November 3

Luke 8:1 — 9:62

8 Shortly afterwards he went journeying from city to city and from village to village, preaching and declaring the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, 2 and certain women that had been cured of wicked spirits and sicknesses, Mary the so-called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had come out, 3 and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s man in charge, and Susanna and many other women, who were ministering to them from their belongings.

4 Now when a great crowd had collected together with those that went to him from city after city, he spoke by means of an illustration: 5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. Well, as he was sowing, some of it fell alongside the road and was trampled down, and the birds of heaven ate it up. 6 Some other landed upon the rock-mass, and, after sprouting, it dried up because of not having moisture. 7 Some other fell among the thorns, and the thorns that grew up with it choked it off. 8 Some other fell upon the good soil, and, after sprouting, it produced fruit a hundredfold.” As he told these things, he proceeded to call out: “Let him that has ears to listen, listen.”

9 But his disciples began to ask him what this illustration might mean. 10 He said: “To YOU it is granted to understand the sacred secrets of the kingdom of God, but for the rest it is in illustrations, in order that, though looking, they may look in vain and, though hearing, they may not get the meaning. 11 Now the illustration means this: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those alongside the road are the ones that have heard, then the Devil comes and takes the word away from their hearts in order that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those upon the rock-mass are the ones who, when they hear it, receive the word with joy, but these have no root; they believe for a season, but in a season of testing they fall away. 14 As for that which fell among the thorns, these are the ones that have heard, but, by being carried away by anxieties and riches and pleasures of this life, they are completely choked and bring nothing to perfection. 15 As for that on the fine soil, these are the ones that, after hearing the word with a fine and good heart, retain it and bear fruit with endurance.

16 “No one, after lighting a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it underneath a bed, but he puts it on a lampstand, that those stepping in may behold the light. 17 For there is nothing hidden that will not become manifest, neither anything carefully concealed that will never become known and never come into the open. 18 Therefore, pay attention to how YOU listen; for whoever has, more will be given him, but whoever does not have, even what he imagines he has will be taken away from him.”

19 Now his mother and brothers came toward him, but they were unable to get to him because of the crowd. 20 However, it was reported to him: “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside wanting to see you.” 21 In reply he said to them: “My mother and my brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”

22 In the course of one of the days he and his disciples got into a boat, and he said to them: “Let us cross to the other side of the lake.” So they set sail. 23 But as they were sailing he fell asleep. Now a violent windstorm descended upon the lake, and they began to fill up with [water] and to be in danger. 24 Finally they went to him and roused him, saying: “Instructor, Instructor, we are about to perish!” Rousing himself, he rebuked the wind and the raging of the water, and they subsided, and a calm set in. 25 Then he said to them: “Where is YOUR faith?” But struck with fear, they marveled, saying to one another: “Who really is this, for he orders even the winds and the water, and they obey him?”

26 And they put in to shore in the country of the Gerasenes, which is on the side opposite Galilee. 27 But as he got out onto land a certain man from the city who had demons met him. And for a considerable time he had not worn clothing, and he was staying, not at home, but among the tombs. 28 At the sight of Jesus he cried aloud and fell down before him, and with a loud voice he said: “What have I to do with you, Jesus Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.” 29 (For he had been ordering the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For over a long time it had held him fast, and he was repeatedly bound with chains and fetters under guard, but he would burst the bonds and be driven by the demon into the lonely places.) 30 Jesus asked him: “What is your name?” He said: “Legion,” because many demons had entered into him. 31 And they kept entreating him not to order them to go away into the abyss. 32 Now a herd of a considerable number of swine was feeding there on the mountain; so they entreated him to permit them to enter into those. And he gave them permission. 33 Then the demons went out of the man and entered into the swine, and the herd rushed over the precipice into the lake and drowned. 34 But when the herders saw what had happened, they fled and reported it to the city and to the countryside.

