1:1 This is the record of the genealogy ¹  of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

1:2 Abraham was the father ²  of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 1:3 Judah the father of Perez and Zerah (by Tamar), Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, 1:4 Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, 1:5 Salmon the father of Boaz (by Rahab), Boaz the father of Obed (by Ruth), Obed the father of Jesse, 1:6 and Jesse the father of David the king.

David was the father of Solomon (by the wife of Uriah ³ ), 1:7 Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa, ⁴  1:8 Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, Joram the father of Uzziah, 1:9 Uzziah the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, 1:10 Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, ⁵  Amon the father of Josiah, 1:11 and Josiah ⁶  the father of Jeconiah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.

1:12 After ⁷  the deportation to Babylon, Jeconiah became the father of Shealtiel, ⁸  Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, 1:13 Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, Abiud the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, 1:14 Azor the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Achim, Achim the father of Eliud, 1:15 Eliud the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, 1:16 and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, by whom ⁹  Jesus was born, who is called Christ. ¹⁰ 

1:17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to Christ, ¹¹  fourteen generations.

1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ happened this way. While his mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, but before they came together, ¹²  she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 1:19 Because Joseph, her husband to be, ¹³  was a righteous man, and because he did not want to disgrace her, he intended to divorce her ¹⁴  privately. 1:20 When he had contemplated this, an ¹⁵  angel of the Lord ¹⁶  appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 1:21 She will give birth to a son and you will name him ¹⁷  Jesus, ¹⁸  because he will save his people from their sins.” 1:22 This all happened so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet would be fulfilled: 1:23 “Look! The virgin will conceive and bear a son, and they will call him ¹⁹  Emmanuel,” ²⁰  which means ²¹  “God with us.” ²²  1:24 When Joseph awoke from sleep he did what the angel of the Lord ²³  told him. He took his wife, 1:25 but did not have marital relations ²⁴  with her until she gave birth to a son, whom he named ²⁵  Jesus.

2:1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem ²⁶  in Judea, in the time ²⁷  of King Herod, ²⁸  wise men ²⁹  from the East came to Jerusalem ³⁰  2:2 saying, “Where is the one who is born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose ³¹  and have come to worship him.” 2:3 When King Herod ³²  heard this he was alarmed, and all Jerusalem with him. 2:4 After assembling all the chief priests and experts in the law, ³³  he asked them where the Christ ³⁴  was to be born. 2:5 “In Bethlehem of Judea,” they said, “for it is written this way by the prophet:

2:6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

are in no way least among the rulers of Judah,

for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” ³⁵ 

2:7 Then Herod ³⁶  privately summoned the wise men and determined from them when the star had appeared. 2:8 He ³⁷  sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and look carefully for the child. When you find him, inform me so that I can go and worship him as well.” 2:9 After listening to the king they left, and once again ³⁸  the star they saw when it rose ³⁹  led them until it stopped above the place where the child was. 2:10 When they saw the star they shouted joyfully. ⁴⁰  2:11 As they came into the house and saw the child with Mary his mother, they bowed down ⁴¹  and worshiped him. They opened their treasure boxes and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, ⁴²  and myrrh. ⁴³  2:12 After being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, ⁴⁴  they went back by another route to their own country.

2:13 After they had gone, an ⁴⁵  angel of the Lord ⁴⁶  appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod ⁴⁷  is going to look for the child to kill him.” 2:14 Then he got up, took the child and his mother during ⁴⁸  the night, and went to Egypt. 2:15 He stayed there until Herod ⁴⁹  died. In this way what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet was fulfilled: “I called my Son out of Egypt.” ⁵⁰ 

2:16 When Herod ⁵¹  saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he became enraged. He sent men ⁵²  to kill all the children in Bethlehem ⁵³  and throughout the surrounding region from the age of two and under, according to the time he had learned from the wise men. 2:17 Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled:

2:18 “A voice was heard in Ramah,

weeping and loud wailing, ⁵⁴ 

Rachel weeping for her children,

and she did not want to be comforted, because they were< ⁵⁵  gone.” ⁵⁶ 

2:19 After Herod ⁵⁷  had died, an ⁵⁸  angel of the Lord ⁵⁹  appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 2:20 saying, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child’s life are dead.” 2:21 So ⁶⁰  he got up and took the child and his mother and returned to the land of Israel. 2:22 But when he heard that Archelaus ⁶¹  was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, ⁶²  he was afraid to go there. After being warned in a dream, he went to the regions of Galilee. 2:23 He came to a town called Nazareth ⁶³  and lived there. Then what had been spoken by the prophets was fulfilled, that Jesus ⁶⁴  would be called a Nazarene. ⁶⁵ 

3:1 In those days John the Baptist came into the wilderness ⁶⁶  of Judea proclaiming, 3:2 “Repent, ⁶⁷  for the kingdom of heaven is near.” 3:3 For he is the one about whom Isaiah the prophet had spoken: ⁶⁸ 

“The voice ⁶⁹  of one shouting in the wilderness,

‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make ⁷⁰  his paths straight.’” ⁷¹ 

3:4 Now John wore clothing made from camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his diet consisted of locusts and wild honey. ⁷²  3:5 Then people from Jerusalem, ⁷³  as well as all Judea and all the region around the Jordan, were going out to him, 3:6 and he was baptizing them ⁷⁴  in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins.

