Matthew 4:12-25; Matthew 5; Matthew 6; Matthew 7; Matthew 8; Matthew 9; Matthew 10; Matthew 11; Matthew 12; Matthew 13; Matthew 14:1-12

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Matthew 4:12-25

12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he went back to Galilee.

13 He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum, a town near Lake Galilee, in the area near Zebulun and Naphtali.

14 Jesus did this to bring about what the prophet Isaiah had said:

15 "Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali along the sea, beyond the Jordan River. This is Galilee where the non-Jewish people live.

16 These people who live in darkness will see a great light. They live in a place covered with the shadows of death, but a light will shine on them."

17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Change your hearts and lives, because the kingdom of heaven is near."

18 As Jesus was walking by Lake Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (called Peter) and his brother Andrew. They were throwing a net into the lake because they were fishermen.

19 Jesus said, "Come follow me, and I will make you fish for people."

20 So Simon and Andrew immediately left their nets and followed him.

21 As Jesus continued walking by Lake Galilee, he saw two other brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. Jesus told them to come with him.

22 Immediately they left the boat and their father, and they followed Jesus.

23 Jesus went everywhere in Galilee, teaching in the synagogues, preaching the Good News about the kingdom of heaven, and healing all the people's diseases and sicknesses.

24 The news about Jesus spread all over Syria, and people brought all the sick to him. They were suffering from different kinds of diseases. Some were in great pain, some had demons, some were epileptics, and some were paralyzed. Jesus healed all of them.

25 Many people from Galilee, the Ten Towns, Jerusalem, Judea, and the land across the Jordan River followed him.

Matthew 5

1 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a hill and sat down. His followers came to him,

2 and he began to teach them, saying:

3 "Those people who know they have great spiritual needs are happy, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

4 Those who are sad now are happy, because God will comfort them.

5 Those who are humble are happy, because the earth will belong to them.

6 Those who want to do right more than anything else are happy, because God will fully satisfy them.

7 Those who show mercy to others are happy, because God will show mercy to them.

8 Those who are pure in their thinking are happy, because they will be with God.

9 Those who work to bring peace are happy, because God will call them his children.

10 Those who are treated badly for doing good are happy, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

11 "People will insult you and hurt you. They will lie and say all kinds of evil things about you because you follow me. But when they do, you will be happy.

12 Rejoice and be glad, because you have a great reward waiting for you in heaven. People did the same evil things to the prophets who lived before you.

13 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its salty taste, it cannot be made salty again. It is good for nothing, except to be thrown out and walked on.

14 "You are the light that gives light to the world. A city that is built on a hill cannot be hidden.

15 And people don't hide a light under a bowl. They put it on a lampstand so the light shines for all the people in the house.

16 In the same way, you should be a light for other people. Live so that they will see the good things you do and will praise your Father in heaven.

17 "Don't think that I have come to destroy the law of Moses or the teaching of the prophets. I have not come to destroy them but to bring about what they said.

18 I tell you the truth, nothing will disappear from the law until heaven and earth are gone. Not even the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will be lost until everything has happened.

19 Whoever refuses to obey any command and teaches other people not to obey that command will be the least important in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys the commands and teaches other people to obey them will be great in the kingdom of heaven.

20 I tell you that if you are no more obedient than the teachers of the law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

21 "You have heard that it was said to our people long ago, 'You must not murder anyone. Anyone who murders another will be judged.'

22 But I tell you, if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be judged. If you say bad things to a brother or sister, you will be judged by the council. And if you call someone a fool, you will be in danger of the fire of hell.

23 "So when you offer your gift to God at the altar, and you remember that your brother or sister has something against you,

24 leave your gift there at the altar. Go and make peace with that person, and then come and offer your gift.

25 "If your enemy is taking you to court, become friends quickly, before you go to court. Otherwise, your enemy might turn you over to the judge, and the judge might give you to a guard to put you in jail.

26 I tell you the truth, you will not leave there until you have paid everything you owe.

27 "You have heard that it was said, 'You must not be guilty of adultery.'

28 But I tell you that if anyone looks at a woman and wants to sin sexually with her, in his mind he has already done that sin with the woman.

29 If your right eye causes you to sin, take it out and throw it away. It is better to lose one part of your body than to have your whole body thrown into hell.

30 If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

31 "It was also said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a written divorce paper.'

32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife forces her to be guilty of adultery. The only reason for a man to divorce his wife is if she has sexual relations with another man. And anyone who marries that divorced woman is guilty of adultery.

