A contemporary historian named Professor Matthew reveals Jesus as the King of Kings In his contemporary history
Written before A.D.50
Introduction:
Professor Matthew uses many references from the Text of the old Jewish Testament writers (more than any other contemporary historians in the 1st century) that are references to Jesus of Bethlehem. His structure is consistent in revealing Jesus as the expected Messiah and King from Jewish Prophets and historians. Thus, he answers every question they would raise about Jesus’ fulfillment of them. Too, the arriving Kingdom of Jesus will be in accord with the promise of a new kind of Covenant and Kingdom prophesied in the Prophet Jeremiah’s Book from about 586 B.C. [Jerm.31:31-34] All the ‘confirming’ events, as to Jesus’ identity and Teaching, are for the validation of contemporary readers of Professor Matthew’s Book [about A.D. 49ish]. From the beginning of Its publishing and circulation (1st and 2nd century AD), no one has ever proved there are errors, lies or exaggerations. His was one of the first histories circulated and the first providing details concerning Jesus’ arrival to His leaving Earth. It is a validated 1st century A.D. contemporary history. Thus, readers of every generation can confidently read It as accurate history concerning Jesus of Bethlehem.
All words in ( ) are part of the Text, but not the numbers. References are in [ ] or { } and are not part of Prof. Matthew’s Text.
Too, there will be ‘outline’ notations and grammar info (->, x, <-, fut., >|) for present, aorist, imperfect, future, and perfect Greek tenses, which must be translated accurately and not by English grammar. Too, [s,pl,pt] for: sing., plural, part.
Each “Thought” of the Holy Spirit is given by markings: (1), (2), etc., as they proceed through each Text and the ‘Theme’ is revealed. You should use the provided questions to follow the Text.
Professor Matthew’s inspired Text:
(1st) A Book of the ancestors of Jesus Christ, the son of David [2 Sam. 7:11-19; Ps. 89:35f], the son of Abraham [Gen. 22:18; Gal.3:16]: Abraham fathered Isaac, Isaac of Jacob, Jacob of Judah and his brothers, Judah of Perez and Zerah (by Tamar), Perez of Hezron, Hezron of Ram, Ram of Amminadab, Amminadab of Nahshon, Nahshon of Salmon, Salmon of Boaz (by Rahab), Boaz of Obed (by Ruth), Obed of Jesse, and Jesse of David the king. David was the father of Solomon (by the wife of Uriah), Solomon of Rehoboam, Rehoboam of Abijah, Abijah of Asa, Asa of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat of Joram, Joram of Uzziah, Uzziah of Jotham, Jotham of Ahaz, Ahaz of Hezekiah, Hezekiah of Manasseh, Manasseh of Amon, Amon of Josiah, Josiah of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon. After the exile to Babylon, Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel of Zerubbabel, Zerubbabel of Abiud, Abiud of Eliakim, Eliakim of Azor, Azor of Sadoc, Sadoc of Achim, Achim of Eliud, Eliud of Eleazar, Eleazar of Matthan, Matthan of Jacob, Jacob of Joseph (the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, the One called Christ). So, all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen, from David to the Babylonian exile fourteen, and from the exile to Christ fourteen. {1:17}
(2nd) Jesus Christ was born in this manner: Mary His mother was engaged to Joseph, but before they came together, she was discovered to be pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her fiancé (being honorable, and not wanting to embarrass her), decided to break the engagement quietly. However, while he was thinking about the problem, behold! The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to marry Mary your fiancée, because her conception is by the Holy Spirit. She shall bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.” In this way, all that which had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet was fulfilled [Is. 7:14], saying, “Behold! The virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” meaning ‘God is with us.’” Joseph awoke and obeyed the angel, marrying his fiancée. However, he did not have sexual relations with her until she had given birth to a son. He called his name Jesus. {1:25}
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea [6-4 B.C.] in the days of King Herod, behold! Wise men came from the east to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born ‘King of the Jews’? We have seen His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” King Herod heard this, and was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. He gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people and was asking them where the Christ was to be born. They replied, “In Bethlehem of Judea”, for so the Prophet has written [Mic.5:2], “You, Bethlehem-Judah, are by no means the least among Judah’s rulers, for from you a Ruler shall come Who shall be a shepherd for My people Israel.” Herod then secretly sent for the wise men and found out precisely what time the star had appeared, and sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and you must search carefully for the child. When you find him, you must report to me, that I also may go and worship him.” {2:8}
Those who heard the king left and behold! The star which they had seen in the east went before them until it stood over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they became overjoyed, and entered the house, and saw the child with Mary his mother, and fell-down, and worshiped Him. They opened their packages and presented gifts to Him: gold and frankincense and myrrh. They received a divine Message in a dream not to return to Herod and departed for their own country by another road. After they left, behold! The Lord’s angel appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, you must take the child and his mother and must go to Egypt. You must stay there until I speak to you, for Herod will seek to kill the child.” He took the child and his mother and by night went to Egypt. They stayed there until Herod died [4bc]. In this way that which was spoken by the Lord through the Prophet was fulfilled [Hos.11:1, Ps.80:8,17], “Out of Egypt I called my Son.” Then, Herod saw that he had been deceived by the wise men, and he was consumed with anger. He gave orders to destroy all the boys in Bethlehem and all the region around it up to two years old, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. In this way that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled [31:15], “A voice was heard in Ramah: weeping, and terrible mourning. Rachel wept for her children, and refused to be comforted, for her children were no more.” After Herod’s death [4 B.C.], behold! The Lord’s angel appeared in a dream to Joseph, saying, “Arise, you must take the young child and his mother, and you must go into the land of Israel, for the ones seeking his life have died.” He arose, took the child and his mother, and went to Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was king instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. He received a divine Message in a dream, and went away into parts of Galilee, and lived in a city called Nazareth. In this way that which was spoken through the prophets was fulfilled [Is.11:1], “He shall be called a Nazarene.” [2:23]
(3rd) In those days [A.D.26ish] John the immerser came preaching in the Judean desert, saying, “You all ‘must’ reform your minds and lives, for heaven’s Kingdom has drawn near.” This is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the Prophet [Is.40:3], “The voice of one crying in the desert: [I] ‘You must prepare the Way of the Lord. [II] You must make His paths straight.'” John was wearing a camel’s hair garment and a leather belt. His food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the area around the Jordan were going out to him and were being immersed by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. But when he saw that many of the Pharisees and Sadducees were coming with a concern toward his immersion, he exclaimed, “Brood of vipers, who warned you to escape from the coming wrath? You all must show proof that you have reformed your minds and lives. Do not think about saying among yourselves, ‘Abraham is our father,’ for I assure you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham out of these rocks. Already the axe is placed at the root of the trees; therefore, every tree not bearing good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. I, indeed, am immersing you in water unto a reformation of mind and lives, but after me comes One stronger than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will immerse you in the Holy Spirit and fire. With His winnowing shovel in His hand He will thoroughly cleanse His threshing floor: He will gather His wheat into the barn, but the straw He will burn with unquenchable fire.” {3:12}
Then, Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan to John to be immersed by him. But John forbade Him, saying, “I need for You to immerse me, and do You come to me?” Jesus replied, “You must permit it now, for it is proper for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he permitted Him. After Jesus was immersed, He immediately came up from the water, and behold! The heavens were opened to Him, and he [John] saw God’s Spirit coming down on Him as a dove. Behold! A Voice out of the heavens was saying, “This is My beloved Son, with Whom I am well pleased.” [3:17}
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After he fasted forty days and nights, He was hungry. The tempter came and challenged Him, “If you are God’s Son, You ought to be able to command these rocks to become bread.” Jesus’ reply was, “It is written [Duet.8:3], ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but more so, by every Word that comes from God’s mouth.'” The devil then took Him into the holy city, and placed Him on the summit of the Temple, and said, “Since you are God’s Son, You ought to be able to throw yourself down, for it is written [Ps.91:11f], ‘He will command His angels concerning You, and they will catch You in their hands so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered, “Again it is written [Duet.6:16], ‘You will not make trial of the Lord your God!'” Further, the devil took Him to the top of a very high mountain and showed Him all the world’s kingdoms and their glory, and said, “I will give you all these things if you will fall down and worship me.” Jesus answered, “Go away Satan!, for it is written[ Duet.5:9; 6:13], ‘You will worship the Lord your God, and you will serve only Him.'” Then the devil left and behold! Angels came and were ministering to Him. {4:11}
(4th) After Jesus heard that John had been put in prison [A.D. 27], He departed into Galilee. He left Nazareth and made His home in Capernaum beside the sea in the territories of Zebulun and Naphtali. In this way that which was spoken through Isaiah the Prophet was fulfilled [Is.9:1f], “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people sitting in darkness saw a great light, and to the ones sitting in the region and shadow of death, to them light has sprung up.” From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Reform your mind and lives, for heaven’s Kingdom has drawn near.” As He walked beside the sea, He saw two brothers, Simon Peter and Andrew, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. Jesus invited them, “Come after Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him. Jesus, walking on, noticed two other brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, in the boat with their father repairing nets, and He summoned them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed Him. Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the Good News of the Kingdom and healing every disease and infirmity among the people. The news about Him spread into all Syria, and they brought to Him all those sick with various diseases and afflictions, those possessed by demons, those who were epileptic and paralyzed, and He healed them. Large crowds from Galilee and the Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea and beyond the Jordan followed Him. {4:25}
