You searched for the triumph – Page 2 of 10

Published: 20 November 2020

Written by Dean Davis

2 Comments

Categories: Eschatology

This article is an extract from my book, The Great End Time Debate: Issues, Options and Amillennial Answers. Because a number of contemporary postmillennarians also embrace Partial Preterism, you may also wish to read my article on Preterism, available here.

Here is a key to some of the abbreviations you will encounter as you read:

GETD = Great End Time Debate
DNT = Didactic New Testament (i.e., the teaching portions of the gospels, the book of Acts, and the epistles)
OTKP = OT Kingdom Prophecy (OT prophecies of the coming Kingdom of God)
NCH = New Covenant Hermeneutic (the NT method for interpreting the OT in general, and OTKP in particular)

Exposition

(To view a timeline for Postmillennialism, please click here)

The word postmillennialism means after the millennium. Thus, like Amillennialism, Postmillennialism teaches that Christ will come again after the “1000 years” of Revelation 20. Nevertheless, the two schools differ, primarily because postmillennarians are highly optimistic about the progress and societal impact of the Gospel during the Era of Proclamation. The seeds of this persuasion were first planted by Augustine, who was quite confident about the redemptive power and future growth of the City of God (i.e., the Church). In Reformation times certain Dutch theologians modified his view, asserting that the thousand years symbolize a later portion of the Era of Proclamation, during which time large numbers of Jews will be converted and the world will become largely Christian.

Though hardly the majority report of the Church, Postmillennialism has had some astute defenders. Most of the American Puritans were postmillennarians. They believed that God would use the American experiment in a special way to advance his universal Kingdom. More recent postmillennarians include Charles Hodge, Benjamin Warfield, Lorraine Boettner, John Jefferson Davis, Jeff Durbin, Marcellus Kik, Keith Mathison, James White, and Doug Wilson. The disciples of Rousas Rushdoony—the founder of a theological school called Christian Reconstructionism—are also postmillennial. They include Greg Bahnsen, Ken Gentry, Gary North, Martin Selbrede, and Doug Wilson.

Very briefly, here is the postmillennarian position on the four underlying issues of the GETD.

The Kingdom of God

Postmillennarians agree with their amillennarian brothers that the Kingdom of God is a direct spiritual reign of the triune God, and that it enters history in two fundamental stages: the purely spiritual Kingdom of the Son, followed by the spiritual and physical Kingdom of the Father. But again, some postmillennarians think of the Millennium as a distinct phase of the Kingdom of Son, in which Christ suddenly binds Satan and then triumphantly extends his spiritual reign over the face of the whole earth. Thus, for these interpreters, postmillennialism is not really a species of present-millennialism, since here the Millennium is present with some, but not all, Christians who live in the Era of Proclamation.

The Interpretation of OTKP

Once again postmillennarians agree with their amillennarian brethren in interpreting OTKPs typologically and figuratively, as being fulfilled under the New Covenant and among its people, the Church. There is, however, a crucial difference: In OT texts where amillennarians find the prophets speaking of the World to Come, most postmillennarians find them speaking of the triumphs of the Era of Gospel Proclamation. More on this in a moment.

The Meaning of the Millennium

On this issue postmillennarians differ among themselves. Some identify the 1000 years of Revelation 20 with the entire Era of Proclamation, others with its final thousand years, still others with a season of indeterminate length situated towards the end of the present evil age. In the latter case, this season is held to commence with a special, latter-day binding of Satan, possibly leading to the conversion of ethnic Israel at large (the view I have pictured in the time-line above). All agree, however, that the basic trajectory of Church history, despite occasional setbacks, is one of Gospel triumph.

The Consummation

Regarding the Consummation, postmillennarians concede that Revelation 20:7-10 does indeed anticipate a final, global rebellion against Christ and his faithful people (i.e., the Last Battle). This painful interlude—so out of character with the preceding years of triumph and blessing—will quickly lead to the Parousia, the several other elements of the Consummation, and the advent of the World to Come.

We find, then, that for most postmillennarians the true locus of Christ’s victory over the powers of evil is the Era of Proclamation itself, with Christ’s Second Coming serving largely as a glorious capstone upon all that he was able previously to accomplish through the faithful preaching of his Church and the activism of Christian citizens.

Does Scripture justify this optimistic scenario? Does the course of Church History to date confirm it? In the following critique we will seek to answer these important questions.

Critique

With the help of the time line above, let us critically examine the postmillennarian understanding of Salvation History, paying special attention to the four underlying issues we have just identified and discussed.

View of the Kingdom

Amillennarians divide the Kingdom of God into two simple stages: the temporary Kingdom of the Son, followed by the perfect and eternal Kingdom of the Father (Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43; Col. 1:13). But as we have seen, most postmillennarians go on to divide the Kingdom of the Son into two sub-stages: an initial stage of real, difficult, and partial Gospel progress, followed by a millennial stage of enormous Gospel progress. Postmillennarian Ken Gentry speaks for many when he says of the Millennium: “The Kingdom will grow and develop until eventually it exercises a dominant and universal gracious influence in a long era of righteousness, peace, and prosperity on the earth and in history.”

But this view of the Kingdom of the Son is not supported in Scripture. Nowhere in the DNT do we find any suggestion that it is divided into two stages, or that it includes a long, future Golden Era. Quite to the contrary, we find both Christ and the apostles repeatedly girding the loins of the saints for constant opposition and persecution, though also for a real measure of success as God gathers together his little flock through the faithful preaching of the Gospel (Matt. 24:9-14; John 10:16; Rom. 8:30; 1 Thess. 2:2; Titus 2:14; 1 Pet. 4:12; 1 John 3:13, 5:19).

On this score, the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares is paradigmatic (Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43). Here the Lord clearly assumes that throughout the entire Era of Proclamation the tares will grow up alongside the wheat. Indeed, so abundant are the tares that the angels regard them as a threat to the safety of God’s crop (Matt. 13:27-28). This is the template of all NT eschatology. Believers ever live and serve in the present evil age (Gal. 1:4). They must redeem the time, for the days are evil (Eph. 5:16). They constantly struggle against the world-forces of this present darkness (Eph. 6:12). To the very end, the world-system lies in the grip of the evil one (1 John 5:19). Always and everywhere the Church is a light shining in the deepening darkness of the world-system (Matt. 5:14; John 1:5; Phil. 2:15). Her ongoing experience is one of Great Tribulation (Rev. 7:14). She is constantly making a hard pilgrimage through the wilderness of a hostile world (Rev. 12:6, 13-17). The Last Battle is simply the final and most extreme engagement of this perennial war. Where, in all of this, is there room for a Golden Era of peace, righteousness, and prosperity?

View of OTKP

Postmillennarians argue that many OTKP’s predict a global triumph of the Gospel in the Era of Proclamation (see Psalms 72, 110; Is. 2:1-4, 45:2-3, 65:17-25; Mic. 4:1-3; Zech. 9:10, etc.). But here we encounter some serious confusion. Yes, postmillennarians are correct when they assert that these prophecies are fulfilled under the New Covenant, and that we must therefore interpret them typologically and figuratively. But they err when they assert that the prophecies are largely fulfilled in the Era of Proclamation, and not at all in the World to Come.

The truth here is nuanced, and accessible only through a careful use of the DNT and the NCH. The DNT always depicts the Kingdom of the Son as a temporary season of partial Gospel success leading up to the Consummation, and the Kingdom of the Father as an eternal season of complete success following the removal of all evil at the Consummation. Under the discipline of this rubric we will understand OTKP’s prophecies well. Apart from it we will will stumble into error, false optimism, and deep disappointment.

Let us apply this principle to a text that is especially dear to the hearts of our postmillennial brothers. In Psalm 72, the writer (likely David) supplies his fellow Israelites with a coronation prayer that they can offer to God in behalf of Solomon and his royal successors. In so doing he gives the world a picture of Israel’s ideal king, and of the blessings that will attend his reign. Premillennarians say that here David is describing the fruits of a millennial era that will begin after Christ’s return. Postmillennarians say he is describing the fruits of a Golden Era that will occur before his return. Amillennarians, operating under the discipline of the DNT, say he is describing the fruits of Christ’s heavenly reign during the Era of Proclamation, at the Consummation, and throughout the eternal World to Come. They understand that the mystery of the two-staged Kingdom was hidden from the Psalmist’s eyes, with the result that the latter gives us a seamless vision of the total fruitage of the Messiah’s promised reign.

With the help of the NCH we can see exactly how the vision is fulfilled. For example, we can see that even now the heavenly King defends the cause of the poor (v. 4; Matt. 5:3; 1 Cor. 1:26–30). Even now he gives deliverance to the oppressed and needy (vv. 4, 12; Eph. 2:1–10; 1 Thess. 1:10; Titus 3:3–7). Even now, to his spiritually thirsty people, he is like showers that water the earth (v. 6; Acts 3:19; 1 Cor. 12:13; Phil. 1:19). Even now, through the faithful preaching of the Gospel, his far-flung dominion is spreading from sea to sea, and to all the ends of the earth (v. 8; Matt. 13:33; Acts 1:8; Col. 1:23).

However, this psalm also anticipates the Consummation, as well as the eternal stage of the Kingdom that will follow. At his return, the King’s enemies will lick the dust (v. 9; Luke 19:27), all the rulers of the earth will fall down before him (v. 11; Phil. 2:10), and every remaining oppressor, including death itself, will be crushed (vv. 4, 14; Rom. 16:20; 1 Cor. 15:25). Then, in the completed Kingdom that he himself has ushered in, the mountains will bring forth perfect prosperity (v. 3; Heb. 12:18–24; Rev. 21:10), the peoples will flourish like the grass of the field (v. 16; Rev. 22:2), the saints will praise his name forever (v. 17; Heb. 13:15), and all the nations of the saved will call him blessed (v. 17; Rev. 5:6–14). Long shall he live, and long shall his redeemed Bride and Family live with him in the eternal Kingdom of God (vv. 14, 15; Rev. 1:18; 21:3–4).

It is not that OTKPs cannot be understood to promise a Golden Era of Gospel prosperity; it is that the DNT requires us to interpret them otherwise. The OT does indeed promise a universal reign of Israel’s Messiah and Israel’s God. But that reign will overspread the earth in part through the preaching of the Gospel, and then in fullness at the Lord’s return. In that day the OT prophets themselves will rejoice, for the Golden Age of Israel’s ideal King will have come at last.

View of the Revelation

As a rule, postmillennarians teach that the events described in Revelation 20 follow those described in Revelation 19:11–21. But since Revelation 20:7–15 clearly speaks of the Consummation, postmillennarians conclude that Revelation 19:11–21 must be speaking of something else. According to certain preterists, it is the providential “judgment-coming” of the Lord in AD 70, when Titus destroyed Jerusalem. Loraine Boettner argues that this text is giving us “. . . a vision setting forth in figurative language the age-long struggle between the forces of good and the forces of evil in the world, with its promise of complete victory.” In other words, Revelation 19 is giving us Christ winning a fair measure of Gospel success during the first stage of the Kingdom of the Son, which, in time, will lead to a special binding of Satan, which in turn will inaugurate a millennial era of extraordinary Gospel success (Rev. 20:1–3).

In that day, say the postmillennarians, the world will experience “the first resurrection.” That is, it will experience a “. . . restoration and vindication of the cause for which the martyrs died” (John Jefferson Davis) and “a rebirth of the martyr spirit” (Augustus Strong). Accordingly, vast numbers of millennial saints, now fully subject to the Spirit of Christ, will reign in victory over sin on a peaceful and prosperous earth (Rev. 20:4–6). Yes, at the close of the Millennium this global triumph will seem, for the briefest of moments, to end in defeat, as Satan is released from his prison and gathers multitudes against the faithful people of God. But at his Parousia, Christ will swiftly intervene to destroy his enemies (Rev. 20:7–10). This will lead to the Last Judgment (Rev. 20:12–15), which in turn will lead to the advent of the new heavens and the new earth (Rev. 21–22).

But again, the DNT does not support this teaching. As we have seen, Revelation 20 runs parallel to Revelation 17–19, and does not follow it chronologically.¹ Revelation 19:11–21 most certainly does give us the Parousia, as do Revelation 6:12–17, 11:11–19, 14:14–20, and 20:10–15. The binding of Satan took place at the beginning of the Era of Proclamation, through Christ’s work on the cross. It is not still future, even to us who live 2,000 years into that era (Matt. 12:29; John 12:31; Col. 2:15; 1 Peter 3:22; Rev. 12:7–12)! The first resurrection is not a revival of the martyr’s cause or spirit, but rather the perfection of the spirits of the saints as they enter upon the joys of the Intermediate State (Rev. 14:13). And finally, the millennial reign of the saints does not take place on the earth, but rather in Heaven, where the spirits of the saints reign in life with Christ, even as they await the final triumph of life in Christ: the resurrection of their bodies at the Parousia of the High King (Rom. 5:17; 1 Cor. 15:1–58; Rev. 20:11–15).

View of the Consummation

Fundamentally, the postmillennial view of the Consummation is sound, since it looks for a single Consummation at the Parousia of Christ. There are, however, some weighty problems.

First, many postmillennarians anticipate a latter-day conversion of ethnic Israel prior to the Golden Era of Gospel success. But this is not the teaching of the DNT, which, by my lights, looks for Israel’s conversion near the end of the Millennium; that is, near the end of the Era of Proclamation. Here the postmillennial error is of real concern, since it robs the Church of an important sign of the imminence of the Parousia: the grafting of (many) ethnic Jews back into the vine of Christ, after which we may soon expect “life from the dead” (Rom. 11:15).

Secondly, Postmillennialism vitiates biblical teaching about the Last Battle. Yes, postmillennarians confess that a Last Battle will occur just prior to the Parousia. But by placing it on the far side of their Golden Era, they leave the Church looking first for a Golden Era (that will not come), and only then for a Last Battle (which, for postmillennarians, will come all too soon). Thus, Postmillennialism cuts the nerve of NT teaching, which warns that the Last Battle can swiftly fall upon the Church, and that she must always be ready for it (Mark 13:37; 2 Thess. 2:1–10; Rev. 16:15). It leaves a naively optimistic Church vulnerable to the shock of the sudden rise of the Antichrist, and to all the spiritual disillusionment that must flow from such a disappointment. These dire consequences are rooted in Postmillennialism’s failure to see that the entire Era of Proclamation is a season of Gospel combat, conflict, and “great tribulation” (Rev. 7:14).

Finally, Postmillennialism tends to trivialize the Last Battle and the Judgment. Both are solemn events that will engulf huge swaths of humanity. Postmillennialism pictures the Last Battle as an unfortunate ripple upon a sea of millennial bliss. Similarly, it minimizes the gravity of the Judgment by implying that in virtue of the Golden Era of Gospel progress, relatively few souls will be lost.

On both counts the DNT disagrees. Our Lord said that throughout the Church Era, and especially at its end, his disciples will be hated by all nations (Matt. 10:16–25; 24:9). John relates that the number of those who will wage war against the eschatological camp and city of the saints will be “like the sands of the seashore” (Rev. 20:8). As for the ratio of the saved to the lost, we are unwise to engage in speculation (Luke 13:22–30). Nevertheless, it is sobering to recall that wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and that many go in by it (Matt. 7:13; 13:24–30, 36–43); that Christ refers to his Church as “a little flock” (Luke 12:32); and that those who will follow him upon the slopes of the eternal Zion are the first fruits (i.e., the smaller part) of the total harvest of God and the Lamb (Matt. 3:11–12; 13:36–43; James 1:18; Rev. 14:1–4, 14–20). We find, then, that despite its welcome nod to orthodoxy, Postmillennialism gives us a marred and potentially harmful view of the Consummation.

Conclusion

Certainly we can be grateful when our postmillennarian brethren remind us that God has promised to redeem a great multitude of believers out of every tribe, tongue, people and nation (Rev. 5:9; 7:9). And certainly we can join them in affirming that the advance of Christ’s Kingdom will leaven the evil world system in such a way as to have positive impacts on its various institutions, whether cultural, political, or economic (Matt. 5:13–16). By all means, then, let individual Christians serve the Lord in every legitimate sphere of life; let them speak prophetically to the powers that be, urging full conformity to the law of God; and let them be grateful for whatever temporal good their presence may accomplish, whether great or small (John 17:15).

In the end, however, they are wise to view Postmillennialism as a seriously flawed eschatology. As we have seen, it misconstrues the primary purpose of God for the Era of Gospel Proclamation, which is not to Christianize the Domain of Darkness, but rather to rescue a chosen people out of it, and to transfer them into the Kingdom of his beloved Son (Gal. 1:4; Col. 1:13). Its unbiblical doctrine of a Golden Era bleeds into its interpretation of OTKP, distorting the true sense of these precious OT texts. And the same is true concerning the Revelation. But above all, Postmillennialism distorts the believer’s Blessed Hope, focusing it upon an illusory stage of Church history, rather than upon the true signs of the times and the Consummation at Christ’s return (Titus 2:13; 1 Peter 1:13).²

For all these reasons I would urge my postmillennial brethren to come home to your spiritual birth mother: the amillennial eschatology of the classic Reformation. Truly, she has prepared her table well, and is eager to forgive, forget, and savor all good things with her beloved sons.³

Notes:

1. To view a chart giving the structure of the Revelation, click here.
2. For a discussion of the Consummation and the signs preceding it, click here.
3. For an in-depth and up-to-date critique of Postmillennialism, see this outstanding article by Jeremy Sexton.

Published: 9 February 2017

Written by Dean Davis

No comments

Prologue

1 Seeing that many have undertaken to compose a written account of the things that have been fulfilled¹ among us— ²accounts like the ones handed down to us by those who were eyewitnesses and servants of the word from the beginning— ³it seemed good to me as well, most excellent Theophilus, having closely followed all things from the very start, to write an orderly account for you, ⁴so that you may enjoy² complete certainty about the matters in which you were instructed.

Good News for Zacharias

⁵In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a certain priest by the name of Zacharias, who belonged to the division of Abijah; and he had a wife by the name of Elizabeth, whose descent was from the daughters of Aaron. ⁶Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. ⁷But they had no child, for Elizabeth was barren; and they both were well along in years.

⁸Now during the time when Zacharias’ division was on duty, while he was performing his priestly service before God, ⁹it so happened that in accordance with the custom of the priesthood he was chosen by lot to enter the Holy Place³ of the Lord and burn incense; ¹⁰and during the hour when the incense was being offered, the entire assembly of the people was outside, praying.

¹¹At that time an angel of the Lord appeared to Zacharias, standing on the right side of the altar of incense; ¹²and when Zacharias saw him, he was deeply distressed, and great fear fell upon him. ¹³But the angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer has been heard: Your wife Elizabeth is going to give you a son, and you are to call him John. ¹⁴He⁴ will be a joy and a delight to you. Indeed, many will rejoice at his birth, ¹⁵for he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and will never partake of wine or strong drink, but will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. ¹⁶He will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God:¹⁷ and he will go before them in the spirit and power of Elijah, turning the hearts of the fathers back to the children,⁵and those who are disobedient back to the wisdom of the righteous, in order to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

A Doubter Silenced

¹⁸But Zacharias said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this, since I am an old man and my wife is well along in years?” ¹⁹So the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in waiting in the presence of God; and I have been sent to speak with you and bring you this good news. ²⁰But behold: Now you will be silent, unable to speak until the day these things take place, for you did not believe my words, which will surely be fulfilled at their appointed time.”

²¹Now the people outside were waiting for Zacharias, wondering why he lingered so long in the Holy Place. ²² And when he finally did come out, he was unable to speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the Holy Place, for⁶ he kept using gestures to communicate with them, but remained unable to speak. ²³And when the days of his priestly service were complete, he departed for his own home.

²⁴Now after those days, Zacharias’ wife Elizabeth conceived; and for five months she kept herself in seclusion, saying, ²⁵“This is what the Lord has done for me in a time when he looked on me with favor in order to remove my disgrace from among the people.”⁷

The Annunciation

²⁶Now in the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee called Nazareth, ²⁷to a virgin betrothed to a man of the house of David whose name was Joseph. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸And when he had entered the house, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” ²⁹But she was troubled by his words, and began to ponder in her heart what such a greeting might mean. ³⁰Then the angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ³¹Behold, you will conceive a child in your womb, and will give birth to a son; and you will name him Jesus. ³²He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, ³³ and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom⁸ there will be no end.”

³⁴Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have never known⁹ a man?” ³⁵So the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for this reason the holy offspring will be called the Son of God.¹⁰ ³⁶And behold, Elizabeth, your blood relative, has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month of pregnancy for her who was called barren. ³⁷For nothing shall be impossible with God.”¹¹ ³⁸Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord. May it be to me just as you have said.” And the angel departed from her.

Two Mothers Meet

³⁹Now in those days Mary rose up and went in haste to the hill country, to a town of Judah; ⁴⁰and she entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹And when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, it came about that the baby leaped in her womb, and that Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. ⁴²Then, with a loud cry, Elizabeth exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! ⁴³And who am I that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴For listen: No sooner did the sound of your greeting reach my ears, than the baby leaped in my womb for joy! ⁴⁵And blessed is she who believed that¹² what was spoken to her by the Lord would indeed be fulfilled.”

The Magnificat

⁴⁶And Mary said:
“My soul declares the greatness of the Lord,
⁴⁷and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,
⁴⁸for he has looked with favor on the humble state of his maidservant; for behold, from this time forth all generations will call me blessed,
⁴⁹for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
⁵⁰From generation to generation his mercy is on those who fear him.
⁵¹He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the inmost thoughts of their hearts;
⁵²he has brought down the mighty from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly.
⁵³He has filled the hungry with good things, and sent away the rich empty-handed.
⁵⁴In remembrance of his mercy he has given help to his servant Israel,
⁵⁵just as he promised¹³ to our fathers, to Abraham and his seed forever.”

⁵⁶So Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months, and then returned to her home.

The Birth of John

⁵⁷Now the time for Elizabeth to give birth arrived, and she brought forth a son. ⁵⁸And when her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her, they rejoiced with her. ⁵⁹Then, on the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child; and they were about to name him Zacharias, after his father. ⁶⁰But his mother answered, saying, “No, he must be called John.” ⁶¹They said to her, “None of your relatives are called by that name.” ⁶²Then they motioned towards the child’s father, inquiring as to what he wanted his son to be called. ⁶³So when he had asked for a tablet, Zacharias wrote down: “His name is John.” And they all were amazed. ⁶⁴Moreover, Zacharias’ mouth was suddenly opened, and his tongue freed; and he began to speak out, praising God! ⁶⁵Then fear fell on all their neighbors; and throughout the entire hill country of Judea people were discussing all these events. ⁶⁶And everyone who heard about them treasured them up in their hearts, saying to themselves, “What then will this child turn out to be?” For truly, the hand of the Lord was with him.

The Prophecy of Zacharias

⁶⁷As for Zacharias, he was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying:
⁶⁸“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited his people and accomplished redemption in their behalf;
⁶⁹He has raised up for us a horn of salvation in the house of his servant David,
⁷⁰just as he told us long ages ago through the mouth of his holy prophets:
⁷¹Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us!
⁷²He has done this to show mercy to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant,
⁷³the oath that he swore to our father Abraham,
⁷⁴to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might live without fear,
⁷⁵serving before him in holiness and righteousness all the days of our life.
⁷⁶And you, my child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the presence¹⁴ of the Lord in order to prepare his ways,
⁷⁷to give his people the knowledge of salvation through¹⁵ the forgiveness of their sins,
⁷⁸ all because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise from on high shall visit us,
⁷⁹to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

⁸⁰And the child continued to grow and become strong in spirit; and he was in the deserts until the day of his public presentation to Israel.

Notes

Or on which there is full conviction
Or experience; lit. know
Or temple, sanctuary
Or This, It
Mal. 4:5-6
Lit. and
Lit. Thus has the Lord done to me in (the) days he looked upon (me) to remove my disgrace among men
Or dominion
Lit. do not know
Or the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God; lit. the One having been born holy will be called Son of God
Or no word of God shall be devoid of power
Or believed, because
Lit. spoke
Many mss face
Lit. by

The Birth of Christ

2 Now in those days a decree went forth from Caesar Augustus, declaring that the entire Roman empire¹ must be registered for taxation. ²(This first registration began^2,3 while Quirinius was governing Syria.) ³So everyone set out to be registered, each to his own home town. ⁴And Joseph too went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David (which is called Bethlehem), because he belonged to the house and family line of David. ⁵He did so in order to be registered together with Mary, who was betrothed to him, and who was now with child. ⁶And while they were there, the time arrived⁴ for her to give birth. ⁷So she gave birth to her firstborn son, wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, for there was no room for them at the inn.

The Angel’s Song of Praise

⁸Now in that same region there were shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone all around them; and they were terribly afraid. ¹⁰But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid; for behold, I am bringing you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people; ¹¹for this very day, in the city of David, there is born for you a savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹²And this is the sign appointed for you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” ¹³Then, together with the angel, there suddenly appeared a vast assembly of the army of heaven, praising God and saying, ¹⁴“Glory to God in the highest place, and on earth, peace to those whom he is pleased to bless.”⁵

A Midnight Visit to the Newborn Christ

¹⁵Now when the angels had departed from them to heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go at once to Bethlehem and see for ourselves this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶So they hurried off and sought out both Mary and Joseph; and they found the baby, lying in a manger. ¹⁷And after they had seen him, they began to spread the news of what they were told⁶ about this little boy; ¹⁸and everyone who heard of it was amazed at the things the shepherds told them. ¹⁹But Mary hid these matters deep within, and continually pondered them in her heart. ²⁰So the shepherds returned to their flock, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were indeed just as they had been told.

The Presentation in the Temple

²¹Now when the eight days required for his circumcision were completed, the child was named Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. ²²And when the days required by the Law of Moses for their purification had been fulfilled, Joseph and Mary brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord ²³(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every first-born male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), ²⁴and to offer a sacrifice according to what was set forth in the Law of the Lord: “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”⁷

Simeon and the Consolation of Israel

²⁵Now in Jerusalem there was a man by the name of Simeon. This man—both righteous and devout—was watching for the Consolation of Israel;⁸ and the Holy Spirit was upon him. ²⁶ Moreover, the Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. ²⁷ So at the prompting of the Spirit, Simeon entered the temple precincts. And when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform for him what was customary according to the Law, ²⁸Simeon took him up in his arms and blessed God, saying, ²⁹“Master, just as you promised,⁹ you are now releasing your servant in peace;³⁰for my eyes have seen your salvation, ³¹which you have prepared in the sight of all peoples: ³²a light of¹⁰ revelation for the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” ³³And the child’s father and mother were amazed at the things he had spoken about him. ³⁴Then Simeon blessed them. And he said to Mary, his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to serve as a sign that will be spoken against—³⁵indeed, a sword will pierce your own soul as well—so that the inmost thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

Anna Testifies of the Redeemer

³⁶ And a certain prophetess was there: Anna,¹¹ the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was quite old now, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity, ³⁷and then as a widow until she was eighty-four; and she never left the temple precincts, but served God night and day with fasting and prayers. ³⁸And coming up to them at that very hour, she gave thanks to God; and she went on to speak of the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

³⁹So when Joseph and Mary had finished performing everything prescribed by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth. ⁴⁰And the child, increasingly filled with wisdom, continued to grow and became strong; and the grace of God was upon him.

The Boy Jesus Teaches the Teachers

⁴¹Now every year Jesus’ parents would go to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover. ⁴²So when he was twelve years old they again went up to Jerusalem in accordance with the custom of the feast. ⁴³But after the feast days were over, while Joseph and Mary were on their way home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. Now his parents were unaware of this. ⁴⁴And so, assuming he was in the caravan, they traveled on for a full day, after which¹² they began to look for him among their relatives and acquaintances; ⁴⁵and when they couldn’t find him, they headed back for Jerusalem in search of him. ⁴⁶Now it happened that after three days they found him in the temple, seated in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions; ⁴⁷and all who heard him were marvelling at his insight and his answers. ⁴⁸But when his parents¹³ saw him, they were shocked and upset. His mother said to him, “Child, why have you treated us like this? You should know that¹⁴ your father and I have been terribly worried, looking for you everywhere.” ⁴⁹But he said to them, “How is it that you had to look¹⁵ for me? Didn’t you understand that I must be involved in my Father’s affairs?”¹⁶ ⁵⁰But they did not understand what he was saying to them. ⁵¹Then he went down from Jerusalem with his parents,¹⁷ and they arrived in Nazareth; and he continued in submission to them both.

Now his mother carefully guarded all these things¹⁸ in her heart. ⁵²Meanwhile, Jesus himself kept on increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Notes

Lit. inhabited world
Or took place
Or This registration first began (to occur)
Lit. it happened that the days were completed
Or with whom he is pleased; lit. among (in) men of (his) good pleasure
Lit. made known the word which was told to them
Ex. 13:2, 12, 15; Lev. 12:8
I.e. the Messiah
Lit. according to your word
Lit. unto, for
Lit. And (also) there was Anna, a prophetess
Lit. and
Lit. they
Lit. Behold
Lit. were looking
Or possibly be in my Father’s house; lit. in (among) the things of my Father
Lit. them
Lit. words, matters

A Voice Crying in the Wilderness

3 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, when Herod was tetrarch of Galilee and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Iturea and Trachonitis, and when Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, ²during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. ³So he traveled throughout¹ the entire region surrounding the Jordan River, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. ⁴As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord!
Straighten out his paths!
⁵Every valley will be filled,
and every mountain and hill brought low;
the crooked ways will become straight,
and the rough roads made smooth;
⁶and all flesh will see the salvation of God.’”²

John’s Message of Repentance

⁷For this reason John would say to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸ Very well then, bring forth fruits worthy of repentance! And don’t begin to say among yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these very stones! ⁹Moreover, the axe is already laid to the root of the trees; therefore every tree that fails to bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

¹⁰So the crowds were continually inquiring of John, asking, “What, then, must we do?” ¹¹In reply he would tell them, “He who has two tunics should give one to the man who has none; and he who has food should do likewise.” ¹²Then some of the tax collectors also came to be baptized; and they said to him, “Teacher, what must we do?” ¹³So he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to receive.”³ ¹⁴ And some of the soldiers inquired of him as well, saying, “What about us; what should we do?” So he said to them, “Don’t intimidate anyone,⁴ bring no false accusations, and be content with your wages.”

John’s Message of Faith

¹⁵Now while the people were waiting in expectation, and while all were weighing in their hearts whether or not John was the Messiah, ¹⁶John himself responded by telling them all, “Yes, I am baptizing you in water; but one who is stronger than I is coming, and I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandal. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire. ¹⁷ His winnowing fork is in his hand, to thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into his barn; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” ¹⁸And so, while exhorting the people on many other matters, John would proclaim the good news to them. ¹⁹But when he reproved Herod the tetrarch concerning Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, and concerning all the other evils he had done, ²⁰Herod added this to⁵ them all: He locked up John in prison.

John Baptizes Jesus

²¹Now when all the people had been baptized, it came about that Jesus too was baptized; and as he was praying, heaven was opened ²²and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove; and a voice came out of heaven: “You are my beloved Son; in you I am well pleased!”

The Genealogy of Jesus Christ

²³ Now when Jesus himself began his ministry, he⁶ was about thirty years old, being (as it was supposed) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli, ²⁴the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, ²⁵the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Hesli, the son of Naggai, ²⁶the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Joseph, the son of Joda, ²⁷the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, ²⁸the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, ²⁹the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, ³⁰the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonan, the son of Eliakim, ³¹the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattathah, the son of Nathan, the son of David, ³²the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, ³³the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, ³⁴the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, ³⁵the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Heber, the son of Shelah, ³⁶the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, ³⁷the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan, ³⁸the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

Notes

Lit. came into
Is. 40:3-5
Lit. than what is appointed to you
Or Extort nothing from anyone
Or on top of, above
Or possibly Now when Jesus began his own ministry, he

Jesus Tested in the Wilderness

4 Then Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River; and for forty days he was led about by the Spirit in the wilderness, ²where he was repeatedly tempted¹ by the devil.

Now during those days Jesus ate nothing at all; and when they were completed, he suffered great hunger. ³So the devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” ⁴But Jesus answered him: “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’”²

⁵Then, taking him up to a high place, the devil showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. ⁶And he said to him, “I will give you this entire domain—and the glory of all these kingdoms³—for it has been handed over to me, and I can give it to anyone I wish. ⁷If then you will kneel in worship before me, all will be yours.” ⁸But Jesus answered and said to him, “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him alone you shall serve.’”⁴

⁹Then the devil led⁵ him up to Jerusalem and had him stand⁶ on the pinnacle of the temple; and he said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here. ¹⁰For it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you, that they must guard you with utmost care,’ ¹¹and, ‘With their hands they will lift you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”⁷ ¹²But in reply Jesus said to him, “It is stated, ‘You shall not force a test on the Lord your God.’”⁸

¹³And when the devil had finished every temptation, he left him, waiting for a favorable time.⁹

A Prophet Without Honor

¹⁴So Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit; and the news of him spread swiftly throughout the entire surrounding region. ¹⁵And he began to teach in their synagogues, and was honored and praised by all.

¹⁶Then he arrived in Nazareth, where he was brought up; and as was his custom, he entered the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up to read. ¹⁷Then they handed him the scroll of the prophet Isaiah; and opening the scroll, he found the place where it was written:

¹⁸“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
for he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor;
he has sent me to proclaim release to the prisoners

and recovery of sight to the blind;
to set at liberty¹⁰ those who are stricken and shattered,
¹⁹and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”¹¹

²⁰ Then Jesus rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened upon him. ²¹ And he began to address them, saying, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” ²²Now all in attendance were speaking well of him, and marvelling at the gracious words that fell from his lips. Yet they kept on saying, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” ²³ So he said to them, “No doubt you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ And you will say, ‘What we’ve heard that you did in Capernaum, do here as well in your own home town.’” ²⁴ But he went on to say, “I tell you the truth: No prophet is accepted in his hometown. ²⁵But I also tell you truly that there were many widows in Israel during the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months, and when a great famine covered the whole land; ²⁶ yet Elijah was sent to none of them, except to a woman—a widow—who lived in Zarephath, in the land of Sidon. ²⁷Moreover, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet none of them was cleansed except Naaman, the Syrian.” ²⁸Now when they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. ²⁹ So rising up, they forced him out of the city and were taking him towards the brow of the hill on which their city was built, so that they could throw him off the cliff. ³⁰ But passing safely through their midst, he went his way.

A Teaching with Power³¹Then Jesus went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee; and on the Sabbath days he began to instruct them. ³²And they were amazed at his teaching, because his word was spoken with authority. ³³Now in the synagogue there was a man who had an unclean spirit, a demon.¹² And the demon cried out with a loud voice, ³⁴saying, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God!” ³⁵But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet and come out of him!” So when the demon had thrown him down into their midst, it came out of him, doing him no harm. ³⁶Then wonder and amazement fell on them all, and they began to converse with one another, saying, “What is this new teaching?¹³ For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!” ³⁷So the news of him spread to every place in the surrounding region.

Healings in Capernaum

³⁸Now after Jesus got up and departed from the synagogue, he entered Simon’s house. And Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever; so they asked him to minister to her.¹⁴ ³⁹Then, standing over her, he rebuked the fever and it left her; and immediately she got up and began to serve them.

⁴⁰And while the sun was setting, all who had friends or relatives¹⁵ who were afflicted with various diseases brought them to him; and laying his hands on each one of them, he would heal them. ⁴¹Moreover, demons were coming out of many among them, crying,¹⁶ “You are the Son of God!” But Jesus rebuked the demons and would not allow them to speak, for they knew he was the Messiah.

Proclaiming the Kingdom Throughout Judea

⁴²Now at the break of day Jesus left the city and went to an isolated place. But the crowds kept looking for him; and when they finally came to the place where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. ⁴³But he said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities as well, for that is why I was sent.” ⁴⁴So he began to preach in the synagogues of Judea.¹⁷

Notes

Lit. being tempted (tested)
Deut. 8:3
Lit. and their glory
Deut. 6:13
Or brought
Or stood [him]
Ps. 91:11-12
Deut. 6:16
Lit. until a favorable (opportune) time
Lit. to set free by release (pardon)
Is. 61:1-2
Lit. a spirit of an unclean demon
Or What a teaching this is! Or What’s happening here?
Lit. they asked concerning her
Lit. who had any
Lit. crying out and saying
Some mss Galilee; others, land of the Jews

Four Fishermen Called

5 Now while he was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, Jesus happened ²to notice two boats lying at the water’s edge (the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets). ³Stepping into one of the boats (it was Simon’s), he asked him to put out a little from the shore; then he sat down and began teaching the crowds from the boat.

⁴When he was finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” ⁵In reply Simon said, “Master, we’ve toiled all night long and caught nothing; nevertheless, at your word I’ll let down the nets.” ⁶And once they had done so, they enclosed such a great number of fish that their nets began to break! ⁷ Then they motioned to their partners in the other boat, signaling that they should come over and help them. So they came over, and the men so completely filled both of the boats that the boats began to sink. ⁸Now when Simon Peter saw all this, he fell down at Jesus’ knees and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” ⁹For utter amazement had taken hold of Simon and all his companions due to the catch of fish they had just hauled in; ¹⁰and the same was true for James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. But Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” ¹¹And once they had brought their boats to land, they left everything behind and followed him.

A Leper Cleansed

¹²Now while Jesus was spending time in one of the towns, he happened upon a man who was full of leprosy;¹ and when the man saw Jesus, he bowed his face to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” ¹³So stretching out his hand, Jesus touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And at once the leprosy left him. ¹⁴Then Jesus commanded him, “Tell no one about this, but go, show yourself to the priest and present an offering for your cleansing, just as Moses instructed; this will serve as a testimony to them.” ¹⁵But more than ever the news about Jesus² spread throughout that region; and great crowds gathered together, both to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. ¹⁶But Jesus himself would often withdraw to isolated places and pray.

A Paralytic Healed

¹⁷Now on one of those days, while Jesus was teaching, it so happened that certain Pharisees and teachers of the Law were sitting nearby (they had come from every town of Galilee and Judea, and also from Jerusalem). And the power of the Lord was present with him to heal. ¹⁸Suddenly a number of men appeared,³ carrying a paralytic on a makeshift bed; and they were trying to bring him into the house and set him before Jesus. ¹⁹But finding no way to do so because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and then lowered the man and his bed down through the tiles into the midst of the people inside,⁴ and in front of Jesus. ²⁰Now when he saw their faith, he said to him, “Friend,⁵ your sins are forgiven you.” ²¹So the scribes and the Pharisees began thinking to themselves⁶ “Who is this who utters blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” ²²But when Jesus discerned their thoughts, he responded by saying to them, “Why are you raising questions⁷ in your hearts? ²³Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and walk’? ²⁴But so that you may know the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—and then he spoke to the paralytic—“I say to you, arise, pick up your bed, and go back to your house.” ²⁵And at that very moment the paralytic got up in front of them, picked up the stretcher he was lying on, and left for his own house, glorifying God. ²⁶ Then utter amazement gripped them all, and they too began glorifying God; and they were filled with fear,⁸ saying, “Today we’ve seen things beyond belief!”

A Tax Collector Called

²⁷After this Jesus went out and noticed a certain tax collector by the name of Levi, who was sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, “Follow me.” ²⁸And leaving everything behind, he got up and began to follow him.

²⁹Then Levi prepared a great banquet for Jesus in his own home; and a large company of tax collectors and other outsiders were reclining at the table with them. ³⁰So the Pharisees and their scribes complained to Jesus’ disciples, saying, “Why are you men eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?” ³¹But in reply Jesus said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, only⁹ those who are sick. ³²I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Fasting, Fabric, and Wine

³³Then they said to him, “The disciples of John regularly fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees; but yours are always eating and drinking!” ³⁴But Jesus said to them, “Would you have the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is still with them? ³⁵But the days are coming when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then, in those days, they will fast.” ³⁶He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece of fabric from a new garment and sews it onto an old one; otherwise he will damage¹⁰ the new, and the piece taken from the new will not match the old. ³⁷And no one pours new wine into old wineskins; if he does, the new wine will burst the skins and be spilled, and the skins will be ruined. ³⁸Rather, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. ³⁹Moreover, no one who has drunk old wine desires new; for he says, ‘The old is good enough.’ ”

Notes

Lit. towns, behold, a man full of leprosy!
Lit. him
Lit. And behold, men
Or the room
Lit. Man
Lit. began to reason, saying
Or objections; lit. reasoning
Or awe
Lit. but, rather
Lit. tear

Lord of the Sabbath

6 Now on a certain Sabbath day Jesus happened to be walking through some grain fields; and his disciples were picking the heads of wheat, rubbing them in their hands, and eating them. ²So some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” ³In reply Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you even read this, what David did when he was hungry, both he and the men who were with him: ⁴how he entered the house of God, and how he took and ate the consecrated bread, which is unlawful for anyone to eat except the priests; and how he gave some to his companions?” ⁵Then he said to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

A Sabbath Healing

⁶On yet another Sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and began to teach. And in that place there was a man whose right hand was deformed and paralyzed. ⁷So the scribes and Pharisees, trying to find grounds for accusing him, were watching Jesus closely to see if he would perform a healing on the Sabbath. ⁸But he knew their thoughts. So he said to the man with the deformed hand, “Get up and stand here in the midst of the people.” So he got up and stood before them. ⁹Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or evil, to save a life or destroy it?” ¹⁰And when he had looked around at them all, he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand!” And the man did so; and his hand was immediately restored to its former health. ¹¹But the scribes and Pharisees¹ were beside themselves with rage;² and they began discussing among themselves what they might do to Jesus.

The Calling of the Twelve

¹²Now at that time Jesus departed into a mountain to pray; and there he spent the entire night in prayer to God. ¹³And when morning arrived, he called for his disciples and chose from among them twelve men whom he also named apostles: ¹⁴Simon, whom he also named Peter, and his brother, Andrew; James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, ¹⁵Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon who was called the Zealot, and ¹⁶Judas the son of James and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

Power Flowing Forth

¹⁷ Now when he had come down from the mountain with them, he stood on a level place. And a large crowd of his disciples was gathered there, together with a great multitude of people from all parts of Judea, Jerusalem, and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon. These all had come to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; ¹⁸and³ those who were troubled by unclean spirits were also being restored to health. ¹⁹So the whole crowd was trying to touch him, for power was flowing out of him and healing⁴ them all.

Blessing and Woe

²⁰Now when he had lifted up his eyes towards his disciples, he began to teach,:

“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. ²¹Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. ²²Blessed are you when men hate you; and when they exclude you, hurl insults at you, and banish your name as though it were evil, all because of the Son of Man. ²³In that day be exceedingly glad and leap for joy; for behold, your reward in heaven is great, for their fathers did the same things⁵ to the prophets.

²⁴“But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort in full. ²⁵Woe to you who are satisfied, for you will hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. ²⁶Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers did the same to the false prophets.

On the Love of Enemies

²⁷“But to you who are listening,⁶ I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ²⁸bless those who curse you, and pray for those who abuse and mistreat you. ²⁹To the man who strikes you on one⁷ cheek, offer the other as well. And from the man who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic.⁸ ³⁰Give to everyone who asks of you; and from the man who takes away your belongings, do not demand them back. ³¹Just as you would have men do for you, so also you must do for them.

³²“Now if you love those who love you, what thanks or reward do you deserve?⁹ For even sinners love those who love them. ³³And if you do good to those who do good to you, what compensation is rightfully yours; for even sinners do that? ³⁴And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what thanks or reward should you receive? For even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be paid back in full. ³⁵But as for you: Love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return.¹⁰ Then your reward will be great, and you will show yourselves¹¹ sons of the Most High; for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the immoral. ³⁶You, then, must be¹² merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

On Passing Judgment

³⁷“Also, do not pass judgment, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. ³⁸Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over—will be poured out into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you in return.”

³⁹And he also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? ⁴⁰A disciple is not above his teacher; however, once he is fully trained, a disciple will be like his teacher. ⁴¹And why do you gaze at the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to notice the beam in your own? ⁴² Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck that’s in your eye,’ when you yourself do not perceive the beam that’s in your own? Hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you will see clearly enough to remove the speck in your brother’s.

A Tree and Its Fruit

⁴³“For no good tree bears bad fruit; nor again does any bad tree bear good fruit—⁴⁴for every tree is known by its own fruit. For men never gather figs from a briar, nor do they harvest grapes from a bramble. ⁴⁵The good man, out of the good treasure stored up in his heart,¹³ brings forth what is good; and the evil man, out of the evil in his heart, brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.

Hear, Do, and Build

⁴⁶“And why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ but fail to act on the things I say? ⁴⁷Everyone who comes to me, hears my words, and acts on them,¹⁴ I will show you what¹⁵ he is like: ⁴⁸He is like a man building a house, a man who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. Now when a flood arose, the river broke against that house but couldn’t shake it, for the house was well built. ⁴⁹But he who has heard my words and not acted on them is like a man who built his house on the ground with no foundation. When the river burst against it, it instantly fell; and great was the ruin of that house.”

Notes

Lit. they
Lit. filled with mindless (foolish) rage
Or even
Or and he was healing
Lit. according to these things
Or hear (me)
Lit. the
I.e. undergarment
Lit. what sort of grace belongs to you? (also vs. 33, 34)
Or in no way despairing
Lit. you will be
Or become
Lit. of his heart
Lit. does them
Or whom

A Centurion’s Amazing Faith

7 After Jesus had fully delivered¹ all his teachings in the hearing of² the people, he went to Capernaum. ²Now in that city there was a centurion whose servant was sick and at the point of death; and the centurion held him in high regard. ³So when he heard about Jesus, he sent some of the Jewish elders to him, requesting³ that he come and heal his servant. ⁴ And when they had drawn near to Jesus, the elders besought him with great fervor, saying, “This man⁴ is worthy to have you do this for him, ⁵for he loves our nation; indeed, he is the one who built us our synagogue!” ⁶So Jesus headed off with them. But no sooner had he drawn near the house than the centurion sent out some of his friends, saying to him, “Sir, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; ⁷and this also is why I did not think it fitting to come to you in person. But simply say the word,⁵ and my beloved servant⁶ will be healed. ⁸For I too am a man under authority, and a man with soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” ⁹Now when Jesus heard these words, he stood amazed at the centurion. And when he had turned around, he said to the crowd following him, “I say to you, not even in Israel have I found so great a faith!” ¹⁰And when the men who had been sent to Jesus returned to the centurion’s house, they found the servant in perfect health.