33 "You have heard that it was said to our people long ago, 'Don't break your promises, but keep the promises you make to the Lord.'

34 But I tell you, never swear an oath. Don't swear an oath using the name of heaven, because heaven is God's throne.

35 Don't swear an oath using the name of the earth, because the earth belongs to God. Don't swear an oath using the name of Jerusalem, because that is the city of the great King.

36 Don't even swear by your own head, because you cannot make one hair on your head become white or black.

37 Say only yes if you mean yes, and no if you mean no. If you say more than yes or no, it is from the Evil One.

38 "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.'

39 But I tell you, don't stand up against an evil person. If someone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other cheek also.

40 If someone wants to sue you in court and take your shirt, let him have your coat also.

41 If someone forces you to go with him one mile, go with him two miles.

42 If a person asks you for something, give it to him. Don't refuse to give to someone who wants to borrow from you.

43 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighborn and hate your enemies.'

44 But I say to you, love your enemies. Pray for those who hurt you.

45 If you do this, you will be true children of your Father in heaven. He causes the sun to rise on good people and on evil people, and he sends rain to those who do right and to those who do wrong.

46 If you love only the people who love you, you will get no reward. Even the tax collectors do that.

47 And if you are nice only to your friends, you are no better than other people. Even those who don't know God are nice to their friends.

48 So you must be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 6

1 "Be careful! When you do good things, don't do them in front of people to be seen by them. If you do that, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

2 "When you give to the poor, don't be like the hypocrites. They blow trumpets in the synagogues and on the streets so that people will see them and honor them. I tell you the truth, those hypocrites already have their full reward.

3 So when you give to the poor, don't let anyone know what you are doing.

4 Your giving should be done in secret. Your Father can see what is done in secret, and he will reward you.

5 "When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites. They love to stand in the synagogues and on the street corners and pray so people will see them. I tell you the truth, they already have their full reward.

6 When you pray, you should go into your room and close the door and pray to your Father who cannot be seen. Your Father can see what is done in secret, and he will reward you.

7 "And when you pray, don't be like those people who don't know God. They continue saying things that mean nothing, thinking that God will hear them because of their many words.

8 Don't be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask him.

9 So when you pray, you should pray like this: 'Our Father in heaven, may your name always be kept holy.

10 May your kingdom come and what you want be done, here on earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us the food we need for each day.

12 Forgive us for our sins, just as we have forgiven those who sinned against us.

13 And do not cause us to be tempted, but save us from the Evil One.'

14 Yes, if you forgive others for their sins, your Father in heaven will also forgive you for your sins.

15 But if you don't forgive others, your Father in heaven will not forgive your sins.

16 "When you give up eating, don't put on a sad face like the hypocrites. They make their faces look sad to show people they are giving up eating. I tell you the truth, those hypocrites already have their full reward.

17 So when you give up eating, comb your hair and wash your face.

18 Then people will not know that you are giving up eating, but your Father, whom you cannot see, will see you. Your Father sees what is done in secret, and he will reward you.

19 "Don't store treasures for yourselves here on earth where moths and rust will destroy them and thieves can break in and steal them.

20 But store your treasures in heaven where they cannot be destroyed by moths or rust and where thieves cannot break in and steal them.

21 Your heart will be where your treasure is.

22 "The eye is a light for the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.

23 But if your eyes are evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. And if the only light you have is really darkness, then you have the worst darkness.

24 "No one can serve two masters. The person will hate one master and love the other, or will follow one master and refuse to follow the other. You cannot serve both God and worldly riches.

25 "So I tell you, don't worry about the food or drink you need to live, or about the clothes you need for your body. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothes.

26 Look at the birds in the air. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, but your heavenly Father feeds them. And you know that you are worth much more than the birds.

27 You cannot add any time to your life by worrying about it.

28 "And why do you worry about clothes? Look at how the lilies in the field grow. They don't work or make clothes for themselves.

29 But I tell you that even Solomon with his riches was not dressed as beautifully as one of these flowers.

30 God clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today but tomorrow is thrown into the fire. So you can be even more sure that God will clothe you. Don't have so little faith!

31 Don't worry and say, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?'

32 The people who don't know God keep trying to get these things, and your Father in heaven knows you need them.

33 The thing you should want most is God's kingdom and doing what God wants. Then all these other things you need will be given to you.

34 So don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will have its own worries. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 7

1 "Don't judge other people, or you will be judged.