Jesus noticed the crowds and went up into a mountain. He sat down, and His disciples came to Him, and He began to teach: 1) “Oh, the incredible happiness of the ones that understand spiritually they are paupers, for heaven’s Kingdom is theirs. 2) Oh, the incredible happiness of the ones who mourn, for they will be comforted. 3) Oh, the incredible happiness of the gentle, for they will inherit the earth. 4) Oh, the incredible happiness of the ones who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. 5) Oh, the incredible happiness of the merciful, for they will receive mercy. 6) Oh, the incredible happiness of the pure in heart, for they themselves will see God. 7) Oh, the incredible happiness of the peacemakers, for they will be called God’s children. 8) Oh, the incredible happiness of those who have been persecuted for righteousness, for heaven’s Kingdom is theirs. 9) Oh, the incredible happiness of you all when they insult and persecute you, and lie, and say every evil thing against you because of Me. You ought to be full of joy and celebrate, because your reward in heaven is great. In this way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. {5:12}
- You [the one’s with the character just described] are the salt of the Earth, but if salt has become tasteless, how will it be seasoned? Good for nothing, it is thrown out and trampled. B) You [Same group] are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden; neither do men light a lamp and put it under a measuring basket, but more so, on a stand, and it gives light for all in the house. Therefore, you [also same group] must let your light shine before people that they may see your good deeds and give glory to your heavenly Father. {5:16}
Do not think I have come to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to destroy, but to fulfill. Indeed, I assure you that, until the heaven and the Earth disappear [darkness during His cross], neither the smallest letter in the Law, nor the smallest part of a letter, shall pass away before all things are fulfilled. Whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches people so, will be called the least in heaven’s Kingdom. But whoever does these commandments and teaches them will be called great in heaven’s Kingdom. I assure you that, unless your righteousness is more than that of the Scribes and Pharisees, you will in no way enter heaven’s Kingdom. {5:20}
[A] You have heard that it was said to them of old, “You will not murder,” [Duet.5:17] and whoever murders will be liable for judgment. But I assure you that anyone who is angry with his brother without cause will be liable for judgment, and whoever calls his brother ‘Emptyhead’ will be liable before the council, and whoever calls him ‘Stupid’ will be liable to the hell of fire. Therefore, [1] if you bring your gift to the altar and there you remember that your brother holds something against you, you must leave your gift, and must go and must be reconciled to your brother. Then return and offer your gift. [2] In a lawsuit, you must be congenial with your opponent while you are with him, so that he will not deliver you to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and he puts you in jail. Indeed, I assure you that you will not go free until you have paid your last cent. {5:21}
[B]You have heard that it was said, “You will not commit adultery.” [1] But I assure all of you that any man who looks at a woman lustfully has already in his heart committed adultery. [2] If your right eye causes you to stumble, you must gouge it out and throw it away, for it is better that one of your members be destroyed rather than your whole body be thrown into hell. [3] If your hand causes you to stumble, you must cut it off and throw it away, for it is better that one of your members should die rather than for your whole body to go to hell. {5;32}
[C]And it was said, “Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce.” [1] But I assure all of you that any man who divorces his wife except for fornication makes her to have suffered adultery, and [2] whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. {5:32}
[D] Again, you have heard that it was said to them of old, “You will not break your oath; you will pay to the Lord what you have vowed.” [1] But I assure all of you not to swear at all, neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne, nor by the Earth, for it is His footstool, nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King, [2] nor by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. [3] You must let your speech be “yes, yes,” or “no, no,” and anything beyond these is of the evil one. {5:37}
[E] You have heard that it was said, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” [1] But I say to all of you, do not resist an evil person. [a] But more so, whoever hits you on your right cheek, you must turn to him the other. [b] To the one wanting to take you to court for your shirt, you must give him also your coat. [c] Whoever forces you to go one mile, you must go with him two. [d] To the one making a demand, you must give, and do not turn away from the one wishing to borrow. {5:42}
[F] You have heard that it was said, “You will love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” [1] But I assure all of you, you must love your enemies and [2] must pray for the ones who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, Who makes His sun to rise on the evil and the good and makes the rain to fall on the just and the unjust. [Job25:3] If you love the ones who love you, what reward do you have? The tax collectors do as much. [3] If you only greet your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even Gentiles do the same? [4] All of you [that are of this new Covenant character of a reformed nature that Jesus has been declaring] therefore, will be mature [if you reform to be as We are!], as your heavenly Father is mature. {5:48}
[G] You all [too] must be careful not to give your money to a needy person before men to be seen by them. [1] If you do, you have no reward from your heavenly Father. [2] When you make a gift, do not blow a trumpet in front of you, as do the hypocrites in the synagogues and in the streets that they may be praised by men. Indeed, I assure all of you that they have received their reward. [3] When you make a gift, you must not let your left hand understand what your right hand is doing so that your gift may be in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will repay you. {6:4}
[H] When you pray, you yourselves shall not be as the hypocrites, for they like to pray in the synagogues and on street corners that people may see them. [1] Indeed, I assure all of you that they have received their pay. [2] When you pray, you must go into your private room, shut the door, and must pray to your Father in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. [3] Also, in praying, do not babble as the heathen, who think that by their many words they will be heard. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask. In this manner pray: ‘Our Father of the heavens, Your Name must be set apart. Your Kingdom must come. Your Will must be done on the Earth as in heaven. You must give us our food day by day. You must forgive our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but more so, You must rescue us from the evil one.’ [4] If you forgive men their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions. {6:15}
[I] When you fast, do not be like the sad-faced hypocrites who disfigure their faces to let people know they are fasting. [1] Indeed, I assure all of you that they have received their reward. [2] When you fast, you ought to anoint your head and ought to wash your face so that you do not appear to be fasting, and your Father, Who sees in secret, will repay you. {6:18}
[J] You must not hoard up for yourselves treasures on the Earth, where moths and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. [1] Instead, it is imperative that you store up treasures in heaven, where neither moths nor rust destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal, [2] for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. {6:21}
[K] The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sincere your whole body will be enlightened, but if your eye is evil, your whole body will be dark. If the light in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
No one can serve two masters, [1] for either he will hate the one and love the other, or [2] he will hold to one and despise the other. [3] You cannot serve God and money. [4] Therefore, I assure all of you, [a] you must not worry about what you will eat or drink, or what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothing? [b] You ought to look at the birds, who neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. [c] Are you not of more value? Who by worrying can add a few inches to his height? And why are you so concerned about your clothing? You ought to consider the lilies how they grow! They neither labor nor spin, but I assure all of you that Solomon in all his splendor was not clothed like one of them. If God clothes today’s grass which disappears tomorrow, will he not much more clothe you, people of little faith? Should you worry, saying, “What shall we eat, or drink, or wear?” All people seek these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. [d] So, you must seek first A) God’s [1] Kingdom and [2] Righteousness, and B) all these things will be given to you. Therefore, you should not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have its own cares. The evil of one day is enough for that day. {6:34}
[L] You must not judge, so that you will not be judged, [1] for with what judgment you judge, you will be judged, and with what measure you measure, you will be measured. [2] Why do you peer at the speck in your brother’s eye, and overlook a log in yours? Or how will you say to your brother, “You must permit me to pick the speck out of your eye,” and behold! [listen!], a log is in yours! Hypocrites, first you must remove the log from your eye, and then you will see clearly to pick a speck out of your brother’s eye. {7:5}
[M] You should not give that which is holy to dogs or throw your pearls to pigs, for they will trample them and then turn on you and tear you. {7:6}
[N] You must ask and it will be given; you must seek and you will find; you must knock and it will be opened. [1] Everyone who asks receives, and [2] the seeker finds, and [3] to the one who knocks it will be opened. Because what man among you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? If he asks for a fish, will he give him a snake? If you being evil know to give good gifts to your children, to those who ask Him, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things? [4] Whatever you wish that people would do for you, you must do for them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. {7:12}
[O] It is imperative that you enter by the narrow gate, because the gate is wide, and the road is spacious that leads to death, and many go that way. But, the gate is narrow, and the road is restricted that leads into life, and few find it. {7:14}
[P] It is imperative that you are alert for false prophets, [1] who come in sheep clothing, but inside are ravenous wolves. [2] By their fruits you will understand them. Grapes are not gathered from thorns or figs from thistles. Every good tree yields good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, neither can a bad tree yield good fruit. [3] Every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore, by their fruits, you will fully understand them. {7:20}
[Q] Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” [1] will enter into heaven’s Kingdom, [2] but the one who does the Will of My heavenly Father. [3] Many will say to Me in that Day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, and in Your name have we not cast out demons, and in Your name have we not done many miracles?” Then I shall say to them, “I have never acknowledged you. You must depart, workers of iniquity!” {7:23}
[R] Everyone who listens to My Words and does them [1] is like a wise man who builds his house on a rock. [a] The rains came, [b] the waters rose, and [c] the winds beat against that house, yet it did not fall, because it had been founded upon the Rock. However, [2] everyone who listens to My Words but does not do them is like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand. [a] The rains came, [b] the waters rose, and [c] the winds beat against that house, and it collapsed, and its fall was great.”
