Month: February 2020

The Parable of the Sower

1 AgainHe began to teachby the sea, and a very large crowd gathered around Him. So He got into a boat on the sea and sat down, while the whole crowd was on the shore facing the sea.

2 He taught them many things in parables,and in His teachingHe said to them:

3 “Listen! Consider the sower who went out to sow.

4 As he sowed, this occurred: Some seed fell along the path,and the birds came and ateit up.

5 Other seed fell on rocky ground where it didn’t have much soil, and it sprang up right away,since it didn’t have deep soil.

6 When the sun came up, it was scorched, and since it didn’t have a root, it withered.

7 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it didn’t produce a crop.

8 Still others fell on good ground and produced a crop that increased30, 60, and 100 times what was sown.”

9 Then He said,“Anyone who has ears to hear should listen! ”

Why Jesus Used Parables

10 When He was alone with the Twelve,those who were around Him asked Him about the parables.

11 He answered them,“The secretof the kingdom of Godhas been given to you, but to those outside,everything comes in parables

12 so that

they may look and look,

yet not perceive;

they may listen and listen,

yet not understand;

otherwise, they might turn back —

and be forgiven.”

The Parable of the Sower Explained

13 ThenHe said to them:“Don’t you understand this parable?How then will you understand any of the parables?

14 The sower sowsthe word.

15 Theseare the ones along the pathwhere the word is sown: when they hear, immediately Satancomes and takes away the wordsown in them.

16 And these arethe ones sown on rocky ground: when they hear the word, immediately they receive it with joy.

17 But they have no root in themselves; they are short-lived. When pressureor persecution comes because of the word, they immediately stumble.

18 Others are sown among thorns; these are the ones who hear the word,

19 but the worriesof this age,the seductionof wealth,and the desiresfor other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

20 But the ones sown on good ground are those who hear the word,welcome it, and produce a crop:30, 60, and 100 times what was sown.”

Using Your Light

21 Healso said to them,“Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket or under a bed?Isn’t it to be put on a lampstand?

22 For nothing is concealed except to be revealed,and nothing hidden except to come to light.

23 If anyone has ears to hear, he should listen! ”

24 Then He said to them,“Pay attention to what you hear. By the measureyou use,it will be measured and addedto you.

25 For to the one who has, it will be given, and from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.”

The Parable of the Growing Seed

26 “The kingdom of Godis like this,”He said.“A man scatters seed on the ground;

27 he sleepsand rises— nightand day, and the seed sprouts and grows — he doesn’t know how.

28 The soil produces a cropby itself — first the blade, then the head, and then the ripe grainon the head.

29 But as soon as the crop is ready, he sends for the sickle,because the harvesthas come.”

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

30 AndHe said:“How can we illustrate the kingdom of God,or what parablecan we use to describe it?

31 It’s like a mustard seedthat, when sown in the soil, is smaller than all the seeds on the ground.

32 And when sown,it comes up and grows taller than all the vegetables,and produces large branches, so that the birds of the skycan nest in its shade.”

Using Parables

33 He would speak the wordto them with many parableslike these, as they were able to understand.

34 And He did not speak to them without a parable. Privately, however, He would explain everything to His own disciples.

Wind and Wave Obey the Master

35 Onthat day, when evening had come, He told them,“Let’s cross over to the other side of the sea.”

36 So they left the crowd and took Him along since He was already in the boat. And other boats were with Him.

37 A fierce windstormarose, and the waveswere breaking over the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped.

38 But He was in the stern, sleepingon the cushion. So they woke Him upand said to Him, “Teacher! Don’t You care that we’re going to die? ”

39 He got up, rebukedthe wind, and said to the sea,“Silence!Be still! ”The wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

40 Then He said to them,“Why are you fearful?Do you still have no faith? ”

41 And they were terrifiedand asked one another, “Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obeyHim! ”

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Demons Driven Out by the Master

1 Thenthey came to the other side of the sea, to the region of the Gerasenes.

2 As soon as He got out of the boat, a man with an uncleanspiritcame out of the tombsand met Him.

3 He lived in the tombs.No one was able to restrain him anymore — even with chains—

4 because he often had been bound with shackles and chains, but had snapped off the chains and smashedthe shackles. No one was strong enough to subduehim.

5 And always, nightand day, he was crying out among the tombsand in the mountainsand cutting himself with stones.

6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and knelt down before Him.

7 And he cried out with a loud voice, “What do You have to do with me,Jesus, Sonof the Most High God?I begYou before God, don’t tormentme! ”

8 For He had told him,“Come out of the man, you uncleanspirit! ”

9 “What is your name? ”He asked him.

“My name is Legion,”he answered Him, “because we are many.”

10 And he kept begging Him not to send them out of the region.

11 Now a large herd of pigswas there, feedingon the hillside.

12 The demonsbegged Him, “Send us to the pigs, so we may enter them.”

13 And He gave them permission. Then the uncleanspiritscame out and entered the pigs, and the herd of about 2,000 rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned there.

14 The men who tended themran offand reported it in the town and the countryside, and people went to see what had happened.

