16:17 Jesus and the Holy Scriptures, THE WORD OF GOD. As the Resurrected King, God’s Messiah and our Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ has given us some of the most important statements concerning the authority and nature of the Word of God. 1) Jesus confirms the truth that every word of the Scriptures is given by God. He goes so far as to make direct reference to the smallest letter (“jot,” literally yod, the Hebrew counterpart to our letter “i” or “j”), and the smallest punctuation point, “tittle.” There is no room for debate: Jesus believed and taught the plenary verbal inspiration of the Bible—that every word is God-breathed (see 2 Tim. 3:16). 2) Jesus also contends that every truth the Bible teaches is to be held inviolable. In Matt. 5:17–19 He insists that anyone who teaches anything running at cross-purposes with the Scriptures is not in harmony with His kingdom order. 3) Jesus attests to the indissolubility of the Scriptures (John 10:35). When He says “the Scripture cannot be broken,” He literally describes the utter inviolability of God’s Word from man’s side (do not try to diminish its truth or meaning) and the utter dependability of it from God’s side (He will uphold it—His Word will not dissolve or be shaken). Matt. 24:35 is the verse most quoted in this regard. All creation may dissolve: God’s Word will stand forever! 4) Jesus affirms the credibility of the OT in general (John 5:39), but also of the miracles of the OT. He did not see them as superstitiously held beliefs, which He tolerated among those He addressed. Rather, He was the Incarnate Truth; and as the embodiment of truthfulness, His testimony is decisive. Thus, note that Jesus believed the biblical record of: (a) Adam and Eve as the first pair (Matt. 19:4, 5); (b) the literal destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Mark 6:11; Luke 17:29, 30); (c) the actuality of Noah and the Flood (Matt. 24:37, 38); (d) the trustworthiness of Daniel’s prophecy (v. 15); (e) the truth of Jonah’s being swallowed by the great fish (12:39, 40); and (f) the miracle of the manna as well as other miracles during the wilderness journey of Moses’ time (John 3:14; 6:31, 32). Finally, 5) Jesus forecast and authorized the writing of the NT Scriptures. In both John 14:26 and 16:12, 13, He indicated that the coming ministry of the Holy Spirit would include His bringing to the apostles’ minds the things that should afterward be recorded. His anticipation of that ministry not only places His endorsement upon that facet of their apostolic mission, it also indirectly effects His closure of the canon of Scripture following the completion of this task. (See article at Prov. 30:5, 6.)
(Prov. 30:5, 6/2 Cor. 3:5–8) J.W.H.
18 a“Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery.
The Rich Man and Lazarus
19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and 1fared sumptuously every day.
20 “But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate,
21 “desiring to be *fed with 1the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 “So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to aAbraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.
23 “And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and acool my tongue; for I bam tormented in this flame.’
25 “But Abraham said, ‘Son, aremember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.
26 ‘And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’
27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house,
28 ‘for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’
29 “Abraham said to him, a‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’
30 “And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will *repent.’
31 “But he said to him, a‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, bneither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ ”
Jesus Warns of Offenses
17
1 Then He said to the disciples, a“It is impossible that no 1offenses* should come, but bwoe to him through whom they do come!
2 “It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should 1offend one of these little ones.
3 “Take heed to yourselves. aIf your brother sins 1against you, brebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.
4 “And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns 1to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”
Faith and Duty
5 And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”
6 aSo the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
7 “And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’?
8 “But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself aand serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’?
9 “Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded 1him? I think not.
10 “So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are aunprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’ ”
Ten Lepers Cleansed
11 Now it happened aas He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.
12 Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, awho stood afar off.
13 And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
14 So when He saw them, He said to them, a“Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.
15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice aglorified God,
16 and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a aSamaritan.
17 So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?
18 “Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?”
19 aAnd He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”
The Coming of the Kingdom
20 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation;
21 a“nor will they say, 1‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, bthe kingdom of God is 2within you.”
22 Then He said to the disciples, a“The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.
23 a“And they will say to you, 1‘Look here!’ or ‘Look there!’ Do not go after them or follow them.
24 a“For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day.
