Embracing the Virtue: A Journey to Becoming a Proverbs 31 Wife

The God Story

Christ: The Treasure of Our Hearts

Fruit of the Spirit Christmas Plan

Glory: Training Time

God With Us

It's Time to Plant

Celebrating the Season of Gratitude as a Family

From Humbug to Hallelujah: A 5-Day Christmas Transformation

Grateful Hearts

New International Version

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 <div class="p">33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. </div>
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The Listener’s Bible®: NIV Edition

New International Version™  (Anglicised), Audio Edition

Holy Bible, New International Version™ (Anglicised), South Asian Audio Edition

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 <div class="label">1</div><div class="s1">The Genealogy of Jesus the Messiah</div><div class="p">1This is the genealogy#1:1 Or is an account of the origin of Jesus the Messiah#1:1 Or Jesus Christ. Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) both mean Anointed One; also in verse 18. the son of David, the son of Abraham:</div><div class="b"></div><div class="li1">2Abraham was the father of Isaac,</div><div class="li2">Isaac the father of Jacob,</div><div class="li2">Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,</div><div class="li2">3Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar,</div><div class="li2">Perez the father of Hezron,</div><div class="li2">Hezron the father of Ram,</div><div class="li2">4Ram the father of Amminadab,</div><div class="li2">Amminadab the father of Nahshon,</div><div class="li2">Nahshon the father of Salmon,</div><div class="li2">5Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab,</div><div class="li2">Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth,</div><div class="li2">Obed the father of Jesse,</div><div class="li2">6and Jesse the father of King David.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="li1">David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah&#8217;s wife,</div><div class="li2">7Solomon the father of Rehoboam,</div><div class="li2">Rehoboam the father of Abijah,</div><div class="li2">Abijah the father of Asa,</div><div class="li2">8Asa the father of Jehoshaphat,</div><div class="li2">Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram,</div><div class="li2">Jehoram the father of Uzziah,</div><div class="li2">9Uzziah the father of Jotham,</div><div class="li2">Jotham the father of Ahaz,</div><div class="li2">Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,</div><div class="li2">10Hezekiah the father of Manasseh,</div><div class="li2">Manasseh the father of Amon,</div><div class="li2">Amon the father of Josiah,</div><div class="li2">11and Josiah the father of Jeconiah#1:11 That is, Jehoiachin; also in verse 12 and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="li1">12After the exile to Babylon:</div><div class="li2">Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel,</div><div class="li2">Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,</div><div class="li2">13Zerubbabel the father of Abihud,</div><div class="li2">Abihud the father of Eliakim,</div><div class="li2">Eliakim the father of Azor,</div><div class="li2">14Azor the father of Zadok,</div><div class="li2">Zadok the father of Akim,</div><div class="li2">Akim the father of Elihud,</div><div class="li2">15Elihud the father of Eleazar,</div><div class="li2">Eleazar the father of Matthan,</div><div class="li2">Matthan the father of Jacob,</div><div class="li2">16and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="p">17Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.</div><div class="s1">Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son</div><div class="p">18This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about#1:18 Or The origin of Jesus the Messiah was like this: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet#1:19 Or was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.</div><div class="p">20But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, &#8220;Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,#1:21 Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua, which means the Lord saves. because he will save his people from their sins.&#8221;</div><div class="p">22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23&#8220;The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel&#8221;#1:23 Isaiah 7:14 (which means &#8220;God with us&#8221;).</div><div class="p">24When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.</div>
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 <div class="label">3</div><div class="s1">John the Baptist Prepares the Way</div><div class="p">1In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2and saying, &#8220;Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.&#8221; 3This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:</div><div class="q1">&#8220;A voice of one calling in the wilderness,</div><div class="q1">&#8216;Prepare the way for the Lord,</div><div class="q2">make straight paths for him.&#8217;&#8198;&#8221;#3:3 Isaiah 40:3</div><div class="p">4John&#8217;s clothes were made of camel&#8217;s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.</div><div class="p">7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: &#8220;You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9And do not think you can say to yourselves, &#8216;We have Abraham as our father.&#8217; I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.</div><div class="p">11&#8220;I baptize you with#3:11 Or in water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with#3:11 Or in the Holy Spirit and fire. 12His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">The Baptism of Jesus</div><div class="p">13Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14But John tried to deter him, saying, &#8220;I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?&#8221;</div><div class="p">15Jesus replied, &#8220;Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.&#8221; Then John consented.</div><div class="p">16As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17And a voice from heaven said, &#8220;This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.&#8221;</div>