After Jesus finished this sermon, the crowds were amazed at His doctrine, for He was teaching them as having authority, and not as the scribes. {7:29}
When He came down from the mountain great multitudes followed and behold! A leper kneeled, saying, “Lord, if You should want to, You are able to cleanse me.” Jesus stretched out His hand, and touched him, saying, “I want to. Be cleansed!” Immediately the leprosy disappeared. And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one, but more so, you must go show yourself to the priest, and must take the gift which Moses ordered for a testimony to them.” [Lv.13-14] {8:4}
Jesus entered Capernaum, and a centurion came to him, and requested him, saying, “Lord, my servant has been lying in the house paralyzed, suffering terribly.” Jesus answered, “I will go and heal him.” The centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should come under my roof. Only, Say a word! And [I know] my servant will be healed. I also am a man under authority, having under me soldiers. I say to this one, ‘Go!’, and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’, and he comes, and to my slave, you must do this’, and he does it.” Jesus was amazed when He heard this and said to His followers, “Indeed I assure you that I have found no one in Israel with such faith. Also, I assure you that many will come from the east and west and sit with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in heaven’s Kingdom, but the children of the kingdom will be cast into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! As you have believed, it must be done for you.” His servant was healed in that hour. {8:13}
Then Jesus went into Peter’s house, and saw his mother-in-law, who was lying down with fever. When He touched her hand, the fever disappeared. She arose and began serving. {8:15}
In the evening they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. With a word He cast the spirits out and healed all those who had various sicknesses. In this manner that which was spoken through Isaiah the Prophet was fulfilled [Is.53:4], “He took our sicknesses and carried our diseases.” {8:17}
Jesus, noticing the crowd around Him, gave direction to go to the other side [of the lake]. A scribe approached Him and said, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” Jesus answered, “The foxes have dens, and the birds have nests, but the Son of man does not have a place to rest His head.” Another of His disciples said, “Lord, You must permit me first to go and bury my father.” Jesus replied, “You must now follow Me, and ought to leave the dead to bury their own dead.” {8:22}
He stepped into a boat and His disciples followed and behold! A great storm arose on the lake, so that the boat was covered by the waves. However, Jesus was sleeping. They went and awoke him, begging, “Lord, You must save us! We are going to perish!” He asked, “Why are you afraid? Your faith is weak.” He arose, and commanded the winds and the sea, and a great calm came. The men were astonished, saying, “What kind of man is this that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” {8:27}
After he landed and entered the Gadarene country, two demon-possessed men came out of a cemetery and met him. They were very ferocious, so that no one could pass that way, and behold! They cried out, saying, “What do we have to do with you, Son of God? Have you come before the time to punish us?” Some distance away many pigs were feeding. The demons begged, “If you cast us out, you must send us into those pigs.” He replied, “Go!” They entered the pigs and wow! All the herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and died in the waters. The herdsmen ran away and entered the city, where they told everything that had happened, and the things about the ones who had been demon-possessed. Behold! All the city went out to meet Jesus; they saw Him and requested that He leave their country. {8:34}
He stepped into a boat, crossed over, and went to His own city, and behold! They brought to Him a paralytic on a stretcher. Jesus saw their faith and said to the paralytic “You must have courage, son, your sins are forgiven.” Behold! Certain of the Scribes talked among themselves, “This man blasphemes!” Jesus, knowing their thinking, said, “Why are you thinking evil in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk!’? But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on the Earth to forgive sins”: (He then said to the paralytic) “Arise!”, “Take up your stretcher and go to your house!” He arose and went home. The crowds saw this, and were amazed, and praised God Who had given such power to men. {9:8}
As Jesus left, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office, and said, “You must follow Me.” He arose and followed Him. While Jesus was having dinner in Matthew’s home, behold! Many tax collectors and sinners also were guests, along with Jesus’ disciples. The Pharisees saw this, and said to His disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus heard them and replied, “Healthy people do not need a physician, but more so, the sick. As you are going, you must learn what It mean [Hos.6:6], ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice’, for I did not come to call the righteous, but more so, sinners.” {9:13}
John’s disciples came asking, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not?” Jesus replied, “Are the bridegroom’s friends sad while he is still with them? When he is gone then they will fast. No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, because when the new piece shrinks, it will pull away from the old, and the hole becomes bigger. Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins, because the wineskins will tear, the wine will be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined. But more so, they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved. {9:17}
While He was talking to them, behold! A Ruler came and kneeled, and said, “My daughter is just now dying, but more so, if You come and ought to lay Your hand on her, she will live.” Jesus and His disciples arose and followed him. Behold! On the way a woman (who had a hemorrhage for twelve years) came behind Jesus and touched the fringe of His coat, saying to herself, “If only I could touch His coat, I will be cured.” Jesus turned, saw her, and said, “You must be of good courage, daughter, your faith has saved you.” From that hour she was healed.
Jesus went into the ruler’s house, and saw the flute players and the crowd mourning, and said, “Make room! The girl is not dead, only asleep.” They ridiculed him. Jesus expelled the crowd, took her hand, and the maiden arose. The report about her went into all that region. {9:26}
As Jesus left, two blind men followed, crying, “You must have pity on us, Son of David!” He entered a house, and the blind men approached Jesus; and He asked them, “You must believe that I can do this!” They answered, “Yes, Lord.” Then He touched their eyes, saying, “It must be done to you according to your faith.” Their eyes were opened. Jesus strictly charged them, “You must not tell anyone.” But they went out and spread the report about Him in all that country. {9:31}
As they were going out, behold! A demon-possessed man who could not speak was brought to Jesus. Jesus cast out the demon, and the man began to talk. The crowds marveled, saying, “Such a thing as this has never been seen in Israel!” However, the Pharisees were saying, “He is casting out demons by the ruler of demons.” {9:34}
Jesus visited all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and malady among the people. He saw the crowds, and His heart went out to them, because they were in distress and helpless, as sheep with no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is indeed abundant, but the workers are few. You all must pray that the Lord of the harvest will send reapers into His harvest.” {9:37}
Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to cast them out and to heal every sickness and disease. The names of the twelve Apostles are: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, James the son of Zebedee and his brother John, Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector, James the son of Alphaeus and Thaddeus, Simon the Cananaean and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him. These twelve Jesus sent out, commanding them, “Go neither among the Gentiles nor into any Samaritan city, but only to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, announce that heaven’s Kingdom is near. You all must: heal the sick, raise the dead, cure lepers, expel demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Take neither gold nor silver nor copper in your belts, nor a bag for the road, nor two coats, nor sandals, nor a staff, for a worker is worthy of his food. Into whatever city or village you go, you must find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. As you enter a house, you must give a greeting; if the house is worthy, you must let your peace rest on it; but if it is not worthy, you must let your peace return to you. Whoever does not receive you, and does not listen to your Message, as you go outside of that house or city, you must shake off the dust of your feet. Indeed, I assure you that it will be more lenient for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the Day of Judgment than for that city. Behold! I am sending you as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore, you must be as wise as snakes and as innocent as doves. You must watch out for people who will deliver you into the councils and flog you in their synagogues. You will be delivered to governors and even kings for my sake for a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. {10:18}
When they arrest you, do not worry how you will speak or what you will say, for it will be given you in that hour what you will say. You are not the ones speaking, but your Father’s Spirit speaks through you. A brother will deliver a brother to death, and a father a child. Children will stand against parents and kill them. You will be hated by all men for My Name’s sake. He who endures to the end, this one shall be saved. When they pursue you in one city, you must escape to another. Indeed, I assure you that you will by no means have gone through the cities of Israel until the Son of man comes. A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above his master. It is enough for a disciple to be as his teacher, and the slave as his master. If they call the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household. You should not be afraid of them, for nothing is covered that will not be uncovered, nor is anything hidden which will not be known. What I say to you in the darkness, tell it in the light. What you hear secretly, you must proclaim from the rooftops. You must not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, you must fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in Hell. Are not two sparrows sold for one cent? Yet not one of them falls on the ground without your Father. All the hairs of your head have been counted. You must not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows. Everyone who acknowledges Me in the presence of men, I will also acknowledge him in the presence of My heavenly Father; and whoever denies Me in the presence of men, I also will deny him in the presence of My heavenly Father. You should not think that I came to bring peace to the Earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. I came to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man’s enemies will be those of his own household. He who has strong affection of father or mother, son or daughter, more than for Me is not worthy of Me. Whoever does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it; he who loses his life for My sake will find it. He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. He who receives a prophet unto the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and he who receives a righteous man unto the name of a righteous man will receive the reward of a righteous man. Whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones unto the name of a disciple, indeed I assure you that he will by no means lose his reward.” {10:42}
After Jesus finished instructing His twelve disciples, He went elsewhere to teach and to preach in their cities. John heard in prison of Christ’s works, and sent a question through his disciples, “Are you the Coming One or should we expect another?” Jesus replied, “Go and you must tell John the things you are hearing and seeing: the blind are seeing, cripples are walking, lepers are cured, the deaf are hearing, the dead are being raised, the poor are hearing the good news; and, oh how happy is he who is not caused to stumble because of Me.” As they left, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, “What did you go out into the desert to see? A wind-shaken reed? A man wearing soft clothes? Not at all! Those wearing soft clothes are in kings’ palaces. But more so, to see a Prophet? Yes, I assure you, and more than a prophet. This is he about whom it is written [Mic.3:1], ‘Behold! I am sending My messenger before Your face. He will prepare Your Way.’ Indeed, I assure you that no one born of women is greater than John the immerser, but the least in heaven’s Kingdom is greater than he. From the days of John until now, heaven’s Kingdom is roughly treated, and violent men forcefully lay hold of it. All the Prophets and the Law prophesied [concerning heaven’s Kingdom] until John. If you desire to receive him, he is the Elijah who was to come. He who has ears, it is imperative he hears! {11:15}
With what shall I compare this generation? They are like children, playing in a marketplace, who cry to the others, ‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance. We wailed, but you did not mourn!’ John, indeed, came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’ The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is justified by its deeds.” {11:19}
Then, He began to rebuke the cities where most of His works of power had taken place, because they did not reform their minds and lives, [A] “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! Because if the miracles which have been done among you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have reformed their minds and lives long ago in coarse clothing and in ashes. Thus, I assure you that it will be more lenient for Tyre and Sidon in the Day of Judgment than for you. [B] And you, Capernaum, are you lifted up to heaven? You will go to Hades, because if the miracles which have been done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until now. But I assure you that it will be more lenient for the land of Sodom in the Day of Judgment than for you.” {11:24}
Then Jesus prayed, “I praise You, Father, Master of heaven and Earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have made them known to children. Yes Father, for so is Your Will.” {11:26}
“All things have been given to Me by My Father, and no one fully understands the Son except the Father. Neither does anyone fully understand the Father except the Son and the one to whom the Son wishes to reveal Him. You all must come to Me, all of you who are struggling and are yet burdened, and I will refresh you. It is imperative that you all: take My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and lowly in heart. You will find refreshment for your souls, for My yoke is pleasant and My load is light.” {11:30}
