Synoptic Gospels Combined

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34-HEALING TO FULFILL ISAIAH  Matt 12:15-21  Mk 3:7-12
35-THE NAMES OF THE TWELVE  Matt 10:1-4  Mk 3:13-19  Lk 6:12-16
36-HEALING BEFORE THE SERMON  Luke 6:17-19
37-BEATITUDES  Matt 5:1-12  Lk 6:20-26
38-SALT AND LIGHT OF THE WORLD  Matt 5:13-16
39-FULFILLING THE LAW AND PROPHETS  Matt 5:17-20
40-GOOD ADVICE FOR THE TIME  Matt 5:21-26
41-WORDS TO BE YES OR NO  Matt 5:33-37
42-EYE FOR AN EYE  Matt 5:38-42
43-LOVE YOUR ENEMIES  Luke 6:27-36  Mt 5:43-48
44-TREASURE IN HEAVEN  Matt 6:19-21
45-SEEK FIRST THE KINGSHIP  Matt 6:25-34  Lk 12:22-34
46-PEARLS BEFORE SWINE  Matt 7:6
47-JUDGE NOT  Luke 6:37,38  Mt 7:1,2
48-BLIND LEAD THE BLIND  Luke 6:39-42  Mt 7:3-5
49-BUILD ON THE ROCK  Luke 6:46-49  Mt 7:24-27
50-HEALING CENTURION'S SON  Luke 7:1-10  Mt 8:5-13
51-RESURRECTION AT NAIN  Luke 7:11-17
52-JOHN DOUBTS MESSIAHSHIP  Luke 7:18-23  Mt 11:2-6
53-JESUS TALKS ABOUT JOHN  Matt 11:7-19  Lk 7:24-35
54-WOMEN WITH JESUS  Luke 8:1-3
55-PARABLE OF THE SOWER  Matt 13:1-9
56-QUESTION ABOUT PARABLES  Matt 13:10-17  Mk 4:10-12  Lk 8:9,10
57-PARABLE OF SOWER EXPLAINED  Matt 13:18-23  Mk 4:13-20  Lk 8:11-15
58-PARABLE OF GROWING GRAIN  Mark 4:26-29
59-GOOD SEED, BAD SEED  Matt 13:24-30
60-PARABLE OF THE MUSTARD SEED  Matt 13:31,32  Mk 4:30-32  Lk 13:18,19
61-PARABLE OF LEAVEN IN FLOUR  Matt 13:33-35  Mk 4:33,34  Lk 13:20,21
62-PARABLE OF THE WEEDS EXPLAINED  Matt 13:36-43
63-LAMP OF UNDERSTANDING  Luke 8:16-18; 11:33  Mk 4:21-25
64-LAMP OF THE SOUL  Luke 11:34-36  Mt 6:22,23
65-WHO ARE MOTHER AND BROTHERS  Matt 12:46-50  Mk 3:31-35  Lk 8:19-21
66-CALMING THE STORM  Mark 4:35-41  Mt 8:23-27  Lk 8:22-25
67-HEALING THE DEMONIAC   Mark 5:1-20  Mt 8:28-34  Lk 8:26-39
68-HEALING JAIRUS' DAUGHTER  Mark 5:21-43  Mt 9:18-26  Lk 8:40-56
69-HEALING TWO BLIND MEN  Matt 9:27-34
70-PRAY FOR REAPERS  Matt 9:35-38
71-SENDING OUT THE TWELVE  Matt 10:5-15  Mk 6:7-13  Lk 9:1-6
72-JOHN BEHEADED  Mark 6:14-29  Mt 14:1-12  Lk 9:7-9
73-FEEDING THE FIVE THOUSAND  Mark 6:30-44  Mt 14:13-21  Lk 9:10-17
74-MORE HEALINGS  Mark 6:53-56  Mt 14:34-36
75-HYPOCRITES HONOR WITH LIPS  Mark 7:1-23  Mt 15:1-20
76-HEALING DEAF AND DUMB MAN  Mark 7:31-37  Mt 15:29-31
77-HEALING BLIND MAN OF BETHSAIDA  Mark 8:22-26
78-WALKING ON WATER WITH PETER  Matt 14:22-33  Mk 6:45-52

[]]  "I do not open up the truth to one that is not seeking knowledge." - Confucious

'Behold, I send forth my messenger before your face,
who shall prepare your way before you.'

