Matthew 4:23-5:12

Contemporary English Version

Jesus Teaches, Preaches, and Heals

(Luke 6.17-19)

²³^(A) Jesus went all over Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the good news about God's kingdom. He also healed every kind of disease and sickness. ²⁴News about him spread all over Syria, and people with every kind of sickness or disease were brought to him. Some of them had a lot of demons in them, others were thought to be crazy,^[a] and still others could not walk. But Jesus healed them all.

²⁵Large crowds followed Jesus from Galilee and the region around the ten cities known as Decapolis.^[b] They also came from Jerusalem, Judea, and from across the Jordan River.

The Sermon on the Mount

5 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on the side of a mountain and sat down.^[c]

Blessings

(Luke 6.20-23)

Jesus' disciples gathered around him, ²and he taught them:

³God blesses those people
    who depend only on him.
They belong to the kingdom
    of heaven!^[d]
⁴^(B) God blesses those people
who grieve.
    They will find comfort!
⁵^(C) God blesses those people
    who are humble.
The earth will belong
    to them!
⁶^(D) God blesses those people
who want to obey him^[e]
    more than to eat or drink.
They will be given
    what they want!
⁷God blesses those people
    who are merciful.
They will be treated
    with mercy!
⁸^(E) God blesses those people
whose hearts are pure.
    They will see him!
⁹God blesses those people
    who make peace.
They will be called
    his children!
¹⁰^(F) God blesses those people
who are treated badly
    for doing right.
They belong to the kingdom
    of heaven.^[f]

¹¹^(G) God will bless you when people insult you, mistreat you, and tell all kinds of evil lies about you because of me. ¹²^(H) Be happy and excited! You will have a great reward in heaven. People did these same things to the prophets who lived long ago.

Footnotes

4.24 thought to be crazy: In ancient times people with epilepsy were thought to be crazy.
4.25 the ten cities known as Decapolis: A group of ten cities east of Samaria and Galilee, where the people followed the Greek way of life.
5.1 sat down: Teachers in the ancient world, including Jewish teachers, usually sat down when they taught.
5.3 They belong to the kingdom of heaven: Or “The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.”
5.6 who want to obey him: Or “who want to do right” or “who want everyone to be treated right.”
5.10 They belong to the kingdom of heaven: See the note at 5.3.