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The New

Testament

Matthew

The Genealogy of Jesus the Messiah This is the gene geneal alo og y a of Jesus the Messiah si ah b the son of Da vid, Da vid, the son of AbraA braham:

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 Abraham was the father  Abraham father of Isaac, Isaac the fa father ther of Jacob, Jacob, Jacob Ja cob the father fa ther of Judah Judah and his brothers, broth ers, 3 Judah Ju dah the father father of Perez Perez and Zerah, Zerah,  whose mother moth er was Tamar, Tamar, Perez Pe rez the father father of Hezron, Hezron, Hezron the father Hezron father of Ram, 4  Ram the father fa ther of Ammin Amminaadab, Ammin Am minaadab the father father of Nahshon, Nah shon, Nahshon the father Nahshon father of Salmon, Sal mon, 5  Salmon  Sal mon the father father of Boaz, whose mother moth er was Rahab, Ra hab, Boaz the fa father ther of Obed, whose mother moth er was Ruth, Obed the fa father ther of Jesse, Jesse, 6  and Jesse Jesse the father father of King Da vid. Da vid.

   

Jeco Jec oni niah ah was the father father of Sheal Shealti tiel, el, Shealti Sheal tiel el the father father of Zerub Ze rubba babel, bel, 13 Zerub Ze rubba babel bel the father father of Abihud, Abihud, Abihud the father Abihud father of Elia Eli akim, Elia kim the father Elia father of Azor, A zor, 14  Azor the father fa ther of Zadok, Zadok, Zadok Za dok the father father of Akim, Akim Ak im the fa father ther of Elihud, Eli hud, 15  Elihud  Eli hud the father father of Ele Elea zar, Eleeazar the father El father of Matthan, Mat than, Matthan the father Matthan father of Jacob, Jacob, 16  and Jacob Jacob the father fa ther of Joseph, Joseph, the husband hus band of Mary, and Mary was the mother mother of Jesus who is called the Messi Messiah. ah.

   

 

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Thus there were fourteen four teen gener generaations in all from Abraham Abra ham to Da vid, Da vid, four fou r teen from Da vid Da  vid to the ex exile ile to Bab ylon, Bab ylon, and four fourteen teen from the exile ex ile to the Messi Mes siah. ah.

Joseph Accepts Accepts Jesus as a s His Son 18

Da vid Da  vid was the father father of Solo Solomon, whose mother moth er had been Uriah’s Uriah’s wife, 7  Solo  Sol omon the father father of Reho Rehobo boam, am, Reho Re hobo boam am the father father of Abi jah,  jah, Abi jah  jah the t he father father of Asa, 8  Asa the father fa ther of Jehosh Jehoshaaphat, Jehosh Je hoshaaphat the father father of Jeho Jehoram, ram, Jeho Je horam ram the father father of Uzzi Uz ziah, ah, 9 Uzzi Uz ziah ah the father father of Jotham, Jotham, Jotham Jo tham the father father of Ahaz, Ahazz the fa Aha father ther of Heze Hezeki kiah, ah, 10  Hezeeki  Hez kiah ah the father father of Manas Ma nasseh, seh, Manas Ma nasseh seh the father father of Amon, Amon the fa father ther of Josi Josiah, ah, 11 and Jo Josi siah ah the father father of Jeco Jec oni niaa h c  and his brothers brothers at the time of the exile ex ile to Bab ylon. Bab ylon.

 

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a

After Af ter the exile exile to Bab ylon: Bab ylon:

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah si ah came about d : His mother moth er Mary was pledged to be married married to Joseph, Jo seph, but before before they came togeth together, er, she was found to be pregnant preg nant through the Holy Spirit. Spir it. 19 Be Because cause Joseph Jo seph her husband husband was faithful faith ful to the law, e  and yet  did not want to expose ex pose her to public disgrace, dis grace, he had in mind to di vorc di vorcee her quiet qui etly. ly. 20 But after after he had consid considered ered this, an angel of the Lord appeared ap peared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph “Jo seph son of Da v Da vid, id, do not be afraid to take Mar y home home as your wife, because what is conceived conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. Spir it. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, f  because be cause he will save his people peo ple from their sins.” 22  All  A ll th is took pla place ce to fu l fill what the

b  (Greek) both mean 1 Or is an account of the origin 1 Or Jesus Christ Chr ist.. Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ  (Greek) c  d  ver se 18.  Anointed  Anointe d One ; also in verse 11 That is, Jehoiachin; also in verse 12 18  Or The origin of Jesus the e  Messiah was like this 19  Or was a righteous man and   f  21  Jesu  Jesuss is the Greek form of Joshua  Joshua,, which means the LORD  saves.  saves.

