The MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV

  22But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

  With God All Things Are Possible

  (Matt. 19:23–30; Luke 18:24–30)

  23sThen Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!”

  24And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is 2for those twho trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!

  25“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a urich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

  26And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?”

  27But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not vwith God; for with God all things are possible.”

  28wThen Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.”

  29So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother 3or wife or children or 4lands, for My sake and the gospel’s,

  30x“who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with ypersecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.

  31z“But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

  Jesus a Third Time Predicts His Death and Resurrection

  (Matt. 20:17–19; Luke 18:31–34)

  32aNow they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. bThen He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him:

  33“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles;

  34“and they will mock Him, and 5scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”

  Greatness Is Serving

  (Matt. 20:20–28)

  35cThen James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.”

  36And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

  37They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.”

  38But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the dcup that I drink, and be baptized with the ebaptism that I am baptized with?”

  39They said to Him, “We are able.” So Jesus said to them, f“You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized;

  40“but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those gfor whom it is prepared.”

  41hAnd when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John.

  42But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, i“You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.

  43j“Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.

  44“And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.

  45“For even kthe Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and lto give His life a ransom for many.”

  Jesus Heals Blind Bartimaeus

  (Matt. 20:29–34; Luke 18:35–43)

  46mNow they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging.

  47And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, nSon of David, ohave mercy on me!”

  48Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

  49So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.”

  50And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus.

  51So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The blind man said to Him, 6“Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.”

  52Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; pyour faith has 7made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.

  Mark 11

  The Triumphal Entry

  (Matt. 21:1–11; Luke 19:28–40; John 12:12–19)

  1Now awhen they drew near Jerusalem, to 1Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples;

  2and He said to them, “Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it.

  3“And if anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it,’ and immediately he will send it here.”

  4So they went their way, and found 2the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it.

  5But some of those who stood there said to them, “What are you doing, loosing the colt?”

  6And they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded. So they let them go.

  7Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it.

  8bAnd many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road.

  9Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:

  “Hosanna!

  c‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’

  10Blessed is the kingdom of our father David

  That comes 3in the name of the Lord!

  d Hosanna in the highest!”

  11eAnd Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve.

  The Fig Tree Withered

  (Matt. 21:18, 19)

  12fNow the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry.

  13gAnd seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.

  14In response Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.” And His disciples heard it.

  Jesus Cleanses the Temple

  (Matt. 21:12–17; Luke 19:45–48; John 2:13–22)

  15hSo they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold idoves.

  16And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple.

  17Then He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, j‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a k‘den of thieves.’ ”

  18And lthe scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him; for they feared Him, because mall the people were astonished at His teaching.

  19When evening had come, He went out of the city.

  The Lesson of the Withered Fig Tree

  (Matt. 21:20–22)

  20nNow in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.

  21And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.”

  22So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.

  23“For oassuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

  24“Therefore I say to you, pwhatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

 
; Forgiveness and Prayer

  (Matt. 6:14, 15)

  25“And whenever you stand praying, qif you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.

  264“But rif you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

  Jesus’ Authority Questioned

  (Matt. 21:23–27; Luke 20:1–8)

  27Then they came again to Jerusalem. sAnd as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to Him.

  28And they said to Him, “By what tauthority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority to do these things?”

  29But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one question; then answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things:

  30“The ubaptism of John—was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me.”

  31And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’

  32“But if we say, ‘From men’ ”—they feared the people, for vall counted John to have been a prophet indeed.

  33So they answered and said to Jesus, “We do not know.” And Jesus answered and said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

  Mark 12

  The Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers

  (Matt. 21:33–46; Luke 20:9–19)

  1Then aHe began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a place for the wine vat and built a tower. And he leased it to 1vinedressers and went into a far country.

  2“Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that he might receive some of the fruit of the vineyard from the vinedressers.

  3“And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed.

  4“Again he sent them another servant, 2and at him they threw stones, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated.

  5“And again he sent another, and him they killed; and many others, bbeating some and killing some.

  6“Therefore still having one son, his beloved, he also sent him to them last, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’

  7“But those 3vinedressers said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’

  8“So they took him and ckilled him and cast him out of the vineyard.

  9“Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vinedressers, and give the vineyard to others.