15 They came to Jesus and saw the man who had been demon-possessedby the legion,sitting there, dressed and in his right mind;and they were afraid.

16 The eyewitnesses described to them what had happened to the demon-possessedman and told about the pigs.

17 Then they began to beg Him to leave their region.

18 As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed kept begging Him to be with Him.

19 But He would not let him; instead, He told him,“Go back home to your own people, and report to them how much the Lordhas donefor you and how He has had mercy on you.”

20 So he went out and began to proclaimin the Decapolishow much Jesus had done for him, and they were all amazed.

A Girl Restored and a Woman Healed

21 WhenJesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a large crowdgathered around Him while He was by the sea.

22 One of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus,came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at His feet

23 and kept begging Him, “My little daughter is at death’s door.Come and lay Your hands onher so she can get welland live.”

24 So Jesus went with him, and a large crowd was following and pressing against Him.

25 A woman suffering from bleedingfor 12 years

26 had enduredmuch under many doctors.She had spent everything she had and was not helped at all. On the contrary, she became worse.

27 Having heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touchedHis robe.

28 For she said, “If I can just touch His robes, I’ll be made well! ”

29 Instantly her flow of blood ceased, and she sensed in her body that she was curedof her affliction.

30 At once Jesus realized in Himself that powerhad gone out from Him. He turned around in the crowdand said,“Who touched My robes? ”

31 His disciples said to Him, “You see the crowd pressing against You, and You say,‘Who touched Me? ’”

32 So He was looking around to see who had done this.

33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came with fear and trembling, fell downbefore Him, and told Him the whole truth.

34 “Daughter,”He said to her,“your faithhas made you well.Go in peace and be freefrom your affliction.”

35 While He was still speaking, people came from the synagogue leader’s house and said, “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the Teacheranymore? ”

36 But when Jesus overheard what was said, He told the synagogue leader,“Don’t be afraid.Only believe.”

37 He did not let anyone accompany Him except Peter,James,and John,James’s brother.

38 They came to the leader’s house, and He saw a commotion — people weeping and wailing loudly.

39 He went in and said to them,“Why are you making a commotion and weeping?The childis not dead but asleep.”

40 They started laughing at Him, but He put them all outside. He took the child’s father,mother, and those who were with Him, and entered the place where the child was.

41 Then He took the childby the hand and said to her,“Talitha koum!”(which is translated,“Little girl, I say to you, get up! ”).

42 Immediately the girl got upand began to walk.(She was 12 years old.) At this they were utterly astounded.

43 Then He gave them strict orders that no one should know about thisand said that she should be given something to eat.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/MRK/5-a14e9ae0f22d4cad22d1bc60fca5a8c2.mp3?version_id=72—

Rejection at Nazareth

1 Hewent away from there and came to His hometown,and His disciplesfollowed Him.

2 When the Sabbathcame, He began to teachin the synagogue,and many who heard Him were astonished. “Where did this man get these things? ” they said. “What is this wisdomgiven to Him, and how are these miraclesperformed by His hands?

3 Isn’t this the carpenter,the son of Mary,and the brother of James,Joses, Judas,and Simon? And aren’t His sisters here with us? ” So they were offendedby Him.

4 Then Jesus said to them,“A prophetis not without honorexcept in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his household.”

5 So He was not able to do any miraclesthere, except that He laid His hands ona few sickpeople and healedthem.

6 And He was amazedat their unbelief.

Commissioning the Twelve

Now He was going around the villages in a circuit, teaching.

7 Hesummonedthe Twelveand began to sendthem out in pairs and gave them authority over uncleanspirits.

8 He instructed them to take nothing for the road except a walking stick: no bread, no traveling bag,no money in their belts.

9 They were to wear sandals, but not put on an extra shirt.

10 Then He said to them,“Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that place.

11 If any place does not welcomeyou and people refuse to listen to you, when you leave there, shake the dust off your feetas a testimonyagainst them.”

12 So they went out and preachedthat people should repent.

13 And they were driving out many demons,anointingmany sickpeople with olive oil,and healing them.

John the Baptist Beheaded

14 KingHerodheard of this, because Jesus’ namehad become well known. Somesaid, “John the Baptisthas been raised from the dead,and that’s why supernatural powersare at workin him.”

15 But others said, “He’s Elijah.”Still others said, “He’s a prophet— like one of the prophets.”

16 When Herodheard of it, he said, “John,the one I beheaded, has been raised! ”

17 ForHerod himself had given orders to arrest John and to chainhim in prison on account of Herodias,his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married.

18 John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawfulfor you to have your brother’s wife! ”

19 So Herodias held a grudge against him and wanted to killhim. But she could not,

20 because Herod was in aweofJohn and was protecting him, knowing he was a righteousand holyman. When Herod heard him he would be very disturbed,yet would hear him gladly.

21 Now an opportune time came on his birthday, when Herod gave a banquetfor his nobles,military commanders,and the leading men of Galilee.

22 When Herodias’s own daughtercame in and danced,she pleased Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me whatever you want, and I’ll give it to you.”

23 So he sworeoathsto her: “Whatever you ask me I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”

24 Then she went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for? ”

“John the Baptist’shead! ” she said.