2 You will be judged in the same way that you judge others, and the amount you give to others will be given to you.

3 "Why do you notice the little piece of dust in your friend's eye, but you don't notice the big piece of wood in your own eye?

4 How can you say to your friend, 'Let me take that little piece of dust out of your eye'? Look at yourself! You still have that big piece of wood in your own eye.

5 You hypocrite! First, take the wood out of your own eye. Then you will see clearly to take the dust out of your friend's eye.

6 "Don't give holy things to dogs, and don't throw your pearls before pigs. Pigs will only trample on them, and dogs will turn to attack you.

7 "Ask, and God will give to you. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will open for you.

8 Yes, everyone who asks will receive. Everyone who searches will find. And everyone who knocks will have the door opened.

9 "If your children ask for bread, which of you would give them a stone?

10 Or if your children ask for a fish, would you give them a snake?

11 Even though you are bad, you know how to give good gifts to your children. How much more your heavenly Father will give good things to those who ask him!

12 "Do to others what you want them to do to you. This is the meaning of the law of Moses and the teaching of the prophets.

13 "Enter through the narrow gate. The gate is wide and the road is wide that leads to hell, and many people enter through that gate.

14 But the gate is small and the road is narrow that leads to true life. Only a few people find that road.

15 "Be careful of false prophets. They come to you looking gentle like sheep, but they are really dangerous like wolves.

16 You will know these people by what they do. Grapes don't come from thornbushes, and figs don't come from thorny weeds.

17 In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit.

18 A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot produce good fruit.

19 Every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

20 In the same way, you will know these false prophets by what they do.

21 "Not all those who say that I am their Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven. The only people who will enter the kingdom of heaven are those who do what my Father in heaven wants.

22 On the last day many people will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, we spoke for you, and through you we forced out demons and did many miracles.'

23 Then I will tell them clearly, 'Get away from me, you who do evil. I never knew you.'

24 "Everyone who hears my words and obeys them is like a wise man who built his house on rock.

25 It rained hard, the floods came, and the winds blew and hit that house. But it did not fall, because it was built on rock.

26 Everyone who hears my words and does not obey them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.

27 It rained hard, the floods came, and the winds blew and hit that house, and it fell with a big crash."

28 When Jesus finished saying these things, the people were amazed at his teaching,

29 because he did not teach like their teachers of the law. He taught like a person who had authority.

Matthew 8

1 When Jesus came down from the hill, great crowds followed him.

2 Then a man with a skin disease came to Jesus. The man bowed down before him and said, "Lord, you can heal me if you will."

3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man and said, "I will. Be healed!" And immediately the man was healed from his disease.

4 Then Jesus said to him, "Don't tell anyone about this. But go and show yourself to the priestn and offer the gift Moses commandedn for people who are made well. This will show the people what I have done."

5 When Jesus entered the city of Capernaum, an army officer came to him, begging for help.

6 The officer said, "Lord, my servant is at home in bed. He can't move his body and is in much pain."

7 Jesus said to the officer, "I will go and heal him."

8 The officer answered, "Lord, I am not worthy for you to come into my house. You only need to command it, and my servant will be healed.

9 I, too, am a man under the authority of others, and I have soldiers under my command. I tell one soldier, 'Go,' and he goes. I tell another soldier, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and my servant does it.

10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. He said to those who were following him, "I tell you the truth, this is the greatest faith I have found, even in Israel.

11 Many people will come from the east and from the west and will sit and eat with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.

12 But those people who should be in the kingdom will be thrown outside into the darkness, where people will cry and grind their teeth with pain."

13 Then Jesus said to the officer, "Go home. Your servant will be healed just as you believed he would." And his servant was healed that same hour.

14 When Jesus went to Peter's house, he saw that Peter's mother-in-law was sick in bed with a fever.

15 Jesus touched her hand, and the fever left her. Then she stood up and began to serve Jesus.

16 That evening people brought to Jesus many who had demons. Jesus spoke and the demons left them, and he healed all the sick.

17 He did these things to bring about what Isaiah the prophet had said: "He took our suffering on him and carried our diseases."

18 When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he told his followers to go to the other side of the lake.

19 Then a teacher of the law came to Jesus and said, "Teacher, I will follow you any place you go."

20 Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes to live in, and the birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to rest his head."

