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Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand
1 During those days another large crowd gathered. Since
they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him
and said,
2 “I have compassion for these people; they have
already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. 3
If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way,
because some of them have come a long distance.”
4 His disciples answered, “But where in this remote
place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?”
5 “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,”
they replied.
6 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he
had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them
and gave them to his disciples to set before the people, and
they did so. 7 They had a few small fish as well; he gave
thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute
them. 8 The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the
disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that
were left over. 9 About four thousand were present. And
having sent them away, 10 he got into the boat with his
disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha.
11 The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To
test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. 12 He
sighed deeply and said, “Why does this generation ask for a
sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it.” 13
Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the
other side.
The Yeast of the Pharisees and Herod
14 The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except
for one loaf they had with them in the boat.
15 “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the
yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”
16 They discussed this with one another and said, “It
is because we have no bread.”
17 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why
are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see
or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Do you have eyes
but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you
remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five
thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”
“Twelve,” they replied.
20 “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four
thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”
They answered, “Seven.”
21 He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”
Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida
22 They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a
blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 23 He took the
blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When
he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him,
Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”
24 He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like
trees walking around.”
25 Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes.
Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he
saw everything clearly. 26 Jesus sent him home, saying,
“Don’t even go into the village.”
Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah
27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages
around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do
people say I am?”
28 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say
Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”
29 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I
am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”
30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.
Jesus Predicts His Death
31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must
suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief
priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be
killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly
about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke
him.
33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples,
he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do
not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human
concerns.”
The Way of the Cross
34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his
disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must
deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35
For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but
whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save
it. 36 What good is it for you to gain the whole world, yet
forfeit your soul? 37 Or what can you give in exchange for
your soul? 38 If any of you are ashamed of me and my words
in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man
will be ashamed of you when he comes in his Father’s glory
with the holy angels.”
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Cults 
Why Did God Permit Sin?
