Study Desk

Jesus ^(C1)entered Jericho and was passing through.

And ^(F1)there was a man called by the name of Zaccheus; he was a chief tax collector and he was rich.

Zaccheus was trying to see who Jesus was, and he was unable due to the crowd, because he was short in stature.

So he ran on ahead and climbed up a ^(F1)(C1)sycamore tree in order to see Him, because He was about to pass through that way.

And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, "Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house."

And he hurried and came down, and received Him ^(F1)joyfully.

When the people saw this, they all began to complain, saying, "He has gone in ^(F1)to be the guest of a man who is a sinner!"

But Zaccheus stopped and said to ^(C1)the Lord, "Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I am giving to the poor, and if I have ^(C2)extorted anything from anyone, I am giving back ^(C3)four times as much."

And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is ^(C1)a son of Abraham.

"For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."

Now while they were listening to these things, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because ^(C1)He was near Jerusalem and they thought that ^(C2)the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately.

So He said, "^(C1)A nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then to return.

"And he called ten of his own slaves and gave them ten ^(F1)minas, and said to them, 'Do business with this money ^(F2)until I come back.'

"But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We do not want this man to reign over us.'

"When he returned after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that these slaves, to whom he had given the money, be summoned to him so that he would learn how much they had made by the business they had done.

"The first slave appeared, saying, '^(F1)Master, your ^(F2)mina has made ten minas more.'

"And he said to him, 'Well done, good slave; since you have been ^(C1)faithful in a very little thing, you are to have authority over ten cities.'

"The second one came, saying, 'Your ^(F1)mina, ^(F2)master, has made five minas.'

"And he said to him also, 'And you are to be over five cities.'

"And then another came, saying, 'Master, here is your mina, which I kept tucked away in a handkerchief;

for I was afraid of you, because you are a demanding man; you take up what you did not lay down, and reap what you did not sow.'

"He ^(*)said to him, '^(F1)From your own lips I will judge you, you worthless slave. Did you know that I am a demanding man, taking up what I did not lay down, and reaping what I did not sow?

'And so why did you not put my money in the bank, and when I came back, I would have collected it with interest?'

"And then he said to the other slaves who were present, 'Take the mina away from him and give it to the one who has the ten minas.'

"And they said to him, 'Master, he already has ten minas.'

'^(C1)I tell you that to everyone who has, more shall be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.

'But as for ^(C1)these enemies of mine who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and ^(C2)slaughter them in my presence.'"

After Jesus said these things, He ^(C1)was going on ahead, ^(C2)going up to Jerusalem.

^(C1)When He approached Bethphage and ^(C2)Bethany, near the ^(F1)mountain that is called ^(C3)Olivet, He sent two of the disciples,

saying, "Go into the village ^(F1)ahead of you; there, as you enter, you will find a colt tied, on which no one yet has ever sat; untie it and bring it here.

"And if anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' you shall say this: '^(F1)The Lord has need of it.'"

So those who were sent left and found it just as He had told them.

And as they were untying the colt, its ^(F1)owners said to them, "Why are you untying the colt?"

They said, "^(F1)The Lord has need of it."

And they brought it to Jesus, ^(C1)and they threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it.

Now as He was going, they were spreading their cloaks on the road.

And as soon as He was approaching, near the descent of ^(C1)the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to ^(C2)praise God ^(F1)joyfully with a loud voice for all the ^(F2)miracles which they had seen,

^(F1)shouting: "^(C1)BLESSED IS the ^(C2)King, THE ONE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Peace in heaven and ^(C3)glory in the highest!"

^(C1)And yet some of the Pharisees ^(F1)in the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples!"

Jesus replied, "I tell you, if these stop speaking, ^(C1)the stones will cry out!"

When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and ^(C1)wept over it,

saying, "If you had known on this day, even you, the conditions for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes.

"For the days will come upon you ^(F1)when your enemies will ^(C1)put up a ^(F2)barricade against you, and ^(C2)surround you and hem you in on every side,

and they will level you to the ground, and throw down your children within you, and ^(C1)they will not leave in you one stone upon ^(F1)another, because you did not recognize ^(C2)the time of your visitation."

^(C1)And Jesus entered the temple grounds and began to drive out those who were selling,

saying to them, "It is written: '^(C1)AND MY HOUSE WILL BE A HOUSE OF PRAYER,' ^(C2)but you have made it a DEN OF ROBBERS."

And ^(C1)He was teaching daily in the temple; but the chief priests and the scribes and the leading men among the people ^(C2)were trying to put Him to death,

and yet they could not find ^(F1)anything that they might do, for all the people were hanging on to ^(F2)every word He said.