21 Another man, one of Jesus' followers, said to him, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."

22 But Jesus told him, "Follow me, and let the people who are dead bury their own dead."

23 Jesus got into a boat, and his followers went with him.

24 A great storm arose on the lake so that waves covered the boat, but Jesus was sleeping.

25 His followers went to him and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We will drown!"

26 Jesus answered, "Why are you afraid? You don't have enough faith." Then Jesus got up and gave a command to the wind and the waves, and it became completely calm.

27 The men were amazed and said, "What kind of man is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"

28 When Jesus arrived at the other side of the lake in the area of the Gadarenen people, two men who had demons in them met him. These men lived in the burial caves and were so dangerous that people could not use the road by those caves.

29 They shouted, "What do you want with us, Son of God? Did you come here to torture us before the right time?"

30 Near that place there was a large herd of pigs feeding.

31 The demons begged Jesus, "If you make us leave these men, please send us into that herd of pigs."

32 Jesus said to them, "Go!" So the demons left the men and went into the pigs. Then the whole herd rushed down the hill into the lake and were drowned.

33 The herdsmen ran away and went into town, where they told about all of this and what had happened to the men who had demons.

34 Then the whole town went out to see Jesus. When they saw him, they begged him to leave their area.

Matthew 9

1 Jesus got into a boat and went back across the lake to his own town.

2 Some people brought to Jesus a man who was paralyzed and lying on a mat. When Jesus saw the faith of these people, he said to the paralyzed man, "Be encouraged, young man. Your sins are forgiven."

3 Some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, "This man speaks as if he were God. That is blasphemy!"

4 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why are you thinking evil thoughts?

5 Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to tell him, 'Stand up and walk'?

6 But I will prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." Then Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "Stand up, take your mat, and go home."

7 And the man stood up and went home.

8 When the people saw this, they were amazed and praised God for giving power like this to human beings.

9 When Jesus was leaving, he saw a man named Matthew sitting in the tax collector's booth. Jesus said to him, "Follow me," and he stood up and followed Jesus.

10 As Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with Jesus and his followers.

11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked Jesus' followers, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"

12 When Jesus heard them, he said, "It is not the healthy people who need a doctor, but the sick.

13 Go and learn what this means: 'I want kindness more than I want animal sacrifices.' I did not come to invite good people but to invite sinners."

14 Then the followers of Johnn came to Jesus and said, "Why do we and the Pharisees often give up eating for a certain time, but your followers don't?"

15 Jesus answered, "The friends of the bridegroom are not sad while he is with them. But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and then they will give up eating.

16 "No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth over a hole in an old coat. If he does, the patch will shrink and pull away from the coat, making the hole worse.

17 Also, people never pour new wine into old leather bags. Otherwise, the bags will break, the wine will spill, and the wine bags will be ruined. But people always pour new wine into new wine bags. Then both will continue to be good."

18 While Jesus was saying these things, a leader of the synagogue came to him. He bowed down before Jesus and said, "My daughter has just died. But if you come and lay your hand on her, she will live again."

19 So Jesus and his followers stood up and went with the leader.

20 Then a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years came behind Jesus and touched the edge of his coat.

21 She was thinking, "If I can just touch his clothes, I will be healed."

22 Jesus turned and saw the woman and said, "Be encouraged, dear woman. You are made well because you believed." And the woman was healed from that moment on.

23 Jesus continued along with the leader and went into his house. There he saw the funeral musicians and many people crying.

24 Jesus said, "Go away. The girl is not dead, only asleep." But the people laughed at him.

25 After the crowd had been thrown out of the house, Jesus went into the girl's room and took hold of her hand, and she stood up.

26 The news about this spread all around the area.

27 When Jesus was leaving there, two blind men followed him. They cried out, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!"

28 After Jesus went inside, the blind men went with him. He asked the men, "Do you believe that I can make you see again?" They answered, "Yes, Lord."

29 Then Jesus touched their eyes and said, "Because you believe I can make you see again, it will happen."

30 Then the men were able to see. But Jesus warned them strongly, saying, "Don't tell anyone about this."

31 But the blind men left and spread the news about Jesus all around that area.

32 When the two men were leaving, some people brought another man to Jesus. This man could not talk because he had a demon in him.

33 After Jesus forced the demon to leave the man, he was able to speak. The crowd was amazed and said, "We have never seen anything like this in Israel."

34 But the Pharisees said, "The prince of demons is the one that gives him power to force demons out."

35 Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the Good News about the kingdom, and healing all kinds of diseases and sicknesses.

