The Book of Matthew
The Genealogy of Jesus
1 The record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:
2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac was the father of Jacob, and
Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers. 3 Judah was the father
of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez was the father of Hezron, and Hezron
was the father of Ram. 4 Ram was the father of Amminadab, Amminadab was
the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon was the father of Salmon. 5 Salmon
was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth,
Obed was the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse was the father of David the
king. David the king was the father of Solomon by her who had been the
wife of Uriah. 7 Solomon was the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam was the
father of Abijah, and Abijah was the father of Asa. 8 Asa was the
father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat was the father of Joram, and Joram
was the father of Uzziah. 9 Uzziah was the father of Jotham, Jotham was
the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz was the father of Hezekiah. 10 Hezekiah
was the father of Manasseh, Manasseh was the father of Amon, and Amon
was the father of Josiah. 11 Josiah was the father of Jeconiah and his
brothers at the time of the captivity in Babylon. 12 And after the
captivity in Babylon, Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, and
Shealtiel was the father of Zerubbabel. 13 Zerubbabel was the father of
Abiud, Abiud was the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim was the father of
Azor. 14 Azor was the father of Zadok, Zadok was the father of Achim,
and Achim was the father of Eliud. 15 Eliud was the father of Eleazar,
Eleazar was the father of Matthan, and Matthan was the father of Jacob.
16 And Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was
born Jesus who is called Christ.
17 So all the generations from Abraham till David
were fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon
were fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the
Christ were fourteen generations.
The Birth of Jesus
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this:
After His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came
together, she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. 19 Then
Joseph her husband, being righteous and not wanting to disgrace her,
purposed to put her away secretly. 20 But while he was thinking about
these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream,
saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your
wife, for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy
Spirit. 21 And she shall bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name
JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins." 22 Now all this
came to pass so that the thing spoken by the Lord through the prophet
might be fulfilled, saying, 23 "BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD,
AND SHALL BRING FORTH A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL,"
which is translated, "God with us." 24 Then Joseph, having been
aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had ordered him and
took Mary as his wife, 25 but did not know her till she brought forth
her firstborn Son. And he called His name
Jesus.
MATTHEW CHAPTER 2
The Visit of the Wise Men
1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in
the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East arrived in
Jerusalem, 2 saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?
For we have seen His star in the East, and have come to worship Him." 3
But when Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem
with him. 4 And having gathered together all the chief priests and
scribes of the people, he inquired from them where the Christ would be
born. 5 So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is
written by the prophet: 6 'BUT YOU, BETHLEHEM, IN THE LAND OF JUDAH,
ARE BY NO MEANS LEAST AMONG THE RULERS OF JUDAH; FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL
COME FORTH A RULER WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.' "
7 Then Herod, secretly having called the wise men,
ascertained from them the time that the star appeared. 8 And having
sent them to Bethlehem, he said, "Go and search diligently for the
young Child, and as soon as you find Him, report back to me, so that I
also may come and worship Him."
9 When they heard the king, they departed; and
behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till
it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 And when they saw
the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And having come
into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and
falling down, they worshiped Him, and opening their treasures, they
presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having
been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to
their own country by another way.
The Escape to Egypt
13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of
the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Get up, and take the
young Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and stay there until I
tell you; for Herod is about to seek the young Child to destroy Him."
14 So Joseph got up and took the young Child and His mother by night
and departed to Egypt, 15 and remained there until the death of Herod,
so that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the
prophet, saying, "OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON."
The Massacre of the Infants
16 Then Herod, seeing that he had been deceived by
the wise men, was greatly enraged; and he sent and executed all the
boys in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and
under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the wise
men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet,
saying: 18 "A VOICE WAS HEARD IN RAMAH, LAMENTATION AND WEEPING, AND
GREAT MOURNING, RACHEL WEEPING FOR HER CHILDREN, REFUSING TO BE
COMFORTED, BECAUSE THEY ARE NO MORE."
The Return from Egypt
19 Now after Herod died, behold, an angel of the
Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, "Get up, and
take the young Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel,
for those who were seeking the life of the young Child have died." 21
So Joseph got up and took the young Child and His mother, and came into
the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning
over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And
being warned by God in a dream, he withdrew into the regions of
Galilee. 23 And when he arrived, he settled down in a city called
Nazareth, so that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the
prophets, "He shall be called a
Nazarene."
MATTHEW CHAPTER 3
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
1 Now in those days John the Baptist arrived preaching in the wilderness of Judea,
2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" 3 For
this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: "A voice of
one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord; make His
paths straight.' " 4 Now John himself had a garment made of camel's
hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts
and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region
around the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were being baptized
by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
7 But seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees
coming to his baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who
warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Therefore produce fruits
worthy of repentance, 9 and do not think to say among yourselves, 'We
have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise
up children to Abraham out of these stones. 10 But even now, the ax is
laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree not producing good
fruit is cut down and cast into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you with
water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than
I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the
Holy Spirit, 12 whose winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will
thoroughly purge His threshing floor, and He will gather His wheat into
the barn; but the chaff He will burn up with unquenchable fire."
The Baptism of Jesus
13 Then Jesus arrived from Galilee to John at the
Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 But John tried to prevent Him,
saying, "I have need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?"
15 But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it now, for thus it is
fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he permitted Him. 16
And having been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and
behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God
descending like a dove and coming to rest on Him. 17 And behold, a
voice came out of the heavens, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom
I am well
pleased."
MATTHEW CHAPTER 4
The Temptation of Jesus
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the
wilderness, to be tempted by the devil. 2 And having fasted forty days
and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. 3 And the tempter came
and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones
become bread." 4 But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall
not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the
mouth of God.' "
5 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, and
set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, "If You are
the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: 'He shall give
His angels charge concerning you,' and, 'On their hands they will bear
you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.' " 7 Jesus said to
him, "Again, it is written, 'YOU SHALL NOT TEMPT THE LORD YOUR GOD.'
"
8 Again, the devil took Him up on a very high
mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world, and their
glory. 9 And he said to Him, "All these things will I give You, if You
fall down and worship me." 10 Then Jesus said to him, "Get behind Me,
Satan! For it is written, 'YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND HIM
ALONE YOU SHALL SERVE.' " 11 Then the devil left Him, and behold,
angels came and ministered to Him.
Jesus Begins His Ministry in Galilee
12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested,
He departed into Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth behind, He came and
settled down in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of
Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that it might be fulfilled which was spoken
by Isaiah the prophet, saying: 15 "THE LAND OF ZEBULUN AND THE LAND OF
NAPHTALI, BY THE WAY OF THE SEA, BEYOND THE JORDAN, GALILEE OF THE
GENTILES, 16 THE PEOPLE SITTING IN DARKNESS HAVE SEEN A GREAT LIGHT,
AND TO THOSE WHO SAT IN THE LAND AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH, LIGHT HAS
DAWNED."
17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Jesus Calls the First Disciples
18 Now as He was walking alongside the Sea of
Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his
brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 Then
He said to them, "Come after Me, and I will make you fishers of men."
20 They immediately left their nets and followed Him. 21 Going on from
there He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his
brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. And
He called them. 22 And immediately they left the boat and their father,
and followed Him.
Jesus Ministers to the Multitudes
23 And Jesus went about all of Galilee, teaching in
their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing
every disease and every kind of sickness among the people. 24 And the
report of Him went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all
those who were ill, and who were suffering with various diseases and
torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and
paralytics; and He healed them. 25 And large crowds followed Him from
Galilee and from Decapolis, and Jerusalem, and Judea, and beyond the
Jordan.
MATTHEW CHAPTER 5
The Beatitudes
1 And seeing the crowds, He went up into the
mountain, and after He had sat down, His disciples approached Him. 2
And opening His mouth, He began to teach them, saying: 3 "Blessed are
the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are
those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek,
for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and
thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the
merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall
be called sons of God. 10 Blessed are those who have been persecuted
for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11
"Blessed are you whenever they revile you, and they persecute you, and
they say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice
and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so
they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Believers Are Salt and Light
13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt
becomes tasteless, with what shall it be salted? It is then good for
nothing but to be cast out and to be trampled underfoot by men. 14 You
are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be
hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a
lampstand, and it shines on everything in the house. 16 Let your light
so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify
your Father who is in heaven.
The Law and the Prophets
17 "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did
not come to abolish, but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly I say to you,
until heaven and earth pass away, one iota or one tittle shall by no
means pass away from the law until all things are fulfilled. 19 Whoever
therefore shall break one of the least of these commandments, and shall
teach men so, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but
whoever does them and teaches them, he shall be called great in the
kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness
exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall by no means enter
the kingdom of heaven.
Concerning Anger
21 "You have heard that it was said to the ancients,
'YOU SHALL NOT MURDER,' and whoever murders will be in danger of the
judgment. 22 But I say to you that whoever gets angry with his brother
without cause will be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to
his brother, 'Empty-head!' will be in danger of the council. But
whoever says, ' fool!' will be in danger of hell fire. 23 Therefore if
you offer your gift on the altar, and there you remember that your
brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the
altar, and go, first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and
offer your gift. 25 Make friends with your adversary quickly, while you
are on the road with him, lest your adversary hand you over to the
judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be cast into
prison. 26 Assuredly I say to you, you will by no means get out of
there till you have paid the last penny.
Concerning Adultery
27 "You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL NOT
COMMIT ADULTERY.' 28 But I say to you, that whoever looks at a woman in
order to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his
heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and
cast it from you; for it is better for you that one of your members be
lost, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 And if your
right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and cast it from you; for
it is better for you that one of your members be lost, than for your
whole body to be cast into hell.
Concerning Divorce
31 "Furthermore it has been said, 'WHOEVER DIVORCES
HIS WIFE, LET HIM GIVE HER A DIVORCE CERTIFICATE.' 32 "But I say to you
that whoever divorces his wife, except for a matter of sexual
immorality, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorcee
commits adultery.
Concerning Oaths
33 "Again you have heard that it was said to the
ancients, 'YOU SHALL NOT SWEAR FALSELY, BUT YOU SHALL PAY YOUR OATHS TO
THE LORD.' 34 "But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by
heaven, for it is God's throne; 35 nor by the earth, for it is His
footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36
Nor shall you swear by your head, because you are not able to make one
hair white or black. 37 But let what you say be simply
“Yes” or “No”; for whatever is more than these
is from the evil one.
