The Testimony of Yeshua

Luke 7: When He was finished saying everything He wanted to say to the audience, Yeshua went to Capernaum. 2 A centurion’s servant who was dear to him was very sick and near death. 3 When he heard about Yeshua, he sent some Jewish elders to Him to ask if He would come and save the life of his servant. 4 So they came to Yeshua and plead, “He is worthy of having You do this for him. 5 He loves our nation and has even built us a synagogue.” 6 Yeshua went with them. When He was not far from the house, the centurion sent his friends to Him and told Him, “Master, don’t trouble Yourself, because I’m not worthy of having You come under my roof. 7 I don’t consider myself worthy of approaching You myself, but simply say the word and my young man will be healed. 8 I too am a man under authority, and I have soldiers under my command. I say to one, ‘Go’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this’ and he does it”.

9 When Yeshua heard this, He was amazed at him, and He turned and told the crowd that followed Him, “I assure you that I haven’t even found faith like this in Israel.” 10 Those who had been sent returned to the house and found that the servant who had been sick was now well.

Yeshua Resurrects a Widow’s Son

11 The following day He went to a town called Nain. His disciples and a large crowd were with Him. 12 As He approached the town gate, He saw a funeral procession carrying a dead man who was his mother’s only son, and she was a widow, and a large number of the town’s people were with her. 13 When Yeshua saw her, He felt sorry for her and said, “Don’t cry”.

14 He went and touched the coffin support, and the people who were carrying him stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, awaken.” 15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and He presented him to his mother.

16 Everyone was awestruck, and they praised Yehovah, they were saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us. Yehovah has visited His people.” 17 This story about Him spread thruout Judea and the surrounding region.

18 John’s disciples told him about all these things. 19 John called two of his disciples and sent them to Yeshua to ask, “Are You the One who is to come, or should we look for someone else?” 20 They came to Yeshua and told Him, “John the Immerser has sent us to You and asks, ‘Are You the One who is to come, or should we look for someone else?’”

21 But in that very hour He had healed many people of their diseases and illnesses, and of unclean spirits, and had given sight to many blind people.

22 Yeshua replied, “Go and tell John everything that you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the leprous are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is announced to the poor. 23 Whoever doesn’t take offense at Me is blessed.

24 After John’s disciples [1] left, Yeshua asked the crowd about John, “What did you go into the wilderness to see, a reed swaying in the wind? 25 If not, what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft clothing? People who wear expensive clothing and live in luxury are in kings’ palaces. 26 If not, what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and even more than a prophet. 27 This is the man referred to in the Scriptures when it says, ‘I’ll send My messenger before You to prepare the road ahead of You.’ 28 I assure you that no prophet [2] born of women has been greater than John the Immerser, yet the least influential person in the Kingdom of the Heavens is greater than he is”.

29 Everyone who heard Him, even tax extractors, praised Yehovah, having been immersed with John’s immersion. 30 But the Pharisees and Torah teachers defiantly rejected Yehovah’s will, refusing to be immersed.

31 So what can I compare this nation [or generation] to? What are they like? 32 They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call out to their friends, “We played the flute for you, and you didn’t dance, we sang dirges for you, and you didn’t cry.”

33 John the Immerser came eating no bread and drinking no wine, yet you said, “He has a demon”. 34 The Human Son came eating and drinking, and you say, “Look, a glutton and a wino, a friend of tax extractors and notorious sinners. 35 But wisdom is vindicated by her deeds [3]”.

Supper With a Pharisee

36 One of the Pharisees came and asked Him to eat with him. So He went to the Pharisee’s house ‘for a meal’. 37 There was a woman in the city who was a notorious sinner. When she learned that He was ‘eating’ in the Pharisee’s house, she took an alabaster flask of perfume 38 and stood behind Him at His feet, and cried. She began to wet His feet with her tears and to wipe them with her hair and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the perfume.