3:7 But when he saw many Pharisees ⁷⁵  and Sadducees ⁷⁶  coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 3:8 Therefore produce fruit ⁷⁷  that proves your ⁷⁸  repentance, 3:9 and don’t think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that God can raise up children for Abraham from these stones! 3:10 Even now the ax is laid at ⁷⁹  the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

3:11 “I baptize you with water, for repentance, but the one coming after me is more powerful than I am – I am not worthy ⁸⁰  to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. ⁸¹  3:12 His winnowing fork ⁸²  is in his hand, and he will clean out his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the storehouse, ⁸³  but the chaff he will burn up with inextinguishable fire.” ⁸⁴ 

3:13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John to be baptized by him in the Jordan River. ⁸⁵  3:14 But John ⁸⁶  tried to prevent ⁸⁷  him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?” 3:15 So Jesus replied ⁸⁸  to him, “Let it happen now, ⁸⁹  for it is right for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John ⁹⁰  yielded ⁹¹  to him. 3:16 After ⁹²  Jesus was baptized, just as he was coming up out of the water, the ⁹³  heavens ⁹⁴  opened ⁹⁵  and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove ⁹⁶  and coming on him. 3:17 And ⁹⁷  a voice from heaven said, ⁹⁸  “This is my one dear Son; ⁹⁹  in him ¹⁰⁰  I take great delight.” ¹⁰¹ 

4:1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness ¹⁰²  to be tempted by the devil. 4:2 After he fasted forty days and forty nights he was famished. ¹⁰³  4:3 The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread.” ¹⁰⁴  4:4 But he answered, ¹⁰⁵  “It is written, ‘Man ¹⁰⁶  does not live ¹⁰⁷  by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” ¹⁰⁸  4:5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, ¹⁰⁹  had him stand ¹¹⁰  on the highest point ¹¹¹  of the temple, 4:6 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’ ¹¹²  and ‘with their hands they will lift you up, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” ¹¹³  4:7 Jesus said to him, “Once again it is written: ‘You are not to put the Lord your God to the test.’” ¹¹⁴  4:8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their grandeur. ¹¹⁵  4:9 And he said to him, “I will give you all these things if you throw yourself to the ground and worship ¹¹⁶  me.” 4:10 Then Jesus said to him, “Go away, ¹¹⁷  Satan! For it is written: ‘You are to worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’” ¹¹⁸  4:11 Then the devil left him, and angels ¹¹⁹  came and began ministering to his needs.

4:12 Now when Jesus ¹²⁰  heard that John had been imprisoned, ¹²¹  he went into Galilee. 4:13 While in Galilee, he moved from Nazareth ¹²²  to make his home in Capernaum ¹²³  by the sea, ¹²⁴  in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, 4:14 so that what was spoken by Isaiah the prophet would be fulfilled: ¹²⁵ 

4:15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,

the way by the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles –

4:16 the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light,

and on those who sit in the region and shadow of death a light has dawned.” ¹²⁶ 

4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach this message: ¹²⁷  “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

4:18 As ¹²⁸  he was walking by the Sea of Galilee he saw two brothers, Simon (called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea (for they were fishermen). ¹²⁹  4:19 He said to them, “Follow me, and I will turn you into fishers of people.” ¹³⁰  4:20 They ¹³¹  left their nets immediately and followed him. ¹³²  4:21 Going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in a boat ¹³³  with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. Then ¹³⁴  he called them. 4:22 They ¹³⁵  immediately left the boat and their father and followed him.

4:23 Jesus ¹³⁶  went throughout all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, ¹³⁷  preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of disease and sickness among the people. 4:24 So a report about him spread throughout Syria. People ¹³⁸  brought to him all who suffered with various illnesses and afflictions, those who had seizures, ¹³⁹  paralytics, and those possessed by demons, ¹⁴⁰  and he healed them. 4:25 And large crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, ¹⁴¹  Jerusalem, ¹⁴²  Judea, and beyond the Jordan River. ¹⁴³ 

5:1 When ¹⁴⁴  he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain. ¹⁴⁵  After he sat down his disciples came to him. 5:2 Then ¹⁴⁶  he began to teach ¹⁴⁷  them by saying:

5:3 “Blessed ¹⁴⁸  are the poor in spirit, ¹⁴⁹  for the kingdom of heaven belongs ¹⁵⁰  to them.

5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. ¹⁵¹ 

5:5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger ¹⁵²  and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.

5:7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children ¹⁵³  of God.

5:10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

5:11 “Blessed are you when people ¹⁵⁴  insult you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things about you falsely ¹⁵⁵  on account of me. 5:12 Rejoice and be glad because your reward is great in heaven, for they persecuted the prophets before you in the same way.

5:13 “You are the salt ¹⁵⁶  of the earth. But if salt loses its flavor, ¹⁵⁷  how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled on by people. 5:14 You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden. 5:15 People ¹⁵⁸  do not light a lamp and put it under a basket ¹⁵⁹  but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven.

5:17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have not come to abolish these things but to fulfill them. ¹⁶⁰  5:18 I ¹⁶¹  tell you the truth, ¹⁶²  until heaven and earth pass away not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter ¹⁶³  will pass from the law until everything takes place. 5:19 So anyone who breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others ¹⁶⁴  to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever obeys them and teaches others to do so will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 5:20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness goes beyond that of the experts in the law ¹⁶⁵  and the Pharisees, ¹⁶⁶  you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

5:21 “You have heard that it was said to an older generation, ¹⁶⁷  ‘Do not murder,’ ¹⁶⁸  and ‘whoever murders will be subjected to judgment.’ 5:22 But I say to you that anyone who is angry with a brother ¹⁶⁹  will be subjected to judgment. And whoever insults ¹⁷⁰  a brother will be brought before ¹⁷¹  the council, ¹⁷²  and whoever says ‘Fool’ ¹⁷³  will be sent ¹⁷⁴  to fiery hell. ¹⁷⁵  5:23 So then, if you bring your gift to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 5:24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother and then come and present your gift. 5:25 Reach agreement ¹⁷⁶  quickly with your accuser while on the way to court, ¹⁷⁷  or he ¹⁷⁸  may hand you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the warden, and you will be thrown into prison. 5:26 I tell you the truth, ¹⁷⁹  you will never get out of there until you have paid the last penny! ¹⁸⁰ 

5:27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ ¹⁸¹  5:28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to desire her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 5:29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away! It is better to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into hell. ¹⁸²  5:30 If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away! It is better to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into hell.