^(C1)On one of the days while ^(C2)He was teaching the people in the temple and ^(C3)preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders ^(C4)confronted Him,

and they declared, saying to Him, "Tell us by what authority You are doing these things, or who is the one who gave You this authority?"

But He replied to them, "I will also ask you a ^(F1)question, and you tell Me:

"Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?"

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

"But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us to death, since they are convinced that John was a ^(C1)prophet."

And so they answered that they did not know where it came from.

And Jesus said to them, "Neither am I telling you by what authority I do these things."

^(C1)But He began to tell the people this parable: "A man planted a vineyard and leased it to ^(F1)vine-growers, and went on a journey for a long time.

"At the harvest time he sent a slave to the vine-growers, so that they would give him his share of the produce of the vineyard; but the vine-growers beat him and sent him away empty-handed.

"And he proceeded to send another slave; but they beat him also and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed.

"And he proceeded to send a third; but this one too they wounded and threw out.

"Now the ^(F1)owner of the vineyard said, 'What am I to do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will ^(C1)respect him.'

"But when the vine-growers saw him, they discussed with one another, saying, 'This is the heir; let's kill him so that the inheritance will be ours.'

"And so they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What, then, will the ^(F1)owner of the vineyard do to them?

"He will come and ^(C1)put these vine-growers to death, and will give the vineyard to others." However, when they heard this, they said, "^(C2)May it never happen!"

But ^(F1)Jesus looked at them and said, "Then what is this statement that has been written: '^(C1)A STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS HAS BECOME ^(C2)THE ^(F2)CHIEF CORNERSTONE'?

"^(C1)Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will crush him."

The scribes and the chief priests ^(C1)tried to lay hands on Him that very hour, and yet they feared the people; for they were aware that He had spoken this parable against them.

^(C1)And so they watched Him ^(F1)closely, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, in order ^(C2)that they might catch Him in some statement, so that they could hand Him over to the jurisdiction and authority of ^(C3)the governor.

And the spies questioned Him, saying, "Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly, and You ^(F1)are not partial to anyone, but You teach the way of God on the basis of truth.

"Is it ^(F1)permissible for us ^(C1)to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?"

But He saw through their trickery and said to them,

"Show Me a ^(F1)denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?" They said, "Caesar's."

And He said to them, "Then ^(C1)pay to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."

And they were unable to ^(C1)catch Him in a statement in the presence of the people; and they were amazed at His answer, and said nothing.

^(C1)Now some of the ^(C2)Sadducees (who maintain that there is no resurrection) came to Him,

and they questioned Him, saying, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that ^(C1)if ^(F1)a man's brother dies, ^(F2)leaving a wife, and he is childless, that his brother is to ^(F3)marry the wife and raise up children ^(F4)for his brother.

"So then, there were seven brothers; and the first took a wife and died childless;

and the second

and the third ^(F1)married her; and in the same way ^(F2)all seven ^(F3)died, leaving no children.

"Finally the woman also died.

"Therefore, in the resurrection, ^(F1)which one's wife does the woman become? For ^(F2)all seven ^(F3)married her."

Jesus said to them, "The sons of ^(C1)this age marry and the women are given in marriage,

but those who are considered worthy to attain to ^(C1)that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage;

for they cannot even die anymore, for they are like angels, and are ^(C1)sons of God, being ^(F1)sons of the resurrection.

"But as for the fact that the dead are raised, even Moses revealed this in ^(C1)the passage about the burning bush, where he calls the Lord ^(C2)THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB.

"^(C1)Now He is not the God of the dead, but of the living; for ^(C2)all live to Him."

Some of the scribes answered and said, "Teacher, You have spoken well."

For ^(C1)they did not have the courage to question Him any longer about anything.

^(C1)But He said to them, "How is it that they say the ^(F1)Christ is ^(C2)David's son?

"For David himself says in the book of Psalms, '^(C1)THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, "SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND,

^(C1)UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET."'

"Therefore David calls Him 'Lord,' and so how is He his son?"

^(C1)And while all the people were listening, He said to the disciples,

"Beware of the scribes, ^(C1)who like to walk around in long robes, and love personal greetings in the marketplaces, and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets,

who ^(F1)devour widows' houses, and for appearance's sake offer long prayers. These will receive all the more condemnation."

^(C1)Now He looked up and saw the wealthy putting their gifts into the temple treasury.

And He saw a poor widow putting ^(F1)in ^(C1)two ^(F2)lepta coins.

