1Potom Ježiš chodil z mesta do mesta, z dediny do dediny a všade prinášal radostnú zvesť, že prichádza Božie kráľovstvo. Sprevádzalo ho jeho dvanásť učeníkov a 2niektoré ženy, ktoré zbavil démonov a uzdravil z rozličných chorôb. Bola to: Mária zvaná Magdaléna, z ktorej vyhnal sedem démonov,3Jana, žena Herodesovho správcu Chúzu, Zuzana a mnohé iné, ktoré sa o nich z vlastných prostriedkov starali.4Keď sa raz okolo Ježiša zhromaždilo mnoho ľudí zo všetkých kútov, vyrozprával im toto podobenstvo:5„Vyšiel roľník na pole rozsievať zrno. Ako ho rozsieval, padlo niektoré zrno na cestu, kde ho buď pošliapali ľudia, alebo ho pozobali vtáci.6Iné padlo do skalnatej pôdy, vyklíčilo, ale hneď uschlo, lebo nemalo dostatok vlahy.7Ďalšie padlo do tŕnia, ktoré ho prerástlo a udusilo.8Konečne jedno padlo do úrodnej pôdy, vyklíčilo a vyhnalo do plného klasu, v ktorom bolo až sto zŕn.“ Keď dorozprával toto podobenstvo, povedal: „Dobre si zapamätajte, čo ste počuli!“9Neskôr sa ho učeníci spytovali, čo to podobenstvo znamená.10Odpovedal im: „Vám Boh dáva poznať zmysel tohto podobenstva, lebo hovorí o tajomstve Božieho kráľovstva. Ale ostatní počúvajú, no nerozumejú, hľadia, no nevidia.11Tomuto podobenstvu treba rozumieť takto:12Zrno je Božie posolstvo ľuďom. Cesta, na ktorú padajú prvé zrná, to sú tvrdé srdcia tých, ktorí počúvajú Božie slovo, ale potom príde diabol a vytrhne im ho zo srdca, aby neuverili a neboli zachránení.13Skalnatá pôda predstavuje tých, ktorí s radosťou prijímajú slovo, ale nedovolia, aby sa v nich zakorenilo a prinieslo ovocie. Veria, že Božie slovo je správne, no len čo prídu nejaké prekážky, odpadnú.14Semeno, čo spadlo do tŕnia, to sú tí, ktorí počúvajú Božie slovo a veria, ale ich vieru udusia starosti, honba za bohatstvom a užívaním života, takže neprinesú úžitok.15A napokon zrno v dobrej pôde sú tí, ktorí dychtivo počúvajú slovo, zachovávajú ho v dobrom a úprimnom srdci a prinášajú trvalý úžitok.“
Ako správne počúvať
16„Nikto predsa nerozsvieti svetlo a neprikryje ho nádobou ani ho nedá pod posteľ, ale postaví ho na svietnik, aby tí, čo vchádzajú, videli svetlo.17Všetko, čo je teraz skryté, sa raz dostane na svetlo a všetko, čo je ešte tajomné, bude raz zjavné.18Dbajte teda na to, ako počúvate, lebo tomu, kto má, sa ešte pridá. Kto môjmu posolstvu rozumie, bude rozumieť všetkému. Ale ten, kto nič nepochopil, príde aj o to málo, čo si myslí, že chápe.“
Kto je Ježišova rodina?