Truly, I say to you{pl}, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingship of the heavens is greater than he.  From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingship of the heavens suffers force, and the forceful seize it^[5].  For all the Prophets and the Mosaic Law prophesied until John; and if you{pl} are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, he about to pass.  He having ears to hear, let him hear."  All the people and the tax collectors hearing this justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John; but the Pharisees and the lawyers set aside the council of God, for they themselves had not been baptized by him.
     And the Master said, "To what shall I compare this generation?  It is likened to children sitting in markets and calling to their playmates, 'We piped to you{pl}, and you{pl} did not dance; we mourned to you{pl}, and you{pl} did not wail.'  For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon'.  The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man and a wine drinker, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'  Yet wisdom is justified by her children, her deeds."

^[5]  They try to seize it.

54-WOMEN WITH JESUS
Luke 8:1-3  Afterwards he traveled through every city and village, preaching and announcing the good news of the kingship of God, and the twelve with him, and also certain women who were healed of psychological problems and infirmities: Mary, being called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, who ministered to him from their means.

55-PARABLE OF THE SOWER
Matthew 13:1-9  Mk 4:1-9  Lk 8:4-8  In that day Jesus, going out of the house, sat down by the sea.  And large groups came together about him, so that he, entering into a boat, sat there, and the whole crowd stood on the shore.
     And he taught them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: "Listen!  The one sowing went out to sow, and in his sowing some seeds fell along the wayside, and the birds came and ate them.  Other seeds fell on rocky places, where they had not much soil, and immediately they sprang up, because of having no depth of soil; but with the sun rising, they were scorched; and because of having no root, they withered.  Other seeds fell upon thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.  Other seeds fell upon the good soil and yielded fruit, some indeed, a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.  The one having ears, let him hear."

56-QUESTION ABOUT PARABLES
Matthew 13:10-17  Mk 4:10-12  Lk 8:9,10  Having come when he became alone, the disciples said to him, "Why do you speak to them in parables?"  And he answering said to them, "To you{pl} it has been given to know the secrets of the kingship of the heavens, but to them it has not been given.  For whoever has, it will be given to him, and he will have abundance; but who has not, even what he has will be taken from him.  This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, neither do they understand.  The prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled by them, which says:

'In hearing you{pl} will hear but in no way understand,
 and seeing you{pl} will see but in no way perceive.
 For this people's spiritual mind has grown gross,
 and they heard heavily with the ears,
 and their eyes they closed,
 lest they see with their eyes,
 and they hear with their ears,
 and understand with their spiritual minds,
 and be converted, and I heal them.'

     But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.  For I say to you{pl} truly, that many prophets and reasonable men desired to see what you{pl} see, and did not see it, and to hear what you{pl} hear, and did not hear it."

57-PARABLE OF SOWER EXPLAINED
Matthew 13:18-23  Mk 4:13-20  Lk 8:11-15  "Do you{pl} not understand this parable?  Then how will you{pl} understand all the parables?  Hear then the parable of the sower.  The sower sows the word.  Everyone hearing the message of the kingship and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in his heart.  This is that sown along the wayside.  But for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one hearing the message and immediately receiving it with joy; he has no root in himself, and it is temporary, and when tribulation or persecution occurs over the message, at once he is offended.
     "And that sown among thorns, this is the one hearing the message, but the cares of this age and the deceit of riches and the desire for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.  But that sown on good soil, this is the one with a good and reasonable mind hearing the message, who indeed understands it and accepts it and bears fruit, and one produces truly a hundredfold, another sixty, and another thirty."

58-PARABLE OF GROWING GRAIN
Mark 4:26-29  And he said, "Thus is the kingship of God, as if a man should scatter seed upon the ground, and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should sprout and grow as he knows not how, for the earth bears fruit of itself, first the plant, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.  But when it yields the fruit, immediately he puts forth the sickle, because the harvest stands ready."

