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| Matthew 14John the Baptist Beheaded 1At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, 2and
he said to his attendants, "This is John the Baptist; he has risen from
the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him." 3Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, 4for John had been saying to him: "It is not lawful for you to have her." 5Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered him a prophet. 6On Herod's birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for them and pleased Herod so much 7that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 8Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist." 9The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted 10and had John beheaded in the prison. 11His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. 12John's disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus. Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand 13When
Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a
solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from
the towns. 14When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15As
evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a
remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so
they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food." 16Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat." 17"We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered. 18"Bring them here to me," he said. 19And
he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves
and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the
loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them
to the people. 20They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children. Jesus Walks on the Water 22Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24but the boat was already a considerable distance[a] from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. 25During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. 27But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." 28"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." 29"Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" 31Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" 32And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." 34When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. 35And
when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the
surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him 36and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed. Footnotes: - Matthew 14:24 Greek many stadia
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| Matthew 13The Parable of the Sower 1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9He who has ears, let him hear." 10The disciples came to him and asked, "Why do you speak to the people in parables?" 11He replied, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 13This is why I speak to them in parables:
"Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand. 14In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
" 'You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15For this people's heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.'[a] 16But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17For
I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see
what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not
hear it. 18"Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19When
anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it,
the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This
is the seed sown along the path. 20The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21But
since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or
persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 22The
one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who
hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of
wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. 23But
the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who
hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a
hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown." The Parable of the Weeds 24Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. 27"The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?' 28" 'An enemy did this,' he replied.
"The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?' 29" 'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. 30Let
both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the
harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be
burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.' " The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast 31He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32Though
it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the
largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the
air come and perch in its branches." 33He told them still another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount[b] of flour until it worked all through the dough." 34Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. 35So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet:
"I will open my mouth in parables,
I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world."[c] The Parable of the Weeds Explained 36Then
he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him
and said, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field." 37He answered, "The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. 40"As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl 44"The
kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found
it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and
bought that field. 45"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. The Parable of the Net 47"Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48When
it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat
down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 51"Have you understood all these things?" Jesus asked.
"Yes," they replied. 52He
said to them, "Therefore every teacher of the law who has been
instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who
brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old." A Prophet Without Honor 53When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. 54Coming
to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and
they were amazed. "Where did this man get this wisdom and these
miraculous powers?" they asked. 55"Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56Aren't all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?" 57And they took offense at him.
But Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor." 58And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith. Footnotes: - Matthew 13:15 Isaiah 6:9,10
- Matthew 13:33 Greek three satas (probably about 1/2 bushel or 22 liters)
- Matthew 13:35 Psalm 78:2
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| Matthew 12Lord of the Sabbath 1At
that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His
disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat
them. 2When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, "Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath." 3He answered, "Haven't you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4He
entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated
bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. 5Or haven't you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple desecrate the day and yet are innocent? 6I tell you that one[a] greater than the temple is here. 7If you had known what these words mean, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,'[b] you would not have condemned the innocent. 8For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath." 9Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, 10and
a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to accuse
Jesus, they asked him, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?" 11He
said to them, "If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the
Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? 12How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath." 13Then
he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." So he stretched it out and
it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. 14But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus. God's Chosen Servant 15Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Many followed him, and he healed all their sick, 16warning them not to tell who he was. 17This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
18"Here is my servant whom I have chosen,
the one I love, in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
19He will not quarrel or cry out;
no one will hear his voice in the streets.
20A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out,
till he leads justice to victory.
21In his name the nations will put their hope."[c]Jesus and Beelzebub 22Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. 23All the people were astonished and said, "Could this be the Son of David?" 24But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "It is only by Beelzebub,[d] the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons." 25Jesus
knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against
itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against
itself will not stand. 26If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? 27And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 28But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29"Or
again, how can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his
possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his
house. 30"He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. 31And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32Anyone
who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone
who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this
age or in the age to come. 33"Make
a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its
fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. 35The
good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the
evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 37For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." The Sign of Jonah 38Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, "Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you." 39He
answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous
sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40For
as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish,
so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of
the earth. 41The men of
Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn
it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one[e] greater than Jonah is here. 42The
Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and
condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to
Solomon's wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here. 43"When an evil[f] spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44Then
it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds
the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45Then
it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself,
and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is
worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked
generation." Jesus' Mother and Brothers 46While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. 47Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you."[g] 48He replied to him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" 49Pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. 50For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." Footnotes: - Matthew 12:6 Or something; also in verses 41 and 42
- Matthew 12:7 Hosea 6:6
- Matthew 12:21 Isaiah 42:1-4
- Matthew 12:24 Greek Beezeboul or Beelzeboul; also in verse 27
- Matthew 12:41 Or something; also in verse 42
- Matthew 12:43 Greek unclean
- Matthew 12:47 Some manuscripts do not have verse 47.
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| Matthew 11Jesus and John the Baptist 1After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.[a] 2When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples 3to ask him, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?" 4Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy[b]are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. 6Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me." 7As
John's disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about
John: "What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the
wind? 8If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings' palaces. 9Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10This is the one about whom it is written:
" 'I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.'[c] 11I
tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen
anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the
kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12From
the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been
forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. 13For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. 15He who has ears, let him hear. 16"To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
17" 'We played the flute for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge
and you did not mourn.' 18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' 19The
Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton
and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." ' But wisdom
is proved right by her actions." Woe on Unrepentant Cities 20Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. 21"Woe
to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were
performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have
repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths.[d] If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you."Rest for the Weary 25At
that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and
revealed them to little children. 26Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure. 27"All
things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son
except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those
to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Footnotes: - Matthew 11:1 Greek in their towns
- Matthew 11:5 The Greek word was used for various diseases affecting the skin—not necessarily leprosy.
- Matthew 11:10 Mal. 3:1
- Matthew 11:23 Greek Hades
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| Matthew 10Jesus Sends Out the Twelve 1He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil[a] spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. 2These
are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called
Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother
John; 3Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. 5These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,[b]drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. 9Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; 10take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep. 11"Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave. 12As you enter the home, give it your greeting. 13If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. 15I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. 16I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 17"Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. 18On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21"Brother
will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will
rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 23When
you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth,
you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son
of Man comes. 24"A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25It
is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like
his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub,[c] how much more the members of his household! 26"So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 27What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. 28Do
not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.
Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in
hell. 29Are not two sparrows sold for a penny[d]? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. 30And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. 32"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. 34"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35For I have come to turn
" 'a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her motherinlaw—
36a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.'[e] 37"Anyone
who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone
who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 40"He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. 41Anyone
who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's
reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a
righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward. 42And
if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones
because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not
lose his reward." Footnotes: - Matthew 10:1 Greek unclean
- Matthew 10:8 The Greek word was used for various diseases affecting the skin—not necessarily leprosy.
- Matthew 10:25 Greek Beezeboul or Beelzeboul
- Matthew 10:29 Greek an assarion
- Matthew 10:36 Micah 7:6
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