5:31 “It was said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a legal document.’ ¹⁸³  5:32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

5:33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to an older generation, ¹⁸⁴  ‘Do not break an oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ ¹⁸⁵  5:34 But I say to you, do not take oaths at all – not by heaven, because it is the throne of God, 5:35 not by earth, because it is his footstool, and not by Jerusalem, ¹⁸⁶  because it is the city of the great King. 5:36 Do not take an oath by your head, because you are not able to make one hair white or black. 5:37 Let your word be ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no.’ More than this is from the evil one. ¹⁸⁷ 

5:38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ ¹⁸⁸  5:39 But I say to you, do not resist the evildoer. ¹⁸⁹  But whoever strikes you on the ¹⁹⁰  right cheek, turn the other to him as well. 5:40 And if someone wants to sue you and to take your tunic, ¹⁹¹  give him your coat also. 5:41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, ¹⁹²  go with him two. 5:42 Give to the one who asks you, ¹⁹³  and do not reject ¹⁹⁴  the one who wants to borrow from you.

5:43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ ¹⁹⁵  and ‘hate your enemy.’ 5:44 But I say to you, love your enemy and ¹⁹⁶  pray for those who persecute you, 5:45 so that you may be like ¹⁹⁷  your Father in heaven, since he causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 5:46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors ¹⁹⁸  do the same, don’t they? 5:47 And if you only greet your brothers, what more do you do? Even the Gentiles do the same, don’t they? 5:48 So then, be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. ¹⁹⁹ 

6:1 “Be ²⁰⁰  careful not to display your righteousness merely to be seen by people. ²⁰¹  Otherwise you have no reward with your Father in heaven. 6:2 Thus whenever you do charitable giving, ²⁰²  do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in synagogues ²⁰³  and on streets so that people will praise them. I tell you the truth, ²⁰⁴  they have their reward. 6:3 But when you do your giving, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 6:4 so that your gift may be in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. ²⁰⁵ 

6:5 “Whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray while standing in synagogues ²⁰⁶  and on street corners so that people can see them. Truly I say to you, they have their reward. 6:6 But whenever you pray, go into your room, ²⁰⁷  close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. ²⁰⁸  6:7 When ²⁰⁹  you pray, do not babble repetitiously like the Gentiles, because they think that by their many words they will be heard. 6:8 Do ²¹⁰  not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 6:9 So pray this way: ²¹¹ 

Our Father ²¹²  in heaven, may your name be honored, ²¹³ 

6:10 may your kingdom come, ²¹⁴ 

may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

6:11 Give us today our daily bread, ²¹⁵ 

6:12 and forgive us our debts, as we ourselves ²¹⁶  have forgiven our debtors.

6:13 And do not lead us into temptation, ²¹⁷  but deliver us from the evil one. ²¹⁸ 

6:14 “For if you forgive others ²¹⁹  their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 6:15 But if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive you your sins.

6:16 “When ²²⁰  you fast, do not look sullen like the hypocrites, for they make their faces unattractive ²²¹  so that people will see them fasting. I tell you the truth, ²²²  they have their reward. 6:17 When ²²³  you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 6:18 so that it will not be obvious to others when you are fasting, but only to your Father who is in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.

6:19 “Do not accumulate for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth ²²⁴  and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. 6:20 But accumulate for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 6:21 For where your ²²⁵  treasure ²²⁶  is, there your heart will be also.

6:22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If then your eye is healthy, ²²⁷  your whole body will be full of light. 6:23 But if your eye is diseased, ²²⁸  your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

6:24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate ²²⁹  the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise ²³⁰  the other. You cannot serve God and money. ²³¹ 

6:25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry ²³²  about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing? 6:26 Look at the birds in the sky: ²³³  They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds ²³⁴  them. Aren’t you more valuable ²³⁵  than they are? 6:27 And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life? ²³⁶  6:28 Why do you worry about clothing? Think about how the flowers ²³⁷  of the field grow; they do not work ²³⁸  or spin. 6:29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these! 6:30 And if this is how God clothes the wild grass, ²³⁹  which is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven, ²⁴⁰  won’t he clothe you even more, ²⁴¹  you people of little faith? 6:31 So then, don’t worry saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 6:32 For the unconverted ²⁴²  pursue these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 6:33 But above all pursue his kingdom ²⁴³  and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 6:34 So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own. ²⁴⁴ 

7:1 “Do not judge so that you will not be judged. ²⁴⁵  7:2 For by the standard you judge you will be judged, and the measure you use will be the measure you receive. ²⁴⁶  7:3 Why ²⁴⁷  do you see the speck ²⁴⁸  in your brother’s eye, but fail to see ²⁴⁹  the beam of wood ²⁵⁰  in your own? 7:4 Or how can you say ²⁵¹  to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye,’ while there is a beam in your own? 7:5 You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. 7:6 Do not give what is holy to dogs or throw your pearls before pigs; otherwise they will trample them under their feet and turn around and tear you to pieces. ²⁵² 

7:7 “Ask ²⁵³  and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door ²⁵⁴  will be opened for you. 7:8 For everyone who asks ²⁵⁵  receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 7:9 Is ²⁵⁶  there anyone among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 7:10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? ²⁵⁷  7:11 If you then, although you are evil, ²⁵⁸  know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts ²⁵⁹  to those who ask him! 7:12 In ²⁶⁰  everything, treat others as you would want them ²⁶¹  to treat you, ²⁶²  for this fulfills ²⁶³  the law and the prophets.

