| 4:1 Again he began to teach by the sea. A very large crowd were assembled near him so that he went to sit in a ship in the sea. All the crowd were on the land and facing the sea. 2 He (Jesus) taught them many things and presented his teaching in parables. He said 3 "Behold someone went out to sow seed. 4 And it happened as he sowed some of this fell by the way and the birds came and devoured it. 5 Other seed fell on rocky places where there was not much earth. Immediately this sprang up because there was no depth of earth. 6 And when the sun rose it was scorched. As it did not have enough roots it was withered. 7 And other seed fell among thorns and the thorns came up and choked it and so it did not give fruit. 8 And other seed again fell into the good earth. It came up and gave fruit up to thirty and sixty and even a hundred fold." 9 He said “Whoever has ears to hear this, let them hear.” 10 When he was alone (with) the twelve around him they asked about the parables. 11 And he said to them. "To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God. But to those outside all they are given is in parables. 12 This is so they may see and yet not perceive, and hear yet may not understand lest they should turn and their sins be forgiven them." 13 He said to them. "Do you not know what this parable means and what all the parables mean? 14 The one who is sowing is sowing the word. 15 And those by the way, are those people, immediately they hear it find that Satan comes and takes the word that had been sown in them. 16 And likewise the ones on the rocky places, being sown with the word, when they hear it, immediately hear it with joy and receive it. 17 But they do not have roots within themselves and so it is short lived. As affliction or persecution on account of the word comes to them they are immediately offended. 18 Others again, are the ones who are amongst thorns and the word is sown in them. These hear the word. 19 Yet the cares of the age and the deceitfulness of riches and other things like desires come in and choke the word and it becomes unfruitful. 20 And there are those again who are on the good earth. They hear the word and welcome it and bear fruit in thirty and sixty and in a hundred fold production." 21 And he said to them. "When the lamp comes it is not put under a bushel or under the couch. Rather it is put on the lamp stand. 22 For this is not to be hidden or covered but made manifest and put in the open. 23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear." 24 And he said to them. "Take heed what you hear. With whatever measure you measure out it will be measured out to you and indeed added to. 25 For the one who has, it will be given to him. And the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him." 26 And he said. "The kingdom of God is like this. A man might cast seed upon the earth. 27 He might sleep and rise, night and day. And the seed sprouts and lengthens and he does not know. 28 Of its own accord the earth bears fruit. First there is the grass, then an ear, then the full corn in the ear. 29 But when the fruit is produced, immediately the man puts this to the sickle because the harvest has come." 30 And he said. "To what can we liken the kingdom of God or how can we present this in a parable. 31 It is like a grain of mustard. When this is sown in the earth it is smaller than all the seeds on the earth. 32 Yet when it is sown, it comes up and becomes greater than all the herbs. It makes great branches so that the birds of heaven are able to dwell in its branches." 33 And with such parables 34 he spoke the word to them in many differing ways so that they were able to hear. But he explained everything privately to his own disciples without using parables. 35 On that day, with evening having come, (Jesus) says to them. "Let us pass over to the other side (of the sea)." 36 And, leaving the crowd they took him as he was, in the boat. Other ships were with him. 37 And a storm came up with a great gale of wind and the waves smashed into the ship so that it was filling with water. 38 And he was in the stern of the boat on a pillow, sleeping. They roused him and said to him. "Teacher does it not matter to you that we are perishing?" 39 And being roused, he rebuked the wind and said to sea. “Be quiet. Be muzzled”. And the wind dropped and there was a great calm. And he said to them. 40 “Why are you so fearful like this? Do you not have faith?” 41 And then they feared greatly about this and said to one another. “Who then is this man that both the wind and the sea obey him?" 5:1 They came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes. 2 Immediately (Jesus) came out of the ship, a man came out of the tombs. This man was possessed with an unclean spirit. 3 He had been living amongst the tombs. People could no longer bind him with a chain. 4 He had been bound with fetters and chains before and he had burst out of the chains and had broken the fetters so that no one was able to subdue him. 5 And always, by night and day amongst the tombs and in the mountains he cried out, cutting himself with stones. 