59-GOOD SEED, BAD SEED
Matthew 13:24-30  Another parable he put before them, saying, "The kingship of the heavens is likened to a man sowing good seed in his field; but during the sleep of the men, his enemy came and sowed darnel among the wheat, and went away.  So when the plants sprouted up and bore grain, then the darnel appeared also.  Approaching, the servants of the householder came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field?  How then has it darnel?'  He said to them, 'An enemy, man, did this.'  The servants said to him, 'Having gone out, will you have us collect them?'  But he said, 'No; lest in gathering the darnel you{pl} may uproot the wheat along with them.  Let both grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers to collect the darnel first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but bring together the wheat into my granary.'" ^[6]

^[6]  The darnel represents bad doctrines or conceptions (Sin) about God, and the wheat the good doctrines or conceptions, not living beings.  The harvest for all doctrines was at the crucifixion and resurrection.

60-PARABLE OF THE MUSTARD SEED
Matthew 13:31,32  Mk 4:30-32  Lk 13:18,19  He presented them with another parable, saying, "The kingship of God is like unto what?  And to what may I compare it?  The kingship of the heavens is like a grain of mustard seed which, upon taking, a man sowed in his field; it is the lesser of all seeds on earth, but when it is grown is greater than all the plants, and becomes a tree producing large branches, so that the birds of the sky come and roost in its branches."

61-PARABLE OF LEAVEN IN FLOUR
Matthew 13:33-35  Mk 4:33,34  Lk 13:20,21  He told them another parable. "To what may I compare the kingship of God?  The kingship of the heavens is like leaven which, upon taking, a woman hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened."  All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables; he told them the message in many such parables, even as they were able to hear; he spoke nothing to them without a parable, so that spoken by the prophet was fulfilled:

     "I will open my mouth in parables,
      I will utter things hidden
      since the foundation of the world."

62-PARABLE OF THE WEEDS EXPLAINED
Matthew 13:36-43  After sending away the crowds Jesus went into the house, and his disciples came to him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the darnel in the field."  He answering said to them, "The one sowing the good seed is the Son of man; the field is the world, and these the good seed are the sons^[7] of the kingship; the weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the diabolical one; the harvest is the finish of the age, and the reapers are doctrines.  Therefore as the darnel is collected and consumed in fire, thus shall it be at the finish of this age.  The Son of man shall send his doctrines, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and those causing disorder, and throw them into the furnace of fire; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  Then the reasonable^[8] will shine forth like the sun in the kingship of their Father.  He having ears to hear, let him hear."

^[7]  This usage here does not mean literal "sons", and the usage does not always mean living beings. Here means ideas or conceptions about God or offspring from the diabolical one (Sin).  The 'finish of the age' took place at the crucifixion and resurrection.

^[8]  Righteous, in religious terminology.

63-LAMP OF UNDERSTANDING
Luke 8:16-18; 11:33  Mk 4:21-25  "No one having lit a lamp covers it with a container, or puts it under a couch, but puts it on a stand, that those entering may see the light.  For nothing is hidden which will not be revealed, nor secret, which will not be known and come to be revealed.  If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."  Then he explained to them, "Be careful how and what you{pl} hear.  By what measure you{pl} measure it will be measured to you{pl}.  And it will be increased to you{pl}, the ones hearing.  For whoever may have, it will be given to him, and who has not, even what he seems to have will be taken away."

64-LAMP OF THE SOUL
Luke 11:34-36  Mt 6:22,23  "The lamp of the body is the eye.  So, when your eye is sound and focused, your whole body is brightened; but if your eye is bad, your whole body is dark.  If then the light in you{pl} is darkness, how great the darkness!  Watch then, lest the light in you{pl} is darkness.   If then your whole body is brightened, having no dark part, all will be bright, as when a lamp with its shining illumines you{pl}."

65-WHO ARE MOTHER AND BROTHERS
Matthew 12:46-50  Mk 3:31-35  Lk 8:19-21  While he is speaking to the crowd, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, seeking to speak to him, but were not able to reach him for the crowd.  And he was told, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you."  But he replying said to the man talking, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?"  And stretching out his hand and looking around in a circle at his disciples, he said, "These are my mother and my brothers!  Those hearing the message of my Father in the heavens and doing it are my brother, and sister, and mother."

