Month: December 2019

Visitors from the East

1 Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea, during the time when Herod was king. Soon afterward, some men who studied the stars came from the East to Jerusalem

2 and asked, “Where is the baby born to be the king of the Jews? We saw his star when it came up in the east, and we have come to worship him.”

3 When King Herod heard about this, he was very upset, and so was everyone else in Jerusalem.

4 He called together all the chief priests and the teachers of the Law and asked them, “Where will the Messiah be born?”

5 “In the town of Bethlehem in Judea,” they answered. “For this is what the prophet wrote:

6 ‘Bethlehem in the land of Judah,

you are by no means the least of the leading cities of Judah;

for from you will come a leader

who will guide my people Israel.’”

7 So Herod called the visitors from the East to a secret meeting and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.

8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem with these instructions: “Go and make a careful search for the child; and when you find him, let me know, so that I too may go and worship him.”

9-10 And so they left, and on their way they saw the same star they had seen in the East. When they saw it, how happy they were, what joy was theirs! It went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.

11 They went into the house, and when they saw the child with his mother Mary, they knelt down and worshiped him. They brought out their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and presented them to him.

12 Then they returned to their country by another road, since God had warned them in a dream not to go back to Herod.

The Escape to Egypt

13 After they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph and said, “Herod will be looking for the child in order to kill him. So get up, take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you to leave.”

14 Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and left during the night for Egypt,

15 where he stayed until Herod died. This was done to make come true what the Lord had said through the prophet, “I called my Son out of Egypt.”

The Killing of the Children

16 When Herod realized that the visitors from the East had tricked him, he was furious. He gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its neighborhood who were two years old and younger—this was done in accordance with what he had learned from the visitors about the time when the star had appeared.

17 In this way what the prophet Jeremiah had said came true:

18 “A sound is heard in Ramah,

the sound of bitter weeping.

Rachel is crying for her children;

she refuses to be comforted,

for they are dead.”

The Return from Egypt

19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt

20 and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go back to the land of Israel, because those who tried to kill the child are dead.”

21 So Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went back to Israel.

22 But when Joseph heard that Archelaus had succeeded his father Herod as king of Judea, he was afraid to go there. He was given more instructions in a dream, so he went to the province of Galilee

23 and made his home in a town named Nazareth. And so what the prophets had said came true: “He will be called a Nazarene.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/MAT/2-c1a73422c5bfaf605e58acca236b51bb.mp3?version_id=68—

The Preaching of John the Baptist

1 At that time John the Baptist came to the desert of Judea and started preaching.

2 “Turn away from your sins,” he said, “because the Kingdom of heaven is near!”

3 John was the man the prophet Isaiah was talking about when he said,

“Someone is shouting in the desert,

‘Prepare a road for the Lord;

make a straight path for him to travel!’”

4 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair; he wore a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.

5 People came to him from Jerusalem, from the whole province of Judea, and from all over the country near the Jordan River.

6 They confessed their sins, and he baptized them in the Jordan.

7 When John saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to him to be baptized, he said to them, “You snakes—who told you that you could escape from the punishment God is about to send?

8 Do those things that will show that you have turned from your sins.

9 And don’t think you can escape punishment by saying that Abraham is your ancestor. I tell you that God can take these rocks and make descendants for Abraham!

10 The ax is ready to cut down the trees at the roots; every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown in the fire.

11 I baptize you with water to show that you have repented, but the one who will come after me will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. He is much greater than I am; and I am not good enough even to carry his sandals.

12 He has his winnowing shovel with him to thresh out all the grain. He will gather his wheat into his barn, but he will burn the chaff in a fire that never goes out.”

The Baptism of Jesus

13 At that time Jesus arrived from Galilee and came to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.

14 But John tried to make him change his mind. “I ought to be baptized by you,” John said, “and yet you have come to me!”

15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so for now. For in this way we shall do all that God requires.” So John agreed.

16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he came up out of the water. Then heaven was opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down like a dove and lighting on him.

17 Then a voice said from heaven, “This is my own dear Son, with whom I am pleased.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/MAT/3-f758198663bc3c73b462756d94df4a8b.mp3?version_id=68—

The Temptation of Jesus

1 Then the Spirit led Jesus into the desert to be tempted by the Devil.

2 After spending forty days and nights without food, Jesus was hungry.

3 Then the Devil came to him and said, “If you are God’s Son, order these stones to turn into bread.”

4 But Jesus answered, “The scripture says, ‘Human beings cannot live on bread alone, but need every word that God speaks.’”

