When the Pharisees saw this they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

“Whoever, then, acknowledges me before people, I will acknowledge before my Father in heaven.

But whoever denies me before people, I will deny him also before my Father in heaven.

When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their towns.

While they were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

What did you go out to see? A man dressed in fancy clothes? Look, those who wear fancy clothes are in the homes of kings!

“To what should I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces who call out to one another,

Or have you not read in the law that the priests in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are not guilty?

A man was there who had a withered hand. And they asked Jesus, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” so that they could accuse him.

For this reason I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.

While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and brothers came and stood outside, asking to speak to him.

“It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs,” he said.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven!

saying, ‘These last fellows worked one hour, and you have made them equal to us who bore the hardship and burning heat of the day.’

Am I not permitted to do what I want with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’

“Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the experts in the law. They will condemn him to death,

and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged severely and crucified. Yet on the third day, he will be raised.”

They said to him, “He will utterly destroy those evil men! Then he will lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him his portion at the harvest.”

Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but the ones who had been invited were not worthy.

They do all their deeds to be seen by people, for they make their phylacteries wide and their tassels long.