66-CALMING THE STORM
Mark 4:35-41  Mt 8:23-27  Lk 8:22-25  Evening having come on that day, he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side."  Upon dismissing the crowd, they take him along with them in the boat.  With them sailing he fell asleep.  And other small boats were with him.  A storm of strong wind arose, a great shaking took place in the sea and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was covered by the waves and they were being filled and were in danger.  But he was in the stern, sleeping on the headrest; and they awaken him and say to him, "Teacher, does it not matter to you that we are perishing?  Master, save, we are perishing!"  Upon being awakened he said to them, "Why are you{pl} afraid, puny-faiths?"  And he rebuked the wind and the rough water, and said to the sea, "Silence! Be still!"  And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.  And the men were filled with great awe and they marveled, and said to one another, "Who then is this one, that he even commands the wind and the water and they obey him?"^[9]

^[9]  The disciples did NOT expect the Messiah to have this kind of power, and this is a clear indication that they did NOT understand who Jesus really was.

67-HEALING THE DEMONIAC^[10]
Mark 5:1-20  Mt 8:28-34  Lk 8:26-39  They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes.  Coming out of the boat, there met him out of the tombs a man with an foul spirit, who did not wear a garment and who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him with chains, for he had often been bound with fetters and chains, but the chains had been broken by him and the fetters broken apart; and no one was able to subdue him.  Through all the night and day he was crying and cutting himself with stones among the tombs and on the mountains.
     And seeing Jesus from afar, he ran and bowed the knee to him; and crying out with a loud voice, he said, "What is for me and for you, Jesus, Son of God the Most High?  I adjure you by God, do not torment me", for he said to him, "Come out of the man, you foul spirit!"  And he asked him, "What is your name?"  He replied, "My name is Legion; for we are many."  And he begged him greatly that he would not send them out of the country.
     A great herd of pigs was there near the hill feeding; and all the demons begged him, saying, "Send us into the pigs, that we may enter them."  So Jesus immediately allowed them.  Upon coming out, the foul spirits entered the pigs and rushed the herd down the bank into the sea, and about two thousand were drowned in the sea.
     However, those feeding the pigs fled, and related this in the city and in the country.  And they came to see what is that having happened, and they come to Jesus, and look upon the demoniac sitting there, clothed and in his senses, the one having had the legion; and they were afraid.  And those seeing told them how it had happened to the demoniac and about the pigs.  And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their territory.
     Upon his getting into the boat, the demoniac begged him that he might be with him.  Nevertheless, Jesus did not allow him and said to him, "Go to your house, to your friends, and proclaim to them what the Lord has done for you, and favored you."  And he left and began to proclaim in Decapolis how much Jesus did for him; and all men marveled.

^[10]  This account of the demoniac filled with demons is one of the most variable stories in all of the Gospels, and tenuous and questionable for many reasons.  It is not that it didn't happen, but that the disciples were probably not physically close enough at the time to hear the words of Jesus and understand properly what was really taking place.

68-HEALING JAIRUS' DAUGHTER
Mark 5:21-43  Mt 9:18-26  Lk 8:40-56  Upon Jesus crossing over again in the boat to the other side, a big crowd was collected by him; and he was beside the sea.  And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue comes, Jairus by name; and seeing him, he falls at his feet, and begs him fervently, saying, "My only born daughter of about twelve is just now at her end, but coming, lay your hand on her so that she may be restored, and live."  Rising up, Jesus went with him.  And a big crowd followed him and pressed about him.
     And a certain woman being with a flow of blood for twelve years, suffering many things by many physicians and having spent on physicians all her livelihood with nothing having been gained but rather having come to the worse, hearing about Jesus and coming behind him in the crowd, touched the hem of his garment.  For she said, "If I may touch just his garments, I will be cured."  Instantly the cause of bleeding ceased; and she felt in her body that she is healed of her problem.
     And right then, Jesus, knowing within himself that out of him power had gone forth, turning to the crowd, said, "Who touched my garments?"  And his disciples said to him, "You see the crowd pressing around you and you say, 'Who touched me?'"  And he looked around to see the one having done this.  However, the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what happened to her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.  And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you; go in peace, and be free of your problem."
     While he was speaking, some came with the synagogue chief, saying, "Your daughter has died.  Why do you still trouble the Teacher?"  Right then Jesus, hearing this spoken message, said to the synagogue chief, "Do not fear, only believe."  And he did not allow anyone to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James and the father and mother of the child.  And they come into the house of the synagogue chief, and he sees the flute players and the tumult, and all were weeping and bewailing her.  Upon entering, he said to them, "Why do you{pl} make a tumult and weep?  The child has not died^[11], but sleeps."  And they laughed at him.
     So, putting them all out, he takes the child's father and mother and those with him, and passes into where the child was lying.  Upon taking hold of the child's hand he said to her, "Talitha koumi"; which translated means, "Little girl, I say to you, arise."  Immediately the girl got up and walked, for in years she was twelve.  And they were astounded with amazement.  And he earnestly ordered them that no one should know this ^[12], and told them to give her something to eat.  And this report went out into all that area.

