Matthew 1-15

Christian Standard Bible

The Genealogy of Jesus Christ

1 An^(A) account^(B) of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David,^(C) the Son of Abraham:^(D)

From Abraham to David

From David to the Babylonian Exile

From the Exile to the Messiah

¹⁷ So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations; and from David until the exile to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the exile to Babylon until the Messiah, fourteen generations.^(N)

The Nativity of the Messiah

¹⁸ The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged^[g] to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit.^{(O) 19} So her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man,^(P) and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly.^(Q)

²⁰ But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.^{(R) 21} She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus,^(S) because he will save his people from their sins.”^(T)

²² Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

which is translated “God is with us.”^(U)

²⁴ When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her^{(V) 25} but did not have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son.^[i] And he named him Jesus.^(W)

Wise Men Visit the King

2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem,^{(X) 2} saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?^(Y) For we saw his star at its rising^(Z) and have come to worship him.”^[j]

³ When King Herod heard this, he was deeply disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴ So he assembled all the chief priests and scribes^(AA) of the people and asked them where the Messiah would be born.

⁵ “In Bethlehem of Judea,” they told him, “because this is what was written by the prophet:

⁷ Then Herod secretly summoned the wise men and asked them the exact time the star appeared. ⁸ He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you find him, report back to me so that I too can go and worship him.”^[l](AC)

⁹ After hearing the king, they went on their way. And there it was—the star they had seen at its rising. It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy. ¹¹ Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped him.^[m] Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.^{(AD) 12} And being warned^(AE) in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another route.

The Flight into Egypt

¹³ After they were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Get up! Take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. For Herod is about to search for the child to kill him.”^{(AF) 14} So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night, and escaped to Egypt. ¹⁵ He stayed there until Herod’s death, so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled: Out of Egypt I called my Son.^[n](AG)

The Massacre of the Innocents

¹⁶ Then Herod, when he realized that he had been outwitted by the wise men, flew into a rage. He gave orders to massacre all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, in keeping with the time he had learned from the wise men.^{(AH) 17} Then what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled:

¹⁸ A voice was heard in Ramah,

The Return to Nazareth

¹⁹ After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,^{(AJ) 20} saying, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, because those who intended to kill the child are dead.” ²¹ So he got up, took the child and his mother, and entered the land of Israel. ²² But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned in a dream, he withdrew to the region of Galilee.^{(AK) 23} Then he went and settled in a town called Nazareth to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.^(AL)

The Herald of the Messiah

3 In those days John the Baptist came,^(AM) preaching in the wilderness of Judea^{(AN) 2} and saying, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near!” ^{(AO) 3} For he is the one spoken of through the prophet Isaiah, who said:

⁴ Now John had a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. ⁵ Then people from Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the vicinity of the Jordan were going out to him, ⁶ and they were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.^(AQ)

⁷ When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees^(AR) coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?^{(AS) 8} Therefore produce fruit^(AT) consistent with^[r] repentance. ⁹ And don’t presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’^(AU) For I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones. ¹⁰ The ax is already at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.^(AV)

¹¹ “I baptize you with^[s] water for repentance,^(AW) but the one who is coming after me is more powerful than I. I am not worthy to remove^[t] his sandals. He himself will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.^{(AX) 12} His winnowing shovel is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn. But the chaff he will burn with fire that never goes out.”^(AY)

The Baptism of Jesus

¹³ Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him.^{(AZ) 14} But John tried to stop him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?”

¹⁵ Jesus answered him, “Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John allowed him to be baptized.

¹⁶ When Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water. The heavens^(BA) suddenly opened for him,^[u] and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him.^{(BB) 17} And a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased.”^(BC)

The Temptation of Jesus

4 Then^(BD) Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.^{(BE) 2} After he had fasted forty days and forty nights,^(BF) he was hungry. ³ Then the tempter approached him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”^(BG)

⁴ He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”^[v](BH)

⁵ Then the devil took him to the holy city, had him stand on the pinnacle of the temple,^{(BI) 6} and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written:

⁷ Jesus told him, “It is also written: Do not test the Lord your God.”^[x](BL)

⁸ Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ⁹ And he said to him, “I will give you all these things if you will fall down and worship me.”^[y]

¹⁰ Then Jesus told him, “Go away,^[z] Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.”^[aa](BM)

¹¹ Then the devil left him, and angels came and began to serve him.^(BN)

Ministry in Galilee

¹² When he heard that John had been arrested,^(BO) he withdrew into Galilee.^{(BP) 13} He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum^(BQ) by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. ¹⁴ This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

¹⁷ From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven^(BS) has come near.”