36 When he saw the crowds, he felt sorry for them because they were hurting and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

37 Jesus said to his followers, "There are many people to harvest but only a few workers to help harvest them.

38 Pray to the Lord, who owns the harvest, that he will send more workers to gather his harvest."

Matthew 10

1 Jesus called his twelve followers together and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and sickness.

2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: Simon (also called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John;

3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew, the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;

4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who turned against Jesus.

5 Jesus sent out these twelve men with the following order: "Don't go to the non-Jewish people or to any town where the Samaritans live.

6 But go to the people of Israel, who are like lost sheep.

7 When you go, preach this: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.'

8 Heal the sick, raise the dead to life again, heal those who have skin diseases, and force demons out of people. I give you these powers freely, so help other people freely.

9 Don't carry any money with you -- gold or silver or copper.

10 Don't carry a bag or extra clothes or sandals or a walking stick. Workers should be given what they need.

11 "When you enter a city or town, find some worthy person there and stay in that home until you leave.

12 When you enter that home, say, 'Peace be with you.'

13 If the people there welcome you, let your peace stay there. But if they don't welcome you, take back the peace you wished for them.

14 And if a home or town refuses to welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake its dust off your feet.

15 I tell you the truth, on the Judgment Day it will be better for the towns of Sodom and Gomorrahn than for the people of that town.

16 "Listen, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as smart as snakes and as innocent as doves.

17 Be careful of people, because they will arrest you and take you to court and whip you in their synagogues.

18 Because of me you will be taken to stand before governors and kings, and you will tell them and the non-Jewish people about me.

19 When you are arrested, don't worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given the things to say.

20 It will not really be you speaking but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

21 "Brothers will give their own brothers to be killed, and fathers will give their own children to be killed. Children will fight against their own parents and have them put to death.

22 All people will hate you because you follow me, but those people who keep their faith until the end will be saved.

23 When you are treated badly in one city, run to another city. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through all the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

24 "A student is not better than his teacher, and a servant is not better than his master.

25 A student should be satisfied to become like his teacher; a servant should be satisfied to become like his master. If the head of the family is called Beelzebul, then the other members of the family will be called worse names! Fear God, Not People

26 "So don't be afraid of those people, because everything that is hidden will be shown. Everything that is secret will be made known.

27 I tell you these things in the dark, but I want you to tell them in the light. What you hear whispered in your ear you should shout from the housetops.

28 Don't be afraid of people, who can kill the body but cannot kill the soul. The only one you should fear is the one who can destroy the soul and the body in hell.

29 Two sparrows cost only a penny, but not even one of them can die without your Father's knowing it.

30 God even knows how many hairs are on your head.

31 So don't be afraid. You are worth much more than many sparrows.

32 "All those who stand before others and say they believe in me, I will say before my Father in heaven that they belong to me.

33 But all who stand before others and say they do not believe in me, I will say before my Father in heaven that they do not belong to me.

34 "Don't think that I came to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

35 I have come so that 'a son will be against his father, a daughter will be against her mother, a daughter-in-law will be against her mother-in-law.

36 A person's enemies will be members of his own family.'

37 "Those who love their father or mother more than they love me are not worthy to be my followers. Those who love their son or daughter more than they love me are not worthy to be my followers.

38 Whoever is not willing to carry the cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

39 Those who try to hold on to their lives will give up true life. Those who give up their lives for me will hold on to true life.

40 Whoever accepts you also accepts me, and whoever accepts me also accepts the One who sent me.

41 Whoever meets a prophet and accepts him will receive the reward of a prophet. And whoever accepts a good person because that person is good will receive the reward of a good person.

42 Those who give one of these little ones a cup of cold water because they are my followers will truly get their reward."

Matthew 11

1 After Jesus finished telling these things to his twelve followers, he left there and went to the towns in Galilee to teach and preach.

2 John the Baptist was in prison, but he heard about what Christ was doing. So John sent some of his followers to Jesus.

3 They asked him, "Are you the One who is to come, or should we wait for someone else?"

4 Jesus answered them, "Go tell John what you hear and see:

5 The blind can see, the crippled can walk, and people with skin diseases are healed. The deaf can hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is preached to the poor.

6 Those who do not stumble in their faith because of me are blessed."

7 As John's followers were leaving, Jesus began talking to the people about John. Jesus said, "What did you go out into the desert to see? A reedn blown by the wind?