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 <div class="label">4</div><div class="s1">Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness</div><div class="p">1Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted#4:1 The Greek for tempted can also mean tested. by the devil. 2After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3The tempter came to him and said, &#8220;If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.&#8221;</div><div class="p">4Jesus answered, &#8220;It is written: &#8216;Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.&#8217;#4:4 Deut. 8:3&#8221;</div><div class="p">5Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6&#8220;If you are the Son of God,&#8221; he said, &#8220;throw yourself down. For it is written:</div><div class="q1">&#8220;&#8198;&#8216;He will command his angels concerning you,</div><div class="q2">and they will lift you up in their hands,</div><div class="q2">so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.&#8217;#4:6 Psalm 91:11,12&#8221;</div><div class="p">7Jesus answered him, &#8220;It is also written: &#8216;Do not put the Lord your God to the test.&#8217;#4:7 Deut. 6:16&#8221;</div><div class="p">8Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9&#8220;All this I will give you,&#8221; he said, &#8220;if you will bow down and worship me.&#8221;</div><div class="p">10Jesus said to him, &#8220;Away from me, Satan! For it is written: &#8216;Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.&#8217;#4:10 Deut. 6:13&#8221;</div><div class="p">11Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.</div><div class="s1">Jesus Begins to Preach</div><div class="p">12When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. 13Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali&#8212; 14to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:</div><div class="q1">15&#8220;Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,</div><div class="q2">the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan,</div><div class="q2">Galilee of the Gentiles&#8212;</div><div class="q1">16the people living in darkness</div><div class="q2">have seen a great light;</div><div class="q1">on those living in the land of the shadow of death</div><div class="q2">a light has dawned.&#8221;#4:16 Isaiah 9:1,2</div><div class="p">17From that time on Jesus began to preach, &#8220;Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">Jesus Calls His First Disciples</div><div class="p">18As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19&#8220;Come, follow me,&#8221; Jesus said, &#8220;and I will send you out to fish for people.&#8221; 20At once they left their nets and followed him.</div><div class="p">21Going 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, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.</div><div class="s1">Jesus Heals the Sick</div><div class="p">23Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. 25Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis,#4:25 That is, the Ten Cities Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.</div>
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 <div class="label">5</div><div class="s1">Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount</div><div class="p">1Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2and he began to teach them.</div><div class="s1">The Beatitudes</div><div class="m">He said:</div><div class="q1">3 &#8220;Blessed are the poor in spirit,</div><div class="q2">for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.</div><div class="q1">4 Blessed are those who mourn,</div><div class="q2">for they will be comforted.</div><div class="q1">5 Blessed are the meek,</div><div class="q2">for they will inherit the earth.</div><div class="q1">6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,</div><div class="q2">for they will be filled.</div><div class="q1">7 Blessed are the merciful,</div><div class="q2">for they will be shown mercy.</div><div class="q1">8 Blessed are the pure in heart,</div><div class="q2">for they will see God.</div><div class="q1">9 Blessed are the peacemakers,</div><div class="q2">for they will be called children of God.</div><div class="q1">10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,</div><div class="q2">for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.</div><div class="p">11 &#8220;Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.</div><div class="s1">Salt and Light</div><div class="p">13 &#8220;You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.</div><div class="p">14 &#8220;You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.</div><div class="s1">The Fulfillment of the Law</div><div class="p">17 &#8220;Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.</div><div class="s1">Murder</div><div class="p">21 &#8220;You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, &#8216;You shall not murder, #5:21 Exodus 20:13 and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.&#8217; 22But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister#5:22 The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a fellow disciple, whether man or woman; also in verse 23.#5:22 Some manuscripts brother or sister without cause will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, &#8216;Raca,&#8217;#5:22 An Aramaic term of contempt is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, &#8216;You fool!&#8217; will be in danger of the fire of hell.</div><div class="p">23 &#8220;Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.</div><div class="p">25 &#8220;Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.</div><div class="s1">Adultery</div><div class="p">27 &#8220;You have heard that it was said, &#8216;You shall not commit adultery.&#8217; #5:27 Exodus 20:14 28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.</div><div class="s1">Divorce</div><div class="p">31 &#8220;It has been said, &#8216;Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.&#8217; #5:31 Deut. 24:1 32But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.</div><div class="s1">Oaths</div><div class="p">33 &#8220;Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, &#8216;Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.&#8217; 34But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God&#8217;s throne; 35or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37All you need to say is simply &#8216;Yes&#8217; or &#8216;No&#8217;; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.#5:37 Or from evil</div><div class="s1">Eye for Eye</div><div class="p">38 &#8220;You have heard that it was said, &#8216;Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.&#8217; #5:38 Exodus 21:24 ; Lev. 24:20; Deut. 19:21 39But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.</div><div class="s1">Love for Enemies</div><div class="p">43 &#8220;You have heard that it was said, &#8216;Love your neighbor #5:43 Lev. 19:18 and hate your enemy.&#8217; 44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.</div>