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MATTHEW 1:23

Lord had said through the prophet: proph et: 23 “The  virrgin will conceive  vi conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Imman Im manu uel” a (which means “God with us”) u s”).. 24  When  W hen Jo Joseph seph woke up, he did what the angel an gel of the Lord had command commanded ed him and 25 took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consum con summate mate their marriage marriage until until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

The Magi Visit the Messiah

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 Af ter Jesus was born in Bethle Beth lehem hem in Judea, Ju dea, during during the time of King Herod, Her od, b Magi  from the east came ca me to Jeru Jerusa salem lem 2 and asked, “Where “W here is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We We saw his star when w hen it rose and have come to worship wor ship him.” 3  When Ki King ng Herod Her od heard this he was disturbed, and all Jeru Jerusa salem lem with him. 4 W  When hen he had called togeth together er all the people’s peo ple’s chief priests and teachers teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messi Mes siah ah was to be born. 5 “In Bethle Beth lehem hem in Judea,” Judea,” they replied, replied, “for this is  what the t he prophet prophet has written: writ ten: 6

 “ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in i n the land la nd of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you wil willl come a ruler who wi will ll shepherd my people Israel.’ c ”

b

1  Traditionally wise men

 W hen th  When they ey had gone gone,, an an angel gel of the Lord appeared appeared to Joseph Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother moth er and escape escape to Egypt. Stay there until un til I tell  you, for Herod Herod is going going to search for the child to kill him.” 14 So he got up, took the child and his mother moth er during during the night and left for Egypt, 15  where he stay s tayed ed un until til the death of Herod. Herod.  And so was w as fu full filled what the Lord had said through the prophet: proph et: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”d  16  When  W hen Her Herod od real realized ized that he had been out w out  wit itted ted by the Magi, he was furi fu rious, ous, and he gave orders orders to kill all the boys in BethleBeth lehem and its vicin viciniity who were two years old and under, under, in accor accordance dance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then what was said through the prophet proph et Jere Jeremi miah ah was fulfilled: 18

 “A  “ A voice is heard in i n Ramah, Rama h, weeping and great mourni mourning, ng, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more. more.””e 

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Then Herod Herod called the Magi secret se cretly ly and found out from them the exact ex act time the star had appeared. appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethle Bethlehem hem and said, “Go and search careful care fully ly for the child. As soon as you find him, report re port to me, so that I too may go and worship wor ship him.” 9  After  Af ter they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until un til it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 W  When hen 11 they saw the star, they were over joyed. over joyed. On coming com ing to the house, they saw the child with wit h his mother mother Mary, and they bowed down and a nd  worshiped  wor shiped him. Then they opened their treasures trea sures and present presented ed him with gifts of gold, frankin frank incense cense and myrrh. 12 A  And nd having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, Herod, they returned re turned to their country coun try by anoth an other er route. 23 Isaia h 7:1 7:144

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The Return to Nazareth

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a

The Escape to Egypt

c 

 Af ter Herod Herod died, an angel angel of the Lord appeared ap peared in a dream to Joseph Jo seph in Egypt 20 and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother moth er and go to the land of Isra Is rael, el, for those  who were tr y ing to take the child’s life are dead.” 21 So he got up, took the child and his mother moth er and went to the land of Isra Is rael. el. 22 But  when  whe n he hea heard rd t hat A rche chela laus us was reigning in Judea Judea in place of his father fa ther Herod, Herod, he  was af afraid raid to go there there.. Hav Ha v ing been warned in a dream, he withdrew with drew to the district dis trict of 23 Galii lee, and he went and lived in a town Gal called Naza Naza reth. So was fulfilled ful filled what was said through the prophets, proph ets, that he would be called a Naza Nazarene.

John the Baptist Prepares the Way Way

3

In those days John the Baptist Baptist came, preaching preach ing in the wilder wil derness ness of Judea Judea 2 and saying, saying, “Repent, “Repent, for the kingdom king dom of heaven heav en has come near.” 3 This is he who was spoken spo ken of through the t he proph prophet Isaiah: Isaiah:

6  Micah 5:2,4

d 

15  Hosea 11:1

e 

18  Jer. 31:15

MATTHEW 4:17

“A voice of one cal calling ling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straig straight ht paths for him.’ ” a 4

John’s clothes were made of camel’s cam el’s hair, and he had a leather leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts lo custs and wild honey. hon ey. 5 People went out to him from Jeru Je rusa salem lem and all Judea Ju dea and the whole region re gion of the Jordan. Jordan. 6 Confess Con fessing ing their sins, they were baptized bap tized by him in the t he Jordan Jordan River. River. 7 But when he saw many of the Phari Phar isees and Saddu Sadducees cees coming coming to where he was baptizing, tiz ing, he said sa id to them: “You “You brood of vipers! vipers!  Who  W ho wa warn rned ed you to f lee fr from om th thee com coming ing  wrath?  wr ath? 8 Pro Produce duce fruit in keeping keeping with repenrepentance. 9 And do not not think thi nk you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham Abraham as our father.’ father.’ I tel telll  you that out of these stones God Go d can raise ra ise up 10 children chil dren for Abraham. Abraham. The ax is already already at the root of the trees, and every ev ery tree that does not produce produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 “I baptize baptize you with b wa water ter for repenre pentance. But after after me comes one who is more power pow erfu full than I, whose san sandal dalss I am not worworthy to carry. car ry. He will baptize baptize you with b  the Holy Spirit Spirit and fire. 12 His winnow winnowing ing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing thresh ing floor, gather gathering ing his wheat into the barn and burning burn ing up the chaff with unquench un quenchable able fire.”