(5th) On the Sabbath Jesus walked through a field of standing grain. His disciples were hungry and began to pick and eat heads of wheat. The Pharisees saw what they did, and rebuked Him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.” He replied, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry [1 Sam.21:6], and his companions? How he entered God’s House, and they ate the sacred bread which was not lawful either for him or his companions, but only for the priests? Or have you not read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the Temple desecrate the Sabbath and are blameless? But I am saying to you that someone greater than the Temple is here. If you had understood what this Scripture means [Hos.6:6], ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless; for the Son of man is Master of the Sabbath.” He left them, and went into their synagogue, and behold! a man having a withered hand. To find fault, they asked, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” Jesus replied, “Which one of you, who has a sheep to fall into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold and lift it out? How much more is a man of value than a sheep! Therefore, it is lawful on the Sabbath to do good.” Then He spoke to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” As he did so, it was restored whole like the other. The Pharisees went out and took counsel to destroy Jesus. Jesus understanding about their plotting, departed. Many people followed, and He healed all of them. He commanded that they should not make Him known, so that which had been spoken through Isaiah the Prophet [42:1-4] was fulfilled, “Behold! My Servant Whom I have chosen! My beloved One, with Whom My soul is well pleased. I will place My Spirit upon Him, and He will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not wrangle or shout, neither will anyone hear His voice in the streets. He will not break a bruised reed, and He will not extinguish a smoking wick, until He sends out judgment to victory. The Gentiles will hope in His Name.” {12:21}
Then a demon-possessed man, blind and mute, was brought to Jesus, Who healed him so that he could both speak and see. The crowds were astonished, and were saying, “Is not this the ‘son of David’?” But when the Pharisees heard, they replied, “This man casts out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of demons.” Jesus knew their thinking, and replied, “Every kingdom divided against itself becomes desolate, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. [I] If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How, therefore, will his kingdom stand? [A] If I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? For this reason, they will be your judges. [B] But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then God’s Kingdom has come to you. [II] How can one enter the house of a strong man and seize his goods if first he does not bind the strong man? Then, he will plunder his house. [III] He who is not with Me is against Me, and the one not gathering with Me is scattering. For this reason, [A] I assure you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven of men, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And, [B] whoever says a word against the Son of man, it will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven, either in this world or the one to come. Either you must make the tree good and its fruit good, or you must make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for by the fruit the tree is known. {12:33}
Brood of vipers, how are you, who are evil, able to speak good things? Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man, out of his good treasure, speaks good things, but an evil man, out of his evil storehouse, speaks evil things. I assure you that, in the Day of Judgment, men will give an account of every worthless word, for by your words you will be accounted righteous, and by your words you will be condemned.” {12:37}
Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from You.” He replied, [A] “An evil and faithless generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the Prophet. As Jonah was in the stomach of the sea-monster three days and nights, so will the Son of man be three days and nights in the interior of the Earth. [B] The men of Nineveh will stand up in the Judgment with this generation and will condemn it, for they reformed their minds and lives unto Jonah’s preaching, and behold [You all must listen!], Someone greater than Jonah is here. [C] The queen of the South shall be raised in the Judgment with this generation and shall condemn it, for she came from the ends of the Earth to hear Solomon’s wisdom ‘and behold!’ Someone greater than Solomon is here. [D] When the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he goes through waterless places seeking a resting place, and does not find it. Then he says, ‘I will return to my house which I left.’ When he arrives, he finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits, more wicked than himself, and they go in and dwell there, and make the last condition of that man worse than the first. So, it will be to this evil generation.” {12:45}
While He was speaking to the crowds, behold! His mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to Him. Someone told Him, “Hey man! Your mother and your brothers stand outside, wanting to speak to you.” He replied to the one who had spoken to him, “Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?” He stretched out His hand toward His disciples, and said, “Behold! [You must listen!] My mother and My brothers! Whoever does the Will of My heavenly Father is My brother and sister and mother.” {12:50}
On that day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. Large crowds gathered around Him, so that He stepped into a boat, and sat down, while the people stood on the shore. Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying, “Pay attention! [I] A sower went out to sow. While he was sowing some seed fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them. [II] Other seed fell on rocky ground, where there was not much earth. They sprang up right away, because there was no depth of soil. After the sun came up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered. [III] Other seed fell among the thorns, which grew up and choked them. [IV] Other seed fell on good earth, and were producing grain, some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty-fold. You who have ears must listen to Me!” His disciples came and asked him, “Why are you talking to them in parables?” He answered them, “Because to you it has been given to understand the Mysteries of heaven’s Kingdom, but to them it has not been given. Whoever has, it will be given to him, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. For this reason, I speak to them in parables, because seeing, they do not see; and hearing, they neither hear, nor are able to perceive. In them Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled [Is.6:9f], which said, ‘In hearing, you will hear, but you will not at all perceive; and seeing, you will see, but you all cannot at all attain. The heart of this people has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have closed their eyes, so that they may not see with their eyes, or hear with their ears, or understand with their heart, and should turn around, and I will heal them.’ Happy are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. Indeed, I assure you, many prophets and righteous men wanted to see what you see but did not; and to hear what you hear but did not. You all must listen, therefore, to the parable of the sower. [A] When anyone hears the Message of the Kingdom, but he does not perceive, the evil one comes and takes away that which had been sown in his heart: this one is that which was sown beside the road. [B] That which was sown on rocky soil, this is the one who hears the Message and immediately receives it with joy; but more so, he has no root in himself and lasts only a little while. When trouble or persecution comes because of the Message, immediately he stumbles. [C] That which was sown among the thorns, this is the one who hears the Message, but the worry of the times and the deceitfulness of riches choke the Message, and he bears no fruit. [D] That which was sown on good earth, this is the one who hears the Message and perceives, who indeed bears fruit, and produces some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty-fold.” {13:23}
He placed before them another parable, saying, “Heaven’s Kingdom is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. While men were sleeping his enemy came and sowed darnels in the midst of the wheat and went away. When the plants sprouted and produced grain, then the darnels were also seen. The slaves of the landowner came to him, and said, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? Why therefore does it now have darnels?’ He replied, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The slaves asked, ‘Do you wish that we go and gather them?’ He replied, ‘No, lest while gathering the darnels, you also dig the wheat. We must allow both to grow together until the harvest. Then I will say to the reapers, ‘You must remove first the darnels and bind them into bundles to be burned and gather the wheat into my barn.’”
He gave them another parable, saying, “Heaven’s Kingdom is like a seed of mustard, which a man took and sowed in his field. It indeed is the smallest of all seeds, but when it is grown, it is the greatest of the garden-plants, and becomes a tree, so that even the birds of heaven nest in its branches.” {13:32}
He spoke another parable to them, “Heaven’s Kingdom is like leaven which a woman took and mixed in three pecks of flour [at least 30 pounds] until all of it was leavened.” Jesus spoke all these things to the crowds in parables, and without a parable He did not speak anything to them, with the result that what had been spoken through the prophet was fulfilled, “I will open my mouth in parables; I will declare things hidden from the world’s creation.” [Psalms 78:2] {13:35}
Then He left the crowds and went into the house. His disciples came to Him, requesting, “You ought to explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” He replied, [A] “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of man. [B] The field is the world. [C] The good seed are the sons of the Kingdom. [D] The weeds are sons of the evil one. [E] The enemy who sowed them is the devil. [F] The harvest is the end of the world, and [G] the reapers are the angels. Therefore, [1] as the weeds are gathered and burned, so it will be at the end of the world. [2] The Son of man will send His angels and they will gather out of His Kingdom stumbling blocks and those committing iniquity, and [a] they will cast them into a fiery furnace. [b] There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. [3] Then, the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s Kingdom. If you have ears, it is imperative that you all listen to what I say!” {13:43}
“The Kingdom of heaven is like [1] a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, heaven’s Kingdom is like [2] a merchant seeking excellent pearls. When he found one very precious pearl, he went and sold all that he had, and bought it. Again, heaven’s Kingdom is like [3] a dragnet which was cast into the sea, in which every kind was caught. When the net was full, they dragged it on to the beach, sat down, and gathered the good into containers and threw away the bad. [4] So, it will be at the end of the world: the angels will come and separate the righteous from the wicked, and will cast the wicked into a fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. {13:50}
Have you understood all these things?” They replied, “Yes, Lord.” He said, “Therefore, every scribe instructed in heaven’s Kingdom is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.” {13:52}
After Jesus finished these parables, he left that place, and went to His hometown, where He was teaching in their synagogue. They were astonished, saying, “What is the source of this wisdom and the miracles? Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary, and are not his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Are not all his sisters with us? Where then did he get all these things?” They were offended at him, and Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in His hometown and in His own house.” He did not perform many miracles there because of their unbelief. {13:58}
At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus, and said to his servants, “This is John the immerser. He has been raised from the dead, and therefore the miracles are at work in him.” Herod had seized, bound, and imprisoned John because of Herodias, the wife of Philip his brother. John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” Herod was wanting to kill John, but he was afraid of the crowd, because they regarded him as a prophet. At Herod’s birthday feast the daughter of Herodias danced in the midst. She pleased Herod, and he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. She was prompted by her mother, and replied, “You must give me the head of John the immerser on a platter.” The king was distressed because of the oaths and the dinner guests, but he ordered that it be given. He sent and beheaded John in prison [early A.D. 28], and his head was brought on a platter, and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. His disciples came, took the body and buried it, and went and told Jesus. Jesus heard of it and withdrew in a boat to a desert place alone. The crowds heard and followed Him from the cities by land. {14:13}
As He stepped out of the boat, and looked on the large crowd, His heart went out to them, and He healed their sick. At evening His disciples came and said to Him, “This place is a desert, and the hour is late. You must dismiss the people, that they may go into villages and buy food for themselves.” He replied, “They do not need to leave. You all must give them something to eat.” They said, “We only have five loaves and two fish.” He answered, “Bring them to Me!” He commanded the crowds to sit on the grass, took the five loaves and the two fish, looked up into heaven, and gave thanks. He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. After they all had eaten and were satisfied, they took up what was left of the broken pieces, twelve basketfuls. They who had eaten were five thousand men, besides the women and children. Immediately He urged the disciples to get into a boat and go before Him to the other side, while He was dismissing the crowds. After He dismissed the crowds, He went up into the mountain by Himself to pray. At evening He was there alone. Already the boat, miles from the land, was being pitched by the waves, for the wind was contrary. In the latter part of the night Jesus came to them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were alarmed, saying, “A ghost,” and they cried out in fear. At once He calmed them, saying, “You all must be of good courage. “I AM”. You must not be afraid.” Peter spoke out, “Lord, if it is You, You must command me to come to You on the water.” Jesus answered, “Come!” Then Peter stepped down from the boat, walked on the water, and went toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind, he was afraid. He began to sink, and cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, and took hold of him, saying, “Man of little faith, why did you doubt?” They stepped up into the boat, and the wind ceased. Those in the boat fell at his feet, saying, “Truly you are God’s Son.” They crossed to the other side and came to land at Gennesaret. The men of that place recognized Him, and sent out into that whole area, and brought all those who were badly sick to Him. They were begging Him that they might only touch the edge of His clothing. As many as touched were made well. {14:36}