25 Immediately she hurried to the king and said, “I want you to give me John the Baptist’shead on a platter— right now! ”

26 Though the king was deeply distressed,because of his oathsand the guestshe did not want to refuseher.

27 The king immediately sent for an executioner and commanded him to bring John’s head. So he went and beheaded him in prison,

28 brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother.

29 When his disciplesheard about it, they came and removed his corpse and placed it in a tomb.

Feeding 5,000

30 Theapostlesgathered around Jesus and reported to Him all that they had done and taught.

31 He said to them,“Come away by yourselves to a remote place and rest for a while.”For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.

32 So they went away in the boat by themselves to a remote place,

33 but many saw them leaving and recognized them. People ran there by land from all the towns and arrived ahead of them.

34 So as He stepped ashore, He saw a huge crowd and had compassionon them, because they were like sheepwithout a shepherd. Then He began to teach them many things.

35 When it was already late, His disciplesapproached Him and said, “This place is a wilderness,and it is already late!

36 Send them away, so they can go into the surrounding countryside and villages to buy themselves something to eat.”

37 “You give them something to eat,”He responded.

They said to Him, “Should we go and buy 200 denariiworth of bread and give them something to eat? ”

38 And He asked them,“How many loaves do you have? Go look.”

When they found out they said, “Five, and two fish.”

39 Then He instructed them to have all the people sit downin groups on the green grass.

40 So they sat down in ranks of hundreds and fifties.

41 Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke the loaves. He kept giving them to His disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all.

42 Everyone ate and was filled.

43 Then they picked up 12 baskets full of pieces of bread and fish.

44 Now those who ate the loaves were 5,000 men.

Walking on the Water

45 ImmediatelyHe made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, to Bethsaida,while He dismissed the crowd.

46 After He said good-bye to them, He went away to the mountainto pray.

47 When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and He was alone on the land.

48 He saw them being batteredas they rowed,because the wind was against them. Around three in the morningHe came toward them walking on the sea and wanted to pass by them.

49 When they saw Him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghostand cried out;

50 for they all saw Him and were terrified.Immediately He spoke with them and said,“Have courage!It is I.Don’t be afraid.”

51 Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. They were completely astounded,

52 because they had not understood about the loaves. Instead, their hearts were hardened.

Miraculous Healings

53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaretand beached the boat.

54 As they got out of the boat, people immediately recognized Him.

55 They hurried throughout that vicinity and began to carry the sickon mats to wherever they heard He was.

56 Wherever He would go, into villages, towns, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged Him that they might touch just the tasselof His robe.And everyone who touched it was made well.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/MRK/6-a7aaf549eb8cfb9071c35e91af432ca7.mp3?version_id=72—

The Traditions of the Elders

1 ThePhariseesand some of the scribeswho had come from Jerusalemgathered around Him.

2 They observed that some of His disciples were eating their bread with unclean— that is, unwashed — hands.

3 (For the Pharisees, in fact all the Jews, will not eat unless they wash their hands ritually, keeping the tradition of the elders.

4 When they come from the marketplace,they do not eat unless they have washed.And there are many other customs they have received and keep, like the washing of cups, jugs, copper utensils, and dining couches.)

5 Then the Phariseesand the scribesasked Him, “Why don’t Your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders,instead of eating bread with ritually uncleanhands? ”

6 He answered them,“Isaiahprophesiedcorrectly about you hypocrites,as it is written:

These people honorMe with their lips,

but their heart is far from Me.

7 They worship Me in vain,

teachingas doctrinesthe commandsof men.

8 Disregarding the command of God, you keep the tradition of men.”

9 He also said to them,“You completely invalidate God’s command in order to maintainyour tradition!

10 For Mosessaid:

Honor your father and your mother;and

Whoever speaks evil of father or mother

must be put to death.

11 But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or mother: Whatever benefityou might have received from me is Corban’ ”(that is, a giftcommitted to the temple),

12 “you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother.

13 You revoke God’s wordby your tradition that you have handeddown. And you do many other similar things.”

14 Summoningthe crowd again, He told them,“Listen to Me, all of you, and understand:

15 Nothing that goes into a person from outside can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.

16 If anyone has ears to hear, he should listen! ”

17 When He went into the house away from the crowd, the disciples asked Him about the parable.

18 And He said to them,“Are you also as lacking in understanding? Don’t you realize that nothing going into a man from the outside can defile him?

19 For it doesn’t go into his heart but into the stomachand is eliminated.”(As a result, He made all foods clean.)

20 Then He said,“What comes out of a person — that defiles him.

21 For from within, out of people’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immoralities,thefts, murders,

22 adulteries,greed,evil actions, deceit,promiscuity,stinginess,blasphemy,pride,and foolishness.

23 All these evil things come from within and defile a person.”

A Gentile Mother’s Faith

24 He got up and departed fromthere to the region of Tyreand Sidon.He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it, but He could not escape notice.

25 Instead, immediately after hearing about Him, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spiritcame and fell at His feet.