^[11]  Jesus doesn't mean here that the child hadn't literally died, but that she wasn't gone permanently to her parents but only temporarily, like in a sleep, since he was then going to restore her.

^[12]  Crowds probably bothered and interfered with Jesus, and he is saying here to tell no one of the crowd at that time.

69-HEALING TWO BLIND MEN
Matthew 9:27-34  And with Jesus passing on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud and saying, "Have pity on us, Son of David."  Entering the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, "Do you{pl} believe that I am able to do this?"  They said to him, "Yes, Lord."  Then he touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith let it be done to you."  And their eyes were opened, and Jesus strictly ordered them, "See, let no one know."  But going out, they spread the word through all that region.   As they were going out, behold, others brought to him a dumb, frenzied man.  And with the demon having been cast out, the dumb man spoke.  The crowds marveled, saying, "Never was this seen in Israel."  But the Pharisees said, "By the prince of demons he casts out demons."

70-PRAY FOR REAPERS
Matthew 9:35-38  And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingship, and healing every disease and every infirmity in the people.  Seeing the crowds, he was moved by compassion for them, because they were tired and scattered, like sheep not having a shepherd.  Then he said to his disciples, "Indeed, the harvest is great, but the workmen few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he may send out workmen into his harvest."

71-SENDING OUT THE TWELVE
Matthew 10:5-15  Mk 6:7-13  Lk 9:1-6  Having called together his twelve disciples, Jesus sent these twelve out two by two, having charged them, saying, "do not go among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the sheep, the lost of the house of Israel.  Upon going proclaim, saying, 'The kingship of the heavens has drawn near.'  Heal the sick, cleanse lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons.  Freely you{pl} received, freely give.  Take nothing along the way except a staff, no gold, nor silver, nor copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals; for the worker is worthy of his food.
     "And into whatever city or village you{pl} enter, ask who is worthy in it, and remain there until you{pl} depart.  Upon entering the house, greet it; and if indeed the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you{pl}.  And whoever will not receive you{pl} or listen to your words, going out of that city or house, shake off the dust from your feet for a testimony against them.  Truly, I say to you{pl}, it shall be more bearable on the day of justice ^[13] for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that city."
     And going out they went through the villages, preaching the gospel^[14] and they preached that men should repent.  And they cast out many demons, and anointed many sick ones with oil and healed them.

^[13]  Apparently, the day or time of justice is the next short spiritual age, a time when to everyone everything will be revealed, including God's character, purpose, plan, and values.  God's brand of justice is for everyone to be healed and saved.  The part hard to bear is the agony of remorse some will then feel when they realize the magnitude of the unnecessary suffering and the wasted time.

^[14]  The gospel is always about equality and the Kingship of the heavens, the realm of goodness.