The Baptism of Jesus 13

Then Jesus came from Gali Gali lee to the t he JorJordan to be baptized baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter deter him, saying, saying, “I need to be baptized baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 Jesus replied, replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill ful fill all righteousrigh teousness.” Then ness.”  Then John consent con sented. ed. 16  As soon as Jesus was bap baptized, tized, he went up out of the water. wa ter. At that moment moment heaven heaven  was opened, and he saw the Spirit Spir it of God descending scend ing like a dove and alighting alight ing on him. 17  And a voice v oice from f rom heaven heav en said, “This is my Son, whom I love; love; with him h im I am well wel l pleased.” pleased.”

Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness

4 a

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit Spir it into the  willder  wi derness ness to be tempted tempted c  by the devil. devil.

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 Af ter fasting  After fasting forty forty days and forty forty nights, n ights, he 3  was hun hungry. gry. The tempter tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, answered, “It is written: writ ten: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ d ” 5 Then the devil devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest high est point of the temple. temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself your self down. For it is written: writ ten: “ ‘He wi will ll command his angels concerning you, and they wi will ll lif liftt you up in their hands, so that you wi will ll not stri strike ke your foot e  against again st a stone.’ stone.’ ” 7

Jesus answered answered him, “It is also written: writ ten: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ f ” 8  Again,  Aga in, the dev devil il took him to a very high mountain moun tain and showed him all the k ing ingdoms doms 9 of the world and their splendor. splen dor. “All this I  will  wi ll give g ive you,” he said, “if you wil w illl bow down and worship worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from f rom me, Satan! Satan! For it is written: writ ten: ‘Worship ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ g ” 11 Then the devil devil left him, and angels an gels came and attend attended ed him.

Jesus Begins to Preach 12

 W hen Jesu  When Jesuss hea heard rd th that at John had bee been n put in prison, pris on, he withdrew with drew to Gali Gal i lee. 13 Leaving Leav ing Naza Naza reth, he went and lived in Caperna per naum, um, which was by the lake in the area of Zebu Zebu lun and Naphta Naphtali li — 14 to fulfill ful fill what  was said sa id through throu gh the t he prophet prophet Isaiah: Isaiah: 15

 “Land  “ Land of Zebulun Zebulu n and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee Gali lee of the Gentiles — 16 the people living in dark ness have seen a great light; on those livi living ng in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”h 17

From that time on Jesus began be gan to preach, “Re “Repent, pent, for the kingdom king dom of heaven heaven has come near.”

b c  3 Isaiah 40:3 11 Or in 1 The Greek for tempted  can  can also mean tested . e   f   g  h 6  Psa 7  Deut. 6:16 10  Deut. 6:13 16  Isaia h 9:1,2 Psalm lm 91:1 91:11,12 1,12

d 

4 Deut. 8:3

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MATTHEW MATTH EW 4:18

Jesus Calls His First Disciples 18

 As Jesu Jesuss was wa walk lking ing beside beside the Sea of Galii lee, he saw two brothers, Gal broth ers, Simon Si mon called Peter Pe ter and his brother broth er Andrew. Andrew. They were casting cast ing a net into the lake, for they were f ishermen. er men. 19 “Come, follow follow me,” Jesus me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” peo ple.” 20 At once they left their nets and a nd followed followed him. 21 Going Go ing on from there, he saw two other brothers, brothers, James son of Zebe Zeb edee and his brother broth er John. They were in a boat with their father fa ther Zebe Zebedee, prepar preparing ing their nets. Jesus 22 called them, and imme immedi diate ately ly they left the boat and their father father and followed followed him.

9

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the k ingdom of heaven. 11

“Blessed are you when people peo ple insult insult  you, per perse secute cute you and falsely falsely say all kinds of evil against you because be cause of me. 12 Re Re joice  joice and be glad, because because great is your re ward re ward in heaven, heav en, for in the same way they t hey perse persecut cuted ed the prophets prophets who were before before you.

