Matthew 7:1-19:2

VIN(i) 1 Do not judge, or you will be judged. 2 For with the same judgment you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 And why do you look for the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye but ignore the board in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. 6 Do not give dogs what is holy; do not throw your pearls before swine. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces. 7 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish will give him a snake? 11 If you then, who are 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 In everything, then, do to others as you would have them do to you. For this is the essence of the Law and the prophets. 13 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it. 15 Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So then, by their fruit you will recognize them. 21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Get away from me, you evildoers!'" 24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because its foundation was on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the floods rose, the winds blew and beat upon that house, and down it fell — with a mighty crash." 28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at His teaching, 29 because He taught as one who had authority, and not as their scribes. 8 1 WHEN he came down from the mountain, large crowds followed him. 2 And behold, a leper came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." 3 Jesus stretched out his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be you clean. Immediately he was cured of his leprosy. 4 And Jesus said to him, "See that you tell no one; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them." 5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help, 6 “Lord, my servant lies at home, paralyzed and in terrible agony.” 7 Jesus said to him, I will come and heal him. 8 The centurion replied, "Sir, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed, 9 For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." 10 When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him: Truly I say to you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11 And I tell you, many will come from the east and from the west and take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the Kingdom of Heaven, 12 But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go; and let it be done for you just as you believed”. And his servant was healed in that very hour. 14 When Jesus went into Peter's house, he saw Peter's mother-in-law lying in bed, sick with a fever. 15 He touched her hand, the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on Him. 16 When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to Jesus, and He drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took on our infirmities, and carried our diseases.” 18 When Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave directions to go over to the other side of the lake. 19 And a Teacher of the Law came up to him, and said: "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go." 20 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.” 21 Then another of his disciples said to him, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." 22 But Jesus told him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead." 23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 And suddenly a terrific storm came up on the sea, so that the waves broke over the boat, but he remained asleep. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" 26 “You of little faith,” Jesus replied, “why are you so afraid?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it was perfectly calm. 27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the sea obey Him!” 28 When Jesus arrived on the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met Him on their way from the tombs. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 29 “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have You come here to torture us before the proper time?” 30 Now a long way from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31 So the demons begged Jesus, “If You drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.” 32 “Go!” He told them. So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and perished in the waters. 33 Those tending the pigs ran off into the town and reported all this, including the account of the demon-possessed men. 34 Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw Him, they begged Him to leave their region. 9 1 Jesus got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own town. 2 Just then, some men brought to Him a paralytic lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.” 3 Then some of the teachers of the Law said to themselves: "This man is blaspheming!" 4 Knowing their thoughts Jesus said, "Why are you cherishing evil thoughts in your hearts? 5 Which is easier: to say 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? 6 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...” Then He said to the paralytic, “Get up, pick up your mat, and go home.” 7 And the man got up and went home. 8 When the crowds saw this, they were filled with awe and glorified God, who had given such authority to men. 9 As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth. “Follow Me,” He told him, and Matthew got up and followed Him. 10 Later, as Jesus was dining at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Him and His disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” 14 Then John's disciples came to him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?" 15 Jesus replied, “How can the attendants of the bridegroom mourn while He is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast. 16 No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. For the patch will pull away from the garment, and a worse tear will result. 17 Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved. 18 While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came and knelt before him, saying, "My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her and she will live." 19 And Jesus got up and went after him, and so did his disciples. 20 But just then a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the edge of His robe. 21 She said to herself, “If only I touch His cloak, I will be healed.” 22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take courage, daughter,” He said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was cured from that very hour. 23 When Jesus entered the ruler’s house, He saw the flute players and the noisy crowd. 24 he said, "Go away, for the girl is not dead, but asleep." And they laughed at him. 25 After the crowd had been put outside, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. 26 The news of this spread throughout that land. 27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” 28 When he had gone indoors, the blind men came up to him; and Jesus asked them: "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" "Yes, Master!" they answered. 29 Then He touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith will it be done to you.” 30 And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one finds out about this!” 31 But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region. 32 As they were leaving, a demon-possessed man who was mute was brought to Jesus. 33 And when the demon had been driven out, the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel!” 34 But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that He drives out demons.” 35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest.” 10 1 Jesus called His twelve disciples to Him and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out and to heal every disease and sickness. 2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him. 5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go onto the road of the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. 9 Do not carry any gold or silver or copper in your belts. 10 nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor a staff; for the worker is worthy of his food. 11 Whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy and stay at his house until you move on. 12 As you enter the house, give it your greeting. 13 If the home is worthy, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14 And if anyone will not welcome you or heed your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. 