The New Word According to Luke
1 [1-4] Because many have taken it upon themselves to write an account of the things which are believed by us without a doubt, just as they were given to us by those, who from the beginning, were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the New Word; It seemed good to me also, having had a clear understanding of this from the very beginning, to write to you an account, in the order that it happened, Theophilus, so that you might know, without a doubt, the things that you’ve been taught.
Zachariah’s Vision
[5-10] In the days of Herod, the ruler of Judea, there was a priest named Zachariah of the line of Abijah, whose wife, Elisabeth, was of the line of Aaron. They were both good in the sight of God, following all the teachings of God without fault. But they didn’t have a child, because Elisabeth hadn’t been able to get pregnant, and they were both very old now. And then, while it was Zachariah’s turn to keep the duty of the priest's office to God, as was the priests’ way of life, he was to burn incense when he went into the place of worship of God. And a large crowd of people were praying outside at this time.
[11-17] An angel of God appeared to him standing on the right side of the altar of incense, and when Zachariah saw the angel, he was uneasy, and afraid. So the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zachariah, because your prayer has been heard; and your wife Elisabeth will carry a child for you, and you’ll call the child’s name John. And you’ll have great joy and happiness; and many will celebrate at his birth. And the child will be great in the sight of God, and won’t drink wine, nor alcohol of any kind; and will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before he is born. John will turn many of the children of Israel back to Yahweh their God, and he will go ahead of the Christ in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to the children, and the disobedient ones to the wisdom of being good; to get the people ready for the Christ.”
[18-25] And Zachariah said to the angel, “How will I know? I am very old, and my wife is very old, too.” And the angel answered, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God; and have been sent to speak to you, and to tell you this New Word. Because you didn’t believe my words, which will happen when the time is right, you’ll be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that this happens.” The people outside waited for Zachariah, and wondered why he stayed so long in the place of worship. And when he came out, he couldn’t speak to them, but they realized that he had seen a vision in the place of worship because he waved to them, but still couldn’t speak to them. And then, when he had finished his duties, he went home. And after that, his wife Elisabeth became pregnant and kept herself hidden five months, saying, "God has looked on me and done this to me in order to take away my disrespect among the people."
Gabriel Appears to Mary
[26-29] Now when Elisabeth was in her sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, to a young girl, named Mary, who had never had sexual relations before, and who was engaged to someone named Joseph, of the house of David. So the angel came to her, saying, “Hello, you who are greatly favored; God is with you; You’re the most blessed among all women.” And when she saw the angel, she was uneasy at this greeting, wondering what kind of greeting it was.
[30-37] The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, because you’ve been especially chosen by God. And you’ll become pregnant, and have a Child, and will call the Child’s name Yeshua, who will be great, and will be called the Child of the Most High God. Yahweh God will give the throne of the lineage of David to the Child, who is the rightful Heir: And the Child will reign over the lineage of Jacob forever; and there will be no end to the reign of the Christ. Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I haven’t had sexual relations with anyone yet?” So the angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will visit you, and the power of God will make it possible for you: so that the Holy One which you’ll give birth to will be called the Child of God. And your cousin Elisabeth, who couldn’t have a child, has also conceived a child, even in her old age: and this is her sixth month. Nothing is impossible for God. So Mary said, “I am God’s helper; so let it happen to me just as you’ve said.” Then the angel left her.
Mary Visits Elizabeth
[39-45] So Mary got up, and quickly went into the countryside, into a city of Judah, going to the house of Zachariah, and greeted Elisabeth. When Elisabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby jumped in her womb. Suddenly Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she spoke loudly, saying, “You’re the most blessed among women, and blessed is the Child inside you. And how is it that the mother of my Christ would come to me? As soon as I heard the sound of your voice, the baby jumped for joy inside me. And you’re blessed because you believed, because everything you were told by God will certainly happen.”
[46-56] And Mary said, “My soul greatly blesses Yahweh, my God, and My Spirit celebrates in God my Savior, because God has considered my low place, and from now on, every generation will say that I am blessed, because the Most Powerful has done great things to me! Holy is the Name of Yahweh! God’s mercy is on those who honor and respect God, from one people to the next. The God, who has shown mighty strength, has confused the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. The God, who has put the powerful down from their places, has lifted up those in low places. The God, who has filled the hungry with good things, has sent the rich away empty handed. The One who has helped Israel, in remembrance of the mercy of God, as God told our ancestors, Abraham, and the descendants of Abraham forever.” And Mary stayed with Elisabeth about three months, and then went back home.
John the Baptist is Born
[57-66] Now the time for Elisabeth to give birth came; and she had a son. All her neighbors and her cousins had heard how God had shown great mercy to her; and they celebrated with her. And then, on the eighth day, when they came to cut the flesh of the foreskin of the child; and they called him Zachariah, after his father, Elisabeth said, “No; he will be called John.” And they said to her, “None of your kin is called by that name.” So they made signs to Zachariah, to see what he wanted him called. And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, “His name is John.” And everyone was amazed. Then Zachariah was suddenly able to speak, and praised God. And everyone that lived around them was amazed: and told all these stories throughout all the countryside of Judea. And all those who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying, “What a child this will be!” And God’s hand was with him.
[67-80] And the child’s father, Zachariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and praised God, saying, “Blessed is Yahweh, the God of Israel, who has visited and saved the people, and has brought us the way to be saved from the lineage of David, God’s helper; As God spoke by the mouth of the great holy preachers, which have been coming since the beginning of the world: that we would be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us, to give us the mercy promised to our ancestors, and to remember the promise of the holy agreement of God; The promise which God swore to our ancestor Abraham, that we would be taken out of the hand of our enemies so that we can serve God without fear, in faithfulness and goodness before God, all the days of our life. And you, child, will be called the great preacher of the Highest because you’ll go before the face of the Christ to get the way ready; To teach God’s people how to be saved by the forgiveness of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God; by which the Dawn of Heaven has visited us, to give light to those who live in darkness and are about to die, and to show us the way of peace.” And the child grew, becoming strong in spirit, living in the countryside till the day he was made known to Israel.
Christ is Born
2 [1-5] And then in those days, Caesar Augustus ordered everyone to be taxed. (And this tax was first collected when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to be taxed, each family to their home town. And Joseph went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the lineage of David :) To be taxed with Mary, who he was engaged to, being great with child.
[6-14] And so it was that while they were there, it was time for her to give birth. And she had her firstborn child in a stable, and wrapped it in strips of cloth, and laid it in the animal’s food trough; because there was no room for them in the inn. And in this country, there were animal keepers staying in the fields, keeping watch over their herds by night. And the angel of God came to them, and the light of God shone all around them: and they were very afraid. And the angel said, “Don’t be afraid because I bring you good news of great joy, which will be for all people. There has been born today in the city of David, a Savior for you, who is the Christ of God. And this will be a sign to you; You’ll find the baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in the animal’s food trough, in a stable.” And suddenly, a crowd of the heavenly hosts was with the angel, praising God, and saying, “Praise to God, the Most High, who sends peace on earth, and goodness for all people.”
[15-20] And then, as the angels went away from them back into heaven, the animal keepers said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem, now, and see for ourselves this thing that has happened, which God has sent the angel to tell us.” And quickly they came, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the baby lying in the animal’s food trough. And when they had seen it, they told everyone what they had been told about this child. And all those who heard the story were amazed at the things which they were told by the animal keepers. But Mary remembered all this, and thought about it, keeping it in her heart. And the animal keepers came back, worshipping and praising God for everything that they had seen and heard, just as it was told them.
Simeon and Anna Praise the Christ Child
[21-24] And when eight days had ended, the time came to cut the flesh of the foreskin of the Child, who was named Yeshua, which was the name given ahead of time by the angel before Mary had become pregnant. And when the days of her rest had ended for the law of Moses, they went to Jerusalem to present the Child to God; (As the Word of God says, “Every firstborn male will be called holy to God;”) And to offer a sacrifice for what is said in God’s Word, a pair of doves, or a pair of young pigeons.
[25-35] And there was someone in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; who was good and dedicated, waiting for the comfort of Israel: and who had been blessed with the Holy Spirit. It was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit, that he wouldn’t see death, until he had seen the Christ of God. So being led by the Spirit into the place of worship, when the parents brought the Child Yeshua in, to do as God’s Word said, which was their way of life, he picked the Child up, and blessed God, saying, “God, now let Your worker go in peace, for Your Word, because my eyes have seen Your saving grace, which you’ve prepared even before Your people were created; A light to give light to the other peoples, and the light of Your people Israel.” And Joseph and Mary were amazed at all the things he said. And Simeon blessed them, saying to Mary, the Child’s mother, “This Child is set apart for the rising and fall of many people in Israel; and for a sign which will be badly talked about; (Yes, your own soul will be pierced through, too,) so that the secret thoughts of many hearts will be seen by all.”
[36-40] And there was another person named Anna, a great preacher, the daughter of Phanuel, of the family of Aser: who was of a great age, and had only lived with a husband for seven years from the time she was married; She was his survivor, about eighty-four years old, who never left from the place of worship, but served God by willingly going without food and praying night and day. And she coming in at that instant gave thanks in this way to God, and spoke of God to all those who wanted to be saved in Jerusalem. And when they had performed everything as God’s Word says, they came back to Galilee, to their own home town of Nazareth. And the Child became strong in body, mind, and spirit: and God’s grace was on Yeshua.
Yeshua, the Child
[41-45] Now Mary and Joseph went to Jerusalem every year at the celebration of the Passover. And when Yeshua was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem, as was their way of life, during the celebration. And when the days were over, as they came back, the Child Yeshua stayed behind in Jerusalem; but Joseph and Mary didn’t know it. But they, thinking Yeshua was in the group of people traveling along, walked a day's journey; then looked for Yeshua among their kin people and those known by them. And when they couldn’t find Yeshua, they came back to Jerusalem, looking there.
[46-52] And then, after three days of searching they found Yeshua in the place of worship, sitting in the middle of the teachers, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard the Child were amazed at the Christ’s understanding and answers. And when they saw Yeshua, they were amazed: and Yeshua’s mother said, “Child, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have looked everywhere for you and have been so worried about you.” So Yeshua answered, “Why were you looking for Me? Didn’t you know that I would be doing the work of My God, who I am from? But they didn’t understand what Yeshua had said. So Yeshua came down with them, and went to Nazareth, and obeyed them: but Mary remembered all this, keeping it in her heart. And Yeshua grew up in mind and body, and in favor with God and people.
John Baptises the Christ
3 [1-9] Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being governor of Galilee, and another governor, Philip, of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias, the governor of Abilene, Annas and Caiaphas being the leading priests, the Word of God came to John, the child of Zachariah, in the countryside. So John came into all the country around Jordan, preaching the baptism of a changed life to save them from their sins, just as the Word says in the book of Isaiah, the great preacher, saying, “The voice of one calling out in the countryside will get the way of Yahweh God ready, and make the way plain. Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will become level; and the crooked will become straight, and the rough ways will become smooth; And everybody will see the One God sent to save us.” Then John said to the crowd that came out to be baptized, “You snakes! Who warned you to escape from the coming judgment? Don’t just say your sorry, but change your evil ways, and don’t think to yourselves, Abraham is our ancestor because I tell you, that God is able to create more children for Abraham even from these stones. And now the axe is laid to the root of the trees: so every tree which doesn’t make good fruit will be cut down, and put into the fire.”
[10-17] And the people asked John, saying, “What should we do then?” Then John answered them, “Whoever has two coats, let them give to those who have no coat; and whoever has food, let them do the same.” Then the tax collectors came also to be baptized, saying, “John, what should we do?” And John answered, "Take no more than what you’re told to." And the guards asked John the same, saying, “And what should we do?” So John answered, “Don’t hurt anyone, nor accuse anyone falsely; and be satisfied with your pay.” And as the people were in expectation, and everyone wondered about John in their hearts, whether he was the Christ, or not; John said to them all, “I baptize you with water as a symbol of your changed life: but the One that comes after me is greater than I, whose shoes I am not even worthy to loosen: The Christ will baptize you with the fire of the Holy Spirit: Who holds the fan, and will carefully purge the floor, gathering the wheat into the grain storage; but burning up the waste with never ending fire.”
[18-22] And John preached to the people with many other encouragements. But Herod, the governor, was disapproved of by John for Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evil things which Herod had done. So because of this, on top of everything else, he put John in prison. Now when all the people were baptized, and Yeshua, having been baptized, too, was praying, when the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit came down in the bodily shape of a dove, landing on Yeshua. Then a voice came from heaven, which said, “You’re My Child, who I love; I am so pleased with You.”
