Chapter 6
The disciples of John and of the Pharisees came to Jesus and asked, Why do the disciples of John and the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples do not? And Jesus said to them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the day will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then they shall fast.
No man sews a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up takes away from the old and the rent is made worse. And no man puts new wine into old bottles: else the new wine bursts the bottles, the wine is spilled, and the bottles are marred. New wine must be put into new bottles.
And it came to pass, that He went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and His disciples began to pluck the ears of corn as they went along. The Pharisees said to Him, Behold, why do they do that which is not lawful on the sabbath day? And Jesus responded, Have ye never read what David, and they that were with him, did when they had need and were hungry? How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar, the high priest, and ate the showbread? How this was only lawful for the priests to eat? And how David also gave it to those who were with him? Then Jesus said to them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath; therefore, the Son of man is Lord of the sabbath also.
3 Then Jesus entered the synagogue again. Inside was a man with a withered hand. They watched to see if Jesus would heal him on the sabbath day so they might accuse Him. And Jesus said to the man with the withered hand, Step Forward. Then Jesus said to them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? To save life, or to kill? But they remained silent.
Jesus looked at them with anger and was grieved for the hardness of their hearts. He said to the man, Stretch forth thy hand. As the man stretched it out, his hand was restored as whole as his other hand.
The Pharisees left and immediately took counsel with the Herodians about how they might get rid of Him. But Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea. A great multitude from Galilee, Judaea, Jerusalem, Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan, and those around Tyre and Sidon came to Him when they heard all the things He did.
Jesus told His disciples He needed to get out into a small boat lest the multitude should throng Him. For He had healed many and many who had plagues now pressed upon Him just to touch Him. Unclean spirits, when they saw Him, fell down before Him and cried, Thou art the Son of God. Jesus directly charged them that they should not make Him known.
Then Jesus went up into a mountain. He called to whom He would and they came to Him. Here He ordained twelve to be with Him, and that He might send forth to preach, to heal sickness, and to cast out devils. Then He took these twelve into a house: Simon surnamed Peter; James, the son of Zebedee, John, the brother of James (He named them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder); Andrew; Philip; Bartholomew; Matthew; Thomas; James, the son of Alphaeus; Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.
Then the multitude came again so that they could not eat bread undisturbed. When His friends heard about this, they lay hold of Him and said, This is too much. And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, He has Beelzebub, and, by the prince of the devils, He casts out devils.
Jesus called them to Him and said, How can Satan cast out Satan? And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand and is finished. Nor can a man enter into a strong man's house and spoil his goods unless he first binds up the strong man so he can then spoil his house.
Verily I say to you, All sins shall be forgiven to the sons of men, and blasphemies also, however they blaspheme. But he that blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation. He said this because they said, He has an unclean spirit.
His brethren and His mother came and, standing outside, they called for Him. The multitude that sat around Him said, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren are outside and seek for thee. Jesus answered, Who is my mother, or my brethren? Then He looked around on those who sat about Him and said, Behold, my mother and my brethren! Whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.
4 Later, as Jesus was again by the seaside, there gathered a great multitude. He entered into a boat and began to address the large crowd on shore. He taught them many things by parables. Jesus began, Hearken. Behold, there went out a sower of seeds. It came to pass, as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside. The fowls of the air came and devoured it. Some seed fell on stony ground where there was no good soil. It sprang up quickly. But, because it had no roots, it was scorched by the sunlight and withered away.
Some seed fell among thorns. The thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. Other seed fell on good ground. This did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth some thirty, some sixty, and some a hundredfold. And Jesus finished by saying, He that has ears to hear, let him hear.
After this, when the twelve were alone with Jesus, they asked Him about the parable and why He told the people a parable. Jesus said to them, To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God. But, to those who are without, the teachings are in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.
And Jesus said to them, Know ye not this parable? The sower sows the word. And these are the people by the wayside, where the word is sown. When they have heard, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.
