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Chapter
1. The genealogy of Christ: he is conceived and born
of a virgin.
Chapter
2. The offerings of the wise men: the flight into
Egypt: the massacre of the Innocents.
Chapter
3. The preaching of John: Christ is baptized.
Chapter
4. Christ's fast of forty days: He is tempted. He
begins to preach, to call disciples to him, and to work miracles.
Chapter
5. Christ's sermon upon the mount. The eight
beatitudes.
Chapter
6. A continuation of the sermon on the mount.
Chapter
7. The third part of the sermon on the mount.
Chapter
8. Christ cleanses the leper, heals the centurion's
servant, Peter's mother-in-law, and many others: he stills the storm at
sea, drives the devils out of two men possessed, and suffers them to go
into the swine.
Chapter
9. Christ heals one sick of palsy: calls Matthew:
cures the issue of blood: raises to life the daughter of Jairus: gives
sight to two blind men: and heals a dumb man possessed by the devil.
Chapter
10. Christ sends out his twelve apostles, with the
power of miracles. The lessons he gives them.
Chapter
11. John sends his disciples to Christ, who upbraids
the Jews for their incredulity, and calls to him such as are sensible
of their burdens.
Chapter
12. Christ reproves the blindness of the Pharisees,
and confutes their attributing his miracles to Satan.
Chapter
13. The parables of the sower and the cockle: of the
mustard seed, etc.
Chapter
14. Herod puts John to death. Christ feeds five
thousand in the desert. He walks upon the sea, and heals all the
diseased with the touch of his garment.
Chapter
15. Christ reproves the Scribes. He cures the daughter
of the woman of Canaan: and many others: and feeds four thousand with
seven loaves
Chapter
16. Christ refuses to shew the Pharisees a sign from
heaven. Peter's confession is rewarded. He is rebuked for opposing
Christ's passion. All his followers must deny themselves.
Chapter
17. The Transfiguration of Christ: He cures the
lunatic child: foretells his passion; and pays the didrachma.
Chapter
18. Christ teaches humility, to beware of scandal, and
to flee the occasions of sin: to denounce to the church incorrigible
sinners, and to look upon such as refuse to hear the church as
heathens. He promises to his disciples the power of binding and
loosing: and that he will be in the midst of their assemblies. No
forgiveness for them that will not forgive.
Chapter
19. Christ declares matrimony to be indissoluble: he
recommends the making one's self an eunuch for the kingdom of heaven;
and parting with all things for him. He shews the danger of riches, and
the reward of leaving all to follow him.
Chapter
20. The parable of the labourers in the vineyard. The
ambition of the two sons of Zebedee. Christ gives sight to two blind
men.
Chapter
21. Christ rides into Jerusalem upon an ass. He casts
the buyers and sellers out of the temple, curses the fig tree and puts
to silence the priests and scribes.
Chapter
22. The parable of the marriage feast. Christ orders
tribute to be paid to Caesar. He confutes the Sadducees, shews which is
the first commandment in the law and puzzles the Pharisees.
Chapter
23. Christ admonishes the people to follow the good
doctrine, not the bad example of the scribes and Pharisees. He warns
his disciples not to imitate their ambition and denounces divers woes
against them for their hypocrisy and blindness.
Chapter
24. Christ foretells the destruction of the temple,
with the signs that shall come before it and before the last judgment.
We must always watch.
Chapter
25. The parable of the ten virgins and of the talents.
The description of the last judgment.
Chapter
26. The Jews conspire against Christ. He is anointed
by Mary. The treason of Judas. The last supper. The prayer in the
garden. The apprehension of our Lord. His treatment in the house of
Caiphas.
Chapter
27. The continuation of the history of the passion of
Christ. His death and burial.
Chapter
28. The resurrection of Christ. His commission to his
disciples.
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By Mons. Dr. Juan Straubinger
Little
is know about the life of
Matthew, known earlier as Levi. He was
a publican, that is, a tax collector for the Roman Empire at Capernaum
until the day Jesus called him to the discipleship, by simply saying to
him:
"'Follow Me.' So he arose and
followed Him." (
Mt
9:9)
His apostolic life started in Palestine, with the other Apostles; later
on he may have preached in Ethiopia, where there is indication that he
suffered martyrdom. His body is venerated in the Salermo Cathedral
(Italy); his feast day is celebrated on September 21st.
Matthew was the first one to
write the Good News in book form, somewhere between the years
40-50 A.D. He wrote it in aramaic for the Jews in Palestine who used
that language. Later on this Gospel, whose original text in aramaic was
lost, was translated to Greek.
Matthew's objective was to demonstrate that Jesus was indeed the
promised Messiah because in Him all the prophecies of the old Prophets
had been fulfilled. For his particular audience this was the best
proof. Even today one can still feel the overwhelming power of such
confirmation as we read Matthew's Gospel.
(*) A translation from
the Straubinger Spanish Bible. Not a part of the World English
Bible.
Beginning of Note | Index
MATTHEW
1
The
genealogy of Christ: he is conceived and born of a virgin.
1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, (*) the
son of David, the son of Abraham. 2 Abraham became the father of Isaac.
Isaac became the father of Jacob. Jacob became the father of Judah and
his brothers. 3 Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar.
Perez became the father of Hezron. Hezron became the father of Ram. 4
Ram became the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of
Nahshon. Nahshon became the father of Salmon. 5 Salmon became the
father of Boaz by Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed by Ruth. Obed
became the father of Jesse.
6 Jesse became the father of King David. David the
king (†) became the father of Solomon by her who had been Uriah’s wife.
7 Solomon became the father of Rehoboam. Rehoboam became the father of
Abijah. Abijah became the father of Asa. 8 Asa became the father of
Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat became the father of Joram. Joram became the
father of Uzziah. 9 Uzziah became the father of Jotham. Jotham became
the father of Ahaz. Ahaz became the father of Hezekiah. 10 Hezekiah
became the father of Manasseh. Manasseh became the father of Amon. Amon
became the father of Josiah.
11 Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his
brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon. 12 After the exile to
Babylon, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel. Shealtiel became the
father of Zerubbabel. 13 Zerubbabel became the father of Abiud. Abiud
became the father of Eliakim. Eliakim became the father of Azor. 14
Azor became the father of Zadok. Zadok became the father of Achim.
Achim became the father of Eliud. 15 Eliud became the father of
Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan. Matthan became the
father of Jacob.
16 Jacob became the father of Joseph, the husband of
Mary, from whom was born Jesus, (‡) who is called Christ. 17 So all the
generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David
to the exile to Babylon fourteen generations; and from the carrying
away to Babylon to the Christ, fourteen generations. 18 Now the birth
of Jesus Christ was like this: After his mother, Mary, was engaged to
Joseph, before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Holy
Spirit. 19 Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing
to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly. 20 But
when he thought about these things, behold, (§) an angel of the Lord
appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be
afraid to take to yourself Mary as your wife, for that which is
conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
21 She shall give birth to a son. You shall name him
Jesus, (*) for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.” 22
Now all this has happened that it might be fulfilled which was spoken
by the Lord through the prophet, saying, 23 “Behold, the virgin shall
be with child, and shall give birth to a son. They shall call his name
Immanuel,” which is, being interpreted, “God with us.” (✡) 24 Joseph
arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him,
and took his wife to himself; 25 and didn’t know her sexually until she
had given birth to her firstborn son. He named him Jesus.
(*) 1:1 Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) both mean “Anointed
One”
(†) 1:6 NU omits “the king”.
(‡) 1:16 “Jesus” means “Salvation”.
(§) 1:20 “Behold”, from “ἰδοὺ”, means look at, take notice, observe,
see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.
(*) 1:21 “Jesus” means “Salvation”.
(✡) 1:23 Isaiah 7:14
Beginning
of Chapter | Index
MATTHEW
2
The
offerings of the wise men: the
flight into Egypt: the massacre of the Innocents.
1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in
the days of King Herod, behold, wise men (*) from the east came to
Jerusalem, saying, 2 “Where is he who is born King of the Jews? For we
saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him.” 3 When King
Herod heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4
Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he
asked them where the Christ would be born. 5 They said to him, “In
Bethlehem of Judea, for this is written through the prophet,
6 ‘You Bethlehem, land of Judah, are in no way least
among the princes of Judah; for out of you shall come a governor who
shall shepherd my people, Israel.’ ” (✡) 7 Then Herod secretly called
the wise men, and learned from them exactly what time the star
appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem, and said, “Go and search
diligently for the young child. When you have found him, bring me word,
so that I also may come and worship him.” 9 They, having heard the
king, went their way; and behold, the star, which they saw in the east,
went before them until it came and stood over where the young child
was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great
joy.
11 They came into the house and saw the young child
with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Opening
their treasures, they offered to him gifts: gold, frankincense, and
myrrh. 12 Being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went
back to their own country another way. 13 Now when they had departed,
behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying,
“Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt,
and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child to
destroy him.” 14 He arose and took the young child and his mother by
night and departed into Egypt, 15 and was there until the death of
Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through
the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” (✡)
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the
wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent out and killed all the male
children who were in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding countryside,
from two years old and under, according to the exact time which he had
learned from the wise men. 17 Then that which was spoken by Jeremiah
the prophet was fulfilled, saying, 18 “A voice was heard in Ramah,
lamentation, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her
children; she wouldn’t be comforted, because they are no more.” (✡) 19
But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a
dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, 20 “Arise and take the young child
and his mother, and go into the land of Israel, for those who sought
the young child’s life are dead.”
21 He arose and took the young child and his mother,
and came into the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus
was reigning over Judea in the place of his father, Herod, he was
afraid to go there. Being warned in a dream, he withdrew into the
region of Galilee, 23 and came and lived in a city called Nazareth;
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets that
he will be called a Nazarene.
(*) 2:1 The word for “wise men” (magoi) can also mean
teachers, scientists, physicians, astrologers, seers, interpreters of
dreams, or sorcerers.
(✡) 2:6 Micah 5:2
(✡) 2:15 Hosea 11:1
(✡) 2:18 Jeremiah 31:15
Beginning
of Chapter | Index
MATTHEW
3
The preaching of
John: Christ is baptized.
1 In those days, John the Baptizer came, preaching in
the wilderness of Judea, saying, 2 “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven
is at hand!” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet,
saying, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, make the way of the
Lord ready! Make his paths straight!” (✡) 4 Now John himself wore
clothing made of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist. His
food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then people from Jerusalem, all of
Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him.
6 They were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing
their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees
coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers, who
warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore produce fruit
worthy of repentance! 9 Don’t think to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for
our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to
Abraham from these stones. 10 Even now the ax lies at the root of the
trees. Therefore every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut
down, and cast into the fire.
11 “I indeed baptize you in water for repentance,
but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not
worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit. (*) 12 His
winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his
threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff
he will burn up with unquenchable fire.” 13 Then Jesus came from
Galilee to the Jordan (†) to John, to be baptized by him. 14 But John
would have hindered him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and you
come to me?” 15 But Jesus, answering, said to him, “Allow it now, for
this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he
allowed him.
16 Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly
from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the
Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him. 17 Behold, a
voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am
well pleased.”
(✡) 3:3 Isaiah 40:3
(*) 3:11 TR and NU add “and with fire”
(†) 3:13 i.e., the Jordan River
Beginning
of Chapter | Index
MATTHEW
4
Christ's
fast of forty days: He is
tempted. He begins to preach, to call disciples to him, and to work
miracles.
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the
wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 When he had fasted forty days
and forty nights, he was hungry afterward. 3 The tempter came and said
to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become
bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread
alone, but by every word that proceeds out of God’s mouth.’ ” (✡) 5
Then the devil took him into the holy city. He set him on the pinnacle
of the temple,
6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw
yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels
concerning you,’ and, ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that
you don’t dash your foot against a stone.’ ” (✡) 7 Jesus said to him,
“Again, it is written, ‘You shall not test the Lord, your God.’ ” (✡) 8
Again, the devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed
him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 He said to him, “I
will give you all of these things, if you will fall down and worship
me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Get behind me, (*)Satan! For it is
written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him
only.’ ” (✡)
11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came
and served him.
12 Now when Jesus heard that John was delivered up,
he withdrew into
Galilee. 13 Leaving Nazareth, he came and lived in Capernaum, which is
by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 that it might be
fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, 15 “The
land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, beyond the
Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles,
16 the people who sat in darkness saw a great light;
to those who sat
in the region and shadow of death, to them light has dawned.” (✡) 17
From that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say, “Repent! For the
Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” 18 Walking by the sea of Galilee, he (†)
saw two brothers: Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother,
casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 He said to
them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers for men.” 20 They
immediately left their nets and followed him.