26 Now the woman was Greek,a Syrophoenician by birth, and she kept asking Him to drive the demonout of her daughter.

27 He said to her,“Allow the children to be satisfied first, because it isn’t right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”

28 But she replied to Him, “Lord,even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”

29 Then He told her,“Because of this reply, you may go. The demon has gone out of your daughter.”

30 When she went back to her home, she found her child lying on the bed, and the demon was gone.

Jesus Does Everything Well

31 Again, leaving the region of Tyre,He went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee,throughthe region of the Decapolis.

32 They brought to Him a deafman who also had a speech difficulty,and begged Jesus to lay His hand onhim.

33 So He took him away from the crowd privately. After putting His fingers in the man’s ears and spitting,He touched his tongue.

34 Then, looking up to heaven,He sighed deeply and said to him,“Ephphatha!”(that is,“Be opened! ”).

35 Immediately his ears were opened,his speech difficulty was removed,and he began to speak clearly.

36 Then He ordered them to tell no one,but the more He would order them, the more they would proclaimit.

37 They were extremely astonished and said, “He has done everything well!He even makes deafpeople hear, and people unable to speak,talk! ”

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Feeding 4,000

1 Inthose days there was again a large crowd, and they had nothing to eat. He summonedthe disciplesand said to them,

2 “I have compassionon the crowd, because they’ve already stayed with Me three days and have nothing to eat.

3 If I send them home hungry,they will collapse on the way,and some of them have come a long distance.”

4 His disciples answered Him, “Where can anyone get enough bread here in this desolate place to fillthese people? ”

5 “How many loaves do you have? ”He asked them.

“Seven,” they said.

6 Then He commanded the crowd to sit down on the ground. Taking the seven loaves, He gave thanks, brokethe loaves, and kept on giving them to His disciples to set before the people. So they served the loaves to the crowd.

7 They also had a few small fish, and when He had blessed them, He said these were to be served as well.

8 They ate and were filled. Then they collected seven large baskets of leftover pieces.

9 About 4,000 men were there. He dismissed them

10 and immediately got into the boat with His disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.

The Yeast of the Pharisees and Herod

11 ThePhariseescame out and began to argue with Him, demanding of Him a signfrom heavento testHim.

12 But sighing deeply in His spirit,He said,“Why does this generationdemand a sign? I assure you:No sign will be given to this generation! ”

13 Then He left them, got on board the boat again, and went to the other side.

14 They had forgotten to take bread and had only one loaf with them in the boat.

15 ThenHe commanded them:“Watch out! Beware of the yeastof the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.”

16 They were discussing among themselves that they did not have any bread.

17 Aware of this, He said to them,“Why are you discussing that you do not have any bread? Don’t you understand or comprehend? Is your heart hardened?

18 Do you have eyes, and not see, and do you have ears, and not hear?And do you not remember?

19 When I broke the five loaves for the 5,000, how many baskets full of pieces of bread did you collect? ”

“Twelve,” they told Him.

20 “When I broke the seven loaves for the 4,000, how many large baskets full of pieces of bread did you collect? ”

“Seven,” they said.

21 And He said to them,“Don’t you understand yet? ”

Healing a Blind Man

22 Then they came to Bethsaida.They brought a blindman to Him and begged Him to touch him.

23 He took the blind man by the hand and brought him out of the village. Spittingon his eyes and laying His hands onhim, He asked him,“Do you see anything? ”

24 He looked up and said, “I see people — they look to me like trees walking.”

25 Again Jesus placed His hands on the man’s eyes, and he saw distinctly. He was cured and could see everything clearly.

26 Then He senthim home, saying,“Don’t even go into the village.”

Peter’s Confession of the Messiah

27 Jesuswent out with His disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the road He asked His disciples,“Who do people say that I am? ”

28 They answered Him, “John the Baptist;others, Elijah; still others, one of the prophets.”

29 “But you,”He asked them again,“who do you say that I am? ”

Peteranswered Him, “You are the Messiah! ”

30 And He strictly warnedthem to tell no one about Him.

His Death and Resurrection Predicted

31 ThenHe began to teach them that the Son of Manmust suffer many things and be rejectedby the elders,the chief priests, and the scribes,be killed, and riseafter three days.

32 He was openly talking about this. So Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him.

33 But turning around and looking at His disciples, He rebuked Peter and said,“Get behind Me, Satan,because you’re not thinking about God’s concerns,but man’s! ”

Take Up Your Cross

34 Summoning the crowd along with His disciples, He said to them,“If anyone wants to be My follower, he must deny himself,take up his cross,and follow Me.

35 For whoever wants to savehis life will lose it,but whoever loseshis lifebecause of Meand the gospelwill save it.

36 For what does it benefita man to gainthe whole worldyet losehis life?

37 What can a man give in exchange for his life?

38 For whoever is ashamedof Me and of My wordsin this adulterous and sinfulgeneration,the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the gloryof His Fatherwith the holyangels.”

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1 Then He said to them,“I assure you:There are some standing here who will not taste deathuntil they see the kingdom of God come in power.”

The Transfiguration

2 Aftersix daysJesus took Peter, James, and Johnand led them up on a high mountainby themselves to be alone. He was transformedin front of them,

3 and His clothesbecame dazzling — extremely whiteas no launderer on earth could whitenthem.