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 <div class="label">6</div><div class="s1">Giving to the Needy</div><div class="p">1 &#8220;Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.</div><div class="p">2 &#8220;So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.</div><div class="s1">Prayer</div><div class="p">5 &#8220;And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.</div><div class="p">9 &#8220;This, then, is how you should pray:</div><div class="q1">&#8220;&#8198;&#8216;Our Father in heaven,</div><div class="q1">hallowed be your name,</div><div class="q1">10 your kingdom come,</div><div class="q1">your will be done,</div><div class="q2">on earth as it is in heaven.</div><div class="q1">11 Give us today our daily bread.</div><div class="q1">12 And forgive us our debts,</div><div class="q2">as we also have forgiven our debtors.</div><div class="q1">13 And lead us not into temptation, #6:13 The Greek for temptation can also mean testing.</div><div class="q2">but deliver us from the evil one. #6:13 Or from evil ; some late manuscripts one, / for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. &#8217;</div><div class="m">14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.</div><div class="s1">Fasting</div><div class="p">16 &#8220;When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.</div><div class="s1">Treasures in Heaven</div><div class="p">19 &#8220;Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.</div><div class="p">22 &#8220;The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, #6:22 The Greek for healthy here implies generous. your whole body will be full of light. 23But if your eyes are unhealthy,#6:23 The Greek for unhealthy here implies stingy. your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!</div><div class="p">24 &#8220;No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.</div><div class="s1">Do Not Worry</div><div class="p">25 &#8220;Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life#6:27 Or single cubit to your height?</div><div class="p">28 &#8220;And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you&#8212;you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, &#8216;What shall we eat?&#8217; or &#8216;What shall we drink?&#8217; or &#8216;What shall we wear?&#8217; 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.</div>
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 <div class="label">7</div><div class="s1">Judging Others</div><div class="p">1 &#8220;Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.</div><div class="p">3 &#8220;Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother&#8217;s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother, &#8216;Let me take the speck out of your eye,&#8217; when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother&#8217;s eye.</div><div class="p">6 &#8220;Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.</div><div class="s1">Ask, Seek, Knock</div><div class="p">7 &#8220;Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.</div><div class="p">9 &#8220;Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.</div><div class="s1">The Narrow and Wide Gates</div><div class="p">13 &#8220;Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.</div><div class="s1">True and False Prophets</div><div class="p">15 &#8220;Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep&#8217;s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.</div><div class="s1">True and False Disciples</div><div class="p">21 &#8220;Not everyone who says to me, &#8216;Lord, Lord,&#8217; will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, &#8216;Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?&#8217; 23Then I will tell them plainly, &#8216;I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!&#8217;</div><div class="s1">The Wise and Foolish Builders</div><div class="p">24 &#8220;Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.&#8221;</div><div class="p">28When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.</div>
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 <div class="label">8</div><div class="s1">Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy</div><div class="p">1When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. 2A man with leprosy#8:2 The Greek word traditionally translated leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin. came and knelt before him and said, &#8220;Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.&#8221;</div><div class="p">3Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. &#8220;I am willing,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Be clean!&#8221; Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. 4Then Jesus said to him, &#8220;See that you don&#8217;t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">The Faith of the Centurion</div><div class="p">5When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6&#8220;Lord,&#8221; he said, &#8220;my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.&#8221;</div><div class="p">7Jesus said to him, &#8220;Shall I come and heal him?&#8221;</div><div class="p">8The centurion replied, &#8220;Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, &#8216;Go,&#8217; and he goes; and that one, &#8216;Come,&#8217; and he comes. I say to my servant, &#8216;Do this,&#8217; and he does it.&#8221;</div><div class="p">10When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, &#8220;Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.&#8221;</div><div class="p">13Then Jesus said to the centurion, &#8220;Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.&#8221; And his servant was healed at that moment.</div><div class="s1">Jesus Heals Many</div><div class="p">14When Jesus came into Peter&#8217;s house, he saw Peter&#8217;s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. 15He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.</div><div class="p">16When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. 17This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:</div><div class="q1">&#8220;He took up our infirmities</div><div class="q2">and bore our diseases.&#8221;#8:17 Isaiah 53:4 (see Septuagint)</div><div class="s1">The Cost of Following Jesus</div><div class="p">18When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. 19Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, &#8220;Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.&#8221;</div><div class="p">20Jesus replied, &#8220;Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.&#8221;</div><div class="p">21Another disciple said to him, &#8220;Lord, first let me go and bury my father.&#8221;</div><div class="p">22But Jesus told him, &#8220;Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">Jesus Calms the Storm</div><div class="p">23Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25The disciples went and woke him, saying, &#8220;Lord, save us! We&#8217;re going to drown!&#8221;</div><div class="p">26He replied, &#8220;You of little faith, why are you so afraid?&#8221; Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.</div><div class="p">27The men were amazed and asked, &#8220;What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!&#8221;</div><div class="s1">Jesus Restores Two Demon-Possessed Men</div><div class="p">28When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes,#8:28 Some manuscripts Gergesenes; other manuscripts Gerasenes two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 29&#8220;What do you want with us, Son of God?&#8221; they shouted. &#8220;Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?&#8221;</div><div class="p">30Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31The demons begged Jesus, &#8220;If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.&#8221;</div><div class="p">32He said to them, &#8220;Go!&#8221; So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. 33Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkMAT">