Then, Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem came to Jesus, asking, “Why do your disciples transgress the elders’ tradition? They do not wash hands before they eat their food.” Jesus replied, “Why do you transgress God’s commandment with your tradition? God said [Ex.20:12], ‘Honor your father and mother’ and [Ex.21:17] ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother must certainly die.’ But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever you would have received from me has been given to God,”’ and so he does not honor his father or mother. You have canceled God’s Word through your tradition. Hypocrites, Isaiah prophesied well about you, saying, ‘This people draws near to Me with their mouth, and honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. They worship Me in vain, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.’[Is.29:13] {15:9}
Jesus summoned the crowd, and said, “You all must listen and understand! It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a man, but that which defiles a man is what goes out.” Then His disciples came and asked him, “Do You know that the Pharisees are angry because of what You said?” He replied, “Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant shall be uprooted. You must leave them alone: they are blind leaders. If a blind man leads a blind man, both shall fall into a pit. Peter said, “You must explain the parable to us.” He answered, “Are you still without understanding? [A] Do you not see that everything that enters the mouth makes its way out of the body? [B] But, the things that go out of the mouth have come from the heart, and those are the things that defile the man. [1] Evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false testimonies, and blasphemies come out of the heart. [2] These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man.” {15:20}
Jesus left that place and went into parts of Tyre and Sidon and behold! A Canaanite woman from those regions came crying, asking, “You ought to have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David. My daughter is severely possessed with a demon.” However, He answered her not one word, and His disciples came and were asking Him, saying, “You must send her away, for she is crying after us.” He answered, “I was only sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” She came and bowed before Him, and said, “Lord, You ought to help me.” He replied, “It is not good to take the bread of the children and to throw it to the little dogs.” She said, “True, Lord, but even the little dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Jesus said, “Woman, great is the faith of you! As you wish, it must be done for you.” Her daughter was healed from that hour. {15:28}
Jesus left that place and walked beside the sea of Galilee. He went into a mountain, and while sitting there, large crowds came to Him, bringing those who were lame, blind, crippled, mute, and many others. They were laid at His feet, and He healed them, so that the crowd was astonished! They saw the mute speaking, the crippled whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing, and they praised the God of Israel. Jesus summoned His disciples, and said, “My heart goes out to the people, for they have now stayed with Me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, for they will faint on the road.” The disciples asked Him, “Where in this desert is there enough food for us to satisfy such a crowd?” Jesus asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” “Seven,” they said, “and a few small fish.” Jesus commanded the crowd to sit down on the ground, and took the seven loaves and the fish, gave thanks, and broke them, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. After all had eaten and were satisfied, they took up what was left of the broken pieces, seven basketfuls. Four thousand men had eaten, besides women and children. He dismissed the crowds, stepped into the boat, and sailed to the neighborhood of Magadan. {15:38}
The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Him and tested Him by asking Him to show them a sign from heaven. He replied to them, [A] “When it is evening you say, ‘Good weather’, for the sky is red, and in the morning, ‘Bad weather today’, for the sky is red and threatening. You can read the face of the heavens, but not the signs of the times. [B] An evil and faithless generation continues to seek a sign, but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” He left them and went away. {16:4}
The disciples departed to the other side and forgot to take bread. Jesus said to them, “You must watch and be on guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” They talked among themselves, saying, “We took no bread.” Jesus knew their discussion, and said, “Men of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves that you do not have bread? Do you not understand or remember the five loaves for the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand and how many baskets you took up? Why do you not understand that it was not of bread that I spoke? You must be on guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Then, they understood that He had not said to guard against the leaven of bread, but more so, against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. {16:12}
Jesus came into the regions of Caesarea Philippi, and asked his disciples, “Who do men say that I am?” They replied, “Some have said that You are indeed John the immerser; and others, Elijah; yet others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” He asked them, “So, who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “You are divinely happy, Simon, son of Jonah. Flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but more so, my heavenly Father. And I assure you that you are a small rock, but upon this foundation Rock I will build my called-out people, [Is.28:16] and the gates of Hades shall not overpower them. I will give the keys of heaven’s Kingdom to you [Peter]. Anything you may bind on the earth will be, having been bound in heaven, and anything you may release on the earth will be, having been released in heaven. Then He gave orders that the disciples should tell no one that He was the Christ. {16:20}
From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day to be raised. But Peter took Him aside, and began to rebuke Him, saying, “May God in His mercy spare you this, Lord! Never, never will this happen to You.” Then He turned, and said to Peter, “You get behind Me, Satan! You are a cause of stumbling to Me, because you are not thinking about the things of God, but more so, the things of men.” Then Jesus said to His disciples, [A] “If anyone wishes to come after Me, [1] he must deny himself, and [2] he must take up his cross, and [3] he must follow [only] Me. [B] Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. [1] What will a man be profited if he gains the whole world and loses his soul? [2] Or what will a person give in exchange for his soul? [C] The Son of man is going to come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will give to each one according to his work. [D] Indeed, I assure you that some standing here shall not taste of death until they see the Son of man coming in His Kingdom. {16:28}
After six days Jesus took along Peter and James and his brother John and led them to a high mountain privately. He was changed in form before them: His face shined like the sun and His clothes became as white as the light and behold! Moses and Elijah appeared to them, speaking with Him. Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will build three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While He was speaking, behold! A radiant cloud overshadowed them and behold! A Voice from the cloud was saying, “This is My beloved Son, with Whom I am well pleased. You must hear [only] Him!” [Is.42:1f]
The disciples heard the Voice, and fell on their faces, greatly frightened. Jesus came and touched them, and said, “You must get up, and must not be afraid.” They lifted their eyes, and the only one they saw was Jesus. As they were walking down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one about the vision until the Son of man has been raised from the dead.” {17:9}
The disciples asked him, saying, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must first come?” [Mal.4:5-6] He replied, “Elijah indeed comes, and he will restore all things, but I assure you that Elijah has come already. However, they did not know him, but more so, did to him whatever they wished. So, also, the Son of man is going to suffer by them.” Then the disciples understood that He had spoken to them about John the immerser. {17:13}
As they approached the crowd, a man came to Him, fell on his knees before Him, and asked, “Lord, You ought to have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers intensely. Oftentimes he falls into fire or water. I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not heal him.” Jesus answered, “Unbelieving and stubborn generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I tolerate you? Bring him to Me!” Jesus rebuked the demon, and he came out of him, and the boy was healed from that hour. The disciples then came privately to Jesus, and asked, “Why could we not cast out the demon?” He answered, “Because of your little faith, for indeed I assure you that, if you have faith as a seed of mustard, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there!’ and it shall move. Nothing shall be impossible to you.” {17:21}
While they were gathering together in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him, but on the third day He will be raised.” They were deeply sorrowful. {17:23}
As they were coming into Capernaum, the ones who collected the half-shekel came to Peter, and asked, “Does your teacher pay the half-shekel?” He said, “Yes.” He went into the house, and Jesus spoke first to him, saying “Simon, do earthly kings require dues or tribute from their sons or from strangers?” He replied, “From strangers.” Jesus said, “Then the sons are exempt. But so that we do not offend them, you must go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. Open his mouth and you will find a shekel. You must give it to them for you and Me.” {17:27}
In that hour the disciples came to Jesus, asking, “Who is the greatest in heaven’s Kingdom?” He called a little child, and set him in their midst, and said, “Indeed, I assure you that, unless you turn and become like little children, you shall never enter heaven’s Kingdom! Therefore, he who will humble himself like this little child is the greatest in heaven’s Kingdom.
Whoever receives one such little child in My Name receives Me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, he would be better off if a large millstone were hung around his neck, and he were sunk in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of the stumbling blocks! Stumbling blocks must come, but woe to the man through whom they come. If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, you ought to cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter into life maimed or crippled rather than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into everlasting fire. If your eye causes you to stumble, you ought to gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than to have two eyes and be thrown into the hell of fire. You all must see that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I assure you that their angels in heaven always look on the face of my Father. What do you suppose? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one strays away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and seek the lost one? And if he finds it, truly I assure you that he rejoices more because of it than for the ninety-nine that were not lost. So is the desire of your heavenly Father that not one of these little ones should be lost.
If your brother sins [against you], it is imperative that you go and show him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens, you have won your brother. If he does not listen, you must take with you one or two more, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. If he refuses to listen to them, report it to the congregation. If he refuses to listen to the congregation, you all must let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
Indeed, I assure you all that whatever you bind on the Earth will be, having been bound in heaven, and whatever you release on the Earth will be, having been released in heaven. Again, I assure you all that, if two of you agree on the Earth about anything that you ask, it will be done by My heavenly Father, for where two or three have assembled in My Name, I am in the midst of them.” {18:20}
Then Peter came to Him, and asked, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Until seven times?” Jesus replied to him, “I do not say to you until seven times, but until seventy times seven. For this reason, the heavenly Kingdom is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began to settle, one who owed ten million dollars was brought to him. Since he could not pay, the lord ordered him, his wife and children, and all his possessions to be sold, and payment to be made. Therefore, the slave fell on his knees before his lord, begging, ‘you ought to be patient with me, and I will pay you in full.’ The lord, having sympathy, released him, and canceled the debt. But that slave went out and found a fellow slave who owed him twenty dollars, and seized and choked him, demanding, ‘Pay what you owe!’ Therefore, his fellow slave fell-down and begged him, saying, ‘You ought to be patient with me, and I will pay the debt.’ But he was unwilling and had him imprisoned until he should repay that which was owed. His fellow slaves, noticing what had occurred, were greatly grieved. They went and told their lord everything that had happened. Then his lord summoned him and said, ‘Wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had sympathy for your fellow slave as I had for you?’ His angry lord delivered him to the tormentors until he had paid all that he owed. So, also, My heavenly Father will do to you if you do not forgive each one his brother from your hearts.” {18:35}
Jesus finished this discourse, and left Galilee and went into the regions of Judea beyond the Jordan. Large crowds followed, and He healed them. The Pharisees came to Him to test Him, asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause?” He replied, “Have you not read [Gen.1:27] that the Creator at the beginning made them male and female? And He said, ‘For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh’ [Gen.2:24], so that they are no longer two, but more so, one flesh. Therefore, it is imperative that no man separate what God has joined.” They asked, “Why then did Moses command to give her a certificate of divorce, and to release her?” He answered them, “Moses because of your hard heart permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I assure you that whoever divorces his wife, except for fornication, and marries another, commits adultery.” His disciples responded, “If it is this way between a man and his wife, it is better not to marry.” He replied, “Not all men can receive this teaching, but more so, the ones to whom it has been given. There are eunuchs who were born so, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the heavenly Kingdom. He who is to yield acceptance [to this saying], he must accept [it].” {19:12}
