Read the Gospels in 40 Days
Jesus Was Tempted (A)
4 Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit when He returned from the Jordan River. Then He was led by the Holy Spirit to a desert. 2 He was tempted by the devil for forty days and He ate nothing during that time. After that He was hungry. 3 The devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to be made into bread.” 4 Jesus said to him, “It is written, ‘Man is not to live by bread alone.’” (B) 5 The devil took Jesus up on a high mountain. He had Jesus look at all the nations of the world at one time. 6 The devil said to Jesus, “I will give You all this power and greatness. It has been given to me. I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 If You will worship me, all this will be Yours.” 8 Jesus said to the devil, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You must worship the Lord your God. You must obey Him only.’” (C) 9 Then the devil took Jesus up to Jerusalem. He had Jesus stand on the highest part of the house of God. The devil said to Jesus, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. 10 For it is written, ‘He has told His angels to care for You and to keep You. 11 In their hands they will hold You up. Then Your foot will not hit against a stone.’” (D) 12 Jesus said to the devil, “It is written, ‘You must not tempt the Lord your God.’” (E) 13 When the devil finished tempting Jesus in every way, he went away from Jesus for awhile.
Jesus Preaches in Galilee (F)
14 Jesus went back to Galilee in the power of the Holy Spirit. People talked about Him so much that He was well-known through all the country. 15 Jesus taught in their places of worship and was honored by all people.
In Nazareth They Do Not Believe in Jesus
16 Jesus came to Nazareth where He had grown up. As He had done before, He went into the Jewish place of worship on the Day of Rest. Then He stood up to read. 17 Someone handed Him the book of the early preacher Isaiah. He opened it and found the place where it was written, 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on Me. He has put His hand on Me to preach the Good News to poor people. He has sent Me to heal those with a sad heart. He has sent Me to tell those who are being held that they can go free. He has sent Me to make the blind to see and to free those who are held because of trouble. 19 He sent Me to tell of the time when men can receive favor with the Lord.” (G)
20 Jesus closed the book. Then He gave it back to the leader and sat down. All those in the Jewish place of worship kept their eyes on Him. 21 Then He began to say to them, “The Holy Writings you have just heard have been completed today.”
22 They all spoke well of Jesus and agreed with the words He spoke. They said, “Is not this the son of Joseph?” 23 He said to them, “I wonder if you will tell this old saying to Me, ‘Doctor, heal Yourself. What You did in the city of Capernaum, do in Your own country!’” 24 He said, “A man who speaks for God is not respected in his own country. 25 It is true that there were many women whose husbands had died in the Jewish land when Elijah lived. For three and a half years there was no rain and there was very little food in the land. 26 Elijah was sent to none of them, but he was sent to a woman in the city of Zarephath in the land of Sidon. This woman’s husband had died. 27 There were many people in the Jewish land who had a bad skin disease when the early preacher Elisha lived. None of them was healed. But Naaman from the country of Syria was healed.”
28 All those in the Jewish place of worship were angry when they heard His words. 29 They got up and took Jesus out of town to the top of a high hill. They wanted to throw Him over the side. 30 But Jesus got away from among them and went on His way.
Jesus Heals a Man with a Demon (H)
31 Jesus went down to Capernaum in Galilee. He taught them on the Days of Rest. 32 The people were surprised and wondered about His teaching. His words had power. 33 A man in the Jewish place of worship had a demon. He cried with a loud voice, 34 “What do You want of us, Jesus of Nazareth? I know Who You are. You are the Holy One of God.” 35 Jesus spoke sharp words to the demon and said, “Do not talk! Come out of him!” When the demon had thrown the man down, he came out without hurting the man.
36 The people were all surprised. They asked each other, “What kind of word is this? He speaks to the demons with power and they come out!” 37 The news about Jesus went through all the country.
Peter’s Mother-in-Law Healed (I)
38 Jesus went away from the Jewish place of worship and went into Simon’s house. Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed, very sick. They asked Jesus to help her. 39 He stood by her and told the disease to leave. It went from her. At once she got up and cared for them.
Jesus Heals in Galilee (J)
40 As the sun went down, the people took all that were sick with many kinds of diseases to Jesus. He put His hands on all of them and they were healed. 41 Also demons came out of many people. The demons cried out and said, “You are Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus spoke strong words to them and would not let them speak. They knew He was the Christ.
Jesus Keeps On Preaching in Galilee (K)
42 In the morning He went out to a desert. The people looked for Him. When they found Him, they were trying to keep Him from going away from them. 43 He said to them, “I must preach about the holy nation of God in other cities also. This is why I was sent.” 44 And He kept on preaching in the Jewish places of worship in Galilee.
Jesus Calls Simon and James and John (L)
5 While Jesus was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, many people pushed to get near Him. They wanted to hear the Word of God. 2 Jesus saw two boats on the shore. The fishermen were not there because they were washing their nets. 3 Jesus got into a boat which belonged to Simon. Jesus asked him to push it out a little way from land. Then He sat down and taught the people from the boat.