72-JOHN BEHEADED
Mark 6:14-29  Mt 14:1-12  Lk 9:7-9  And King Herod the tetrarch heard of the things happening all around him, and was puzzled; for Jesus' name had become famous.  Some said, "John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; this is why these powers operate in him."  But others said, "He is Elijah."  And others said, "It is a prophet, or as one of the prophets."  But hearing this, Herod said, "John I beheaded; but who is this about whom I hear such things?  This is John the Baptist, he has been raised from the dead."  And he tried to see him.
     For Herod himself, sending, had seized John and confined him in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of Philip his brother; because he had married her.  For John said to Herod, "It is not right for you to have the wife of your brother."  So Herodias held it against him, and wanted to kill him, but was not able, for Herod feared John, knowing him as a just and holy man, and kept him safe, and hearing of the many things he did, he heard him willingly.
     With a suitable day coming, Herod on his birthday made a feast for his nobles and the officers and the leading men of Galilee.  Herodias' daughter, entering and dancing, pleased Herod and those relaxing with him; so the king said to the girl, "Ask of me whatever you wish, and I will grant it to you."  And he swore to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give to you, up to half of my kingdom."  So, she going out, said to her mother, "What shall I ask?"  And she said, "The head of John the baptizer on a platter."
     And coming in immediately with haste to the king, she asked, saying, "I want you to give me the head of John the Baptizer on a platter, now."  Becoming especially grieved because of the oaths and those partying together, the king did not want to break his word to her.  So the king, sending a guard at once, ordered his head to be brought.  He, going, beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. Upon hearing this, his disciples came and took the corpse, and placed it in a tomb, and told Jesus.

73-FEEDING THE FIVE THOUSAND
Mark 6:30-44  Mt 14:13-21  Lk 9:10-17  The apostles, having returned to Jesus, told him all things whatever they did and taught.  And he said to them, "Come privately by yourselves to a desert place, and rest a while."  For those coming and going were many, and they had no opportunity even to eat.  And they departed privately in the boat to a city called Bethsaida, a desert place.  Now the crowds saw them going, and many recognized him, and they ran there on foot from all the towns, and came together there before them.  Jesus, going ashore, saw a large crowd, and had compassion on them and healed their infirm, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd.  So he began to speak to them about the Kingship of God and to teach them many things.
     With evening coming, his disciples came to him and said, "This place is desert, and now a late time; send them away, that going into the surrounding country and villages they may buy food for themselves.  For they have nothing they may eat."  But Jesus answering them said, "They need not go away.  You{pl} give them something to eat."  And they say to him, "Upon going, should we buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give to them to eat?"  And he said to them, "How many loaves do you{pl} have?  Go and see."  Upon finding out, they said, "Five, and two fish."
     Then he ordered them all to sit down company by company upon the green grass.  So they sat down group by group, by hundreds and by fifties.  Upon taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to the heavens, and blessed, and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples to set before the groups.  And he divided the two fish among them all.  So all ate and were satisfied.  And they took up twelve hand baskets full of pieces and the fish.  And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men, apart from women and children.

74-MORE HEALINGS
Mark 6:53-56  Mt 14:34-36  And crossing over, they came to the land at Gennesaret, and drew to shore.  Landing, they got out of the boat, and immediately the people were recognizing him; they ran about the whole area and began to bring those with illness on their cots to any place where they heard he was.  And wherever he entered into villages or cities or fields, even in the markets, they laid the sick and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment; and as many as touched were made well.

75-HYPOCRITES HONOR WITH LIPS
Mark 7:1-23  Mt 15:1-20  Then some of the Pharisees and theologians coming from Jerusalem assembled, and seeing that some of his disciples ate with hands defiled, that is, unwashed, they found fault and approach Jesus, saying, "Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders?  For they don't wash their hands when they eat food."  For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands to the wrists, holding to the tradition of the elders.  And they do not eat from market unless they wash themselves; and there are many other things which they received to observe, the washing of cups, and pots, and vessels of bronze, and couches.
     Then the Pharisees and the theologians question him, "Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat the bread with unwashed hands?"  Replying, he said to them, "Isaiah prophesied well concerning you{pl}, you{pl} hypocrites!  As it has even been written:

'This people with their lips honor me,
 but their heart is far away from me;
 and they worship me in vain,
 teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'

