The Message Bible MSG
New Living Translation NLT
1 On a certain Sabbath Jesus was walking through a field of ripe grain. His disciples were pulling off heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands to get rid of the chaff, and eating them.
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One Sabbath day as Jesus was walking through some grainfields, his disciples broke off heads of grain, rubbed off the husks in their hands, and ate the grain.
2 Some Pharisees said, "Why are you doing that, breaking a Sabbath rule?"
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But some Pharisees said, “Why are you breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath?”
3 But Jesus stood up for them. "Have you never read what David and those with him did when they were hungry?
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Jesus replied, “Haven’t you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry?
4 How he entered the sanctuary and ate fresh bread off the altar, bread that no one but priests were allowed to eat? He also handed it out to his companions."
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He went into the house of God and broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests can eat. He also gave some to his companions.”
5 Then he said, "The Son of Man is no slave to the Sabbath; he's in charge."
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And Jesus added, “The Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath.”
6 On another Sabbath he went to the meeting place and taught. There was a man there with a crippled right hand.
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On another Sabbath day, a man with a deformed right hand was in the synagogue while Jesus was teaching.
7 The religion scholars and Pharisees had their eye on Jesus to see if he would heal the man, hoping to catch him in a Sabbath infraction.
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The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees watched Jesus closely. If he healed the man’s hand, they planned to accuse him of working on the Sabbath.
8 He knew what they were up to and spoke to the man with the crippled hand: "Get up and stand here before us." He did.
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But Jesus knew their thoughts. He said to the man with the deformed hand, “Come and stand in front of everyone.” So the man came forward.
9 Then Jesus addressed them, "Let me ask you something: What kind of action suits the Sabbath best? Doing good or doing evil? Helping people or leaving them helpless?"
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Then Jesus said to his critics, “I have a question for you. Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?”
10 He looked around, looked each one in the eye. He said to the man, "Hold out your hand." He held it out - it was as good as new!
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He looked around at them one by one and then said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored!
11 They were beside themselves with anger, and started plotting how they might get even with him.
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At this, the enemies of Jesus were wild with rage and began to discuss what to do with him.
12 At about that same time he climbed a mountain to pray. He was there all night in prayer before God.
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One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night.
13 The next day he summoned his disciples; from them he selected twelve he designated as apostles:
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At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles. Here are their names:
14 Simon, whom he named Peter, Andrew, his brother, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew,
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Simon (whom he named Peter), Andrew (Peter’s brother), James, John, Philip, Bartholomew,
15 Matthew, Thomas, James, son of Alphaeus, Simon, called the Zealot,
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Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (who was called the zealot),
16 Judas, son of James, Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
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Judas (son of James), Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him).
17 Coming down off the mountain with them, he stood on a plain surrounded by disciples, and was soon joined by a huge congregation from all over Judea and Jerusalem, even from the seaside towns of Tyre and Sidon.
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When they came down from the mountain, the disciples stood with Jesus on a large, level area, surrounded by many of his followers and by the crowds. There were people from all over Judea and from Jerusalem and from as far north as the seacoasts of Tyre and Sidon.
18 They had come both to hear him and to be cured of their ailments. Those disturbed by evil spirits were healed.
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They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those troubled by evil spirits were healed.
19 Everyone was trying to touch him - so much energy surging from him, so many people healed!
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Everyone tried to touch him, because healing power went out from him, and he healed everyone.
20 Then he spoke: You're blessed when you've lost it all. God's kingdom is there for the finding.
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Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said, “God blesses you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours.
21 You're blessed when you're ravenously hungry. Then you're ready for the Messianic meal. You're blessed when the tears flow freely. Joy comes with the morning.
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God blesses you who are hungry now, for you will be satisfied. God blesses you who weep now, for in due time you will laugh.
22 "Count yourself blessed every time someone cuts you down or throws you out, every time someone smears or blackens your name to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and that that person is uncomfortable.
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What blessings await you when people hate you and exclude you and mock you and curse you as evil because you follow the Son of Man.
23 You can be glad when that happens - skip like a lamb, if you like! - for even though they don't like it, I do . . . and all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company; my preachers and witnesses have always been treated like this. Give Away Your Life
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When that happens, be happy! Yes, leap for joy! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, their ancestors treated the ancient prophets that same way.
24 But it's trouble ahead if you think you have it made. What you have is all you'll ever get.
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“What sorrow awaits you who are rich, for you have your only happiness now.
25 And it's trouble ahead if you're satisfied with yourself. Your self will not satisfy you for long. And it's trouble ahead if you think life's all fun and games. There's suffering to be met, and you're going to meet it.
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What sorrow awaits you who are fat and prosperous now, for a time of awful hunger awaits you. What sorrow awaits you who laugh now, for your laughing will turn to mourning and sorrow.
26 "There's trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters them, doing what indulges them. Popularity contests are not truth contests - look how many scoundrel preachers were approved by your ancestors! Your task is to be true, not popular.
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What sorrow awaits you who are praised by the crowds, for their ancestors also praised false prophets.
27 "To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst.
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“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you.
28 When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person.
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Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.
29 If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it.
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If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also.
30 If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.
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Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back.
31 "Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them!
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Do to others as you would like them to do to you.
32 If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that.
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“If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them!
33 If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that.
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And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much!
34 If you only give for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that's charity? The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that.
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And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.
35 "I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You'll never - I promise - regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we're at our worst.
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“Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.
36 Our Father is kind; you be kind.
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You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.
37 "Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults - unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don't condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you'll find life a lot easier.
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“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.
38 Give away your life; you'll find life given back, but not merely given back - given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity."
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Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back. ”
39 He quoted a proverb: "'Can a blind man guide a blind man?' Wouldn't they both end up in the ditch?
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Then Jesus gave the following illustration: “Can one blind person lead another? Won’t they both fall into a ditch?
40 An apprentice doesn't lecture the master. The point is to be careful who you follow as your teacher.
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Students are not greater than their teacher. But the student who is fully trained will become like the teacher.
41 "It's easy to see a smudge on your neighbor's face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own.
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“And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own?
42 Do you have the nerve to say, 'Let me wash your face for you,' when your own face is distorted by contempt? It's this I-know-better-than-you mentality again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your own part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.
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How can you think of saying, ‘Friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.
43 "You don't get wormy apples off a healthy tree, nor good apples off a diseased tree.
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“A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit.
44 The health of the apple tells the health of the tree. You must begin with your own life-giving lives.
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A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes.
45 It's who you are, not what you say and do, that counts. Your true being brims over into true words and deeds.
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A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.
46 "Why are you so polite with me, always saying 'Yes, sir,' and 'That's right, sir,' but never doing a thing I tell you?
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“So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?
47 These words I speak to you are not mere additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundation words, words to build a life on.
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I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it.
48 "If you work the words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who dug deep and laid the foundation of his house on bedrock. When the river burst its banks and crashed against the house, nothing could shake it; it was built to last.
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It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built.
49 But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don't work them into your life, you are like a dumb carpenter who built a house but skipped the foundation. When the swollen river came crashing in, it collapsed like a house of cards. It was a total loss."
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But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.”
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.