12At about that time Jesus was walking through some grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, so they began breaking off some heads of grain and eating them.G1722G1565G2540G2424G4198G4521G1223G4702G1161G846G3101G3983G2532G756G5089G4719G2532G2068 2But some Pharisees saw them do it and protested, "Look, your disciples are breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath."G1161G5330G1492G2036G846G2400G4675G3101G4160G3739G1832G3756G1832G4160G1722G4521 3Jesus said to them, "Haven't you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry?G1161G2036G846G314G3756G314G5101G1138G4160G3753G846G3983G2532G3326G846 4He went into the house of God, and he and his companions broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat.G4459G1525G1519G3624G2316G2532G5315G740G4286G3739G2258G3756G1832G846G5315G3761G3326G846G1508G3441G2409 5And haven't you read in the law of Moses that the priests on duty in the Temple may work on the Sabbath?G2228G314G3756G314G1722G3551G3754G4521G2409G1722G2411G953G4521G2532G1526G338 6I tell you, there is one here who is even greater than the Temple!G1161G3004G5213G3754G5602G2076G3187G2411 7But you would not have condemned my innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: 'I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.'G1161G1487G1097G5101G2076G2309G1656G2532G3756G2378G302G3756G2613G338 8For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!"G1063G5207G444G2076G2962G2532G4521 9Then Jesus went over to their synagogue,G2532G3327G1564G2064G1519G846G4864 10where he noticed a man with a deformed hand. The Pharisees asked Jesus, "Does the law permit a person to work by healing on the Sabbath?" (They were hoping he would say yes, so they could bring charges against him.)G2532G2400G2258G444G2192G5495G3584G2532G1905G846G3004G1487G1832G2323G4521G2443G2723G846 11And he answered, "If you had a sheep that fell into a well on the Sabbath, wouldn't you work to pull it out? Of course you would.G1161G2036G846G5101G444G2071G1537G5216G3739G2192G1520G4263G2532G1437G5124G1706G1519G999G4521G2902G3780G2902G846G2532G1453 12And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath."G4214G3767G444G1308G4263G5620G1832G4160G2573G4521 13Then he said to the man, "Hold out your hand." So the man held out his hand, and it was restored, just like the other one!G5119G3004G444G1614G4675G5495G2532G1614G2532G600G5199G5613G243 14Then the Pharisees called a meeting to plot how to kill Jesus.G1161G5330G1831G2983G4824G2596G846G3704G622G846 15But Jesus knew what they were planning. So he left that area, and many people followed him. He healed all the sick among them,G1161G2424G1097G402G1564G2532G4183G3793G190G846G2532G2323G846G3956 16but he warned them not to reveal who he was.G2532G2008G846G3363G4160G3363G4160G846G5318 17This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah concerning him.G3704G4137G3588G4483G1223G2268G4396G3004 18"Look at my Servant, whom I have chosen. He is my Beloved, who pleases me. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.G2400G3450G3816G3739G140G3450G27G1519G3739G3450G5590G2106G5087G3450G4151G1909G846G2532G518G2920G1484 19He will not fight or shout or raise his voice in public.G2051G3756G2051G3761G2905G3761G5100G191G846G5456G1722G4113 20He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. Finally he will cause justice to be victorious.G4937G2563G2608G3756G2608G2532G5188G3043G4570G3756G4570G2193G302G1544G2920G1519G3534 21And his name will be the hope of all the world."G2532G1722G846G3686G1679G1484G1679 22Then a demon-possessed man, who was blind and couldn't speak, was brought to Jesus. He healed the man so that he could both speak and see.G5119G4374G846G1139G5185G2532G2974G2532G2323G846G5620G5185G2532G2974G2532G2980G2532G991 23The crowd was amazed and asked, "Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah?"G2532G3956G3793G1839G2532G3004G2076G3385G3778G5207G1138 24But when the Pharisees heard about the miracle, they said, "No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons."G1161G5330G191G2036G3778G1544G3756G1544G1140G1508G1722G954G758G1140 25Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, "Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart.G1161G2424G1492G846G1761G2036G846G3956G932G3307G2596G1438G2049G2532G3956G4172G2228G3614G3307G2596G1438G2476G3756G2476 26And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is divided and fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive.G2532G1487G4567G1544G4567G3307G1909G1438G4459G2476G3767G846G932G2476 27And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said.G2532G1487G1473G1722G954G1544G1140G1722G5101G5216G5207G1544G5124G1223G846G2071G5216G2923 