Christ’s Physical Lineage
[23-38] And Yeshua was about thirty years old, being (as was thought) the Child of Joseph, which was the child of Heli, which was the child of Matthat, which was the child of Levi, which was the child of Melchi, which was the child of Janna, which was the child of Joseph, which was the child of Mattathiah, which was the child of Amos, which was the child of Nahum, which was the child of Esli, which was the child of Naggai, which was the child of Maath, which was the child of Mattathiah, which was the child of Semei, which was the child of Joseph, which was the child of Judah, which was the child of Joannas, which was the child of Rhesa, which was the child of Zerubbabel, which was the child of Shealtiel, which was the child of Neri, which was the child of Melchi, which was the child of Addi, which was the child of Cosam, which was the child of Elmodam, which was the child of Er, which was the child of Jose, which was the child of Eliezer, which was the child of Jorim, which was the child of Matthat, which was the child of Levi, which was the child of Simeon, which was the child of Judah, which was the child of Joseph, which was the child of Jonan, which was the child of Eliakim, which was the child of Melea, which was the child of Menan, which was the child of Mattathah, which was the child of Nathan, which was the child of David, which was the child of Jesse, which was the child of Obed, which was the child of Boaz, which was the child of Salmon, which was the child of Nahshon, which was the child of Aminadab, which was the child of Aram, which was the child of Hezron, which was the child of Perez, which was the child of Judah, which was the child of Jacob, which was the child of Isaac, which was the child of Abraham, which was the child of Terah, which was the child of Nahor, which was the child of Saruch, which was the child of Ragau, which was the child of Peleg, which was the child of Heber, which was the child of Shelah, which was the child of Cainan, which was the child of Arphaxad, which was the child of Shem, which was the child of Noah, which was the child of Lamech, which was the child of Methuselah, which was the child of Enoch, which was the child of Jared, which was the child of Mahalalel, which was the child of Cainan, which was the child of Enosh, which was the child of Seth, which was the child of Adam, which was the child of God.
The Temptation of Christ
4 [1-13] And Yeshua being full of the Holy Spirit came back from the Jordan River, and was led by the Spirit into the countryside, to be tempted by the devil forty days. And Yeshua, who ate nothing during that time, was hungry later. And the devil said, “If You’re the Child of God, tell this stone to become bread.” And Yeshua answered, saying, “It’s written, that a person shouldn’t live by bread alone, but by all the Words of God.” And the devil, taking Yeshua up to a high mountain, showed the Christ all the countries of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said, “I will give you control of all this, and all the victory over what has been given to me; I can give it to whoever I want to. So if you’ll worship me, all of it will be Yours.” But Yeshua answered, “Leave Me alone, Satan, because the Word says, You must worship Yahweh, your God, and Yahweh only, may you serve.” So then Satan brought Yeshua to Jerusalem, to a high point on the place of worship, saying, “If You’re the Child of God, jump down from here: because the Word says, God will give the angels charge over you, to keep you safe: And in their hands they’ll pick you up, in case you ever trip over a stone.” And Yeshua answered, “It’s written, You shouldn’t tempt, Yahweh, your God.” And when all the temptations were over, Satan left the Christ for a while.
The Christ’s Ministry Begins
[14-20] And Yeshua came back by the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and word went out about the Christ through the whole area. And Yeshua taught in their worship services, being praised by all. Then Yeshua came to Nazareth, where the Christ had been brought up. As their way of life was, Yeshua went into the place of worship on a Seventh Day, and stood up to read. The book of the great preacher Isaiah was given to Yeshua. So the Christ opened the book, finding the place where it was written, “The Spirit of God is on Me, who has anointed Me to preach the New Word to those who are poor; and has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach freedom to those who are enslaved, to give back sight to those who are blind, to set free those who are abused, to preach that now is the right time for God.” Then the Christ closed the book, and gave it back to the minister, and sat down. And all those who were in the place of worship stared at Yeshua.
[21-32] And so the Christ said, “Today, what this Word says has happened in your hearing.” And all who witnessed this were amazed at the gracious words which came out of Yeshua’s mouth. But they asked, “Isn’t this Joseph's child?” So Yeshua answered, “You’ll certainly tell Me this saying, ‘Doctor, heal yourself: whatever we’ve heard that was done in Capernaum, do also here in your country.’” And then Yeshua said, “The truth is, no great preacher is accepted in their own country. The truth is, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when it didn’t rain for three and a half years, when a great hunger went throughout the whole land; But Elijah was sent to none of them, except to Sarepta, a city of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elijah, the great preacher; and none of them were healed, except Naaman the Syrian.” And everyone in the place of worship, when they heard this, were angry, and got up, leading the Christ out of the city and to the edge of the hill that their city was built on, to throw Yeshua down headfirst. But passing through the middle of them, Yeshua got away, and came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the Days of Worship. And they were amazed at Yeshua’s teachings, because the Christ spoke with power.
Christ Puts An Evil Spirit Out
[33-37] In the place of worship there was someone, who had an evil spirit, and hollered out with a loud voice, saying, “Leave us alone; what have we to do with You, Yeshua of Nazareth? Have You come to get rid of us? I know who You are; You’re the Holy One of God.” But Yeshua scolded them, saying, “Be quiet, and get out of this person.” So when the evil spirit had thrown the person down in the middle of them, it came out, without hurting the person. Then everyone was amazed, and spoke among themselves, saying, “What a powerful word this is! Yeshua orders the evil spirits with power and control, and they obey.” And Yeshua became famous all over the countryside.
The Christ Heals
[38-44] Then Yeshua left from the place of worship, and went to Simon's house. And Simon's wife's mother had a high fever; and they begged the Christ to heal her. So Yeshua stood over her, and told the fever to leave; and it left her. Then suddenly she got up and served them all. Now when the sun was setting, all those who had anyone sick, with many different diseases, brought them to the Christ; who laid hands on them, and healed them all. And evil spirits came out of many, calling out, and saying, “You’re the Christ, the Child of God.” But Yeshua wouldn’t let them speak because they knew that Yeshua was the Christ. And in the morning, the Christ left, going into a deserted place. But the people looked for the Christ, and came, and stayed with Yeshua, so that the Christ couldn’t leave them. But Yeshua told them, “I must preach about the realm of God to other cities also, because this is why I was sent.” And the Christ preached in all the places of worship of Galilee.
Christ Calls Peter
5 [1-11] As the people crowded in to hear the Word of God, the Christ, who stood beside Lake Gennesaret, saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were washing their nets and had left them. So Yeshua went in one of the ships, which was Simon Peter's, and asked him to go out a little from the shore. And the Christ sat down, and taught the people from the ship. Now when the Christ had finished speaking, Yeshua said to Peter, “Go out into the deep water, and let down your nets for a catch.” But Peter answered, “Christ, we’ve worked all night, and haven’t caught a thing: but because you say so, I’ll put the net down one more time.” And when they had done it, they caught so many fish that their net almost broke. So they waved to their partners, who were in the other ship, to come and help them. When they came, they filled both ships up so much that they began to sink. And when Peter saw it, he dropped down at Yeshua' knees, saying, “Christ, go away from me; I am a sinful person!” He said this because they were all so amazed at how many fish they had caught: And so were James and John, the children of Zebedee, who were partners with Peter. So Yeshua said to Peter, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you’ll be catching other people.” And when they had docked their ships, they left everything, and followed along with Yeshua.
Christ Heals a Leper
[12-16] And then, when they were in a certain city, someone who had leprosy, seeing Yeshua, dropped to the ground, and begged, saying, “Christ, if only You want to, You can make me well! So the Christ reached out, and touched them, saying, “I want to: Get well.” Then suddenly the leprosy was gone, so the Christ said to the person, “Tell no one: but go, and show yourself to the priest, and offer what Moses told you to for your healing, for a witness to them.” But word of Yeshua went out all the more and great crowds came together to hear, and to be healed by the Christ of all their sicknesses. So the Christ withdrew often alone into the countryside to pray.
A Paralyzed Person Walks
[17-26] And then on a certain day, as the Christ was teaching, there were religious leaders and teachers of the Word of God sitting near, which had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. The power of God was with Yeshua to heal those in need. Then some people brought someone in a bed, who was paralyzed. They looked for a way to bring them in, to put at Yeshua’s feet, but when they couldn’t find a way to bring the person in because of the crowd, they went up on the rooftop, and let the person down on the bed to Yeshua through the roof, right in the middle of the crowd. And when the Christ saw their faith, Yeshua said, “Your sins are forgiven you.” And the religious leaders and those of the religious sects began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks disrespectfully of God? Only God can forgive sins!” But when Yeshua realized what they were thinking, the Christ said, “Why do you question Me in your hearts? What is easier to say, Your sins are forgiven you; or to say, Get up and walk? But so you can know that I have the power on earth to forgive sins, (the Christ said to the paralyzed) I tell you, Get up, and pick up your bed, and go home.” And suddenly, the person got up in front of them, and picked up the bed, and went home, praising God all the way. And everyone was amazed, and praised God, and were filled with fear, saying, “What strange things we’ve seen today!’
Christ Calls Matthew
[27-32] And then the Christ went out, and saw a tax collector, named Matthew, sitting where the taxes were collected, so Yesha said to him, “Follow Me.” And Mathew left everything, got up, and followed along. And there was a dinner held at Mathew’s home: and a great many tax collectors and others were there. But the religious leaders and those in the religious sects spoke against the followers, asking, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” And Yeshua answered, "Those who are well don’t need a doctor; but only those who are sick. I didn’t come to those who are good, but to sinners to tell them to change their ways.”
[33-35] So they said, “Why do the followers of John often go without food, and pray, and those of the religious leaders, too; but Your followers eat and drink?” And the Christ answered, "Can you make the friends of one of the bridal party go without food, while the bridal party is with them? But the time will come, when the bridal party will be gone, and then they’ll go without food at that time.”
[36-39] And then the Christ told them a story, saying, “No one puts a piece of a new cloth on old clothes; because, then the new cloth would shrink and make a bigger tear, and the new piece wouldn’t match the old cloth. And no one puts new wine into old bottles; or else the new wine would burst and break the bottles, and be spilled out. But new wine must be put into new bottles so both are safely kept. And no one, having drunk old wine, suddenly wants new, because they say, 'The old wine is better'.”
The Seventh Day
6 [1-5] And then on the next Day of Worship, they went through the grain fields; and the followers took the grain, and rubbing it in their hands, ate it. And some of the religious leaders asked, “Why do you do what isn’t right to do on the Days of Worship?” And Yeshua answered, “Haven’t you ever read what David did, when he was hungry, and those who were with him; How he went into the house of God, taking and eating the bread, and gave to those who were with him, too; which isn’t right for anyone to eat but the priests?” Then Yeshua said, “I am also the ruler of the Seventh Day.”
[6-12] And then on another Seventh Day, Yeshua went to the place of worship to teach: and there was someone there whose hand was paralyzed. And the religious leaders and the ministers from the religious sects watched, to see whether Yeshua would heal on a Day of Worship; in order to accuse the Christ of something. But the Christ knew what they were thinking, saying to the person who had the paralyzed hand, “Get up, and stand out in the middle.” So the person got up and stood in the middle of them. Then Yeshua said, “I ask you one thing; Is it right on Days of Worship to do good, or to do evil? to save a life, or to end it?” And looking around on them all, Yeshua said to the person, “Stretch out your hand.” And the person did so: and the hand became well just like the other one. So all the religious leaders were full of anger; and discussed with one another what to do to Yeshua. And then one day, the Christ went up on a mountain to pray, and stayed up all night in prayer to God.
[13-19] So when it was day, Yeshua called all the followers: and out of them the Christ chose twelve, who were called to lead the followers; Simon, (who the Christ called Peter,) Andrew his brother, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James, the Child of Alphaeus, Simon called Zelotes, Thaddaeus, the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the one who later handed the Christ over. And Yeshua came down with them, and stood in the field, with the crowd of followers, and another great crowd of people out of all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear the Christ, and to be healed of their diseases; And those who were suffering with evil spirits were healed, too. So the whole crowd looked for a way to touch the Christ because the power to heal came out of Yeshua, and healed them all.
Sermon on the Mountainside
[20-26] And the Christ looked on all the followers, saying, “Blessed are those who are poor because you’ll have the realm of God. Blessed are you that hunger now because you’ll be filled. Blessed are you that cry now because you’ll laugh. Blessed are you, when others hate you, and when they keep you from their company, and accuse you, and call you evil, because of My Name. Celebrate in that day, and leap for joy because your reward in heaven is great! Their ancestors treated the great preachers in this way, too. But those who are rich will be sorry! They’ve gotten their comfort already. You who are full will be sorry because you’ll hunger. You who laugh now will be sorry because you’ll cry sorrowfully. When everyone speaks well of you, you’ll be sorry! So did their ancestors to all the false teachers.
[27-38] But I tell everyone of you who are listening, love those who come against you out of their own choosing, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who shamefully misuse you. And to those who slap you on one cheek, offer them the other one, too; and those who take away your shirt, don’t forbid them to take your coat, too. Give to everyone that asks to borrow something from you; and of those who take your belongings away, don’t ask them for it again. And as you want others to do to you, do the same to them, too. If you love those who love you, what have you done that deserves thanks? Even sinners love those that love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what have you done that deserves thanks? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to them of whom you hope to get something back, what have you done that deserves thanks? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get it back again. But love those who come against you, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing back again; and your reward will be great, and you’ll be the children of the Highest because God is kind even to ungrateful and evil people. So have compassion, as your God also has compassion. Don’t judge people wrongly, and you won’t be judged wrongly either: don’t criticize others, and you won’t be criticized either. Forgive, and you’ll be forgiven: Give, and it’ll be given to you; like a good measure of flour, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, will others put what you need into your lap, because with the same measurement that you measure with, it’ll be measured back to you again.”
