Because Joseph, her husband to be, was a righteous man, and because he did not want to disgrace her, he intended to divorce her privately.

When Joseph awoke from sleep he did what the angel of the Lord told him. He took his wife,

but did not have marital relations with her until she gave birth to a son, whom he named Jesus.

"A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud wailing, Rachel weeping for her children, and she did not want to be comforted, because they were gone."

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 many powerful deeds?'

The rain fell, the flood came, and the winds beat against that house, but it did not collapse because it had been founded on rock.

Go and learn what this saying means: 'I want mercy and not sacrifice.' For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

While they were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

What did you go out to see? A man dressed in fancy clothes? Look, those who wear fancy clothes are in the homes of kings!

What did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.

We played the flute for you, yet you did not dance; we wailed in mourning, yet you did not weep.'

Then Jesus began to criticize openly the cities in which he had done many of his miracles, because they did not repent.

He said to them, "Haven't you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry --

Other seeds fell on rocky ground where they did not have much soil. They sprang up quickly because the soil was not deep.

But when the sun came up, they were scorched, and because they did not have sufficient root, they withered.

For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

So the slaves 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?'

Jesus spoke all these things in parables to the crowds; he did not speak to them without a parable.

Then he came to his hometown and began to teach the people in their synagogue. They were astonished and said, "Where did this man get such wisdom and miraculous powers?

And aren't all his sisters here with us? Where did he get all this?"

And he did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"

And he replied, "Every plant that my heavenly Father did not plant will be uprooted.

But he did not answer her a word. Then his disciples came and begged him, "Send her away, because she keeps on crying out after us."

And Jesus answered him, "You are blessed, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven!

And I tell you that Elijah has already come. Yet they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wanted. In the same way, the Son of Man will suffer at their hands."

And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.

They said to him, "Why then did Moses command us to give a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her?"

So they went. When he went out again about noon and three o'clock that afternoon, he did the same thing.

And the landowner replied to one of them, 'Friend, I am not treating you unfairly. Didn't you agree with me to work for the standard wage?

just as the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

So the disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them.

But when the chief priests and the experts in the law saw the wonderful things he did and heard the children crying out in the temple courts, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they became indignant

When the disciples saw it they were amazed, saying, "How did the fig tree wither so quickly?"

Where did John's baptism come from? From heaven or from people?" They discussed this among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Then why did you not believe him?'

The father went to the other son and said the same thing. This boy answered, 'I will, sir,' but did not go.

Which of the two did his father's will?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, tax collectors and prostitutes will go ahead of you into the kingdom of God!

For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe. Although you saw this, you did not later change your minds and believe him.

And he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' But he had nothing to say.

The second did the same, and the third, down to the seventh.

When the foolish ones took their lamps, they did not take extra olive oil with them.

Then the one who had received the one talent came and said, 'Sir, I knew that you were a hard man, harvesting where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed,

But his master answered, 'Evil and lazy slave! So you knew that I harvest where I didn't sow and gather where I didn't scatter?

Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?

When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or naked and clothe you?

When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?'

And the king will answer them, 'I tell you the truth, just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me.'

I was a stranger and you did not receive me as a guest, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.'

Then they too will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not give you whatever you needed?'

Then he will answer them, 'I tell you the truth, just as you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for me.'

When she poured this oil on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.

So the disciples did as Jesus had instructed them, and they prepared the Passover.

At that moment Jesus said to the crowd, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me like you would an outlaw? Day after day I sat teaching in the temple courts, yet you did not arrest me.

But they did not find anything, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward

But when he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he did not respond.

But he did not answer even one accusation, so that the governor was quite amazed.

So they took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story is told among the Jews to this day.