25 a“But first He must *suffer many things and be brejected by this generation.
26 a“And as it bwas in the cdays of dNoah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man:
27 “They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the aday that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and bdestroyed them all.
28 a“Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built;
29 “but on athe day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.
30 “Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man ais revealed.
31 “In that day, he awho is on the housetop, and his 1goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back.
32 a“Remember Lot’s wife.
33 a“Whoever seeks to *save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.
34 a“I tell you, in that night there will be two 1men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left.
35 a“Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left.
36 1“Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.”
37 And they answered and said to Him, a“Where, Lord?” So He said to them, “Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.”
The Parable of the Persistent Widow
18
1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men aalways ought to pray and not lose heart,
2 saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor 1regard man.
3 “Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, 1‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’
4 “And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man,
5 a‘yet because this widow troubles me I will 1avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ”
6 Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said.
7 “And ashall God not avenge His own *elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?
8 “I tell you athat He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
9 Also He spoke this parable to some awho trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10 “Two men went up to the temple to *pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
11 “The Pharisee astood and prayed thus with himself, b‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.
12 ‘I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’
13 “And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’
14 “I tell you, this man went down to his house *justified rather than the other; afor everyone who exalts himself will be 1humbled, and he who *humbles himself will be exalted.”
Jesus Blesses Little Children
15 aThen they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
16 But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for aof such is the kingdom of God.
17 a“Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”
Jesus Counsels the Rich Young Ruler
18 aNow a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
19 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but aOne, that is, God.
20 “You know the commandments: a‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ b‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ”
21 And he said, “All athese things I have kept from my youth.”
22 So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. aSell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, *follow Me.”
23 But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.
With God All Things Are Possible
24 And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, a“How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!
25 “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.”
26 And those who heard it said, “Who then can be saved?”
27 But He said, a“The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
28 aThen Peter said, “See, we have left 1all and followed You.”
29 So He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, athere is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,
30 a“who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.”
Jesus a Third Time Predicts His Death and Resurrection
31 aThen He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things bthat are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be 1accomplished.
32 “For aHe will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon.
33 “They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”
34 aBut they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken.
A Blind Man Receives His Sight
35 aThen it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging.
36 And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant.
37 So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.
38 And he cried out, saying, “Jesus, aSon of David, have mercy on me!”
39 Then those who went before warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, *have mercy on me!”
40 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him,
41 saying, “What do you *want Me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.”
42 Then Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; ayour faith has made you well.”
43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, aglorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.
Jesus Comes to Zacchaeus’ House
19
1 Then Jesus entered and passed through aJericho.
2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich.
3 And he sought to asee who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature.
4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way.
5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up 1and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, 2make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”
6 So he 1made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully.
7 But when they saw it, they all 1complained, saying, a“He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a *sinner.”
8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the apoor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by bfalse accusation, cI restore fourfold.”
9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because ahe also is ba son of Abraham;
10 a“for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
The Parable of the Minas
11 Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because athey thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately.
12 aTherefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return.
13 “So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten 1minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’
14 a“But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’
15 “And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
16 “Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’
17 “And he said to him, a‘Well done, good servant; because you were bfaithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’
18 “And the second came, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.’
19 “Likewise he said to him, ‘You also be over five cities.’
20 “Then another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief.
21 a‘For I feared you, because you are 1an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’
22 “And he said to him, a‘Out of your own mouth I will *judge you, you wicked servant. bYou knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow.
23 ‘Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’
24 “And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.’
25 (“But they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas.’)
26 ‘For I say to you, athat to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
27 ‘But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.’ ”
The Triumphal Entry
28 When He had said this, aHe went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
29 aAnd it came to pass, when He drew near to 1Bethphage and bBethany, at the mountain called cOlivet, that He sent two of His disciples,
30 saying, “Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here.
31 “And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you loosing it?’ thus you shall say to him, ‘Because the Lord has need of it.’ ”
32 So those who were sent went their way and found it just aas He had said to them.
33 But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, “Why are you loosing the colt?”
34 And they said, “The Lord has need of him.”
35 Then they brought him to Jesus. aAnd they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him.
36 And as He went, many spread their clothes on the road.
37 Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to arejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen,
38 saying:
a“ ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!’
bPeace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
39 And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.”
40 But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, athe stones would immediately cry out.”
Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem
41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and awept over it,
42 saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this ayour day, the things that bmake for your cpeace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.