21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers,
James the son of
Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father,
mending their nets. He called them. 22 They immediately left the boat
and their father, and followed him. 23 Jesus went about in all Galilee,
teaching in their synagogues, preaching the Good News of the Kingdom,
and healing every disease and every sickness among the people. 24 The
report about him went out into all Syria. They brought to him all who
were sick, afflicted with various diseases and torments, possessed with
demons, epileptics, and paralytics; and he healed them. 25 Great
multitudes from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond
the Jordan followed him.
(✡) 4:4 Deuteronomy 8:3
(✡) 4:6 Psalm 91:11-12
(✡) 4:7 Deuteronomy 6:16
(*) 4:10 TR and NU read “Go away” instead of “Get behind me”
(✡) 4:10 Deuteronomy 6:13
(✡) 4:16 Isaiah 9:1-2
(†) 4:18 TR reads “Jesus” instead of “he”
Beginning
of Chapter | Index
MATTHEW
5
Christ's
sermon upon the mount. The
eight beatitudes.
1 Seeing the multitudes, he went up onto the
mountain. When he had sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 He opened
his mouth and taught them, saying, 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. (✡) 4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they shall be comforted. (✡) 5 Blessed are the gentle, for they
shall inherit the earth. (*)(✡)
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness, for they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they
shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called
children of God. 10 Blessed are those who have been persecuted for
righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people reproach you,
persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my
sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in
heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before
you. 13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its
flavor, with what will it be salted? It is then good for nothing, but
to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men. 14 You are the light
of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden. 15 Neither do
you light a lamp and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand;
and it shines to all who are in the house.
16 Even so, let your light shine before men, that
they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
17 “Don’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I
didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfill. 18 For most certainly, I tell
you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter (†)
or one tiny pen stroke (‡) shall in any way pass away from the law,
until all things are accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever shall break
one of these least commandments and teach others to do so, shall be
called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever shall do and teach
them shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. 20 For I tell you
that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and
Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
21 “You have heard that it was said to the ancient
ones, ‘You shall not murder;’ (✡) and ‘Whoever murders will be in
danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that everyone who is angry
with his brother without a cause (§) will be in danger of the judgment.
Whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ (*) will be in danger of the
council. Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of
Gehenna. (†) 23 “If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar,
and there remember that your brother has anything against you, 24 leave
your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled
to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Agree with your
adversary quickly while you are with him on the way; lest perhaps the
prosecutor deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the
officer, and you be cast into prison.
26 Most certainly I tell you, you shall by no means
get out of there until you have paid the last penny. (‡) 27 “You have
heard that it was said, (§) ‘You shall not commit adultery;’ (✡) 28 but
I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has
committed adultery with her already in his heart. 29 If your right eye
causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it
is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish than
for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna. (*) 30 If your right hand
causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it
is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than
for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna. (†)
31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever shall put away his
wife, let him give her a writing of divorce,’ (✡) 32 but I tell you
that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual
immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she
is put away commits adultery. 33 “Again you have heard that it was said
to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall perform
to the Lord your vows,’ (✡) 34 but I tell you, don’t swear at all:
neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God; 35 nor by the earth,
for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the
city of the great King.
36 Neither shall you swear by your head, for you
can’t make one hair white or black. 37 But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and
your ‘No’ be ‘No.’ Whatever is more than these is of 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 resist him who is evil; but
whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40
If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak also.
41 Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him
two. 42 Give to him who asks you, and don’t turn away him who desires
to borrow from you. 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall
love your neighbor (✡) and hate your enemy.’ (‡) 44 But I tell
you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who
hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, 45
that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes
his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just
and the unjust.
46 For if you love those who love you, what reward
do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 47 If you only
greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax
collectors (§) do the same? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as
your Father in heaven is perfect.
(✡) 5:3 Isaiah 57:15; 66:2
(✡) 5:4 Isaiah 61:2; 66:10,13
(*) 5:5 or, land.
(✡) 5:5 Psalm 37:11
(†) 5:18 literally, iota
(‡) 5:18 or, serif
(✡) 5:21 Exodus 20:13
(§) 5:22 NU omits “without a cause”.
(*) 5:22 “Raca” is an Aramaic insult, related to the word for “empty”
and conveying the idea of empty-headedness.
(†) 5:22 or, Hell
(‡) 5:26 literally, kodrantes. A kodrantes was a small copper coin
worth about 2 lepta (widow’s mites) — not enough to buy very much of
anything.
(§) 5:27 TR adds “to the ancients”.
(✡) 5:27 Exodus 20:14
(*) 5:29 or, Hell
(†) 5:30 or, Hell
(✡) 5:31 Deuteronomy 24:1
(✡) 5:33 Numbers 30:2; Deuteronomy 23:21; Ecclesiastes 5:4
(✡) 5:38 Exodus 21:24; Leviticus 24:20; Deuteronomy 19:21
(✡) 5:43 Leviticus 19:18
(‡) 5:43 not in the Bible, but see Qumran Manual of Discipline Ix, 21-26
(§) 5:47 NU reads “Gentiles” instead of “tax collectors”.
Beginning
of Chapter | Index
MATTHEW
6
A
continuation of the sermon on the
mount.
1 “Be careful that you don’t do your charitable
giving (*) before men, to be seen by them, or else you have no reward
from your Father who is in heaven. 2 Therefore, when you do merciful
deeds, don’t sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do in
the synagogues and in the streets, that they may get glory from men.
Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward. 3 But when
you do merciful deeds, don’t let your left hand know what your right
hand does, 4 so that your merciful deeds may be in secret, then your
Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 5 “When you pray, you
shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the
synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by
men. Most certainly, I tell you, they have received their reward.
6 But you, when you pray, enter into your inner room,
and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret; and
your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 In praying,
don’t use vain repetitions as the Gentiles do; for they think that they
will be heard for their much speaking. 8 Therefore don’t be like them,
for your Father knows what things you need before you ask him. 9 Pray
like this: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. 10 Let
your Kingdom come. Let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 Forgive us our
debts, as we also forgive our debtors. 13 Bring us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power,
and the glory forever. Amen.’ (†) 14 “For if you forgive men their
trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you
don’t forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive
your trespasses.
16 “Moreover when you fast, don’t be like the
hypocrites, with sad faces. For they disfigure their faces that they
may be seen by men to be fasting. Most certainly I tell you, they have
received their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and
wash your face, 18 so that you are not seen by men to be fasting, but
by your Father who is in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret,
will reward you. 19 “Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the
earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and
steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither
moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don’t break through and steal;
21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will
be also. 22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is
sound, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is
evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light
that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! 24 “No one can
serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other,
or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can’t
serve both God and Mammon. 25 Therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious
for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for
your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food, and the body
more than clothing?
26 See the birds of the sky, that they don’t sow,
neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds
them. Aren’t you of much more value than they? 27 “Which of you by
being anxious, can add one moment (‡) to his lifespan? 28 Why are you
anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they
grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin, 29 yet I tell you that
even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these. 30 But
if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today exists and
tomorrow is thrown into the oven, won’t he much more clothe you, you of
little faith?
31 “Therefore don’t be anxious, saying, ‘What will
we eat?’, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘With what will we be clothed?’ 32
For the Gentiles seek after all these things; for your heavenly Father
knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first God’s Kingdom
and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as
well. 34 Therefore don’t be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be
anxious for itself. Each day’s own evil is sufficient.
(*) 6:1 NU reads “acts of righteousness” instead of “charitable
giving”
(†) 6:13 NU omits “For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory
forever. Amen.”
(‡) 6:27 literally, cubit
Beginning
of Chapter | Index
MATTHEW
7
The third part of
the sermon on the
mount.
1 “Don’t judge, so that you won’t be judged. 2 For
with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever
measure you measure, it will be measured to you. 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? 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? 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.
6 “Don’t give that which is holy to the dogs, neither
throw your pearls before the pigs, lest perhaps they trample them under
their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. 7 “Ask, and it will be
given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for
you. 8 For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who
knocks it will be opened. 9 Or who is there among you who, if his son
asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish,
who will give him a serpent?
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! 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. 13 “Enter in by the narrow gate; for the gate is
wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many
who enter in by it. 14 How (*) narrow is the gate and the way is
restricted that leads to life! There are few who find it. 15 “Beware of
false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are
ravening wolves.
16 By their fruits you will know them. Do you gather
grapes from thorns or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree
produces good fruit, but the corrupt tree produces evil fruit. 18 A
good tree can’t produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce
good fruit. 19 Every tree that doesn’t grow good fruit is cut down and
thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
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. 22 Many will tell me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t
we prophesy in your name, in your name cast out demons, and in your
name do many mighty works?’ 23 Then I will tell them, ‘I never knew
you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.’ 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. 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.
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. 27 The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew and
beat on that house; and it fell — and its fall was great.” 28 When
Jesus had finished saying these things, the multitudes were astonished
at his teaching, 29 for he taught them with authority, and not like the
scribes.
(*) 7:14 TR reads “Because” instead of “How”
Beginning
of Chapter | Index
MATTHEW
8
Christ
cleanses the leper, heals the
centurion's servant, Peter's mother-in-law, and many others: he stills
the storm at sea, drives the devils out of two men possessed, and
suffers them to go into the swine.
1 When he came down from the mountain, great
multitudes followed him. 2
Behold, a leper came to him and worshiped him, saying, “Lord, if you
want to, you can make me clean.” 3 Jesus stretched out his hand and
touched him, saying, “I want to. Be made clean.” Immediately his
leprosy was cleansed. 4 Jesus said to him, “See that you tell nobody;
but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses
commanded, as a testimony to them.” 5 When he came into Capernaum, a
centurion came to him, asking him for help,
6 saying, “Lord, my servant lies in the house
paralyzed, grievously
tormented.” 7 Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 8 The
centurion answered, “Lord, I’m not worthy for you to come under my
roof. Just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I am also
a man under authority, having under myself soldiers. I tell this one,
‘Go,’ and he goes; and tell another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and tell my
servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard it, he
marveled and said to those who followed, “Most certainly I tell you, I
haven’t found so great a faith, not even in Israel.
11 I tell you that many will come from the east and
the west, and will
sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven, 12
but the children of the Kingdom will be thrown out into the outer
darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 Jesus said
to the centurion, “Go your way. Let it be done for you as you have
believed.” His servant was healed in that hour. 14 When Jesus came into
Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever. 15 He
touched her hand, and the fever left her. So she got up and served him.
(*)
16 When evening came, they brought to him many
possessed with demons.
He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, 17
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet,
saying, “He took our infirmities and bore our diseases.” (✡) 18 Now
when Jesus saw great multitudes around him, he gave the order to depart
to the other side. 19 A scribe came and said to him, “Teacher, I will
follow you wherever you go.” 20 Jesus said to him, “The foxes have
holes and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has
nowhere to lay his head.”
21 Another of his disciples said to him, “Lord,
allow me first to go
and bury my father.” 22 But Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave
the dead to bury their own dead.” 23 When he got into a boat, his
disciples followed him. 24 Behold, a violent storm came up on the sea,
so much that the boat was covered with the waves; but he was asleep. 25
The disciples came to him and woke him up, saying, “Save us, Lord! We
are dying!”
26 He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of
little faith?” Then
he got up, rebuked the wind and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27
The men marveled, saying, “What kind of man is this, that even the wind
and the sea obey him?” 28 When he came to the other side, into the
country of the Gergesenes, (†) two people possessed by demons met him
there, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that nobody
could pass that way. 29 Behold, they cried out, saying, “What do we
have to do with you, Jesus, Son of God? Have you come here to torment
us before the time?” 30 Now there was a herd of many pigs feeding far
away from them.
31 The demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us
out, permit us to go
away into the herd of pigs.” 32 He said to them, “Go!” They came out
and went into the herd of pigs; and behold, the whole herd of pigs
rushed down the cliff into the sea and died in the water. 33 Those who
fed them fled and went away into the city and told everything,
including what happened to those who were possessed with demons. 34
Behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus. When they saw him, they
begged that he would depart from their borders.