28But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you.G1161G1487G1473G1544G1140G1722G4151G2316G686G932G2316G5348G1909G5209 29For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man like Satan and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.G2228G4459G1410G5100G1525G1519G2478G3614G2532G1283G846G4632G3362G4412G1210G2478G2532G5119G1283G846G3614 30"Anyone who isn't with me opposes me, and anyone who isn't working with me is actually working against me.G5607G3361G3326G1700G2076G2596G1700G2532G4863G3361G3326G1700G4650 31"So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven—except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven.G1223G5124G3004G5213G3956G266G2532G988G863G444G1161G988G4151G863G3756G863G444 32Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come.G2532G3739G302G2036G3056G2596G5207G444G863G846G3739G1161G302G2036G2596G40G4151G863G3756G863G846G3777G1722G5129G165G3777G1722G3195 33"A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad.G2228G4160G1186G2570G2532G846G2590G2570G2228G4160G1186G4550G2532G846G2590G4550G1063G1186G1097G1537G2590 34You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.G1081G2191G4459G1410G5607G4190G2980G18G1063G1537G4051G2588G4750G2980 35A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.G18G444G1537G18G2344G2588G1544G18G2532G4190G444G1537G4190G2344G1544G4190 36And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.G1161G3004G5213G3754G3956G692G4487G3739G1437G444G2980G591G3056G4012G846G1722G2250G2920 37The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you."G1063G1537G4675G3056G1344G2532G1537G4675G3056G2613 38One day some teachers of religious law and Pharisees came to Jesus and said, "Teacher, we want you to show us a miraculous sign to prove your authority."G5119G5100G1122G2532G5330G611G3004G1320G2309G1492G4592G575G4675 39But Jesus replied, "Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah.G1161G611G2036G846G4190G2532G3428G1074G1934G4592G2532G3756G4592G1325G846G1508G4592G4396G2495 40For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.G1063G5618G2495G2258G5140G2250G2532G5140G3571G1722G2785G2836G3779G5207G444G2071G5140G2250G2532G5140G3571G1722G2588G1093 41"The people of Nineveh will stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now someone greater than Jonah is here—but you refuse to repent.G435G3536G450G1722G2920G3326G5026G1074G2532G2632G846G3754G3340G1519G2782G2495G2532G2400G4119G2495G5602 42The queen of Sheba will also stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for she came from a distant land to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Now someone greater than Solomon is here—but you refuse to listen.G938G3558G1453G1722G2920G3326G5026G1074G2532G2632G846G3754G2064G1537G4009G1093G191G4678G4672G2532G2400G4119G4672G5602 43"When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none.G1161G3752G169G4151G1831G575G444G1330G1223G504G5117G2212G372G2532G2147G3756 44Then it says, 'I will return to the person I came from.' So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order.G5119G3004G1994G1519G3450G3624G3606G1831G2532G2064G2147G4980G4563G2532G2885 45Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. That will be the experience of this evil generation."G5119G4198G2532G3880G3326G1438G2033G2087G4151G4191G1438G2532G1525G2730G1563G2532G2078G1565G444G1096G5501G4413G3779G2071G2532G5026G4190G1074 46As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him.G2089G846G1161G2980G3793G2400G3384G2532G846G80G2476G1854G2212G2980G846 47Someone told Jesus, "Your mother and your brothers are outside, and they want to speak to you."G1161G5100G2036G846G2400G4675G3384G2532G4675G80G2476G1854G2212G2980G4671 48Jesus asked, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?"G1161G611G2036G2036G846G5101G2076G3450G3384G2532G5101G1526G3450G80 49Then he pointed to his disciples and said, "Look, these are my mother and brothers.G2532G1614G846G5495G1909G846G3101G2036G2400G3450G3384G2532G3450G80 50Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!"G1063G3748G302G4160G2307G3450G3962G3588G1722G3772G846G2076G3450G80G2532G79G2532G3384