Salt and Light

Jesus Heals the Sick

13

Jesus went throughout throughout Gali Gali lee, teaching teaching in their syna syn agogues, proclaim proclaiming ing the good news of the kingdom, kingdom, and healing healing every every disease and sickness sickness among the people. people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, Syr ia, and people people brought to him all who were ill with var ious diseas dis eases, es, those suffer suffering ing se vere se vere pain, the t he demon-possessed, mon-pos sessed, those having hav ing seizures, seizures, and the para para lyzed; and he healed them. 25 Large crowds from Gali Gal i lee, the Decap Decapo olis, a Je  Jeru rusasalem, Judea Judea and the region region across the Jordan Jor dan followed fol lowed him.

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses los es its salti salt i ness, how can it be made saltyy again? It is no lon salt longer good for for anything, any thing, except ex cept to be thrown out and trampled tram pled underfoot. der foot. 14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot can not be hidden. hidden. 15 Nei Neither ther do people peo ple light a lamp and put it under under a bowl. Instead In stead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to every everyone one in the house. 16 In the same  way, let you yourr lig light ht shi shine ne be before fore others, others, that they may see your good deeds and glori glo riff y  your Father Father in heaven. heaven.

Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount

The Fulfillment of the Law

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5

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he  wentt up on a mou  wen moun ntain tainside side and sat down. His disci dis ciples ples came to him, 2 and he began be gan to teach them.

The Beatitudes He said: 3

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the k ingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger hunger and thirst thi rst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will wil l be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. a

25  That is, the Ten Ten Cities

b

21 Exodus 20:13

17

“Do not not think thi nk that t hat I have come to abol abol ish the Law or the Prophets; Proph ets; I have not come to abolish abol ish them but to fulfill ful fill them t hem.. 18 For truly truly I tell you, until until heaven heaven and earth disap dis appear, pear, not the smallest smallest letter, letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disap disappear pear from the Law until until every ev erything thing is accom ac complished. plished. 19 Therefore There fore anyone anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands com mands and teaches teaches others others accord ac cording ingly ly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, heav en, but whoev whoever er practic practices es and teaches teach es these commands commands will be called c alled great in the kingdom kingdom of heaven. heaven. 20 For I tell you that t hat unless un less your righteous righteousness ness surpass surpasses es that of the Phari Phar i sees and the teachers teachers of the law,  you wi will ll cer certain tainly ly not enter enter the kingdom kingdom of heaven. heav en.

Murder 21

“You have heard that it was said to the people peo ple long ago, ‘You shall not murder, mur der, b and

grace   my 

is sufficient for you. 2 CORINTHIANS 12:9

 r   e   d  e   m  p   t   i    o   n In him  we h av ave e

EPHESIANS 1:7

 r   e    q   u  e   s   t   s  Do not be anxious about anything …  present  your

to god PHILIPPIANS 4:6

The 

peace of God  will guard your  hearts and your  minds  in Ch Chriristst Je Jesu sus.s. ...

 PH  P HILIPPIANS 4:7

MATTHEW 6:3

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made.’ 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either either by heaven, heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his foot stool; or by Jeru Je rusa salem, lem, for it is the city of the Great King. Ki ng. 36  And  A nd do not swe swear ar by you yourr head head,, for you cannot can not make even one hair white or black. 37  All  A ll you need to say is sim simply ply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything any thing be yond be yond t hi hiss come comess fr from om t he ev evil il  f  one.

anyone who murders anyone murders will be sub ject sub ject to judg22 ment.’ But I tell you that anyone anyone who is angryy with a brother gr brother or sister sister a , ,bb will be sub ject sub ject to judgment. judgment. Again, anyone anyone who says to a brother broth er or sister, sis ter, ‘Raca,’c  is answer answerable able to the court. And anyone anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger danger of the fire of hell. 23 “Therefore, “There fore, if you are offer of fering ing your gift at the altar altar and there remem remember ber that your brother broth er or sister sister has something something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. al tar. First go and be recon rec onciled ciled to them; then come and offer offer your gift. 25 “Settle “Set tle matters matters quickly quickly with your ad verad versary who is taking tak ing you to court. Do it while  you are a re stil st illl togeth to gether er on the way, or your ad versar  ver saryy may hand you over to the judge, judge, and the judge may hand you over to the offi of ficer, cer, Truly ly and you may be thrown into prison. pris on. 26 Tru I tell you, you will not get out until un til you have paid the last penny. penny.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and a nd tooth for tooth.’ g  39 But I tell you, do not resist resist an evil person. person. If anyone anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the oth er cheek also. 40 And if i f anyone any one wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as  well.. 41 If anyone  well anyone forces forces you to go one mile, go  with  wit h them t hem t wo mile m iles. s. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn tur n away from the one  who wants want s to borrow borrow from you.

