This is a record of the life of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ occurred in this way. His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, [but] before they came together, she was found {to be pregnant} by the Holy Spirit.

And while he was having this in mind, behold! an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying.

Now all this happened in order that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet would be fulfilled, saying,

He made Mary his wife, but did not live with her as her husband until after the birth of her son; and to this son he gave the name Jesus.

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the reign of king Herod, certain eastern Magi came to Jerusalem, with this enquiry,

Where is this king of the Jews who is now born? for we have seen his rising star, and are come to pay him homage.

When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed, as was all of Jerusalem.

They told him, "At Bethlehem in Judea, for this is what the prophet wrote:

So he sent them to Bethlehem with this order, "Go and carefully search for the child, and when you find Him, bring back word to me, and I too may come and do Him homage."

when they observ'd this of the star, they were extreamly well pleas'd.

He stayed there until Herod died. In this way what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet was fulfilled: "I called my Son out of Egypt."

When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the astrologer/sages, he was furious and sent out [his soldiers] to kill all the baby boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity. This was done to those from two years old and under, basing [their decision] on the exact time determined from the astrologer/sages.

This fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying,

[Jer. 31:15], "A voice was heard in [the town of] Ramah [Note: This was a village near Jerusalem, where Rachel was buried], with crying and deep mourning. It was Rachel crying for her children [Note: Initially this was a reference to the Israelites who were taken to Babylonian captivity. See Jer. 29-31]. She refused to be comforted because they were dead."

and came and lived in a city called Nazareth. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: “He shall be called a Nazarene.”

About this time, John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the Judean wilderness,

For this is the one who was spoken about by the prophet Isaiah, saying, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.'"

This John wore a garment of camel's hair, and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.

His winnowing shovel [Note: This was a process whereby grain was tossed into the air so that the wind could blow the husks away, leaving only good grain on the ground] is in His hand and He will completely clear off His threshing floor [by removing all of the husks]. And He will gather His wheat into the barn, but will burn up the husks with a fire that will never go out."

But Jesus answered [and] said to him, "Permit [it] now, for in this way it is right for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he permitted him.

At this, he permitted him to be baptized. When Jesus had been baptized, he immediately came up out of the water. Suddenly, the heavens opened up for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him.

And behold, [there was] a voice from heaven saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."

After this, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil.

The devil took Him again, [this time] to a very high mountain and showed Him all the world's kingdoms, along with their splendor,

and said to Him, "Every bit of this I will give to you, if you will fall on your knees and worship me."

At this the devil left him, and angels came up and ministered to him.

After this, Jesus having heard that John was confined in prison, retired into Galilee.

This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet:

From that time Jesus began to preach this message: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."

Jesus, to avoid this crowd of people, went to a mountain: and when he was set down, his disciples came to him.

Keep on rejoicing and leaping for ecstasy, for your reward will be rich in heaven; for this is the way they persecuted the prophets who lived before you.

"You people are [like] salt on the earth. But if salt loses its flavoring ability, how will it ever get it back again? From then on it would be good for nothing except to be thrown out onto the roadway and walked on by people. [Note: This was mined salt which, when losing its "saltiness" due to exposure to the sun or rain, was simply disposed of by being dumped onto the roadway where people walked].

In this way let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Therefore whoever abolishes one of the least of these commandments and teaches people to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever keeps [them] and teaches [them], this person will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

And if your right eye is what ensnares you into falling away [from God], gouge it out and throw it away from you. For it would be better for you to lose a part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. [Note: This is the word "Gehenna," and because of its Old Testament connotation of burning bodies, II Chron. 33:6, it is used figuratively here, and elsewhere, to describe the place of future, final punishment of the wicked].

Again, it was said, Whoever puts away his wife has to give her a statement in writing for this purpose:

"But let your word be simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the Evil One.

For, if you love only those who love you, what reward will you have? Even the tax-gatherers do this!

And, if you show courtesy to your brothers only, what are you doing more than others? Even the Gentiles do this!

"Therefore, when you give money to help poor people, do not blow a trumpet in front of you [i.e., to call attention to it] as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and streets. They do this in order to win praise from people. It is true when I say to you, they have [already] received their reward.

Therefore you pray in this way: "Our Father who is in heaven, may your name be treated as holy.

Our needful bread, give us, this day;

"For this [reason] I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, what you will eat, and not for your body, what you will wear. Is your life not more than food and your body [more than] clothing?

But if God dresses the grass of the field in this way, [although it] is [here] today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not [do so] much more [for] you, you of little faith?

For these are all things the heathen are in pursuit of, and your heavenly Father knows well that you need all this.

Therefore [in] all [things], whatever you want that people should do to you, thus also you do to them. For this is the law and the prophets.

and then will I make this declaration to them: I never knew you: depart from me ye that have practised iniquity.