 <div class="chapter ch9" data-usfm="MAT.9">
 <div class="label">9</div><div class="s1">Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralyzed Man</div><div class="p">1Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 2Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, &#8220;Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.&#8221;</div><div class="p">3At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, &#8220;This fellow is blaspheming!&#8221;</div><div class="p">4Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, &#8220;Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? 5Which is easier: to say, &#8216;Your sins are forgiven,&#8217; or to say, &#8216;Get up and walk&#8217;? 6But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.&#8221; So he said to the paralyzed man, &#8220;Get up, take your mat and go home.&#8221; 7Then the man got up and went home. 8When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.</div><div class="s1">The Calling of Matthew</div><div class="p">9As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector&#8217;s booth. &#8220;Follow me,&#8221; he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.</div><div class="p">10While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew&#8217;s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, &#8220;Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?&#8221;</div><div class="p">12On hearing this, Jesus said, &#8220;It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13But go and learn what this means: &#8216;I desire mercy, not sacrifice.&#8217;#9:13 Hosea 6:6 For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">Jesus Questioned About Fasting</div><div class="p">14Then John&#8217;s disciples came and asked him, &#8220;How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?&#8221;</div><div class="p">15Jesus answered, &#8220;How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.</div><div class="p">16 &#8220;No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. 17Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman</div><div class="p">18While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, &#8220;My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.&#8221; 19Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples.</div><div class="p">20Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. 21She said to herself, &#8220;If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.&#8221;</div><div class="p">22Jesus turned and saw her. &#8220;Take heart, daughter,&#8221; he said, &#8220;your faith has healed you.&#8221; And the woman was healed at that moment.</div><div class="p">23When Jesus entered the synagogue leader&#8217;s house and saw the noisy crowd and people playing pipes, 24he said, &#8220;Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.&#8221; But they laughed at him. 25After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. 26News of this spread through all that region.</div><div class="s1">Jesus Heals the Blind and the Mute</div><div class="p">27As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, &#8220;Have mercy on us, Son of David!&#8221;</div><div class="p">28When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, &#8220;Do you believe that I am able to do this?&#8221;</div><div class="p">&#8220;Yes, Lord,&#8221; they replied.</div><div class="p">29Then he touched their eyes and said, &#8220;According to your faith let it be done to you&#8221;; 30and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, &#8220;See that no one knows about this.&#8221; 31But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.</div><div class="p">32While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. 33And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, &#8220;Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.&#8221;</div><div class="p">34But the Pharisees said, &#8220;It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">The Workers Are Few</div><div class="p">35Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then he said to his disciples, &#8220;The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.&#8221;</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkMAT">
 <div class="chapter ch10" data-usfm="MAT.10">
 <div class="label">10</div><div class="s1">Jesus Sends Out the Twelve</div><div class="p">1Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.</div><div class="p">2These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.</div><div class="p">5These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: &#8220;Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7As you go, proclaim this message: &#8216;The kingdom of heaven has come near.&#8217; 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,#10:8 The Greek word traditionally translated leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin. drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.</div><div class="p">9 &#8220;Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts&#8212; 10no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep. 11Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. 12As you enter the home, give it your greeting. 13If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. 15Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.</div><div class="p">16 &#8220;I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 17Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. 18On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.</div><div class="p">21 &#8220;Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 23When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.</div><div class="p">24 &#8220;The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!</div><div class="p">26 &#8220;So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 27What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. 28Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father&#8217;s care.#10:29 Or will; or knowledge 30And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31So don&#8217;t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.</div><div class="p">32 &#8220;Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.</div><div class="p">34 &#8220;Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35For I have come to turn</div><div class="q1">&#8220;&#8198;&#8216;a man against his father,</div><div class="q2">a daughter against her mother,</div><div class="q1">a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law&#8212;</div><div class="q2">36 a man&#8217;s enemies will be the members of his own household.&#8217; #10:36 Micah 7:6</div><div class="p">37 &#8220;Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.</div><div class="p">40 &#8220;Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet&#8217;s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person&#8217;s reward. 42And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.&#8221;</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkMAT">
