Jesus Feeds Four Thousand
(Matthew 15.32-39)1 One day another large crowd gathered around Jesus. They had not brought along anything to eat. So Jesus called his disciples together and said, 2 “I feel sorry for these people. They have been with me for three days, and they don't have anything to eat. 3 Some of them live a long way from here. If I send them away hungry, they might faint on their way home.”
4 The disciples said, “This place is like a desert. Where can we find enough food to feed such a crowd?”
5 Jesus asked them how much food they had. They replied, “Seven small loaves of bread.”
6 After Jesus told the crowd to sit down, he took the seven loaves and gave thanks. He then broke the loaves and handed them to his disciples, who passed them out to the crowd. 7 They also had a few little fish, and after Jesus had blessed these, he told the disciples to pass them around.
8-9 The crowd of about 4,000 people ate all they wanted, and the leftovers filled seven large baskets.
As soon as Jesus had sent the people away, 10 he got into the boat with the disciples and crossed to the territory near Dalmanutha.
A Sign from Heaven
(Matthew 16.1-4)11 The Pharisees came out and started an argument with Jesus. They wanted to test him by asking for a sign from heaven. 12 Jesus groaned and said, “Why are you always looking for a sign? I can promise you that you will not be given one!” 13 Then he left them. He again got into a boat and crossed over to the other side of the lake.
The Yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod
(Matthew 16.5-12)14 The disciples had forgotten to bring any bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15 Jesus warned them, “Watch out! Guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod.”
16 The disciples talked this over and said to each other, “He must be saying this because we don't have any bread.”
17 Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you talking about not having any bread? Don't you understand? Are your minds still closed? 18 Are your eyes blind and your ears deaf? Don't you remember 19 how many baskets of leftovers you picked up when I fed those 5,000 people with only five small loaves of bread?”
“Yes,” the disciples answered. “There were twelve baskets.”
20 Jesus then asked, “And how many baskets of leftovers did you pick up when I broke seven small loaves of bread for those 4,000 people?”
“Seven,” they answered.
21 “Don't you know what I am talking about by now?” Jesus asked.
Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida
22 As Jesus and his disciples were going into Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch the man. 23 Jesus took him by the hand and led him out of the village, where he spit into the man's eyes. He placed his hands on the blind man and asked him if he could see anything. 24 The man looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees walking around.”
25 Once again Jesus placed his hands on the man's eyes, and this time the man stared. His eyes were healed, and he saw everything clearly. 26 Jesus said to him, “You may return home now, but don't go into the village.”
Who Is Jesus?
(Matthew 16.13-20Luke 9.18-21)27 Jesus and his disciples went to the villages near the town of Caesarea Philippi. As they were walking along, he asked them, “What do people say about me?”
28 The disciples answered, “Some say you are John the Baptist or maybe Elijah. Others say you are one of the prophets.”
29 Then Jesus asked, “But who do you say I am?”
“You are the Messiah!” Peter replied.
30 Jesus warned the disciples not to tell anyone about him.
Jesus Speaks about His Suffering and Death
(Matthew 16.21-28Luke 9.22-27)31 Jesus began telling his disciples what would happen to him. He said, “The nation's leaders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the Law of Moses will make the Son of Man suffer terribly. He will be rejected and killed, but three days later he will rise to life.” 32 Then Jesus explained clearly what he meant.
Peter took Jesus aside and told him to stop talking like that. 33 But when Jesus turned and saw the disciples, he corrected Peter. He said to him, “Satan, get away from me! You are thinking like everyone else and not like God.”
34 Jesus then told the crowd and the disciples to come closer, and he said:
If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross and follow me. 35 If you want to save your life, you will destroy it. But if you give up your life for me and for the good news, you will save it. 36 What will you gain, if you own the whole world but destroy yourself? 37 What could you give to get back your soul?
