Upon coming into Galilee again, Jesus no doubt went home to Capernaum, though he did not stay long. The Spirit led him northward out of Israel, through the central hills to the Mediterranean coast. During this period, the Pharisees sent men to spy him out, for they had decided officially, by council meeting, to kill him. Jesus went away to the district of Tyre. And he entered into a house in such a way as to let no one know, but he could not be hidden. As soon as a woman heard about him, whose daughter had an unclean spirit, she came and knelt at his feet. She was a Greek-Canaanite woman, a Syrophoenician by origin, and she asked him if he would expel the demon from her daughter: "Pity me, Lord, son of David! My daughter is badly demon-possessed."

But very much unlike his previous ministry, Jesus answered not a word. His disciples noticed this apparent intolerance, which was more like the way they'd handle the situation, and they approached Jesus urging: "Dismiss her, because she cries out behind us."

Jesus said to her, "I was not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel," thus testing her faith. If she became angry, she would fail the test; if not, she would pass.

She came and worshipping before Jesus: "Lord, help me."

"It is not good to take the bread of the children and to throw it to the dogs," Jesus pressed her with what others would have taken as a dire insult.

"Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat from the crumbs that fall from the table of their masters."

"Oh, woman! Great is your faith! Let it be as you have desired!" And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went further northward through Sidon, down to the sea of Galilee and further south into the middle of the district of Decapolis, nearer to Jerusalem. And going up into the mountain, he there sat down. And, crowds approached having among them the lame, the maimed, the blind, the mute, and many others. They cast them at his feet, and he healed them. The people were amazed...and they praised the God of Israel. Jesus called forward his disciples and informed them, "I am filled with tenderness over the crowd, for they have stayed with me for three days now and do not have anything to eat. I am not willing to let them go without food, in case they collapse on their way; some of them are from far away."

"Where could we get enough bread in this desert to satisfy such a great crowd?"

"How many loaves do you have?"

"Seven," they said, "and a few small fish."

Having instructed the crowd to get down on the ground, he took the seven loaves and the fish, and giving thanks, he broke and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples to the crowds. Everyone ate and was satisfied, and they took seven full baskets of excess pieces. The ones who ate were 4,000 men, apart from woman and children. And then dismissing the crowds, he climbed into a boat with his disciples, and came to the borders of Magadan, and into the region of Dalmanutha.

Pharisees and Sadducees approached and began to debate with him, seeking from him a miracle, and tempting him to anger. And groaning in his spirit, he said, "When evening comes on, you say, 'Fair weather!' for the sky is red. And in the morning, "Today will be stormy,' for the overcast sky is red. You know to discern the face of the sky, but the signs of the times you cannot! An evil and adulterous kind seeks a miraculous sign, but a sign shall not be given to it except the sign of Jonah."

Leaving them, he went away by boat. And as the disciples were coming to the other side, they realized they forgot to take the loaves; except for one loaf, they had none in the boat. Jesus said to them, "Beware and take heed the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the yeast of Herod," (Herod's territory reached into the Decapolis).

The disciples reflected among themselves over Jesus' words and, not getting it, decided: "It's because we forgot to bring the loaves."

"Why do you reflect among yourselves, little-faiths, because you don't have loaves? Do you not understand, nor remember the five loaves for the 5,000, and how many baskets you took in?

"Twelve."

And when I broke the seven loaves for the 4,000, how many baskets full of pieces did you took in?"

"Seven."

How do you not understand that I was not concerned for bread when I said, 'Take heed the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees'?

Then they understood that he was not talking about taking heed of the yeast in bread, but about the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees,

They arrived at Bethsaida just 4 miles from Jesus' home. The people brought to him a blind man, and he begged Jesus to touch him. Laying hold of the blind man's hand, Jesus led him outside the village, where he spit in his eyes as he placed his hands on him. "See anything," he asked.

Looking up, he mused, "I see men as if they were trees walking about."

Jesus again placed his hands on his eyes, and the man stared persistently until his sight was restored and could see all things clearly. Jesus sent him to his home, demanding: "You may not go into the village."

Then reloading with supplies, just as the Pharisees were catching up with his whereabouts, Jesus went north again with his disciples, as far as the village of Caesarea-Philippi. Along the way, he questioned his disciples: "Who do men say the Son of Man is?"

"Some say indeed John the Baptist, and others Elijah, while others suggest Jeremiah or one of the prophets."

"But who do you claim me to be?"

"You are the Christ," answered Simon Peter with passion, "the Son of the living God!"

"Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal it to you but rather my Father in Heaven. I also say to you: 'You are Peter (Rock), and on this rock I will build the church from myself.' And the gates of the grave will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on the earth shall be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loosen on the earth shall be loosened in Heaven."

Then he warned the disciples that they should tell no one (in Caesarea-Philippi?) that he is the Messiah. From this point, Jesus Christ began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem to suffer many things from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes; that he must be killed, and on the third day must rise. And Peter, who now felt compelled as the appointed leader to show some leadership bravado, took him and began to rebuke him, saying, "May you live forever, Lord! By no means shall this happen to you."

