New Testament Plan

¹One day as he was teaching the people in the temple and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests and the scribes, with the elders, came

²and said to him: “Tell us, by what authority are you doing these things? Who is it who gave you this authority?”

³He answered them, “I will also ask you a question. Tell me,

⁴was the baptism of John from heaven or of human origin?”

⁵They discussed it among themselves: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’

⁶But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ all the people will stone us, because they are convinced that John was a prophet.”

⁷So they answered that they did not know its origin.

⁸And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

⁹Now he began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, leased it to tenant farmers, and went away for a long time.

¹⁰At harvest time he sent a servant to the farmers so that they might give him some fruit from the vineyard. But the farmers beat him and sent him away empty-handed.

¹¹He sent yet another servant, but they beat that one too, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed.

¹²And he sent yet a third, but they wounded this one too and threw him out.

¹³“Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What should I do? I will send my beloved son. Perhaps they will respect him.’

¹⁴“But when the tenant farmers saw him, they discussed it among themselves and said, ‘This is the heir. Let’s kill him, so that the inheritance will be ours.’

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

¹⁶He will come and kill those farmers and give the vineyard to others.” But when they heard this they said, “That must never happen!”

¹⁷But he looked at them and said, “Then what is the meaning of this Scripture: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone?

¹⁸Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but on whomever it falls, it will shatter him.”

¹⁹Then the scribes and the chief priests looked for a way to get their hands on him that very hour, because they knew he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people.

²⁰They watched closely and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, so that they could catch him in what he said, to hand him over to the governor’s rule and authority.

²¹They questioned him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach correctly, and you don’t show partiality but teach truthfully the way of God.

²²Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

²³But detecting their craftiness, he said to them,

²⁴“Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?” “Caesar’s,” they said.

²⁵“Well then,” he told them, “give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

²⁶They were not able to catch him in what he said in public, and being amazed at his answer, they became silent.

²⁷Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came up and questioned him:

²⁸“Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother has a wife, and dies childless, his brother should take the wife and produce offspring for his brother.

²⁹Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife and died without children.

³⁰Also the second

³¹and the third took her. In the same way, all seven died and left no children.

³²Finally, the woman died too.

³³In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For all seven had married her.”

³⁴Jesus told them, “The children of this age marry and are given in marriage.

³⁵But those who are counted worthy to take part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage.

³⁶For they can no longer die, because they are like angels and are children of God, since they are children of the resurrection.

³⁷Moses even indicated in the passage about the burning bush that the dead are raised, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.

³⁸He is not the God of the dead but of the living, because all are living to him.”

³⁹Some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, you have spoken well.”

⁴⁰And they no longer dared to ask him anything.

⁴¹Then he said to them, “How can they say that the Christ is the son of David?

⁴²For David himself says in the Book of Psalms: The Lord declared to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand

⁴³ until I make your enemies your footstool.’

⁴⁴David calls him ‘Lord’ how then can the Christ be his son?”

⁴⁵While all the people were listening, he said to his disciples,

⁴⁶“Beware of the scribes, who want to go around in long robes and who love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets.

⁴⁷They devour widows’ houses and say long prayers just for show. These will receive harsher judgment.”

¹He looked up and saw the rich dropping their offerings into the temple treasury.

²He also saw a poor widow dropping in two tiny coins.

³“Truly I tell you,” he said. “This poor widow has put in more than all of them.

⁴For all these people have put in gifts out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”

⁵As some were talking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said,

⁶“These things that you see — the days will come when not one stone will be left on another that will not be thrown down.”

⁷“Teacher,” they asked him, “so when will these things happen? And what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?”

⁸Then he said, “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Don’t follow them.

⁹When you hear of wars and rebellions, don’t be alarmed. Indeed, it is necessary that these things take place first, but the end won’t come right away.”

¹⁰Then he told them: “Nation will be raised up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

¹¹There will be violent earthquakes, and famines and plagues in various places, and there will be terrifying sights and great signs from heaven.

¹²But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you. They will hand you over to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name.

¹³This will give you an opportunity to bear witness.

¹⁴Therefore make up your minds not to prepare your defense ahead of time,

¹⁵for I will give you such words and a wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.

¹⁶You will even be betrayed by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends. They will kill some of you.

¹⁷You will be hated by everyone because of my name,

¹⁸but not a hair of your head will be lost.

¹⁹By your endurance, gain your lives.

²⁰“When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that its desolation has come near.

²¹Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. Those inside the city must leave it, and those who are in the country must not enter it,

²²because these are days of vengeance to fulfill all the things that are written.

²³Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days, for there will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people.

²⁴They will be killed by the sword and be led captive into all the nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

²⁵“Then there will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; and there will be anguish on the earth among nations bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the waves.

²⁶People will faint from fear and expectation of the things that are coming on the world, because the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

²⁷Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

²⁸But when these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near.”

²⁹Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.

³⁰As soon as they put out leaves you can see for yourselves and recognize that summer is already near.

³¹In the same way, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near.

³²Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all things take place.

