"Where is the new-born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and are come to worship him."

Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and make careful inquiry about the child, and as soon as you have found him bring me word, that I, too, may go and worship him."

And do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father'?? tell you that out of these very stones God is able to raise up descendants for Abraham.

The people who were dwelling in darkness Have seen a great light; And on those who were dwelling in the land of the shadows of death Light has dawned.

"Blessed are those who have been persecuted in the cause of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

"You have heard that it was said to the ancients, "Thou shall not commit murder, and "He who commits murder shall be liable to condemnation by the court;

"You have heard that it was said, "Thou shalt not commit adultery.

And if your eye, your right eye, entices you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to lose one of your bodily organs, than to have your whole body go down into the pit.

And if your right hand entices you into sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of your bodily organs, than to have your whole body go down into the pit.

"Again you have heard that it was said to the men of old, "You must not forswear yourselves, but must perform your vows to the Lord.

"You have heard that it was said, "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

"You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy."

"For if you love only those who love you, what reward have you?

"Be careful not to do your good deeds in the sight of men, in order to be observed by them. If you do, you have no reward with your heavenly Father.

"And whatever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and streets, in order that men may praise them. In solemn truth I tell you they already have their reward in full.

"And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the corners of the avenues, in order that men may see them. In solemn truth I tell you that they have their reward in full.

And forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors;

"When you fast, do not look downcast like the hypocrites; for they disfigure their faces so that it may be apparent to men that they are fasting. In solemn truth I tell you, they already have received their reward.

"For all these are things that the Gentiles are eagerly seeking; for your heavenly Father knows that you have need of them all.

"Therefore everything that you would have men do to you, do you also the same to them; for this is the Law and the Prophets.

"Many in that day will say to me, "'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name, and in your name cast out demons, and in your name done many mighty works?'

"Lord, "said the captain in reply, "I am not worthy to have you under my roof, but speak the word only, and my slave will be cured,

"For I myself also am a man under authority, and I have soldiers under me. To one man I say 'Go,' and he goes; to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it."

As Jesus listened to this reply he was astonished, and said to those who followed him. "In solemn truth I tell you that I have found faith like this in any Israelite.

Then Jesus said to the captain. "Go! As you have believed, so be it unto you." And his slave was healed in that very hour.

"Foxes have their holes," answered Jesus, "and wild birds their roosting-places, but the Son of man has not where to lay his head."

"You Son of God," they shouted, "what have you to do with us? Are you come to torment us before the time?"

And as he went on from thence two blind men followed Jesus, crying, "Have pity on us, Son of David!"

"Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

"But when they persecute you in one city, flee to the next. In solemn truth I tell you that you shall not have completed the cities of Israel, before the Son of man comes.

"Let all who have ears, listen!

"saying. 'We have piped to you and you have not danced; We have wailed, but you have not beaten your breasts.'

"Woe unto you, Chorazin! Woe unto you, Bethsaida! Because if the mighty works which have been done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented, long ago, in sackcloth and ashes.

"And you too, Capernaum! Will you be exalted even to heaven? You shall go down to the Place of Death! For if the mighty works had been done in Sodom which have been done in you, it would have remained until this day.

"Have you not read," answered Jesus, "what David did when he was hungry, and his men, too?

"Have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the Temple break the Sabbath and are guiltless?

"you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of man is Lord of the Sabbath."

And in order to get a charge against him they asked him, "Is it permitted to heal on the Sabbath?" (So that they might have something to accuse him.)

Behold my servant whom I have chosen, My beloved, in whom my soul delights; I will breathe my spirit upon him, and he shall announce justice to the Gentiles.

"For whoever holds, to him shall more be given, and he shall have abundance; but whoever does not hold, from him shall be taken away even what he holds.

For the heart of his people is made fat, Their ears are dull of hearing; Their eyes, too, have they closed, Lest some day their eyes should perceive, And their ears should hear, And their heart should understand and turn, And I should heal them.

"In solemn truth I tell you that many prophets and holy men have seen it not, and to hear what you are hearing, and have not heard it.

"Have you understood all this?" he asked. "We have," they answered him.

because John kept telling him, "It is not right for you to have her."

"We have nothing here," they replied, "except five loaves and two fishes."

but you say that whoever tells his father or mother, 'Whatever of mine might have been of service to you is dedicated to God,'

But Jesus called his disciples to him and said: "My heart yearns over the crowd, for they have been with me now three days, and they have nothing to eat. I am not willing to send them away hungry, for fear they faint on the road."

"How many loaves have you?" answered Jesus. They replied, "Seven, and a few small fish.

When Jesus knew it he said: "Weaklings in faith! Why are you arguing among yourselves, because you have no bread?

"Blessed are you, Simon, Son of Jonah," said Jesus; "for flesh and blood have not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven!