 <div class="chapter ch11" data-usfm="MAT.11">
 <div class="label">11</div><div class="s1">Jesus and John the Baptist</div><div class="p">1After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.#11:1 Greek in their towns</div><div class="p">2When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3to ask him, &#8220;Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?&#8221;</div><div class="p">4Jesus replied, &#8220;Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy#11:5 The Greek word traditionally translated leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin. are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 6Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.&#8221;</div><div class="p">7As John&#8217;s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: &#8220;What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings&#8217; palaces. 9Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10This is the one about whom it is written:</div><div class="q1">&#8220;&#8198;&#8216;I will send my messenger ahead of you,</div><div class="q2">who will prepare your way before you.&#8217; #11:10 Mal. 3:1</div><div class="m">11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence,#11:12 Or been forcefully advancing and violent people have been raiding it. 13For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. 15Whoever has ears, let them hear.</div><div class="p">16 &#8220;To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:</div><div class="q1">17 &#8220;&#8198;&#8216;We played the pipe for you,</div><div class="q2">and you did not dance;</div><div class="q1">we sang a dirge,</div><div class="q2">and you did not mourn.&#8217;</div><div class="m">18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, &#8216;He has a demon.&#8217; 19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, &#8216;Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.&#8217; But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">Woe on Unrepentant Towns</div><div class="p">20Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. 21&#8220;Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.#11:23 That is, the realm of the dead For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">The Father Revealed in the Son</div><div class="p">25At that time Jesus said, &#8220;I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.</div><div class="p">27 &#8220;All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.</div><div class="p">28 &#8220;Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.&#8221;</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkMAT">
 <div class="chapter ch12" data-usfm="MAT.12">
 <div class="label">12</div><div class="s1">Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath</div><div class="p">1At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. 2When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, &#8220;Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.&#8221;</div><div class="p">3He answered, &#8220;Haven&#8217;t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread&#8212;which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. 5Or haven&#8217;t you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent? 6I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. 7If you had known what these words mean, &#8216;I desire mercy, not sacrifice,&#8217;#12:7 Hosea 6:6 you would not have condemned the innocent. 8For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.&#8221;</div><div class="p">9Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, 10and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus, they asked him, &#8220;Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?&#8221;</div><div class="p">11He said to them, &#8220;If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? 12How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.&#8221;</div><div class="p">13Then he said to the man, &#8220;Stretch out your hand.&#8221; So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. 14But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.</div><div class="s1">God&#8217;s Chosen Servant</div><div class="p">15Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill. 16He warned them not to tell others about him. 17This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:</div><div class="q1">18&#8220;Here is my servant whom I have chosen,</div><div class="q2">the one I love, in whom I delight;</div><div class="q1">I will put my Spirit on him,</div><div class="q2">and he will proclaim justice to the nations.</div><div class="q1">19He will not quarrel or cry out;</div><div class="q2">no one will hear his voice in the streets.</div><div class="q1">20A bruised reed he will not break,</div><div class="q2">and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out,</div><div class="q1">till he has brought justice through to victory.</div><div class="q2">21In his name the nations will put their hope.&#8221;#12:21 Isaiah 42:1-4</div><div class="s1">Jesus and Beelzebul</div><div class="p">22Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. 23All the people were astonished and said, &#8220;Could this be the Son of David?&#8221;</div><div class="p">24But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, &#8220;It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.&#8221;</div><div class="p">25Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, &#8220;Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. 26If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? 27And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 28But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.</div><div class="p">29 &#8220;Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man&#8217;s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.</div><div class="p">30 &#8220;Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.</div><div class="p">33 &#8220;Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 35A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">The Sign of Jonah</div><div class="p">38Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, &#8220;Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.&#8221;</div><div class="p">39He answered, &#8220;A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here. 42The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon&#8217;s wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here.</div><div class="p">43 &#8220;When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44Then it says, &#8216;I will return to the house I left.&#8217; When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">Jesus&#8217; Mother and Brothers</div><div class="p">46While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. 47Someone told him, &#8220;Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.&#8221;</div><div class="p">48He replied to him, &#8220;Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?&#8221; 49Pointing to his disciples, he said, &#8220;Here are my mother and my brothers. 50For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.&#8221;</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkMAT">