Adultery

Love for Enemies

27

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit com mit adultery.’ adultery.’ d  28 But I tell you that anyone anyone who looks at a woman wom an lustfullustfully has already already commit committed ted adultery adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes caus es you to stumble, stum ble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better bet ter for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if you yourr right r ight ha hand nd cau causses you to stumble, stum ble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose lose one part of your body than tha n for your whole body to go into hell.

Divorce

Eye for Eye 38

43

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love  your neig neigh hbor h and hate your ene enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your ene en emies and pray for those who perse per secute cute you, 45 that you may be children chil dren of your Father Father in heaven. heaven. He causes causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous righ teous and the unrighunrigh46 teous. If you love those t hose who love you, what re ward re  ward wil w illl you get? Are not even the tax ta x col47 lectors lec tors doing doing that?  An  And d if you gr greet eet onl onlyy  yourr own peo  you people, ple, what are you doing doing more than others? oth ers? Do not even pagans pa gans do that? 48 Be perfect, perfect, therefore, therefore, as your heaven heav enly ly Father is perfect. perfect.

31

“It has been said, ‘Anyone ‘Anyone who di vorc vorces his wife must give her a certif cer tifiicate of die  32  vorce.’.’ But I tell you that anyone  vorce anyone who di vorces  vorc es his wife, except ex cept for sexu sexual immo immoral raliity, makes her the victim victim of adultery, adultery, and anyone anyone  who ma marr ries a di vorc di vorced ed wom woman an commits commits adultery. adul tery.

Oaths 33

“Again, you have heard that it was said to the people people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfil fulfilll to the Lord the vows you have a

Giving to the Needy

6

“Be careful careful not to practice prac tice your righteousness teous ness in front of others oth ers to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no re ward re ward from  your Father Father in heaven. heaven. 2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce an nounce it with trum tr umpets, pets, as the hypo hyp ocrites do in the syna syn agogues and on the streets, to be honored honored by others. others. Truly Truly I tell you, they have received received their re wa re ward rd in full. ful l. 3 But when  you gi give ve to th thee nee needy, dy, do not let you yourr lef leftt

for brother or sister  (  (adelphos) refers here to a fellow disciple, whether man or woma n; 22  The Greek word for b also in verse 23. manuscripts ripts brother or sister without cause  c  22  An Aramaic term of 22  Some manusc d  e   f  27  Exodus 20:1 31 Deut. 24:1 37  Or from evil  evi l   g  38  Exodus 21:24; Lev. 24:20; Deut. contempt 20:144 h 43 Lev. 19:18 19:21

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MATTHEW 6:4

hand know what your right hand is doing, do ing, 4 so that your giving giv ing may be in secret. secret. Then  your Father, Father, who sees what is done in secret, se cret,  will  wi ll re ward re ward you.

Prayer 5

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypo hyp ocrites, for they love to pray pray standing stand ing in the syna syn agogues and on the street corners cor ners to be seen by others. others. Truly Tru ly I tell you, they have received re ceived their re wa re wa rd in f u l l. 6 But when  you pra pray, y, go in into to your y our room room,, clos c losee the t he door and pray to your Father, Fa ther, who is unseen. un seen. Then your Father, Father, who sees what is done in secret, se cret, will re wa re ward rd you you.. 7 A  And nd whe when n you pray, do not keep on babbling bab bling like pagans, pagans, for they think they w ill be heard because because of 8 their many words. Do not be like them, for  you r Fa Father ther knows what you need before be fore  you ask a sk him h im.. 9 “This, then, t hen, is how you should should pray: “ ‘Our ‘Our Father in i n heaven, hallowed be your name, 10  your kingdom k ingdom come,  your wil w illl be done, on earth eart h as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12  And forgive forg ive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13  And lead us not into temptation, tempt ation, a but deliver us from the evil evi l one.b ’ 14

For if you forgive for give other other people people when they sin against you, your heaven heavenly ly Father Father will 15 also forgive for give you. But if you do not forgive for give others oth ers their sins, your Father Fa ther will wi ll not for for give  your sins. sin s.

Fasting 16

“When you fast, do not look somber som ber as the hypo hypocrites do, for they disfig dis figure ure their faces fac es to show others oth ers they are fasting. fasting. Truly Truly I tell you, they have received re ceived their re wa re ward rd 17 in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be ob vi  vious ous to others others that you are fasting, fast ing, but only to your Father, Father, who is unseen; un seen; and your Father, Fa ther, who sees what is done in secret, se cret, will re wa re  ward rd you. a

Treasures in Heaven 19

“Do not store up for yourselves your selves treasures treasures on earth, where moths and vermin ver min destroy, destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves yourselves treasures treasures in heaven, heaven,  where moths and vermin ver min do not destroy, de stroy, and  where thieves thiev es do not break in and steal. 21 For  where your y our trea t reasure sure is, there your heart will be also. 22 “The eye is the t he lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, c   your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, unhealthy,d   yourr whole bod  you bodyy wi will ll be fu full ll of da dark rkness. ness. If then the light within with in you is darkness, dark ness, how great is that darkness! darkness! 24 “No one can serve two masters. masters. Either Either  you wi will ll hate the one and love the oth other, er, or  you wi will ll be de de vot  voted ed to the one and despise despise the other. other. You cannot cannot serve both God and money. mon ey.

