Matthew 4

The Temptation of Jesus

1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wildernesst to be tempted by the devil.2 After he fasted forty days and forty nights he was famished.t3 The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread.”t4 But he answered,t “It is written, ‘Mantdoes not livetby bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”s5 Then the devil took him to the holy city,s had him standt on the highest points of the temple,6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you’s and ‘with their hands they will lift you up, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”s7 Jesus said to him, “Once again it is written: ‘You are not to put the Lord your God to the test.’”s8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their grandeur.t9 And he said to him, “I will give you all these things if you throw yourself to the ground and worshipt me.”10 Then Jesus said to him, “Go away,s Satan! For it is written: ‘You are to worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’”s

11 Then the devil left him, and angelst came and began ministering to his needs.

Preaching in Galilee

12 Now when Jesust heard that John had been imprisoned,t he went into Galilee.13 While in Galilee, he moved from Nazareths to make his home in Capernaumtss by the sea,ts in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,

14 so that what was spoken by Isaiah the prophet would be fulfilled:t

15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the way by the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles –

16 the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light,
and on those who sit in the region and shadow of death a light has dawned.”s

17 From that time Jesus began to preach this message:t “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

The Call of the Disciples

18 Ast he was walking by the Sea of Galilee he saw two brothers, Simon (called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea (for they were fishermen).t19 He said to them, “Follow me, and I will turn you into fishers of people.”ts20 Theyt left their nets immediately and followed him.s21 Going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in a boatt with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. Thent he called them.

22 Theyt immediately left the boat and their father and followed him.

Jesus’ Healing Ministry

23 Jesust went throughout all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues,s preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of disease and sickness among the people.24 So a report about him spread throughout Syria. Peoplet brought to him all who suffered with various illnesses and afflictions, those who had seizures,t paralytics, and those possessed by demons,t and he healed them.

25 And large crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis,ts Jerusalem,s Judea, and beyond the Jordan River.t

Matthew 5

The Beatitudes

1 Whent he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain.ts After he sat down his disciples came to him.

2 Thent he began to teacht them by saying:

3 “Blesseds are the poor in spirit,s for the kingdom of heaven belongss to them.

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.s

5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

6 “Blessed are those who hungers and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the childrent of God.

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
11 “Blessed are you when peoplet insult you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things about you falselys on account of me.

12 Rejoice and be glad because your reward is great in heaven, for they persecuted the prophets before you in the same way.

Salt and Light

13 “You are the salts of the earth. But if salt loses its flavor,s how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled on by people.14 You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden.15 Peoplet do not light a lamp and put it under a baskett but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.

16 In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven.

Fulfillment of the Law and Prophets

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have not come to abolish these things but to fulfill them.t18 It tell you the truth,t until heaven and earth pass away not the smallest letter or stroke of a letterts will pass from the law until everything takes place.19 So anyone who breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches otherst to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever obeys them and teaches others to do so will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness goes beyond that of the experts in the lawt and the Pharisees,s you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Anger and Murder

21 “You have heard that it was said to an older generation,t ‘Do not murder,’s and ‘whoever murders will be subjected to judgment.’22 But I say to you that anyone who is angry with a brothers will be subjected to judgment. And whoever insultst a brother will be brought beforet the council,t and whoever says ‘Fool’t will be sentt to fiery hell.ts23 So then, if you bring your gift to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother and then come and present your gift.25 Reach agreementt quickly with your accuser while on the way to court,t or het may hand you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the warden, and you will be thrown into prison.

26 I tell you the truth,t you will never get out of there until you have paid the last penny!ts

Adultery

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’s28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to desire her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away! It is better to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into hell.s

30 If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away! It is better to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into hell.

Divorce

31 “It was said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a legal document.’s

32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Oaths

33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to an older generation,t ‘Do not break an oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’s34 But I say to you, do not take oaths at all – not by heaven, because it is the throne of God,35 not by earth, because it is his footstool, and not by Jerusalem,s because it is the city of the great King.36 Do not take an oath by your head, because you are not able to make one hair white or black.

37 Let your word be ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no.’ More than this is from the evil one.t

Retaliation

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’s39 But I say to you, do not resist the evildoer.t But whoever strikes you on thes right cheek, turn the other to him as well.40 And if someone wants to sue you and to take your tunic,t give him your coat also.41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile,s go with him two.

42 Give to the one who asks you,s and do not rejectt the one who wants to borrow from you.

Love for Enemies

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’s and ‘hate your enemy.’44 But I say to you, love your enemy ands pray for those who persecute you,45 so that you may be liket your Father in heaven, since he causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectorss do the same, don’t they?47 And if you only greet your brothers, what more do you do? Even the Gentiles do the same, don’t they?

48 So then, be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.s

Matthew 6

Pure-hearted Giving

1 “Bes careful not to display your righteousness merely to be seen by people.t Otherwise you have no reward with your Father in heaven.2 Thus whenever you do charitable giving,t do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in synagoguess and on streets so that people will praise them. I tell you the truth,t they have their reward.3 But when you do your giving, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

4 so that your gift may be in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.s

Private Prayer

5 “Whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray while standing in synagoguess and on street corners so that people can see them. Truly I say to you, they have their reward.6 But whenever you pray, go into your room,s close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.ss7 Whent you pray, do not babble repetitiously like the Gentiles, because they think that by their many words they will be heard.8 Dot not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

9 So pray this way:s
Our Fathers in heaven, may your name be honored,t

10 may your kingdom come,s
may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us today our daily bread,t

12 and forgive us our debts, as we ourselvest have forgiven our debtors.

13 And do not lead us into temptation,ts but deliver us from the evil one.st
14 “For if you forgive otherst their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

15 But if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive you your sins.

Proper Fasting

16 “Whent you fast, do not look sullen like the hypocrites, for they make their faces unattractivet so that people will see them fasting. I tell you the truth,t they have their reward.17 Whent you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face,

18 so that it will not be obvious to others when you are fasting, but only to your Father who is in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.

Lasting Treasure

19 “Do not accumulate for yourselves treasures on earth, where motht and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.20 But accumulate for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.

21 For where yourt treasures is, there your heart will be also.
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If then your eye is healthy,t your whole body will be full of light.

23 But if your eye is diseased,ts your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hates the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despiset the other. You cannot serve God and money.ts

Do Not Worry

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worryt about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing?26 Look at the birds in the sky:t They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feedst them. Aren’t you more valuablet than they are?27 And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life?t28 Why do you worry about clothing? Think about how the flowerst of the field grow; they do not workt or spin.29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these!30 And if this is how God clothes the wild grass,t which is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven,ts won’t he clothe you even more,s you people of little faith?31 So then, don’t worry saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’32 For the unconvertedt pursue these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.33 But above all pursue his kingdomss and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

34 So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.t