Matthew 3

The Work of John the Baptist

1 About that time John the Baptist began preaching in the desert area of Judea.2 John said, “Change your hearts and lives because the kingdom of heaven is near.”

3 John the Baptist is the one Isaiah the prophet was talking about when he said:
“This is a voice of one
who calls out in the desert:
‘Prepare the way for the Lord.
Make the road straight for him.’ ”

4 
John’s clothes were made from camel’s hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food, he ate locusts and wild honey.5 Many people came from Jerusalem and Judea and all the area around the Jordan River to hear John.6 They confessed their sins, and he baptized them in the Jordan River.

7 
Many of the Pharisees and Sadducees came to the place where John was baptizing people. When John saw them, he said, “You are snakes! Who warned you to run away from God’s coming punishment?8 Do the things that show you really have changed your hearts and lives.9 And don’t think you can say to yourselves, ‘Abraham is our father.’ I tell you that God could make children for Abraham from these rocks.10 The ax is now ready to cut down the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.11 “I baptize you with water to show that your hearts and lives have changed. But there is one coming after me who is greater than I am, whose sandals I am not good enough to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.12 He will come ready to clean the grain, separating the good grain from the chaff. He will put the good part of the grain into his barn, but he will burn the chaff with a fire that cannot be put out.”

Jesus Is Baptized by John

13 At that time Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan River and wanted John to baptize him.14 But John tried to stop him, saying, “Why do you come to me to be baptized? I need to be baptized by you!”15 Jesus answered, “Let it be this way for now. We should do all things that are God’s will.” So John agreed to baptize Jesus.16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he came up out of the water. Then heaven opened, and he saw God’s Spirit coming down on him like a dove.17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love, and I am very pleased with him.”

Matthew 4

The Temptation of Jesus

1 Then the Spirit led Jesus into the desert to be tempted by the devil.2 Jesus fasted for forty days and nights. After this, he was very hungry.3 The devil came to Jesus to tempt him, saying, “If you are the Son of God, tell these rocks to become bread.”

4 
Jesus answered, “It is written in the Scriptures, ‘A person lives not on bread alone, but by everything God says.’ ”

5 
Then the devil led Jesus to the holy city of Jerusalem and put him on a high place of the Temple.

6 The devil said, “If you are the Son of God, jump down, because it is written in the Scriptures:
‘He has put his angels in charge of you.
They will catch you in their hands
so that you will not hit your foot on a rock.’ ”

7 
Jesus answered him, “It also says in the Scriptures, ‘Do not test the Lord your God.’ ”

8 
Then the devil led Jesus to the top of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and all their splendor.9 The devil said, “If you will bow down and worship me, I will give you all these things.”10 Jesus said to the devil, “Go away from me, Satan! It is written in the Scriptures, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’ ”11 So the devil left Jesus, and angels came and took care of him.

Jesus Begins Work in Galilee

12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he went back to Galilee.13 He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum, a town near Lake Galilee, in the area near Zebulun and Naphtali.14 Jesus did this to bring about what the prophet Isaiah had said:15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtalialong the sea,beyond the Jordan River.This is Galilee where the non-Jewish people live.16 These people who live in darknesswill see a great light.They live in a place covered with the shadows of death,but a light will shine on them.”

Jesus Chooses Some Followers

17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Change your hearts and lives, because the kingdom of heaven is near.”18 As Jesus was walking by Lake Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (called Peter) and his brother Andrew. They were throwing a net into the lake because they were fishermen.19 Jesus said, “Come follow me, and I will make you fish for people.”20 So Simon and Andrew immediately left their nets and followed him.

21 
As Jesus continued walking by Lake Galilee, he saw two other brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. Jesus told them to come with him.22 Immediately they left the boat and their father, and they followed Jesus.

Jesus Teaches and Heals People

23 

Jesus went everywhere in Galilee, teaching in the synagogues, preaching the Good News about the kingdom of heaven, and healing all the people’s diseases and sicknesses.24 The news about Jesus spread all over Syria, and people brought all the sick to him. They were suffering from different kinds of diseases. Some were in great pain, some had demons, some were epileptics, and some were paralyzed. Jesus healed all of them.25 Many people from Galilee, the Ten Towns, Jerusalem, Judea, and the land across the Jordan River followed him.