Concerning Retaliation
38 "You have heard that it was said, 'AN EYE FOR AN
EYE AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.' 39 But I say to you not to resist an evil
person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the
other also. 40 And to the one desiring to sue you and to take your
tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever compels you to go
one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to the one asking you, and to the
one desiring to borrow from you, do not turn away.
Love for Enemies
43 "You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE
YOUR NEIGHBOR, and you shall hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you,
love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate
you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, 45 so that
you may prove to be sons of your Father in heaven; because He makes His
sun rise on the evil and on the good, and He sends rain on the just and
on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do
you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you
greet your friends only, what more are you doing than others? Do not
even the tax collectors do the same? 48 You therefore be perfect, just
as your heavenly Father is perfect.
MATTHEW CHAPTER 6
Concerning Almsgiving
1 "Take care not to be doing your charitable giving
before men, so as to be seen by them. Otherwise, you have not a reward
from your Father in heaven. 2 Whenever therefore you do charitable
giving, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the
synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by men.
Assuredly I say to you, they receive their reward in full. 3 But when
you do charitable giving, do not let your left hand know what your
right hand is doing, 4 so that your charitable giving may be in secret;
and your Father, who sees in secret, will Himself reward you openly.
Concerning Prayer
5 "And whenever you pray, you are not to be like the
hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues, and on
the street corners, so that they may be seen by men. Assuredly I say to
you, that they receive their reward in full. 6 But you, whenever you
pray, enter into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to
your Father who is in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret, will
reward you openly. 7 But when you pray, do not use meaningless
repetition as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard
for their many words. 8 Therefore do not be like them; for your Father
knows what you need before you ask Him.
9 Therefore pray in this manner: Our Father in
heaven, hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come, Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not
into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the
kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. 14 "For if you
forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive
you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will
your Father forgive your trespasses.
Concerning Fasting
16 "Moreover, when you fast, do not become gloomy,
like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that they may
appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly I say to you, that they receive
their reward in full. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and
wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but
to your Father who is in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret,
will reward you.
Concerning Treasures
19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth,
where moth and rust corrupt, and where thieves break in and steal; 20
but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor
rust corrupts, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For
where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The Sound Eye
22 "The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore
your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if
your eye is evil, your whole body will be dark. Therefore if the light
that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
Serving Two Masters
24 "No one can serve two masters; for either he will
hate the one, and he will love the other, or else he will be devoted to
the one, and he will despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
Do Not Worry
25 "Because of this I say to you, do not worry about
your life—what you shall eat, or what you shall drink—nor
about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food and
the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they
neither sow nor reap, nor do they gather into barns; yet your heavenly
Father feeds them. Are you not worth more than they? 27 And which of
you by worrying is able to add one cubit to his height? 28 So why do
you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they
grow; they neither labor, nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you, that not
even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed like one of these. 30 But if
God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today, and
tomorrow is cast into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you
of little faith? 31 Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we
eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we put on?' 32 "For
after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father
knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of
God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto
you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry
about its own affairs. Each day has enough trouble of its
own.
MATTHEW CHAPTER 7
Judging Others
1 "Judge not, lest you be judged. 2 For with what
judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with what measure you
measure, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the
speck in your brother's eye, but do not notice the plank in your own
eye? 4 Or how will you say to your brother, 'Permit me to remove the
speck from your eye'; and look, there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You
hypocrite! First remove the plank out of your own eye, and then you
will see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother's eye. 6 Do
not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine,
lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to
pieces.
Ask, Seek, Knock
7 "Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you
shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. 8 For everyone that
asks receives, and he that seeks finds, and to him that knocks, it
shall be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son
should ask for bread, will give him a stone? 10 And if he should ask
for a fish, he will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil,
know how to give good gifts to your children, by how much more will
your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! 12
Therefore, whatever you want people to do to you, you also do to them,
for this is the Law and the Prophets.
The Narrow Gate
13 "Enter in through the narrow gate; for wide is
the gate and broad is the way which leads to destruction, and many are
those who enter in through it. 14 O how narrow the gate, and confined
is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it!
Warning Against False Prophets
15 "But beware of false prophets, who come to you in
sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will
know them by their fruits. Do men gather grape clusters from thorns, or
figs from thistles? 17 Thus every good tree produces good fruit, but a
bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot produce bad fruit,
neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 Every tree not producing
good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire. 20 Consequently, by
their fruits you shall know them.
Concerning Self-Deception
21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will
enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who
is in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we
not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name we cast out demons, and in
Your name we did many mighty works?’ 23 "And then I will confess
to them, 'I never knew you! DEPART FROM ME, YOU WORKERS OF
INIQUITY!'
Hearers and Doers
24 "Therefore, everyone who hears these words of
Mine and does them, I will compare him to a wise man who built his
house upon the rock: 25 and the rain came down, and the floods came,
and the winds blew and beat against that house; and it did not fall,
for it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these
words of Mine and does not do them, will be compared to a foolish man
who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain came down, and the
floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell.
And great was its fall."
28 And so it was, when Jesus had finished these
words, the crowds were astonished at His teaching, 29 for He taught
them as one having authority, and not like the
scribes.
MATTHEW CHAPTER 8
Jesus Cleanses a Leper
1 When He had come down from the mountain, great
crowds followed Him. 2 And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him,
saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." 3 And
reaching out His hand, Jesus touched him, saying, "I am willing; be
cleansed." Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus said to
him, "See that you tell no one; but go, show yourself to the priest,
and offer the gift which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."
Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant
5 Now when He had entered Capernaum, a centurion
approached Him, begging Him, 6 and saying, "Lord, my servant has been
laid up in the house a paralytic, being tormented terribly." 7 And
Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him." 8 The centurion answered
and said, "Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof.
But just say the word and my servant will be healed. 9 For I also am a
man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one,
'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my
servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." 10 When Jesus heard it, He
marveled, and said to those who were following, "Assuredly I say to
you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! 11 And I
say to you that many shall come from east and west, and recline to eat
with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven; 12 but the
sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness. There
will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." 13 Then Jesus said to the
centurion, "Go; and as you believed, it shall be done for you." And his
servant was healed that very hour.
Jesus Heals many at Peter’s House
14 Now when Jesus had come into Peter's house, He
saw his mother-in-law lying sick in bed, and burning with fever. 15 And
He touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she got up, and began
to serve Him. 16 When evening had come, they brought to Him many who
were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and He
healed all that were sick, 17 so that it might be fulfilled which was
spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying: "HE HIMSELF TOOK OUR
INFIRMITIES, AND BORE OUR DISEASES."
The Cost of Discipleship
18 And when Jesus saw great crowds around Him, He
gave orders to depart to the other side. 19 Then a certain scribe
approached, and said to Him, "Teacher, I will follow You wherever You
go." 20 And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have dens, and birds of the air
have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." 21 Then
another of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, permit me first to go and
bury my father." 22 But Jesus said to him, "Follow Me, and leave the
dead to bury their own dead."
Jesus Calms a Storm
23 Now when He got into a boat, His disciples
followed Him. 24 And behold, a great tempest arose on the sea, so that
the boat was covered by waves; but He was sleeping.
25 Then the disciples came and awoke Him, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!"
26 But He said to them, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?"
Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great
calm. 27 So the men marveled, saying, "What kind of Man is this, that
even the winds and the sea obey Him?"
Jesus Heals the Demoniacs
28 And when He came to the other side, to the region
of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of
the tombs; exceedingly violent, so that no one was able to pass by that
way. 29 And suddenly they cried out, saying, "What have we to do with
You, Jesus, Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the
time?" 30 Now there was far off from them a herd of many swine feeding.
31 So the demons implored Him, saying, "If You cast us out, permit us
to go off into the herd of swine." 32 And He said to them, "Go." So
they came out, and went off into the herd of swine. And behold, the
whole herd of swine rushed violently down the steep bank into the sea,
and died in the waters. 33 Then those who tended them fled; and going
off into the city, they reported everything, including what had
happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 And behold, the whole city came
out to meet Jesus. And seeing Him, they implored Him that He might go
away from their region.
MATTHEW CHAPTER 9
Jesus Heals a Paralytic
1 And getting into the boat, He crossed over and
went into His own city. 2 And behold, they were carrying a paralytic to
Him lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, He said to the
paralytic, "Have courage, son; your sins are forgiven." 3 And at once
some of the scribes said among themselves, "This Man blasphemes!" 4 But
Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your
hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to
say, 'Arise and walk'? 6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has
authority on the earth to forgive sins"—then He said to the
paralytic, "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." 7 And he
arose, and went to his house. 8 Now when the crowds saw, they marveled
and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
The Call of Matthew
9 And as Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man
named Matthew sitting in the tax collector’s booth. And He said
to him, "Follow Me." And he arose and followed Him. 10 Now it came to
pass, as He reclined to eat in the house, that behold, many tax
collectors and sinners, having come, were reclining to eat with Jesus
and His disciples.
11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, "Why
does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" 12 When Jesus
heard that, He said to them, "Those who are healthy have no need of a
physician, but those who are sick. 13 But go and learn what this means:
'I DESIRE MERCY AND NOT SACRIFICE.' For I did not come to call the
righteous, but sinners, to repentance."
The Question About Fasting
14 Then the disciples of John approached Him,
saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do
not fast?" 15 And Jesus said to them, "Can the groomsmen mourn as long
as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the
bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. 16 No
one puts a piece of new cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls
away from the garment, and the tear is made worse. 17 Nor do they put
new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins burst, and the wine
spills out, and the wineskins will be ruined. But they put new wine
into new wineskins, and both are preserved."
A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed
18 As He spoke these things to them, behold, a
certain leader came and worshiped Him, saying, "My daughter has just
died, but come and lay Your hand on her, and she shall live." 19 So
Jesus arose and followed him, likewise His disciples.
20 And behold, a woman hemorrhaging for twelve
years, approaching from behind, touched the hem of His garment. 21 For
she said to herself, "If only I may touch His garment, I will be
healed." 22 But Jesus, turning around and seeing her, said, "Take
courage, daughter; your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed
from that hour.
23 And when Jesus came into the house of the leader,
and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, 24 He said
to them, "Make room, for the girl has not died, but she is sleeping."
And they were ridiculing Him. 25 But when the crowd had been put out,
He went in and took her by the hand, and the little girl arose. 26 And
the report of this went out into that whole land.