A Son Raised, a Family Restored

¹¹Soon after this Jesus went on to a city called Nain; and his disciples went with him, together with a large crowd. ¹²Now as he drew near to the city gate, he suddenly noticed that a man who had died was being carried out for burial, the only son of his mother (who was a widow); and a large crowd from the city was keeping company with her. ¹³Now when the Lord saw her, he was moved with compassion for her. So he said to her, “Weep no more.” ¹⁴Then he came up and touched the bier, and when he did so, the men who were carrying it stood still. Then Jesus said, “Young man, I say to you, arise!” ¹⁵And the man who had died sat up and began to speak; and Jesus gave him back to his mother. ¹⁶Then fear took hold of them all; and they began to glorify God, saying, “A great prophet has risen up in our midst!” and “God has looked upon his people!” ¹⁷And this report about Jesus went out into all Judea and the entire surrounding region.

John’s Faltering Faith

¹⁸Now John’s disciples brought him word of all these things. ¹⁹So after calling for two of his disciples, he sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the Coming One, or should we look for another?” ²⁰ And when the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptizer sent us to ask you,⁷ ‘Are you the Coming One, or should we look for another?’” ²¹Now in that very hour Jesus healed many people of various diseases, afflictions, and evil spirits; and he also granted sight to many who were blind. ²²Then, in response to the disciples’ question, he said, “Go and report the things you’ve seen and heard to John: how the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news prolcaimed to them.⁸ ²³And blessed is the man who does not stumble over me!”

²⁴Now when the messengers from John had gone their way, Jesus began speaking to the crowds about John. “What did you go out into the desert to observe and consider? A reed shaken by the wind? ²⁵But if not that, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? But look around:⁹ Those who are elegantly dressed and live in luxury are only found in royal courts. ²⁶But what then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ²⁷For this is he of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I am sending my messenger before your face; he will prepare your way before you.’¹⁰ ²⁸ And I tell you this: Among those born of women there is none greater than John. Nevertheless, he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

²⁹Now when all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they acknowledged God’s righteous judgment,¹¹ for they all had been baptized with the baptism of John. ³⁰But the Pharisees and the experts in Jewish law had rejected God’s purpose for their lives, refusing to be baptized by John.¹²

³¹ And Jesus said, “With what then shall I compare the men of this generation, and what are they like? ³²They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to one another, saying: ‘We played the flute for you, but you wouldn’t dance; we mourned with lamentation, but you wouldn’t weep.’ ³³For John the Baptizer has come, eating no bread and drinking no wine; and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ ³⁴The Son of Man has come, eating bread and drinking wine; and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ ³⁵But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”

Forgiven Much, Loving Much

³⁶Then one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to dine with him; so Jesus entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. ³⁷Now in that city there was a woman who had lived a sinful life; and when she learned that Jesus was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought in an alabaster jar filled with perfumed ointment. ³⁸And standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to water his feet with her tears; and she kept wiping them with the hairs of her head, kissing them, and anointing them with the ointment. ³⁹Now when the Pharisee who had invited Jesus¹³ to dinner saw this, he said to himself, “If this man really were a prophet, he would know who this is, and what kind of woman is touching him. He would know that she is a sinner.”

⁴⁰But in response Jesus said to him: “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Teacher,” he replied, “say it.” ⁴¹“There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One of them owed him five hundred denarii, and the other owed fifty. ⁴²But since they had nothing with which to repay him, he graciously forgave them both. Tell me then: Which of the debtors will love him most?” ⁴³Simon answered, “I suppose the one to whom he forgave the greater debt.” Jesus said to him, “You have judged correctly.” ⁴⁴Then, turning to the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house and you gave me no water for my feet; but she has continually washed my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. ⁴⁵You didn’t greet me with a kiss; but from the time I came in, she hasn’t stopped kissing my feet. ⁴⁶You didn’t anoint my head with oil; but here she is, continually anointing my feet with fragrant ointment. ⁴⁷Therefore I say to you: Her sins, which are many, have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little, loves little.” ⁴⁸ And Jesus said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.” ⁴⁹Then those who were reclining at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this that even forgives sins?” ⁵⁰But Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

Notes

Lit. fulfilled, completed
Lit. into the ears of
Or beseeching
Lit. He
Lit. say with a word
Or child, boy
Lit. sent us to you, saying
See Is. 61:1f
Lit. Behold!
Mal. 3:1
Lit. declared God’s righteousness
Lit. not having been baptized by him
Lit. him

Women Support the Work

8 Soon after this, Jesus began traveling from city to city and village to village, publicly proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve apostles were with him, ²as well as certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and various infirmities. They included Mary (the one called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had been expelled), ³Joanna (the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager¹), Susanna, and many others who were continually ministering to their² needs out of their own resources.

The Parable of the Sower

⁴Now while a large crowd was gathering around, and while people from town after town were making their way to him, Jesus spoke to them by way of a parable: ⁵“A³ sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some of the seed fell beside the path and was trampled, after which the wild birds⁴ came and completely devoured it. ⁶Other seed fell on rocky ground; but as soon as it sprang up, it withered away for lack of moisture. ⁷Other seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and crowded out⁵the plants. ⁸But other seed fell into good ground, sprang up, and produced a crop, a hundredfold.” And as he spoke these words, he cried out: “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

⁹Then his disciples began to question him about the meaning of this parable. ¹⁰So he said to them, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God; but to the rest they come in parables, so that seeing, they may not see, and hearing, they may not understand.⁶

¹¹“Now this is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. ¹²Those beside the path are the ones who hear, but then the devil comes and takes the word from their hearts, so that they cannot believe and be saved. ¹³Those on the rocky ground are the ones who hear the word and receive it with joy, but they develop⁷ no root; they believe for a season, but in the time of testing they fall away. ¹⁴As for the seed that fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard the word, but as they go their way they are overcome⁸ by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and therefore bring no fruit to maturity. ¹⁵But as for the seed that landed on good ground, these are the ones who hear the word in an honest and good heart, take hold of it,⁹ and bring forth fruit with patience and endurance.

Hearing the Word, Displaying the Light

¹⁶“No one lights a candle or an oil lamp, and then covers it with a clay pot, or places it under a bed. Instead, he sets it out on a lampstand so that those who enter the room can see the light. ¹⁷For nothing is hidden that will not be disclosed, nor is anything kept secret that will not be made known and come to light. ¹⁸So take care how you hear; for whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him.”

Jesus’ True Family

¹⁹Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came to him; but they could not get near him because of the crowd. ²⁰So someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you.” ²¹But he answered and said to them, “My mother and my brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it!”

Lord of Sea and Storm

²²Now on one of those days it came about that Jesus stepped into a boat with his disciples and said to them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.” So they headed out; ²³ and as they were sailing along, Jesus fell asleep. Then a fierce windstorm swept down onto the lake, with the result that the boat was filling with water, and they themselves were now in danger.¹⁰ ²⁴So the disciples went over to him, woke him up, and said, “Master, Master, we’re going to die!” But Jesus, roused from his sleep, rebuked the wind and the violent surging of the waters; and they both died down, and a great calm settled upon the lake. ²⁵Then he said to them, “Where is your faith?” But gripped with fear, they stood amazed, saying to one another, “Who then is this? He even commands the winds and the water, and they obey him!”

The Gerasene Demoniac

²⁶Then they sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is situated opposite Galilee. ²⁷ And when Jesus stepped out onto the shore, a certain man from the city who was controlled by¹¹ demons came out to meet him. For a long time this man had worn no clothing;¹²nor had he lived in a house, but dwelt instead among the tombs. ²⁸Now when he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before him, and said in a loud voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the most high God? I beg you not to torment me!” ²⁹(For Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man; for the spirit had seized him many times, with the result that men would tie him down with chains and shackles, and keep him under guard; but he would break the chains, after which the demon would drive him into the deserts.) ³⁰Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” So he said, “Legion”—for many demons had entered the man. ³¹Then the demons began pleading with Jesus not to command them to go into the abyss. ³²Now in that place there was a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside; so they begged him to let them enter the pigs. And Jesus let them. ³³So the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs; and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.

³⁴Now when the men who fed the pigs saw what had taken place, they fled and reported these things in the city and the surrounding villages. ³⁵So the people went out to see what had happened; and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone out sitting at Jesus’ feet, clothed, and in his right mind. And they were afraid. ³⁶Then those who had witnessed what happened told them how the demon-possessed man had been rescued and restored.¹³ ³⁷ Then the Gerasenes and all the people living around them begged Jesus to depart from them, for sheer terror had taken hold of them. So stepping into a boat, Jesus headed back. ³⁸But the man from whom the demons had gone out began to plead with him that he might come with him. But Jesus sent him on his way, saying, ³⁹“Go back to your home and tell everyone what great things God has done for you.” So the man went off and began proclaiming throughout the entire city what great things Jesus had done for him.

Healing and Resuscitation

⁴⁰ Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they all were eagerly waiting for him. ⁴¹But just then a man by the name of Jairus, a leader of the synagogue, came to him. And when he had fallen down at Jesus’ feet, he began pleading with him to come to his house, ⁴²for he had an only daughter—about twelve years old—and she was at the point of death.

Now as Jesus was making his way to Jairus’ house, the crowds kept pressing in on him. ⁴³And among them was a woman who had suffered for twelve years from an issue of blood, and whom no one was able to heal. ⁴⁴Coming up to Jesus from behind, she touched the edge of his cloak; and immediately the flow of her blood was stanched. ⁴⁵So Jesus said, “Who touched me?” Now while everyone was denying it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds are thronging you and pressing in on every side!” ⁴⁶But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I felt¹⁴ power flowing out of me.” ⁴⁷Then the woman, realizing she could no longer remain hidden, came up to him, trembling; and falling down before him, she explained in front of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been instantly healed. ⁴⁸So he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well.¹⁵ Go in peace.”

⁴⁹ Now while Jesus was still speaking, someone from the home of the synagogue leader arrived and said to him, “Your daughter has died; don’t trouble the teacher any more.” ⁵⁰But when Jesus heard that, he said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.” ⁵¹Now when he arrived at the house, he allowed no one to go in with him except Peter, John, James, and the father and mother of the little girl. ⁵²Now all the people were wailing and beating their breasts over her passing. But Jesus said, “Stop your wailing; she isn’t dead, but only sleeps.” ⁵³So they began to laugh at him, for they knew very well that she was dead. ⁵⁴But after taking her hand, he called out in a loud voice: “Little girl, arise!” ⁵⁵And her spirit returned, and at once she rose up. Then Jesus directed that she be given something to eat. ⁵⁶ Now her parents were beside themselves with amazement; but he ordered them to tell no one what had happened.

Notes

Or steward (i.e. a court official)
Some mss his
Lit. The
Lit. birds of the sky (vs. domesticated birds)
Lit. choked
Is. 6:9
Lit. have
Or suffocated, overwhelmed; lit. choked
Or possibly who, hearing the word, take hold of (cling to) it with an honest and good heart
Lit. lake, and they were being swamped and were in danger
Lit. had
Lit. did not put on a garment
Lit. had been saved
Lit. was knowing, aware of
Lit. has saved you

The Apostles Empowered and Sent Forth

9 Now when Jesus had called the twelve together, he gave them power and authority over all the demons, and to heal those with various diseases; ²and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. ³Moreover, he said to them, “Take nothing for the journey: no staff, no bag, no bread, and no money; nor should you bring along an extra tunic.¹ ⁴Whatever house you enter, remain there until you leave the area.² ⁵And whoever will not welcome you, as you leave that town, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” ⁶So heading out, they began to travel from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.

Curious Herod

⁷Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was taking place; but was thoroughly perplexed. For some of the people were saying that John the Baptizer had risen from the dead, ⁸others that Elijah had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of old had risen again. ⁹But Herod said, “I myself had John beheaded, so who is this about whom I’m hearing such things?” So he kept on trying to see Jesus.

Five Thousand Are Fed

¹⁰Now when the apostles returned, they gave Jesus a full account of all they had done. Then, taking them with him, he withdrew to a town called Bethsaida to be by himself. ¹¹But when the crowds learned of it, they followed him; and after he had welcomed them, he began to speak with them about the kingdom of God, and to cure those in need of healing.

¹²But now the day was drawing to a close. So the twelve came up and said to him, “Send the crowd away so that they can go into the surrounding towns and countryside, find lodging, and get some food; for this is³ a remote area.” ¹³But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They replied, “At most we have five loaves and two fish—unless we go off and buy food for all these people.” ¹⁴(For about five thousand men were gathered there.) So he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” ¹⁵So the disciples did as he said, and all the people sat down. ¹⁶Then, picking up the five loaves and two fish, and looking up into heaven, Jesus blessed and broke them; and he gave⁴ portions to the disciples to set before the crowd. ¹⁷So all the people ate and were satisfied. And what was left over was gathered up: twelve baskets full of fragments.

Peter’s Good Confession

¹⁸Now on a certain occasion, when Jesus was praying by himself, his disciples happened to be nearby. So he put a question to them, saying, “Who do the crowds say I am?” ¹⁹They answered, “John the Baptizer. But others say Elijah, and still others that one of the prophets of former times has risen again.” ²⁰Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Messiah of God.” ²¹But Jesus strictly charged them, commanding that they should tell this to no one. ²²And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day.”

The Cost of Discipleship

²³Then he began to speak to all the people:⁵ “If anyone desires to come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. ²⁴For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. ²⁵For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, when he himself is destroyed or lost? ²⁶For whoever is ashamed of me and my words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his glory, and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels. ²⁷Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: Some of those who are standing here will by no means taste death until they have seen the kingdom of God.”

The Transfiguration

²⁸ Now about eight days after saying these things, Jesus took Peter, John, and James, and went up onto the mountain to pray. ²⁹And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered; and his cloak turned white and shone like lightning. ³⁰And behold, two men—Moses and Elijah—were speaking with him; for after appearing in glory, ³¹they had begun to discuss his departure,⁶ which he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.

³²Now Peter and those who were with him had sunk into a deep sleep. But once they were fully awake, they beheld his glory; and they also saw the two men standing with him. ³³Now it so happened that just as the men were beginning to depart from Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here! Let us prepare three tabernacles:⁷ one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” (not realizing what he was saying). ³⁴But even as he was speaking these words, a cloud appeared and began to overshadow the two men;⁸ and as they entered the cloud, the disciples⁹ were gripped with fear. ³⁵Then a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him!” ³⁶And when the voice had finished speaking, they found Jesus standing there all alone. Now the disciples kept this matter to themselves, at that time telling no one at all about the things they had seen.

A Boy Set Free

³⁷On the next day, after they had come down from the mountain, a large crowd met him. ³⁸And suddenly a man from the crowd lifted up his voice, saying, “Teacher, I beg you: Take pity on¹⁰ my son, for he is my only child. ³⁹For this is what’s happening:¹¹ An evil spirit takes hold of him, and suddenly he lets out a scream. Then it throws him into convulsions, and he starts foaming at the mouth. What’s more, the spirit hardly ever leaves him, but is constantly tearing at him. ⁴⁰So I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they could not.” ⁴¹Then Jesus replied, “O unbelieving and perverse generation! How much longer must I remain among you?¹² How much longer must I put up with you? Bring your son here!” ⁴²Now as the boy was coming towards him, the demon threw him to the ground and convulsed him; but Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. ⁴³And the entire crowd stood in awe at the greatness of God.¹³

Jesus Again Predicts His Death

Now while everyone was marveling at all the things he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples, ⁴⁴“Place these words down deep in your ears: The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.” ⁴⁵But they failed to understand this statement. Indeed, its meaning was concealed from them, so that they could not discern it; and they were afraid to ask him what it meant.¹⁴

Who Is the Greatest?

⁴⁶Then an argument arose among the disciples as to which one of them would be¹⁵ the greatest. ⁴⁷But Jesus, knowing the inmost thoughts of their heart, took a little child and stood him by his side; ⁴⁸and he said to them, “Whoever receives this little child in my name receives me; and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all—he is the one who is great.”

⁴⁹Now in reply John said, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he doesn’t follow along with the rest of us.” ⁵⁰But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, for anyone who is not against you is on your side.”

A Samaritan Village and a Jewish Savior

⁵¹Now when the time had finally come for Jesus to be taken up, he resolutely set his face to go to Jerusalem; ⁵²and he sent messengers on ahead of him. As the messengers went their way, they entered a village of the Samaritans in order to make preparations for him. ⁵³But the villagers would not welcome him, because he was intending to go to Jerusalem. ⁵⁴So when James and John, his disciples, saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven and destroy¹⁶ them?” ⁵⁵But turning around, Jesus rebuked them.¹⁷ ⁵⁶And they went their way to another village.

The Cost of Discipleship

⁵⁷Now as they were walking down the road, someone said to him, “Lord, I will follow you wherever you go.” ⁵⁸But Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the wild birds¹⁸ have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” ⁵⁹And to another he said, “Follow me.” But the man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” ⁶⁰ But Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” ⁶¹And another also said, “Lord, I will follow you, but first let me go and say goodbye to the members of my household.” ⁶²But Jesus said to him, “No one who has put his hand on the plow and then looks back is fit for¹⁸ the kingdom of God.”

Notes

Lit. nor have two tunics (apiece)
Lit. remain there and go out from there
Lit. for here we are in
Or started giving, kept giving
Or to (them) all; but see Mark 8:34
Or decease
Or booths, shelters, (sacred) tents
Lit. them
Lit. they
Lit. look upon, regard
Lit. And behold
Lit. Until when shall I be with you?
Lit. all were amazed (awestruck) at the greatness (majesty) of God
Lit. to question him concerning this statement
Or was, might be
Or consume
Some mss add and said, “You don’t know what kind of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”
Lit. birds of the sky
Or of any use to

Jesus Commissions the 72

10 Now after these things the Lord appointed seventy-two¹ others and sent them out two by two before his face to every town and locale where he himself was planning to go. ²At that time he told them, “The harvest is indeed bountiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest, that he would thrust forth laborers into his crop. ³Go your ways, but realize this:² I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. ⁴Carry neither purse, nor traveler’s bag, nor extra sandals; and greet no one along the way. ⁵Whenever you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ ⁶ If a son of peace is living there, your peace will rest upon him;³ if not, it will return to you. ⁷Remain in that same house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. You are not to move about from house to house. ⁸Whenever you enter a town and the people⁴ welcome you, eat the things they⁵ set before you; ⁹then heal those in the town who are sick,⁶ and say to the people, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ ¹⁰But whenever you enter a town and they don’t welcome you, go out into its streets and declare, ¹¹‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off as a testimony against you. Nevertheless, be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’⁷ ¹²I say to you: In that day it will be more bearable for Sodom than it will for that city!

Two Impenitent Cities

¹³“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty miracles performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. ¹⁴But in the judgment it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon than it will for you. ¹⁵And you, Capernaum: Do you refuse to be⁸ exalted to heaven? Very well then, you will be pulled down into Hades!”

¹⁶ And he said to his disciples, “He who listens to you listens to me; and he who rejects you rejects me. But he who rejects me is rejecting the One who sent me.”

Right Rejoicing

¹⁷Now the seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name!” ¹⁸So he said to them, “I was watching as Satan fell like lightning from heaven. ¹⁹See, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and on all the power of the enemy, so that⁹ nothing will by any means harm you. ²⁰Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names have been recorded in heaven.”

Jesus Rejoices in His Father’s Plan

²¹At that time Jesus greatly rejoiced in the Holy Spirit, saying, “Father, Lord of heaven and earth, I delight in¹⁰ you because you have concealed these things from the wise and learned,¹¹ and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for to work in this way was pleasing in your sight.¹² ²²All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, nor does anyone know who the Father is except the Son, and those¹³ to whom the Son is willing to reveal him.” ²³Then Jesus turned to his disciples and spoke to them privately, saying, “Blessed are the eyes which see things you are seeing; ²⁴for I tell you this: Many prophets and kings longed to see the things you see, but never saw them, and to hear things you hear, but never heard them.”

The Good Samaritan

²⁵Now it happened that a certain expert in the Mosaic Law stood up in order to test Jesus. So he said, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” ²⁶Jesus said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you understand¹⁴ its teaching on this subject?” ²⁷In reply the lawyer said, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and you must love your neighbor as yourself.”^{15 28}Jesus said to him, “You have answered correctly. Do this and you will live.”

²⁹But the lawyer, wanting to be sure that he himself was righteous,¹⁶ said to Jesus, “But who exactly is my neighbor?” ³⁰Taking up his question, Jesus said, “A certain man was going down to Jericho from Jerusalem; and he fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went their way, leaving him half dead. ³¹Now by chance a certain priest was going down the same road; but when he saw the wounded man, he passed him by on the opposite side. ³²Likewise, when a Levite came to that place and saw the wounded man, he too passed by on the other side. ³³But a certain Samaritan making a journey came upon the man; and when he saw him, he was moved with compassion. ³⁴So he went over to him, poured oil and wine into his wounds, and dressed the wounds with strips of cloth. Then he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him there. ³⁵On the next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Look after him; and whatever you spend above this, I will repay you when I return.’ ³⁶Now, which of these three men do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” ³⁷The lawyer said, “The one who showed him mercy.” So Jesus said to him, “Go then and do the same.”

Mary Chooses the Best Part

³⁸As they continued on their journey, Jesus entered a certain village where a woman by the name of Martha welcomed him as her guest. ³⁹Now Martha had a sister named Mary, who had seated herself at the Lord’s feet and was listening to his word; ⁴⁰but as for Martha, she was consumed with all the serving that had to be done. So she came and stood before Jesus, saying, “Lord, doesn’t it matter to you that my sister has left me to do all the serving by myself? So please tell her to help me!” ⁴¹But in reply the Lord said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, ⁴²but only one thing is truly necessary.¹⁷ I’m telling you this because Mary has chosen the best¹⁸ part, and it will not be taken from her.”

Notes

Many mss seventy (also in v. 19)
Lit. Go! Behold,
Or it
Lit. they
Lit. those that are sick
Lit. in it
Or is near
Lit. will you not be
Lit. and
Or praise, thank, acknowledge; lit. confess
Or intelligent, understanding
Lit. for thus it became pleasing before you
Lit. the one
Lit. read
Deut. 6:5; Lev. 19:18
Lit. justify himself
Some mss only a few things are necessary; really, only one
Lit. good

Lord, Teach Us to Pray

11 Now in a certain place Jesus was spending time in prayer; and when he was done, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.” ²So he said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, may your name be held in reverence. May your kingdom come. ³Give us each day our daily bread; ⁴and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation.”¹

On Persistence in Prayer

⁵Then he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, ⁶for an acquaintance of mine who is making a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.’ ⁷And suppose your friend answers you from inside the house, saying, ‘Don’t bother me; the door is already locked, and my children are here with me in bed; I can’t get up and give you what you want.’ ⁸I tell you, even though this man won’t get up and give him something for friendship’s sake, yet because of his friend’s persistence he will indeed get up and give him as many loaves as he needs. ⁹Therefore I say to you: Keep on asking, and it will be given to you; keep on seeking, and you will find; keep on knocking, and the door² will be opened to you. ¹⁰For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, the door³ will be opened. ¹¹Moreover, what father among you, if his son asks him for a fish, would give him a serpent instead? ¹²Or if the son asks for an egg, would his father give him a scorpion? ¹³If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Overcoming the Strong Man

¹⁴Now Jesus was casting out a demon that made its victim mute;⁴ and when the demon had gone out of him, the mute man spoke and the crowds stood amazed. ¹⁵But some of them said, “He’s driving out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons!” ¹⁶Others, putting him to a test, were asking him for a sign from heaven. ¹⁷But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to ruin; and a house divided against a house will fall. ¹⁸So then: If Satan is also divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I ask you this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebul. ¹⁹But if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom are your sons driving them out? For this reason, they themselves will be your judges. ²⁰On the other hand, if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. ²¹When a strong man who is fully armed guards his own property, his holdings are secure.⁵ ²²But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, the stronger takes away all his arms in which he trusted, and then divides his plunder. ²³He who isn’t with me is against me; and he who doesn’t gather with me scatters.

The Peril of an Empty House

²⁴“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest. But when it finds none, it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came’; ²⁵and when it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. ²⁶Then it goes out and brings along seven other spirits more wicked than itself; and once they all have entered the house, they settle down to live there. Thus, the final state of that man is worse than the first.”

True Blessedness

²⁷Now as Jesus was saying these things, a certain woman in the crowd lifted up her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and blessed are the breasts that nursed you!” ²⁸But he said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God, and are careful to obey it!”⁶

An Evil Generation Given a Sign

²⁹Then, as the crowds were growing, Jesus began to speak: “This generation is an evil generation. It is constantly demanding a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. ³⁰For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so too will the Son of Man be a sign to this generation. ³¹At the judgment the queen of the South will rise up with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, One who is greater than Solomon is here. ³²At the judgment the men of Nineveh will stand with this generation, and they too will condemn it, for they repented when they heard the preaching of Jonah; and behold, One who is greater than Jonah is here.

Take Heed to the Light Within

³³“No one, after lighting a lamp, puts it in a vault⁷ or under a basket. Instead, they put it on a lampstand, so that those who enter the room can see the light. ³⁴The lamp of your body is your eye. Therefore, when your eye is healthy, your whole body will also be filled with light; but when it’s diseased, your whole body will also be filled with darkness. ³⁵So see to it that the light within you is not darkness. ³⁶If, then, your whole body is full of light—with no part at all containing darkness—it will be fully illumined, as when the lamp in your house illumines you with its light.”

A Litany of Woes

³⁷Now while Jesus was speaking, a certain Pharisee invited him to dine at his home; so he entered his house and reclined at the table. ³⁸But when the Pharisee saw it, he was taken aback, for Jesus had not performed a ceremonial washing prior to the meal. ³⁹So the Lord said to him, “Now as for you Pharisees, you cleanse the outside of the cup and the plate, but your inward part is full of greed and wickedness. ⁴⁰You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside as well? ⁴¹So then: Bestow as alms the things on the inside, and behold, all things will be clean for you!

⁴²^“But woe to you Pharisees, for you give a tenth part of your mint, rue, and every kind of garden herb, but overlook justice and the love of God; yet these are the things you should have done, while not neglecting the others. ⁴³Woe to you Pharisees, for you love the chief seats⁸ in the synagogues, and deferential greetings⁹ in the marketplaces! ⁴⁴Woe to you, for you are like unmarked graves on which men walk, suspecting nothing!”¹⁰

⁴⁵Now in reply, one of the lawyers said to him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you are insulting us too.” ⁴⁶But Jesus declared, “Woe to you lawyers as well! For you load men down with burdens that are hard to carry, while you yourselves won’t touch them with one of your fingers. ⁴⁷Woe to you, for you build the tombs of the prophets, yet it was your own fathers who killed them; ⁴⁸thus, you are testifying that you approve of the deeds of your fathers, for they killed the prophets, and you are building their tombs! ⁴⁹And this is why¹¹ the wisdom of God has declared, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles. Some of them they will kill, and some of them they will persecute,’ ⁵⁰so that the blood of all the prophets, shed from the very founding of the world, may be required of this generation— ⁵¹from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary.¹² I tell you the truth: All of it will be required of this generation. ⁵²Woe to you lawyers, for you have completely taken away¹³ the key to knowledge: You yourselves did not go in, and those who were trying to go in,¹⁴ you hindered.”

⁵³Now when he left that place, the scribes and the Pharisees began to oppose him bitterly,¹⁵ and to pepper him with questions on many subjects, ⁵⁴setting traps for him¹⁶ in order to catch him in something he might say.

Notes

Or testing
Lit. it
Lit. it
Or that was mute; many mss demon, and it was mute
Lit. in peace
Lit. guard it, watch over it, keep it
Or cellar
Or possibly best (front) seats
Lit. the greetings
Lit. and the men who walk over (them) do not know
Lit. For this reason also
Lit. house; some interpreters close the quote here
Lit. took away
Lit. who were going in
Or engage him strenuously (furiously)
Or lying in wait for (him)

Beware the Leaven of the Pharisees

12 While these things were taking place—and after a crowd of so many thousands had gathered together that people were stepping on each other—Jesus began to speak, first of all to his disciples: “Guard yourselves against the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. ²For nothing is covered that will not be revealed, nor is anything hidden that will not be made known. ³For this reason, whatever you have spoken in the darkness will be heard in the light; and whatever you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the housetops.

Fear and Fear Not

⁴“Moreover, I say to you who are my friends: Don’t be afraid of those who can kill the body, after which there is nothing more that they can do. ⁵On the other hand, I will show you whom you should indeed fear: Fear him who, after he has killed, has the power to cast into Gehenna.¹ Yes, I tell you, fear him! ⁶Are not five sparrows sold for two small copper coins,² yet not one of them is forgotten before God? ⁷But as for you, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid: You are of greater value than many sparrows!

The Good Confession

⁸“And I tell you this: Everyone who acknowledges me before men will be acknowledged by the Son of Man before the angels of God. ⁹But he who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. ¹⁰Moreover, everyone who speaks³ a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who has spoken blasphemously against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven. ¹¹ Now when they bring you before the synagogues, the magistrates, and the authorities, don’t be concerned about how to defend yourself or what you should say; ¹²for in that very hour the Holy Spirit will teach you the things you should say.”

True Riches

¹³Now someone from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, speak to my brother about dividing the family inheritance with me.” ¹⁴But Jesus said to him, “Man, who appointed me as a judge or an arbiter over you two?” ¹⁵Then he said to them all, “Watch out and be on guard against every form of covetousness, for a man’s life does not consist of the abundance of things he owns.”

¹⁶ Then he told them a parable, saying: “The land of a certain rich man produced an abundant crop. ¹⁷So he began to deliberate within himself, saying, ‘What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?’ ¹⁸Finally, he said, ‘Here’s what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build bigger barns, and I will store all my grain and all my goods there; ¹⁹then I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have stored up many goods for many years to come. Take your ease: Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ ²⁰But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul will be required of you; and all the things you prepared—to whom will they then belong?’ ²¹This is how it will be for the man who stores up riches for himself, but who is not rich towards God.”

True Life

²²Then Jesus said to his disciples, “For this reason I say to you: Don’t worry about your⁴ life, what you are going to eat; or about your⁵ body, what you are going to wear. ²³For there is more to life than food, and more to the body than clothing. ²⁴Consider the ravens: They neither sow nor reap, nor do they have a storehouse or a barn; yet God feeds them. And are you not of far greater value than the birds? ²⁵ Moreover, who among you, by worrying, can add a single hour to the length of his life?⁶ ²⁶If, then, you cannot accomplish even the smallest thing, why should you worry about all the rest? ²⁷Consider also the lilies, how they grow: They neither toil nor spin, yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was never clothed like one of these! ²⁸And if God so clothes the wild grass, which today is found in the field but tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you who have so little faith? ²⁹ So then: Don’t concern yourselves about what you’re going to eat or what you’re going to drink; and don’t be anxious about them. ³⁰For all the nations of the world continually pursue these things, yet your Father already knows that you need them. ³¹Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

³²“O little flock, don’t be afraid: Your Father is well pleased to give you the kingdom! ³³Sell your belongings and give gifts⁷ to those in need. Make purses for yourselves that won’t grow old or wear out; prepare an unfailing trove of treasure in the heavens, where no thief draws near and no moth destroys. ³⁴For where your treasure is, there your heart will be as well.

Be Ready at All Times!

³⁵“Stay dressed for action,⁸ and keep your lamps burning bright. ³⁶Indeed, be like men who are eagerly waiting for their master to return from the wedding feast, so that when he arrives and knocks, they can immediately open the door for him. ³⁷Blessed are those servants whose master finds them on watch when he comes. I tell you the truth: He will dress himself for service, seat them at the table, and come and wait on them. ³⁸And if he should arrive during the second watch of the night, or even the third, and find them doing so, how blessed those servants will be! ³⁹But understand this: If the head⁹ of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be entered by force. ⁴⁰And you too must be ready, for the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.”

⁴¹Then Peter said to him, “Lord, are you addressing this parable to us, or to all alike?” ⁴²So the Lord replied, “Who then is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master places over his household servants, to give them their allotment of food at the proper time? ⁴³Blessed is the servant whose master finds him doing so when he arrives. ⁴⁴I tell you the truth: He will put him in charge of all his belongings. ⁴⁵But if that servant should say in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his return,’ and if he should begin to abuse the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, ⁴⁶then the master of that servant will come on a day he is not anticipating, and at an hour he has not foreseen;¹⁰ and he will cut him in two and assign him his portion with the unbelievers. ⁴⁷And the servant who knew his master’s will, but who did not prepare himself or act according to that will, will be beaten with many blows. ⁴⁸But he who did not know it, yet did things worthy of blows, will be beaten with few. Moreover, from everyone to whom much is given, much will be required; and from the one to whom they have entrusted much, they will ask all the more.

The Fire of Division

⁴⁹“I have come to pour out¹¹ fire upon the earth; and how I wish it was already kindled! ⁵⁰But there is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished.¹² ⁵¹ Are you thinking that I have come to grant peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. ⁵²For from now on there will be five in one household: three divided against two, and two against three. ⁵³They will be divided father against son, and son against father; mother against daughter, and daughter against mother; a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”¹³

Learn to Discern

⁵⁴And he also was saying to the crowds, “Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west, you immediately say, ‘A storm¹⁴ is coming!’ And so it does. ⁵⁵Again, whenever you notice the south wind beginning to blow, you say, ‘There’s going to be a scorching heat!’ And so there is. ⁵⁶You hypocrites! You know how to read the face¹⁵ of the earth and the sky; so how is it that you don’t know how to read this appointed moment in time?¹⁶

Judge for Yourselves

⁵⁷“And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?¹⁷ ⁵⁸For I tell you this: As you and your adversary are on your way to appear before the magistrate, make every effort to settle the matter with your opponent while you are still on the road. Otherwise he may¹⁸ drag you before the judge, the judge may hand you over to the officer, and the officer may throw you into jail. ⁵⁹I tell you the truth: You will not get out of there until you have paid the last cent!”

Notes

Traditionally, hell; the place of eternal punishment
Lit. assaria; a small Roman coin, worth about a half hour’s wage
Lit. will speak
Lit. the
Lit. the
Or a single cubit to his height?
Lit. alms
Lit. Let your loins be girded about
Or owner
Lit. which he does not know
Or throw, scatter
Or completed, fulfilled, brought to an end
Mic. 7:6
Or shower
Or interpret the appearance
Lit. this time (Greek: kairos, a divinely appointed time, season)
Lit. But (and) why even from yourselves do you not judge what is right?
Or will

Repent or Perish

13 Now at that time certain men were present who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. ²But in reply he said to them, “Do you think those Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered such things? ³I tell you: Not at all! Moreover, unless you repent, all of you will perish as well. ⁴Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower in Siloam fell on them: Do you think they deserved a greater punishment than all the other men living in Jerusalem? ⁵ Not at all, I tell you. Moreover, unless you repent, all of you will perish as well.”

The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

⁶Then he began to tell them this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree that was planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it, but found none. ⁷So he said to the man in charge of tending his vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming here, looking for fruit on this fig tree, but finding none. Cut it down! Why should it keep using up the soil?’ ⁸But in reply the man said to him, ‘Sir, leave it alone this year too, until I can dig around it and put in some fertilizer. ⁹If it bears fruit next year, good; but if not, cut it down.’”

Healing on the Sabbath

¹⁰Now Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. ¹¹And in that synagogue there was a woman¹ who had been afflicted by an evil spirit for eighteen years;² and she was hunched over and unable to fully straighten herself up.³ ¹²But when Jesus saw her, he called her to himself; and he said to her, “Woman, you are released from your infirmity.” ¹³Then he laid his hands on her; and at once she straightened up and began to glorify God!

¹⁴But the ruler of the synagogue was angry and offended that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; so in response he said to the crowd, “There are six days on which work should be done; therefore come and be healed on one of those days, but not on the Sabbath.” ¹⁵But the Lord answered him and said, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each one of you untie his ox or his donkey from its feeding trough on the Sabbath, and then lead it off to water? ¹⁶What then of this woman, who is a daughter of Abraham, and one whom Satan has bound—think of it⁴—for eighteen long years? Should she not be released from this bondage on the Sabbath day?” ¹⁷Now when he spoke these words, all of his opponents were put to shame; but the people themselves were rejoicing over all the glorious things he was doing.⁵

Two Parables about the Kingdom

¹⁸So Jesus began to speak, asking, “What is the kingdom of God like, and to what should I compare it? ¹⁹It’s like a mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his own garden; and it grew up and became a tree, and the wild birds nested in its branches.” ²⁰And again he said, “To what shall I liken the kingdom of God? ²¹It’s like yeast that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour until the lump was leavened through and through.”

Strive to Enter by the Narrow Door

²²Now Jesus was traveling through city after city and village after village, teaching and making his way towards Jerusalem. ²³And a certain man asked him, “Lord, will the saved be few in number?” So he said to them all, ²⁴“Make every effort to enter through the narrow door; for I say to you that many will try to enter, but will not be able to do so. ²⁵Once the ruler of the house has gotten up and shut the door, and once you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open for us!’ he will answer by declaring, ‘I neither know you, nor where you are from.’⁶ ²⁶ Then you will begin to say, ‘But we ate and drank in your presence, and you taught us in our streets!’ ²⁷But he will reply, “I tell you, I don’t know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of unrighteousness!’ ²⁸There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, while you yourselves are driven out. ²⁹Moreover, people will come from the east and the west, and from the north and the south, and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God. ³⁰ So know this:⁷ Some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last.”

Jesus Laments Over Jerusalem

³¹At that very moment certain Pharisees came up to him and said, “Get away from here,⁸ for Herod is planning to kill you.” ³²But he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, today and tomorrow I drive out demons and perform healings; and on the third day I will be done with my work.’⁹ ³³Nevertheless, I must continue my journey today, tomorrow, and the day after that, for it is impossible that a prophet should be put to death outside of Jerusalem. ³⁴O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that¹⁰ kills the prophets and stones the men who are sent to her! How often I would have gathered your children together, just as a mother hen gathers her brood beneath her wings; but you were unwilling. ³⁵See, your house is left to you in ruins. Moreover, I say to you: You will not see me again until the time arrives when you say,¹¹ ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”¹²

Notes

Lit. And behold, a woman
Lit. having a spirit of infirmity
Or unable to straighten herself at all
Lit. behold
Lit. and the whole crowd (multitude) was rejoicing . . . things done by him
Or I do not know you. Where do you come from?
Or But know this; lit. And behold
Lit. Go forth and depart from here
Lit. I am complete, perfect
Lit. which
Some mss until you say
Ps. 118:26

Exchanges with the Pharisees

14 One Sabbath day when Jesus had gone to dine¹ at the home of a certain leader of the Pharisees, the guests² were watching him carefully; ²and there before him was a man whose limbs were badly swollen with fluid. ³In response, Jesus addressed the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?” ⁴But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, Jesus healed him and sent him on his way. ⁵Then he said to them, “Which of you, if you had a son or an ox fall into a well on the Sabbath, would not immediately pull him out?” ⁶And they were powerless to speak against his words.³

⁷Now when Jesus observed how the guests were choosing the places of honor at the tables, he spoke to them in a parable. ⁸“Whenever someone invites you to a wedding feast, never seat yourself⁴ in a⁵ place of honor, for it may be that your host has invited someone more distinguished than you. ⁹If so,⁶ he who invited you both will come over and say to you, ‘Give your place to this man;’ and then, in disgrace,⁷ you will start moving down to⁸the lowest place. ¹⁰ Therefore, whenever you’re invited to a feast, go instead and seat yourself in the lowest place, so that when your host comes in, he can⁹ say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the sight of those who are seated at the table with you. ¹¹For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

¹²Then he also spoke to the man who had invited him: “When you host a dinner or a banquet, don’t invite your friends, your siblings, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; otherwise they in turn may invite you, and you will be repaid. ¹³But whenever you host a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. ¹⁴ Then you will be blessed, for you will have been repaid at the resurrection of the righteous, since these have nothing with which to repay you.”

The Parable of the Great Supper

¹⁵Now when one of the men reclining at the table with Jesus heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is he who eats bread¹⁰ in the kingdom of God!” ¹⁶But Jesus said to him, “A certain man prepared a great banquet and invited many guests. ¹⁷Now when the time for the banquet arrived, he sent his servant to those who had been invited, saying, ‘Come, for the banquet is now ready!’ ¹⁸But one after another they all began¹¹ to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have purchased a piece of land and need to go out and inspect it. I ask you to have me excused.’ ¹⁹Then another said, ‘I have purchased five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to inspect them. I ask you to have me excused.’ ²⁰Still another said, ‘I have just taken a wife, and because of this I am unable to come.’ ²¹So when the servant returned, he reported all these things to his lord. Then the master of the house, moved to anger, said to his servant, ‘Quickly, go out into the streets and alleys of the city, and bring the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame into this place.’ ²²Later on¹² the servant declared, ‘Master, what you commanded has been done, but there is still room for more.’ ²³So the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the roads and country lanes, and compel¹³ them to come in so that my house may be filled. ²⁴For I tell you this: Not one of those men who were invited will taste of my supper!’”

Counting the Cost of Discipleship

²⁵Now large crowds were traveling with Jesus. So¹⁴ after he had turned around, he said to them, ²⁶“If anyone comes to me and doesn’t hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, and even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. ²⁷And whoever doesn’t carry his own cross and follow after me, he cannot be my disciple. ²⁸For what man among you, desiring to build a tower, won’t first sit down and count the cost, to see if he has the means with which to finish it? ²⁹Otherwise, if he lays the foundation, but is unable to complete the project, everyone who sees it¹⁵ will ridicule him, ³⁰saying, ‘This man began to build but wasn’t able to finish!’ ³¹Or what king, going out to meet another king in battle, doesn’t first sit down and take counsel to see if he is able with ten thousand men to confront the one who is coming against him with twenty? ³²And if in fact he is not, he will send a messenger to ask for terms of peace while his adversary is still a long way off. ³³ Just so,¹⁶ anyone among you who does not surrender¹⁷ all that he has—he cannot be my disciple.

Tasteless Salt Is Worthless

³⁴“Therefore I say: Salt is good. But if the salt itself¹⁸ has lost its flavor, with what shall it be seasoned? ³⁵It is fit neither for the soil nor for the dunghill, so that they throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Notes

Lit. eat bread
Lit. they
Or contradict these things
Lit. recline; and so in v. 10
Lit. the
Lit. and
Or with shame
Lit. you will begin to occupy
Lit. will
Lit. everyone who will eat bread
Or But they all alike began
Lit. And (But)
Or urge
Lit. and
Or all the onlookers
Lit. In the same way therefore
Or renounce; lit. separate himself from
Lit. if even the salt

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

15 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were constantly gathering around Jesus to listen to him. ²But both the scribes and the Pharisees were angrily whispering among themselves, saying, “This man keeps company with sinners and eats with them!”

³So Jesus told them this parable, saying: ⁴“What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, doesn’t leave the ninety-nine in the open field and go in search of the lost sheep until he finds it? ⁵What’s more, once he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing; ⁶and when he has returned to his house, he calls together his friends and neighbors, and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I’ve found my lost sheep!’ ⁷In the same way, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

The Parable of the Lost Coin

⁸“Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one of them, doesn’t light a lamp, sweep the house, and search diligently until she finds it? ⁹And when she does find it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, and says, ‘Rejoice with me, for I’ve found the coin I lost!’ ¹⁰ I tell you: In just the same way there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

The Parable of the Lost Sons

¹¹Then Jesus said, “A certain man had two sons. ¹²And the younger of the two¹ said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of your estate that falls to me.’ So the father divided his wealth between the two of them. ¹³Now a few days later, after gathering together all that he had, the younger son went abroad to a distant land; and there he scattered his inheritance to the four winds² through reckless and dissolute living. ¹⁴Then, after squandering everything, a mighty famine arose throughout that land, and he began to be in need. ¹⁵So he went off and attached himself to one of the citizens of that country, a man who sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. ¹⁶ And he longed to fill his stomach with the carob pods the pigs were eating; but no one was giving him anything at all.

¹⁷“When, however, he finally came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough food, and here I am, dying of hunger! ¹⁸I will get up and go to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. ¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.”’

²⁰“So he got up and headed back to his father. But while he was still a great way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; and running towards his son, he fell on his neck and kissed him again and again. ²¹Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ ²²But the father said to his servants, ‘Hurry, bring out the best robe and place it on him; and put a ring on his finger³ and sandals on his feet. ²³And bring the fattened calf and kill it. Then, when we’ve finished eating, let us rejoice and celebrate! ²⁴For this son of mine was dead, but then came back to life,⁴ he was lost, but then was found.’ So they began to celebrate.

²⁵“Now the father’s older son was out in the field; and as he was coming in from work, he drew near to the house and heard music and dancing. ²⁶So he called one of the servants and asked him why these things were going on.⁵ ²⁷Then the servant said to him, ‘Your brother has come home, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.’ ²⁸But the older son,⁶ angered by this news, refused to go inside. So his father came out and began to plead with him. ²⁹ But in reply, the son said to his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for⁷ you, never neglecting a single command; yet not once did you ever give me a young goat so that I could celebrate with my friends. ³⁰But as soon as this son of yours—who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes—came home, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ ³¹Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. ³²But it was only right that we should celebrate and rejoice, for this your brother was dead, but then came back to life; and was lost, but then was found.’”

Notes

Lit. them
Lit. scattered; dispersed; winnowed by throwing into the air
Lit. on his hand
Lit. came to life
Lit. what these things might mean
Lit. he
Or serving

Kingdom Shrewdness

16 Then Jesus began to address his disciples as well: “There was a certain rich man who received a report that his household steward was squandering his possessions. ²So the rich man called him in and said to him, ‘What’s this I’m hearing about you? Give me a full account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be my steward.’ ³Then the steward said to himself, ‘What shall I do, seeing that my master is taking the stewardship away from me? I’m not strong enough to dig and I’d be ashamed to beg. ⁴I know what I’ll do! This way, when I’m removed from the stewardship, people will welcome me into their homes.’ ⁵So after calling for each one of his master’s debtors, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ ⁶The man replied, ‘A hundred measures of olive oil.’¹ The steward said to him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and write fifty.’ ⁷Then he said to another, ‘How much do you owe?’ He replied, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’² The steward said to him, ‘Take your bill and write down eighty.’ ⁸So the master commended the unrighteous steward, for he had acted shrewdly. For in their dealings with their own kind,³ the sons of this age are wiser than the sons of light. ⁹Therefore I say to you: Make friends for yourselves through your use of unrighteous mammon,⁴ so that when it finally fails⁵ they may welcome you into the eternal dwelling places.⁶

¹⁰^“He who is faithful in what is least will also be faithful in much; and he who is unrighteous in what is least will also be unrighteous in much. ¹¹If, then, you have not been faithful in your use of unrighteous mammon, who will entrust you with the true riches? ¹²And if you’ve not been faithful in the care of another man’s goods, who will give you your own? ¹³No servant can submit himself to two masters, for he will either hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

Exhortations to the Pharisees

¹⁴Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things; and they began to scoff at him. ¹⁵But Jesus said to them, “You are the kind⁷ who make⁸ themselves righteous in the sight men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly prized among men is detestable⁹ in the sight of God.

