Jesus Predicts His Death a Second Time

²² When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, “The Son of Man^(A) is going to be delivered into the hands of men. ²³ They will kill him,^(B) and on the third day^(C) he will be raised to life.”^(D) And the disciples were filled with grief.

The Temple Tax

²⁴ After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax^(E) came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”

²⁵ “Yes, he does,” he replied.

When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes^(F)—from their own children or from others?”

²⁶ “From others,” Peter answered.

“Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him. ²⁷ “But so that we may not cause offense,^(G) go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”

Jesus Predicts His Death a Second Time^(A)

³⁰ They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, ³¹ because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man^(B) is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him,^(C) and after three days^(D) he will rise.”^{(E) 32} But they did not understand what he meant^(F) and were afraid to ask him about it.

³³ They came to Capernaum.^(G) When he was in the house,^(H) he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” ³⁴ But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.^(I)

³⁵ Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”^(J)

³⁶ He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms,^(K) he said to them, ³⁷ “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”^(L)

Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us^(M)

³⁸ “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”^(N)

³⁹ “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, ⁴⁰ for whoever is not against us is for us.^{(O) 41} Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.^(P)

Causing to Stumble

⁴² “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble,^(Q) it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.^{(R) 43} If your hand causes you to stumble,^(S) cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell,^(T) where the fire never goes out.^{(U) [44] [a] 45} And if your foot causes you to stumble,^(V) cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.^{(W) [46] [b] 47} And if your eye causes you to stumble,^(X) pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,^{(Y) 48} where

⁴⁹ Everyone will be salted^(AA) with fire.

⁵⁰ “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again?^(AB) Have salt among yourselves,^(AC) and be at peace with each other.”^(AD)

⁴⁴ “Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.”^(A)

⁴⁴ He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you:^(A) Everything must be fulfilled^(B) that is written about me in the Law of Moses,^(C) the Prophets^(D) and the Psalms.”^(E)