6 Seeing Jesus from afar, he ran and worshipped him. 7 He cried out with a great voice saying. “ What are you about with me and yourself Jesus, Son of God the Most High? I adjure you by God, so that you may not torment me." 8 For He said to him. "Come out of the man, unclean spirit." 9 And He questioned the spirit “What name do you have?” And the latter said to him “My name is Legion because we are many.” 10 And he besought Him that he would not send them outside the country. 11 Now there was near them a great mountain herd of pigs feeding. 12 And they besought Him saying. "Send us into the pigs that we can enter into them." 13 And He allowed them to do so. And coming out of the man the unclean spirits entered into the pigs. And the herd rushed down the precipice into the sea. There were about two thousand of them and they were drowned in the sea. 14 And the people who were feeding the pigs fled and reported what had happened in the city and in the fields. And the people came to see about this thing that had happened. 15 And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man sitting, having been clothed and in his senses. This man had had a legion of spirits in him. They were afraid. 16 The ones caring for the pigs told them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and what had happened with the pigs. 17 And the people began to ask Him to leave their territory. 18 And as he got into the ship the one who had been possessed by the demons asked if he could go with him. 19 But (Jesus) did not permit him to do so. He said to him. "Go instead into your own home and those of your people and tell them what things the Lord has done to you and how he pitied you." 20 And the man departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis what things Jesus and done for him. Everyone marvelled. 21 Crossing over the sea in the ship again, to the other side, there was a great crowd assembled. He (Jesus) was by the sea. 22 One of the synagogue chiefs, Jairus by name, on seeing him fell at his feet. 23 The latter beseeched him greatly saying. “My daughter is at the point of death. Come in order that you can lay your hands on her and that she may be healed and live.” 24 And He went with him. A great crowd followed and pressed upon him. 25 Now there was a woman who had a blood flow constantly over twelve years. 26 She had suffered many things from physicians in order to be cured of this. She had spent all her money on them and had not been improved but rather had become worse. 27 On hearing about the things Jesus had done, she came into the crowd behind him and touched his garment. 28 She had said. “Even if I touch his garments I shall be healed.” 29 And immediately she did this, the cause of bleeding within her was stopped. 30 She knew that in her body she was cured from the problem. And immediately Jesus, knowing within himself that power had gone out from him turned in the crowd and said. "Who touched my garments?" 31 And the disciples said to him. “You see the crowd pressing upon you and you say, “Who touched me?” 32 And yet He looked round to see who had done this. 33 And the woman fearing and trembling and knowing what had happened to her, came and fell before him and told him the truth. 34 And he said to her: “Daughter your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be cured of your problem. ” 35 While he was still speaking | some people came from the synagogue to its chief saying. “Your daughter has died. Why do you trouble the teacher.” 26 But Jesus overheard what was being said. He said to the synagogue chief. “Do not fear, only believe.” 37 And he did not allow anyone to accompany himself except for Peter and James and John, the brother of James. 38 They came into the house of the synagogue chief and he (Jesus) saw an uproar. 29 There were men weeping and crying aloud. And entering in he said to them. “Why do you make such an uproar and weep. The child did not die but is asleep.” 40 They laughed at him. But he put everyone out. Then he took the father and the mother of the child as also the disciples with him and went in to where the child was lying. 41 And taking hold of the child’s hand he says to her. “Talitha koum”, which is understood to mean “Maid, I say to you, arise.” 42 And immediately the girl got up and walked. She was twelve years of age. And the people around were greatly astonished. 43 And He ordered them that nobody should know about this. Then he told them to give her something to eat. 6:1 And he went from there and came into his native place. His disciples followed him. 2 And when the Sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue. And the people on hearing him were astonished saying. “Where did this man come by these things and who gave this wisdom to him? And how did these powerful deeds done through his hands come about? 3 Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they were offended by him. 4 And Jesus said to them. "A prophet is not dishonoured except in his native place and amongst his relatives and in his household. 5 And he could not do any powerful deed there except for laying hands on a few sick people and healing them. 6 And he marvelled at their unbelief. And he went teaching in the villages in cicuit (that is surrounding there, still in his own country). 