4 Elijahappeared to them with Moses,and they were talking with Jesus.

5 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi,it’s goodfor us to be here! Let us make three tabernacles:one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” —

6 because he did not know what he should say,since they were terrified.

7 A cloudappeared, overshadowingthem, and a voicecame from the cloud:

This is My belovedSon;

listen to Him!

8 Then suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus alone.

9 Asthey were coming down from the mountain,He ordered them to tell no one what they had seenuntil the Son of Manhad risenfrom the dead.

10 They kept this wordto themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant.

11 Then they began to question Him, “Why do the scribessay that Elijah must come first? ”

12 “Elijah does come first and restoreseverything,”He replied.“How then is it writtenabout the Son of Man that He must suffermany things and be treated with contempt?

13 But I tell you that Elijah really has come, and they did whatever they pleased to him, just as it is writtenabout him.”

The Power of Faith over a Demon

14 Whenthey came to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes disputingwith them.

15 All of a sudden, when the whole crowd saw Him, they were amazedand ran to greet Him.

16 Then He asked them,“What are you arguing with them about? ”

17 Out of the crowd, one man answered Him, “Teacher,I brought my son to You. He has a spiritthat makes him unable to speak.

18 Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I asked Your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn’t.”

19 He replied to them,“You unbelievinggeneration! How long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to Me.”

20 So they brought him to Him. When the spirit saw Him, it immediately convulsed the boy. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.

21 “How long has this been happening to him? ”Jesus asked his father.

“From childhood,” he said.

22 “And many times it has thrown him into fire or water to destroyhim. But if You can do anything, have compassionon us and help us.”

23 Then Jesus said to him,“ ‘If You can ’?Everything is possibleto the one who believes.”

24 Immediately the father of the boy cried out, “I do believe! Help my unbelief.”

25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly coming together, He rebukedthe uncleanspirit, saying to it,“You mute and deafspirit,I command you: come out of him and never enter him again! ”

26 Then it came out, shrieking and convulsinghimviolently. The boy became like a corpse, so that many said, “He’s dead.”

27 But Jesus, taking him by the hand, raised him,and he stood up.

28 After He went into a house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out? ”

29 And He told them,“This kind can come out by nothing but prayerand fasting .”

The Second Prediction of His Death

30 Thenthey left that place and made their way through Galilee, but He did not want anyone to know it.

31 For He was teachingHis disciples and telling them,“The Son of Manis being betrayedinto the hands of men. They will kill Him, and after He is killed, He will risethree days later.”

32 But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him.

Who is the Greatest?

33 Thenthey came to Capernaum.When He was in the house,He asked them,“What were you arguing about on the way? ”

34 But they were silent,because on the way they had been arguing with one another about who was the greatest.

35 Sitting down, He called the Twelveand said to them,“If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”

36 Then He took a child,had him stand among them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them,

37 “Whoever welcomesone little child such as this in My namewelcomes Me. And whoever welcomes Me does not welcome Me, but Him who sentMe.”

In His Name

38 Johnsaid to Him, “Teacher,we saw someonedriving out demonsin Your name,and we tried to stop him because he wasn’t following us.”

39 “Don’t stop him,”said Jesus,“because there is no one who will perform a miraclein My name who can soon afterward speak evil of Me.

40 For whoever is not against us is for us.

41 And whoever gives you a cup of water to drinkbecause of My name,since you belong to the Messiah— I assure you:He will never lose his reward.

Warnings from Jesus

42 “But whoever causes the downfall of one of these little ones who believe in Me— it would be better for him if a heavy millstonewere hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

43 And if your hand causes your downfall, cut it off.It is better for you to enter life maimedthan to have two hands and go to hell — the unquenchable fire,

44 where

Their worm does not die,

and the fire is not quenched.

45 And if your foot causes your downfall,cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lamethan to have two feet and be thrown into hell —the unquenchable fire,

46 where

Their worm does not die,

and the fire is not quenched.

47 And if your eye causes your downfall, gouge it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of Godwith one eye than to have two eyes and be throwninto hell,

48 where

Their worm does not die,

and the fire is not quenched.

49 For everyone will be salted with fire.

50 Salt is good, but if the salt should lose its flavor, how can you make it salty?Have saltamong yourselves and be at peacewith one another.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/MRK/9-e33873ed15ad96cd592d9ccaa3e27e03.mp3?version_id=72—

The Question of Divorce

1 Heset out from there and went to the region of Judeaand across the Jordan.Then crowds converged on Him again and, as He usually did, He began teachingthem once more.

2 Some Phariseesapproached Him to testHim. They asked, “Is it lawfulfor a man to divorcehis wife? ”

3 He replied to them,“What did Mosescommand you? ”

4 They said, “Moses permitted us to write divorce papersand send her away.”

5 But Jesus told them,“He wrote this command for you because of the hardness of your hearts.

6 But from the beginningof creationGodmade them male and female.

7 For this reason a man will leave

his father and mother

and be joined to his wife ,

8 and the two will become one flesh.

So they are no longer two, but one flesh.