     So, forsaking the commandment of God, you{pl} hold the tradition of men, washings of utensils and cups and many other such things you{pl} do."  And he said to them, "You{pl} effectively set aside the commandment of God, that you{pl} may keep your tradition!  For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He speaking evil of father or mother, let him end by death'.  But you{pl} say, 'If a man tells his father or his mother, Corban, that is, an offering,'—whatever by me you would have gained—then you{pl} no longer allow him to do anything for his father or mother, making void the word of God by your tradition which you{pl} passed on.^[15] And many such things you{pl} do."
     And calling all the people to him he said to them, "Hear me, all of you{pl}, and understand: there is nothing having entered into a man from the outside which is able to profane him; nothing going into the mouth defiles the man, but that coming out of the mouth, this defiles the man.  If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."  And when he entered the house, away from the crowd, his disciples came and questioned him about the parable, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended upon hearing this saying?"  But answering, he said, "Every plant which my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up.  Leave them; they are blind guides of the blind, and if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a pit."  But Peter answering, said to him, "Explain the parable to us."
     And he said to them, "Then are you{pl} also dense?  Do you{pl} not perceive that whatever entering into a man from outside cannot profane him, since it does not enter his heart, but into his stomach, and then goes out into the waste bowl purging out all the foods?"  And he said, "That having passed out of a man, that defiles a man; for the things coming from the mouth come forth from the heart, those defile the man.  For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, greeds, wickedness, deceit, wicked visions, slander, pride, foolishness—all these evil things come out from within and profane the man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not profane the man."

^[15]  Under the pretext of putting God first, the Pharisees and religious leaders encouraged the tradition of Corban, a pronouncement that you were dedicating your property, income or increase to the upkeep of the temple and its services.  This sometimes effectively cut off needy family members, engendering a hypocritical situation as it always does when God or anything associated with God is put before the tangible love of human beings.

76-HEALING DEAF AND DUMB MAN
Mark 7:31-37  Mt 15:29-31  Then again leaving from the region of Tyre and Sidon Jesus came to the Sea of Galilee in the region of the Decapolis.  And going up into the mountains he stayed there.  Great crowds came to him having with them the lame, blind, dumb, maimed and many others.  They bring to him a deaf man, hardly speaking; and they begged him to lay his hand on him.  And taking him away from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and spitting, he touched his tongue; and looking up to the sky, he sighed, and says to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened."  And instantly his ears were opened, the bond of his tongue was released, and he spoke correctly.  And he ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more they proclaimed.
      And they flung others at his feet and he healed them; so that the crowd had to marvel, seeing the dumb speaking, the maimed sound, the lame walking, and the blind seeing.  They were exceedingly astonished and glorified the God of Israel, saying, "He has done all things well; he even makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak."

77-HEALING BLIND MAN OF BETHSAIDA
Mark 8:22-26  And he came to Bethsaida.  And they bring to him a blind man and beg him to touch him. Laying hold of the blind man's hand, he led him out of the village.  And having spit^[16] on his eyes and having laid hands upon him, he asked him if he sees anything.  And looking he said, "I see men, but as trees, walking."  Then again he placed his hands upon his eyes and made him look up.  He was restored and saw everything clearly.  And he sent him to his home, saying, "You should not enter the village nor tell anyone in the village."

^[16]  Why did Jesus spit? Probably so we would not attach any special significance to any certain format of healing. These healings had nothing to do with the format of washing in the Jordan or spit mixed with dust, etc., no connection to a technology.

78-WALKING ON WATER WITH PETER
Matthew 14:22-33  Mk 6:45-52  Right then Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, until he should dismiss the crowds.  And having dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain alone to pray.  With evening coming, he was there alone.  However, the boat was now out on the sea, being tossed by the waves; for the wind was against them.  So in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went toward them, walking on the sea.  But the disciples, seeing him walking on the sea, were distressed, saying, "It is a phantom!"  And they cried out in fear.  But Jesus spoke to them at once, saying, "Be comforted, have courage. I AM THE ONE; have no fear."
     And Peter answering him said, "Sir, if you are, command me to come to you on the water."  He said, "Come."  So getting out of the boat, Peter walked on the waters, to come toward Jesus.  But seeing the strong wind, he was frightened, and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me."  Jesus immediately extending his hand, caught him and says to him, "Puny-faith, why did you doubt?"  And while getting into the boat, the wind ceased.  And those in the boat coming, worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."  And they were exceedingly amazed beyond measure in themselves, and marveled.  For they did not understand through the loaves, because their minds were hardened.
     And crossing over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and drew to shore.  Upon recognizing him, the men of that place sent some into all that region and brought to him all those having sickness, and implored him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment.  And as many as touched were made perfectly well.

Combined Synoptic Gospels Part 3 of 6