The First Disciples

¹⁸ As^(BT) he was walking along the Sea of Galilee,^(BU) he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter), and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. ¹⁹ “Follow me,” he told them, “and I will make you fish for^[ad] people.” ²⁰ Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

²¹ Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat with Zebedee their father, preparing their nets, and he called them. ²² Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Teaching, Preaching, and Healing

²³ Now Jesus began to go all over Galilee,^(BV) teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every^[ae] disease and sickness^[af] among the people.^{(BW) 24} Then the news about him spread throughout Syria.^(BX) So they brought to him all those who were afflicted, those suffering from various diseases and intense pains, the demon-possessed, the epileptics, and the paralytics.^(BY) And he healed them. ²⁵ Large crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.^(BZ)

The Sermon on the Mount

5 When he saw the crowds, he went up on the mountain,^(CA) and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. ² Then^[ag] he began to teach them, saying:^(CB)

The Beatitudes

¹¹ “You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. ¹² Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted^(CL) the prophets who were before you.^(CM)

Believers Are Salt and Light

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty?^[ah] It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.^(CN)

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden.^{(CO) 15} No one lights a lamp^(CP) and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house.^{(CQ) 16} In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.^(CR)

Christ Fulfills the Law

¹⁷ “Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.^{(CS) 18} For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter^[ai] or one stroke of a letter will pass away from the law until all things are accomplished. ¹⁹ Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.^{(CT) 20} For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.

Murder Begins in the Heart

²¹ “You have heard that it was said to our ancestors, Do not murder,^[aj](CU) and whoever murders will be subject to judgment.^{(CV) 22} But I tell you, everyone who is angry with his brother or sister^[ak] will be subject to judgment. Whoever insults^[al] his brother or sister will be subject to the court.^[am] Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to hellfire.^{[an](CW) 23} So if you are offering your gift on the altar, and there you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled with your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. ²⁵ Reach a settlement quickly with your adversary while you’re on the way with him to the court, or your adversary will hand you over to the judge, and the judge to^[ao] the officer, and you will be thrown into prison.^{(CX) 26} Truly I tell you, you will never get out of there until you have paid the last penny.^[ap]

Adultery Begins in the Heart

²⁷ “You have heard that it was said, Do not commit adultery.^{[aq](CY) 28} But I tell you, everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.^{(CZ) 29} If your right eye causes you to sin,^(DA) gouge it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.^{(DB) 30} And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

Divorce Practices Censured

³¹ “It was also said, Whoever divorces^(DC) his wife must give her a written notice of divorce.^{[ar](DD) 32} But I tell you, everyone who divorces his wife, except in a case of sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery. And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.^(DE)

Tell the Truth

³³ “Again, you have heard that it was said to our ancestors,You must not break your oath, but you must keep your oaths to the Lord.^{[as](DF) 34} But I tell you, don’t take an oath at all: either by heaven, because it is God’s throne; ³⁵ or by the earth, because it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King.^{(DG) 36} Do not swear by your head, because you cannot make a single hair white or black. ³⁷ But let your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ mean ‘no.’ Anything more than this is from the evil one.^(DH)

Go the Second Mile

³⁸ “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.^{[at](DI) 39} But I tell you, don’t resist^[au] an evildoer. On the contrary, if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.^{(DJ) 40} As for the one who wants to sue you and take away your shirt, let him have your coat as well. ⁴¹ And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two. ⁴² Give to the one who asks you, and don’t turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.^(DK)

Love Your Enemies

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor^[av](DL) and hate your enemy. ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies^[aw] and pray for those who^[ax] persecute you,^{(DM) 45} so that you may be^[ay] children of your Father in heaven. For he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.^{(DN) 46} For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what are you doing out of the ordinary?^[az](DO) Don’t even the Gentiles^[ba] do the same? ⁴⁸ Be perfect,^(DP) therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

How to Give

6 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness^[bb] in front of others to be seen by them. Otherwise, you have no reward with your Father in heaven. ² So whenever you give to the poor, don’t sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be applauded by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward.^{(DQ) 3} But when you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.^[bc](DR)

How to Pray

⁵ “Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward.^{(DS) 6} But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.^{[bd](DT) 7} When you pray, don’t babble like the Gentiles, since they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words.^{(DU) 8} Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask him.^(DV)

The Lord’s Prayer

⁹ “Therefore, you should pray like this: ^(DW)

¹⁴ “For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well.^{(EC) 15} But if you don’t forgive others,^[bh] your Father will not forgive your offenses.