[39-49] And the Christ spoke a story to them, “Can someone who is blind lead another who is blind? Won’t they both fall into the ditch? The follower isn’t any better than the teacher: but everyone who wants to be complete will be as the teacher. And why do you believe that the splinter that is in another's eye is worse than the stake that is in your own eye? So how can you say to another, ‘Let me pull out the splinter that is in your eye’, when you yourself can’t see the stake that is in your own eye? You fake, first pull the stake out of your own eye, and then you can see clearly to pull out the splinter that is in another's eye. A good tree doesn’t make bad fruit; nor does a bad tree make good fruit: A tree is known by its fruit. And you don’t gather figs from thorns, nor do you gather grapes from briars. A good person out of the good things of their heart does what is good; and an evil person out of the bad things of their heart does what is evil, because they speak and act out of what is kept in their heart. And why do you call me, Christ, Christ, and don’t do the things which I say? Whoever comes to Me, and hears My Words, and does them, I’ll show you to whom they’re like: They’re like someone who built a house, and dug deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood came up, the water beat strongly on that house, but couldn’t shake it because it was built on a rock. But whoever hears what I say, and doesn’t do it, is like someone that built a house on the earth, without a proper foundation; which the waters beat strongly against, and suddenly it fell; and that house fell in completely.”
Christ Heals the Worker of an Officer
7 [1-10] Now when the Christ had finished all the teachings to the people, they went to Capernaum. There, a certain officer's worker, who was very dear to the officer, was sick, and about to die. And when the officer heard that Yeshua had come, he sent the elders of the Jews, begging for Yeshua to come and heal the worker. And when they came to Yeshua, they started begging, saying, “The one who has asked this is worthy for this request to be done: because he loves our nation, and has built us a place of worship.” Then Yeshua went with them. And when the Christ wasn’t far from the house, the officer sent some friends, saying, “Christ, don’t trouble yourself, because I am not worthy for you to come in to my house: Nor did I believe myself to be worthy to come to you: but if You’ll just say the word, I know my worker will be healed. Because I also am someone who has been given power, having guards under me, and I say to one, ‘Go’, and they go; and to another, ‘Come’, and they come; and to my workers, ‘Do this’, and they do it.” When the Christ heard this, Yeshua was amazed, and turned around, saying to the people that followed along, “I tell you, I haven’t found this great a faith, no, not in all Israel.” And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the worker who had been sick well again.
Christ Raises the Dead
[11-18] And then the next day they went into a city called Nain; and many of the followers went with them, and many other people. Now when they came near the gate of the city, there was a dead person being carried out, the only child of a mother, and she had lost her husband also: and many people of the city were with her. And when the Christ saw her, Yeshua had compassion on her, saying to her, “Don’t cry.” And the Christ came and touched the casket: and those who carried it stood still. And the Christ said, “Young one, I tell you, Get up.” And the one who was dead sat up, and began to speak. And the Christ gave the mother back her child alive. And a fear came over all the people: but they praised God, saying, a great preacher has risen up among us; And God has visited us. And the fame of Yeshua spread throughout all Judea, and throughout the whole region. And the followers of John told him of all this.
John the Baptist Questions Yeshua
[19-23] And John called two followers and sent them to Yeshua, saying, “Are you the One who was to come? or do we look for someone else?” And when they had come to the Christ, they said, “John, the Baptist, has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the One who was to come? or do we look for someone else?’” And in that same time the Christ healed many with sicknesses and diseases, and with evil spirits; and many who were blind were able to see again. Then Yeshua answered, “Go now, and tell John what you’ve seen and heard; how that those who are blind see, those who are paralyzed walk, those with leprosy are healed, those who are deaf can hear again, those who are dead come to life again, and the New Word is preached to those who are poor. Those who aren’t offended by Me are blessed.”
[24-30] And when the followers of John had gone, the Christ began to speak to the people about John, “What did you go out into the countryside to see? A reed shaking in the wind? But what did you go out to see? A person clothed in soft furs? Those who are richly clothed, and have many delicacies, are in rulers' courts. But what did you go out to see? A great preacher? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a great preacher. This is the one who the Word speaks about, I send my messenger before you, who will get your way ready for you. I tell you, among all those who have ever been born, there isn’t a preacher greater than John the Baptist: but whoever is least in the realm of God is greater than even this.” And when all the people heard this, even the tax collectors praised God, because they had been baptized by John. But the religious leaders and the ministers from the religious sects rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by John.
[31-35] And the Christ said, “How can I describe this generation of people? and what are they like? They’re like children sitting in the shopping center, calling one another, saying, We’ve played music for you, and You haven’t danced; we’ve cried to you, and you haven’t cried with us. John the Baptist came, neither eating bread, nor drinking wine; and you say, 'He has an evil spirit.' I come eating and drinking; and you say, ‘Look, this person is a pig, and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But children are made right by their own thinking.”
Mary Anoints the Christ
[36-50] And one of the religious leaders wanted Yeshua to eat with them. So they went into the house, and sat down to eat. And a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she knew that Yeshua was eating a meal in that house, brought an alabaster box of perfume, and stood crying at the Christ’s feet, and began to wash Yeshua’s feet with her tears, and wiped them with her hair, and kissed the Christ’s feet, and anointed them with the perfume. Now when the religious leader who had asked the Christ to join them saw it, he thought to himself, “If you’re really a great preacher, You would’ve known who and what kind of woman this is, who is a sinner.” And Yeshua said, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he said, “Christ, tell me.” So the Christ said, “There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed more than a year’s pay, and the other about two month’s worth. And when neither of them had anything to pay it back with, the creditor forgave them both. Tell Me then, which of them will love the creditor most?” Simon answered, “I think the one who was forgiven the most.” And Yeshua said, “You’re right,” and turning toward the woman, said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came here, and you didn’t give me any water to wash My feet, but she’s washed My feet with her tears, and wiped them with the very hairs of her head. You didn’t greet Me with a kiss, but this woman hasn’t stopped kissing My feet since the time I came in. You didn’t anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with perfumed oil. Why I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven because she loved much, but those who are forgiven little, love little.” And the Christ said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” And those who were eating the meal with them began to think to themselves, “Who is this that forgives sins, too?” And the Christ said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Women Follow Christ
8 [1-3] Then later, Yeshua went throughout every city and town, preaching and telling the New Word of the realm of God: and the twelve were with the Christ, and certain women, who had been healed of evil spirits and other sicknesses, Mary called Magdalene, who was freed of seven evil spirits, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's manager, and Susanna, and many other women, who gave for the needs of the Christ out of their own things.
Four Kinds of Hearts
[4-15] When many people were gathered together, and had come to them out of every city, Yeshua told a story: “A farmer went out to plant the seed: and as the farmer planted, some fell beside the rows; and it was overrun, and the birds of the air ate it. And some fell on rocky ground; and as soon as it came up, it wilted away, because it lacked water. And some fell among thorns, which sprang up with it, and choked it off. And others fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit, some a hundred times as much.” And Yeshua ended the story by saying, “If anyone will accept this, let them accept it.” And the followers asked, saying, “What does this story mean?” So the Christ said, “You’re allowed to know the secrets of the realm of God: but others are told in stories; that seeing, they won’t see, and hearing, they won’t understand. Now the story is this: The seed is the Word of God. Those that fell beside the rows are those who hear; then the devil comes, and takes the Word out of their hearts, or else they would believe and be saved. Those that fell on the rocky ground are those, who, when they hear, believe the Word with joy; but they have no root, which for a while believe, but in time of temptation fall away. And what fell among thorns are those, which, when they’ve heard, go out, and are choked with the cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and their fruit never ripens. But those that fell on the good ground are those, who, with an honest and good heart, having heard the Word, do it, and make fruit, waiting for it with patience.
[16-18] No one, when they have lit a candle, covers it up, or puts it under a bed; but they set it on a candle holder, so that those who come in can see the light. Nothing is secret that won’t become known, nor anything hid that won’t be seen and be brought out in the open. So be careful when you listen because whoever understands, will be given more; and whoever doesn’t, even what they seem to have, will be taken away from them.”
The Christ’s Family
[19-21] Then Yeshua’s mother and brothers came, but couldn’t get in for the crowd. So it was told Yeshua by someone who said, “Your mother and brothers are outside, hoping to see You.” And the Christ answered, “My family members are those who hear the Word of God, and do it.”
Christ Calms the Storm
[22-26] Now on a certain day, the Christ went into a ship with the followers: saying to them, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” So they started out. But as they sailed, Yeshua fell asleep: and a storm of wind came up on the lake; and the boat was full of water, and they were in danger. So they went and woke Yeshua up, saying, “Christ, Teacher, we’ll be destroyed.” Then the Christ got up, and said to the wind and the raging water, “Be still”: and it stopped, and everything calmed down. And the Christ asked, “Don’t you have any faith?” And they, being afraid, were amazed, saying to one another, “What kind of person is this, who tells even the winds and water what to do, and they do it!” Then they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is next to Galilee.
Christ Casts Out Evil Spirits into the Pigs
[27-36] And when they went ashore, someone met them from out of the city, who had evil spirits for a long time, and wore no clothes, nor lived in any house, but stayed in the tombs. When this person saw Yeshua, they hollered out, and bowed down on their knees, and with a loud voice said, “What I have to do with You, Yeshua, Child of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t make me suffer.” (Christ had told the evil spirit to come out of the person because it had often taken control of the person: who was kept with chains and in shackles; but who had broken them, and was driven by the evil spirit into the countryside.) And Yeshua asked, “What is your name?” And the evil spirits said, “Legion”: because many evil spirits were in the person. And they begged the Christ not to make them go out into the deep. But there was a herd of many pigs feeding on the mountain: so they begged the Christ to let them go into the pigs. So Yeshua let them. Then the evil spirits went out of the person, and into the pigs: and the whole herd ran madly down a cliff into the lake, and was drowned. When those who fed them saw what had happened, they ran away, and told this all over the city and countryside. Then all the people went out to see what happened; and came to Yeshua, and found the person, out of whom the evil spirits had gone, sitting at the feet of Yeshua, clothed, and in a right mind: and they were very afraid. So those who had seen it told them how the one who was overcome by the evil spirits was healed.
[37-40] Then the whole crowd of people from the countryside of Gadarenes begged the Christ to go away from them because they were very afraid: so the Christ and the followers went back to the ship, and came back again. Now the person out of whom the evil spirits had gone begged to go with them: but Yeshua sent the person away, saying, “Go back to your own home, and tell all the great things God has done for you. So the person left, and told throughout the whole city the great things that Yeshua had done.” And then, when Yeshua got back, the people were very happy because they had been waiting for the Christ.
A Woman with a Bleeding Problem Healed
[41-48] And then someone named Jairus came, who was a leader of the place of worship: and who bowed down at Yeshua' feet, and begged the Christ to come home with him: because he had only one daughter, who was about twelve years old, and she lay a dying. But as they went the people crowded them. And a woman having a bleeding problem for twelve years, who had spent everything she had on doctors, but couldn’t be healed by any of them, came up behind them, and touched the edge of Yeshua’s clothing: and suddenly she was healed. Then Yeshua said, "Who touched me?" When all denied, Peter and those who were with Yeshua said, “Christ, the crowd is swarming and pressing you, and you say, ‘Who touched Me?’” And Yeshua said, "Somebody touched Me because I know that power has gone out of Me." And when the woman saw that she was found out, she came trembling, and falling down in front of the Christ, she told the Christ and all the people why she had touched the Christ and how she was suddenly healed. And the Christ said to her, “Daughter, be in good spirits now: your faith has made you well; go in peace.”
A Young Girl Healed
[49-56] And while they were speaking, someone came from the leader of the place of worship's house, saying to them, “Your daughter is dead; don’t trouble the Teacher anymore.” But when Yeshua heard it, the Christ answered, saying, “Don’t be afraid: only believe, and she will become well.” And when they came into the house, Yeshua let no one go in, but Peter, James, John, and the parents of the girl. And everyone cried, and grieved for her: but the Christ said, “Don’t cry; she isn’t dead, but only sleeping.” And they laughed disrespectfully at the Christ, knowing that she was dead. And the Christ put them all out, and took her by the hand and called her, saying, “Young lady, get up.” Then her spirit entered her again, and she suddenly got up: and the Christ told them to give her something to eat. And her parents were amazed: but the Christ told them not to tell anyone what happened.
The Twelve Sent Out
9 [1-6] Then Yeshua called the twelve followers together, and gave them power over all the evil spirits, and the power to heal diseases, sending them to preach about the realm of God, and to heal the sick. And the Christ said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, neither walking sticks, nor bag, nor food, nor money; nor two sets of clothes. And whatever house you come into, stay there until you leave that place. And whoever won’t accept you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a witness against them.” So they left, and went through the towns, preaching the New Word, and healing every where.
Herod Wants to See the Christ
[7-9] Now Herod the governor heard of all that happened by them: and was confused, because it was said by some, that John had come back to life; And by some, that Elijah had appeared; and by others, that one of the great old preachers had come back to life again. And Herod said, “John, I have beheaded: but who is this that I am hearing these things about?” And Herod wanted to see the Christ.
The Feeding of the Five Thousand
[10-17] And when the followers came back, they told the Christ all that they had done. Now the Christ secretly went with them into a deserted place outside the city of Bethsaida. But the people, when they knew it, followed along: so the Christ welcomed them, and spoke to them of the realm of God, and healed those who had need of healing. And when the day was almost over, the twelve came, saying, “Send the crowd away, so that they can go into the towns and country around here, and stay, and get food because we’re out here in this deserted place.” But the Christ answered, "You give them something to eat." But they said, “We only have five loaves of bread and two fish; unless we go and buy food for all these people.” There were about five thousand people. And the Christ said to the followers, "Make them sit down in groups, by fifties." So they did, and made them all sit down. Then the Christ took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, blessed it, and broke it up, and gave to the followers to give to the crowd. So they ate, and were all filled: and twelve baskets of scraps that were left over were taken up.
