Hebrew Names Version HNV
The Message Bible MSG
1 "Don't judge, so that you won't be judged.
1
"Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults - unless, of course, you want the same treatment.
2 For with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you.
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That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging.
3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but don't consider the beam that is in your own eye?
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It's easy to see a smudge on your neighbor's face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own.
4 Or how will you tell your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye;' and behold, the beam is in your own eye?
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Do you have the nerve to say, 'Let me wash your face for you,' when your own face is distorted by contempt?
5 You hypocrite! First remove the beam out of your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother's eye.
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It's this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.
6 "Don't give that which is holy to the dogs, neither cast your pearls before the pigs, lest perhaps they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
6
"Don't be flip with the sacred. Banter and silliness give no honor to God. Don't reduce holy mysteries to slogans. In trying to be relevant, you're only being cute and inviting sacrilege.
7 "Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened to you.
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"Don't bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need.
8 For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened.
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This isn't a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we're in.
9 Or what man is there of you, who, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?
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If your child asks for bread, do you trick him with sawdust?
10 Or if he asks for a fish, who will give him a serpent?
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If he asks for fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate?
11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
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As bad as you are, you wouldn't think of such a thing. You're at least decent to your own children. So don't you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better?
12 Therefore whatever you desire for men to do to you, you shall also do to them; for this is the law and the prophets.
12
"Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God's Law and Prophets and this is what you get.
13 "Enter in by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter in by it.
13
"Don't look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don't fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do.
14 How narrow is the gate, and restricted is the way that leads to life! Few are those who find it.
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The way to life - to God! - is vigorous and requires total attention.
15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.
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"Be wary of false preachers who smile a lot, dripping with practiced sincerity. Chances are they are out to rip you off some way or other. Don't be impressed with charisma; look for character.
16 By their fruits you will know them. Do you gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?
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Who preachers are is the main thing, not what they say. A genuine leader will never exploit your emotions or your pocketbook. These diseased trees with their bad apples are going to be chopped down and burned.
17 Even so, every good tree brings forth good fruit; but the corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit.
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18 A good tree can't bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
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19 Every tree that doesn't grow good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire.
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20 Therefore, by their fruits you will know them.
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21 Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
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"Knowing the correct password - saying 'Master, Master,' for instance - isn't going to get you anywhere with me. What is required is serious obedience - doing what my Father wills.
22 Many will tell me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy by your name, by your name cast out demons, and by your name do many mighty works?'
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I can see it now - at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying, 'Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.'
23 Then I will tell them, 'I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.'
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And do you know what I am going to say? 'You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don't impress me one bit. You're out of here.'
24 "Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house on a rock.
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"These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock.
25 The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it didn't fall, for it was founded on the rock.
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Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit - but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock.
26 Everyone who hears these words of mine, and doesn't do them will be like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand.
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"But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don't work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach.
27 The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it fell -- and great was its fall."
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When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards."
28 It happened, when Yeshua had finished saying these things, that the multitudes were astonished at his teaching,
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When Jesus concluded his address, the crowd burst into applause. They had never heard teaching like this.
29 for he taught them with authority, and not like the Sofrim.
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It was apparent that he was living everything he was saying - quite a contrast to their religion teachers! This was the best teaching they had ever heard.
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.
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.