The MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV, page 454
The Pharisees and Sadducees Seek a Sign
(Mark 8:11–13; Luke 12:54–56)
1Then the aPharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven.
2He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’;
3“and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ 1Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.
4b“A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of 2the prophet Jonah.” And He left them and departed.
The Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees
(Mark 8:14–21)
5Now cwhen His disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.
6Then Jesus said to them, d“Take heed and beware of the 3leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.”
7And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have taken no bread.”
8But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you 4have brought no bread?
9e“Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up?
10f“Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up?
11“How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?—but to beware of the 5leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
12Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the 6doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ
(Mark 8:27–30; Luke 9:18–20)
13When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, g“Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”
14So they said, h“Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or ione of the prophets.”
15He said to them, “But who do jyou say that I am?”
16Simon Peter answered and said, k“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, lfor flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but mMy Father who is in heaven.
18“And I also say to you that nyou are Peter, and oon this rock I will build My church, and pthe gates of Hades shall not 7prevail against it.
19q“And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth 8will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
20rThen He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.
Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection
(Mark 8:31–33; Luke 9:21, 22)
21From that time Jesus began sto show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.
22Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, 9“Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!”
23But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, tSatan! uYou are 10an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”
Take Up the Cross and Follow Him
(Mark 8:34–38; Luke 9:23–26)
24vThen Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and wfollow Me.
25“For xwhoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
26“For what yprofit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or zwhat will a man give in exchange for his soul?
27“For athe Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father bwith His angels, cand then He will reward each according to his works.
Jesus Transfigured on the Mount
(Mark 9:1–13; Luke 9:27–36; 2 Pet. 1:16–18)
28“Assuredly, I say to you, dthere are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”
Matthew 17
The Transfiguration of Christ
1Now aafter six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves;
2and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.
3And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.
4Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, 1let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
5bWhile he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, c“This is My beloved Son, din whom I am well pleased. eHear Him!”
6fAnd when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid.
7But Jesus came and gtouched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.”
8When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.
9Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.”
10And His disciples asked Him, saying, h“Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
11Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming 2first and will irestore all things.
12j“But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they kdid not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise lthe Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.”
13mThen the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.
A Boy Is Healed
(Mark 9:14–29; Luke 9:37–42)
14nAnd when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying,
15“Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is 3an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water.
16“So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.”
17Then Jesus answered and said, “O 4faithless and operverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.”
18And Jesus prebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.
19Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”
20So Jesus said to them, “Because of your 5unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, qif you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.
216“However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
Jesus Again Predicts His Death and Resurrection
(Mark 9:30–32; Luke 9:43–45)
22rNow while they were 7staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men,
23“and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up.” And they were exceedingly ssorrowful.
Peter and His Master Pay Their Taxes
24tWhen they had come to 8Capernaum, those who received the 9temple tax came to Peter and said, “Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?”
25He said, “Yes.” And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from ustrangers?”
26Peter said to Him, “From strangers.” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free.
27“Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a 10piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.”
Matthew 18
Who Is the Greatest?
(Mark 9:33–37; Luke 9:46–48)
1At athat time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
2Then Jesus called a little bchild to Him, set him in the midst of them,
3and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, cunless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
4d“Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5e“Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.
Jesus Warns of Offenses
(Mark 9:42–48; Luke 17:1, 2)
6f“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
7“Woe to the world because of 1offenses! For goffenses must come, but hwoe to that man by whom the offense comes!
8i“If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire.
9“And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into 2hell fire.
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
(Luke 15:1–7)
10“Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven jtheir angels always ksee the face of My Father who is in heaven.
11l“For3 the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.
12m“What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?
13“And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.
14“Even so it is not the nwill of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
Dealing with a Sinning Brother
15“Moreover oif your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, pyou have gained your brother.
16“But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that q‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’
17“And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a rheathen and a tax collector.
18“Assuredly, I say to you, swhatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
19t“Again4 I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, uit will be done for them by My Father in heaven.
20“For where two or three are gathered vtogether in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
21Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? wUp to seven times?”
22Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, xup to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
23“Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
24“And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.
25“But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded ythat he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made.
26“The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’
27“Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.
28“But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’
29“So his fellow servant fell down 5at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you 6all.’
30“And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.
31“So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done.
32“Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you zall that debt because you begged me.
33‘Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’
34“And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.
35a“So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother 7his trespasses.”
Matthew 19
Marriage and Divorce
(Mark 10:1–12)
1Now it came to pass, awhen Jesus had finished these sayings, that He departed from Galilee and came to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.
2bAnd great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them there.
3The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?”
4And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who 1made them at the beginning c‘made them male and female,’
5“and said, d‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and ethe two shall become one flesh’?
6“So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”
7They said to Him, f“Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?”
8He said to them, “Moses, because of the ghardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your hwives, but from the beginning it was not so.
9i“And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for 2sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.”
10His disciples said to Him, j“If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry.”
Jesus Teaches on Celibacy
11But He said to them, k“All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given:
12“For there are 3eunuchs who were born thus from their mother’s womb, and lthere are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it.”
Jesus Blesses Little Children
(Mark 10:13–16; Luke 18:15–17)
13mThen little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them.
14But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for nof such is the kingdom of heaven.”
15And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.
Jesus Counsels the Rich Young Ruler
(Mark 10:17–22; Luke 18:18–23)
16oNow behold, one came and said to Him, p“Good4 Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
17So He said to him, 5“Why do you call Me good? 6No one is qgood but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, rkeep the commandments.”
18He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, s“‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’
19t‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, u‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
20The young man said to Him, “All these things I have vkept 7from my youth. What do I still lack?”
21Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, wgo, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
22But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
With God All Things Are Possible
(Mark 10:23–31; Luke 18:24–30)
23Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that xit is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
24“And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
25When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”
26But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but ywith God all things are possible.”
27Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, zwe have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?”
28So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, ayou who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
29b“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother 8or wife or children or 9lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.
30c“But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
Matthew 20
The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard
1“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.
2“Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
3“And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
4“and said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went.
5“Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise.
6“And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing 1idle, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’
7“They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, 2and whatever is right you will receive.’