7:13 “Enter through the narrow gate, because the gate is wide and the way is spacious that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 7:14 But the gate is narrow and the way is difficult that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

7:15 “Watch out for false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are voracious wolves. ²⁶⁴  7:16 You will recognize them by their fruit. Grapes are not gathered ²⁶⁵  from thorns or figs from thistles, are they? ²⁶⁶  7:17 In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad ²⁶⁷  tree bears bad fruit. 7:18 A good tree is not able to bear bad fruit, nor a bad tree to bear good fruit. 7:19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 7:20 So then, you will recognize them by their fruit.

7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ ²⁶⁸  will enter into the kingdom of heaven – only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 7:22 On that day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, and in your name cast out demons and do ²⁶⁹  many powerful deeds?’ 7:23 Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Go away from me, you lawbreakers!’ ²⁷⁰ 

7:24 “Everyone ²⁷¹  who hears these words of mine and does them is like ²⁷²  a wise man ²⁷³  who built his house on rock. 7:25 The rain fell, the flood ²⁷⁴  came, and the winds beat against that house, but it did not collapse because it had been founded on rock. 7:26 Everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 7:27 The rain fell, the flood came, and the winds beat against that house, and it collapsed; it was utterly destroyed!” ²⁷⁵ 

7:28 When ²⁷⁶  Jesus finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed by his teaching, 7:29 because he taught them like one who had authority, ²⁷⁷  not like their experts in the law. ²⁷⁸ 

8:1 After he came down from the mountain, large crowds followed him. 8:2 And a leper ²⁷⁹  approached, and bowed low before him, saying, ²⁸⁰  “Lord, if ²⁸¹  you are willing, you can make me clean.” 8:3 He stretched out his hand and touched ²⁸²  him saying, “I am willing. Be clean!” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 8:4 Then Jesus said to him, “See that you do not speak to anyone, ²⁸³  but go, show yourself to a priest, and bring the offering ²⁸⁴  that Moses commanded, ²⁸⁵  as a testimony to them.” ²⁸⁶ 

8:5 When he entered Capernaum, ²⁸⁷  a centurion ²⁸⁸  came to him asking for help: ²⁸⁹  8:6 “Lord, ²⁹⁰  my servant ²⁹¹  is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible anguish.” 8:7 Jesus ²⁹²  said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 8:8 But the centurion replied, ²⁹³  “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. Instead, just say the word and my servant will be healed. 8:9 For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. ²⁹⁴  I say to this one, ‘Go’ and he goes, ²⁹⁵  and to another ‘Come’ and he comes, and to my slave ²⁹⁶  ‘Do this’ and he does it.” ²⁹⁷  8:10 When ²⁹⁸  Jesus heard this he was amazed and said to those who followed him, “I tell you the truth, ²⁹⁹  I have not found such faith in anyone in Israel! 8:11 I tell you, many will come from the east and west to share the banquet ³⁰⁰  with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob ³⁰¹  in the kingdom of heaven, 8:12 but the sons of the kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” ³⁰²  8:13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go; just as you believed, it will be done for you.” And the servant ³⁰³  was healed at that hour.

8:14 Now ³⁰⁴  when Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying down, ³⁰⁵  sick with a fever. 8:15 He touched her hand, and the fever left her. Then ³⁰⁶  she got up and began to serve them. 8:16 When it was evening, many demon-possessed people were brought to him. He drove out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick. ³⁰⁷  8:17 In this way what was spoken by Isaiah the prophet was fulfilled: ³⁰⁸ 

“He took our weaknesses and carried our diseases.” ³⁰⁹ 

8:18 Now when Jesus saw a large crowd ³¹⁰  around him, he gave orders to go to the other side of the lake. ³¹¹  8:19 Then ³¹²  an expert in the law ³¹³  came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” ³¹⁴  8:20 Jesus said to him, “Foxes have dens, and the birds in the sky ³¹⁵  have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” ³¹⁶  8:21 Another ³¹⁷  of the ³¹⁸  disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 8:22 But Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” ³¹⁹ 

8:23 As he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. ³²⁰  8:24 And a great storm developed on the sea so that the waves began to swamp the boat. But he was asleep. 8:25 So they came ³²¹  and woke him up saying, “Lord, save us! We are about to die!” 8:26 But ³²²  he said to them, “Why are you cowardly, you people of little faith?” Then he got up and rebuked ³²³  the winds and the sea, ³²⁴  and it was dead calm. 8:27 And the men ³²⁵  were amazed and said, ³²⁶  “What sort of person is this? Even the winds and the sea obey him!” ³²⁷ 

8:28 When he came to the other side, to the region of the Gadarenes, ³²⁸  two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were extremely violent, so that no one was able to pass by that way. 8:29 They ³²⁹  cried out, “Son of God, leave us alone! ³³⁰  Have you come here to torment us before the time?” ³³¹  8:30 A ³³²  large herd of pigs was feeding some distance from them. 8:31 Then the demons begged him, ³³³  “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.” 8:32 And he said, ³³⁴  “Go!” So ³³⁵  they came out and went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep slope into the lake and drowned in the water. 8:33 The ³³⁶  herdsmen ran off, went into the town, ³³⁷  and told everything that had happened to the demon-possessed men. 8:34 Then ³³⁸  the entire town ³³⁹  came out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.