39 When the Pharisee who invited Him saw this, he thought to himself, “If this Man were a prophet, He would know who she is and about her reputation, because the woman touching Him is really sinful.” 40 Yeshua told him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” So he replied, “Say it Rabbi”.

41 “There were two debtors to a certain creditor. One owed him five hundred denarii and the other fifty denarii. 42 Neither had the means to repay, so he canceled their debts. So which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one with the larger debt.” Yeshua replied, “You have judged correctly”.

44 He turned to the woman, and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house and you didn’t give Me water for My feet, but she has bathed My feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. 45 You didn’t kiss Me, but this woman has continually kissed My feet since she [4] came in. 46 You didn’t anoint My head with olive oil, but she has anointed My feet with perfumed ointment. 47 So I tell you, “Her many sins are forgiven, because she has so much love. But the one who is forgiven of little, loves little.” 48 He told the woman, “Your sins are forgiven”.

49 Those who were at the table began saying to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50 Yeshua told the woman, “Your faith has rescued you from destruction. Go in peace.”

Luke 8: Later, Yeshua traveled around the towns and the villages, heralding and announcing the Good News of the Kingdom of Yehovah. His twelve disciples were with Him, 2 and some women who were healed of sicknesses and of unclean spirits, as well as Mary called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 Joanna, Chusa’s wife, Herod’s household manager, Susanna and many others were contributing their support from their personal finances.

Analogy of the Sower

4 When a large crowd had gathered and people came to Him from every town around, He gave this analogy: 5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. As he was sowing, some fell beside the path and was trampled and birds devoured it. 6 Some fell on rocks and sprang up immediately, but because it had no moisture it shriveled up. 7 Some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. 8 And some fell on fertile ground and sprang up and bore fruit, a hundred to one.” Having said these things, He shouted, ‘Anyone who has ears should listen.’

9 His disciples asked Him, ‘What does this analogy mean?’ 10 He told them, “You have been permitted to understand the mysteries of the Kingdom of Yehovah, but to the others it is spoken in analogies, so that, while seeing, they won’t see, and while hearing, they won’t understand.

Analogy of the Sower Explained

11 “Now here is the analogy: The seed represents the Word of Aloha [God]. 12 Those beside the path represent people who hear the Word, but the enemy comes and takes the Word out of their minds, so that they won’t believe and attain Life. 13 Those on the rock represent people who joyfully accept the Word when they hear it, but they have no roots. Their faith is temporary, and when a trial comes they fall away. 14 Those sown among the thorns represent the ones who hear the Word, but are choked by distractions, by riches and by worldly desires, and don’t produce any fruit [accomplishments]. 15 Those falling on fertile ground represent people who, with pure and honest consideration, hear the word, retain it, and by perseverance yield fruit.

16 No one lights a lamp and covers it with a crock or puts it under a bed. A lamp is put on lampstand so that everyone who comes in can see the light. 17 There is nothing covered that won’t be uncovered, nothing secret that won’t be readily known and apparent. 18 Be careful how you hear, because the person who already has understanding will be given more, and the person who has nothing, even what they think they have will be taken.”

Yeshua’s Family Visits

19 His mother and His brothers came to see Him, but they couldn’t talk to Him because of the crowd. 20 Someone told Him, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside and want to see You.” 21 He answered, “My mother and My brothers are those who hear the Word of Aloha and obey it.”

Wind and Waves Obey

22 One day Yeshua and His disciples got into a boat. He told them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the sea.” 23 After they set sail, Yeshua fell asleep. There was a violent storm at sea and the boat was about to sink.

24 They came and woke Him up, saying to Him, “Master Master, we’re going to die!” He got up and scolded the winds and the raging waves, and they stopped, and it became calm. 25 He asked them, “Where is your faith?” But they were terrified and amazed, and asking each other, “Who is this Man? He even commands the winds and the waves and the sea, and they obey Him!”