How to Fast

¹⁶ “Whenever you fast, don’t be gloomy like the hypocrites. For they disfigure their faces ^(ED) so that their fasting is obvious to people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward. ¹⁷ But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face,^{(EE) 18} so that your fasting isn’t obvious to others but to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.^[bi]

God and Possessions

¹⁹ “Don’t store up for yourselves treasures^[bj] on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.^{(EF) 20} But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,^(EG) where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

²² “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light. ²³ But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. So if the light within you is darkness, how deep is that darkness!^(EH)

²⁴ “No one can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. ^(EI)

The Cure for Anxiety

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you:^(EJ) Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing?^{(EK) 26} Consider the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they?^{(EL) 27} Can any of you add one moment to his life span^[bk] by worrying? ²⁸ And why do you worry about clothes? Observe how the wildflowers of the field grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. ³⁰ If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t he do much more for you—you of little faith?^{(EM) 31} So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ ³² For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God^[bl](EN) and his righteousness,^(EO) and all these things will be provided for you.^{(EP) 34} Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble^(EQ) of its own.

Do Not Judge

7 “Do not judge, so that you won’t be judged.^{(ER) 2} For you will be judged by the same standard with which you judge others, and you will be measured by the same measure you use.^{(ES) 3} Why do you look at the splinter in your brother’s eye but don’t notice the beam of wood in your own eye?^{(ET) 4} Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the splinter out of your eye,’ and look, there’s a beam of wood in your own eye? ⁵ Hypocrite! First take the beam of wood out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take the splinter out of your brother’s eye. ⁶ Don’t give what is holy to dogs or toss your pearls before pigs,^(EU) or they will trample them under their feet, turn, and tear you to pieces.

Ask, Search, Knock

⁷ “Ask,^(EV) and it will be given to you.^(EW) Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door^[bm] will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds,^(EX) and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. ⁹ Who among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰ Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? ¹¹ If you then, who are evil,^(EY) know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him. ¹² Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.^(EZ)

Entering the Kingdom

¹³ “Enter through the narrow gate.^(FA) For the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction,^(FB) and there are many who go through it. ¹⁴ How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.

¹⁵ “Be on your guard against false prophets^(FC) who come to you in sheep’s^(FD) clothing^(FE) but inwardly are ravaging wolves.^{(FF) 16} You’ll recognize them by their fruit.^(FG) Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles?^{(FH) 17} In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.^{(FI) 20} So you’ll recognize them by their fruit.^(FJ)

²¹ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven,^(FK) but only the one who does the will^(FL) of my Father in heaven.^{(FM) 22} On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons^(FN) in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’^{(FO) 23} Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’^[bn][bo](FP)

The Two Foundations

²⁴ “Therefore,^(FQ) everyone who hears these words^(FR) of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. ²⁶ But everyone who hears these words of mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. ²⁷ The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. It collapsed with a great crash.”

²⁸ When Jesus had finished saying these things,^(FS) the crowds were astonished at his teaching,^{(FT) 29} because he was teaching them like one who had authority, and not like their scribes.

A Man Cleansed

8 When he came down from the mountain, large crowds^(FU) followed him. ² Right away^(FV) a man with leprosy^[bp] came up and knelt before him,^(FW) saying, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

³ Reaching out his hand, Jesus touched him, saying, “I am willing; be made clean.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. ⁴ Then Jesus told him, “See that you don’t tell anyone;^(FX) but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”^(FY)

A Centurion’s Faith

⁵ When he entered Capernaum,^(FZ) a centurion came to him, pleading with him, ⁶ “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible agony.”

⁷ He said to him, “Am I to come and heal him?”^[bq]

⁸ “Lord,” the centurion replied, “I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.^{(GA) 9} For I too am a man under authority, having soldiers under my command.^[br] I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”

¹⁰ Hearing this, Jesus was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with so great a faith. ¹¹ I tell you that many will come from east and west to share the banquet^[bs] with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.^{(GB) 12} But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”^{(GC) 13} Then Jesus told the centurion, “Go. As you have believed,^(GD) let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that very moment.^[bt]

Healings at Capernaum

¹⁴ Jesus went into Peter’s house^(GE) and saw his mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. ¹⁵ So he touched her hand, and the fever left her. Then she got up and began to serve him. ¹⁶ When evening came, they brought to him many who were demon-possessed. He drove out the spirits^(GF) with a word and healed all who were sick,^{(GG) 17} so that what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

The Cost of Following Jesus

¹⁸ When Jesus saw a large crowd^[bv](GI) around him, he gave the order to go to the other side of the sea. ¹⁹ A scribe approached him and said,^(GJ) “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”

²⁰ Jesus told him, “Foxes have dens, and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man^(GK) has no place to lay his head.”

²¹ “Lord,” another of his disciples said, “first let me go bury my father.”

²² But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”

Wind and Waves Obey Jesus

²³ As he got into the boat,^(GL) his disciples^(GM) followed him. ²⁴ Suddenly, a violent storm arose on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves—but Jesus kept sleeping. ²⁵ So the disciples came and woke him up, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to die!”

