The Parable of the Net

47Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea and caught all kinds of fish.48When it was full, the men pulled it ashore. Then they sat down and sorted the good fish into containers, but threw the bad away.49So will it be at the end of the age: The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous,50and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.51Have you understood all these things?” “Yes,” they answered.

52Then He told them, “For this reason, every scribe who has been discipled in the kingdom of heaven is like a homeowner who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”

The Rejection at Nazareth

53When Jesus had finished these parables, He withdrew from that place.54Coming to His hometown, He taught the people in their synagogue, and they were astonished. “Where did this man get such wisdom and miraculous powers?” they asked.55“Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t His mother’s name Mary, and aren’t His brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?56Aren’t all His sisters with us as well? Where then did this man get all these things?”57And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown and in his own household is a prophet without honor.”58And He did not do many miracles there, because of their unbelief.

The Beheading of John

1At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus2and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”3Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,4because John had been telling him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”5Although Herod wanted to kill John, he was afraid of the people, because they regarded John as a prophet.6On Herod’s birthday, however, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod7so much that he promised with an oath to give to her whatever she asked.8Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”

9The king was grieved, but because of his oaths and his guests, he ordered that her wish be granted10and sent to have John beheaded in the prison.11John’s head was brought in on a platter and presented to the girl, who carried it to her mother.12Then John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. And they went and informed Jesus.

The Feeding of the Five Thousand

13When Jesus heard about John, He withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. But the crowds found out about it and followed Him on foot from the towns.

14When He stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them and healed their sick.15When evening came, the disciples came to Him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is already late. Dismiss the crowds so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”

16“They do not need to go away,” Jesus replied. “You give them something to eat.”

17“We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.

18“Bring them here to Me,” Jesus said.19And He directed the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He spoke a blessing. Then He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.20They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.21About five thousand men were fed, in addition to women and children.

Jesus Walks on Water

22Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds.23After He had sent them away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone,24but the boat was already far from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.25During the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea.26When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and cried out in fear.27But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”

28“Lord, if it is You,” Peter replied, “command me to come to You on the water.”

29“Come,” said Jesus. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus.30But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

31Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?”32And when they had climbed back into the boat, the wind died down.33Then those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God!”

Jesus Heals at Gennesaret

34When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret.35And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding region. People brought all the sick to Him36and begged Him just to let them touch the fringe of His cloak. And all who touched Him were healed.

The Tradition of the Elders

1Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked,2“Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They do not wash their hands before they eat.”

3Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?4For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’5But you say that if anyone says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever you would have received from me is a gift devoted to God,’6he need not honor his father or mother with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition.7You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you:

What Defiles a Man

10Jesus called the crowd to Him and said, “Listen and understand.11A man is not defiled by what enters his mouth, but by what comes out of it.”

12Then the disciples came to Him and said, “Are You aware that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?”

13But Jesus replied, “Every plant that My heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by its roots.14Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”

15Peter said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.”

16“Do you still not understand?” Jesus asked.17“Do you not yet realize that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then is eliminated?18But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these things defile a man.19For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander.20These are what defile a man, but eating with unwashed hands does not defile him.”

The Faith of the Canaanite Woman

21Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon.22And a Canaanite woman from that region came to Him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is miserably possessed by a demon.”

23But Jesus did not answer a word. So His disciples came and urged Him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”

24He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

25The woman came and knelt before Him. “Lord, help me!” she said.

26But Jesus replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

27“Yes, Lord,” she said, “even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

28“O woman,” Jesus answered, “your faith is great! Let it be done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

The Feeding of the Four Thousand

29Moving on from there, Jesus went along the Sea of Galilee. Then He went up on a mountain and sat down.30Large crowds came to Him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and laid them at His feet, and He healed them.31The crowd was amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled restored, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel.

32Then Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “I have compassion for this crowd, because they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may faint along the way.”