Demon Possessed Man Healed

26 They sailed to the shore of the region of the Gadarenes, that lies opposite of Galilee. 27 As He was stepping on the shore, a man from town who had been possessed by demons for a long time met Him. He didn’t wear clothes, nor live in a house, but had lived in the cemetery. 28 When he saw Yeshua, he cried out and fell down in front of Him and said in a loud voice, “What do we have to do with You, Yeshua, Son of the exalted Yehovah? I beg You not to torture me.” 29 Yeshua had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. He had been held captive by it for a long time. He’d been bound with chains, and held in shackles, but he broke the chains, and was driven by the demon into the wilderness. 30 Yeshua asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “Legion” [3-6 thousand], (because many demons had entered him.) 31 They begged Him not to order them to go into the Bottomless Pit.

32 There was a large herd of swine feeding on the mountain. They asked if He would allow them to go into the swine. So He allowed them. 33 The demons left the man and went into the swine and the whole herd ran down a precipice and plunged into the sea and drowned.

34 When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they ran and let everyone in the towns and the villages know. 35 The people came out to see what had happened. They came to Yeshua and found the man who the demons had left, now clothed and sober and sitting at Yeshua’s feet, and they were terrified. 36 Those who had seen it told them how the man possessed by demons was healed. 37 Then everyone from the region of the Gadarenes asked that He leave them, because they were so terrified. So Yeshua boarded a boat and turned back.

38 The man who the demons had left begged to go with Him. But Yeshua sent him away and told him, 39 “Go home and tell them what Yehovah has done for you.” So he went away and heralded to the everyone in town what Yeshua had done for him.

Girl Resurrected, Woman Healed

40 When Yeshua returned, a large crowd welcomed Him, because they had all been expecting Him. 41 A man named Jairus, a leader of the synagogue, fell down at Yeshua’s feet and begged Him to come to his house, 42 because his only daughter who was about twelve years old, was dying. As Yeshua went with Him, a large crowd closely surrounded Him. 43 There was a woman there who for twelve years had been hemorrhaging. She had spent all her resources on physicians, but no one had been able to heal her. 44 She came up behind Him and touched a tzitzit [tassel] on His robe, and the hemorrhage stopped immediately. 45 Yeshua asked, “Who touched Me”? As everyone was denying it, Simon Cephas and those with Him said, “Master, crowds press against You on every side, and You ask, ‘Who touched Me?’”

46 He said, “Someone touched Me, because I know that power has gone out from Me.” 47 The woman, when she saw that she could not remain hidden, came trembling, and fell down in worship before Him. Then with everyone watching her, she explained why she touched Him, and how she had been instantly healed. 48 Yeshua told her, “Be comforted My daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace”.

49 As He was speaking, someone came from synagogue leader’s home and told him, “Your daughter is dead, don’t bother the teacher.”

50 But Yeshua heard about it and said to the girl’s father, “Don’t be afraid, just believe and she’ll be restored to life.”

51 When Yeshua came to the house, He didn’t allow anyone to go in with Him except Simon, James, John, and the girl’s father and mother. 52 Everyone was crying and wailing over her. But Yeshua said, “Don’t cry, she isn’t dead. She’s asleep.”

53 They laughed at Him, knowing that she was dead. 54 He put everyone out, and took her by the hand and called out, “Little girl, awake”! 55 Her spirit returned and she immediately stood up. Then He told them to give her some food. 56 Her parents were astonished, but He cautioned them not to tell anyone what had happened.

Luke 9: Yeshua called His twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and diseases to cure them. 2 He sent them out to herald the Kingdom of Yehovah and to heal the sick. 3 He told them, “Don’t take anything for the journey—no staff, no wallet, no bread, no money, and don’t carry a second coat. 4 When you enter a house, stay there until you leave the area. 5 Anywhere people refuse to accept you, when you leave that town, shake the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” 6 The envoys went traveling around the villages and towns heralding and healing everywhere.

Herod Wants to See Yeshua

7 Herod the Tetrarch heard about everything He was doing and he was disturbed, because some were saying that John had come back to life. 8 But others said that Elijah had reappeared, while others said that one of the ancient prophets had been raised from the dead. 9 Herod said, “I beheaded John, so who is this I’m hearing these reports about?” And he wanted to see Him.