Solemnly I tell you, some of those who are standing here shall not taste death, till they have seen the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

But Jesus came to them and touched them, saying, "Rise, have no fear!"

"Because of your little faith," he answered. "In solemn truth I tell you that if you have faith the size of a mustard-seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from this place to that!' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.

"Nevertheless, that we may not give offense, go to the seaside, throw in your hook; take the first fish that rises, and when you have opened its mouth, you will find a shekel in it. Take it and give it to them for us both."

"If your brother sins against you, go and show him, between yourself and him alone. If he listens, you have won your brother.

"And again I tell you that if two of you on earth symphonize your praying concerning anything for which you have asked, it shall be done for you by my Father in heaven.

"Thereupon his slave threw himself on his knees before him, crying, "'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all!'

"'Ought not you also to have had pity on your fellow slave, just as I had pity on you?'

"Have you not read." he answered, "that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said,

"For there are eunuchs who have been such from birth; others who have been made such by men; and others who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of God. He who is able to receive this, let him receive it."

The young man answered. "I have carefully kept them all. What yet do I lack?"

"If you want to be perfect," said Jesus, "go, sell your property, give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."

Whereupon Peter said to Jesus. "Look, Master, we have forsaken everything and followed you. Now what shall be our reward?"

"In solemn truth I tell you," Jesus answered, "that in the New Creation, when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory, you also who have followed me shall sit on twelve thrones, to govern the twelve tribes of Israel.

"When he went out about five o'clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, "'Why have you been standing here idle, all the day long?'

"'Those last men,' they said, 'have toiled only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the burning heat of the day.'

"Have I not the right to do what I choose with my own property? Or is your eye evil because I am generous?'

And two blind men, sitting by the side of the road, heard that it was Jesus who was passing by, and cried out, "Have pity on us, Master, Son of David!"

But the crowd checked them, to make them keep still. They cried out all the louder, saying, "Master, have pity on us, Son of David!"

they asked him, "Do you hear what they are saying?" "Surely," said Jesus, "and have you never read, Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?"

In reply Jesus said to them, "In solemn truth I tell you that if you have faith and never doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Up, cast yourself into the sea!' it shall be done;

"and everything that you ask for in your prayers you shall have, if you believe."

"Have you never read in the Scriptures," Jesus answered, "how The stone that the builders rejected Has been made the corner-stone; This is the Lord's doing, It is wonderful in our eyes?

"They enjoy salutations in the market-places, and to have men call them 'Rabbi.'

"Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and anise and cummin, and neglect the weightier matters of the Law??ustice and mercy and good faith; these latter you ought to have done, and not to have left the former undone.

"'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been their comrades in the murder of the prophets.'

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, murdering the prophets, and stoning those who have been sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together, as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and you would not!

And if these days had not been shortened, no flesh would have been saved; but for the elect's sake these days will be cut short.

See, I have forewarned you! So if they say to you,

But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have been on his guard, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.

"The man who had received the five talents came, bringing five more, and said: "'Master, five talents you entrusted to me; see, I have gained five more.'

"'Well done, good and faithful slave,' replied his master; 'You have been faithful over many things. Enter into your master's joy.'

"The second, who had received the two talents, came up and said: "'Master, it was two talents that you entrusted to me; see, I have gained two more.'

"'Well done, good and faithful slave,' his master replied, 'You have been faithful over many things; enter into your master's joy.'

"so I was afraid; I went away and buried your talent in the earth. There, you have what belongs to you!'

"'You wicked and lazy slave,' said his master. 'You say you knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not scattered?'

Then you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my property with interest.

(For to every one who has, it shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but from him who has not shall be taken away even what he has.)

"'In solemn truth I tell you,' the King will answer them, 'that inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these, my brothers, you have done it unto me.'

"Why is this waste? This perfume could have been sold for a good sum, and the money given to the poor."

"for the poor you have with you always, but me you will not always have.

And the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were trying to get false evidence against Jesus, in order that they might have him executed;

Then the high priest tore his garments, saying. "He has spoken blasphemy! What further need have we of witnesses? For behold, now you have heard his blasphemy!

"I have sinned," he said, "in betraying innocent blood!" "What is that to us?" they answered; "you must see to that."

And while he was seated upon the judgment-seat, his wife had sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered many things today, in a dream, because of him."

When the Roman captain and the soldiers who were with him, guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and all that happened, they were greatly terrified and said, "Certainly this man must have been God's Son."

Now therefore give order to have the sepulcher securely guarded until the third day, for fear his disciples may come and steal him away, and then tell the people, 'He is risen from the dead'; and so the last error will be worse than the first."

"You can have a guard," said Pilate. "Go your way, make it as secure as you can."

But to the women the angel said: "You need have no fear, for I know that you are seeking Jesus, the Crucified One.

And go quickly and tell his disciples. 'He is risen from the dead; he goes before you into Galilee; you will see him there.' Remember, I have told you."