And these are likewise those who are sown on stony ground. When they have heard the word, they receive it with gladness. But they have no root and endure only for a while. When affliction or persecution arises for the word's sake, they are offended.
And these are also the seed sown among the thorns of the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things. All these thorns enter in, choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. And, finally, are those who are sown on good ground. In hearing the word, they receive it and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundredfold.
Then Jesus said, Is a candle lighted to be put under a bushel, or under a bed instead of set on a candlestick? You see, if there is nothing hidden which shall not be manifested, then there is nothing kept secret, which shall not be uncovered. If any man has ears to hear, let him hear.
And He said to them, Take heed what ye hear. With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you. And to you that hear, more shall be given. For he that has, to him shall be given. He that has not, from him shall be taken away even that which he has.
Then Jesus said, Such is the kingdom of God like a man who casts seed into the ground. He passes nights and days, and the seed springs up and grows, he knows not how. For the earth brings forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, and, after that, the full ear of corn. When the fruit is ripe, immediately he puts the sickle to it because the harvest is come.
And He said, Whereto shall we liken the kingdom of God? With what shall we compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, it is less than all the seeds on earth. But when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all. It shoots out branches so great that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it. To those without, Jesus spoke in parables. He explained all these things to His disciples when they were alone.
That evening, Jesus told His disciples that they should cross over to the other side. And when they sent away the multitude, they took Him even as He was in the boat. There were also other little ships. And there arose a great storm. Wind and waves beat into the boat and it was now full of water. Jesus was in the back part of the boat, asleep on a pillow. They woke Him and said, Master, carest thou not that we perish? Then Jesus arose, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, Peace, be still.
The wind ceased and there was a great calm. Jesus said to them, Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith? Then those nearby said one to another, What kind of man is this that even the wind and the sea obey?
5 They arrived on the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, He was immediately met by a man who came out of his dwelling place in the tombs. The man had an unclean spirit and no man could bind him. Whenever he had been bound with fetters and chains, he plucked the chains asunder and broke the fetters in pieces. No one could tame him and night and day he was in the mountains or in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.
Yet, when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshipped Him. The man cried with a loud voice, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God that thou torment me not. Jesus turned to the man saying, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. Then Jesus asked, What is thy name? The man answered, My name is Legion: for we are many. And he besought Jesus that he not send them away out of the country.
Nearby, in the mountains, there was a great herd of swine feeding. The devils, in one voice, said, Send us to those swine that we may enter into them. Right away, Jesus gave them leave. The unclean spirits left the man and entered into the swine. The herd ran violently down a steep slope into the sea and drowned (there were about two thousand).
The swine tenders fled and told it in the city and in the country. The people went out to see what was done. When they approached Jesus, they saw the man that was possessed with the devil and had the legion, sitting, clothed, and in his right mind. The people became fearful. Those who saw it told the others how it befell the man who was possessed, and also told about the swine. The people then begged Jesus to leave their coasts.
When He returned to the boat, the man who had been possessed prayed Jesus to let him stay with Him. Howbeit, Jesus suffered him not but said, Go home to thy friends. Tell them the great things the Lord has done for thee, and tell them He has had compassion on thee. Then the man departed and began to tell all in Decapolis the great things Jesus had done for him. Then all men did marvel.
After Jesus crossed again by boat to the other side, many people gathered to Him. And, behold, there came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name. When he saw Jesus, he fell at His feet and besought Him saying, My little daughter is at the point of death. I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her that she may be healed and shall live. Jesus went with him and the people followed and thronged Him.
In the crowd was a woman who had an issue of blood for twelve years. She had been to many physicians, spent all that she had, and nothing was bettered, but, instead, grew worse. She had heard of Jesus and, pressing through the crowd, she came up behind Him and touched His garment. She said, If I may but touch His clothes, I shall be whole. After she did this the fountain of her blood was dried up and she felt in her body that she was healed.