43 “For days will come upon you when your enemies will abuild an embankment around you, surround you and *close you in on every side,
44 a“and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and bthey will not leave in you one stone upon another, cbecause you did not know the time of your visitation.”
Jesus Cleanses the Temple
45 aThen He went into the temple and began to drive out those who 1bought and sold in it,
46 saying to them, “It is written, a‘My house 1is a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a b‘den of thieves.’ ”
47 And He awas teaching daily in the temple. But bthe chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people sought to destroy Him,
48 and were unable to do anything; for all the people were very attentive to ahear Him.
Jesus’ Authority Questioned
20
1 Now ait happened on one of those days, as He taught the people in the temple and preached the gospel, that the chief priests and the scribes, together with the elders, confronted Him
2 and spoke to Him, saying, “Tell us, aby what authority are You doing these things? Or who is he who gave You this authority?”
3 But He answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, and answer Me:
4 “The abaptism of John—was it from heaven or from men?”
5 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why 1then did you not believe him?’
6 “But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, afor they are persuaded that John was a prophet.”
7 So they answered that they did not know where it was from.
8 And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
The Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers
9 Then He began to tell the people this parable: a“A certain man planted a vineyard, leased it to 1vinedressers, and went into a far country for a long *time.
10 “Now at 1vintage-time he asent a servant to the vinedressers, that they might give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the vinedressers beat him and sent him away empty-handed.
11 “Again he sent another servant; and they beat him also, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed.
12 “And again he sent a third; and they wounded him also and cast him out.
13 “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. Probably they will respect him when they see him.’
14 “But when the vinedressers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘This is the aheir. Come, blet us kill him, that the inheritance may be cours.’
15 “So they cast him out of the vineyard and akilled him. Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do to them?
16 “He will come and destroy those vinedressers and give the vineyard to aothers.” And when they heard it they said, “Certainly not!”
17 Then He looked at them and said, “What then is this that is written:
a‘The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone’ ?
18 “Whoever falls on that stone will be abroken; but bon whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.”
19 And the chief priests and the scribes that very hour sought to lay hands on Him, but they 1feared* the people—for they knew He had spoken this parable against them.
The Pharisees: Is It Lawful to Pay Taxes to Caesar?
20 aSo they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, that they might seize on His words, in order to deliver Him to the power and the authority of the governor.
21 Then they asked Him, saying, a“Teacher, we know that You say and teach rightly, and You do not show personal favoritism, but teach the way of God in truth:
22 “Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
23 But He perceived their *craftiness, and said to them, 1“Why do you test Me?
24 “Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?” They answered and said, “Caesar’s.”
25 And He said to them, a“Render1 therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
26 But they could not catch Him in His words in the presence of the people. And they marveled at His answer and kept silent.
The Sadducees: What About the Resurrection?
27 aThen some of the Sadducees, bwho deny that there is a resurrection, came to Him and asked Him,
28 saying: “Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man’s brother dies, having a wife, and he dies without children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.
29 “Now there were seven brothers. And the first took a wife, and died without children.
30 “And the second 1took her as wife, and he died childless.
31 “Then the third took her, and in like manner the seven 1also; and they left no children, and died.
32 “Last of all the woman died also.
33 “Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife does she become? For all seven had her as wife.”
34 Jesus answered and said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage.
35 “But those who are acounted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage;
36 “nor can they die anymore, for athey are equal to the angels and are sons of God, bbeing sons of the resurrection.
37 “But even Moses showed in the burning bush passage that the dead are raised, when he called the Lord a‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’
38 “For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for aall live to Him.”
39 Then some of the scribes answered and said, “Teacher, You have spoken well.”
40 But after that they dared not question Him anymore.
Jesus: How Can David Call His Descendant Lord?