4 When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Push out into the deep water. Let down your nets for some fish.” 5 Simon said to Him, “Teacher, we have worked all night and we have caught nothing. But because You told me to, I will let the net down.” 6 When they had done this, they caught so many fish, their net started to break. 7 They called to their friends working in the other boat to come and help them. They came and both boats were so full of fish they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he got down at the feet of Jesus. He said, “Go away from me, Lord, because I am a sinful man.” 9 He and all those with him were surprised and wondered about the many fish. 10 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were surprised also. They were working together with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will fish for men.” 11 When they came to land with their boats, they left everything and followed Jesus.
Jesus Heals a Man with a Bad Skin Disease (M)
12 While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came to Him with a bad skin disease over all his body. When he saw Jesus, he got down on his face before Him. He begged Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can heal me.” 13 Jesus put His hand on him and said, “I will, be healed.” At once the disease went away from him. 14 Then Jesus told him to tell no one. He said, “Go and let the religious leader of the Jews see you. Give the gift on the altar in worship that Moses told you to give when a man is healed of a disease. This will show the leaders you have been healed.” 15 The news about Jesus went out all the more. Many people came to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases. 16 Then He went away by Himself to pray in a desert.
Jesus Heals a Man Let Down through the Roof of a House (N)
17 On one of the days while Jesus was teaching, some proud religious law-keepers and teachers of the Law were sitting by Him. They had come from every town in the countries of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. The power of the Lord was there to heal them. 18 Some men took a man who was not able to move his body to Jesus. He was carried on a bed. They looked for a way to take the man into the house where Jesus was. 19 But they could not find a way to take him in because of so many people. They made a hole in the roof over where Jesus stood. Then they let the bed with the sick man on it down before Jesus. 20 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the man, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”
21 The teachers of the Law and the proud religious law-keepers thought to themselves, “Who is this Man Who speaks as if He is God? Who can forgive sins but God only?” 22 Jesus knew what they were thinking. He said to them, “Why do you think this way in your hearts? 23 Which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or, ‘Get up and walk’?
24 “So that you may know the Son of Man has the right and the power on earth to forgive sins,” He said to the man who could not move his body, “I say to you, get up. Take your bed and go to your home.” 25 At once the sick man got up in front of them. He took his bed and went to his home thanking God. 26 All those who were there were surprised and gave thanks to God, saying, “We have seen very special things today.”
Jesus Calls Matthew (O)
27 After this Jesus went out and saw a man who gathered taxes. His name was Levi (Matthew). Levi was sitting at his work. Jesus said to him, “Follow Me.” 28 Levi got up, left everything and followed Jesus. 29 Levi made a big supper for Jesus in his house. Many men who gathered taxes and other people sat down with them. 30 The teachers of the Law and the proud religious law-keepers talked against the followers of Jesus. They said, “Why do You eat and drink with men who gather taxes and with sinners?” 31 Jesus said to them, “People who are well do not need a doctor. Only those who are sick need a doctor. 32 I have not come to call good people. I have come to call sinners to be sorry for their sins and to turn from them.”
Jesus Teaches about Going without Food So You Can Pray Better (P)
33 They asked Jesus, “Why do the followers of John and of the proud religious law-keepers go without food so they can pray better, but Your followers keep on eating and drinking?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Can the friends at a wedding be sorry when the man just married is with them? 35 The days will come when the man just married will be taken from them. Then they will not eat food so they can pray better in those days.”
The Picture-Story of the Cloth and the Bags
36 Then Jesus told them a picture-story. He said, “No one sews a piece of cloth from a new coat on an old coat. If he does, the new coat will have a hole. The new piece and the old coat will not be the same. 37 No man puts new wine into old skin bags. If they did, the skins would break and the wine would run out. The bags would be no good. 38 New wine must be put into new bags and both are kept safe. 39 No one wants new wine after drinking old wine. He says, ‘The old wine is better.’”
Jesus Teaches about the Day of Rest (Q)
6 On the next Day of Rest Jesus was walking through the grain-fields. His followers picked grain. They rubbed it in their hands and ate it. 2 Some of the proud religious law-keepers said to them, “Why are you doing what the Law says should not be done on the Day of Rest?” 3 Jesus answered them, “Have you not read what David did when he and his men were hungry? 4 He went into the house of God and ate the special bread used in the religious worship. He gave some to those who were with him also. The Law says only the religious leaders may eat that bread. 5 The Son of Man is Lord of the Day of Rest also.”