35 Then people turned out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons came out, clothed and in his sound mind, sitting at the feet of Jesus; and they became fearful. 36 Those who had seen it reported to them how the demon-possessed man had been made well. 37 So all the multitude from the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to get away from them, because they were in the grip of great fear. Then he went aboard the boat and turned away. 38 However, the man from whom the demons had gone out kept begging to continue with him; but he dismissed the man, saying: 39 “Be on your way back home, and keep on relating what things God did for you.” Accordingly he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city what things Jesus did for him.

40 When Jesus got back, the crowd received him kindly, for they were all expecting him. 41 But, look! a man named Jairus came, and this man was a presiding officer of the synagogue. And he fell at the feet of Jesus and began to entreat him to enter into his house, 42 because he had an only-begotten daughter about twelve years old and she was dying.

As he was going the crowds thronged him. 43 And a woman, subject to a flow of blood for twelve years, who had not been able to get a cure from anyone, 44 approached from behind and touched the fringe of his outer garment, and instantly her flow of blood stopped. 45 So Jesus said: “Who was it that touched me?” When they were all denying it, Peter said: “Instructor, the crowds are hemming you in and closely pressing you.” 46 Yet Jesus said: “Someone touched me, for I perceived that power went out of me.” 47 Seeing that she had not escaped notice, the woman came trembling and fell down before him and disclosed before all the people the cause for which she touched him and how she was healed instantly. 48 But he said to her: “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go your way in peace.”

49 While he was yet speaking, a certain representative of the presiding officer of the synagogue came, saying: “Your daughter has died; do not bother the teacher any longer.” 50 On hearing this, Jesus answered him: “Have no fear, only put forth faith, and she will be saved.” 51 When he reached the house he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter and John and James and the girl’s father and mother. 52 But people were all weeping and beating themselves in grief for her. So he said: “STOP weeping, for she did not die but is sleeping.” 53 At this they began to laugh at him scornfully, because they knew she had died. 54 But he took her by the hand and called, saying: “Girl, get up!” 55 And her spirit returned, and she rose instantly, and he ordered something to be given her to eat. 56 Well, her parents were beside themselves; but he instructed them to tell no one what had happened.


9 Then he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all the demons and to cure sicknesses. 2 And so he sent them forth to preach the kingdom of God and to heal, 3 and he said to them: “Carry nothing for the trip, neither staff nor food pouch, nor bread nor silver money; neither have two undergarments. 4 But wherever YOU enter into a home, stay there and leave from there. 5 And wherever people do not receive YOU, on going out of that city shake the dust off YOUR feet for a witness against them.” 6 Then starting out they went through the territory from village to village, declaring the good news and performing cures everywhere.

7 Now Herod the district ruler heard of all the things happening, and he was in great perplexity because of its being said by some that John had been raised up from the dead, 8 but by others that Elijah had appeared, but by still others that a certain one of the ancient prophets had risen. 9 Herod said: “John I beheaded. Who, then, is this about whom I am hearing such things?” So he was seeking to see him.

10 And when the apostles returned they recounted to him what things they had done. With that he took them along and withdrew to privacy into a city called Bethsaida. 11 But the crowds, getting to know it, followed him. And he received them kindly and began to speak to them about the kingdom of God, and he healed those needing a cure. 12 Then the day started to decline. The twelve now came up and said to him: “Dismiss the crowd, that they may go into the villages and countryside round about and procure lodging and find provisions, because out here we are in a lonely place.” 13 But he said to them: “YOU give them something to eat.” They said: “We have nothing more than five loaves and two fishes, unless perhaps we ourselves go and buy foodstuffs for all these people.” 14 They were, in fact, about five thousand men. But he said to his disciples: “Have them recline as at meals, in groups of about fifty each.” 15 And they did so and had them all recline. 16 Then taking the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, blessed them and broke them up and began to give them to the disciples to set before the crowd. 17 So they all ate and were satisfied, and the surplus that they had was taken up, twelve baskets of fragments.

18 Later, while he was praying alone, the disciples came together to him, and he questioned them, saying: “Who are the crowds saying that I am?” 19 In reply they said: “John the Baptist; but others, Elijah, and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has risen.” 20 Then he said to them: “YOU, though, who do YOU say I am?” Peter said in reply: “The Christ of God.” 21 Then in a stern talk to them he instructed them not to be telling this to anybody, 22 but said: “The Son of man must undergo many sufferings and be rejected by the older men and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised up.”