 <div class="chapter ch2" data-usfm="MAT.2">
 <div class="label">2</div><div class="s1">The Magi Visit the Messiah</div><div class="p">1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi#2:1 Traditionally wise men from the east came to Jerusalem 2and asked, &#8220;Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.&#8221;</div><div class="p">3When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4When he had called together all the people&#8217;s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5&#8220;In Bethlehem in Judea,&#8221; they replied, &#8220;for this is what the prophet has written:</div><div class="q1">6&#8220;&#8198;&#8216;But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,</div><div class="q2">are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;</div><div class="q1">for out of you will come a ruler</div><div class="q2">who will shepherd my people Israel.&#8217;#2:6 Micah 5:2,4&#8221;</div><div class="p">7Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8He sent them to Bethlehem and said, &#8220;Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.&#8221;</div><div class="p">9After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.</div><div class="s1">The Escape to Egypt</div><div class="p">13When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. &#8220;Get up,&#8221; he said, &#8220;take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.&#8221;</div><div class="p">14So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: &#8220;Out of Egypt I called my son.&#8221;#2:15 Hosea 11:1</div><div class="p">16When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:</div><div class="q1">18&#8220;A voice is heard in Ramah,</div><div class="q2">weeping and great mourning,</div><div class="q1">Rachel weeping for her children</div><div class="q2">and refusing to be comforted,</div><div class="q2">because they are no more.&#8221;#2:18 Jer. 31:15</div><div class="s1">The Return to Nazareth</div><div class="p">19After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20and said, &#8220;Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child&#8217;s life are dead.&#8221;</div><div class="p">21So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkMAT">
 <div class="chapter ch14" data-usfm="MAT.14">
 <div class="label">14</div><div class="s1">John the Baptist Beheaded</div><div class="p">1At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, 2and he said to his attendants, &#8220;This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.&#8221;</div><div class="p">3Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip&#8217;s wife, 4for John had been saying to him: &#8220;It is not lawful for you to have her.&#8221; 5Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered John a prophet.</div><div class="p">6On Herod&#8217;s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much 7that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 8Prompted by her mother, she said, &#8220;Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.&#8221; 9The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted 10and had John beheaded in the prison. 11His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. 12John&#8217;s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.</div><div class="s1">Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand</div><div class="p">13When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.</div><div class="p">15As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, &#8220;This is a remote place, and it&#8217;s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.&#8221;</div><div class="p">16Jesus replied, &#8220;They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.&#8221;</div><div class="p">17&#8220;We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,&#8221; they answered.</div><div class="p">18 &#8220;Bring them here to me,&#8221; he said. 19And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.</div><div class="s1">Jesus Walks on the Water</div><div class="p">22Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.</div><div class="p">25Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. &#8220;It&#8217;s a ghost,&#8221; they said, and cried out in fear.</div><div class="p">27But Jesus immediately said to them: &#8220;Take courage! It is I. Don&#8217;t be afraid.&#8221;</div><div class="p">28&#8220;Lord, if it&#8217;s you,&#8221; Peter replied, &#8220;tell me to come to you on the water.&#8221;</div><div class="p">29 &#8220;Come,&#8221; he said.</div><div class="p">Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, &#8220;Lord, save me!&#8221;</div><div class="p">31Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. &#8220;You of little faith,&#8221; he said, &#8220;why did you doubt?&#8221;</div><div class="p">32And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, &#8220;Truly you are the Son of God.&#8221;</div><div class="p">34When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. 35And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him 36and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
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 <div class="chapter ch15" data-usfm="MAT.15">