Peter’s Confession
[18-21] And later, as Yeshua was praying alone with the followers, the Christ asked them, “Who do the people say that I am?” So they answered, “John the Baptist; but some say, Elijah; and others say, that one of the great old preachers is here back to life again.” Then the Christ asked, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” And Yeshua clearly warned them, telling them not to tell anyone; saying, “I must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and leading priests and religious leaders, and be killed, and be raised to life again on the third day.”
[23-27] And Yeshua said to them all, “If anyone wants to come after me, let them forget themselves, and pick up their cross of suffering daily, and follow Me. Because whoever wants to save their life will lose it: but whoever is willing to lose their life for My sake, will save it. What good does it do someone, if they gain the whole world, and lose their soul, or is lost? Whoever is ashamed of Me and of My Words, I will be ashamed of them, when I come in My own victory, and in My God's, with all of the holy angels. The truth is, some that are standing here won’t taste of death till they see the realm of God.”
Elijah and Moses Appear with the Christ
[28-36] And then about eight days after that, Yeshua took Peter, John, and James, and went up on a mountain to pray. As Yeshua prayed, the way the Christ’s face looked was changed, and the clothes the Christ wore were glowing white. And two other people talked with the Christ, who were Moses and Elijah: Who appeared in their changed bodies, and spoke of the Christ’s death which would happen at Jerusalem. But Peter, John, and James were very tired: and when they awoke, they saw Yeshua changed, along with the two others that stood with the Christ. And then, as they left, Peter said to Yeshua, “Christ, it’s good that we’re here: let’s make three memorial stones; one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”: not knowing what he said. While he was speaking, a cloud came, overshadowing them: and as they went into the cloud, they were very afraid. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My Child, who I love: Listen to Yeshua.” And when the voice was gone, Yeshua was alone with them. And they kept it secret, telling no one in those days any of the things which they had seen.
An Only Child Healed from Seizures
[37-45] And then on the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, many people met them. Then someone out of the crowd hollered out, saying, “Christ, I beg you, look at my child, who is my only child.” And then a spirit overtook the child, which hardly left the child without hurting him, who suddenly hollered out; and foamed at the mouth again. “I begged your followers to put the spirit out; but they couldn’t.” So Yeshua answered, “You faithless and evil people, how long will I be with you, and have to put up with you? Bring your child here.” And as they were still coming, the evil spirit threw the child down, who had a fit. And Yeshua ordered the evil spirit to come out, and healed the child, and handed him back over to the parent. And everyone was amazed at the wonderful power of the Christ. But while they were all still wondering about the things which Yeshua did, the Christ said to the followers, “Listen very carefully to these words because I’ll be handed over to the others very soon.” But they didn’t understand what the Christ said, and they didn’t realize what the Christ meant, but they were afraid to ask about it.
Who will be Greatest?
[46-50] Then later they got in an argument about which one of them would be the greatest. And Yeshua, knowing the very thoughts of their hearts, took a child, and set it in the middle of them, and said, “Whoever accepts this child in My Name accepts Me: and whoever accepts Me accepts the One who sent Me because whoever seems least important among you all now, will be great in heaven.” Then John asked, “Christ, we saw someone putting out evil spirits in Your Name; and we told them not to, because they don’t follow along with us.” But Yeshua answered, “Don’t tell them not to, because those who aren’t against us are for us.”
[51-56] And then, when the time came for the Christ to be taken up, Yeshua decidedly left for Jerusalem, sending messengers to go on ahead: who went into a town of the Samaritans, a people of mixed race, to get ready for the Christ. But they didn’t accept the Christ because they knew Yeshua had decided to go on to Jerusalem. And when the followers, James and John, saw this, they said, “Christ, do you want us to order fire to come down from heaven, and burn them up, just like Elijah did?” But the Christ turned, and scolded them, saying, “You don’t know what kind of spirit you have. I haven’t come to take peoples' lives, but to save them.” So they went on to another town.
[57-62] And then, as they went down the road, someone said, “Christ, I’ll follow you wherever you go.” And Yeshua said, “Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but I don’t have anywhere to lay My head.” And then the Christ said to another one, “Follow Me.” But that one said, “Christ, let me first go and bury my parents.” So Yeshua said, "Let those who are spiritually dead bury their dead: but you go and preach the realm of God." And then another person said this, “Christ, I’ll follow you; but let me go and tell those at home goodbye first.” And Yeshua said, “No one, having started their work, and looking back at their past life, is fit for the realm of God.”
The Seventy Followers Sent Out
10 [1-15] Later, Yeshua chose seventy other followers also, and sent them on ahead two by two into all the cities and towns, wherever the Christ was to go. Then the Christ said to them, “The truth is, the harvest is great, but the workers are few: so pray that the God of the harvest will send out workers into the harvest. Now go: I am sending you out as lambs to the wolves. Don’t carry a moneybag, or a backpack, or shoes: and don’t stop to say hello to anyone on the way. And whatever house you come into, first say, ‘Peace be to this house.’ And if a child of peace is there, your peace will rest on it: if not, it’ll come back to you again. And stay in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they give you because the workers are worthy of their hire. Don’t go from house to house. And whatever city you come into, if they accept you, eat whatever is set before you: and heal the sick that are in it, and say to them, ‘The realm of God has come near you.’ But whatever city you come into, if they don’t accept you, go out into the streets, and say, ‘Even the very dust of your city, which cleaves on us, we wipe off as a witness against you, but in spite of this you can be sure that the realm of God has come near you.’ But I tell you, that it’ll be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city. You’ll be sorry, Chorazin! You’ll be sorry, Bethsaida! If the amazing things, which have been done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have changed their ways long ago, sitting and crying in mourning clothes and ashes. But it’ll be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you. And you, Capernaum, which are praised to heaven, will be thrown down to hell. Whoever hears you, hears Me; and whoever hates you, hates Me; and whoever hates Me hates the very One who sent Me.”
Satan has Fallen
[17-24] And later, the seventy came back again with joy, saying, “Christ, even the evil spirits have to do what we say through Your Name.” And the Christ answered, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like lightening. So I’ve given you power to stomp on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing will hurt you in any way. Just the same, don’t celebrate because the spirits have to do what you say; but instead celebrate, because your names are written in heaven.” Then Yeshua celebrated in spirit, saying, “I thank You, Yahweh God, Ruler of heaven and earth, that you’ve hid this from the wise and careful, and have revealed it to babies. Just the same, God, because it was good in Your sight, everything is given to Me by You: and no one knows Me, but You, God; and no one knows You, God, but Me, whom You sent, and those to whom I reveal You to.” And the Christ turned to the followers, privately saying, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things that you see, because I tell you, that many great preachers and rulers have wanted to see what you see, and haven’t seen it; and to hear what you hear, and haven’t heard it.”
The Good Samaritan
[25-37] And a certain student of the law stood up, tempting Yeshua, saying, “Christ, what can I do to get everlasting life?” And the Christ answered, “What does the Word of God say? What do you think it says?” And the student of the law answered, “Love Yahweh, your God with all your spirit, with all your soul, with all your body, and with all your mind; and love your neighbor as you love yourself.” So the Christ said, "You’re right: so do this and you’ll live." But wanting to make himself appear to be good, he said to Yeshua, “And who is my neighbor?” So Yeshua told a story, saying, “Someone went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and thieves beat that person, tearing their clothes off and leaving them for dead. And by chance a certain priest came that way: and when the priest saw the person who had been attacked, that priest walked by on the other side of the road. Then another religious leader passed by coming to that place, and looking at the person, walked by on the other side of the road. But someone from the city of Samaria, who was taking a trip, came to where the person was: and that mixed-race Samaritan saw the person, and had compassion, who went to the person, dressing the wounds, pouring in oil and alcohol, and took the person on his own horse, bringing them to an inn, and taking care of that person. And the next day the Samaritan left, giving some money to the host, saying, ‘Take care of this person; and whatever it costs more than this, I’ll repay you when I come back.’ So which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the one who was attacked by the thieves?” And the student of the law said, “The one who cared for the person.” Then Yeshua said, “Go, and do the same.”
Mary and Martha
[38-41] Now it so happened, as they were going, that they went into a certain town, where a woman named Martha had taken them into her house. And she had a sister, Mary, who also sat at Yeshua' feet, listening to the Words of the Christ. But Martha was busy with all the serving, and came to Yeshua, saying, “Christ, don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve all alone?” Tell her to help me. And Yeshua answered, “Martha, Martha, you’re upset and worried about too many things, but there is only one thing that’s really needed: Mary has chosen what is good and that won’t be taken away from her.”
Christ’s Teaches How to Pray
11 [1-4] And then, as the Christ was praying in a certain place, when they stopped, one of the followers said, “Christ, teach us to pray, as John also taught the followers.” And Yeshua answered, “When you pray, say: Yahweh, Our God in heaven, Your Name is Holy. May Your everlasting realm come soon. May what You want be done on earth, as it’s done in heaven. Give us our daily needs today. And forgive our sins as we also forgive everyone that has sinned against us. And help us not to sin when we’re tempted; but free us from all evil.”
Ask and It Will Be Given to You
[5-13] Then Yeshua said, “Who among you that has a friend, if you went to them at midnight, and asked, ‘Friend, let me borrow three loaves of bread; because a friend of mine has come to me on a trip, and I don’t have anything to give them?’ And the friend inside the house answers and says, ‘Don’t bother me: the door is already locked, and my children are asleep in bed with me and I can’t get up to give it to you.’ I tell you, even if the friend won’t get up and give it to you, because you’re their friend, still if you keep on knocking they’ll get up and give you whatever you need. So I tell you, ask, and it’ll be given to you; look for it, and you’ll find it; knock, and it’ll be opened to you. Because everyone that asks gets what they ask for; and whoever looks for something will find it; and to those who knock it’ll be opened to them. If a child asked for a piece of bread from any of you that is a parent, would you give them a stone? Or if they ask for a fish, would you give them a snake? Or if they asked for an egg, would you offer them a scorpion? If you then, being evil by nature, know how to give good gifts to your children: wouldn’t your God in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask even more than this?”
Christ Speaks on Evil Spirits
[14-26] Next, the Christ was putting out an evil spirit, and it was dumb. And when the evil spirit had gone out, the dumb person was able to speak; and the people were amazed. But some of them said, "This person puts out evil spirits by the power of the devil, the leader of the evil spirits." And others, trying to tempt the Christ, looked for a sign from heaven. But the Christ, knowing what they were thinking, said, “When the people of a country are divided against themselves the country will be destroyed; and when a family is divided against itself, that family won’t survive. If Satan fights against the evil spirits, how could that realm survive? You say that I put out evil spirits by the devil. But if I put out evil spirits by the devil, by whom do your children put them out? So they’ll be your judges. But if I put out evil spirits with the Spirit of God, the realm of God has come to you without a doubt. When a strong person who is armed watches over their house, whatever they own is safe: But when someone stronger than that comes and overpowers them, that person will take all the swords that the owners trusted to keep them safe, and take whatever they own. Whoever isn’t with Me is against Me: and whoever doesn’t gather souls with Me scatters them out. When the evil spirit has gone out of someone, it walks through dry places, looking for rest; but finding none, it says, ‘I’ll return to the house where I came from.’ And when it comes, it finds it swept and decorated. Then it goes, and brings along seven more spirits which are more evil than itself, which come in, and stay. Then the last state of that person is worse than the first.”
The Eye is the Light of the Body
[27-36] And then, as the Christ spoke this, a certain woman out of the crowd lifted up her voice, saying, “Blessed is the womb that birthed you, and the breasts which you’ve sucked.” But the Christ said, “Yes, but more importantly, blessed are those who hear the Word of God, and do it.” And when the people were crowded together, the Christ began to say, “This is an evil people that look for a sign; but they won’t be given any sign, but the sign of Jonah, the great preacher. Just as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so I’ll be a sign to this people also. The queen of the south will stand up in the judgment with others of this people, and accuse them because she came from the farthest parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and someone greater than Solomon is here. The people of Nineveh will stand up in the judgment with this people, and will accuse them because they changed their ways at the preaching of Jonah; and someone greater than Jonah is here. No one, when they have lit a candle, puts it in a secret place, nor under a basket, but on a candle holder, so that those who come in can see the light. The eye is the light of the body, so when your eye is set on the light of goodness, your whole body is full of light also; but when your eye is set on the darkness of evil, your body is full of darkness also. So be sure that your spiritual light isn’t dimmed. If your whole body is full of light, having no dark purpose, the whole body will be full of light, as when a shining candle gives you light.”
Christ Speaks On Giving
[37-44] And as the Christ spoke, a certain religious leader begged Yeshua to dine with him: so the Christ went in, and sat down to eat. And when the religious leader saw it, he was surprised that Yeshua hadn’t washed before dinner. So Yeshua said, “Now you religious leaders wash the outside of the cup and plate; but your inside is full of evil and greediness. You’re so thoughtless, didn’t the One who made the outside also make the inside? You should give a part out of whatever you have; and you’ll be clean both inside and out. But you’ll be sorry, you religious leaders! You give a part of even the smallest amounts of herbs, but you overlook fair judgment and God’s love: you should do this, but not leave the other things undone. You’ll be sorry, you religious leaders! You love the best seats in the places of worship, and love to be greeted in the shopping centers. You’ll be sorry, you religious leaders and those of you in the religious sects, you fakes! You’re like hidden graves that people walk over and don’t know they’re there.”