²⁶ He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea,^(GN) and there was a great calm.

²⁷ The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the sea obey^(GO) him!”

Demons Driven Out by Jesus

²⁸ When he had come to the other side,^(GP) to the region of the Gadarenes,^[bw] two demon-possessed men met him as they came out of the tombs. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. ²⁹ Suddenly they shouted, “What do you have to do with us,^[bx] Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” ^(GQ)

³⁰ A long way off from them, a large herd of pigs was feeding. ³¹ “If you drive us out,” the demons begged him, “send us into the herd of pigs.”

³² “Go!” he told them. So when they had come out, they entered the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and perished in the water. ³³ Then the men who tended them fled. They went into the city and reported everything, especially what had happened to those who were demon-possessed. ³⁴ At that, the whole town went out to meet Jesus. When they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.^(GR)

The Son of Man Forgives and Heals

9 So he got into a boat, crossed over, and came to his own town.^{(GS) 2} Just then^(GT) some men^[by] brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, “Have courage, son, your sins are forgiven.”^(GU)

³ At this, some of the scribes said to themselves, “He’s blaspheming!” ^(GV)

⁴ Perceiving their thoughts,^(GW) Jesus said, “Why are you thinking evil things in your hearts?^{[bz] 5} For which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? ⁶ But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—then he told the paralytic, “Get up, take your stretcher, and go home.” ⁷ So he got up and went home. ⁸ When the crowds saw this, they were awestruck^[ca][cb] and gave glory^(GX) to God, who had given such authority to men.

The Call of Matthew

⁹ As Jesus went on from there,^(GY) he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, “Follow me,” and he got up and followed him.^(GZ)

¹⁰ While he was reclining at the table in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came to eat with Jesus and his disciples.^{(HA) 11} When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” ^(HB)

¹² Now when he heard this, he said, “It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick.^{(HC) 13} Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice.^[cc](HD) For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”^[cd]

A Question about Fasting

¹⁴ Then John’s disciples came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?” ^(HE)

¹⁵ Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests^[ce] be sad while the groom is with them? The time^[cf] will come when the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. ¹⁶ No one patches an old garment with unshrunk cloth, because the patch pulls away from the garment and makes the tear worse. ¹⁷ And no one puts^[cg] new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the skins burst, the wine spills out, and the skins are ruined. No, they put new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.”

A Girl Restored and a Woman Healed

¹⁸ As he was telling them these things,^(HF) suddenly one of the leaders came and knelt down before him, saying, “My daughter just died,^[ch] but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.”^{(HG) 19} So Jesus and his disciples got up and followed^(HH) him.

²⁰ Just then, a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years approached from behind and touched the end of his robe,^{(HI) 21} for she said to herself, “If I can just touch his robe, I’ll be made well.”^[ci](HJ)

²² Jesus turned and saw her. “Have courage, daughter,” he said. “Your faith has saved you.”^[cj](HK) And the woman was made well from that moment.^[ck]

²³ When Jesus came to the leader’s house, he saw the flute players and a crowd lamenting loudly.^{(HL) 24} “Leave,” he said, “because the girl is not dead but asleep.”^(HM) And they laughed at him. ²⁵ After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up.^{(HN) 26} Then news of this spread throughout that whole area.^(HO)

Healing the Blind

²⁷ As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” ^(HP)

²⁸ When he entered the house, the blind men approached him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe^(HQ) that I can do this?”

They said to him, “Yes, Lord.”

²⁹ Then he touched their eyes, saying, “Let it be done for you according to your faith.” ³⁰ And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus warned them sternly, “Be sure that no one finds out.”^{(HR) 31} But they went out and spread the news about him throughout that whole area.

Driving Out a Demon

³² Just as they were going out, a demon-possessed man who was unable to speak was brought to him.^{(HS) 33} When the demon had been driven out, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were amazed, saying, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel!”

³⁴ But the Pharisees said, “He drives out demons by the ruler of the demons.”^(HT)

The Lord of the Harvest

³⁵ Jesus continued going around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom,^(HU) and healing every^[cl] disease and every sickness.^{[cm][cn] 36} When he saw the crowds, he felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dejected,^(HV) like sheep without a shepherd.^{(HW) 37} Then he said to his disciples,^(HX) “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. ³⁸ Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.”

