Read the Gospels in 40 Days
Jesus is Tempted by Satan(A)
4 After this, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil. 2 After fasting for 40 days and 40 nights, he finally became hungry.
3 Then the tempter came. “Since[a] you are the Son of God,” he said, “tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”
4 But he answered, “It is written,
‘One must not live on bread alone,
but on every word coming
out of the mouth of God.’”[b]
5 Then the Devil took him to the Holy City[c] and had him stand on the highest point of the Temple. 6 He told Jesus,[d] “Since[e] you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, because it is written,
‘God[f] will put his angels in charge of you,’
and,
‘With their hands they will hold you up,
so that you will never hit your foot against a rock.’”[g]
7 Jesus responded to him, “It is also written, ‘You must not tempt the Lord[h] your God.’”[i]
8 Once more the Devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, along with their splendor. 9 He told Jesus,[j] “I will give you all these things if you will bow down and worship me!”
10 Then Jesus told him, “Go away,[k] Satan! Because it is written,
‘You must worship the Lord your God
and serve only him.’”[l]
11 So the Devil left him, and angels came and began ministering to him.
Jesus Begins His Ministry in Galilee(B)
12 Now when Jesus[m] heard that John had been arrested, he went back to Galilee. 13 He left Nazareth and settled in Capernaum by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 in order to fulfill what was declared by the prophet Isaiah when he said,
15 “O Land of Zebulun and Land of Naphtali,
on the road to the sea, across the Jordan,
Galilee of the unbelievers![n]
16 The people living[o] in darkness have seen a great light,
and for those living[p] in the land and shadow of death,
a light has risen.”[q]
17 From then on, Jesus began to announce, “Repent, because the kingdom from[r] heaven is near!”
Jesus Calls Four Fishermen(C)
18 While Jesus[s] was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon (also[t] called Peter) and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, because they were fishermen. 19 “Follow me,” he told them, “and I will make you fishers of people!” 20 So at once they left their nets and followed him. 21 Going on from there he saw two other brothers—James, son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee repairing their nets. When he called them, 22 they immediately left the boat and their father and followed him.
Jesus Ministers to Many People(D)
23 Then he went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every illness among the people. 24 His fame spread throughout Syria, and people[u] brought to him everyone who was sick—those afflicted with various diseases and pains, the demon-possessed, the epileptics, and the paralyzed—and he healed them. 25 Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis,[v] Jerusalem, Judea, and from across the Jordan followed him.
Jesus Teaches about the Kingdom
5 When Jesus[w] saw the crowds, he went up on the hill. After taking his seat, his disciples came to him, 2 and he began[x] to teach them:
The Blessed Attitudes(E)
3 “How blessed are those who are destitute in spirit,
because the kingdom from[y] heaven belongs to them!
4 “How blessed are those who mourn,
because it is they who will be comforted!
5 “How blessed are those who are humble,[z]
because it is they who will inherit the earth!
6 “How blessed are those who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness,[aa]
because it is they who will be satisfied!
7 “How blessed are those who are merciful,
because it is they who will receive mercy!
8 “How blessed are those who are pure in heart,
because it is they who will see God!
9 “How blessed are those who make peace,
because it is they who will be called God’s children!
10 “How blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
because the kingdom from[ab] heaven belongs to them!
11 “How blessed are you whenever people[ac] insult you, persecute you, and say all sorts of evil things against you falsely[ad] because of me! 12 Rejoice and be extremely glad, because your reward in heaven is great! That’s how they persecuted the prophets who came before you.”
Salt and Light in the World(F)
13 “You are the salt of the world. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty again? It’s good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled on by people.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden. 15 People[ae] don’t light a lamp and put it under a basket but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before people in such a way that they will see your good actions and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Jesus Fulfills the Law and the Prophets
17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I didn’t come to destroy them, but to fulfill them, 18 because I tell all of you[af] with certainty that until heaven and earth disappear, not one letter[ag] or one stroke of a letter will disappear from the Law until everything has been accomplished. 19 So whoever sets aside[ah] one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom from[ai] heaven. But whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom from[aj] heaven 20 because I tell you, unless your righteousness greatly exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom from[ak] heaven!”
Teaching about Anger
21 “You have heard that it was told those who lived long ago, ‘You are not to commit murder,’[al] and, ‘Whoever murders will be subject to punishment.’[am] 22 But I say to you, anyone who is angry with his brother without a cause[an] will be subject to punishment. And whoever says to his brother ‘Raka!’[ao] will be subject to the Council.[ap] And whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to hell[aq] fire.
