But Joseph her husband, because he was just a man and unwilling to disgrace her, was minded to put her away secretly.

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.

And she will give birth to a son, and you will call his name 'Jesus,' because he will save his people from their sins."

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

"O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, you are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, because from you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'"

But because they were forbidden by God in a dream to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another route.

After they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt," he said. "Stay there until I tell you, because Herod intends to search for the child and kill him."

Then Herod, because he saw that a trick had been played on him by the stargazers, was very angry, and sent and slaughtered all the boy babies in Bethlehem and in all that neighborhood, from two years down, in accordance with the time which he had found out from the stargazers.

"A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping [for] her children, and she did not want to be comforted, because {they exist no longer}."

"Get up," he said. "Take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, because those who were trying to kill the child are dead."

But because he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in the place of his father, Herod, he was afraid to go there; and because he was divinely warned in a dream, he set out for the region of Galilee.

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

Don't think you can say to yourselves, "We have father Abraham!' because I tell you that God can raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones!

“As for me, I baptize you with water because of [your] repentance [that is, because you are willing to change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret your sin and live a changed life], but He (the Messiah) who is coming after me is mightier [more powerful, more noble] than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to remove [even as His slave]; He will baptize you [who truly repent] with the Holy Spirit and [you who remain unrepentant] with fire (judgment).

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

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.'"

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

From that time [on], Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, because the kingdom of heaven is near."

While Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers Simon (also called Peter) and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, because they were fishermen.

"Blessed [are] the poor in spirit, because theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed [are] the ones who mourn, because they will be comforted.

Blessed [are] the meek, because they will inherit the earth.

Blessed [are] the ones who hunger and thirst [for] righteousness, because they will be satisfied.

Blessed [are] the merciful, because they will be shown mercy.

Blessed [are] the pure in heart, because they will see God.

Blessed [are] the peacemakers, because they will be called sons of God.

Blessed [are] those who are persecuted because of righteousness, because theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

"How blessed are you whenever people insult you, persecute you, and say all sorts of evil things against you falsely because of me!

Rejoice and be glad, because your reward [is] great in heaven, for in the [same] way they persecuted the prophets before you.

because I tell all of you with certainty that until heaven and earth disappear, not one letter or one stroke of a letter will disappear from the Law until everything has been accomplished.

because I tell you, unless your righteousness greatly exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom from heaven!"

And if your right eye is a cause of trouble to you, take it out and put it away from you; because it is better to undergo the loss of one part, than for all your body to go into hell.

And if your right hand is a cause of trouble to you, let it be cut off and put it away from you; because it is better to undergo the loss of one part, than for all your body to go into hell.

But I say to you, every person who divorces his wife makes her become sexually unfaithful to him [i.e., since she will probably marry someone else], unless the reason for the divorce is that she had [already] become sexually unfaithful to him. And whoever marries a woman who has been divorced commits sexual sin with her [i.e., because she is still rightfully married to her first husband].

But I say to you, do not swear at all, either by heaven, because it is the throne of God,

or by the earth, because it is the footstool of his feet, or by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great king.

And do not swear by your head, because you are not able to make one hair white or black.

in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven, because he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust.

For if you love those that love you, what reward have ye? because the publicans also do the same.

And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, because they love to stand [and] pray in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, in order that they may be seen by people. Truly I say to you, they have received their reward in full!

"But [when you] pray, do not babble repetitiously like the pagans, for they think that because of their many words they will be heard.

Don't be like them, because your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

And mayest Thou not lead us to temptation, but deliver us from the evil, because Thine is the reign, and the power, and the glory -- to the ages. Amen.

Because if you forgive people their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

"Whenever you fast, don't be gloomy like the hypocrites, because they put on sad faces to show others they are fasting. I tell all of you with certainty, they have their full reward!

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

"No one can serve two masters, because either he will hate one and love the other, or be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and riches!"

'Because of this I say to you, be not anxious for your life, what ye may eat, and what ye may drink, nor for your body, what ye may put on. Is not the life more than the nourishment, and the body than the clothing?

Look to the birds of the sky, because they sow not, nor do they reap, nor gather into barns, and your heavenly Father feeds them. Are ye not more valuable then they?

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

Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow, because tomorrow will be anxious for itself. {Each day has enough trouble of its own.}

because the way that you judge others will be the way that you will be judged, and you will be evaluated by the standard with which you evaluate others.