15 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. 16 Look, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 17 Be on your guard against men, for they will turn you over to the courts and will flog you in their synagogues, 18 On My account, you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to respond or what to say. In that hour you will be given what to say. 20 For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. 22 »Men will hate you because of me. He who endures to the end will be saved. 23 "When they persecute you in one city, flee to another. I tell you truly, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. 24 A scholar is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for a disciple to be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household! 26 So do not be afraid of them. For nothing is concealed that will not be uncovered, or hidden that will not be made known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops. 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. 32 Everyone who will acknowledge me before men, I will acknowledge him before my Father in heaven; 33 and whoever will disown me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. 34 "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn ‘A man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 A man's enemies will be the members of his own household.' 37 Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me; 38 and anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 40 He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives the One who sent Me. 41 Every one who receives a prophet, because he is a prophet, will receive a prophet's reward, and every one who receives a righteous man, because he is a righteous man, will receive a righteous man's reward. 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is My disciple, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.” 11 1 After Jesus had finished instructing His twelve disciples, He went on from there to teach and preach in the nearby towns. 2 Now when John heard in prison what the Christ was doing, he sent his disciples 3 to ask Him, “Are You the One who was to come, or should we look for someone else?” 4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and good news is preached to the poor. 6 Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me.” 7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind? 8 If not so, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Behold those who wear fine clothes are in kingsÆ houses. 9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one of whom it is written, 'Look, I send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.' 11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subject to violence, and the violent lay claim to it. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. 15 He who has ears, let him hear. 16 To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: 17 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.' 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, 'Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' But wisdom is justified by her deeds." 20 Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles had taken place, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had happened in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will descend to Hades! For if the miracles that were performed in you had happened in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.” 25 At that time Jesus declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure. 27 "All things have been delivered to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to Me, all you who are weary and 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." 12 1 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them. 2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.” 3 He replied to them: "Have you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for them to eat, but only for the priests. 5 Or haven’t you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and yet are innocent? 6 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 would not have condemned the innocent. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath." 9 Leaving that place, he went into their synagogue, 10 and a man with a withered hand was there. In order to accuse Jesus, they asked Him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” 11 He replied, “If one of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and it was quite restored, as sound as the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired to kill Jesus. 15 Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Large crowds followed Him, and He healed them all, 16 warning them not to make Him known. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: 18 “Here is My servant, whom I have chosen, My beloved, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will proclaim justice to the nations. 19 He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear His voice in the streets. 20 A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish, till He leads justice to victory. 21 In His name the nations will put their hope.” 22 Then they brought to him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and he healed him, so that the mute man both spoke and saw. 23 And all the people were amazed and said, "Could this be the Son of David?" 24 But when the Pharisees heard this they said, "It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons." 25 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? 27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 28 But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 How can anyone enter a strong man’s house and steal his possessions, unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house. 30 "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not 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. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. 33 Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. 35 The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure. 36 But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” 38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from you." 39 He answered them, "A wicked and adulterous generation seeks for a sign. But no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the huge fish, so the Son of Man shall be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here. 42 The queen of the south will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here. 43 When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it passes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ On its arrival, it finds the house vacant, swept clean and put in order. 45 Then it goes, and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they enter in and live there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation. 46 While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you." 48 but he replied, "Who is my mother and who are my brothers?" 49 Pointing to His disciples, He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers. 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." 13 1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. 2 Such large crowds gathered around Him that He got into a boat and sat down, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A sower went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil. They sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun rose, the seedlings were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seeds fell among the thorns, which grew up and choked the seedlings. 8 Still other seeds fell on good soil and produced a crop—a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold. 9 He who has ears, let him hear." 10 Then the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why do You speak to the people in parables?” 11 He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’ 14 In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 15 For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’ 16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear; 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. 18 "Listen then, to the parable of the sower. 