Chapter 4

He answered one of them and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong. Did thou not agree with me for a coin? Take what is thine and go thy way. I will give to the last the same as I give to thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with my own coins? Must you see evil in my goodness? So, the last shall be first, and the first last: for many are called, but few are chosen.

Then Jesus took the twelve disciples aside and said, We are now going to Jerusalem where the Son of man will be betrayed to the chief priests and scribes. They will condemn Him to death. They will deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock, scourge, and crucify Him. And on the third day He will rise again.

The mother of the sons of Zebedee and her sons, James and John, approached Jesus. She praised Him, desiring something of Him. He said to her, What wilt thou? She replied, Grant that my two sons may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left, in thy kingdom. But Jesus answered, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?

They said to Him, We are able. And Jesus said, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on my right hand or on my left is not mine to give. It shall be given to them for whom it is prepared by my Father.

When the remaining ten heard this they were moved with indignation against the two brethren. But Jesus called them to Him and said, Ye know that the princes of worldliness and ambition influence them. But it shall not be so among you. Whoever will be great among you, let him be your minister. Whoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant. Likewise, the Son of man came not to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give His life as a ransom for many.

As they were leaving Jericho a great multitude followed. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, two blind men, who were sitting by the wayside, cried out, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David. The multitude told them to keep quiet. But they cried more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David.

Jesus stood still and said to them, What shall I do for you? They answered, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and they followed Him.

21 As they drew close to Jerusalem, they came to Bethphage by the mount of Olives. Jesus sent two disciples ahead and said, Go into the village and ye shall find tied there an ass with her colt. Untie them and bring them to me. If a man says anything to you, say, The Lord has need of them and, straightway, he will send them. All this was done so this saying of the prophet might be fulfilled: Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon a colt, the foal of an ass.

The disciples did as Jesus directed. They brought the ass and the colt and set Jesus thereupon. A multitude spread out their garments and others cut down tree branches and lined the way. They cried out, Hosanna to the son of David. Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. When Jesus came into Jerusalem, all the city was stirred. They asked, Who is this? The multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.

Jesus went into the temple and cast out all who bought and sold. He overthrew the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of those who sold doves. He said to them, it is written: My house shall be called a house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

The blind and the lame came to Him in the temple and He healed them. When the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things Jesus did and heard the children crying out in the temple, Hosanna to the son of David; they were greatly displeased. They said to Him, Hear thou what they are saying? Jesus answered, Yea. Have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes comes perfect praise? Then He left them and went into Bethany where He lodged that night.

In the morning Jesus, being very hungry, started out to return to the city. On His way He saw a fig tree. As He came to it He found nothing on it but leaves. He said, Let no fruit ever grow on thee. The fig tree withered away.

When the disciples saw this, they marvelled and said, How quickly the fig tree withered away! Jesus answered, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this that was done to the fig tree, but also, if ye shall say to this mountain, Be thou removed and cast into the sea; it shall be done. Those things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.

Then He went into the temple. The chief priests and the elders of the people came up to Him as He was teaching and asked, By what authority do you do these things? Who gave you this authority?

Jesus replied, I, in turn, will ask you one thing, which, if ye can tell me, I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven or from man?

They reasoned among themselves and said, If we say, From heaven; He will ask us, Why did ye not then believe him? But if we say, From man; we fear the people for they hold John as a prophet.

Finally they said to Jesus, We cannot tell. Jesus responded, Neither, then, do I tell you by what authority I do these things.

Hear this. A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, Son, today go to work in my vineyard. The son answered, I will not. But, afterward he repented and went to work. Then the man went to the second son and said the same thing. The second son said, I will go, sir; but he did not go. Which of these two did the will of his father? They answered, The first son.

Jesus said, Verily I say, The publicans and the harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. John came to you in the way of righteousness and ye believed him not. But the publicans and the harlots believed him. And yet, even after you had seen, you did not repent that you believed him.

Hear another parable: There was a householder who planted a vineyard. He hedged it all around, dug a winepress in it, and built a tower. Then he rented it out to husbandsmen and went abroad. When the time of the harvest drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandsmen to receive the fruits of it. The husbandsmen took his servants, beat one, stoned one, and killed another. Next, he sent more servants than the first time. They did to them the same thing.

Finally, he sent his son, saying, They will respect my son. But when the husbandsmen saw the son, they said, This is the heir. Let us kill him and seize his inheritance. So they caught him, cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. When, therefore, the lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do to these husbandsmen?

They said to Jesus, He will destroy these miserable and wicked men and he will rent out his vineyard to others who will render him the fruits in their seasons.

Jesus said, Did ye never read in the scriptures: The stone which the builders rejected is the same that has become the cornerstone; this is the Lord's doing and it is marvellous in our eyes?

I tell you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you and given to a nation that brings forth its fruits. Whoever falls on this stone shall be broken. On whomever this stone falls, he will be ground into powder.

When the chief priests and Pharisees heard these parables, they saw that Jesus spoke about them. But when they thought of laying hands on Him, they feared the multitude because they took Jesus for a prophet.