Do Not Worry 25

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry “Therefore wor ry about  your life, l ife, what wh at you will wi ll eat or drin dr ink; k; or about  yourr bod  you body, y, wh what at you w il illl wea wear. r. Is not li life fe more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; ai r; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and  yet your heaven heavenly ly Father Father feeds them. Are A re you not much more valuable valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worr worr y ing add a single single hour to your life e ? 28 “And why do you worry worry about clothes? See how the flowers flow ers of the field grow. They do not labor labor or spin. 29 Yet I tel telll you y ou that t hat not even Solo Solomon in all his h is splendor splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that t hat is how God clothes the grass gr ass of the field, which is here today to day and tomor to morrow row is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you — you of little lit tle faith? 31 So do not worry, wor ry, saying, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall shal l we dri drink?’ nk?’ or ‘What shall  we wear?’ 32 For the pagans pagans run after after all these things, thi ngs, and your heav heaven enly ly Father Father knows that 33  you need nee d them. t hem. But seek first his kingdom king dom and his righteous righ teousness, ness, and all these things  will  wi ll be gi givven to you as well. 34 There Therefore fore do not worry wor ry about tomor tomorrow, row, for tomor to morrow row  will  wi ll worry wor ry about itself. itself. Each day has enough trouble trou ble of its own.

b 13 The Greek for temptation can also mean testing . 13 Or from evil ; some late manuscripts one, / for yours c  is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. 22  The Greek for healthy  here  generous rous .  here implies gene d  e  23 The Greek for unhealthy  here 27  Or single cubit to your height   here implies stingy .

MATTHEW 8:4

Judging Others

7

“Do not judge, or or you too will wi ll be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, oth ers,  you w il illl be judg judged, ed, an and d wi with th th thee mea measure sure  you use, it will wi ll be measured mea sured to you. 3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust saw dust in your brother’s broth er’s eye and pay no atten attention tion to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 Yo  You u hyp hy pocrite, first take the t he plank out of your your own eye, and a nd then  you will wil l see clearly clear ly to remove remove the speck from  your broth brot her’s eye. 6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; sa cred; do not throw your pearls pea rls to pigs. If you do, they may trample tram ple them under under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. pieces.

Ask, Seek, Knock 7

“Ask and it will be given giv en to you; seek and  you w il illl fi find; nd; k noc nockk an and d t he door w il illl be opened to you. 8 For every everyone one who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 “Which “Wh ich of you, if your son asks for bread,  will  wi ll give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish,  will  wi ll give g ive him h im a sna s nake? ke? 11 If you, then, though  you are ev evil, il, k now how ho w to t o give g ive good gi gift ftss to  your chi c hilldren, how much more will your Father in heaven heav en give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in every ev erything, thing, do to others oth ers  what you would have them the m do to you, for th this is sums up the Law and a nd the Prophets. Prophets.

The Narrow and Wide Gates 13

“Enter through the narrow “Enter nar row gate. For  wide  w ide is t he ga gate te an and d bro broad ad is t he roa road d that leads to destruc destruction, tion, and many enter enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

True and False Prophets 15

“Watch out for false prophets. proph ets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, cloth ing, but in wardin ward16 ly they are fero ferocious cious wolves. By their fruit  you w il illl re reccog ognize nize them. Do people peo ple pick grapes from thornbush thorn bushes, es, or figs from thistles? 17 Like Like wi  wise, se, ev e very good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good a

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tree cannot cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot can not bear good fruit. 19 Ev Every ery tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit  you will wi ll recog rec ognize nize them.

True and False Disciples 21

“Not every everyone one who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ wi will ll enter en ter the kingdom king dom of heaven, heaven, but only the t he one who does does the wi ll of my Father Father 22  who is in hea heavv en en.. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophe proph esy in your name and in your name drive out demons de mons and in your name perform per form many miraacles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, mir plain ly, ‘I never never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ do ers!’

The Wise and Foolish Builders 24

“There fore every “Therefore everyone one who hears these  words of mine and a nd puts them into int o practice practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because be cause it had everyone one its founda foundation tion on the rock. 26 But every  who hea hears rs th thes esee word wordss of mi mine ne an and d doe doess not put them into practice practice is like a foolish fool ish 27 man who built his h is house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell  with  wit h a great crash.” cra sh.” 28

 W hen Jesu  When Jesuss had fi fin n ished saying saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, teach ing, 29 be because cause he taught as one who had author authoriity, and not as their teachers teachers of the law.

Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy

8

 When Jesus Jesu s came down from the t he mountainside, tain side, large crowds followed fol lowed him. 2 A man with lepro lep rosy sy a  came and knelt before before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, will ing, you can make ma ke me clean.” 3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” willing,” he  he said. “Be clean!” Imme Im medi diate ately ly he was cleansed of his lepro leprosy. sy. 4 Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. anyone. But go, show yourself your self to the priest and offer of fer the gift Moses Mo ses command commanded, ed, as a testi testimo mony ny to them.”

2  The Greek Greek word traditionally translated leprosy  was  was used for various diseases affecting the sk in.

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MATTHEW 8:5

The Faith of the Centurion 5

 W hen Jes  When Jesus us had en entered tered Caper Caperna naum, um, a centu centuri rion on came to him, asking asking for help. 6 “Lord,” he said, “my ser va ser vant nt lie liess at home paraa lyzed, suffer par suffering ing terri terribly.” bly.” 7 Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?” 8 The centu centuri rion on replied, replied, “Lord, I do not deserve de serve to have you come under under my roof. But just say the word, and my ser va ser vant nt w il illl be healed. 9 For I myself my self am a man under under author au thoriity, with soldiers soldiers under under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my ser van ser vant, t, ‘Do th this,’ is,’ and he does it.” 10  When  W hen Jesu Jesuss heard he ard th this, is, he was w as am amaz azed ed and said to those follow fol lowing ing him, “Tru “Truly ly I tell  you, I have not foun found d an anyyone in Isra Israel el with 11 such great faith. I say to you that many  wi ll come fr from om t he ea east st an and d t he wes west, t, an and d  will  wi ll ta take ke t heir plac places es at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob Ja cob in the kingdom king dom of heaven. heav en. 12 But the sub jec sub jects ts of t he k in inggdom  wi ll be th throw rown n out outside, side, into the darkness, dark ness,  wheree the  wher there re wi will ll be wee weep ping and gnashing gnashing of teeth.” 13 Then Jesus said to the centu cen turi rion, on, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed be lieved it would.”  And his hi s ser va ser vant nt was healed heale d at that moment. moment.

Jesus Heals Many 14

 When Jesus came into Pe Peter’s ter’s house, he saw Peter’s Peter’s mothermother-in-law in-law lying ly ing in bed with fe ver a fe ver. fe ver. 15 He touched her hand and the fe ver left her, and she got up and began began to wait wa it on him. 16  When  W hen ev eveening came, many who were demon-pos de mon-possessed sessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits spir its with a word and healed all the sick. 17 This was to fulfill ful fill what  was spoken spo ken through the t he proph prophet et Isaiah: Isaiah: “He took up our inf infirm irmities ities and bore our diseases.” a

The Cost of Following Jesus

birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” 21  Anoth  An other er disci disciple ple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” father.” 22 But Jesus told him, “Fol “Follow low me, and let the dead bury their t heir own dead.”

Jesus Calms the Storm 23

Then he got into the boat and his disciples ci ples followed followed him. 24 Sud Sudden denly ly a furi furious ous storm came up on the lake, lak e, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. sleep ing. 25 The disci disciples ples went and woke him, saying, say ing, “Lord, save us! We’re going going to drown!” 26 He replied, replied, “You of little little faith, why are  you so s o afra a fraid?” id?” Then  Then he got up and rebuked re buked the winds and the waves, and it was completely plete ly calm. 27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

Jesus Restores Two Demon-Possessed Men 28

 When he arrived ar rived at the other other side in the b region re gion of the Gada Gad a renes,  two demon-posdemon-possessed men coming coming from the tombs met him. They were so vio vi olent that no one could pass that way. 29 “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shout s houted. ed. “Have you come here to torture torture us before before the appoint appointed ed time?” 30 Some distance distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. feed ing. 31 The demons demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.” 32 He said to them, “Go!” “Go!” So  So they came ca me out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. wa ter. 33 Those tending tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and a nd report reported ed all this, includ in cluding ing what had happened hap pened to the 34 demon-pos de mon-possessed sessed men. Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they t hey saw him, they pleaded pleaded with him to leave their region. region.