23 Then he went on to say to all: “If anyone wants to come after me, let him disown himself and pick up his torture stake day after day and follow me continually. 24 For whoever wants to save his soul will lose it; but whoever loses his soul for my sake is the one that will save it. 25 Really, what does a man benefit himself if he gains the whole world but loses his own self or suffers damage? 26 For whoever becomes ashamed of me and of my words, the Son of man will be ashamed of this one when he arrives in his glory and that of the Father and of the holy angels. 27 But I tell YOU truthfully, There are some of those standing here that will not taste death at all until first they see the kingdom of God.”

28 In actual fact, about eight days after these words, he took Peter and John and James along and climbed up into the mountain to pray. 29 And as he was praying the appearance of his face became different and his apparel became glitteringly white. 30 Also, look! two men were conversing with him, who were Moses and Elijah. 31 These appeared with glory and began talking about his departure that he was destined to fulfill at Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and those with him were weighed down with sleep; but when they got fully awake they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. 33 And as these were being separated from him, Peter said to Jesus: “Instructor, it is fine for us to be here, so let us erect three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah,” he not realizing what he was saying. 34 But as he was saying these things a cloud formed and began to overshadow them. As they entered into the cloud, they became fearful. 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying: “This is my Son, the one that has been chosen. Listen to him.” 36 And as the voice occurred Jesus was found alone. But they kept quiet and did not report to anyone in those days any of the things they saw.

37 On the succeeding day, when they got down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. 38 And, look! a man cried out from the crowd, saying: “Teacher, I beg you to take a look at my son, because he is my only-begotten, 39 and, look! a spirit takes him, and suddenly he cries out, and it throws him into convulsions with foam, and it scarcely withdraws from him after bruising him. 40 And I begged your disciples to expel it, but they could not.” 41 In response Jesus said: “O faithless and twisted generation, how long must I continue with YOU and put up with YOU? Lead your son over here.” 42 But even as he was approaching, the demon dashed him to the ground and violently convulsed him. However, Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy and delivered him to his father. 43 Well, they all began to be astounded at the majestic power of God.

Now as they were all marveling at all the things he was doing, he said to his disciples: 44 “Give lodgment to these words in YOUR ears, for the Son of man is destined to be delivered into the hands of men.” 45 But they continued without understanding of this saying. In fact, it was concealed from them that they might not see through it, and they were afraid to question him about this saying.

46 Then a reasoning entered among them as to who would be the greatest of them. 47 Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a young child, set it beside him 48 and said to them: “Whoever receives this young child on the basis of my name receives me [too], and whoever receives me receives him [also] that sent me forth. For he that conducts himself as a lesser one among all of YOU is the one that is great.”

49 In response John said: “Instructor, we saw a certain man expelling demons by the use of your name and we tried to prevent him, because he is not following with us.” 50 But Jesus said to him: “Do not YOU men try to prevent [him], for he that is not against YOU is for YOU.”

51 As the days were now coming to the full for him to be taken up, he firmly set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52 So he sent forth messengers in advance of him. And they went their way and entered into a village of Samaritans, to make preparation for him; 53 but they did not receive him, because his face was set for going to Jerusalem. 54 When the disciples James and John saw this they said: “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and annihilate them?” 55 But he turned and rebuked them. 56 So they went to a different village.

57 Now as they were going on the road, someone said to him: “I will follow you to wherever you may depart.” 58 And Jesus said to him: “Foxes have dens and birds of heaven have roosts, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay down his head.” 59 Then he said to another: “Be my follower.” The man said: “Permit me first to leave and bury my father.” 60 But he said to him: “Let the dead bury their dead, but you go away and declare abroad the kingdom of God.” 61 And still another said: “I will follow you, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those in my household.” 62 Jesus said to him: “No man that has put his hand to a plow and looks at the things behind is well fitted for the kingdom of God.”