¹⁶“The Law and the Prophets were in force¹⁰ until John. Since then the good news of God’s Kingdom is being proclaimed, and people everywhere are pressing into it.¹¹ ¹⁷Nevertheless, it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for a single serif on a single letter¹² of the Law to fall to the ground.

¹⁸“Every man who divorces his wife and marries someone else is committing adultery; and the man who marries a woman divorced from her husband is also committing adultery.

The Rich Man and Lazarus

¹⁹“Now there was a certain rich man who dressed in garments made of purple fabric and soft white linen; and he feasted sumptuously¹³ day after day. ²⁰But laid at the rich man’s gate there also was a certain beggar by the name of Lazarus, whose body was covered with sores, ²¹and who longed to be filled with the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. And besides all this, the street dogs would come and lick his sores.

^{22 “}Now it came about that the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. Later on¹⁴ the rich man also died and was buried. ²³And in Hades—where he was subjected to torments¹⁵—the rich man lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham from afar, along with Lazarus, resting on his bosom. ²⁴So he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he can dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in this flame.’ ²⁵But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus his bad things; but now he is comforted and you are in torment. ²⁶And besides all this, between us and all of you a great chasm is firmly set in place, so that those who desire to cross over to you from here cannot, nor can anyone cross over to us from there.’ ²⁷The rich man replied, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house— ²⁸for I have five brothers—so that he can warn¹⁶ them, or else they too might come to this place of torment.’ ²⁹But Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them listen to them.’ ³⁰ The rich man said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if someone from the dead were to go to them, they would surely repent.’ ³¹But Abraham said to him, ‘If they are not listening to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone should rise from the dead.’”

Notes

I.e. 875 gallons, worth about 1,000 denarii (three years pay)
I.e. 10-12 bushels, worth about 2,750 denarii
Or generation
Or worldly wealth; mammon is Aramaic for riches
Or runs out
Lit. tents, tabernacles
Lit. ones
Or show
Lit. an abomination
Or were proclaimed; there is no verb in the Greek
Lit. all are forcing themselves (or, being urged) into it
Lit. one little horn (projection, stroke)
Or celebrated in luxury (with ostentation)
Lit. And
Lit. being in torments
Lit. solemnly testify to

Jesus Teaches on Offenses

17 Then Jesus said to the disciples, “It is unavoidable that stumbling blocks should appear; but woe to the one through whom they appear! ²It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. ³Keep watch over yourselves: If your brother sins, reprove him; if he repents, forgive him. ⁴Even if he sins against you seven times in a day—and returns to you seven times and says, ‘I repent’—you must forgive him.”

Mustard Seed Faith

⁵Then the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” ⁶So the Lord replied, “If you had faith like a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

Let Servants Understand Their Place

^{7 “}But what man among you, if he had a servant plowing a field or tending sheep, would say to him when he came in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at the table’? ⁸Wouldn’t he say to him instead, ‘Prepare me something to eat, and then, when you’ve dressed yourself properly, serve me until I’ve finished eating and drinking; after that¹ you may eat and drink’? ⁹And does he thank his² servant because he did what he was told to do? ¹⁰The same applies to you: When you’ve done everything you were commanded to do, you should say, ‘We are ordinary³ servants; we have only done what our duty required.’”⁴

The Grateful Samaritan

¹¹Now while Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem, he was passing through the region between⁵ Samaria and Galilee. ¹²And as he was entering a certain village, he came upon ten men who were lepers. Standing at a distance, ¹³they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” ¹⁴So when he saw them, he said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” Now it came about that while they were on their way, they were cleansed of their leprosy. ¹⁵But one of them, seeing that he was healed, turned back and began to glorify God with a loud voice; ¹⁶and falling face down at Jesus’ feet, he thanked him again and again. (Now the man was a Samaritan.) ¹⁷So in response, Jesus said, “Were there not ten who were cleansed? Where then are the other nine? ¹⁸Were none found returning to give God glory except this foreigner?” ¹⁹Then he said to the man, “Stand up and go your way; your faith has made you well.”⁶

How the Kingdom Comes

²⁰Now on a certain occasion, when the Pharisees were pressing Jesus as to when the kingdom of God was going to appear, he answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not appear with signs that can be observed;⁷ ²¹nor will people say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘See, there it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your very midst.”⁸

²²Then he said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. ²³Then people⁹ will say to you, ‘Look, there he is!’ or ‘See, he’s over here!’ But do not go out or follow after them. ²⁴For the Son of Man, on the day he comes,¹⁰ will be like a flash of lightning, lighting up the sky from one end to the other. ²⁵But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. ²⁶And just as it was in the days of Noah, so too will it be in the days of the Son of Man: ²⁷People were eating, drinking, marrying, and being given in marriage, right up to the day when Noah entered the ark, after which the flood came and destroyed them all. ²⁸Likewise, it will be just as it was in the days of Lot: People were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, and building. ²⁹But on the day when Lot escaped from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. ³⁰ So it will be¹¹ on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

³¹“On that day, a man whose goods are in the house will be on the roof: He must not go down to carry them off. The same holds true for a man out in the field: He must not go back for the things he left behind. ³²Remember Lot’s wife. ³³Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life will preserve it. ³⁴I tell you, on that night two will be sleeping in a single bed: One will be taken and the other left behind. ³⁵Two will be grinding in the same place: One will be taken and the other left behind.”¹² ³⁷In reply, the disciples said to him, “Where, Lord?” So he said to them, “Wherever the carcass¹³ is, there too the eagles¹⁴ will be gathered.”

Notes

Lit. after these things
Lit. the
Lit. undeserving, unmeritorious
Lit. that which it is our duty to do
Or possibly traveling along the border; lit. passing
Lit. saved you
Lit. with observation; close inspection
Or within you
Lit. And they
Lit. in his day (this phrase is omitted by some mss)
Lit. according to the same things it will be
With variations, some mss add v. 36: Two will be out in the field: One will be taken and the other left behind.”
Lit. body
Or vultures

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

18 Then Jesus began telling them a parable to show them that they should pray at all times and never lose heart.¹ ²So he said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. ³And in that city there lived a widow who kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me protection from my adversary.’ ⁴Now for a time the judge was unwilling to respond; but after a while he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or respect man, ⁵yet because this widow keeps pestering me² I will grant her request, so that in the end she doesn’t wear me out with her constant visits.’” ⁶Then the Lord said, “Listen to the words of the unrighteous judge!³ ⁷And will not God avenge his own elect, who cry out to him day and night while he bears with their suffering?⁴ ⁸I tell you, he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

⁹He also told this parable to certain men who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and who held everyone else in contempt. ¹⁰“Two men went up to the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹The Pharisee stood there and began to pray about himself in this way:⁵ ‘God, I thank you that I’m not like the rest of men—extortionists,⁶ evildoers, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. ¹²I fast twice a week, and I give a tenth of everything I receive.’⁷ ¹³But the tax collector, standing at a great distance, was unwilling even to lift up his eyes towards heaven; instead, he just kept beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ ¹⁴I tell you, this man, and not the other, went down to his house justified;⁸ for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Of Children and the Kingdom

¹⁵Now the people were also bringing him their new-born children so that he might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they began to rebuke them. ¹⁶But Jesus called for the children, saying, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. ¹⁷Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child, he will never enter it at all.”

The Rich Young Ruler

¹⁸Now a certain ruler inquired of him, saying, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” ¹⁹But Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except one: God. ²⁰You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, and honor your father and your mother.’”⁹²¹So the young man replied, “All these things I have carefully observed from my youth up.” ²²Now when Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack: Sell everything you have, distribute the proceeds to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then¹⁰ come and follow me.” ²³But when he heard these things, the young man felt great sorrow,¹¹ for he was quite wealthy. ²⁴And looking at him,¹² Jesus said,¹³ “How difficult it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵For it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” ²⁶Now those who heard this said, “Who then can be saved?” ²⁷But he replied, “Things that are impossible for men are possible with God.” ²⁸Then Peter said, “Look, Lord, we left everything we had¹⁴ and followed you.” ²⁹So he said to them, “I tell you the truth: There is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God, ³⁰who will not receive far more in this appointed time,¹⁵ and in the age to come, eternal life.”

Jesus Again Predicts His Death and Resurrection

³¹ Then, taking the twelve aside, Jesus said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. ³²For he will be handed over to the Gentiles, and will be mocked, mistreated, and spit upon. ³³And they will scourge him and kill him; but on the third day he will rise again.” ³⁴But they understood none of these things. Indeed, the meaning of this saying was hidden from them, so that they could not comprehend what he had said to them.¹⁶

A Blind Man Sees and Follows

³⁵Now as Jesus was nearing Jericho, it so happened that a certain blind man was seated beside the road, begging. ³⁶And when the man heard the noise of a crowd going by, he asked what this meant. ³⁷So they told him the news: “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by!” ³⁸Then he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” ³⁹ But the people in front of the procession began to rebuke him, telling him to be quiet; but he only cried out all the more: “Son of David, have mercy on me!” ⁴⁰Then Jesus stood still and commanded that the beggar be brought to him. And when the man had drawn near, Jesus questioned him, ⁴¹saying, “What is it that you want me to do for you?” The beggar said, “Lord, that I might regain my sight.” ⁴²So Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well!”¹⁷ ⁴³And at once the man regained his sight and began to follow him, glorifying God. And when all the people saw it, they gave God praise.

Notes

Or grow weary (become discouraged; give up)
Lit. beating me up (esp. beneath the eyes)
Lit. Hear what the unrighteous judges says
Or possibly night. And will he keep putting them off? Lit. night, and he patiently endures (bears with, suffers long) over them?
Lit. began praying these things about (to) himself
Or swindlers, robbers
Or possess
I.e. declared righteous in God’s sight
Ex. 20:12-16, Deut. 5:16-20
Lit. and, also
Lit. But having heard these things, he became very sorrowful (distressed)
Or Now when he noticed this
Some mss Now when Jesus noticed him looking sad, he said
Lit. left our own things (e.g. family, homes, property, etc.)
Greek kairos (i.e. a divinely appointed time or season)
Lit. and they were not fully knowing the things that had been spoken
Lit. saved you

Salvation Comes to Zacchaeus’ House

19 So Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it. ² And behold, a man by the name of Zacchaeus was living there, a chief tax collector, and very rich. ³ Now Zacchaeus was trying to see who Jesus was; but he was unable to do so because of the crowd, for he was small in stature. ⁴ So after running ahead, he climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Jesus,¹ for he was soon to pass by that place. ⁵But when Jesus got there, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must lodge at your house.” ⁶ So Zacchaeus hurried down and joyfully welcomed him as his guest. ⁷ Now when the crowd saw this, they all began to murmur, saying, “He’s gone off to be the guest of a sinful man!” ⁸But Zacchaeus, coming to a halt, said to the Lord, “See:² Half of my possessions, Lord, I am now giving to the poor; and if I’ve cheated anyone out of anything, I will pay it back fourfold.” ⁹ Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, for he too is a son of Abraham. ¹⁰ For the Son of Man has come³ to seek and to save that which was lost.”

The Parable of the Minas

¹¹ Now as the people were listening to these things, Jesus went on to present another parable, for he was near Jerusalem, and all the people were assuming that the kingdom of God would immediately appear. ¹² So he said, “A certain man of noble birth went on a journey to a distant land in order to receive a kingdom for himself and then return. ¹³ So summoning ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, saying to each of them, ‘Do business with this until I come back.’ ¹⁴ But his own citizens hated him; and they sent a delegation⁴ after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man ruling over us as our king!’

¹⁵^“Now when the nobleman returned from receiving the kingdom, he commanded that the servants to whom he had given the money should be called to him, so that he could find out what they had gained by doing business with it. ¹⁶So the first one came before him and said, ‘Lord, your mina has gained ten more minas.’ ¹⁷ The king said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you’ve been faithful in what is least, you will have authority over ten cities.’ ¹⁸ Then the second servant came up to him, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made five minas.’ ¹⁹ So the king likewise said to this man, ‘And you will be ruler over five cities.’ ²⁰ Then another servant came up, saying, ‘Lord, here is your mina, which I put away for safekeeping in a handkerchief. ²¹ For I was afraid of you, since you are a hard man, withdrawing what you didn’t deposit,⁵ and reaping you didn’t sow.’ ²² So the king said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You “knew” I was a hard man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow. ²³ Why then didn’t you place my money with the bankers, so that at my return I might have had it back with interest?’ ²⁴ So he said to those who were standing by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the man who has ten.’ ²⁵ But they said to him, ‘Master, he already has ten minas!’ ²⁶ But the king replied, ‘To everyone who has, more will be given; but from him who does not have, even what he does have will be taken away. ²⁷ And as for those enemies of mine who did not want me to rule over them as king, bring them here and slaughter them before me.’”

The Triumphal Entry

²⁸ Now after saying these things, Jesus resumed his journey, walking ahead of his disciples⁶ as he went up to Jerusalem. ²⁹ And as he approached Bethphage and Bethany—towns near the Mount of Olives—he sent out two of his disciples, ³⁰ saying, “Go into the village in front of you. When you enter it, you will find a colt that no one has ever ridden, secured with a rope. Untie it and bring it to me. ³¹ And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying the colt?’ you will answer in this way: ‘Because the Lord has need of it.’” ³² So the men who were sent departed and found the colt, just as Jesus had told them. ³³ But as they were untying it, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” ³⁴ So they said, “The Lord has need of it.” ³⁵ Then they brought it to Jesus, draped their cloaks over the back of the colt, and had Jesus get on. ³⁶ And as he rode along, the people were spreading out their cloaks on the road.

³⁷ Now as soon as he drew near to the path descending from the Mount of Olives, the entire multitude of his disciples began rejoicing and praising God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, ³⁸ saying, “‘Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!’⁷ Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest!” ³⁹ Then some of the Pharisees from the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” ⁴⁰ But in reply he said, “I tell you, if these kept silent, the very stones would cry out!”

Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem

⁴¹ Now when he drew near and beheld the city, Jesus wept over it, ⁴² saying, “If only you—especially you—had known on this day the things that were meant for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. ⁴³ For the days will come upon you when your enemies will raise up an embankment around you, encircle you with armies, and hem you in on every side. ⁴⁴ Then they will level you to the ground—you and your children within you—and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, for you failed to recognize the appointed time of your visitation.”

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

⁴⁵Now when Jesus finally entered the temple precincts, he began driving out the men who were selling things there, ⁴⁶ saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house will be a house of prayer,’⁸ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’”⁹

⁴⁷And he was teaching daily in the temple. Meanwhile, the chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people kept trying to put him to death; ⁴⁸ but they could find no way to do so, for all the people were hanging on his every word.¹⁰

Notes

Lit. him
Lit. behold
Lit. came
Or ambassador, embassy
Or taking what you didn’t work for; lit. taking up what you didn’t lay down
Or continuing on ahead
Ps. 118:26
Is. 56:7
Jer. 7:11
Lit. were hanging on him, listening

Jesus’ Authority Challenged

20 Now on one of the days when Jesus was in the temple courts, teaching the people and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests and the scribes, together with the elders, confronted him. ² And they were speaking up, saying to him, “Tell us by what authority you are doing these things,” or “Who is it that gave you this authority?” ³ But in reply he said to them, “I myself will first ask you a question, and you must tell me: ⁴ The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men?” ⁵ So they conferred with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will reply, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ ⁶But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us to death, for they’re convinced that John was a prophet.” ⁷ So they answered: “We don’t know where it came from.” ⁸ Then Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

The Parable of the Wicked Tenants

⁹ But then he began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, leased it to vine-growers, and went abroad for a long time. ¹⁰ And in due season he sent a servant to the vine-growers, so that they might give him his share¹ of the fruit from the vineyard. But the vine-growers beat him and sent him away empty-handed. ¹¹ So the man sent another servant; but after beating him and treating him with contempt, they also sent him away empty-handed. ¹² So he sent a third servant; but after wounding that servant as well, they threw him out. ¹³ Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What should I do? I will send my beloved son; surely they will respect him!’ ¹⁴ But when they saw the son, the vine-growers began to reason with one another, saying, ‘This is the heir! Let’s kill him so that the inheritance will be ours.’ ¹⁵ And after throwing him out of the vineyard, they put him to death. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? ¹⁶ He will come and destroy those vine-growers and give the vineyard to someone else.” Now when they heard that, they exclaimed, “May it never be!” ¹⁷ But fixing his gaze on them, Jesus replied, “What then is the meaning of this scripture:² ‘The stone that the builders rejected, this has become the chief cornerstone’? ¹⁸ Whoever falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and³ on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like chaf.”⁴

The Pharisees Inquire About Taxes

¹⁹ Now in that very hour the scribes and the chief priests tried to lay hands on him; but they feared the people, for they knew he had spoken this parable against them. ²⁰ So after carefully observing him for some time, they sent along hirelings, men who pretended to be righteous, but whose purpose was to fasten on something Jesus might say in order to hand him over to the authority and power of the governor. ²¹ So they put a question to him, saying, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach accurately, and also that you defer to no one,⁵ but teach the way of God in truth. ²² Is it or is it not lawful for us Jews to pay the tribute tax⁶ to Caesar?” ²³ But Jesus, seeing through their duplicity, said to them, ²⁴“Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it carry?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. ²⁵ So Jesus said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that belong to Caesar, and to God the things that belong to God.” ²⁶ And they were powerless to trap him in his words⁷ in the presence of the people; and marveling at his answer, they fell into silence.

The Sadducees Inquire About the Resurrection

²⁷ Then some of the Sadducees (who assert that there is no resurrection of the body) came up and put a question to him. ²⁸ They said, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving behind a widow but no children, that man⁸ must marry⁹ his brother’s widow and raise up offspring for his brother. ²⁹ Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife and died childless. ³⁰ Then the second married her, ³¹ and the third as well, and so on until all seven had died, leaving no children behind. ³² Last of all, the woman also died. ³³ Therefore, in the resurrection which of the brothers will have the woman as his wife? For each of the seven had her as a wife.”

³⁴ So Jesus said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. ³⁵ But those who are considered worthy of attaining that age and the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. ³⁶ For since they are sons of the resurrection, they are no longer subject to death at all, for now they are like the angels, and are sons of God. ³⁷ But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed in the passage about the burning bush, where he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’¹⁰ ³⁸ God is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for all live before¹¹ him.” ³⁹ Then some of the scribes declared, “Teacher, you have spoken well.” ⁴⁰ For they no longer dared to question him about anything at all.

Jesus Inquires about David

⁴¹ But Jesus said to them, “How is it that people say the Messiah will be¹² David’s Son? ⁴² For David himself says in the book of Psalms: ‘The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand ⁴³ till I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’¹³ ⁴⁴ David, then, refers to him as¹⁴ ‘Lord’; so how can he be his Son?”¹⁵

Beware of Scribal Hypocrisy

⁴⁵ Then, while all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, ⁴⁶ “Beware of the scribes, men who purposely walk¹⁶ around in long robes; who love respectful greetings in the marketplaces, the foremost seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets; ⁴⁷ men who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’ sake offer lengthy prayers. Their punishment will be all the more severe.”

Notes

Or a share
Lit. is this which has been written
Or but
Or crush, scatter like dust
Lit. do not receive a face
An annual property tax levied by Rome on occupied peoples
Lit. to seize upon his word
Lit. his brother
Lit. take, receive
Ex. 3:6, 15
Lit. to
Lit. is
Ps. 110:1
Lit. calls him, names him
Lit. and how is he his Son?
Or who are fond of walking

A Lesson in Giving

21 And looking up, Jesus saw the rich depositing their gifts in the offering box;¹ ² but he also noticed a certain poor widow depositing two small copper coins. ³ So he said, “I tell you the truth: This poor widow has put in more than all of them. ⁴ For all these put in offerings out of their surplus; but she, out of her poverty, has put in all she had to live on.”

Signs of the End

⁵ Now while some of them were conversing about the temple—how it was adorned with beautiful stones and votive offerings—Jesus said, ⁶ “As for these things you are admiring,² the days are coming in which not one stone will remain on another; all of them will be thrown down.”³ ⁷ So they questioned him about this, saying, “Then tell us, teacher: When will these things occur, and what will be the sign that they’re about to take place?” ⁸ So he said: “See to it you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and, ‘The time has arrived!’ You must not follow them. ⁹ Moreover, when you hear of wars and uprisings, don’t give in to fear or distress; for these things must happen first, but the consummation does not immediately follow.”

¹⁰ Then he went on to tell them, “Nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; ¹¹ there will also be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be fearsome sights and great signs from heaven.⁴ ¹² But before all these things take place, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and bringing you before kings and governors for my name’s sake. ¹³ This will present you with an opportunity to testify. ¹⁴ So settle it in your hearts that you will not plan out your defense ahead of time, ¹⁵ for I myself will give you a mouth and wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. ¹⁶ But even parents, brothers, relatives, and friends will betray you, and some of you they will put to death; ¹⁷ and because of my name you will be hated by all. ¹⁸ Yet not a hair of your head will perish. ¹⁹ By your endurance you will win your souls.

The Destruction of Jerusalem

²⁰ “Now when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, know that her desolation is near. ²¹ Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, those who are in the city⁵ must depart, and those who are in the countryside must not enter her. ²² For these are the days of vengeance, so that all that is written may be fulfilled. ²³ But woe to those who are pregnant in those days, and to those who are nursing their children! For there will be great distress upon the land, and wrath towards this people. ²⁴ And they will fall by the edge⁶ of the sword, and be led away captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles till the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

The Coming of the Son of Man

²⁵ “And there will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth distress among nations perplexed by the roaring of the sea and its waves; ²⁶ men will be fainting from fear, and from foreboding over the things that keep coming on the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ²⁷ And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud, with power and great glory. ²⁸ Now when these things start to happen, stand up and lift your heads, for your redemption is drawing near!”

The Parable of the Fig Tree

²⁹ Then he told them a parable: “Consider the fig tree, and all trees everywhere. ³⁰ As soon as they start to bud, you see this for yourselves and realize that summer is now drawing near. ³¹ Just so with you: When you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. ³² I tell you the truth: This generation will by no means pass away till all these things have taken place. ³³ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away.

Keep Watch!

³⁴ “But look to yourselves, that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness, or constant fretting over the affairs of this life, so that day springs upon you unexpectedly like a trap; ³⁵ for it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ So stay awake and watch at all times, praying⁷ that you may have strength to escape all these things that will soon take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

³⁷ Now during the day Jesus would teach in the temple precincts; but come evening, he would depart and spend the night on the Mount of Olives. ³⁸ As for all the people, they would come to him early in the morning in the temple, in order to hear him teach.

Notes

Likely one of many such boxes whose contents went into the temple treasury
Lit. see; gaze upon; view as a spectacle
Lit. another that will not be thrown down
Or from (in) the sky; lit. terrors and great signs from heaven (sky)
Lit. her
Lit. mouth
Or possibly and watch, praying at all times

Plotting and Betrayal

22 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is also called the Passover, was drawing near; ² and the chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way¹ to put Jesus to death, because they feared the people. ³ Then Satan entered Judas, the one called Iscariot, who also was numbered among the twelve. ⁴ So after leaving the other disciples, Judas spoke with the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard about how he might hand Jesus over to them. ⁵ And they were elated, and agreed² to give him money. ⁶ So Judas gave his consent; and he began looking for an opportunity to betray him when he was away from the crowds.

The Final Passover

⁷ Now the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread arrived, the day on which the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed. ⁸ So Jesus sent out Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover meal³ for us, so that we may partake of it together.”⁴ ⁹ They said to him, “Where do you want us to prepare it?” ¹⁰ So he answered them, “Listen carefully:⁵ Once you have entered the city, a man carrying a jug of water will meet you; follow him into the house he enters. ¹¹ Then say to the head of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover meal with my disciples?”’ ¹² Then he will show you a large, well-furnished upper room; make your preparations there.” ¹³ So they left and found everything just as Jesus had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal.

¹⁴ Now when the hour arrived, Jesus reclined at the table together with the apostles. ¹⁵ Then he said to them, “With deep desire I have longed to partake of this Passover with you before I suffer. ¹⁶ For I tell you this: Never again will I partake of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” ¹⁷And after taking a cup and offering thanks, he said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves. ¹⁸ For I say to you: From this time on I will by no means drink of the fruit of the vine till the kingdom of God has come.” ¹⁹ Then, when he had taken bread and given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” ²⁰ And after they had eaten, he did the same with the cup, taking it and saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. ²¹ But look: The hand of him who betrays me is here with me on the table. ²² For the Son of Man will indeed depart just as God has ordained;⁶ but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” ²³ So the disciples began discussing among themselves⁷ who it might be⁸ that would do this.

True Greatness

²⁴ But there was also a dispute among them as to which one should be considered the greatest. ²⁵ So Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ ²⁶But among you it must not be so. Instead, the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the one who leads like the one who serves. ²⁷ For who is greater: the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? Yet I am among you as the one who serves. ²⁸ And you are the ones who have stood by me in my trials. ²⁹ Therefore, I confer on you—even as my Father has conferred on me—a right to rule as kings,⁹ ³⁰ so that in my kingdom you may eat and drink with me at my table. Moreover, you will be seated on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.¹⁰

Peter Forewarned

³¹ “Simon, Simon, listen to me! Satan has received¹¹ permission to sift you all like wheat. ³² But as for you, Simon, I have prayed that your faith will not fail; so when you have returned, strengthen your brothers.” ³³ But Peter said to him, “Lord, I’m ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” ³⁴ Jesus replied, “I tell you, Peter: Today the rooster will not crow before you have denied three times that you even know me.”

Fresh Instructions for Difficult Days Ahead

³⁵ And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no money pouch, traveler’s bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?” And they replied, “Nothing.” ³⁶ Then he said to them, “But now, he who has a money pouch, let him take it with him, and a traveler’s bag as well; and he who has no sword, let him sell his cloak and buy one. ³⁷ For I say to you that this which has been written¹² must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered among the transgressors.’¹³For all that refers to me will surely be fulfilled.”¹⁴ ³⁸ Then the disciples said, “Look, Lord: Here are two swords!” But he said to them, “It is enough.”

Prayer, Betrayal, Arrest in Gethsemane

³⁹ Then, as he often did, he departed and went to the Mount of Olives; and his disciples followed him. ⁴⁰ And when he arrived at his destination,¹⁵ he said to them, “Pray that you will not enter into temptation.” ⁴¹ Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, fell to his knees, and began to pray, ⁴² saying, “Father, if it be your will, take this cup from me; nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done.” ⁴³ Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. ⁴⁴ And being in agony, he began to pray all the more earnestly; and his sweat became like large drops of blood falling to the ground.¹⁶ ⁴⁵ Then, after rising from prayer, he went back to his disciples and found them sleeping, exhausted from grief.¹⁷ ⁴⁶ But he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray, so that you don’t enter into temptation!”

⁴⁷ Now while Jesus was still speaking, a crowd of men suddenly arrived; and the man called Judas (one of the twelve) was leading them. Then he approached Jesus in order to kiss him; ⁴⁸ but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” ⁴⁹ Now when those around him saw what was about to take place, they said to him, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” ⁵⁰ And then one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. ⁵¹ But in response Jesus said, “Even this you must allow.”¹⁸And he touched the servant’s ear and healed him. ⁵² Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders who had come to take him, “Have you come out as you would¹⁹ against a robber, with swords and clubs? ⁵³ When I was with you daily in the temple, you didn’t stretch out your hands against me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”²⁰

Peter Denies His Lord

⁵⁴ Now after they had seized Jesus, they led him away and brought him into the high priest’s house; and Peter was following at a distance. ⁵⁵ And after the men had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter seated himself among them. ⁵⁶ But when a certain servant girl noticed him sitting by the fire, she fixed her gaze on him and said, “This man was with him too!” ⁵⁷ But Peter denied it, saying, “Woman, I don’t know him!” ⁵⁸ Now after a little while, someone else noticed him and exclaimed, “You too are one of his disciples!”²¹ But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” ⁵⁹ Then, about an hour later, yet another bystander spoke up boldly, saying, “Without a doubt this man was also with him, for he too is a Galilean!” ⁶⁰ But Peter said, “Man, I have no idea what you’re talking about!” Just then, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed; ⁶¹ and the Lord turned around and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Today, before a rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” ⁶² And Peter went out and wept bitterly.

Jesus Mocked and Beaten

⁶³ Now the men who were keeping Jesus under guard began to mock him and beat him. ⁶⁴ And after they had blindfolded him, they kept demanding a reply, saying, “Prophesy! Which one of us just hit you?” ⁶⁵ And they spoke many other things against him, reviling him.²²

Jesus Before the Sanhedrin

⁶⁶ Now when morning arrived, the assembly of the elders of the people—both the chief priests and the scribes—gathered together and led him into their council chamber.²³ And they said, ⁶⁷ “If you are the Messiah, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I were to tell you, you would certainly not believe me; ⁶⁸ and if I were to inquire of you, you would by no means answer. ⁶⁹ Nevertheless, from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” ⁷⁰ So they all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?” And he said to them, “You are saying that I am.”²⁴ ⁷¹ So they declared, “What further testimony do we need, for now we’ve heard it for ourselves from his own lips!”

Notes

Lit. seeking
Or arranged, promised
Or lamb
Lit. so that we may eat (it)
Lit. Behold
Lit. according to that which has been ordained
Or questioning one another about
Lit. which one of them it might be
Lit. And I appoint to you just as my Father [has] appointed to me: a right to rule as king (or to me: a kingdom)
See Mt. 19:28
Or asked, demanded
I.e., this text of Scripture
Is. 53:12
Or possibly is being fulfilled; lit. for indeed that which concerns me has an end
Lit. appeared at the place
Verses 43-44 are not found in several older mss
Or sorrow, grief
Lit. permit until this
Lit. as if
Lit. your hour, and (even) the power (authority) of darkness
Lit. one of them
Or blaspheming (him)
Or their Sanhedrin
Or you say (well) that I am; you are saying (it) because I am

Jesus Delivered to Pilate

23 So the entire assembly rose up and brought Jesus before Pilate. ²Then they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man undermining our nation, forbidding us to pay the tribute tax to Caesar, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.” ³So Pilate questioned him, saying, “Are you the king of the Jews?” In reply Jesus declared, “You are saying it yourself.” ⁴Then Pilate told the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no grounds for charging this man with a wrongdoing.” ⁵But they grew all the more fierce, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching all throughout Judea, this began in Galilee and now it has reached Jerusalem itself!”¹

Jesus Before Herod

⁶Now when Pilate heard that, he inquired as to whether Jesus was a Galilean. ⁷And when he learned that he was from Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. ⁸ When Herod saw him, he was delighted, for having heard about Jesus, he had long desired to see him, and was hoping to watch him perform some kind of miraculous sign. ⁹So Herod questioned him at great length, but he gave no reply at all. ¹⁰Meanwhile, the chief priests and the scribes were standing by, fiercely accusing him. ¹¹Then, when Herod himself, together with his soldiers, had scorned and mocked him, he sent him back to Pilate, cloaked in an elegant robe. ¹²And on that day Pilate and Herod befriended one another, for prior to this there had been enmity between them.

Pilate Surrenders to the Crowd

¹³Now when Pilate had assembled the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, ¹⁴he said to them all, “You brought me this man, representing him as someone who misleads the people; and behold, after examining him in your presence, I have not found him guilty of any of the charges you are bringing against him. ¹⁵No, and neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; and look: he has committed no crime worthy of death. ¹⁶ So then: After warning him with a flogging,² I will release him.”³ ¹⁸But all of them together raised a great cry, saying, “Take this man away and release Barabbas to us! ¹⁹(Barabbas had been thrown into prison for a certain insurrection fomented in the city, and also for murder.) ²⁰So Pilate, desiring to release Jesus, addressed them once again; ²¹but they kept on shouting, “Crucify him, crucify him!” ²²Then he spoke to them a third time, saying, “Why, what evil has he done? I have not found him guilty of any crime worthy of death; therefore I will warn him with a flogging and let him go.” ²³But they were insistent, demanding with loud shouts that he be crucified. And their shouts prevailed. ²⁴So Pilate gave a decision for their request to be granted. ²⁵Then he released the man they had asked for—the man who was thrown into prison for insurrection and murder—and handed over Jesus to their will.⁴

A Warning from the King

²⁶Now as they were leading him away, they seized Simon, a man from Cyrene who was coming in from the country; and they laid the cross on him and made him carry it⁵ behind Jesus.

²⁷Now a great many of the people were following Jesus, including women who were beating their breasts and wailing over him. ²⁸But turning to them, Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and your children. ²⁹For behold, days are coming in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ ³⁰Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’⁶ ³¹For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will be done when it is dry?”

The King on the Cross

³²Now two other men, both criminals, were being led away with him for execution; ³³and when they arrived at the place called “the Skull,” they crucified him there, along with the criminals: one on his right side, and the other on his left. ³⁴But as they did so, Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t realize what they are doing.”⁷ Then they divided up his garments and cast lots for them.

³⁵Now the people were standing about, looking on; and the rulers, along with them, were sneering,⁸ saying, “He saved others; if he really is the Messiah of God, the Chosen One, let him save himself!” ³⁶And the soldiers were mocking him as well, coming up to him, offering him sour wine, ³⁷ and saying, “If you really are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”

³⁸Now above him there was also this inscription: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

³⁹Then one of the two criminals who were hanging there began to rail at Jesus, saying, “You’re the Messiah, aren’t you? Save yourself and us!” ⁴⁰ But in response, the other criminal rebuked him, saying, “Don’t you even fear God, seeing that you and he are under the same sentence? ⁴¹And in our case, justly so, since we are getting what we deserve for what we did; but this man has done nothing wrong.” ⁴²Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come again in your royal power.”⁹ ⁴³But Jesus said to him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

Jesus Dies on the Cross

⁴⁴It was now about the sixth hour;¹⁰ and darkness came over the entire land until the ninth hour, for the light of the sun had been withdrawn; ⁴⁵and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. ⁴⁶And after crying out with a loud voice, Jesus said, “Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit.”¹¹ And after saying that, he breathed his last. ⁴⁷Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he gave God glory, saying, “Surely this man was innocent!”¹² ⁴⁸And when all the crowds which had assembled for this spectacle saw what had happened, they headed back to their homes, beating their breasts. ⁴⁹But all who knew him—including the women who had followed him from Galilee—stood at a distance, watching these things.

Jesus Laid to Rest in Joseph’s Tomb

⁵⁰Now there was¹³ a man by the name of Joseph, a member of the Sanhedrin, who hailed from the Jewish city of Arimathea. He was a good and righteous man ⁵¹(he had not consented to the council’s plan and action) who was eagerly waiting for the kingdom of God. ⁵²Going in to Pilate, he asked him for the body of Jesus. ⁵³Then, after taking down the body, he wrapped it in a linen cloth and placed him in a tomb hewn out of rock, a tomb where no one had yet been laid to rest. ⁵⁴Now it was the day of preparation, and the Sabbath was about to begin. ⁵⁵So the women who had come with Jesus out of Galilee followed Joseph; and they observed both the tomb and the way in which Jesus’ body was laid to rest. ⁵⁶After that, they went home and prepared aromatic spices and fragrant oils. Then, in accordance with the commandment, they rested on the Sabbath day.

Notes

Lit. beginning from Galilee as far as here
Lit. after I chastise him
Many mss omit v. 17: Now he was obligated to release one prisoner to them at the feast.
Or desire, decision
Lit. the cross on him to carry
Hos. 10:8
A number of important mss omit this sentence
Or but the rulers also (even) sneered (but see Matt. 27:39-40)
Or in (with) your kingdom; some mss into your kingdom
I.e. noon
Ps. 31:5
Or righteous
Lit. And behold

Resurrection Morning

24 Now on the first day of the week, at early dawn, the women arrived at the tomb carrying the aromatic spices they had prepared. ²But they found that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb; ³and when they went in, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. ⁴Now as they were trying to understand what this meant, two men¹ clothed in shining garments suddenly stood beside them. ⁵And² as the women grew fearful and lowered their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living³ among the dead? ⁶He isn’t here, but has been raised! Remember how he told you when he was still in Galilee ⁷ that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and crucified, but rise again on the third day.” ⁸Then the women remembered Jesus’ words; ⁹and when they had returned from visiting the tomb, they reported all these things to the eleven, and to all the rest of the disciples. ¹⁰ It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women who were with them, who reported these things to the apostles; ¹¹but to them the women’s words seemed like silly talk, and they would not believe them. ¹²Peter, however, jumped up and ran to the tomb; but when he stooped down, he only saw the linen wrappings. So he went back to his home, wondering⁴what had taken place.⁵

Hidden in Plain Sight

¹³And behold, on that very day two of the disciples were traveling to a village called Emmaus, which is about seven miles from Jerusalem; ¹⁴and they were deep in discussion about all that had just taken place. ¹⁵Now while they were conversing and reasoning together, Jesus himself drew near and fell in beside them; ¹⁶but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. ¹⁷So he said to them, “What are you men discussing so intently⁶ as you walk along together?” Then they stood still, looking downcast. ¹⁸And one of them, whose name was Cleopas, replied and said to him, “Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who doesn’t know about the things that recently⁷ happened there?” ¹⁹Jesus said to them, “What things?” So they answered him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet, mighty in word and deed before God and all the people; ²⁰and how the chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and had him crucified. ²¹But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel. And besides all this, it’s now the third day since these things took place. ²² What’s more,⁸ some of the women in our group astonished us, ²³for after they had gone to the tomb at dawn and failed to find his body, they came back telling us they also had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive! ²⁴So some of the men in our group went to the tomb and found it all exactly as the women had said; but they didn’t see Jesus.”

²⁵Then Jesus said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe everything the prophets said! ²⁶Was it not necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and then to enter into his glory?” ²⁷And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he explained to them the things written about himself in all the scriptures.

Sorrow Turned to Joy

²⁸Then they drew near to the village where they were heading; and Jesus acted as if he meant to go farther. ²⁹But they constrained him, saying, “Stay here with us; it’s getting towards evening and the day is nearly done.” So he went in to stay with them. ³⁰Now as he was reclining at the table with them, it so happened that he took up the bread and blessed it; and when he had broken it, he began to hand it out to them. ³¹And at this their eyes were opened and they recognized him—after which he vanished from their sight! ³² Then they said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us⁹ as he spoke to us on the road, and as he opened the scriptures to us?” ³³So at that very hour they got up and went back to Jerusalem; and when they arrived, they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, ³⁴all exclaiming, “The Lord really has been raised; and he has appeared to Simon!” ³⁵Then the two disciples began relating the things that had happened to them on the road, and how he was revealed¹⁰ to them at the breaking of the bread.

Christ in the Midst

³⁶Now as they were speaking about these things, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them; and he said to them, “Peace be with you.” ³⁷But they were startled and frightened, thinking that they were seeing a spirit. ³⁸So he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your heart? ³⁹Look at my hands and my feet, and see that it is I myself! Touch me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I do.” ⁴⁰And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. ⁴¹Then, while they were still in disbelief because of their joy, and while they all stood amazed, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” ⁴²So they handed him a piece of broiled fish; ⁴³and taking it from them, he ate it before their very eyes.

Christ in the Scriptures

⁴⁴And he said to them, “This is what I told you¹¹ when I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” ⁴⁵Then he opened their minds¹² to understand the scriptures. ⁴⁶And he said to them, “Thus it was written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. ⁴⁸You all are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹And behold, I am about to send the promise of my Father upon you; but wait here in the city till you are clothed with power from on high.”

The Ascension

⁵⁰ And he led them out as far as Bethany; and lifting up his hands, he blessed them. ⁵¹Now it came about that as he was bestowing the blessing, he departed from them and was taken up into heaven. ⁵²So after they had knelt down and worshiped him,¹³ they returned to Jerusalem with great joy. ⁵³And they were continually in the courts of the temple,¹⁴ praising God.

Notes

Lit. it happened that two men
Or But
Or the Living One
Or marveling at
Lit. departed, wondering to himself what had happened
Lit. What are these matters (words) that you are exchanging with one another
Lit. in these days
Lit. But also
Some early mss omit within us
Lit. made known
Lit. These are the words (things) that I spoke to you
Lit. mind
Lit. they had worshiped him
Lit. in the temple

Published: 1 February 2017

Written by Dean Davis

No comments

The Forerunner

1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.¹

²As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I am sending my messenger before your face; he will prepare your way.² ³The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; straighten out his paths!’”³

⁴John the Baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵So the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him; and he was baptizing them in the Jordan river as they confessed their sins. ⁶Now John was clothed in camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. ⁷And this was the message he proclaimed: “One far stronger than I is coming after me, and I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandal. ⁸I myself have baptized you in⁴ water, but he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.”

Jesus Baptized

⁹During those days it came about that Jesus arrived from Nazareth of Galilee; and John baptized him in the Jordan. ¹⁰And just as he came up out of the water, he saw the heavens parting and the Spirit coming down to him like a dove; ¹¹and a voice came out of the heavens, saying, “You are my beloved Son; in you I am well pleased.”

Tempted in the Wilderness

¹² And at once the Spirit immediately drove Jesus out into the wilderness; ¹³and he was in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was also with the wild beasts; and the angels were ministering to his needs.⁵

Jesus’ Ministry Begins

¹⁴Now after John had been handed over to the authorities, Jesus came into Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God, ¹⁵and saying, “The appointed time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”

The First Disciples Called

¹⁶And as he was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew (Simon’s brother) casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. ¹⁷And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” ¹⁸So at once they left their nets and followed him. ¹⁹Going on a little farther, he saw James, the son of Zebedee, and John, his brother, who were also in their boat, preparing their nets. ²⁰And immediately he called them. So leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, they followed him.

Deliverance at Capernaum

²¹Then they came to Capernaum; and on the Sabbath day Jesus immediately entered the synagogue and began to teach.^{6 22}And the people⁷ were amazed at his teaching; for unlike the scribes, he was teaching them as one who had authority. ²³Now at that time there was a man in their synagogue who had an unclean spirit; and the man cried out, ²⁴saying, “What have we to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” ²⁵But Jesus rebuked the spirit, saying, “Be quiet and come out of him!” ²⁶And throwing the man into a convulsion, the unclean spirit came out of him with a great cry. ²⁷Then all the people stood amazed, so much so that they were constantly discussing him among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching that comes with authority! He even commands the unclean spirits—and they obey him!” ²⁸And immediately the news of him spread throughout the entire region surrounding Galilee.

Healing After Sunset

²⁹As soon as they had left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, together with James and John. ³⁰Now Simon’s mother-in-law was lying in bed, sick with a fever; and they immediately told Jesus about her. ³¹So going over to her, he took her by the hand and raised her up; and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

³²Now after sunset that evening, the people began to bring him all who were sick and oppressed by demons; ³³and the whole town was gathered together at the door. ³⁴Then he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and drove out many demons. But he would not allow the demons to speak, for they knew who he was.⁸

Preaching in Galilee

³⁵Now early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went out to a solitary place; and there he entered into prayer. ³⁶So Simon and those who were with him went looking for him; ³⁷and when they found him they said to him, “Everyone is looking for you!” ³⁸But he said to them, “We must go on⁹ to the neighboring towns, so that I can preach there as well; for this is the reason I came forth.”¹⁰ ³⁹So he traveled throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

A Leper is Cleansed

⁴⁰Now a leper came up to Jesus, imploring him¹¹ and saying to him, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” ⁴¹So Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, “I am willing: Be cleansed!” ⁴²And at once the leprosy left him and he was cleansed. ⁴³Then, after warning the leper, he immediately sent him off, ⁴⁴telling him, “See that you say nothing of this to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing the things that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” ⁴⁵But when the man left, he began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the story far and wide, so much so that Jesus could no longer enter any town openly, but had to remain outside in uninhabited areas. And the people were coming¹² to him from every direction.

Notes

A few older mss omit the Son of God
Mal. 3:1
Is. 40:3
Or with
Lit. to him
Or was teaching
Lit. they
Lit. they knew him
Or Let us go elsewhere
Or came out (here)
Many mss imploring him and kneeling before him
Or began to come

A Paralytic Forgiven and Healed

2 Now after several days Jesus came again to Capernaum; and the news went out¹ that he was at home. ²As a result, so many people gathered around the house that there was no longer any room for them, not even near the door. And he proclaimed the word to them.

³Then a crowd² came to him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. ⁴And since they couldn’t bring the man to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above the spot where Jesus was; and when they had dug through it, they lowered the makeshift bed on which the paralytic was lying. ⁵ So when he saw their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”

⁶ Now some of the scribes were sitting there, reasoning in their hearts, saying, ⁷“Why is this man speaking like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” ⁸But Jesus, knowing at once within his spirit that they were harboring such thoughts,³ said to them, “Why do you question⁴ these things in your hearts? ⁹ Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, pick up your bed, and walk’? ¹⁰But so that you may know the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . .”—then he said to the paralytic— ¹¹“I say to you, get up, take up your bed, and go home.” ¹² And the man arose, immediately picked up his bed, and went out in full view of them all, with the result that they were beside themselves with wonder; and they began to glorify God, saying, “Never before have we seen anything like this!”

Levi Called

¹³ Once again Jesus went out beside the sea; and the whole crowd came out to him, and he taught them. ¹⁴ Now as he was passing by, he saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting at the tax booth. So he said to him, “Follow me.” And Levi got up and followed him.

¹⁵Now it so happened that Jesus was reclining at the table in Levi’s house, and that many tax collectors and sinners were dining with him and his disciples; for many such people were following him.⁵ ¹⁶ So when the scribes of the Pharisees saw that he was eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they began to ask⁶ his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” ¹⁷ But when Jesus overheard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician—only those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

A Covenant of Joy

¹⁸ Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. So they came up and said to Jesus, “Why do John’s disciples and those of the Pharisees fast, but yours do not?” ¹⁹ Then Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom⁷ fast while the bridegroom is present with them? No, as long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. ²⁰ But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken from them, and then, in those days, they will fast. ²¹ No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth onto an old garment; otherwise the patch pulls away from it—the new from the old—and the tear is made worse. ²² Nor does anyone put new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins will be ruined. Instead, they put new wine into new wineskins.”

The Lord of the Sabbath

²³ Now it so happened that Jesus was passing through the grain fields on a Sabbath day; and as they were going along, his disciples began picking⁸ the heads of grain. ²⁴ So the Pharisees said to him, “See here, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” ²⁵ But he said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was hungry and in need, both he and those who were with him; ²⁶ how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest and ate the showbread, which is unlawful for anyone to eat except the priests; and how he also gave some to the men who were with him?” ²⁷ Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. ²⁸ Consequently, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”⁹

Notes

Lit. it was heard
Lit. they
Lit. reasoning this way within themselves
Or reason about, think
Lit. for they were many, and they were following him
Or kept asking
Or wedding guests, best men; lit. sons of the wedding hall
Or were picking
Or possibly is Lord of the Sabbath as well

Doing Good on the Sabbath

3 Once again he entered the synagogue, and a man with a withered hand was there. ² So some of those in attendance¹ began to watch Jesus closely, to see if he would heal the man² on the Sabbath, so that they could bring charges against him. ³ So Jesus said to the man with the withered hand, “Stand up and come forward.”³ ⁴Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath, or evil; to save a life or let it perish?” But they kept silent. ⁵ Then, looking around at them in anger, and grieved at the hardness of their hearts, he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was healed. ⁶ So immediately after leaving the synagogue, the Pharisees, together with the Herodians, began plotting against him as to how they might put him to death.