[45-54] Then one of the religious leaders, said, “Christ, what you say accuses us also.” And the Christ said, “You’ll be sorry also, you religious leaders! because you give others rules that are hard to keep, and you yourselves don’t even try to keep them. You’ll be sorry! Because you build the memorial tombs of the great preachers, and your own ancestors killed them. The truth is, you’re witnesses of the fact that you accept the actions of your ancestors because they in fact killed them, and you build their memorials. So the wisdom of God said, ‘I’ll send them great preachers and followers, and they’ll kill and mistreat some of them: So that the blood of all the great preachers, which was shed from the beginning of the world, can be required of this people; From the blood of Abel to the blood of Zachariah, who was killed between the altar and the place of worship: The truth is, it’ll be required of this people. You’ll be sorry, you religious leaders! You’ve hidden away the key of knowledge; You didn’t come in yourselves, and those who were trying to come in you stopped.” And as the Christ said this to them, the religious leaders and the religious sects began to question Yeshua, to try to get the Christ to speak of many things, waiting to catch something they could blame the Christ with.
The Unforgiveable Sin
12 [1-12] In the mean time, when there was an innumerable crowd of people gathered together, so that they trampled on one another, the Christ began to say to the followers first of all, “Beware of the untruthful leaven of the religious ones, because there isn’t anything covered, that won’t become known; nor hid, that won’t be found out. So whatever you’ve spoken in darkness will be heard in the light; and what you’ve whispered in private will be hollered out on the rooftops. And I tell you My friends, don’t be afraid of those who can kill the body, and after that can do no more. But I tell you whom you should fear: Fear the One, who has power to put your soul in hell when you’re dead; yes, I tell you, Honor and respect Yahweh God. Aren’t five sparrows sold for two small coins, and not one of them is forgotten by God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid: you’re worth more than many sparrows. Also I tell you, whoever admits that they know Me to others, I’ll admit that I know them in the presence of the angels of God: But whoever says they don’t know me to others, I will say I don’t know them in the presence of the angels of God. And whoever speaks a word against Me, can be forgiven: but those who reject the Holy Spirit won’t be forgiven. And when they bring you to the religious ones, and to the courts, and to rulers, don’t think about what you will answer, or what you might say, because the Holy Spirit will show you what to say at that very time.”
Beware of Greed
[13-21] And one out of the crowd said, “Christ, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” And the Christ said, "Who made me a judge or an overseer over you?" And the Christ answered, “Be careful and beware of greed because a person's life isn’t made up of what they have.” And the Christ spoke a story to them, saying, “The land of a certain rich person produced a great crop, so that person thought to himself, saying, ‘What can I do, because there’s no room to store my crops?’ So he thought, ‘I'll do this: I’ll tear down my barns, and build bigger ones; and then I’ll have room for all my crops and stuff. And I’ll say to myself, I’ve got enough stored up for many years to come; eat, drink, rest, and have fun.’ But God said, ‘You idiot, tonight your soul will be taken from you: then who will get everything you saved up?’ This is the way it’ll be for whoever saves up wealth for themselves, and aren’t rich in God.”
Don’t Worry About Worldly Things
[22-30] And the Christ said to the followers, “So I tell you, don’t worry about your life, what you’ll eat; nor for the body, what you’ll put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Think about the ravens, which neither plant nor reap; nor store anything up; and God takes care of them: how much better you are than the birds! And who by worrying can add one inch to their height? If you then aren’t able to do this least little thing, why do you worry about all the rest? Consider the lilies that grow: they don’t work, they don’t sow; and still I tell you, that all Solomon’s riches didn’t make him as beautiful as one of these. So then, if God clothes the grasses this way, which is in the field today, and wilts away in the heat by tomorrow; how much more will God clothe you, who have such little faith? So don’t worry about what you’ll eat, or what you’ll drink, nor doubt in your mind, because worldly people do this. Your God in heaven knows that you need these things.
[31-40] But instead put your mind on the realm of God; and all this will be given to you, too. Don’t be afraid, little flock because it’s your God's good will to give you the realm of God. Sell whatever you have, and give your gifts to God and others; work for the wealth that never gets old, a wealth in the heavens that never runs out, where no thief comes near, nor any moth harms because your heart is wherever your wealth is. Always be ready to go, night or day; And you yourselves, be like those that wait till their owner returns from the wedding; who comes and knocks, so that they can quickly open the door. Blessed are those who are watching when I come. The truth is, that even I will get ready, and make them sit down to eat, and will come out and serve them. And if I come late at night or early in the morning, and find them waiting, they’ll be blessed. Know this, if the owners of the house had known when the thief would come, they would have watched, and not have let their house be broken into. So you be ready also because I’ll come at a time when you won’t be expecting Me.”
Be Ready
[41-48] Then Peter said, “Christ, are you speaking this story just to us, or to everyone?” And Christ said, “Who is that faithful and wise caretaker, whom the owner will put over the household, to give them what they need at just the right time? Blessed is that worker, whom when the owner comes back, finds working hard. The truth is, I tell you, that the owner will make them a ruler over everything. But if that worker says in their heart, ‘My owner puts off coming;’ and begins to abuse the workers and working girls, and to eat and drink, and gets drunk; The owner of that worker will come in a day when the worker isn't watching, and at a time when the worker won’t know it, and will punish the worker with death in the judgment of unbelievers. And that worker, which knew the owner's will, but didn’t get ready, nor do what the owner wanted, will be badly punished. But whoever didn’t know what the owner wanted, and did things worthy of punishment, will only be punished a little, because a lot will be expected of whoever is given a big job: and to whoever has been trusted with a lot, more will be expected of them.
[49-53] I have come to send fire on the earth and long for it to be lit already! But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and am troubled till it’s over! Do you think that I’ve come to bring peace on earth? I tell you, no; but instead, I’ll cause disagreements: because from now on there will be five in a house divided, three against two, and two against three. Father against son and son against father; mother against daughter, and daughter against mother; mother-in-law against daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
[54-59] And then Yeshua said to the people, “When you see a cloud come up out of the west, quickly you say that a rain shower is coming; and so it does. And when you see the south wind blow, you say that it’s going to be hot; and it’s hot. You fakes, you can understand the face of the sky and of the earth; but why don’t you understand this time? Yes, and why don’t you yourselves judge what’s right? When you’re on the way to go to court with your enemy, try your best to settle your argument; in case they take you to the judge, and the judge hands you over to the officer, and the officer puts you in jail. I tell you, you won’t leave there, till you’ve paid the very last cent of your fine.”
Story of the Fig Tree
13 [1-5] At that time, some came and told Yeshua of the Galilaeans, who Pilate had killed while they were making sacrifices, mixing their own blood with that of the sacrifices. Then Yeshua said, “Do you think that these people were greater sinners than anyone else, because they suffered like this? I tell you, no: but, unless you change your evil ways, you’ll all be destroyed like this. Or those eighteen, on whom the tower in Siloam fell, and killed them, do you think that they were greater sinners than anyone else that lived in Jerusalem? I tell you, no: but, unless you change your evil ways, you’ll all be destroyed like this.”
[6-10] Then the Christ told them this story, too; “Someone had a fig tree planted in their garden; and they came and looked for some fruit on it, but didn’t find any. Then the owner said to the gardener, ‘I’ve looked for fruit on this fig tree for three years now, and haven’t found any: cut it down; why should it take up space?’ And the gardener answered, ‘Leave it alone again this year, till I’ll dig around it, and fertilize it: And if it makes fruit, good: but if not, then after that I’ll cut it down as you say.’ And the Christ was teaching in one of the places of worship on the Seventh Day.
A Woman Healed on the Seventh Day
[11-17] There was a woman who had a problem for eighteen years, and was humped over, and couldn’t lift herself up by any means. And when the Christ saw her, Yeshua called her, saying to her, “Woman, you’re freed from your problem.” And when the Christ laid hands on her, she was suddenly able to straighten up, and praised God. But because Yeshua had healed on a Seventh Day, the leader of the place of worship said to the people with resentment, “There are six days in the week to work, so come and be healed on those days, and not on a Day of Worship.” So Christ said then, “You fake, doesn’t each one of you let their animals out of their stalls, and lead them to water on the Seventh Day? And shouldn’t I help this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has made to suffer these eighteen years, be freed from this condition on a Day of Worship?” And when the Christ had said this, all the enemies of Yeshua were ashamed. So all the people celebrated for the amazing things that had happened because of the Christ.
The Realm of God
[18-30] Then the Christ said, "What is the realm of God like? And to what can I compare it to? It’s like a grain of mustard seed, which someone took and planted in their garden; It grew, and became a great tree; so much that even the birds of the air could live in its branches.” And again the Christ said, "What is the realm of God like? It’s like yeast, which a woman mixed in three cups of flour, till it was all leavened.” And then the Christ went through all the cities and towns, teaching, and going toward Jerusalem. Then someone said, “Christ, are there only a few that will be saved?” And the Christ answered, “Work hard to come in the right way at the gate, which is narrow, because many, I tell you, will want to come in, but won’t be able to. When the owner of the house has gotten up, and shut the door, and you begin to gather outside, knocking at the door, saying, ‘Christ, Christ, open the door to us;’ then the owner will answer saying to you, ‘I don’t even you know who you are.’ Then will you begin to say, ‘We’ve celebrated in your presence, and you’ve taught in our streets.’ But the owner will say, ‘I tell you, I don’t even you know who you are; go away, you sinful people.’ And you‘ll be crying and gritting your teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the great preachers, in the realm of God, and you yourselves put out. And they’ll come from east, west, north, and south, and will sit down in the realm of God. And some of those who were last will be first then, and some of those who were first will be last then.”
Herod Threatens the Christ
[31-35] This same day some of the religious leaders came, saying to the Christ, “Get out, and leave here because Herod will kill you.” And the Christ answered, “Go, and tell that sly one, I’ll put out evil spirits and heal today and tomorrow, and the third day I’ll be finished. And in the same way, I must walk today, tomorrow, and the next day because a great preacher can’t be killed outside of Jerusalem. Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the great preachers, and stone those who are sent to you; how often I would have gathered your children together, as a mother hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you wouldn’t come! Your house is left to you empty, and the truth is, you won’t see Me, until the time comes when you’ll say, ‘Blessed is the One who comes in the Name of Yahweh God.’”
Healing on a Day of Worship
14 [1-6] And then, one of the leading religious leaders watched as the Christ went into his house to eat on a Day of Worship. And someone came to the Christ, who was very swollen with fluid in the body. And Yeshua said to the religious leaders and the ministers from the religious sects, asking, “Is it right to heal on a Day of Worship?” But they didn’t answer. So the Christ healed the person, and let them go; And said, “Which of you, if you had a donkey or a cow that had fallen into a hole, wouldn’t quickly pull them out, even on a Day of Worship?” And again, they couldn’t answer the Christ’s question.
Be Humble
[7-11] So Yeshua told a story to those which were asked, when the Christ noted how they chose the best places; saying to them, “When you’re asked to a wedding by someone, don’t sit down in the best places; in case a more honorable person than you is also asked by them; And then the one who asked you, comes and says to you, ‘Let this person have your place;’ and then, with shame, you have to go to a less important place. But when you’re asked, go and sit down in the less important place; so that when the one who asked you comes, they can say to you, ‘Friend, come sit over here.’ Then you’ll be praised in front of all those who sit to eat with you. Whoever puts themselves in a higher place will be shamed; and whoever humbles themselves will be praised.”
[12-14] Then Yeshua said this to the one who had asked the Christ to come and eat, “When you give a dinner or a supper, don’t just call your friends, nor your family, nor your other kin people, nor your rich neighbors, because they’ll also ask you to a dinner, and repay the favor. But when you give a dinner, call those who are poor, those who are hurt, those who are disabled, and those who are blind. Then you’ll be blessed even though they can’t repay you, because you’ll be repaid when the good comes back to life again.”
The Great Supper
[15-24] And when someone who was eating with them heard this, they said, “Blessed is the One who eats in the realm of God.” Then the Christ answered, “Someone made a great supper, and asked many to come, sending their worker at supper time to say to those who were asked, ‘Come because everything is ready now.’ But they all, in agreement, began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I’ve bought a piece of land and I have to go and see it: Please, excuse me.’ And another said, ‘I’ve bought five pairs of cattle, and I have to prove them: Please, excuse me.’ And another said, ‘I’ve just gotten married, and so I can’t come.’ So the worker came, and told the owner this. Then the owner of the house, being angry said to the worker, ‘Go quickly out into the streets and roads of the city, and bring here all those who are poor, and those who are hurt, and those who are disabled, and those who are blind.’ And the worker said to the owner, ‘I’ve done as you’ve told me, and there’s still more room.’ So the owner said to the worker, ‘Go out into the highways and the roads, and beg them to come in, so that my house can be filled. Because I tell you that not one of those others who were asked will taste of my supper.’”
Count the Cost
[25-35] And great crowds went along with the Christ: who turned, saying to them, “If anyone comes to Me, and doesn’t hate their parents, and spouse, and children, and brothers, and sisters, yes, and even their own life also, they can’t be My follower. And whoever doesn’t carry their own cross, and come after Me, can’t be My follower. Would any of you, intending to build a house, not sit down first, and count the cost, to see whether or not you had enough to finish it? In case, after you’ve laid the foundation, you aren’t able to finish it, and all that see it begin to mock you, saying, ‘This person began something, and wasn’t able to finish it.’ Or what ruler, going to make war against another ruler, doesn’t sit down first, and consider whether they are able with ten thousand to fight those who come against them with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, they send an ambassador, and ask for conditions of peace. So in this way, whoever of you that doesn’t turn away from everything, can’t be My follower. Salt is good: but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how can it season anything? It’s not fit for the land nor even for the compost; but only to be thrown out. If anyone will accept this, let them accept it.”