19Raz prišla za ním jeho matka a bratia, ale nemohli sa k nemu dostať pre zástup.20Ľudia mu oznámili: „Tvoja matka a bratia stoja vonku a chcú sa s tebou stretnúť.“21Odpovedal im: „Moja matka a moji bratia sú tí, ktorí počúvajú Božie slovo a žijú podľa neho.“
Ježiš utíši búrku
22Jedného dňa vstúpil Ježiš aj so svojimi učeníkmi do člna a povedal im: „Preplavme sa na druhý breh jazera.“23A odrazili sa od brehu. Kým sa plavili, zaspal. Zrazu sa strhla búrka, víchrica sa zapierala do člna, takže sa naplnil vodou a hrozilo, že sa potopí.24Učeníci pristúpili k Ježišovi a budili ho: „Učiteľ! Učiteľ! Potápame sa!“ Ježiš vstal, pohrozil vetru aj valiacim sa vlnám. Víchor hneď prestal a nastalo ticho.25Nato sa spýtal učeníkov: „Kde je vaša viera?“ Predesení sa čudovali a spytovali sa navzájom: „Kto to len je, že ho poslúcha vietor aj vlny?“
Uzdravenie posadnutého v Geraze
26Pristáli na druhom brehu jazera oproti Galilei, v kraji Gerazénov.27Len čo Ježiš vystúpil z člna, vyšiel mu oproti z mesta Gadary akýsi muž posadnutý démonmi. Už dlhý čas sa potuloval nahý a spával v prázdnych skalných hroboch.28Keď zbadal Ježiša, zjačal, hodil sa pred ním na kolená a hlasno zvolal: „Nechaj ma, Ježišu, Syn najvyššieho Boha! Prosím ťa, netráp ma!“29Ježiš prikázal nečistému duchu, aby vyšiel z toho človeka. Už dlho ho ovládal, a hoci mal ruky aj nohy často sputnané reťazami, putá popretŕhal a démon ho hnal na pusté miesta.30Ježiš sa ho spýtal: „Ako sa voláš?“ Odpovedal: „Légia.“ Bol totiž posadnutý mnohými zlými duchmi.31A tí poprosili Ježiša, aby ich neposlal do pekelnej priepasti.32Na neďalekom svahu sa pásla veľká črieda ošípaných. Démoni ho prosili, aby im dovolil vojsť do nich. Súhlasil.33Ihneď opustili úbožiaka a vošli do svíň. Črieda sa splašila, hnala sa po strmom úbočí do jazera a potopila sa v ňom.34Keď pastieri videli, čo sa stalo, rozutekali sa a v meste i po dedinách rozprávali, čo sa stalo.35Ľudia sa o tom chceli na vlastné oči presvedčiť, a tak sa vybrali k Ježišovi. Videli, ako mu pri nohách pokojne sedí muž, z ktorého vyšli démoni, oblečený a so zdravým rozumom.36Najväčšmi nimi otriaslo rozprávanie očitých svedkov, ako bol ten človek uzdravený.37Zmocnila sa ich taká hrôza, že prosili Ježiša, aby ich kraj opustil. A tak nastúpil do člna a plavil sa späť.38Muž, ktorého Ježiš vyslobodil z moci démonov, ho prosil, aby smel zostať s ním, ale Ježiš ho odmietol so slovami: „Vráť sa domov a rozprávaj všetkým, aké veľké veci ti Boh urobil!“39A muž poslúchol, vrátil sa do mesta a všade rozprával, aké dobrodenie mu Ježiš vykonal.
Vzkriesenie Jairovej dcéry
40Na druhom brehu jazera ho srdečne uvítal zástup ľudí, ktorí ho tu čakali.41Bol medzi nimi aj predstavený židovskej synagógy Jairus. Padol Ježišovi k nohám a úpenlivo ho prosil, aby šiel do jeho domu,42lebo mu umiera jediná dvanásťročná dcérka. Ježiš sa pobral s ním, predierajúc sa zástupom.43Bola tam aj istá žena, ktorá už dvanásť rokov krvácala, a hoci minula na lekárov celý svoj majetok, ani jednému sa ju nepodarilo vyliečiť.44Pristúpila k Ježišovi odzadu, dotkla sa spodku jeho plášťa a v tej chvíli pocítila, že prestala krvácať.45„Kto sa ma to dotkol?“ spýtal sa Ježiš. Keď sa nikto nechcel priznať, Peter namietol: „Majstre, v tejto tlačenici nie je čudo, že do teba niekto sotí.“46Ale Ježiš odpovedal: „Niekto sa ma úmyselne dotkol. Pocítil som, ako zo mňa vyšla uzdravujúca sila.“47Keď žena videla, že sa to nedá utajiť, prišla celá rozochvená k Ježišovi, padla pred ním na kolená a pred všetkými sa priznala, prečo sa ho dotkla, aj ako bola hneď uzdravená.48„Dcéra, tvoja viera ťa uzdravila. Choď v pokoji!“ povedal jej Ježiš.49Kým sa zhováral so ženou, priniesol ktosi z Jairovho domu správu: „Tvoja dcéra už zomrela, neobťažuj Majstra.“50Keď to Ježiš počul, povedal otcovi: „Neboj sa, dôveruj mi, a tvoja dcéra bude zachránená!“51Keď prišli k Jairovmu domu, nedovolil nikomu vojsť dnu. Vzal so sebou iba Petra, Jána, Jakuba a rodičov dievčatka.52Tam už všetci oplakávali mŕtvu a kvílili nad ňou. Ježiš im povedal: „Neplačte, veď neumrela, iba spí.“53Do očí sa mu vysmiali, lebo vedeli, že je naozaj mŕtva.54Chytil ju za ruku a zvolal: „Dievčatko, vstaň!“55A hneď ožilo a vstalo. Povedal: „Dajte sa mu najesť!“56Rodičov sa zmocnil úžas i radosť, ale Ježiš im prikázal, aby nikomu nevraveli, čo sa stalo.
1Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, (Mk 6,6; Lk 4,43)2and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, (Mt 27,55; Mt 27,56; Mt 27,61; Mt 28,1; Mk 15,40; Mk 16,9; Lk 23,49; Lk 23,55; Lk 24,10; Jn 19,25; Jn 20,1; Jn 20,18; Sk 1,14)3and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them[1] out of their means. (Lk 24,10)
The Parable of the Sower
4And when a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable, (Mt 13,1; Mk 4,1)5“A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. (Iz 55,10; Am 9,13)6And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. (Jn 15,6)7And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. (Jer 4,3)8And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” (Gn 26,12; Mt 11,15)
The Purpose of the Parables
9And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant,10he said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’ (Iz 6,9; Mt 11,25; Mt 13,13; Mt 19,11; Rim 16,25; 1 Kor 2,6; Kol 1,27; 1 Jn 2,20; 1 Jn 2,27)11Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. (Mt 13,18; Mk 2,2; Mk 4,13; Mk 4,33; Lk 1,2; Sk 8,4; Jak 1,21)12The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. (Mk 16,16)13And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. (Iz 58,2; Ez 33,31; Oz 6,4; Mk 6,20; Jn 5,35; Gal 1,6; Gal 5,7; 1 Tim 4,1; Hebr 3,12)14And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. (Mt 6,25; Jak 1,11)15As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience. (Oz 14,8; Jn 15,5; Flp 1,11; Kol 1,6; Hebr 10,36; Jak 5,7)
A Lamp Under a Jar
16“No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. (Mt 5,15; Mk 4,21; Lk 11,33)17For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light. (Mt 10,26; Lk 12,2; 1 Tim 5,25)18Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.” (Mt 13,12; Lk 8,11)
Jesus’ Mother and Brothers
19Then his mother and his brothers[2] came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. (Mt 12,46; Mt 13,55; Mk 3,31; Mk 6,3; Jn 2,12; Jn 7,3; Jn 7,5; Jn 7,10; Sk 1,14; 1 Kor 9,5; Gal 1,19)20And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you.”21But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.” (Lk 11,28; Jak 1,22)
Jesus Calms a Storm
22One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, (Mt 8,23; Mk 4,36; Lk 5,1; Lk 8,33; Jn 6,16)23and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. (Lk 8,22)24And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. (Ž 65,7; Ž 104,7; Mt 14,32; Mk 6,51; Lk 4,39)25He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?” (Mk 1,27; Lk 5,9; Jn 14,27)
Jesus Heals a Man with a Demon
26Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes,[3] which is opposite Galilee. (Mt 8,28; Mk 5,1)27When Jesus[4] had stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs. (Zjv 18,2)28When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.” (Gn 14,18; Nm 24,16; Ž 57,2; Iz 14,14; Dan 3,26; Mt 14,33; Mk 1,23; Mk 1,26; Lk 1,32; Lk 4,3; Lk 4,9; Lk 4,33; Lk 6,35; Sk 8,7; Sk 16,17)29For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him. He was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert.) (Mt 12,43; Lk 11,24)30Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” for many demons had entered him. (Mt 26,53)31And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. (Zjv 9,1)32Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them permission.33Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned. (Lk 8,22)34When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country.35Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. (Lk 8,27; Lk 10,39)36And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed[5] man had been healed.37Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. (Lk 5,8; Sk 16,39)38The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying,39“Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him. (Ž 66,16; Lk 5,14)
Jesus Heals a Woman and Jairus’s Daughter
40Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. (Lk 9,11)41And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus’ feet, he implored him to come to his house, (Mt 9,18; Mk 5,22; Lk 13,14; Sk 13,15; Sk 18,8; Sk 18,17)42for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. As Jesus went, the people pressed around him. (Mk 3,9; Lk 7,12; Lk 8,45)43And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians,[6] she could not be healed by anyone. (Lv 15,25; Mk 12,44; Lk 21,4)44She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. (Nm 15,38; Dt 22,12; Mt 14,36; Mt 15,28; Mt 17,18; Mt 23,5)45And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter[7] said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!”46But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” (Lk 5,17; Lk 6,19; Sk 10,38)47And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed.48And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.” (Lk 7,50)49While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” (Lk 7,6; Lk 8,41; Jn 11,28)50But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.”51And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. (Mk 3,17; Mk 14,33; Lk 9,28)52And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” (Mt 11,17; Lk 7,13; Lk 23,27; Jn 11,4; Jn 11,11; Sk 20,10)53And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead.54But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” (Mt 11,5; Mk 1,31; Lk 7,14; Lk 7,22; Jn 11,43)55And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat. (Sdc 15,19; 1 Sam 30,12)56And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened. (Mt 8,4)