And He said, "Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all of them;

for they all ^(F1)contributed to the ^(F2)offering from their ^(F3)surplus; but she, from her poverty, put in all ^(F4)that she had ^(C1)to live on."

^(C1)And while some were talking about the temple, that it was decorated with beautiful stones and ^(F1)vowed gifts, He said,

"As for these things which you are observing, the days will come when ^(C1)there will not be left one stone upon ^(F1)another, which will not be torn down."

They asked Him questions, saying, "Teacher, when therefore will these things happen? And what will be the ^(F1)sign when these things are about to take place?"

And He said, "See to it that you are not misled; for many will come in My name, saying, '^(C1)I am He,' and, 'The time is near.' ^(C2)Do not go after them.

"And when you hear of wars and revolts, do not be alarmed; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately."

Then He continued by saying to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom,

and there will be ^(F1)massive earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrible sights and great ^(F2)signs from heaven.

"But before all these things, ^(C1)they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, turning you over to the synagogues and prisons, ^(F1)bringing you before kings and governors on account of My name.

"^(C1)It will lead to ^(F1)an opportunity for your testimony.

"^(C1)So ^(F1)make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves;

for ^(C1)I will provide you ^(F1)eloquence and wisdom which none of your adversaries will be able to oppose or refute.

"But you will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, other relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death,

and you will be hated by all people because of My name.

"And yet ^(C1)not a hair of your head will perish.

"^(C1)By your endurance you will gain your ^(F1)lives.

"But when you see Jerusalem ^(C1)surrounded by armies, then ^(F1)recognize that her desolation is near.

"Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are inside ^(F1)the city must leave, and ^(C1)those who are in the country must not enter ^(F1)the city;

because these are ^(C1)days of punishment, so that all things which have been written will be fulfilled.

"Woe to those women who are pregnant, and to those who are nursing babies in those days; for ^(C1)there will be great distress upon the ^(F1)land, and wrath to this people;

and they will fall by ^(C1)the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and ^(C2)Jerusalem will be ^(C3)trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until ^(C4)the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

"There will be ^(F1)signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves,

people fainting from fear and the expectation of the things that are coming upon the ^(F1)world; for the powers of ^(F2)the heavens will be shaken.

"And ^(C1)then they will see ^(C2)the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

"But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because ^(C1)your redemption is drawing near."

And He told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees:

as soon as they put forth leaves, you see for yourselves and ^(C1)know that summer is now near.

"So you too, when you see these things happening, ^(F1)recognize that ^(C1)the kingdom of God is near.

"Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all things take place.

"^(C1)Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

"But ^(C1)be on your guard, so that your hearts will not be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that ^(F1)this day will not come on you suddenly, like a trap;

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

"But ^(C1)stay alert at all times, praying that you will have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to ^(C2)stand before the Son of Man."

Now ^(F1)during the day He was ^(C1)teaching in the temple, but ^(F2)(C2)at evening He would go out and spend the night on ^(C3)the ^(F3)mountain that is called ^(F4)Olivet.

And all the people would get up ^(C1)very early in the morning to come to Him in the temple to listen to Him.

^(C1)Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is called the ^(C2)Passover, was approaching.

And the chief priests and the scribes ^(C1)were trying to find ^(F1)a way to put Him to death, since they were afraid of the people.

^(C1)And ^(C2)Satan entered Judas, the one called Iscariot, ^(F1)who belonged to the number of the twelve.

And he left and discussed with the chief priests and ^(C1)officers how he was to betray Him to them.

And they were delighted, and agreed to give him money.

And so he consented, and began looking for a good opportunity to betray Him to them ^(F1)away from the crowd.

^(C1)Now the first day of Unleavened Bread came, on which ^(C2)the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.

And so Jesus sent ^(C1)Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us, so that we may eat it."

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

And He said to them, "When you have entered the city, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you; follow him into the house that he enters.

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

"And he will show you a large, furnished upstairs room; prepare it there."

And they left and found everything just as He had told them; and they prepared the Passover.

^(C1)When the hour came, He reclined at the table, and ^(C2)the apostles with Him.

And He said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;

for I say to you, I shall not eat it again ^(C1)until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God."

^(C1)And when He had taken a cup and ^(C2)given thanks, He said, "Take this and share it among yourselves;

for ^(C1)I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes."

And when He had taken some bread and ^(C1)given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body, which is being given for you; do this in remembrance of Me."

And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup, which is ^(C1)poured out for you, is the ^(C2)new covenant in My blood.

