New Testament Plan

¹On one of the days, as Jesus was instructing the people in the temple [area] and preaching the good news (gospel), the chief priests and the scribes along with the elders confronted Him,

²and said to Him, "Tell us by what kind of authority You are doing these things? Or who is the one who gave You this authority?"

³Jesus replied, "I will also ask you a question. You tell Me:

⁴The baptism of John [the Baptist]—was it from heaven [that is, ordained by God] or from men?"

⁵They discussed and debated it among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Why did you not believe him?'

⁶But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us to death, for they are firmly convinced that John was a prophet."

⁷So they replied that they did not know from where it came.

⁸Then Jesus said to them, "Nor am I telling you by what [kind of] authority I do these things."

⁹Then He began to tell the people this parable: "A man planted a vineyard and leased it to tenant farmers, and went on a journey for a long time [to another country].

¹⁰At harvest time he sent a servant [as his representative] to the tenants, so that they would give him his share of the fruit of the vineyard; but the tenants beat the servant and sent him away empty-handed.

¹¹So he again sent another servant; they also beat him and dishonored and treated him disgracefully and sent him away empty-handed.

¹²And he sent yet a third; and this one too they wounded and threw out [of the vineyard].

¹³Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will have respect for him.'

¹⁴But when the tenants saw him, they discussed it among themselves, saying, 'This [man] is the heir; let us kill him so that the inheritance will be ours.'

¹⁵So they threw the son out of the vineyard and killed him. What, then, will the owner of the vineyard do to them?

¹⁶He will come and put these tenants to death and will give the vineyard to others." When the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders heard this, they said, "May it never be!"

¹⁷But Jesus looked at them and said, "What then is [the meaning of] this that is written: 'The [very] Stone which the builders rejected, this became the chief Cornerstone'?

¹⁸Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken and shattered in pieces; and on whomever it falls, it will crush him."

¹⁹The scribes and the chief priests tried to [find a way to] arrest Him at that very hour, but they were afraid of the people; because they understood that He spoke this parable against them.

²⁰So they watched [for a chance to trap] Him. They sent spies who pretended to be upright and sincere, in order that they might catch Him in some statement [that they could distort and use against Him], so that they could turn Him over to the control and authority of [Pilate] the governor.

²¹They asked Him, "Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly, and that You show no partiality to anyone, but teach the way of God truthfully.

²²Is it lawful [according to Jewish law and tradition] for us to pay taxes (tribute money) to Caesar or not?"

²³But He saw through their trickery and said to them,

²⁴"Show Me a [Roman] denarius. Whose image and inscription does the coin have?" They answered, "[the Emperor Tiberius] Caesar's."

²⁵He said to them, "Then pay to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."

²⁶They were not able to seize on anything He said in the presence of the people; and being unnerved at His reply, they were silent.

²⁷Now some of the Sadducees (who say that there is no resurrection) came to Him

²⁸and they questioned Him, saying, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us [a law that] if a man's brother dies, leaving a wife and no children, his brother shouldmarry the wife and raise children for his brother.

²⁹Now there were seven brothers; and the first took a wife and died childless.

³⁰And the second,

³¹and the third married her, and in the same way all seven died, leaving no children.

³²Finally the woman also died.

³³So in the [life after] resurrection, whose wife does she become? For all seven had married her."

³⁴Jesus said to them, "The sons of this [world and present] age marry and [the women] are given in marriage;

³⁵but those who are considered worthy to gain that [other world and that future] age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage;

³⁶and they cannot die again, because they are [immortal] like the angels (equal to, angel-like). And they are children of God, being participants in the resurrection.

³⁷But [as for the fact] that the dead are raised [from death], even Moses showed, in the passage about the burning bush, when he calls the Lord the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.

³⁸Now He is not the God of the dead, but of the living [so these forefathers will be among the resurrected]; for all live [in a definite relationship] to Him."

³⁹Some of the scribes replied, "Teacher, you have spoken well [so that there is no room for blame]."

⁴⁰And they did not dare to question Him further about anything [because of the wisdom He displayed in His answers].

⁴¹Then He said to them, "How is it that people say that the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) is David's son?

⁴²For David himself says in the book of Psalms, 'The Lord (the Father) said to my Lord (the Son, the Messiah), "Sit at My right hand,

⁴³Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet."'

⁴⁴ So David calls Him (the Son) 'Lord,' and how then is He David's son?"

⁴⁵And with all the people listening, He said to His disciples,

⁴⁶"Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes [displaying their prominence], and love respectful greetings in the [crowded] market places, and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets.

⁴⁷These [men] who confiscate and devour widows' houses, and for a pretense [to appear devout] offer long prayers. These [men] will receive the greater [sentence of] condemnation."

