"Pay attention from now on, from this twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, when the foundation of the LORD's Temple was laid. Pay attention!

He answered me, "To the land of Shinar, so they can build a temple to the woman in the basket. Then when its preparations are complete, the basket will be set there in its place."

"Talk to everyone in the land, as well as to the priests. Ask them, "When you were fasting and mourning during the fifth and seventh months for the past seventy years, were you really fasting for me?

And when you eat and drink, you're eating and drinking for your own benefit, aren't you?

Isn't this what the LORD proclaimed through the former prophets, when a prosperous Jerusalem was inhabited, as were its surrounding cities, the Negev, and the Shephelah?'"

Therefore, just as when I cried out and they would not listen, so also they will cry out, and I will not listen,' says the LORD of the Heavenly Armies.

"This is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies says: "Be strong so the Temple can be built, you who are now listening to this message spoken by the prophets when the foundation was laid to the Temple of the LORD of the Heavenly Armies.

"This is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies says: "Just as I intended to bring harm to you when your ancestors angered me,' says the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, "and I did not relent,

"Look, I am making Jerusalem an unstable cup toward all of its surrounding armies when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem.

"Look! A day is coming for the LORD, when your plunder will be divided among you.

When you bring blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? And when you sacrifice crippled or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Offer that to your governor would he be pleased with you or receive you favorably?" asks the LORD of the Heavenly Armies.

"And you say, "What a burden!' and sniff contemptuously at it," says the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, "when you present maimed, crippled, and diseased animals, and when you bring the offering. Should I accept this from your hand?" asks the LORD.

"So I also made you despised, humiliating you before all of the people, because you aren't following my ways and are showing partiality when you teach."

But who will survive the day when he comes? Or who can stand when he appears? Because he's like a refiner's fire and a launderer's soap,

You said, "It is futile to serve God,' and, "What did we get out of it when we carried out his requirements and went about like mourners in the presence of the LORD of the Heavenly Armies?'

"They'll be mine," says the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, "in the day when I prepare my treasured possession. I'll spare them, just as a man spares his own son who serves him.

When you return, you will see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, and between the one who serves God and the one who does not."

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah happened in this way. When his mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, before they lived together she was discovered to be pregnant by the Holy Spirit.

Now all this happened to fulfill what was declared by the Lord through the prophet when he said,

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.

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

and sent them to Bethlehem. He told them, "As you go, search carefully for the child. When you find him, tell me so that I, too, may go and worship him."

When they saw the star, they were ecstatic with joy.

He stayed there until Herod's death in order to fulfill what was declared by the Lord through the prophet when he said, "Out of Egypt I called my Son."

Herod flew into a rage when he learned that he had been tricked by the wise men, so he ordered the execution of all the male children in Bethlehem and all its neighboring regions, who were two years old and younger, according to the time that he had determined from the wise men.

Then what was declared by the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled when he said,

But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, after having been warned in a dream. So he left for the region of Galilee

He was the one the prophet Isaiah was referring to when he said, "He is a voice calling out in the wilderness: "Prepare the way for the Lord! Make his paths straight!'"

But when John saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he told them, "You children of serpents! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

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.

Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he went back to Galilee.

in order to fulfill what was declared by the prophet Isaiah when he said,

Going on from there he saw two other brothers James, son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee repairing their nets. When he called them,

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on the hill. After taking his seat, his disciples came to him,

But when you give to the poor, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

"When you are praying, don't say meaningless things like the unbelievers do, because they think they will be heard by being so wordy.

But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face,

Or how can you say to your brother, "Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when the beam is in your own eye?

When Jesus had finished saying all these things, the crowds were utterly amazed at his teaching,

When Jesus came down from the hillside, large crowds followed him.

When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a centurion came up to him and begged him repeatedly,

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and told those who were following him, "I tell all of you with certainty, not even in Israel have I found this kind of faith!

When Jesus went into Peter's house, he saw Peter's mother-in-law lying in bed, sick with a fever.

When evening came, people brought to him many who were possessed by demons. He drove out the spirits by speaking a command and healed everyone who was sick.

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."

When Jesus saw the large crowds around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the Sea of Galilee.