Feeding 5,000

10 When the envoys returned, they told Yeshua everything that they had done. Then He took them away to an uninhabited area near Bethsaida. 11 When the crowd became aware of it they followed Him and He welcomed them and spoke with them about the Kingdom of Yehovah, and those who needed to be healed were healed.

12 His disciples came around near sunset and told Him, “Send the crowd away so that they can go into the villages around us and to the farming communities to spend the night and buy some food, because we’re in an uninhabited place.” 13 Yeshua told then, “You give them something to eat.” But they replied, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we were to go and buy food for all of these people.” 14 There were about five thousand men. Yeshua told them, “Have them sit down in groups of fifty.” 15 So the disciples had them all sit down. 16 Yeshua took the five loaves and two fish, and looking up to Heaven, He blessed and broke it and gave it to His disciples to distribute to the crowds. 17 Everyone ate and was filled, and they picked up many left over pieces of food—twelve baskets. 18 Once, when He was praying by Himself, the disciples were with Him and He asked them, “Who do the people say that I am?” 19 They answered, “Some say John the Immerser, others say Elijah, and others say a prophet, one of the ancient prophets who has come back to life.”

20 He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon replied, “Yehovah’s Messiah”.

Yeshua Predicts His Death and Resurrection

21 He gave them a strict order, cautioning them not to tell anyone. 22 He told them, “The Human Son is to suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders and the high priests and Torah teachers, and they’ll kill Him, but on the third day He’ll be raised to life again.”

23 He told everyone, “Anyone who wants to follow Me must deny themself and take up their cross daily and follow Me.” 24 Anyone who would rescue their life will lose it, but anyone who would lose their life for My sake will Rescue it. 25 How would a person profit if they were to gain the whole world but lose or forfeit their eternal Life? 26 If anyone is ashamed of Me and of My truths, the Human Son will be ashamed of them when He comes in the splendor of His Father and His messengers. 27 I tell you with absolute certainty that some of you standing here won’t experience death until you see the Kingdom of Yehovah with your own eyes.

The ‘Transfiguration’

28 About eight days after these discourses, Yeshua took Simon and James and John, and went up onto a mountain to pray. 29 While He prayed, the appearance of His face was changed, and His clothing became white and radiant. 30 Suddenly there were two men talking with Him. They were Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in an exalted state. They were talking about His departure that was to take place in Jerusalem. 32 Simon and those with him were overcome with drowsiness and barely awake [1] when they saw His splendor, and the two men who stood with Him. 33 As they were about to leave Him, Simon said to Yeshua, “Master, it is delightful for us to be here. Let’s make three booths here, one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But he wasn’t aware of what he was saying [because he was “barely awake”].

34 As he was saying this, a cloud overshadowed them and they were afraid when they saw Moses and Elijah go up into the cloud. 35 Then a voice came from the cloud that said, “This is My dear Son [Gr. chosen Son], listen to Him.” 36 When the voice was finished, Yeshua was there alone. They kept it to themselves, not telling anyone at that time what they had seen.

A Boy Healed

37 The next day, after they had come down from the mountain, a large crowd came to meet them [Gr. Him]. 38 A man from the crowd yelled out, “Master, I beg you to notice me [Gr. my son]. Here is my only son. 39 A spirit comes on him, and suddenly he’s yelling out and grinding his teeth and foaming at the mouth, and it doesn’t leave him without pummeling him. 40 I tried to have your disciples cast it out, but they couldn’t.”

41 Yeshua replied, “You unbelieving and perverse nation! How long must I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.”

42 While he was bringing him, the demon threw him to the ground in a convulsion. Yeshua scolded the unclean spirit and healed the youth and gave him back to his father.