18

 Whe n Jesus  When Jesu s saw the t he crowd arou around nd him, hi m, he gave orders orders to cross to the other oth er side of the 19 lake. Then a teacher teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, “Teacher, I will follow fol low you wherevwherever you go.” g o.” 20 Jesus replied, replied, “Fox “Foxes es have dens and a

17  Isaia h 53:4 (see Septuag int)

b

Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralyzed Man

9

Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 2 Some men brought to him a para para lyzed man, lying lying on a

28  Some manusc manuscripts ripts Gergesenes; other manuscripts Gerasenes

I CAN C AN DO ALL THIS THROUGH HIM WHO  GII V E S M E  G  ST  S TREN GTH. Philippians 4:13

MATTHEW 11:24

a daughter-in-law against her mother-inlaw — 36 a man’s man’s enemies will wil l be the members of his own household.’ a 37

“Anyone who loves their father “Anyone father or mother more than me is not worthy wor thy of me; anyone anyone  who loves the their ir son or daug daugh hter more than me is not worthy worthy of me. 38 Who  Whoev ever er does not take up their cross and follow fol low me is not wor39 thy of me.  Who  Whoev ever er finds their life will wi ll lose it, and whoev who ever er loses loses their life for my sake  will  wi ll find f ind it. 40 “Anyone “Any one who welcomes welcomes you welcomes welcomes me, and anyone anyone who welcomes welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41 Who  Whoev ever er welcomes a prophet prophet as a prophet proph et will receive receive a prophet’s proph et’s re wa re ward, rd, and who whoev ever er welcomes welcomes a righteous righ teous person person as a righteous righ teous person person will receive re ceive a righteous righteous person’s person’s re ward  ward.. 42 And if if anyone any one gives even a cup c up of cold water water to one of these little lit tle ones who is my disci dis ciple, ple, truly truly I tell you, that person per son will certain cer tainly ly not lose their re wa re ward.” rd.”

Jesus and John the Baptist

11

 A f ter Jesus had finished  Af fin ished instruct instructing ing his twelve disci dis ciples, ples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galii lee.b Gal 2  When  W hen John John,, who wa wass in pr pris ison, on, heard about the deeds of the Messi Mes siah, ah, he sent his disci dis ciples ples 3 to ask him, hi m, “Are “Are you the t he one who is to come, or should we expect ex pect someone someone else?” 4 Jesus replied, replied, “Go back and report re port to 5 John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have lepro lep rosy  sy c  are cleansed, clea nsed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, rais ed, and the good news is proclaimed proclaimed 6 to the poor. Blessed is anyone anyone who does not stumble stum ble on account account of me.” 7  As John’s di dissci ciples ples were leaving, leaving, Jesus began be gan to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilder wil derness ness to 8 see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, No, those who wear fine f ine clothes are in kings’ palac palaces. es. 9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? proph et? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. prophet. 10 Thi Thiss is the one about whom it is written: writ ten: a

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“ ‘I ‘I will wi ll send my messenger ahead of you,  who will wi ll prepare prepa re your way before  you.’d  11

Truly I tell you, Truly y ou, among those born of women there has not risen ris en anyone anyone greater greater than John the Baptist; Bap tist; yet whoev who ever er is least in the kingdom kingdom of heaven heaven is greater greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist Bap tist until un til now, the kingdom kingdom of heaven heav en has been sub jectted to vio  jec vi olence, e  and vio violent people people have been raiding raiding it. 13 For all the Prophets Proph ets and the Law prophe proph esied until until John. 14 And if you are willing will ing to accept accept it, he is the Eli jah Eli jah who 15  Who hoev ever er has ears, let them  wass to come.  W  wa hear. 16 “To what can I compare com pare this gener generaation? They are like children chil dren sitting sitting in the marketmarketplaces plac es and calling calling out to others: others: 17

“ ‘We played the t he pipe for you, and you did not dance;  we sang a dirge, di rge, and you did not mourn.’

18

For John came neither neither eating eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating eating and drinking, drink ing, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton glutton and a drunkard, drunkard, a friend of tax collec col lectors tors and sinners. sin ners.’’ But wisw isdom is proved right by her deeds.”

Woe on Unrepentant Towns 20

Then Jesus began began to denounce denounce the towns in which most of his mira mir acles had been performed, performed, because because they did not reChorazin! zin! Woe to you, pent. 21 “Woe to you, Chora Bethsa Beth saiida! For if the mira mir acles that were performed in you had been performed per formed in Tyre and Sidon, Sidon, they would have repent repented ed long 22 ago in sackcloth sackcloth and ashes. ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable bear able for Tyre and Sidon Si don 23 on the day of judgment judg ment than for you.  An  And d  you, Ca Caper perna naum, um, will you be lifted lift ed to the heavens? No, No, you will wil l go down to Hades. f  For if the mira mir acles that were performed per formed in you had been performed performed in Sodom, Sodom, it would have 24 remained re mained to this day. But I tell you that it  will  wi ll be more bea bearrable for Sodom Sodom on the day of judgment judgment than for you.”

b c  Greek word word traditionally traditionally translated leprosy  was  was used for 36  Micah 7:6 1  Greek in their towns 5  The Greek d  e   f  10  Mal. 3:1 12  Or been forcefully advancing  23 That is, the  variou  va riouss diseases dise ases a ffec ti ting ng the sk in. realm of the dead