But Jesus turned and humbled Peter before the others: "Get behind me, "Satan!" You are an offense to me, because you think not the things of God, but the things of men." And in this way did Jesus try to keep his Twelve humble. The last thing he needed was a leadership which stood up regularly trying to maneuver his mission in such a way as they thought best.

"If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and let him take his cross, and let him follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life, he will lose it; whoever loses his life for my sake, he will find it. For what will it benefit a man if he should gain the entire world but lose his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is about to come in the glory of his Father, with his angels, and then he will reward each man according to his conduct. Whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful human kind, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when he comes with his holy angels in the glory of his Father. Then, concerning the glory three of the apostles were about to witness six days later, he said, "Amen, I tell you, some are standing here who by no means will taste death until they see the Son of Man appearing in his kingdom."

Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and he led them alone up a high mountain near Caesarea-Philippi to humble them. Then he was transformed before them so that his face shone like the sun while his garments became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah were seen conversing with him. Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you desire, I will make here three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." (He didn't know what he was saying; they were all so extremely afraid.) And as he was speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them (like a tent?), and behold, a voice came out of the cloud: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I've been well pleased; listen to him."

Hearing this, the disciples fell on their faces. Jesus approached and touched them, saying, "Rise and do not fear." And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus there by himself. Yet, they were not yet properly humbled, as we shall see. This was only the beginning.

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them not to relate the things which they saw to anyone until the Son of Man should rise from the dead. And they held it to themselves, discussing what "rise from the dead" meant.

Having just seen Elijah, they questioned Jesus: "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"

"Elijah indeed comes first and restores all things, but I tell you that Elijah already came and they did not recognize him, but they did to him whatever they wished. So also the Son of Man is about to suffer because of them."

Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.

Arriving to the place where the other disciples were, at the bottom of the mountain, they saw a large crowd surrounding them with the scribes debating among them. Alas, the scribes had caught up to Jesus again, but they were a long ways off from the Jerusalem headquarters. As soon as the crowd saw Jesus, they were greatly astonished, and running up to him they greeted him. A man falling on his knees said to him, "Lord, pity my son, because he is moonstruck and ill; he often falls into fires and into water. So I brought him to your disciples, and they were not able to heal him..."

"Oh, unbelieving and perverted kind," Jesus interjected to humble his disciples yet some more, "how long shall I be with you? How long shall I endure you? Bring him here to me." So they brought him to Jesus. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy with violence, and falling to the ground he wallowed while foaming at the mouth.

"How long has he been like this," Jesus asked the father.

"From childhood...but if you can do anything, have compassion and help us..."

"If you can?" Jesus interrupted again. "All things are possible to the one who believes through me."

"I believe!" the father cried out. "Help me for my disbelief."

Seeing that a crowd was running towards the scene, Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit: "Dumb and deaf spirit! I command you, come forth out of him, and never again may you enter into him."

With outcries and great convulsing it came out, and the boy seemed so dead that many said he had died. But Jesus took hold of his hand and raised him so that he stood up.

Then the disciples approached Jesus privately and asked, "Why were we not able to expel it?"

"Because of your little faith: for truly, I tell you, if you have faith inasmuch as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move over there,' and it will be removed, and nothing will be impossible to you."

Going on from there, they passed on through Galilee, and he wanted no one to know because he was teaching his disciples: "The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill him, but after three days he will rise up." And the disciples were filled with grief, but they did not understand, and were afraid to ask.

Coming to Capernaum, those who collect the two-drachmae tax approached Peter and asked, "Does not your teacher pay the drachmae?"

And coming into the house, Jesus spoke up first and asked, "How does it seem to you, Simon, from whom do the kings of the earth take fees and taxes, from their sons or from strangers?"

"From strangers."

"So the sons of the kingdom are free. But lest we should offend them, cast a hook as you go to the sea, and take the first fish which comes up; open its mouth and you will find a stater. Take that and give it to them for me and for you." And Peter gave Jesus' question some thought as he waited for the fish to become hooked. And he was humbled when Jesus asked him, "the leader," to go hook a fish, but especially so when the coin was indeed found in its mouth.

At that time, while in the house, Jesus questioned them: "What were you all debating along the way from the mountain?" And they were silent; for along the way they had debated who was greater. Then taking a seat, he called the Twelve and said to them, "If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all."

"Who, then, is greater in the kingdom of Heaven?" they asked him.

He called forward a child and sat him in their midst: "Truly, I tell you that unless you change and become like children, you will by no means enter into the kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, he who humbles himself like this child, that one is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven. Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me; but for the one who abuses one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be expedient that an upper millstone should be hanged round his neck and he then be drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world for its offenses! Such offensiveness must certainly occur, but woe to the man through whom they occur. Now, if your hand or your foot causes you to fall prey to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is best for you to go through life maimed or lame rather than having two hands and two feet only to be thrown into the eternal fire. If your eye causes you to fall prey to sin, pluck it out and throw it away; it is best for you to go through life one-eyed rather than having two eyes and then being thrown into the fire of hell. See to it that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I tell you that their angels in Heaven always see the face of my Father in Heaven."