Then little children were brought to Him, that He might place His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. However, Jesus said, “Allow the little children to come to Me! And you must not forbid them, for of such is the heavenly Kingdom.” He placed His hands on them and went away. {19:15}
Behold! Someone came to Him, and asked, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have everlasting life?” Jesus answered, “Why do you ask Me about ‘the Good’? One is the Good [Nah.1:7]! If you wish to enter into life, you must keep the Commandments.” He asked, “Which?” Jesus said, “You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not give false testimony [Ex.20:13-16, Duet.5:17-20]; Honor your father and mother, [Ex.20:12, Duet.5:16]” and “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” [Lv.19:18] The young man replied, “All these I have kept. What yet do I lack?” Jesus answered, “If you wish to be complete, you must sell your possessions, and must give them to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, and come, you must begin following Me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sorrowfully, for he had many possessions. Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Indeed, I assure you that it is difficult for a rich man to enter the heavenly Kingdom. And again, I assure you that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter God’s Kingdom.” The disciples were greatly amazed, asking, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus saw their amazement, and replied, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Then Peter said to Him, “Behold! We have left all and followed You. What therefore will there be for us?” Jesus replied, “Indeed, I assure you that in the ‘regeneration’, when the Son of man sits on the throne of His glory, you also will sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for My Name’s sake shall receive a hundred-fold and shall inherit everlasting life. But many who are first shall be last, and the last first. {19:30}
The heavenly Kingdom is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed with the workers for twenty cents a day and sent them to his vineyard. About nine o’clock he came again, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and said, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will give to you whatever is right.’ And they went. About noon, and again at three o’clock, he did the same thing. About five o’clock he went out and found others standing around, and asked them, ‘Why have you stood here idle all day long?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’ At evening the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘You now must call the workers and must give them their pay, beginning from the last until the first.’ Those who had come about five o’clock received each one twenty cents. And when the first came, they thought they would receive more, but they also themselves received each one twenty cents. They received this, and started murmuring against the landowner, saying, ‘These last worked one hour, but you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the heat.’ He replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I have not been unfair with you. Did you not agree with me for twenty cents? You must take what is yours and must go, for I wish to give to the last as to you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is mine? Or are you envious because I am good?’ So, the last shall be first and the first last.” {20:16}
Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, and took the twelve disciples aside, and on the road said to them, “Now you all must pay attention! We are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, who will sentence Him to death. They will deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock, to flog, and to crucify. On the third day He will be raised.” Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons. She fell at his feet and asked something of Him. He said, “What do you wish?” She replied, “You must have my sons sit, one at Your right hand and one at Your left hand, in Your kingdom.” He answered, “You [pl.] do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup which I am going to drink?” They answered, “We can.” He said to them, “You will drink My cup, but to sit at My right or left hand, this is not mine to give, but more so, for whom it has been prepared by My Father.” The ten heard this and were angry against the two brothers. Jesus summoned them, and said, “You know that the Gentile rulers have lordship over them, and their great one’s exercise authority. This is not so among you, but more so, whoever among you wishes to be great shall be your servant, and whoever among you wishes to be first will be your slave, even as the Son of man came not to be served, but more so, to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” {20:28}
(6th) As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Him, and behold! Two blind men, sitting beside the road, who had heard that Jesus was coming, cried, saying, “Lord, you must have mercy on us, son of David!” The crowd commanded them to be quiet, but they cried even more, “Lord, You must have mercy on us, son of David!” Jesus stopped, and summoned them, and asked, “What do you want Me to do?” They answered, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened!” Jesus’ heart went out to them; He touched their eyes, and they regained their sight at once, and followed Him. {20:34}
They were near Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the mount of Olives. Then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “You must go into the village. Right away you will find a donkey tied and her colt with her. Untie them and you must bring them to Me. If anyone says anything to you, you will answer that the Lord needs them. Right away he will send them.” In this way the saying spoken through the prophet was fulfilled, saying, “You must say to the daughter of Zion [Israel?], behold! Your King is coming to you [sing.], gentle and riding on a donkey, even on a colt the offspring of a donkey. [Is.62:11; Zech. 9:9] The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed and brought the donkey and the colt. They placed their garments on them, making a saddle for him. A large crowd spread their garments on the road. Some cut branches from the trees and put them on the road. The crowds, going ahead and following, were crying out, saying, “Hosanna [Save now!] to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the Lord’s Name! Hosanna in the highest heavens [Ps. 118:25-26]!” As he rode into Jerusalem all the city was stirred, asking, “Who is this?” The marchers were answering, “This is the prophet Jesus, the one from Nazareth of Galilee.” He entered the Temple and cast out all of those who were buying and selling. He overturned the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of those who were selling doves, saying, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’ [Is.56:7], but you are making it a ‘den of thieves’ [Jer. 6:11].” The blind and the crippled came to Him in the Temple, and He healed them. The chief priests and the scribes saw the marvelous things He was doing, heard the children crying out in the Temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” and became angry. They asked Him, “Do you hear what they are saying?” Jesus replied, “Yes. Have you never read ‘Out of the mouth of children and infants I have ordained praise’ [Ps. 8:3]?” He left them, and went out of the city to Bethany, where He spent the night. {21:17}
Earlier, as He went to the city, He was hungry. He saw one fig tree beside the road, and went to it, but found nothing but leaves. He said to it, “Never will fruit be on you,” and the tree instantly became withered. The disciples saw what happened, and marveled, asking, “How did the fig tree become withered so quickly?” Jesus replied to them, “Indeed, I assure you, if you have faith, and do not waver in doubt, not only can you do as was done to this fig tree, but more so, also you can say to this mountain, ‘You must be removed and must be cast into the sea!’, and it shall be so. And all things whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” He entered the Temple, and the chief priests and the elders of the people went to Him as He was teaching, and asked, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?” Jesus replied to them, “I also will ask you one question, which, if you answer, I also will tell you by what authority I am doing these things: was John’s immersion from heaven or from men? They began talking among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘Of heaven,’ He will ask us, ‘Therefore, why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of men,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for they hold that John was a Prophet.” They replied to Jesus, “We do not know.” And He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things. What do you think? A man had two sons. He said to one, ‘Son, you must go and yourself work today in the vineyard.’ He answered, ‘I do not intend to go.’, but later, having regret, he went. He came to the other and said the same thing, who replied, ‘I will, sir.’, but he did not. Which of the two did the will of the father?” They replied, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Indeed, I assure you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes enter God’s Kingdom before you. John came to you in the Way of Righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. You saw what they did, but you all had no regret, such that, you all believed him. {21:32}
You all must hear another parable: a landowner planted a vineyard, and put a hedge around it, and dug a winepress in it, and built a tower, and leased it to tenant farmers, and went away. When harvest time drew near, he sent his slaves to the farmers to get his fruit. The farmers seized the slaves, and beat one, and stoned one, and killed one. Again, he sent other slaves, more than the first group, and they treated them the same way. And last, he sent to them his son, saying, ‘They will respect my son’. But the farmers, having seen the son, said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come! Let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ They seized him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. When the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those farmers?” They [the crowd] replied to Him, “He will destroy those evil men, and will lease his vineyard to other tenant farmers, who will give him his fruit in due course.” Jesus said to them [the Rulers], “Have you never read the Scriptures! “The Stone which the builders rejected, this has become the Keystone; this was from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes” [Ps.118:22-23]? For this reason, I assure you that God’s Kingdom will be taken from you and will be given to a nation producing Its fruits. And he who falls on this Stone will be dashed to pieces; and the Stone will crush anyone upon whom it falls.” [A reference to the Stone not made with hands prophesied in Dan. 2] The chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, and knew He was talking about them. They were seeking to lay hold of Him, but were afraid of the crowds, since they considered Him a Prophet. {21:46}
Again, Jesus spoke in parables, saying, “Heaven’s Kingdom is like a king who celebrated with a wedding dinner for his son. He sent his slaves to call the invited guests to the dinner, but they did not want to come. Again, he sent other slaves, saying, “You must tell those who have been called, ‘Behold! I have prepared my dinner. The oxen and the fat calves are slaughtered, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding dinner!’ But they paid no attention, and went away, one to his own farm, one to his business, and the rest laid hold of the king’s slaves, abused, and killed them. The king became enraged, and sent his soldiers to destroy these murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding dinner is ready, but the invited ones were not worthy. You must go to the byways, and as many as you find, you must invite to the wedding dinner.’ Those slaves went out to the byways, and gathered all they could find, both bad and good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. However, when the king came in to observe the guests, he saw there a man not clothed with a wedding garment, and he said to him, ‘Friend, why have you come without a wedding garment?’ He was speechless. Then the king said to his servants, ‘Bind his hands and feet, and you must throw him into the outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ Many are called but few are chosen.” The Pharisees left and took counsel how they might entrap Jesus in his words. {22:15}
They sent their followers with the Herodians to Him, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and that You truly speak God’s Way, and that You are impartial, for You do not respect the face of men. You must tell us therefore what You think: is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar or not?” Jesus was aware of their trickery, and said, “Why are you testing Me, hypocrites? Show Me the tribute money!” They brought to Him a coin, and He asked, “Whose are this image and inscription?” They replied, “Caesar’s.” Then He said, “You all must give therefore to Caesar the things of Caesar, and to God the things of God.” They heard this, and marveled, and left Him, and went away. {22:22}
On that day the Sadducees (who say there is no resurrection) also came and asked Him, saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man die having no children, his brother as next of kin will marry his wife and give an heir to his brother.’ [Dt.25:5] There were seven brothers with us. The first married and died childless, leaving his wife to his brother, as did the second, and the third, until there were seven. The woman died last of all. In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will she be for all seven had married her?” Jesus replied to them, “You are misled, not knowing the Scriptures or God’s power, for in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like the angels in heaven. And have you not read what God said concerning the resurrection of the dead, ‘I AM, the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob’? [Ex.3:6,15] He is not the God of the dead, but more so, of the living!” The crowds listened and were amazed at His Teaching.
The Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, and they gathered together. One of them, a lawyer, testing Him, asked, “Teacher, what is the great commandment in the Law?” Jesus said to him, “You will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your understanding. [Dt. 6:5] This is the first and great commandment. The second is like it, ‘You will love your neighbor as yourself.’ [Lv.19:18] The whole ‘Law and the Prophets’, hang on these two commandments.” Now while the Pharisees were assembled, Jesus asked them, saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is He?” They replied, “David’s.” He asked them, “How then did David in the Spirit call Him Lord, saying, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand until I put Your enemies under Your feet'” [Ps. 110:1]? If, therefore, David called Him “Lord,” how is He, his son?” No one could answer Him a word, and from that day no more did anyone dare to question Him.