Thronging the Healer

⁷ Then Jesus, along with his disciples, withdrew to the sea; and great crowds from Galilee followed him. Moreover, many people from Judea, ⁸ Jerusalem, Idumea, the regions across the Jordan, and the vicinity of Tyre and Sidon came to him when they heard about the things he was doing. ⁹ So he told his disciples that because of the crowd they should keep a small boat ready for him, for fear that the crowd⁴ might crush him; ¹⁰ for he had healed so many people that all who were sick and afflicted kept pressing in on him in order to touch him. ¹¹ And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, saying, “You are the Son of God!” ¹² But he would sharply command them not to make him known.

The Twelve

¹³ And he went up on the mountain and called for certain⁵ disciples whom he wanted; and they came to him. ¹⁴ And he appointed twelve (whom he also called apostles)⁶ so that they would be with him, and that he might send them out to preach ¹⁵ with⁷ the authority to drive out demons. ¹⁶So he appointed the twelve: Simon, whom he named Peter, ¹⁷ James the son of Zebedee, John the brother of James (these two he named Boanerges, which means, “Sons of Thunder”), ¹⁸ Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot,⁸ ¹⁹ and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

²⁰ Then he came home.⁹ But once again a crowd gathered around, so much so that he and his disciples¹⁰ could not even take a meal. ²¹ But when his family heard about it, they set out, intending to seize and restrain him, for they were saying, “He’s beside himself!”

The Unpardonable Sin

²² Now the scribes who had come down from Jerusalem kept saying, “He has Beelzebul,” and, “He’s driving out demons by the ruler of the demons.” ²³ So Jesus summoned them and began speaking to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan? ²⁴ If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. ²⁵ If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. ²⁶ And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but has come to an end.^{11 27} Moreoever,¹² no one can enter a strong man’s house and carry off his property unless he first ties up the strong man; then he can plunder his house.¹³ ²⁸ I tell you the truth: all sins will be forgiven to the sons of men, including whatever blasphemies they may utter. ²⁹ But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin ” ³⁰ (for they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit”).

“Who is My Mother?”

³¹ Then his mother and his brothers arrived; and standing outside, they sent word to him, calling for him. ³² Now a crowd was seated around him. So they said to him, “Look, your mother and your brothers are outside, asking for you.” ³³ But answering them, he said, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” ³⁴ And casting his eyes on those who were seated around him, he said, “Here are¹⁴ my mother and my brothers! ³⁵ For whoever does the will of God, that is my brother and sister and mother.”

Notes

Lit. they
Lit. him
Lit. Stand up into the midst
Lit. they
Lit. those
Some mss omit this phrase
Lit. and to have
Lit. Cananean, thought to derive from the Aramaic word for Zealot (see Luke 6:15)
Or came into a house
Lit. they
Lit. but he has an end
Lit. but
Lit. and then he will plunder his house
Lit. Behold

The Parable of the Soils

4 Once again he began to teach beside the sea. And a great crowd gathered around him, so great that he stepped into a boat offshore¹ and sat down, while the whole multitude remained on the land facing the sea. ² Then, using parables, he taught them many things. And in his teaching he said to them, ³“Behold, the sower went out to sow. ⁴And as he was sowing, it happened that some of the seed fell beside the path, and the birds came and devoured it. ⁵ Meanwhile, other seed fell on rocky ground where there wasn’t much soil;² and because its soil was not deep, it immediately sprang up. ⁶But when the sun had risen, the plant was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. ⁷ Again, other seed fell among the thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, so that it produced no crop. ⁸However, still other seed fell on good soil; and when it sprouted and grew up, it produced a crop, some yielding thirty, some sixty, and some a hundredfold.” ⁹ Then he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

The Purpose of Parables

¹⁰ Now when he was alone, those who were gathered around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. ¹¹ So he said to them, “To you the mystery of the kingdom of God has been given; but to those on the outside all things come in parables, ¹² so that though they see, they may see and not perceive; and though they hear, they may hear and not understand, lest they should turn back and be forgiven.”³

The Parable of the Soils Explained

¹³ And he said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any of the parables? ¹⁴ The sower sows the word. ¹⁵ Now these are the ones beside the path where the word is sown: As soon as they hear, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. ¹⁶ And these are the ones who are sown on stony ground: As soon as they hear the word, they receive it with joy; ¹⁷ but since they have no root within themselves, they only remain for a little while. Then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, they immediately take offense and fall away.⁴ ¹⁸ Others are the ones sown among the thorns: These are those who have heard the word, ¹⁹ but the cares of the present age,⁵the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desire for other things enter in and⁶ choke the word, so that it becomes unfruitful. ²⁰ But these are the ones sown on the good soil: They hear the word, receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirty, some sixty, and some a hundredfold.”

Light for the Whole House

²¹ And he said to them, “Do people bring in a lamp to put it under a basket or under a bed? Shouldn’t it be placed on the lampstand? ²² For there is nothing hidden that isn’t meant to be revealed; nor has anything been kept secret that isn’t meant to come to light. ²³ If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” ²⁴ And he said to them, “Pay close attention to what you hear: The measure you use will be the measure used for you—and more will be added to you. ²⁵ For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he does have will be taken from him.”

The Parable of the Growing Seed

²⁶ And he said, “The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground; ²⁷ then, night and day, he goes to bed and gets up, and the seed sprouts and grows, while he himself does not know how. ²⁸ For the ground brings forth the crop all on its own: first the stalk, then the head, and then the full grain in the head. ²⁹ But as soon as the crop is ready, the man immediately puts in the sickle, for the time to harvest has arrived.”

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

³⁰ And he he said, “To what can we liken the kingdom of God, or with what sort of parable can we represent it? ³¹ It’s like a mustard seed sown into the ground: Though smaller than all the other seeds in the ground, ³² once it is sown it grows up to become the largest of all the garden plants, and it sends out branches so big that the wild brids⁷ can nest beneath its shade.”⁸

³³ And according to their ability to hear, Jesus used many such parables to speak the word to them; ³⁴ but he would not speak to them without a parable. Nevertheless, in private he would explain everything to his own disciples.

Lord of Wind and Waves

³⁵ Now on the same day, when evening had arrived, he said to them, “Let’s cross over to the other side.” ³⁶ So leaving the crowd behind, the disciples⁹ took him with them in the boat, just as he was; and other boats were with him as well. ³⁷ Then a fierce gale arose on the sea, and the waves kept breaking into the boat, so much so that the boat was nearly swamped. ³⁸ But Jesus himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. So they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to die?” ³⁹ Then he got up, sharply¹⁰ commanded the wind, and said to the sea, “Hush! Be still!” And the wind died down, and a great calm fell upon the waters. ⁴⁰ And he said to the men, “Why are you so afraid? Are you still without any faith at all?” ⁴¹ Then great fear took hold of them,¹¹ and they began saying to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

Notes

Lit. on the sea
Lit. it did not have much soil
Is. 6:9-10
Lit. immediately stumble
Lit. worries (preoccupations) of the age
Lit. the desires for other things continually coming in
Lit. birds of the air
See Ezek. 31:6
Lit. they
Or After (fully) waking up, he sharply
Lit. they feared a great fear

The Gerasene Demoniac

5 Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the territory of the Gerasenes. ² Now as soon as Jesus stepped out of the boat, a man with an unclean spirit emerged from the tombs and met him. ³ This man¹ was now living among the tombs; and no longer was anyone able to restrain him, not even with a chain ⁴(for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but had torn the chains apart and broken the shackles in pieces; and no one was strong enough to subdue him). ⁵ Moreover, all night and all day—both among the tombs and in the mountains—he would cry out and gash himself with stones. ⁶ Now when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran up and knelt down before him; ⁷ and crying out with a loud voice, he said, “Jesus, Son of the Most High God, why have you come?² I implore you by God: Do not torment me!” ⁸ (For Jesus had been saying to him, “You unclean spirit, come out of the man!”) ⁹ Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” So he said to him, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” ¹⁰ Then the spirit began to beg him repeatedly³ that he would not send them away from that region. ¹¹ Now a large herd of pigs was feeding on a nearby hillside, ¹² and the spirits⁴ pleaded with him, saying, “Send us over to the pigs so that we can enter them.” ¹³ Then he allowed them to do so; and coming out of the man, the unclean spirits entered the pigs; and the herd—about two thousand in number—rushed down a steep slope into the sea and drowned.⁵

¹⁴ Then the men who were feeding the pigs ran off and spread the news of these things in the city and the neighboring villages. So the people went out to see what had happened. ¹⁵ And they came to Jesus and saw the man who had been possessed by the demons sitting down, clothed, and in his right mind—the very one who had had the legion; and they were gripped with fear. ¹⁶ Then the men who had seen what happened to the demon-possessed man told the people about it, and about the pigs as well. ¹⁷ So they all began pleading with Jesus, that he would leave their territory. ¹⁸ Now as he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed by the demons begged him that he might remain with him. ¹⁹But Jesus would not let him; instead, he said to the man, “Go home to your people and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how he has shown you mercy.”⁶ ²⁰ So the man departed and began proclaiming in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and everyone stood amazed.

A Father’s Plea, a Woman’s Healing

²¹ Now when Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him; and he remained there beside the sea. ²² Then one of the rulers of the synagogue, a man by the name of Jairus, came to Jesus; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet ²³ and pleaded with him, saying, “My little daughter is lying at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” ²⁴ So Jesus went with him.

Now a large crowd was following him, pressing in on him from every side; ²⁵ and a certain woman, plagued with a discharge of blood for twelve years, was there among them. ²⁶ The woman had suffered many things from many physicians, and spent everything she had; yet she had not been helped at all, but instead grew worse. ²⁷ So hearing about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak; ²⁸ for she was saying to herself, “If only I can touch his clothes, I will be healed.” ²⁹ And at once the fountain of her blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she had been healed of her affliction. ³⁰ But knowing within himself that power had gone out of him, Jesus quickly turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” ³¹ So his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing in around you, and you ask, ‘Who touched me?’” ³²But he kept looking around to see who it was who had done this. ³³ Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before him in fear and trembling; and she told him the whole truth. ³⁴ So he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well.⁷ Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”

At Jairus’ House

³⁵ Now while he was still speaking, certain men from the house of the ruler of the synagogue came up to Jairus, saying, “Your daughter has died. Why trouble the Teacher any longer?” ³⁶ But Jesus, overhearing⁸ what they were saying, said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Don’t be afraid; only believe.” ³⁷ And from then on he allowed no one but Peter, James, and John (the brother of James) to follow along with him. ³⁸So they arrived at the house of the ruler of the synagogue; and there he observed a great commotion, with people weeping and wailing at the top of their voices.⁹ ³⁹ So when he went in, he said to them, “Why weep and make such an uproar? The child is not dead, but only sleeps.” ⁴⁰ So they began to laugh at him. But putting them all outside, he took the child’s father and mother, as well as the disciples who were with him, and entered the room where the child was lying. ⁴¹ Then, taking hold of the child’s hand, he said to her, “Talitha, koum,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!” ⁴² And at once the girl got up and began walking around (for she was twelve years old). And they were beside themselves with astonishment. ⁴³ But he strictly charged them that no one was must know about this; and he ordered¹⁰ that something should be given to her to eat.

Notes

Lit. who
Lit. What to me and to you? See Matt. 8:29
Or earnestly, desperately
Lit. they
Lit. drowned in the sea
Or compassion
Lit. saved you
Or ignoring
Or incessantly; lit. much, many
Lit. said

A Prophet Without Honor

6 Then he went out from there and entered his hometown; and his disciples followed him. ² Now when the Sabbath arrived, he began to teach in the synagogue. And when they heard him speak, many among them were amazed, saying, “Where did this man get these things?” and, “What sort of wisdom has been granted to him, so that¹ mighty miracles are performed through his hands? ³ Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not his sisters living here with us?” So they stumbled over what they saw in him. ⁴But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, among his own relatives, and in his own house.” ⁵ So in that place he could perform no work of power, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. ⁶ And he marveled at their unbelief.

The Twelve Sent Out

Now Jesus was circulating among the villages, teaching the people. ⁷ And he called the twelve to himself and began sending them out two by two. As he did so, he gave them² authority over the unclean spirits. ⁸ He also commanded them to take nothing on the journey except a single staff—no bread, no sack, no money in their belts— ⁹ but to put on sandals, and not to wear two tunics. ¹⁰ And he said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town.³ ¹¹ And whatever town will not receive you or listen to you, as you leave it, shake off the dust beneath your feet as a testimony against them.” ¹² So they went out and preached that everyone⁴ should repent. ¹³ And they were driving out many demons, and were anointing many sick people with oil and healing them.

John the Baptizer Beheaded

¹⁴ Now king Herod heard about Jesus, for his name had become well known. For some were saying, “John the Baptizer has been raised from the dead, and this is why miraculous powers are at work within him.” ¹⁵ But others were saying, “He is Elijah.” Meanwhile, still others were saying, “He’s a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” ¹⁶ But when Herod heard about Jesus, he said, “John, the man I beheaded, has been raised!” ¹⁷ For Herod himself had sent out men, taken John into custody, and chained him up in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip; for he had married her. ¹⁸ For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” ¹⁹ So Herodias bore a grudge against him and wanted to kill him; but she could do nothing, ²⁰ for Herod stood in fear of John and protected him, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man. Now when Herod heard John speak, he was troubled and perplexed;⁵ yet he still enjoyed listening to him.

²¹ But when Herod hosted a banquet on his birthday for his high officials, military commanders, and the leading men of Galilee, an opportunity⁶ presented itself. ²² For when the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced for them, she pleased Herod and those who were seated with him. So the king said to the girl, “Ask of me whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” ²³ Moreover, he swore to her with an oath, saying, “Whatever you request, I will give it to you, up to half my kingdom.” ²⁴ So she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptizer!” ²⁵ So at once she hurried back in to the king and made her request, saying, “I want you to give me, right now, the head of John the Baptizer on a platter.” ²⁶ And though the king was deeply distressed by this, he was not willing to refuse her because of the oaths he had sworn, and because of the people who were seated with him. ²⁷ So immediately he sent out an executioner with orders to bring back John’s head. And after going his way, the executioner beheaded John in the prison, ²⁸ brought back his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. ²⁹ Now when John’s disciples heard about this, they came and took away his dead body and laid it in a tomb.

The Feeding of the Five Thousand

³⁰ Meanwhile, the apostles gathered around Jesus and told him about all they had done and taught. ³¹ So he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a little.” (For so many people were coming and going that⁷ they didn’t even have time to eat.) ³² So all by themselves they departed in the boat for an isolated place. ³³ But the people saw them leaving, and many of them recognized Jesus. So together they hurried along on foot from all the towns, and they arrived there ahead of him. ³⁴ Therefore, when Jesus stepped out of the boat, he saw a great crowd; and he was moved with compassion for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.

³⁵ Now when the day was far spent, Jesus’ disciples came to him and said, “This is an uninhabited place, and it is getting late.⁸ ³⁶ Send the people away so they can go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” ³⁷ But Jesus answered and said to them, “You give them something to eat!” So they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” ³⁸ But he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” ³⁹ Then he instructed them to have everyone sit down in groups on the green grass. ⁴⁰ So they sat down in companies of hundreds and fifties. ⁴¹ And when he had received the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up into heaven, offered thanks,⁹ broke the loaves, and gave¹⁰ portions to his disciples to set before the people;¹¹ and he also divided up the two fish among them all. ⁴² S0 all the people ate and were filled to satisfaction. ⁴³ And they picked up the fragments of the bread and the fish: twelve basketsful. ⁴⁴Now those who had partaken of the loaves numbered¹² five thousand men.

A Walk on the Water

⁴⁵ Immediately after this, Jesus had his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he himself was dismissing the crowd. ⁴⁶ And after he had taken leave of them,¹³ he went up into the mountain to pray. ⁴⁷ Now when the evening hours had fully come, the boat was in the midst of the sea and Jesus was all by himself on the land. ⁴⁸ And seeing them straining at the oars (for the wind was against them), he came to them around the fourth watch of the night,¹⁴ walking on the sea; and he intended to pass them by. ⁴⁹ But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought he was a ghost and cried out; ⁵⁰ for they all saw him and were terrified. But at once he spoke to them, and said, “Take heart! It is I; don’t be afraid!” ⁵¹ Then he got up into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were beside themselves with wonder and amazement. ⁵² For they had not grasped the meaning of the miracle of the loaves, for their hearts were still hardened.

Healings in Gennesaret

⁵³ Now when they had finished crossing over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and moored the boat near the shore.^{15 54} And when they got out of the boat, the people recognized him at once. ⁵⁵So they ran through that entire region and began to bring all those who were sick on makeshift beds to wherever they heard he was. ⁵⁶And wherever he would go—into villages, towns, or country hamlets—the people would lay the sick in the marketplaces; and they would beg of him that they might simply touch hem of his garment. And as many as touched him were healed.¹⁶

Notes

Lit. What is the wisdom given to him so that
Lit. and he was giving them
Lit. that place
Lit. they
Lit. uncertain, disturbed; many mss did many things
Lit. an opportune day
Lit. and
Lit. the hour is already late
Lit. blessed (them)
Lit. was giving, kept giving
Lit. them
Lit. were; some mss those who had eaten numbered
Or sent them off; bid them farewell
I.e. 3-6 AM
Or anchored there
Lit. touched him (it) were saved

“They Worship Me in Vain”

7 Now the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered together around Jesus. ² And they noticed that some of his disciples were eating bread with “unclean” hands (that is, with unwashed hands). ³ For the Pharisees and all the Jews, holding strictly to the traditions of the elders, will not eat unless they first have performed a ceremonial washing; ⁴ likewise, when they come back from the marketplace they will not eat unless they have washed in just this way.¹ And there are many other traditions² that they have received and hold to,³ such as the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and dining couches.⁴

⁵ So the Pharisees and scribes asked him, “Why is it that your disciples do not walk according to the traditions of the elders, but eat their bread with unclean hands?” ⁶ But Jesus said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites. As it is written, ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. ⁷But they worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’⁵ ⁸ Having turned from the commandment of God, you are holding to the tradition of men.”

⁹ Moreover, he said to them, “How cleverly you nullify⁶ the commandment of God so that you can set up⁷ your own tradition. ¹⁰ For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’⁸ and ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’^{9 11} But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, “Anything of mine that might have been of help to you is Corban” (that is, dedicated as a gift to God), then he is free.‘ ¹²Thus, you no longer permit him do anything for his father or his mother, ¹³ thereby nullifying the word of God through the¹⁰ tradition you have handed down. And you do many other such things.”

Uncleanness Is from Within

¹⁴ Then, after summoning the crowd once again, he said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: ¹⁵ There is nothing outside of a man that can make him unclean when it enters into him. Rather, it is the things that come out of the man—those are the things that make him unclean. ¹⁶ If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”¹¹

¹⁷ Now when he had left the crowd and entered a house, his disciples questioned him about the parable. ¹⁸ And he said to them, “Are you, then, also without understanding? Don’t you realize that whatever enters a man from the outside cannot make him unclean, since it doesn’t enter his heart, but first goes into his stomach, and afterwards into the latrine?”¹²(In saying this, Jesus was declaring all foods clean.) ²⁰ Then he went on to say, “It is what comes out of a man that makes him unclean. ²¹ For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, sexual immoralities, thefts, ²² murders, adulteries, covetings, malicious¹³ deeds, deceit, unbridled lust, an evil eye,¹⁴ abusive speech, pride, and foolishness. ²³ All these evils come from within and make the man unclean.”

A Gentile Daughter Full of Faith

²⁴ Then Jesus stood up, left that place, and came into the vicinity of Tyre. Now after entering a certain house, he wanted no one to know of his presence. But he was unable to remain concealed, ²⁵ for¹⁵as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit came to him and fell down at his feet. ²⁶ Now the woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by birth; and she kept begging him to drive the demon out of her daughter. ²⁷ But Jesus said to her, “Let the children be filled first; it isn’t proper to take the children’s bread and throw it to the household dogs.” ²⁸ But in reply she said to him, “Yes Lord, but even the household dogs beneath the table feed on the children’s crumbs.” ²⁹ So he said to her, “Because of this that you have said,¹⁶ go your way: The demon has gone out of your daughter.” ³⁰ And when she had returned to her house, she found her daughter lying on the bed and the demon gone.

“He Has Done All Things Well!”

³¹ And departing once again from the vicinity of Tyre, he went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee in¹⁷ the region of the Decapolis. ³² Then some people¹⁸ brought him a man who was deaf and who spoke with great difficulty; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. ³³ So after taking him aside in private, far from the crowd, Jesus placed his fingers in his ears; and after spitting, he touched his tongue. ³⁴ Then, looking up into heaven, he sighed and said to the man, “Ephphatha”— that is, “Be opened!” ³⁵ And at once the man’s ears were opened and the shackle on his tongue removed, so that¹⁹ now he spoke clearly. ³⁶ Then Jesus strictly charged them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them to say nothing, the more they kept proclaiming it. ³⁷ And they were amazed beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well! He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak!”

Notes

Lit. dipped, immersed
Lit. things
Lit. that they have received to hold onto
Some mss omit dining couches
Is. 29:13
Or reject
Some mss keep in place, hold, observe
Ex. 20:12; Deut. 5:16
Ex. 21:17
Lit. your
Many mss omit this verse
Lit. and it proceeds into the latrine
Or wicked
Or envy, jealousy
Lit. but
Lit. this word
Or (passing) through
Lit. they
Lit. and

The Feeding of the Four Thousand

8 In those days, when again there was a large crowd with nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples and said to them, ² “I’m concerned about the crowd, because they’ve stayed with me for three days now, and they have nothing to eat. ³ If I send them to their homes hungry, they will weaken along the way, and some of them have come from a great distance.”⁴ But his disciples answered him, saying, “Where could anyone get enough bread here in the wilderness to satisfy all these people?”⁵ He asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven.”⁶ So he instructed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And after taking the seven loaves and giving thanks, he broke them and began giving portions to his disciples to set before the crowd; and they did so. ⁷They also had a few small fish; and after he had blessed¹ them, he said that these too should be served to the people. ⁸ So they all ate and were filled; and they picked up the fragments that were left over: seven basketsful. ⁹ Now about four thousand men were present. So he sent them on their way; ¹⁰ and immediately he entered the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha.

A Wicked Generation Seeks a Sign

¹¹ Then the Pharisees came out and began to argue with him, asking him for a sign from heaven, putting him to a test. ¹² But sighing deeply in his spirit, Jesus said, “Why does this generation keep asking for² a sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to this generation.” ¹³ And turning away them, he got back into the boat and left for the other side.

The Leaven of the Pharisees

¹⁴ Now the disciples had forgotten to take along bread, and they only had a single loaf with them in the boat. ¹⁵ Meanwhile, Jesus was admonishing them, saying, “Watch out! Be on your guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” ¹⁶ So they began to think together about the fact that they had no bread. ¹⁷ But Jesus, knowing this, said to them, “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Have your hearts been hardened? ¹⁸ Do you have eyes, yet fail to see? And do you have ears, yet fail to hear? And do you not remember? ¹⁹ When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketsful of fragments did you pick up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” ²⁰ “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many large basketsful of fragments did you pick up?” And they said, “Seven.” ²¹ Then he said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

A Blind Man Healed in Bethsaida

²² Then he came to Bethsaida, where some of the people³ brought him a blind man; and they were pleading with Jesus to touch him. ²³ So taking the blind man by the hand, he led him out of the town. And when he had spit into his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” ²⁴ So after looking up, the man said, “I know I’m seeing men,⁴ because they look like walking trees!” ²⁵ Then Jesus again placed his hands on his eyes; and the man⁵ looked steadily ahead⁶ and was completely restored, so that now he could see all things clearly. ²⁶ And Jesus sent him away to his house, saying, “Don’t even enter the town.”

“Who Do You Say That I Am?”

²⁷ Then Jesus and his disciples went out to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the road he began to question his disciples, saying to them, “Who do men say that I am?” ²⁸ So they answered him, saying, “John the Baptist. But others say Elijah; and still others, that you are one of the prophets.” ²⁹ But he continued to question them: “And what about you; who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to him, “You are the Messiah.” ³⁰ And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.⁷

Jesus’ Death and Resurrection Foretold

³¹ Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. ³² Moreover, he was speaking freely⁸ about the matter. So Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. ³³ But turning around and seeing⁹ his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, “Get behind me, Satan; for your mind is not set on the things of God, but the things of men.”

The Way of a Disciple

³⁴ And when he had summoned both the crowd and¹⁰ his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. ³⁵ For whoever desires to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. ³⁶ For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? ³⁷ For what can¹¹ a man give in exchange for his soul? ³⁸ For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man will likewise be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with all the holy angels.”

Notes

Or given thanks for
Or seek, keep seeking
Lit. Bethsaida, and they
Lit. I see men
Lit. he
Or opened his eyes (saw clearly, looked intently)
Or it (i.e. his being the Messiah)
Or openly, plainly
Or looking at
Lit. summoned the crowd with
Lit. will

9 Then he said to them, “I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they have seen the kingdom of God coming in power.”

The Transfiguration

²Now six days later, Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John; and he brought them up onto a high mountain where they were all by themselves. And there before them his appearance was suddenly changed, ³ and his clothes became radiant, exceedingly white, whiter than any launderer on earth could ever make them.¹ ⁴ Then Elijah appeared to them, along with Moses; and the two of them² were conversing with Jesus. ⁵ Responding to these things, Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here! So let us prepare three shelters: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” ⁶(He said this because he had no idea how to respond, for they all were deathly afraid.) ⁷ Then a cloud appeared and hovered over them;³ and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son: Listen to him!” ⁸ And suddenly, as they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus alone.

⁹ Now as they were coming down from the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about the things they had seen, not until the Son of Man should rise from the dead. ¹⁰ So they kept the matter to themselves, discussing⁴ what “rising from the dead” might mean. ¹¹ Then they began to question him, saying, “Why do the scribes say Elijah must come first?” ¹² So he said to them, “Elijah does indeed come first and restore all things. Yet how is it written of the Son of Man that he must suffer many things and be treated with contempt? ¹³ Nevertheless, I tell you that Elijah has already come,⁵ and they did to him whatever they wished, just as it is written of him.”

A Boy Set Free

¹⁴ Now when the four of them⁶came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd gathered around them, and some scribes arguing with them. ¹⁵ And as soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were filled with excitement⁷ and ran to greet him. ¹⁶ So he asked the scribes, “What are you arguing about with them?” ¹⁷ Then a man⁸ in the crowd answered him, saying, “Teacher, I brought you my son who has a spirit that makes him mute. ¹⁸ Whenever it seizes him, it throws him down on the ground; and he foams at the mouth, clenches⁹ his teeth, and stiffens out. And I told this to your disciples so that they might drive it out; but they could not.” ¹⁹ Then, in response to them all, Jesus said, “O unbelieving generation, how much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me!”

²⁰ So they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the child into a convulsion; and falling to the ground, he rolled about, foaming at the mouth. ²¹ So Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From his childhood. ²² Again and again it throws him into fire or water, trying to destroy him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” ²³ But Jesus said to him, “If you can! All things are possible for him who believes.” ²⁴ So at once the boy’s father cried out, saying, “Lord, I do believe; help my unbelief!”

²⁵ Now when Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Mute and deaf spirit, I command you: Come out of him and never enter him again!” ²⁶ And when the spirit had let out a shriek and sent the boy into terrible convulsions, it came out of him; and his body looked so much like a corpse that many were saying, “He’s dead!” ²⁷ But after taking him by the hand, Jesus lifted him to his feet, and the boy stood there on his own.

²⁸ Now when Jesus had entered the house, his disciples began to question him in private, asking, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” ²⁹ So he said to them, “This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.”¹⁰

Jesus Again Foretells His Death and Resurrection

³⁰ Then they left that place and began to pass through Galilee; but he wanted no one to know about it, ³¹ for he was instructing his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill him. But three days after he is killed, he will rise.” ³² But they could not understand what he was saying,¹¹ and they were afraid to ask him about it.

True Greatness

³³ Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he began to question them: “What was it you were discussing on the road?” ³⁴ But they kept silent, for on the road they had been arguing among themselves about who was¹² the greatest. ³⁵ So after sitting down, he called the twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, let him be last of all, and servant of all.” ³⁶ Then he took a little child and stood him in the midst of them; and taking the child into his arms, he said to them, ³⁷ “Whoever receives one such child in my name is receiving me; and whoever receives me is not receiving me, but him who sent me.”

Who Is on Our Side?

³⁸ Then John spoke up and said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we told him to stop¹³ because he wasn’t following us.” ³⁹ But Jesus said, “Don’t try to stop him, for no one who works a miracle in my name can soon afterward speak evil of me; ⁴⁰ for he who is not against us is on our side. ⁴¹ For whoever gives you a cup of water because of your name as followers of the Messiah—I tell you the truth, he will by no means lose his reward.

Beware of Stumbling Blocks!

⁴² “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me¹⁴ to stumble, it would be better for him if a huge millstone¹⁵ were hung around his neck, and he himself thrown into the sea. ⁴³And if your own hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life maimed than to have two hands and depart into Gehenna, into the fire that cannot be quenched.¹⁶ ⁴⁵ And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into Gehenna. ⁴⁷ And if your eye causes you to stumble, throw it far from you;¹⁷it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into Gehenna, ⁴⁸ where their worm never dies and the fire is never quenched.¹⁸ ⁴⁹For everyone will be salted with fire. ⁵⁰ Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor,¹⁹ with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and live at peace with one another.”

Notes

Lit. surpassingly white, such as no launderer on earth could whiten
Lit. they
Lit. overshadowing them
Or And they seized upon this word, discussing among themselves
Or possibly that Elijah also has come; lit. has indeed come
Lit. they
Or amazement
Lit. one
Or grinds
Many mss add and fasting
Lit. They were not knowing the word (saying, utterance)
Or would be
Or tried to stop him
Some mss omit in me
Lit. the millstone of a donkey
Some later mss add vv. 44 and 46, which are identical with v. 48
Lit. throw it out
Is. 66:24
Lit. becomes unsalty

Is it Lawful to Divorce?

10 And departing¹ from there, Jesus came into the regions of Judea and Transjordan. Once again crowds gathered around him; and once again, as was his custom, he taught them.

² Now certain Pharisees, in an effort to test him, came up and asked him if it is lawful for a man to divorce his wife. ³ So he answered and said to them, “What did Moses command you?” ⁴ They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and send his wife away.” ⁵ But Jesus said to them, “Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. ⁶But from the beginning of the creation “God made them male and female. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife,² ⁸and the two will become one flesh.³ So then: They are no longer two, but one flesh. ⁹ Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

¹⁰ Now when they were in the house again, the disciples began to ask him about this. ¹¹ So he said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another has committed⁴ adultery against her. ¹² And if she herself divorces her husband and marries another, she has committed adultery.”

Do Not Hinder the Little Children

¹³ Now the people⁵ were bringing him little children so that he might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them. ¹⁴ But when Jesus saw it, he was greatly displeased.⁶ So he said to them, “Let the little children come to me! You mustn’t hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. ¹⁵ I tell you the truth, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it at all.” ¹⁶ And when he had taken some of the children⁷ into his arms, he laid his hands on them and blessed them.

The Rich Young Ruler

¹⁷ Now as he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to him, knelt before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” ¹⁸ So Jesus said to him, “Why are you calling me good? There is only one who is good,⁸and that is God. ¹⁹ You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, and honor your father and your mother.’”⁹ ²⁰ Then the man said to him, “Teacher, I have carefully observed all these things from my youth up.” ²¹ So Jesus, looking at him, loved him; and he said to him, “One thing you lack: Go, sell whatever you have, and give the proceeds to the poor; and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me.” ²² But the man, stunned¹⁰ by this word, went away in sorrow, for he had many possessions.

“Who Then Can Be Saved?”

²³ Therefore, after looking around, Jesus said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” ²⁴ Now the disciples were astonished at his words. But responding once again, Jesus said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” ²⁶ And now they were shocked beyond measure, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?” ²⁷ But turning his gaze on them, Jesus said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”

²⁸ Then Peter began speaking to him: “Look, Lord, we have left everything behind to follow you.” ²⁹ Jesus answered and said, “I tell you the truth: There is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for the sake of me and the gospel, ³⁰ who will not receive now, at this present time, a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and fields, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, he will receive eternal life. ³¹ But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection a Third Time

³² Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And the disciples¹¹ were in awe, and those who followed after them were filled with fear. Then, taking the twelve aside once again, Jesus began to tell them what was going to happen to him. ³³ “Listen!¹² We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the scribes; and they will sentence him to death and hand him over to the Gentiles; ³⁴ and they will mock him, spit on him, scourge him, and kill him. And on the third day he will rise again.”

Kingdom Greatness

³⁵ Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to Jesus and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” ³⁶ So he said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you?” ³⁷ They said to him, “Grant us that in your glory one of us will sit on your right hand, and the other on your left.” ³⁸ But Jesus said to them, “You don’t realize what you are asking for yourselves. Are you able to drink the cup that I will drink, and to be baptized with the baptism that I will undergo?”¹³ ³⁹ They said to him, “We are able.” Then Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink the cup that I will drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I must undergo. ⁴⁰ But to sit on my right or my left is not mine to grant, but belongs to those for whom it has been prepared.”

⁴¹ Now when the ten heard about this, they began to get angry at James and John. ⁴² But calling them to himself, Jesus said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and that their “great ones” wield authority over them. ⁴³ But among you it will not be so; rather, whoever desires to become great among you must be your servant; ⁴⁴ and whoever desires to be first among you must be the slave of all. ⁴⁵ For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

Jesus Heals Blind Bartimaeus

⁴⁶Then they came to Jericho. Now as Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city,¹⁴ a blind beggar (Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road. ⁴⁷ And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” ⁴⁸ Then many of those in the crowd began to rebuke him, telling him to keep quiet; but instead he cried out all the more, saying, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” ⁴⁹ Then Jesus stood still; and he said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man and said to him, “Take courage! Get up! He’s calling for you!” ⁵⁰ So throwing aside his cloak, the man jumped up and came to Jesus. ⁵¹ Then Jesus answered him and said, “What is it that you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Master,¹⁵ that I might regain my sight.” ⁵² Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.”¹⁶ And immediately he regained his sight and began to follow him on the road.

Notes

Lit. having arisen
Many mss add and will be joined to his wife
Gen. 2:24, 2:24
Lit. commits
Lit. they
Or angry, indignant
Lit. them
Lit. No one is good but one
Ex. 20:12-16; Deut. 5:16-20
Or saddened
Lit. they
Lit. Behold
Lit. am baptized with
Lit. Jericho
Greek Rhabbouni, an honorific
Lit. saved you

The Triumphal Entry

11 Now as they drew near to Jerusalem—and came to Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives—Jesus sent out two of his disciples. ² And he said to them, “Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it, you will find a colt that no one has ever ridden,¹ secured there. Untie it and bring it to me. ³ And if anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing that?’ you are to say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here shortly.’ ⁴ So they went their way and found a colt standing outside in the street, secured at a doorway; and they untied it. ⁵ Then some of the men standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” ⁶ So the disciples answered² just as Jesus had told them, and they let them go.³

⁷Then the disciples brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it; and Jesus sat on the colt. ⁸And many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others did the same with leafy branches they had cut down and brought in from the fields. ⁹ And the people who went before him, as well as those who followed behind, all kept crying out, “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’⁴ ¹⁰Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!”

¹¹ Then Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around, surveying all things,⁵ he went out to Bethany with the twelve, since it was already late in the day.⁶

Jesus Curses the Fig Tree

¹² Now the next day, after they had left Bethany, Jesus grew hungry. ¹³ So when he noticed a leafy fig tree in the distance, he went over to see if perhaps he could find some fruit⁷ on it. But when he came up to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not yet the season for figs. ¹⁴ So in response, Jesus said to the tree, “Let no one ever eat fruit from you again!” And his disciples were listening.

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

¹⁵ Then they came to Jerusalem. And after Jesus had entered the temple grounds, he began to drive out those who were buying and selling there.⁸ Moreover, he threw down the tables of the money changers and the seats of the men who were selling doves; ¹⁶ nor would he allow anyone to carry merchandise⁹ through the temple courts. ¹⁷ Then he began to teach. And he said to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’?¹⁰ But you have turned it into a den of thieves!”¹¹ ¹⁸ Now the chief priests and the scribes heard him saying this. And they began to consider how they might put him to death;¹² for they were afraid of him, because the whole crowd stood amazed at his teaching. ¹⁹ And whenever evening arrived, he and his disciples¹³ would go out of the city.

Lessons from the Fig Tree

²⁰ Now in the morning, as they were passing by, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up. ²¹ And Peter, remembering what Jesus had done, said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered away!” ²² In reply Jesus said to them, “Have faith in God. ²³ I tell you the truth: Whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea’—and doesn’t doubt it in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen—it will be done for him. ²⁴ Therefore I say to you, anything at all that you pray and ask for, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. ²⁵ And whenever you stand in prayer, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. ²⁶ But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive you your trespasses.”¹⁴

Authority from Above

²⁷ Then they came again to Jerusalem. And as he was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders all came up to him. ²⁸ And they began saying to him, “By what authority are you doing these things?” or, “Who gave you this authority, that you should do these things?” ²⁹ But Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question; answer me first and then I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. ³⁰ The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men? Answer me.” ³¹ So they began to discuss this¹⁵ among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ ³² But if we say, ‘From men . . .’” (Now these leaders¹⁶ were afraid of the crowd, for all the people held that John was a true prophet.) ³³ So they answered Jesus, saying, “We don’t know.” Then Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

Notes

Lit. on which no one has sat
Lit. they spoke to them
Or they gave them permission
Ps. 118:26
Lit. looking around at all things
Lit. since the hour was already late (evening)
Lit. something
Lit. in the temple
Lit. a vessel
Is. 56:7
Jer. 7:11
Lit. seeking how they might destroy him
Lit. they; some early mss he
Many mss omit this verse; see Matt. 6:15
Or reasoning about it
Lit. they

The Parable of the Wicked Tenants

12 Then he began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard, surrounded it with a wall,¹ dug a vat beneath the winepress, and built a watchtower for the field’s protection.² Then he leased the vineyard to tenant farmers and left home on a journey. ² Now at the time of the harvest he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them his share of the vineyard’s fruit. ³ But they seized him, beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. ⁴So again he sent them a servant, another one; and this one they struck on the head and treated with utter contempt. ⁵ Then he sent another, and that one they killed; and they did the same to many more, beating some, killing others. ⁶ But the man still had one servant: a beloved son. So he sent him to them last of all, saying to himself, ‘Surely they will respect my son.’ ⁷ But the tenants said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours!’ ⁸ So they seized him, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. ⁹ What then will the lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others. ¹⁰ Have you never read this scripture: ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone; ¹¹ this was the Lord’s doing, and it is wondrous in our eyes’?”^{3 12} Then they began looking for a way to arrest him, for they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the crowd; so they left him and went their way.

Is It Lawful to Pay Taxes to Caesar?

¹³ Then they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus, in order to trap him in his own words.⁴ ¹⁴ So when they arrived, they said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man, and that you defer to no one; for you have no regard for the standing⁵ of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay a poll tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or should we not pay?” ¹⁵ But seeing through their hypocrisy, Jesus said to them, “Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius so I can look at it.” ¹⁶ So they brought him one; and he said to them, “Whose image is this, and whose inscription?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.” ¹⁷ Then Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they stood amazed at him.

Resurrection, Scripture, and the Power of God

¹⁸ Then some of the Sadducees (who say there is no resurrection) came up to him; and they began to question him, saying: ¹⁹ “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves behind a wife but no children, he should take his brother’s wife and raise up offspring for his brother. ²⁰ Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife and died, leaving behind no offspring. ²¹ Then the second took her, but he also died leaving no offspring; and likewise the third. ²² Indeed, all seven⁶ took her, but left behind no offspring. Last of all, the woman also died. ²³ So then: In the resurrection whose wife will she be? For all seven had her for a wife.”

²⁴ Jesus answered and said to them, “Is this not the reason you are mistaken: You know neither the scriptures nor the power of God? ²⁵ For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like the angels in heaven. ²⁶ Moreover, concerning the dead—that they are indeed raised—have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the burning bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?⁷ ²⁷ He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. You are greatly mistaken.”

Which Commandment is Greatest?

²⁸ Then one of the scribes came up and heard them reasoning together. And seeing that Jesus had answered the Sadducees well, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is first in importance?” ²⁹ Jesus replied, “The first is this: ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is one. ³⁰ And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ ³¹ And the second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’⁸ No other commandment is greater than these.” ³² So the scribe said to him, “Well spoken, Teacher! You have stated the truth: He is indeed one, and there is no other besides him. ³³ And to love him with all your⁹ heart, all your understanding, and all your strength—and to love your neighbor as yourself—is more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” ³⁴ Now when Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that, no one dared to question him further.

David’s Son is David’s Lord

³⁵Now as he was teaching in the temple, Jesus responded to them all, saying, “How is it that the scribes say the Messiah is the Son of David? ³⁶ For David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, said, ‘The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand till I place your enemies beneath your feet.”’¹⁰ ³⁷David himself calls him ‘Lord’; how then can he be his son?” And the great crowd was listening to him gladly.

Beware the Hypocrisy of the Scribes

³⁸ And as he was teaching, he said, “Beware of the scribes who like to walk around in flowing robes, and who love formal greetings in the marketplaces, ³⁹ the best seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets; ⁴⁰ who devour widows’ houses, and who for mere show pray on and on at great length. Their punishment will be all the more severe.”¹¹

A Widow’s Sacrifice

⁴¹ Now when he had seated himself opposite the offering box, Jesus began to observe how the crowd would drop coins into it; and many who were rich were depositing large amounts. ⁴² Then one poor widow came up and threw in two tiny copper coins,¹² the equivalent of a penny.¹³ ⁴³ So calling his disciples to himself, Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth: This poor widow has put more in the offering box than all the rest. ⁴⁴ For they all contributed out of their abundance; but she, out of her extreme poverty, has put in all she had, her entire livelihood.”

Notes

Or fence, hedge
See Is. 5:1-2
Ps. 118:22-23
Lit. in a word (statement)
Lit. face
Lit. the seven, and so in v. 23
Ex. 3:6, 15
Deut. 6:4-5; Lev. 19:18
Lit. the
Ps. 110:1
Lit. These will receive greater punishment (condemnation)
Greek lepta
Greek quadrans (1/64 of a denarius)

The Temple Will be Destroyed

13 Now as he was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, look! What massive stones, and what huge structures!” ² But Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone here will remain on top of another; every one of them will be torn down.”¹

“What Will Be the Sign?”

³ Now while he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew began to question him in private: ⁴“Tell us: When will these things take place? And what will be the sign that all these things are about to occur?”²

⁵ So Jesus began to speak to them: “See to it that no one leads you astray; ⁶ for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many. ⁷ And whenever you hear of wars and rumors of wars, don’t be alarmed or shaken; such things must take place, but the end is still to come.³ ⁸ For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and in various places there will be earthquakes and famines. These are the beginning of the birth pains.

⁹ “But as for you, be on your guard!⁴ They will hand you over to the local courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues. Moreover, because of me you will stand before governors and kings, to testify to them.⁵ ¹⁰ Indeed, the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. ¹¹ But whenever they arrest you and hand you over to the authorities, don’t concern yourselves beforehand about what you will say. Rather, say whatever is given to you in that hour, for it is not you who are speaking, but the Holy Spirit. ¹² And brother will deliver brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against their parents and have them put to death; ¹³ and because of my name you will be hated by all. But he who endures to the end will be saved.

A Great Tribulation

¹⁴ “Now when you see the abomination that causes desolation⁶ standing where it⁷ should not be” (let the reader understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. ¹⁵ He who is on his roof must not come down, nor should he enter his house to take anything out; ¹⁶ and he who is out in the field must not come back to get his cloak. ¹⁷ But woe to those who are pregnant, and to those who are nursing infants in those days! ¹⁸ And pray that it will not take place in winter; ¹⁹ for in those days there will be tribulation, the likes of which has not been seen from the beginning of the creation that God created until now—and never again will be. ²⁰ And unless the Lord had cut short those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake—those whom he has chosen for himself—he has cut them⁸ short. ²¹ Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ don’t believe him. ²² For false messiahs and false prophets will arise and perform⁹ signs and wonders in order to deceive, if it were possible, even the elect. ²³ But as for you, stay on guard! I have told you everything ahead of time.

The Coming of the Son of Man

²⁴ “Now in those days, and after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light; ²⁵ the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.¹⁰ ²⁶ And then they will see the Son of Man, coming in the clouds with great power and glory.¹¹ ²⁷ And then he will send out the angels, and will gather together his elect from the four winds, from the farthest ends of the earth to the farthest reaches of the sky.

The Parable of the Fig Tree

²⁸ “Now learn this¹² parable from the fig tree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. ²⁹ So also for you: When you see these things happening, you will know¹³ that he¹⁴ is near—right at the doors! ³⁰ I tell you the truth: This generation will by no means pass away till all these things have taken place. ³¹ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away.

Watch!

³² “But as for that day and hour, no one knows them: neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. ³³ Keep watch and stay alert, for you do not know when the appointed time will arrive. ³⁴ It’s like a man who left his house for a trip abroad: After putting his servants in charge and assigning to each one his work, he commanded the doorkeeper to keep watch. ³⁵ So keep watch, for you do not know when the lord of the house is coming back, whether in the evening, at midnight, at the rooster’s crow, or in the morning. ³⁶ Otherwise, he may return unexpectedly and find you sleeping. ³⁷ So what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”

Notes

Lit. another that will not be torn down
Lit. sign when
Lit. the end is not yet
Lit. watch yourselves!
Lit. for a witness (testimony) to them
Or desolating sacrilege; Dan. 11:31; 12:11
Or he
Lit. the days
Or grant
Is. 13:10; 34:4
Dan. 7:15
Lit. the
Or happening, know
Or it

The Leaders Plot to Kill Jesus

14 Now the Feast of the Passover and Unleavened Bread was two days off; and the chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to seize Jesus¹ by trickery and put him to death; ² for they had agreed² among themselves, “Not during the Feast, or else there will be an uproar³ among the people.”

