Jesus has just finished teaching a crowd by the Sea of Galilee using several parables, including the parable of the sower, the parable of the wheat and tares, the parable of the mustard seed, and the parable of the leaven. After dismissing the multitudes, Jesus enters a house where his disciples approach him privately, requesting an explanation of the parable of the wheat and tares that he had told earlier to the crowd. The disciples seek clarification about the meaning of this agricultural illustration involving good seed, weeds, and the harvest. Jesus is addressing his disciples.
[36] Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.”
[37] He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. [38] The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. [39] The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. [40] Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. [41] The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, [42] and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. [43] Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
[44] “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
[45] “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, [46] who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
[47] “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, [48] which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. [49] So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, [50] and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
[51] Jesus said to them, “Have you understood all these things?”
They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”
[52] Then He said to them, “Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.”
Jesus has been teaching His disciples about prayer and persistence in asking God for good things, assuring them that their heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him. He has been traveling through various towns and villages, teaching and making His way toward Jerusalem, while crowds continue to gather around Him to hear His words and witness His miraculous works. The religious leaders, particularly the Pharisees and scribes, have been growing increasingly hostile toward Jesus, questioning His authority and seeking ways to discredit Him before the people. Jesus has been demonstrating His divine authority through various healings and exorcisms, which have amazed the crowds but troubled the religious establishment who see Him as a threat to their position and influence.
[14] And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled. [15] But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.”
[16] Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven. [17] But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls. [18] If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub. [19] And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. [20] But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. [21] When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. [22] But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils. [23] He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
[24] “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ [25] And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order. [26] Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.”
[27] And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!”
[28] But He said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
[29] And while the crowds were thickly gathered together, He began to say, “This is an evil generation. It seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. [30] For as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation. [31] The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here. [32] The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.
Paul and his companions have been traveling through Asia Minor strengthening churches established during Paul's first missionary journey. After the Jerusalem Council resolved that Gentile converts need not follow all Jewish customs, Paul and Barnabas parted ways over John Mark's participation. Paul chose Silas as his new companion and revisited Syrian and Cilician churches, later adding Timothy to their team in Lystra. They delivered the Jerusalem Council's decisions to various congregations and witnessed daily church growth. The Holy Spirit has now prevented them from preaching in Asia and Bithynia, redirecting their path. This divine guidance leads them toward Troas, where Paul receives a vision of a Macedonian man pleading for help, prompting their journey into Europe. They arrive in Philippi, a leading Macedonian city and Roman colony, where they begin their ministry.
[6] Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. [7] After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. [8] So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. [9] And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” [10] Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.
[11] Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis, [12] and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in that city for some days. [13] And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there. [14] Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. [15] And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us.
[16] Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. [17] This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” [18] And this she did for many days.
But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour. [19] But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.
[20] And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city; [21] and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.” [22] Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. [23] And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. [24] Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
[25] But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. [26] Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. [27] And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. [28] But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”
[29] Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. [30] And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
[31] So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” [32] Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. [33] And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. [34] Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.
[35] And when it was day, the magistrates sent the officers, saying, “Let those men go.”
[36] So the keeper of the prison reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Now therefore depart, and go in peace.”
[37] But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and get us out.”
[38] And the officers told these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans. [39] Then they came and pleaded with them and brought them out, and asked them to depart from the city. [40] So they went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them and departed.
After Jesus fed the five thousand and delivered challenging teachings about being the bread of life, many disciples abandoned him, though Peter and the Twelve remained committed. Jesus had been ministering primarily in Galilee because Jewish leaders in Judea sought to kill him following his healing of the paralytic at the pool of Bethesda and his subsequent claims about his relationship with God the Father. The Jewish authorities' hostility intensified after Jesus declared himself equal with God and asserted his authority over the Sabbath. Despite the danger, the Feast of Tabernacles approached, one of three major Jewish festivals requiring pilgrimage to Jerusalem, creating tension between remaining safe in Galilee and fulfilling religious obligations in hostile territory.
[1] After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him. [2] Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. [3] His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. [4] For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” [5] For even His brothers did not believe in Him.
[6] Then Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. [7] The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil. [8] You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come.” [9] When He had said these things to them, He remained in Galilee.
[10] But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. [11] Then the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, “Where is He?” [12] And there was much complaining among the people concerning Him. Some said, “He is good”; others said, “No, on the contrary, He deceives the people.” [13] However, no one spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews.
Peter has been warning believers about false teachers and scoffers who mock the promise of Christ's return, arguing that everything continues as it has since creation. He has just explained that God's apparent delay in judgment reflects His patience, desiring that all should come to repentance, and that the Lord's timing differs from human perception. Peter has reminded his readers that the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire on the day of judgment. He has emphasized that scoffers willfully ignore how God previously destroyed the world through flood, demonstrating His power to judge. Peter now transitions to describing the dramatic nature of the coming day of the Lord and its implications for holy living. Peter is addressing believers scattered throughout various regions who face challenges from false teachers.
[10] But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. [11] Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, [12] looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? [13] Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
[14] Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; [15] and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, [16] as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.
[17] You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; [18] but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
King Herod Antipas hears reports about Jesus's growing fame and ministry throughout Galilee. Jesus has recently sent out the twelve apostles in pairs to preach repentance, cast out demons, and heal the sick, and their activities have amplified the attention surrounding Jesus's movement. The widespread miracles and teaching cause various theories to circulate about Jesus's identity, with some believing he is Elijah returned, others thinking he is a prophet like those of old, and Herod himself fearing that Jesus might be John the Baptist risen from the dead. This fear stems from Herod's guilty conscience over his previous execution of John the Baptist, whom he had imprisoned at his fortress of Machaerus for condemning his unlawful marriage to Herodias, his brother Philip's wife.
[14] Now King Herod heard of Him, for His name had become well known. And he said, “John the Baptist is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.”
[15] Others said, “It is Elijah.”
And others said, “It is the Prophet, or like one of the prophets.”
[16] But when Herod heard, he said, “This is John, whom I beheaded; he has been raised from the dead!” [17] For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; for he had married her. [18] Because John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
[19] Therefore Herodias held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not; [20] for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.
[21] Then an opportune day came when Herod on his birthday gave a feast for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee. [22] And when Herodias’ daughter herself came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, “Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.” [23] He also swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”
[24] So she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?”
And she said, “The head of John the Baptist!”
[25] Immediately she came in with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”
[26] And the king was exceedingly sorry; yet, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he did not want to refuse her. [27] Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in prison, [28] brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. [29] When his disciples heard of it, they came and took away his corpse and laid it in a tomb.