19:41 When he drew near, he saw the city and wept over it, 19:42 saying, "If you, even you, had known today the things which belong to your peace! But now, they are hidden from your eyes. 19:43 For the days will come on you, when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, surround you, hem you in on every side, 19:44 and will dash you and your children within you to the ground. They will not leave in you one stone on another, because you didn"t know the time of your visitation."
19:45 He entered into the temple, and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it, 19:46 saying to them, "It is written, "My house is a house of prayer,"* but you have made it a "den of robbers"!"*
19:47 He was teaching daily in the temple, but the chief priests and the scribes and the leading men among the people sought to destroy him.
19:48 They couldn"t find what they might do, for all the people hung on to every word that he said.
20:1 It happened on one of those days, as he was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the Good News, that the *priests and scribes came to him with the elders. 20:2 They asked him, "Tell us: by what authority do you do these things? Or who is giving you this authority?"
20:3 He answered them, "I also will ask you one question. Tell me: 20:4 the baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men?"
20:5 They reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we say, "From heaven,"
he will say, "Why didn"t you believe him?" 20:6 But if we say, "From men," all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet." 20:7 They answered that they didn"t know where it was from.
20:8 Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."
20:9 He began to tell the people this parable. "A *man planted a vineyard, and rented it out to some farmers, and went into another country for a long time. 20:10 At the proper season, he sent a servant to the farmers to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard. But the farmers beat him, and sent him away empty. 20:11 He sent yet another servant, and they also beat him, and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty. 20:12 He sent yet a third, and they also wounded him, and threw him out. 20:13 The lord of the vineyard said, "What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. It may be that seeing him, they will respect him."
20:14 "But when the farmers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, "This is the heir. Come, let"s kill him, that the inheritance may be ours." 20:15 They threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.
What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do to them? 20:16 He will come and destroy these farmers, and will give the vineyard to others."
When they heard it, they said, "May it never be!"
20:17 But he looked at them, and said, "Then what is this that is written,
"The stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the chief cornerstone?"* 20:18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but it will crush whomever it falls on to dust." 20:19 The chief priests and the scribes sought to lay hands on him that very hour, but they feared the people--for they knew he had spoken this parable against them. 20:20 They watched him, and sent out spies, who pretended to be righteous, that they might trap him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the power and authority of the governor. 20:21 They asked him, "Teacher, we know that you say and teach what is right, and aren"t partial to anyone, but truly teach the way of G.o.d. 20:22 Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?"
20:23 But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, "Why do you test me? 20:24 Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?"
They answered, "Caesar"s."
20:25 He said to them, "Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar"s, and to G.o.d the things that are G.o.d"s."
20:26 They weren"t able to trap him in his words before the people. They marveled at his answer, and were silent. 20:27 Some of the Sadducees came to him, those who deny that there is a resurrection. 20:28 They asked him, "Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man"s brother dies having a wife, and he is childless, his brother should take the wife, and raise up children for his brother. 20:29 There were therefore seven brothers. The first took a wife, and died childless. 20:30 The second took her as wife, and he died childless. 20:31 The third took her, and likewise the seven all left no children, and died. 20:32 Afterward the woman also died. 20:33 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them will she be? For the seven had her as a wife."
20:34 Jesus said to them, "The children of this age marry, and are given in marriage. 20:35 But those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage. 20:36 For they can"t die any more, for they are like the angels, and are children of G.o.d, being children of the resurrection.
20:37 But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed at the bush, when he called the Lord "The G.o.d of Abraham, the G.o.d of Isaac, and the G.o.d of Jacob."* 20:38 Now he is not the G.o.d of the dead, but of the living, for all are alive to him."
20:39 Some of the scribes answered, "Teacher, you speak well." 20:40 They didn"t dare to ask him any more questions.
20:41 He said to them, "Why do they say that the Christ is David"s son?
20:42 David himself says in the book of Psalms,
"The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, 20:43 until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet.""* 20:44 "David therefore calls him Lord, so how is he his son?"
20:45 In the hearing of all the people, he said to his disciples, 20:46 "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts; 20:47 who devour widows" houses, and for a pretense make long prayers: these will receive greater condemnation."
21:1 He looked up, and saw the rich people who were putting their gifts into the treasury. 21:2 He saw a certain poor widow casting in two small bra.s.s coins. 21:3 He said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow put in more than all of them, 21:4 for all these put in gifts for G.o.d from their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, put in all that she had to live on."
21:5 As some were talking about the temple and how it was decorated with beautiful stones and gifts, he said, 21:6 "As for these things which you see, the days will come, in which there will not be left here one stone on another that will not be thrown down."
21:7 They asked him, "Teacher, so when will these things be? What is the sign that these things are about to happen?"
21:8 He said, "Watch out that you don"t get led astray, for many will come in my name, saying, "I am he," and, "The time is at hand."