8 What did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes live in kings' palaces.

9 So why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, and I tell you, John is more than a prophet.

10 This was written about him: 'I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare the way for you.'

11 I tell you the truth, John the Baptist is greater than any other person ever born, but even the least important person in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John.

12 Since the time John the Baptist came until now, the kingdom of heaven has been going forward in strength, and people have been trying to take it by force.

13 All the prophets and the law of Moses told about what would happen until the time John came.

14 And if you will believe what they said, you will believe that John is Elijah, whom they said would come.

15 You people who can hear me, listen!

16 "What can I say about the people of this time? What are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace, who call out to each other,

17 'We played music for you, but you did not dance; we sang a sad song, but you did not cry.'

18 John came and did not eat or drink like other people. So people say, 'He has a demon.'

19 The Son of Man came, eating and drinking, and people say, 'Look at him! He eats too much and drinks too much wine, and he is a friend of tax collectors and sinners.' But wisdom is proved to be right by what it does."

20 Then Jesus criticized the cities where he did most of his miracles, because the people did not change their lives and stop sinning.

21 He said, "How terrible for you, Korazin! How terrible for you, Bethsaida! If the same miracles I did in you had happened in Tyre and Sidon, those people would have changed their lives a long time ago. They would have worn rough cloth and put ashes on themselves to show they had changed.

22 But I tell you, on the Judgment Day it will be better for Tyre and Sidon than for you.

23 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be thrown down to the depths. If the miracles I did in you had happened in Sodom, its people would have stopped sinning, and it would still be a city today.

24 But I tell you, on the Judgment Day it will be better for Sodom than for you."

25 At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the people who are wise and smart. But you have shown them to those who are like little children.

26 Yes, Father, this is what you really wanted.

27 "My Father has given me all things. No one knows the Son, except the Father. And no one knows the Father, except the Son and those whom the Son chooses to tell.

28 "Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest.

29 Accept my teachings and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit, and you will find rest for your lives.

30 The teaching that I ask you to accept is easy; the load I give you to carry is light."

Matthew 12

1 At that time Jesus was walking through some fields of grain on a Sabbath day. His followers were hungry, so they began to pick the grain and eat it.

2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to Jesus, "Look! Your followers are doing what is unlawful to do on the Sabbath day."

3 Jesus answered, "Have you not read what David did when he and the people with him were hungry?

4 He went into God's house, and he and those with him ate the holy bread, which was lawful only for priests to eat.

5 And have you not read in the law of Moses that on every Sabbath day the priests in the Temple break this law about the Sabbath day? But the priests are not wrong for doing that.

6 I tell you that there is something here that is greater than the Temple.

7 The Scripture says, 'I want kindness more than I want animal sacrifices.' You don't really know what those words mean. If you understood them, you would not judge those who have done nothing wrong.

8 "So the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath day."

9 Jesus left there and went into their synagogue,

10 where there was a man with a crippled hand. They were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they asked him, "Is it right to heal on the Sabbath day?"

11 Jesus answered, "If any of you has a sheep, and it falls into a ditch on the Sabbath day, you will help it out of the ditch.

12 Surely a human being is more important than a sheep. So it is lawful to do good things on the Sabbath day."

13 Then Jesus said to the man with the crippled hand, "Hold out your hand." The man held out his hand, and it became well again, like the other hand.

14 But the Pharisees left and made plans to kill Jesus.

15 Jesus knew what the Pharisees were doing, so he left that place. Many people followed him, and he healed all who were sick.

16 But Jesus warned the people not to tell who he was.

17 He did these things to bring about what Isaiah the prophet had said:

18 "Here is my servant whom I have chosen. I love him, and I am pleased with him. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will tell of my justice to all people.

19 He will not argue or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets.

20 He will not break a crushed blade of grass or put out even a weak flame until he makes justice win the victory.

21 In him will the non-Jewish people find hope."

22 Then some people brought to Jesus a man who was blind and could not talk, because he had a demon. Jesus healed the man so that he could talk and see.

23 All the people were amazed and said, "Perhaps this man is the Son of David!"

24 When the Pharisees heard this, they said, "Jesus uses the power of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons, to force demons out of people."

25 Jesus knew what the Pharisees were thinking, so he said to them, "Every kingdom that is divided against itself will be destroyed. And any city or family that is divided against itself will not continue.

26 And if Satan forces out himself, then Satan is divided against himself, and his kingdom will not continue.

27 You say that I use the power of Beelzebul to force out demons. If that is true, then what power do your people use to force out demons? So they will be your judges.