38 Don't be ashamed of me and my message among these unfaithful and sinful people! If you are, the Son of Man will be ashamed of you when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
1 In those dayes, when there was a very great multitude, and had nothing to eate, Iesus called his disciples to him, and said vnto them, 2 I haue compassion on the multitude, because they haue nowe continued with mee three dayes, and haue nothing to eate. 3 And if I sende them away fasting to their owne houses, they woulde faint by the way: for some of them came from farre. 4 Then his disciples answered him, Whence can a man satisfie these with bread here in the wildernes? 5 And hee asked them, Howe many loaues haue ye? And they said, Seuen. 6 Then he commanded the multitude to sit downe on the grounde: and hee tooke the seuen loaues, and gaue thankes, brake them, and gaue to his disciples to set before them, and they did set them before the people. 7 They had also a few small fishes: and when he had giuen thankes, he commanded them also to be set before them. 8 So they did eate, and were sufficed, and they tooke vp of the broken meate that was left, seuen baskets full. 9 (And they that had eaten, were about foure thousand) so he sent them away. 10 And anon he entred into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha. 11 And the Pharises came foorth, and began to dispute with him, seeking of him a signe from heauen, and tempting him. 12 Then hee sighed deepely in his spirit, and saide, Why doeth this generation seeke a signe? Verely I say vnto you, a signe shall not be giuen vnto this generation. 13 So he left them, and went into the ship againe, and departed to the other side. 14 And they had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the shippe with them, but one loafe. 15 And he charged them, saying, Take heede, and beware of the leauen of the Pharises, and of the leauen of Herod. 16 And they reasoned among themselues, saying, It is, because we haue no bread. 17 And when Iesus knew it, he said vnto them, Why reason you thus, because ye haue no bread? perceiue ye not yet, neither vnderstande? haue ye your hearts yet hardened? 18 Haue yee eyes, and see not? and haue yee eares, and heare not? and doe ye not remember? 19 When I brake the fiue loaues among fiue thousand, how many baskets full of broken meate tooke ye vp? They said vnto him, Twelue. 20 And when I brake seuen among foure thousande, howe many baskets of the leauings of broken meate tooke ye vp? And they said, Seuen. 21 Then he saide vnto them, Howe is it that ye vnderstand not? 22 And hee came to Bethsaida, and they brought a blinde man vnto him, and desired him to touch him. 23 Then he tooke the blinde by the hand, and ledde him out of the towne, and spat in his eyes, and put his handes vpon him, and asked him, if he sawe ought. 24 And he looked vp, and said, I see men: for I see them walking like trees. 25 After that, he put his hands againe vpon his eyes, and made him looke againe. And hee was restored to his sight, and sawe euery man a farre off clearely. 26 And hee sent him home to his house, saying, Neither goe into the towne, nor tell it to any in the towne. 27 And Iesus went out, and his disciples into the townes of Cesarea Philippi. And by the way hee asked his disciples, saying vnto them, Whome doe men say that I am? 28 And they answered, Some say, Iohn Baptist: and some, Elias: and some, one of the Prophets. 29 And he said vnto them, But whome say ye that I am? Then Peter answered, and saide vnto him, Thou art that Christ. 30 And he sharpely charged them, that concerning him they should tell no man. 31 Then hee began to teache them that the Sonne of man must suffer many things, and should be reproued of the Elders, and of the hie Priestes, and of the Scribes, and be slaine, and within three dayes rise againe. 32 And he spake that thing boldly. Then Peter tooke him aside, and began to rebuke him. 33 Then he turned backe, and looked on his disciples, and rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behinde me, Satan: for thou vnderstandest not the things that are of God, but the things that are of men. 34 And hee called the people vnto him with his disciples, and saide vnto them, Whosoeuer will follow me, let him forsake himselfe, and take vp his crosse, and follow me. 35 For whosoeuer will saue his life, shall lose it: but whosoeuer shall lose his life for my sake and the Gospels, he shall saue it. 36 For what shall it profite a man, though he should winne the whole world, if he lose his soule? 37 Or what exchange shall a man giue for his soule? 38 For whosoeuer shall be ashamed of mee, and of my wordes among this adulterous and sinfull generation, of him shall the Sonne of man be ashamed also, when he commeth in the glorie of his Father with the holy Angels.