22 Jesus related more parables. He said, The kingdom of heaven is like a king who arranged a marriage feast for his son. He sent his servants forth to call those who were invited to the wedding but they did not come. He sent other servants to say, Dinner is prepared. The king's oxen and fatlings are killed. Everything is ready. Come to the marriage. Those who were invited made light of it and went their ways. One went out to his farm. Another attended to his merchandise. The others took the king's servants, treated them spitefully, and then slew them.

When the king heard this he was outraged. He sent out his armies to destroy the murderers and burn their city. Then he said to his servants, The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Go into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, invite them to the marriage feast. These servants went out and gathered together all those they found, both bad and good, and the wedding was furnished with guests.

Then, the king came in to greet the guests. He spotted a man who did not wear the wedding garment that was provided. The king said to him, Friend, why did you come in here without the wedding garment? The man made no answer. So the king told his servants, Bind him hand and foot. Then take him away and cast him into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, for many are invited, but few are chosen.

Then the Pharisees met to discuss how they might trap Jesus in His words. They sent some of their people along with the Herodians to question Jesus. They said, Master, we know that thou art true and teach the way of God in truth. Tell us, therefore, what thou think. Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar or not?

Jesus, perceiving their wicked motive, said, Why test me, ye hypocrites? Show me the tribute money. They brought a coin to Him. Jesus asked, Whose image and superscription is this? They said, Caesar's. Jesus said, Render, therefore, unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's. When they heard these words, they marvelled, and left Him to go their way.

The same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked, Master, Moses said if a man dies and has no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up seed unto his brother. Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother. Likewise, the second also, and the third, up to the seventh brother. Then, finally the woman died also. Now, according to the resurrection, whose wife shall she be of the seven since they all had her?

Jesus said, Ye err. You do not know the scriptures nor the power of God. In the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. Concerning the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read: I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

When the multitude heard this, they were astonished at His teaching. But when the Pharisees heard that Jesus put the Sadducees to silence, they gathered together. One of them, a lawyer, tested Jesus with this question, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus answered, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments rests all the law and the prophets.

While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, What do you think of Christ? Whose son is He? They said, The son of David. Jesus then asked, How, then, does David, in spirit, call him Lord, saying, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand till I make thine enemies thy footstool? If David calls him Lord, how is he his son? No man was able to answer a word, nor did anyone dare ask Jesus any more questions from that day forth.

23 Jesus then addressed the crowd and His followers. He said, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' place. Whatever they bid you to observe and do, ye shall observe and do. But do not follow after their works because what they say, they do not do themselves. They bind heavy burdens, grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders. But they, themselves, will not even lay so much as a finger on one of them. All their works they do for show to other men. They love the uppermost rooms at feasts and the chief seats in the synagogues. They like greetings in the markets and to be called out to, Rabbi, Rabbi.

But be ye not called Rabbi. Only one is your teacher, even Christ; and ye are all brethren. Call no one on earth your father, for only one is your Father, who is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters, for only one is your Master, even Christ. Also, he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. Whosoever exalts himself will be abased; and he who is humble will be exalted.

But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees. Hypocrites! Ye shut men out of the kingdom of heaven. Yet, you do not enter in yourselves, and you do not allow others to attempt to enter. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees. Hypocrites! Ye devour widows' houses and, for a pretence, make long prayers. Therefore, you will receive the greater damnation.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees. Hypocrites! You venture over land and sea for one proselyte. Then, when you have him, you make him two times more the child of hell than yourselves. Woe unto you, ye blind guides who say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, is worth nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, makes a good pledge! Ye fools and blind men. What is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold?

And ye say, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, is worth nothing; but whosoever swears by the gift that is upon it, is worthy of praise. Ye fools and blind men. What is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift? The one who, therefore, swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things upon it. And the one who swears by the temple, swears by it and by Him who dwells therein. And He who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits thereon.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees. Hypocrites! Ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, but ye have ignored the weightier matters of the law; judgment, mercy, and faith. Ye blind guides who strain from your drink a gnat and swallow a camel.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees. Hypocrites! Ye make the outside of the cup and platter clean, but inside they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee. First clean the inside of the cup and platter, so the outside may be clean also.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees. Hypocrites! Ye are like whited sepulchres, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men's bones and uncleanness. Even if, on the outside, you appear righteous to others, inside you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees. Hypocrites! Ye build the tombs for the prophets and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous. Ye say, If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. Be witnesses unto yourselves. Ye are the children of those who killed the prophets and ye fill up what your fathers measured out.

Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? I send prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them ye shall kill and crucify. Some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues and persecute them from city to city. On your hands shall be the blood of all the righteous shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zacharias, son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. All these things shall come upon this generation.

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killed the prophets, and stoned those sent to thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and ye would not have it! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. Ye shall not see me again until ye shall say, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.

24 Jesus went outside and His disciples came to show Him the buildings of the temple. Jesus said, Take note of all this. There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down. On the mount of Olives, the disciples said, Tell us, when will this happen? What is the sign of thy coming and of the end of the world?