(*) 8:15 TR reads “them” instead of “him”
(✡) 8:17 Isaiah 53:4
(†) 8:28 NU reads “Gadarenes”
Beginning
of Chapter | Index
MATTHEW
9
Christ
heals one sick of palsy: calls
Matthew: cures the issue of blood: raises to life the daughter of
Jairus: gives sight to two blind men: and heals a dumb man possessed by
the devil.
1 He entered into a boat and crossed over, and came
into his own city. 2 Behold, they brought to him a man who was
paralyzed, lying on a bed. Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the
paralytic, “Son, cheer up! Your sins are forgiven you.” 3 Behold, some
of the scribes said to themselves, “This man blasphemes.” 4 Jesus,
knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5
For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven;’ or to say, ‘Get
up, and walk?’
6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has
authority on earth to forgive sins —” (then he said to the paralytic),
“Get up, and take up your mat, and go to your house.” 7 He arose and
departed to his house. 8 But when the multitudes saw it, they marveled
and glorified God, who had given such authority to men. 9 As Jesus
passed by from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax
collection office. He said to him, “Follow me.” He got up and followed
him. 10 As he sat in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners
came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples.
11 When the Pharisees saw it, they said to his
disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
12 When Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are healthy have no
need for a physician, but those who are sick do. 13 But you go and
learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ (✡) for I
came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (*) 14 Then
John’s disciples came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast
often, but your disciples don’t fast?” 15 Jesus said to them, “Can the
friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?
But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from
them, and then they will fast.
16 No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old
garment; for the patch would tear away from the garment, and a worse
hole is made. 17 Neither do people put new wine into old wine skins, or
else the skins would burst, and the wine be spilled, and the skins
ruined. No, they put new wine into fresh wine skins, and both are
preserved.” 18 While he told these things to them, behold, a ruler came
and worshiped him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay
your hand on her, and she will live.” 19 Jesus got up and followed him,
as did his disciples. 20 Behold, a woman who had a discharge of blood
for twelve years came behind him, and touched the fringe (†) of his
garment;
21 for she said within herself, “If I just touch his
garment, I will be made well.” 22 But Jesus, turning around and seeing
her, said, “Daughter, cheer up! Your faith has made you well.” And the
woman was made well from that hour. 23 When Jesus came into the ruler’s
house and saw the flute players and the crowd in noisy disorder, 24 he
said to them, “Make room, because the girl isn’t dead, but sleeping.”
They were ridiculing him. 25 But when the crowd was sent out, he
entered in, took her by the hand, and the girl arose.
26 The report of this went out into all that land.
27 As Jesus passed by from there, two blind men followed him, calling
out and saying, “Have mercy on us, son of David!” 28 When he had come
into the house, the blind men came to him. Jesus said to them, “Do you
believe that I am able to do this?” They told him, “Yes, Lord.” 29 Then
he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to
you.” 30 Then their eyes were opened. Jesus strictly commanded them,
saying, “See that no one knows about this.”
31 But they went out and spread abroad his fame in
all that land. 32 As they went out, behold, a mute man who was demon
possessed was brought to him. 33 When the demon was cast out, the mute
man spoke. The multitudes marveled, saying, “Nothing like this has ever
been seen in Israel!” 34 But the Pharisees said, “By the prince of the
demons, he casts out demons.” 35 Jesus went about all the cities and
the villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the Good News
of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the
people.
36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with
compassion for them because they were harassed (‡) and scattered, like
sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The
harvest indeed is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Pray
therefore that the Lord of the harvest will send out laborers into his
harvest.”
(✡) 9:13 Hosea 6:6
(*) 9:13 NU omits “to repentance”.
(†) 9:20 or, tassel
(‡) 9:36 TR reads “weary” instead of “harassed”
Beginning
of Chapter | Index
MATTHEW
10
Christ
sends out his twelve apostles,
with the power of miracles. The lessons he gives them.
1 He called to himself his twelve disciples, and
gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal
every disease and every sickness. 2 Now the names of the twelve
apostles are these. The first, Simon, who is called Peter; Andrew, his
brother; James the son of Zebedee; John, his brother; 3 Philip;
Bartholomew; Thomas; Matthew the tax collector; James the son of
Alphaeus; Lebbaeus, who was also called (*) Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the
Zealot; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. 5 Jesus sent these
twelve out and commanded them, saying, “Don’t go among the Gentiles,
and don’t enter into any city of the Samaritans.
6 Rather, go to the lost sheep of the house of
Israel. 7 As you go, preach, saying, ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is at
hand!’ 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, (†) and cast out demons.
Freely you received, so freely give. 9 Don’t take any gold, silver, or
brass in your money belts. 10 Take no bag for your journey, neither two
coats, nor sandals, nor staff: for the laborer is worthy of his food.
11 Into whatever city or village you enter, find
out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you go on. 12 As you
enter into the household, greet it. 13 If the household is worthy, let
your peace come on it, but if it isn’t worthy, let your peace return to
you. 14 Whoever doesn’t receive you or hear your words, as you go out
of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet. 15 Most
certainly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom
and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.
16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep among wolves.
Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. 17 But beware of
men, for they will deliver you up to councils, and in their synagogues
they will scourge you. 18 Yes, and you will be brought before governors
and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the nations. 19
But when they deliver you up, don’t be anxious how or what you will
say, for it will be given you in that hour what you will say. 20 For it
is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
21 “Brother will deliver up brother to death, and
the father his child. Children will rise up against parents and cause
them to be put to death. 22 You will be hated by all men for my name’s
sake, but he who endures to the end will be saved. 23 But when they
persecute you in this city, flee into the next, for most certainly I
tell you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel until the
Son of Man has come. 24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a
servant above his lord. 25 It is enough for the disciple that he be
like his teacher, and the servant like his lord. If they have called
the master of the house Beelzebul, (‡) how much more those of his
household!
26 Therefore don’t be afraid of them, for there is
nothing covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be
known. 27 What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what
you hear whispered in the ear, proclaim on the housetops. 28 Don’t be
afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul.
Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.
(§) 29 “Aren’t two sparrows sold for an assarion coin? (*) Not one of
them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 30 But the very
hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 Therefore don’t be afraid. You are of more value
than many sparrows. 32 Everyone therefore who confesses me before men,
I will also confess him before my Father who is in heaven. 33 But
whoever denies me before men, I will also deny him before my Father who
is in heaven. 34 “Don’t think that I came to send peace on the earth. I
didn’t come to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I came to set a man at
odds against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a
daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
36 A man’s foes will be those of his own household.
(✡) 37 He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me;
and he who loves son or daughter more than me isn’t worthy of me. 38 He
who doesn’t take his cross and follow after me isn’t worthy of me. 39
He who seeks his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my
sake will find it. 40 “He who receives you receives me, and he who
receives me receives him who sent me.
41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a
prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. He who receives a righteous
man in the name of a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s
reward. 42 Whoever gives one of these little ones just a cup of cold
water to drink in the name of a disciple, most certainly I tell you, he
will in no way lose his reward.”
(*) 10:3 NU omits “Lebbaeus, who was also called”
(†) 10:8 TR adds “raise the dead,”
(‡) 10:25 Literally, Lord of the Flies, or the devil
(§) 10:28 or, Hell.
(*) 10:29 An assarion is a small coin worth one tenth of a drachma or a
sixteenth of a denarius. An assarion is approximately the wages of one
half hour of agricultural labor.
(✡) 10:36 Micah 7:6
Beginning
of Chapter | Index
MATTHEW
11
John
sends his disciples to Christ, who
upbraids the Jews for their incredulity, and calls to him such as are
sensible of their burdens.
1 When Jesus had finished directing his twelve
disciples, he departed from there to teach and preach in their cities.
2 Now when John heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of
his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you he who comes, or should we
look for another?” 4 Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John the things
which you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight, the lame walk,
the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, (✡) the dead are raised up, and
the poor have good news preached to them. (✡)
6 Blessed is he who finds no occasion for stumbling
in me.” 7 As these went their way, Jesus began to say to the multitudes
concerning John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A
reed shaken by the wind? 8 But what did you go out to see? A man in
soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’
houses. 9 But why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you,
and much more than a prophet. 10 For this is he, of whom it is written,
‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your
way before you.’ (✡)
11 Most certainly I tell you, among those who are
born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the
Baptizer; yet he who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than
he. 12 From the days of John the Baptizer until now, the Kingdom of
Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. (*) 13 For
all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 If you are
willing to receive it, this is Elijah, who is to come. 15 He who has
ears to hear, let him hear.
16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It
is like children sitting in the marketplaces, who call to their
companions 17 and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you didn’t
dance. We mourned for you, and you didn’t lament.’ 18 For John came
neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son
of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous
man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom
is justified by her children.” (†) 20 Then he began to denounce the
cities in which most of his mighty works had been done, because they
didn’t repent.
21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!
For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done
in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22
But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day
of judgment than for you. 23 You, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven,
you will go down to Hades. (‡) For if the mighty works had been done in
Sodom which were done in you, it would have remained until today. 24
But I tell you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on
the day of judgment, than for you.” 25 At that time, Jesus answered, “I
thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you hid these things
from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to infants.
26 Yes, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in your
sight. 27 All things have been delivered to me by my Father. No one
knows the Son, except the Father; neither does anyone know the Father,
except the Son and he to whom the Son desires to reveal him. 28 “Come
to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you
rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and
humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke
is easy, and my burden is light.”
(✡) 11:5 Isaiah 35:5
(✡) 11:5 Isaiah 61:1-4
(✡) 11:10 Malachi 3:1
(*) 11:12 or, plunder it.
(†) 11:19 NU reads “actions” instead of “children”
(‡) 11:23 or, Hell
Beginning
of Chapter | Index
MATTHEW
12
Christ
reproves the blindness of the
Pharisees, and confutes their attributing his miracles to Satan.
1 At that time, Jesus went on the Sabbath day
through the grain fields. His disciples were hungry and began to pluck
heads of grain and to eat. 2 But the Pharisees, when they saw it, said
to him, “Behold, your disciples do what is not lawful to do on the
Sabbath.” 3 But he said to them, “Haven’t you read what David did when
he was hungry, and those who were with him: 4 how he entered into God’s
house and ate the show bread, which was not lawful for him to eat, nor
for those who were with him, but only for the priests? (✡) 5 Or have
you not read in the law that on the Sabbath day the priests in the
temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless?
6 But I tell you that one greater than the temple is
here. 7 But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not
sacrifice,’ (✡) you wouldn’t have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the
Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” 9 He departed from there and went
into their synagogue. 10 And behold, there was a man with a withered
hand. They asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath day?” so
that they might accuse him.
11 He said to them, “What man is there among you
who has one sheep, and if this one falls into a pit on the Sabbath day,
won’t he grab on to it and lift it out? 12 Of how much more value then
is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath
day.” 13 Then he told the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it
out; and it was restored whole, just like the other. 14 But the
Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how they might destroy
him. 15 Jesus, perceiving that, withdrew from there. Great multitudes
followed him; and he healed them all,
16 and commanded them that they should not make him
known, 17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah
the prophet, saying, 18 “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my
beloved in whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit on him.
He will proclaim justice to the nations. 19 He will not strive, nor
shout, neither will anyone hear his voice in the streets. 20 He won’t
break a bruised reed. He won’t quench a smoking flax, until he leads
justice to victory.
21 In his name, the nations will hope.” (✡) 22 Then
one possessed by a demon, blind and mute, was brought to him; and he
healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. 23 All
the multitudes were amazed, and said, “Can this be the son of David?”
24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “This man does not cast
out demons except by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons.” 25 Knowing
their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against
itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided
against itself will not stand.
26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against
himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 If I by Beelzebul cast out
demons, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore they will be
your judges. 28 But if I by the Spirit of God cast out demons, then
God’s Kingdom has come upon you. 29 Or how can one enter into the house
of the strong man and plunder his goods, unless he first bind the
strong man? Then he will plunder his house. 30 “He who is not with me
is against me, and he who doesn’t gather with me, scatters.
31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy
will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be
forgiven men. 32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will
be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will
not be forgiven him, either in this age, or in that which is to come.
33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree
corrupt and its fruit corrupt; for the tree is known by its fruit. 34
You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things?
For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. 35 The good
man out of his good treasure (*) brings out good things, and the evil
man out of his evil treasure brings out evil things.