¹Looking up, He saw the rich people putting their gifts into the treasury.

²And He saw a poor widow putting in two small copper coins.

³He said, "Truly I say to you, this poor widow has put in [proportionally] more than all of them;

⁴for they all put in gifts from their abundance; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."

⁵As some were talking about the temple, that it was decorated with beautiful stones and consecrated offerings [of magnificent gifts of gold which were displayed on the walls and hung in the porticoes], He said,

⁶"As for all these things which you see, the time will come when there will not be one stone left on another that will not be torn down."

⁷They asked Him, "Teacher, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign when these things are about to happen?"

⁸He said, "Be careful and see to it that you are not misled; for many will come in My name [appropriating for themselves the name Messiah which belongs to Me alone], saying, 'I am He,' and, 'The time is near!' Do not follow them.

⁹When you hear of wars and disturbances [civil unrest, revolts, uprisings], do not panic; for these things must take place first, but the end will not come immediately."

¹⁰Then Jesus told them, "Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom.

¹¹There will be violent earthquakes, and in various places famines and [deadly and devastating] pestilences (plagues, epidemics); and there will be terrible sights and great signs from heaven.

¹²"But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, turning you over to the synagogues and prisons, and bringing you before kings and governors for My name's sake.

¹³This will be a time and an opportunity for you to testify [about Me].

¹⁴So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves;

¹⁵for I will give you [skillful] words and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute.

¹⁶But you will be betrayed and handed over even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death,

¹⁷and you will be continually hated by everyone because of [your association with] My name.

¹⁸But not a hair of your head will perish.

¹⁹By your [patient] endurance [empowered by the Holy Spirit] you will gain your souls.

²⁰"But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by [hostile] armies, then understand [with confident assurance] that her complete destruction is near.

²¹At that time, those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are inside the city (Jerusalem) must get out, and those who are [out] in the country must not enter the city;

²²for these are days of vengeance [of rendering full justice or satisfaction], so that all things which are written will be fulfilled.

²³Woe to those women who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For great trouble and anguish will be on the land, and wrath and retribution on this people [Israel].

²⁴And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled (completed).

²⁵"There will be signs (attesting miracles) in the sun and moon and stars; and on the earth [there will be] distress and anguish among nations, in perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea and the waves,

²⁶people fainting from fear and expectation of the [dreadful] things coming on the world; for the [very] powers of the heavens will be shaken.

²⁷Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with [transcendent, overwhelming] power [subduing the nations] and with great glory.

²⁸Now when these things begin to occur, stand tall and lift up your heads [in joy], because [suffering ends as] your redemption is drawing near."

²⁹Then He told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees;

³⁰as soon as they put out leaves, you see it and know for yourselves that summer is near.

³¹So you too, when you see these things happening, know [without any doubt] that the kingdom of God is near.

³²I assure you and most solemnly say to you, this generation [those living at that definite period of time preceding the second coming] will not pass away until everything takes place.

³³Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

³⁴"But be on guard, so that your hearts are not weighed down and depressed with the giddiness of debauchery and the nausea of self-indulgence and the worldly worries of life, and then that day [when the Messiah returns] will not come on you suddenly like a trap;

³⁵for it will come upon all those who live on the face of all the earth.

³⁶But keep alert at all times [be attentive and ready], praying that you may have the strength and ability [to be found worthy and] to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man [at His coming]."

³⁷Now in the daytime Jesus was teaching in [the porches and courts of] the temple, but at night He would go out and spend the night on the mount that is called Olivet.

³⁸And early in the morning all the people would come to Him in the temple to listen to Him.

¹Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was approaching.

²The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put Him to death; for they were afraid of the people [who listened devotedly to His teaching, and who respected His spiritual wisdom].

³Then Satan entered Judas, the one called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve [disciples].

⁴And he went away and discussed with the chief priests and officers how he might betray Him and hand Him over to them.

⁵They were delighted and agreed with him to give him money.

⁶So he consented, and began looking for a good opportunity to betray Jesus to them [at a time when He was] separated from the crowd [because the people might riot or stop them from seizing Him].

⁷Then came the preparation day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.

⁸So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover meal for us, so that we may eat it."

⁹They asked Him, "Where do You want us to prepare it?"

¹⁰He replied, "When you have entered the city, a man carrying an earthen jar of water will meet you; follow him into the house that he enters.

¹¹And say to the owner of the house, 'The Teacher asks, "Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?"'

¹²Then he will show you a large upstairs room, furnished [with carpets and dining couches]; prepare the meal there."

¹³They left and found it just as He had told them; and they prepared the Passover.

¹⁴When the hour [for the meal] had come, Jesus reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him.

¹⁵He said to them, "I have earnestly wanted to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;

¹⁶for I say to you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God."

