44. “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
45. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls,
46. who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
47. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind.
48. When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad.
49. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous
50. and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
51. “Have you understood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.”
52. And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”
53. And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there,
54. and coming to his hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works?
55. Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?
56. And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?”
57. And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.”
58. And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.
1. At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus,
2. and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.”
3. For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife,
4. because John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”
5. And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet.
6. But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company and pleased Herod,
7. so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask.
8. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.”
9. And the king was sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given.
10. He sent and had John beheaded in the prison,
11. and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother.
12. And his disciples came and took the body and buried it, and they went and told Jesus.