The Feeding of the 4,000
1 In those days, when there was a very great multitude, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to himself and said to them, 2 “I feel sorry for these people because they have stayed with me now for three days and have had nothing to eat. 3 If I send them away to their home hungry, they will faint on the way, for some of them have come a long way.”
4 His disciples answered him, “From where could one get bread to satisfy these people, here in this deserted place?”
5 He asked them, “How many loaves do you have?”
They said, “Seven.”
6 He commanded the crowds to sit down on the ground, and he took the seven loaves. Having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to serve, and they served the people. 7 They had a few small fish, and after he had blessed them, he told them to serve these also. 8 They ate and were filled. They took up seven baskets of broken pieces that were left over. 9 Those who had eaten were about 4,000. Then he sent them away.
10 Immediately he entered into the boat with his disciples and came into the region of Dalmanutha.
The Pharisees Seek a Sign
11 The Pharisees came out and began to question him, seeking from him a sign from heaven and testing him. 12 He sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Most certainly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.”
13 He left them, and again entering into the boat, departed to the other side.
Leaven of the Pharisees and Herod
14 They forgot to bring bread, and they did not have more than one loaf in the boat with them. 15 He warned them, saying, “Take heed: beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.”
16 They reasoned with one another, saying, “It’s because we have no bread.”
17 Jesus, perceiving it, said to them, “Why are you discussing that you have no bread? Do you still not perceive or understand? Is your heart still hardened? 18 Having eyes, do you not see? Having ears, do you not hear? Do you not remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves among the 5,000, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?”
They told him, “Twelve.”
20 “When the seven loaves fed the 4,000, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?”
They told him, “Seven.”
21 He asked them, “Do you still not understand?”
A Blind Man Healed at Bethsaida
22 He came to Bethsaida. They brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him. 23 He took hold of the blind man by the hand and brought him out of the village. When he had spat on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him if he saw anything.
24 He looked up and said, “I see men as trees, walking.”
25 Then again Jesus laid his hands on the man’s eyes. He looked intently, and his sight was restored, and he saw everyone clearly. 26 Jesus sent him home, saying, “Do not go into into the village or tell anyone in the village.”
Peter’s Confession of Christ
27 Jesus went out with his disciples, into the villages of Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked his disciples, “Who do men say that I am?”
28 They told him, “John the Baptist, and others say Elijah, but others: one of the prophets.”
29 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”
30 He commanded them that they should tell no one about him.
Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection
31 He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
32 And he spoke openly, and Peter took him and began to rebuke him. 33 But he, turning around and seeing his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you have in mind not the things of God, but the things of men.”
Take up Your Cross
34 He called the multitude to himself with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wants to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, and whoever will lose his life for my sake and the sake of the Gospel will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and lose his own soul? 37 For what will a man give in exchange for his life? 38 For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man also will be ashamed of him, when he comes in his Father’s glory, with the holy angels.”