John spoke up: "Teacher, we saw someone expelling demons in your name, who does not follow us, but we forbade him...because he was not following us..."

"Don't forbid him, for there is no one who would sincerely do a mighty work in my name and who will then be able to speak immediately evil of me. For whoever is not against us is for us." But Jesus was not referring to the imposters who perform miracles in his name for money.

"Salt is good, but if it becomes unsalty, how will you spicen things? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace among one another."

"Now, if your brother sins, go and reprove him between you and he alone. If he listens to you, you have gained a brother; but if he doesn't listen, take one or two with you that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every claim may be confirmed. If he refuses to listen to them, announce it to the church; if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be as a pagan or a tax-collector in your eyes. Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind (whoever you accept) on the earth shall be bound in Heaven, and whatever things you loosen (whoever you reject) on the earth shall be loosened in Heaven.

"Again, truly I tell you that if two or three of you on earth agree concerning everything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in Heaven. For where two or three have been assembled in my name, there am I in their midst."

Then Peter came near and said, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?"

"I tell you, not seven times, but up to seventy-seven times,"Jesus responded. "So now, the kingdom of Heaven is like a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. And beginning with a debtor who owed ten thousand talents, he was taken and brought before the king. Not having enough to repay, his lord ordered that he be sold with his wife and children along with whatever else he had in order to make payment. So the servant fell prostrate in reverence before the king, begging: 'Withhold your anger over me, and I will repay everything.' And filled with tenderness the lord of that servant released him, and forgave the loan.

"But when the servant was going out, he found a fellow servant, who owed him a hundred denarii. He seized and strangled him, demanding: 'If you owe me something, repay it!'

"So the fellow servant fell down and begged: 'Withhold your anger over me, and I will repay you.'

"But he didn't want any of it. Instead, he went and threw the servant into prison until he should repay what was owing. When all the fellow servants saw what had happened, they were extremely grieved. They came to their lord and explained all that had taken place. So the lord called forward the man and said to him, 'Wicked servant! I forgave all your debt since you begged me; did it not require you to pity your fellow servant as I pitied you?' And being angry his lord delivered him to the tormentors until he should repay everything owing to him. Thus will my heavenly Father also treat you unless you forgive each one of your brothers from your hearts."

One of the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith."

"If you have faith like a mustard seed, you might have said to this sycamine tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would have obeyed you." Jesus said this to show that great faith is not the key to performing great deeds, that the smallest of faith is sufficient to perform the mightiest of deeds. Then he went on to disclose a parable which taught the secret of performing works, that it is the quality of faith that counts, which is not at all what the modern "prosperity-gospel" preachers are teaching:

"Who of you having a servant ploughing or herding will say to him as he comes in from the field, 'Come in quick and sit down to eat' instead of saying, 'Prepare something that I may eat, and upon preparing yourself serve me until I eat and drink; then, after that, you eat and drink?' The servant is not given thanks, is he, just because he did what he was ordered?

"So you also, if you want miracle-working faith, after you have done the things commanded of you, say to yourselves, 'We are unprofitable servants; we have only done what we're supposed to.'" In other words, serving others is the key to working great works, for service builds the quality of faith, and quality is the strength of faith. But we are to go beyond mere duty in serving God, and not be as the union workers, for example, who merely do their prescribed quota of work for their employers. Serve the Lord your God as if you were a son who cares for the increase of His business, and not as one interested only in getting paid.

After speaking these words, the days for the fulfillment of his ascension arrived and Jesus set his face to go to Jerusalem. He sent some messengers in front of him, who entered a Samaritan village to prepare things for Jesus. Leaving Galilee, Jesus passed along the median between Samaria and Galilee. Upon coming to a certain village, he came across ten leprous men. They stood far off, and shouted: "Jesus, master, pity us."

"As you go, show yourselves to the priests," yelled back Jesus. And as they went, they were cleansed. But one of them, seeing he was cured, returned with a loud voice, glorifying God, falling with his face at the feet of Jesus, and thanking him. And he was a Samaritan.

Jesus pointed out, "Were ten not cleansed? But where are the nine? Has only this one foreigner returned to give glory to God?" And he said to him, "Rise up and go. Your faith has healed you."

When Jesus got to the village where his messengers had prepared for him, the Samaritans did not receive him because he was going to Jerusalem, and they didn't like Jews or Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire to come down from Heaven to destroy them?" Turning to them, Jesus rebuked them. And they went to another village.

Large crowds followed him southward, but because the Pharisees were plotting to take his life, he went into the Jordanian country near the desert, in a city called Ephraim, and there stayed with the disciples. The Passover of the Jews was near, and many from the country went up to Jerusalem prior to the Passover, that they might purify themselves. They looked for Jesus in the Temple and asked each other, "What do you think; will he not come to the feast?"

The chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should inform them so that they might arrest him. They soon discovered he was in the Jordan wilderness, and not knowing just how they were going to arrest him, some Pharisees approached Jesus to test him: "Is it lawful for a man to dismiss his wife for any cause?"

"Have you not read," Jesus replied, "that the One who created them from the beginning made them male and female? For this very reason, a man shall leave father and mother and shall cling to his wife so that the two will become one flesh. So, they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has yoked together, let a man not break apart."

"So why did Moses require a document of divorce given for a dismissal?"

"In view of your hardened hearts did Moses allow you to dismiss your wives, but it was not so from the beginning. I say to you that whoever dismisses his wife for a reason other than fornication, and marries another, commits adultery."

The disciples interjected: "So if this is the result of a man with a wife, it is not expedient to marry?"

"Not all men can accept this teaching, but only those to whom it has been given. For there are eunuchs who were born that way from the womb; there are those who were made eunuchs by men; and there are those who make themselves eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven. The one being able to accept it, let him accept it."

To some who were relying on themselves, in that they thought themselves to be righteous while despising the rest, he told this parable: "Two men went up to the Temple to pray, the one a Pharisee and the other a tax-collector. The Pharisee said these things to himself as he stood praying: 'God, I thank you that I am not as the rest of men--extracting, unjust, adulterous, or even as this tax-collector. I fast twice a week, and I tithe from all that I make.'

"But the tax-collector stood far off and would not even lift up his eyes to Heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, pity me, a sinner!' I tell you that this man went down to his house justified rather than that other one, because everyone exalting himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

When they were in the house, the disciples questioned him about marriage. So Jesus reiterated, leaving no room for what men would like to have: "Whoever dismisses his wife and marries another, he commits adultery with her; and if she, after dismissing her husband, marries another, she commits adultery."

Children were then brought to Jesus, that he should place his hands on them and pray. But the disciples, thinking they were being properly mindful of Jesus, rebuked those who did so. But Jesus said, "Permit the little children; don't prevent them from coming to me. For of such is the kingdom of Heaven." And placing his hands on them, he left that place.

And, behold, as he went out along the road, someone came running towards him and kneeled, asking, "Teacher, what good thing may I do that I may have eternal life?"

"Why do you ask concerning goodness? No one is good except One--God! If you wish to enter life, keep the commandments."

"Which ones?"

"You shall not kill; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honor your father and mother; and You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

"Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth," the young man came back. "What do I yet lack?"

But Jesus loved him and looked at him, saying. "One thing you lack. If you wish to be perfect, go sell all your belongings and give them to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven; then come follow me."

Upon hearing this word, the young man went away grieving, for he had many possessions. So Jesus taught his disciples: "Truly, truly, I tell you that a rich man will enter into the kingdom of God with great difficulty. Again, I tell you that it is easier for a camel to enter through the eye of a needle than a rich man into the kingdom of God."

And hearing this, the disciples were completely struck: "Who, then, can be saved," they asked, thinking that Jesus was making salvation extremely difficult as a rule.

Looking upon them, Jesus assured them, "With men, this salvation is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Peter spoke up: "Behold, we left all things to follow you; what, then, will there be for us?"

"Truly, I tell you, that you who have followed me will also sit yourselves upon twelve thrones judging the tribes of Israel when the Son of Man sits on his throne of glory in the restoration. And everyone who's left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for the sake of my name will receive manifold, as well as eternal life. But many will be last who are first, and first who are last.

"For the kingdom of Heaven is like a homeowner who went out early in the morning to hire workmen for his vineyard. And agreeing with the workmen for a denarius per day, he sent them into his vineyard. And going out again about 9 a.m., he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and to those he said, 'You too go into the vineyard, and I will give you whatever might be fair.' And, again, going out about noon, and 3 pm, he did the same. And going out about 5 pm, he found others standing, and said to them, 'Why have you stood here idle all the day long?'

"'Because no one has hired us.'

"'You go also into the vineyard.'

"When evening came, the lord of the vineyard said to his steward, 'Call the workmen and pay the wage, beginning with the last ones until you get to the first.' And those who arrived at 5 pm received a denarius.

"Then, the first ones to be hired came, supposing they would receive more, and they each receives a denarius also. And taking it, they complained against the homeowner, saying, 'These last workers were engaged for one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and its heat.'

"But he answered one of them, ' Friend, I am not injuring you. Did you not agree to work for a denarius? Take what is yours and go; I also wish to give to this last man as I have given to you. Is it not lawful for me to do whatever I wish to do with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good.'

"In this way, the first will be last, and the last first."

Now, they were on the road to Jerusalem, and Jesus was in the lead, and the ones who followed were afraid. And taking the Twelve again, he began to tell them the things that would happen. "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and will deliver him to the Gentiles; they will mock and spit at him, and then whip and kill him, but after three days he will rise. It is no wonder the disciples were afraid on the one hand, but confused on the other. For while they knew those in Jerusalem were out to kill him, they could not conceive how anyone could ever catch God and do so. Not understanding, the apostles continued to jostle for Heavenly position.