5 Then the Devil took Jesus to Jerusalem, the Holy City, set him on the highest point of the Temple,

6 and said to him, “If you are God’s Son, throw yourself down, for the scripture says,

‘God will give orders to his angels about you;

they will hold you up with their hands,

so that not even your feet will be hurt on the stones.’”

7 Jesus answered, “But the scripture also says, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

8 Then the Devil took Jesus to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in all their greatness.

9 “All this I will give you,” the Devil said, “if you kneel down and worship me.”

10 Then Jesus answered, “Go away, Satan! The scripture says, ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve only him!’”

11 Then the Devil left Jesus; and angels came and helped him.

Jesus Begins His Work in Galilee

12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he went away to Galilee.

13 He did not stay in Nazareth, but went to live in Capernaum, a town by Lake Galilee, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali.

14 This was done to make come true what the prophet Isaiah had said,

15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,

on the road to the sea, on the other side of the Jordan,

Galilee, land of the Gentiles!

16 The people who live in darkness

will see a great light.

On those who live in the dark land of death

the light will shine.”

17 From that time Jesus began to preach his message: “Turn away from your sins, because the Kingdom of heaven is near!”

Jesus Calls Four Fishermen

18 As Jesus walked along the shore of Lake Galilee, he saw two brothers who were fishermen, Simon (called Peter) and his brother Andrew, catching fish in the lake with a net.

19 Jesus said to them, “Come with me, and I will teach you to catch people.”

20 At once they left their nets and went with him.

21 He went on and saw two other brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in their boat with their father Zebedee, getting their nets ready. Jesus called them,

22 and at once they left the boat and their father, and went with him.

Jesus Teaches, Preaches, and Heals

23 Jesus went all over Galilee, teaching in the synagogues, preaching the Good News about the Kingdom, and healing people who had all kinds of disease and sickness.

24 The news about him spread through the whole country of Syria, so that people brought to him all those who were sick, suffering from all kinds of diseases and disorders: people with demons, and epileptics, and paralyzed people—and Jesus healed them all.

25 Large crowds followed him from Galilee and the Ten Towns, from Jerusalem, Judea, and the land on the other side of the Jordan.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/MAT/4-00ea05b8ff292599fdaa2db734b91995.mp3?version_id=68—

The Sermon on the Mount

1 Jesus saw the crowds and went up a hill, where he sat down. His disciples gathered around him,

2 and he began to teach them:

True Happiness

3 “Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor;

the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them!

4 “Happy are those who mourn;

God will comfort them!

5 “Happy are those who are humble;

they will receive what God has promised!

6 “Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires;

God will satisfy them fully!

7 “Happy are those who are merciful to others;

God will be merciful to them!

8 “Happy are the pure in heart;

they will see God!

9 “Happy are those who work for peace;

God will call them his children!

10 “Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires;

the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them!

11 “Happy are you when people insult you and persecute you and tell all kinds of evil lies against you because you are my followers.

12 Be happy and glad, for a great reward is kept for you in heaven. This is how the prophets who lived before you were persecuted.

Salt and Light

13 “You are like salt for the whole human race. But if salt loses its saltiness, there is no way to make it salty again. It has become worthless, so it is thrown out and people trample on it.

14 “You are like light for the whole world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid.

15 No one lights a lamp and puts it under a bowl; instead it is put on the lampstand, where it gives light for everyone in the house.

16 In the same way your light must shine before people, so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.

Teaching about the Law

17 “Do not think that I have come to do away with the Law of Moses and the teachings of the prophets. I have not come to do away with them, but to make their teachings come true.

18 Remember that as long as heaven and earth last, not the least point nor the smallest detail of the Law will be done away with—not until the end of all things.

19 So then, whoever disobeys even the least important of the commandments and teaches others to do the same, will be least in the Kingdom of heaven. On the other hand, whoever obeys the Law and teaches others to do the same, will be great in the Kingdom of heaven.

20 I tell you, then, that you will be able to enter the Kingdom of heaven only if you are more faithful than the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees in doing what God requires.

Teaching about Anger

21 “You have heard that people were told in the past, ‘Do not commit murder; anyone who does will be brought to trial.’

