Jesus Heals a Roman Officer's Servant
(Matthew 8.5-13)1 When Jesus had finished saying all these things to the people, he went to Capernaum. 2 A Roman officer there had a servant who was very dear to him; the man was sick and about to die. 3 When the officer heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to ask him to come and heal his servant. 4 They came to Jesus and begged him earnestly, “This man really deserves your help. 5 He loves our people and he himself built a synagogue for us.”
6 So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the officer sent friends to tell him, “Sir, don't trouble yourself. I do not deserve to have you come into my house, 7 neither do I consider myself worthy to come to you in person. Just give the order, and my servant will get well. 8 I, too, am a man placed under the authority of superior officers, and I have soldiers under me. I order this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; I order that one, ‘Come!’ and he comes; and I order my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”
9 Jesus was surprised when he heard this; he turned around and said to the crowd following him, “I tell you, I have never found faith like this, not even in Israel!”
10 The messengers went back to the officer's house and found his servant well.
Jesus Raises a Widow's Son
11 Soon afterward Jesus went to a town named Nain, accompanied by his disciples and a large crowd. 12 Just as he arrived at the gate of the town, a funeral procession was coming out. The dead man was the only son of a woman who was a widow, and a large crowd from the town was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, his heart was filled with pity for her, and he said to her, “Don't cry.” 14 Then he walked over and touched the coffin, and the men carrying it stopped. Jesus said, “Young man! Get up, I tell you!” 15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
16 They all were filled with fear and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us!” they said; “God has come to save his people!”
17 This news about Jesus went out through all the country and the surrounding territory.
The Messengers from John the Baptist
(Matthew 11.2-19)18 When John's disciples told him about all these things, he called two of them 19 and sent them to the Lord to ask him, “Are you the one John said was going to come, or should we expect someone else?”
20 When they came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to ask if you are the one he said was going to come, or should we expect someone else?”
21 At that very time Jesus healed many people from their sicknesses, diseases, and evil spirits, and gave sight to many blind people. 22 He answered John's messengers, “Go back and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind can see, the lame can walk, those who suffer from dreaded skin diseases are made clean, the deaf can hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is preached to the poor. 23 How happy are those who have no doubts about me!”
24 After John's messengers had left, Jesus began to speak about him to the crowds: “When you went out to John in the desert, what did you expect to see? A blade of grass bending in the wind? 25 What did you go out to see? A man dressed up in fancy clothes? People who dress like that and live in luxury are found in palaces! 26 Tell me, what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes indeed, but you saw much more than a prophet. 27 For John is the one of whom the scripture says: ‘God said, I will send my messenger ahead of you to open the way for you.’ 28 I tell you,” Jesus added, “John is greater than anyone who has ever lived. But the one who is least in the Kingdom of God is greater than John.”
29 All the people heard him; they and especially the tax collectors were the ones who had obeyed God's righteous demands and had been baptized by John. 30 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law rejected God's purpose for themselves and refused to be baptized by John.
31 Jesus continued, “Now to what can I compare the people of this day? What are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace. One group shouts to the other, ‘We played wedding music for you, but you wouldn't dance! We sang funeral songs, but you wouldn't cry!’ 33 John the Baptist came, and he fasted and drank no wine, and you said, ‘He has a demon in him!’ 34 The Son of Man came, and he ate and drank, and you said, ‘Look at this man! He is a glutton and wine drinker, a friend of tax collectors and other outcasts!’ 35 God's wisdom, however, is shown to be true by all who accept it.”
Jesus at the Home of Simon the Pharisee
36 A Pharisee invited Jesus to have dinner with him, and Jesus went to his house and sat down to eat. 37 In that town was a woman who lived a sinful life. She heard that Jesus was eating in the Pharisee's house, so she brought an alabaster jar full of perfume 38 and stood behind Jesus, by his feet, crying and wetting his feet with her tears. Then she dried his feet with her hair, kissed them, and poured the perfume on them. 39 When the Pharisee saw this, he said to himself, “If this man really were a prophet, he would know who this woman is who is touching him; he would know what kind of sinful life she lives!”
40 Jesus spoke up and said to him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
“Yes, Teacher,” he said, “tell me.”
41 “There were two men who owed money to a moneylender,” Jesus began. “One owed him five hundred silver coins, and the other owed him fifty. 42 Neither of them could pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Which one, then, will love him more?”
43 “I suppose,” answered Simon, “that it would be the one who was forgiven more.”
