Chapter 2
When Jesus went to Peter's house, He saw Peter's wife's mother laid sick with a fever. He touched her hand and the fever left her. She arose and ministered to them. That evening they brought to Him many who were possessed with devils and He cast out the spirits with His word. He healed all who were sick so that the words of Isaiah the prophet were fulfilled: He took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.
Jesus saw great multitudes gathering. He decided they should depart to the other side of the water. A scribe approached Him and said, Master, I will follow wherever thou go. Jesus only replied, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has no place to lay His head. Another came to Him and said, Lord, let me first go and bury my father. But Jesus replied, Follow me and let the dead bury their dead. Then they got in a boat and started for the other side.
Behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea. It was so great that the boat was covered with the waves. Jesus was asleep. His disciples woke Him and said, Lord, save us. We will perish. Jesus replied, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea. There was a great calm. The disciples marvelled and said, What kind of man is this who even the winds and the sea obey!
On the other side they came into the country of the Gadarenes. There He met two men coming out of the tombs who were possessed with devils so fierce that no man dared pass them. They cried out, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? Art thou come here to torment us before the time?
At a distance from them was a herd of swine. The devils said to Him, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go into the herd of swine. Jesus said to them, Go. When they came out of the men, they went into the herd of swine. Behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea and perished in the waters. The herders who kept them fled into the city and told people what happened to those possessed by the devils. Then the whole city went to see Jesus and, when they saw Him, they besought Him to depart from their coasts.
9. He took a boat to His own city. There they brought to Him a man with palsy who was lying on a bed. Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the sick man; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins are forgiven thee.
Behold, certain of the scribes said, This man blasphemes. And, Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? Is it easier to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee or Arise and walk? So ye may know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins, (then He said to the sick man) Arise, take up thy bed and go to thy house. The man did get up and went to his house. When the multitude saw it, they marvelled and glorified God who had given such power.
When Jesus left there He saw a man sitting at the receipt of custom. He said to him, Follow me. And he arose and followed Him. As Jesus sat at dinner, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. When the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, Why does your master eat with publicans and sinners? When Jesus heard this, He said, Those who are well do not need a physician, but those who are sick do. Go and learn what that means. I will have mercy and not revenge because I have not come to call the righteous, but to call sinners to repentance.
Then John's disciples came to Him and asked, Why do we and the Pharisees often fast, but thy disciples do not fast? Jesus said to them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The day will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them and then they will fast.
No one uses a piece of new cloth to patch an old garment for the piece that is put in to cover the space takes from the garment and the rent is worse than before. Nor does anyone put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, the wine runs out and the bottles perish. They put new wine into new bottles and both are preserved. While He spoke these things there came a certain ruler who worshipped Him and said, My daughter is almost now dead, but come and lay thy hand upon her and she shall live. Jesus arose and followed him, and His disciples came along also.
On the way, a woman who was diseased with an issue of blood for twelve years came up behind Him. She touched the hem of His garment because she said within herself, If I may but touch His garment I shall be healed. Jesus turned around, and when He saw her, He said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith has made thee whole. The woman was healed from that hour.
Finally, when Jesus arrived at the ruler's house, He saw many mourners. He said to them, Stand aside. The maid is not dead but sleeps. They laughed Him to scorn. But when the people moved aside, He went in, took her by the hand, and she arose. This news spread abroad into all that land.
When Jesus left there, two blind men followed Him. They cried, Thou son of David, have mercy on us. When He entered a house, the blind men came to Him. Jesus said to them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said to Him, Yea, Lord. Then He touched their eyes and said, According to your faith be it done unto you. Their eyes were opened. Then Jesus charged them to make sure that no man knew of this. But, after they departed, they spread His fame all around that country.
As they were leaving that place a mute man possessed with a devil was brought to Jesus. When the devil was cast out, the man could then speak. The multitude marvelled and said nothing like it was ever seen before in Israel. But the Pharisees said, He casts out devils through the prince of the devils.
Jesus went to all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom. He healed every kind of sickness and disease among the people. But when He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion on them because they fainted and were scattered like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few. Pray to the Lord so He will send forth laborers to His harvest.
10. Jesus called together His twelve disciples and gave them power to cast out unclean spirits and to heal all manner of sickness and disease. The names of the twelve apostles are these; Simon, who is called Peter, Andrew, his brother; James the son of Zebedee, John his brother; Philip; Bartholomew; Thomas; the publican; James the son of Alphaeus; Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.
These twelve Jesus sent forth and commanded them: Go not into the way of the Gentiles or into any city of the Samaritans. Rather, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As ye go, preach that the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick. Cleanse the lepers. Raise the dead. Cast out devils. Freely ye have received, freely give.
