Jesse of David--the King. David (by Uriah's widow)

There are therefore, in all, fourteen generations from Abraham to David; fourteen from David to the Removal to Babylon; and fourteen from the Removal to Babylon to the Christ.

The circumstances of the birth of Jesus Christ were these. After his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they were united in marriage, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.

But while he was contemplating this step, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to bring home your wife Mary, for she is with child through the Holy Spirit.

She will give birth to a Son, and you are to call His name JESUS for He it is who will save His People from their sins."

inquiring, "Where is the newly born king of the Jews? For we have seen his Star in the east, and have come here to do him homage."

So he assembled all the High Priests and Scribes of the people, and anxiously asked them where the Christ was to be born.

After hearing what the king said, they went to Bethlehem, while, strange to say, the star they had seen in the east led them on until it came and stood over the place where the babe was.

When they were gone, and angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise: take the babe and His mother and escape to Egypt, and remain there till I bring you word. For Herod is about to make search for the child in order to destroy Him."

Then were these words, spoken by the Prophet Jeremiah, fulfilled,

"A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and bitter lamentation: It was Rachel bewailing her children, and she refused to be comforted because there were no more."

"Rise from sleep, and take the child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child's life are dead."

This man John wore a garment of camel's hair, and a loincloth of leather; and he lived upon locusts and wild honey.

and were baptized by him in the Jordan, making full confession of their sins.

Therefore let your lives prove your change of heart;

and do not imagine that you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our forefather,' for I tell you that God can raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones.

So the Tempter came and said, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to turn into loaves."

and said, "If you are God's Son, throw yourself down; for it is written, "'To His angels He will give orders concerning thee, and on their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any moment thou shouldst strike thy foot against a stone.'"

The people who were dwelling in darkness have seen a brilliant light; and on those who were dwelling in the region of the shadow of death, on them light has dawned."

And walking along the shore of the Lake of Galilee He saw two brothers--Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew--throwing a drag-net into the Lake; for they were fishers.

Thus His fame spread through all Syria; and they brought all the sick to Him, the people who were suffering from various diseases and pains--demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; and He cured them.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for to them belongs the Kingdom of the Heavens.

"Blessed are the mourners, for they shall be comforted.

"Blessed are the meek, for they as heirs shall obtain possession of the earth.

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be completely satisfied.

"Blessed are the compassionate, for they shall receive compassion.

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for it is they who will be recognized as sons of God.

"Blessed are those who have borne persecution in the cause of Righteousness, for to them belongs the Kingdom of the Heavens.

"Blessed are you when they have insulted and persecuted you, and have said every cruel thing about you falsely for my sake.

Be joyful and triumphant, because your reward is great in the Heavens; for so were the Prophets before you persecuted.

"*You* are the salt of the earth; but if salt has become tasteless, in what way can it regain its saltness? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown away and trodden on by the passers by.

*You* are the light of the world; a town cannot be hid if built on a hill-top.

Just so let your light shine before all men, in order that they may see your holy lives and may give glory to your Father who is in Heaven.

"Do not for a moment suppose that I have come to abrogate the Law or the Prophets: I have not come to abrogate them but to give them their completion.

Solemnly I tell you that until Heaven and earth pass away, not one iota or smallest detail will pass away from the Law until all has taken place.

For I assure you that unless your righteousness greatly surpasses that of the Scribes and the Pharisees, you will certainly not find entrance into the Kingdom of the Heavens.

If therefore when you are offering your gift upon the altar, you remember that your brother has a grievance against you,

leave your gift there before the altar, and go and make friends with your brother first, and then return and proceed to offer your gift.

Come to terms without delay with your opponent while you are yet with him on the way to the court; for fear he should obtain judgement from the magistrate against you, and the magistrate should give you in custody to the officer and you be thrown into prison.

If therefore your eye, even the right eye, is a snare to you, tear it out and away with it; it is better for you that one member should be destroyed rather than that your whole body should be thrown into Gehenna.

And if your right hand is a snare to you, cut it off and away with it; it is better for you that one member should be destroyed rather than that your whole body should go into Gehenna.

And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.

But let your language be, 'Yes, yes,' or 'No, no.' Anything in excess of this comes from the Evil one.

If any one wishes to go to law with you and to deprive you of your under garment, let him take your outer one also.

But I command you all, love your enemies, and pray for your persecutors;

that so you may become true sons of your Father in Heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the wicked as well as the good, and sends rain upon those who do right and those who do wrong.

And if you salute only your near relatives, what praise is due to you? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?

You however are to be complete in goodness, as your Heavenly Father is complete.

"But beware of doing your good actions in the sight of men, in order to attract their gaze; if you do, there is no reward for you with your Father who is in Heaven.

But when you are giving in charity, let not your left hand perceive what your right hand is doing,

that your charities may be in secret; and then your Father--He who sees in secret--will recompense you.