“You are right,” said Jesus. 44 Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your home, and you gave me no water for my feet, but she has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. 45 You did not welcome me with a kiss, but she has not stopped kissing my feet since I came. 46 You provided no olive oil for my head, but she has covered my feet with perfume. 47 I tell you, then, the great love she has shown proves that her many sins have been forgiven. But whoever has been forgiven little shows only a little love.”
48 Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 The others sitting at the table began to say to themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?”
50 But Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
1 Kad nu Viņš visus Savus vārdus ļaudīm bija pabeidzis, tad Viņš iegāja Kapernaumā. 2 Tur kāda virsnieka kalps, kas tam bija mīļš, gulēja slims uz miršanu. 3 Dabūjis dzirdēt par Jēzu, tas nosūtīja pie Viņa jūdu vecajus un Viņu lūdza, lai nāktu viņa kalpu dziedināt. 4 Un, pie Jēzus nogājuši, tie Viņu mīļi lūdza, sacīdami: "Viņš ir vērts, ka Tu viņu paklausi, 5 jo viņš mīl mūsu tautu un mums ir uzcēlis šo sinagogu." 6 Un Jēzus gāja tiem līdzi; bet, kad Viņš vairs nebija tālu no tā nama, tad virsnieks sūtīja draugus pie Viņa un lika Viņam sacīt: "Kungs, nepūlies, jo es neesmu cienīgs, ka Tu nāc zem mana jumta. 7 Tāpēc arī es pats neesmu turējis sevi par cienīgu nākt pie Tevis; bet saki tik vienu vārdu, tad mans kalps kļūs vesels. 8 Jo arī es esmu cilvēks, kas stāv zem priekšniecības, un man ir padoti kareivji, un, ja es kādam saku: ej, - tad viņš iet; un otram: nāc, - tad viņš nāk; un savam kalpam: dari to, - tad viņš dara." 9 Bet Jēzus, to dzirdējis, par viņu brīnījās un, pagriezies uz ļaudīm, kas Viņam gāja līdzi, sacīja: "Es jums saku: tādu ticību Es pat Israēla ļaudīs neesmu atradis." 10 Un tie, kas bija sūtīti, atgriezušies mājās, atrada kalpu veselu. 11 Un pēc tam Viņš gāja uz pilsētu, vārdā Naine, un Viņa mācekļi un daudz ļaužu gāja Viņam līdzi. 12 Bet, kad Viņš bija tuvu pie pilsētas vārtiem, lūk, tad iznesa mironi, kas bija savas mātes vienīgais dēls, un tā bija atraitne, un liels pulks pilsētnieku tai gāja līdzi. 13 Un, to redzējis, Tas Kungs par to iežēlojās un tai sacīja: "Neraudi!" 14 Un piegājis Viņš aizskāra zārku, un nesēji apstājās, un Viņš sacīja: "Jaunekli, Es tev saku: celies augšā!" 15 Un mironis cēlās sēdus un sāka runāt, un Viņš to atdeva viņa mātei. 16 Tad izbailes pārņēma visus, un tie slavēja Dievu, sacīdami: "Liels pravietis mūsu starpā ir cēlies, - un: Dievs Savus ļaudis uzlūkojis." 17 Un šī slava par Viņu izpaudās pa visu Jūdeju un pa visu apkārtni. 18 Jānim viņa mācekļi paziņoja visu, kas noticis. 19 Un Jānis ataicināja divus no saviem mācekļiem un tos sūtīja pie Jēzus, lai tie Viņu jautātu: "Vai Tu esi Tas, kam būs nākt, jeb vai mums būs citu gaidīt?" 20 Bet šie vīri, pie Viņa nogājuši, sacīja: "Jānis Kristītājs mūs sūtījis pie Tevis, lai mēs Tevi jautātu: vai Tu esi Tas, kam būs nākt, jeb vai mums būs citu gaidīt?" 21 Bet tanī brīdī Viņš daudzus dziedināja no sērgām un sāpēm un ļauniem gariem, un daudziem akliem Viņš dāvināja gaismu. 