When Jesus got into the boat, his disciples went with him.

When Jesus arrived on the other side in the region of the Gerasenes, two demon-possessed men met him as they were coming out of the tombs. They were so violent that no one could travel on that road.

Now when those who had been taking care of the pigs ran away, they came into the city and reported everything, especially what had happened to the demon-possessed men.

All at once some people brought him a paralyzed man lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he told the paralyzed man, "Be courageous, son! Your sins are forgiven."

When the crowds saw this, they became frightened and glorified God for giving such authority to humans.

When Jesus heard that, he said, "Healthy people don't need a physician, but sick people do.

Jesus asked them, "The wedding guests can't mourn as long as the groom is with them, can they? But the time will come when the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast."

When Jesus turned and saw her, he said, "Be courageous, daughter! Your faith has made you well." And from that very hour the woman was well.

When Jesus came to the official's house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion,

When the crowd had been driven outside, he went in, took her by the hand, and the young lady got up.

When he had gone into the house, the blind men came to him. Jesus asked them, "Do you believe I can do this?" They told him, "Yes, Lord!"

When he saw the crowds, he was deeply moved with compassion for them, because they were troubled and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

When they hand you over, don't worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say, because in that hour what you are to say will be given to you.

So when they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, because I tell all of you with certainty that you will not have gone through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he left there to teach and preach in their home towns.

Now when John heard in prison about the activities of the Messiah, he sent a message by his disciples

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

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

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

This was to fulfill what was declared by the prophet Isaiah when he said,

But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "This man drives out demons only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons."

You children of serpents! How can you say anything good when you are evil? The mouth speaks about what overflows from the heart.

Then it says, "I will go back to my home that I left.' When it arrives, it finds it empty, swept clean, and put in order.

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

When anyone hears the word about the kingdom yet doesn't understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.

but since he doesn't have any root in himself, he lasts for only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes along because of the word, he immediately falls away.

When the crop came up and bore grain, the weeds appeared, too.

Although it is the smallest of all seeds, when it is fully grown it is larger than the garden plants and becomes a tree, and the birds in the sky come and nest in its branches."

This was to fulfill what was declared by the prophet when he said, "I will open my mouth to speak in parables. I will declare what has been hidden since the creation of the world."

When he found a very valuable pearl, he went and sold everything he had and bought it."

When it was full, the fishermen hauled it ashore. Then they sat down, sorted the good fish into containers, and threw the bad ones away.

When Jesus had finished these parables, he left that place.

But when Herod's birthday celebration was held, the daughter of Herodias danced before the guests. She pleased Herod

When John's disciples came, they carried off the body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.

When Jesus heard this, he left that place and went by boat to a deserted place by himself. The crowds heard of it and followed him on foot from the neighboring towns.

When he got out of the boat, he saw a large crowd. He had compassion for them and healed their sick.

When evening had come, the disciples went to him and said, "This is a deserted place, and it's already late. Send the crowds away so that they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves."

After dismissing the crowds, he went up on a hillside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone.

When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified and cried out, "It's a ghost!" And they screamed in terror.

But when he noticed the strong wind, he was frightened. As he began to sink, he shouted, "Lord, save me!"

When the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word throughout that region and brought him everyone who was sick.

"Why do your disciples disregard the tradition of the elders? They don't wash their hands when they eat."

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

Then the disciples came and asked him, "Do you realize that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this statement?"

When the Pharisees and Sadducees arrived, in order to test Jesus they asked him to show them a sign from heaven.

When his disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to take any bread along.

When Jesus had come to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"

He was still speaking when a bright cloud suddenly overshadowed them. A voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love. I am pleased with him. Keep on listening to him!"

When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified.

When they raised their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus all by himself.

When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax came up to Peter and asked, "Your teacher pays the temple tax, doesn't he?"

He answered, "Yes." When Peter went home, Jesus spoke to him first and asked him, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings on the earth collect tolls or tributes? From their own subjects, or from foreigners?"

When he had begun to settle the accounts, a person who owed him 10,000 talents was brought to him.

"But when that servant went away, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him, seized him by the throat, and said, "Pay what you owe!'