Jesus Heals on the Day of Rest (R)
6 On another Day of Rest Jesus went into the Jewish place of worship and taught. A man with a dried-up hand was there. 7 The teachers of the Law and the proud religious law-keepers watched to see if He would heal on the Day of Rest. They wanted to have something to say against Him. 8 Jesus knew what they were thinking. He said to the man with the dried-up hand, “Stand up and come here.” The man stood up and went to Jesus. 9 Then Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one thing. Does the Law say to do good on the Day of Rest or to do bad? To save life or to kill?” 10 Jesus looked around at them all and said to the man, “Put out your hand.” He put it out and his hand was healed. It was as good as his other hand. 11 The teachers of the Law and the proud religious law-keepers were filled with anger. They talked with each other about what they might do to Jesus.
Jesus Calls His Twelve Followers (S)
12 One day Jesus went up on a mountain to pray. He prayed all night to God. 13 In the morning He called His followers to Him. He chose twelve of them and called them. 14 There were Simon, whom He also named Peter, and his brother Andrew. There were James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, 15 Matthew and Thomas. There were James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Canaanite. 16 There were Judas, who was the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot who would hand Jesus over to be killed.
Jesus Heals Many People (T)
17 Then Jesus came down and stood on a plain with many of His followers. Many people came from the country of Judea and from Jerusalem and from the cities of Tyre and Sidon. They came to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases. 18 Those who were troubled with demons came and were healed. 19 All the people tried to put their hands on Jesus. Power came from Him and He healed them all.
Jesus Teaches on the Mountain (U)
20 He looked at His followers and said, “Those of you who are poor are happy, because the holy nation of God is yours. 21 Those of you who are hungry now are happy, because you will be filled. Those of you who have sorrow now are happy, because you will laugh. 22 You are happy when men hate you and do not want you around and put shame on you because you trust in Me. 23 Be glad in that day. Be full of joy for your reward is much in heaven. Their fathers did these things to the early preachers.
24 “It is bad for you who are rich. You are receiving all that you will get. 25 It is bad for you who are full. You will be hungry. It is bad for you who laugh now. You will have sorrow and you will cry. 26 It is bad for you when everyone speaks well of you. In the same way, their fathers spoke well of the false teachers.
Jesus Teaches What the Law Says about Love
27 “I say to you who hear Me, love those who work against you. Do good to those who hate you. 28 Respect and give thanks for those who try to bring bad to you. Pray for those who make it very hard for you. 29 Whoever hits you on one side of the face, turn so he can hit the other side also. Whoever takes your coat, give him your shirt also. 30 Give to any person who asks you for something. If a person takes something from you, do not ask for it back. 31 Do for other people what you would like to have them do for you.
32 “If you love those who love you, what pay can you expect from that? Sinners also love those who love them. 33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what pay can you expect from that? Sinners also do good to those who do good to them. 34 If you let people use your things and expect to get something back, what pay can you expect from that? Even sinners let sinners use things and they expect to get something back. 35 But love those who hate you. Do good to them. Let them use your things and do not expect something back. Your reward will be much. You will be the children of the Most High. He is kind to those who are not thankful and to those who are full of sin.
Jesus Teaches about Finding Bad in Others
36 “You must have loving-kindness just as your Father has loving-kindness. 37 Do not say what is wrong in other people’s lives. Then other people will not say what is wrong in your life. Do not say someone is guilty. Then other people will not say you are guilty. Forgive other people and other people will forgive you.
38 “Give, and it will be given to you. You will have more than enough. It can be pushed down and shaken together and it will still run over as it is given to you. The way you give to others is the way you will receive in return.”
39 Jesus used a picture-story as He spoke to them. He said, “Can one blind man lead another blind man? Will they not fall into the ditch together? 40 The follower is not more important than his teacher. But everyone who learns well will be like his teacher.
Jesus Teaches about Saying What Is Wrong in Others
41 “Why do you look at the small piece of wood in your brother’s eye and do not see the big piece of wood in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take that small piece of wood out of your eye,’ when you do not see the big piece of wood in your own eye? You pretend to be someone you are not. First, take the big piece of wood out of your own eye. Then you can see better to take the small piece of wood out of your brother’s eye.
Jesus Teaches about False Teachers
43 “A good tree cannot have bad fruit. A bad tree cannot have good fruit. 44 For every tree is known by its own fruit. Men do not gather figs from thorns. They do not gather grapes from thistles. 45 Good comes from a good man because of the riches he has in his heart. Sin comes from a sinful man because of the sin he has in his heart. The mouth speaks of what the heart is full of.
Jesus Teaches about Houses Built on Rock and Sand
46 “And why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but do not do what I say? 47 Whoever comes to Me and hears and does what I say, I will show you who he is like. 48 He is like a man who built a house. He dug deep to put the building on rock. When the water came up and the river beat against the house, the building could not be shaken because it was built on rock. 49 But he who hears and does not do what I say, is like a man who built a house on nothing but earth. The water beat against the house. At once it fell and was destroyed.”
Copyright © 1969, 2003 by Barbour Publishing, Inc.