22 But now I tell you: if you are angrywith your brother you will be brought to trial, if you call your brother ‘You good-for-nothing!’ you will be brought before the Council, and if you call your brother a worthless fool you will be in danger of going to the fire of hell.

23 So if you are about to offer your gift to God at the altar and there you remember that your brother has something against you,

24 leave your gift there in front of the altar, go at once and make peace with your brother, and then come back and offer your gift to God.

25 “If someone brings a lawsuit against you and takes you to court, settle the dispute while there is time, before you get to court. Once you are there, you will be turned over to the judge, who will hand you over to the police, and you will be put in jail.

26 There you will stay, I tell you, until you pay the last penny of your fine.

Teaching about Adultery

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’

28 But now I tell you: anyone who looks at a woman and wants to possess her is guilty of committing adultery with her in his heart.

29 So if your right eye causes you to sin, take it out and throw it away! It is much better for you to lose a 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 much better for you to lose one of your limbs than to have your whole body go off to hell.

Teaching about Divorce

31 “It was also said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a written notice of divorce.’

32 But now I tell you: if a man divorces his wife for any cause other than her unfaithfulness, then he is guilty of making her commit adultery if she marries again; and the man who marries her commits adultery also.

Teaching about Vows

33 “You have also heard that people were told in the past, ‘Do not break your promise, but do what you have vowed to the Lord to do.’

34 But now I tell you: do not use any vow when you make a promise. Do not swear by heaven, for it is God’s throne;

35 nor by earth, for it is the resting place for his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.

36 Do not even swear by your head, because you cannot make a single hair white or black.

37 Just say ‘Yes’ or ‘No’—anything else you say comes from the Evil One.

Teaching about Revenge

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’

39 But now I tell you: do not take revenge on someone who wrongs you. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, let him slap your left cheek too.

40 And if someone takes you to court to sue you for your shirt, let him have your coat as well.

41 And if one of the occupation troops forces you to carry his pack one mile, carry it two miles.

42 When someone asks you for something, give it to him; when someone wants to borrow something, lend it to him.

Love for Enemies

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your friends, hate your enemies.’

44 But now I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

45 so that you may become the children of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun to shine on bad and good people alike, and gives rain to those who do good and to those who do evil.

46 Why should God reward you if you love only the people who love you? Even the tax collectors do that!

47 And if you speak only to your friends, have you done anything out of the ordinary? Even the pagans do that!

48 You must be perfect—just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/MAT/5-a046236ff4067dce0aa3a67bb5ee03ea.mp3?version_id=68—

Teaching about Charity

1 “Make certain you do not perform your religious duties in public so that people will see what you do. If you do these things publicly, you will not have any reward from your Father in heaven.

2 “So when you give something to a needy person, do not make a big show of it, as the hypocrites do in the houses of worship and on the streets. They do it so that people will praise them. I assure you, they have already been paid in full.

3 But when you help a needy person, do it in such a way that even your closest friend will not know about it.

4 Then it will be a private matter. And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you.

Teaching about Prayer

5 “When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites! They love to stand up and pray in the houses of worship and on the street corners, so that everyone will see them. I assure you, they have already been paid in full.

6 But when you pray, go to your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you.

7 “When you pray, do not use a lot of meaningless words, as the pagans do, who think that their gods will hear them because their prayers are long.

8 Do not be like them. Your Father already knows what you need before you ask him.

9 This, then, is how you should pray:

‘Our Father in heaven:

May your holy name be honored;

10 may your Kingdom come;

may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us today the food we need.

12 Forgive us the wrongs we have done,

as we forgive the wrongs that others have done to us.

13 Do not bring us to hard testing,

but keep us safe from the Evil One.’

14 “If you forgive others the wrongs they have done to you, your Father in heaven will also forgive you.

15 But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive the wrongs you have done.

Teaching about Fasting

16 “And when you fast, do not put on a sad face as the hypocrites do. They neglect their appearance so that everyone will see that they are fasting. I assure you, they have already been paid in full.

17 When you go without food, wash your face and comb your hair,

18 so that others cannot know that you are fasting—only your Father, who is unseen, will know. And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you.

Riches in Heaven

19 “Do not store up riches for yourselves here on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and robbers break in and steal.

20 Instead, store up riches for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and robbers cannot break in and steal.