Jesus Heals Two Blind Men
27 And as Jesus passed by from there, two blind men
followed Him, crying out and saying, "Son of David, have mercy on us!"
28 And when He came into the house, the blind men approached Him, and
Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They
said to Him, "Yes, Lord." 29 Then He touched their eyes, saying,
"According to your faith, let it be unto you." 30 And their eyes were
opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, "See that you let no one
know." 31 But they went out and spread the news about Him in that whole
land.
A Mute Man Healed
32 And as they were going out, behold, they brought
to Him a mute man who was demon-possessed. 33 And when the demon was
cast out, the mute man spoke. And the crowds marveled, saying, "Nothing
like this has ever been seen in Israel!" 34 But the Pharisees said, "By
the ruler of the demons He casts out demons." 35 And Jesus was going
about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and
preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and
every disease among the people.
36 But seeing the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them,
because they were harassed and prostrated, like sheep having no
shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, "Indeed the harvest is
plentiful, but the workers are few. 38 Therefore beseech the Lord of
the harvest, that He may send forth workers into His
harvest."
MATTHEW CHAPTER 10
The Twelve Apostles
1 And summoning His twelve disciples, He gave them
authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every
disease and every sickness. 2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are
these: first, Simon, who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother;
James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and
Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of
Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, who was surnamed Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the
Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.
The Mission of the Twelve
5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, commanding them,
saying, "Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any
city of the Samaritans. 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house
of Israel. 7 And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is
at hand.' 8 "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely
you have received, freely give. 9 Do not acquire gold nor silver nor
copper in your money belts,
10 not a knapsack for the road, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor
staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food. 11 And whatever city or
village you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there until
you go out. 12 And as you enter into a household, greet it.
13 And if indeed the house should be worthy, let your peace come upon
it. But if it should not be worthy, let your peace return to you. 14
And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart
from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. 15
Assuredly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom
and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!
Coming Persecutions
16 "Behold, I am sending you forth like sheep in the
midst of wolves. Therefore be as wise as serpents and innocent as
doves. 17 But beware of men, for they will hand you over to councils
and they will flog you in their synagogues. 18 And you will be brought
before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to
the nations. 19 But whenever they hand you over, do not worry how or
what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what
you should speak; 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of
your Father who speaks in you. 21 Now brother will betray brother to
death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against
parents, and put them to death. 22 And you will be hated by all people
for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 23
But whenever they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For
assuredly I say to you, by no means will you have gone through the
cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. 24 A disciple is not
above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for
a disciple that he become like his teacher, and the servant like his
master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much
more will they malign the members of his household! 26 Therefore do not
fear them. For nothing is concealed that shall not be unveiled, or
secret that shall not be made known.
Jesus Teaches the Fear of God
27 "What I say to you in the dark, say in the light;
and what you hear in the ear, proclaim on the housetops. 28 And do not
fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear
Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two
sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them will fall to the
ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are
all numbered. 31 Therefore do not fear; you are more valuable than many
sparrows.
32 "Therefore whoever who will confess Me before
men, I also will confess him before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But
whoever denies Me before men, I also will deny him before My Father who
is in heaven.
34 "Do not suppose that I came to bring peace on
earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come
to 'turn a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother,
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law'; 36 and 'a man's
enemies will be his own household members.' 37 He who loves father or
mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or
daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take
his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his
life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find
it.
40 "He that receives you receives Me, and he that
receives Me receives Him who sent Me. 41 He that receives a prophet in
the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward. And he that
receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a
righteous man’s reward. 42 And whoever gives one of these little
ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly I
say to you, he shall by no means lose his
reward."
MATTHEW CHAPTER 11
John’s Questions
1 Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished
instructing His twelve disciples, that He moved on from there to teach
and to preach in their cities. 2 And when John had heard in prison
about the works of the Messiah, having sent two of his disciples, 3 he
said to Him, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?" 4
Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and report to John the things
which you hear and see: 5 The BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT, and the lame walk;
the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up, and
the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM. 6 And blessed is the one who
is not offended because of Me."
Jesus’ Tribute to John
7 Now as these men were going, Jesus began to say to
the crowds concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to
see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 But what did you go out to see? A man
clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft garments are in
kings' palaces. 9 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say
to you, and far more than a prophet. 10 For this is he about whom it is
written: 'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will
prepare Your way before You.' 11 "Assuredly I say to you, among those
born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist;
but he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12
And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven
suffers violence, and violent men seize it. 13 For all the prophets and
the law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to receive it,
he is Elijah who is to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him
hear.
16 But to what shall I compare this generation? It
is similar to children who sit in the marketplaces and call to their
playmates, 17 and say, 'We played the flute for you, and you did not
dance; We mourned to you, and you did not lament.' 18 "For John came
neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' 19 "The
Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and
a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' And so wisdom is
justified by her children."
Woes to Unrepentant Cities
20 Then He began to reproach the cities in which His
very many miracles had been done, because they did not repent: 21 "Woe
to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! Because if the miracles which
were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have
repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 Nevertheless I say to you,
it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment
than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, the one having been exalted to
heaven, you will be brought down to Hades; because if the miracles
which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained
to this day. 24 But I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the
land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you."
25 At that time Jesus answered and said, "I praise
You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these
things from the wise and prudent, and have revealed them to babes. 26
Yes, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. 27 All things have
been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one fully knows the Son
except the Father, nor does anyone fully know the Father except the
Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are
heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and
learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find
rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is
light."
MATTHEW CHAPTER 12
Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath
1 At that time Jesus went through the grain fields
on the Sabbath. And His disciples became hungry, and they began to
pluck heads of grain and to eat. 2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they
said to Him, "Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do
on the Sabbath!" 3 But He said to them, "Have you not read what David
did when he became hungry, he and those who were with him: 4 how they
entered the house of God, and ate the showbread which was not lawful
for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, except only for the
priests? 5 Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the
priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are guiltless? 6 Yet I
say to you that One greater than the temple is here. 7 But if you had
known what this means, 'I DESIRE MERCY AND NOT SACRIFICE,' you would
not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the
Sabbath."
9 And having departed from there, He went into their
synagogue. 10 And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And
they asked Him, saying, "Is it lawful to heal on the
Sabbath?"—that they might accuse Him. 11 Then He said to them,
"What man is there among you who shall have one sheep, and if it should
fall into a ditch on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it
out? 12 How much more valuable then is a man than a sheep! So then it
is lawful to do good on the Sabbath." 13 Then He said to the man,
"Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and it was restored
whole like the other.
14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against
Him, how they might destroy Him. 15 But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew
from there. And great crowds followed Him, and He healed them all. 16
And He warned them that they should not make Him known, 17 so that it
might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet,
saying,
18 "BEHOLD, MY SERVANT WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN, MY BELOVED IN WHOM MY SOUL
IS WELL PLEASED! I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT UPON HIM, AND HE WILL ANNOUNCE
JUSTICE TO THE GENTILES. 19 HE WILL NOT QUARREL NOR CRY OUT, NOR WILL
ANYONE HEAR HIS VOICE IN THE STREETS. 20 A BRUISED REED HE SHALL NOT
BREAK, AND A SMOLDERING WICK HE SHALL NOT QUENCH, TILL HE BRING FORTH
JUSTICE TO VICTORY; 21 AND IN HIS NAME THE NATIONS SHALL
HOPE."
The Pharisees Rebuked
22 Then one was brought to Him who was
demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind
and mute man both spoke and saw. 23 And all the crowds were amazed and
said, "Can this be the Son of David?" 24 But the Pharisees, having
heard, said, "This Man does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub,
ruler of the demons." 25 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said to
them: "Every kingdom divided against itself is made desolate, and every
city or house divided against itself shall not stand. 26 And if Satan
casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his
kingdom stand? 27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do
your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. 28 But if
I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has
come upon you. 29 Or how is one able to enter a strong man’s
house to plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And
then he will plunder his household. 30 He who is not with Me is against
Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
The Unpardonable Sin
31 "Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy
shall be forgiven unto men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit shall
not be forgiven unto men. 32 And whoever says a word against the Son of
Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy
Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age, or in the age
to come.
A Tree and Its Fruit
33 "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or
else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its
fruit. 34 You brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good
things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A
good man out of his good treasure brings forth good things, and an evil
man out of his evil treasure brings forth evil things. 36 But I say to
you, that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of
it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you shall be justified,
and by your words you shall be condemned."
The Sign of Jonah
38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered,
saying, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from You." 39 But He answered
and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a
sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the
prophet. 40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the
belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three
nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh shall stand up
in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they
repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than
Jonah is here. 42 The queen of the South shall rise up in the judgment
with this generation and she shall condemn it, because she came from
the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold,
something greater than Solomon is here.
43 "When an unclean spirit goes out from a man, he
goes through dry places, seeking rest, and does not find any. 44 Then
he says, 'I will return to my house from where I came out.' And when he
comes, he finds it unoccupied, swept, and adorned. 45 Then he goes and
takes along with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself,
and entering in they dwell there; and the last state of that man is
worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil
generation."
Changed Relationships
46 And while He was still speaking to the crowds,
behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with
Him. 47 Then one said to Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are
standing outside, seeking to speak with You." 48 But He answered and
said to him that told Him, "Who is My mother? And who are My brothers?"
49 And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, "Behold;
My mother, and My brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of My Father
in heaven, he is My brother and sister and
mother."
MATTHEW CHAPTER 13
The Parable of the Sower
1 On the same day Jesus went out of the house and
sat beside the sea. 2 And great crowds were gathered together to Him,
so that He got into the boat and sat; and the crowd stood on the shore.
3 And He spoke to them many things in parables, saying: "Behold, the
sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell alongside the
road; and the birds came and devoured them. 5 But others fell on the
stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it
sprang up, because it had no depth of earth. 6 But when the sun rose,
it was scorched, and because it had no root, it withered away. 7 But
others fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them out.
8 But others fell on good ground and it was yielding fruit: some a
hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears to hear, let
him hear!"