41 And He said to them, a“How can they say that the Christ is the Son of David?
42 “Now David himself said in the Book of Psalms:
a‘The LORD said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
43 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’
44 “Therefore David calls Him ‘Lord’; ahow is He then his Son?”
Beware of the Scribes
45 aThen, in the hearing of all the people, He said to His disciples,
46 a“Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, blove greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts,
47 a“who devour widows’ houses, and for a bpretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”
The Widow’s Two Mites
21
1 And He looked up aand saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury,
2 and He saw also a certain apoor widow putting in two bmites.1
3 So He said, “Truly I say to you athat this poor widow has put in more than all;
4 “for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings 1for God, but she out of her poverty put in aall the livelihood that she had.”
Jesus Predicts the Destruction of the Temple
5 aThen, as some spoke of the temple, how it was 1adorned* with beautiful stones and donations, He said,
6 “These things which you see—the days will come in which anot one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down.”
The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age
7 So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, but when will these things be? And what *sign will there be when these things are about to take place?”
8 And He said: a“Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ 1Therefore do not 2go after them.
9 “But when you hear of awars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come *immediately.”
10 aThen He said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
11 “And there will be great aearthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.
12 a“But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and bprisons. cYou will be brought before kings and rulers dfor My name’s sake.
13 “But ait will turn out for you as an occasion for *testimony.
14 a“Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will 1answer;
15 “for I will give you a mouth and wisdom awhich all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or 1resist.*
16 a“You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put bsome of you to death.
17 “And ayou will be hated by all for My name’s sake.
18 a“But not a hair of your head shall be lost.
19 “By your patience possess your souls.
The Destruction of Jerusalem
20 a“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.
21 “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 country enter her.
22 “For these are the days of vengeance, that aall things which are written may be fulfilled.
23 a“But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people.
24 “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 auntil the *times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
The Coming of the Son of Man
25 a“And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring;
26 “men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, afor the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
27 “Then they will see the Son of Man acoming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28 “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because ayour *redemption draws near.”
The Parable of the Fig Tree
29 aThen He spoke to them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.
30 “When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near.
31 “So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.
32 “Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place.
33 a“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My bwords will by no means pass away.
The Importance of Watching
34 “But atake heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with 1carousing, drunkenness, and bcares* of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.
35 “For ait will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.
36 a“Watch therefore, and bpray always that you may 1be counted cworthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and dto stand before the Son of Man.”
37 aAnd in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but bat night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet.
38 Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him.
The Plot to Kill Jesus
22
1 Now athe Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover.
2 And athe chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people.
3 aThen Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the btwelve.
4 So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might *betray Him to them.
5 And they were glad, and aagreed to give him money.
6 So he promised and sought opportunity to abetray Him to them in the absence of the multitude.
Jesus and His Disciples Prepare the Passover
7 aThen came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be 1killed.
8 And He sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.”
9 So they said to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare?”
10 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 which he enters.
11 “Then you shall say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?” ’
12 “Then he will show you a large, furnished upper room; there make ready.”
13 So they went and afound it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.
Jesus Institutes the Lord’s Supper
14 aWhen the hour had come, He sat down, and the 1twelve apostles with Him.
15 Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have *desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;
16 “for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it auntil it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
17 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves;
18 “for aI say to you, 1I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
19 aAnd He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My bbody which is given for you; cdo this in remembrance of Me.”
20 Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, a“This cup is the new *covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.
21 a“But behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on the table.
22 a“And truly the Son of Man goes bas it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!”
23 aThen they began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing.
The Disciples Argue About Greatness
24 aNow there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest.
25 aAnd He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’
26 a“But not so among you; on the contrary, bhe who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.
27 a“For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet bI am among you as the One who serves.
28 “But you are those who have continued with Me in aMy trials.
29 “And aI bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me,
30 “that ayou may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, band sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
31 1And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, aSatan has asked for you, that he may bsift you as wheat.
32 “But aI have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, bstrengthen your brethren.”
33 But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.”
34 aThen He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.”
Supplies for the Road
35 aAnd He said to them, “When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?” So they said, “Nothing.”
36 Then He said to them, “But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one.
37 “For I say to you that this which is written must still be 1accomplished in Me: a‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’ For the things concerning Me have an end.”