Commissioning the Twelve

10 Summoning his twelve disciples,^(HY) he gave them authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out and to heal every^[co] disease and sickness.^{[cp](HZ) 2} These are the names of the twelve apostles:^(IA) First, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; ³ Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;^{[cq] 4} Simon the Zealot,^[cr] and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.^(IB)

⁵ Jesus sent out these twelve after giving them instructions: “Don’t take the road that leads to the Gentiles, and don’t enter any Samaritan^(IC) town. ⁶ Instead, go to the lost sheep^(ID) of the house of Israel.^{(IE) 7} As you go, proclaim, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’^{(IF) 8} Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy,^[cs] drive out demons.^(IG) Freely you received, freely give. ⁹ Don’t acquire gold, silver, or copper for your money-belts.^{(IH) 10} Don’t take a traveling bag for the road, or an extra shirt, sandals, or a staff, for the worker^(II) is worthy of his food. ¹¹ When you enter any town or village, find out who is worthy, and stay there until you leave. ¹² Greet a household when you enter it,^{(IJ) 13} and if the household is worthy, let your peace be on it; but if it is unworthy, let your peace return to you.^{(IK) 14} If anyone does not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet^(IL) when you leave that house or town. ¹⁵ Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment^(IM) for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.^(IN)

Persecutions Predicted

¹⁶ “Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves.^{(IO) 17} Beware of them, because they will hand you over to local courts^[ct] and flog you in their synagogues.^{(IP) 18} You will even be brought before governors and kings because of me, to bear witness to them and to the Gentiles.^{(IQ) 19} But when they hand you over, don’t worry about how or what you are to speak.^(IR) For you will be given what to say at that hour, ²⁰ because it isn’t you speaking, but the Spirit^(IS) of your Father is speaking through you.^(IT)

²¹ “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.^{(IU) 22} You will be hated by everyone because of my name.^(IV) But the one who endures to the end will be saved.^{(IW) 23} When they persecute you in one town, flee to another.^(IX) For truly I tell you, you will not have gone through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. ²⁴ A disciple^[cu] is not above his teacher, or a slave above his master.^{(IY) 25} It is enough for a disciple to become like his teacher and a slave like his master. If they called the head of the house ‘Beelzebul,’ how much more the members of his household!^(IZ)

Fear God

²⁶ “Therefore,^(JA) don’t be afraid of them, since there is nothing covered that won’t be uncovered and nothing hidden that won’t be made known.^{(JB) 27} What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light. What you hear in a whisper,^[cv] proclaim on the housetops.^{(JC) 28} Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; ^(JD) rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.^{(JE) 29} Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny?^[cw] Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s^(JF) consent.^{[cx] 30} But even the hairs of your head have all been counted.^{(JG) 31} So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.^(JH)

Acknowledging Christ

³² “Therefore, everyone who will acknowledge me before others, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.^{(JI) 33} But whoever denies me before others,^(JJ) I will also deny him before my Father in heaven. ³⁴ Don’t assume that I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.^{(JK) 35} For I came to turn

³⁷ The one who loves a father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; ^(JM) the one who loves a son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. ³⁸ And whoever doesn’t take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. ³⁹ Anyone who finds his life will lose it,^(JN) and anyone who loses his life because of me will find it.^(JO)

A Cup of Cold Water

⁴⁰ “The one who welcomes you welcomes me,^(JP) and the one who welcomes me welcomes him who sent me.^{(JQ) 41} Anyone who welcomes a prophet^(JR) because he is a prophet^[cz] will receive a prophet’s reward. And anyone who welcomes a righteous person because he’s righteous^[da] will receive a righteous person’s reward. ⁴² And whoever gives^(JS) even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple,^[db](JT) truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.”

John the Baptist Doubts

11 When Jesus had finished giving instructions to his twelve disciples, he moved on from there to teach and preach in their towns.^{(JU) 2} Now when John heard in prison what the Christ was doing, he sent a message through his disciples^{(JV) 3} and asked him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” ^(JW)

⁴ Jesus replied to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: ⁵ The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy^[dc] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news,^{(JX) 6} and blessed is the one who isn’t offended by me.”^(JY)

⁷ As these men were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind?^{(JZ) 8} What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothes? See, those who wear soft clothes are in royal palaces. ⁹ What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.^{(KA) 10} This is the one about whom it is written:

¹¹ “Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one greater than John the Baptist has appeared,^[de] but the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. ¹² From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been suffering violence,^[df] and the violent have been seizing it by force. ¹³ For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. ¹⁴ And if you’re willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who is to come.^{(KC) 15} Let anyone who has ears^[dg] listen.^(KD)

An Unresponsive Generation

¹⁶ “To what should I compare this generation? It’s like children sitting in the marketplaces who call out to other children:

¹⁸ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’^{(KE) 19} The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard,^(KF) a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’^(KG) Yet wisdom is vindicated^[di] by her deeds.”^[dj]