Yeshua Predicts His Death Again

43 They were all astonished at the majesty of Yehovah. While everyone was expressing amazement at what Yeshua had done, He said to His disciples, 44 “Treasure these words in your minds, because the Human Son is going to be betrayed into the hands of men.” 45 But they didn’t understand what He said because their understanding was blocked, so that they couldn’t understand it, and they were afraid to ask Him about it.

Who is the Greatest?

46 They began thinking [Gr. arguing] about which of them would be the greatest. 47 Yeshua knew their very thoughts [i.e. verse 46], so He took a child and had him stand next to Him. 48 Then He told them, “Whoever welcomes a child like this in My name welcomes Me, and whoever welcomes Me welcomes the One who sent Me, because the one who is least among you is greatest.”

49 John said, “Master, we saw a man casting out demons in Your name and we stopped him, because he wasn’t following You, like us.” 50 Yeshua told them, “Don’t stop him, because whoever isn’t against you is for you.”

A Samaritan Village Rejects Yeshua

51 When the days for Him to go up on his journey had elapsed, He resolutely headed for Jerusalem. 52 He sent envoys ahead of Him, and they entered a Samaritan village to arrange for His lodging. 53 But they didn’t welcome Him because He was headed for Jerusalem. 54 When His disciples James and John saw it, they asked Him, “Master, is alright if we call for fire to come down from Heaven and consume them, like Elijah did?” 55 He turned and scolded them and said, “You don’t know what kind of spirit you are advocating.” 56 The Human Son didn’t come to destroy humanity, but to preserve it. Then they went on to another village.

Following Yeshua

57 As they traveled along the road, someone told Him, “I’ll follow You wherever You go, Master.” 58 Yeshua replied, “Foxes have dens and the birds overhead have nests, but the Human Son has nowhere to lay His head.” 59 He told another, “Follow Me”. But he replied, “Master, allow me to first go and bury my father.” 60 Yeshua replied, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead. But you should go and proclaim the Kingdom of Yehovah.”

61 Another told him, “I’ll follow You, Master, but first allow me to say goodbye to my family, then I’ll come.” 62 Yeshua replied, “No one putting their hand to the ox plow and then looking backward is fit for the Kingdom of Yehovah.”

Luke 10: After this, Yeshua appointed seventy other people and sent them out in pairs ahead of Him to every place and town where He planned to visit. 2 He told them, “The harvest is huge, but the harvesters are few. So pray that Yehovah the Harvester will send harvesters into His harvest.” 3 Now go, but be aware that I’m sending you out as lambs among wolves! 4 Don’t take a handbag or a wallet or sandals, and don’t visit [1] anyone along the way.

5 Whenever you go into a house, say right away, ‘May there be peace in this house.’ 6 If a peace loving person is there, your peace will remain with them, but if not, your peace will come back to you. 7 Stay in that house, eating and drinking at their table, because the laborer is worthy of his wages. Don’t move from house to house.

8 Whenever you come to a town where you are welcome, eat what they serve you. 9 Heal those who are sick and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of Yehovah has come near you.’ 10 But any town you come into that doesn’t welcome you, go out into the street and say, 11 ‘We’ll shake off the very dust of your town that sticks to our feet, protesting you, but be certain of this, the Kingdom of Yehovah has come near you.’ 12 I can assure you that it will be more tolerable for Sodom on Judgment Day than for that town.

Pity the Unbelieving Cities

13 I pity you Chorazin, I pity you Bethsaida. If the miracles that had been done in you had been seen in Tyre and Sidon, they would have amended their ways long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on Judgment Day than it is for you. 15 Capernaum, you have elevated yourself up to Heaven, but you’ll be brought down to sheol.

16 Anyone who listens to you listens to Me, and anyone who rejects you rejects Me. Anyone who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.

The Seventy Return

17 The seventy He sent out returned and were elated. They said, “Master, even the demons were subject to us in Your name.” 18 He told them, “I saw Satan fall like a lightning flash from the sky.” 19 I’m giving you the ability to trample snakes and scorpions as well as overcome all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you! 20 But don’t be elated because the demons yield to you, rather be elated because your names are recorded in Heaven.