36 I tell you that every idle word that men speak,
they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your
words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
38 Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered, “Teacher, we
want to see a sign from you.” 39 But he answered them, “An evil and
adulterous generation seeks after a sign, but no sign will be given to
it but the sign of Jonah the prophet. 40 For as Jonah was three days
and three nights in the belly of the huge fish, so will the Son of Man
be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
41 The men of Nineveh will stand up in the judgment
with this generation and will condemn it, for they repented at the
preaching of Jonah; and behold, someone greater than Jonah is here. 42
The Queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this
generation and will condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth
to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, someone greater than Solomon
is here. 43 “When an unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he passes
through waterless places seeking rest, and doesn’t find it. 44 Then he
says, ‘I will return into my house from which I came;’ and when he has
come back, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then he goes
and takes with himself seven other spirits more evil than he is, and
they enter in and dwell there. The last state of that man becomes worse
than the first. Even so will it be also to this evil generation.”
46 While he was yet speaking to the multitudes,
behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, seeking to speak to
him. 47 One said to him, “Behold, your mother and your brothers stand
outside, seeking to speak to you.” 48 But he answered him who spoke to
him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” 49 He stretched out his
hand toward his disciples, and said, “Behold, my mother and my
brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven,
he is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
(✡) 12:4 1 Samuel 21:3-6
(✡) 12:7 Hosea 6:6
(✡) 12:21 Isaiah 42:1-4
(*) 12:35 TR adds “of the heart”
Beginning
of Chapter | Index
MATTHEW
13
The parables of
the sower and the cockle: of the mustard
seed, etc.
1 On that day Jesus went out of the house and sat by
the seaside. 2 Great multitudes gathered to him, so that he entered
into a boat and sat; and all the multitude stood on the beach. 3 He
spoke to them many things in parables, saying, “Behold, a farmer went
out to sow. 4 As he sowed, some seeds fell by the roadside, and the
birds came and devoured them. 5 Others fell on rocky ground, where they
didn’t have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, because they had
no depth of earth.
6 When the sun had risen, they were scorched.
Because they had no root, they withered away. 7 Others fell among
thorns. The thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Others fell on good soil
and yielded fruit: some one hundred times as much, some sixty, and some
thirty. 9 He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” 10 The disciples
came, and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?”
11 He answered them, “To you it is given to know
the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but it is not given to them. 12
For whoever has, to him will be given, and he will have abundance; but
whoever doesn’t have, from him will be taken away even that which he
has. 13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they
don’t see, and hearing, they don’t hear, neither do they understand. 14
In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says, ‘By hearing
you will hear, and will in no way understand; Seeing you will see, and
will in no way perceive; 15 for this people’s heart has grown callous,
their ears are dull of hearing, and they have closed their eyes; or
else perhaps they might perceive with their eyes, hear with their ears,
understand with their heart, and would turn again, and I would heal
them.’ (✡)
16 “But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and
your ears, for they hear. 17 For most certainly I tell you that many
prophets and righteous men desired to see the things which you see, and
didn’t see them; and to hear the things which you hear, and didn’t hear
them. 18 “Hear, then, the parable of the farmer. 19 When anyone hears
the word of the Kingdom and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes
and snatches away that which has been sown in his heart. This is what
was sown by the roadside. 20 What was sown on the rocky places, this is
he who hears the word and immediately with joy receives it;
21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a
while. When oppression or persecution arises because of the word,
immediately he stumbles. 22 What was sown among the thorns, this is he
who hears the word, but the cares of this age and the deceitfulness of
riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23 What was sown on
the good ground, this is he who hears the word and understands it, who
most certainly bears fruit and produces, some one hundred times as
much, some sixty, and some thirty.” 24 He set another parable before
them, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who sowed good seed
in his field, 25 but while people slept, his enemy came and sowed
darnel weeds (*) also among the wheat, and went away.
26 But when the blade sprang up and produced grain,
then the darnel weeds appeared also. 27 The servants of the householder
came and said to him, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field?
Where did these darnel weeds come from?’ 28 “He said to them, ‘An enemy
has done this.’ “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and
gather them up?’ 29 “But he said, ‘No, lest perhaps while you gather up
the darnel weeds, you root up the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow
together until the harvest, and in the harvest time I will tell the
reapers, “First, gather up the darnel weeds, and bind them in bundles
to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”
31 He set another parable before them, saying, “The
Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took, and
sowed in his field, 32 which indeed is smaller than all seeds. But when
it is grown, it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that
the birds of the air come and lodge in its branches.” 33 He spoke
another parable to them. “The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast which a
woman took and hid in three measures (†) of meal, until it was all
leavened.” 34 Jesus spoke all these things in parables to the
multitudes; and without a parable, he didn’t speak to them, 35 that it
might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying, “I
will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the
foundation of the world.” (✡)
36 Then Jesus sent the multitudes away, and went
into the house. His disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the
parable of the darnel weeds of the field.” 37 He answered them, “He who
sows the good seed is the Son of Man, 38 the field is the world, the
good seeds are the children of the Kingdom, and the darnel weeds are
the children of the evil one. 39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil.
The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 As
therefore the darnel weeds are gathered up and burned with fire; so
will it be at the end of this age.
41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and
they will gather out of his Kingdom all things that cause stumbling and
those who do iniquity, 42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire.
There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will
shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to
hear, let him hear. 44 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure
hidden in the field, which a man found and hid. In his joy, he goes and
sells all that he has and buys that field. 45 “Again, the Kingdom of
Heaven is like a man who is a merchant seeking fine pearls,
46 who having found one pearl of great price, he
went and sold all that he had and bought it. 47 “Again, the Kingdom of
Heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some
fish of every kind, 48 which, when it was filled, fishermen drew up on
the beach. They sat down and gathered the good into containers, but the
bad they threw away. 49 So it will be in the end of the world. (‡) The
angels will come and separate the wicked from among the righteous, 50
and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and
gnashing of teeth.”
51 Jesus said to them, “Have you understood all
these things?” They answered him, “Yes, Lord.” 52 He said to them,
“Therefore every scribe who has been made a disciple in the Kingdom of
Heaven is like a man who is a householder, who brings out of his
treasure new and old things.” 53 When Jesus had finished these
parables, he departed from there. 54 Coming into his own country, he
taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said,
“Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 55 Isn’t
this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother called Mary, and his
brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? (§)
56 Aren’t all of his sisters with us? Where then
did this man get all of these things?” 57 They were offended by him.
But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his
own country and in his own house.” 58 He didn’t do many mighty works
there because of their unbelief.
(✡) 13:15 Isaiah 6:9-10
(*) 13:25 darnel is a weed grass (probably bearded darnel or lolium
temulentum) that looks very much like wheat until it is mature, when
the difference becomes very apparent.
(†) 13:33 literally, three sata. Three sata is about 39 liters or a bit
more than a bushel
(✡) 13:35 Psalm 78:2
(‡) 13:49 or, end of the age.
(§) 13:55 or, Judah
Beginning
of Chapter | Index
MATTHEW
14
Herod
puts John to death. Christ feeds
five thousand in the desert. He walks upon the sea, and heals all the
diseased with the touch of his garment.
1 At that time, Herod the tetrarch heard the report
concerning Jesus, 2 and said to his servants, “This is John the
Baptizer. He is risen from the dead. That is why these powers work in
him.” 3 For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison
for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. 4 For John said to
him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5 When he would have put
him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a
prophet.
6 But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of
Herodias danced among them and pleased Herod. 7 Therefore he promised
with an oath to give her whatever she should ask. 8 She, being prompted
by her mother, said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the
Baptizer.” 9 The king was grieved, but for the sake of his oaths and of
those who sat at the table with him, he commanded it to be given, 10
and he sent and beheaded John in the prison.
11 His head was brought on a platter and given to
the young lady; and she brought it to her mother. 12 His disciples
came, took the body, and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus. 13
Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a
deserted place apart. When the multitudes heard it, they followed him
on foot from the cities. 14 Jesus went out, and he saw a great
multitude. He had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15 When
evening had come, his disciples came to him, saying, “This place is
deserted, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that
they may go into the villages, and buy themselves food.”
16 But Jesus said to them, “They don’t need to go
away. You give them something to eat.” 17 They told him, “We only have
here five loaves and two fish.” 18 He said, “Bring them here to me.” 19
He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass; and he took the
five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed,
broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to
the multitudes. 20 They all ate and were filled. They took up twelve
baskets full of that which remained left over from the broken pieces.
21 Those who ate were about five thousand men, in
addition to women and children. 22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples
get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he sent
the multitudes away. 23 After he had sent the multitudes away, he went
up into the mountain by himself to pray. When evening had come, he was
there alone. 24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea,
distressed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. 25 In the fourth
watch of the night, (*) Jesus came to them, walking on the sea. (✡)
26 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea,
they were troubled, saying, “It’s a ghost!” and they cried out for
fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Cheer up! It is
I! (†) Don’t be afraid.” 28 Peter answered him and said, “Lord, if it
is you, command me to come to you on the waters.” 29 He said, “Come!”
Peter stepped down from the boat and walked on the waters to come to
Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was strong, he was afraid, and
beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took
hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
32 When they got up into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 Those who were
in the boat came and worshiped him, saying, “You are truly the Son of
God!” 34 When they had crossed over, they came to the land of
Gennesaret. 35 When the people of that place recognized him, they sent
into all that surrounding region and brought to him all who were sick;
36 and they begged him that they might just touch
the fringe (‡) of his garment. As many as touched it were made whole.
(*) 14:25 The night was equally divided into four
watches, so the fourth watch is approximately 3:00 a.m. to sunrise.
(✡) 14:25 See Job 9:8
(†) 14:27 or, I AM!
(‡) 14:36 or, tassel
Beginning
of Chapter | Index
MATTHEW
15
Christ
reproves the Scribes. He cures
the daughter of the woman of Canaan: and many others: and feeds four
thousand with seven loaves.
1 Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from
Jerusalem, saying, 2 “Why do your disciples disobey the tradition of
the elders? For they don’t wash their hands when they eat bread.” 3 He
answered them, “Why do you also disobey the commandment of God because
of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your
mother,’ (✡) and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be
put to death.’ (✡) 5 But you say, ‘Whoever may tell his father or his
mother, “Whatever help you might otherwise have gotten from me is a
gift devoted to God,”
6 he shall not honor his father or mother.’ You have
made the commandment of God void because of your tradition. 7 You
hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, 8 ‘These people
draw near to me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips; but
their heart is far from me. 9 And they worship me in vain, teaching as
doctrine rules made by men.’ ” (✡) 10 He summoned the multitude, and
said to them, “Hear, and understand.
11 That which enters into the mouth doesn’t defile
the man; but that which proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the
man.” 12 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the
Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” 13 But he
answered, “Every plant which my heavenly Father didn’t plant will be
uprooted. 14 Leave them alone. They are blind guides of the blind. If
the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit.” 15 Peter
answered him, “Explain the parable to us.”
16 So Jesus said, “Do you also still not
understand? 17 Don’t you understand that whatever goes into the mouth
passes into the belly and then out of the body? 18 But the things which
proceed out of the mouth come out of the heart, and they defile the
man. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries,
sexual sins, thefts, false testimony, and blasphemies. 20 These are the
things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands doesn’t
defile the man.”
21 Jesus went out from there and withdrew into the
region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 Behold, a Canaanite woman came out from
those borders and cried, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, you son of
David! My daughter is severely possessed by a demon!” 23 But he
answered her not a word. His disciples came and begged him, saying,
“Send her away; for she cries after us.” 24 But he answered, “I wasn’t
sent to anyone but the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she
came and worshiped him, saying, “Lord, help me.”
26 But he answered, “It is not appropriate to take
the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27 But she said, “Yes,
Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’
table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Be it
done to you even as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that
hour. 29 Jesus departed from there and came near to the sea of Galilee;
and he went up on the mountain and sat there. 30 Great multitudes came
to him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many
others, and they put them down at his feet. He healed them,
31 so that the multitude wondered when they saw the
mute speaking, the injured healed, the lame walking, and the blind
seeing — and they glorified the God of Israel. 32 Jesus summoned his
disciples and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they
have continued with me now three days and have nothing to eat. I don’t
want to send them away fasting, or they might faint on the way.” 33 The
disciples said to him, “Where could we get so many loaves in a deserted
place as to satisfy so great a multitude?” 34 Jesus said to them, “How
many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” 35
He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground;
36 and he took the seven loaves and the fish. He
gave thanks and broke them, and gave to the disciples, and the
disciples to the multitudes. 37 They all ate and were filled. They took
up seven baskets full of the broken pieces that were left over. 38
Those who ate were four thousand men, in addition to women and
children. 39 Then he sent away the multitudes, got into the boat, and
came into the borders of Magdala.
