The Birth of Jesus Christ

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.

And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”

After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.

And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

The Flight to Egypt

Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.”

And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt

Herod Kills the Children

Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.

“A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”

saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead.”

And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel.

And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death,

“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates,

Come to Me, and I Will Give You Rest

At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children;

And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

And he answered, “It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.”

Those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.

And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them

and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me,

And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.

Let the Children Come to Me

Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people,

but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”