Provide neither gold nor silver nor brass in your purses. Take no scrip for your journey. Neither take two coats, nor shoes, nor staves because the workman is worthy of his food. Into whatever city or town ye enter, enquire who in it is worthy. Abide there until ye go on. When ye come into a house, salute it. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it. If it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. Whoever shall not receive you or hear your words, when ye leave that house or city, shake the dust from your feet. Verily, it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment than for that city.
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves. Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Beware of men. They will deliver you up to the councils. They will scourge you in their synagogues. Ye shall be brought before governors and kings for a testimony against them and the Gentiles because of me. But when they deliver you up, do not worry how or what ye shall speak. It will be given you at the time ye speak because it is not ye that will speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaks through you.
Also be aware that a brother shall deliver up a brother to death, and a father the child. Children shall rise up against their parents and cause them to be put to death. Ye shall be hated by all for my name's sake. But those who endure to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one city, flee to another.
Truly, I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone to all the cities of Israel before the Son comes. The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house, Beelzebub, how much more shall they call those of God's household?
Fear them not. There is nothing covered that shall not be revealed; and nothing hidden that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, speak it in light. And what ye hear in the ear, preach it from the housetops. Fear not those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul. Instead, fear the one who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father knowing. The very hairs on your head are all numbered by Him. Fear not because ye are of more value than many sparrows. Whoever confesses me before all, I will confess him before my Father in heaven. Whoever denies me before all, I will deny him before my Father in heaven.
Do not think that I came to earth to bring peace. I came not to bring peace, but a sword. My coming will set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. One's foes shall be those of his own household.
Anyone who loves a father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. Anyone who loves a son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And anyone who does not take up his cross and follow me, is not worthy of me.
He who finds his life will lose it. He who loses his life for my sake will find it. Whoever accepts you accepts me, and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me. He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward. He who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward. And whoever gives a cup of cold water to one of the little ones in the name of a disciple, will never lose his reward.
11. When Jesus finished instructing His twelve disciples, He departed to teach and preach in their cities. When John, who was in prison, heard of the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples. They asked Jesus, Art thou the one who is to come or do we look for another? Jesus answered, Go and show John what you hear and see. The blind receive their sight. The lame walk. The lepers are cleansed. The deaf hear. The dead are raised up. And the poor have the gospel preached to them. Blessed is he who is not be offended by me.
As they departed, Jesus spoke to the crowds about John. He said, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? What went ye out to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. What went ye out to see? A prophet? Yes, and he is more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written: Behold, I send my messenger who shall prepare the way before thee.
Truly, I tell you, of all those born of woman, there is none greater than John the Baptist, who would make himself least in the kingdom of heaven. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffered violence and the violent took it by force. All the prophets and the law prophesied of John. If ye will receive it, this is Elias, who was to come. He that has ears to hear, let him hear.
But how shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the markets and calling unto their fellows saying, We have piped to you and ye have not danced. We have mourned you and ye have not lamented. John came neither eating nor drinking and they said he had a devil. The Son of man came eating and drinking and they say he is a glutton, a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom will be justified by her children.
Then He began to upbraid the cities where most of His mighty works were done because they did not repent. Woe unto thee, Chorazin! Woe unto thee, Bethsaida! If the mighty works that were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say to you, It will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment than for you.
And Capernaum, praised to heaven, will be brought down to hell. If the mighty works that were done in Capernaum had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.
Then Jesus prayed aloud: I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. It is so, Father, for it seemed good in thy sight.
All things are delivered to me by my Father. No man knows the Son but the Father. Neither knows any man the Father except the Son. He is revealed to whomever the Son will reveal Him.
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me. I am meek and lowly in heart. You will find rest for your souls because my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
12. It was a sabbath day when Jesus and His disciples passed through a cornfield. His disciples were hungry and began to pluck ears of corn to eat. When the Pharisees saw it, they said to Jesus, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath day. But Jesus answered them, Have ye not read what David did when he was hungry? He and those who were with him entered into the house of God and ate the showbread. This was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those with him because the bread was only for the priests.
And, have ye not read in the law how, on the sabbath days, the priests in the temple profane the sabbath and are blameless? But, here is one greater than the temple. If you knew what this meant, you would not condemn the guiltless because the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath.
When Jesus went into the synagogue He was met by a man who had a withered hand. So that they might accuse Jesus, the Pharisees asked Him, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day? Jesus replied, What man is there among you who has one sheep and, if it falls into a pit on the sabbath day, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? How much more is a man worth than a sheep? Therefore, it is lawful to do good on the sabbath day. Jesus turned to the man and said, Stretch out your hand. The man stretched his hand and it was restored, whole and like his other hand.
Then the Pharisees left and held a council about how they might destroy Jesus. But when Jesus knew this, He departed from there. Great multitudes followed Him and He healed them all. He charged them that they should not make Him known. This was done to fulfill what was spoken by Isaiah the prophet: 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 shall show judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear His voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall He not break, and smoking flax shall He not quench till He send forth judgment unto victory. And in His name the Gentiles shall trust.