9:1 After getting into a boat he crossed to the other side and came to his own town. ³⁴⁰  9:2 Just then ³⁴¹  some people ³⁴²  brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. ³⁴³  When Jesus saw their ³⁴⁴  faith, he said to the paralytic, “Have courage, son! Your sins are forgiven.” ³⁴⁵  9:3 Then ³⁴⁶  some of the experts in the law ³⁴⁷  said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming!” ³⁴⁸  9:4 When Jesus saw their reaction he said, “Why do you respond with evil in your hearts? 9:5 Which is easier, ³⁴⁹  to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven’ or to say, ‘Stand up and walk’? 9:6 But so that you may know ³⁵⁰  that the Son of Man ³⁵¹  has authority on earth to forgive sins” – then he said to the paralytic ³⁵²  – “Stand up, take your stretcher, and go home.” ³⁵³  9:7 And he stood up and went home. ³⁵⁴  9:8 When ³⁵⁵  the crowd saw this, they were afraid ³⁵⁶  and honored God who had given such authority to men. ³⁵⁷ 

9:9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth. ³⁵⁸  “Follow me,” he said to him. And he got up and followed him. 9:10 As ³⁵⁹  Jesus ³⁶⁰  was having a meal ³⁶¹  in Matthew’s ³⁶²  house, many tax collectors ³⁶³  and sinners came and ate with Jesus and his disciples. 9:11 When the Pharisees ³⁶⁴  saw this they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” ³⁶⁵  9:12 When ³⁶⁶  Jesus heard this he said, “Those who are healthy don’t need a physician, but those who are sick do. ³⁶⁷  9:13 Go and learn what this saying means: ‘I want mercy and not sacrifice.’ ³⁶⁸  For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

9:14 Then John’s ³⁶⁹  disciples came to Jesus ³⁷⁰  and asked, “Why do we and the Pharisees ³⁷¹  fast often, ³⁷²  but your disciples don’t fast?” 9:15 Jesus said to them, “The wedding guests ³⁷³  cannot mourn while the bridegroom ³⁷⁴  is with them, can they? But the days ³⁷⁵  are coming when the bridegroom will be taken from them, ³⁷⁶  and then they will fast. 9:16 No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, because the patch will pull away from the garment and the tear will be worse. 9:17 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins; ³⁷⁷  otherwise the skins burst and the wine is spilled out and the skins are destroyed. Instead they put new wine into new wineskins ³⁷⁸  and both are preserved.”

9:18 As he was saying these things, a ruler came, bowed low before him, and said, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her and she will live.” 9:19 Jesus and his disciples got up and followed him. 9:20 But ³⁷⁹  a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage ³⁸⁰  for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge ³⁸¹  of his cloak. ³⁸²  9:21 For she kept saying to herself, ³⁸³  “If only I touch his cloak, I will be healed.” ³⁸⁴  9:22 But when Jesus turned and saw her he said, “Have courage, daughter! Your faith has made you well.” ³⁸⁵  And the woman was healed ³⁸⁶  from that hour. 9:23 When Jesus entered the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the disorderly crowd, 9:24 he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but asleep.” And they began making fun of him. ³⁸⁷  9:25 But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and gently took her by the hand, and the girl got up. 9:26 And the news of this spread throughout that region. ³⁸⁸ 

9:27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, shouting, ³⁸⁹  “Have mercy ³⁹⁰  on us, Son of David!” ³⁹¹  9:28 When ³⁹²  he went into the house, the blind men came to him. Jesus ³⁹³  said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” 9:29 Then he touched their eyes saying, “Let it be done for you according to your faith.” 9:30 And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus sternly warned them, “See that no one knows about this.” 9:31 But they went out and spread the news about him throughout that entire region. ³⁹⁴ 

9:32 As ³⁹⁵  they were going away, ³⁹⁶  a man who could not talk and was demon-possessed was brought to him. 9:33 After the demon was cast out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowds were amazed and said, “Never has anything like this been seen in Israel!” 9:34 But the Pharisees ³⁹⁷  said, “By the ruler ³⁹⁸  of demons he casts out demons.” ³⁹⁹ 

9:35 Then Jesus went throughout all the towns ⁴⁰⁰  and villages, teaching in their synagogues, ⁴⁰¹  preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and sickness. ⁴⁰²  9:36 When ⁴⁰³  he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were bewildered and helpless, ⁴⁰⁴  like sheep without a shepherd. 9:37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 9:38 Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest ⁴⁰⁵  to send out ⁴⁰⁶  workers into his harvest.”

10:1 Jesus ⁴⁰⁷  called his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits ⁴⁰⁸  so they could cast them out and heal every kind of disease and sickness. ⁴⁰⁹  10:2 Now these are the names of the twelve apostles: ⁴¹⁰  first, Simon ⁴¹¹  (called Peter), and Andrew his brother; James son of Zebedee and John his brother; 10:3 Philip and Bartholomew; ⁴¹²  Thomas ⁴¹³  and Matthew the tax collector; ⁴¹⁴  James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; ⁴¹⁵  10:4 Simon the Zealot ⁴¹⁶  and Judas Iscariot, ⁴¹⁷  who betrayed him. ⁴¹⁸ 

10:5 Jesus sent out these twelve, instructing them as follows: ⁴¹⁹  “Do not go to Gentile regions ⁴²⁰  and do not enter any Samaritan town. ⁴²¹  10:6 Go ⁴²²  instead to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 10:7 As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near!’ 10:8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, ⁴²³  cleanse lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. 10:9 Do not take gold, silver, or copper in your belts, 10:10 no bag ⁴²⁴  for the journey, or an extra tunic, ⁴²⁵  or sandals or staff, ⁴²⁶  for the worker deserves his provisions. 10:11 Whenever ⁴²⁷  you enter a town or village, ⁴²⁸  find out who is worthy there ⁴²⁹  and stay with them ⁴³⁰  until you leave. 10:12 As you enter the house, give it greetings. ⁴³¹  10:13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come on it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. ⁴³²  10:14 And if anyone will not welcome you or listen to your message, shake the dust off ⁴³³  your feet as you leave that house or that town. 10:15 I tell you the truth, ⁴³⁴  it will be more bearable for the region of Sodom and Gomorrah ⁴³⁵  on the day of judgment than for that town!