(✡) 15:4 Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16
(✡) 15:4 Exodus 21:17; Leviticus 20:9
(✡) 15:9 Isaiah 29:13
Beginning
of Chapter | Index
MATTHEW
16
Christ
refuses to shew the Pharisees a
sign from heaven. Peter's confession is rewarded. He is rebuked for
opposing Christ's passion. All his followers must deny themselves.
1 The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing him,
asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 But he answered them,
“When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is
red.’ 3 In the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is
red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the
appearance of the sky, but you can’t discern the signs of the times! 4
An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and there will be
no sign given to it, except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” He left
them and departed. 5 The disciples came to the other side and had
forgotten to take bread.
6 Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the
yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 7 They reasoned among
themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.” 8 Jesus, perceiving it,
said, “Why do you reason among yourselves, you of little faith, because
you have brought no bread? 9 Don’t you yet perceive or remember the
five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you took up, 10
or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you
took up?
11 How is it that you don’t perceive that I didn’t
speak to you concerning bread? But beware of the yeast of the Pharisees
and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that he didn’t tell them to
beware of the yeast of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and
Sadducees. 13 Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi,
he asked his disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man,
am?” 14 They said, “Some say John the Baptizer, some, Elijah, and
others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who
do you say that I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the
Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon
Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my
Father who is in heaven. 18 I also tell you that you are Peter, (*) and
on this rock (†) I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hades (‡)
will not prevail against it. 19 I will give to you the keys of the
Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound
in heaven; and whatever you release on earth will have been released in
heaven.” 20 Then he commanded the disciples that they should tell no
one that he was Jesus the Christ.
21 From that time, Jesus began to show his
disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the
elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be
raised up. 22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying,
“Far be it from you, Lord! This will never be done to you.” 23 But he
turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling
block to me, for you are not setting your mind on the things of God,
but on the things of men.” 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If
anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his
cross, and follow me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose
it, and whoever will lose his life for my sake will find it.
26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the
whole world and forfeits his life? Or what will a man give in exchange
for his life? 27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of his
Father with his angels, and then he will render to everyone according
to his deeds. 28 Most certainly I tell you, there are some standing
here who will in no way taste of death until they see the Son of Man
coming in his Kingdom.”
(*) 16:18 Peter’s name, Petros in Greek, is the word for a
specific rock or stone.
(†) 16:18 Greek, petra, a rock mass or bedrock.
(‡) 16:18 or, Hell
Beginning
of Chapter | Index
MATTHEW
17
The
Transfiguration of Christ: He cures
the lunatic child: foretells his passion; and pays the didrachma.
1 After six days, Jesus took with him Peter, James,
and John his brother, and brought them up into a high mountain by
themselves. 2 He was changed (*) before them. His face shone like the
sun, and his garments became as white as the light. 3 Behold, Moses and
Elijah appeared to them talking with him. 4 Peter answered and said to
Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, let’s make
three tents here: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5
While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them.
Behold, a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son,
in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.”
6 When the disciples heard it, they fell on their
faces, and were very afraid. 7 Jesus came and touched them and said,
“Get up, and don’t be afraid.” 8 Lifting up their eyes, they saw no
one, except Jesus alone. 9 As they were coming down from the mountain,
Jesus commanded them, saying, “Don’t tell anyone what you saw, until
the Son of Man has risen from the dead.” 10 His disciples asked him,
saying, “Then why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
11 Jesus answered them, “Elijah indeed comes first,
and will restore all things; 12 but I tell you that Elijah has come
already, and they didn’t recognize him, but did to him whatever they
wanted to. Even so the Son of Man will also suffer by them.” 13 Then
the disciples understood that he spoke to them of John the Baptizer. 14
When they came to the multitude, a man came to him, kneeling down to
him and saying, 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is epileptic and
suffers grievously; for he often falls into the fire, and often into
the water.
16 So I brought him to your disciples, and they
could not cure him.” 17 Jesus answered, “Faithless and perverse
generation! How long will I be with you? How long will I bear with you?
Bring him here to me.” 18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it went out of
him, and the boy was cured from that hour. 19 Then the disciples came
to Jesus privately, and said, “Why weren’t we able to cast it out?” 20
He said to them, “Because of your unbelief. For most certainly I tell
you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will tell this
mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will
be impossible for you.
21 But this kind doesn’t go out except by prayer
and fasting.” (†) 22 While they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to
them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered up into the hands of
men, 23 and they will kill him, and the third day he will be raised
up.” They were exceedingly sorry. 24 When they had come to Capernaum,
those who collected the didrachma coins (‡) came to Peter, and said,
“Doesn’t your teacher pay the didrachma?” 25 He said, “Yes.” When he
came into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think,
Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth receive toll or tribute?
From their children, or from strangers?”
26 Peter said to him, “From strangers.” Jesus said
to him, “Therefore the children are exempt. 27 But, lest we cause them
to stumble, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take up the first fish that
comes up. When you have opened its mouth, you will find a stater coin.
(§) Take that, and give it to them for me and you.”
(*) 17:2 or, transfigured
(†) 17:21 NU omits verse 21.
(‡) 17:24 A didrachma is a Greek silver coin worth 2 drachmas, about as
much as 2 Roman denarii, or about 2 days’ wages. It was commonly used
to pay the half-shekel temple tax, because 2 drachmas were worth one
half shekel of silver. A shekel is about 10 grams or about 0.35 ounces.
(§) 17:27 A stater is a silver coin equivalent to four Attic or two
Alexandrian drachmas, or a Jewish shekel: just exactly enough to cover
the half-shekel temple tax for two people. A shekel is about 10 grams
or about 0.35 ounces, usually in the form of a silver coin.
Beginning
of Chapter | Index
MATTHEW
18
Christ
teaches humility, to beware of
scandal, and to flee the occasions of sin: to denounce to the church
incorrigible sinners, and to look upon such as refuse to hear the
church as heathens. He promises to his disciples the power of binding
and loosing: and that he will be in the midst of their assemblies. No
forgiveness for them that will not forgive.
1 In that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying,
“Who then is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” 2 Jesus called a
little child to himself, and set him in the middle of them 3 and said,
“Most certainly I tell you, unless you turn and become as little
children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. 4
Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child is the greatest
in the Kingdom of Heaven. 5 Whoever receives one such little child in
my name receives me,
6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who
believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him if a huge
millstone were hung around his neck and that he were sunk in the depths
of the sea. 7 “Woe to the world because of occasions of stumbling! For
it must be that the occasions come, but woe to that person through whom
the occasion comes! 8 If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble,
cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into
life maimed or crippled, rather than having two hands or two feet to be
cast into the eternal fire. 9 If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck
it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life
with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna
(*) of fire. 10 See that you don’t despise one of these little ones,
for I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my
Father who is in heaven.
11 For the Son of Man came to save that which was
lost. (†) 12 “What do you think? If a man has one hundred sheep, and
one of them goes astray, doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine, go to the
mountains, and seek that which has gone astray? 13 If he finds it, most
certainly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the
ninety-nine which have not gone astray. 14 Even so it is not the will
of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should
perish. 15 “If your brother sins against you, go, show him his fault
between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained back
your brother.
16 But if he doesn’t listen, take one or two more
with you, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be
established. (✡) 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the
assembly. If he refuses to hear the assembly also, let him be to you as
a Gentile or a tax collector. 18 Most certainly I tell you, whatever
things you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever
things you release on earth will have been released in heaven. 19
Again, assuredly I tell you, that if two of you will agree on earth
concerning anything that they will ask, it will be done for them by my
Father who is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered
together in my name, there I am in the middle of them.”
21 Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, how
often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven
times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I don’t tell you until seven times, but,
until seventy times seven. 23 Therefore the Kingdom of Heaven is like a
certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When
he had begun to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten
thousand talents. (‡) 25 But because he couldn’t pay, his lord
commanded him to be sold, with his wife, his children, and all that he
had, and payment to be made.
26 The servant therefore fell down and knelt before
him, saying, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will repay you all!’
27 The lord of that servant, being moved with compassion, released him
and forgave him the debt. 28 “But that servant went out and found one
of his fellow servants who owed him one hundred denarii, (§) and he
grabbed him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’
29 “So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying,
‘Have patience with me, and I will repay you!’ 30 He would not, but
went and cast him into prison until he should pay back that which was
due.
31 So when his fellow servants saw what was done,
they were exceedingly sorry, and came and told their lord all that was
done. 32 Then his lord called him in and said to him, ‘You wicked
servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33
Shouldn’t you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, even as I had
mercy on you?’ 34 His lord was angry, and delivered him to the
tormentors until he should pay all that was due to him. 35 So my
heavenly Father will also do to you, if you don’t each forgive your
brother from your hearts for his misdeeds.”
(*) 18:9 or, Hell
(†) 18:11 NU omits verse 11.
(✡) 18:16 Deuteronomy 19:15
(‡) 18:24 Ten thousand talents (about 300 metric tons of silver)
represents an extremely large sum of money, equivalent to about
60,000,000 denarii, where one denarius was typical of one day’s wages
for agricultural labor.
(§) 18:28 100 denarii was about one sixtieth of a talent, or about 500
grams (1.1 pounds) of silver.
Beginning
of Chapter | Index
MATTHEW
19
Christ
declares matrimony to be
indissoluble: he recommends the making one's self an eunuch for the
kingdom of heaven; and parting with all things for him. He shews the
danger of riches, and the reward of leaving all to follow him.
1 When Jesus had finished these words, he departed
from Galilee and came into the borders of Judea beyond the Jordan. 2
Great multitudes followed him, and he healed them there. 3 Pharisees
came to him, testing him and saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce
his wife for any reason?” 4 He answered, “Haven’t you read that he who
made them from the beginning made them male and female, (✡) 5 and said,
‘For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall be
joined to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh?’ (✡)
6 So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What
therefore God has joined together, don’t let man tear apart.” 7 They
asked him, “Why then did Moses command us to give her a certificate of
divorce and divorce her?” 8 He said to them, “Moses, because of the
hardness of your hearts, allowed you to divorce your wives, but from
the beginning it has not been so. 9 I tell you that whoever divorces
his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits
adultery; and he who marries her when she is divorced commits
adultery.” 10 His disciples said to him, “If this is the case of the
man with his wife, it is not expedient to marry.”
11 But he said to them, “Not all men can receive
this saying, but those to whom it is given. 12 For there are eunuchs
who were born that way from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs
who were made eunuchs by men; and there are eunuchs who made themselves
eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven’s sake. He who is able to receive it,
let him receive it.” 13 Then little children were brought to him that
he should lay his hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked
them. 14 But Jesus said, “Allow the little children, and don’t forbid
them to come to me; for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to ones like
these.” 15 He laid his hands on them, and departed from there.
16 Behold, one came to him and said, “Good teacher,
what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” 17 He said
to him, “Why do you call me good? (*) No one is good but one, that is,
God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 18 He
said to him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “ ‘You shall not murder.’ ‘You
shall not commit adultery.’ ‘You shall not steal.’ ‘You shall not offer
false testimony.’ 19 ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ (✡) And, ‘You
shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” (✡) 20 The young man said to
him, “All these things I have observed from my youth. What do I still
lack?”
21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect,
go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have
treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 But when the young man
heard this, he went away sad, for he was one who had great possessions.
23 Jesus said to his disciples, “Most certainly I say to you, a rich
man will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven with difficulty. 24 Again I
tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than
for a rich man to enter into God’s Kingdom.” 25 When the disciples
heard it, they were exceedingly astonished, saying, “Who then can be
saved?”
26 Looking at them, Jesus said, “With men this is
impossible, but with God all things are possible.” 27 Then Peter
answered, “Behold, we have left everything and followed you. What then
will we have?” 28 Jesus said to them, “Most certainly I tell you that
you who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will
sit on the throne of his glory, you also will sit on twelve thrones,
judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 Everyone who has left houses,
or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or
lands, for my name’s sake, will receive one hundred times, and will
inherit eternal life. 30 But many will be last who are first, and first
who are last.
(✡) 19:4 Genesis 1:27
(✡) 19:5 Genesis 2:24
(*) 19:17 So MT and TR. NU reads “Why do you ask me about what is good?”
