of Galilee, <i>is He</i>?


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Has not the Scripture said that the Messiah comes from the seed of David and from the village of Bethlehem, where David was?"


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<n>Rejected by the Authorities </n> Then the attendants came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, "Why did you not bring Him?"


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They answered and said to him, "Are you also from Galilee? Search and see, because no prophet has arisen out of Galilee."


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And early in the morning, He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and having sat down, He began to teach them.


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Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman who had been caught in adultery, and having stood her in <i>the</i> midst,


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But this they said, testing Him, that they might have an accusation against Him. But Jesus, stooping down, began to write on the ground with His finger, not taking notice.


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And while they were continuing questioning Him, rising up, He said unto them, "He who is without sin among you, let him <i>be the </i>first to cast a stone at her."


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And those who heard <i>it</i> began to go out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman being in the midst.


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And standing up and seeing no one but the woman, Jesus said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?"


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She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more."


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<n>Jesus is the Light of the World</n> Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He that follows Me shall by no means walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."


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Jesus answered and said to them, "Even if I should testify about Myself, My testimony is true, because I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going.


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But even if I do judge, My judgment is true; because I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me.


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Then they said to Him, "Where is Your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither Me nor My Father. If you knew Me, you would also know My Father."


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These words Jesus spoke in the treasury, while teaching in the temple; and no one seized Him, for His time had not yet come.


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<n>Jesus Predicts His Departure</n> Then Jesus said to them again, "I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come."


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So the Jews said, "<i>Surely </i>He will not kill Himself, <i>will He,</i> since He says, 'Where I am going you cannot come'?"


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And He said to them, "You are from below; I am from above. You are from this world; I am not from this world.


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Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins."


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Then they said to Him, "Who are You?" And Jesus said to them, "Just what I have been saying to you <i>from</i> the beginning.


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I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and the things which I heard from Him, these things I say to the world."


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Therefore Jesus said to them, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I AM, and from Myself I do nothing; but just as My Father taught Me, these things I speak.


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And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, because I always do the things that are pleasing to Him."


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<n>The Truth Shall Set You Free </n> Then Jesus said to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you abide in My word, truly you are My disciples.


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They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How <i>can</i> you say, 'You will become free'?"


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Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly I say to you, that everyone that practices sin is a slave of sin.


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<n>Abraham’s Seed and Satan’s Seed</n> "I know that you are Abraham's seed, but you seek to kill Me, because My word finds no place in you.


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They answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham.


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But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has spoken to you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this.


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You do the works of your father." Then they said to Him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God."


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Therefore Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would have loved Me, for I came forth and have come from God; nor have I come from Myself, but He sent Me.


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You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you desire to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has not stood in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks from his own <i>resources</i>, for he is a liar, and the father of lies.


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He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear <i>them</i>, because you are not of God."


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<n>Before Abraham Was, I AM </n> Then the Jews answered and said to Him, "Do we not say well that You are a Samaritan, and You have a demon?"


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Then the Jews said to Him, "Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham and the prophets died, and You say, 'If anyone keeps My word he shall by no means taste death.'


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"Are You greater than our father Abraham, who died? Also the prophets died. Whom do You make Yourself <i>out to be</i>?"


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Jesus answered, "If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing. It is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say that He is our God.


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And yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I would say that I do not know Him, I would be like you, a liar; but I do know Him, and I keep His word.


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Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, having gone through their midst, and so passed by.


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And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"


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Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but so that the works of God should be manifest in him.


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Having said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay from the saliva; and He applied the clay on the eyes of the blind <i>man</i>.


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And He said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.


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Therefore the neighbors and those who previously saw him, that he was blind, were saying, "Is not this he who sat and begged?"


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Some said, "This is he." Others said, "He looks like him." <i>But </i>he kept saying, "I am <i>he</i>."


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He answered and said, "A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes, and He said to me, 'Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.' When I had gone and washed, I received <i>my </i>sight."


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<n>The Pharisees Ex-Communicate the Healed Man</n> They brought him who was once blind to the Pharisees.


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Then again the Pharisees were asking him how he received <i>his</i> sight. And he said to them, "He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see."


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Therefore some of the Pharisees were saying, "This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath." Others said, "How can a sinful man do such signs?" And there was a division among them.


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They said to the blind <i>man</i> again, "What do you say about Him since He has opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet."


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But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he was blind and received <i>his</i> sight, until they called the parents of him who had received <i>his</i> sight.