Jesus answered, Take heed that no one deceives you. Many will come in my name, saying, I am Christ. They will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not troubled. All these things must come to pass; but the end is not come yet. Nation shall rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There shall be famines, pestilence, and earthquakes in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.

They will deliver you up to be afflicted. They will kill you. You will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. Many will be offended and will betray and hate one another. False prophets will arise and deceive. And, because iniquity will abound, the love of many will wax cold. But those who endure until the end will be saved.

This gospel of the kingdom will be preached all around the world as a witness to all nations. Then, the end will come. When ye see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet, Daniel, stand in the holy place; understand the prophecy.

Let those who are in Judaea flee into the mountains. Let the one who is on the housetop stay there and not come down to take anything out of his house. Neither let the one who is in the field return to get his clothing.

Woe unto the women who are with child, and those who are nursing. Pray that your flight is not in the winter or on the sabbath day. There will be great tribulation, such as has not been seen since the beginning of the world until now and will never be seen again. Unless those days are numbered, no flesh will be saved. But, for the elect's sake, those days will be numbered.

Thus, if anyone says to you, Lo, here is Christ, or there He is; do not believe it. There will arise false Christs and false prophets. They will show great signs and wonders; so much that, if at all possible, they will deceive the very elect.

I am telling you all this beforehand, so, if they say to you, Behold, He is in the desert, do not go forth. Or, behold, He is in the secret chambers, do not believe it. For, just as the lightning comes out of the east and shines over unto the west, so, also, will be the coming of the Son of man.

Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened. The moon will not reflect light. The stars will fall from heaven. The powers of the heavens will be shaken. All the people on earth will mourn.

Then the sign of the Son of man will appear. They will see Him coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet. His angels will gather together His elect from the four winds and from one end of heaven to the other.

Now learn a parable about the fig tree. When its branch is yet tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So, likewise, when you see all these things, know what is near.

This generation shall not pass away until all these things are fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But, of the day and the hour no man knows, no, not the angels of heaven, but only my Father.

The coming of the Son of man shall be like in the days of Noah. Before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark. They knew nothing until the flood came and took them all away. So, also, will be the coming of the Son of man.

At that time, two shall be in the field. One shall be taken and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill. One shall be taken and the other left. Watch, for ye know not what hour your Lord comes.

Know this, If the good man of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have stood guard and not have suffered his house to be broken into. Therefore, be ready. At an hour that ye think the Son of man will not come, then He will come.

It is a faithful and wise servant who, his lord having given him charge over the household, prepares the foods in due season. Blessed is that servant who, when his lord arrives, shall find him doing so. He shall make the servant ruler over all his goods.

It is an evil servant who says, My lord delays his coming so I shall take advantage. He smites his fellowservants and eats and drinks until drunken. The lord of that servant shall come in a day when the servant does not expect him. At a time when the servant is unaware, he shall be cut asunder and thrown out with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

25 The kingdom of heaven is likened unto ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were wise. Five were foolish. The foolish took their lamps but no extra oil with them. The wise took oil in their vessels along with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered. At midnight there was a cry, Behold, the bridegroom is coming. Go out to meet Him.

All the virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, Give us some of your oil for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, No, there will be not enough for us and you. Go to them that sell oil and buy some.

While they went to buy the oil, the bridegroom came. Those who were ready went in with him to the marriage and the door was shut. Much later, the other virgins arrived and called, Lord, Lord, open the door to us. But He answered and said, I do not know you. Watch, therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man comes.

The kingdom of heaven is like a man who travels into a far country. Before he leaves, he calls his servants and turns his goods over to them. To one he gives five talents. To another he gives two talents. To another he gives one. He gives to every man according to his ability.

The servant who received the five talents traded and made another five talents. He who received two, gained another two. But the servant that received one, dug a hole in the earth and hid his lord's money.

After a long time, the lord returned from his journey and reckoned with his servants. He who received five talents came and brought another five talents. He said, Lord, thou delivered five talents to me. Behold, I have gained five more talents besides them. His lord said, Well done. Thou has been faithful over a few things so I will make thee ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of thy lord!

He who received two talents came and said, Lord, thou delivered to me two talents. Behold, I have gained two more talents beside them. His lord said, Well done. Thou has been faithful over a few things. I will make thee ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of thy lord!

Then the servant who received the one talent came and said, Lord, I know that thou art a hard man who reaps where he has not sown and gathers where he has not toiled. I was afraid, so I hid thy talent in the earth. Here, now thou has what is thine.

His lord cried, Thou wicked and slothful servant. Thou knew that I reap where I sow not and gather where I do not toil. Thou ought to have, at least, put my money out to the exchangers so, upon my return, I should have received my own money with interest. Take the talent and give it to the one who has ten talents.

To the one who uses his talent wisely, more shall be given, and he shall have abundance. But to the one who does not, any talent he has shall be taken away. The unprofitable servant shall be cast into outer darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.