10 And the disciples approached and said to Him,
"Why do You speak to them in parables?" 11 He answered and said to
them, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of
heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For whoever has, to him
more shall be given, and he shall have an abundance; but whoever does
not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. 13 Therefore I
speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing
they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 And in them is fulfilled
the prophecy of Isaiah, which says: 'Hearing you shall hear and by no
means understand, and seeing you shall see and by no means perceive. 15
For the heart of this people has become dull, and their ears are hard
of hearing, and their eyes have closed, lest they should see with their
eyes, and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their
hearts and turn back, that I should heal them.' 16 "But blessed are
your eyes because they see, and your ears, because they hear. 17 For
assuredly I say to you, that many prophets and righteous men desired to
see what you see, and they did not see, and to hear what you hear, and
they did not hear.”
18 "Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 19 When
anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, then
the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This
is the seed that was sown beside the road. 20 But the seed sown on
stony ground, is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with
joy;
21 yet he has no firm root in himself, but endures only for a while.
For when tribulation or persecution comes because of the word,
immediately he falls away. 22 But the seed sown in the thorns is he who
hears the word, and the anxiety of this age, and the deceitfulness of
riches chokes out the word, and it becomes fruitless. 23 But the seed
sown on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it,
who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold some sixty,
some thirty."
The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares
24 Another parable He set before them, saying: "The
kingdom of heaven is like a man sowing good seed in his field. 25 But
while the men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares among the
wheat and went away. 26 But when the stalk had sprouted and produced
fruit, then the tares also appeared. 27 So the servants of the
master of the house approached and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow
good seed in your field? From where then does it have tares?' 28 "He
said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' So the servants said to him,
'Do you wish then that we should go and gather them up?' 29 "But he
said, 'No, lest gathering up the tares you also uproot the wheat with
them. 30 Leave both to grow together until the harvest; and at the time
of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares,
and bind them into bundles to burn them, but gather together the wheat
into my barn." ' "
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
31 Another parable He set before them, saying: "The
kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in
his field, 32 which indeed is smaller than all the seeds; but whenever
it is grown, it is greater than the garden vegetables and becomes a
tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches."
The Parable of the Leaven
33 Another parable He spoke to them: "The kingdom of
heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of
meal, until it was all leavened."
34 Jesus spoke all these things in parables to the
crowds, and without a parable He did not speak to them, 35 so that it
might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: "I will
open My mouth in parables; I will utter things having been hidden from
the foundation of the world."
The Parable of the Tares Explained
36 Then having dismissed the crowds, Jesus went into
the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, "Explain to us the
parable of the tares of the field." 37 He answered and said to them:
"He that sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 And the field is the
world, and the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom, but the
tares are the sons of the evil one. 39 The enemy who sowed them is the
devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the
angels. 40 Therefore just as the tares are gathered and burned with
fire, so it will be at the end of this age. 41 The Son of Man will send
forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things
that offend, and those who work iniquity, 42 and will cast them into
the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43
Then the righteous will shine forth like the sun in the kingdom of
their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
The Hidden Treasure
44 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure
hidden in the field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it, he
went and sold everything he had, and bought that field.”
The Pearl of Great Price
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a
merchant seeking beautiful pearls, 46 who, when he found one very
precious pearl, went and sold everything he had and bought it.”
A Dragnet
47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a
dragnet cast into the sea, and gathering fish of every kind, 48 and
when it was filled, they drew it up on the beach; and they sat down and
sorted the good fish into containers, but the bad they threw away. 49
So it will be at the end of the age: the angels shall go forth and
separate the evil from among the righteous, 50 and cast them into the
fiery furnace. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
51 Jesus said to them, "Have you understood all
these things?" They said to Him, "Yes, Lord." 52 Then He said to them,
"Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple in the kingdom of
heaven is like the master of a house who brings out of his treasure
both new things and old."
Jesus Rejected at Nazareth
53 Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished
these parables, He went away from there. 54 And coming into His
hometown, He began to teach them in their synagogue, so that they were
astonished and said, "Where did this Man get this wisdom and these
powerful works? 55 Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother
called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Jude? 56 And His
sisters, are they not all with us? From where then did this Man get all
these things?" 57 So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them,
"A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, and in his own
house." 58 And He did not do many miracles there because of their
unbelief.
MATTHEW CHAPTER 14
The Death of John the Baptist
1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report
about Jesus, 2 and said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist; he
has risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in
him." 3 For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in
prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. 4 For John
had said to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her." 5 And though
he wanted to kill him, he feared the crowd, because they regarded him
as a prophet. 6 Now when Herod's birthday was being celebrated, the
daughter of Herodias danced before them, and she pleased Herod.
7 Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 8
So she, being urged on by her mother, said, "Give me here on a platter
the head of John the Baptist."
9 And the king was grieved, but because of the oaths, and because of
those who reclined to eat with him, 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 Then his disciples came and took the body and buried it, and they
went and reported it to Jesus.
Feeding the Five Thousand
13 Now when Jesus heard it, He withdrew from there
in a boat for a deserted place privately. But when the crowds heard it,
they followed Him on foot from the cities. 14 And coming out, Jesus saw
a large crowd, and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed
their sick.
15 Now when it was evening, His disciples came to
Him, saying, "The place is deserted, and the hour is already late.
Dismiss the crowds, that they may go to the villages and buy food for
themselves." 16 But Jesus said to them, "They do not need to go away.
You give them something to eat!" 17 And they said to Him, "We do not
have anything here except five loaves of bread and two fish." 18 But He
said, "Bring them here to Me." 19 And commanding the crowds to sit down
on the grass, taking the five loaves of bread and the two fish, and
looking up to heaven, He blessed the food, and breaking the loaves, He
gave them to the disciples; and the disciples gave them to the crowds.
20 So they all ate and were satisfied, and they took up what they had
left of the fragments, twelve baskets full. 21 Now those who had eaten
were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
Jesus Walks on Water
22 And immediately Jesus compelled the disciples to
get into the boat, and to go ahead of Him to the other side, until He
could dismiss the crowds. 23 And having dismissed the crowds, He went
up on the mountain privately to pray. And when evening had come, He was
there alone. 24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, being
harassed by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25 Now in the
fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 26
And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified,
and said, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. 27 But
immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take courage! It is I; do not
fear."
28 But Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to
come to You on the water." 29 So He said, "Come." And stepping down
from the boat, Peter walked on the water to go toward Jesus. 30 But
seeing the strong wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried
out, saying, "Lord, save me!" 31 And immediately, Jesus reaching out
His hand, laid hold of him, and said to him, "O you of little faith,
why did you doubt?" 32 And when they had gotten into the boat, the wind
ceased. 33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him,
saying, "Truly You are the Son of God."
34 And having crossed over, they came to the land of
Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent
out into all that surrounding region, and they brought to Him all those
who were sick, 36 and implored Him that they might only touch the hem
of His garment. And as many as touched Him were completely
healed.
MATTHEW CHAPTER 15
The Tradition of the Elders
1 Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from
Jerusalem approached Jesus, saying, 2 "Why do Your disciples transgress
the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands whenever
they eat bread." 3 He answered and said to them, "Why do you also
transgress the commandment of God on account of your tradition? 4 For
God commanded, saying, 'HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER'; and,
'WHOEVER REVILES FATHER OR MOTHER MUST SURELY DIE.' 5 But you
say, 'Whoever says to his father or mother, "It is a gift to God,
whatever profit you might have received from me"— 6 then by no
means should he honor his father or mother.' Thus you have invalidated
the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition. 7 You
hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying, 8 'THESE PEOPLE
DRAW NEAR TO ME WITH THEIR MOUTH, AND THEY HONOR ME WITH THEIR LIPS,
BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. 9 AND IN VAIN THEY WORSHIP
ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN.' "
10 And having summoned the crowd, He said to them,
"Hear and understand: 11 It is not what goes into the mouth that
defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a
man."
12 Then His disciples approached and said to Him,
"You know that when the Pharisees heard this message they were
offended?" 13 But He answered and said, "Every plant which My heavenly
Father has not planted will be uprooted. 14 Leave them alone. They are
blind guides of the blind. And if the blind guides the blind, both will
fall into a ditch."
15 Then Peter answered and said to Him, "Explain to
us this parable." 16 So Jesus said, "Are you also still without
understanding? 17 Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the
mouth passes into the stomach, and is eliminated? 18 But those things
which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a
man. 19 For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders,
adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 20 These
are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does
not defile a man."
The Canaanite Woman’s Faith
21 And going out from there, Jesus withdrew into the
region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a Canaanite woman coming forth
from that region cried out to Him, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord,
Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed." 23 But He
answered her not a word. And His disciples approached and urged Him,
saying, "Send her away, for she cries out after us." 24 But He answered
and said, "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of
Israel." 25 Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, help me!"
26 But He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's
bread and to throw it to the little dogs." 27 But she said, "Yes, Lord,
yet even the little dogs eat from the crumbs falling from their
masters' table." 28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman,
great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire." And her daughter
was healed from that very hour.
Jesus Heals Many People
29 And moving on from there, Jesus came alongside
the Sea of Galilee, and going up into a mountain, He sat down there. 30
And great crowds came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute,
maimed, and many others; and they put them down at Jesus' feet, and He
healed them. 31 So the multitude marveled when they saw the mute
speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind
seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.
Jesus Feeds Four Thousand
32 Now Jesus, having summoned His disciples, He
said, "I have compassion on the crowd, because they have remained with
Me three days, and they do not have anything to eat. And I do not
desire to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way." 33 Then
His disciples said to Him, "Where could we get so many loaves of bread
in this deserted place, so as to satisfy so great a crowd?" 34 Jesus
said to them, "How many loaves do you have?" And they said, "Seven, and
a few small fish." 35 So He commanded the crowds to sit down on the
ground. 36 And He took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given
thanks, He broke them, and gave them to His disciples; and the
disciples gave to the crowd. 37 So they all ate and were satisfied. And
they took up what they had left of the fragments, seven baskets full.
38 Now those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and
children. 39 And having dismissed the crowds, He went up into the boat,
and came to the region of
Magdala.
MATTHEW CHAPTER 16
The Demand for a Sign
1 Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing
Him, they asked Him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered and
said to them, "When evening comes you say, 'Fine weather, for the sky
is red'. 3 And in the morning, 'Today will be stormy, for the sky is
red and overcast.' You hypocrites! Indeed you know how to discern the
face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. 4 An
evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be
given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet." And leaving them
behind He went away.
The Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees
5 Now when His disciples had come to the other side,
they forgot to take bread. 6 Then Jesus said to them, "Look out and
beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees." 7 But they
were reasoning among themselves, saying, "We did not take bread." 8 But
Jesus, knowing about it, said to them, "O you of little faith, why are
you reasoning among yourselves, because you did not take bread? 9 Do
you not yet perceive, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand
and how many baskets you took up? 10 Nor the seven loaves of the four
thousand and how many baskets you took up? 11 How is it you do not
perceive that I did not speak to you about bread, but to beware of the
leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees?" 12 Then they understood that He
did not say to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of
the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Peter Confesses Christ
13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea
Philippi, He was questioning His disciples, saying, "Who do men
pronounce Me, the Son of Man, to be?" 14 So they said, "Some say John
the Baptist, but others say Elijah, and yet others say Jeremiah, or one
of the prophets." 15 He said to them, "But who do you pronounce Me to
be?" 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son
of the living God." 17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are
you, Simon Bar-Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to
you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you
are Peter, and upon this rock I shall build My church, and the gates of
hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of
the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on the earth will have
been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on the earth will have
been loosed in heaven." 20 Then He commanded His disciples that they
should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.
Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection
21 From that time Jesus began to show to His
disciples that He must go off to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from
the elders and chief priests and scribes, and to be killed, and to be
raised up on the third day. 22 And taking Him aside, Peter began to
rebuke Him, saying, "God be gracious to You, Lord! This shall by no
means happen to You!" 23 But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind
Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me, because you are not mindful
of the things of God, but the things of men."
The Cross and Self-Denial
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone
desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross,
and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life shall lose it,
but whoever loses his life on account of Me shall find it. 26 For what
is a man profited if he gains the whole world, but forfeits his soul?
Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man
is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then
He will render to each according to his works. 28 Assuredly I say to
you, there are some standing here who will by no means taste death till
they see the Son of Man coming in His
kingdom."
MATTHEW CHAPTER 17
The Transfiguration
1 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and
John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain in private; 2 and
He was transfigured before them, and His face shone like the sun, and
His clothes became as white as light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah
appeared to them, talking with Him. 4 Then Peter answered and said to
Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You desire, let us make
here three tents: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." 5
While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them;
and behold, a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved
Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!" 6 And when the
disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and they were greatly
afraid. 7 But Jesus approached and touched them and said, "Arise, and
do not be afraid." 8 And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one except
Jesus alone.
9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus
commanded them, saying, "Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man
is risen from the dead." 10 And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Why
then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" 11 Jesus answered
and said to them, "Elijah truly does come first, and shall restore all
things. 12 But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did
not recognize him, but did to him whatever they desired. Thus also the
Son of Man is about to suffer by them." 13 Then the disciples
understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.
Jesus Cures a Boy with a Demon
14 And when they came to the crowd, a man approached
Him, kneeling down to Him, and saying, 15 "Lord, have pity on my son,
for he is moonstruck and suffers severely; for he often falls into the
fire and often into the water. 16 So I brought him to Your disciples,
but they were not able to heal him." 17 Then Jesus answered and said,
"O unfaithful and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you?
How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me." 18 And Jesus
rebuked the demon, and it came out from him; and the boy was healed
from that very hour. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and
said, "Why could we not cast it out?" 20 So Jesus said to them,
"Because of your unbelief; for assuredly I say to you, if you have
faith like a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, 'Be moved
from here to there,' and it shall move; and nothing shall be impossible
for you. 21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and
fasting."
Jesus Again Foretells His Death and Resurrection
22 And while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus
said to them, "The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of
men, 23 and they will kill Him, and on the third day He shall be
raised." And they were exceedingly sorrowful.
Jesus and the Temple Tax
24 When they had come to Capernaum, those who
collected the temple tax came to Peter and said, "Does your Teacher not
pay the temple tax?" 25 He said, "Yes." And when he entered into the
house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From
whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons
or from strangers?" 26 Peter said to Him, "From strangers." Jesus said
to him, "Then the sons are free. 27 Nevertheless, lest we offend them,
go to the sea, and cast in a hook, and take the first fish that comes
up. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a coin. Take
that, and give it to them for Me and for
yourself."
MATTHEW CHAPTER 18
True Greatness
1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying,
"Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 2 Then Jesus
called a little child, and set him in their midst, 3 and said,
"Assuredly I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little
children, you shall by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4
Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child, he is the
greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever receives one such
little child in My name, receives Me.
Jesus Warns of Offenses
6 "But whoever causes one of these little ones who
believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him that a huge
millstone be hanged on his neck, and he be drowned in the depth of the
sea. 7 Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come,
but woe to that man through whom the offense comes! 8 And if your hand
or your foot causes you to stumble, cut them off and cast them from
you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, than
having two hands or two feet, to be thrown into the eternal fire. 9 And
if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and cast it from you.
It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, than having two
eyes, to be thrown into the fiery hell.
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
10 "See that you do not despise one of these little
ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face
of My Father who is in heaven. 11 For the Son of Man came to save that
which was lost. 12 What do you think? If a certain man has a
hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the
ninety-nine on the mountains, and go and search for the one gone
astray? 13 And if he happens to find it, assuredly I say to you that he
rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which did not go
astray. 14 Thus it is not the will before your Father who is in heaven
that one of these little ones should perish.
Reproving Another Who Sins
15 "And if your brother sins against you, go and
show him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have
won your brother. 16 But if he does not hear, take along with you one
or two more, so that 'BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY WORD
MAY BE ESTABLISHED.' 17 But if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the
church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you as
a heathen and a tax collector.
18 Assuredly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been
bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed
in heaven. 19 Again, assuredly I say to you that if two of you agree on
earth about anything that they may ask, it will be done for them by My
Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My
name, I am there in their midst."
Forgiveness
21 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often
shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?"
22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up
to seventy times seven. 23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a
certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 And
when he began to settle up, one debtor was brought to him owing ten
thousand talents. 25 But since he had nothing with which to repay, his
master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and
everything that he had, and to be repaid. 26 Therefore falling down
before him, the servant said, 'Master, have patience with me, and I
will repay everything to you.' 27 And having compassion, the master of
that servant released him, and forgave him the debt.28 But when that
servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a
hundred denarii. And taking hold of him, he was choking him, saying,
'Pay me what you owe!' 29 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet
and kept begging him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay
you back.' 30 But he was not willing, but going off, he cast him into
prison till he should pay back what was owed. 31 So when his fellow
servants saw what had been done, they were deeply grieved, and they
came and narrated to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then
summoning him, his master said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave
you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Should you not also have
had compassion on your fellow servant, as I also had compassion on
you?'34 And being angered, his master handed him over to the tormentors
until he should pay all that was owed to him. 35 Thus also My heavenly
Father will do to you, if you do not forgive each one his brother their
trespasses, from your hearts."
MATTHEW CHAPTER 19
Marriage and Divorce
1 Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these
words, that He departed from Galilee and went to the region of Judea
beyond the Jordan. 2 And great crowds followed Him, and He healed
them there.
3 The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and
saying to Him, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any
reason?" 4 And He answered and said to them, "Have you not read
that He who made them at the beginning 'MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE,' 5
and He said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother
and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? 6
So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has
joined together, let not man separate." 7 They said to Him, "Why then
did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her
away?" 8 He said to them, "Moses, because of the hardness of your
hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it
has not been this way. 9 And I say to you, that whoever shall put
away his wife, except it be for sexual immorality, and marries another,
commits adultery; and whoever marrying a divorcee commits adultery."
10 His disciples said to Him, "If such is the case
of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry." 11 But He said to
them, "All cannot accept this saying, but it is for those to whom it
has been given: 12 For there are eunuchs who were born this way from
their mother's womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by
men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the
kingdom of heaven's sake. He who is able to accept this, let him accept
it."
Jesus Blesses Little Children
13 Then little children were brought to Him, that He
might put His hands on them and pray; but the disciples rebuked them.
14 But Jesus said, "Allow the little children to come to Me, and do not
forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven." 15 And having put
His hands on them, He departed from there.
The Rich Young Ruler
16 And behold, one came and said to Him, "Good
Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" 17
So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except One,
that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the
commandments." 18 He said to Him, "Which ones?" Jesus said, " 'You
shall not murder,' 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not
steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,'
19' Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' "
20 The young man said to Him, "All these have I kept from my youth.
What do I still lack?" 21 Jesus said to him, "If you desire to be
perfect, go, sell your belongings and give to the poor, and you shall
have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." 22 But when the young
man heard this statement, he went away grieved, for he had many
possessions.
Riches a Snare
23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Assuredly I
say to you, that with difficulty a rich man shall enter the kingdom of
heaven. 24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass
through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of
God." 25 And when His disciples heard, they were greatly astonished,
and said, "Who then is able to be saved?" 26 And looking at them, Jesus
said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are
possible."
27 Then Peter answered and said to Him, "See, we
have left all and followed You. What then shall we have?" 28 So Jesus
said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the Regeneration, when
the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me
will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or
mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive
a hundredfold, and shall inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are
first will be last, and the last first.
MATTHEW
CHAPTER 20
The Laborers in the Vineyard
1 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a certain
landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his
vineyard. 2 And having agreed with the workers for a denarius a day, he
sent them into his vineyard. 3 And going out about the third hour, he
saw others standing idle in the marketplace. 4 And said to them, 'You
also go into the vineyard, and whatever may be right I will give you.'
So they went. 5 Again going out about the sixth and the ninth hour, he
did likewise. 6 And about the eleventh hour, going out he found others
standing idle, and said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all day?'
7 "They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them,
'You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you shall
receive.' 8 "So when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to
his foreman, 'Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with
the last to the first.' 9 "And when those came who were hired about the
eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. 10 But when the first
came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they also
received each a denarius. 11 And when they had received it, they began
grumbling against the landowner, 12 saying, 'These last men have worked
only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden
and the heat of the day.' 13 "But he answered one of them and said,
'Friend, I am not wronging you. Did you not agree with me for a
denarius? 14 Take what is yours and go. But I want to give to this last
man the same as to you. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish
with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?' 16 "Thus
the last shall be first, and the first last. For many are called, but
few are chosen."
A Third Time Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection
17 And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, He took
aside the twelve disciples privately on the road, and He said to them,
18 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will
be betrayed to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him
to death, 19 and they will hand Him over to the Gentiles to mock and to
scourge and to crucify. And the third day He shall rise again."