(✡) 19:19 Exodus 20:12-16; Deuteronomy 5:16-20
(✡) 19:19 Leviticus 19:18
Beginning
of Chapter | Index
MATTHEW
20
The
parable of the labourers in the
vineyard. The ambition of the two sons of Zebedee. Christ gives sight
to two blind men.
1 “For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who was
the master of a household, who went out early in the morning to hire
laborers for his vineyard. 2 When he had agreed with the laborers for a
denarius (*) a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 He went out about
the third hour, (†) and saw others standing idle in the marketplace. 4
He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right
I will give you.’ So they went their way. 5 Again he went out about the
sixth and the ninth hour, (‡) and did likewise.
6 About the eleventh hour (§) he went out and found
others standing idle. He said to them, ‘Why do you stand here all day
idle?’ 7 “They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ “He said to
them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and you will receive whatever is
right.’ 8 “When evening had come, the lord of the vineyard said to his
manager, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning from
the last to the first.’ 9 “When those who were hired at about the
eleventh hour came, they each received a denarius. 10 When the first
came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise
each received a denarius.
11 When they received it, they murmured against the
master of the household, 12 saying, ‘These last have spent one hour,
and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day
and the scorching heat!’ 13 “But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am
doing you no wrong. Didn’t you agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take
that which is yours, and go your way. It is my desire to give to this
last just as much as to you. 15 Isn’t it lawful for me to do what I
want to with what I own? Or is your eye evil, because I am good?’
16 So the last will be first, and the first last.
For many are called, but few are chosen.” 17 As Jesus was going up to
Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said
to them, 18 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man
will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will
condemn him to death, 19 and will hand him over to the Gentiles to
mock, to scourge, and to crucify; and the third day he will be raised
up.” 20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her
sons, kneeling and asking a certain thing of him.
21 He said to her, “What do you want?” She said to
him, “Command that these, my two sons, may sit, one on your right hand
and one on your left hand, in your Kingdom.” 22 But Jesus answered,
“You don’t know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that
I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am
baptized with?” They said to him, “We are able.” 23 He said to them,
“You will indeed drink my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I
am baptized with; but to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is
not mine to give, but it is for whom it has been prepared by my
Father.” 24 When the ten heard it, they were indignant with the two
brothers. 25 But Jesus summoned them, and said, “You know that the
rulers of the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise
authority over them.
26 It shall not be so among you; but whoever
desires to become great among you shall be (*) your servant. 27 Whoever
desires to be first among you shall be your bondservant, 28 even as the
Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as
a ransom for many.” 29 As they went out from Jericho, a great multitude
followed him. 30 Behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they
heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us,
you son of David!”
31 The multitude rebuked them, telling them that
they should be quiet, but they cried out even more, “Lord, have mercy
on us, you son of David!” 32 Jesus stood still and called them, and
asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” 33 They told him, “Lord,
that our eyes may be opened.” 34 Jesus, being moved with compassion,
touched their eyes; and immediately their eyes received their sight,
and they followed him.
(*) 20:2 A denarius is a silver Roman coin worth 1/25th of a
Roman aureus. This was a common wage for a day of farm labor.
(†) 20:3 Time was measured from sunrise to sunset, so the third hour
would be about 9:00 a.m.
(‡) 20:5 noon and 3:00 p.m.
(§) 20:6 5:00 p.m.
(*) 20:26 TR reads “let him be” instead of “shall be”
Beginning
of Chapter | Index
MATTHEW
21
Christ
rides into Jerusalem upon an ass. He casts the buyers and
sellers out of the temple, curses the fig tree and puts to silence the
priests and scribes.
1 When they came near to Jerusalem and came to
Bethsphage, (*) to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,
2 saying to them, “Go into the village that is opposite you, and
immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie
them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, you shall
say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and immediately he will send them.” 4 All
this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the
prophet, saying, 5 “Tell the daughter of Zion, behold, your King comes
to you, humble, and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a
donkey.” (✡)
6 The disciples went and did just as Jesus commanded
them, 7 and brought the donkey and the colt and laid their clothes on
them; and he sat on them. 8 A very great multitude spread their clothes
on the road. Others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the
road. 9 The multitudes who went in front of him, and those who
followed, kept shouting, “Hosanna (†) to the son of David! Blessed is
he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” (✡) 10
When he had come into Jerusalem, all the city was stirred up, saying,
“Who is this?”
11 The multitudes said, “This is the prophet,
Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.” 12 Jesus entered into the temple of
God and drove out all of those who sold and bought in the temple, and
overthrew the money changers’ tables and the seats of those who sold
the doves. 13 He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be
called a house of prayer,’ (✡) but you have made it a den of robbers!”
(✡) 14 The lame and the blind came to him in the temple, and he healed
them. 15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful
things that he did, and the children who were crying in the temple and
saying, “Hosanna to the son of David!” they were indignant,
16 and said to him, “Do you hear what these are
saying?” Jesus said to them, “Yes. Did you never read, ‘Out of the
mouth of children and nursing babies, you have perfected praise?’ ” (✡)
17 He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and camped there.
18 Now in the morning, as he returned to the city, he was hungry. 19
Seeing a fig tree by the road, he came to it and found nothing on it
but leaves. He said to it, “Let there be no fruit from you forever!”
Immediately the fig tree withered away. 20 When the disciples saw it,
they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree immediately wither away?”
21 Jesus answered them, “Most certainly I tell you,
if you have faith and don’t doubt, you will not only do what was done
to the fig tree, but even if you told this mountain, ‘Be taken up and
cast into the sea,’ it would be done. 22 All things, whatever you ask
in prayer, believing, you will receive.” 23 When he had come into the
temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as
he was teaching, and said, “By what authority do you do these things?
Who gave you this authority?” 24 Jesus answered them, “I also will ask
you one question, which if you tell me, I likewise will tell you by
what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John, where was it
from? From heaven or from men?” They reasoned with themselves, saying,
“If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask us, ‘Why then did you not
believe him?’
26 But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the
multitude, for all hold John as a prophet.” 27 They answered Jesus, and
said, “We don’t know.” He also said to them, “Neither will I tell you
by what authority I do these things. 28 But what do you think? A man
had two sons, and he came to the first, and said, ‘Son, go work today
in my vineyard.’ 29 He answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed
his mind, and went. 30 He came to the second, and said the same thing.
He answered, ‘I’m going, sir,’ but he didn’t go.
31 Which of the two did the will of his father?”
They said to him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Most certainly I
tell you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering into
God’s Kingdom before you. 32 For John came to you in the way of
righteousness, and you didn’t believe him; but the tax collectors and
the prostitutes believed him. When you saw it, you didn’t even repent
afterward, that you might believe him. 33 “Hear another parable. There
was a man who was a master of a household who planted a vineyard, set a
hedge about it, dug a wine press in it, built a tower, leased it out to
farmers, and went into another country. 34 When the season for the
fruit came near, he sent his servants to the farmers to receive his
fruit. 35 The farmers took his servants, beat one, killed another, and
stoned another.
36 Again, he sent other servants more than the
first; and they treated them the same way. 37 But afterward he sent to
them his son, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38 But the farmers,
when they saw the son, said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come,
let’s kill him and seize his inheritance.’ 39 So they took him and
threw him out of the vineyard, then killed him. 40 When therefore the
lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those farmers?”
41 They told him, “He will miserably destroy those
miserable men, and will lease out the vineyard to other farmers who
will give him the fruit in its season.” 42 Jesus said to them, “Did you
never read in the Scriptures, ‘The stone which the builders rejected
was made the head of the corner. This was from the Lord. It is
marvelous in our eyes’? (✡) 43 “Therefore I tell you, God’s Kingdom
will be taken away from you and will be given to a nation producing its
fruit. 44 He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but on
whomever it will fall, it will scatter him as dust.” 45 When the chief
priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he
spoke about them.
46 When they sought to seize him, they feared the
multitudes, because they considered him to be a prophet.
(*) 21:1 TR & NU read “Bethphage” instead of “Bethsphage”
(✡) 21:5 Zechariah 9:9
(†) 21:9 “Hosanna” means “save us” or “help us, we pray”.
(✡) 21:9 Psalm 118:26
(✡) 21:13 Isaiah 56:7
(✡) 21:13 Jeremiah 7:11
(✡) 21:16 Psalm 8:2
(✡) 21:42 Psalm 118:22-23
Beginning
of Chapter | Index
MATTHEW
22
The
parable of the marriage feast. Christ orders tribute to be paid to
Caesar. He confutes the Sadducees, shews which is the first commandment
in the law and puzzles the Pharisees.
1 Jesus answered and spoke to them again in
parables, saying, 2 “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king, who
made a wedding feast for his son, 3 and sent out his servants to call
those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. 4
Again he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited,
“Behold, I have prepared my dinner. My cattle and my fatlings are
killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding feast!” ’ 5 But
they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his own farm,
another to his merchandise;
6 and the rest grabbed his servants, treated them
shamefully, and killed them. 7 When the king heard that, he was angry,
and sent his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.
8 “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who
were invited weren’t worthy. 9 Go therefore to the intersections of the
highways, and as many as you may find, invite to the wedding feast.’ 10
Those servants went out into the highways and gathered together as many
as they found, both bad and good. The wedding was filled with guests.
11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he
saw there a man who didn’t have on wedding clothing, 12 and he said to
him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here not wearing wedding clothing?’
He was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him
hand and foot, take him away, and throw him into the outer darkness.
That is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.’ 14 For many
are called, but few chosen.” 15 Then the Pharisees went and took
counsel how they might entrap him in his talk.
16 They sent their disciples to him, along with the
Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are honest, and teach the
way of God in truth, no matter whom you teach; for you aren’t partial
to anyone. 17 Tell us therefore, what do you think? Is it lawful to pay
taxes to Caesar, or not?” 18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and
said, “Why do you test me, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the tax money.”
They brought to him a denarius. 20 He asked them, “Whose is this image
and inscription?”
21 They said to him, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to
them, “Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to
God the things that are God’s.” 22 When they heard it, they marveled,
and left him and went away. 23 On that day Sadducees (those who say
that there is no resurrection) came to him. They asked him, 24 saying,
“Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies, having no children, his brother
shall marry his wife and raise up offspring (*) for his brother.’ 25
Now there were with us seven brothers. The first married and died, and
having no offspring left his wife to his brother.
26 In the same way, the second also, and the third,
to the seventh. 27 After them all, the woman died. 28 In the
resurrection therefore, whose wife will she be of the seven? For they
all had her.” 29 But Jesus answered them, “You are mistaken, not
knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God. 30 For in the
resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like
God’s angels in heaven.
31 But concerning the resurrection of the dead,
haven’t you read that which was spoken to you by God, saying, 32 ‘I am
the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?’ (✡)
God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” 33 When the
multitudes heard it, they were astonished at his teaching. 34 But the
Pharisees, when they heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, gathered
themselves together. 35 One of them, a lawyer, asked him a question,
testing him.
36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in
the law?” 37 Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ (✡)
38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 A second likewise is
this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ (✡) 40 The whole law
and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”
41 Now while the Pharisees were gathered together,
Jesus asked them a question, 42 saying, “What do you think of the
Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “Of David.” 43 He said to
them, “How then does David in the Spirit call him Lord, saying, 44 ‘The
Lord said to my Lord, sit on my right hand, until I make your enemies a
footstool for your feet’? (✡) 45 “If then David calls him Lord, how is
he his son?”
46 No one was able to answer him a word, neither
did any man dare ask him any more questions from that day forward.
(*) 22:24 or, seed
(✡) 22:32 Exodus 3:6
(✡) 22:37 Deuteronomy 6:5
(✡) 22:39 Leviticus 19:18
(✡) 22:44 Psalm 110:1
Beginning
of Chapter | Index
MATTHEW
23
Christ
admonishes the people to follow the good doctrine, not the bad
example of the scribes and Pharisees. He warns his disciples not to
imitate their ambition and denounces divers woes against them for their
hypocrisy and blindness.
1 Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to his
disciples, 2 saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat.
3 All things therefore whatever they tell you to observe, observe and
do, but don’t do their works; for they say, and don’t do. 4 For they
bind heavy burdens that are grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s
shoulders; but they themselves will not lift a finger to help them. 5
But they do all their works to be seen by men. They make their
phylacteries (*) broad and enlarge the fringes (†) of their garments,
6 and love the place of honor at feasts, the best
seats in the synagogues, 7 the salutations in the marketplaces, and to
be called ‘Rabbi, Rabbi’ (‡) by men. 8 But you are not to be called
‘Rabbi’, for one is your teacher, the Christ, and all of you are
brothers. 9 Call no man on the earth your father, for one is your
Father, he who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called masters, for one is
your master, the Christ.