38 So they said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” And He said to them, “It is enough.”
The Prayer in the Garden
39 aComing out, bHe went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him.
40 aWhen He came to the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
41 aAnd He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed,
42 saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless anot My will, but Yours, be done.”
43 1Then aan angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.
44 aAnd being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of *blood falling down to the ground.
45 When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow.
46 Then He said to them, “Why ado you sleep? Rise and bpray, lest you enter into temptation.”
Betrayal and Arrest in Gethsemane
47 And while He was still speaking, abehold, a multitude; and he who was called bJudas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him.
48 But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a akiss?”
49 When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?”
50 And aone of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.
51 But Jesus answered and said, “Permit even this.” And He touched his ear and healed him.
52 aThen 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 brobber, with swords and clubs?
53 “When I was with you daily in the atemple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your bhour, and the power of darkness.”
Peter Denies Jesus, and Weeps Bitterly
54 aHaving arrested Him, they led Him and brought Him into the high priest’s house. bBut Peter followed at a distance.
55 aNow when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them.
56 And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, “This man was also with Him.”
57 But he denied 1Him, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him.”
58 aAnd after a little while another saw him and said, “You also are of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!”
59 aThen after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, “Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a bGalilean.”
60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are saying!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, 1the rooster crowed.
61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then aPeter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, b“Before the rooster 1crows, you will deny Me three times.”
62 So Peter went out and wept bitterly.
Jesus Mocked and Beaten
63 aNow the men who *held Jesus mocked Him and bbeat Him.
64 1And having blindfolded Him, they astruck Him on the face and asked Him, saying, “Prophesy! Who is the one who struck You?”
65 And many other things they blasphemously spoke against Him.
Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin
66 aAs soon as it was day, bthe *elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, came together and led Him into their council, saying,
67 a“If You are the Christ, tell us.” But He said to them, “If I tell you, you will bby no means believe.
68 “And if I 1also ask you, you will by no means answer 2Me or let Me go.
69 a“Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God.”
70 Then they all said, “Are You then the Son of God?” So He said to them, a“You rightly say that I am.”
71 aAnd they said, “What further *testimony do we need? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth.”
Jesus Handed Over to Pontius Pilate
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1 Then athe whole multitude of them arose and led Him to bPilate.
2 And they began to aaccuse Him, saying, “We found this fellow bperverting 1the nation, and cforbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying dthat He Himself is Christ, a King.”
3 aThen Pilate asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” He answered him and said, “It is as you say.”
4 So Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, a“I find no fault in this Man.”
5 But they were the more fierce, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from aGalilee to this place.”
Jesus Faces Herod
6 When Pilate heard 1of Galilee, he asked if the Man were a Galilean.
7 And as soon as he knew that He belonged to aHerod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.
8 Now when Herod saw Jesus, ahe was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because bhe had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him.
9 Then he questioned Him with many words, but He answered him anothing.
10 And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him.
11 aThen Herod, with his 1men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate.
12 That very day aPilate and Herod became friends with each other, for previously they had been at enmity with each other.
Taking the Place of Barabbas
13 aThen Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people,
14 said to them, a“You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people. And indeed, bhaving examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him;
15 “no, neither did Herod, for 1I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him.
16 a“I will therefore chastise Him and release Him”
17 a(for1 it was necessary for him to release one to them at the feast).
18 And athey all cried out at once, saying, *“Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas”—
19 who had been thrown into prison for a certain rebellion made in the city, and for murder.
20 Pilate, therefore, wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them.
21 But they shouted, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”
22 Then he said to them the third time, “Why, what evil has He done? I have found no reason for death in Him. I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go.”
23 But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified. And the voices of these men 1and of the chief priests prevailed.
24 So aPilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested.
25 aAnd he released 1to them the one they requested, who for rebellion and murder had been thrown into prison; but he delivered Jesus to their *will.
The King on a Cross
26 aNow as they led Him away, they laid hold of a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, who was coming from the country, and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus.
27 And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and lamented Him.
28 But Jesus, turning to them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.
29 a“For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed!’