²⁰ Then he proceeded to denounce the towns where most of his miracles were done, because they did not repent: ²¹ “Woe to you, Chorazin!^(KH) Woe to you, Bethsaida!^(KI) For if the miracles that were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon,^(KJ) they would have repented in sackcloth and ashes long ago. ²² But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment^(KK) than for you. ²³ And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will go down to Hades.^(KL) For if the miracles that were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until today. ²⁴ But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

The Son Gives Knowledge and Rest

²⁵ At that time Jesus said,^(KM) “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and revealed them to infants.^{(KN) 26} Yes, Father, because this was your good pleasure.^{[dk] 27} All things have been entrusted to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son desires^[dl] to reveal him.^(KO)

²⁸ “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.^{(KP) 29} Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,^(KQ) because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.^{(KR) 30} For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Lord of the Sabbath

12 At that time Jesus passed through the grainfields on the Sabbath.^(KS) His disciples^(KT) were hungry and began to pick and eat some heads of grain. ² When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “See, your disciples are doing what is not lawful^(KU) to do on the Sabbath.”

³ He said to them, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and those who were with him were hungry: ⁴ how he entered the house of God, and they ate^[dm] the bread of the Presence—which is not lawful for him or for those with him to eat, but only for the priests?^{(KV) 5} Or haven’t you read in the law that on Sabbath days the priests in the temple violate the Sabbath and are innocent?^{(KW) 6} I tell you that something greater than the temple is here.^{(KX) 7} If you had known what this means, I desire mercy and not sacrifice,^[dn](KY) you would not have condemned the innocent. ⁸ For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”^(KZ)

The Man with the Shriveled Hand

⁹ Moving on from there, he entered their synagogue.^{(LA) 10} There he saw a man who had a shriveled hand, and in order to accuse him they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” ^(LB)

¹¹ He replied to them, “Who among you, if he had a sheep that fell into a pit on the Sabbath, wouldn’t take hold of it and lift it out?^{(LC) 12} A person is worth far more than a sheep; ^(LD) so it is lawful to do what is good on the Sabbath.”

¹³ Then he told the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and it was restored,^(LE) as good as the other. ¹⁴ But the Pharisees went out and plotted against him, how they might kill him.^(LF)

The Servant of the Lord

¹⁵ Jesus was aware of this and withdrew. Large crowds^[do] followed him, and he healed them all.^{(LG) 16} He warned them not to make him known,^{(LH) 17} so that what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

A House Divided

²² Then a demon-possessed man^(LK) who was blind and unable to speak was brought to him. He healed him, so that the man^[dr] could both speak and see.^{(LL) 23} All the crowds were astounded and said, “Could this be the Son of David?” ^(LM)

²⁴ When the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man drives out demons only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.”^(LN)

²⁵ Knowing their thoughts,^(LO) he told them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is headed for destruction, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. ²⁶ If Satan^(LP) drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? ²⁷ And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? For this reason they will be your judges.^{(LQ) 28} If I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.^{(LR) 29} How can someone enter a strong man’s house and steal his possessions unless he first ties up^(LS) the strong man? Then he can plunder his house. ³⁰ Anyone who is not with me is against me,^(LT) and anyone who does not gather with me scatters. ³¹ Therefore,^(LU) I tell you, people will be forgiven every sin and blasphemy,^(LV) but the blasphemy against^[ds] the Spirit will not be forgiven.^{[dt] 32} Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man,^(LW) it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the one to come.^(LX)

A Tree and Its Fruit

³³ “Either make the tree good and its fruit will be good, or make the tree bad^[du] and its fruit will be bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.^{(LY) 34} Brood of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil? For the mouth speaks from the overflow^(LZ) of the heart. ³⁵ A good person produces good things from his storeroom of good, and an evil person produces evil things from his storeroom of evil.^{(MA) 36} I tell you that on the day of judgment^(MB) people will have to account^(MC) for every careless^[dv] word they speak.^{[dw] 37} For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

The Sign of Jonah

³⁸ Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”^(MD)

³⁹ He answered them,^(ME) “An evil and adulterous generation demands a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.^{(MF) 40} For as Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish^[dx](MG) three days and three nights,^(MH) so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. ⁴¹ The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it,^(MI) because they repented at Jonah’s preaching; and look—something greater than Jonah is here.^{(MJ) 42} The queen of the south^(MK) will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and look—something greater than Solomon is here.

An Unclean Spirit’s Return

⁴³ “When an unclean spirit comes out of a person, it roams through waterless places looking for rest but doesn’t find any.^{(ML) 44} Then it says, ‘I’ll go back to my house that I came from.’ Returning, it finds the house vacant, swept, and put in order. ⁴⁵ Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and settle down there. As a result, that person’s last condition is worse than the first.^(MM) That’s how it will also be with this evil generation.”