28 But if I use the power of God's Spirit to force out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you.

29 "If anyone wants to enter a strong person's house and steal his things, he must first tie up the strong person. Then he can steal the things from the house.

30 "Whoever is not with me is against me. Whoever does not work with me is working against me.

31 So I tell you, people can be forgiven for every sin and everything they say against God. But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

32 Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, now or in the future.

33 "If you want good fruit, you must make the tree good. If your tree is not good, it will have bad fruit. A tree is known by the kind of fruit it produces.

34 You snakes! You are evil people, so how can you say anything good? The mouth speaks the things that are in the heart.

35 Good people have good things in their hearts, and so they say good things. But evil people have evil in their hearts, so they say evil things.

36 And I tell you that on the Judgment Day people will be responsible for every careless thing they have said.

37 The words you have said will be used to judge you. Some of your words will prove you right, but some of your words will prove you guilty."

38 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law answered Jesus, saying, "Teacher, we want to see you work a miracle as a sign."

39 Jesus answered, "Evil and sinful people are the ones who want to see a miracle for a sign. But no sign will be given to them, except the sign of the prophet Jonah.

40 Jonah was in the stomach of the big fish for three days and three nights. In the same way, the Son of Man will be in the grave three days and three nights.

41 On the Judgment Day the people from Ninevehn will stand up with you people who live now, and they will show that you are guilty. When Jonah preached to them, they were sorry and changed their lives. And I tell you that someone greater than Jonah is here.

42 On the Judgment Day, the Queen of the Southn will stand up with you people who live today. She will show that you are guilty, because she came from far away to listen to Solomon's wise teaching. And I tell you that someone greater than Solomon is here.

43 "When an evil spirit comes out of a person, it travels through dry places, looking for a place to rest, but it doesn't find it.

44 So the spirit says, 'I will go back to the house I left.' When the spirit comes back, it finds the house still empty, swept clean, and made neat.

45 Then the evil spirit goes out and brings seven other spirits even more evil than it is, and they go in and live there. So the person has even more trouble than before. It is the same way with the evil people who live today."

46 While Jesus was talking to the people, his mother and brothers stood outside, trying to find a way to talk to him.

47 Someone told Jesus, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, and they want to talk to you."

48 He answered, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?"

49 Then he pointed to his followers and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers.

50 My true brother and sister and mother are those who do what my Father in heaven wants."

Matthew 13

1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake.

2 Large crowds gathered around him, so he got into a boat and sat down, while the people stood on the shore.

3 Then Jesus used stories to teach them many things. He said: "A farmer went out to plant his seed.

4 While he was planting, some seed fell by the road, and the birds came and ate it all up.

5 Some seed fell on rocky ground, where there wasn't much dirt. That seed grew very fast, because the ground was not deep.

6 But when the sun rose, the plants dried up, because they did not have deep roots.

7 Some other seed fell among thorny weeds, which grew and choked the good plants.

8 Some other seed fell on good ground where it grew and produced a crop. Some plants made a hundred times more, some made sixty times more, and some made thirty times more.

9 You people who can hear me, listen."

10 The followers came to Jesus and asked, "Why do you use stories to teach the people?"

11 Jesus answered, "You have been chosen to know the secrets about the kingdom of heaven, but others cannot know these secrets.

12 Those who have understanding will be given more, and they will have all they need. But those who do not have understanding, even what they have will be taken away from them.

13 This is why I use stories to teach the people: They see, but they don't really see. They hear, but they don't really hear or understand.

14 So they show that the things Isaiah said about them are true: 'You will listen and listen, but you will not understand. You will look and look, but you will not learn.

15 For the minds of these people have become stubborn. They do not hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might really understand what they see with their eyes and hear with their ears. They might really understand in their minds and come back to me and be healed.'

16 But you are blessed, because you see with your eyes and hear with your ears.

17 I tell you the truth, many prophets and good people wanted to see the things that you now see, but they did not see them. And they wanted to hear the things that you now hear, but they did not hear them.

18 "So listen to the meaning of that story about the farmer.

19 What is the seed that fell by the road? That seed is like the person who hears the message about the kingdom but does not understand it. The Evil One comes and takes away what was planted in that person's heart.

20 And what is the seed that fell on rocky ground? That seed is like the person who hears the teaching and quickly accepts it with joy.

21 But he does not let the teaching go deep into his life, so he keeps it only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the teaching he accepted, he quickly gives up.

