and Jacob fathered Joseph the husband of Mary,
who gave birth to Jesus who is called the Messiah.

saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”

And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the leaders of Judah:
because out of you will come a leader
who will shepherd My people Israel.”

Then Herod, when he saw that he had been outwitted by the wise men, flew into a rage. He gave orders to massacre all the male children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, in keeping with the time he had learned from the wise men.

saying, “Get up! Take the child and His mother and go to the land of Israel, because those who sought the child’s life are dead.”

For he is the one spoken of through the prophet Isaiah, who said:

A voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
Prepare the way for the Lord;
make His paths straight!

When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to the place of his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

“I baptize you with water for repentance, but the One who is coming after me is more powerful than I. I am not worthy to remove His sandals. He Himself will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

The people who live in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those living in the shadowland of death,
light has dawned.

As He was walking along the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, since they were fishermen.

Then the news about Him spread throughout Syria. So they brought to Him all those who were afflicted, those suffering from various diseases and intense pains, the demon-possessed, the epileptics, and the paralytics. And He healed them.

Those who mourn are blessed,
for they will be comforted.

Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are blessed,
for they will be filled.

Those who are persecuted for righteousness are blessed,
for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house.

But I tell you, everyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Fool!’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But whoever says, ‘You moron!’ will be subject to hellfire.

But I tell you, everyone who looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

But I tell you, everyone who divorces his wife, except in a case of sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery. And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

As for the one who wants to sue you and take away your shirt, let him have your coat as well.

Give to the one who asks you, and don’t turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?

so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

so that you don’t show your fasting to people but to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

“Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it.

“Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven.

“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock.

But everyone who hears these words of Mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.

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

When evening came, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. He drove out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick,

Then the men who tended them fled. They went into the city and reported everything—especially what had happened to those who were demon-possessed.

When the crowds saw this, they were awestruck and gave glory to God who had given such authority to men.

But when He heard this, He said, “Those who are well don’t need a doctor, but the sick do.

Just then, a woman who had suffered from bleeding for 12 years approached from behind and touched the tassel on His robe,

Just as they were going out, a demon-possessed man who was unable to speak was brought to Him.

These are the names of the 12 apostles:

First, Simon, who is called Peter,
and Andrew his brother;
James the son of Zebedee,
and John his brother;

Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot,
who also betrayed Him.

“When you enter any town or village, find out who is worthy, and stay there until you leave.

You will be hated by everyone because of My name. But the one who endures to the end will be delivered.

Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

“Therefore, everyone who will acknowledge Me before men, I will also acknowledge him before My Father in heaven.

The person who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; the person who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.

“The one who welcomes you welcomes Me, and the one who welcomes Me welcomes Him who sent Me.

Anyone who welcomes a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. And anyone who welcomes a righteous person because he’s righteous will receive a righteous person’s reward.

and asked Him, “Are You the One who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

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

if you’re willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who is to come.

Anyone who has ears should listen!

“To what should I compare this generation? It’s like children sitting in the marketplaces who call out to each other:

All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son desires to reveal Him.

“Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

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

There He saw a man who had a paralyzed hand. And in order to accuse Him they asked Him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”

Here is My Servant whom I have chosen,
My beloved in whom My soul delights;
I will put My Spirit on Him,
and He will proclaim justice to the nations.

Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and unable to speak was brought to Him. He healed him, so that the man could both speak and see.

And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, who is it your sons drive them out by? For this reason they will be your judges.

Anyone who is not with Me is against Me, and anyone who does not gather with Me scatters.

But He replied to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?”

Then He told them many things in parables, saying: “Consider the sower who went out to sow.

Anyone who has ears should listen!”

And the one sown on rocky ground—this is one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy.

Now the one sown among the thorns—this is one who hears the word, but the worries of this age and the seduction of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

But the one sown on the good ground—this is one who hears and understands the word, who does bear fruit and yields: some 100, some 60, some 30 times what was sown.”

He presented another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field.

He replied: “The One who sows the good seed is the Son of Man;

and the enemy who sowed them is the Devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. Anyone who has ears should listen!

“Therefore,” He said to them, “every student of Scripture instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who brings out of his storeroom what is new and what is old.”

His head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother.

Now those who ate were about 5,000 men, besides women and children.

When the men of that place recognized Him, they alerted the whole vicinity and brought to Him all who were sick.

For God said:

Honor your father and your mother; and,
The one who speaks evil of father or mother
must be put to death.

Now those who ate were 4,000 men, besides women and children.

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

“But you,” He asked them, “who do you say that I am?”

I assure you: There are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

When they came to Capernaum, those who collected the double-drachma tax approached Peter and said, “Doesn’t your Teacher pay the double-drachma tax?”

“Yes,” he said.

When he went into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, “What do you think, Simon? Who do earthly kings collect tariffs or taxes from? From their sons or from strangers?”

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

“But whoever causes the downfall of one of these little ones who believe in Me—it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the sea!

Woe to the world because of offenses. For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes.

For this reason, the kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves.

When he began to settle accounts, one who owed 10,000 talents was brought before him.

“But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him 100 denarii. He grabbed him, started choking him, and said, ‘Pay what you owe!’

“Haven’t you read,” He replied, “that He who created them in the beginning made them male and female,”

For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb, there are eunuchs who were made by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves that way because of the kingdom of heaven. Let anyone accept this who can.”

“Why do you ask Me about what is good?” He said to him. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

When the disciples heard this, they were utterly astonished and asked, “Then who can be saved?”

Jesus said to them, “I assure you: In the Messianic Age, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on 12 thrones, judging the 12 tribes of Israel.

And everyone who has left houses, brothers or sisters, father or mother, children, or fields because of My name will receive 100 times more and will inherit eternal life.

But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.

“When those who were hired about five came, they each received one denarius.

‘These last men put in one hour, and you made them equal to us who bore the burden of the day and the burning heat!’

He told them, “You will indeed drink My cup. But to sit at My right and left is not Mine to give; instead, it belongs to those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.”