¹⁷And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, "Take this and share it among yourselves;

¹⁸for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes."

¹⁹And when He had taken bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me."

²⁰And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup, which is poured out for you, is the new covenant [ratified] in My blood.

²¹But listen, the hand of the one betraying Me is with Mine on the table.

²²For indeed, the Son of Man is going as it has been determined; but woe (judgment is coming) to that man by whom He is betrayed and handed over!"

²³And they began to discuss among themselves which one of them it might be who was going to do this.

²⁴Now a dispute also arose among them as to which of them was regarded to be the greatest.

²⁵Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles have absolute power and lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called 'Benefactors.'

²⁶But it is not to be this way with you; on the contrary, the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest [and least privileged], and the [one who is the] leader, like the servant.

²⁷For who is the greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.

²⁸"You are those who have remained and have stood by Me in My trials;

²⁹and just as My Father has granted Me a kingdom, I grant you [the privilege]

³⁰that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

³¹"Simon, Simon (Peter), listen! Satan has demanded permission to sift [all of] you like grain;

³²but I have prayed [especially] for you [Peter], that your faith [and confidence in Me] may not fail; and you, once you have turned back again [to Me], strengthen and support your brothers [in the faith]."

³³And Peter said to Him, "Lord, I am ready to go with You both to prison and to death!"

³⁴Jesus said, "I say to you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will [utterly] deny three times that you know Me."

³⁵And He said to them, "When I sent you out without a money belt and [provision] bag and [extra] sandals, did you lack anything?" They answered, "Nothing."

³⁶Then He said to them, "But now, he who has a money belt is to take it along, and also his [provision] bag, and he who has no sword is to sell his coat and buy one.

³⁷For I tell you that this [Scripture] which is written must be completed and fulfilled in Me: 'And He was counted with the criminals'; for that which refers to Me has its fulfillment [and is settled]."

³⁸They said, "Lord, look, here are two swords." And He said to them, "It is enough."

³⁹And He came out and went, as was His habit, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed Him.

⁴⁰When He arrived at the place [called Gethsemane], He said to them, "Pray continually that you may not fall into temptation."

⁴¹And He withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed,

⁴²saying, "Father, if You are willing, remove this cup [of divine wrath] from Me; yet not My will, but [always] Yours be done."

⁴³Now an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.

⁴⁴And being in agony [deeply distressed and anguished; almost to the point of death], He prayed more intently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down on the ground.

⁴⁵When He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow,

⁴⁶and He said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not fall into temptation."

⁴⁷While He was still speaking, a crowd came, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve [disciples], was leading the way for them. He approached Jesus to kiss Him.

⁴⁸And Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"

⁴⁹When those who were around Him saw what was about to happen, they said, "Lord, should we strike with the sword?"

⁵⁰And one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear.

⁵¹But Jesus replied, "Stop! No more of this." And He touched the ear and healed him.

⁵²Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders [of the Sanhedrin] who had come out against Him, "Have you come out with swords and clubs as you would against a robber?

⁵³Day after day when I was with you in the temple, you did not lay hands on Me; but this hour and the power and authority of darkness are yours."

⁵⁴Then they seized Him, and led Him away and brought Him to the [elegant] house of the [Jewish] high priest. And Peter was following at a [safe] distance.

⁵⁵After they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat among them.

⁵⁶And a servant-girl, seeing him as he sat in the firelight and looking intently at him, said, "This man was with Him too."

⁵⁷But Peter denied it, saying, "Woman, I do not know Him!"

⁵⁸A little later someone else saw him and said, "You are one of them too." But Peter said, "Man, I am not!"

⁵⁹After about an hour had passed, another man began to insist, "This man was with Him, for he is a Galilean too."

⁶⁰But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are talking about." Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed.

⁶¹The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, "Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times."

⁶²And he went out and wept bitterly [deeply grieved and distressed].

⁶³Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking and ridiculing Him [and treating Him with contempt] and beating Him.

⁶⁴They blindfolded Him and asked, "Prophesy, who is it that struck You?"

⁶⁵And they were saying many other [evil and slanderous] things against Him, blaspheming [speaking sacrilegiously and abusively about] Him.

⁶⁶When day came, the Council of the elders of the people (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) assembled, both chief priests and scribes; and they led Jesus away to the council chamber, saying,

⁶⁷"If You are the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), tell us." But He said to them, "If I tell you, you will not believe [what I say],

⁶⁸and if I ask a question, you will not answer.

⁶⁹But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God."

⁷⁰And they all said, "Are You the Son of God, then?" He replied, "It is just as you say."

⁷¹Then they asked, "What further need of testimony do we have? For we ourselves have heard it from His own mouth."