James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, approached Jesus asking, "Teacher, we would like you to do whatever we may ask." Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached him and bowed down to him, hoping to get to him before he entered Jerusalem to become king.

"What is it you wish?"

Say that these two sons of mine may sit, one at the right hand, and the other on your left, in your kingdom." And the sons were standing right there waiting for the answer in great expectation.

"You do not know what you are asking." Looking at James and John: "Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?"

"We can," they said, not realizing fully what he was referring to.

"You will indeed drink my cup," he verified, implying how they would both be persecuted for his name one day, "but to sit at my right and left is not for me to grant, but for those for which it has been prepared by my Father."

When the other ten heard about this, they were incensed with the two brothers. So Jesus called them forward and said, "You know that the rulers of the nations lord it over them, that the great ones have authority over them. It is not like this among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you will be your servant; even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many."

After entering Jericho, behold, a man by the name of Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax-collector, and rich. He tried to see who Jesus was, but was not able because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. Running forward to the front of the crowd, he went up into a sycamore tree, that he might see him, for Jesus was about to pass along this way. And as Jesus came along upon the spot, he looked up and called: "Zacchaeus, hurry up and come down, for I must stay at your house today."

But everyone mumbled upon hearing this: "He has engaged himself to lodge with a sinful man."

And standing at his house, Zacchaeus said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord! Half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have accused anyone falsely, I promise to restore fourfold."

"Today, salvation has come to this house," Jesus declared, "because even he is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

After they heard this, Jesus added to them a parable due to his being near Jerusalem, and because they thought the kingdom of God would now appear suddenly: "A certain man well-born went to a far country to receive from his father a kingdom for himself, and then to return. Upon calling ten of his servants from that kingdom, he gave them ten minas, instructing them, 'Trade while I am coming back.'

"Now, his citizens there hated him, and sent a delegation after him while he was returning to his father, saying, 'We do not wish this man to reign over us.'

"But it came to pass, after he returned, and after he received the kingdom, that he ordered his servants to be called before him, whom he had given the money, that he might know anyone who gained by trading. The first came, saying, 'Lord, your mina produced ten minas.'

"'Fine, good servant; because you have been faithful in the least of things, take authority over ten cities.'

"And the second came, saying, 'Your mina, Lord! It has made five minas.'

"'You be over five cities!'

"And the other came, saying, 'Lord, behold, your mina, which I had put away in a napkin, for I feared you because you are a man who exacts, taking what you didn't lay out, and you reap what you didn't sow.'

"'I will judge you from your own mouth, wicked servant! Did you know that I am a man who exacts, taking what I haven't laid out, and reaping what I haven't sown? So why didn't you give me the money on a banker's table? For it would have exacted interest during my coming.' And to the ones standing near, he said, 'Take the mina from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.'

"But they said to him, 'Lord, he already has ten minas.'

"'I tell you that it will be given to everyone who has, but from the one who does not have, whatever he has will be taken. Nevertheless, these enemies of mine, those who do not wish for me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them before me.'"

A large crowd followed him as they were leaving Jericho. And, behold, two blind men were sitting beside the road, one being Bartimaeus (the son of Timaeus), a blind beggar. When he heard the crowd passing through, he inquired as to what it might be. They reported that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. When they heard Jesus was passing by, they cried: "Lord, son of David, pity us." But the crowd rebuked them, telling them to be quiet. Yet, they cried out all the more, "Lord, son of David, pity us."

Standing up, Jesus instructed his disciples, "Call him."

"Be of good courage. He calls you." So leaping up, he threw away his garment and came towards Jesus.

"What do you wish me to do?"

They said to him, "Lord, we wish that our eyes may be opened." Being filled with tenderness, Jesus touched their eyes, and they suddenly saw again, and followed him.

It was six days before the Passover that Jesus arrived at Bethany, where he had raised Lazarus from the dead. So they made a supper for him there, with Martha serving, and Lazarus was one among them who reclined with him. Now Mary, taking a costly litrette of pure nard ointment, anointed Jesus feet again and wiped them off with her hair, and the house was filled with the aroma of the ointment. One of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, objected, "Why wasn't this ointment sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" But he said this not because he was concerned for the poor, but because he was a thief, who carried the apostles' purse.

"Leave her alone, that she may keep it for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me," said Jesus in support of Mary once again, for she had not been very respected by anyone, having once been a prostitute. And by his words here, Jesus just gave Mary the hint that she should keep some of the nard for his burial.

Many Jews in Jerusalem, because they knew Jesus was there in Bethany, came out in throngs, but not only because of him, but to see Lazarus as well, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests took council to decide if they should also kill Lazarus, on whose account the many Jews went out and believed in Jesus. The gathering which was with him when he raised Lazarus from the dead and called him from the tomb testified for Jesus.