"^(C1)But behold, the hand of the one betraying Me is with ^(F1)Mine on the table.

"For indeed, the Son of Man is going ^(C1)as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!"

And they began to debate among themselves which one of them it was who was going to do this.

And ^(C1)a dispute also developed among them as to which one of them was regarded as being the greatest.

^(C1)And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles domineer over them; and those who have authority over them are called 'Benefactors.'

"But it is not this way for you; ^(C1)rather, the one who is the greatest among you must become like ^(C2)the youngest, and the leader like the servant.

"For ^(C1)who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But ^(C2)I am among you as the one who serves.

"You are the ones who have stood by Me in My ^(C1)trials;

and just as My Father has granted Me a ^(C1)kingdom, I grant you

that you may ^(C1)eat and drink at My table in My ^(C2)kingdom, and ^(C3)you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

"Simon, Simon, behold, ^(C1)Satan has ^(F1)demanded to ^(C2)sift you men like wheat;

but I ^(C1)have prayed for ^(F1)you, that ^(F1)your faith will not fail; and ^(F1)you, when you have ^(F2)turned back, ^(C2)strengthen your brothers."

^(C1)But he said to Him, "Lord, I am ready to go with You both to prison and to death!"

But He said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me."

And He said to them, "^(C1)When I sent you out without money belt and bag and sandals, you did not lack anything, did you?" They said, "No, nothing."

And He said to them, "But now, ^(F1)whoever has a money belt is to take it along, likewise also a bag, and ^(F1)whoever has no sword is to sell his ^(F2)cloak and buy one.

"For I tell you that this which is written must be fulfilled in Me: '^(C1)AND HE WAS COUNTED WITH WRONGDOERS'; for ^(C2)that which refers to Me has its ^(F1)fulfillment."

They said, "Lord, look, here are two ^(C1)swords." And He said to them, "It is enough."

^(C1)And He came out and went, ^(C2)as was His habit, to ^(C3)the Mount of Olives; and the disciples also followed Him.

^(C1)Now when He arrived at the place, He said to them, "^(C2)Pray that you do not come into temptation."

And He withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and He ^(C1)knelt down and began to pray,

saying, "Father, if You are willing, remove this ^(C1)cup from Me; ^(C2)yet not My will, but Yours be done."

[^(F1)Now an ^(C1)angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him.

And ^(C1)being in agony, He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground].

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

and He said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Get up and ^(C1)pray that you do not come into temptation."

^(C1)While He was still speaking, behold, a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading the way for them; and he approached Jesus to kiss Him.

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

When those who were around Him saw what was going to happen, they said, "Lord, shall we strike with the ^(C1)sword?"

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

But Jesus responded and said, "^(F1)Stop! No more of this." And He touched his ear and healed him.

And Jesus said to the chief priests and ^(C1)officers of the temple and elders who had come against Him, "Have you come out with swords and clubs ^(C2)as you would against a man inciting a revolt?

"While I was with you daily in the temple, you did not lay hands on Me; but ^(F1)this hour and the power of darkness are yours."

^(C1)Now they arrested Him and led Him away, and brought Him to the house of the high priest; but ^(C2)Peter was following at a distance.

^(C1)After they kindled a fire in the middle of ^(C2)the courtyard and sat down together, Peter was sitting among them.

And a slave woman, seeing him as he sat in the firelight, and staring at him, said, "This man was with Him as well."

But he denied it, saying, "I do not know Him, woman!"

And a little later, ^(C1)another person saw him and said, "You are one of them too!" But Peter said, "Man, I am not!"

And after about an hour had passed, some other man began to insist, saying, "Certainly this man also was with Him, ^(C1)for he, too, is a Galilean."

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

And then ^(C1)the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, "^(C2)Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times."

And he went out and wept bitterly.

^(C1)The men who were holding ^(F1)Jesus in custody began mocking Him and beating Him,

and they blindfolded Him and repeatedly asked Him, saying, "^(C1)Prophesy, who is the one who hit You?"

And they were saying many other things against Him, ^(C1)blaspheming.

^(C1)When it was day, ^(C2)the ^(F1)Council of elders of the people assembled, both chief priests and scribes, and they led Him away to their ^(C3)council chamber, saying,

"^(C1)If You are the ^(F1)Christ, tell us." But He said to them, "If I tell you, you will not believe;

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

"^(C1)But from now on ^(C2)the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God."

And they all said, "So You are ^(C1)the Son of God?" And He said to them, "^(C2)You say correctly that I am."

And then they said, "What further need do we have of testimony? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth!"