9 Therefore what God has joined together, man must not separate.”

10 Now in the house the disciples questioned Him again about this matter.

11 And He said to them,“Whoever divorces his wifeand marriesanother commits adulteryagainst her.

12 Also, if she divorces her husbandand marries another, she commits adultery.”

Blessing the Children

13 Somepeople were bringing little childrento Him so He might touch them, but His disciples rebukedthem.

14 When Jesus saw it, He was indignantand said to them,“Let the little children come to Me.Don’t stopthem, for the kingdom of Godbelongs to such as these.

15 I assure you:Whoever does not welcomethe kingdom of God like a little childwill never enter it.”

16 After taking them in His arms, He laid His hands onthem and blessedthem.

The Rich Young Ruler

17 AsHe was setting out on a journey,a man ran up, knelt downbefore Him, and asked Him, “GoodTeacher,what must I do to inheriteternal life? ”

18 “Why do you call Me good? ”Jesus asked him.“No one is good but One — God.

19 You know the commandments:

Do not murder;

do not commit adultery;

do not steal;

do not bear false witness;

do not defraud;

honoryour father and mother.”

20 He said to Him, “Teacher,I have kept all these from my youth.”

21 Then, looking at him, Jesus loved himand said to him,“You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor,and you will have treasurein heaven.Then come,follow Me.”

22 But he was stunnedat this demand, and he went away grieving,because he had many possessions.

Possessions and the Kingdom

23 Jesus looked around and said to His disciples,“How hard it is for those who have wealthto enter the kingdom of God! ”

24 But the disciples were astonished at His words. Again Jesus said to them,“Children,how hard it isto enter the kingdom of God!

25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a richperson to enter the kingdom of God.”

26 So they were even more astonished, saying to one another, “Then who can be saved? ”

27 Looking at them, Jesus said,“With men it is impossible,but not with God, because all things are possible with God.”

28 Peterbegan to tell Him, “Look, we have left everything and followed You.”

29 “I assure you,”Jesus said,“there is no one who has left house, brothers or sisters, mother or father,children, or fields because of Me and the gospel,

30 who will not receive 100 timesmore, now at this time— houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions— and eternal lifein the age to come.

31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

The Third Prediction of His Death

32 Theywere on the road, going up to Jerusalem,and Jesus was walking ahead of them. They were astonished, but those who followed Him were afraid.Taking the Twelve aside again, He began to tell them the things that would happen to Him.

33 “Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Manwill be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes,and they will condemn Him to death. Then they will hand Him over to the Gentiles,

34 and they will mock Him, spit on Him, flogHim, and kill Him, and He will riseafter three days.”

Suffering and Service

35 ThenJamesand John,the sons of Zebedee,approached Him and said, “Teacher,we want You to do something for us if we ask You.”

36 “What do you want Me to do for you? ”He asked them.

37 They answered Him, “Allow us to sit at Your right and at Your left in Your glory.”

38 But Jesus said to them,“You don’t know what you’re asking.Are you able to drink the cupI drink or to be baptized with the baptismI am baptized with? ”

39 “We are able,” they told Him.

Jesus said to them,“You will drink the cup I drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with.

40 But to sit at My right or left is not Mine to give; instead, it is for those it has been prepared for.”

41 When the other 10 disciples heard this, they began to be indignant with James and John.

42 Jesus called them over and said to them,“You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles dominatethem, and their men of high positions exercise power over them.

43 But it must not be like that among you.On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,

44 and whoever wants to be first among you must be a slaveto all.

45 For even the Son of Mandid not come to be served, but to serve,and to give His life— a ransomfor many.”

A Blind Man Healed

46 Theycame to Jericho.And as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus (the son of Timaeus), a blindbeggar,was sitting by the road.

47 When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene,he began to cry out, “Son of David,Jesus, have mercyon me! ”

48 Many people told him to keep quiet, but he was crying out all the more, “Have mercy on me,Son of David! ”

49 Jesus stopped and said,“Call him.”

So they called the blind man and said to him, “Have courage!Get up; He’s calling for you.”

50 He threw off his coat,jumped up, and came to Jesus.

51 Then Jesus answered him,“What do you wantMe to do for you? ”

“Rabbouni,”the blind man told Him, “I want to see! ”

52 “Go your way,”Jesus told him.“Your faith has healed you.”Immediately he could see and began to follow Him on the road.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/MRK/10-adb1b6d7b58bc320ffb441994048b25e.mp3?version_id=72—

The Triumphal Entry

1 Whenthey approached Jerusalem,at Bethphage and Bethanynear the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples

2 and told them,“Go into the village ahead of you. As soon as you enter it, you will find a young donkey tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here.

3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this? ’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here right away.’ ”

4 So they went and found a young donkey outside in the street, tied by a door. They untied it,

5 and some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the donkey? ”

6 They answered them just as Jesus had said, so they let them go.

7 Then they brought the donkey to Jesus and threw their robes on it, and He sat on it.

8 Many people spread their robes on the road,and others spread leafy branches cut from the fields.

9 Then those who went ahead and those who followed kept shouting:

Hosanna!