22 And what is the seed that fell among the thorny weeds? That seed is like the person who hears the teaching but lets worries about this life and the temptation of wealth stop that teaching from growing. So the teaching does not produce fruitn in that person's life.

23 But what is the seed that fell on the good ground? That seed is like the person who hears the teaching and understands it. That person grows and produces fruit, sometimes a hundred times more, sometimes sixty times more, and sometimes thirty times more."

24 Then Jesus told them another story: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who planted good seed in his field.

25 That night, when everyone was asleep, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat and then left.

26 Later, the wheat sprouted and the heads of grain grew, but the weeds also grew.

27 Then the man's servants came to him and said, 'You planted good seed in your field. Where did the weeds come from?'

28 The man answered, 'An enemy planted weeds.' The servants asked, 'Do you want us to pull up the weeds?'

29 The man answered, 'No, because when you pull up the weeds, you might also pull up the wheat.

30 Let the weeds and the wheat grow together until the harvest time. At harvest time I will tell the workers, "First gather the weeds and tie them together to be burned. Then gather the wheat and bring it to my barn."'"

31 Then Jesus told another story: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man planted in his field.

32 That seed is the smallest of all seeds, but when it grows, it is one of the largest garden plants. It becomes big enough for the wild birds to come and build nests in its branches."

33 Then Jesus told another story: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and hid in a large tub of flour until it made all the dough rise."

34 Jesus used stories to tell all these things to the people; he always used stories to teach them.

35 This is as the prophet said: "I will speak using stories; I will tell things that have been secret since the world was made."

36 Then Jesus left the crowd and went into the house. His followers came to him and said, "Explain to us the meaning of the story about the weeds in the field."

37 Jesus answered, "The man who planted the good seed in the field is the Son of Man.

38 The field is the world, and the good seed are all of God's children who belong to the kingdom. The weeds are those people who belong to the Evil One.

39 And the enemy who planted the bad seed is the devil. The harvest time is the end of the world, and the workers who gather are God's angels.

40 "Just as the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the world.

41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all who cause sin and all who do evil.

42 The angels will throw them into the blazing furnace, where the people will cry and grind their teeth with pain.

43 Then the good people will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. You people who can hear me, listen.

44 "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. One day a man found the treasure, and then he hid it in the field again. He was so happy that he went and sold everything he owned to buy that field.

45 "Also, the kingdom of heaven is like a man looking for fine pearls.

46 When he found a very valuable pearl, he went and sold everything he had and bought it.

47 "Also, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was put into the lake and caught many different kinds of fish.

48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled the net to the shore. They sat down and put all the good fish in baskets and threw away the bad fish.

49 It will be this way at the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the evil people from the good people.

50 The angels will throw the evil people into the blazing furnace, where people will cry and grind their teeth with pain."

51 Jesus asked his followers, "Do you understand all these things?" They answered, "Yes, we understand."

52 Then Jesus said to them, "So every teacher of the law who has been taught about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house. He brings out both new things and old things he has saved."

53 When Jesus finished teaching with these stories, he left there.

54 He went to his hometown and taught the people in the synagogue, and they were amazed. They said, "Where did this man get this wisdom and this power to do miracles?

55 He is just the son of a carpenter. His mother is Mary, and his brothers are James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas.

56 And all his sisters are here with us. Where then does this man get all these things?"

57 So the people were upset with Jesus. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is honored everywhere except in his hometown and in his own home."

58 So he did not do many miracles there because they had no faith.

Matthew 14:1-12

1 At that time Herod, the ruler of Galilee, heard the reports about Jesus.

2 So he said to his servants, "Jesus is John the Baptist, who has risen from the dead. That is why he can work these miracles."

3 Sometime before this, Herod had arrested John, tied him up, and put him into prison. Herod did this because of Herodias, who had been the wife of Philip, Herod's brother.

4 John had been telling Herod, "It is not lawful for you to be married to Herodias."

5 Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they believed John was a prophet.

6 On Herod's birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced for Herod and his guests, and she pleased him.

7 So he promised with an oath to give her anything she wanted.

8 Herodias told her daughter what to ask for, so she said to Herod, "Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter."

9 Although King Herod was very sad, he had made a promise, and his dinner guests had heard him. So Herod ordered that what she asked for be done.

10 He sent soldiers to the prison to cut off John's head.

11 And they brought it on a platter and gave it to the girl, and she took it to her mother.

12 John's followers came and got his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.