19 When anyone hears the message of the kingdom but does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 But he who received the seed on rocky places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 But since he has no root, he remains for only a season. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 22 The seed sown among the thorns is the one who hears the word, but the worries of this world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 23 But the person who was sown on the fertile soil is the one who hears the message and understands it. Truly, he produces a crop that yields one hundred, sixty or thirty times [as much as was planted].” 24 He told them another parable. "The kingdom of heaven," he said, "is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the weeds also appeared. 27 The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ 28 ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. So the servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ 29 But he said, No; lest while you are gathering the tares, you root up the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At the proper time I will tell the harvesters, “First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat into my barn.”’” 31 He set forth to them another parable, saying. "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard-seed which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Although it is the smallest of all seeds, yet it grows into the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.” 33 He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into three measures of flour, until all of it was leavened.” 34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowds with parables. He did not say anything to them without using a parable. 35 So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden since the foundation of the world.” 36 Then Jesus left the crowds and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, "Explain to us the parable about the weeds in the field." 37 He answered them, “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, 38 the field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. 40 As the weeds are collected and burned in the fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil, 42 And they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where 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, let him hear. 44 The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and in his joy he went and sold all he had and bought that field. 45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. 46 When he found one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had, and bought it. 47 Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and caught fish of every kind. 48 When it was full, the men pulled it ashore. Then they sat down and sorted the good fish into containers, but threw the bad away. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50 and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 51 Have you understood all this?" Jesus asked. "Yes," they answered. 52 He said to them: Therefore, every scribe that is trained for the kingdom of heaven, is like the master of a house, who brings out of his treasury things new and old. 53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. 54 Coming to His hometown, He taught the people in their synagogue, and they were astonished. “Where did this man get such wisdom and miraculous powers?” they asked. 55 “Is this not the carpenter’s son? Isn’t His mother’s name Mary, and aren’t His brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? 56 And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?" 57 And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown and in his own household is a prophet without honor.” 58 And he did not work many miracles there, because of their want of faith. 14 1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus 2 and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! This is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” 3 For Herod had arrested John, and bound him, and put him in prison, because of Herodias, his brother PhilipÆs wife. 4 For John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5 Although Herod wanted to kill John, he was afraid of the people, because they considered him a prophet. 6 But on Herod's birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced before them: and pleased Herod. 7 That he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 8 Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist." 9 The king was grieved, but because of his oaths and his guests, he ordered that her wish be granted 10 he sent and had John beheaded in the prison, 11 John’s head was brought in on a platter and presented to the girl, who carried it to her mother. 12 His disciples came, and took the body, and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus. 13 When Jesus heard about John, He withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. But the crowds found out and followed Him on foot from the towns. 14 When He stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15 When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food." 16 Jesus said, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat." 17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. 18 "Bring them here to me," He said, 19 And He instructed the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He spoke a blessing. Then He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 Now those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children. 22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat was already far from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. 25 During the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea. 26 When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and cried out in fear. 27 But Jesus immediately spoke up: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.” 28 “Lord, if it is You,” Peter replied, “command me to come to You on the water.” 29 So he said, "Come". Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me!" 31 Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?” 32 And when they had climbed back into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshipped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." 34 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding region. People brought all the sick to Him, 36 and begged Him just to let them touch the fringe of His cloak. And all who touched Him were healed. 15 1 Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, 2 “Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They do not wash their hands when they eat.” 3 Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God said: ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’ 5 But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, 'Whatever help you might have received from me is a gift to God' 6 he need not honor his father or mother with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. 7 You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you: 8 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 9 They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’” 10 Jesus called the crowd to Him and said, “Listen and understand. 11 not what goes into the mouth defiles a man, but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man." 12 Then the disciples came to him and said, Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this speech? 13 He replied, "Every plant that my heavenly Father did not plant will be pulled up by the roots. 14 Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” 15 Peter said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.” 16 “Do you still not understand?” Jesus asked. 17 Do you not yet see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? 18 But the things which come out of the mouth come from the heart; and they make a man unclean. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander. 20 "These things make a man unclean. Eating food with unwashed hands does not make a man unclean." 21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And a Canaanite woman from that region came to Him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is miserably possessed by a demon.” 23 But Jesus did not answer a word. So His disciples came and urged Him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” 24 He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." 