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.

He did not have marital relations with her until she had given birth to a son; and he named him Jesus.

"Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I didn't come to destroy them, but to fulfill them,

Many will say to me on that day, "Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name, drove out demons in your name, and performed many miracles in your name, didn't we?'

The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, but it did not collapse because its foundation was on the rock.

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

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

"Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword!

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?

Really, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fancy clothes? See, those who wear fancy clothes live in kings' houses.

Really, what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and even more than a prophet!

"A wedding song we played for you, the dance you all did scorn. A woeful dirge we chanted, too, but then you would not mourn.'

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

Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had taken place, because they didn't repent.

But he told them, "Haven't you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?

Other seeds fell on stony ground, where they did not have a lot of soil. They sprouted at once because the soil wasn't deep.

But when the sun came up, they were scorched. Since they did not have any roots, they dried up.

I tell all of you with certainty, many prophets and righteous people longed to see the things you see but did not see them, and to hear the things you hear but did not hear them."

"The owner's servants came and asked him, "Master, you sowed good seed in your field, didn't you? Then where did these weeds come from?'

"He told them, "An enemy did this!' "The servants asked him, "Do you want us to go and pull them out?'

Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables. He did not tell them anything without using a parable.

He went to his hometown and began teaching the people in their synagogue in such a way that they were amazed and asked, "Where did this man get this wisdom and these miracles?

And his sisters are all with us, aren't they? So where did this man get all these things?"

But Jesus told them, "A prophet is without honor only in his hometown and in his own home." He did not perform many miracles there because of their unbelief.

At once Jesus reached out his hand, caught him, and asked him, "You who have so little faith, why did you doubt?"

You hypocrites! How well did Isaiah prophesy of you when he said,

He replied, "Every plant that my heavenly Father did not plant will be pulled up by the roots.

But he didn't answer her at all. Then his disciples came up and kept urging him, "Send her away, because she keeps on screaming as she follows us."

As they began to discuss this among themselves, they kept saying, "We didn't bring along any bread."

Then they understood that he did not say to beware of the yeast used in bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

But I tell you that Elijah has already come, yet people did not recognize him and treated him just as they pleased. In the same way, the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands."

They asked him, "Why, then, did Moses order us "to give a certificate of divorce and divorce her'?"

So off they went. He went out again about noon and about three o'clock and did the same thing.

"But he told one of them, "Friend, I'm not treating you unfairly. You did agree with me for a denarius, didn't you?

That's the way it is with the Son of Man. He did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many people."

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

When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. "How did the fig tree dry up so quickly?" they asked.

Where did John's authority to baptize come from? From heaven or from humans?"

They began discussing this among themselves: "If we say, "From heaven,' he will ask us, "Then why didn't you believe him?' But if we say, "From humans,' we are afraid of the crowd, because everyone regards John as a prophet."

Then the father went to the other son and told him the same thing. He replied, "I will, sir,' but he didn't go.

Which of the two did the father's will?" They answered, "The first one."

Jesus told them, "I tell all of you with certainty, tax collectors and prostitutes will get into God's kingdom ahead of you! John came to you living a righteous life, and you didn't believe him, but the tax collectors and prostitutes did. But even when you saw that, you didn't change your minds at last and believe him."

He asked him, "Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' But the man was speechless.

because when the foolish ones took their lamps, they didn't take any oil with them.

"Then the righteous will say to him, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and give you something to eat, or thirsty and give you something to drink?

When did we see you as a stranger and welcome you, or see you naked and clothe you?

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

The king will answer them, "I tell all of you with certainty, since you did it for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did it for me.'

I was a stranger, and you didn't welcome me. I was naked, and you didn't clothe me. I was sick and in prison, and you didn't visit me.'

"Then they will reply, "Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or as a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and didn't help you?'

Then he will say to them, "I tell all of you with certainty, since you didn't do it for one of the least important of these, you didn't do it for me.'

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

At this point, Jesus asked the crowds, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as if I were a bandit? Day after day I sat teaching in the Temple, yet you didn't arrest me.

But Jesus did not reply at all, so that the governor was very surprised.

He did this because he knew that they had handed him over out of jealousy.

So the soldiers took the money, did as they were instructed, and this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.

When Jesus heard that, he told them, "Healthy people don't need a physician, but sick ones do. I did not come to call righteous people, but sinners."

He asked them, "Haven't you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need?

Others fell on stony ground, where they didn't have a lot of soil. They sprouted at once, because the soil wasn't deep.

But when the sun came up, they were scorched. Since they didn't have any roots, they dried up.

Others fell among thorn bushes, and the thorn bushes came up and choked them out, and they didn't produce anything.

He did not tell them anything without using a parable, though he explained everything to his disciples in private.

When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were utterly amazed. "Where did this man get all these things?" they asked. "What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What great miracles are being done by his hands!

because Herod was afraid of John. He knew that John was a righteous and holy man, and so he protected him. Whenever he listened to John, he did much of what he said. In fact, he liked listening to him.

He told them, "Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest for a while," because so many people were coming and going that they didn't even have time to eat.

because they didn't understand the significance of the loaves. Instead, their hearts were hardened.

So they were discussing with one another the fact that they didn't have any bread.

When I broke the five loaves for the 5,000, how many baskets did you fill with leftover pieces?" They told him, "Twelve."

"When I broke the seven loaves for the 4,000, how many large baskets did you fill with the leftover pieces?" They told him, "Seven."

(Peter didn't know how to respond, because they were terrified.)

Whenever it brings on a seizure, it throws him to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes stiff. So I asked your disciples to drive the spirit out, but they didn't have the power."

Then they left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus didn't want anyone to find out about it,

They didn't understand what this statement meant, and they were afraid to ask him.

"What did Moses command you?" he responded.

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

They began discussing this among themselves. "If we say, "From heaven,' he'll say, "Then why didn't you believe him?'

Then the second married her and died without having children, and so did the third.

Again he came back and found them asleep, because they could not keep their eyes open. They didn't even know what they should say to him.

Day after day I was with you in the Temple teaching, yet you didn't arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled."

Although many people gave false testimony against him, their testimony didn't agree.

But even on this point their testimony didn't agree.

But he kept silent and didn't answer at all. The high priest asked him again, "Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?"

So the crowd came and began to request that Pilate do for them what he always did.

So they left the tomb and ran away, overwhelmed by shock and astonishment. They didn't say a thing to anyone, because they were afraid.

They went back and told the others, who didn't believe them, either.

But because you did not believe my announcement, which will be fulfilled at its proper time, you will become silent and unable to speak until the day this happens."

But when he did come out, he was unable to speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept motioning to them but remained unable to speak.

"This is what the Lord did for me when he looked favorably on me and took away my public disgrace."

When the days of the festival were over, they left for home. The young man Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.

When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching desperately for him.

He asked them, "Why were you looking for me? Didn't you know that I had to be in my Father's house?"

But they did not understand what he told them.

So he told them, "You will probably quote this proverb to me, "Doctor, heal yourself! Do everything here in your hometown that we hear you did in Capernaum.'"

I'm telling you the truth there were many widows in Israel in Elijah's time, when it didn't rain for three years and six months and there was a severe famine everywhere in the land.

Jesus answered them, "Haven't you read what David did when he and his companions became hungry?

He looked around at all of them and then told the man, "Hold out your hand." The man did so, and his hand was restored to health.

That's why I didn't presume to come to you. But just say the word, and let my servant be healed,

When John's messengers had gone, Jesus began to ask the crowds about John. "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

Really, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fancy clothes? Look! Those who wear fine clothes and live in luxury are in royal palaces.

Really, what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and even more than a prophet!