Finding the One That’s Lost
15 [1-9] Then all the tax collectors and sinners came near Yeshua to hear the Christ. And the religious leaders and the ministers from the religious sects spoke against the Christ, saying, “This person accepts sinners, and eats with them.” And the Christ spoke this story to them, saying, “Which one of you, if you had a hundred animals, and lost one, wouldn’t leave the ninety-nine in the countryside, and go after the one that’s lost, until you find it? And when you find it, lay it across your shoulders, and celebrate. And when you come home, call together all your friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Celebrate with me because I’ve found my animal that was lost.’ I tell you that the same kind of joy will be in heaven over one sinner that changes their ways, more than over ninety-nine good people, who don’t need to change their ways.”
[8-10] “And who, having ten silver coins, if they lose one, wouldn’t get a light, and search the house, and look carefully till they find it? And when they find it, call their friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Celebrate with me because I’ve found the silver coin that I had lost.’ In this way, I tell you, the angels of God will have great joy over one sinner that changes their ways.”
The Lost Child
[11-32] Then the Christ told them this story, “Someone had two children. The younger of them said to the parent, “Give me my share of the inheritance now.” So the parent gave the inheritance to the child. And few days later, the younger child gathered everything together, and took a journey into a far country, and when the child got there, wasted it all with selfish living. And when the child had spent it all, a great shortage of food came to that land; and the child began to be in need. So the child went to work for a citizen of that country; who sent them into their fields to feed the pigs. And the child almost would have eaten what the pigs ate, because no one gave the child anything to eat. And when the child thought about it, thinking, ‘How many of my parent's hired workers have enough food, with some to spare, and I am dying of hunger! I’ll go back home to my parent, and say to them, I’ve sinned against heaven, and you, and I’m not worthy to be called your child: but make me as one of your hired workers.’ So the child got up, and went home to their parent. So when the child was still a great way off, the parent saw them, and had compassion, and ran, and hugged the child’s neck, and kissed them. And the child said, ‘I’ve sinned against heaven, and in your sight, and I’m not worthy to be called your child.’ But the parent said to the workers, ‘Bring out the best clothes, and put it on my child; and put a ring and shoes on the child: And butcher the fatted calf, and kill it; and let’s eat, and celebrate, because my child was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and now is found.’ And they began to celebrate. Now the older child was in the field: and coming home, got near the house, and heard music and dancing. So that child called one of the workers, and asked what was the meaning of all this. And the worker said, ‘Your younger brother has come home; and your parent has killed the fatted calf, because the child has returned safe and sound.’ And the older child was angry, and wouldn’t go in: so the parent came out, and begged the child to come in. So the older one answered and said to the parent, ‘Look, I have worked for you many years, and I’ve never disobeyed your word: and still, you never even gave me a baby goat, that I might have a party with my friends: But as soon as that child came home, who has spent your living on whores, you killed the fatted calf. So the parent said, ‘Child, you’ve always been with me, and all that I have is yours. But it’s right that we celebrate, and are happy because this child was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and now is found.”’
The Story of the Bad Manager
16 [1-12] And the Christ said also to the followers, “There was a certain rich person, which had a manager who was accused of having wasted their goods. So they called them, saying, ‘How come I am hearing this about you? Give an account of your management, because you can no longer be my manager.’ Then the manager thought, ‘What will I do? My owner has taken away my job. I can’t dig; and I am ashamed to beg. I know what to do. When I’m fired from the management, I will go to those who owe my owner.’ So the manager called everyone of the owner's debtors, saying to the first, ‘How much do you owe my owner?’ And that one said, a hundred dollars worth of oil. So the manager said, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly, and change it to fifty.’ Then the manager said to another, ‘and how much do you owe?’ And that one said, ‘a hundred dollars worth of wheat.’ So the manager said, ‘Take your bill, and change it to eighty.’ And the owner applauded the bad manager, because the manger had wisely gotten out of trouble by giving them a good discount. The people of this world are more dishonest than the children of light. So I tell you, make godly friends with your earthly money; so that, when you die, you will be accepted into the heavenly realm along with them. Whoever is faithful with a little is faithful also with a lot. And whoever is unfaithful with a little will be unfaithful also with a lot. So if you haven’t been faithful in the world's money, who will trust you with the true riches? And if you haven’t been faithful in what belongs to another, who will give you anything for your own?”
Serve God, Not Money
[13-17] “No worker can serve two employers because either they’ll hate one, and love the other; or else they’ll be faithful to one, and hate the other. You can’t serve God and worship money, too.” And the religious leaders also, who were very selfish, heard all this, and mocked what Yeshua had said. So the Christ said, “You’re the ones who try to make yourselves appear good to others; but God knows your hearts. What’s highly valued among humanity is evil in the sight of God. Humanity has had the Word of God and the great preachers up until John came, and since that time the realm of God has been preached about, and everyone is trying to get into it. But it’s easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one small point of the Word of God to fail. So whoever divorces their spouse, and marries another, takes part in sexual sin: and whoever marries someone that is divorced takes part in sexual sin, as well.
Lazarus and the Rich Person
[19-31] There was a certain rich person, who was clothed in fine clothes, and fared well every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, who lay at the gate, and was full of sores, hoping to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich person's table. And besides this, the dogs came and licked the beggar’s sores. And then the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham. Then the rich person also died, and was buried. And the rich person opened their eyes up in hell, and suffering, saw Abraham far off, and Lazarus near by, too. So the rich person cried saying, ‘Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue because I am suffering in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime had good things, and Lazarus had evil things: but now Lazarus is comforted, and you’re suffering. And besides all this, there’s a great gulf fixed between us and you: so that those who would pass from here to you can’t; nor can those who would come from there pass to us.’ Then the rich person said, ‘I beg you, then, send Lazarus to my family to tell them: because I have five brothers, in case they also come into this place of suffering.’ And Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the great preachers; let them hear them.’ But the rich person said, ‘No, Abraham: but if someone went to them from the dead, they’ll change their evil ways.’ And Abraham said, ‘If they won’t hear Moses and the great preachers, they won’t be won over, even though someone rose from the dead.”
Abusers Will be Punished
17 [1-10] Then Yeshua said to the followers, “It would be impossible for abuses not to happen: but sorrow will surely come to those who hurt others! It would better for them to have a large stone hung around their neck, and be drowned in the sea, than to hurt one of these little ones. Watch out for yourselves: If someone sins against you, confront them; and if they change their evil ways, forgive them. And if they sin against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn back to you, saying, I will change my evil ways; forgive them.” And the followers said to Christ, “Help us to have more faith.” So Christ said, “If you have faith even as small as a grain of mustard seed, if you said to this sycamore tree, ‘Be moved out of your place, and be planted in the sea;’ it would obey you. But which of you, having a worker plowing or feeding cattle, would say to them, when they’ve come in from the field, ‘Go and sit down to eat?’ But wouldn’t you say to them instead, ‘Get my supper ready, and get ready to serve me, till I’ve finished my meal; and then you can eat’? Would you thank that worker because they did what they were told? I don’t think so. So it’s the same with you, when you’ve done all that you’re told, say, ‘We’re worthless workers: we’ve only done what was our duty to do.’”
Ten People Healed, One Returns with Thanks
[11-19] And then, as they went on to Jerusalem, they passed through the middle of Samaria and Galilee. And as they came to a certain town, ten lepers met them, who stood off away from them: And they hollered out, saying, ‘Yeshua, Christ, have mercy on us.’ And when Yeshua saw them, the Christ said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And then, as they went, they were healed. And one of them, who saw that he was healed, turned back, and praised God with a loud voice, and fell face down at Yeshua’s feet, giving thanks: and it was a mixed-race Samaritan. So Yeshua said, “Weren’t there ten healed? So where are the other nine? Didn’t any come back to give praise to God, except this stranger?” And the Christ said, “Get up, and go: your faith has healed you.”
The End Times
[20-37] Now when the religious leaders asked the Christ when the realm of God would come, Yeshua answered, “The realm of God isn’t something you see: Nor will people say, Look here! or, Look there! because the realm of God is what’s inside you.”
Later the Christ said to the followers, “The time will come, when you’ll wish to see one of these days with Me, but you won’t see it. And people will say to you, ‘Look here;’ or, ‘Look there:’ but don’t go with them, nor follow after them, because I will be like the lightning that flashes from one side heaven and shines to the other side of heaven in the day of My return. But first I must suffer many things, and be rejected by the people. And just as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the day of My return. People ate and drank, and were married and given in marriage, until the day that Noah went in the ark, and the flood came, and killed them all. The same also as it was in the days of Lot; they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, and they built; But the very day that Lot went out of Sodom, God rained fire and sulfur down from heaven, and killed them all. In the same way, it will also be this way on the day when I am made known. In that day, whoever is on the rooftop, and their stuff is in the house, don’t go down to get it: and whoever is in the field, don’t go back. Remember Lot's wife. Whoever tries to save their life will lose it; and whoever is willing to lose their life will save it. I tell you, on that night there will be two people on one bed; and one will be taken, and the other left behind. Two women will be working together; and one will be taken, and the other left behind. Two men will be out in the field; and one will be taken, and the other left behind.” And they asked, “Where, Christ?” And Yeshua answered, “Wherever the body is, the birds of prey will be gathered together there.”
Keep Praying
18 [1-8] And Yeshua told a story to them so that people would always pray, and not give up hope; So the Christ said, “There was a judge in a city, who wasn’t afraid of God, nor cared about what people thought either: And there was a widow in that city, who came to the judge, saying, ‘Punish my enemy.’ And the judge wouldn’t for a while: but later thought, ‘Though I’m not afraid of God, nor do I care what anyone thinks; Yet because this widow bothers me, I’ll get justice for her, or if she keeps coming, she’ll wear me out.’” And then Yeshua said, “Listen to what the evil judge said. Won’t God do justice for the chosen ones, who cry out to God day and night, though God waits along time to answer them? I tell you that God will bring justice for them suddenly. And yet, when I come, will I find any faith left on the earth?”
The Religious Leader and the Tax Collector
[9-14] And the Christ spoke this story to certain people who trusted in themselves that they were good, but hated others: “Two people went into a place of worship to pray; One was a religious leader, and the other a tax collector. The religious leader stood and prayed to himself, ‘God, I thank you, that I am not like others are, cheats, evil ones, sexually unfaithful, or like this tax collector. I go without food twice a week, I always give a part of what I have.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, wouldn’t even look up to heaven, but hit himself on the chest, saying, ‘God, be compassionate to me a sinner.’ I tell you, this person went home made right instead of the other because everyone who thinks too highly of themselves will be ashamed; and whoever humbles themselves will be praised.”
Let the Children Come
[15-17] And the people brought to the Christ babies also, hoping that the Christ would bless them: but when the followers saw it, they scolded them. But Yeshua called them over, saying, “Let the little children to come to Me, and don’t forbid them because the realm of God is filled with such as these. The truth is, whoever won’t come into the realm of God with the undoubting faith of a little child, won’t come in at all.”
Put Christ First
[18-30] Then a certain ruler asked Yeshua, saying, “Good Christ, what do I need to do to inherit everlasting life?” And Yeshua said, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good, except One, and that is God. You know the Words of the Law: Don’t do any sexual sin, don’t kill, don’t steal, don’t lie about someone, and honor your parents.” And the ruler said, “I’ve done all this from my youth up.” Now when Yeshua heard this, the Christ said, “Yet still, you lack one thing: sell everything you own, and give to the poor, and you’ll have wealth in heaven: and come, follow Me.” And the ruler, hearing this, was very sorrowful because he was very rich. And Yeshua saw that he was very sorrowful, and said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to come into the realm of God! It’s easier for a camel to be completely unloaded and squeeze through the eye of a needle, that is, the smallest gate, than for a rich person to come into the realm of God.” And those who heard it said, “Who can be saved then?” And the Christ said, “The things that are impossible for people, are possible with God.” Then Peter said, “Look, we’ve left everything, and followed you.” And Yeshua answered, “The truth is, there’s not one of you who has left a house, or parents, or siblings, or a spouse, or children, for the realm of God's sake, who won’t get much more in this life, and in the world to come, everlasting life.”
The Death of Christ Foretold
[31-34] Then the Christ took the twelve away from the others, saying to them, “We’re going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the great preachers about Me will happen. I will be handed over to the other peoples, and will be mocked, and treated hatefully, and spit on: And they’ll beat Me, and put Me to death: and the third day I will come to life again.” But they didn’t understand any of this: the Christ’s words were unclear to them, and they didn’t remember any of what the Christ had said.
The Blind Sees
[35-43] And then as they came near Jericho, a certain blind person sat begging beside the road. Hearing the crowd pass by, the blind person asked what it meant. And the people told him, that Yeshua of Nazareth was passing by. So he hollered out, saying, “Yeshua, Child of David, have mercy on me.” And those who were ahead of him scolded him, telling him to be quiet: but he hollered out all the more, “Child of David, have mercy on me.” And Yeshua stood still, and told the people to bring the person who was blind there: and when he came near, the Christ asked, “What do you want Me to do to you?” And he said, “Christ, that I can have my sight.” And Yeshua said, “Believe that you will see: your faith has saved you.” And suddenly, he got his sight back and followed along, worshipping God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.