Yeshua Encouraged

21 On that same occasion, Yeshua rejoiced in the 'special' spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Aloha of Heaven and earth, that You’ve hidden these things from the scholars and intellectuals, and have revealed them to babes, yes Father, because these are the ones You want.”

22 He turned to His disciples and told them [2], “Everything is committed to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except for the Father, or who the Father is except for the Son, and whoever the Son chooses to reveal Him to.”

23 When they were alone He told His disciples, “Your eyes are blessed by what they have seen. 24 I can tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see the things you have seen, and didn’t see them, and to hear what you have heard, and didn’t hear them.”

The Torah Teacher and Eternal Life

25 One day a Torah teacher stood up to test Him, and asked, “Master, what must I do to inherit eternal Life?”

26 Yeshua asked him, “How is it written in the Torah? How do you understand it?” 27 He replied, “You must love Yehovah your Aloha with all of your intellectual endeavors, with all of your consciousness [psyche, Gr: psuche], with all of your understanding, and with all your ability, and your neighbors as yourself.”

28 Yeshua told him, “Your reply is correct, do this and you’ll Live.”

29 But he, wanting to justify himself added, “And who are my neighbors?”

The Good Samaritan

30 Yeshua replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he was overtaken by robbers who stripped him and beat him and left him for dead, and went their way. 31 Now a priest happened to be traveling that way, and he saw him, but walked on by. 32 Then a Levite approached the same spot and saw him, but walked on. 33 But a Samaritan was traveling by, and he came across the man, and was merciful to him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds with oil and wine, and put him on his donkey and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day at dawn, he gave two denarii to the innkeeper and said, “Take good care of him, and if you have any more expenses, when I return I’ll reimburse you.”

36 So which of these three appears to you to have been a neighbor to the man who was attacked by robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who had mercy on him.” Yeshua replied, “Go and do the same.”

Mary and Martha’s Difference of Opinion

38 Then, as they were traveling along, He went into a village where a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 She had a sister named Mary. She came and sat at the Master’s feet and listened to His teachings. 40 But Martha was preoccupied with all the preparations, and she came and asked Him, “Master, don’t You care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me.”

41 Yeshua replied, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about so many things, 42 but only one thing really matters, and Mary has made the right decision, and she won’t be deprived of it.”

Luke 11: He was praying in a certain place, and when He finished, one of His disciples asked Him, “Master teach us to pray like John taught His disciples.” 2 Yeshua told them, “When you pray say, ‘Father in Heaven, may Your name be kept 'special', may Your Kingdom come. May Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. 3 Give us daily the bread we need, 4 and remit our sins, because we also remit those of everyone indebted to us. Don’t bring us trials, but deliver us from evil.’”

A Midnight Visitor

5 He told them, “Suppose one of you has a friend and you go to him at midnight and say to him, “Friend, lend me three loaves, 6 because a friend of mine is traveling and just stopped in, and I have nothing to serve him?”

7 His friend from inside might answer, “Don’t bother me. The door is locked and my children are with me in bed, I can’t get up and give you anything.” 8 I tell you, altho He won’t help you because he is your friend, he’ll get up and give you whatever you want because of your persistency.

Ask, Seek, Knock

9 So I tell you, “Ask and you will receive, seek and you’ll find, knock and the door will be opened for you, 10 because everyone who asks will receive, and everyone who seeks will find, and the person who knocks has the door opened.

11 Is there a father among you who, if his son asks him for bread, would hand him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, would hand him a snake instead of a fish, 12 or if he asks for an egg, would hand him a scorpion? 13 So if those of you who are far from perfect know how to give useful gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in Heaven give the 'special' spirit to those who ask Him?”

A House Divided

14 He was casting out a demon that made a person unable to talk. When the demon was gone, the mute person began to speak and the people were amazed. 15 But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the prince of demons.” 16 Others demanded a sign from Heaven to test Him.