He who comes in the name

of the Lord is the blessed One!

10 The coming kingdom

of our father Davidis blessed!

Hosannain the highest heaven!

11 And He went into Jerusalemand into the temple complex.After looking around at everything, since it was already late, He went out to Bethanywith the Twelve.

The Barren Fig Tree Is Cursed

12 Thenext day when they came out from Bethany, He was hungry.

13 After seeing in the distance a figtree with leaves, He went to find out if there was anything on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs.

14 He said to it,“May no one ever eat fruitfrom you again! ”And His disciplesheard it.

Cleansing the Temple Complex

15 They came to Jerusalem,and He went into the temple complexand began to throw out those buying and selling in the temple. He overturned the money changers’tables and the chairs of those selling doves,

16 and would not permit anyone to carry goods through the temple complex.

17 Then He began to teach them:“Is it not written,My housewill be called a house of prayerfor all nations?But you have made it a den of thieves! ”

18 Then the chief priests and the scribesheard it and started looking for a way to destroy Him. For they were afraidof Him, because the whole crowd was astonished by His teaching.

19 And whenever evening came, they would go out of the city.

The Barren Fig Tree Is Withered

20 Earlyin the morning, as they were passing by, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up.

21 Then Peterremembered and said to Him, “Rabbi,look! The fig tree that You cursedis withered.”

22 Jesus replied to them,“Have faith in God.

23 I assure you:If anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubtin his heart, but believesthat what he says will happen, it will be done for him.

24 Therefore I tell you, all the things you prayand ask for— believe that you have receivedthem, and you will have them.

25 And whenever you standpraying, if you have anything against anyone, forgivehim, so that your Fatherin heavenwill also forgiveyou your wrongdoing.

26 But if you don’t forgive, neither will your Father in heavenforgive your wrongdoing. ”

Messiah’s Authority Challenged

27 Theycame again to Jerusalem.As He was walking in the temple complex,the chief priests, the scribes,and the elderscame

28 and asked Him, “By what authorityare You doing these things? Who gave You this authority to do these things? ”

29 Jesus said to them,“I will ask you one question;then answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

30 Was John’s baptismfrom heaven or from men? Answer Me.”

31 They began to argue among themselves: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Then why didn’t you believehim? ’

32 But if we say, ‘From men’ ” — they were afraid of the crowd, because everyone thought that John was a genuine prophet.

33 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”

And Jesus said to them,“Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/MRK/11-92cf7d343c684e3d8633fc5eda8fe617.mp3?version_id=72—

The Parable of the Vineyard Owner

1 ThenHe began to speak to them in parables:“A man planted a vineyard,put a fence around it, dug out a pit for a winepress, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and went away.

2 At harvest time he senta slaveto the farmers to collect some of the fruitof the vineyard from the farmers.

3 But they took him, beathim, and sent him away empty-handed.

4 Again he sent another slave to them, and theyhit him on the head and treated him shamefully.

5 Then he sent another, and they killed that one. He also sent many others; they beat some and they killed some.

6 “He still had one to send, a belovedson. Finallyhe sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’

7 “But those tenant farmers said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours! ’

8 So they seized him, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.

9 “Therefore, what will the ownerof the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the farmers and give the vineyard to others.

10 Haven’t you read this Scripture:

Thestone that the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone.

11 This came from the Lord

and is wonderful in our eyes? ”

12 Because they knew He had said this parable against them, they were looking for a way to arrest Him, but they were afraid of the crowd. So they left Him and went away.

God and Caesar

13 Thenthey sent some of the Phariseesand the Herodiansto Him to trap Him by what He said.

14 When they came, they said to Him, “Teacher, we know You are truthful and defer to no one, for You don’t show partialitybut teach truthfully the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxesto Caesar or not?

15 Should we pay, or should we not pay? ”

But knowing their hypocrisy,He said to them,“Why are you testingMe? Bring Me a denariusto look at.”

16 So they brought one.“Whose imageand inscriptionis this? ”He asked them.

“Caesar’s,” they said.

17 Then Jesus told them,“Give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”And they were amazedat Him.

The Sadducees and the Resurrection

18 SomeSadducees,who say there is no resurrection,came to Him and questioned Him:

19 “Teacher,Moseswrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaves his wife behind, and leaves no child,his brother should take the wifeand produce offspring for his brother.

20 There were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and dying, left no offspring.

21 The second also took her, and he died, leaving no offspring. And the third likewise.

22 So the sevenleft no offspring. Last of all, the woman died too.

23 In the resurrection, when they rise,whose wife will she be, since the seven had married her? ”

24 Jesus told them,“Are you not deceived because you don’t know the Scripturesor the powerof God?

25 For when they risefrom the dead,they neither marry nor are given in marriagebut are like angelsin heaven.

26 Now concerning the dead being raised — haven’t you read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the burning bush, how God spoke to him: Iam the God of Abrahamand the God of Isaacand the God of Jacob?

27 He is not God of the dead but of the living. You are badly deceived.”

The Primary Commands

28 Oneof the scribesapproached. When he heard them debating and saw that Jesus answered them well, he asked Him, “Which command is the most important of all? ”

29 “This is the most important,”Jesus answered:

Listen, Israel! The Lordour God, the Lordis One.