Greatness is Serving
20 Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Him
with her sons, worshipping Him, and asking something from Him. 21 And
He said to her, "What do you desire?" She said to Him, "Grant that
these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and one on Your
left, in Your kingdom." 22 But Jesus answered and said, "You do not
know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup which I am about to
drink, or to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?"
They said to Him, "We are able." 23 So He said to them, "You will
indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism with which I am
baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine
to give, but it is to those for whom it has been prepared by My
Father."
24 And when the ten heard it, they were indignant
with the two brothers. 25 But Jesus, having summoned them, said, "You
know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great
ones exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you;
but whoever desires to become great among you, shall be your
servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be
your slave; 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to
serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many."
Jesus Heals Two Blind Men
29 Now as they went out from Jericho, a great crowd
followed Him. 30 And behold, two blind men sitting alongside the road,
when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, "Have
pity on us, O Lord, Son of David!" 31 But the crowd warned them
that they should be silent; but they cried out all the more, saying,
"Have pity on us, O Lord, Son of David!" 32 And having stood
still, Jesus called them, and said, "What do you desire that I should
do for you?" 33 They said to Him, "Lord, that our eyes may be opened."
34 And Jesus, having compassion, touched their eyes, and immediately
their eyes received sight, and they followed
Him.
MATTHEW CHAPTER 21
The Triumphal Entry
1 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to
Bethsphage, towards the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,
2 saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately
you will find a donkey tied up, and a colt with her. Loose them and
bring them to Me. 3 And if anyone asks you anything, you shall say,
'The Lord has need of them,' and immediately he will send them." 4 Now
all this took place so that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by
the prophet, saying: 5 "Say to the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your King
is coming to you, humble, and sitting on a donkey, a colt, the foal of
a donkey.' "
6 So the disciples went, and did just as Jesus
ordered them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, and they laid
their clothes on them, and they set Him on them. 8 And a very large
crowd spread their clothes on the road; but others were cutting down
branches from the trees and were spreading them on the road. 9 Then the
crowds who went before, and those following were crying out, saying:
"Hosanna to the Son of David! 'BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF
THE LORD!' Hosanna in the highest!" 10 And when He entered into
Jerusalem, all the city was stirred up, saying, "Who is this?"
11 And the crowds were saying, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee."
Jesus Cleanses the Temple
12 Then Jesus went into the temple of God and He
cast out all those buying and selling in the temple, and He overturned
the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves.
13 And He said to them, "It is written, 'MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A
HOUSE OF PRAYER,' but you have made it a 'DEN OF THIEVES.'" 14 Then the
lame and the blind came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. 15
But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonders which He did,
and the children crying out in the temple and saying, "Hosanna to the
Son of David," they became indignant, 16 and said to Him, "Do You hear
what these children are saying?" And Jesus said to them, "Yes. Have you
never read, 'OUT OF THE MOUTH OF BABES AND NURSING INFANTS YOU HAVE
PERFECTED PRAISE'?" 17 And having left them, He went out of the city to
Bethany, and lodged there.
Jesus Curses the Fig Tree
18 Now in the early morning, returning to the city,
He became hungry. 19 And seeing a fig tree by the road, He went up to
it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, "May no fruit
come from you ever again!" And immediately the fig tree withered away.
20 And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, "How did the
fig tree wither away so soon?" 21 So Jesus answered and said to them,
"Assuredly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will
not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you should say
to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' it will happen.
22 And all things, as many as you may ask in prayer, believing, you
shall receive."
The Authority of Jesus Questioned
23 Now as He came into the temple, the chief priests
and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and
said, "By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You
this authority?" 24 But Jesus answered and said to them, "I also will
ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by
what authority I do these things: 25 The baptism of John—where
was it from? From heaven or from men?" And they were arguing among
themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say to us, 'Why
then did you not believe him?' 26 But if we should say, 'From men,' we
fear the crowd, for all regard John as a prophet." 27 So they answered
Jesus and said, "We do not know." And He said to them, "Neither will I
tell you by what authority I do these things.
The Parable of the Two Sons
28 "But what do you think? A man had two children.
And having come to the first, he said, 'Son, go work today in my
vineyard.' 29 "But he answered and said, 'I will not,' but later he
regretted it and went. 30 And having come to the other, he said
likewise. And he answered and said, 'I am going, sir,' but he did not
go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said to Him,
"The first." Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that tax
collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John
came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him;
but tax collectors and harlots believed him; but you, having seen, did
not repent afterwards, that you might believe him.
The Parable of the Wicked Tenants
33 "Hear another parable: There was a certain
landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a
winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to farmers and went
away on a journey. 34 Now when the harvest time of fruits drew near, he
sent his servants to the farmers, that they might collect his fruits.
35 And the farmers took his servants, and they beat one, and killed
another, and stoned another. 36 Again he sent other servants, more than
the first, and they did to them likewise. 37 And at last he sent to
them his son, saying, 'Surely they will respect my son.' 38 "But when
the farmers saw the son, they said among themselves, 'This is the heir.
Come, let us kill him, and let us gain possession of his inheritance.'
39 "And taking him, they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.
40 Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to
those farmers?" 41 They said to Him, "He will destroy those wicked men
miserably, and lease his vineyard to other farmers, who will render to
him the fruits in their seasons." 42 Jesus said to them, "Have you
never read in the Scriptures: 'THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED
HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE. THIS WAS THE LORD'S DOING, AND IT IS
MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES'? 43 "Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God
shall be taken away from you, and it shall be given to a nation
producing the fruits of it. 44 And he who falls on this stone will be
broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to
powder." 45 Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His
parables, they knew that He was speaking about them. 46 And seeking to
seize Him, they feared the crowds, since they considered Him to be a
prophet.
MATTHEW CHAPTER 22
The Parable of the Wedding Banquet
1 And Jesus answered and spoke to them again in
parables, saying, 2 "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who
arranged a wedding for his son, 3 and sent out his servants to call
those who were invited to the wedding; and they did not want to come.
4 Again, he sent out other servants, saying, 'Say to those who are
invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are
killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding." ' 5 "But
not caring, they went away, one to his own field, another to his
business. 6 And the rest seized his servants, mistreated them, and
killed them. 7 And when that king heard, he was furious. And he sent
out his troops, and he destroyed those murderers, and he burned up
their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding indeed is
ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9 Therefore go into
the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.' 10 "So
those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all
whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled
with guests. 11 But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a
man there not dressed with wedding clothes. 12 So he said to him,
'Friend, how did you come in here not having wedding clothes?' And he
was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the servants, 'Tie him up
hands and feet, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there
shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
14 "For many are called, but few are chosen."
The Question about Paying Taxes
15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they
might trap Him in His speech. 16 And they sent their disciples to Him
with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are true, and
teach the way of God in truth; nor do You show favoritism to anyone. 17
Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to
Caesar, or not?" 18 But Jesus, knowing their wickedness, said, "Why do
you test Me, you hypocrites? 19 Show Me the tax money." So they brought
Him a denarius. 20 And He said to them, "Whose image and inscription is
this?" 21 They said to Him, "Caesar's." And He said to them, "Render
therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things
that are God's." 22 When they had heard these words, they marveled, and
leaving Him, they went away.
The Question about the Resurrection
23 The same day the Sadducees, who say there is no
resurrection, came to Him, and they questioned Him, 24 saying:
"Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his
brother shall marry his wife as next of kin, and shall raise up
offspring for his brother. 25 Now there were with us seven brothers.
The first died, after having married, and having no offspring, he left
his wife to his brother. 26 Likewise the second also, and the third,
down to the seventh. 27 Last of all the woman died also. 28
Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be?
For they all had married her."
29 Jesus answered and said to them, "You err, not knowing the
Scriptures, nor the power of God! 30 For in the resurrection neither do
they marry, nor are they given in marriage, but they are like angels of
God in heaven. 31 But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you
not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, 32 'I AM THE GOD OF
ABRAHAM, AND THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB'? God is not the
God of the dead, but of the living." 33 And when the crowds heard this,
they were astonished at His teaching.
The Greatest Commandment
34 But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced
the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 Then one of them, a lawyer,
asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying,
36 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" 37 Jesus said
to him, “'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first
and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'You shall love
your neighbor as yourself.' 40 On these two commandments hang all the
Law and the Prophets."
The Question about David’s Son
41 And when the Pharisees were gathered together,
Jesus asked them, 42 saying, "What do you think about the Christ? Whose
Son is He?" They said to Him, "David’s."
43 He said to them, "How then does David in the Spirit call Him 'Lord,'
saying: 44'THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, "SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, TILL I MAKE
YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET" '? 45 "If David therefore
calls Him 'Lord,' how is He his Son?" 46 And no one was able to answer
Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him any
longer.
MATTHEW CHAPTER 23
Jesus Denounces Scribes and Pharisees
1 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His
disciples, 2 saying: "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat.
3 Therefore whatever they may say to you to observe, observe and do,
but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. 4
For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's
shoulders; but they do not desire to move them with their finger. 5 But
all their works they do in order to be seen by men. They make their
phylacteries broad and they enlarge the borders of their garments. 6
They love the first couch at banquets, and the best seats in the
synagogues,
7 and greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, 'Rabbi,
Rabbi.' 8 "But you, do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher,
the Christ, and you are all brothers. 9 Do not call anyone on earth
your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 Neither be
called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. 11 But the
greatest of you shall be your servant. 12 And whoever exalts himself
shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.
13 But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites! Because you devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make
long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. 14 Woe
to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you shut up the
kingdom of heaven before men; for you do not enter, nor do you allow
those who are entering to go in. 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites! Because you travel around land and sea to make one
proselyte, and whenever he becomes one, you make him twice as much a
son of hell as you.
16 Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'Whoever
swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of
the temple, is obligated.' 17 "Fools and blind! For which is
greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold? 18 And,
'Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the
gift that is on it, is obligated.' 19 "Fools and blind! For which is
greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift? 20 Therefore
he that swears by the altar, swears by it and by all the things on
it.
21 He that swears by the temple, swears by it and by Him who dwelt in
it. 22 And he that swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by
Him who sits on it.
23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
Because you pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected
the more important things of the law: justice and mercy and faith.
These things you ought to have done, and not have neglected the others.