The next day, as they drew near to Jerusalem and came close to Bethpage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples with instructions: "Go into the village opposite you, and at once you will find a tied ass with her colt upon which no man has ever sat; loosen it and bring it to me. If anyone says, 'Why are you doing this?' say, 'The Lord needs it; he will send it back right away." Now this happened so that the thing spoken through the prophet Zechariah might be fulfilled:

"Fear not, daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your king comes, sitting on a foal of an ass.'"

At first, the disciples did not realize these things, but later they realized how they were written concerning him.

So they went to Bethpage and found a colt tied outside a door in the open street, and they untied it. And some of the ones standing there asked, "What are you doing untying that colt?" When they told them what Jesus had told them to say, the others let them go. So they brought the colt to Jesus; they threw their clothes on it, and he sat on it. Many in the very large crowd spread their clothes on the road; others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Drawing near now to the slope of the Mount of Olives, from which point Jerusalem could be seen spreading out before them, the multitude of disciples began rejoicing with loud voices, praising God on account of all the powerful deeds they had seen. The throngs going ahead of him, as well as the ones following, announced:

"Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the coming one who comes in the Name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest places!"

Some of the Pharisees from the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples."

"I tell you, if these will silence themselves, the stones will cry out!" Excellent answer, Jesus! As always.

Drawing near the Temple, and seeing the city, he wept over it: "If you knew this day, even the things for your peace. But now they have been hidden from your eyes. For days must come upon you when your enemies raise up ramparts up to you, surrounding you, and compressing you on all sides. And you will be dashed to the ground, with the children within you, and stone will not be left upon stone, because you have not understood the time of your visitation."

Jesus entered the Temple grounds and threw out all those selling and buying there, overturning the tables of the money-changers and the chairs of those selling doves, scolding them: "It has been written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it into a den of robbers." The Pharisees had no problem with all this commerce going on in the Temple, but Jesus was cut to the heart by it.

The blind and lame came to him in the Temple, and he healed them, as a testimony against the chief priests. But the chief priests and the scribes became incensed when they saw the marvels which he performed and the children shouting "Hosanna to David" in the Temple. They asked him, "Do you hear what these are saying?"

"Yes. Never have you read, 'You've prepared praise out of the mouths of infants and those sucking'?"

He looked around with the hour getting late, and leaving them very angry, Jesus went out of the Temple. He went to Bethany with the Twelve and lodged there. Meanwhile, the chief priests made their plans as well, which involved the Roman authorities.

Jesus taught daily in the Temple grounds for the five days that he remained in Jerusalem. Early the next morning, on the second of the five days, as the apostles went forth from Bethany to the city of Jerusalem, Jesus was hungry. Seeing a fig tree from a distance, which had leaves, he came to see if per chance he might find something in it. But coming to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season in March/April for figs. Nevertheless, an upset Jesus cursed it: "May no one ever eat your fruit any more!" And the twelve disciples heard this. And the fig tree dried up instantly. And the disciples wondered when they saw this, asking, "How did the fig-tree wither so soon?"

As he came into the Temple, the chief priests confronted him and spoke up along with the scribes and the elders: "Tell us by what authority you are doing these things; who is the one who has given you this authority?" They were trying to make the crowd understand that no earthly authority was with this Jesus, and that he was acting alone on his own authority, hoping the people would, therefore, call for his arrest.

Therefore, Jesus answered with a question that was sure to get the crowd on his side instead: "I will also ask you a word; if you answer me, I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. So tell me, where was John's baptism from? From Heaven or from men." The men were struck.

They consulted each other, saying quietly, "If we say 'From Heaven,' he will ask why we didn't believe him. But if we say, 'From men,' the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet."

And being defeated already as soon as the crowd saw them deliberating this question, because they didn't come right out with the answer they all knew, yet the great big religious leaders had to stand there giving their feeble answer, "We don't know."

"Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."

How does it seem to you? A man had two children. Approaching the first, he said, 'Child, go work in the vineyard today.'

"And he said, 'I'll go, lord,' but then he didn't go.

"And approaching the second son, he ordered the same. But he answered, "I will not,' though later he repented and went. Which of the two did the will of the father?"

They, while standing already humiliated before the crowd, answered sheepishly, "The latter."

"Truly, I tell you, tax-collectors and harlots are going into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you by way of righteousness, and you didn't believe him, but the tax-collectors and harlots believed him. Yet, even when you saw this repentance, you still did not repent afterwards by believing him."

And with the priests already humiliated and infuriated in this way, he began telling the people a parable: "A man planted a vineyard, placed a hedge around it, dug a winepress, built a tower, rented it to farmers, and then went away for a long period. In time, he sent a servant to the farmers, that they might give him some fruit from the vineyard, but the farmers beat him and sent him away empty-handed. So he set up and sent another servant, but they also beat him and sent him away insulted. Then he set up and sent a third, but they also wounded this one and threw him out. Therefore, the owner of the vineyard asked, 'What can I do? I'll send my beloved son; perhaps they will regard this one.'