30 Lovethe Lord your Godwith all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind,and with all your strength.

31 “The second is: Love your neighboras yourself.There is no other commandgreater than these.”

32 Then the scribe said to Him, “You are right, Teacher! You have correctly said that He is One, and there is no oneelse except Him.

33 And to loveHim with all your heart, with all your understanding,and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, is far more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

34 When Jesus saw that he answered intelligently, He said to him,“You are not far from the kingdom of God.”And no one daredto question Him any longer.

The Question about the Messiah

35 SoJesus asked this question as He taught in the temple complex,“How can the scribessay that the Messiahis the Son of David?

36 Davidhimself says by the Holy Spirit:

The Lorddeclared to my Lord,

‘Sit at My right hand

until I put Your enemies under Your feet.’

37 David himself calls Him ‘Lord’; how then can the Messiah be his Son? ”And the large crowd was listening to Him with delight.

Warning against the Scribes

38 Healso said in His teaching,“Beware of the scribes, who want to go around in long robes,and who want greetings in the marketplaces,

39 the front seatsin the synagogues,and the places of honorat banquets.

40 They devourwidows’houses and say long prayersjust for show. These will receive harsher punishment.”

The Widow’s Gift

41 Sittingacross from the temple treasury,He watched how the crowd dropped money into the treasury. Many richpeople were putting in large sums.

42 And a poorwidow came and dropped in two tiny coins worth very little.

43 Summoning His disciples,He said to them,“I assure you:This poor widow has put in more than all those giving to the temple treasury.

44 For they all gave out of their surplus,but she out of her povertyhas put in everything she possessed— all she had to live on.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/MRK/12-6c5ff1725c0c822e5bced4368b6e9612.mp3?version_id=72—

Destruction of the Temple Predicted

1 AsHe was going out of the temple complex,one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher,look! What massive stones! What impressive buildings! ”

2 Jesus said to him,“Do you see these great buildings?Not one stone will be left here on another that will not be thrown down! ”

Signs of the End of the Age

3 While He was sitting on the Mount of Olivesacross from the temple complex,Peter,James,John,and Andrewasked Him privately,

4 “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign when all these things are about to take place? ”

5 Then Jesus began by telling them:“Watch out that no one deceives you.

6 Many will come in My name,saying, ‘I am He,’and they will deceivemany.

7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars,don’t be alarmed;these things must take place,but the end is not yet.

8 For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines.These are the beginningof birth pains.

Persecutions Predicted

9 “But you, be on your guard! They will hand you over to sanhedrins,and you will be floggedin the synagogues.You will stand before governors and kingsbecause of Me,as a witnessto them.

10 And the good newsmust first be proclaimed to all nations.

11 So when they arrest you and hand you over, don’t worry beforehand what you will say. On the contrary, whatever is given to you in that hour — say it. For it isn’t you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

12 Then brother will betraybrother to death,and a father his child. Children will rise up against parents and put them to death.

13 And you will be hated by everyone because of My name.But the one who endures to the end will be delivered.

The Great Tribulation

14 “When you see the abomination that causes desolationstanding where it should not”(let the reader understand),“then those in Judeamust flee to the mountains!

15 A man on the housetop must not come down or go in to get anything out of his house.

16 And a man in the field must not go back to get his clothes.

17 Woeto pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days!

18 Prayitwon’t happen in winter.

19 For those will be days of tribulation,the kind that hasn’t been from the beginningof the world,which God created, until now and never will be again!

20 Unless the Lordlimited those days,no one would survive.But He limited those days because of the elect,whom He chose.

21 “Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!Look — there! ’ do not believe it!

22 For false messiahsand false prophets will rise up and will perform signs and wondersto lead astray, if possible, the elect.

23 And you must watch! I have told you everything in advance.

The Coming of the Son of Man

24 “But in those days, after that tribulation:

The sun will be darkened,

and the moon will not shed its light;

25 the starswill be falling from the sky,

and the celestial powers will be shaken.

26 Then they will see the Son of Mancomingin cloudswith great powerand glory.

27 He will send out the angelsand gather His electfrom the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.

The Parable of the Fig Tree

28 “Learnthis parablefrom the figtree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near.

29 In the same way, when you see these things happening, knowthat Heis near — at the door!

30 I assure you:This generation will certainly not pass away until all these things take place.

31 Heaven and earthwill pass away,but My words will never pass away.

No One Knows the Day or Hour

32 “Now concerning that dayor hour no one knows — neither the angelsin heaven nor the Son— except the Father.

33 Watch! Be alert!For you don’t know when the timeis coming.

34 It is likea man on a journey, who left his house, gave authority to his slaves,gave each one his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to be alert.

35 Therefore be alert,since you don’t know when the masterof the house is coming — whether in the evening or at midnight or at the crowing of the rooster or early in the morning.

36 Otherwise, he might come suddenly and find you sleeping.

37 And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Be alert! ”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/MRK/13-bff2ee781728737933e6235995da04a4.mp3?version_id=72—