Presently, Jesus, knowing in Himself that virtue had gone out of Him, turned about and said, Who touched my clothes? His disciples said, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee and ask Who touched me? Then Jesus spotted her who had done this thing. The woman, in fear and trembling, but knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before Him and spoke the truth. He said to her, Daughter, thy faith has made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
While He yet spoke, messengers came from the ruler of the synagogue's house and announced, Thy daughter is dead. Why trouble the Master any further? As soon as Jesus heard the message, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. Jesus allowed no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they got to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, Jesus saw the tumult and many weeping and wailing.
Inside the house Jesus said to them, Why make this commotion and weep? The damsel is not dead, but sleeps. They laughed Him to scorn. But when He had put them all out, He took the father and mother of the damsel and those who were with Him and entered where she was lying. Then Jesus took her by the hand and said, Talitha cumi; Damsel, I say to thee, arise.
Immediately the damsel, who was twelve years old, arose and walked. They were astonished and Jesus charged them directly that they should tell no one. Then He said that she should be given something to eat.
6 And He went, followed by His disciples, into His own country. On the sabbath day, He began to teach in the synagogue. Many local people heard the sayings of Jesus and were astonished. They asked, From whence has this man learned these things? What wisdom is this that is given to Him that even such mighty works are wrought by His hands? Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joses, Juda, and Simon? Are His sisters not right here among us? Thus, they were offended at Him. And Jesus said, A prophet is without honour in his own country, among his own kin, and in his own house.
Jesus went there to do mighty works. He marvelled at their unbelief and, because of this, could do little but lay His hands upon and heal a few of the sick and teach in the villages around the area.
In a little while, Jesus called to Him the twelve to begin to go forth by two and two. He gave them power over unclean spirits. He told them that they should take nothing for their journey except a staff; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse. He instructed them to be shod with only sandals; and not put on two coats.
He said to them, In what place soever ye enter into a house, abide there until ye depart from that place. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye leave there, shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them. Verily I say to you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment than for that place. The disciples went out and preached that men should repent. They cast out many devils, anointed many sick people with oil, and healed many of them.
King Herod heard of Him (for His name was spread abroad) and said that John the Baptist was risen from the dead and, therefore, mighty works were shown forth in him. Others said, It is Elias. And others said, It is one of the prophets. But when Herod heard all this he said, It is John whom I beheaded. He is risen from the dead.
Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold of John. He had him bound and imprisoned for Herodias, his brother Philip's wife's sake whom Herod had married. John told Herod that it was not lawful for him to have his brother's wife. Herodias, therefore, held this against John and wanted him killed. Herod, however, feared John and knew he was a just and holy man. Herod saw and heard John many times and heard him gladly.
Then Herod, on his birthday, made a supper for his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee. The daughter of Herodias came and danced. Herod and those who sat with him were pleased. The king said to the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt and I will give it thee. He swore to her that whatever she should ask of him, he would give her even up to half of his kingdom. She went to her mother, Herodias, and said, What shall I ask? Her mother said, The head of John the Baptist. Then she hurried back to the king and said, I will that thou give me the head of John the Baptist on a charger.
The king was exceedingly sorry. Yet for his oath's sake, and for the sake of those who sat with him, he would not reject her. The king sent for an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. The executioner went and beheaded John in the prison. He brought his head on a charger and gave it to the damsel. Then the damsel gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard of this, they came and took up his corpse and laid it in a tomb.
The apostles gathered together, went to Jesus, and told him all things, what they had done and what they had taught. Then Jesus said to them, Come ye away into a desert place and rest a while. They had been coming and going and had no time even to eat. Thus they departed into a desert place, going privately by boat. But the people saw them departing, outran them, and came together to Him.
Jesus saw the multitude that had gathered and was moved with compassion toward them because they were as sheep without a shepherd. He began to teach them. And when the day was far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, This is a desert place and it is very late. Send them away so they may go into the country and into the villages to buy themselves bread for they have nothing to eat.