Christ Eats at the House of Zaccaeus
19 [1-10] Then Yeshua came and passed through Jericho, where there was someone named Zaccaeus, which was the leader among the tax collectors, and who was rich. Now Zaccaeus looked for a way to see who Yeshua was; but couldn’t for the crowd, because he was short. So he ran, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Yeshua, because the Christ was about to pass by that way. And when Yeshua came to that place, the Christ looked up, and saw him, saying, “Zaccaeus, come down quickly; I want to stay at your house today.” So he quickly came down, and welcomed Christ joyfully. And when the people saw it, they all spoke against it, saying, “The Christ has gone to be the guest of a sinner!” And Zaccaeus stood up, saying, “Christ, I will give half of everything I own to the poor; and if I’ve taken anything from anyone by false claim, I will give them back four times as much.” And Yeshua said, “Today, you and your family are saved, because you also are a child of Abraham. This is why I’ve come to find and save those who are lost.”
The Story of the Workers and the Coins
[11-27] As they heard this, Yeshua told another story, because Jerusalem was near by, and because they thought that the realm of God was just about to happen. So the Christ said, “Someone of great respect went far away to accept the rule of a country, and to return. And called ten workers, and gave them ten coins, saying to them, do business till I come back. But the citizens hated this person, and sent a message, saying, ‘We won’t have you reign over us.’ And then the ruler came back, having taken rule over the country, and called the workers to whom he had given the money, in order to know how much each had gained by trading. Then the first came, saying, ‘Ruler, your coin has gained ten more.’ And the Ruler said, ‘Well done, you’re a good worker, and because you’ve been faithful in a very little, you will have power over ten cities.’ And the second came, saying, ‘Ruler, your coin has gained five coins.’ And the Ruler said the same to this one, ‘You also will be over five cities.’ And another came, saying, ‘Ruler, here is your coin, which I’ve saved wrapped in a napkin because I was afraid of you, because you’re a harsh person: you take what you didn’t put down, and reap what you don’t plant.’ And the Ruler said, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you evil worker. You knew that I was a harsh person, taking what I haven’t put down, and reaping what I didn’t plant: Why then didn’t you put my money into the bank, so that at my coming I might have gotten my own back with interest?’ And the Ruler said to those who stood by, ‘Take the coin, and give it to the one who has ten coins.’ (And they said, ‘Ruler, he has ten coins already.’) I tell you, that everyone which has something will be given more; and those who haven’t got much, even what they have will be taken away from them. And all my enemies, who didn’t want me to reign over them, bring them here to me, and kill them.”
Christ Rides into Jerusalem on a Donkey
[28-40] And when Yeshua had said this, the Christ went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. And then the Christ came near Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mountian called the Mount of Olives, and sent two of the followers, saying, “Go into the town up ahead of you; and when you get there, you’ll find a foal tied up, on which no one has ever sat before. Untie it, and bring it here. And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ Say to them, ‘because the Christ needs it.’” And those who were sent left, and found it just as the Christ had told them. And as they were untying the foal, the owners of it asked, “Why are you untying the foal?” And they said, “The Christ has need of it.” And they brought it to Yeshua: and laid some of their clothes on the foal, and Yeshua sat on it. And as the Christ went, they spread their clothes down on the road. And when the Christ came near the slope of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of followers began to celebrate and praise God with a loud voice for all the amazing things that they had seen; saying, “May the One who is coming be blessed, a Ruler that comes in the Name of Yahweh God: peace in heaven, and victory to the Highest.” And some of the religious leaders from among the crowd said, “Christ, tell your followers not to do that.” But the Christ answered them, saying, “I tell you that if these were to be quiet, the stones would cry out.”
[41-48] And Yeshua came near, and saw the city, and cried over it, saying, “If you had only known, even in this your time now, the things which would give you peace! But now they’re hid from you. The time will come, that those who come against you will put a siege around you, and surround you, and keep you closed off from every direction, and will level you to the ground, along with your people; and they’ll not leave in you one stone in its place; because you didn’t know it when I visited you.” And as they went into the place of worship, the Christ began to throw out all those who were buying and selling in it; saying to them, “It’s written, ‘My house is the house of prayer’: but you’ve made it a place of thieves.” So the Christ taught daily in the place of worship. And the leading priests, the religious leaders, and the leaders of the people looked for a way to kill Yeshua; but they couldn’t find a way to do it, because all the people came to hear the Christ.
The Christ Questioned by the Religious Leaders
20 [1-8] And then on one of those days, as the Christ taught the people in the place of worship, and preached the New Word, the leading priests and the religious leaders, along with the elders, came and asked the Christ, saying, “Tell us, by what right do you do this? Who gave you this right?” So the Christ answered them, saying, “I’ll ask you something, too; and you tell Me: Was the baptism of John from heaven, or of human origin? And they argued among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven;’ then Yeshua will say, ‘Then why didn’t you believe?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin;’ all the people will stone us because they believe that John was a great preacher.” So they said that they didn’t know. And Yeshua answered, “Then neither will I tell you by what right I do this.”
The Story of the Farmers
[9-18] Then the Christ began to tell the people this story; “Someone planted a garden, and rented it out to farmers, and went into a far off country for a long time. And at the end of the season the owner sent a worker to the farmers, to collect the fruit of the garden, but the farmers beat and sent the worker away empty-handed. And again the owner sent another worker, who they beat, treating shamefully, and sent this one away empty-handed, too. And again the owner sent a third, who they wounded and put out, too. Then the owner of the garden said, ‘What will I do? I’ll send my own child, who I love. It may be that when they see the heir, they’ll show respect.’ But when the farmers saw the heir, they argued among themselves, saying, ‘This is the heir: come, if we kill the heir, the inheritance will be ours.’ So they went outside of the garden, and killed the heir. So what will the owner of the garden do to them? The owner will come and kill these farmers, and will give the garden to others.” And when they heard it, they said, “Never!” And watching them, the Christ said, “Then what is this that is written, the same stone which the builders rejected will become the first cornerstone? And whoever falls on that stone will be broken; but whoever it falls on, will be ground to dust.”
On Paying Taxes and Tithes
[19-26] So the leading priests and the religious leaders began at that very time, to look for a way to take the Christ; but they were afraid of the people because they realized that the Christ had told this story about them. So they watched the Christ, and sent out spies, who would pretend to be good people, in order to hear some word, that they might use to hand over the Christ to the power and control of the governor. And they asked Yeshua, saying, “Christ, we know that you say and teach what is right, nor do you care what anyone says,so teach us the way of God: Is it right for us to give taxes to the ruling government, or not?” But the Christ realized their craftiness, and answered, “Why do you try to tempt Me? Show Me a coin. Whose picture and name does it have?” And they answered, “The Ruler's.” Then the Christ answered, “So pay your taxes to the government, and give the part of your money to God that belongs to God.” And they couldn’t grasp the Christ’s words in front of the people: and were amazed at the answer, and didn’t say anything.
No Sexuality or Marriage in the Afterlife
[27-38] Then some of the religious sects came, which don’t believe that there’s any afterlife; and asked, saying, “Christ, Moses wrote to us, ‘If someone dies, having a spouse, and they die without children, that another should take their spouse, and give them children.’ There were seven people: and the first took a spouse, and died without children. And the second took her as a spouse, and died childless. And the third took her; and in this same way all seven also: and they left no children, and died. Last of all the woman died also. So when they come to life again whose spouse will she be because all seven had her in marriage?” So Yeshua answered, “The people of this world marry, and are given in marriage: But those who are thought worthy to obtain that world, and the coming to life again from the dead, won’t be sexual or live in marriage: Neither will they die any more because they’ll be like the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the new life. And as to those who are dead coming to life again, even Moses showed at the bush, when God was called the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, that God isn’t a God of the dead, but of the living because all live to God.”
Christ David’s Descendant
[39-44] Then some of the religious leaders asked, “Christ, you’ve answered well.” And after that they dared not ask any more questions at all. So Yeshua asked them, “How do they say that Christ is David's descendant? When David himself said in the book of Songs, Yahweh God said to My Christ, sit beside Me, till I make those who come against you a place to rest your feet. So then, if David called the Christ, Christ, how is the Christ David’s descendent?”
False Religious Leaders
[45-47] Then in the presence of all the people the Christ said to the followers, “Beware of the religious leaders, which want to walk around dressed in impressive clothing, and love greetings in the shopping centers, and the best seats in the places of worship, and the best places at celebration dinners; which take survivors' money, and for a show make long prayers: these will get the greater punishment.”
The Survivor’s Coins
21 [1-4] Then the Christ looked up, and saw the rich people casting their money into the treasury. And then the Christ saw a certain poor survivor casting in two small coins, also. So the Christ said, “The truth is, this poor survivor has put in more than all of them. All of these have put into God’s offering out of their wealth, but she has put in all the living that she had, even in her need.
The End Times
[5-9] And as some spoke of the place of worship, how it was decorated with beautiful stones and metals, the Christ said, “As for this which you see, the time will come, in which there won’t be left one stone on another, that won’t be put out of its place.” So they asked Yeshua, saying, “Christ, but when will this happen? And what sign will there be when this is about to happen?” And Yeshua answered, “Be sure that you aren’t lied to because many will come in My Name, saying, ‘I am Christ;’ and ‘The time is near’: but don’t follow them. When you hear of wars and rebellions, don’t be frightened because this must happen first; but the end isn’t yet.”
[10-19] Then Yeshua said, “Nation will make war against nation, and country will come against country. Great earthquakes will be in many different places, and a great lack of food, and deadly diseases; Then there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. But before all this, people will take you, and mistreat you, and hand you over to the religious leaders and put you in jails, and you will be brought to rulers and leaders because of My Name. And it’ll give you a time to tell others about Me. So settle it in your hearts, not to think about what you’ll say, because I’ll give you a word of wisdom, which all those who come against you won’t be able to dispute nor argue with. And you’ll be handed over by both parents and siblings, kinfolks and friends; and some of you they’ll put to death. And you’ll be hated of all people because of My Name. But a hair of your head won’t be destroyed. If you have patience, you’ll keep your souls.
The Destruction of Jerusalem
[20-24] And when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that it’s destruction is near. Then those who are in Judea should escape to the mountains; and those who are in the middle of it should leave; and those who are in the countryside shouldn’t go back into it, because these are the days of its punishment, so that everything which is written will happen. But those with child and those who are breastfeeding will be sad in those days! For there will be great suffering in the land and rage toward this people. And they’ll be killed with swords, and those left will be taken captive into all nations: and Jerusalem will be overrun by the nations of the world, until their time is up.
[25-28] And there will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; and on the earth the nations will have great troubles, with confusion; even the waves of the sea will be uprising; People's hearts will fail them for fear, and for watching what is going to happen on the earth because the forces of heaven will be out of balance. And then they’ll see Me coming in a cloud with great power and bright light. And when this begins to happen, then look up, and lift up your heads because you’ll be saved very soon.”
The Story of the Fig Tree
[29-33] And then the Christ told them a story; “Watch the fig tree, and all the trees; When you see the buds begin to shoot out, don’t you know for yourselves that summer is near. So in this same way, when you see all this happening, know that the realm of God is near. The truth is, the people of this time won’t die out, till all of it happens. Heaven and earth will come to an end: but My Words won’t ever come to an end.
[34-38] And watch yourselves, in case your hearts ever be overcome with partying, drunkenness, and the cares of this life, or that day will come on you unexpectedly, because it will come on everyone on the whole face of the earth like a sudden trap. So always watch and pray, so that you may be thought worthy to escape all this that will happen, and to stand with Me.” And Yeshua was teaching in the place of worship in the day time; and at night went out, staying on the mountain that is called the Mount of Olives. And all the people came early in the morning to the place of worship to hear the Christ.
The Passover Supper
22 [1-6] Now the celebration of unleavened bread came near which is called the Passover. And the leading priests and religious leaders were looking for a way to take the Christ secretly because they were afraid of the people. Then the spirit of Satan went into Judas, named Iscariot, being one of the twelve, who left, and talked with the leading priests and captains, to decide how to turn the Christ over to them. And they were pleased, and promised to give Judas money. So he promised to look for a way to turn the Christ over to them without the crowd being there.
[7-13] Then the day of unleavened bread came, when the Passover animals would be killed. So Yeshua sent Peter and John, saying, “Go, and get the Passover meal ready for us, so that we can eat.” And they asked, “Where do you want us to get it ready?” So the Christ answered, “Right when you get to the city, someone carrying a pitcher of water will meet you; follow them into the house they go into. And say to the owner of the house, the Christ said to ask you, ‘Where is the guestroom, where I may eat the Passover with My followers?’ And they’ll show you a large furnished upper room: get everything ready there.” So they went, and found it just as the Christ had said: and they got the Passover meal ready.
[14-20] And when the time came, Christ and the twelve followers sat down. And Yeshua said, “I’ve longed to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, because I tell you, I won’t eat it any more, until I eat it in the realm of God.” And the Christ took the cup, and gave thanks, saying, “Take this, and share it among yourselves. I tell you, I won’t drink wine anymore, until the realm of God comes. Then Yeshua took bread, giving thanks, and breaking it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is the symbol of My body that is being given for you. Do this to remember Me.” And after supper, the Christ took the cup, and said, “This cup is the symbol for My blood, which is shed for you in the New Word.”