7 And he called to himself the twelve and began to send them forth, two by two. He gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He charged them saying that they should not take anything except a staff, not bread, nor a wallet in their girdle. But they 9 should only have sandals and should not put on two tunics. 10 He said to them. “Wherever you enter into a house, remain there until you leave the area. 11 And whatever place does not receive you or hear you, go out from there and shake off the dust from under your feet as a testimony to them." 12 And going forth they proclaimed that men should repent. 13 They expelled many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them. 14 Now King Herod heard about Jesus, for his name was becoming well-known. Some people said John the Baptist had been raised from the dead and this explained his powerful deeds. 15 But others said he was Elias. Yet others said he was one of the prophets. 16 But on hearing about him Herod said. "He is the one whom I beheaded, John, for he has been raised." 17 Herod himself had sent for and had seized John. He bound him up in prison because of Herodias his brother Philip’s wife. Herod had married her 18 and John had told him “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 Now Herodias had a grudge against him (John) and wished to kill him. But she could not, 20 for Herod feared John, knowing him to be a just and holy man. So he kept him safe. He was very perplexed on hearing him yet gladly did so. 21 As it turned out on Herod’s birthday there were festivities being held. A supper had been made for his courtiers and the chillarchs and the chief men of Galilee. 22 And the daughter of Herodias entered dancing. The latter pleased Herod and those reclining with him greatly. The King said to the girl. “Ask me whatever you wish and I will give it to you.” 23 And he swore to her. “Whatever you ask for I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” 24 And going out she said o her mother. “What should I ask for”” And the latter said. "Ask for the head of John the Baptist." 25 Coming in quickly to the king the girl asked saying. "I want you at once to give me the head of John the Baptist on a dish." 26 And the king was greatly grieved. But because of the oaths and because of those reclining with him, he did not wish to reject her and say no. 27 And so immediately sending for an executioner the king gave the order to bring the head. Going out the executioner beheaded him (John) in the prison. 28 He brought the head back on a dish and gave it to the girl and the girl gave it to her mother. 29 On hearing about this his disciples went and took the corpse and put it in a tomb. 30 And the apostles assembled and reported to Jesus everything that they had done and taught. 31 And he said to them. "Come away with just yourselves, privately to a desert place and rest awhile." For there were many people coming and going and they did not even have the opportunity to eat. 32 And they went away in the ship to a desert place privately. 33 Yet many people saw them going and knew their destination. People from all the cities around went there quickly and were there when they arrived. 34 And getting out of the boat he saw a huge crowd of people. He had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. 35 Now it was getting late and his disciples approached him and said. "We are in a desert place and it is late. 36 Tell them to go away to the fields and villages around so they can buy food for themselves." 37 But he, answering said to them. "Give them something to eat yourselves." And they said to him. "We need to go away and spend two hundred denarii on loaves of bread in order to feed them." 38 And he said to them. “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And as they knew already they said. “Five and two fish.” 39 And he instructed the people to sit down in companies on the green grass. 40 And they reclined in groups of a hundred and groups of fifty. 41 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, he blessed and broke the loaves and gave these to the disciples that they might set them before the people. And he divided the fish, which were given to all. 42 And all the people ate and were satisfied. 43 And they took up the fragments and filled twelve baskets from the leftovers. 44 There were five thousand males that had been eating the loaves. 45 He immediately told the disciples to get in the ship and go over to Bethsaida while he dismissed the crowd. 46 And having said farewell to them, he went away to the mountain to pray 47 When the evening came on the ship was in the middle of the sea and he (Jesus) was alone on the land. 48 About the fourth watch of the night the wind was blowing against them. He (Jesus) saw them in distress trying to row. He came toward them, walking on the sea and appeared to want to go past them. 49 But they, on seeing him walking on the sea thought that it was a ghost and cried out.50 All who saw him were troubled. But he immediately talked with them. He said to them. “It’s all right. It’s myself. Do not be afraid.” 