 <div class="label">15</div><div class="s1">That Which Defiles</div><div class="p">1Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, 2&#8220;Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don&#8217;t wash their hands before they eat!&#8221;</div><div class="p">3Jesus replied, &#8220;And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? 4For God said, &#8216;Honor your father and mother&#8217;#15:4 Exodus 20:12; Deut. 5:16 and &#8216;Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.&#8217;#15:4 Exodus 21:17; Lev. 20:9 5But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is &#8216;devoted to God,&#8217; 6they are not to &#8216;honor their father or mother&#8217; with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. 7You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:</div><div class="q1">8 &#8220;&#8198;&#8216;These people honor me with their lips,</div><div class="q2">but their hearts are far from me.</div><div class="q1">9 They worship me in vain;</div><div class="q2">their teachings are merely human rules.&#8217; #15:9 Isaiah 29:13 &#8221;</div><div class="p">10Jesus called the crowd to him and said, &#8220;Listen and understand. 11What goes into someone&#8217;s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.&#8221;</div><div class="p">12Then the disciples came to him and asked, &#8220;Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?&#8221;</div><div class="p">13He replied, &#8220;Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. 14Leave them; they are blind guides.#15:14 Some manuscripts blind guides of the blind If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.&#8221;</div><div class="p">15Peter said, &#8220;Explain the parable to us.&#8221;</div><div class="p">16 &#8220;Are you still so dull?&#8221; Jesus asked them. 17&#8220;Don&#8217;t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? 18But the things that come out of a person&#8217;s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. 19For out of the heart come evil thoughts&#8212;murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. 20These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">The Faith of a Canaanite Woman</div><div class="p">21Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, &#8220;Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.&#8221;</div><div class="p">23Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, &#8220;Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.&#8221;</div><div class="p">24He answered, &#8220;I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.&#8221;</div><div class="p">25The woman came and knelt before him. &#8220;Lord, help me!&#8221; she said.</div><div class="p">26He replied, &#8220;It is not right to take the children&#8217;s bread and toss it to the dogs.&#8221;</div><div class="p">27&#8220;Yes it is, Lord,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master&#8217;s table.&#8221;</div><div class="p">28Then Jesus said to her, &#8220;Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.&#8221; And her daughter was healed at that moment.</div><div class="s1">Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand</div><div class="p">29Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down. 30Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. 31The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.</div><div class="p">32Jesus called his disciples to him and said, &#8220;I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.&#8221;</div><div class="p">33His disciples answered, &#8220;Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?&#8221;</div><div class="p">34 &#8220;How many loaves do you have?&#8221; Jesus asked.</div><div class="p">&#8220;Seven,&#8221; they replied, &#8220;and a few small fish.&#8221;</div><div class="p">35He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. 36Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. 37They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 38The number of those who ate was four thousand men, besides women and children. 39After Jesus had sent the crowd away, he got into the boat and went to the vicinity of Magadan.</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
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 <div class="label">16</div><div class="s1">The Demand for a Sign</div><div class="p">1The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.</div><div class="p">2He replied, &#8220;When evening comes, you say, &#8216;It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,&#8217; 3and in the morning, &#8216;Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.&#8217; You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.#16:2,3 Some early manuscripts do not have When evening comes&#8230; of the times. 4A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.&#8221; Jesus then left them and went away.</div><div class="s1">The Yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees</div><div class="p">5When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. 6&#8220;Be careful,&#8221; Jesus said to them. &#8220;Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.&#8221;</div><div class="p">7They discussed this among themselves and said, &#8220;It is because we didn&#8217;t bring any bread.&#8221;</div><div class="p">8Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, &#8220;You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? 9Do you still not understand? Don&#8217;t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 10Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 11How is it you don&#8217;t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.&#8221; 12Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.</div><div class="s1">Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah</div><div class="p">13When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, &#8220;Who do people say the Son of Man is?&#8221;</div><div class="p">14They replied, &#8220;Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.&#8221;</div><div class="p">15 &#8220;But what about you?&#8221; he asked. &#8220;Who do you say I am?&#8221;</div><div class="p">16Simon Peter answered, &#8220;You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.&#8221;</div><div class="p">17Jesus replied, &#8220;Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18And I tell you that you are Peter,#16:18 The Greek word for Peter means rock. and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades#16:18 That is, the realm of the dead will not overcome it. 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be#16:19 Or will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be#16:19 Or will have been loosed in heaven.&#8221; 20Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.</div><div class="s1">Jesus Predicts His Death</div><div class="p">21From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.</div><div class="p">22Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. &#8220;Never, Lord!&#8221; he said. &#8220;This shall never happen to you!&#8221;</div><div class="p">23Jesus turned and said to Peter, &#8220;Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.&#8221;</div><div class="p">24Then Jesus said to his disciples, &#8220;Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25For whoever wants to save their life#16:25 The Greek word means either life or soul; also in verse 26. will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 27For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father&#8217;s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.</div><div class="p">28 &#8220;Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.&#8221;</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
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 <div class="chapter ch17" data-usfm="MAT.17">