A Beautiful Work in Bethany

³ Now while he was in Bethany reclining at the table in the home of Simon the leper, a woman came in, carrying⁴ an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume made from pure nard; and when she had broken the jar, she poured the perfume over his head. ⁴ But some who were there took offense,⁵ saying to one another, “Why was this perfume wasted? ⁵ It might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and the proceeds given to the poor.” And they were scolding her. ⁶ But Jesus said, “Leave her alone! Why are you troubling her? She has performed a beautiful work in my behalf.⁶ ⁷ For the poor will always be with you, and you can do good for them whenever you wish; but I will not always be with you. ⁸ She did what she could: she anointed my body for burial ahead of the time. ⁹ Moreover, I tell you the truth: Wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of as a memorial to her.”⁷

The Treachery of Judas

¹⁰ Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went away to the chief priests to betray Jesus into their hands.⁸ ¹¹ And when they heard what he had to say, they were elated; and they promised to give him money. So Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray him.

The Final Passover

¹² Now on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, his disciples said to him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations so that you can eat the Passover meal?” ¹³ So he sent out two of his disciples, and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him. ¹⁴ And wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ ¹⁵ Then he himself will show you a large upper room, furnished and made ready; prepare for us there.” ¹⁶ So his disciples went out, entered the city, and found everything just as he had told them. And they prepared the Passover meal.

¹⁷ Now when evening arrived, he came with the twelve. ¹⁸ And while they were reclining at the table and eating, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth: One of you is going to betray me, one who is eating with me.” ¹⁹ So they began to be grieved and distressed, saying to him one at a time, “Surely it isn’t me?” ²⁰ He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, someone who dips his hand with me in the bowl. ²¹ For the Son of Man will indeed depart just as it is written of him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had never been born.”

The Lord’s Supper

²² Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread. And when he had given thanks,⁹ he broke it, gave it to the disciples,¹⁰ and said, “Take it; this is my body.” ²³ Then, when he had taken the cup and given thanks, he gave it to them; and they all drank from it. ²⁴ And he said to them, “This is my blood, the blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. ²⁵ I tell you the truth: From now on I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” ²⁶ And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

“You Will Deny Me Three Times”

²⁷ Then Jesus said to them, “All of you are about to stumble and fall; for it is written, ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’^{11 28} But after I have been raised, I will go before you into Galilee.”²⁹ But Peter declared to him, “Even if all should stumble, I will not.”³⁰ So Jesus said to him, “I tell you the truth, today—this very night, before the rooster crows twice—you will deny me three times.”³¹ But Peter insisted all the more, saying, “Even if I have to die with you, I will not deny you!” And all of them said the same thing.

Agony in Gethsemane

³² Then they came to a place called Gethsemane; and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here until I have finished praying.” ³³ Then he took with him Peter, James, and John; and he began to be alarmed and deeply distressed. ³⁴ So he said to them, “My soul is filled with sorrow, even to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch.” ³⁵ And going on a little farther, he fell to the ground and began to pray that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. ³⁶ And he was saying, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Take this cup from me! Nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will.” ³⁷Then he came back and found the disciples asleep; so he said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? ³⁸ Watch and pray, so that none of you enter into temptation. The spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak.” ³⁹ Then he went away and prayed again, saying the same thing. ⁴⁰ And once again he returned and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy; and they had no idea how to answer him. ⁴¹ Then he came back a third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? But it is enough. The hour has come. Behold: The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴² Get up and let us go our way: See, my betrayer is almost here.”

Betrayal and Arrest

⁴³ Just then, while he was still speaking, Judas (one of the twelve) appeared, together with a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent by the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. ⁴⁴ Now his betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss—he is the one; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” ⁴⁵ So when Judas arrived, he immediately went up to Jesus and said to him, “Rabbi, Rabbi!” And he kissed him. ⁴⁶ Then they laid hands on him and took him into custody. ⁴⁷ (But a certain man among those who were standing nearby drew out his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.)

⁴⁸ Then Jesus responded and said to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me, as if I were a robber? ⁴⁹ Day by day I was with you in the temple, teaching you, and you didn’t arrest me. But this has taken place so that the scriptures may be fulfilled.” ⁵⁰And leaving him behind,¹² all the disciples fled.

A Young Man Flees

⁵¹ Now a certain young man had been following him, wearing nothing but a linen garment¹³ over his naked body. And they tried to catch him; ⁵² but leaving the linen garment behind, he ran off naked.

Before the Sanhedrin

⁵³ Then they led Jesus away to the high priest; and all the chief priests, elders, and scribes were assembled. ⁵⁴ (Now Peter had followed him at a distance, all the way into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the guards,¹⁴ warming himself by the fire.) ⁵⁵ Now the chief priests and the whole council kept seeking testimony against Jesus in order to put him to death; but they could find none, ⁵⁶ for many were giving false testimony against him, but their testimonies did not agree. ⁵⁷ Then certain men stood up and began to give false testimony against him, saying, ⁵⁸ “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.’” ⁵⁹ Yet even in this matter their testimonies did not agree.

⁶⁰ Then the high priest stood up, stepped into the midst of the assembly, and questioned Jesus himself, saying, “Have you no reply? What is it these men are testifying against you?” ⁶¹ But Jesus remained silent and gave no reply at all. So once again the high priest questioned him, saying to him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” ⁶² And Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power on high, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”¹⁵ ⁶³ Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “What further need of witnesses do we have? ⁶⁴ You have heard the blasphemy! What is your verdict?” And they all judged that he deserved to die. ⁶⁵ Then some of them began to spit on him, and to blindfold him, and to buffet him with their fists, and to say to him, “Prophesy!” And when the guards took him into custody, they slapped him about the head.¹⁶

Peter Denies His Lord

⁶⁶ Now as Peter was in the courtyard below, one of the high priest’s servant girls came by. ⁶⁷ When she noticed him warming himself, she fixed her gaze on him and said, “You were also with Jesus of Nazareth!” ⁶⁸ But he denied it, saying, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”¹⁷ Then he went out into the entryway, and a rooster crowed.^{18 69} When the servant girl saw him standing there, she again started saying to the bystanders, “This man is one of them!” ⁷⁰ But again he denied it. Then, a short time later, the bystanders once again said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you too are a Galilean!” ⁷¹ So he started calling down curses on himself, and swearing: “I don’t know this man that you are talking about!” ⁷² And immediately a rooster crowed a second time. Then Peter recalled the word that Jesus had spoken to him: “Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.¹⁹

Notes

Lit. him
Lit. were saying
Or riot
Lit. having
Lit. became indignant
Lit. in me
Or in memory of her
Lit. to them
Or blessed it
Lit. them
Zech. 13:7
Or abandoning (deserting, forsaking) him
Or possibly cloth, sheet
Or servants
Dan. 7:13
Lit. And the guards received him with blows (slaps to the face)
Lit. I neither see nor know what you are saying
Several early mss omit this phrase
Lit. he began to mourn and weep

Before Pilate

15 Very early in the morning, after holding a consultation,¹ the chief priests—along with the elders, the scribes, and the entire council—immediately bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. ² So Pilate questioned him: “Are you the King of the Jews?” In reply Jesus said to him, “You are saying it.”² ³ Then the chief priests began to accuse him of many things. ⁴ So Pilate questioned him again: “Have you no answer? Look at how many charges they’re bringing against you!” ⁵ But Jesus gave no further reply, so that Pilate stood amazed.

What Shall I Do With Your King?

⁶ Now during the feast it was customary³ to release to the people any one prisoner whom they requested; ⁷ and there was a certain man by the name of Barabbas, imprisoned with the rebels who had committed murder in the insurrection. ⁸ So coming up to Pilate, the crowd began asking him to do for them just as he always had.⁴ ⁹ Then Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” ¹⁰ (For he knew the chief priests had handed him over out of envy.) ¹¹ But the chief priests stirred up the crowd so that they would ask for⁵ Barabbas instead. ¹² Answering them again, Pilate said, “What then do you want me to do with the man you call the king of the Jews?”⁶ ¹³ They shouted back,⁷ “Crucify him!” ¹⁴ Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him!” ¹⁵ So Pilate, desiring to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas to them. And after having Jesus scourged, he handed him over to be crucified.

The King is Mocked

¹⁶ Then the soldiers took him inside the palace (that is, the Praetorium⁸) and called for the entire Roman cohort.⁹ ¹⁷ Then they clothed him in a purple robe; and after braiding a crown of thorns, they placed it on his head. ¹⁸ Then they began to salute him, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” ¹⁹ And they took turns striking¹⁰ him on the head with a reed, spitting on him, and kneeling down in homage to him; ²⁰ and when they had finished mocking him, they removed the purple robe and put his own clothes back on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

The King is Crucified

²¹ Now a certain man—Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus—was coming in from the countryside and passing by; and the soldiers forced him to carry¹¹ Jesus’ cross. ²² So they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which is translated “Place of the Skull”); ²³ and they offered him wine mingled with myrrh, but he refused to take it. ²⁴ Then the soldiers¹² crucified him; and they divided up his garments, casting lots over them to decide which garment each one would take.

²⁵ Now it was the third hour of the day when they crucified him;¹³ ²⁶ and the superscription stating the charge against him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS. ²⁷ They also crucified two robbers along with him, one on his right hand and the other on his left.¹⁴ ²⁹ Then the passersby began hurling insults at him, shaking their heads, and saying, “So, you who can destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days: ³⁰ Save yourself and come down from the cross!” ³¹ In the same way, the chief priests—together with the scribes—were also mocking him among themselves, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself! ³² Let the Messiah, the king of Israel, come down now from the cross so that we can see and believe.” And the men who were crucified with him railed at him as well.

“Surely This Was God’s Son!”

³³ Now when the sixth hour arrived, darkness fell upon the whole land until the ninth hour. ³⁴ And at the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”^{15 35} Now when some of the bystanders heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling for Elijah!” ³⁶ Then someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Now let him be; let’s see if Elijah will come and take him down!”^{16 37} But Jesus, letting out a great cry, breathed his last. ³⁸ And the curtain of the temple¹⁷ was torn in two from top to bottom. ³⁹ Now when the centurion, who was stationed in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was God’s son!”¹⁸ ⁴⁰ Also present were certain women, watching at a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and Joses, and Salome; ⁴¹ these had followed Jesus and ministered to his needs when he was in Galilee. And many other women who had come up to Jerusalem with him were present as well.

Jesus Buried in Joseph’s Tomb

⁴² Now since evening had already fallen,¹⁹ and since it was the Day of Preparation (that is, the day prior to the Sabbath), ⁴³ Joseph of Arimathea—a prominent member of the council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God—came forward; and gathering up his courage, he went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. ⁴⁴ But Pilate was amazed to hear that Jesus was already dead; so he called for the centurion and asked him if he had been dead for some time. ⁴⁵ And when he learned from the centurion that he had, Pilate granted the body to Joseph. ⁴⁶ Now after Joseph had purchased some fine linen cloth, he took him down from the cross, wrapped him in the cloth, laid him in a tomb hewn out of the rock, and rolled a stone across the entrance²⁰ to the tomb. ⁴⁷ And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were looking on, to see where he was laid.

Notes

Or reaching a decision
Or (It is as) you say
Or it was his custom
Lit. just as he was doing for them
Lit. release to them
Some older mss read What shall I do? Some omit the man you call
Or So again they cried out
I.e. the Governor’s headquarters
About 500 soldiers
Lit. they were repeatedly striking
Or pick up
Lit. they
I.e. 9 AM
Some mss insert v. 28: And the scripture was fulfilled which says, “And He was numbered with the transgressors.”
Ps. 22:1
See Matt. 27:48-49
Or sanctuary
Greek: a son (the Son) of God (a god)
Lit. and evening having already come
Or against the door

Fear and Joy on Resurrection Day!

16 Now when the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought fragrant spices so that they might go and anoint him. ² So very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb. ³ And they were saying to one other, “Who will roll away the stone from the entrance to the tomb for us?” ⁴ But when they looked up, they saw that the stone (which was very large) had already been rolled away! ⁵Then, after entering the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were gripped with fear.^{1 6} But he said to them, “Don’t be afraid. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. But he has been raised! He isn’t here! Look, there is the place where they laid him. ⁷ But go, say to his disciples and to Peter, “He is going before you into Galilee; you will see him there, just as he told you.”⁸ So rushing out, they fled from the tomb; for trembling and bewilderment had taken hold of them. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Jesus Appears to Various Disciples ²

⁹ Now after Jesus³ had risen early on the first day of the week, he first appeared to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had driven out seven demons. ¹⁰ She went and told his disciples⁴as they were mourning and weeping; ¹¹ but when they heard that he was alive, and that she had seen him,⁵ they refused to believe it. ¹² After this he appeared in a different form to two of his disciples⁶ as they were walking along the road, heading out into the country. ¹³ These also went back and reported it to the rest, but they would not believe them either.

The Great Commission

¹⁴ Later on he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table; and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had refused to believe those who had seen him after he was raised.

¹⁵ Then he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation.⁷ ¹⁶ He who has believed and been baptized will be saved; but he who has not believed will be condemned. ¹⁷ And these signs will follow those who have believed: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages; ¹⁸ they will pick up serpents with their hands,⁸ and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them at all; and they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

The Ascension

¹⁹Then, after speaking to them in this way, the Lord Jesus was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. ²⁰ And the disciples⁹ went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the signs that followed.

Notes

Or amazed, astonished
Vv. 9-20 do not appear in a number of important older mss
Lit. he
Lit. those who had been with him
Lit. he had been seen by her
Lit. two of them
Or to every creature
Some mss omit this phrase
Lit. they

Published: 10 October 2016

Written by Dean Davis

No comments

The Person and Work of the Word

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was in the beginning with God. ³All things were created through him, and without him nothing came to be that came to be. ⁴In him was life, and the life was the light of men. ⁵And the light shines in the darkness: The darkness¹ did not overcome it.

The True Light

⁶ There was a man sent from God whose name was John. ⁷ This man came as a witness, to testify about the light, so that through him all might believe. ⁸ He was not the light, but was sent to testify about the light. ⁹ The true light, the light that enlightens every man, was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was created through him, but the world did not know him.² ¹¹ He came to his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹² Yet to as many as did receive him—to those who believe in his name—he gave the right to become the children of God, ¹³ children who were begotten,³ neither by⁴ blood,⁵ nor by the will of the flesh, nor by the will of man,⁶ but by God.

The Fountain of Grace

¹⁴ And the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us; and we beheld his glory, glory as of the uniquely-begotten⁷ Son of the Father, full of grace and truth. ¹⁵ (John bore witness concerning him; and he cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is ranked before me, because he existed before me.’”) ¹⁶ For out of his fullness we have all received, even grace upon grace. ¹⁷ For the Law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ No one has seen God at any time; but the uniquely begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father—he has made him known.

The Testimony of John: “I am not the Messiah.”

¹⁹ Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” ²⁰ He confessed the truth, and did not deny it; rather, he confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” ²¹ So they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” But he answered, “No.” ²² So they said to him, “Who are you? Tell us, so that we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” ²³ He said: “I am a voice crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ just as the prophet Isaiah said.”⁸

²⁴ Now those who were sent to John belonged to the sect of the Pharisees. ²⁵ So they inquired of him, saying, “Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet?” ²⁶ John answered them, “I am baptizing in water. But standing among you is one whom you do not know⁹—²⁷ one who comes after me—and I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandal.” ²⁸ These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

The Testimony of John: “Behold the Lamb of God!”

²⁹ The next day John saw Jesus coming towards him; and he said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! ³⁰ This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who is ranked above me, for he existed before me.’ ³¹ I myself did not know who he was;¹⁰ but in order that he might be revealed to Israel, I have come¹¹ baptizing in water.” ³² So John bore witness, saying, “I beheld the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove; and he remained on him. ³³ I myself did not know who he was; but he who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, he is the one who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ ³⁴ And I have seen and testified that this is the Son¹² of God.”

The First Disciples Called

³⁵ The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples. ³⁶ And gazing at Jesus as he walked by, John said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” ³⁷ Now his two disciples¹³ heard him saying this; so they followed Jesus. ³⁸ But when Jesus turned around and saw them following him, he said to them, “What is it that you seek?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” ³⁹ He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying; and they remained with him the rest of that day. (It was now about the tenth hour).¹⁴

⁴⁰ Now Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two disciples who had heard John and afterward followed Jesus. ⁴¹ First he found his own brother, Simon; and he said to him, “We’ve found the Messiah!” (which is translated, “the Christ”). ⁴² Then he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, he said, “You are Simon, the son of John: You will be called Cephas” (which means “a rock”).¹⁵

⁴³ The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee; so he found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” ⁴⁴ (Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.) ⁴⁵ Then Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We’ve found the one Moses wrote about in the Law—Moses, and the prophets as well—: Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” ⁴⁶ But Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see!” ⁴⁷ Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him, and he said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile!” ⁴⁸ Nathanael said to him, “How is it that you know me?” Jesus replied, “Before Philip called you, when you were sitting under the fig tree, I saw you.” ⁴⁹ Nathanael said to him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the king of Israel!” ⁵⁰ Jesus replied, “Do you believe because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree’? You will see greater things than these!” ⁵¹ Then Jesus said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you all: You are going to see heaven opened wide, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Notes

Lit. and the darkness
Or recognize him
Or born
Lit. out of, from
Lit. bloods
Or a man (husband)
Some interpreters: unique; one and only
Is. 40:3
Or recognize
Lit. did not know (recognize) him
Lit. came
A few mss Chosen One
Lit. the two disciples of him
Likely 4 PM (Jewish time), possibly 10 AM (Roman civic time)
Greek petros; English, Peter

The Wedding at Cana

2 Now on the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; ² and Jesus and his disciples were invited to the wedding as well. ³ So when the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no wine.” ⁴ But he said to her, “Woman, why are you involving me? My hour has not yet come.” ⁵Then his mother said to the servants, “Whatever he tells you to do, do it.”

⁶ Now in that place there were six water jars made of stone, set out for the Jewish ritual of purification, each one having a capacity of twenty or thirty gallons. ⁷ Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim. ⁸ Then he said to the servants, “Now draw some out and take it to the steward of the feast.” And they did so. ⁹But when the steward of the feast tasted the water that had become wine, and had no knowledge of where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), he called for the bridegroom. ¹⁰ And he said to him, “Every man sets out the good wine first; then, when the guests have drunk freely, the inferior. But you have kept the good wine till now!” ¹¹ This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

¹² After this, he went down to Capernaum—he, his mother, his brothers, and his disciples; and he stayed there for a few days.

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

¹³ Now the Passover of the Jews was drawing near, so Jesus went up to Jerusalem. ¹⁴ But there in the temple courts he found moneychangers¹ seated at their tables, and men who were selling oxen, sheep, and doves. ¹⁵ So after fashioning a whip out of ropes, he drove them all out of the temple, together with the sheep and the oxen; and he poured out the coins of the moneychangers and turned over their tables. ¹⁶ Then he said to the men selling doves, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!” ¹⁷ And his disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”²

¹⁸ In response, the Jewish leaders³ therefore said to him, “What sign can you give us, proving your authority to do these things?”⁴ ¹⁹ Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” ²⁰ Then the leaders said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple,⁵ and you will raise it up in three days?” ²¹ But Jesus was speaking of the temple of his body. ²² Therefore, after he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the Scripture, as well as the word that Jesus had spoken.

Jesus Knows the Heart of Man

²³ Now while he was in Jerusalem during the Feast of the Passover, many believed in his name when they beheld the miraculous signs he was performing. ²⁴ But as for Jesus, he would not entrust himself to them, because he knew all men, ²⁵ and because⁶ he had no need that anyone should tell⁷ him about man; for he himself knew what was in man.

Notes

Lit. the moneychangers
Ps. 69:9
Lit. the Jews
Lit. What sign do you show us since you do these things?
Or For forty-six years this temple has been under construction
Or that
Lit. testify

Christ, the Kingdom, and the New Birth

3 Now there was a man by the name of Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish ruling council.¹ ²This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for these miraculous signs that you are performing: No one could do them unless God was with him.” ³Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a person is born again,² he cannot see the kingdom of God.” ⁴ Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he’s old? Surely he can’t enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born!” ⁵ Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a person is born of water and spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. ⁶ What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. ⁷ Don’t be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ ⁸ The wind blows where it pleases; and you hear the sound of it, but you don’t know where it’s coming from or where it’s going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

⁹ Nicodemus replied and said to him, “How can these things be?” ¹⁰ Jesus answered, “You are the teacher of Israel, and you don’t know these things? ¹¹Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we’ve seen; but you men⁴ are not accepting our testimony. ¹² If I’ve told you earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? ¹³ No one has ascended into heaven except him who came down from heaven—the Son of Man.⁵ ¹⁴ And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so the Son of Man must be lifted up, ¹⁵ so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

¹⁶“For God so loved the world that he gave his uniquely begotten⁶ Son, so that everyone who believes in him would not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world, through him, might⁷ be saved. ¹⁸ He who believes in him is not condemned; but he who does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the uniquely begotten Son of God. ¹⁹ And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, but men loved darkness rather than the light, because their deeds were evil. ²⁰ For everyone who practices evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, for fear that his deeds will be exposed.⁸ ²¹ But he who practices the truth comes to the light, so that all can see⁹ that his deeds have been done in God.”

“I Must Decrease”

²² After these things Jesus and his disciples came into the land of Judea; and he spent time with them there and began to baptize. ²³ John was baptizing as well, in Aenon, near Salim, for in that region water was plentiful; and people were coming to him and being baptized ²⁴ (for John had not yet been thrown into prison).

²⁵ Then a dispute arose between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew¹⁰ concerning purification. ²⁶ So they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, the man who was with you beyond the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, now he too is baptizing, and everyone is coming to him!” ²⁷ John replied, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. ²⁸ You yourselves can testify concerning me, that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah,’ but rather, ‘I have been sent before him.’ ²⁹ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands beside him and listens to him,¹¹ overflows with joy at the sound of¹² the bridegroom’s voice. So then: This, my joy, is now complete. ³⁰ He must increase, and I must decrease.¹³

³¹ “He who comes from above is above all; he who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks from the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. ³² What he has seen and heard—to that he bears witness; and no one accepts his testimony. ³³ But the one who has accepted his testimony has set his seal to this: God is telling us the truth.¹⁴ ³⁴ For he whom God has sent speaks the very words of God, for to him God does not give the Spirit by measure. ³⁵ The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand. ³⁶ He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who disobeys¹⁵ the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

Notes

Lit. a ruler of the Jews
Or from above
Or water and (the) Spirit
You is plural, and so throughout the rest of the chapter
Many mss add who is in heaven
Some interpreters: unique; one and only
Or would
Lit. does not
Lit. so that it may be made manifest
Some mss certain Jews
Or possibly and listens for him
Lit. because of
Some interpreters close the quote at verse 30
Lit. He (the one) who received his testimony set a seal (certified) that God is true (truthful)
Or refuses to believe, rejects

A Woman at the Well

4 So when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard he was making and baptizing more disciples than John ² (though Jesus himself was not baptizing, but only his disciples), ³ he left Judea and departed again for Galilee. ⁴ But it was necessary for him to pass through Samaria. ⁵ So he came to a city of Samaria called Sychar, near the parcel of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. ⁶ Now Jacob’s well¹ was located there; so Jesus, being weary from his journey, was sitting² beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.³

⁷ Then a Samaritan woman arrived to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink” ⁸ (for his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food). ⁹Therefore the Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, are asking me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) ¹⁰ In reply, Jesus said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked of him, and he would have given you living water.” ¹¹ The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing with which to draw, and the well is deep; where then would you get this living water? ¹² Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, along with his sons and his livestock?” ¹³ Jesus answered her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; ¹⁴ but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst. Indeed,⁴ the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain⁵ of water, springing up into eternal life.”

¹⁵ The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so I won’t get thirsty or have to journey here to draw.” ¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come back here.” ¹⁷ The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus replied, “In saying, ‘I have no husband,’ you have spoken well, ¹⁸ for you have had five husbands, and the man you have now is not your husband; so in this you have told the truth.” ¹⁹ The woman said to him, “Sir, I can see that you are prophet. ²⁰ Our forefathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews say that Jerusalem is the place where people should worship.” ²¹ Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me: An hour is coming when all of you will worship the Father, neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. ²² You are worshiping what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation comes from the Jews. ²³ But an hour is coming—and has now arrived⁶—when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking people such as these to beome his worshipers. ²⁴ God is spirit,⁷ and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” ²⁵ The woman said to him, “I know that the Messiah is coming” (who is also called the Christ). “When he does, he will tell us all things.” ²⁶ Jesus said to her, “I am he, the one who is speaking with you now.”

²⁷ Now at that very moment his disciples arrived; and they were amazed that he was talking with a woman. Yet no one asked him, “What are you seeking?” or, “Why are you talking with her?”

Fields White for Harvest!

²⁸ So the woman left her water jar behind, went back into the city, and said to the men, ²⁹ “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could this be the Messiah?”^{8 30} So they left the city and started going out to him. ³¹ Meanwhile, the disciples kept pressing him, saying, “Rabbi, take something to eat.” ³² But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you have never known.” ³³ So the disciples were saying to one another, “Could someone have brought him something to eat?” ³⁴ Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to complete his work. ³⁵ Don’t you all say, ‘There are four more months, and then comes the harvest’? Well,⁹ I say to you: Lift up your eyes and look out on the fields, that even now they are white for harvesting! ³⁶ Already he who reaps¹⁰ is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that he who sows and he who reaps can rejoice together. ³⁷ For in this case the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ ³⁸ I sent you to reap that for which you didn’t toil; others have toiled, and you have entered into their toil.”

³⁹ Now many of the Samaritans who lived in that city believed in Jesus because of the word of the woman, who had testified, “He told me everything I ever did!” ⁴⁰ So when they came to him, they began urging him to stay with them; and he remained there for two days. ⁴¹ Then many more believed because of his own word. ⁴² And they were saying to the woman, “No longer do we believe because of what you said, for now we have heard him for ourselves; and we know that this man truly is the savior of the world.”

Welcome in Galilee

⁴³ Now after the two days, he left that place for Galilee; ⁴⁴ for Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own homeland. ⁴⁵ So when he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, for they had seen everything he did in Jerusalem at the feast (for they too had gone to the feast).

A Nobleman’s Son is Healed

⁴⁶ Then Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. Now in Capernaum there was a certain royal official whose son was sick. ⁴⁷ When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea into Galilee, he went to him and pleaded with him to come down and heal his son, for the child was about to die. ⁴⁸Therefore Jesus said to him, “Unless you all keep seeing signs and wonders, you refuse to believe.”¹¹ ⁴⁹ The official said to him, “Sir, come down quickly before my child dies!” ⁵⁰ Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken to him; and he headed off. ⁵¹ But as he was making his way down, his servants met him and told him his son was alive. ⁵² So he asked them when it was that¹² the child began to improve. They said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour¹³ the fever left him.” ⁵³ Then the father understood that the boy was healed when¹⁴ Jesus said to him, “Your son lives!” And he himself believed, along with his entire household. ⁵⁴This was now the second miraculous sign that Jesus performed after he had come out of Judea into Galilee.

Notes

Lit. spring
Or sat down; lit. was (began) sitting thus
I.e. noon
Or But
Or spring, artesian well
Lit. now is
Or a spirit; cf. John 3:5
Lit. This could not be the Christ, could it?
Lit. behold, look!
Or that they are already white for harvesting. He who reaps
Lit. you will by no means believe
Lit. So he asked from them the hour
I.e. 1 PM
Lit. in the hour in which

A Sabbath Healing at the Pool of Bethesda

5 After these things there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. ²Now in Jerusalem, near the Sheep Gate, there is a pool which in the Hebrew language is called Bethesda.¹ It has five covered walkways,³ in which a great many people were lying: people who were sick, blind, lame, and wasting away.² ⁵ Now in that place there was a certain man who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. ⁶ Seeing him lying there, and knowing he had already been in that condition for some time, Jesus said to him, “Do you want to get well?” ⁷The disabled man answered him, “Sir, I have no one³ to put me in the pool when the water is stirred up; so while I’m on my way in, someone else steps down before me.” ⁸Jesus said to him, “Stand up, pick up your bedding, and walk!” ⁹ And immediately the man became well; and he picked up his bedding and began to walk.

Now that day was a Sabbath. ¹⁰ Therefore the Jewish leaders were saying to the man who was healed, “This is a Sabbath: It isn’t lawful for you to carry your bedding.” ¹¹ But he answered them, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your bedding and walk.’” ¹² So they asked him, “Who was it that⁴ said to you, ‘Pick up your bedding and walk’?” ¹³ But the man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd in that area.⁵

¹⁴ Now after these things, Jesus found the man in the temple. And he said to him, “See, you’ve now become well. Sin no more, so that nothing worse happens to you.” ¹⁵ Then the man went and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well.

Jesus Clashes with the Jewish Leaders

¹⁶ For this reason the Jewish leaders began to persecute Jesus, because he was doing such things on the Sabbath. ¹⁷ But he answered them, “My Father has been at work⁶ till now, and I too⁷ have been at work.” ¹⁸ Then the leaders sought all the more to kill him, not only because he was breaking the Sabbath, but also because he was calling God his own Father, thereby making himself equal with God.

¹⁹ Therefore Jesus responded and said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing on his own, but only what⁸ he sees the Father doing; for whatever things the Father does, these the Son does as well. ²⁰ For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he himself is doing; and he will show him greater works than these, so that you moved to wonder.⁹ ²¹ For just as the Father raises the dead and brings them to life, so too does the Son bring to life those whom he will. ²² For the Father himself judges no one, but has granted all judgment to the Son, ²³ so that all will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. ²⁴ Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears my word and believes the one who sent me has eternal life: He will never come¹⁰ into judgment, but has crossed over out of death and into life.

²⁵“Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and has now arrived, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. ²⁶For just as the Father has life within himself, so too has he granted that the Son should have life within himself; ²⁷ and he has given¹¹ him authority to execute judgment, since he is the Son of Man.¹² ²⁸ Don’t be amazed at this; for an hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice ²⁹ and come forth: those who did what is good¹³ to a resurrection of life, and those who practiced what is evil¹⁴ to a resurrection of condemnation.

Manifold Witnesses to the Son

³⁰“On my own, I can do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just, since I do not seek my own will, but the will of him who sent me. ³¹ If I alone testify about myself, my testimony is not true.¹⁵ ³² There is another who testifies about me, and I know that his testimony about me¹⁶ is true. ³³ You sent messengers to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. ³⁴ Not that I receive¹⁷ testimony from man, but I am saying these things so that you may be saved. ³⁵ He was a¹⁸ burning and a shining lamp, and for a time you were eager to rejoice in his light. ³⁶ But the testimony I have is greater than John’s; for the works the Father has given me to complete—the very works I am doing—these testify about me, that the Father has sent me. ³⁷ Moreover, the Father who sent me has testified about me himself. You have neither heard his voice nor seen his form at any time; ³⁸ nor do you have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. ³⁹ You search the Scriptures¹⁹ because you think that in them you have eternal life. But these too²⁰ testify about me; ⁴⁰ yet²¹ you are unwilling to come to me so as to have life.

⁴¹ “I do not receive²² honor²³ from men; ⁴² but I know you, that you do not have the love of God within you. ⁴³ I have come in my Father’s name, and you are not welcoming me; if another comes in his own name, him you will welcome. ⁴⁴ How can you believe when you receive glory from one another, yet fail to seek the glory that comes from God alone.²⁴ ⁴⁵ Do not think that I myself will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have placed your hope. ⁴⁶ For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. ⁴⁷ But if you don’t believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”

Notes

Some mss read Bethzatha.
Or paralyzed. Some mss insert wholly or in part waiting for the moving of the water. ⁴For at a certain time an angel went down into the pool and stirred up the water; then, after the stirring of the water, whoever stepped in first was healed of whatever disease he had.
Lit. no man
Lit. who was the man who
Lit. slipped away, there being a crowd in that place
Lit. is working
Or I myself
Or unless it is something
Or may marvel
Lit. life, and does not come
Lit. he gave
Or a son of man
Lit. the things that are good
Lit. the things that are evil
I.e. admissible in a court of law
Lit. that the testimony he testifies about me
Or accept
Lit. the
Or Search the scriptures!
Or and these [very writings]; lit. and these are they that
Lit. and
Or am not receiving; do not accept
Or glory, praise
Or the only God; see John 17:3

Bread for the Multitudes

6 After these things Jesus departed for the other side of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias); ² and a large crowd was following him because they had seen the miraculous signs he was performing on those who were sick. ³And he went up on the mountainside and sat down there with his disciples. ⁴ Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was drawing near. ⁵Therefore, after looking up¹and seeing a large crowd coming his way, Jesus spoke to Philip, saying, “Where can we buy bread so that all these people may eat?” ⁶ (But Jesus said this only to test Philip, for he himself knew what he was about to do.) ⁷ Philip answered him, saying, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread wouldn’t be enough for each one of them to receive a little.” ⁸ One of his disciples (Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother) said to him, ⁹ “Here’s a little boy with five barley loaves and two small fish, but of what use are they for feeding so many?” ¹⁰ Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.”

Now in that place there was an abundance of grass. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. ¹¹ Then Jesus picked up the loaves. And when he had given thanks, he distributed portions to the people reclining there; and he did the same with the fish, giving them as much as they wanted. ¹² Then, when all had taken their fill, he said to his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments so that nothing is lost.” ¹³ So they gathered them up; and with the fragments left over by those who had eaten the five barley loaves they filled twelve baskets.

¹⁴ Then the men, having seen the miraculous sign he had just performed, began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world!” ¹⁵ So Jesus—realizing they were about to come and take him by force to make him their king—withdrew once again to the mountainside all by himself.

A Walk on the Water

¹⁶ Now when evening arrived, his disciples went down to the sea, ¹⁷ got into a boat, and headed out across the sea for Capernaum. (It was already dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.) ¹⁸ But a strong wind was blowing, and the sea grew rough. ¹⁹ So when the disciples had rowed about three or four miles, they suddenly beheld Jesus walking on the sea and approaching the boat; and they were deathly afraid. ²⁰ But he said to them, “It is I! Don’t be afraid!” ²¹Then they gladly received him² into the boat; and all at once the boat arrived at the land where the disciples were heading.

The Manna From Above

²²On the next day, the crowd that remained on the far side of the sea realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not boarded it with his disciples,³but that his disciples had departed all by themselves. ²³ But some other boats out of Tiberias had landed⁴ near the place where the people had eaten bread after the Lord gave thanks. ²⁴ So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and came to Capernaum, looking for Jesus.

²⁵ Now once they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” ²⁶ Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are not seeking me because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. ²⁷ Don’t labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, food that the Son of Man will give to you, for on him God the Father has set his seal.” ²⁸ So they said to him, “What should we do so that we may work the works of God?” ²⁹ Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” ³⁰ So they said to him, “Then what sign will you perform, so that we can see it and believe you? What miracle will you work? ³¹ Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”⁵³²Therefore Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it isn’t Moses who has given you the bread from heaven; rather, it is my Father who is giving you the true bread from heaven. ³³ For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

³⁴ Then the people said to him, “Sir, from now on⁶ give us this bread!” ³⁵ Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never hunger, and he who believes in me will never thirst. ³⁶ But as I told you: You have indeed seen me,⁷ yet you don’t believe. ³⁷ All whom the Father gives me will come to me; and he who comes to me I will never drive out.⁸ ³⁸ For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. ³⁹ And this is the will of him who sent me, that of all he has given me I should lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. ⁴⁰ For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in him should have eternal life; and I myself will raise him up on the last day.”

Whispering Among the Jews

⁴¹ So the Jews began whispering against him because he said, “I am the bread that came down out of heaven.” ⁴² And they were saying, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then can he now say, ‘I have come down out of heaven’?” ⁴³ In reply, Jesus said to them, “Stop whispering among yourselves. ⁴⁴ No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. ⁴⁵ It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they all will be taught by⁹ God.’¹⁰ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. ⁴⁶ Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the one who comes¹¹ from God; he alone has seen the Father. ⁴⁷ Truly, truly I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. ⁴⁸ I am the bread of life. ⁴⁹ Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness and died. ⁵⁰ This is the bread that comes down out of heaven, so that a man may eat of it and not die. ⁵¹ I am the living bread that came down out of heaven. If anyone partakes of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

⁵² So the Jews began to argue among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” ⁵³ Then Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in yourselves. ⁵⁴ Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. ⁵⁵ For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. ⁵⁶ He who feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. ⁵⁷ Just as the living Father sent me, and just as I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on me will live because of me. ⁵⁸ This is the bread that came down from heaven, not at all like the bread the fathers ate and then went on to die.¹² He who eats this bread will live forever.” ⁵⁹ Jesus said these things as he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum.

Divided Disciples

⁶⁰ So when they heard this, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand¹³ it?” ⁶¹ But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were murmuring over this, said to them, “Does this saying offend you? ⁶² What then if you should see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? ⁶³ It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no use¹⁴ at all. The words I have spoken to you, they are spirit and they are life.¹⁵ ⁶⁴ But some of you do not believe.” (For from the very beginning, Jesus knew the ones who did not believe, and who it was that would betray him.) ⁶⁵ Then he went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it has been granted to him by my Father.”

⁶⁶ As a result of this, many of his disciples went back to their former occupations¹⁶ and no longer walked with him. ⁶⁷ So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you men also intend to leave?”¹⁷ ⁶⁸ Simon Peter answered him, saying, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life; ⁶⁹and we have believed and come to know that you are the Holy One of God.” ⁷⁰ In reply Jesus said to them all, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, yet one of you is a devil?” ⁷¹ (Now he was speaking about Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot; for it was Judas, one of the twelve, who was going to¹⁸ betray him.)

Notes

Lit. lifting up the eyes
Lit. Therefore they were desiring to receive him
Or saw that there was no other boat there but one, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples
Lit. came
Ex. 16:4; Neh. 9:15; Ps. 78:24
Lit. at all times
Some older mss omit me
Lit. throw outside
Or of, about
Is. 54:13
Lit. is
Lit. and died
Or accept, obey, listen to; lit. hear
Or help, benefit, advantage
Lit. it is spirit and it is life
Lit. went back to the things behind
The question anticipates a negative reply
Or intending, planning, about to

Jesus Teaches at the Feast of Booths

7 After these things Jesus only walked in Galilee, for he was unwilling to walk in Judea, since the Jewish leaders were trying to kill him.

² Now the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was drawing near. ³ Therefore Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave here and go down to Judea so that your disciples in those parts also can see the works you are doing. ⁴ For no one does anything in secret when he is trying to be known publicly. If you’re doing these things, show yourself to the whole world.” ⁵ For not even his own brothers believed in him. ⁶Therefore Jesus said to them, “The right time for me has not yet come; but for you, any time is right.² ⁷ The world cannot hate you; but me it hates, because I testify about it that its works are evil. ⁸You go up to the feast; I am not³ going up to this feast, because the right time for me has not yet fully come.” ⁹ And after saying these things, he remained in Galilee.

¹⁰ Nevertheless, when his brothers had gone up to the feast, he himself also went up, yet not openly, but⁴ in secret. ¹¹ So during the feast the Jewish leaders were looking for him, saying, “Where is he?” ¹² Moreover, among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some were saying, “He’s a good man,” whereas others were saying, “No, on the contrary, he’s leading the common people astray.” ¹³ But no one would speak of him openly, for fear of the Jewish leaders.

¹⁴Now when the middle of the feast arrived, Jesus went up into the temple courtyard and began to teach; ¹⁵ and the Jewish leaders stood amazed, saying, “How did this man acquire such knowledge⁵ without formal instruction?” ¹⁶In response, Jesus therefore said to them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who⁶ who sent me. ¹⁷ If anyone desires to do his will, he will know if the teaching comes⁷ from God, or if I am speaking from myself. ¹⁸ He who speaks from himself is seeking his own glory; but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him, that man is true, and there is no unrighteousness in him. ¹⁹ Did not Moses give you the Law? Yet not one of you is putting it into practice. Why are you trying to kill me?” ²⁰ The crowd answered and said, “You have a demon! Who is trying to kill you?” ²¹ Jesus answered and said to them, “I performed a single work, and all of you stand amazed. ²² Because of this, I ask: Moses gave you circumcision (not that it came from Moses, but rather from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. ²³But if a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the Law of Moses will not be broken, why are you angry with me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? ²⁴ Stop judging⁸ according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment!”

Could This Man Be the Messiah?

²⁵ Because of these things, some of the people who lived in Jerusalem began to say, “Isn’t this the man the rulers are trying to put to death? ²⁶ But look! He’s speaking openly, and they’re not saying a word to him! Could it be they’ve concluded he really is the Messiah? ²⁷ And yet we know where this man is from; but when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.”

²⁸ Then Jesus cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, “So, you ‘know’ me and you ‘know’ where I am from!⁹ And yet I have not come on my own initiative, but the one who sent me is real and true.¹⁰ You do not know him; ²⁹ but I do know him, for I am from him, and he has sent me.” ³⁰ For this reason the rulers were trying to arrest him; but no one laid a hand on him, for his hour had not yet come. ³¹ Meanwhile, many among the crowd believed in him; and they were saying, “When the Messiah finally comes, will he perform more signs than the ones this man has performed?”

Jesus and the Religious Leaders

³² Now the Pharisees overheard the crowd whispering these things about him; so the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to arrest him. ³³ Therefore Jesus said, “For a little while longer I am with you, and then I will go to him who sent me. ³⁴ You will seek me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.” ³⁵ So the Jewish leaders said to one another, “Where is he planning to go, such that we won’t be able to find him? Surely he’s not planning to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks¹¹ and teach them. Or is he? ³⁶ What did he mean when he said, ‘You will seek me, but you will not find me,’ and ‘Where I am, you cannot come’?”

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

³⁷ Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. ³⁸ Just as the Scripture has said, he who believes in me, from the depths of his being¹² rivers of living water will flow forth.”¹³ ³⁹ (Now he said this in reference to the Spirit, whom those who believed in him would soon receive; for the Spirit had not yet been given, for Jesus had not yet been glorified.)

Division Among the People

⁴⁰ So when they heard these words, some within the crowd began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet!” ⁴¹ Others were saying, “This is the Messiah!” But still others said, “No, for will the Messiah come from Galilee? ⁴² Hasn’t the Scripture said that the Messiah comes from the seed of David, and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?” ⁴³ So because of him a division arose within the crowd. ⁴⁴ Moreover, some of them wanted to take him by force; yet no one laid a hand on him.

⁴⁵ Then the officers came back to the chief priests and Pharisees; and the rulers said to them, “Why haven’t you brought him?” ⁴⁶ The officers replied, “No man ever spoke like this man does!” ⁴⁷ So the Pharisees answered them, “Surely you haven’t been deceived as well? ⁴⁸ Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in him? ⁴⁹ But this crowd that doesn’t know the Law is accursed.” ⁵⁰ However, Nicodemus (who had previously gone to see Jesus), being one of the rulers,¹⁴ said to them, ⁵¹ “Does our law judge a man before it gives him a hearing and finds out what he is doing?” ⁵² They answered and said to him, “Are you also from Galilee? Search the Scriptures and see for yourself: No prophet is said to come out of Galilee.”¹⁵ ⁵³ Then each one of them left for his own house.¹⁶

Notes

Lit. my time (opportunity)
Lit. your time is always opportune (ready)
Many mss not yet
Many mss but as if
Lit. How does this man know letters
Or comes from him; lit. is of him
Lit. concerning the teaching, whether it comes
Lit. Do not judge
Or where I am from?
Lit. true, truthful, real, genuine
I.e. Jews living in Gentile lands
Lit. out of his belly (lowermost bowels)
See Is. 44:3, 55:1, 58:11; Zech. 14:8
Lit. them
Lit. that no prophet arises out of Galilee
Many older mss do not contain 7:53-8:11; in some mss it appears in other locations.

An Adulteress Meets Her Judges

8 But Jesus departed for the Mount of Olives.

² Now early in the morning he came again into the temple precincts, and all the people were coming to him; so he sat down and began to teach them. ³ Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought him a woman who was caught committing adultery. So after standing her in the midst of the crowd, ⁴they said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. ⁵Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. What then do you say?” ⁶ (In saying this, they were testing him, looking for grounds to bring charges against him.) But Jesus, stooping down, began to write on the ground with his finger. ⁷ But when they kept pressing him for an answer, he stood up and said to them, “Whichever one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” ⁸ And once again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. ⁹ Now when they heard this, they began to leave, one by one, starting with the oldest, until Jesus alone remained, and the woman was left standing there in the midst of the crowd.¹ ¹⁰ Then, after raising himself up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” ¹¹ She replied, “No one, sir.”² Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go your way, and from now on sin no more.”

The Light of the World

¹² So Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” ¹³ Then the Pharisees said to him, “You are testifying about yourself; your testimony isn’t true!”³ ¹⁴ But in reply Jesus said to them, “Even if I do testify about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; you, on the other hand, have no idea where I came from or where I am going. ¹⁵ You are judging according to the flesh; I am judging no one. ¹⁶ But even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for I am not alone when I judge, but I and the Father⁴ who sent me judge together. ¹⁷ Moreover, even in your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is true. ¹⁸ I am one who testifies about myself, and the Father who sent me also testifies about me.” ¹⁹ So they said to him, “Where is your father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father; if you had known me, you would have known my Father as well.” ²⁰ Jesus spoke these words in the treasury as he was teaching in the temple; but no one laid hands on him, for his hour had not yet come.

“I am Going Away”

²¹ Then Jesus spoke to them again: “I am going away, and you will look for me, but you will die in your sin; where I am going you cannot come.” ²² So the Jewish leaders said, “Is he going to kill himself, since he’s saying, ‘Where I am going you cannot come’?” ²³ So Jesus went on to tell them, “You are from beneath; I am from above. You belong to this world; I do not belong to this world. ²⁴ This is why I told you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am he,⁵ you will die in your sins.” ²⁵ So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus answered them, “Just what I’ve been telling you from the beginning. ²⁶ I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you; but he who sent me always acts in truth,⁶ and the things I have heard from him are the very things⁷ I am speaking to the world.” ²⁷ (They did not understand that he was speaking to them about the Father.) ²⁸ Then Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he,⁸ and that I do nothing on my own initiative; rather, the things I speak, I speak just as my Father has taught me. ²⁹ And he who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do the things that please him.” ³⁰ As Jesus spoke these words, many believed in him.

The Truth Will Set You Free

³¹ Then Jesus went on to say to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, ³² and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” ³³ They answered him, “We are Abraham’s seed and have never been enslaved to anyone! How then can you say, ‘You will become free’?” ³⁴ Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone engaged in sin is a slave of sin; ³⁵ and a slave does not remain in the household forever, but a son remains forever. ³⁶ If, then, the Son should set you free, you will be free indeed. ³⁷ I know that you are Abraham’s seed; and yet you are trying to kill me, because there is no room for my word within you.⁹ ³⁸ The things I have seen in the presence of my¹⁰ Father, I speak. Therefore you also are doing the things you have heard in the presence of your¹¹ father.”