51 And he went up to them getting into the ship. Then the wind dropped. They were very disturbed and astonished at this. 52 They had not understood the significance of what had happened with the loaves and their multiplication. This was because their hearts had been hardened. 53 And crossing over onto the land they came to Gennesaret and anchored. 54 As they came out of the ship they were immediately recognised. 55 People came from all around that country and began to carry those who were ill on pallets to wherever they heard that he (Jesus) was. 56 And wherever he went into villages or into cities or into the country or the market places they put those who were sick there, and asked him that they might even be able to touch the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched him were healed. 7.1 The Pharisees and some of the scribes, coming from Jerusalem assembled near him. 2 And they saw some of his disciples eating bread with unclean (that is unwashed) hands. 3 Now the Pharisees and Jews in general do not eat unless they carefully wash their hands according to the tradition of their elders.4 Nor do they eat after coming from the market places unless they sprinkle themselves with water. There are many other things related to washings, for example of cups and utensils and bronze vessels. 5 And so the Pharisees and the scribes |
questioned him (Jesus). “Why do your disciples not behave according to the tradition of the elders but instead eat with unclean hands?” 6 And he said to them. “Isaiah prophesied well concerning you.
It has been written about hypocrites. "This people honour me with their lips but their hearts are far away from me. 7 It is in vain that they worship me, teaching things which are the commands of men." 8 Leaving the commandment of God, you hold instead to the tradition of men.” 9 And he said to them. “You well set aside God’s commandments so that you can keep your tradition. 10 For Moses said. ‘Honour your father and your mother. And, the one speaking evil of his father or mother should die”. 11 But you, you say, If a man says to his father or to his mother ‘Whatever you may profit by me is Korban (set aside for the temple) 12 then such a one is allowed to go without doing anything for his father or for his mother. 13 By doing this you are annulling the word of God through your tradition. And there are many other similar things that you do." 14 And calling the crowd to himself again, He said to them. "Listen to me and understand. 15 There is nothing outside a man which entering into him can defile him. 16 But the things coming out of a man, that is what defiles him."
17 When he went into a house away from the crowd his disciples questioned him about the parable. 18 And he said to them. "Are you so undiscerning that you do not understand that everything from without, on entering into a man cannot defile him 19 because it does not enter into his heart but going into his belly and into the drain, as with the purging of all foods?" 20 And he said. "The thing that comes out of a man is what defiles him. It comes from within. 21 For it is out of the heart of men that evil thoughts come, as also fornications, thefts, murders, 22 adulteries, greedinesses, iniquities, deceit, lewdness, the evil eye, blasphemy, arrogance, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come forth from within a man and defile him."
24 Rising up from there he went away into the district of Tyre. And entering into a house he did not want people to know to know he was there. But this could not be hidden. 25 Immediately a woman who had heard about him, and whose daughter had an unclean spirit came and fell at his feet. 26 The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by race. She asked him if he would expel the demon out of her daughter. 27 And he said to her. “Let the children be satisfied first. It is not good to take the bread of the children and to throw it to the dogs.” 28 But she answered and said to him. “Yes Lord. And yet the dogs under the table eat from the crumbs of the children.” 29 And he said to her. “Because of your saying this, go. The demon has gone out of your daughter.” 30 And going way to her house she found that her child had been laid out on the couch and the demon had gone.
31 And going out again from the district of Tyre, he came through Sidon to the sea of Galilee in the midst of the district of Decapolis. 32 And they brought to him a man who was deaf and speaking with difficulty. And they besought him that he would put his hand upon him. 33 And taking him away from the crowd, privately he put his fingers into his ears and spitting, touched his tongue. 34 And looking up to heaven he groaned and said to the man “Ephphatha” which means “Be thou opened.” 35 And the man’s ears were opened and immediately the bond of his tongue was loosened and he spoke correctly. 36 And he (Jesus) ordered them to tell nobody. But as much as he ordered this, they proclaimed all the more about it. 37 And they were extremely astonished, saying. "He has done all things well, both the deaf hear and the dumb speak."
