Luke 7:24–8:25
24 When the messengers of John had left, He began to speak to the crowds about John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
25 “1But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft 2clothing? Those who are splendidly clothed and live in luxury are found in royal palaces!
26 “But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and one who is more than a prophet.
27 “This is the one about whom it is written,
‘aBehold, I send My messenger 1ahead of You,
Who will prepare Your way before You.’
28 “I say to you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet he who is 1least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
29 When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they 1acknowledged aGod’s justice, bhaving been baptized with cthe baptism of John.
30 But the Pharisees and the 1alawyers rejected God’s purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by 2John.
31 “To what then shall I compare the men of this generation, and what are they like?
32 “They are like children who sit in the market place and call to one another, and they say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’
33 “For John the Baptist has come aeating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’
34 “The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a 1drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and 2sinners!’
35 “Yet wisdom ais vindicated by all her children.”
36 Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to 1dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.
37 aAnd there was a woman in the city who was a 1sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume,
38 and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume.
39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were aa prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a 1sinner.”
40 And Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he 1replied, “Say it, Teacher.”
41 “A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred 1adenarii, and the other fifty.
42 “When they awere unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?”
43 Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.”
44 Turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you agave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.
45 “You agave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet.
46 “aYou did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume.
47 “For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.”
48 Then He said to her, “aYour sins have been forgiven.”
49 Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say 1to themselves, “aWho is this man who even forgives sins?”
50 And He said to the woman, “aYour faith has saved you; bgo in peace.”
1 Soon afterwards, He began going around from one city and village to another, aproclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God. The twelve were with Him,
2 and also asome women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: bMary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,
3 and Joanna the wife of Chuza, aHerod’s bsteward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means.
4 aWhen a large crowd was coming together, and those from the various cities were journeying to Him, He spoke by way of a parable:
5 “The sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell beside the road, and it was trampled under foot and the birds of the 1air ate it up.
6 “Other seed fell on rocky soil, and as soon as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture.
7 “Other seed fell among the thorns; and the thorns grew up with it and choked it out.
8 “Other seed fell into the good soil, and grew up, and produced a crop a hundred times as great.” As He said these things, He would call out, “aHe who has ears to hear, 1let him hear.”
9 aHis disciples began questioning Him as to what this parable meant.
10 And He said, “aTo you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that bseeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.
11 “Now the parable is this: athe seed is the word of God.
12 “Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved.
13 “Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; 1they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away.
14 “The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.
15 “But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with 1perseverance.
16 “Now ano one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light.
17 “aFor nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light.
18 “So take care how you listen; afor whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he 1thinks he has shall be taken away from him.”
19 aAnd His mother and brothers came to Him, and they were unable to get to Him because of the crowd.
20 And it was reported to Him, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, wishing to see You.”
21 But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these awho hear the word of God and do it.”
22 aNow on one of those days Jesus and His disciples got into a boat, and He said to them, “Let us go over to the other side of bthe lake.” So they launched out.
23 But as they were sailing along He fell asleep; and a fierce gale of wind descended on athe lake, and they began to be swamped and to be in danger.
24 They came to Jesus and woke Him up, saying, “aMaster, Master, we are perishing!” And He got up and brebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped, and 1it became calm.
25 And He said to them, “Where is your faith?” They were fearful and amazed, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?”