24 Blind guides, you who strain out a gnat, but swallow a camel! 25 Woe
to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you clean the
outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and
unrighteousness. 26 Blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup
and dish, so that the outside of them may be clean also. 27 Woe to you,
scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs,
which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead
men's bones and of all uncleanness. 28 Thus also you outwardly appear
righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
29 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
Because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of
the righteous, 30 and say, 'If we had lived in the days of our fathers,
we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the
prophets.' 31 "So that you testify against yourselves that you are sons
of those who killed the prophets. 32 And you, fill up then, the measure
of your fathers' guilt. 33 Serpents! Brood of vipers! How shall you
escape from the condemnation of hell?
34 Therefore, behold, I send you prophets, wise men,
and scribes: some of them you will kill and you will crucify, and some
of them you will flog in your synagogues and you will persecute from
city to city, 35 so that on you may come all the righteous blood being
shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of
Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and
the altar. 36 Assuredly I say to you, all these things shall come upon
this generation.
Jesus Laments over Jerusalem
37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kills the
prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often would I have
gathered your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her
wings, but you were not willing! 38 Behold, your house is left to you
desolate. 39 For I say to you, you shall by no means see Me from now
until you say, 'BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!'
"
MATTHEW CHAPTER 24
The Destruction of the Temple Foretold
1 Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple,
and His disciples came to Him to point out to Him the buildings of the
temple. 2 But Jesus said to them, "Do you not see all these things?
Assuredly I say to you, by no means will a stone be left here upon a
stone, which shall not be thrown down."
Signs of the End of the Age
3 And as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the
disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when shall these
things be? And what shall be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of
the age?" 4 And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one
deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the
Christ,' and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors
of wars. See that you are not disturbed; for all these things must come
to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise up against
nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines,
pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 But all these things
are the beginning of birth pains.
9 Then they will hand you over to tribulation and
they will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations, on account of
My name. 10 And then many will fall away, and they will betray one
another, and they will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets
will be raised up, and they will deceive many.12 And because
lawlessness will increase, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he
who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the
kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world for a testimony to all the
nations, and then the end will come.
The Great Tribulation
15 "Therefore when you see the ‘ABOMINATION OF
DESOLATION,’ spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in
the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16
“then let those who are in Judea flee upon the mountains. 17 Let
the one on the housetop not go down to take the things out of his
house. 18 And let the one in the field not turn back to take his
clothes. 19 But woe to those women who are pregnant, and to the women
nursing a baby in those days! 20 But pray that your flight may
not take place in winter, nor on the Sabbath. 21 For then there shall
be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the
world until now, nor by any means shall be. 22 And unless those days
were cut short, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake,
those days will be cut short.
23 Then if someone says to you, 'Look, here is the
Christ!' or 'There!' do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false
prophets will be raised up, and they will show great signs and wonders
so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you
in advance. 26 Therefore if they should say to you, 'Look, He is in the
desert!' do not go out; or 'Look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not
believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes out from the east and flashes
to the west, so also will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 For
wherever the carcass may be, there the eagles will be gathered
together.
The Coming of the Son of Man
29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days,
the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give its light; and
the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall
be shaken. 30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in
heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth shall mourn, and they
shall see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and
great glory. 31 And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a
trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds,
from one end of heaven to the other.
The Parable of the Fig Tree
32 "Now learn this parable from the fig tree:
Whenever its branch already becomes tender and puts forth leaves, you
know that summer is near. 33 So you also, whenever you see all these
things, know that it is near—at the doors! 34 Assuredly I say to
you, this generation shall by no means pass away till all these things
are fulfilled. 35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall
by no means pass away.
The Necessity for Watchfulness
36 "But concerning that day and hour no one knows,
not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But just as the
days of Noah were, so also shall be the coming of the Son of Man. 38
For just as they were in the days before the flood, eating and
drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah
entered into the ark,
39 and they didn’t know a thing until the flood came and took
them all away, so also shall be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then
two will be in the field: one will be taken, and one will be left. 41
Two will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken, and one will be
left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know in what hour your Lord is
coming.
43 But know this, that if the master of the house
had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have kept watch,
and he would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 44 For this
reason you also must be ready, for at an hour that you think not, the
Son of Man comes.
The Faithful Servant and the Evil Servant
45 "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom
his master appointed over his household, to give them food in due
season? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will
find so doing. 47 Assuredly I say to you that he will make him ruler
over all his possessions. 48 But if that evil servant should say in his
heart, 'My master is delaying to come,' 49 and should begin to beat his
fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, 50 the master
of that servant will come on a day which he does not expect, and in an
hour which he does not know, 51 and he will cut him in two, and will
appoint his share with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and
gnashing of teeth.
MATTHEW CHAPTER 25
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
1 "Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto
ten virgins, who having taken their lamps, went out to meet the
bridegroom. 2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3
Those who were foolish, having taken their lamps, did not take oil with
them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels along with their lamps.
5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and
slept.
6 And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the
bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!' 7 Then all those virgins
arose, and they trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the
wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' 9 But
the wise answered, saying, 'No, lest there should not be enough for you
and us; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.' 10
But as they went away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were
ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.
11 Afterward the remaining virgins came also,
saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!' 12 But he answered and said,
'Assuredly I say to you, I do not know you.'
13 Watch therefore, for you do not know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
The Parable of the Talents
14 "For it is as if a man leaving on a journey, who
called his own servants and handed over his possessions to them. 15 And
to the one he gave five talents, and to another two, and to another
one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a
journey. 16 Then the one receiving the five talents went and traded
with them, and made five other talents. 17 And likewise the one
receiving the two gained two more also. 18 But the one receiving one
went away and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money. 19 Then
after much time, the lord of those servants returned and settled
accounts with them. 20 And the one who had received five talents came
and brought five other talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five
talents; look, I gained five more talents besides them.' 21 His lord
said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful
over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into
the joy of your lord.' 22 And also the one receiving the two talents
came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have
gained two more talents besides them.' 23 His lord said to him, 'Well
done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few
things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of
your lord.' 24 Then the one having received the one talent came and
said, 'Lord, I knew you, that you are a hard man, reaping where you did
not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter. 25 And being afraid,
I went off and hid your talent in the ground. Look, you have what is
yours.' 26 But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and
slothful servant, you knew that I reap where I did not sow, and gather
where I did not scatter.
27 Therefore you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and
at my coming I would have received what is mine with interest. 28
Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten
talents. 29 For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he shall
have abundance; but to him who does not have, even what he has shall be
taken away from him. 30 And cast the useless servant into outer
darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
The Judgment of the Nations
31 "And when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and
all the holy angels with Him, then will He sit upon His glorious
throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will
separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from
the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the
goats on His left.
34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you
blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the
foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I
was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;
36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was
in prison and you came to Me.' 37 Then the righteous will answer Him,
saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and
give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or
naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and
come to You?' 40 And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly I
say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My
brothers, you did it to Me.' 41 Then He will also say to those on the
left, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for
the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food;
I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did
not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and
you did not visit Me.' 44 Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord,
when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or
in prison, and we did not minister to You?' 45 Then He will answer
them, saying, 'Assuredly I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to
one of the least of these, neither did you do it to Me.'
46 And these shall go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
MATTHEW CHAPTER 26
The Plot to Kill Jesus
1 Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all
these words, that He said to His disciples, 2 “You know that
after two days the Passover takes place, and the Son of Man will be
handed over to be crucified." 3 Then the chief priests, the scribes,
and the elders of the people were assembled into the court of the high
priest, who was called Caiaphas, 4 and plotted to take Jesus by guile
and kill Him. 5 But they said, "Not during the feast, lest a
disturbance take place among the people."
The Anointing at Bethany
6 And when Jesus was in Bethany in the house of
Simon the leper, 7 a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of
very expensive perfume, and she began to pour it on His head as He
reclined to eat. 8 But when His disciples saw it, they became
indignant, saying, "Why this waste? 9 For this perfume could have been
sold for much, and given to the poor." 10 But when Jesus became aware
of it, He said to them, "Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done
a beautiful work for Me. 11 For you have the poor with you always, but
Me you do not have always. 12 For this woman, having put this perfume
on My body, has done this for My burial. 13 Assuredly I say to you,
wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what this woman
has done will be spoken of as a memorial to her."
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot,
went to the chief priests 15 and said, "What are you willing to
give me if I deliver Him to you?" And they weighed out for him thirty
silver coins. 16 And from then on he sought an opportunity to betray
Him.
Jesus Celebrates the Passover
17 Now on the first day of the Feast of the
Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, "Where do
You desire that we shall prepare for You to eat the Passover?" 18 And
He said, "Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, 'The
Teacher says, "My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house
with My disciples." ' " 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed
them; and they prepared the Passover.
20 And when it was evening, He was reclining to eat
with the twelve. 21 Now while they were eating, He said, "Assuredly I
say to you, that one of you will betray Me." 22 And becoming
exceedingly sorrowful, each of them began to say to Him, "Surely not I,
Lord?" 23 He answered and said, "He who dipped his hand with Me in the
bowl will betray Me. 24 Indeed, the Son of Man goes just as it is
written about Him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is
betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been
born." 25 Then Judas, the one betraying Him, answered and said, "Surely
not I am the one, Rabbi?" He said to him, "You have said it."
The Institution of the Lord’s Supper
26 And as they were eating, Jesus took the bread,
and giving thanks, He broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said,
"Take, eat; this is My body." 27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks,
and gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is
My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many, for the
forgiveness of sins. 29 But I say to you, that I will by no means drink
of this fruit of the vine from now on, until that day when I drink it
new with you in My Father's kingdom." 30 And having sung hymns, they
went out to the Mount of Olives.
Peter’s Denial Foretold
31 Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made
to stumble because of Me on this night, for it is written: 'I WILL
STRIKE THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP OF THE FLOCK WILL BE SCATTERED.' 32
But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee." 33
Peter answered and said to Him, "Even if all may fall away because of
You, yet I will never fall away." 34 Jesus said to him, "Assuredly I
say to you that on this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny
Me three times." 35 Peter said to Him, "Even if I have to die with You,
by no means will I deny You!" And likewise said all the
disciples.
Jesus Prays in Gethsemane
36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called
Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, "Sit here while I go off and
pray over there." 37 And taking along Peter and the two sons of
Zebedee, He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. 38 Then Jesus
said to them, "My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death. Stay
here and keep watch with Me." 39 He went a little farther and fell on
His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this
cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." 40
Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to
Peter, "What? Were you not strong enough to watch with Me one hour? 41
Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. Indeed the spirit is
willing, but the flesh is weak."