 <div class="label">17</div><div class="s1">The Transfiguration</div><div class="p">1After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.</div><div class="p">4Peter said to Jesus, &#8220;Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters&#8212;one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.&#8221;</div><div class="p">5While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, &#8220;This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!&#8221;</div><div class="p">6When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7But Jesus came and touched them. &#8220;Get up,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Don&#8217;t be afraid.&#8221; 8When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.</div><div class="p">9As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, &#8220;Don&#8217;t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.&#8221;</div><div class="p">10The disciples asked him, &#8220;Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?&#8221;</div><div class="p">11Jesus replied, &#8220;To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. 12But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.&#8221; 13Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.</div><div class="s1">Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Boy</div><div class="p">14When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. 15&#8220;Lord, have mercy on my son,&#8221; he said. &#8220;He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.&#8221;</div><div class="p">17 &#8220;You unbelieving and perverse generation,&#8221; Jesus replied, &#8220;how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.&#8221; 18Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.</div><div class="p">19Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, &#8220;Why couldn&#8217;t we drive it out?&#8221;</div><div class="p">20He replied, &#8220;Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, &#8216;Move from here to there,&#8217; and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.&#8221; [21]#17:21 Some manuscripts include here words similar to Mark 9:29.</div><div class="s1">Jesus Predicts His Death a Second Time</div><div class="p">22When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, &#8220;The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. 23They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.&#8221; And the disciples were filled with grief.</div><div class="s1">The Temple Tax</div><div class="p">24After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, &#8220;Doesn&#8217;t your teacher pay the temple tax?&#8221;</div><div class="p">25&#8220;Yes, he does,&#8221; he replied.</div><div class="p">When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. &#8220;What do you think, Simon?&#8221; he asked. &#8220;From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes&#8212;from their own children or from others?&#8221;</div><div class="p">26&#8220;From others,&#8221; Peter answered.</div><div class="p">&#8220;Then the children are exempt,&#8221; Jesus said to him. 27&#8220;But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.&#8221;</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkMAT">
 <div class="chapter ch18" data-usfm="MAT.18">
 <div class="label">18</div><div class="s1">The Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven</div><div class="p">1At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, &#8220;Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?&#8221;</div><div class="p">2He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3And he said: &#8220;Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.</div><div class="s1">Causing to Stumble</div><div class="p">6 &#8220;If anyone causes one of these little ones&#8212;those who believe in me&#8212;to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come! 8If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. 9And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.</div><div class="s1">The Parable of the Wandering Sheep</div><div class="p">10 &#8220;See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. [11]#18:11 Some manuscripts include here the words of Luke 19:10.</div><div class="p">12 &#8220;What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.</div><div class="s1">Dealing With Sin in the Church</div><div class="p">15 &#8220;If your brother or sister #18:15 The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a fellow disciple, whether man or woman; also in verses 21 and 35. sins,#18:15 Some manuscripts sins against you go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that &#8216;every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.&#8217;#18:16 Deut. 19:15 17If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.</div><div class="p">18 &#8220;Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be #18:18 Or will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be#18:18 Or will have been loosed in heaven.</div><div class="p">19 &#8220;Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant</div><div class="p">21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, &#8220;Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?&#8221;</div><div class="p">22Jesus answered, &#8220;I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.#18:22 Or seventy times seven</div><div class="p">23 &#8220;Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold#18:24 Greek ten thousand talents; a talent was worth about 20 years of a day laborer&#8217;s wages. was brought to him. 25Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.</div><div class="p">26 &#8220;At this the servant fell on his knees before him. &#8216;Be patient with me,&#8217; he begged, &#8216;and I will pay back everything.&#8217; 27The servant&#8217;s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.</div><div class="p">28 &#8220;But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. #18:28 Greek a hundred denarii ; a denarius was the usual daily wage of a day laborer (see 20:2). He grabbed him and began to choke him. &#8216;Pay back what you owe me!&#8217; he demanded.</div><div class="p">29 &#8220;His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, &#8216;Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.&#8217;</div><div class="p">30 &#8220;But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.</div><div class="p">32 &#8220;Then the master called the servant in. &#8216;You wicked servant,&#8217; he said, &#8216;I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33Shouldn&#8217;t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?&#8217; 34In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.</div><div class="p">35 &#8220;This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.&#8221;</div>
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100 Days in the New Testament: The Athlete’s ChallengeSample

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