Jesus answered, Give ye them to eat. And they said, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread and give it to them to eat? He asked them, How many loaves have ye? Go and see. They came back and told Him, Five, and two fish.
Jesus commanded them to make all the people sit down in groups upon the green grass. They sat down in ranks, by hundreds and by fifties. Then, when He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven and blessed it. He broke the loaves and gave them to His disciples to set before them all. And He divided the two fish among them. They all ate and were filled. After, they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments of bread and fish. Those who ate of the loaves were about five thousand men.
And immediately He instructed His disciples to get into the boat and go to the other side to Bethsaida while He sent the people away and He departed into a mountain to pray. At evening time the boat was in the midst of the sea. Jesus was alone on the land.
He looked out and saw them rowing with great difficulty for the wind was contrary to them. At about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. But, when they saw Him walking upon the sea, they supposed it was a spirit. They cried out and were troubled.
Immediately Jesus talked with them and said, Be of good cheer. It is I. Be not afraid. And He went up to them in the boat. Then the wind ceased and they were amazed beyond measure. They wondered and did not even remember the miracle of the loaves for their hearts were hardened.
They reached the other shore and came into the land of Gennesaret. As they drew into shore and got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized Jesus. After they ran to all the area around the region, many arrived carrying in beds those that were sick. And wheresoever He entered into villages or cities or country, they laid the sick in the streets and besought Him to allow the sick to touch but the border of His garment. And as many as touched Him, He made them whole.
7 Pharisees and some scribes from Jerusalem observed that some of His disciples ate bread with unwashed hands. They found fault with this defilement for the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they wash their hands, holding the tradition of the elders along with the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables. Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, Why do thy disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?
Jesus answered, Well has Isaiah prophesied of you hypocrites. It is written, This people honor me with their lips but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. In laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups and many other things that ye do. And He said to them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God in order to keep your own tradition.
Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother and, whoso curses father or mother, let him die. But ye say, If a man says to his father or mother, It is Corban, a gift, by whatsoever thou might be gained by me; he shall be free. Ye allow him to do nothing for his father or mother and make the word of God worthless through your tradition and many other things like this.
Then He called all the people to Him and said, Hearken to me every one of you. Understand that there is nothing from outside a man that, entering into him, can defile him; but the things which come out of him are those that defile the man. If any man has ears to hear, let him hear.
After He went into the house, His disciples asked Him about the parable. Jesus replied, Are ye without understanding also? Do ye not perceive that whatsoever thing from without enters into the man it cannot defile him because it enters not into his heart, but into the belly and goes out into the draught, purging all meats? But that which comes out of the man is what defiles him. It is from inside, out of the heart of men, that proceed: evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile the man.
From there He arose and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon. He entered into a house and would have no man know it. But He could not be hid for a certain woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit had heard of Him. She found Him and came and fell at His feet. The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought Him to cast forth the devil from her daughter.
But Jesus said to her, Let the children first be filled. It is not fit to take the child's bread and cast it to the dogs. She answered, Yes, Lord. Yet the dogs under the table eat the child's crumbs. Jesus then said to her, For saying this, go thy way. The devil is gone from thy daughter. When she returned home she found her daughter at rest upon the bed and the devils cast out.
Upon leaving the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, He came to the sea of Galilee through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis. Here they brought a man that was deaf and had a speech impediment. They besought Him to put His hand upon him. Jesus took the man apart from the multitude and put His fingers into the man's ears. Looking up to heaven, He sighed and said, Ephphatha, Be opened.
Immediately the man's ears were opened. His tongue was loosed and he spoke plain. Then Jesus charged those present to tell no man. However, the more He charged them, the more they published it saying, He has done all things well. He makes the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.
8 Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, I have compassion on the multitude because they have been with me three days and they have nothing to eat. If I send them away to their own houses fasting, they will faint by the way. Many of them came from afar. His disciples answered Him, How can these men be supplied with bread here in the wilderness? Jesus asked them, How many loaves have ye? They answered, Seven.