42 Again, a second time, He went away and prayed,
saying, "O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I
drink it, let Your will be done." 43 And He came and found them
sleeping again, for their eyes were heavy. 44 And leaving them, He went
away again, and prayed a third time, saying the same words.
45 Then He came to His disciples and said to them,
"Sleep now, and rest. Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man
is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise up, let us be
going. See, he who betrays Me is at hand."
The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
47 And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas,
one of the twelve came, and with him a great crowd with swords and
clubs, sent from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Now the
one betraying Him had given them a sign, saying, "Whomever I shall
kiss, He is the One; seize Him." 49 And immediately he went up to Jesus
and said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed Him. 50 But Jesus said to him,
"Friend, why have you come?" Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and
seized Him.
51 And behold, one of those with Jesus stretched out
his hand and drew his sword, and striking the servant of the high
priest, he cut off his ear. 52 But Jesus said to him, "Put your sword
back into its place, for all those who take the sword shall perish by
the sword. 53 Or do you think that I cannot now call upon My Father,
and He will furnish Me with more than twelve legions of angels? 54 How
then would the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen
thus?"
55 In that hour Jesus said to the crowds, "Have you
come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to arrest Me? I sat
daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me. 56
But all this has happened so that the Scriptures of the prophets may be
fulfilled." Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.
Jesus Before the High Priest
57 And those having seized Jesus led Him away to
Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were
gathered together. 58 But Peter was following Him from a distance, up
to the courtyard of the high priest. And entering inside, he sat down
with the attendants to see the end. 59 Now the chief priests, the
elders, and all the Sanhedrin were seeking false witnesses against
Jesus, so that they might put Him to death, 60 and they did not find
any. And though many false witnesses came forward, they did not find
any. But at last two false witnesses came forward 61 and said,
"This Man said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God, and after
three days to rebuild it.' " 62 And standing up the high priest said to
Him, "Do You answer nothing? What is it these men are testifying
against You?" 63 But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered
and said to Him, "I adjure You by the living God: Tell us if You are
the Christ, the Son of God!"
64 Jesus said to him, "You said it. Nevertheless, I say to you, from
now on, you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the
Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven." 65 Then the high priest
tore his clothes, saying, "He has blasphemed! What further need do we
have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy! 66 What do
you think?" They answered and said, "He is deserving of death."
67 Then they spat in His face, and beat Him with their fists; and they slapped Him,
68 saying, "Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is he that struck You?"
Peter’s Denial of Jesus
69 Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a
servant girl came to him, saying, "You also were with Jesus of
Galilee." 70 But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know
what you are saying." 71 And when he had gone out to the gateway,
another girl saw him and said to them there, "This man was with Jesus
the Nazarene." 72 But again he denied with an oath, "I do not know the
Man!" 73 And after a little while, those standing by came up and said
to Peter, "Surely you also are one of them, for your accent gives you
away." 74 Then he began to curse and swear, saying, "I do not know the
Man!" And immediately a rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the
word of Jesus which He said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will
deny Me three times." And going out, he wept
bitterly.
MATTHEW CHAPTER 27
Jesus Brought Before Pilate
1 When morning came, all the chief priests and
elders of the people plotted against Jesus, so as to put Him to death.
2 And having bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius
Pilate the governor.
Judas Hangs Himself
3 Then Judas, the one betraying Him, seeing that He
was condemned, feeling regret, returned the thirty silver coins to the
chief priests and elders, 4 saying, "I have sinned by betraying
innocent blood." And they said, "What is that to us? You see to it!" 5
And throwing the silver coins in the sanctuary, he departed; and going
away, he hanged himself. 6 But the chief priests, taking the silver
coins said, "It is not lawful to put them into the temple treasury,
since they are the price of blood." 7 And taking counsel, they
bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. 8 Therefore
that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9 Then was
fulfilled the thing spoken through Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "AND
THEY TOOK THE THIRTY COINS, THE VALUE OF HIM WHO WAS PRICED,”
whom they of the sons of Israel priced, 10 "AND THEY GAVE THEM FOR THE
POTTER'S FIELD, AS THE LORD DIRECTED ME."
Pilate Questions Jesus
11 Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the
governor asked Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?" So Jesus
said to him, "It is as you say." 12 And while He was being accused by
the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing. 13 Then Pilate said
to Him, "Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?" 14
And He answered him not one word, so that the governor was greatly
amazed.
Barabbas or Jesus?
15 Now at the feast, the governor was accustomed to
release to the crowd one prisoner whom they wished. 16 And they had
then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.
17 Therefore when they had assembled, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you
wish that I should release to you, Barabbas, or Jesus who is called
Christ?" 18 For he knew that they had handed Him over because of
envy.
19 Now as he was sitting on the judgment seat, his
wife sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I
have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him." 20 But the
chief priests and elders persuaded the crowds that they should ask for
Barabbas, but they should destroy Jesus. 21 The governor answered and
said to them, "Which of the two do you wish me to release to you?" They
said, "Barabbas!" 22 Pilate said to them, "What then shall I do with
Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said to him, "Let Him be
crucified!" 23 Then the governor said, "Why, what evil did He do?" But
they cried out all the more, saying, "Let Him be crucified!"
24 And Pilate, seeing that nothing was being gained,
but rather a riot was starting, taking water, he washed his hands clean
in front of the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this just
Man. You see to it." 25 And all the people answered and said, "His
blood be on us and on our children." 26 Then he released Barabbas to
them; and having scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.
The Soldiers Mock Jesus
27 Then the soldiers of the governor, having taken
Jesus to the Praetorium, gathered the whole garrison around Him. 28 And
having stripped Him, they put a scarlet robe on Him. 29 When they had
twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His
right hand. And kneeling before Him, they mocked Him, saying, "Hail,
King of the Jews!" 30 And spitting on Him, they took the reed and were
striking Him on His head.
31 And when they had mocked Him, they stripped Him of the robe, and
dressed Him in His own clothes, and led Him away in order to crucify
Him.
The Crucifixion of Jesus
32 And going out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon
by name. Him they pressed into service that he might carry His cross.
33 And coming to a place called Golgotha, that is to say, Place of a
Skull, 34 they gave Him sour wine mingled with gall to drink. But
having tasted it, He would not drink. 35 And having crucified Him, they
divided His clothes among themselves, casting lots. 36 And sitting
down, they kept watch over Him there. 37 And they put up over His head
the crime having been written against Him: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF
THE JEWS. 38 Then they crucified two thieves with Him, one on His
right, and another on His left.
39 And those passing by were blaspheming Him,
shaking their heads 40 and saying, "You who destroy the temple
and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God,
come down from the cross." 41 Likewise the chief priests also, mocking
Him with the scribes and elders, and Pharisees, said, 42 He saved
others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him
now come down from the cross, and we will believe on Him. 43 HE TRUSTED
IN GOD; LET HIM DELIVER HIM now, if He will have Him; for He said, 'I
am the Son of God.' " 44 Even the thieves who were crucified with Him
were reviling Him with the same insult.
The Death of Jesus
45 Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour, darkness came upon all the land.
46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying,
"Eli, Eli, lima sabachthani?" that is, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU
FORSAKEN ME?" 47 Some of those standing by, when they heard this, said,
"This Man is calling Elijah!" 48 Immediately one of them ran and took a
sponge, and filled it with sour wine and put it around a reed, and
offered it to Him to drink. 49 But the rest said, "Leave Him alone; let
us see if Elijah is coming to save Him."
50 But Jesus, again crying out with a loud voice,
released His spirit. 51 And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in
two from top to bottom; and the earth was shaken, and the rocks were
split, 52 and the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints who
had passed away were raised; 53 and coming forth out of the tombs after
His resurrection, they entered into the holy city and appeared to many.
54 So when the centurion and those with him guarding Jesus, when they
saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they were greatly
afraid, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God!"
55 And there were many women there observing from a
distance, who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, 56 among
whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the
mother of the sons of Zebedee.
The Burial of Jesus
57 Now when evening had come, there came a rich man
from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of
Jesus. 58 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then
Pilate commanded the body to be given to him. 59 And taking the body,
Joseph wrapped it up in a clean linen cloth, 60 and placed it in his
new tomb which he had cut in the rock; and having rolled a large stone
against the door of the tomb, he departed. 61 And Mary Magdalene was
there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the grave.
The Guard at the Tomb
62 On the next day, which is after the Preparation
Day, the chief priests and Pharisees were gathered together to Pilate,
63 saying, "Sir, we remember how that deceiver said while He was still
alive, 'After three days I will rise.' 64 "Therefore command that the
grave be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by
night and steal Him, and say to the people, 'He was raised from the
dead.' So the last deception will be worse than the first." 65 Pilate
said to them, "You have a guard; go make it as secure as you know how."
66 So they went and secured the grave, sealing the stone, with the
guard.
MATTHEW CHAPTER 28
The Resurrection of Jesus
1 But after the Sabbath, at the dawning toward the
first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see
the tomb. 2 And behold, a great earthquake occurred; for an angel of
the Lord, having come down out of heaven, came and rolled back the
stone from the door, and sat on it. 3 And his appearance was like
lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 And the guards were
shaken for fear of him, and became like dead men. 5 But the angel
answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you
seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here! For He is risen, just
as He said. Come; see the place where the Lord was lying. 7 And go
quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and
behold, He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him.
Behold, I have told you." 8 And going out quickly from the tomb with
fear and great joy, they ran to report to His disciples.
9 And as they were going to report to His disciples,
that behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Rejoice!" So they came and held
His feet and worshiped Him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be
afraid. Go, report to My brothers that they should go to Galilee, and
there they will see Me."
The Report of the Guard
11 Now while they were going, behold, some of the
guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests everything
that had happened. 12 When they had assembled with the elders and
taking counsel, they gave sufficient silver coins to the soldiers, 13
saying, "Tell them, 'His disciples came at night and stole Him away
while we were sleeping.' 14 "And if this reaches the governor's ears,
we will influence him and make you secure." 15 So they took the silver
and did as they were instructed. And this saying has been widely spread
among the Jews until this day.
The Great Commission
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the
mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 17 When they saw Him, they
worshiped Him; but some doubted.
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority in heaven
and on earth has been given to Me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples
of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything that I
have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of
the age." Amen.