11 But he who is greatest among you will be your
servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles
himself will be exalted. 13 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and as a pretense you make
long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. 14 “But
woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you shut up the
Kingdom of Heaven against men; for you don’t enter in yourselves,
neither do you allow those who are entering in to enter. (§) 15 Woe to
you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel around by sea
and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him
twice as much a son of Gehenna (*) as yourselves.
16 “Woe to you, you blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever
swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of
the temple, he is obligated.’ 17 You blind fools! For which is greater,
the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold? 18 And, ‘Whoever
swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that
is on it, he is obligated?’ 19 You blind fools! For which is greater,
the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift? 20 He therefore who
swears by the altar, swears by it and by everything on it.
21 He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by
him who has been living (†) in it. 22 He who swears by heaven, swears
by the throne of God and by him who sits on it. 23 “Woe to you, scribes
and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, (‡) and
have left undone the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and
faith. But you ought to have done these, and not to have left the other
undone. 24 You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a
camel! 25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean
the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of
extortion and unrighteousness. (§)
26 You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of
the cup and of the platter, that its outside may become clean also. 27
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like
whitened tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full
of dead men’s bones and of all uncleanness. 28 Even so you also
outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of
hypocrisy and iniquity. 29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the
tombs of the righteous, 30 and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our
fathers, we wouldn’t have been partakers with them in the blood of the
prophets.’
31 Therefore you testify to yourselves that you are
children of those who killed the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the
measure of your fathers. 33 You serpents, you offspring of vipers, how
will you escape the judgment of Gehenna? (*) 34 Therefore, behold, I
send to you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will kill
and crucify; and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and
persecute from city to city, 35 that on you may come all the righteous
blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood
of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom you killed between the sanctuary
and the altar.
36 Most certainly I tell you, all these things will
come upon this generation. 37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the
prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I would have
gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chicks under
her wings, and you would not! 38 Behold, your house is left to you
desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me from now on, until you
say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ” (✡)
(*) 23:5 phylacteries (tefillin in Hebrew) are small leather
pouches that some Jewish men wear on their forehead and arm in prayer.
They are used to carry a small scroll with some Scripture in it. See
Deuteronomy 6:8.
(†) 23:5 or, tassels
(‡) 23:7 NU omits the second “Rabbi”.
(§) 23:14 Some Greek texts reverse the order of verses 13 and 14, and
some omit verse 13, numbering verse 14 as 13. NU omits verse 14.
(*) 23:15 or, Hell
(†) 23:21 NU reads “lives”
(‡) 23:23 cumin is an aromatic seed from Cuminum cyminum, resembling
caraway in flavor and appearance. It is used as a spice.
(§) 23:25 TR reads “self-indulgence” instead of “unrighteousness”
(*) 23:33 or, Hell
(✡) 23:39 Psalm 118:26
Beginning
of Chapter | Index
MATTHEW
24
Christ
foretells the destruction of the temple, with the signs that shall come
before it and before the last judgment. We must always watch.
1 Jesus went out from the temple, and was going on
his way. His disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the
temple. 2 But he answered them, “You see all of these things, don’t
you? Most certainly I tell you, there will not be left here one stone
on another, that will not be thrown down.” 3 As he sat on the Mount of
Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when
will these things be? What is the sign of your coming, and of the end
of the age?” 4 Jesus answered them, “Be careful that no one leads you
astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and
will lead many astray.
6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that
you aren’t troubled, for all this must happen, but the end is not yet.
7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and
there will be famines, plagues, and earthquakes in various places. 8
But all these things are the beginning of birth pains. 9 “Then they
will deliver you up to oppression and will kill you. You will be hated
by all of the nations for my name’s sake. 10 Then many will stumble,
and will deliver up one another, and will hate one another.
11 Many false prophets will arise and will lead
many astray. 12 Because iniquity will be multiplied, the love of many
will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end will be saved. 14 This
Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a
testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. 15 “When,
therefore, you see the abomination of desolation, (✡) which was spoken
of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the
reader understand),
16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the
mountains. 17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take out
the things that are in his house. 18 Let him who is in the field not
return back to get his clothes. 19 But woe to those who are with child
and to nursing mothers in those days! 20 Pray that your flight will not
be in the winter nor on a Sabbath,
21 for then there will be great suffering, (*) such
as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever
will be. 22 Unless those days had been shortened, no flesh would have
been saved. But for the sake of the chosen ones, those days will be
shortened. 23 “Then if any man tells you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ!’
or, ‘There!’ don’t believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets
will arise, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead
astray, if possible, even the chosen ones. 25 “Behold, I have told you
beforehand.
26 “If therefore they tell you, ‘Behold, he is in
the wilderness,’ don’t go out; or ‘Behold, he is in the inner rooms,’
don’t believe it. 27 For as the lightning flashes from the east, and is
seen even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 For
wherever the carcass is, that is where the vultures (†) gather
together. 29 “But immediately after the suffering (‡) of those days,
the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars
will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken;
(✡) 30 and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. Then
all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of
Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.
31 He will send out his angels with a great sound
of a trumpet, and they will gather together his chosen ones from the
four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. 32 “Now from the fig
tree learn this parable: When its branch has now become tender and
produces its leaves, you know that the summer is near. 33 Even so you
also, when you see all these things, know that he is near, even at the
doors. 34 Most certainly I tell you, this generation (§) will not pass
away until all these things are accomplished. 35 Heaven and earth will
pass away, but my words will not pass away.
36 “But no one knows of that day and hour, not even
the angels of heaven, (*) but my Father only. 37 As the days of Noah
were, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in those days
which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and
giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ship, 39
and they didn’t know until the flood came and took them all away, so
will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then two men will be in the
field: one will be taken and one will be left.
41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will
be taken and one will be left. 42 Watch therefore, for you don’t know
in what hour your Lord comes. 43 But know this, that if the master of
the house had known in what watch of the night the thief was coming, he
would have watched, and would not have allowed his house to be broken
into. 44 Therefore also be ready, for in an hour that you don’t expect,
the Son of Man will come. 45 “Who then is the faithful and wise
servant, whom his lord has set over his household, to give them their
food in due season?
46 Blessed is that servant whom his lord finds
doing so when he comes. 47 Most certainly I tell you that he will set
him over all that he has. 48 But if that evil servant should say in his
heart, ‘My lord is delaying his coming,’ 49 and begins to beat his
fellow servants, and eat and drink with the drunkards, 50 the lord of
that servant will come in a day when he doesn’t expect it and in an
hour when he doesn’t know it,
51 and will cut him in pieces and appoint his
portion with the hypocrites. That is where the weeping and grinding of
teeth will be.
(✡) 24:15 Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11
(*) 24:21 or, oppression
(†) 24:28 or, eagles
(‡) 24:29 or, oppression
(✡) 24:29 Isaiah 13:10; 34:4
(§) 24:34 The word for “generation” (genea) can also be translated as
“race.”
(*) 24:36 NU adds “nor the son”
Beginning
of Chapter | Index
MATTHEW
25
The
parable of the ten virgins and of the talents. The description of the
last judgment.
1 “Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten
virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2
Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 Those who were
foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them, 4 but the
wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 Now while the
bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Behold! The
bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins
arose, and trimmed their lamps. (*) 8 The foolish said to the wise,
‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise
answered, saying, ‘What if there isn’t enough for us and you? You go
rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10 While they went
away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with
him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut.
11 Afterward the other virgins also came, saying,
‘Lord, Lord, open to us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Most certainly I tell
you, I don’t know you.’ 13 Watch therefore, for you don’t know the day
nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. 14 “For it is like a
man going into another country, who called his own servants and
entrusted his goods to them. 15 To one he gave five talents, (†) to
another two, to another one, to each according to his own ability. Then
he went on his journey.
16 Immediately he who received the five talents
went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 In the
same way, he also who got the two gained another two. 18 But he who
received the one talent went away and dug in the earth and hid his
lord’s money. 19 “Now after a long time the lord of those servants
came, and settled accounts with them. 20 He who received the five
talents came and brought another five talents, saying, ‘Lord, you
delivered to me five talents. Behold, I have gained another five
talents in addition to them.’
21 “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and
faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set
you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22 “He also who
got the two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two
talents. Behold, I have gained another two talents in addition to
them.’ 23 “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.
You have been faithful over a few things. I will set you over many
things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 24 “He also who had received
the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you that you are a hard
man, reaping where you didn’t sow, and gathering where you didn’t
scatter. 25 I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the
earth. Behold, you have what is yours.’
26 “But his lord answered him, ‘You wicked and
slothful servant. You knew that I reap where I didn’t sow, and gather
where I didn’t scatter. 27 You ought therefore to have deposited my
money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my
own with interest. 28 Take away therefore the talent from him and give
it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will be
given, and he will have abundance, but from him who doesn’t have, even
that which he has will be taken away. 30 Throw out the unprofitable
servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and
gnashing of teeth.’
31 “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and
all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his
glory. 32 Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will
separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from
the goats. 33 He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on
the left. 34 Then the King will tell those on his right hand, ‘Come,
blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the
foundation of the world; 35 for I was hungry and you gave me food to
eat. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you took
me in.
36 I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and
you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 “Then the
righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry
and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? 38 When did we see you
as a stranger and take you in, or naked and clothe you? 39 When did we
see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ 40 “The King will answer
them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the
least of these my brothers, (‡) you did it to me.’
41 Then he will say also to those on the left hand,
‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared
for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry, and you didn’t give
me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink; 43 I was a
stranger, and you didn’t take me in; naked, and you didn’t clothe me;
sick, and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’ 44 “Then they will also
answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a
stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn’t help you?’ 45
“Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because
you didn’t do it to one of the least of these, you didn’t do it to me.’
46 These will go away into eternal punishment, but
the righteous into eternal life.”
(*) 25:7 The end of the wick of an oil lamp needs to be cut off
periodically to avoid having it become clogged with carbon deposits.
The wick height is also adjusted so that the flame burns evenly and
gives good light without producing a lot of smoke.
(†) 25:15 A talent is about 30 kilograms or 66 pounds (usually used to
weigh silver unless otherwise specified)
(‡) 25:40 The word for “brothers” here may be also correctly translated
“brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”
Beginning
of Chapter | Index
MATTHEW
26
The
Jews conspire against Christ. He is anointed by Mary. The treason of
Judas. The last supper. The prayer in the garden. The apprehension of
our Lord. His treatment in the house of Caiphas.
1 When Jesus had finished all these words, he said
to his disciples, 2 “You know that after two days the Passover is
coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.” 3
Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people were
gathered together in the court of the high priest, who was called
Caiaphas. 4 They took counsel together that they might take Jesus by
deceit and kill him. 5 But they said, “Not during the feast, lest a
riot occur among the people.”
6 Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of
Simon the leper, 7 a woman came to him having an alabaster jar of very
expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the
table. 8 But when his disciples saw this, they were indignant, saying,
“Why this waste? 9 For this ointment might have been sold for much and
given to the poor.” 10 However, knowing this, Jesus said to them, “Why
do you trouble the woman? She has done a good work for me.
11 For you always have the poor with you, but you
don’t always have me. 12 For in pouring this ointment on my body, she
did it to prepare me for burial. 13 Most certainly I tell you, wherever
this Good News is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done
will also be spoken of as a memorial of her.” 14 Then one of the
twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and
said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him to you?” So
they weighed out for him thirty pieces of silver.
16 From that time he sought opportunity to betray
him. 17 Now on the first day of unleavened bread, the disciples came to
Jesus, saying to him, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat
the Passover?” 18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain person, and
tell him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is at hand. I will keep the
Passover at your house with my disciples.” ’ ” 19 The disciples did as
Jesus commanded them, and they prepared the Passover. 20 Now when
evening had come, he was reclining at the table with the twelve
disciples.
21 As they were eating, he said, “Most certainly I
tell you that one of you will betray me.” 22 They were exceedingly
sorrowful, and each began to ask him, “It isn’t me, is it, Lord?” 23 He
answered, “He who dipped his hand with me in the dish will betray me.