Matthew 5

Jesus Teaches the People

1 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a hill and sat down. His followers came to him,2 and he began to teach them, saying:

3 
“They are blessed who realize their spiritual poverty,
for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

4 
They are blessed who grieve,
for God will comfort them.

5 
They are blessed who are humble,
for the whole earth will be theirs.

6 
They are blessed who hunger and thirst after justice,
for they will be satisfied.

7 
They are blessed who show mercy to others,
for God will show mercy to them.

8 
They are blessed whose thoughts are pure,
for they will see God.

9 
They are blessed who work for peace,
for they will be called God’s children.10 They are blessed who are persecuted for doing good,for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.11 “People will insult you and hurt you. They will lie and say all kinds of evil things about you because you follow me. But when they do, you will be blessed.12 Rejoice and be glad, because you have a great reward waiting for you in heaven. People did the same evil things to the prophets who lived before you.

You Are Like Salt and Light

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its salty taste, it cannot be made salty again. It is good for nothing, except to be thrown out and walked on.14 “You are the light that gives light to the world. A city that is built on a hill cannot be hidden.15 And people don’t hide a light under a bowl. They put it on a lampstand so the light shines for all the people in the house.16 In the same way, you should be a light for other people. Live so that they will see the good things you do and will praise your Father in heaven.

The Importance of the Law

17 “Don’t think that I have come to destroy the law of Moses or the teaching of the prophets. I have not come to destroy them but to bring about what they said.18 I tell you the truth, nothing will disappear from the law until heaven and earth are gone. Not even the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will be lost until everything has happened.19 Whoever refuses to obey any command and teaches other people not to obey that command will be the least important in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys the commands and teaches other people to obey them will be great in the kingdom of heaven.20 I tell you that if you are no more obedient than the teachers of the law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus Teaches About Anger

21 

“You have heard that it was said to our people long ago, ‘You must not murder anyone. Anyone who murders another will be judged.’22 But I tell you, if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be judged. If you say bad things to a brother or sister, you will be judged by the council. And if you call someone a fool, you will be in danger of the fire of hell.

23 
“So when you offer your gift to God at the altar, and you remember that your brother or sister has something against you,24 leave your gift there at the altar. Go and make peace with that person, and then come and offer your gift.

25 
“If your enemy is taking you to court, become friends quickly, before you go to court. Otherwise, your enemy might turn you over to the judge, and the judge might give you to a guard to put you in jail.26 I tell you the truth, you will not leave there until you have paid everything you owe.

Jesus Teaches About Sexual Sin

27 

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You must not be guilty of adultery.’28 But I tell you that if anyone looks at a woman and wants to sin sexually with her, in his mind he has already done that sin with the woman.29 If your right eye causes you to sin, take it out and throw it away. It is better to lose one part of your body than to have your whole body thrown into hell.30 If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

Jesus Teaches About Divorce

31 

“It was also said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a written divorce paper.’32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife forces her to be guilty of adultery. The only reason for a man to divorce his wife is if she has sexual relations with another man. And anyone who marries that divorced woman is guilty of adultery.

Make Promises Carefully

33 

“You have heard that it was said to our people long ago, ‘Don’t break your promises, but keep the promises you make to the Lord.’34 But I tell you, never swear an oath. Don’t swear an oath using the name of heaven, because heaven is God’s throne.35 Don’t swear an oath using the name of the earth, because the earth belongs to God. Don’t swear an oath using the name of Jerusalem, because that is the city of the great King.36 Don’t even swear by your own head, because you cannot make one hair on your head become white or black.37 Say only yes if you mean yes, and no if you mean no. If you say more than yes or no, it is from the Evil One.

Don’t Fight Back

38 

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’39 But I tell you, don’t stand up against an evil person. If someone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other cheek also.40 If someone wants to sue you in court and take your shirt, let him have your coat also.41 If someone forces you to go with him one mile, go with him two miles.42 If a person asks you for something, give it to him. Don’t refuse to give to someone who wants to borrow from you.

Love All People

43 

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemies.’44 But I say to you, love your enemies. Pray for those who hurt you.45 If you do this, you will be true children of your Father in heaven. He causes the sun to rise on good people and on evil people, and he sends rain to those who do right and to those who do wrong.46 If you love only the people who love you, you will get no reward. Even the tax collectors do that.47 And if you are nice only to your friends, you are no better than other people. Even those who don’t know God are nice to their friends.48 So you must be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.