25 The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. 26 He replied, "It is not fair to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." 27 "Yes, Lord," she said, "yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." 28 then Jesus answered her, O woman, great is thy faith: as you desire, be it done. and her daughter was healed from that very hour. 29 Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a hillside and sat down. 30 Large crowds came to Him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and laid them at His feet, and He healed them. 31 The crowd was amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled restored, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel. 32 Then Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “I have compassion for this crowd, because they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may faint along the way.” 33 The disciples said to him, "Where can we get enough bread in this uninhabited place to feed such a crowd?" 34 “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.” 35 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. 36 He took the seven loaves and the fish and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples to the crowds. 37 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 38 The number who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children. 39 After he sent the crowds away, he got into a boat and went to the region of Magadan. 16 1 The Pharisees and Sadducees came up and to test him asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 He replied, "In the evening you say, 'It will be fine weather, for the sky is red;' 3 and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but not the signs of the times! 4 A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Then He left them and went away. 5 When they crossed to the other side, the disciples forgot to take bread. 6 and Jesus said to them, "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and the Sadducees." 7 They discussed this among themselves and concluded, “It is because we did not bring any bread.” 8 Aware of their conversation, Jesus said, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? 9 Do you still not understand? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 11 Why do you not see that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!" 12 Then they understood that He was not telling them to beware of the yeast used in bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. 13 When Jesus had come to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 “But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!" 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it! 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he warned the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ. 21 From that time on Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. 22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him saying, "Never, Lord! This shall never happen to you!" 23 But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me. For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man will come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will repay each one according to what he has done. 28 Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” 17 1 After six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. 3 And there appeared before them Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus. 4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If You wish, I will put up three shelters: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown in terror. 7 But Jesus came and touched them and said, "Rise. Don't be afraid." 8 And when they looked up, they saw no one but Jesus. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Do not tell anyone about this vision until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” 10 The disciples asked Him, "Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" 11 Jesus replied, “Elijah does indeed come, and he will restore all things. 12 But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him whatever they wished. In the same way, the Son of Man will suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that He was speaking to them about John the Baptist. 14 When they came to the crowd, a man came up to Jesus and knelt before Him. 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him." 17 “O unbelieving and perverse generation!” Jesus replied. “How long must I remain with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy here to Me.” 18 Then Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why couldn't we drive it out?" 20 “Because you have so little faith.” He answered. “For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” 22 When they gathered together in Galilee, Jesus told them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. 23 They will kill Him, and on the third day He will be raised to life.” And the disciples were deeply grieved. 24 After they had arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, “Does your Teacher pay the two drachmas?” 25 “Yes,” he answered. When Peter entered the house, Jesus preempted him. “What do you think, Simon?” He asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs and taxes: from their own sons, or from others?” 26 “From others,” Peter answered. “Then the sons are exempt,” Jesus declared. 27 “But so that we may not offend them, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take the first fish you catch. When you open its mouth, you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for you and Me.” 18 1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a child to him and had him stand among them, 3 “Truly I tell you,” He said, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes a little child like this in My name welcomes Me. 6 But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7 Woe to the world for the causes of sin. These stumbling blocks must come, but woe to the man through whom they come! 8 "So if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life injured or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell. 10 See that you do not look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. 12 What do you think? If a certain man has a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go and look for the one that wandered away? 13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices more over that one sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. 14 In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish. 15 "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. 18 I tell you truly, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 Again, I tell you truly that if two of you on the earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather together in My name, there am I with them.” 21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times! 23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a king, who was minded to settle accounts with his servants. 24 And as he began to settle up, one debtor of ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25 And as he was not able to pay, his master ordered that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 Then the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Have patience with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 His master had compassion on him, forgave his debt, and released him. 28 But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe me.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you back.' 30 But he refused. Instead, he went and had him thrown into prison until he could pay his debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and went and told their master all that had happened. 32 Then his master called for him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I canceled all of your debt because you begged me to. 33 Should you not have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had on you?’ 34 In his anger, his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should repay all that he owed. 35 That is how My Heavenly Father will treat each of you, unless you forgive your brother from your heart.” 19 1 When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went to the territory of Judea on the other side of the Jordan. 2 Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.