24 The Son of Man goes even as it is written of him, but woe to that
man through whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for
that man if he had not been born.” 25 Judas, who betrayed him,
answered, “It isn’t me, is it, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You said it.”
26 As they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave
thanks for (*) it, and broke it. He gave to the disciples and said,
“Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave
to them, saying, “All of you drink it, 28 for this is my blood of the
new covenant, which is poured out for many for the remission of sins.
29 But I tell you that I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from
now on, until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s
Kingdom.” 30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of
Olives.
31 Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be
made to stumble because of me tonight, for it is written, ‘I will
strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ (✡)
32 But after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee.” 33 But
Peter answered him, “Even if all will be made to stumble because of
you, I will never be made to stumble.” 34 Jesus said to him, “Most
certainly I tell you that tonight, before the rooster crows, you will
deny me three times.” 35 Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with
you, I will not deny you.” All of the disciples also said likewise.
36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called
Gethsemane, and said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go there and
pray.” 37 He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began
to be sorrowful and severely troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My
soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with
me.” 39 He went forward a little, fell on his face, and prayed, saying,
“My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me;
nevertheless, not what I desire, but what you desire.” 40 He came to
the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What,
couldn’t you watch with me for one hour?
41 Watch and pray, that you don’t enter into
temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42
Again, a second time he went away and prayed, saying, “My Father, if
this cup can’t pass away from me unless I drink it, your desire be
done.” 43 He came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were
heavy. 44 He left them again, went away, and prayed a third time,
saying the same words. 45 Then he came to his disciples and said to
them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand,
and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
46 Arise, let’s be going. Behold, he who betrays me
is at hand.” 47 While he was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the
twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and clubs,
from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Now he who betrayed
him had given them a sign, saying, “Whoever I kiss, he is the one.
Seize him.” 49 Immediately he came to Jesus, and said, “Greetings,
Rabbi!” and kissed him. 50 Jesus said to him, “Friend, why are you
here?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.
51 Behold, one of those who were with Jesus
stretched out his hand and drew his sword, and struck the servant of
the high priest, and cut off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put
your sword back into its place, for all those who take the sword will
die by the sword. 53 Or do you think that I couldn’t ask my Father, and
he would even now send me more than twelve legions of angels? 54 How
then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must be so?” 55 In that
hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out as against a
robber with swords and clubs to seize me? I sat daily in the temple
teaching, and you didn’t arrest me.
56 But all this has happened that the Scriptures of
the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and
fled. 57 Those who had taken Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high
priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together. 58 But
Peter followed him from a distance to the court of the high priest, and
entered in and sat with the officers, to see the end. 59 Now the chief
priests, the elders, and the whole council sought false testimony
against Jesus, that they might put him to death, 60 and they found
none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none.
But at last two false witnesses came forward
61 and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy
the temple of God, and to build it in three days.’ ” 62 The high priest
stood up and said to him, “Have you no answer? What is this that these
testify against you?” 63 But Jesus stayed silent. The high priest
answered him, “I adjure you by the living God that you tell us whether
you are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus said to him, “You have
said so. Nevertheless, I tell you, after this you will see the Son of
Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of the
sky.” 65 Then the high priest tore his clothing, saying, “He has spoken
blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Behold, now you have
heard his blasphemy.
66 What do you think?” They answered, “He is worthy
of death!” 67 Then they spat in his face and beat him with their fists,
and some slapped him, 68 saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who hit
you?” 69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the court, and a maid came to
him, saying, “You were also with Jesus, the Galilean!” 70 But he denied
it before them all, saying, “I don’t know what you are talking about.”
71 When he had gone out onto the porch, someone
else saw him and said to those who were there, “This man also was with
Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 Again he denied it with an oath, “I don’t know
the man.” 73 After a little while those who stood by came and said to
Peter, “Surely you are also one of them, for your speech makes you
known.” 74 Then he began to curse and to swear, “I don’t know the man!”
Immediately the rooster crowed. 75 Peter remembered the word which
Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me
three times.” Then he went out and wept bitterly.
(*) 26:26 TR reads “blessed” instead of “gave thanks for”
(✡) 26:31 Zechariah 13:7
Beginning
of Chapter | Index
MATTHEW
27
The
continuation of the history of the passion of Christ. His death and
burial.
1 Now when morning had come, all the chief priests
and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to
death. 2 They bound him, led him away, and delivered him up to Pontius
Pilate, the governor. 3 Then Judas, who betrayed him, when he saw that
Jesus was condemned, felt remorse, and brought back the thirty pieces
of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 saying, “I have sinned in
that I betrayed innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us?
You see to it.” 5 He threw down the pieces of silver in the sanctuary
and departed. Then he went away and hanged himself.
6 The chief priests took the pieces of silver and
said, “It’s not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is the
price of blood.” 7 They took counsel, and bought the potter’s field
with them to bury strangers in. 8 Therefore that field has been called
“The Field of Blood” to this day. 9 Then that which was spoken through
Jeremiah (*) the prophet was fulfilled, saying, “They took the thirty
pieces of silver, the price of him upon whom a price had been set, whom
some of the children of Israel priced, 10 and they gave them for the
potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.” (✡)
11 Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the
governor asked him, saying, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said
to him, “So you say.” 12 When he was accused by the chief priests and
elders, he answered nothing. 13 Then Pilate said to him, “Don’t you
hear how many things they testify against you?” 14 He gave him no
answer, not even one word, so that the governor marveled greatly. 15
Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release to the
multitude one prisoner whom they desired.
16 They had then a notable prisoner called
Barabbas. 17 When therefore they were gathered together, Pilate said to
them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is
called Christ?” 18 For he knew that because of envy they had delivered
him up. 19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to
him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have
suffered many things today in a dream because of him.” 20 Now the chief
priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes to ask for Barabbas and
destroy Jesus.
21 But the governor answered them, “Which of the
two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas!” 22 Pilate
said to them, “What then shall I do to Jesus who is called Christ?”
They all said to him, “Let him be crucified!” 23 But the governor said,
“Why? What evil has he done?” But they cried out exceedingly, saying,
“Let him be crucified!” 24 So when Pilate saw that nothing was being
gained, but rather that a disturbance was starting, he took water and
washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the
blood of this righteous person. You see to it.” 25 All the people
answered, “May his blood be on us and on our children!”
26 Then he released Barabbas to them, but Jesus he
flogged and delivered to be crucified. 27 Then the governor’s soldiers
took Jesus into the Praetorium, and gathered the whole garrison
together against him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on
him. 29 They braided a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and a
reed in his right hand; and they kneeled down before him and mocked
him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 They spat on him, and took
the reed and struck him on the head.
31 When they had mocked him, they took the robe off
him, and put his clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him. 32 As
they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, and they
compelled him to go with them, that he might carry his cross. 33 When
they came to a place called “Golgotha”, that is to say, “The place of a
skull,” 34 they gave him sour wine (†) to drink mixed with gall. (‡)
When he had tasted it, he would not drink. 35 When they had crucified
him, they divided his clothing among them, casting lots, (§)
36 and they sat and watched him there. 37 They set
up over his head the accusation against him written, “THIS IS JESUS,
THE KING OF THE JEWS.” 38 Then there were two robbers crucified with
him, one on his right hand and one on the left. 39 Those who passed by
blasphemed him, wagging their heads 40 and saying, “You who destroy the
temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of
God, come down from the cross!”
41 Likewise the chief priests also mocking with the
scribes, the Pharisees, (*) and the elders, said, 42 “He saved others,
but he can’t save himself. If he is the King of Israel, let him come
down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in
God. Let God deliver him now, if he wants him; for he said, ‘I am the
Son of God.’ ” 44 The robbers also who were crucified with him cast on
him the same reproach. 45 Now from the sixth hour (†) there was
darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. (‡)
46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud
voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lima (§) sabachthani?” That is, “My God, my
God, why have you forsaken me?” (✡) 47 Some of them who stood there,
when they heard it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” 48 Immediately
one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with vinegar, put it on a
reed, and gave him a drink. 49 The rest said, “Let him be. Let’s see
whether Elijah comes to save him.” 50 Jesus cried again with a loud
voice, and yielded up his spirit.
51 Behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two
from the top to the bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split.
52 The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen
asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the tombs after his
resurrection, they entered into the holy city and appeared to many. 54
Now the centurion and those who were with him watching Jesus, when they
saw the earthquake and the things that were done, were terrified,
saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!” 55 Many women were there
watching from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, serving him.
56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother
of James and Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. 57 When
evening had come, a rich man from Arimathaea named Joseph, who himself
was also Jesus’ disciple, came. 58 This man went to Pilate and asked
for Jesus’ body. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given up. 59
Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth 60 and laid
it in his own new tomb, which he had cut out in the rock. Then he
rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed.
61 Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary,
sitting opposite the tomb. 62 Now on the next day, which was the day
after the Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees were
gathered together to Pilate, 63 saying, “Sir, we remember what that
deceiver said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise
again.’ 64 Command therefore that the tomb be made secure until the
third day, lest perhaps his disciples come at night and steal him away,
and tell the people, ‘He is risen from the dead;’ and the last
deception will be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “You
have a guard. Go, make it as secure as you can.”
66 So they went with the guard and made the tomb
secure, sealing the stone.
(*) 27:9 some manuscripts omit “Jeremiah”
(✡) 27:10 Zechariah 11:12-13; Jeremiah 19:1-13; 32:6-9
(†) 27:34 or, vinegar
(‡) 27:34 Gall is a bitter-tasting, dark green oil from a wormwood
plant that is alcoholic in its effect.
(§) 27:35 TR adds “that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the
prophet: ‘They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they
cast lots;’ ” [see Psalm 22:18 and John 19:24]
(*) 27:41 TR omits “the Pharisees”
(†) 27:45 noon
(‡) 27:45 3:00 p.m.
(§) 27:46 TR reads “lama” instead of “lima”
(✡) 27:46 Psalm 22:1
Beginning
of Chapter | Index
MATTHEW
28
The
resurrection of Christ. His commission to his disciples.
1 Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn on the
first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see
the tomb. 2 Behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the
Lord descended from the sky and came and rolled away the stone from the
door and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his
clothing white as snow. 4 For fear of him, the guards shook, and became
like dead men. 5 The angel answered the women, “Don’t be afraid, for I
know that you seek Jesus, who has been crucified.
6 He is not here, for he has risen, just like he
said. Come, see the place where the Lord was lying. 7 Go quickly and
tell his disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead, and behold, he goes
before you into Galilee; there you will see him.’ Behold, I have told
you.” 8 They departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy,
and ran to bring his disciples word. 9 As they went to tell his
disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” They came and
took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them,
“Don’t be afraid. Go tell my brothers (*) that they should go into
Galilee, and there they will see me.”
11 Now while they were going, behold, some of the
guards came into the city and told the chief priests all the things
that had happened. 12 When they were assembled with the elders and had
taken counsel, they gave a large amount of silver to the soldiers, 13
saying, “Say that his disciples came by night and stole him away while
we slept. 14 If this comes to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him
and make you free of worry.” 15 So they took the money and did as they
were told. This saying was spread abroad among the Jews, and continues
until today.
16 But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, to
the mountain where Jesus had sent them. 17 When they saw him, they
bowed down to him; but some doubted. 18 Jesus came to them and spoke to
them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on
earth. 19 Go (†) and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20
teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am
with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
(*) 28:10 The word for “brothers” here may be also correctly
translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”
(†) 28:19 TR and NU add “therefore”
Beginning
of Chapter | Index
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(*) "The World English Bible"
- 2020 stable text edition
The World English Bible ("WEB")
is in
the Public Domain. You may copy and share it freely. It is not
copyrighted. However,
"World English Bible" is a Trademark of eBible.org.
In this site/document: Format by The M+G+R Foundation.
Inclusion of Introductory Note from Straunbiger Bible. Chapter headings
(in italics) from Douay-Rheims Bible
(Challoner Revision). Paragraph separation every five verses. The text
was obtained directly
from eBible.org. For more information see the Title Page.
DISCLAIMER: The
M+G+R Foundation in not associated with eBible.org.
(**) What are MT, TR, and NU in
the footnotes?
- MT refers to the Greek Majority Text
New Testament, which is the authoritative basis for this translation.
- TR stands for Textus
Receptus, which is the Greek Text from which the King James Version New
Testament was translated.
- NU stands for the
Nestle-Aland/UBS critical text of the Greek New Testament, which is
used as a basis for some other Bible translations.
Last
revision of this document: January 13th, 2023