True Relationships

⁴⁶ While he^(MN) was still speaking with the crowds, his mother and brothers were standing outside wanting to speak to him.^{(MO) 47} Someone told him, “Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”^[dy]

⁴⁸ He replied to the one who was speaking to him, “Who is my mother and who are my brothers?” ⁴⁹ Stretching out his hand toward his disciples,^(MP) he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! ⁵⁰ For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”^(MQ)

The Parable of the Sower

13 On that day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea.^{(MR) 2} Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, while the whole crowd stood on the shore.^(MS)

³ Then he told them many things in parables,^(MT) saying, “Consider the sower who went out to sow. ⁴ As he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. ⁵ Other seed fell on rocky ground where it didn’t have much soil, and it grew up quickly since the soil wasn’t deep. ⁶ But when the sun came up, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. ⁷ Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it. ⁸ Still other seed fell on good ground and produced fruit: some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times what was sown.^{(MU) 9} Let anyone who has ears^[dz] listen.”^(MV)

Why Jesus Used Parables

¹⁰ Then the disciples^(MW) came up and asked him, “Why are you speaking to them in parables?” ^(MX)

¹¹ He answered, “Because the secrets of the kingdom of heaven have been given for you to know,^(MY) but it has not been given to them. ¹² For whoever has, more will be given to him, and he will have more than enough; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.^{(MZ) 13} That is why I speak to them in parables, because looking they do not see,^(NA) and hearing they do not listen or understand.^{(NB) 14} Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says:

¹⁶ “Blessed are your eyes^(NE) because they do see, and your ears because they do hear.^{(NF) 17} For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see the things you see but didn’t see them, to hear the things you hear but didn’t hear them.^(NG)

The Parable of the Sower Explained

¹⁸ “So listen to the parable of the sower: ^{(NH) 19} When anyone hears the word about the kingdom and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the one sown along the path.^{(NI) 20} And the one sown on rocky ground—this is one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy.^{(NJ) 21} But he has no root and is short-lived. When distress or persecution^(NK) comes because of the word, immediately he falls away. ²² Now the one sown among the thorns—this is one who hears the word, but the worries of this age^(NL) and the deceitfulness^[eb] of wealth^(NM) choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. ²³ But the one sown on the good ground—this is one who hears and understands the word, who does produce fruit and yields: some a hundred, some sixty, some thirty times what was sown.”

The Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds

²⁴ He presented another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field.^{(NN) 25} But while people were sleeping, his enemy came, sowed weeds among the wheat, and left. ²⁶ When the plants sprouted and produced grain, then the weeds also appeared. ²⁷ The landowner’s servants^(NO) came to him and said, ‘Master, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Then where did the weeds come from?’

²⁸ “‘An enemy did this,’ he told them.

“‘So, do you want us to go and pull them up?’ the servants asked him.

²⁹ “‘No,’ he said. ‘When you pull up the weeds, you might also uproot the wheat with them. ³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest. At harvest time I’ll tell the reapers: Gather the weeds first and tie them in bundles to burn them, but collect the wheat in my barn.’”

The Parables of the Mustard Seed and of the Leaven

³¹ He^(NP) presented another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven^(NQ) is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. ³² It’s the smallest of all the seeds, but when grown, it’s taller than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the sky come and nest in its branches.”^(NR)

³³ He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven^[ec] that a woman took and mixed into fifty pounds^[ed] of flour until all of it was leavened.”^(NS)

Using Parables Fulfills Prophecy

³⁴ Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables, and he did not tell them anything without a parable,^{(NT) 35} so that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled:

Jesus Interprets the Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds

³⁶ Then he left the crowds and went into the house. His disciples approached him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”^(NV)

³⁷ He replied, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; ³⁸ the field is the world; and the good seed—these are the children of the kingdom. The weeds are the children of the evil one,^{(NW) 39} and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.^{(NX) 40} Therefore, just as the weeds are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age.^{(NY) 41} The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather from his kingdom all who cause sin^[eg] and those guilty of lawlessness.^{[eh](NZ) 42} They will throw them into the blazing furnace^(OA) where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.^{(OB) 43} Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. Let anyone who has ears^[ei] listen.^(OC)

The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and of the Priceless Pearl

⁴⁴ “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure, buried in a field, that a man found and reburied. Then in his joy he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field.^(OD)

⁴⁵ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. ⁴⁶ When he found one priceless^[ej] pearl, he went and sold everything he had and bought it.^(OE)

The Parable of the Net

⁴⁷ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a large net thrown into the sea. It collected every kind of fish,^{(OF) 48} and when it was full, they dragged it ashore, sat down, and gathered the good fish into containers, but threw out the worthless ones. ⁴⁹ So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out, separate the evil people from the righteous,^{(OG) 50} and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.^(OH)

The Storehouse of Truth

⁵¹ “Have you understood all these things?”^[ek]

They answered him, “Yes.”