10:16 “I ⁴³⁶  am sending you out like sheep surrounded by wolves, ⁴³⁷  so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 10:17 Beware ⁴³⁸  of people, because they will hand you over to councils ⁴³⁹  and flog ⁴⁴⁰  you in their synagogues. ⁴⁴¹  10:18 And you will be brought before governors and kings ⁴⁴²  because of me, as a witness to them and the Gentiles. 10:19 Whenever ⁴⁴³  they hand you over for trial, do not worry about how to speak or what to say, ⁴⁴⁴  for what you should say will be given to you at that time. ⁴⁴⁵  10:20 For it is not you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

10:21 “Brother ⁴⁴⁶  will hand over brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise against ⁴⁴⁷  parents and have them put to death. 10:22 And you will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 10:23 Whenever ⁴⁴⁸  they persecute you in one place, ⁴⁴⁹  flee to another. I tell you the truth, ⁴⁵⁰  you will not finish going through all the towns ⁴⁵¹  of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

10:24 “A disciple is not greater than his teacher, nor a slave ⁴⁵²  greater than his master. 10:25 It is enough for the disciple to become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house ‘Beelzebul,’ how much more will they defame the members of his household!

10:26 “Do ⁴⁵³  not be afraid of them, for nothing is hidden ⁴⁵⁴  that will not be revealed, ⁴⁵⁵  and nothing is secret that will not be made known. 10:27 What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light, and what is whispered in your ear, ⁴⁵⁶  proclaim from the housetops. ⁴⁵⁷  10:28 Do ⁴⁵⁸  not be afraid of those who kill the body ⁴⁵⁹  but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the one who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. ⁴⁶⁰  10:29 Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? ⁴⁶¹  Yet not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. ⁴⁶²  10:30 Even all the hairs on your head are numbered. 10:31 So do not be afraid; ⁴⁶³  you are more valuable than many sparrows.

10:32 “Whoever, then, acknowledges ⁴⁶⁴  me before people, I will acknowledge ⁴⁶⁵  before my Father in heaven. 10:33 But whoever denies me before people, I will deny him also before my Father in heaven.

10:34 “Do not think that I have come to bring ⁴⁶⁶  peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace but a sword. 10:35 For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, 10:36 and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household. ⁴⁶⁷ 

10:37 “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 10:38 And whoever does not take up his cross ⁴⁶⁸  and follow me is not worthy of me. 10:39 Whoever finds his life ⁴⁶⁹  will lose it, ⁴⁷⁰  and whoever loses his life because of me ⁴⁷¹  will find it.

10:40 “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. ⁴⁷²  10:41 Whoever receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. Whoever ⁴⁷³  receives a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 10:42 And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple, I tell you the truth, ⁴⁷⁴  he will never lose his reward.”

11:1 When ⁴⁷⁵  Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their towns.

11:2 Now when John ⁴⁷⁶  heard in prison about the deeds Christ ⁴⁷⁷  had done, he sent his disciples to ask a question: ⁴⁷⁸  11:3 “Are you the one who is to come, ⁴⁷⁹  or should we look for another?” 11:4 Jesus answered them, ⁴⁸⁰  “Go tell John what you hear and see: ⁴⁸¹  11:5 The blind see, the ⁴⁸²  lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news proclaimed to them. 11:6 Blessed is anyone ⁴⁸³  who takes no offense at me.”

11:7 While they were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness ⁴⁸⁴  to see? A reed shaken by the wind? ⁴⁸⁵  11:8 What ⁴⁸⁶  did you go out to see? A man dressed in fancy clothes? ⁴⁸⁷  Look, those who wear fancy clothes are in the homes of kings! ⁴⁸⁸  11:9 What did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more ⁴⁸⁹  than a prophet. 11:10 This is the one about whom it is written:

‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, ⁴⁹⁰ 

who will prepare your way before you.’ ⁴⁹¹ 

11:11 “I tell you the truth, ⁴⁹²  among those born of women, no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least ⁴⁹³  in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is. 11:12 From ⁴⁹⁴  the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and forceful people lay hold of it. ⁴⁹⁵  11:13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John appeared. ⁴⁹⁶  11:14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, who is to come. 11:15 The one who has ears had better listen! ⁴⁹⁷ 

11:16 “To ⁴⁹⁸  what should I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces who call out to one another, ⁴⁹⁹ 

11:17 ‘We played the flute for you, yet you did not dance; ⁵⁰⁰ 

we wailed in mourning, ⁵⁰¹  yet you did not weep.’

11:18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’ ⁵⁰²  11:19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him, ⁵⁰³  a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors ⁵⁰⁴  and sinners!’ ⁵⁰⁵  But wisdom is vindicated ⁵⁰⁶  by her deeds.” ⁵⁰⁷ 

11:20 Then Jesus began to criticize openly the cities ⁵⁰⁸  in which he had done many of his miracles, because they did not repent. 11:21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! ⁵⁰⁹  Woe to you, Bethsaida! If ⁵¹⁰  the miracles ⁵¹¹  done in you had been done in Tyre ⁵¹²  and Sidon, ⁵¹³  they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 11:22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you! 11:23 And you, Capernaum, ⁵¹⁴  will you be exalted to heaven? ⁵¹⁵  No, you will be thrown down to Hades! ⁵¹⁶  For if the miracles done among you had been done in Sodom, it would have continued to this day. 11:24 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for the region of Sodom ⁵¹⁷  on the day of judgment than for you!”

11:25 At that time Jesus said, ⁵¹⁸  “I praise ⁵¹⁹  you, Father, Lord ⁵²⁰  of heaven and earth, because ⁵²¹  you have hidden these things from the wise ⁵²²  and intelligent, and revealed them to little children. 11:26 Yes, Father, for this was your gracious will. ⁵²³  11:27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father. ⁵²⁴  No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son decides ⁵²⁵  to reveal him. 11:28 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 11:29 Take my yoke ⁵²⁶  on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 11:30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry.”

