When Joseph got up from sleeping, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her

but did not know her intimately until she gave birth to a son. And he named Him Jesus.

“Don’t assume that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.

On that day many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name?’

The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock.

Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Don’t assume that I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

As these men went away, 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?

What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothes? Look, those who wear soft clothes are in kings’ palaces.

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

We played the flute for you,
but you didn’t dance;
we sang a lament,
but you didn’t mourn!

For John did not come eating or drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’

Then He proceeded to denounce the towns where most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent:

He said to them, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and those who were with him were hungry—

For I assure you: Many prophets and righteous people longed to see the things you see yet didn’t see them; to hear the things you hear yet didn’t hear them.

The landowner’s slaves came to him and said, ‘Master, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Then where did the weeds come from?’

“‘An enemy did this!’ he told them.

“‘So, do you want us to go and gather them up?’ the slaves asked him.

He went to His hometown and began to teach them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “How did this wisdom and these miracles come to Him?

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

Immediately Jesus reached out His hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

He replied, “Every plant that My heavenly Father didn’t plant will be uprooted.

Yet He did not say a word to her. So His disciples approached Him and urged Him, “Send her away because she cries out after us.”

And they discussed among themselves, “We didn’t bring any bread.”

Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the yeast in bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

And Jesus responded, “Simon son of Jonah, you are blessed because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father in heaven.

“But I tell you: Elijah has already come, and they didn’t recognize him. On the contrary, they did whatever they pleased to him. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.”

And if he finds it, I assure you: He rejoices over that sheep more than over the 99 that did not go astray.

“Why then,” they asked Him, “did Moses command us to give divorce papers and to send her away?”

About noon and at three, he went out again and did the same thing.

“He replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I’m doing you no wrong. Didn’t you agree with me on a denarius?

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

The disciples went and did just as Jesus directed them.

When the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonders that He did and the children shouting in the temple complex, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant

When the disciples saw it, they were amazed and said, “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?”

Where did John’s baptism come from? From heaven or from men?”

They began to argue among themselves, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’

Then the man went to the other and said the same thing.

“‘I will, sir,’ he answered. But he didn’t go.

“Which of the two did his father’s will?”

“The first,” they said.

Jesus said to them, “I assure you: Tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you!

For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn’t believe him. Tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him, but you, when you saw it, didn’t even change your minds then and believe him.

Again, he sent other slaves, more than the first group, and they did the same to them.

He sent out his slaves to summon those invited to the banquet, but they didn’t want to come.

So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ The man was speechless.

They didn’t know until the flood came and swept them all away. So this is the way the coming of the Son of Man will be:

When the foolish took their lamps, they didn’t take olive oil with them.

“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 take You in, or without clothes and clothe You?

When did we see You sick, or in prison, and visit You?’

“And the King will answer them, ‘I assure you: Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’

I was a stranger
and you didn’t take Me in;
I was naked
and you didn’t clothe Me,
sick and in prison
and you didn’t take care of Me.’

“Then they too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or without clothes, or sick, or in prison, and not help You?’

“Then He will answer them, ‘I assure you: Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me either.’

So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

At that time Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs, as if I were a criminal, to capture Me? Every day I used to sit, teaching in the temple complex, and you didn’t arrest Me.

And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He didn’t answer.

But He didn’t answer him on even one charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

So they took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been spread among Jewish people to this day.

When Jesus heard this, He told them, “Those who are well don’t need a doctor, but the sick do need one. I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

He said to them, “Have you never read what David and those who were with him did when he was in need and hungry—

Other seed fell on rocky ground where it didn’t have much soil, and it sprang up right away, since it didn’t have deep soil.

When the sun came up, it was scorched, and since it didn’t have a root, it withered.

Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it didn’t produce a crop.

And He did not speak to them without a parable. Privately, however, He would explain everything to His own disciples.

He did not let anyone accompany Him except Peter, James, and John, James’s brother.

When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were astonished. “Where did this man get these things?” they said. “What is this wisdom given to Him, and how are these miracles performed by His hands?

Though the king was deeply distressed, because of his oaths and the guests he did not want to refuse her.

He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a remote place and rest for a while.” For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.

He got up and departed from there to the region of Tyre and Sidon. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it, but He could not escape notice.

They were discussing among themselves that they did not have any bread.

When I broke the five loaves for the 5,000, how many baskets full of pieces of bread did you collect?”

“Twelve,” they told Him.

“When I broke the seven loaves for the 4,000, how many large baskets full of pieces of bread did you collect?”

“Seven,” they said.

because he did not know what he should say, since they were terrified.

But I tell you that Elijah really has come, and they did whatever they pleased to him, just as it is written about him.”

Then they left that place and made their way through Galilee, but He did not want anyone to know it.

But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him.

He set out from there and went to the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Then crowds converged on Him again and, as He usually did, He began teaching them once more.

He replied to them, “What did Moses command you?”

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life—a ransom for many.”

They began to argue among themselves: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’

And He came again and found them sleeping, because they could not keep their eyes open. They did not know what to say to Him.

Every day I was among you, teaching in the temple complex, and you didn’t arrest Me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.”

For many were giving false testimony against Him, but the testimonies did not agree.

Yet their testimony did not agree even on this.

But He kept silent and did not answer anything. Again the high priest questioned Him, “Are You the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”

But Jesus still did not answer anything, so Pilate was amazed.

They tried to give Him wine mixed with myrrh, but He did not take it.

Yet, when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe it.

And they went and reported it to the rest, who did not believe them either.

Later, He appeared to the Eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table. He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who saw Him after He had been resurrected.

Now listen! You will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”

When he did come out, he could not speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept making signs to them and remained speechless.

and was a widow for 84 years. She did not leave the temple complex, serving God night and day with fasting and prayers.

After those days were over, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but His parents did not know it.

When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for Him.

“Why were you searching for Me?” He asked them. “Didn’t you know that I had to be in My Father’s house?”

But they did not understand what He said to them.

When they did this, they caught a great number of fish, and their nets began to tear.

Jesus answered them, “Haven’t you read what David and those who were with him did when he was hungry—

After looking around at them all, He told him, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was restored.

That is why I didn’t even consider myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be cured.

After John’s messengers left, He began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind?

What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft robes? Look, those who are splendidly dressed and live in luxury are in royal palaces.