Two Spiritual Families

³⁹ They answered and said to him, “Abraham is our father!” Jesus said to them, “If you are Abraham’s children, then do¹² the works that Abraham did. ⁴⁰ But as it is, you are trying to kill me, a man who has spoken to you the truth that I heard in the presence of God. This Abraham did not do. ⁴¹ You are doing the works of your father.” They said to him, “We were not conceived in fornication; we have but one father, God himself!” ⁴² Jesus said to them, “If God were your father, you would love me, for I went forth from God, and now am here.¹³ For I have not even come on my own initiative, but he is the one who sent me.¹⁴ ⁴³ Why is it that you don’t understand what I say? It’s because you cannot hear my word. ⁴⁴ You are from your father the devil, and you want to do your father’s bidding. He was a murderer from the beginning. Moreover, he does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him; whenever he utters a lie, he is speaking from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lying.¹⁵ ⁴⁵ But because I speak the truth, you do not believe me. ⁴⁶ Who among you can convict me of sin? If I am speaking the truth, why is it that you don’t believe me? ⁴⁷ He who is from God hears the words of God; this is why you do not hear, because you are not from God.”

Before Abraham Was, I AM

⁴⁸ In reply, the Jews said to him, “Are we not correct when we say you are a Samaritan, and that you have a demon?” ⁴⁹ Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; on the contrary, I am honoring my Father, and you are dishonoring me. ⁵⁰ Nevertheless, I am not seeking glory for myself; there is one who seeks and judges. ⁵¹ Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” ⁵² The Jews said to him, “Now we know you have a demon! Abraham died, and so did the prophets; yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ ⁵³ Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died; and greater than the prophets, who also died? Who are you making yourself out to be?” ⁵⁴ Jesus replied, “If I honor myself, my honor is nothing. My Father is the one who honors me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ ⁵⁵ You have never known him.¹⁶ On the other hand, I do know him; and if I were to say, ‘I don’t know him,’ I would be a liar just like you. But I do know him, and I keep his word. ⁵⁶ Your father Abraham rejoiced to know that he would see¹⁷ my day; and he did see it, and he was glad.” ⁵⁷ So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and you have seen Abraham?” ⁵⁸ Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM.”¹⁸ ⁵⁹ Then they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus was hidden from them,¹⁹ and then went out from the temple grounds.

Notes

Lit. and he was left alone, and the woman being in the midst
Or Lord
I.e. admissible in a court of law
Some mss the one, he
Or I am (who I say I am); lit. I am. See Ex. 3:14, Deut. 32:39, Is. 43:10
Lit. and sent me is true, truthful, real, genuine
Lit. from him, these are the things
See note 5
Or possibly my word makes no progress among you
Lit. the
Lit. the
Some mss If you were Abraham’s children, then you would do
Lit. and have come (arrived)
Lit. but that one sent me
Lit. it
Lit. You have not come to know him
Lit. rejoiced in order that he should see
See Ex. 3:14
Or possibly, hid himself

A Man Born Blind

9 Now as Jesus was passing by, his gaze fell upon a man who was blind from birth. ² So his disciples inquired of him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he should be born blind?” ³ Jesus answered, “Neither did this man sin, nor his parents; rather, this has happened so that the works of God may be displayed in his life.¹ ⁴We must work the works of him who sent me while it is still day; the night is coming when no one can work. ⁵ As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” ⁶ After saying these things, Jesus spat on the ground and fashioned some clay with the saliva. Then he spread the clay over the man’s eyes ⁷ and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated “sent”). So he went his way, and washed, and came back seeing.

⁸ As a result of this, the man’s neighbors, along with the people who had previously seen him as a beggar, began to say, “Isn’t this the man who used to sit there and beg?” ⁹ Some of them said, “This is the man!” while others said, “No, it’s only that he looks like him.”² But the man himself kept saying, “I am the man!” ¹⁰ So they began asking him, “How then were your eyes opened?” ¹¹ He replied, “The man called Jesus fashioned clay, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went, and washed, and received my sight.” ¹² Then they said to him, “Where is this man?” He replied, “I don’t know.”

The Judgment of the Pharisees

¹³ Then they brought the man who was previously blind to the Pharisees. ¹⁴ Now the day on which Jesus fashioned the clay and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. ¹⁵ So the Pharisees again asked the man how he had received his sight. And he said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I see.” ¹⁶ Then some of the Pharisees began to say, “This man is not from God, because he doesn’t keep the Sabbath.” But others were saying, “How could a sinful man perform such miraculous signs?” And a division arose among them. ¹⁷ So once again they addressed the blind man: “What do you say about him, since you are the one whose eyes he opened?”³ He said, “He is a prophet.”

¹⁸ But⁴ the Jewish leaders did not believe that the man really had been blind and regained his sight until they had called for his parents⁵ ¹⁹and interrogated them, asking, “Is this your son, whom you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” ²⁰ So his parents answered and said, “We know this is our son, and also that he was born blind. ²¹ But how it is that he now sees, we don’t know; nor do we know who opened his eyes. He has reached adulthood; ask him and he will speak for himself.” ²² (His parents said these things because they feared the Jewish leaders, for the leaders had already agreed that if anyone confessed Jesus¹ as the Messiah, he would be put out of the synagogue. ²³ This is why his parents said, “He has reached adulthood; ask him.”)

²⁴ Then the leaders summoned the man who was blind a second time, and they said to him, “Give glory to God:⁷ We know this man is a sinner!” ²⁵ So he replied, “Whether or not he’s a sinner, I don’t know; but one thing I do know: Though I used to be blind, now I can see.” ²⁶ Then they said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” ²⁷ He answered them, “I already told you, but you didn’t listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you men also want to become his disciples?”⁸ ²⁸ Then they began to rail at him, saying,⁹ “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. ²⁹ We know that God spoke to Moses; but as for this man, we don’t know where he is from.” ³⁰ The man answered and said to them, “Now here is an amazing thing: You don’t know where he is from, even though he opened my eyes! ³¹ We all know that God doesn’t listen to sinners; on the other hand, if anyone worships him and does his will, God hears him. ³² Since the world began no one has ever heard of someone opening the eyes of a man born blind. ³³ If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” ³⁴ They answered and said to him, “You were altogether born in sins, and you are teaching us?” And they put him out.¹⁰

“Are We Blind?”

³⁵ Now Jesus heard that they had put the man out of the synagogue. So when he had found him, he said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” ³⁶ He answered and said, “Who is he, Sir,¹¹ that I might believe in him?” ³⁷ Jesus said to him, “You have not only seen him, but he is speaking with you now.”¹² ³⁸ The man said, “Lord, I believe!” And he knelt down and worshiped him. ³⁹ Then Jesus said, “For judgment¹³ I have come into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may be made blind.” ⁴⁰ Now some of the Pharisees who were standing there with him heard these words. So they said to him, “Surely we are not also blind?” ⁴¹ Jesus said to them, “If you really were blind, you would have no sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.

Notes

Lit. in him
Lit. No, but he is like him
Lit. since he opened your eyes
Lit. Therefore
Lit. the parents of him who had regained his sight
Lit. him
Or Give (the) glory to God (but see Josh. 7:19)
The question expects a negative reply
Lit. And they reviled him and said
Lit. drove (threw) him out
Or Lord
Lit. but the one speaking with you is that one
Greek krisis

The True Shepherd

10 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door,¹ but climbs up some other way, that man is a thief and a robber. ² But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. ³For him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴ Whenever he brings out all his own, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him because they recognize his voice. ⁵But a stranger they will never follow; on the contrary, they will flee from him, for they do not recognize the voice of strangers.” ⁶Using this figure of speech, Jesus spoke to them; but they did not understand the things he was saying to them.

The Good Shepherd

⁷ So once again Jesus spoke to them: “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. ⁸ All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep would not listen to them. ⁹ I am the door. If anyone enters through me, he will be saved; and he will come in and go out and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief never comes except to steal, kill, and destroy; I have come that they might have life, and have it in abundance. ¹¹ I am the good shepherd: The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ¹² A hireling²—someone who is not the shepherd and doesn’t own the sheep—sees the wolf coming, abandons the sheep, and flees; and the wolf snatches³ them and scatters them. ¹³ He flees because he is a hireling and cares nothing for the sheep. ¹⁴ I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, ¹⁵ just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶ Moreover, I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold: I must bring them as well. And they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock and one shepherd. ¹⁷ For this reason my Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order that I might take it up again. ¹⁸ No one can take it⁴ from me; rather, I am laying it down on my own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

¹⁹ Now because of these words, a division again arose among the Jews. ²⁰ Many of them were saying, “He has a demon and is out of his mind. Why do you listen to him?” ²¹ But others said, “These are not the words of a man who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

“Are You the Messiah?”

²² Then came the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem. It was winter, ²³ and Jesus was walking on the temple grounds in Solomon’s portico. ²⁴ So the Jewish leaders gathered around him and asked him, “How long will you to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” ²⁵ Jesus answered them, “I did tell you, but you don’t believe. The works I am doing in my Father’s name, these testify about me; ²⁶ but you don’t believe because you don’t belong to my flock.⁵ ²⁷ My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸ I myself give them everlasting life: to all eternity they cannot suffer harm, nor will anyone snatch them out of my hand. ²⁹ My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; and no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. ³⁰ I and the Father are one.”

³¹So once again the Jewish leaders picked up stones to stone him. ³² In response, Jesus said to them,⁶ “I have shown you many good works from the Father: For which one of them are you stoning me?” ³³The Jews answered him, saying, “We are not stoning you because of a good work, but for blasphemy, and because you, a mere man,⁷ are claiming to be⁸ God!” ³⁴ Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, “You are gods”‘?^{9 35} Now if God refers to those who received his word as gods¹⁰ (and the Scripture cannot be broken), ³⁶ how can you say¹¹ to him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? ³⁷ If I am not performing the works of my Father, then don’t believe me; ³⁸ but if I am, even though you don’t believe me, believe the works, so that you may realize and understand that the Father is in me, and I in him.” ³⁹ So¹² once again they tried to seize him, but he escaped out of their hands.

Faith Beyond the Jordan

⁴⁰ Then Jesus went away again, crossing the Jordan to the place where John was first baptizing; and he remained there. ⁴¹ And many people came to him; and they were saying among themselves, “John performed no miraculous signs, but everything he said about this man was true.” ⁴² And many believed in him there.

Notes

Or gate
Lit. the hireling
Or possibly attacks
Lit. takes it
Lit. are not of my sheep
Lit. Jesus answered them
Lit. being a man
Lit. make yourself
Ps. 82:6
Lit. If he calls them gods to whom the word of God came
Lit. do you say
Some mss omit so

A Death in the Family

11 Now a certain man was sick: Lazarus of Bethany, the village where Mary and her sister Martha lived. ²(It was the Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil, and who wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) ³ So the sisters sent word to Jesus, saying, “Know,¹ Lord, that he whom you love² is sick.” ⁴ But when Jesus heard that, he said, “This sickness will not end in death, but is meant for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

⁵ Now Jesus loved³ Martha and her sister and Lazarus. ⁶ So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed in the place where he was for two more days. ⁷ After that, he said to his disciples, “Let us go again to Judea.” ⁸ The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jewish leaders were just trying to stone you, and you’re going there again?” ⁹Jesus replied, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he doesn’t stumble, because he sees the light of this world. ¹⁰ But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” ¹¹ He said these things, and then went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus is asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” ¹² So his disciples said, “Lord, if he’s only fallen asleep, he will recover!” ¹³ (Now Jesus had spoken of Lazarus’ death, whereas the disciples assumed he was talking about actual sleep.)⁴ ¹⁴Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died; ¹⁵ and for your sakes I am glad I wasn’t there, so that you may believe. Nevertheless, let us go to him.” ¹⁶So Thomas (who is called the Twin) said to his fellow disciples, “Let us go too, so that we can die with him.”

Martha and Her Lord

¹⁷ So when Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. ¹⁸ (Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away; ¹⁹ consequently, many of the Jews of that city had come to Martha and Mary to console them over the loss of their brother.) ²⁰ So as soon as Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him; but Mary remained in the house, sitting. ²¹ Then Martha said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. ²² But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give it to you.” ²³ Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” ²⁴ Martha said to him, “I know he will rise again at the resurrection on the last day.” ²⁵ Jesus declared to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even if he dies. ²⁶ And everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.⁵ Do you believe this?” ²⁷ She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I have believed that you are the Messiah, the Son of God: the One whom he promised would come into the world.”⁶

Mary and Her Lord

²⁸When she had said this, Martha went and called her sister Mary, saying to her in private, “The Teacher is here and is asking for you.” ²⁹ And as soon as Mary heard that, she quickly got up and headed out to meet with him.⁷ ³⁰ Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. ³¹ So when the Jews who were comforting Mary in her house⁸ saw that she had quickly gotten up and gone out, they followed her, thinking she was going to the tomb to weep there.

³² Now when Mary arrived at the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell down at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”³³Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and when he saw the Jews who had come with her weeping, he was stirred⁹ in his¹⁰ spirit and deeply troubled.¹¹ ³⁴Then he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” ³⁵ Jesus wept. ³⁶ So the Jews began saying, “See how he loved him!” ³⁷ But some of them said, “Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind, have also done something to keep Lazarus¹² from dying?”

Lazarus and His Lord

³⁸ So Jesus, again bestirred within, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave with a stone laid across its entrance. ³⁹ Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him whose life had come to an end, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for it’s been four days since he died.” ⁴⁰ Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?” ⁴¹ So they took away the stone. Then Jesus lifted up his eyes towards heaven¹³ and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. ⁴² Indeed, I knew that you always hear me, but for the sake of the crowd standing by I have said this, so that they may believe you sent me.” ⁴³ Now when he had said these things, he cried with a loud voice: “Lazarus, come out!” ⁴⁴ And he who had died came out, his hands and feet wrapped in linen strips, and his face shrouded in a burial cloth. Jesus said to them, “Remove the wraps¹⁴ and let him go.”

A Plot to Kill the Lord of Life

⁴⁵ As a result of this, many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and who saw what Jesus did, believed in him. ⁴⁶ But some of them left, went to the Pharisees, and told them everything¹⁵ he had done. ⁴⁷ So the chief priests and the Pharisees assembled a council.¹⁶ Then they said, “What should we do?¹⁷ This man is performing many signs. ⁴⁸ If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” ⁴⁹ But one of them—Caiaphas, who was high priest that year—said to them, “You know nothing at all, ⁵⁰ nor do you pause to consider that it’s far better for you to have one man die for the people instead of having the entire nation destroyed!”¹⁸ ⁵¹ (Now this he did not say on his own; rather, since he was high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation; ⁵²and not for that nation alone, but also that he would gather together into one all the children of God who are scattered abroad.) ⁵³ So from that day on they entered into deliberations as to how they might put him to death.¹⁹

⁵⁴ Consequently, Jesus no longer walked openly among the people of Judea, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim; and he remained there with his disciples.

⁵⁵ Now the Jewish Feast of the Passover was drawing near, and many people went up to Jerusalem from the countryside to purify themselves before the Passover. ⁵⁶So they began to look for Jesus; and as they stood in the temple courts they would talk with one another, saying, “What do you think—that he won’t come to the feast at all?” ⁵⁷ (Now²⁰ both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew of his whereabouts he must report it to them, so that they might arrest him.)

Notes

Lit. Behold
Greek phileo
Greek agapao
Lit. the rest of sleep
Lit. will certainly not die to the (unbroken, endless) age
Lit. the One coming into the world
Lit. began coming to him
Lit. who were with Mary in the house and comforting her
This verb often connotes anger, indignation
Lit. the
Lit. troubled himself
Lit. this man
Lit. lifted his eyes upward (above)
Lit. Loose him!
Lit. the things
Or gathered (the) Sanhedrin
Or What are we doing?
Lit. nor are you taking into account that it is advantageous for you that one man should die for the people and not that the whole nation should perish
Lit. took counsel in order to kill him
Or But

The Anointing at Bethany

12 Then, six days prior to the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. ² So they prepared a supper for him there; and Martha was serving, but Lazarus was one of the men reclining at the table with him. ³ Then Mary, taking up a one-pound jar of pure oil of nard (very costly), anointed Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. ⁴ But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who would soon betray him), said, ⁵“Why wasn’t this oil sold for three hundred denarii and the proceeds given to the poor?” ⁶ (Now he said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and because he would steal valuables kept in the money pouch, which was under his care.) ⁷So Jesus said, “Leave her alone; it was meant that she should keep this for the day of my burial. ⁸ For the poor you¹ will always have with you, but me you will not always have.”

A Plot to Kill Lazarus

⁹ Now at that time a great many of the Jews learned that Jesus was there; and they came to Bethany not only for Jesus’ sake, but also because they wanted to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. ¹⁰ So the chief priests took counsel as to how they might put Lazarus to death as well, ¹¹ for because of him many of the Jews were deserting them and placing their faith in Jesus.²

The Triumphal Entry

¹² On the next day, when the great crowd which had come to the feast heard that Jesus was on his way into Jerusalem, ¹³ they took up palm branches and went out to meet him. And they began crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel himself!”³ ¹⁴ And when Jesus had found a young donkey, he sat on it, just as it was written: ¹⁵ “Daughter of Zion, don’t be afraid! Look! Your king is coming to you, seated on a donkey’s colt!”⁴ ¹⁶ (At first his disciples did not understand these things; but later, when Jesus had been glorified, they remembered that these things were written about him, and that the people had done these things for him.) ¹⁷ Then the crowd that was with Jesus when he called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead began to spread the word⁵ about what they had seen. ¹⁸ This too was why the crowds poured out to meet him: because they heard about the miraculous sign he had performed. ¹⁹ Then the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are getting nowhere.⁶ Look, the whole world has gone after him!”

Gentiles Desire to See Jesus

²⁰ Now among those who had gone up to worship at the feast there were a number of⁷ Greeks. ²¹ So they came up to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee; and they inquired of him, saying, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.” ²² So Philip went and told Andrew, and Andrew and Philip both went and told Jesus. ²³ But in reply, Jesus said to them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. ²⁴ Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a kernel of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone, all by itself; but if it dies, it yields a rich harvest.⁸ ²⁵ He who loves his life will lose⁹ it; but he who hates his life in this world will preserve¹⁰ it for eternal life. ²⁶ If anyone would serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there my servant will be as well. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

The Son Must Be Lifted Up

²⁷ “Now my soul is troubled. So should I say,¹¹ ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this very reason I have come to this hour. ²⁸ Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” ²⁹ So when the crowd that was standing nearby heard this, they said that it was thunder; but others said, “An angel has spoken to him!” ³⁰ But Jesus responded and said, “This voice did not come for my sake, but for yours. ³¹ Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. ³² And as for me, if I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all to myself.” ³³ (Now Jesus said this in order to signify the kind of death he was about to die.)

³⁴ So the crowd responded and said to him, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever; how then can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?” ³⁵ Then Jesus said to them, “For a little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness does not overtake you. He who walks in darkness doesn’t see where he is going. ³⁶ While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke; and when he had departed, he was hidden from them.

Jewish Unbelief

³⁷ Yet even though he had performed so many miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not put their faith in him—³⁸ so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled, who said, “Lord, who has believed our message,¹² and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”¹³ ³⁹ For this reason they could not believe, because again Isaiah said, ⁴⁰“He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, lest they should see with their eyes and understand with their hearts and return to me, so that¹⁴ I might heal them.”¹⁵ ⁴¹ Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. ⁴² Nevertheless, even among the rulers many believed in him; but for fear of the Pharisees they would not declare it openly, lest they should be put out of the synogogue; ⁴³for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

The Word of Christ Will Save and Judge

⁴⁴ Then Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in me is not believing in me, but in him who sent me. ⁴⁵ And he who sees me is seeing him who sent me. ⁴⁶ I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me will no longer live in darkness.¹⁶ ⁴⁷ Now if anyone hears my words and does not believe and obey¹⁷ them, I do not judge him, for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. ⁴⁸ He who rejects me and does not accept my words has something that will judge him:¹⁸ The word that I spoke—that is what will judge him on the last day. ⁴⁹ For I did not speak on my own initiative, but he who sent me—the Father himself—has been giving me commands¹⁹ as to what I should say and what I should speak. ⁵⁰And I know that his command is eternal life. Therefore the things that I speak, I speak just as the Father has spoken to me.”

Notes

You is plural
Lit. going away and believing in Jesus
Lit. even the king of Israel; Ps. 118:26
Zech. 9:9
Lit. was testifying
Lit. profiting (gaining, accomplishing) nothing
Lit. certain, some
Lit. much fruit
Or destroy
Lit. guard, protect
Lit. And what should I say?
Lit. the thing heard by us
Is. 53:1
Lit. and
Is. 6:10
Lit. might not remain in darkness
Lit. keep, guard, observe
Lit. that which judges him
Lit. has given me (a) command

The Servant of the Lord

13 Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus—knowing that his hour had come for him to pass from this world to the Father—having loved his own who were in the world, loved them to the end. ²The evening meal was under way, and the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot (Simon’s son) to betray him. ³So Jesus—knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God—⁴rose from supper, laid aside his outer garments, picked up a towel, and wrapped it around his waist.¹ ⁵ After that, he poured water into a basin and began washing the disciples’ feet and wiping them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

⁶ Then he came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, you are washing my feet?” ⁷ Jesus answered and said to him, “For the moment you don’t see clearly what I am doing, but later on you will understand.” ⁸ Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet; never!”² Jesus answered him, “If I don’t wash you, you will have no share in me.” ⁹ Simon Peter said to him, “Then not my feet alone, Lord, but my hands and head as well!” ¹⁰ Jesus said to him, “He who has bathed only needs to wash his feet, since he is³ completely clean; and you men are clean, but not all of you.” ¹¹ (For he knew the one who was planning to betray him; this is why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”)

¹² So when Jesus had washed their feet, put on his outer garments, and again taken his place at the table, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done for you? ¹³ You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you speak well, for so I am. ¹⁴ Therefore, if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵ For I have given you an example, so that just as I have done for you, you also will do the same. ¹⁶ Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is the one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷ If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

“One of You Will Betray Me”

¹⁸ “I am not speaking about all of you; I know the ones I have chosen. But in order that the Scripture may be fulfilled, he who eats my bread has lifted up his heel against me.^{4 19} From now on I will tell you before it comes to pass, so that when it does, you will believe that I am he. ²⁰ Truly, truly I say to you, he who receives the one I send, receives me; and he who receives me, receives the One who sent me.”

²¹ When he had said these things, Jesus grew troubled in spirit; and he bore witness and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you: One of you will betray me.” ²² Then the disciples began looking at each other, at a loss to know which of them he was talking about. ²³ Now one of his disciples—one whom Jesus loved—was leaning against his breast.⁵ ²⁴ So Simon Peter nodded in his direction, urging him to ask Jesus who he was referring to. ²⁵ Leaning as he was⁶ on Jesus’ breast, the disciple therefore said to him, “Lord, who is it?” ²⁶ Jesus answered, “He to whom I give this morsel of bread after I have dipped it in the dish—he is the one.” So when he had dipped the morsel of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. ²⁷And after Judas had taken the morsel, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” ²⁸ (Now no one at the table knew why Jesus had said this to him; ²⁹ for since Judas had custody of the money pouch, some of them assumed that Jesus was telling him, “Buy whatever things we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor.) ³⁰ So after taking the morsel of bread, Judas immediately went out. And it was night.

The New Commandment

³¹ Then, when Judas had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in him. ³² And if God is glorified in him,⁷ God will also glorify him in himself, and will glorify him at once. ³³ Children, I am with you just a little while longer. You will seek me; and as I said to the Jews, so now I say to you: Where I am going, you cannot come. ³⁴ Therefore, I give you a new commandment: that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love one for another.”

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

³⁶ Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going—you cannot follow me now; but later on you will follow.” ³⁷ Peter said to him, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you!” ³⁸ Jesus replied, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly I say to you, the rooster will not crow⁸ until you have denied me three times.”

Notes

Lit. wrapped himself
Lit. You will by no means wash my feet to the age (forever)!
Lit. but is
Or But (this was) so that Scripture would be fulfilled: “He . . . against me.” See Ps. 41:9
Or possibly seated at the place of honor
Lit. thus
A number of early mss omit this phrase
Lit. will certainly not crow

The Way, the Truth, and the Life

14 “Don’t let your heart be troubled: You believe in God, believe in me as well. ² In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places; if it were not so, would I have told you that I am going on to prepare a place for you?¹ ³ And if I go on and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be as well. ⁴ As for where I am going, you know the way.”²

⁵ Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going; how can we know the way?” ⁶ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷ If you had known me, you would also have known my Father; and from now on you both know him and have seen him.” ⁸ Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and that³ will be enough for us.” ⁹ Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, Philip, and you haven’t come to know me? He who has seen me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ¹⁰ Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I speak to you all, I do not speak on my own initiative; rather, the Father living inside me is performing his works. ¹¹Believe me when I say that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me; or else believe me for the sake of the works themselves.

Greater Works Through Prayer

¹² “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me, the works I am doing, he will do as well; indeed, he will do greater works than these, because I am going to my Father. ¹³ And whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ If you ask me⁴ anything in my name, I will do it.

The Promise of the Spirit

¹⁵ “If you love me, you will keep my commandments; ¹⁶ and I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, so that he may be with you forever: ¹⁷ the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, because he is present with you, and will be in you. ¹⁸ I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

Love and Obedience

¹⁹ “A little while longer, and the world will see me no more; but you will see me. Because I live, you will live as well. ²⁰ In that day you will know that I am in my Father, you are in me, and I am in you.⁵ ²¹ He who has my commandments and keeps them, he is the one who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father; and I will love him, and will disclose myself to him.” ²² Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will disclose yourself to us and not to the world?” ²³ Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word; and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with⁶ him. ²⁴ He who does not love me does not keep my words; and the word you are hearing is not my own, but the Father’s who sent me.

The Promise of Peace

²⁵ “I have told you these things while I am still with you. ²⁶ But the Helper⁷—the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name—will teach you all things, and will bring to your remembrance everything I told you. ²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you, not at all like that which is given by the world.⁸ Don’t let your heart be troubled, and don’t let it be afraid. ²⁸ You heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced that⁹ I am going to the Father, for my Father is greater than I. ²⁹ I have told you this now, before it happens, so that when it does, you may believe. ³⁰ I will no longer speak much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me;¹⁰ ³¹ but in order that the world may know that I love the Father, I am doing just as the Father commanded me to do.¹¹ Arise, let us go from here.

Notes

Or if it were not so, I would have told you, for I go to prepare a place for you (but see 13:36)
Lit. And where, etc.; many mss and where I am going you know, and the way you know
Lit. it
Some mss omit me
Lit. Father, and you in me, and I in you
Lit. alongside of
Greek Paracletos: one called alongside (e.g., advocate, intercede, etc.)
Lit. to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you
Or rejoiced, because
Lit. and he has nothing in me
Lit. and as the Father commanded me, just so I do

The True Vine

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. ² Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away;¹ and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes,² so that it will bear more fruit. ³ You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴ Abide in me and I in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it abides in the vine, so too you cannot bear fruit unless you abide in me. ⁵ I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me and I in him—he will bear much fruit; for apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If anyone does not abide in me, he is thrown out like a branch and withers away; and they gather them up and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.³

⁷ “If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you. ⁸ By this my Father is glorified: that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples.⁴ ⁹Just as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Abide in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. ¹¹ These things I have spoken to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

¹²“This is my commandment: that you love one another, just as I have loved you. ¹³No one has greater love than this: that one would lay down⁵ his life for his friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends, if you do the things I command you. ¹⁵ I am no longer calling you servants, for a servant doesn’t know what his master is doing. Rather, I have called you friends, because everything I heard from my Father I made known to you. ¹⁶ You did not choose me; on the contrary, I chose you and appointed you so that you would go forth and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you. ¹⁷ I am giving you these commands so that you will love one another.⁶

The World’s Hatred

¹⁸ “If the world hates you, know⁷ that it hated⁸ me before it hated you. ¹⁹ If you belonged to⁹ the world, the world would love its own. But because you don’t belong to the world, but I chose you out of the world—for this reason the world hates you. ²⁰ Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘A servant is not above his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept my word, they will also keep yours. ²¹ But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me. ²² If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin;¹⁰ but now they have no excuse for their sin. ²³ Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. ²⁴ If I had not performed among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have both seen¹¹ and hated me and my Father.¹² ²⁵ But this has happened so that the word written in their law might be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’¹³

²⁶ “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of Truth who proceeds from the Father—he will testify concerning me. ²⁷ And you will testify as well, for you have been with me from the beginning.

Notes

Or possibly he lifts up
Lit. cleanses
Lit. he (it) is burned
Or become my disciples; some mss and you will become my disciples
Lit. set (aside)
Lit. These things I command you, in order that you may love one another
Or you know
Lit. has hated
Lit. were from (out of)
Lit. they would have no sin
Or possibly seen (the works)
Lit. hated both me and my Father
Ps. 69:4

16 “I have told you these things to keep you from stumbling.¹ ² They will make you outcasts from the synagogues; moreover, an hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. ³ And they will do these things because they knew neither the Father nor me. ⁴But I have spoken these things to you so that when their hour comes you will remember that I told you beforehand.

The Work of the Spirit

“And I didn’t tell you these things from the beginning because I was with you. ⁵ But now I am going away to him who sent me; and none of you have asked me,² ‘Where are you going?’ ⁶ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. ⁷ Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: It isgood for you³ that I am leaving. For if I do not leave, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go my way, I will send him to you. ⁸And when he has come, he will convict⁴ the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: ⁹ concerning sin, because they don’t believe in me; ¹⁰ concerning righteousness, because I am going to my Father and you see me no more; ¹¹ and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

¹² “I still have many things to tell you, but you cannot bear them now. ¹³ But when he—the Spirit of Truth—has come he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak from himself; rather, whatever⁵ he hears, that he will speak; and he will make known to you the things that are to come. ¹⁴ He will glorify me, for he will take from what is mine and make it known to you. ¹⁵ Everything the Father has is mine; this is why I said that the Spirit takes from what is mine and will make it known to you.

The Coming Kingdom of Joy

¹⁶ “A little while, and you will see me no more; then another little while,⁶ and you will see me.” ¹⁷ Then some of his disciples said to each other, “What does he mean when he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me; then another little while, and you will see me,’ and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?” ¹⁸ So they kept on asking,⁷ “What does he mean when he says, ‘A little while’? We don’t know what he means.”

¹⁹ Now Jesus knew that they wanted to question him about this, so he said to them, “Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said: ‘A little while, and you will not see me; then another little while, and you will see me’? ²⁰ Truly, truly, I say to you: You will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be filled with sorrow, but your sorrow will be turned to joy. ²¹ When a woman is in labor, she has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the suffering, for joy that a human being⁸ has been born into the world. ²²Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice; and no one will rob you of your joy.⁹

²³“Moreover, in that day you will not ask me for anything.¹⁰ Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give it to you. ²⁴Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask, and you will receive, so that your joy may be made complete.

Tribulation and Triumph

²⁵ “I have told you these things using figures of speech; but an hour is coming when I will no longer use figures of speech, but will speak to you plainly concerning the Father. ²⁶ In that day you will ask in my name; and I am not telling you that I will petition the Father on your behalf. ²⁷ For the Father himself loves you because you have loved me, and because you have believed that I came forth from God. ²⁸ I went forth from the Father and came into the world; now¹¹ I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”

²⁹ His disciples said to him, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech! ³⁰ Now we see that you know everything, and have no need that anyone should question you. Because of this we believe that you have come¹² from God.” ³¹ Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? ³² Behold, an hour is coming—indeed, it has already come—for each of you to be scattered to his own home,¹³and to leave me alone. But I am not alone, for the Father is with me. ³³ I have told you these things so that in me you might have peace. In the world you will have tribulation;¹⁴ but take courage: I have conquered the world!”

Notes

Or from being surprised, taking offense; lit. will not be caused to stumble
Lit. is asking me
Or to your advantage
Or convince
Lit. whatever things
Lit. and again a little while
Lit. saying
Lit. man
Lit. no one will take your joy from you
Or you will not ask me any questions; lit. you will ask (petition) me nothing
Lit. again, in turn
Lit. came
Lit. his own things
Or trouble, hardship, distress; lit. pressing

Jesus Prays for Himself

17 Jesus spoke these words; and then, lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said: “Father, the hour has come: Glorify your Son so that the Son¹ may glorify you, ² just as you have given him authority over all flesh so that he may give eternal life to all whom you have given him. ³ And this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. ⁴ I glorified you on the earth by accomplishing the work that you gave² me to do. ⁵ And now, Father, glorify me alongside yourself,³with the glory that I had with you before the world was.

Jesus Prays for His Disciples

⁶ “I have revealed⁴ your name to the men whom you gave to me out of the world. They were yours, you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. ⁷ Now they have come to know that whatever things you have given to me are from you. ⁸ For I have given them the words that you gave to me; and they welcomed them and truly understood that I came forth from you; and they believed that you sent me. ⁹ I pray for them.⁵ I do not pray for the world, but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. ¹⁰ Indeed, all that is mine is yours, and all that is yours is mine; and through these things⁶ I have received glory. ¹¹ And now I am no longer in the world; but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name—the name that you have entrusted⁷ to me—so that they may be one, even as we are one. ¹² While I was with them, I kept them in your name: the name that you have entrusted to me. I also guarded them, so that⁸ none of them perished except the son of destruction, so that the Scripture might be fulfilled. ¹³ But now I am coming to you; and I am saying these things in the world so that my joy may be in them, full and complete. ¹⁴ I have given them your word, and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁵ I am not asking that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them safe from the evil one. ¹⁶ They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁷ Sanctify them by⁹ your truth: Your word is truth. ¹⁸ Just as you sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. ¹⁹ And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they too may be sanctified in¹⁰ truth.

Jesus Prays for All Believers

²⁰ “I am not asking for these alone, but also for those who will believe in me through their word: ²¹ May they all be one. Even as you, Father, are in me, and I am in you, may they also be one in us, so that the world may believe you sent me. ²² I myself¹¹ have given them the glory that you have given me, so that they may be one, even as we are one. ²³ I in them, and you in me, so that they may be perfected in unity; so that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me. ²⁴ Father, concerning what you¹² have given me: I desire that they too be with me where I am, so that they may behold my glory, glory that you have given to me because you loved me before the founding of the world. ²⁵ Righteous Father, the world did not know you; but I knew you, and these have come to know¹³ that you sent me. ²⁶ Moreover, I made your name known to them; and I will continue to make it known, so that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

Notes

Many mss your Son
Lit. have given
Or together with yourself; in your presence
Or manifested, disclosed, made known
Lit. I ask concerning them
Lit. by (in) them
Or given
Lit. and
Or in
Or by
Or And I
Some mss Father, those whom you
Lit. came to know

Betrayal and Arrest

18 When Jesus had said these things, he went out with his disciples to a place on the other side of the Kidron Ravine.¹ In that place there was a garden,² which he himself entered, together with his disciples. ² Now Judas, who was betraying him, also knew this place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. ³ So after Judas had received a cohort of Roman soldiers³ and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, he came to the garden with lanterns, torches, and weapons.

⁴Then Jesus, knowing all that would now come upon him, stepped forward⁴ and said to them, “Who are you looking for?” ⁵ They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” He said to them, “I am.” (Now Judas, who was betraying him, was also standing there with them.) ⁶ So when Jesus said to them, “I am,” they drew back and fell to the ground. ⁷ Then he asked them again, “Who are you looking for?” They said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” ⁸ Jesus replied, “I told you that I am. So if you are looking for me, let these men go their way.” ⁹ (This he said in order to fulfill the word he had spoken earlier: “Of those whom you gave me, I have lost none.”)

¹⁰Then Simon Peter, who had a sword with him, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) ¹¹ But Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back in its sheath!⁵ Should I not drink the cup that my Father has given me?”

Jesus Led Away to Annas

¹² Then the men of the cohort, the chiliarch,⁶ and the officers who were sent by the Jewish leaders seized Jesus and put him in bonds. ¹³ And they led him away, first of all to Annas, since he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was the high priest that year. ¹⁴ (Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it was advantageous for one man to die for the sake of the people.)

Peter Denies His Master

¹⁵ Now Simon Peter was following Jesus, together with another disciple. And that disciple was known to the high priest; so he went into the high priest’s courtyard with Jesus. ¹⁶ But Peter was left standing outside, in front of the gate.⁷ So the other disciple who was known to the high priest went outside, spoke to the gate-keeper, and brought Peter in. ¹⁷ Then the young girl who served as the gate-keeper said to Peter, “You’re not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?” Peter replied, “I’m not.” ¹⁸ Now the servants and officers had prepared a fire; and they all were standing around it, warming themselves at the coals, for the night was cold. And Peter was standing there with them, warming himself.

Jesus Before Caiaphas

¹⁹Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. ²⁰ But Jesus answered him, saying, “I have spoken openly to the world. I always taught in the synagogues and in the temple where all the Jews gather, and I have spoken nothing in secret. ²¹ Why then are you questioning me? Question those who heard what I said to them; see for yourselves, they know what I said.” ²² Now when he had said these things, one of the officers standing nearby struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, “Is that the way you answer the high priest?” ²³ But Jesus answered him, “If I said something wrong, testify about the wrong; but if I spoke truly, why are you striking me?” ²⁴ Then Annas sent Jesus—still in bonds—to Caiaphas, the high priest.

Peter Again Denies His Master

²⁵ Now Simon Peter was standing in the courtyard, warming himself. So some of them⁸ said to him, “You’re not also one of his disciples, are you?” Peter denied it, saying, “I’m not!” ²⁶ Then one of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Didn’t I see you in the garden with him?” ²⁷ So Peter again denied it;⁹and immediately a rooster crowed.

Jesus Accused by the Sanhedrin

²⁸Then, quite early in the morning, the Jewish rulers¹⁰ led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the Praetorium;¹¹ but they themselves did not go in for fear of becoming unclean, and so debarred from eating the Passover meal.¹² ²⁹So Pilate came out to them and said, “What charge do you bring against this man?” ³⁰ They answered and said to him, “If he were not an evildoer, we wouldn’t be handing him over to you.” ³¹ Then Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him according to your own law.” But the rulers¹³ said to him, “It isn’t legal for us to put someone to death.” ³² (This took place in order to fulfill the word Jesus had spoken, indicating the kind of death he was going to die.)

Jesus Before Pilate

³³ Then Pilate entered his quarters again, called for Jesus, and said to him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” ³⁴ Jesus replied, “Are you saying this on your own, or is it that others have spoken to you about me?” ³⁵ Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own people, including the chief priests, have delivered you into my custody. What have you done?” ³⁶ Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders; but now¹⁴ my kingdom is not of this realm.” ³⁷ Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king!” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. To this end I was born, and to this end I have come into the world, that I might bear witness to the truth. Everyone who loves the truth¹⁵ hears¹⁶ my voice.” ³⁸ Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

Pilate Seeks to Release Jesus

Now when he had said this, Pilate again went out to the Jewish leaders; and he said to them, “I find no grounds at all for a charge against him. ³⁹ But you have a custom that I should release someone to you during the Passover Feast. So then: Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” ⁴⁰ Then they all shouted, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was an insurrectionist.¹⁷

Notes

Lit. wadi (i.e. a ravine that floods in winter)
Or orchard
Lit. the cohort (i.e. a detachment of Roman soldiers normally comprised of 600 men)
Or went forth, went out
Lit. Thrust the sword into the sheath!
I.e. a commander of a thousand Roman soldiers
Or door
Lit. So they
Or him
Lit. they
I.e. the governor’s quarters
Lit. that they might not be defiled, but eat the Passover
Lit. the Jews
Or as it is
Lit. all who are of the truth
Or listens to
Or robber

The King Sentenced to Die

19 So Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged. ² And the soldiers wove a crown out of thorny branches, placed it on his head, and wrapped a purple robe around him. ³Then they began coming up¹ to him, and saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” and striking him with their hands.²

⁴Then Pilate came out again and said to the Jewish rulers, “Look, I myself am bringing him out to you so that you will know I find no grounds at all for a charge against him.” ⁵Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Look at the man!” ⁶ But when the chief priests and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.” ⁷ The Jewish leaders replied, “We have a law; and according to that law he must die, because he made himself out to be the Son of God.”

⁸ Now when Pilate heard that statement, he grew all the more afraid. ⁹ Therefore, he went back into the Praetorium and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. ¹⁰ So Pilate said to him, “Are you refusing to speak to me? Don’t you realize I have authority to crucify you and authority to release you?” ¹¹ Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over me at all if it hadn’t been given to you from above. For this reason the one who handed me over to you is guilty of the greater sin.”

¹² So from then on Pilate tried to release him; but the Jews kept crying out, saying, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar’s! Everyone who makes himself a king is declaring himself against³ Caesar.” ¹³ Therefore, when Pilate heard those words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat in the place called the Stone Pavement (but in Hebrew, Gabbatha). ¹⁴ (Now it was the day of preparation for the Passover sabbath, and about the sixth hour.)⁴ Then Pilate said to the Jewish leaders, “Look, here is your king!” ¹⁵ But they shouted, “Take him away, take him away! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your king?” The chief priests replied, “We have no king but Caesar!” ¹⁶ So at that, Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.

The King is Crucified

¹⁷Then the soldiers⁵ took custody of Jesus; and carrying his cross all by himself, he went out to what is called the Place of a Skull (but in Hebrew, Golgotha). ¹⁸And there they crucified him, along with two other men: one on each side, and Jesus in between.

¹⁹But Pilate also had a notice of the charges written up and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. ²⁰ As a result, many of the Jews read this notice, for the place where Jesus was crucified was situated near the city; moreover, it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. ²¹ So the chief priests of the Jews were saying to Pilate, “Don’t write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, “I am the King of the Jews.”’” ²² Pilate replied, “What I have written, I have written.”

²³Now when the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four shares, one⁶ for each soldier; and they took his tunic as well. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. ²⁴ So they said to each other, “Let’s not tear it, but instead cast lots for it, to decide whose it will be.” This took place in order to fulfill the Scripture that says, “They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.”⁷ Therefore the soldiers did indeed do these things.

Jesus Provides for His Mother

²⁵ Now Jesus’ mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene were all standing near his cross. ²⁶ So when Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her,⁸ he said to his⁹ mother, “Woman, behold¹⁰ your son!” ²⁷ Then he said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that very hour the disciple welcomed her into his own home.

It Is Finished!

²⁸ After these things, Jesus, knowing that all things had now been accomplished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled,¹¹ said, “I thirst!”¹² ²⁹Now a jar of wine vinegar was lying there; so when the men had fastened a sponge filled with wine to a hyssop branch, they lifted it up to his mouth. ³⁰ Therefore, when Jesus had taken the wine, he said, “It is finished!” And bowing his head, he gave up his spirit.

A Testimony in Blood

³¹ Now it was the Day of Preparation, and the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies of these men to remain on the cross during the Sabbath, for this was a high Sabbath.¹³ Therefore they asked Pilate to command that their legs be broken, and that the men be taken away. ³² So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man, and then those of the other man who was crucified with him. ³³ But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. ³⁴ Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear; and immediately blood and water flowed out. ³⁵ One who saw this himself¹⁴ has borne witness to it; and his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe as well. ³⁶ For these things took place so that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones shall be broken.”¹⁵ ³⁷ And still another scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”¹⁶

Jesus Buried in Joseph’s Tomb

³⁸ Now after these things, Joseph of Arimathea—a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews—asked Pilate’s permission to remove Jesus’ body; and Pilate gave it. So Joseph came and took away his body. ³⁹ And Nicodemus, who had first come to Jesus by night, went along as well, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing about seventy-five pounds. ⁴⁰ Then the two of them¹⁷ took the body of Jesus and wrapped it, together with the spices, in linen strips, as is the burial custom of the Jews. ⁴¹ Now in the place where Jesus was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid to rest. ⁴² So because it was the Jewish Day of Preparation, they laid Jesus there, for the tomb was close at hand.

Notes

Or kept coming up
Or with rods
Or speaks against, opposes
I.e. about noon
Lit. they
Lit. a share
Ps. 22:18
Or nearby
Lit. the
Or Woman, here is
Some interpreters place this phrase in parentheses
Ps. 22:15, 69:21
Lit. the day of that Sabbath was great
Lit. And one who has seen
Ex. 12:46; Num. 9:12; Ps. 34:20
Zech. 12:10
Lit. they

An Empty Tomb

20 Now early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb; and she saw that the stone had been removed from its entrance.¹ ²So she ran and came to Simon Peter, and also to the other disciple whom Jesus loved. She said to them, “They’ve taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they’ve put him!” ³So Peter, together with the other disciple, rushed out and headed for the tomb. ⁴Now the two of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and arrived at the tomb first. ⁵ And when he had stooped down and looked in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in. ⁶ Then Simon Peter, who was following him, also arrived and immediately entered the tomb. And he too saw the linen wrappings lying there, ⁷ as well as the face cloth they had placed² over Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but folded up and lying in a place apart.⁸ So the other disciple who arrived at the tomb first also went in, and he saw and believed ⁹ (for they had not yet understood from the scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead).

A Joyful Reunion

¹⁰ Then the disciples went back to their own homes. ¹¹ But Mary stood outside, near the tomb, weeping. Now as she was weeping, she stooped down and looked in;³ ¹² and she saw two angels dressed in white, sitting in the place where Jesus’ body had been lying: one at the head and the other at the feet. ¹³ They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She answered them, “Because they’ve taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they’ve put him.” ¹⁴ Now after saying this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there; but she didn’t realize that it was him. ¹⁵ Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?” Then Mary, thinking he was the gardener, said to him, “Sir, if you’ve carried him off, tell me where you’ve put him, and I will go and take⁴ him away.” ¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Mary!” Turning around, she said to him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). ¹⁷ Jesus said to her, “You mustn’t cling to me,⁵ for I’ve not yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God.’” ¹⁸Soon after, Mary Magdalene arrived and announced to the disciples, “I’ve seen the Lord!” And she told them he had said these things to her.

Command and Commission

¹⁹ Therefore, when it was evening on that day (the first day of the week), and when the doors where the disciples were gathered were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you!” ²⁰ And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced, having seen for themselves that it was the Lord.⁶ ²¹ So once again Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” ²² And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³ If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

Thomas Sees, Believes, and Stands Corrected

²⁴ But Thomas, one of the twelve (the one called “the Twin”), was not with them when Jesus came to them. ²⁵ So the other disciples kept telling him, “We’ve seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands, and push my finger into the place of the wounds, and place my hand in his side, I refuse to believe.”

²⁶ Now after eight days his disciples were once again inside, and Thomas was with them. And though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood in the midst of them; and he said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, “Place your finger here, and inspect my hands. Now⁷ stretch out your hand and push your finger into my side; and do not give way to unbelief, but have faith!”⁸ ²⁸ Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” ²⁹ Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me, you have you believed.⁹ Blessed are those who did not see, and yet believed.”