"And when praying, you must not be like the hypocrites. They are fond of standing and praying in the synagogues or at the corners of the wider streets, in order that men may see them. I solemnly tell you that they already have their reward.

But you, whenever you pray, go into your own room and shut the door: then pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father--He who sees in secret--will recompense you.

Do not, however, imitate them; for your Father knows what things you need before ever you ask Him.

"In this manner therefore pray: 'Our Father who art in Heaven, may Thy name be kept holy;

give us to-day our bread for the day;

and forgive us our shortcomings, as we also have forgiven those who have failed in their duty towards us;

"For if you forgive others their offences, your Heavenly Father will forgive you also;

but if you do not forgive others their offences, neither will your Father forgive yours.

"When any of you fast, never assume gloomy looks as the hypocrites do; for they disfigure their faces in order that it may be evident to men that they are fasting. I solemnly tell you that they already have their reward.

But, whenever you fast, pour perfume on your hair and wash your face,

that it may not be apparent to men that you are fasting, but to your Father who is in secret; and your Father--He who sees in secret--will recompense you.

"Do not lay up stores of wealth for yourselves on earth, where the moth and wear-and-tear destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

But amass wealth for yourselves in Heaven, where neither the moth nor wear-and-tear destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

For where your wealth is, there also will your heart be.

"The eye is the lamp of the body. If then your eyesight is good, your whole body will be well lighted;

but if your eyesight is bad, your whole body will be dark. If however the very light within you is darkness, how dense must the darkness be!

"No man can be the bondservant of two masters; for either he will dislike one and like the other, or he will attach himself to one and think slightingly of the other. You cannot be the bondservants both of God and of gold.

For this reason I charge you not to be over-anxious about your lives, inquiring what you are to eat or what you are to drink, nor yet about your bodies, inquiring what clothes you are to put on. Is not the life more precious than its food, and the body than its clothing?

Look at the birds which fly in the air: they do not sow or reap or store up in barns, but your Heavenly Father feeds them: are not you of much greater value than they?

and yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his magnificence could array himself like one of these.

Do not be over-anxious, therefore, asking 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'

For all these are questions that Gentiles are always asking; but your Heavenly Father knows that you need these things--all of them.

But make His Kingdom and righteousness your chief aim, and then these things shall all be given you in addition.

Do not be over-anxious, therefore, about to-morrow, for to-morrow will bring its own cares. Enough for each day are its own troubles.

for your own judgement will be dealt--and your own measure meted--to yourselves.

And why do you look at the splinter in your brother's eye, and not notice the beam which is in your own eye?

Or how say to your brother, 'Allow me to take the splinter out of your eye,' while the beam is in your own eye?

Hypocrite, first take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly how to remove the splinter from your brother's eye.

"Give not that which is holy to the dogs, nor throw your pearls to the swine; otherwise they will trample them under their feet and then turn and attack you.

Or if the son shall ask him for a fish will offer him a snake?

If you then, imperfect as you are, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in Heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

Everything, therefore, be it what it may, that you would have men do to you, do you also the same to them; for in this the Law and the Prophets are summed up.

"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad the road which leads to ruin, and many there are who enter by it;

because narrow is the gate and contracted the road which leads to Life, and few are those who find it.

"Beware of the false teachers--men who come to you in sheep's fleeces, but beneath that disguise they are ravenous wolves.

By their fruits you will easily recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thorns or figs from brambles?

"Not every one who says to me, 'Master, Master,' will enter the Kingdom of the Heavens, but only those who are obedient to my Father who is in Heaven.

When Jesus had concluded this discourse, the crowds were filled with amazement at His teaching,

And a leper came to Him, and throwing himself at His feet, said, "Sir, if only you are willing you are able to cleanse me."

For I myself am also under authority, and have soldiers under me. To one I say 'Go,' and he goes, to another 'Come,' and he comes, and to my slave 'Do this or that,' and he does it."

In the evening many demoniacs were brought to Him, and with a word He expelled the demons; and He cured all the sick,

in order that this prediction of the Prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled, "He took on Him our weaknesses, and bore the burden of our diseases."

So they came and woke Him, crying, "Master, save us, we are drowning!"

"Why are you so easily frightened," He replied, "you men of little faith?" Then He rose and reproved the winds and the waves, and there was a perfect calm;

On His arrival at the other side, in the country of the Gadarenes, there met Him two men possessed by demons, coming from among the tombs: they were so dangerously fierce that no one was able to pass that way.

Now at some distance from them a vast herd of swine were feeding.

Here they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. Seeing their faith Jesus said to the paralytic, "Take courage, my child; your sins are pardoned."

Knowing their thoughts Jesus said, "Why are you cherishing evil thoughts in your hearts?