13Later that same day Jesus left the house and sat beside the lake.G1161G1722G1565G2250G1831G2424G575G3614G2521G3844G2281 2A large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat there and taught as the people stood on the shore.G2532G4183G3793G4863G4314G846G5620G846G1684G1519G4143G2521G2532G3956G3793G2476G1909G123 3He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: "Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds.G2532G2980G4183G846G1722G3850G3004G2400G4687G1831G4687 4As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them.G2532G1722G846G4687G3739G3303G4098G3844G3598G2532G4071G2064G2532G2719G846G2719 5Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow.G1161G243G4098G1909G4075G3699G2192G3756G4183G1093G2532G2112G1816G1223G2192G3361G899G1093 6But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn't have deep roots, they died.G1161G2246G393G2739G2532G1223G2192G3361G4491G3583 7Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants.G1161G243G4098G1909G173G2532G173G305G2532G638G846 8Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!G1161G243G4098G1909G2570G1093G2532G1325G2590G3739G3303G1540G1161G3739G1835G1161G3739G5144 9Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand."G3588G2192G3775G191G191 10His disciples came and asked him, "Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?"G2532G3101G4334G2036G846G1302G2980G846G1722G3850 11He replied, "You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not.G611G1161G2036G846G3754G1325G5213G1097G3466G932G3772G1161G1565G1325G3756G1325 12To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.G1063G3748G2192G846G1325G2532G4052G1161G3748G2192G3756G575G846G142G2532G3739G2192 13That is why I use these parables, For they look, but they don't really see. They hear, but they don't really listen or understand.G1223G5124G2980G846G1722G3850G3754G991G991G3756G2532G191G191G3756G3761G4920 14This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says, 'When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend.G2532G1909G846G378G4394G2268G3588G3004G189G191G2532G4920G3364G4920G2532G991G991G2532G1492G3364G1492 15For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes—so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.'G1063G5127G2992G2588G3975G2532G3775G917G191G2532G846G3788G2576G3379G1492G3788G2532G191G3775G2532G4920G2588G2532G1994G2532G2390G846 16"But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.G1161G3107G5216G3788G3754G991G2532G5216G3775G3754G191 17I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn't see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn't hear it.G1063G281G3004G5213G3754G4183G4396G2532G1342G1937G1492G3739G991G2532G1492G3756G1492G2532G191G3739G191G2532G191G3756G191 18"Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds.G191G5210G3767G3850G4687 19The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don't understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts.G3956G191G3056G932G2532G4920G3361G2064G4190G2532G726G3588G4687G1722G846G2588G3778G2076G4687G3844G3598 20The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy.G1161G4687G1909G4075G3778G2076G191G3056G2532G2117G3326G5479G2983G846 21But since they don't have deep roots, they don't last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God's word.G1161G2192G3756G4491G1722G1438G235G2076G4340G1161G2347G2228G1375G1096G1223G3056G2117G4624 22The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God's word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced.G1161G4687G1519G173G2076G3778G191G3056G2532G3308G5127G165G2532G539G4149G4846G3056G2532G1096G175 23The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God's word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!"G1161G4687G1909G2570G1093G2076G3778G191G3056G2532G4920G3739G1211G2592G2532G4160G3739G3303G1540G1161G3739G1835G1161G3739G5144 24Here is another story Jesus told: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field.G243G3850G3908G846G3004G932G3772G3666G444G4687G4687G2570G4690G1722G846G68 25But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away.G1161G1722G444G2518G846G2190G2064G2532G4687G2215G303G3319G4621G2532G565 26When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew.G1161G3753G5528G985G2532G4160G2590G5119G5316G2215G2532 27"The farmer's workers went to him and said, 'Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds! Where did they come from?'G1161G1401G3617G4334G2036G846G2962G4687G3780G4687G2570G4690G1722G4674G68G4159G3767G2192G2215 28"'An enemy has done this!' the farmer exclaimed. "'Should we pull out the weeds?' they asked.G1161G5346G846G2190G444G4160G5124G1161G1401G2036G846G2309G3767G565G4816G846G4816 29"'No,' he replied, 'you'll uproot the wheat if you do.G1161G5346G3756G3379G4816G2215G1610G4621G260G846 30Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.'"G863G297G4885G3360G2326G2532G1722G2540G2326G2046G2327G4816G4412G2215G2532G1210G846G1519G1197G4314G2618G846G1161G4863G4621G1519G3450G596 31Here is another illustration Jesus used: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field.G243G3850G3908G846G3004G932G3772G2076G3664G2848G4615G3739G444G2983G4687G1722G846G68 32It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches."G3739G3303G2076G3398G3956G4690G1161G3752G837G2076G3187G3001G2532G1096G1186G5620G4071G3772G2064G2532G2681G1722G2798G846 33Jesus also used this illustration: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough."G243G3850G2980G846G932G3772G2076G3664G2219G3739G1135G2983G1470G1519G5140G4568G224G2193G3650G3739G2220 34Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds. In fact, he never spoke to them without using such parables.G3956G5023G2980G2424G3793G1722G3850G2532G5565G3850G2980G3756G846 35This fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet: "I will speak to you in parables. I will explain things hidden since the creation of the world."G3704G4137G3588G4483G1223G4396G3004G455G3450G4750G1722G3850G2044G2928G575G2602G2889 36Then, leaving the crowds outside, Jesus went into the house. His disciples said, "Please explain to us the story of the weeds in the field."G5119G2424G863G3793G863G2064G1519G3614G2532G846G3101G4334G846G3004G5419G2254G3850G2215G68 37Jesus replied, "The Son of Man is the farmer who plants the good seed.G611G1161G2036G846G4687G2570G4690G2076G5207G444 38The field is the world, and the good seed represents the people of the Kingdom. The weeds are the people who belong to the evil one.G1161G68G2076G2889G1161G2570G4690G3778G1526G5207G932G1161G2215G1526G5207G4190 39The enemy who planted the weeds among the wheat is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world, and the harvesters are the angels.G1161G2190G4687G846G2076G1228G1161G2326G2076G4930G165G1161G2327G1526G32 40"Just as the weeds are sorted out and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the world.G5618G3767G2215G4816G2532G2618G4442G3779G2071G1722G4930G5127G165 41The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will remove from his Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.G5207G444G649G846G32G2532G4816G1537G846G932G3956G4625G2532G4160G458 42And the angels will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.G2532G906G846G1519G2575G4442G1563G2071G2805G2532G1030G3599 43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father's Kingdom. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!G5119G1342G1584G5613G2246G1722G932G846G3962G3588G2192G3775G191G191 44"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.G3825G932G3772G2076G3664G2344G2928G1722G68G3739G444G2147G2928G2532G575G5479G846G5217G2532G4453G3956G3745G2192G2532G59G1565G68 45"Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls.G3825G932G3772G2076G3664G1713G444G2212G2570G3135 46When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!G3739G2147G1520G3135G4186G565G4097G3956G3745G2192G2532G59G846 47"Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that was thrown into the water and caught fish of every kind.G3825G932G3772G2076G3664G4522G906G1519G2281G2532G4863G1537G3956G1085 48When the net was full, they dragged it up onto the shore, sat down, and sorted the good fish into crates, but threw the bad ones away.G3739G3753G4137G307G1909G123G2532G2523G4816G2570G1519G30G1161G906G4550G1854 49That is the way it will be at the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked people from the righteous,G3779G2071G1722G4930G165G32G1831G2532G873G4190G1537G3319G1342 50throwing the wicked into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.G2532G906G846G1519G2575G4442G1563G2071G2805G2532G1030G3599 51Do you understand all these things?" "Yes," they said, "we do."G2424G3004G846G4920G3956G5023G3956G3004G846G3483G2962 52Then he added, "Every teacher of religious law who becomes a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a homeowner who brings from his storeroom new gems of truth as well as old."G1161G2036G846G1223G5124G3956G1122G3100G1519G932G3772G2076G3664G444G3617G3748G1544G1537G846G2344G2537G2532G3820 53When Jesus had finished telling these stories and illustrations, he left that part of the country.G2532G1096G3753G2424G5055G5025G3850G3332G1564 54He returned to Nazareth, his hometown. When he taught there in the synagogue, everyone was amazed and said, "Where does he get this wisdom and the power to do miracles?"G2532G2064G1519G846G3968G1321G846G1722G846G4864G5620G846G1605G2532G3004G4159G5129G3778G4678G2532G1411 55Then they scoffed, "He's just the carpenter's son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers—James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas.G2076G3756G3778G5045G5207G3004G3780G846G3384G3004G3137G2532G846G80G2385G2532G2500G2532G4613G2532G2455 56All his sisters live right here among us. Where did he learn all these things?"G2532G846G79G1526G3780G3956G4314G2248G4159G3767G5129G3956G5023 57And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. Then Jesus told them, "A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family."G2532G4624G1722G846G1161G2424G2036G846G4396G2076G3756G820G1508G1722G846G3968G2532G1722G846G3614 58And so he did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief.G2532G4160G3756G4183G1411G1563G1223G846G570
Dublin, OH
G1161