The Apostle’s Purpose in Writing

³⁰Many indeed, then, are the other miraculous signs that Jesus also performed in the presence of the¹⁰ disciples, signs that are not recorded in this scroll; ³¹ but these have been recorded so that you¹¹ may believe¹² that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Notes

Lit. the tomb
Lit. that was placed
Lit. into the tomb
Or carry
Lit. Do not keep clinging to me
Or having recognized (seen) the Lord
Lit. and
Lit. do not become unbelieving, but believing
Or have you believed?
Many mss his
The Greek is plural
I.e. come to believe; some mss continue to believe

Breakfast by the Sea

21 After these things Jesus again showed himself to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and this is the way in which he did so. ² Simon Peter, Thomas (the one called “the Twin”), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two of his other disciples were all together. ³ Simon Peter said to them, “I’m going fishing.” They said to him, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and stepped into the boat; but that night they caught nothing.

⁴ Now a little while after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not realize that it was him. ⁵Then Jesus said to them, “Children, haven’t you caught any fish?” They answered him, “No.” ⁶ Then he said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will.”¹ So they threw out the net—and now they were no longer able to pull it back in due to the great number of fish. ⁷ Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put² on his outer garment (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea. ⁸But the other disciples came along in the small boat, pulling the net full of fish; for they were not far from land, only about a hundred yards away.³

⁹So when they stepped onto the beach, the disciples saw a charcoal fire already prepared, a fish laid on it, and a bread-cake. ¹⁰ Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught.” ¹¹ So Simon Peter went on board and pulled the net to shore. Now the net was full of large fish: one hundred and fifty-three of them. But even though there were so many, the net was not broken! ¹²Then Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” (None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” for they knew it was the Lord.) ¹³ Then Jesus came up, took the bread, and gave portions to them all; and he did the same with the fish. ¹⁴ This is now the third time Jesus showed himself to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Peter Recommissioned

¹⁵ So when they had finished eating breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love⁴ me more than these?” Peter said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know I love⁵ you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” ¹⁶ Jesus asked Peter a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love⁶ me?” Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know I love⁷ you.” He said to him, “Shepherd my sheep.” ¹⁷Then Jesus asked him a third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love⁸ me?” Peter was deeply distressed that Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you love⁹ me?” So he said to him, “Lord, you know all things: You know I love¹⁰ you!” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. ¹⁸ Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger you would dress yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and take you where you do not want to go.” ¹⁹ (Now Jesus said this in order to signify the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God.) And after speaking in this way, Jesus said to Peter, “Follow me.”

Two Different Destinies

²⁰Turning around, Peter saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them (the one who had leaned on Jesus’ breast during the Passover meal and said, “Lord, which one of us is going to betray you?”). ²¹ So when Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” ²² Jesus said to him, “If I desire him¹¹ to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me.” ²³ For this reason the saying went out among the brothers that this disciple would not die. However, Jesus never said to him that he wouldn’t die, but only, “If I desire him to remain till I come, what is that to you?”

The Apostle’s Final Word

²⁴ This is the disciple who is bearing witness to these things, and who wrote these things down; and we know that his testimony is true. ²⁵ And there are many other things that Jesus did as well; but if someone were to write them down one by one, I think¹² the world itself could not contain all the scrolls that would have to be written.¹³

Notes

Lit. will find (some)
Or tied
Lit. two hundred cubits
Greek agapao
Greek phileo
Greek agapao
Greek phileo
Greek phileo
Greek phileo
Greek phileo
Or If I will
Or suppose
Many mss add Amen

Published: 29 September 2016

Written by CLR4U

No comments

Note: This essay is extracted from my book, The High King of Heaven: Discovering the Master Keys to the Great End Time Debate (Redemption Press, 2014).

_________

THE REVELATION can be an intimidating book. It is long, filled with mysterious visions and symbols, and at times overwhelming with its serial depictions of spiritual warfare, divine judgment, and final, eschatological victory. And yet, when we push past our fears and enter more deeply, we begin to see things: recurring themes, patterns, and cycles. Suddenly, perhaps after several readings, we realize that this prophecy has a structure; a structure so nuanced, complex, beautiful, and ingenious, that the hand of God himself must be behind it. Moreover, when we fully see this structure, we also see how to interpret the book as a whole, and chapter 20 in particular. We must, then, devote some quality time to this crucial subject.

Having considered a number of different views on the structure of the Revelation, I find that I return over and again to the ideas embodied in the chart below. In a moment, we will let it guide us through a survey of the book itself. First, however, a few preliminary remarks are in order. (to view the chart, please click here).

As you can see, I have divided the book into five blocs. The titles beneath each one reflect my best effort to identify the main idea of the bloc, while at the same time keeping in view the central theme of the whole book: the Person and Work of Christ in his Exaltation. Or, to say it more concisely: the High King of Heaven.

I am very pleased with the fact that the third bloc, which gives us the Investiture of the High King of Heaven (4-5), stands mid-way between the other two. As we shall see in a moment, this is fitting, since this particular bloc is the theological high point and center of gravity of the whole prophecy. For consider: Because of his coronation as High King of Heaven, Christ can come to John in glory (1), and speak to the seven churches within supreme authority (2-3). Moreover, because of that same coronation, he can rule over the cosmos throughout the remaining years of Salvation History (6-20), and then, following his Parousia, bring his glorified Bride into the Kingdom of God in its full and final form (21-22). Thus, chapters 4-5 hold the whole book together as one: as a single celebration of the Person and Work of the High King!

For the purposes of our study, the most important—and the most controversial—portion of my chart is bloc four. As you can see, there I suggest that chapters 6-20 are best understood as six separate apocalyptic cycles, each of which describes—in its own unique way, and for its own unique purposes—the course, character, and consummation of the spiritual reign of the High King of Heaven.

Since that’s a mouthful, let me break it down a little. The idea here is really quite simple. This large bloc (6-20) is made up of six sub-blocs, or cycles (6-7, 8-11, 12-14, 15-16, 17-19, and 20). But in each of the cycles, the focus of the prophetic Spirit is always on the same time frame: the space of time between Christ’s first and second coming; the space of time during which the exalted Christ reigns as High King of heaven and earth. This means that the fourth bloc of the Revelation—and the great bulk of the book—is actually made up of six separate visionary cycles, each one of which uses different ideas and images to cover the same historical ground; to rehearse, or recapitulate, the earthly impact of the heavenly reign of Christ.

In the pages ahead, I will spotlight a number of lines of evidence favorable to this view. For the moment, however, let us assume that the Holy Spirit has indeed structured this bloc of the prophecy as I have suggested. If so, there are a number of important implications for the interpretation of the book as a whole, and for Revelation 20 in particular.

Implications of the Cyclial View

The first implication pertains to the way in which we must interpret the symbols that we meet in each of the six cycles. For example, if the cyclical view is correct, it means that we cannot interpret Revelation 6-20 as the preterists do. They say that the focus here is largely, if not entirely, on events that took place at the very beginning of the Church Era; events that, for us, are already past. These include the fall of Jerusalem, the tyrannical power of Rome, and the vicissitudes of the early Church at the hand of Jew and Roman. But if the true focus of 6-20 is the entire inter-adventual era, obviously the preterist interpretation cannot be correct.

Similarly, if the cyclical view is right, we cannot interpret Revelation 6-20 as the futurists do. They say that the focus here is largely, if not exclusively, on events that will occur at the very end of the age. Yes, there are some differences among them. Moderate futurists like George Ladd say that the events will befall the Church. Dispensational futurists, like John MacArthur, say they will befall latter day Jews during a seven year Tribulation, after Christ has secretly carried his Church away to heaven at the Rapture. But again, all futurists agree that chapters 6-20 are largely, if not entirely, fulfilled in the last of the last days. However, if the true sphere of fulfillment of chapters 6-20 is the entire Church Era, during which Christ reigns as High King over all, obviously the futurist view cannot be correct either.

This brings us to a second and closely related implication. If the cyclical view is correct, it means that when the Spirit uses a particular symbol to speak to God’s people, he is not, as a rule, referring to a concrete historical entity, whether a person, place, thing, or event. He cannot be. Rather, he must be referring to a kind of historical entity that all the saints will encounter again and again throughout the Church Era.

Let us consider an example. Some preterists say that when the Spirit speaks of the Beast (Rev. 13:1f), he is speaking of the arch-persecutor of the early Church, emperor Nero. Meanwhile, most futurists say that when the Spirit speaks of the Beast, he is speaking of the Antichrist who will arise just prior to Christ’s return, whether to persecute the Church or ethnic Israel. If, however, we embrace the cyclical view, we immediately realize that it offers us a much richer approach; an approach that engages all Christians of all times; an approach that is capable of affirming the elements of truth present in both the preterist and futurist views. For now we see that in speaking of the Beast, the Spirit is actually speaking of a particular kind of historical phenomenon—in this case, the political or governmental face of Satan’s fallen world system, whenever and wherever it pops up in the course of Salvation History. It is a face that could be embodied in Nero, Domitian, Lenin, Stalin, Hitler, Mao, Ceausescu, Pol Pot, this or that Ayatollah, the (last) Antichrist, or any of the persecuting institutions that these people represent.

We find, then, that the cyclical view of Revelation 6-20 generates a particular hermeneutic, a particular way of understanding and applying the symbols found in this book. Theologians refer to this as an “idealist” hermeneutic. Here, they say, the symbols do not stand for unique historical persons or events, but rather for general ideas or principles that will manifest themselves all throughout the Church Era, and therefore in any number of historical persons, places, things, or events. William Hendriksen, an enthusiastic advocate of this approach, invites us to embrace the idealist approach to Revelation 6-20 when he writes:

The seals, trumpets, bowls of wrath and similar symbols refer not to specific events, particular happenings, or details of history, but to principles—of human conduct and of divine moral government—that are operating throughout the history of the world, especially throughout the new (Christian) dispensation. (1)

Now, while these ideas, and this approach, are extremely helpful, I would nevertheless issue a caveat. The Revelation is concerned not only with the course of the High King’s heavenly reign, but also with the Consummation by which he will bring it to a close. But if this so, it follows that the book can and must use some of its symbols to refer to unique historical events. And for those upon whom the very end of the age has come, this is vital information indeed.

Let us consider an outstanding example. In Revelation 11:3-6 we learn of the spiritual career of the Two Witnesses. Described in language and imagery reminiscent of Moses and Elijah—and also of the disciples whom Jesus sent out two by two to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom to Israel—they represent the witnessing Church. God calls them to prophesy (i.e., to preach the Gospel) for 1260 days, a number symbolizing the entire Church Era as a season of exile and persecution during which God faithfully provides for His pilgrim people (see 1 Kings 17:1f). So then, all Christians of all times can see themselves in the Two Witnesses.

However, when we reach verses 7-13, the focus narrows. Now the Spirit is speaking concretely about the last generation of witnessing Christians; the generation that will see the completion of the Great Commission (11:7); the generation that will see the Beast (hitherto restrained from thwarting the Church’s mission, 20:1-3) rise up out the abyss (Satan’s dwelling), make war with them, overcome them, and “kill” (i.e., thoroughly suppress) them (11:7-10); and yet, this is also the generation that will see the return of Christ in glory, the resurrection of the dead, and the Last Judgment (11:11-19). Here, then, the symbols do indeed point to unique events in a unique portion of Salvation History. Here, the universal Church cannot see herself (much as she might like to), but only that portion of the Church that will serve Christ during the days of the Last Battle.

Speaking of caveats, it is also important to understand that while the six cycles of Revelation 6-20 do indeed traverse the same historical ground, there are notable differences between them. Of special importance is the fact that this large bloc of Scripture gives us a progressive revelation of divine truth about the Church Era. For example, the deeper we progress into the cycles, the more we learn of the supernatural powers operating behind the scenes of the great cosmic battle; the more intense becomes the Church’s suffering; the more severe the world’s judgments; and the more vivid the (brevity of the) Last Battle, the Parousia, and the Last Judgment. Referring to this tendency as progressive parallelism, Hendriksen writes:

Although all the sections of the Apocalypse run parallel and span the period between the first and second comings of Christ . . . yet there is also a degree of progress. The closer we approach the end of the book the more our attention is directed to the final judgment and that which lies beyond it. The (several) sections are arranged, as it were, in an ascending, climactic order . . . The final judgment is first announced, then introduced, then finally described. Similarly, the new heavens and earth are described more fully in the final section than in those which precede it . . . The book reveals a gradual progress in eschatological emphasis. (2)

The third and final implication of the cyclical view of Revelation 6-20 goes straight to the heart of the Great End Time Debate: If indeed chapter 20 properly falls into bloc four of the Revelation; if indeed, like the previous five cycles, it too describes the course of the reign of the High King of Heaven, then obviously it cannot be speaking of a future earthly kingdom set to appear after that reign. In short, if our chart really does give us the true structure of the Revelation, then the Revelation itself rules out premillennialism once and for all!

A Survey of the Revelation

In this section, I want briefly to survey the Revelation as a whole. What follows is not meant as a detailed exegetical commentary. It is, however, meant as a substantive overview for which I have two main goals.

First, I want to show that the structure of the book is indeed as I have represented it in the chart above. More particularly, here I aim to show that the unifying theme of the whole book is the course, character, and consummation of Christ’s heavenly reign; that the fourth bloc of the book (chapters 6-20) really is a unit; that this bloc is a collection of six separate visionary cycles, each one of which spans the entire Church Era; that ever-increasingly it speaks to us of events associated with the Consummation (i.e., the Last Battle, the Parousia, the Resurrection, the Last Judgment, and the World to Come); and that Revelation 20 really does belong in this bloc.

Secondly, I want to use the NCH to open up the meaning of the some of the key symbols of the book; to show that the Revelation—serving as the Grand Finale of all Scripture—repeatedly uses OT (and NT) symbols to communicate NT meanings, in order to edify and encourage Christ’s suffering pilgrim Church.

And now, with Bibles firmly in hand, let us begin!

A Vision of the High King (1:1-20)

Chapter 1 introduces the Revelation, and especially the One through whom God the Father was pleased to give it: the exalted Lord Jesus Christ. It is comprised of a short Prologue (1:1-3), a lengthy greeting (1:4-8), and a lengthier account of John’s vision of the glorified Son of Man (1:9-20).

Importantly, the greeting gives us the eschatological framework of the whole book. Even now, the divine Christ is the ruler of the kings of the earth (1:5). Even now the saints are a Kingdom of priests to his God and Father (1:6). No, the Kingdom is not yet consummated. For a season, believers must endure hardship. Like the Lord they serve, they must be faithful witnesses (1:5). Soon, however, there will be a Consummation (1:1, 3, 8). Christ will come again (1:8). When he does, every eye will see him, saint and sinner alike (1:7). When he does, all the tribes of the earth (i.e., the unbelieving persecutors of the Church) will wail, for he will come in final Judgment (8:13, 11:10, 12:12, 13:8, 17:2, 8). And when he does, he will bring in the fullness of the Kingdom, since he who comes is not only the divine Creator (the Alpha), but also the divine Consummator (the Omega) (1:8). So then, even here in his greeting (1:4-8) John affirms the simple, two-fold structure of the Kingdom taught in the didactic NT: The temporary Kingdom of the Son, followed by the eternal Kingdom of the Father (and the Son), separated by a single Consummation set to occur at the Parousia.

Next comes John’s account of his vision of the High King (1:9-20). It is readily divided into three parts. In the first, he tells us where he was and what he was doing when the vision came to him (1:9-11). In the second, he tells us what he saw: One like a Son of Man—radiant with divine glory, dressed in priestly attire—standing in the midst of seven golden lampstands, with seven stars in his right hand, and with a sharp, two-edged sword coming from his mouth (1:12-16). In the third, we read of John’s reaction (1:17), and of the meaning of the vision: The seven stars are the seven messengers of the seven churches in Asia (presumably sent to confer with the aged apostle); and the seven lampstands are the seven churches (1:18-20).

Very importantly, here we get our first glimpse of the High King—and the High Priest—of Heaven. As I argued earlier, the seven churches of Asia stand for the universal Church of all times and places. Therefore, the vision is telling us that even now Christ rules from heaven as High King over all his people, and in heaven as High Priest interceding for his people—this One who in the days of his flesh died in their behalf, but who now lives forevermore, holding in his hand the redemptive keys that have released them from Death and Hades (1:18, 20). So then, here we have our first encounter with the central character of the Revelation: High King and the High priest of Heaven, the One whom the Spirit will faithfully celebrate in all that is about to come. (3)

The High King’s Messages to the Seven Churches (2:1-3:22)

The second bloc of the Revelation consists of the High King’s seven messages to the seven churches in Asia. Here, with special force, we meet the High King as High Prophet; as the One who teaches, exhorts, and comforts not only these particular seven churches, but also the Universal Church that they represent. This point bears repetition and emphasis. Dispensational interpreters—who theorize that chapters 6-20 do not speak of the Church or the Church Era, but rather of Israel and the nations during a future seven-year period of Tribulation following the Rapture—effectively make the bulk of the book a mere curiosity to Christians of the Church Era. After all, since they will not be present on earth in those days, why worry too much about what these chapters say?

However, Revelation 2-3 is a rebuke to all such notions. As I argued earlier, here Christ says to the Church in “didactic” prophecy precisely what he will say to the Church in symbolic or apocalyptic prophecy in chapters 6-20. Here he speaks to the Church Universal; there he speaks to the Church Universal. The Revelation is one book for one people. For this reason, every member of Christ’s Church who reads, hears, and keeps every part of it will be blessed (1:3).

As a rule, each of the seven prophecies to the churches contains five elements. They include: 1) An opening self-description, highlighting one or another of Christ’s attributes or offices: his deity, sovereignty, eternal priesthood, or role as coming Judge; 2) whenever possible, words of commendation, whether for diligence, purity, or perseverance in the face of suffering, etc.; 3) if necessary, words of reproof, whether for growing lovelessness, compromise, or worldliness, etc.; 4) if necessary, calls to repentance, issued with dire warnings to anyone inclined to ignore them; and finally, 5) ultimate promises to faithful and persevering saints who overcome every opponent, and so enter the completed Kingdom at his return.

Since this last point is so important, let us take a moment to explore it more fully.

As in bloc 1, so here: There is a definite eschatological outlook. When Christ issues his glorious promises to the overcoming Christians, he does not encourage them to look forward to a secret Rapture, or to life in heaven as a disembodied spirit, or to a premillennial Parousia, or to (their privileged role in) a future millennial stage of the Kingdom. No, he consistently places before them the ultimate goal and destiny of Salvation History: eternal life with God and Christ in the new heavens and the new earth, a destiny that they will inherit at his Coming. Thus, in the High King’s messages to the Universal Church we encounter the same eschatological outlook that we found in bloc 1 of the Revelation and throughout the didactic NT: There is but one spiritual Kingdom, divided into two simple stages, separated by a single Parousia of Christ in glory, which is the Blessed Hope of the Church.

Let us confirm this point with a brief look at the relevant texts.

The Lord’s promise to the church in Ephesus is this: “To the one who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God” (2:7). Revelation 22:2 and 14 show that he does not have in mind heaven during the intermediate state, but the new heavens and the new earth.

To the church at Smyrna he declares: “The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.” A look at Revelation 20:6, 14, and 21:18 shows that the second death is not temporary punishment in Hades, but eternal punishment in the Lake of Fire, administered after the general Resurrection and the Last Judgment. Positively, Christ is therefore promising the overcomers in Smyrna that they will inherit eternal life in the new heavens and the new earth.

To the believers in Pergamum the High King says: “To the one who overcomes I will give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it” (2:17). Christ himself is the Manna. For the moment, he is hidden in heaven, but at the Parousia he will give himself fully to his people (John 6:58, Col. 3:1f). The exact meaning of the white stone is not clear: Some say it represents victory, others (final) acquittal.⁴ Certainly its color calls to mind the shining robes of the glorified saints who will appear with their King at his Parousia (19:14), and who will thereafter worship God forever upon Mt. Zion (i.e., in the new heavens and the new earth, 3:4, 7:9, 13, 14:1f). As for the gift of a new name, Revelation 3:12 closely associates it with the World to Come, wherein the New Jerusalem shall dwell (see also 21:2); meanwhile, Revelation 19:2 and 16 suggest that it will be bestowed at the Parousia by the One who also will have a new Name. So then, everything in this promise directs the hope of the Christian to the Parousia, and to the new and eternal world that the Parousia will bring.

To the believers in Thyatira, the Lord says: Only hold fast what you have until I come. The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. And I will give him the morning star (2:25-28).

Here again the Lord has in view the closing scenes of Salvation History, the end of all things (1 Peter 4:7). Observe from v. 25 that he closely associates the end with his Parousia. At that time, he will grant believers to have a share in administering the Last Judgment, even as the Father has granted Christ to execute it (John 5:27, Rom. 16:20, 1 Cor. 6:2). It is not, as premillennarians assert, that they will rule over the nations for a thousand years with Christ, of which the text says not a word. Rather, it is that at the Judgment, they too, under Christ, will act the part of a shepherd (Gk., poimaino); a shepherd who uses his wooden club to destroy the enemies of the flock, even as a potter uses his iron rod to destroy rejected vessels of clay (2:27, Psalm 2:9-12). Observe also from v. 28 that in addition to granting believers a share in the Last Judgment, the Lord also will grant them the Morning Star. The morning star is Christ (22:16), but especially Christ at his Coming, which will mark the dawn of the Age to Come (2 Peter 1:19). So then, this rich passage rivets the hope of the Thyatirans—and all Christians—on the end: the Last Judgment and the dawn of the new world that will come at the Parousia of the High King of Heaven.

To the overcomers at Sardis, Christ promises that they will walk with him in white, that he will never blot out their name from the Book of Life, and that he will confess their name before the Father and his holy angels (3:5). The last of these three blessings is a recurring theme in the NT: The saints are to maintain their good confession firm until the end, so that when Christ returns with all the holy angels for the Last Judgment he can confess them as true believers, and therefore grant them eternal life in the consummated Kingdom (Mt. 25:31, Mark 8:38, Luke 9:26, 12:8, 1 Tim. 6:12-13). For Christ to confess their name in that Day is for them to enter the eternal World to Come (Mt. 25:31-46).

To the overcomers at Philadelphia the High King promises that he will make them a pillar in the temple of his God; that they will never leave it; and that he will write on them his name, the name of his God, and the name of the City of his God, which is New Jerusalem (3:12). Here again the imagery anticipates John’s later depictions of the glorified Bride of Christ living with God—and as the Temple of God—in the new heavens and the new earth (21-22).

Finally, to the overcomers in Laodicea the King promises that he will grant them to sit with him on his throne, even as the Father granted that he should sit with him on his (3:21). Admittedly, this could be construed as a promise to the effect that the disembodied spirits of the saints will have a share in the heavenly mediatorial reign of Christ during the intermediate state (Rev. 20:4-6). However, all the preceding promises, which have had in view the final destiny of the saints, militate against this. It seems best, then, to view this as an echo of other NT texts that promise the victorious saints a measure of cosmic authority “in the regeneration,” in the Day when the kingdoms of this world will have become the Kingdom of our LORD and of his Christ (11:15; Daniel 7:18, 27, Mt. 28, Luke 19:17).

Summing up, we have seen that bloc 2 of the Revelation is indeed a Message of the High King (and Prophet) of Heaven to his Universal Church. Moreover, we have seen that this bloc reflects a definite eschatological outlook, an outlook no different from that of the first bloc, and no different from that of the rest of the NT. According to this outlook, there is but one spiritual Kingdom, divided into two simple stages, separated by a single Parousia of Christ at the end of the age, when he himself will consummate Salvation History in final judgment and redemption. This perspective is especially evident in the Lord’s promises to the seven churches, which say nothing at all of multiple comings, multiple resurrections, multiple judgments, or a future millennial reign upon the earth. No, for the High King of Heaven the Blessed Hope of his Church is simply “the end,” when he comes again in glory to judge the world in righteousness and bestow upon his beloved Bride eternal life in the new heavens and the new earth.

Does the rest of the Revelation confirm all of this? Does the High King of Heaven here say in “didactic prophecy” anything different from what he later says in “apocalyptic prophecy”? Is the eschatological outlook here any different from the eschatological outlook of the rest of the book? Let us continue our survey in order to find out!

The Investiture of the High King of Heaven (4-5)

Arguably, these two chapters constitute the Mt. Everest of all Holy Scripture. They take us to the highest place, to heaven itself. They plant us upon the supreme vantage, and give us the supreme vista—a sighting of all cosmic history, and of the sovereign God who ordained it. Like nowhere else in the Bible, we behold Him: the all-glorious, all-sovereign, triune Creator, Judge, and Redeemer of the universe. Small wonder, then, that at every turn we find both men and angels falling down before him, gratefully exalting the One who so graciously created them, and so mercifully redeemed them. When we see what they see, we are moved to do the same.

While much could be said about these rich chapters, our primary concern here is to inquire into the role they play in the overall “argument” of the book. What is their function in relation to the rest of the Revelation; and how, if at all, does this illuminate its structure?

My response to these questions involves three closely related theses.

First, these chapters are clearly transitional. They take us from the things that John has seen (chapter 1), and from the things that are (chapters 2-3); and they prepare us to behold the things that will be throughout the remainder of Church era and beyond (chapters 6-22; 1:19).

Secondly, they are central, in the sense that they give us the Master Theme that holds the rest of the book together. As we are about to see, that theme is the exaltation of the Lord Jesus Christ. More particularly, it is the exaltation of Christ as the High King of heaven and earth, with God-given authority to oversee and superintend all that remains of Salvation History up to and including his Parousia, when he will consummate all things in final judgment and redemption.

And thirdly, these chapters are unifying. That is, they enable us to see how every bloc of the Revelation, each in its own way, is devoted to exploring the many-faceted glory of the High King.

And now—with all this to prepare us—let us take a few moments to see how chapters 4-5 communicate these glorious themes.

1. The Glory of God the Father (Rev. 4)

In essence, chapter 4 is a revelation, in vision and symbol, of the glory of God the Father, especially in his role as the sovereign Creator and Judge of the universe. Accordingly, John beholds him seated upon a throne, a symbol of his universal sovereignty (4:2). His appearance is as of jewels, representing the glory of his being and the riches of his character (4:3). Surrounding him are 24 elders dressed in white, wearing crowns, and seated upon thrones. These picture the Universal Church, which God has predestined to behold his glory and share in his eternal reign (4:4, 7:9-17). Very importantly, flashes of lightning and peals of thunder emanate from his throne, tokens of the dreadful wrath and terrifying judgments poised to go forth against all who rebel against Him (4:5-6, 5:6). The cherubim and seraphim who always surround his throne understand this quite well, having profound insight into God’s holiness, eternity, and sovereignty—and who therefore worship him accordingly (4:6-8). So too does the Church, here pictured in her eternal calling as a worshiper of the Fountainhead of all creation (4:9-11).

We see, then, that chapter 4 sets the stage. Yes, the holy Creator and Judge of the cosmos is radiant and majestic beyond description. However, for this very reason he is also a mortal threat to the company of guilty sinners on the earth below, a mathematical set that includes every human being born to woman, save One.

Happily, that One is about to take center stage.

2. The Triumph of the Lamb (Rev. 5)

Chapter 5 gives us the Triumph of the Lamb and his Investiture as the High King of Heaven. It too uses vision and symbol, this time to show us God fulfilling his part in the Covenant of Redemption; to show us what happened when the resurrected Christ ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of the Father so as to become the High Priest, High Prophet, and High of King of the cosmos. Let us briefly explore the vision itself in order to see how the Spirit signifies these great truths.

In verse 1 John notices a scroll in the right hand of God, written within and without, sealed with seven seals. According to many interpreters, it is a last will and testament, upon which is written, very fulsomely, the promise of the Eternal Covenant: Eternal life with the Triune God in the new heavens and the new earth. When at last we reach chapters 21-22, we will learn more about its exact contents. First, however, the seven seals must be opened; first the residue of Salvation History—the Era of Proclamation and Probation, the period of time between Christ’s Session and his Parousia—must run its course. (6)

In verses 2-4 the apostle receives a terrible shock: Precious as the gift is, it appears that the people of God are in no position to receive it! Certainly the loving Father desires to give it to them, seeing that he holds it in his hand. Yet just as certainly, this righteous Judge cannot give it to them, not unless he can find someone to mediate between them and him: someone to fulfill the righteous requirement of his law on their behalf, someone to pay the penalty for their having broken it, and someone who thereby both secures their righteousness and placates God’s wrath against them. But as the apostle scans the cosmos, he finds no creature of God—neither man nor angel—who is “worthy” (i.e., qualified) to become such a mediator. There is no one in heaven or upon the earth can who win the prize of Eternal Life for the people of God. Seeing the dreadful implications of this, the apostle sobs uncontrollably, despairing not only of the salvation of sinners, but also of the fulfillment of God’s original purpose for his creation.

However, at this point one of the 24 elders brings John great good news: Weep not! There is indeed such a Mediator! He is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (i.e., the triumphant Messiah himself) and the Root of David (i.e., the Divine Creator of the Messianic proto-type). This One—the Messianic God-Man—has indeed prevailed, so as to open the scroll and bestow its blessed contents upon the saints.

How exactly has he done this? Verse 6 supplies the answer. In the days of his flesh, the Divine-Human Messiah fulfilled all righteousness; then, at the close of those days, he freely became the Lamb of God, an atoning Sacrifice who took away the sins of his people. Thus did he prevail to redeem them: to rescue them from every spiritual and physical enemy introduced at the Fall, and to restore them to every spiritual and physical friend promised at the Tree of Life. In short, the Lord Jesus Christ prevailed by fulfilling his part in the eternal Covenant of Redemption.

For this reason, John now sees him standing, all-triumphant, between the throne and the 24 elders, effectively serving as the (priestly) Mediator between God and man, shielding his children from the wrath to come, and granting them eternal life in the presence of God. Importantly, he has seven horns, symbolizing his perfect power and authority. He also has seven eyes, symbolizing his perfect knowledge and his perfect spiritual union with the omnipresent, seven-fold Spirit of God. But what exactly will he do with such great powers and privileges?

In verse 7 we receive our answer. Having prevailed on earth for the redemption of his people, the Lamb now boldly approaches the Father to take the scroll from his right hand. The Father gladly yields it (5:7). Here, then, in vision and symbol, we behold yet again one of the great “hinges” of Salvation History; the brief, God-appointed season when Salvation History swings out of the Era of Promise and into the Era of Fulfillment; the holy moment when God the Father gives all authority in heaven and earth to his triumphant Messianic Son, so that he (Christ) might bring in the Kingdom of God (Mt. 28:18ff, Acts 2:33-35, Eph. 1:15-23, Phil. 2:1-11).

As the rest of the NT has taught us, much indeed will flow from this climactic event. Now the Lord Jesus Christ is High King of Heaven and Earth. Now he has a commission from the Father to apply the redemption that he purchased on earth. Now he must send forth the life-giving Spirit; and now, by that same Spirit, he must beget his Church, empower her preaching, gather in her penitent believing members, and nourish, cherish, guide, equip, and protect her as she makes her pilgrim way through the wilderness of the world below.

Moreover, according to that same commission, he must not only apply the redemption that he purchased in his humiliation, but also consummate it at the end of the age. This will occur at his Parousia, when he descends from heaven in power and great glory to destroy his enemies, glorify his Bride, recreate the cosmos, and welcome his Beloved Bride into her eternal home: the new heavens and new earth. All of this and more were hidden away in that holy “season” of Salvation History when the triumphant Messianic Son boldly strode forth to receive the scroll from his Father’s hand.

Small wonder, then, that at this juncture all heaven breaks loose in highest praise to the conquering Lamb (5:8-10). Observe how their song yet again discloses the outworking of the Covenant of Redemption: Because Christ has been faithful to complete his God-ordained work of humiliation, the Father—and all the Father’s sentient creatures—now reckon him worthy to be exalted as the High King of Heaven; worthy to be the One who applies the redemption that he purchased for them in the days of his flesh, and to create a Kingdom of Priests who will forever worship and reign upon the earth (Exodus 19:6, Rev. 5:10, 22:5).

The remainder of the chapter gives us a foretaste of that worship. First, John hears all the holy angels—gathered close around the throne—declaring the worthiness of the Lamb to be so highly exalted (5:11-12). And then, as if in ever-widening circles, he hears all the rest of creation, which, in one way or another, even now is fulfilling the supreme purpose for which they were made: that they should be to the praise of the glory of God and the Lamb (5:13-14).

Earlier, I suggested that these two chapters serve as the theological core—the conceptual center of gravity—of the entire Revelation. Now we can see the reasons why.

On the one hand, they give us the theme of the whole book. That is, by singing and celebrating Christ’s investiture, they introduce us to the High King of Heaven, the One who showed himself in supreme glory to John (chapter 1), spoke with supreme authority to the Universal Church (chapters 2-3), and will henceforth rule with supreme power as the sovereign Lord of all remaining Salvation History (chapters 6-22).

On the other hand, through the symbol of the sealed scroll these chapters give us valuable insight into the structure of the book (6-22). In particular, they teach us that the conquering Lamb is about to do two things: 1) remove the seals of the scroll, and 2) open it, with the result that all of God’s (redeemed) creatures can read, receive, and enjoy their contents. This in turn suggests that the material ahead will likely be divided into two basic parts: 1) that which pertains to events prior to the saints receiving their inheritance, and 2) that which pertains to events at the receiving of their inheritance.

And this is precisely the case. In chapters 6-20 we will indeed find Christ—on six separate occasions—disclosing what will take place prior to the advent of the new heavens and the new earth; giving us—on six separate occasions—the course, character, and consummation of the residue of Salvation History. Then, in chapters 21-22, we will find him disclosing the ultimate goal of Salvation History: Eternal Life in the new heavens and the new earth themselves. In other words, chapters 6-20 correspond to Christ’s breaking the seven seals of the scroll; chapters 21-22 correspond to his making manifest its contents. Observe carefully that the whole story is therefore his story—his to tell, and his to bring to pass. And with this the Father is exceedingly well pleased, since it accords with his eternal purpose and plan, which is to bestow the highest possible glory and honor upon his beloved Son, whom he (the Father) has now exalted as High King of Heaven and Earth.

The Course, Character, and Consummation of the High King’s Heavenly Reign (6-20)

We turn our attention now to the fourth bloc of the Revelation, chapters 6-20. For reasons mentioned above, I have entitled it The Course, Character, and Consummation of the High King’s Heavenly Reign. Is this title accurate? Is this portion of the book really comprised of six visionary cycles, each running parallel to the other; each traversing the era spanning from Christ’s Session to his Paruousia? Can we see the beginning of the Church Era in the beginning portions of these cycles? Can we see the end in the ends? Also, is it true that the cycles are “progressive”; that the deeper we go into them, the more we behold “the last of the last days”, the great eschatological events leading to and involving the Consummation?

But most important of all, is Revelation 20 really part of this bloc? Does it really describe the Church Era? Or is it the case, as premillennarians assert, that this is actually a fifth bloc in its own right; that it describes (and suddenly introduces into NT eschatology) a second, intermediate stage of the Kingdom (i.e., a future Millennium); that it therefore properly occupies a position mid-way between the earlier cycles about the Church Era (chapter 6-19) and later prophecy about the new heavens and the new earth (chapters 21-22)? With these crucial questions ever in mind, let us briefly survey the first five visionary cycles, looking for answers (7).

1. Six Seals (Rev. 6-7)

Chapter six gives us Christ breaking six of the seven seals. In a moment I will argue that chapter seven gives us a preview of the glorified Church in the World to Come. If so, it means that chapter six should take us from the beginning of the Era of Proclamation to its end. Let’s see if it does.

When Christ opens the first seal, John beholds a rider on a white horse. While some have argued that he represents false christs and false prophets (Matt. 24:24), or even the Antichrist, many lines of evidence direct us to Christ himself: neither at his first coming, nor at his second, but on the Day of Pentecost, when he entered the world spiritually—by the Holy Spirit and through the witnessing Church—in order to inaugurate the Era of Gospel Proclamation.

In support of this thesis, three points may be made.

First, observe that the imagery here is clearly rooted in Psalm 45:1-5. In that Messianic psalm the ready writer celebrates the outpouring of God’s grace upon Israel’s (coming) king, and then sends him out into the earth, where, armed with sword and bow, he will ride on victoriously in the cause of truth, meekness, and righteousness. Recall that in Revelation 5 we beheld the exalted Redeemer receiving all authority in heaven and earth. Here in chapter 6—with the help of Psalm 45—we see him riding out and applying the redemption that he accomplished on earth to all who believe; and chastening or judging those who will not.

Secondly, this text has much in common with Revelation 19:11-21. Both passages feature a rider on a white horse, and in both he is going forth to war. But there are important differences, as well. In the former, he is heading out, bent on conquest, while in the latter he is coming back, completing his conquest. Also, in the former he is followed by preliminary judgments designed to advance his redemptive purpose; in the latter he is followed by elect angels and redeemed saints who will assist him in administering the final judgment. The visions give us different phases of Christ’s heavenly reign. However, the Rider is the same same, and in Revelation 19:13 he is explicitly identified as the Word of God.

Finally, recall from our discussion of the structure of the Revelation that chapters 6-20 give us six separate recapitulations of the course and character of the High King’s heavenly reign. This phenomenon is especially evident in chapters 12-14 and 20, but also here in chapter 6, where we first have a vision of Christ inaugurating the era of Gospel Proclamation, then a vision of the various historical judgments that will follow, and finally a vision the Consummation that will usher in the World to Come (seen in chapter 7). The structure of the book—and of this particular chapter—strongly favor the view that the Rider is indeed the Christ of Pentecost.

The next four seals, following as they do after the first, are meant to represent the consequences of Christ’s going forth into the world with the Gospel. Notably, the judgments and events symbolized here run closely parallel to those predicted by Christ in the Olivet Discourse: wars, rumors of war, famines, earthquakes, pestilence, and persecution (Matt. 24:4-9). Once again, the Didactic New Testament supplies the key to the mysteries of the Revelation.

The second seal and the second horseman speak of war, a judgment of God that rightly falls upon men and nations that spurn the redemption offered by Prince of Peace, and who, at the cost of conflict and destruction, give themselves to the pursuit of power, vengeance, or wealth (James 4:1).

The third seal and third horseman speak of economic disruption, scarcity, and hunger, perhaps even to the extent of famine. These judgments may be the consequence of war, or of the foolish policies of evil rulers from whom God has withdrawn the ability to govern wisely (Rev. 13:10). Note, however, that we also hear a voice, declaring, “Do not harm the oil and the wine.” Possibly, this caveat implies that the focus in this seal is upon on believers who are driven to the margins of society, and who therefore suffer economic hardship, even as the rich continue to prosper. More likely, however, the words “mysteriously” hint at the spiritual comforts God will faithfully grant his children in times of economic distress (Matt. 9:17; 2 Cor. 1:3-7; Heb. 1:9; Rev. 12:14).

The fourth seal releases the horseman of Death, with Hades following close behind. By means of a variety of divine judgments seen often in the OT, these two will consume a fourth of the inhabitants of the earth. Here the message of the Spirit—and also of the Church—is that throughout the Era of Gospel Proclamation Death will circulate among us, judging the impenitent and consigning them to Hades. Therefore, let the living take a lesson from the dead and turn to Christ while time remains.

The fifth seal warns of the inevitability of Christian martyrdom throughout the Era of Proclamation, even as it comforts the whole Church with assurances of final justice and public vindication at Christ’s return (6:9-11; Luke 21:16-18, 2 Thess. 1:3-10). Importantly, its position near the end of chapter 6 hints at a solemn truth later to be made make explicit: persecution and martyrdom will greatly increase as the Church and the world near the end of the age (11:7-10, 16:12f, 20:7-10).

This brings us to the sixth seal, and to what is manifestly a description of the Consummation at the Parousia of Christ (6:12-17). The accent here falls on the judgment and misery of the wicked, while in chapter 7 it falls upon the reward and blessedness of the saints. Drawing upon a wide array of OT prophecies of the Day of the LORD—and also reminding us of Christ’s own climactic warning and promise in the Olivet Discourse—the Spirit here depicts the break-up of the physical cosmos (6:12-14), along with the terror that sinners will experience when they behold Christ appearing in the heavens in power, glory, and wrath to judge the world in righteousness (6:15-17; Matt. 24:29-31; 25:31-46). This is indeed the end of the present evil age, which means that Revelation 6 does indeed traverse the entire Era of Proclamation, from the Day of Pentecost to Christ’s Parousia and the Day of Judgment.

At first glance, Revelation 7 seems to do the same.

In verses 1-3, we learn of a divine decree: God will not release the four winds of final (universal) judgment until all his elect children are sealed; until, by the inward work of the Spirit, they are all marked for divine ownership and protection (Rev. 14:1; 2 Cor. 1:22, Eph. 1:13; John 17:6, 11, 2 Peter 3:9, 1 John 3:1).

Verses 4-8 then use OT imagery to depict this sealing, to signify the ingathering of the entire “Israel of God,” both OT saints and New (Gal. 6:16). This interpretation is indicated by the rich numeric symbolism involved: 12 (standing for the OT saints, who were represented by the patriarchs) x12 (standing for the NT saints, who were represented by the apostles) x1000 (standing for magnitude and divine completeness) = 144,000 (standing for the great, divinely completed multitude of Old and New Testament saints).

Verses 9-17 go on to confirm this interpretation, for again they speak of “the 144,000,” this time identifying them for what they really are: a numberless multitude (as many as the stars in the sky for abundance), divinely rescued from “the great tribulation” (i.e., from the trials and persecutions that have befallen the saints of God throughout all Salvation History, from the Fall to the Parousia), and now gladly worshiping God and Christ before the throne (7:9), upon Mt. Zion (14:1), and in the Temple (7:15). As other portions of the book make clear, all three are OT symbols of the joys of eternal life in the new heavens and the new earth (7:17, 21:3-4, 22, 22:3, 14). (8)

We find, then, that the true thrust of Revelation 7 is not to recapitulate the Era of Proclamation or the course of the King’s heavenly reign. Rather, it is to give us our first major glimpse of what awaits the saints on the other side that Era; on the other side of the Parousia by which Christ will bring his heavenly reign to and end: life with the Triune God in the World to Come. For this reason, Revelation 7 cannot be reckoned as a fresh visionary cycle, but is an especially happy ending to the one that immediately precedes it.

2. Seven Trumpets (8-11)

It is clear that chapters 8-11 constitute a single cycle of visions, seeing that the motif of the seven trumpets manifestly binds them together as one (8:7, 11:15). Moreover, it is equally clear that this cycle concludes with a symbolic depiction of the last Judgment at Christ’s return (11:15-19). What is not so clear is where, historically, the cycle begins. Ladd, for examples, argues that from this point on, the Revelation speaks primarily of events to occur at the very end of the age.

However, there are good reasons to question this. The first cycle (6-7) patently begins at the beginning of the Era of Proclamation (6:1-2); so too does the third (12:1-6) and (I will argue) the sixth (20:1-3). If so, how likely is it that the other cycles would begin elsewhere? Also, we have seen that in the Revelation, Christ means to address all Christians of all times. Why, then, would he speak here exclusively to believers living in the last of the last days? Most compelling of all, however, is the evidence found within the text itself, evidence indicating that this awesome vision speaks both to the Church Universal and—with special solicitude—to the portion of the Church that will go through the Last Battle. But rather than elaborate further here, let us briefly survey the cycle as a whole, lingering over the points of special relevance to our study.

As chapter 8 opens, John beholds Christ breaking the seventh seal. Since the breaking of the sixth seal manifested the Last Judgment, it is evident that the breaking of the seventh cannot manifest something to follow; that, in fact, it must be manifesting something similar in nature to what came previously. In other words, here we have our first hint that the forthcoming cycle will indeed traverse the same historical ground as the one preceding it.

When Christ breaks the seal, seven angels stand forth and receive trumpets. But, as verses 3-4 reveal, they will blow the trumpets only in response to the Spirit-filled prayers of the saints, saints who are crying out to God for protection and succor amidst their manifold persecutions (6:9-11, Luke 18:1-8). This too illumines the historical scope of the cycle: Whenever and wherever Christ’s persecuted Church calls out to God, he will respond with a blast of the trumpet; with partial judgments designed to warn of the Final Judgment to come. As we are about to see, it falls to the Church to interpret these judgments to the unbelieving world, even as she preaches the good news of the Gospel, in hopes that men might repent and find eternal safety in the arms of Christ (Mt. 3:7, 1 Thess. 1:10).

Verses 6-12, which describe the sounding of the first four trumpets, also constitute a unit. In symbolic language drawn largely from the Exodus event, the Spirit here reveals that throughout the Era of Proclamation God will respond to the pleas of his saints by sending down judgments upon “the heavens and the earth;” that is, the entire natural order, the physical support system of the inhabitants of the earth (8:13). The recurring numeric symbol, one third, signifies that these are only partial judgments, and therefore warnings of a future judgment that is more complete and far worse (Joshua 6:4, Isaiah 58:1, Joel 2:1f).

Revelation 8:13 is transitional. It announces that the remainder of the cycle will be devoted to examining three “woes,” woes that are identical with the last three trumpets. Here, we are put on notice: The final three trumpets will bring especially painful (woeful) afflictions upon the inhabitants of the earth; the first two will loudly trumpet the final judgment, the third will actually be the final Judgment (Mt. 11:12).

Chapter 9, which describes the fifth and sixth trumpet judgments, is yet another unit. Here, judgment is not upon nature by the hand of God, but upon man and society by the instrumentality of Satan. Verses 1-11, which give us the fifth trumpet judgment, draw upon the prophecies of Joel to picture God delivering Gospel-hardened sinners over to Satan, who in turn commissions his demonic hosts to darken and torment the minds of his willing human subjects.

Verses 12-21, which describe the sixth trumpet judgment, give us much the same, but with this difference: Now Satan is authorized, not only to torment, but also to kill (9:18). The martial imagery employed here strongly suggests that their deaths will occur as a result of demonically inspired war and/or social and cultural collapse (Dan. 11:36ff, Rev. 17:6). Observe from verse 18 that only one third of men are killed, a fraction that has already appeared in the first four trumpet judgments (8:6-12). This signals that here too we are dealing with judgments that will befall unbelieving and unrepentant (9:21) humanity throughout the entire Era of Proclamation, whether in ancient Rome, modern Iran, or any other nation that turns against Christ and his Church. Note, however, that in reading these verses, one cannot help but feel that they apply with special force to the generation of the end (see 11:14; Mt. 24:15-28, Luke 21:25-26).

The stage is now set: We are ready to hear the seventh trumpet and see the third woe. But strange to tell, there is an unexpected interlude; or rather, there is a prelude—and it is nearly two chapters long! Why so? It is because Christ has something of great importance to tell the Church about events immediately preceding the end.

