This is a record of the life of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Asaph fathered Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat fathered Joram, Joram fathered Uzziah,

Uzziah fathered Jotham, Jotham fathered Ahaz, Ahaz fathered Hezekiah,

Jacob fathered Joseph, the husband of Mary, who was the mother of Jesus, who is called the Messiah.

After he had thought about it, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. "Joseph, son of David," he said, "don't be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he is the one who will save his people from their sins."

which means, "God with us." When Joseph got up from his sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary as his wife.

After Jesus had been born in Bethlehem of Judea during the reign of King Herod, wise men arrived in Jerusalem from the east

and asked, "Where is the one who was born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."

When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed, as was all of Jerusalem.

They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, because that is what was written by the prophet:

Then Herod secretly called together the wise men, found out from them the time the star had appeared,

and sent them to Bethlehem. He told them, "As you go, search carefully for the child. When you find him, tell me so that I, too, may go and worship him."

Herod flew into a rage when he learned that he had been tricked by the wise men, so he ordered the execution of all the male children in Bethlehem and all its neighboring regions, who were two years old and younger, according to the time that he had determined from the wise men.

"Repent, because the kingdom from heaven is near!"

He was the one the prophet Isaiah was referring to when he said, "He is a voice calling out in the wilderness: "Prepare the way for the Lord! Make his paths straight!'"

Produce fruit that is consistent with repentance!

I am baptizing you with water as evidence of repentance, but the one who is coming after me is stronger than I am, and I am not worthy to carry his sandals. It is he who will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

His winnowing fork is in his hand. He will clean up his threshing floor and gather his grain into the barn, but he will burn the chaff with inextinguishable fire."

But Jesus answered him, "Let it be this way for now, because this is the proper way for us to fulfill all righteousness."

Then a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love. I am pleased with him!"

But he answered, "It is written, "One must not live on bread alone, but on every word coming out of the mouth of God.'"

He told Jesus, "Since you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, because it is written, "God will put his angels in charge of you,' and, "With their hands they will hold you up, so that you will never hit your foot against a rock.'"

Jesus responded to him, "It is also written, "You must not tempt the Lord your God.'"

Then Jesus told him, "Go away, Satan! Because it is written, "You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.'"

in order to fulfill what was declared by the prophet Isaiah when he said,

From then on, Jesus began to announce, "Repent, because the kingdom from heaven is near!"

"How blessed are those who mourn, because it is they who will be comforted!

"How blessed are those who are humble, because it is they who will inherit the earth!

"How blessed are those who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, because it is they who will be satisfied!

"How blessed are those who are merciful, because it is they who will receive mercy!

"How blessed are those who are pure in heart, because it is they who will see God!

"How blessed are those who make peace, because it is they who will be called God's children!

Rejoice and be extremely glad, because your reward in heaven is great! That's how they persecuted the prophets who came before you."

But I say to you, anyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will be subject to punishment. And whoever says to his brother "Raka!' will be subject to the Council. And whoever says, "You fool!' will be subject to hell fire.

So if your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your body parts than to have your whole body thrown into hell.

And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away from you. It is better for you to lose one of your body parts than to have your whole body go into hell."

But I tell you not to swear at all, neither by heaven, because it is God's throne,

nor by the earth, because it is his footstool, nor by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the Great King.

But I tell you not to resist an evildoer. On the contrary, whoever slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other to him as well.

If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat as well.

And if you greet only your relatives, that's no great thing you're doing, is it? Even the unbelievers do the same, don't they?

So be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

But when you give to the poor, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

But whenever you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees from the hidden place will reward you.

Therefore, this is how you should pray: "Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.

May your kingdom come. May your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread,

and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us.

And never bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'

so that your fasting will not be noticed by others but by your Father who is in the hidden place. And your Father who watches from the hidden place will reward you."

because where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

"The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light.

But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. Therefore, if the light within you has turned into darkness, how great is that darkness!"

"That's why I'm telling you to stop worrying about your life what you will eat or what you will drink or about your body what you will wear. Life is more than food, isn't it, and the body more than clothing?

Now if that is the way God clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and thrown into an oven tomorrow, won't he clothe you much better you who have little faith?

because it is the unbelievers who are eager for all those things. Surely your heavenly Father knows that you need all of them!

But first be concerned about God's kingdom and his righteousness, and all of these things will be provided for you as well.

Or how can you say to your brother, "Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when the beam is in your own eye?

"Never give what is holy to dogs or throw your pearls before pigs. Otherwise, they will trample them with their feet and then turn around and attack you."

"There isn't a person among you who would give his son a stone if he asked for bread, is there?

"Go in through the narrow gate, because the gate is wide and the road is spacious that leads to destruction, and many people are entering by it.

How narrow is the gate and how constricted is the road that leads to life, and there aren't many people who find it!"

"Therefore, everyone who listens to these messages of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on a rock.

"Everyone who keeps on hearing these messages of mine and never puts them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.

Then Jesus told him, "See to it that you don't speak to anyone. Instead, go and show yourself to the priest, and then offer the sacrifice that Moses commanded as proof to the authorities."

"Sir, my servant is lying at home paralyzed and in terrible pain."

"Go," Jesus told the centurion, "and it will be done for you, just as you have believed." And his servant was healed that very hour.

This was to fulfill what was declared by the prophet Isaiah when he said, "It was he who took our illnesses away and removed our diseases."

They went to him and woke him up. "Lord!" they cried, "Save us! We're going to die!"

The men were amazed. "What kind of man is this?" they asked. "Even the winds and the sea obey him!"

When Jesus arrived on the other side in the region of the Gerasenes, two demon-possessed men met him as they were coming out of the tombs. They were so violent that no one could travel on that road.

Suddenly, they screamed, "What do you want with us, Son of God? Did you come here to torture us before the proper time?"

So the demons began to plead with Jesus, saying, "If you drive us out, send us into that herd of pigs."

Then the whole city went out to meet Jesus, and as soon as they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.

Then some of the scribes told themselves, "This fellow is blaspheming!"

Which is easier: to say, "Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, "Get up and walk'?

As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's desk and told him, "Follow me." So he got up and followed him.

Jesus asked them, "The wedding guests can't mourn as long as the groom is with them, can they? But the time will come when the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast."

he said, "Go away! The young lady hasn't died, but is sleeping." But they ridiculed him with laughter.

As Jesus was traveling on from there, two blind men followed him, shouting, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!"

As the men were going out, a man who couldn't talk because he was demon-possessed was brought to him.

As soon as 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!"

Then he told his disciples, "The harvest is vast, but the workers are few.

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;

As you go, make this announcement: "The kingdom from heaven is near!'

"Whatever town or village you enter, find out who is receptive in it and stay there until you leave.

As you enter the house, greet its occupants.

If the household is receptive, let your blessing of peace come on it. But if it isn't receptive, let your blessing of peace return to you.

If no one welcomes you or listens to your words, as you leave that house or town, shake its dust off your feet.

"Pay attention, now! I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as cunning as serpents and as innocent as doves.

"A disciple is not above his teacher, and a slave is not above his master.

It is enough for a disciple to be like his teacher and a slave to be like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they do the same to those of his household!"

"So never be afraid of them, because there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing secret that will not be made known.

What I tell you in darkness you must speak in the daylight, and what is whispered in your ear you must shout from the housetops.

The one who receives a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and the one who receives a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward.

I tell all of you with certainty, whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple will never lose his reward."

How blessed is anyone who is not offended by me!"

As they were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John. "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

This is the man about whom it is written, "See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.'