Everyone, therefore, that listens to this teaching of mine and acts upon it may be compared to a prudent man, who built his house upon the rock.

And every one that listens to this teaching of mine and does not act upon it may be compared to a foolish man, who built his house on the sand.

When Jesus had closed this address, the result was that the crowds were dumbfounded at His teaching,

And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one [about this]; but go, show yourself to the priest [for inspection] and present the offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony (evidence) to them [of your healing].”

For I also am a man under authority who has soldiers under me, and I say to this one, 'Go!' and he goes, and to another one, 'Come!' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this!' and he does [it]."

Now [when] Jesus heard [this], he was astonished, and said to those who were following [him], "Truly I say to you, I have found such great faith with no one in Israel.

After this Jesus went to Peter's house, where seeing his wife's mother lying sick of a fever,

This was to fulfill what was declared by the prophet Isaiah when he said, "It was he who took our illnesses away and removed our diseases."

And the men were astonished, saying, "What sort of [man] is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?"

So, the evil spirits [in one of the men. See Mark 5:1ff] begged Jesus, saying, "If you are going to drive us out [of this man], send us away into that herd of [wild] hogs."

At this the men who tended them ran away and went to the town, carrying the news of all that had occurred, and of what had happened to the possessed men.

And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming!"

But [when] the crowds saw [this], they were afraid and glorified God who had given such authority to men.

The Pharisees saw this and asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"

"It is not those who are well," said Jesus, when he heard this, "but the sick, who need a doctor.

But go ye, and learn what this meaneth, - Mercy, I desire, and not, sacrifice; For I came, not to call the righteous, but sinners.

As he spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler coming in did homage to him, saying, My daughter has by this died; but come and lay thy hand upon her and she shall live.

what she said to herself was this, "If I can only touch his robe, I will recover."

And this report went out into that whole region.

And [when he] came into the house, the blind men approached him, and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to him, "Yes, Lord."

And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus sternly told them, "See to it that nobody knows about this."

And [after] the demon had been expelled, the one who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were astonished, saying, "{This has never been seen before} in Israel!"

As you go, make this announcement: "The kingdom from heaven is near!'

or a traveling bag [for personal belongings], or a change of jackets or shoes, or [even] a walking stick [Note: By comparing this and the restriction in Matt. 10:10 with the permission given in Mark 6:8, the harmony seems to be "if you do not already have a walking stick, do not get one"]. For the worker deserves having his food provided.

And when you go in, say, May peace be on this house.

And whoever does not welcome you or listen to what you have to say, shake the dust off of your shoes as you leave that house or town. [Note: This was a Jewish custom showing disdain and intended to suggest unworthiness]

Yes, you will [even] be brought in front of governors and kings for being loyal to me. [This will give you an opportunity] for witnessing to them [as well] as to the [unconverted] Gentiles.

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

And whenever they persecute you in this town, flee to another, for truly I say to you, you will never finish [going through] the towns of Israel until the Son of Man comes.

The person who finds [everything to satisfy him in] this life [here on earth] will lose [never ending life]. But the person who [is willing to] lose [the comforts and security of] this life [here on earth] for my sake [i.e., in loyal service to me] will find it [i.e., never ending life]. [See Mark 10:29-30]

When Jesus had closed this charge to His disciples, He left there to teach and preach in their towns.

Now when John in prison heard of the doings of the Christ, he sent this message by his disciples:

It is this man about whom it is written: 'Behold, I am sending my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.'

From the time of John the Baptist to this very hour, the Kingdom of Heaven has been taken by force, and men using force have been seizing it.

For all the prophets and the law until John, foretold [this].

And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, who is to come.

He who has an ear, let him listen to this.

"But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces who call out to one another,

The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they exclaim, 'See this man! --given to gluttony and tippling, and a friend of tax-gatherers and notorious sinners!' And yet Wisdom is vindicated by her actions."

I tell you this, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.

And thou, Capernaum, who hast been raised up to heaven, shalt be brought down even to hades. For if the works of power which have taken place in thee, had taken place in Sodom, it had remained until this day.

At that time Jesus spoke and said, "I praise thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for hiding all this from the wise and learned and revealing it to the simpleminded;

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

About this time as Jesus passed through the cornfields on the sabbath-day, his disciples being hungry began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat them.

When the Pharisees saw this, they told him, "Look! Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!"

But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.

If, however, ye had known what this meaneth - Mercy, I desire, and not, sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the blameless;

where they brought a man with a withered hand: and asked him this insnaring question, is it lawful to heal on the sabbath-day?

But he said to them, "What man will there be among you who will have one sheep and if this one fell into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift [it] out?

Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! For this reason it is right to do good on the Sabbath day.

Upon this the Pharisees went out of the synagogue, and form'd a conspiracy against his life.

When Jesus became aware of this, he left that place. Many crowds followed him, and he healed all of them,