This is evident from the contents of chapter 10. In verses 1-7, John sees a strong angel—very Christ-like—straddling, as it were, the whole world. Lifting his right hand, he swears by the (omnipotent) Maker of heaven and earth that when the first six trumpets have sounded “ . . . there shall be delay no longer, but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about the sound, the mystery of God is finished, as he announced to his servants the prophets” (10:7). We dare not miss the significance of this. Here Christ is telling us that at the end of Era of Proclamation, after the six trumpet judgments have done their work, the Consummation will come. The “mystery of God”—his entire redemptive plan, announced in the Gospel—will be fully accomplished.⁹ However, as verses 9-11 reveal, before it is accomplished, something bittersweet must occur. It is written in the little book in the angel’s hand, which John now eats, and then, in chapter 11, speaks to us all. Since it is cosmic in its scope, affecting all men and nations, the saints do well to listen with care (10:11)!

There follows one of the most amazing and illuminating chapters in the Revelation. As we shall see, it spans the entire Era of Proclamation (11:1-6), but focuses largely upon the Last Battle (11:7-10) and the Consummation quickly to follow (11:11-19). Here is yet another line of evidence favorable to the view that chapters 8-11 must not be interpreted futuristically, but as spanning the whole reign of the High King of Heaven.

In symbolic language drawn from the book of Ezekiel and also from Israel’s history, verses 1-2 tell us that throughout the Era of Proclamation (symbolized by 42 months) God will measure his true spiritual Temple (the Church) for eternal protection from the wrath to come; nevertheless, as to her outward existence, she (and her public institutions) will suffer a more or less continual “trampling” (i.e., persecution) beneath the feet of unbelievers (Luke 21:16-19).

Verses 3-6 use Old and New Testament imagery to explain why the Church will receive such ill treatment: Just as Jesus authorized his disciples to go forth two by two as his witnesses to the cities of Israel, so now he authorizes his Church to go forth as Gospel prophets to the whole world (11:3; Luke 10:1, Mt. 28:18ff, Rev. 1:2, 5). Clothed in sackcloth, they will interpret to men the signs of the time—God’s trumpet judgments—, warn of the final Judgment, and so call the nations to repentance and faith throughout the entire Era of Proclamation, here symbolized as 1260 days (11:3, 12:5-6, 14). Ever standing before her Lord, she will be his proxy in the earth, the Spirit-filled light of the world (11:4, Zech. 4, Rev. 1:20). Like Jeremiah, Moses, and Elijah, she will have authority, not to destroy, but to pronounce destruction, over all the impenitent persecutors of God, Christ, and the NT Israel (11:5; Exodus 7:20, 1 Kings 17:1f, John 20:23, Acts 9:4. 13:46). This is the “sweet” part of the prophecy: The Church will complete her testimony, and she will gather in Christ’s flock.

Now, however, comes the bitter. In verses 7-10 we arrive at the end of the age, and at the season of the Church’s greatest tribulation. When she has completed the Great Commission, an increasingly lawless world-system will suddenly go over to Satan, who, through the Antichrist’s lawless regime (i.e., the final incarnation of the Beast), will destroy the visible, institutional church (11:7, 9:2, 17:8, 23, 20:3, 7-10). For a very brief season—“three and a half days”—the Great City of the present evil world, formerly embodied in Sodom, Egypt, and Jerusalem, will gloat over her demise, and rejoice that the convicting words of the Gospel will never again fall upon their ears so as to torment their conscience (11:8-10). Again, this is the Revelation’s first clear depiction of the Last Battle. With a view to her comfort, the Lord would have his Bride understand that he himself has ordained it, that it will be very brief, and that it will usher in her Blessed Hope, the Consummation of all things. Here is still more sweetness, with which the bitter is not worthy to be compared (Rom. 8:18).

We behold this good news in verses 11-19, where the prophecy of the Seven Trumpets is brought to a close. With the help of NT eschatology, we can readily decipher the true meaning. Verses 11-14 speak of the initial stages of the Consummation. When Christ appears in glory he will raise the dead saints, transform the living saints, and gather them all to his side in the skies above the earth (11:11-12; Mt. 24:31, 1 Cor. 15:51f, 1 Thess. 4:13f). Meanwhile, as his enemies watch in terror, the first waves of divine judgment will strike the earth below, shaking all things, killing many, and setting in motion the collapse of the City of Man (11:13: Rev. 6:12, Heb. 12:25-29). With this, the second woe (pictured in 9:13-21) is fully fulfilled, leaving the remnant of living humanity to glorify God. They will do so, however, not because they love him, but because Christ at his Parousia forces them to confess that he is indeed Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phil. 2:9-11).

Verses 15-19 give us the third woe, the seventh trumpet, and (according to verse 18) the Last Judgment. It is celebrated by the angels (11:15) and the glorified Church (11:16-18). In both cases, the celebrants mark it as the commencement of the Kingdom in its full and final form. This is particularly evident from the words of the angels, who declare that once the Judgment is complete the kingdom of the world will become the Kingdom of God and of his Christ, at which time he will fully reign, forever and ever (Daniel 2:44, 7:7:14, 27). Observe from verse 16 that the 24 elders give thanks to Him who was and is, but not to Him who “is to come,” for now both He and His eternal Kingdom have come! Verse 18 is also very valuable for our study, agreeing as it does with the rest of the NT that immediately following the Last Battle there is but one (i.e., final) judgment, at which time the saints will receive their eternal reward, even as the wicked are destroyed forever.

Finally, under cover of rich OT imagery, verse 19 tells us that Christ himself will execute that judgment. At the Parousia, heaven—which has hitherto concealed the High King—will be opened at last, so that every eye will see him, this One who is the true Ark of the Covenant, the true meeting place of God and all his redeemed children (Ex. 25:22; Col. 3:1-3, 1 Tim. 2:5, Heb. 9:24, Rev. 1:7). However, when he appears, those who refused to enter that Covenant will meet only with God’s wrath and retribution, typified here by such OT manifestations as lightning, thunder, earthquake, and hail (Rev. 4:5). Thus does the cycle end, by giving us the end.

Summing up, we have found that Revelation 8-11, just like 6-7, does indeed depict the course, character, and consummation of the reign of the High King of Heaven. Moreover, as in 6-7, it teaches us that when the High King comes again, so too will the Kingdom in its full and final form. Here, however, there is something new, a measure of “progress.” For here the Spirit introduces the theme of the Last Battle, and also begins to lay a greater emphasis upon the last of the last days.

So far, then, it appears that our chart gives us a good description of the true structure of the Revelation.

3. The Woman and the Man-Child, Persecuted by the Dragon and His Helpers (12-14)

We come now to the third of the six cycles depicting the course, character, and consummation of the High King’s heavenly reign. This one is notable for giving us a unique glimpse of OT Salvation History, introducing the main antagonists in the Battle of the Ages, and supplying important keys to the proper interpretation of Revelation 20. Keeping these themes in mind, let us survey it briefly.

As we saw earlier, chapter 12 uses the Exodus motif to give us a compelling paradigm by which the Universal Church may think of Salvation History as a whole, and also of her day-to-day experience in the earth. It includes three elements: 1) rescue from spiritual Egypt (i.e., the Domain of Darkness), 2) a long and difficult pilgrimage—with the Lord at her side—through the wilderness of this world, and, 3) a joyous, triumphal entry into the Promised Land.

Verses 1-6, astonishing for the conciseness with which they manage to convey so much redemptive truth, give us the three chief actors in this great cosmic drama, even as they depict the course of Salvation History as a whole.

First, we meet the Woman. Adorned as a heavenly Bride for her Betrothed, she is the Woman prophesied in Genesis 3:15: the Church of all times and places, in both her Old and New Testament embodiments (12:1, Rom. 11:11-24, Rev. 7:1f, 21:10-14). Beautiful as she is, she is nevertheless crying out in pain, emblematic of the sufferings of the OT saints, whose costly faithfulness ensured the delivery of the Messiah into the world (12:2).

Next, we meet the Dragon and his host of fallen evil angels. This is Satan, but Satan with a full complement of heads, horns, and crowns: Satan as the invisible power and authority who seeks to destroy the Woman and her Child through his human helpers in the world (12:3-4).

Here, too, we meet the protagonist of the drama: the Man-Child, the Last Adam. Does Satan strike him on the heel? To be sure. Is he destroyed? Far from it, for following his resurrection, he ascends into heaven, where, for an appointed season, he will reign as High King of the cosmos, and then return to judge the nations with a rod of iron, at which time he will crush the serpent’s head once and for all (12:5, Gen. 3:15, Psalm 2:9, Rom. 16:20, Rev. 19:15).

But alas, the Woman, having work to accomplish on earth, cannot follow him—at least not yet (John 13:33, 14:1-3). Therefore, like Israel at the Exodus, or like Elijah in the days of Ahab, the evangelistic Church flees into the wilderness of the fallen world-system, where God and Christ faithfully nourish her by Word, Sacrament, and Spirit, until, at the end of “1260 days” (i.e., the appointed season of their pilgrimage), she enters the Promised Land.

We find, then, that this cycle clearly begins at the beginning of the Era of Proclamation, and that it symbolically designates that era as 1260 days.

As I argued earlier, verses 7-12 use apocalyptic symbolism to speak of the cosmic dethronement of Satan; of his being “cast out” of his lawful position as king over all the unbelieving nations (12:9, Mt. 12:22-29). In principle, this was accomplished when Christ, having secured both righteousness and pardon for his people by his earthy life and death, took his seat in the heavenlies as their High Priest and King. This we see in 12:5. However, in practice it is accomplished progressively, over the course of the whole Era of Proclamation, wherein the Church, amidst much persecution, effectively preaches the Gospel so that God’s elect are brought into his spiritual Kingdom. This we see in 12:7-12.

Here, then, we have an exact parallel to, and apocalyptic illustration of, the words of Jesus in John 12:31-32: “Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth (i.e., in death, exaltation, and preaching), will draw all (God’s elect) to myself.” In this text, Christ looks ahead to the Cross and describes its aftermath; in Revelation 12, the Spirit looks back at the Cross, and also describes its aftermath. In both cases, the premises are the same. Prior to Calvary, Satan had deceived the nations, holding them, unawares, in his grip and kingdom (12:9a; Luke 4:5-8, Rev. 20:3, 8). Now, however, by his life, death, and resurrection, the Redeemer has triumphed, so that Satan’s hold is broken and his kingdom is henceforth in slow-motion collapse. This happens through the preaching of the Church, by which the sovereign God transfers his (Satan’s) former subjects into the Kingdom (and new world) of his beloved Son (12:9b-10, Col. 1:13). Verses 11-12 assure us that the saints will indeed persevere under Christ’s benevolent reign, that heaven ever rejoices in this fact, and that throughout the Era of Proclamation the devil will sooner or later turn his frustration upon his own subjects, “the inhabitants of the earth” who have refused to enter Christ’s heavenly kingdom (Rev. 9:1ff).

Verses 13-17 elaborate upon verse 6. Throughout the Era of Proclamation, an infuriated Adversary will indeed persecute the Woman and her seed: the Church and her believing offspring, begotten down through the centuries by the preaching of the Gospel (12:13, 17; Gen. 3:15, 1 Peter 1:3). However, as in the case of Israel and Elijah, so here: Christ, by the Spirit, will always be with her, giving her flight, nourishment, and help amidst all her trials and temptations (12:14-16; Ex. 16:1ff, Deut. 32:11-12, Psalm 124, 1 Cor. 10:13). Note carefully from verses 12:6 and 12:14 that “1260 days” and “a time, times, and a half a time” are equivalent. Like 42 months, these figures symbolize the entire Era of Proclamation, during which the Church, like Israel and Elijah, remains in exile (from worldly acceptance) and under tribulation.

In chapter 13 we are introduced to the first two of the Dragon’s helpers, the worldly instruments by which he will persecute the Woman.

Verses 1-10 speak to us of the Beast. Having a full complement of horns and crowns, and summing up the four beasts of Daniel 7, this monster clearly represents the political or governmental face of the world-system as it appears in NT times, and especially when it goes over to Satan and persecutes the people of God (13:1-2).

Verses 3-5 tell us that throughout the Era of Proclamation (symbolized by 42 months) this proud, pretentious, and powerful usurper will pop up its ugly head over and again—reviving, as it were, from the dead—, with the result that the inhabitants of the earth (i.e., unbelievers) will over and again marvel, fear, follow, and thus (unconsciously) worship the Dragon.

While verses 6-9 can be read as describing the antagonism of the Beast towards the Church throughout the whole Era of Proclamation, here there is also a subtle change of emphasis. Allusions to Daniel 7 and 2 Thessalonians, a shift to the future tense in verse 8, and the global dimensions of the conflict here predicted, all signal that the accent now falls upon the final embodiment of the Beast under the Antichrist. In short, we have again arrived at the Last Battle (11:7, Dan. 7:8, 19-28, 2 Thess. 2:1-12).

Verse 10 steels the persecuted Church of all ages with a strong assurance of final justice upon her foes.

Verses 11-18 introduce us to the second of the Dragon’s helpers, the Beast from the Earth, or the False Prophet (Rev. 16:13, 19:20). This is the religious face of the world-system, especially insofar as it encourages the deification of the State and/or its rulers. Having already discussed this section at length, I will not repeat myself here, except to stress once again that we must not interpret this passage literally or futuristically. Rather, following the lead of closely related texts, we must see the Spirit here using apocalyptic symbolism to warn the Church of all generations (and the world as well) never to turn one’s back on Christ by giving ultimate personal allegiance to the State (Rev. 7:1ff, 14:1-5, 20:4-6). Yes, down through the centuries many have fallen, heeding the voice of the False Prophet, taking the mark of the Beast, and replacing the worship of God with the worship of man (Daniel 3:1f, John 19:15, Acts 12:22). And yes, in the days of the Last Battle, many—indeed, most—will do so again (13:8, Mt. 24:15-28, 2 Thess. 2:1-10). But the Christian must not. In the face of every false gospel, every fake miracle, powerful peer pressure, strong economic coercion, and ugly threats against himself and his loved ones, he has but one response: “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 4:13-22, 5:25).

Having taught the Church what to expect in the Era of Proclamation, the Heavenly Prophet now brings this cycle to a close with a well-balanced blend of encouragement and exhortation (14:1ff). Four steps are involved.

First, he gives the Church Militant yet another soul-stirring glimpse of life on the eschatological Mt. Zion; of life in the new heavens and the new earth (14:1-6; Isaiah 11:9, 65:25, Rev. 21:10). The saints of all time are there: all “144,000” (14:1); all whom the Lamb has purchased from the earth (14:3-4); all who did not commit acts of immorality with the Harlot (14:4, 17:2); all who remained pure and faithful to their Betrothed, cherishing the Day of Bridegroom’s Coming and the celebration of the Marriage Feast (21:2); all in whose mouth there was found no lie—neither false gospel nor false profession (16:13); all who are blameless through the Blameless One, who is Christ (14:5, 1 John 2:1). These will forever belong to God and Christ (14:1), worship before his throne (14:3), and follow the Lamb wherever he goes (14:4). Let the suffering saints remember and take heart.

Having encouraged the saints, the Lord next exhorts and warns them (14:6-13). In so doing, he gives John a vision of three angels. The first has an everlasting gospel to preach to all nations, a gospel by which men may escape the almighty Creator’s judgment to come. In the fear of the Lord, the Church is to preach it (14:6-7). The second heralds the imminent destruction of the Harlot, or Babylon the Great, both of which symbols represent the world-system as temptress. In the fear of the Lord, the Church is to come out of her, and stay out of her (14:8, 18:4). The third—using some of the weightiest language in all Scripture—depicts the eternal punishment of those who worship the Beast (and the Dragon), thereby taking his mark of ownership upon them. In the fear of the Lord, the Church must stand strong against every temptation to do so; she must faithfully persevere with Christ to the end (14:9-12). Moreover, as she does, let her recall the blessedness of all who die in faith throughout the Era of Proclamation, for in heaven their spirits will find rest from their toil, even as they await the resurrection and eternal reward (14:13, 20:2-6).

In 14:14-16, the Lord yet again offers encouragement, this time bringing us to the Consummation itself, where we behold the ultimate ingathering of God’s elect. The motif employed here, first sounded in the Gospels, is that of the harvest (Mt. 3:12, 13:30). At his Parousia, the High King himself will appear in the skies above the earth to bring his wheat into his barn; to send forth his angels to gather his risen, transformed, and glorified saints to his side (14:14, 16; Dan. 7:13, Mt. 24:30, 26:64, 1 Thess. 4:17).

In 14:17-20 we arrive at the closing scenes of the cycle. Here, the Lord warns and encourages the saints with a prediction of the final judgment of the wicked. This time it is the angel with the power of fire who swings the sickle (14:18); nevertheless, the continuing use of the harvest motif assures us that this Judgment also occurs at the Parousia, and that Christ is the Agent behind it, just as the rest of the NT teaches (Mt. 13:36-43, 47-50, 24-25, 2 Thess. 1:1ff). Passing over the resurrection of the wicked and the universal assize before the Judgment Seat of Christ (20:11-15), the vision runs to the eternal punishment of the wicked in the great winepress of the wrath of God, which is the Lake of Fire (14:10, 20:14-15). The difficult final verse, with its mention of horses, alludes to certain OT texts depicting the world’s final assault against the Israel of God (14:20; Ezek. 38:4, 15, Zech. 14:5). The message is: As soon as Christ’s enemies launch their Last Battle against his Church, so soon will he return to engulf them—and all their (resurrected) predecessors—in utter destruction (16:12-16, 19:11-16). The finality of this judgment is seen in its universality: It extends in all four directions with “complete completeness” (4x4x10x10=1600), leaving all of the wicked of all the earth forever outside the City of God (Rev. 22:15).

Summing up, we have seen that this cycle does indeed traverse the entire Era of Proclamation. It clearly begins with the Session of Christ (12:1-5) and clearly ends with his Parousia (14:14-20). In subtle ways, it again warns of the Last Battle (13:6-10, 14:20), but also offers great comfort, whether of life with Christ in the Intermediate State (14:13) or, following his return, life with Christ in the World to Come (14:1-5). Nowhere is there the least hint of a future Millennium. Here, the theology of the (structure of the) Kingdom and the Consummation is identical with that of the rest of the NT.

However, we do observe something of great interest and importance: The cosmic dethronement of Satan in principle and practice, depicted in 12:1-12, bears a striking resemblance to the binding of Satan, depicted in 20:1-3 (see especially 12:9 and 20:3). Does this mean that the 1260 days of 12:6, the 42 months of 13:5, and the 1000 years of 20:2-3 all refer mystically to the Era of Proclamation? Does it mean that 20:4-6, like 14:13, refers to the Intermediate State? Does it mean that 20:7-10, like 13:6-10 and 14:20, refers to the Last Battle? And does it mean that 20:11-15, like 14:14-20, refers to the Last Judgment, with an emphasis upon the eternal punishment of the wicked?

Our journey so far would certainly suggest it. But let us continue that journey, in order to see if the pattern will hold.

4. Seven Bowls of God’s Final Wrath (15-16)

Chapters 15-16 give us the fourth cycle in which the Spirit depicts the course, character, and consummation of the High King’s reign. A brief look at 16:12-21 makes it clear that the cycle does indeed end with a picture of the Consummation. However, the opening verse tells us that the theme of the visions to follow is the seven last plagues in which the wrath of God is finished (15:1). Moreover, many of the judgments described certainly look both cosmic and cataclysmic. Accordingly, some interpreters, like George Ladd and Dennis Johnson, argue that here the Spirit speaks exclusively about the end, about the last of the last days. Others, however, such as William Hendriksen and Greg Beale, contend that this cycle, like all the rest, once again traverses the entire Era of Proclamation. (10)

For a number of reasons, I favor the latter view. First, there is a natural presumption that this cycle will again give us the whole course of the High King’s reign, seeing that the previous three (not to mention the next two) do this very thing. Secondly, the first four bowl judgments (16:2-11) closely parallel the first four trumpets judgments (8:7-12), suggesting that they both cover the same time frame. Thirdly, it is almost impossible to see how the world-system could mount the Last Battle (16:12-16) if the previous four bowl judgments, more or less literally interpreted, had already fallen upon the earth, or if they were falling upon it concurrently with a final assault against the Church. And finally, the text itself seems quite clearly to teach that these judgments are poured out upon all the impenitents who worship the Beast (16:2), persecute the Church (16:5-6), and blaspheme the God who is now sending them to their death (16:9, 11). It appears, then, that the focus here is indeed upon all of God’s final judgments as they are administered throughout the entire Era of Proclamation, not just at the end.

Keeping these preliminaries in mind, let us now briefly mine this cycle for further insights into the course of the High King’s heavenly reign.

As we just saw, 15:1 serves as a heading in which the theme of the coming cycle is stated: the final outpourings of God’s wrath, both during and at the end of the Era of Proclamation. Observe here that John once again beholds a great and marvelous sign (1:1, 12:1). As Dennis Johnson well remarks, this implies that his message comes to us in symbolic impressions, not photographic reproductions. (11)

Strikingly, 15:2-4 gives us yet another glimpse of the saints in glory, but this time at the very head of the cycle, rather than at its conclusion. The contents of the text itself help us to understand why. Here we have a latter day Song of Moses; the eschatological celebration of all that was typified by Israel’s miraculous deliverance at the Red Sea; the onset of the Church’s eternal glorying in the righteous acts of God and the Lamb, who, at the Parousia, brought them safely through the Red Sea of God’s Judgment, deposited them securely on the shores of the World to Come, and engulfed their enemies in a fiery sea of divine retribution (Exodus 15:1f). In the visions immediately ahead, we will read—with fear and trembling—of many such (final) judgments. Here the suffering Church is taught to expect them, understand them, and—so much as possible on this side of glory—to celebrate them (15:3,4).

In richly symbolic OT language, 15:5-8 shows us God preparing to administer his final judgments against impenitent humanity. Importantly, the angels who are about to pour them out look much like Christ (15:6, 1:13). This hints at what we saw earlier: All throughout the Era of Proclamation, the Father redeems and judges the world by the hand of the High King of Heaven (6:1ff). In the recurrent use of the number of completeness, we see that these are indeed final judgments: seven angels are about to pour out seven plagues from seven bowls. We observe the same finality in the fact that the bowls are full of the wrath of God, and that no one is able to enter his sanctuary (presumably to plead for mercy) until the seven plagues have run their course (17:7-8; Jer. 7:16, 11:14, 14:11, 1 John 5:16).

In 16:1, we hear a heavenly voice—likely that of Christ—sending the seven angels to their task. In verses 2-11 there follows a description of the outpouring of the first five bowls, along with their consequences. Here, the temporal sphere of fulfillment is the entire Era of Proclamation; later, in 16:12-21, it will be the last of the last days. As a rule, these judgments are framed in terms of the plagues wrought against ancient Egypt, though in NT times their actual fulfillment likely includes the spiritual as well as the physical (Exodus 7-11, 1 Cor. 15:46). Again, these judgments run roughly parallel to the trumpet judgments of Revelation 8-11, though their enlarged scope and increased severity signal final retribution (on individuals upon the earth) as opposed to preliminary warning. Interestingly, in no case do the five judgments actually result in physical death. Nevertheless, it is clear that the judgments are indeed unto death, not least of all because they do not lead sinners to repentance, but to a further hardening of their hearts against God, just as in the case of Pharaoh (16:9, 11, Rom. 9:14-18).

With a view to confirming that the time frame of 16:2-11 is indeed the entire Era of Proclamation, I would offer the following suggestions about the interpretation of these challenging verses.

The first speaks of all who have worshiped the Beast, and who therefore suffer and die from the malignancy of their own sin, whether spiritually or physically (16:2; Exodus 9:8-12, Rev. 13:15-17, 20:4).

The second may indeed speak of all who die at sea, or at the hands of the sea, as in the case of devastating hurricanes or tsunamis. Alternatively, it may speak of the death of the “sea” of sinful, impenitent humanity, from which the Dragon calls forth the Beast, and upon which the Harlot sits (16:3, 13:1, 17:1, 15). (11)

The third bowl may represent all who die by poisoned rivers and springs. However, the cry of the angel of the waters, in which he affirms the righteousness of this judgment, could well indicate that these waters symbolize the destruction, in kind, of those who “destroyed” the saints, and who must therefore drink down the wrath of God (16:4-7, Exodus 7:21, Rev. 11:18, 13:10, 17:6).

The fourth bowl does not speak of lethal global warming, which would consume saints and sinners alike, but rather of the withdrawal of God’s common grace from the impenitent; of a fatal intensification of the effects of the curse, such that these people now experience life as though the sun were fiercely beating down upon them (16:8-9, 7:16, 9:2; Psalm 38:1-8, Isaiah 4:6, 25:4). (13)

Finally, the fifth bowl appears to speak of the suffering and death unleashed upon society when God “darkens the throne of the Beast”; when he removes from wicked rulers the skill and favor necessary to govern effectively, so that henceforth war and anarchy reign (16:10-11; Exodus 10:21-23, Psalm 11:1-3, Rev. 17:16).

Interpretations like these, which acknowledge the structure and literary genre of the book, make it easy to see how the first five bowl judgments are fulfilled throughout the entire Era of Proclamation.

Coming as they do at the end of this cycle, it should not surprise us that verses 12-16, which portray the sixth bowl judgment, bring us to the end of the age and the Last Battle. Importantly, we see this pattern in four out of the six cycles, a line of evidence that strongly confirms our view of the structure of chapters 6-20 (11:7-10, 16:12-16, 19:11ff, 20:7-10).

Beneath the OT surface of our text we find a rich NT meaning. I would sum it up as follows: Near the end of the age, the sovereign God will remove from before his enemies every spiritual and circumstantial impediment to their dark ambitions, setting the stage for the Last Battle (16:12; Ezek. 38:1f, 2 Thess. 2:6-7). At that time, Satan will use the Antichrist, the State, the religious arm of the State, a compelling religious ideology, and false signs and wonders to win the allegiance of the entire world-system, thereafter moving it to war against the only dissenter, the true spiritual Church (16:13-14; 2 Thess. 2:1ff, Rev. 11:11-19, 17:14, 19:19). In this toxic environment, where lawlessness and deception super-abounds, Christians must remain doubly vigilant, remembering that it is precisely when things are at their worst that Christ will return, just as he promised (16:15; Mt. 24:23-37, 44, 1 Thess. 5:1-4). Therefore, let believers keep in mind that in that Day the scene of unprovoked attack will suddenly become a scene of unexpected deliverance, even as it was in the days of Deborah, when the people, watching from the heights of Mount Meggido, saw God mightily intervene in behalf of Israel’s armies fighting on the great plain below (Judges 4-5, 5:19; Rev. 20:7-10). (14)

Verses 17-21, as expected, once again give us the Consummation, though here the accent altogether falls upon the punishment of God’s enemies. We know this is the Last Judgment because in it the wrath of God is finished (15:1, 17:2). We also know that Christ, at his Parousia, is the Agent of this Judgment, for though he is not explicitly mentioned here, verse 20 alludes to 6:12-17, where he is indeed explicitly mentioned. The earthquake of verse 18 is the same as that of 6:12: It is the eschatological shaking of all created things, with the result that only holy and unshakable things remain (Psalm 125:1, Ezek. 38:19-23, Hag. 2:6, Heb. 12:27-28, 2 Peter 3:9-12). The Great City of verse 19 is none other than Babylon the Great, which is the City of Man, the tri-partite world-system comprised of the Beast, the False Prophet, and the Harlot. John will again describe its fall, at length, in chapter18. In verse 21, the Spirit once again draws upon Exodus imagery in order to depict the eternal punishment of the wicked, and also (the wretchedness of) their eternal enmity against God (Exodus 9:18-15, Ezek. 38:22).

Summing up, we have seen that this cycle, like the previous three, certainly appears to traverse the entire Era of Proclamation. It definitely ends at the end of the age, with the Last Battle and the Consummation. As for its beginning, one must admit that here, as opposed to chapters 6 and 12, the opening scenes of the Era or Proclamation are not easily discerned. However, this is not because the time frame has changed, but rather because the emphasis has changed. Here, there is progress—a greater emphasis upon final judgments, and upon the final Judgment at the end of the age. This, along with the cosmic imagery involved, accounts for the futuristic feel of these two chapters, though in fact the temporal sphere of fulfillment remains the same as all the rest. Importantly, we have also seen once again that when the Spirit desires to encourage the saints with a revelation of what lies beyond the Consummation, he makes no mention whatsoever of a future millennial reign of Christ on earth, but points instead to life in glory in the new heavens and the new earth (15:1-4; 7:9-15, 14:1-5).

It appears, then, that the pattern proposed in our chart still holds. But in order to make sure, let us take few moments to probe the fifth cycle. Only then will we be in a position to look the sixth and most controversial cycle squarely in the face!

5. The Fall of the Dragon’s Helpers (17-19)

The fifth and (I would argue) penultimate cycle of chapters 6-20 is devoted to the final destruction of all of the Dragon’s helpers, especially the Great Harlot, Babylon. It is marked by a high degree of progressivity: While there are certainly allusions to the large-scale course of Salvation History, here the emphasis is decidedly upon the Last Battle and the Last Judgment. The cycle falls into two parts: 17:1-19:10 focuses on the fall of the Great Harlot; 19:11-21 focuses on the destruction of the Beast and the False Prophet. Let us briefly survey the cycle in order to highlight its structure and primary symbols.

In 17:1-2, the Spirit announces the theme of the bulk of the cycle: the Judgment of the Great Harlot, previously mentioned in 14:8 and 16:19. As we saw earlier, she represents the world-system as seductress. Unlike the Woman of chapter 12, who seeks to draw men to their Creator and Redeemer (and so to their good), this wicked woman draws men away from God and Christ to herself (and so to their destruction). Therefore, she will be destroyed, along with all the (unrepentant) spiritual adulterers who have committed acts of immorality with her (James 4:4).

In verses 3-6, John describes his vision of the Great Harlot. She is seated upon the Beast of 13:1-10. Here is the world-system as temptress, working in concert with the world-system as persecuting political power (17:3). Gorgeously arrayed and holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations, she is like the Rome of John’s day, enticing men to lives of idolatry, materialism, drunkenness, and sensuality (17:6). But this is more than Rome. This is Babylon the Great, the Mother of all spiritual harlots and all the abominations of the earth; this is, as it were, the satanic proto-type, lodged in the mind of the Dragon, that begets every incarnation of the world-system as temptress (17:5, Luke 4:6). The saints of every generation have met and struggled with her corrupt children: Sodom, Egypt, Tyre, Sidon, Babylon, Rome, and the wealthy, sin-besotted cities of the modern world. Therefore, we see that she is drunk, not only with the wine of her own immorality, but also with the blood of the saints. She cannot abide the light that emanates from them, light that pierces the darkness of her own soul. Therefore, as for Christ, so for the saints: She seeks to extinguish their light by putting them to death (17:6; John 1:5, 3:16-21, Rev. 11:10).

In verses 7-13 the angel opens up the meaning of the vision to the wondering apostle. There is more here than the perennial collusion of the Beast and the Harlot. John is seeing a mystery, a previously hidden truth about the destiny of the Harlot, and the destiny of the saints as well. The details are notoriously difficult to interpret, and therefore disputed. My take is as follows:

The Beast that John sees has indeed been around for ages, but it is not the Rome of his day; it is a final political power yet to come, one that both leaders and laity the world over will admire and follow (17:8). Its seven heads are seven mountains, both of which symbolize the “high” power centers of the earth; in the last days, they will be united as one. For a season, the Harlot (i.e., the economic and cultural system) will be comfortably seated upon them, enjoying favor with the final embodiment of the Beast, who recognizes her usefulness in the pursuit of his evil goals (17:9). The seven heads also represent seven kings (i.e., kingdoms). Here we learn something about the history of the Beast: five (of his previous incarnations) have fallen, one is (i.e., Rome), and one (the final one) is yet to come. However, it will endure only briefly, for Christ himself will destroy it at his Parousia (17:10, 19:20). The final incarnation of the Beast will be an eighth king, yet one of the seven. In other words, the final kingdom will be the same as one of the others (i.e., a revival of a previous kingdom), yet also different from it, in that, for power and geographical extent, it will sum up and surpass all the rest (17:11). In those days, all the power-centers of the world-system (symbolized by the ten kings) will join with the Beast and embrace his great purpose, which is to crush the true spiritual Church and exalt itself as God over all (17:12-14, 2 Thess. 2:ff).

In verses 14-18 the angel continues his exposition of the eschatological mystery, but now turns to the theme that will dominate the rest of the cycle: the final destruction of the Harlot, the Beast, and the False Prophet. He begins by tersely announcing the Last Battle, and then, as usual, the triumph of the Lamb and his faithful followers that will immediately ensue (17:14). Notably, in those days the Harlot will finally sit as queen over all the nations, much as Rome (nearly) did in John’s time (17:15, 18:17). However, just prior to Christ’s return, God will put it into the heart of the Beast and his violent retinue of world leaders to devour her flesh. Presumably, this is the desolation of the global economy and culture as a result of the military and economic policies of the Antichrist’s one-world government (17:16-17). As a prelude to the divine destruction of sinners at Christ’s return, Providence will first display the self-destructive power of sin itself.

In chapter 18, we reach the threshold of the Judgment of the Great Harlot. It opens with an angel descending from heaven, heralding her imminent demise: She is about to become a dwelling-place of demons, a prison-house of every unclean spirit and hated bird. In short, she is about to be cast into hell (18:2; Isaiah 13:21f, 34:11, 13-15, Rev. 19:20). For this reason, a heavenly voice issues a final warning to God’s people: Like Lot of old, and like the Israelite remnant of Babylon, they must come out of her lest they share in her plagues. These are the final, eschatological plagues: God Almighty himself, with his arm fully bared, will requite her for her sins once and for all (18:4-8; Isaiah 48:20, Jer. 51:45).

Drawing heavily upon OT oracles of the doom of Tyre (Ezekiel 27) and Babylon (Jeremiah 50-51), verses 9-20 give us all the inhabitants of the earth, both princes and people, lamenting the sudden, fiery destruction of the Great City and its treasure-trove of merchandise, both material and human. It is a graphic picture of what the apostle Paul called “the sorrow of the world” (2 Cor. 7:10). Yes, these who weep and wail and throw dust on their heads are sad, but not over the manifold ways in which they have dishonored their Creator, or over their vicious treatment of his saints, or even over their failure to enter heaven. No, here in hell itself (which is the true locus of their cries of woe) they can think of nothing to lament besides the loss of their (former) goods. It has happened to them according Jesus’ parable of the rich man and Lazarus: In their brief lifetime on earth they received their good things, while the saints received their evil things. Now, however, the saints are forever comforted, while they themselves are tormented (Rev. 18:10, 15; Luke 16:25). This is an administration of perfect justice, in which God calls the suffering saints to rejoice (18:20).

Verses 21-24 bring the chapter to a close with yet another vision: A strong angel takes up a huge stone and casts it into the sea. Just so, great Babylon will be thrown down with violence, and will be seen no more. Moreover, in hell God will remove from her denuded precincts every one of his good gifts, gifts that ought to have led her to repentance, but that instead she made into idols: music, craft, the pleasures of married life, light itself. If only the Great City had listened to the message of the saints and prophets who pleaded with her to repent, instead of spilling their blood in her streets. For now, at Christ’s coming in judgment, her time for repentance is past.

19:1-10 brings John’s vision of the fall of the Harlot to a close. Christ has come again. The Judgment has just occurred. All the saints and angels are celebrating the Consummation (7:9ff, 15:1-3). In this celebration, we find the Spirit sharply contrasting the opposing destinies of the two Women of the Revelation, the Harlot (19:1-5) and the Bride (19:6-10).

Four exhortations to praise—four exultant “Hallelujah’s”—are involved. First, John hears the angelic hosts praising God for the Judgment by which he has brought the Harlot’s corrupting influence to an end, avenged the blood of his servants, and secured their eternal salvation (19:1-2). Once again he hears the angels, this time affirming the complete justice of the Harlot’s eternal punishment (19:3). Next, he sees the 24 elders (representing the Church as a whole) and the four living creatures (representing all the cherubim) worshiping before God’s throne, adding their “Amen” to what the angels have just declared (19:4). Finally, John hears a voice emanating from the throne—is it Christ’s?—exhorting all of God’s bondservants to praise him (19:5). Praise him they do, in a thunderous chorus that rocks the universe itself (19:6a)!

But what exactly is the source of their joy, the theme of their praise? Verses 6b-7 give us the all-important answer: The Lord God Almighty has begun to reign! His Kingdom—in its fullness—has come at last! In the ears of the Bride of Christ, no sweeter words were ever heard. They mean that her long season of waiting is at an end; that her Betrothed has finally come for her; that her Beloved is about to take her to his eternal home; that he will now consummate her redemption by way of resurrection, transformation, and glorification, so that in perfect spiritual union they will live together forever in the new heavens and the new earth. Soon, John will receive a vision of their conjugal bliss (Rev. 21-22). Here, however, he simply beholds the Bride receiving her wedding gown at the resurrection: the (perfect) righteousness of Christ, along with her rewards for all that Christ has wrought in and through her during her days upon the earth (19:8, 21:2). Solemnly, a holy angel reminds John of the blessedness of all whom the sovereign God invites to this Marriage Feast (19:9, Mt. 22:1f).

As the cycle draws to a close, the Spirit now takes a small step backwards in time, and slightly modifies his theme. As previously, he will again speak of the Coming of Christ and the Last Judgment of the world-system. Here, however, the spotlight is no longer upon the Harlot, but upon her companions in rebellion and persecution, the Beast and the False Prophet. In other words, with these closing verses, the Spirit brings the history of the Dragon’s three helpers to its appointed end.

Three closely related visions are involved. The first depicts the Parousia, the descent of the glorified Lord Jesus Christ from heaven (19:11-16). This is Mathew 24:29-31, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, and 2 Thessalonians 1:3-10, but in apocalyptic language. Again John sees the Rider on the white horse. This time, however, he is not coming by the Spirit and through the Church to conquer hearts for the Gospel. No, he is coming bodily, in power, glory, and faithfulness, to judge and wage war against his (and her) enemies (19:11-13, 6:2). With him are the armies of heaven: certainly the holy angels, and likely the glorified saints as well, many of whose spirits he has brought with him from heaven for the resurrection of the just (19:14; Mt. 25:31, Rom. 16:20, 1 Thess. 4:13-18). This is the Word of God—he who created the cosmos—now fulfilling Psalm 2 by speaking final destruction upon his foes, just as his Almighty Father has given to him (19:13, 15; Psalm 2, John 1:1, 5:22, Rev. 2:27, 12:5). This is also the King of kings and the Lord of lords; for now, at his Parousia, the High King puts every earthly enemy under foot, and so becomes absolute Head over all (19:16; 1 Cor. 15:25-27, Eph. 1:10, 22, Rev. 17:14, 19:12).

In the second vision, John beholds an angel summoning all the birds of mid-heaven to the great supper of God, that they may feast on the flesh of all Christ’s enemies, great and small (19:17-18, 21). Here again the Spirit uses OT apocalyptic language to speak of the torments of the wicked in hell (Ezek. 39:17-20, Rev. 18:2). The third and final vision confirms this interpretation (19:19-21). John sees the Beast and his armies arrayed against Christ and his army. This is yet another picture of the Last Battle, wherein the consolidated world-system pits itself one final time against the (NT) people of God (19:19; 17:17). But it is to no purpose, for no sooner have they gathered themselves for war, than Christ appears in glory, seizing the Beast, the False Prophet, and all their followers, and casting them into the Lake of Fire (19:20-21; 2 Thess. 2:1ff). Thus, at the Parousia, Christ completely sweeps away all three of the Dragon’s helpers from the earth. In the next cycle, we will see that he sweeps away the Dragon with them.

Summing up, we have found that the fifth cycle of Revelation 6-20 deals largely with the Consummation of the High King’s heavenly reign, emphasizing as it does of the final judgment of the Harlot, the Beast, and the False Prophet. Nevertheless, in doing so, it specifically speaks of the ancient Roman embodiment of these enemies, alongside which John and the early Christians lived and toiled (Rev. 17:10). Moreover, from its various exhortations to the people of God, it is clear that this cycle is meant to speak to Christians of all generations, since they too must stand firm against the manifestation of the Dragon’s helpers proper to their own time (Rev. 18:4-5, 20). Therefore, we may conclude that in a limited but very real sense this cycle does indeed span the entire Era of Proclamation.

Finally, let us note once again that when the Spirit reminds the saints of their Blessed Hope, he says not a word about ruling and reigning with Christ in a future millennial stage of the Kingdom. Rather, he speaks of the Parousia, at which time the Lord will rescue his people from the Last Battle (17:14, 19:19-21), decisively judge his (and their) enemies (18:1ff, 19:11-21), and welcome his glorified Bride to eternal life together with him in the World to Come (19:1-10). Therefore, as in the previous four cycles, so here: The classic NT eschatology is presupposed. The Kingdom is divided into two simple stages, separated by a single Parousia of Christ, who, at his appearing, will consummate all things. Is this not the true Blessed Hope of the saints?

Conclusion

Our examination of the structure of the Revelation is nearly complete. We have seen that the text itself conforms very well to the chart with which we began our journey. Chapter 1 does indeed give us a Vision of the High King. Chapters 2-3 give us his message to the Universal Church. Chapters 4-5, the center of gravity of the book, give us his coronation, his investiture as High King of Heaven and Earth. Very importantly, chapters 6-19 certainly seem to give us five visionary cycles, each of which recapitulates the course, character, and consummation of Christ’s heavenly reign, with increasing emphasis upon the Consummation. Also, in our journey thus far we have repeatedly seen that the Spirit presupposes the simple two-staged eschatology of the NT; that he never presents a future millennial reign with Christ as part of the Blessed Hope; but that he always exalts the Parousia of Christ—wherein he himself will effect the Consummation of all things—as the true Blessed Hope of the Church.

Therefore, we must ask once again: Is it likely that in the sixth and final cycle of Revelation 6-20 (i.e., chapter 20), the Spirit would do anything other than give us the course, character, and consummation of Christ’s heavenly reign one final time? And is it likely—or even possible—that in this, the second to the last chapter of the entire Bible, he would introduce, for the very first time in the NT canon, an idea that must completely revolutionize, if not overthrow, both the eschatology of the Revelation and the eschatology of the entire NT?

No, the great current of NT theology, and the current of the Revelation itself, sweep us along to the only possible conclusion: Revelation 20 must give us still another symbolic depiction of the heavenly reign of Christ.

But does the text itself actually support this most reasonable conclusion? Now, at long last, it is time to find out.

NOTES

More Than Conquerors, p. 43.
Ibid., pp. 36-37.
The exalted Christ tells John to write the things he has seen, the things that are, and the things that are to take place after this (1:19). Effectively, this divides the book into three parts. The things that John has seen (up to that point) are the contents of the vision of 1:9-20. The things that “are” are the things pertaining to the seven churches of Asia (2:1-3:22). The things yet to take place are all that lies in store for the Universal Church (4:1-22:21).
“Historically, a white stone was given to victors at games (cf. the Messianic Banquet); such a stone was also used by jurors at trials to vote for acquittal.” The ESV Study Bible, (Crossway, 2008), p. 2466.
In Revelation 3:10 Christ promises that he will keep the faithful Philadelphians from “the hour of testing that is about to come upon the whole earth.” For Dispensationalists, the hour of testing is the seven year Tribulation at the end of the Church age, from which Christ will keep his people by removing them from the earth at the Rapture (MSB, p. 2707). But for many reasons, this view is impossible. First, the NT does not teach a pre-tribulation Rapture (see chapter 23). Secondly, if it is taught in the Revelation, it is only taught here. Thirdly, it is not taught here, since there is no mention whatsoever of Christ removing his Church or the Philadelphians from the earth. Finally, the Dispensational view is not even compatible with this verse, since it can hardly be said that Christ will keep the Philadelphians from the Tribulation by means of a secret Rapture; on Dispensational premises, the only way he could keep them from it is by keeping them in the faith until they die, so that thereafter they will be with him in heaven and never have to face the Tribulation. What then is the true meaning of the promise found in 3:10? I see two possibilities. First, it may mean that Christ will safely preserve his faithful people whenever and wherever the Beast, the False Prophet, and the Harlot arise to test the spiritual loyalty and integrity of the “inhabitants of the earth,” a test that the latter group will fail (John 17:15, Rev. 13:8, 17:8). On this view, there is a brief but eternally decisive “hour of testing” for all men of all time; a test that Christ will enable his faithful people to pass (2 Cor. 6:2). But secondly, it may mean that Christ will safely preserve his faithful saints at the Last Judgment, when he himself tests the spiritual allegiance of “the inhabitants of the earth,” and sends all whose names are not found in the Lamb’s Book of Life to eternal punishment (Rev. 20:12-15). I lean towards this view since the time of testing mentioned here is brief (lasting only an hour) and quite universal (engulfing the whole world and all who dwell upon the earth). Such images seem aptly to describe the one Judgment of the Great Day (Jude 1:6).
George Ladd writes: “The little book (or scroll) is in the form of an ancient will, which was usually sealed with the seals of seven witnesses. The book contains God’s inheritance for his people, which is founded upon the death of his Son. The saint’s inheritance is the Kingdom of God; but the blessings of God’s Kingdom cannot be bestowed apart from the destruction of evil. In fact, the very destruction of all evil powers is one of the blessings of God’s kingly rule. Here is the two-fold theme of the Revelation: the judgment of evil and the coming of the Kingdom.” A Theology of the New Testament, p. 674.
My thinking about the structure of chapters 6-20—and about the structure of the book as a whole—is much indebted to William Hendriksen’s outstanding commentary, More Than Conquerors (Baker, 1995). Highly recommended.
A close study of Revelation 7:4-8 reveals many hints by which the Spirit would direct us away from a literal interpretation of the 144,000, and towards a more figurative interpretation. They are as follows: 1) The text begins by mentioning Judah (the Messiah’s tribe), rather than Reuben, as was customary in the OT; 2) It omits Dan and Ephraim, replacing them with Joseph and Levi, giving us a list of the tribes of ethnic Israel that is unprecedented in the OT; 3) It is illumined by Rev. 14:1f, which identifies the 144,000 as those redeemed by the Lamb, as those who follow him wherever he goes; 4) It runs closely parallel to Rev. 21:9ff, which, under much the same symbolism, describes the Church in glory; and again, 5) it certainly seemly to receive a decisive interpretation in verse 9, which strongly implies that the “144,000” are, in fact, a great multitude.
This means, of course, that there is no room for a future millennial stage of the Kingdom.
For further study of the Revelation see: Greg Beale, The Book of Revelation (Eerdmans, 1998); Louis Brighton, Revelation (Concordia, 1999); Dennis Johnson, The Triumph of the Lamb (Presbyterian and Reformed, 2001); George Ladd, A Commentary on the Revelation of John (Eerdmans, 1972).
The Triumph of the Lamb, p. 223.
Ibid., pp. 225-226.
Ibid., pp. 228-229.
Ibid., pp. 231-236.

Search results for: the triumph

Postmillennialism: Exposition and Critique

The Gospel According to Luke

The Gospel According to Mark

The Gospel According to John

THE REVELATION: STRUCTURE, SURVEY, AND KEY SYMBOLS