[21-23] But the hand of the one who will hand Me over is with Me on the table. And the truth is, I go, as it was decided on: but sorrow is coming to the one who hands Me over! So they began to ask, who among them, would do this.
Who will be the Greatest?
[24-30] And there was an argument among them, about which of them would be the greatest. So the Christ said, “The rulers of the other peoples use control over them; and those who use power over them are called governors. But you won’t do this: whoever wants to be greatest among you, should be like the younger; and whoever leads, like the one who serves, because which is greater, the one who sits to eat, or the one who serves? Isn’t it the one who sits to eat? Yes, but I am among you as One who serves. You’re the ones who have stayed with Me through all My troubles. So I give you a realm, just as My God has given one to Me; so that you can eat and drink at My table in My Realm, and sit on the judgment thrones of the twelve families of Israel.”
Peter will be Tempted
[31-38] And the Christ, said, “Peter, Peter, Satan wants to have you, so that you can be tested: But I’ve prayed for you, that your faith doesn’t fail. So when your faith comes back, strengthen the others.” And Peter said, “Christ, I am ready to go with you, both to jail, and even to death.” But the Christ said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster won’t crow today, before you’ll say that you don’t even know Me three times.” Then Yeshua said, “When I sent you without a moneybag, backpack, or shoes, did you lack anything?” And they answered, “Nothing.” Then Christ said, “But now, whoever has a money bag, let them take it, and their backpack: and whoever has no sword, should sell their extra clothing, and buy one. I tell you, that what has been written about Me, and the Christ was thought of as a lawbreaker, must happen to Me, because the things written about Me have a purpose.” And they said, “Christ, we have two swords.” And Yeshua said, “That’s enough.”
The Christ is Betrayed
[39-46] Yeshua and the followers came out, and went to the Mount of Olives as they were used to doing. When they got there, Yeshua said, “Pray, so that you won’t be tempted.” And the Christ withdrew from them about a stone's throw away, and kneeling down, prayed, saying, “Yahweh God, if You will allow it, don’t let this happen to Me, but don’t let what I want to be done happen, but what You want.” And an angel from heaven appeared to Yeshua, in order to strengthen the Christ. And the Christ, being greatly troubled, prayed harder: so much that the sweat was like great drops of blood falling on the ground. And the Christ getting up from prayer, and coming back to the followers, found them sleeping for sorrow, and asked, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray, in case you’re tempted.”
[47-53] And while the Christ was speaking, a crowd came up, along with Judas, who was one of the twelve. Then Judas started to kiss Yeshua. But Yeshua said, “Judas, are You betraying Me with a kiss?” When those who were with the Christ saw what was about to happen, they said, “Christ, should we use our swords?” And one of them cut off the right ear of the worker of the leading priest. And Yeshua answered, “Let this happen, too.” And the Christ touched the ear, and healed it. Then Yeshua said to the leading priests, and the religious leaders of the place of worship, and the elders, which had come to them, “Have you come out with swords and sticks like you’d come against a thief? When I was with you in the place of worship daily, you didn’t put your hands on Me: but this is your time, and the time for the power of darkness.”
Peter Denies the Christ
[54-62] Then they took Yeshua, leading the Christ into the house of the leading priest. And Peter followed far off behind them. And when they had made a fire in the middle of the hall, and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. But a certain girl was watching as he sat down by the fire, and carefully looking at him, said, “This one was with Yeshua, too.” And Peter denied it, saying, “Woman, I don’t even know this person.” And after a little while another person saw Peter, and said, “You’re one of them, too.” But Peter answered, “I am not.” Then about an hour later, someone else swore to it, saying, “It’s the truth, this person was with them, too, because he’s a Galilaean.” And Peter said, “People, I don’t even know what you’re talking about.” And suddenly, while Peter was speaking, the rooster crowed. And Yeshua turned, and looked straight at Peter. And Peter remembered the Words of Yeshua, how the Christ had said, “Before the rooster crows, you’ll say that you don’t know Me three times.” And Peter left there, and cried with great sorrow.
Christ Mocked by the Priests
[63-71] And those who were keeping Yeshua mocked and hit the Christ. And then when they had blindfolded the Christ, they struck Yeshua on the face, and said, “Tell us who hit you.” And they spoke against the Christ many other disrespectful things. Then as soon as it was day, the elders of the people, the leading priests, and the religious leaders all came together, and led Yeshua into their court, saying, “If You’re the Christ, tell us!” And Yeshua answered, “If I tell you, you won’t believe Me: And if I also ask you something, you won’t answer Me, nor let Me go. But later, I will sit in judgment with the power of God.” So they all said, “Then, are you the Heir of God?” And the Christ answered, “You say it, because I am.” So they said, “Why do we need any more witnesses? We’ve heard it ourselves, from this person’s own mouth!”
Christ Goes to Pilate
23 [1-7] Then they all got up, and took the Christ to Pilate. And they began to accuse the Christ, saying, “We found this person leading the people astray, forbidding them to pay taxes to the government, and claiming to be the Christ, a Ruler.” And Pilate asked, “You are the Ruler of the Jews?” And the Christ answered, “It’s just as you say.” Then Pilate said to the leading priests and to the people, “This person has done nothing wrong.” And they were greatly angered, saying, “This One stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, all the way from Galilee to here.” So when Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked if the Christ were a Galilaean. And as soon as he knew that it was Herod’s place to judge the matter, he sent the Christ to Herod, who was in Jerusalem at that time.
Christ Sent to Herod
[8-12] Then when Herod saw Yeshua, he was very happy because he had wanted to see the Christ for long time, because he had heard many things, and hoped to see the Christ do a miracle. So he asked many times; but the Christ didn’t answer. And the leading priests and religious leaders stood by, accusing the Christ. And Herod, along with his guards, clothing Yeshua in a beautiful robe, disrespectfully mocked the Christ, then sent Yeshua back to Pilate. And that very day Pilate and Herod became friends together, though they were enemies before.
Pilate Finds Christ Innocent
[13-26] So Pilate, who had called together the leading priests, the rulers, and the people, said, “You’ve brought this person to me, as One that leads the people astray: But I, having questioned this person, have found no fault as to these accusations. No, nor Herod either, because I sent you to him; and this person has done nothing worthy of death. The punishment is done, so I’ll free Yeshua to you (because he was required to free someone to them at the celebration.) And the people hollered out all at once, saying, “Take Yeshua away, and free Barabbas” (who was put in jail for a certain rebellion made in the city, and for murder.) So Pilate, wanting to free Yeshua, asked them again, but they hollered out, saying, “Put Yeshua on a cross, put Yeshua on a cross.” And Pilate asked them the third time, “Why, what evil has this person done? I’ve found no cause for death: so I’ll punish, and let Yeshua go.” And instantly, they hollered out for Yeshua to be put to death. And their voices overpowered Pilate’s. So Pilate set the punishment as they wanted it, and freed to them the one who was put in jail for rebellion and murder, whom they had wanted; but gave Yeshua over to their will. And as they led the Christ away, they ordered someone named Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, to carry the cross, following after Yeshua.
Two Thieves with Christ
[27-33] And a great many people, including women followed along, who also grieved for the Christ. But Yeshua turning to them said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t cry for me, but cry for yourselves, and for your children, because the days are coming, in the which they’ll say, ‘Blessed are those who never gave birth, and the breasts which never nursed a baby.’ Then they’ll begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us;’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ If they do this when the tree is green, what will be done when it’s dry?” And there were two others, too, law breakers, led with the Christ to be put to death. And when they had come to the place of the skull, which is called Calvary, they put Yeshua to death, along with the law breakers, one on the right side, and the other on the left.
[34-37] Then Yeshua said, “God, forgive them because they don’t know what they are doing.” And they divided the Christ’s clothing, and placed bets on them. And the people stood watching. And the rulers also with them mocked the Christ, saying, “You saved others; so save Yourself, if You’re the Christ, the Chosen of God.” And the guards also mocked Yeshua, coming and offering the Christ sour wine, and saying, “If You’re the Ruler of the Jews, save Yourself.” And a title was written also over the Christ in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew, This is the Ruler of the Jews.
[39-45] And one of the law breakers who was hung also mocked the Christ, saying, “If You’re the Christ, save Yourself and us.” But the other one scolded him, saying, “Don’t you honor and respect God, seeing you’re judged in the same way? And we, justly, because we’re only getting what we deserve for our actions: but this person hasn’t done anything wrong.” And he said to Yeshua, “Christ, remember me when You come into Your realm.” And Yeshua said, “The truth is, today you’ll be with Me in the Garden of Paradise.” And about noon, darkness came over all the earth until about three o’clock. And when the sun was darkened, the curtain of the place of worship was torn in half.
Christ’s Last Words
[46-49] And when Yeshua had hollered out, having said, “God, I give My Spirit to You,” the Christ gave up the Spirit. Now when one of the guards saw what happened, he praised God, saying, “The truth is, this really was a good person!” And all those who had come together to see this, and who were watching everything that had happened, hit their breasts, and left. And all those who had known the Christ, and the women who had followed along from Galilee, stood far off, watching all of this.
Joseph Asks for Christ’s Body
[50-56] And there was someone named Joseph, a person from Arimathaea, a city of the Jews, who was a good and fair person: (who hadn’t consented to the words and actions of them;) and who also waited for the realm of God. This person went to Pilate, and begged for the body of Yeshua. So he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb that was cut out of stone, and in which no one had ever been laid to rest. And that day was the preparation day, and the Seventh Day was nearing. The women, which came with the Christ from Galilee, followed, and watched the tomb, and saw how the body was laid. And they went home, and got the spices and perfumes ready; and rested on the Day of Worship according to the Word of God.
Christ is Alive!
24 [1-12] Now very early on Sunday morning, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and a few others were with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. So they went in, and didn’t find the body of the Christ Yeshua. And then, as they were very confused about it, two people stood next to them in shining white clothes: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, the two asked, “Why are you looking for One who lives among the dead? The Christ isn’t here, but is risen: remember how the Christ spoke to you while still in Galilee, saying, ‘I must be given into the hands of sinful people, and be put to death, and the third day come to life again?’” And they remembered the Words of the Christ, and came back from the tomb, and told all this to the eleven, and to all the rest who were there. It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary, the mother of James, and some other women that were with them, who told this to the followers. But their words seemed to the followers as story-tales, so they didn’t believe them. Then Peter got up and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, saw the linen clothes put by themselves, and went, wondering to himself, about what had happened.
Christ Appears to the Followers
[13-26] And two of them went that same day to a town called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about seven miles. And they talked together of all this which had happened. And then, while they talked and reasoned together, Yeshua came near, and walked with them. But they didn’t know it was the Christ. And the Christ asked, “What kind of stories are these that you’ve told to each other, as you were walking, and why are you so sad?” And one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem that doesn’t know the things which have happen there in these days?” And the Christ asked, “What things?” And they said, “About Yeshua of Nazareth, who was a great preacher, powerful in words and actions before God and all the people: And who the leading priests and our rulers caused to be accused, and put to death, and have put the Christ to death. But we trusted that it was the One who would have saved Israel: and besides all this, today, is the third day since all this has happened. Yes, and also, some of the women of our company amazed us, which went early to the tomb; And when they didn’t find the body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that the Christ was alive. And some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said: but didn’t see the Christ.” Then the Christ said, “You thoughtless, and slow of heart to believe all that the great preachers have spoken: Shouldn’t Christ have suffered this, and have victory?”
[27-35] And beginning at Moses and all the great preachers, Yeshua explained all the Words about the Christ. And as they came near the town, where they were going: the Christ pretended to want to go further. But they pleaded with Yeshua, saying, “Stay with us, it’s just about evening, and the day is almost over.” So the Christ went in to stay with them. And then, as Yeshua was eating a meal with them, the Christ blessed and broke the bread, and gave it to them. Then suddenly they understood, and knew it was Yeshua; and then the Christ disappeared. So they said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us, while the Christ talked with us on the way, and explained the Word to us?” And they got up right then, and went back to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them all gathered together, and who were saying, “The Christ has truly come to life again, and has appeared to Peter.” Then the two of them told what had happened to them on the road, and how the Christ was known of them in the breaking of the bread.
[36-49] And as they were speaking, Yeshua appeared in the middle of them, saying to them, “Be at peace.” But they were terrified and afraid, and thought that they had seen a spirit. So the Christ said, “Why are you so upset? And why do you doubt in your hearts? See My hands and My feet, It’s Me: Touch Me, and see, because a spirit doesn’t have a body and bones, as you see that I have.” And when the Christ had said this, they saw Yeshua’s hands and feet. And while they still couldn’t believe it for joy, and were so amazed, the Christ asked, “Do you have any food here?” And they gave the Christ a piece of a broiled fish and honeycomb. So Yeshua took it, and ate it in front of them. And then said, “These are the words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, so that everything would happen, which was written in the Words of Moses, and in the Words of the great preachers, and in the Songs about Me.” Then the Christ opened their minds to understand the Words, and said, “Just as it was written, it was right that Christ would suffer, and come to life from the dead on the third day: And that a change of ways and freedom from sins would be preached in the Name of Yeshua among all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you’re witnesses of this. So I send the promise of My God, who I am from, to you. But stay in the city of Jerusalem, until you’re given the power from Heaven.”
Christ Carried Into Heaven
[50-53] Then the Christ led them out as far as to Bethany, and with uplifted hands, blessed them. And then, while Yeshua blessed them, the Christ was taken from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped the Christ, and went back to Jerusalem with great joy, staying in the place of worship continually, praising and blessing God. So be it!
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