8:1 In those days there was a great crowd which did not have anything to eat. And calling his disciples to him he said. 2 “I have compassion on the crowd because now they have been with me three days and they do not have anything to eat. 3 And if I send them away fasting to their homes they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from afar.” 4 And his disciples answered him. “Who can feed these people in the desert?” And he asked them. “How many loaves do you have?.” They said “Seven.” 6 And he told the crowd to sit down on the ground. And taking the seven loaves he gave thanks. He broke these and gave them to the disciples so that they could hand them around. And they served them to the crowd. 7 They also had a few fish. Blessing these he (Jesus) told them to serve them as well. 8 And the crowd ate and were satisfied. And when the fragments of food were collected they filled seven baskets. 9 Now the crowd consisted of about four thousand people. After this He dismissed them.
10 Immediately, embarking in the ship (on the sea) with his disciples he (Jesus) came into the region of Dalmanutha 11
And the Pharisees came forth and began to debate with him, seeking a sign from heaven from him and tempting him. 12 And groaning in his spirit he says. "Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly I tell you, a sign will be given to this generation."
13 And leaving them again he went away to the other side (of the sea). 14 It happened they forgot to take loaves of bread on the boat except for one loaf. 15 He (Jesus) warned them saying. “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the leaven of Herod." 16 They reasoned with one another about this as they did not have any loaves. 17 And knowing about this he said to them. "Why do you rationalise because you do not have loaves? Do you not yet understand nor realise? Have your hearts been so hardened 18 and cannot you see with your eyes or hear with your ears? Do you not remember when I broke five loaves of bread and fed five thousand people? How many baskets did you fill with the fragments of bread you took after this?" They said “Twelve”. 20 Then he asked. “And when seven loaves were fed to four thousand people how many baskets did you fill with the fragments from this?" And they said “Seven” 21 And he said to them. "Do you not yet understand?"
22 They came to Bethsaida. People brought a blind man to Him and beseeched him to touch the man. 23 Laying hold of the blind man’s hand He led him outside the village. And spitting in his eyes and putting hands on him he questioned the man. "Do you see anything?" 24 And looking up the man said. "I see men so that they look like trees walking." 25 Then He again put his hands on the eyes of the man. The man looked steadily and his sight was restored. He saw all things clearly. 26 And (Jesus) sent him home saying “Do not go into the village.”
27 Jesus went forth with his disciples into the villages of Caesare’s Philippi. (which is by the sea) Along the way he questioned his disciples asking them who people thought him to be. 28 They told him saying. " Some think you to be John the Baptist and others Elias. Others think you to be one of the prophets." 29 Then he (Jesus) questioned them “But you, who do you say that I am?” Answering Peter said to him “You are the Christ.” 30 And he warned them that they may not tell anyone about him. 31
And he began to teach them that it behooves the Son of man to suffer many things and to be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and then to be killed. And after three days he would rise again. 32 (Jesus) spoke these words openly. Then Peter was taking him aside to rebuke him. 33 But He, (Note: occasional use of capital letter for pronoun) turning around and seeing his disciples (watching) rebuked Peter instead and said “Get behind me Satan, because you do not mind the things of God but the things of men.” 34 And calling to him the crowd with his disciples, he said to them. "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up this cross and let him follow me. 35
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it. But whoever will lose his life for the sake of me and the gospel, will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and yet be lost within his soul. 37 For what can somebody give in exchange for their soul? 38 Whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, then the Son of man will be ashamed of him in turn when he comes into the glory of his Father with the holy angels."
And he said to them. "Truly I tell you that there are some people standing here who will not taste death before they see the Kingdom of God having come in power."
(Text is mainly a paraphrase of the Literal translation in the RSV Interlinear Greek-English New Testament, 1988) |