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.

He said to them, "Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry --

Other seed fell on rocky ground where it did not have much soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep.

When the sun came up it was scorched, and because it did not have sufficient root, it withered.

Other seed fell among the thorns, and they grew up and choked it, and it did not produce grain.

He did not speak to them without a parable. But privately he explained everything to his own disciples.

But Jesus did not permit him to do so. Instead, he said to him, "Go to your home and to your people and tell them what the Lord has done for you, that he had mercy on you."

He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.

When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue. Many who heard him were astonished, saying, "Where did he get these ideas? And what is this wisdom that has been given to him? What are these miracles that are done through his hands?

Although it grieved the king deeply, he did not want to reject her request because of his oath and his guests.

because they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

After Jesus left there, he went to the region of Tyre. When he went into a house, he did not want anyone to know, but he was not able to escape notice.

When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of pieces did you pick up?" They replied, "Twelve."

"When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many baskets full of pieces did you pick up?" They replied, "Seven."

(For they were afraid, and he did not know what to say.)

But I tell you that Elijah has certainly come, and they did to him whatever they wanted, just as it is written about him."

They went out from there and passed through Galilee. But Jesus did not want anyone to know,

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

He answered 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 as a ransom for many."

They discussed with one another, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Then why did you not believe him?'

She did what she could. She anointed my body beforehand for burial.

When he came again he found them sleeping; they could not keep their eyes open. And they did not know what to tell him.

Day after day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, yet you did not arrest me. But this has happened so that the scriptures would be fulfilled."

The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find anything.

Many gave false testimony against him, but their testimony did not agree.

Yet even on this point their testimony did not agree.

But he was silent and did not answer. Again the high priest questioned him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?"

They offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it.

And when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.

They went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.

Then he appeared to the eleven themselves, while they were eating, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen him resurrected.

But they did not have a child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both very old.

And now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will be silent, unable to speak, until the day these things take place."

But when the feast was over, as they were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it,

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

But he replied, "Why were you looking for me? Didn't you know that I must be in my Father's house?"

Yet his parents did not understand the remark he made to them.

Jesus said to them, "No doubt you will quote to me the proverb, 'Physician, heal yourself!' and say, 'What we have heard that you did in Capernaum, do here in your hometown too.'"

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

After looking around at them all, he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." The man did so, and his hand was restored.

Rejoice in that day, and jump for joy, because your reward is great in heaven. For their ancestors did the same things to the prophets.

"Woe to you when all people speak well of you, for their ancestors did the same things to the false prophets.

That is why I did not presume to come to you. Instead, say the word, and my servant must be healed.