Then the entire assembly of them set out and ^(C1)brought Him before Pilate.

^(C1)And they began to bring charges against Him, saying, "We found this Man ^(C2)misleading our nation and ^(C3)forbidding us to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is ^(F1)Christ, a King."

Now Pilate asked Him, saying, "So You are the King of the Jews?" And He answered him and said, "^(C1)It is as you say."

But Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, "^(C1)I find no grounds for charges in the case of this Man."

But they kept on insisting, saying, "He is stirring up the people, teaching all over Judea, ^(C1)starting from Galilee, as far as this place!"

Now when Pilate heard this, he asked whether the Man was a Galilean.

And when he learned that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to ^(C1)Herod, ^(F1)since he also was in Jerusalem ^(F2)at this time.

Now Herod was overjoyed when he saw Jesus; for ^(C1)he had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some ^(F1)sign performed by Him.

And he questioned Him ^(F1)at some length; but ^(C1)He offered him no answer at all.

Now the chief priests and the scribes stood there, vehemently charging Him.

And Herod, together with his soldiers, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, ^(C1)dressing Him in a brightly shining robe, and sent Him back to Pilate.

And so ^(C1)Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for previously, they had been enemies toward each other.

Now Pilate summoned to himself the chief priests, the ^(F1)(C1)rulers, and the people,

and he said to them, "You brought this Man to me on the ground that ^(C1)He is inciting the people to revolt; and behold, after examining Him before you, I ^(C2)have found no basis at all in the case of this Man for the charges which you are bringing against Him.

"No, nor has ^(C1)Herod, for he sent Him back to us; and behold, nothing deserving death has been done by Him.

"Therefore I will ^(F1)(C1)punish Him and release Him."

[^(F1)Now he was obligated to release to them at the feast one prisoner.]

But they cried out all together, saying, "^(C1)Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas!"

(He was one who had been thrown into prison for a revolt that took place in the city, and for murder.)

But Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again,

but they kept on crying out, saying, "Crucify, crucify Him!"

And he said to them a third time, "Why, what has this Man done wrong? I have found ^(F1)in His case no grounds for a sentence of death; therefore I will ^(F2)(C1)punish Him and release Him."

But they were insistent, with loud voices, demanding that He be crucified. And their voices began to prevail.

And so Pilate decided to have their demand carried out.

And he released the man for whom they were asking, who had been thrown into prison for a revolt and murder; but he handed Jesus over to their will.

^(C1)And when they led Him away, they seized a man, Simon of ^(C2)Cyrene, as he was coming in from the country, and placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus.

Now following Him was a large crowd of the people, and of women who were ^(F1)(C1)mourning and grieving for Him.

But Jesus turned to them and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.

"For behold, days are coming when they will say, '^(C1)Blessed are those who cannot bear, and the wombs that have not given birth, and the breasts that have not nursed.'

"Then they will begin TO ^(C1)SAY TO THE MOUNTAINS, 'FALL ON US,' AND TO THE HILLS, 'COVER US.'

"For if they do these things ^(F1)when the tree is green, what will happen ^(F2)when it is dry?"

^(C1)Now two others, who were criminals, were also being led away to be put to death with Him.

^(C1)And when they came to the place called ^(F1)The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left.

[^(F1)But Jesus was saying, "^(C1)Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing."] ^(C2)And they cast lots, dividing His garments among themselves.

And the people stood by, watching. And even the ^(C1)rulers were sneering at Him, saying, "He saved others; ^(C2)let Him save Himself if this is the ^(F1)Christ of God, His Chosen One."

The soldiers also ridiculed Him, coming up to Him, ^(C1)offering Him sour wine,

and saying, "^(C1)If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!"

Now there was also an inscription above Him, "^(C1)THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS."

^(C1)One of the criminals who were hanged there was ^(F1)hurling abuse at Him, saying, "Are You not the ^(F2)Christ? ^(C2)Save Yourself and us!"

But the other responded, and rebuking him, said, "Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?

"And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving ^(F1)what we deserve for our crimes; but this Man has done nothing wrong."

And he was saying, "Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!"

And He said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in ^(C1)Paradise."

^(C1)It was now about ^(F1)(C2)the sixth hour, and darkness came over the entire land until ^(F2)the ninth hour,

^(F1)because the sun stopped shining; and ^(C1)the veil of the temple was torn ^(F2)in two.

And Jesus, ^(C1)crying out with a loud voice, said, "Father, ^(C2)INTO YOUR HANDS I ENTRUST MY SPIRIT." And having said this, He ^(F1)died.