30 “Then they will begin a‘to say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!” ’
31 a“For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry?”
32 aThere were also two *others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death.
33 And awhen they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.
34 1Then Jesus said, “Father, aforgive them, for bthey do not know what they do.” And cthey divided His garments and cast lots.
35 And athe people stood *looking on. But even the brulers with them sneered, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God.”
36 The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him asour wine,
37 and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.”
38 aAnd an inscription also was 1written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew:
THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
39 aThen one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, 1“If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.”
40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same *condemnation?
41 “And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done anothing wrong.”
42 Then he said 1to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”
43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in aParadise.”
Jesus Dies on the Cross
44 aNow it 1was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
45 Then the sun was 1darkened, and athe veil of the temple was torn in 2two.
46 And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, a‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ” bHaving said this, He breathed His last.
47 aSo when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous Man!”
48 And the whole crowd who came together to that sight, seeing what had been done, beat their breasts and returned.
49 aBut all His acquaintances, and the women who followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
Jesus Buried in Joseph’s Tomb
50 aNow behold, there was a man named Joseph, a council member, a good and just man.
51 He had not consented to their decision and deed. He was from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, awho1 himself was also waiting for the kingdom of God.
52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
53 aThen he took it down, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock, where no one had ever lain before.
54 That day was athe Preparation, and the Sabbath drew near.
55 And the women awho had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and bthey observed the tomb and how His body was laid.
56 Then they returned and aprepared* spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath baccording to the commandment.
He Is Risen
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1 Now aon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, 1and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bbringing the spices which they had prepared.
2 aBut they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.
3 aThen they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
4 And it happened, as they were 1greatly perplexed about this, that abehold, two men stood by them in shining garments.
5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?
6 “He is not here, but is risen! aRemember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee,
7 “saying, ‘The Son of Man must be adelivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ ”
8 And athey remembered His words.
9 aThen they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.
10 It was Mary Magdalene, aJoanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles.
11 aAnd their words seemed to them like 1idle tales, and they did not believe them.
12 aBut Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths 1lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.
The Road to Emmaus
13 aNow behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, *which was 1seven miles from Jerusalem.
14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that aJesus Himself drew near and went with them.
16 But atheir eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.
17 And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you 1walk and are sad?”
18 Then the one awhose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?”
19 And He said to them, “What things?” So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, awho was a Prophet bmighty in *deed and *word before God and all the people,
20 a“and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be *condemned to death, and crucified Him.
21 “But we were hoping athat it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened.
22 “Yes, and acertain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us.
23 “When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive.
24 “And acertain 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.”
25 Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to *believe in all that the prophets have spoken!
26 a“Ought not the *Christ to have *suffered these things and to enter into His bglory?”
27 And beginning at aMoses and ball the Prophets, He 1expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
The Disciples’ Eyes Opened
28 Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and aHe 1indicated that He would have gone farther.
29 But athey constrained Him, saying, b“Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them.
30 Now it came to pass, as aHe sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.
31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.
32 And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”
33 So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together,
34 saying, “The *Lord is risen indeed, and ahas appeared to Simon!”
35 And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was 1known to them in the breaking of bread.
Jesus Appears to His Disciples
36 aNow as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.”
37 But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had *seen aa spirit.
38 And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do *doubts arise in your hearts?
39 “Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. aHandle Me and see, for a bspirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”
40 1When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.
41 But while they still did not believe afor joy, and marveled, He said to them, b“Have you any food here?”
42 So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish 1and some honeycomb.
43 aAnd He took it and ate in their presence.
The Scriptures Opened
44 Then He said to them, a“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.”
45 And aHe opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the *Scriptures.
46 Then He said to them, a“Thus it is written, 1and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day,
47 “and that repentance and aremission* of sins should be *preached in His name bto all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
48 “And ayou are *witnesses of these things.
49 a“Behold, I send the *Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city 1of Jerusalem until you are endued with *power from on high.”
The Ascension
50 And He led them out aas far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them.
51 aNow it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into *heaven.
52 aAnd they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
53 and were continually ain the temple 1praising and blessing God. 2Amen.