⁵² “Therefore,” he said to them, “every teacher of the law^[el] who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom treasures new and old.”^(OI)

Rejection at Nazareth

⁵³ When Jesus had finished these parables, he left there. ⁵⁴ He went to his hometown^(OJ) and began to teach them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?^{(OK) 55} Isn’t this the carpenter’s son?^(OL) Isn’t his mother called Mary, and his brothers James,^(OM) Joseph,^[em] Simon, and Judas?^{(ON) 56} And his sisters, aren’t they all with us? So where does he get all these things?” ⁵⁷ And they were offended by him.

Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his household.”^{(OO) 58} And he did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.

John the Baptist Beheaded

14 At that time^(OP) Herod the tetrarch^(OQ) heard the report about Jesus. ² “This is John the Baptist,” he told his servants. “He has been raised from the dead, and that’s why miraculous powers are at work in him.”^(OR)

³ For Herod had arrested John, chained^[en] him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,^{(OS) 4} since John had been telling him, “It’s not lawful^(OT) for you to have her.” ⁵ Though Herod wanted to kill John, he feared the crowd since they regarded John as a prophet.^(OU)

⁶ When Herod’s birthday celebration came, Herodias’s daughter danced before them^[eo] and pleased Herod. ⁷ So he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. ⁸ Prompted by her mother, she answered, “Give me John the Baptist’s head here on a platter.” ⁹ Although the king regretted it, he commanded that it be granted because of his oaths and his guests. ¹⁰ So he sent orders and had John beheaded in the prison. ¹¹ His head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. ¹² Then his disciples came, removed the corpse,^[ep] buried it, and went and reported to Jesus.

Feeding of the Five Thousand

¹³ When Jesus heard about it,^(OV) he withdrew from there by boat to a remote place to be alone. When the crowds heard this, they followed him on foot from the towns. ¹⁴ When he went ashore,^[eq] he saw a large crowd, had compassion on them, and healed their sick.^(OW)

¹⁵ When evening came, the disciples^(OX) approached him and said, “This place is deserted, and it is already late.^[er] Send the crowds away so that they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves.”

¹⁶ “They don’t need to go away,” Jesus told them. “You give them something to eat.”

¹⁷ “But we only have five loaves and two fish here,” they said to him.

¹⁸ “Bring them here to me,” he said. ¹⁹ Then he commanded the crowds to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them. He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.^{(OY) 20} Everyone ate and was satisfied. They picked up twelve baskets full of leftover pieces.^{(OZ) 21} Now those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Walking on the Water

²² Immediately^(PA) he^[es] made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. ²³ After dismissing the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. Well into the night, he was there alone.^{(PB) 24} Meanwhile, the boat was already some distance^[et] from land,^[eu] battered by the waves, because the wind was against them. ²⁵ Jesus came toward them walking on the sea^(PC) very early in the morning.^{[ev] 26} When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and they cried out in fear.

²⁷ Immediately Jesus spoke to them. “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”^(PD)

²⁸ “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter answered him, “command me to come to you on the water.”

²⁹ He said, “Come.”

And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the strength of the wind,^[ew] he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me!”

³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”^(PE)

³² When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. ³³ Then those in the boat worshiped him and said, “Truly you are the Son of God.”^(PF)

Miraculous Healings

³⁴ When they had crossed over,^(PG) they came to shore at Gennesaret.^{(PH) 35} When the men of that place recognized him, they alerted the whole vicinity and brought to him all who were sick. ³⁶ They begged him that they might only touch the end of his robe, and as many as touched it were healed.^(PI)

The Tradition of the Elders

15 Then^(PJ) Jesus was approached by Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem, who asked,^{(PK) 2} “Why do your disciples^(PL) break the tradition of the elders? For they don’t wash their hands when they eat.”^[ex](PM)

³ He answered them, “Why do you break God’s commandment because of your tradition? ⁴ For God said:^[ey] Honor your father and your mother;^[ez](PN) and, Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must be put to death.^{[fa](PO) 5} But you say, ‘Whoever tells his father or mother, “Whatever benefit you might have received from me is a gift committed to the temple,” ⁶ he does not have to honor his father.’^[fb] In this way, you have nullified the word of God^[fc] because of your tradition. ⁷ Hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you when he said:

Defilement Is from Within

¹⁰ Summoning the crowd, he told them, “Listen and understand: ¹¹ It’s not what goes into the mouth that defiles^(PQ) a person, but what comes out of the mouth—this defiles a person.”^(PR)