³³Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

³⁴“Be on your guard, so that your minds are not dulled from carousing, drunkenness, and worries of life, or that day will come on you unexpectedly

³⁵like a trap. For it will come on all who live on the face of the whole earth.

³⁶But be alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place and to stand before the Son of Man.”

³⁷During the day, he was teaching in the temple, but in the evening he would go out and spend the night on what is called the Mount of Olives.

³⁸Then all the people would come early in the morning to hear him in the temple.

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

²The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put him to death, because they were afraid of the people.

³Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, who was numbered among the Twelve.

⁴He went away and discussed with the chief priests and temple police how he could hand him over to them.

⁵They were glad and agreed to give him silver.

⁶So he accepted the offer and started looking for a good opportunity to betray him to them when the crowd was not present.

⁷Then the Day of Unleavened Bread came when the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.

⁸Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”

⁹“Where do you want us to prepare it?” they asked him.

¹⁰“Listen,” he said to them, “when you’ve entered the city, a man carrying a water jug will meet you. Follow him into the house he enters.

¹¹Tell the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks you, “Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover with my disciples?”’

¹²Then he will show you a large, furnished room upstairs. Make the preparations there.”

¹³So they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

¹⁴When the hour came, he reclined at the table, and the apostles with him.

¹⁵Then he said to them, “I have fervently desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.

¹⁶For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”

¹⁷Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves.

¹⁸For I tell you, from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

¹⁹And he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

²⁰In the same way he also took the cup after supper and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

²¹But look, the hand of the one betraying me is at the table with me.

²²For the Son of Man will go away as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!”

²³So they began to argue among themselves which of them it could be who was going to do it.

²⁴Then a dispute also arose among them about who should be considered the greatest.

²⁵But he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who have authority over them have themselves called ‘Benefactors.’

²⁶It is not to be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever is greatest among you should become like the youngest, and whoever leads, like the one serving.

²⁷For who is greater, the one at the table or the one serving? Isn’t it the one at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.

²⁸You are those who stood by me in my trials.

²⁹I bestow on you a kingdom, just as my Father bestowed one on me,

³⁰so that 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, look out. Satan has asked to sift you like wheat.

³²But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

³³“Lord,” he told him, “I’m ready to go with you both to prison and to death.”

³⁴“I tell you, Peter,” he said, “the rooster will not crow today until you deny three times that you know me.”

³⁵He also said to them, “When I sent you out without money-bag, traveling bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Not a thing,” they said.

³⁶Then he said to them, “But now, whoever has a money-bag should take it, and also a traveling bag. And whoever doesn’t have a sword should sell his robe and buy one.

³⁷For I tell you, what is written must be fulfilled in me: And he was counted among the lawless. Yes, what is written about me is coming to its fulfillment.”

³⁸“Lord,” they said, “look, here are two swords.” “That is enough!” he told them.

³⁹He went out and made his way as usual to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him.

⁴⁰When he reached the place, he told them, “Pray that you may not fall into temptation.”

⁴¹Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and began to pray,

⁴²“Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me — nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

⁴³Then an angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him.

⁴⁴Being in anguish, he prayed more fervently, and his sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.

⁴⁵When he got up from prayer and came to the disciples, he found them sleeping, exhausted from their grief.

⁴⁶“Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray, so that you won’t fall into temptation.”

⁴⁷While he was still speaking, suddenly a mob came, and one of the Twelve named Judas was leading them. He came near Jesus to kiss him,

⁴⁸but Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

⁴⁹When those around him saw what was going to happen, they asked, “Lord, should we strike with the sword?”

⁵⁰Then one of them struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear.

⁵¹But Jesus responded, “No more of this!” And touching his ear, he healed him.

⁵²Then Jesus said to the chief priests, temple police, and the elders who had come for him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a criminal?

⁵³Every day while I was with you in the temple, you never laid a hand on me. But this is your hour — and the dominion of darkness.”

⁵⁴They seized him, led him away, and brought him into the high priest’s house. Meanwhile Peter was following at a distance.

⁵⁵They lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, and Peter sat among them.

⁵⁶When a servant saw him sitting in the light, and looked closely at him, she said, “This man was with him too.”

⁵⁷But he denied it: “Woman, I don’t know him.”

⁵⁸After a little while, someone else saw him and said, “You’re one of them too.” “Man, I am not!” Peter said.

⁵⁹About an hour later, another kept insisting, “This man was certainly with him, since he’s also a Galilean.”

⁶⁰But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed.

⁶¹Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter. So Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.”

⁶²And he went outside and wept bitterly.

⁶³The men who were holding Jesus started mocking and beating him.

⁶⁴After blindfolding him, they kept asking, “Prophesy! Who was it that hit you?”

⁶⁵And they were saying many other blasphemous things to him.

⁶⁶When daylight came, the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the scribes, convened and brought him before their Sanhedrin.

⁶⁷They said, “If you are the Messiah, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I do tell you, you will not believe.

⁶⁸And if I ask you, you will not answer.

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

⁷⁰They all asked, “Are you, then, the Son of God?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.”

⁷¹“Why do we need any more testimony,” they said, “since we’ve heard it ourselves from his mouth?”