12:1 At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on a Sabbath. His ⁵²⁷  disciples were hungry, and they began to pick heads of wheat ⁵²⁸  and eat them. 12:2 But when the Pharisees ⁵²⁹  saw this they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is against the law to do on the Sabbath.” 12:3 He ⁵³⁰  said to them, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry – 12:4 how he entered the house of God and they ate ⁵³¹  the sacred bread, ⁵³²  which was against the law ⁵³³  for him or his companions to eat, but only for the priests? ⁵³⁴  12:5 Or have you not read in the law that the priests in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are not guilty? 12:6 I ⁵³⁵  tell you that something greater than the temple is here. 12:7 If ⁵³⁶  you had known what this means: ‘I want mercy and not sacrifice,’ ⁵³⁷  you would not have condemned the innocent. 12:8 For the Son of Man is lord ⁵³⁸  of the Sabbath.”

12:9 Then ⁵³⁹  Jesus ⁵⁴⁰  left that place and entered their synagogue. ⁵⁴¹  12:10 A ⁵⁴²  man was there who had a withered ⁵⁴³  hand. And they asked Jesus, ⁵⁴⁴  “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” ⁵⁴⁵  so that they could accuse him. 12:11 He said to them, “Would not any one of you, if he had one sheep that fell into a pit on the Sabbath, take hold of it and lift it out? 12:12 How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 12:13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out and it was restored, ⁵⁴⁶  as healthy as the other. 12:14 But the Pharisees went out and plotted against him, as to how they could assassinate ⁵⁴⁷  him.

12:15 Now when Jesus learned of this, he went away from there. Great ⁵⁴⁸  crowds ⁵⁴⁹  followed him, and he healed them all. 12:16 But he sternly warned them not to make him known. 12:17 This fulfilled what was spoken by Isaiah the prophet: ⁵⁵⁰ 

12:18 “Here is ⁵⁵¹  my servant whom I have chosen,

the one I love, in whom I take great delight. ⁵⁵² 

I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.

12:19 He will not quarrel or cry out,

nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.

12:20 He will not break a bruised reed or extinguish a smoldering wick,

until he brings justice to victory.

12:21 And in his name the Gentiles ⁵⁵³  will hope.” ⁵⁵⁴ 

12:22 Then they brought to him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute. Jesus ⁵⁵⁵  healed him so that he could speak and see. ⁵⁵⁶  12:23 All the crowds were amazed and said, “Could this one be the Son of David?” 12:24 But when the Pharisees ⁵⁵⁷  heard this they said, “He does not cast out demons except by the power of Beelzebul, ⁵⁵⁸  the ruler ⁵⁵⁹  of demons!” 12:25 Now when Jesus ⁵⁶⁰  realized what they were thinking, he said to them, ⁵⁶¹  “Every kingdom divided against itself is destroyed, ⁵⁶²  and no town or house divided against itself will stand. 12:26 So if ⁵⁶³  Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 12:27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons ⁵⁶⁴  cast them ⁵⁶⁵  out? For this reason they will be your judges. 12:28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God ⁵⁶⁶  has already overtaken ⁵⁶⁷  you. 12:29 How ⁵⁶⁸  else can someone enter a strong man’s ⁵⁶⁹  house and steal his property, unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can thoroughly plunder the house. ⁵⁷⁰  12:30 Whoever is not with me is against me, ⁵⁷¹  and whoever does not gather with me scatters. ⁵⁷²  12:31 For this reason I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, ⁵⁷³  but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 12:32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven. ⁵⁷⁴  But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, ⁵⁷⁵  either in this age or in the age to come.

12:33 “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad ⁵⁷⁶  and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is known by its fruit. 12:34 Offspring of vipers! How are you able to say anything good, since you are evil? For the mouth speaks from what fills the heart. 12:35 The good person ⁵⁷⁷  brings good things out of his ⁵⁷⁸  good treasury, ⁵⁷⁹  and the evil person brings evil things out of his evil treasury. 12:36 I ⁵⁸⁰  tell you that on the day of judgment, people will give an account for every worthless word they speak. 12:37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

12:38 Then some of the experts in the law ⁵⁸¹  along with some Pharisees ⁵⁸²  answered him, ⁵⁸³  “Teacher, we want to see a sign ⁵⁸⁴  from you.” 12:39 But he answered them, ⁵⁸⁵  “An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 12:40 For just as Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish ⁵⁸⁶  for three days and three nights, ⁵⁸⁷  so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. 12:41 The people ⁵⁸⁸  of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented when Jonah preached to them ⁵⁸⁹  – and now, ⁵⁹⁰  something greater than Jonah is here! 12:42 The queen of the South ⁵⁹¹  will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon – and now, ⁵⁹²  something greater than Solomon is here!

12:43 “When ⁵⁹³  an unclean spirit ⁵⁹⁴  goes out of a person, ⁵⁹⁵  it passes through waterless places ⁵⁹⁶  looking for rest but ⁵⁹⁷  does not find it. 12:44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the home I left.’ ⁵⁹⁸  When it returns, ⁵⁹⁹  it finds the house ⁶⁰⁰  empty, swept clean, and put in order. ⁶⁰¹  12:45 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there, so ⁶⁰²  the last state of that person is worse than the first. It will be that way for this evil generation as well!”

12:46 While Jesus ⁶⁰³  was still speaking to the crowds, ⁶⁰⁴  his mother and brothers ⁶⁰⁵  came and ⁶⁰⁶  stood outside, asking ⁶⁰⁷  to speak to him. 12:47 ⁶⁰⁸  Someone ⁶⁰⁹  told him, “Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside wanting ⁶¹⁰  to speak to you.” 12:48 To the one who had said this, Jesus ⁶¹¹  replied, ⁶¹²  “Who is my mother and who are my brothers?” 12:49 And pointing ⁶¹³  toward his disciples he said, “Here ⁶¹⁴  are my mother and my brothers! 12:50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is ⁶¹⁵  my brother and sister and mother.”