22 Un Jēzus atbildēdams tiem sacīja: "Eita un atsakait Jānim, ko esat redzējuši un dzirdējuši: aklie redz, tizlie iet, spitālīgie top šķīsti, kurlie dzird, miroņi ceļas augšām, nabagiem sludina prieka vēsti; 23 un svētīgs ir, kas pie Manis neapgrēcinājas." 24 Kad nu Jāņa vēstneši bija aizgājuši, Viņš sāka uz ļaudīm runāt par Jāni: "Ko jūs gājāt tuksnesī skatīties? Vai niedri, ko vējš šauba? 25 Jeb ko gājāt redzēt? Vai cilvēku, apģērbtu mīkstās drēbēs? Lūk, tie, kas dārgās drānās un pilnībā dzīvo, ir ķēniņa namos. 26 Jeb ko gājāt redzēt? Vai pravieti? Tiešām Es jums saku: vairāk nekā pravieti. 27 Šis ir tas, par ko rakstīts: redzi, Es sūtu Savu eņģeli Tavā priekšā, lai tas sataisa ceļu Tavā priekšā. 28 Jo Es jums saku: no visiem, kas dzimuši no sievām, neviens pravietis nav lielāks par Jāni Kristītāju; bet vismazākais Dieva valstībā ir lielāks par viņu." 29 Un visi ļaudis, kas Viņu dzirdēja, pat muitnieki, apliecināja, ka Dievs ir taisns, likdamies kristīties ar Jāņa kristību. 30 Tikai farizeji un bauslības mācītāji ir nicinājuši Dieva padomu viņu pašu labā, palikuši viņa nekristīti. 31 "Kam Es šīs paaudzes ļaudis līdzināšu, kam viņi ir līdzīgi? 32 Viņi ir līdzīgi bērniem, kas sēž tirgus laukumā, un cits citam uzsauc un saka: mēs jums esam stabulējuši, un jūs neesat dejojuši; mēs esam jums dziedājuši raudu dziesmas, un jūs neesat raudājuši. 33 Jo nāca Jānis Kristītājs, neēda maizi un nedzēra vīnu, un jūs sacījāt: viņam ir ļauns gars. 34 Nāca Cilvēka Dēls, ēda un dzēra, un jūs sakāt: redzi, šis cilvēks ir negausis un vīna dzērājs, muitnieku un grēcinieku draugs. 35 Taču gudrību attaisnojuši visi viņas bērni." 36 Bet kāds no farizejiem Viņu lūdza, lai Viņš pie tā ēstu, un Viņš, iegājis farizeja namā, apsēdās. 37 Un redzi, tanī pilsētā kāda sieva, kas bija grēciniece, dzirdējusi, ka Viņš sēžot farizeja namā pie galda, atnesa alabastra trauciņu ar svaidāmo eļļu 38 un stāvēja aiz Viņa pie Viņa kājām, raudāja un iesāka slacināt Viņa kājas ar savām asarām un nožāvēja ar saviem matiem, un skūpstīja Viņa kājas un tās svaidīja ar eļļu. 39 Bet farizejs, kas Viņu bija aicinājis, to redzēdams, runāja pats pie sevis: "Ja šis būtu pravietis, tad Viņš zinātu, kas šī sieva tāda ir, kas Viņu aizskar; jo tā ir grēciniece." 40 Un Jēzus, to uzrunādams, sacīja: "Sīmani, Man tev kas jāsaka." Viņš atbildēja: "Mācītāj, saki." 41 Jēzus sacīja: "Kādam naudas aizdevējam bija divi parādnieki, viens tam bija parādā pieci simti denāriju un otrs piecdesmit. 42 Kad nu tie nespēja atdot, viņš abiem atlaida parādu. Kurš no abiem to vairāk mīlēs?" 43 Bet Sīmanis atbildēdams sacīja: "Man šķiet, tas, kam viņš vairāk atlaidis." Bet Viņš tam sacīja: "Tu pareizi esi spriedis." 44 Un, pagriezies pie sievas, Viņš sacīja Sīmanim: "Vai tu redzi šo sievu? Es nācu tavā namā, tu Man ūdeni neesi devis Manām kājām, bet šī savām asarām Manas kājas slacījusi un ar saviem matiem nožāvējusi. 45 Tu Mani neesi skūpstījis, bet šī, kamēr Es še esmu, nav mitējusies skūpstīt Manas kājas. 46 Ar eļļu tu neesi svaidījis manu galvu, bet šī ar svaidāmo eļļu ir svaidījusi Manas kājas. 47 Tādēļ Es tev saku: viņas grēki, kuru bija daudz, ir piedoti, jo tā daudz mīlējusi; bet, kam maz piedod, tas mīl maz." 48 Un Viņš tai sacīja: "Tev tavi grēki piedoti." 49 Un tie, kas līdz pie galda sēdēja, sāka pie sevis runāt: "Kas Tas tāds, kas pat grēkus piedod?" 50 Bet Viņš sacīja uz sievu: "Tava ticība tev palīdzējusi, ej ar mieru."