But seeing him, the farmers deliberated with each other, saying, 'This is the heir; let's kill him so that the inheritance may become ours.' And throwing him out of the vineyard, they killed him. What, therefore, will the owner of the vineyard do to them?"

This story sunk deep into the people, and they responded, "Those pathetic men he will pathetically destroy!" This made the priests afraid of the people, just as Jesus wanted it for just a few more days.

"He will come and destroy these farmers and will give the vineyard to others, who will render the fruits to him in their season." Maybe now we may understand what (i.e. who) Jesus had in mind when he cursed the fruitless fig tree, for no doubt, he knew he was going to tell this parable today, and he was consumed that morning with the utter wickedness of the priests which it brought to his mind.

Looking at them, Jesus said, "Have you never read in the Scriptures:

"'The stone which the builders rejected became the head of the corner; this has come about from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?

"Everyone falling on that stone will be broken to pieces, but it will crush to a powder those upon whom it falls. Therefore, I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and will be given to a people producing its fruit," came the threat which the Pharisees feared most, though they thought Jesus was trying to take the nation over at that time, as did his followers beside him. But Jesus was working to incite the priests to murderous fury with these scowling statements, so that they would kill him at the proper time to fulfill Scripture, and even Satan didn't know his method.

The scribes and chief priests had sought a way to lay their hands on him in that very hour, for they knew that he spoke this parable about them, but they feared the people and could not. So the Pharisees went away and took council. Keeping a close eye on things, they decided to send in spies who acted righteous, that they might trap him in his teaching in such a way as to deliver him to the rule and authority of the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, seeing that they could not get the Jews on side enough to take him.

Meanwhile, Jesus spoke another parable to them, saying, "The kingdom of Heaven is likened to a king who prepared a wedding feast for his son. He sent his servants to call those who had been invited to the feast, but they did not wish to come. So he sent out other servants with instructions: 'Tell those who are invited, "Behold, I have prepared a supper; my oxen and fattened animals have been killed, and all things are ready; come to the feast!"'

But they did not care and went off, one to his own field, another to his trading, and the rest seized, insulted or killed his servants. So the king became angry, and sending his armies, he destroyed those murderers and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, 'Indeed, the feast is ready, but those who were invited are not worthy; go, therefore, onto the roads that fork off, and as many as you find, call to the feast. And going out onto the roads, those servants assembled all they could find, both bad and good, and the wedding hall was filled with those who sat back.

"But when the king entered to behold those relaxing, he saw a man there not dressed in wedding clothes, and he said to him, "Friend, how did you enter here without having the wedding clothes?" And he was silenced. Then the king said to the servants, 'Upon binding his feet and hands, throw him out into the outer darkness; there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.' For many are called, but few are chosen."

The Pharisees sent in their special disciples along with Herodians, saying: "Teacher, we know you are true and that you teach the way of God in truth--that you don't take anyone into account since you do not look at the face of men. Tell us, therefore, what does it seem to you, is it lawful to give tax to Caesar or not? Of course, they were wanting him to say that they should not give taxes, so that the Herodians with them could take such an answer back to Rome, which would bring the Roman soldiers upon Jesus. There was pressure on Jesus because all the Jews would frown on him if he said taxes should be paid to Rome, for the Jews did not think they should.

Knowing their wickedness, Jesus said, "Why are you testing me, hypocrites? Show me the money used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius. "Who's image is this, and who's inscription?"

"Of Caesar," they responded.

So Jesus said to them, "Render to Caesar the things of Caesar, and the things of God to God." And they marvelled at him, for he had just trapped the Pharisees, for they carry Caesars coins and use them regularly. That is, if it's wrong to pay taxes to Caesar, then why do they use Caesar's coins? But if they use his coins, then they are obligated to pay him tax. The Pharisees left Jesus and went away from the Temple.

On that day, the Sadducees, who teach that there is no resurrection, approached and questioned him: "Teacher, Moses said that if any man dies childless, his brother should take his wife as his own wife and raise children for his brother. Now, there were seven brothers with us. The first one died after getting married, and because he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. The same happened to the second, the third, and up to the seventh. Last of all, the wife died. In the resurrection, then, whose wife will she be? For all seven had her."

"You err, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection, they neither marry nor are they given in marriage, but are as the angels in Heaven. But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read the thing said to you by God: 'I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of dead men, but of living ones. And the crowds who heard were astounded at his teaching.

Upon hearing that he had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees assembled together. A Biblical scholar tested him with a question: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"

Jesus answered, "Hear, Israel. The Lord our God is one Lord, and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your understanding. This is the greatest and first commandment. The second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' In these two commandments, all the Law and the Prophets hang."

And the scribe said to him, "Excellent, teacher. In truth do you say that there is One and no other besides Him; and to love Him with all the heart and with all understanding and with all strength, and to love one's neighbor as himself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."

And no one dared to ask him any more questions. Speaking to the statement just made by the scribe wherein he said God is one, implying that Jesus could not be God, Jesus asked the Pharisees, "What does it seem to you concerning the Christ? Whose son is he?"