13:1 On that day after Jesus went out of the house, he sat by the lake. 13:2 And such a large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat to sit while ⁶¹⁶  the whole crowd stood on the shore. 13:3 He ⁶¹⁷  told them many things in parables, ⁶¹⁸  saying: “Listen! ⁶¹⁹  A sower went out to sow. ⁶²⁰  13:4 And as he sowed, some seeds ⁶²¹  fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 13:5 Other ⁶²²  seeds fell on rocky ground ⁶²³  where they did not have much soil. They sprang up quickly because the soil was not deep. ⁶²⁴  13:6 But when the sun came up, they were scorched, and because they did not have sufficient root, they withered. 13:7 Other seeds fell among the thorns, ⁶²⁵  and they grew up and choked them. ⁶²⁶  13:8 But other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty. 13:9 The one who has ears had better listen!” ⁶²⁷ 

13:10 Then ⁶²⁸  the disciples came to him and said, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 13:11 He replied, ⁶²⁹  “You have been given ⁶³⁰  the opportunity to know ⁶³¹  the secrets ⁶³²  of the kingdom of heaven, but they have not. 13:12 For whoever has will be given more, and will have an abundance. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. ⁶³³  13:13 For this reason I speak to them in parables: Although they see they do not see, and although they hear they do not hear nor do they understand. 13:14 And concerning them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:

‘You will listen carefully ⁶³⁴  yet will never understand,

you will look closely ⁶³⁵  yet will never comprehend.

13:15 For the heart of this people has become dull;

they are hard of hearing,

and they have shut their eyes,

so that they would not see with their eyes

and hear with their ears

and understand with their hearts

and turn, and I would heal them.’ ⁶³⁶ 

13:16 “But your eyes are blessed ⁶³⁷  because they see, and your ears because they hear. 13:17 For I tell you the truth, ⁶³⁸  many prophets and righteous people longed to see ⁶³⁹  what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

13:18 “So listen to the parable of the sower: 13:19 When anyone hears the word about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one ⁶⁴⁰  comes and snatches what was sown in his heart; ⁶⁴¹  this is the seed sown along the path. 13:20 The ⁶⁴²  seed sown on rocky ground ⁶⁴³  is the person who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. 13:21 But he has no root in himself and does not endure; ⁶⁴⁴  when ⁶⁴⁵  trouble or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he falls away. 13:22 The ⁶⁴⁶  seed sown among thorns is the person who hears the word, but worldly cares and the seductiveness of wealth ⁶⁴⁷  choke the word, ⁶⁴⁸  so it produces nothing. 13:23 But as for the seed sown on good soil, this is the person who hears the word and understands. He bears fruit, yielding a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown.” ⁶⁴⁹ 

13:24 He presented them with another parable: ⁶⁵⁰  “The kingdom of heaven is like a person who sowed good seed in his field. 13:25 But while everyone was sleeping, an enemy came and sowed weeds ⁶⁵¹  among the wheat and went away. 13:26 When ⁶⁵²  the plants sprouted and bore grain, then the weeds also appeared. 13:27 So the slaves ⁶⁵³  of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Then where did the weeds come from?’ 13:28 He said, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So ⁶⁵⁴  the slaves replied, ‘Do you want us to go and gather them?’ 13:29 But he said, ‘No, since in gathering the weeds you may uproot the wheat with them. 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At ⁶⁵⁵  harvest time I will tell the reapers, “First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned, but then ⁶⁵⁶  gather ⁶⁵⁷  the wheat into my barn.”’”

13:31 He gave ⁶⁵⁸  them another parable: ⁶⁵⁹  “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed ⁶⁶⁰  that a man took and sowed in his field. 13:32 It is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest garden plant and becomes a tree, ⁶⁶¹  so that the wild birds ⁶⁶²  come and nest in its branches.” ⁶⁶³ 

13:33 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with ⁶⁶⁴  three measures ⁶⁶⁵  of flour until all the dough had risen.” ⁶⁶⁶ 

13:34 Jesus spoke all these things in parables to the crowds; he did not speak to them without a parable. 13:35 This fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet: ⁶⁶⁷ 

“I will open my mouth in parables,

I will announce what has been hidden from the foundation of the world.” ⁶⁶⁸ 

13:36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” 13:37 He ⁶⁶⁹  answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 13:38 The field is the world and the good seed are the people ⁶⁷⁰  of the kingdom. The weeds are the people ⁶⁷¹  of the evil one, 13:39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 13:40 As ⁶⁷²  the weeds are collected and burned with fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 13:41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather from his kingdom everything that causes sin as well as all lawbreakers. ⁶⁷³  13:42 They will throw them into the fiery furnace, ⁶⁷⁴  where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 13:43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. ⁶⁷⁵  The one who has ears had better listen! ⁶⁷⁶ 

13:44 “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure, hidden in a field, that a person found and hid. Then because of joy he went and sold all that he had and bought that field.

13:45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. 13:46 When he found a pearl of great value, he went out and sold everything he had and bought it.

13:47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea that caught all kinds of fish. 13:48 When it was full, they pulled it ashore, sat down, and put the good fish into containers and threw the bad away. 13:49 It will be this way at the end of the age. Angels will come and separate the evil from the righteous 13:50 and throw them into the fiery furnace, ⁶⁷⁷  where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

13:51 “Have you understood all these things?” They replied, “Yes.” 13:52 Then he said to them, “Therefore every expert in the law ⁶⁷⁸  who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his treasure what is new and old.”

13:53 Now when ⁶⁷⁹  Jesus finished these parables, he moved on from there. 13:54 Then ⁶⁸⁰  he came to his hometown ⁶⁸¹  and began to teach the people ⁶⁸²  in their synagogue. ⁶⁸³  They ⁶⁸⁴  were astonished and said, “Where did this man get such wisdom and miraculous powers? 13:55 Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother named Mary? ⁶⁸⁵  And aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? 13:56 And aren’t all his sisters here with us? Where did he get all this?” ⁶⁸⁶  13:57 And so they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own house.” 13:58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.