17 But since He knew their thoughts, Yeshua told them, “Any kingdom ‘undergoing civil war’ will be devastated. When family attacks family it falls apart. 18 So if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? Since you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebub, explain that! 19 If I cast out demons by Beelzebub, who casts them out for your sons? That’s why they’ll be your judges. 20 But if I cast out demons by the finger of Yehovah, then the Kingdom of Yehovah has come near you.

21 When a fully armed strong man guards his courtyard [1], his property remains safe, 22 unless a stronger man comes and overpowers him, and takes away all the arms that he relied on and divvies up the loot.

23 Whoever isn’t with Me is against Me, and whoever doesn’t gather with Me actually scatters.

Unclean Spirits Return

24 When an unclean spirit leaves a person, it goes wandering in dry places searching for rest, and when it can’t find rest it says, “I’ll return to the house that I left.” 25 When it arrives, it finds it swept clean and set in order. 26 Then it goes and brings seven other spirits worse than itself and they come in and live there. In the end, the man’s condition is worse than it was to begin with.

27 As He was saying these things, a woman from the crowd called out, “Blessed is the womb that carried You and the breasts that nursed You.” 28 He replied, “Blessed are those who hear the Word of Aloha, and obey it.

An Evil Nation Requires A Sign

29 Once the people had gathered together, He began by saying, “This evil nation demands a sign, but the only sign they’ll be given is the sign of the prophet Jonah. 30 Just as Jonah became a sign for the Ninevites, so the Human Son will be a sign for this nation. 31 The Queen of the South will stand up on Judgment Day with the men of this nation and condemn them, because she came from the other side of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and Someone superior to Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will stand up on Judgment Day with this nation and condemn it, because they amended their ways at the heralding of Jonah, and Someone superior to Jonah is here.

33 No one lights a lamp and puts it in the cellar or under a measuring basket, but on a lampstand, so that those who come in can see the light. 34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. So when you have a good eye [generous eye], your whole body will shine, but if it is defective, your body is darkened. 35 So see to it that the light in you isn’t darkened. 36 If your whole body is immersed in light and no part of it is darkened, everything will shine like the flame of a lamp shining on you.”

Pity the Pharisees and Torah Teachers

37 While He was speaking, a Pharisee asked Him to eat with him, so He went in and reclined at the table. 38 The Pharisee was surprised when he noticed that He didn’t ceremonially wash before dinner.

39 Yeshua told him, “You Pharisees wash the outside of cups and dishes, but inside you are full of extortion and wickedness. 40 You don’t understanding anything! Didn’t the One who made the outside also make the inside? 41 But give some of your possessions as charity and then everything will be clean for you.

42 But I pity you Pharisees! You give a tithe of your mint and rue and every herb, but neglect justice and Yehovah’s love. You should do these things without neglecting the others.

43 I pity you Pharisees! You love the best seats in the synagogues and special greetings in public places. 44 I pity you Torah teachers and Pharisees, pretenders! You are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without realizing it.”

45 One of the Torah teachers replied, “Master, while saying these things, you are also vilifying us.” 46 He replied, “Yes, I also pity you Torah teachers because you load people down with heavy burdens, yet you yourselves won’t ‘lift’ a finger to ease the burden!

47 I pity you because you build monuments for the prophets who your ancestors killed! 48 So you are witnesses and agree with what your ancestors did, because they killed them and you build their monuments. 49 So Wisdom said, “I’ll send prophets and envoys to them, and some of them they’ll persecute and kill”, 50 so that the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the cosmos [Gr. kosmos] was created will be blamed on this nation [or generation], 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was murdered between the Temple and the altar.’ Yes, I tell you, ‘It will be blamed on this nation.’

52 I pity you Torah teachers, because you have taken away the key of knowledge. You aren’t entering, and you stop those who are entering.” 53 After He said these things, the Torah teachers and Pharisees were greatly offended and hostile, and they pummeled Him with questions. 54 They tried many schemes, hoping to entrap Him in something He might say, so that they could accuse Him of it.

 

The Testimony of Yeshua was tweaked January 6, 2012