  10“Have you not even read this Scripture:

  d‘The stone which the builders rejected

  Has become the chief cornerstone.

  11This was the LORD’s doing,

  And it is marvelous in our eyes’? ”

  12eAnd they sought to lay hands on Him, but feared the multitude, for they knew He had spoken the parable against them. So they left Him and went away.

  The Pharisees: Is It Lawful to Pay Taxes to Caesar?

  (Matt. 22:15–22; Luke 20:20–26)

  13fThen they sent to Him some of the Pharisees and the Herodians, to catch Him in His words.

  14When they had come, they said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and 4care about no one; for You do not 5regard the person of men, but teach the gway of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?

  15“Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?” But He, knowing their hhypocrisy, said to them, “Why do you test Me? Bring Me a denarius that I may see it.”

  16So they brought it. And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”

  17And Jesus answered and said to them, 6“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to iGod the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at Him.

  The Sadducees: What About the Resurrection?

  (Matt. 22:23–33; Luke 20:27–40)

  18jThen some Sadducees, kwho say there is no resurrection, came to Him; and they asked Him, saying:

  19“Teacher, lMoses wrote to us that if a man’s brother dies, and leaves his wife behind, and leaves no children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.

  20“Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife; and dying, he left no offspring.

  21“And the second took her, and he died; nor did he leave any offspring. And the third likewise.

  22“So the seven had her and left no offspring. Last of all the woman died also.

  23“Therefore, in the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be? For all seven had her as wife.”

  24Jesus answered and said to them, “Are you not therefore 7mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God?

  25“For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but mare like angels in heaven.

  26“But concerning the dead, that they nrise, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the burning bush passage, how God spoke to him, saying, o‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?

  27“He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. You are therefore greatly 8mistaken.”

  The Scribes: Which Is the First Commandment of All?

  (Matt. 22:34–40; Luke 10:25–28)

  28pThen one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, 9perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the 10first commandment of all?”

  29Jesus answered him, “The 11first of all the commandments is: q‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one.

  30‘And you shall rlove the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 12This is the first commandment.

  31“And the second, like it, is this: s‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than tthese.”

  32So the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, uand there is no other but He.

  33“And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, 13with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, vis more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

  34Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” wBut after that no one dared question Him.

  Jesus: How Can David Call His Descendant Lord?

  (Matt. 22:41–46; Luke 20:41–44)

  35xThen Jesus answered and said, while He taught in the temple, “How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David?

  36“For David himself said yby the Holy Spirit:

  z‘The LORD said to my Lord,

  “Sit at My right hand,

  Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’

  37“Therefore David himself calls Him ‘Lord’; how is He then his aSon?” And the common people heard Him gladly.

  Beware of the Scribes

  (Matt. 23:1–7; Luke 20:45–47)

  38Then bHe said to them in His teaching, c“Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, dlove greetings in the marketplaces,

  39“the ebest seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts,

  40f“who devour widows’ houses, and 14for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”

  The Widow’s Two Mites

  (Luke 21:1–4)

  41gNow Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money hinto the treasury. And many who were rich put in much.

  42Then one poor widow came and threw in two 15mites, which make a 16quadrans.

  43So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that ithis poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury;

  44“for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put
in all that she had, jher whole livelihood.”

  Mark 13

  Jesus Predicts the Destruction of the Temple

  (Matt. 24:1, 2; Luke 21:5, 6)

  1Then aas He went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!”

  2And Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? bNot one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

  The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age

  (Matt. 24:3–14; Luke 21:7–19)

  3Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, cPeter, dJames, eJohn, and fAndrew asked Him privately,

  4g“Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?”

  5And Jesus, answering them, began to say: h“Take heed that no one deceives you.

  6“For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many.

  7“But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet.

  8“For nation will rise against nation, and ikingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines 1and troubles. jThese are the beginnings of 2sorrows.

  9“But kwatch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will 3be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them.

  10“And lthe gospel must first be preached to all the nations.

  11m“But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, 4or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, nbut the Holy Spirit.

  12“Now obrother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.

  13p“And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But qhe who 5endures to the end shall be saved.

  The Great Tribulation

  (Matt. 24:15–28; Luke 21:20–24)