Jesus then spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat. Therefore, you must carry out and observe all things that they say, but you must not practice their deeds, because they do not keep their own words. They tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with their finger. They practice all their deeds to be seen of men. They widen their phylacteries and enlarge the tassels of their garments. They adore the place of honor at dinners and the front seats of the synagogues, and greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called of men, Rabbi. But you all, should not be called Rabbi, for One is your Teacher, and all of you are brothers. You should call no man your Father on the Earth, for you have one Father, and He is in heaven. Neither should be called Master, because one is your Master, the Christ; and the greatest of you will be your servant. Furthermore, whoever exalts himself will be brought low, and whoever lowers himself will be exalted. {23:13}
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you close the heavenly Kingdom before men. You are not going in, and you do not permit the ones going in to enter. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you search the sea and the land to make one convert; and when he has been made, you make him a son of hell twice as bad as yourselves. Woe to you, blind leaders, who say, ‘He who swears by the Temple, it is nothing, but he who swears by the gold of the Temple, owes.’ Fools and blind, which is greater, the gold or the Temple which sanctified the gold? And, ‘He who swears by the altar, it is nothing; but he who swears by the gift upon the altar, owes.’ Blind ones, which is greater, the gift or the altar which sanctifies the gift? He who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it; and he who swears by the Temple swears by it and by him who lives in it; and he who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by Him Who sits upon it. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you tithe: the mint, dill, and cumin, but you have forsaken the heavier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faith. It is necessary to do these things, and not to forsake the others. Blind leaders, the ones who are straining out the gnat and swallowing the camel! Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you [say] ought to wash the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first you (sing.) must wash the inside of the cup, so that its outside also may become clean. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you are like white-washed tombs which outwardly appear attractive; but inside are full of all kinds of uncleanness. So also, you appear to men to be righteous; but inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you build the prophets’ tombs and you decorate the memorials of righteous men, and you say, ‘If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the prophets’ blood.’ Thus, you are testifying in yourselves that you are the sons of those who murdered the Prophets, and you fill up the measure of your fathers. Snakes, brood of vipers, how will you escape the judgment of hell? For this reason, behold! ‘I’ send to you prophets, wise men, and scribes. You will kill some of them and crucify others. You also will flog some of them in your synagogues, and you will persecute them from city to city, in order that on you will come all the righteous blood poured out on the Earth from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zachariah, whom you murdered between the Temple and the altar. Indeed, I assure you that all these things will come on this generation. Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones the ones who are sent to her, how often ‘I’ wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers together her chicks under her wings; but this is not what you wanted. Behold! Your house is left to you deserted, for I assure you that you will by no means see Me again until you shout, ‘Blessed is the One who comes in the Name of the Lord.’” [Ps.118:26] {23:39}
As Jesus left the Temple, and was going along, His disciples came to Him to point out to Him the buildings of the Temple. He said to them, “Do you see all these? Indeed, I assure you that not a stone here will be left on another which shall not be thrown down.” {24:2}
While He was sitting on the mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him alone, asking, “You must tell us when these things shall be, and what is the sign of Your coming and the end of the world.” Jesus said to them, “You all must be on guard lest someone deceive you, for many will come in My Name saying, “I am the Christ,” and they will lead many astray. You are about to hear of wars and news of wars. You must be of no alarm, for these things must come, but the end is not yet. A nation shall rise up against a nation, and a kingdom against a kingdom. Famines and earthquakes shall occur in various places. All these things are the beginning of woes. Then they shall deliver you into distress and shall kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of My Name, and then many will be caused to stumble, and they will betray one another and will hate one another. Many false prophets will be raised up, and they will lead many astray. Because wickedness will be multiplied; the love of many will grow cold. He who endures to the end, this one will be saved. The Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world unto a testimony to all nations, and ‘then’ the ‘end’ will come. {24:14}
When you see the detestable thing causing the desolation, spoken of by Daniel the Prophet [Dan.9:27,12:11], standing in the holy place (the reader must understand), then let the ones living in Judea escape to the mountains. He on the housetop must not come down to take things out of his house. He who is in the field must not return for his coat. Woe in those days to pregnant women and to those who are nursing. You must pray that your flight be not in winter neither on a Sabbath. Then there shall be great suffering such as has not been from the world’s beginning, no, and never shall be seen. If those days are not cut short, no flesh shall be saved; but, for the sake of the chosen ones, those days shall be cut short. At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look! Here is the Christ,’ or ‘Here!’ Do not believe him, for false Christs and false prophets shall be raised up, showing great signs and wonders in order to deceive, if possible, even the chosen ones. Behold! I have told you beforehand! If they say to you, ‘Look! He is in the desert,’ do not go out. Or, ‘Look! He is in an inner room,’ do not believe them, for as the lightning comes out of the east and shines to the west, so shall be the coming of the Son of man. Where the carcass is, there the vultures shall gather. {24:28}
Immediately after the suffering of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the Earth will wail, and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and much glory. He will send His angels with the sound of a great trumpet, and they will gather His chosen ones from the four winds, from one corner of heaven to another. {24:31}
You ought to learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch already has become tender, and the leaves sprout, you understand that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you understand that He is near, at the doors. Indeed, I assure you that this generation will not pass away until all these things happen. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away. {24:35}
No one knows about that Day and hour, neither the angels, nor the Son, but the Father only, for as it was in the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of man. As in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the Day that Noah entered the ark [Gen.7:7], and understood not until the flood came and took all away, so will be the coming of the Son of man. Two will be in the field, one is taken, and one is left. Two women will be grinding at the mill, one is taken, and one is left. Therefore, you must watch, because you do not know what Day your Lord comes. And you understand that if the householder had known in which watch the thief would come, he would have watched and would not have permitted his house to be broken into; on account of this, you also must stay ready, because the Son of man comes in an hour you cannot expect. {24:44}
Who is the faithful and wise slave whom the master of the house has put in charge of the slaves in his household, to give them food at the right time? Happy is that slave whose master, upon returning, finds him so doing. Indeed, I assure you that the master will set him over all his possessions. But if that wicked slave says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying,’ and he begins to beat his fellow slaves, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, that servant’s master will come in a day he does not expect, and in an hour, he does not expect; and he shall severely punish him and will assign him a place among the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. {24:51}
Heaven’s Kingdom will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish took their lamps, but no oil with them. The wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all went to sleep, but in the middle of the night there was an outcry, ‘Look! The bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all the virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, ‘You must give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, ‘There may not be enough for us and you. You go to those who sell and must buy for yourselves.” While they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding dinner, and the door was shut. Later the other virgins came, crying, ‘Lord, Lord, You must open to us.’ But he answered, ‘I assure you, I do not know you.’ You must watch therefore, because you do not know the day or the hour. {25:13}
It [Heaven’s Kingdom] is like a man going on a journey, who called his slaves and delivered to them his possessions. He gave to one five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to another one thousand, according to the ability of each. He then departed. Right away the one who had five thousand dollars made an investment and gained five thousand more. Likewise, the one who received two thousand dollars gained two thousand more. But the one who had received the one thousand dollars went away and dug into the earth and hid his master’s money. After a long time, the master of those slaves returned and settled accounts with them. The one with the five thousand dollars brought five thousand more, saying, ‘Master, you gave me five thousand dollars. Look! I have gained five thousand.’ The master said, ‘Splendid! Useful and dependable slave! You were dependable with a few things. I will put you over many things. You must enter into the joy of your master.’ The one with two thousand dollars came and said, ‘Master, you gave me two thousand dollars. Look! I have gained two thousand more.’ The master said, ‘Splendid! Useful and dependable slave! You were dependable with a few things. I will put you over many things. You must enter into the joy of your master.’ Finally, the one who had received the one thousand dollars came and reported, ‘Master, I, you understood, that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, gathering where you did not scatter. So, I was afraid, and I went and hid your money in the earth. Look! You have what is yours.’ His master replied, ‘Wicked and lazy slave, you understood that I reap where I have not sowed, and I gather where I have not scattered. Therefore, you should have deposited my money with the bankers, so that, when I came, I might receive my money with interest. So, you must take from him the thousand dollars and must give it to the one who has ten thousand; for to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, what he has will be taken. You must throw the worthless slave into the outer darkness, where will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ {25:30}
When the ‘Son of Man’ comes in His grandeur, and all His angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them from one another as a shepherd separates His sheep from the goats. He will put His sheep on His right hand and the goats on His left. Then the King will say to the ones at His right hand, ‘Come, blessed ones of My Father, you all must inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. [God’s eternal Plan of Salvation] {25:34}
I was hungry, and you fed Me; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you received Me; naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will reply to Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and we fed You, or thirsty and we gave You to drink? When did we see You a stranger and we received You, or naked and we clothed You? When did we see You sick or in prison and we went to You?’ The King will reply to them, ‘Indeed I assure you, when you served one of the least of these my brothers, you served Me.’ Then He will say to the ones on His left hand, ‘You all must depart from Me, accursed ones, into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his agents. I was hungry, yet you did not feed Me; I was thirsty, yet you did not give Me to drink; I was a stranger, yet you did not receive Me; naked, yet you did not clothe Me; sick and in prison, yet you did not visit Me.’ Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty, or a stranger or naked, or sick or in prison, and we did not serve You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Truly I assure you, in so far as you did not serve one of the least of these My brothers, you did not serve Me.’ These will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into everlasting life.” {25:46}
(7th) Jesus finished all these words, and said to His disciples, “You know that the Passover occurs after two days, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.” Then the chief priests and elders of the people gathered in the courtyard of Caiaphas the High Priest, and laid plans to seize Jesus by stealth and kill Him. However, they were saying, “Not at the Feast, lest an uproar arise among the people.” While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the leper, a woman having an alabaster bottle of very expensive perfume came to Jesus and anointed His head while He was at the table. The disciples were angry, saying, “Why such waste? This could have been sold for much money to give to the poor.” Jesus, understanding the situation, responded, “Why are you troubling the woman? She has done a beautiful thing for Me. You always have the poor with you, but not Me. She has poured this perfume on My body to prepare Me for My burial. Indeed, I assure you that what this woman has done will be told in her memory wherever this Good News will be preached in the whole world.” Then, one of the Twelve, Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give to me to deliver Him to you?” They placed before him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time he continually sought to deliver Him. {26:16}