23 “So if you are presenting your gift at the altar and remember there that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and first go and be reconciled to your brother. Then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your opponent while you are on the way to court,[ar] or your opponent may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. 26 I tell you[as] with certainty, you will not get out of there until you pay back the last dollar!”[at]
Teaching about Adultery
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You are not to commit adultery.’[au] 28 But I say to you, anyone who stares at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 So if your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your body parts than to have your whole body thrown into hell.[av] 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away from you. It is better for you to lose one of your body parts than to have your whole body go into hell.”[aw]
Teaching about Divorce(G)
31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a written notice of divorce.’[ax] 32 But I say to you, any man who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”
Teaching about Oaths
33 “Again, you have heard that it was told those who lived long ago, ‘You must not swear an oath falsely,’ but, ‘You must fulfill your oaths to the Lord.’[ay] 34 But I tell you not to swear at all, neither by heaven, because it is God’s throne, 35 nor by the earth, because it is his footstool, nor by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the Great King. 36 Nor should you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Instead, let your message be ‘Yes’ for ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ for ‘No.’ Anything more than that comes from the evil one.”
Teaching about Retaliation(H)
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’[az] 39 But I tell you not to resist an evildoer. On the contrary, whoever slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other to him as well. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile,[ba] go two with him. 42 Give to the person who asks you for something, and do not turn away from the person who wants to borrow something from you.”
Teaching about Love for Enemies(I)
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You must love your neighbor’[bb] and hate your enemy. 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you will become children of your Father in heaven, because he makes his sun rise on both evil and good people, and he lets rain fall on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Even the tax collectors do the same, don’t they? 47 And if you greet only your relatives, that’s no great thing you’re doing, is it? Even the unbelievers[bc] do the same, don’t they? 48 So be perfect,[bd] as your heavenly Father is perfect.”[be]
Teaching about Giving to the Poor
6 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of people in order to be noticed by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 So whenever you give to the poor, don’t blow a trumpet before you like the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets so that they will be praised by people. I tell all of you[bf] with certainty, they have their full reward! 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 done in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”[bg]
Teaching about Prayer(J)
5 “And whenever you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to stand in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they will be seen by people. I tell all of you[bh] with certainty, they have their full reward! 6 But whenever you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees from the hidden place will reward you.[bi]
7 “When you are praying, don’t say meaningless things[bj] like the unbelievers[bk] do, because they think they will be heard by being so wordy. 8 Don’t be like them, because your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Therefore, this is how you should pray:
‘Our Father in heaven,
may your name be kept holy.
10 May your kingdom come.
May your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread,
12 and forgive us our sins,[bl]
as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us.[bm]
13 And never bring us into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’[bn]
14 Because if you forgive people their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive people their offenses,[bo] your Father will not forgive your offenses.”
Teaching about Fasting
16 “Whenever you fast, don’t be gloomy like the hypocrites, because they put on sad faces to show others they are fasting. I tell all of you[bp] with certainty, they have their full reward! 17 But when you fast, put oil on[bq] your head and wash your face, 18 so that your fasting will not be noticed by others but by your Father who is in the hidden place. And your Father who watches from the hidden place will reward you.”[br]
Teaching about Treasures(K)
19 “Stop storing up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moths and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But keep on storing up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal, 21 because where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
The Lamp of the Body(L)
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. Therefore, if the light within you has turned into darkness, how great is that darkness!”
God and Riches(M)
24 “No one can serve two masters, because either he will hate one and love the other, or be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and riches!”[bs]
Stop Worrying(N)
25 “That’s why I’m telling you to stop worrying about your life—what you will eat or what you will drink[bt]—or about your body—what you will wear. Life is more than food, isn’t it, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds in the sky. They don’t plant or harvest or gather food into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. You are more valuable than they are, aren’t you? 27 Can any of you add a single hour to the length of your life[bu] by worrying? 28 And why do you worry about clothes? Consider the lilies in the field and how they grow. They don’t work or spin yarn, 29 but I tell you that not even Solomon in all of his splendor was clothed like one of them. 30 Now if that is the way God clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and thrown into an oven tomorrow, won’t he clothe you much better—you who have little faith?
31 “So don’t ever worry by saying, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’ 32 because it is the unbelievers[bv] who are eager for all those things. Surely your heavenly Father knows that you need all of them! 33 But first be concerned about God’s kingdom and his righteousness,[bw] and all of these things will be provided for you as well. 34 So never worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
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