Therefore don"t follow them. 21:9 When you hear of wars and disturbances, don"t be terrified, for these things must happen first, but the end won"t come immediately."
21:10 Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 21:11 There will be great earthquakes, famines, and plagues in various places. There will be terrors and great signs from heaven. 21:12 But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for my name"s sake.
21:13 It will turn out as a testimony for you. 21:14 Settle it therefore in your hearts not to meditate beforehand how to answer, 21:15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to withstand or to contradict. 21:16 You will be handed over even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends. They will cause some of you to be put to death. 21:17 You will be hated by all men for my name"s sake. 21:18 And not a hair of your head will perish.
21:19 "By your endurance you will win your lives.
21:20 "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is at hand. 21:21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let those who are in the midst of her depart. Let those who are in the country not enter therein. 21:22 For these are days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 21:23 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who nurse infants in those days!
For there will be great distress in the land, and wrath to this people.
21:24 They will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. 21:25 There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; and on the earth anxiety of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the waves; 21:26 men fainting for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world: for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 21:27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
21:28 But when these things begin to happen, look up, and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near."
21:29 He told them a parable. "See the fig tree, and all the trees.
21:30 When they are already budding, you see it and know by your own selves that the summer is already near. 21:31 Even so you also, when you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of G.o.d is near. 21:32 Most certainly I tell you, this generation will not pa.s.s away until all things are accomplished. 21:33 Heaven and earth will pa.s.s away, but my words will by no means pa.s.s away.
21:34 "So be careful, or your hearts will be loaded down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day will come on you suddenly. 21:35 For it will come like a snare on all those who dwell on the surface of all the earth. 21:36 Therefore be watchful all the time, praying that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will happen, and to stand before the Son of Man."
21:37 Every day Jesus was teaching in the temple, and every night he would go out and spend the night on the mountain that is called Olivet.
21:38 All the people came early in the morning to him in the temple to hear him.
22:1 Now the feast of unleavened bread, which is called the Pa.s.sover, drew near. 22:2 The chief priests and the scribes sought how they might put him to death, for they feared the people. 22:3 Satan entered into Judas, who was surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered with the twelve. 22:4 He went away, and talked with the chief priests and captains about how he might deliver him to them. 22:5 They were glad, and agreed to give him money. 22:6 He consented, and sought an opportunity to deliver him to them in the absence of the mult.i.tude. 22:7 The day of unleavened bread came, on which the Pa.s.sover must be sacrificed. 22:8 He sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Pa.s.sover for us, that we may eat."
22:9 They said to him, "Where do you want us to prepare?"
22:10 He said to them, "Behold, when you have entered into the city, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him into the house which he enters. 22:11 Tell the master of the house, "The Teacher says to you, "Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Pa.s.sover with my disciples?"" 22:12 He will show you a large, furnished upper room. Make preparations there."
22:13 They went, found things as he had told them, and they prepared the Pa.s.sover. 22:14 When the hour had come, he sat down with the twelve apostles. 22:15 He said to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this Pa.s.sover with you before I suffer, 22:16 for I tell you, I will no longer by any means eat of it until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of G.o.d." 22:17 He received a cup, and when he had given thanks, he said, "Take this, and share it among yourselves, 22:18 for I tell you, I will not drink at all again from the fruit of the vine, until the Kingdom of G.o.d comes."
22:19 He took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and gave to them, saying, "This is my body which is given for you. Do this in memory of me." 22:20 Likewise, he took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
22:21 But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. 22:22 The Son of Man indeed goes, as it has been determined, but woe to that man through whom he is betrayed!"
22:23 They began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing. 22:24 There arose also a contention among them, which of them was considered to be greatest. 22:25 He said to them, "The kings of the nations lord it over them, and those who have authority over them are called "benefactors." 22:26 But not so with you. But one who is the greater among you, let him become as the younger, and one who is governing, as one who serves. 22:27 For who is greater, one who sits at the table, or one who serves? Isn"t it he who sits at the table? But I am in the midst of you as one who serves. 22:28 But you are those who have continued with me in my trials. 22:29 I confer on you a kingdom, even as my Father conferred on me, 22:30 that you may eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom. You will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."
22:31 The Lord said, "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat, 22:32 but I prayed for you, that your faith wouldn"t fail. You, when once you have turned again, establish your brothers."
22:33 He said to him, "Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death!"
22:34 He said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster will by no means crow today until you deny that you know me three times."
22:35 He said to them, "When I sent you out without purse, and wallet, and shoes, did you lack anything?"
They said, "Nothing."
22:36 Then he said to them, "But now, whoever has a purse, let him take it, and likewise a wallet. Whoever has none, let him sell his cloak, and buy a sword. 22:37 For I tell you that this which is written must still be fulfilled in me: "He was counted with the lawless."* For that which concerns me has an end."