"Do not offer sacred things to dogs, and do not throw your pearls in front of [wild] pigs [i.e., to those who will not appreciate them], because they will probably trample on them with their feet and then turn around and attack you.

Because everyone who keeps asking will receive, and the person who keeps searching will find, and the person who keeps knocking will have the door opened.

Therefore, whatever you want people to do for you, do the same for them, because this summarizes the Law and the Prophets."

"Enter through the narrow gate, because broad [is] the gate and spacious [is] the road that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it,

because narrow [is] the gate and constricted [is] the road that leads to life, and there are few who find it!

And the rain came down and the rivers came and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it did not collapse, because its foundation was laid on the rock.

because he was teaching them like one who had authority, and not like their scribes.

because I, too, am a man under authority and I have soldiers under me. I say to one of them "Go' and he goes, to another "Come' and he comes, and to my servant "Do this' and he does it."

Now Jesus, because He saw a crowd about Him, gave orders to cross to the other side.

And the men were astonished, saying, What sort of a man is this, because winds and the sea obey him?

Quickly, all the people of the town came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw Him, they urged Him to leave the district [i.e., probably because of the loss of livestock].

And all at once some men were bringing to Him a paralyzed man, lying on a couch. And because He saw their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "Cheer up, my child, your sins are forgiven."

And because Jesus knew well their thought, he said:

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

"No one patches an old garment with a piece of unshrunk cloth, because the patch pulls away from the garment, and a worse tear results.

because she had been saying to herself, "If I just touch his robe, I will get well."

he said, "Go away, because the girl is not dead, but is sleeping." And they ridiculed him.

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

And [when he] saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were weary and dejected, like sheep that did not have a shepherd.

or a traveling bag for the trip, or an extra shirt, or sandals, or a walking stick, because a worker deserves his food.

But beware of people, because they will hand you over to councils, and they will flog you in their synagogues.

And you will be brought before both governors and kings because of me, for a witness to them and to the Gentiles.

When they hand you over, don't worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say, because in that hour what you are to say will be given to you.

Because it is not you who say the words, but the Spirit of your Father in you.

and you will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end--this one will be saved.

So when they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, because I tell all of you with certainty that you will not have gone through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

"Therefore do not be afraid of them, because nothing is hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing secret that will not become known.

The one who finds his life will lose it, and the one who loses his life because of me will find it.

"Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet, shall receive a prophet's reward; and whoever receives a righteous man, shall receive a righteous man's reward.

"And whoever gives to drink to one of these little ones a cup of cold water only, because he is a disciple, I tell you in solemn truth, he shall not lose his reward.

And if anyone is not offended because of Me, he is blessed.”

because the Law and all the Prophets prophesied up to the time of John.

Because John didn't come eating or drinking, yet people say, "He has a demon!'

Then he began to reproach the towns in which the majority of his miracles had been done, because they did not repent:

Alas for thee, Chorazin! Alas for thee, Bethsaida! Because, if, in Tyre and Zidon, had been done the works of power, which were done in you, of old, in sackcloth and ashes, had they repented.

And, thou, Capernaum! Unto heaven, shalt thou be uplifted? Unto hades, thou shall be brought down; because, if, in Sodom, had been done the works of power, which were done in thee, it would, in that case, have remained until this day.

At that time Jesus answered [and] said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these [things] from the wise and intelligent, and have revealed them to young children.

Yes, Father, because this is what was pleasing to you.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, - because, meek, am I and lowly, in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls;

because my yoke is pleasant, and my burden is light."

and behold, there was a man, which had his hand dried up. And they asked him, saying, "Is it lawful to heal upon the Sabbath days?" Because they might accuse him.

But because Jesus knew it, He left there. And many people followed Him, and He cured them all,

Because Jesus knew what was in their minds, he said to them. "Any kingdom divided against itself will become desolate; and any city or household divided against himself will not stand.

And if I, by Beelzeboul, do cast out the demons, your sons -- by whom do they cast out? because of this they -- they shall be your judges.

Because of this I say to you, all sin and evil speaking shall be forgiven to men, but the evil speaking of the Spirit shall not be forgiven to men.

"Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree rotten and its fruit rotten, because a tree is known by its fruit.

You offspring of snakes, how are you, being evil, able to say good things? because out of the heart's store come the words of the mouth.

because by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."