Then a blind and mute man, who was possessed with a devil, was brought to Him. Jesus healed him, and, to such an extent, that he both spoke and saw. All the people were amazed and said, Is not this the son of David? But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This one casts out devils by Beelzebub, the prince of the devils.
Jesus knew their thoughts and said, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation. Every city or house divided against itself shall not stand. If Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself. How, then, shall his kingdom stand?
If I, by Beelzebub, cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore, they shall be your judges. But, if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. And, if not, then how can someone enter into a strong man's house and spoil his goods unless he first bind the strong man? Only then is he able to spoil his house.
The one who is not with me is against me. He who does not gather around me, scatters abroad. So, I say to you, all kinds of sin and blasphemy against men will be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
Whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, will be forgiven. But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, will not be forgiven; not in this world and not in the world to come. Either make the tree good and its fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt and its fruit corrupt; for the tree is known by its fruit.
O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. A good man, out of the good treasure of the heart, brings forth good things. An evil man, out of the evil of the heart, brings forth evil things.
For every idle word that you speak, you will account for it in the day of judgment. By your words you shall be justified; and by your words you shall be condemned.
Then, some of the scribes and Pharisees said, Master, we want to see a sign from thee. But Jesus answered, An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign. There shall be no sign given except the sign of the prophet Jonah. Just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment of this generation and shall condemn it. This is so because they repented at the preaching of Jonah. Behold, one greater than Jonah is right here. The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment of this generation and shall condemn it. She came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon and, behold, one greater than Solomon is right here.
When an unclean spirit has left a man, he wanders through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then the unclean spirit says, I will return to the house from which I came. When he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and garnished. Then he returns with seven other spirits more wicked than himself. They go back into the man and dwell there. Then the last state of that man is worse than the first. This is how it shall be with this wicked generation.
While Jesus continued to talk to the people, His mother and His brothers stood outside and requested to speak with Him. Someone reported this to Him saying, Behold, thy mother and brethren are outside and desire to speak with thee. But Jesus addressed the one who told Him by saying, Who is my mother and who are my brothers? Then He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, Behold, my mother and my brethren! Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, and sister, and mother.
13. That same day Jesus sat by the sea. Great multitudes gathered. He had to get into a boat and sit while the whole multitude stood on the shore. Then He taught them in parables.
Jesus said, Behold, a sower went forth to sow seed. When he sowed, some seeds fell by the wayside and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell upon stony places where there was not much earth. They sprang up but they had no deep roots. So, when the sun was up, they were scorched and withered away. Also, some of the seeds fell among thorns. The thorns sprang up and choked them. Yet other seeds fell on good ground. These brought forth fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Who has ears to hear, let him hear.
The disciples asked Jesus, Why do you speak to them in parables? He answered, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whoever has understanding, more shall be given him and he shall have abundance. But whoever does not have understanding, what little he has shall be taken away from him. Therefore, I speak to them in parables because, not seeing and not hearing, they do not understand.
Also, in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: By hearing ye shall hear and shall not understand. And by seeing ye shall see and shall not perceive. For the people's hearts are hardened. Their ears are dull of hearing. They have closed their eyes. They do not see or hear for fear they will be converted and have to change their hearts.
But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear. Many prophets and righteous men have desired to see the things you see and they have not seen them. They have desired to hear the things you hear, and have not heard them. So, again, listen to the parable of the sower.
When any one hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the wicked one snatches away all that was sown in his heart. This is the one who received seed by the wayside. Now he who received the seed in the stony places, received the word with joy. But he has no deep root and endures only for a while. When tribulation or persecution arises he is uprooted. Now the one who received seed among the thorns hears the word but is too much ensnared by things of this world and the deceitfulness of riches. The understanding of the word is choked out and he becomes unfruitful. Finally, the one who received seed in the good ground is he who hears the word, understands it, and bears fruit. He brings forth a hundredfold or sixty or thirty.
He spoke another parable saying, The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But, during the night, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat then slipped away. When the blades sprang up and brought forth fruit, weeds appeared also. The householder's servants came to him and asked, Sir, did you not sow good seed in the field? Where did the tares come from? The householder answered, An enemy has done this. The servants then asked, Shall we go and pull them up? But he said, No; if you gather up the tares, you will uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. Then, at harvest time, I will tell the reapers to gather the weeds, bind them in bundles, and burn them first. Then the wheat goes into the shelter.
Jesus told another parable, The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed. A man sowed it in his field. Now this, indeed, is the least of all seeds. However, when it is grown, it is the largest among all the herbs. It grows like a tree so the birds of the air can come and lodge in its branches.
Another parable: The kingdom of heaven is like leaven. A woman took a little, hid it in three measures of meal and, at last, all was leavened. All these things Jesus spoke in parables to the multitude. Thus it might be fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet: I will open my mouth in parables. I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.