On the first day of unleavened bread Jesus’ disciples asked, “Where do You want us to prepare the Passover?” He answered, “You must go into the city to a certain one and say, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is near. I will observe the Passover with My disciples in your home.”'” The disciples did as Jesus had instructed and prepared the Passover. In the evening He was sitting with the Twelve. During the meal He said, “Indeed I assure you that one of you will betray Me.” They were greatly grieved, and each one began to ask Him, “It is not I, is it, Lord?” He replied, “He who dips his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me. Indeed, the Son of man is going away as it has been written of Him, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed. It would have been better if that man had not been born.” Judas (the betrayer) asked, “It is not I, is it, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have spoken.” During the meal Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, “You all must take and eat. This is My body.” And He took a cup, gave thanks, and passed it to them, saying, “All of you must drink out of it, for this is My blood of the [new] Covenant, which is poured out for many so that sins might be forgiven. I assure you, I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s Kingdom.” [Judas had left] They sang a hymn and went out to the mount of Olives. {26:30}
Then Jesus said to them, “Tonight all of you will be offended at Me, as it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered [Zech.13:7],’ After I have been raised, I will go before you into Galilee.” Peter replied, “If everyone else is offended at You, I will never be offended.” Jesus responded, “Indeed I assure you that tonight, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” Peter answered, “Even if it is necessary to die with You, I will not deny You.” All of the disciples said the same thing. Jesus then went with them to a place called Gethsemane and said, “You must sit here while I go there to pray.” He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and became sorrowful and was filled with anxiety. Then He said to them, “My soul is deeply troubled, even to death. You must wait here and watch with Me.” He went forward a little, fell on His face, and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, You must let this cup pass away. Nevertheless, not as I will, but more so, as You Will.” Jesus returned to the disciples, found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Could you not watch with Me one hour? You all must watch and pray that you do not come into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if this cup cannot be removed unless I drink it, Your Will must be done.” He returned to them, and again found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. He left once more and prayed the same words a third time. Then He returned to His disciples, and said, “Must you sleep and rest? Behold! The hour has come. The Son of man is being delivered into sinners’ hands. Arise! We must go. Look! My betrayer is near.” While He was speaking, behold! Judas, one of the Twelve, and a large crowd from the chief priests and elders came with swords and clubs. The betrayer had given them a sign, “The one I kiss is He. You must seize Him.” He immediately walked up to Jesus, saying, “Greetings! Rabbi,” and kissed Him tenderly. Jesus replied, “Friend, do what you came to do.” They then came to Jesus, grabbed Him, and held Him. Behold! One of those with Jesus drew his sword, and struck the high priest’s slave, cutting off his ear. But Jesus said, “Put away your sword, for everyone who uses a sword will die by it! Do you not know that I could pray to My Father and He would send to Me more than twelve legions of angels? How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled [Is. 53:1f] that it is necessary for this to occur?” Then Jesus spoke to the crowd, “Have you come with swords and clubs as for a thief? Every day in the Temple I sat and taught, and you did not lay hold of Me. All of this is a fulfillment of the Scripture of the prophets.” Then all His disciples deserted and ran away. [Is53:3] {26:56}
The ones who had seized Jesus brought Him to Caiaphas the High Priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. Peter was following Him from a distance, as far as the courtyard of the High Priest. He entered and sat with the servants to see the outcome. The chief priests and the entire Council were seeking a false witness against Jesus in order that they might kill Him. Though many false witnesses came before them, they found none. Finally, two came before them, who testified, “This man said, ‘I can destroy God’s Temple and rebuild it in three days.'” The High Priest arose and asked, “Do you say nothing? What are these testifying against you?” Jesus was silent, and the High Priest said to him, “I put you on oath before the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus replied, “You have spoken. Nevertheless, I assure you that afterwards you will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven. [Dan.7:13f]” Then, the High Priest ripped his clothes, and exclaimed, “He has blasphemed! What further need have we of witnesses? Behold! Now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?” They replied, “He deserves death!” Then they spit in His face, hit Him with their fists, and slapped Him, saying, “Prophesy to us! Christ, who struck you?” {26:68}
Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant-girl approached him, and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” He denied this in front of everyone, saying, “I do not know what you are saying.” As he went toward the gate, again a servant-girl said to the others who were there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene.” Again, Peter denied, this time with an oath, saying, “I do not know the man.” After a little time, the bystanders approached Peter and said, “Certainly you also are of them, for your speech gives you away.” Then he began cursing and swearing, “I do not know the man.” Immediately a rooster crowed, and Peter remembered what Jesus had said, “Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. {26:75}
When it was morning all the chief priests and the elders conspired against Jesus to kill Him. They bound Him and delivered Him to Pilate the governor. {27:2}
Judas the traitor saw that Jesus was condemned, and he was filled with great remorse, and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, and said, “I have sinned, betraying innocent blood.” They replied, “What is that to us? You see to it!” He threw down the pieces of silver in the Temple, departed, went away and hanged himself. The chief priests picked up the silver pieces, and said, “It is not lawful to put them in the treasury, since they are the price of blood.” They took counsel and bought a potter’s field for burying strangers. As a result, that field is called a “Field of Blood” to this day. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken through the prophet, saying, “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the One on Whom a price had been set by the sons of Israel, and bought a potter’s field, as the Lord instructed me.” [Zech.11:12-13] {27:10}
Jesus stood in front of the governor, who asked Him, “Are You the king of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “You are speaking,” but he said nothing in reply to the charge leveled against Him by the chief priests and elders. Then Pilate asked Him, “Do you not hear how many things they are witnessing against you?” Jesus answered not one word, so that the governor was very much amazed. During the Feast the governor had a custom of releasing one prisoner to the people whom they wished. At that time the notorious Barabbas was in prison. They assembled, and Pilate asked them, “Whom do you wish that I release, Barabbas or Jesus, the one called Christ?” (He knew that it was of envy that they had brought Him.) While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for today I have suffered many things in a dream because of Him.” The chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas, and that they kill Jesus. Again, the governor asked, “Which of the two do you wish me to release to you?” They answered, “Barabbas.” Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus, the one called Christ?” They all replied, “He must be crucified.” Pilate asked, “What evil has He done?” But they continued to cry loudly, “He must be crucified!” Pilate, seeing that he was getting nowhere (but rather causing an uproar), took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “His blood will be on you, not on me.” All the people shouted, “May His blood be on us and on our children!” Then he released Barabbas to them, flogged Jesus, and delivered Him to be crucified. {27:26}
The governor’s soldiers took Jesus into their headquarters and gathered around Him the whole regiment. They removed His clothes and put on Him a soldier’s red cloak. They wove a crown of thorns, and placed it on His head, and put a reed in His right hand. They bowed before Him, and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews.” They spit on Him, and took the reed, and beat Him on the head. They removed the cloak, put His clothes back on Him, and led Him away to be crucified. While they were going out, they found a man of Cyrene by the name of Simon, whom they compelled to carry Jesus’ cross. They arrived at a place called Golgotha (which is called “The Place of a Skull”) and gave Him a mixture of wine and gall. He tasted it and refused to drink. They crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots. Then they sat there, watching Him. They placed above His head a written accusation, “This is Jesus the King of the Jews.” Then they crucified with Him two thieves, one on the right and one on the left. Those who passed by were shouting insults, wagging their heads, and saying, “You, the one who destroys the Temple and builds it in three days, You ought to save yourself! If You are God’s Son, You must come down from the cross.” Likewise, the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him, crying, “He saved others, but He cannot save Himself! If He is Israel’s king, He ought to now come down from the cross and we will believe on Him. He trusted in God. God must now rescue Him if He desires, for He said, “I am God’s Son.” In the same way the thieves were heaping insults upon Him. {27:45}
From noon, darkness was on all the Earth until three o’clock. About three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, Lema sabachthani” (that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” [Ps.22:1]). Some of the bystanders who heard Him said, “He is calling Elijah.” And immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed to give Him a drink. Others were saying, “Stop! Let us see if Elijah will come and save Him.” Jesus, crying again with a loud voice, yielded His Spirit. {27:50}
Behold! The Temple’s veil was torn in two from the top to the bottom, the earth shook, rocks were split, tombs were opened, and the bodies of many of the saints who had died were raised. (They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection, entered the holy city, and were seen by many.) {27:53}
The centurion and the ones with him watching Jesus, seeing the earthquake and the things that happened, were greatly frightened, and said, “Indeed, this man always was a son of God.” Many women were there watching from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, serving Him. Among these were Mary of Magdala and Mary, the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.
At evening a rich man from Arimathea, whose name was Joseph (who was also a disciple of Jesus), went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ corpse. Pilate then commanded that it be given to him. He took the body and wrapped it in a pure linen cloth. He placed it in his new tomb (which had been cut in the rock) [Is.53:9] and rolled a large stone to the door and departed. Mary of Magdala and the other Mary were sitting over against the tomb. {27:61}
(8th) The next day, after the Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees were gathered together before Pilate, saying, “Sir, we remember that the deceiver said, ‘I will arise after three days.’ You must command therefore that the tomb be made secure until the third day to guard against his disciples stealing the body and saying, ‘He has been raised from the dead.’ The last deception will be worse than the first.” Pilate replied to them, “You must take guards and go and make the tomb as secure as you can.” They departed and secured the tomb, sealing the stone, and stationing the guards. {27:66}
(8th) After the Sabbath, as Sunday dawned, Mary of Magdala and the other Mary came to see the tomb and behold! There was a great earthquake, and the Lord’s angel came down from heaven and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. His appearance was like lightning and his clothing as white as snow. The guards trembled with fear and became like dead men. The angel spoke to the women, “You must not be afraid. I know you are seeking Jesus who was crucified. He is not here! He has been raised, even as He said. Come! You must see the place where He was lying. Go without delay and you all must tell His disciples that He has been raised from the dead and behold! He will go before you into Galilee, and you will see Him there. Behold! I have told you!” The women immediately left the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to tell His disciples. And behold! Jesus met them and said, “Greeting!” They came to Him, took hold of His feet, and worshipped Him. Then Jesus said to them, “You must not be afraid. Go! Tell My brothers to go to Galilee, and they will see Me there.” {28:10}
While they were going, behold! Some of the guards went into the city and told the chief priests all things that had happened. The priests met with the elders, plotted together, and gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, and instructed them, “It is imperative that you all say, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him while we were sleeping.’ If the governor hears of this we will persuade him, and you will not have to worry.” They took the money and did as they were instructed. This report has been spread among the Jews until this day. {28:15}
The eleven disciples went to Galilee to a mountain according to Jesus’ instruction. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him, but some doubted. Jesus came to them and spoke, saying, “All authority in heaven and on the Earth has [now] been given to Me! Therefore, as you all are going, it is imperative you make disciples among all the nations; immersing them into the Name of [authority] the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit; teaching them to observe ‘all things’ that I have commanded you yourselves. And be aware! I am with you all, all the days until the end of the world.”