"Of David," came the expected answer.

"How can the Christ merely be the human son of David? David himself said by the Holy Spirit,

" 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand until I put your enemies under your feet."'

"David himself calls him 'Lord,' so in what way is he his human son?" But Jesus said this, not only to point out that there were two Lords, each one being the One God, but also to point out that the Pharisees were included in "the enemies" of the text.

Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, warning: "The scribes and Pharisees sit on Moses' seat. Therefore, do and keep whatever they tell you, but do not do according to their works. They tie heavy burdens and put them on the shoulders of men, but they are not willing to move them with their finger. All their works are done for men to see; for they broaden their phylacteries and enlarge the fringes; they love the chief places at dinners and the first seats in the synagogues, to be greeted in the marketplaces with honor and to be called "Rabbi." But you, do not be called, "Rabbi," for One is your teacher, while you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth, "Father," for One is your Heavenly Father. Neither be called "masters," because your master is One, the Christ. And the greatest among you shall be your servant. And he who would exalt himself shall be humbled, and he who will humble himself shall be exalted.

"But woe to you hypocrites, scribes and Pharisees, because you shut the kingdom of Heaven before men, for you do not enter, nor do you allow these ones to enter who are in the process of entering. Woe to you hypocrites, scribes and Pharisees, because you go about sea and land to make one convert, and when he becomes one, you make him a son of hell twice as much as yourself. Woe to you, blind leaders, who say, 'Whoever swears by the Temple, it means nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the Temple, he owes his oath.' Blind fools; which is greater, the gold, or the Temple making the gold sacred? And you say, 'Whoever swears by the altar, it means nothing; but whoever swears by the gift upon it, he owes his oath.' You are blind, for which is greater, the gift or the altar which makes the gift sacred? Therefore, the one swearing by the altar swears by it and by all the things upon it, and the one swearing by the Temple swears by it and the One inhabiting it, and the one swearing by Heaven swears by the throne of God and by the One sitting upon it.

Woe to you hypocrites, scribes and Pharisees, because you tithe mint, dill and cumin, but you have left the weightier things of the Law--judgment and mercy and faith. But it is required to do all these latter things and not to leave them out. Blind leaders, those straining out a gnat but swallowing a camel!

"Woe to you hypocrites, scribes and Pharisees, because you clean the outside of the cup and dish, but they are full of robbery and lavishness on the inside. Blind Pharisee, clean first the inside of the cup so that the outside may also be clean.

"Woe to you hypocrites, scribes and Pharisees, because you resemble whitewashed graves which outwardly do indeed appear beautiful, but within they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. Likewise, you appear righteous to men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

"Woe to you hypocrites, scribes and Pharisees, because you build the graves of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, saying, 'If we were in the days of the patriarchs, we would not have been partners in shedding the blood of the prophets.' So you testify against yourselves that you are sons of those who killed the prophets. Thus you fulfill the measure of your fathers. Serpents, offspring of vipers, how can you escape from the judgment of hell? Therefore, behold, I send to you prophets and wise men and scribes; you will scourge some in your synagogues and persecute others from city to city. Therefore, on you will come all the righteous blood from the righteous Abel, son of Adam, up to the blood of the prophet Zechariah son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the Temple and the altar. Truly, I tell you, all these things will come upon this generation.

"There will be weeping and the gnashing of the teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you being thrust outside. They will come from east and west, from north and south, and will recline in the kingdom of God."

And being questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God will come, for all they wanted from Jesus was a clue as to just when he was about to overthrow their leadership, Jesus answered them with the spiritual dimension alone in view, to leave them more puzzled yet: "The kingdom of God does not come by observation, nor will they say, 'Behold, here!' or 'There!' For, behold, the kingdom of God is inside you!"

In that very hour, probably after 6 pm upon the start of the next day, with three of the five days to go, the hapless Pharisees, disgraced and uncomfortable in his presence, tried to scare Jesus away: "Depart and get away from this place, because Herod wishes to kill you."

"As you go, tell that fox this: 'Behold, I will expel demons and finish curing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will be perfected." Huh, what's that mean? "Nevertheless, I must go on today, tomorrow, and on the following day, for it is not possible for a prophet to perish outside of Jerusalem." Huh, what's he talking about? Is he going to kill a prophet? They were scratching their heads, we might think.

"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one killing the prophets and stoning the ones sent to her, how often I have wished to gather your children, as a bird gathers her young under her wings, but you did not wish it. Behold, your house is left to you. For I tell you, by no means will you see Me from now on, until you say, 'Blessed is the One coming in the Name of the Lord.'" But many people were already saying this, but Jesus was referring to the restoration of Israel after Armageddon. The Pharisees, however, feared that Jesus was on the verge of making virtually everyone in Jerusalem, including some among their own, recite that very scripture verse in relation to himself. Having told the Pharisees that he would perform miracles for the next two days made them think he was planning a capitulation of their leadership. A big question mark was left for them to fill as to what he was going to do thereafter on the third.

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