21 For your heart will always be where your riches are.

The Light of the Body

22 “The eyes are like a lamp for the body. If your eyes are sound, your whole body will be full of light;

23 but if your eyes are no good, your body will be in darkness. So if the light in you is darkness, how terribly dark it will be!

God and Possessions

24 “You cannot be a slave of two masters; you will hate one and love the other; you will be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

25 “This is why I tell you: do not be worried about the food and drink you need in order to stay alive, or about clothes for your body. After all, isn’t life worth more than food? And isn’t the body worth more than clothes?

26 Look at the birds: they do not plant seeds, gather a harvest and put it in barns; yet your Father in heaven takes care of them! Aren’t you worth much more than birds?

27 Can any of you live a bit longerby worrying about it?

28 “And why worry about clothes? Look how the wild flowers grow: they do not work or make clothes for themselves.

29 But I tell you that not even King Solomon with all his wealth had clothes as beautiful as one of these flowers.

30 It is God who clothes the wild grass—grass that is here today and gone tomorrow, burned up in the oven. Won’t he be all the more sure to clothe you? What little faith you have!

31 “So do not start worrying: ‘Where will my food come from? or my drink? or my clothes?’

32 (These are the things the pagans are always concerned about.) Your Father in heaven knows that you need all these things.

33 Instead, be concerned above everything else with the Kingdom of God and with what he requires of you, and he will provide you with all these other things.

34 So do not worry about tomorrow; it will have enough worries of its own. There is no need to add to the troubles each day brings.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/MAT/6-e0bad5e0a149e49aa7acebd2baa39662.mp3?version_id=68—

Judging Others

1 “Do not judge others, so that God will not judge you,

2 for God will judge you in the same way you judge others, and he will apply to you the same rules you apply to others.

3 Why, then, do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the log in your own eye?

4 How dare you say to your brother, ‘Please, let me take that speck out of your eye,’ when you have a log in your own eye?

5 You hypocrite! First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will be able to see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

6 “Do not give what is holy to dogs—they will only turn and attack you. Do not throw your pearls in front of pigs—they will only trample them underfoot.

Ask, Seek, Knock

7 “Ask, and you will receive; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.

8 For everyone who asks will receive, and anyone who seeks will find, and the door will be opened to those who knock.

9 Would any of you who are fathers give your son a stone when he asks for bread?

10 Or would you give him a snake when he asks for a fish?

11 As bad as you are, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then, will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

12 “Do for others what you want them to do for you: this is the meaning of the Law of Moses and of the teachings of the prophets.

The Narrow Gate

13 “Go in through the narrow gate, because the gate to hell is wide and the road that leads to it is easy, and there are many who travel it.

14 But the gate to life is narrow and the way that leads to it is hard, and there are few people who find it.

A Tree and Its Fruit

15 “Be on your guard against false prophets; they come to you looking like sheep on the outside, but on the inside they are really like wild wolves.

16 You will know them by what they do. Thorn bushes do not bear grapes, and briers do not bear figs.

17 A healthy tree bears good fruit, but a poor tree bears bad fruit.

18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a poor tree cannot bear good fruit.

19 And any tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown in the fire.

20 So then, you will know the false prophets by what they do.

I Never Knew You

21 “Not everyone who calls me ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only those who do what my Father in heaven wants them to do.

22 When the Judgment Day comes, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord! In your name we spoke God’s message, by your name we drove out many demons and performed many miracles!’

23 Then I will say to them, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you wicked people!’

The Two House Builders

24 “So then, anyone who hears these words of mine and obeys them is like a wise man who built his house on rock.

25 The rain poured down, the rivers flooded over, and the wind blew hard against that house. But it did not fall, because it was built on rock.

26 “But anyone who hears these words of mine and does not obey them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.

27 The rain poured down, the rivers flooded over, the wind blew hard against that house, and it fell. And what a terrible fall that was!”

The Authority of Jesus

28 When Jesus finished saying these things, the crowd was amazed at the way he taught.

29 He wasn’t like the teachers of the Law; instead, he taught with authority.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/MAT/7-ff97decac588fa2ac5959c7c669e662e.mp3?version_id=68—

Jesus Heals a Man

1 When Jesus came down from the hill, large crowds followed him.

2 Then a man suffering from a dreaded skin disease came to him, knelt down before him, and said, “Sir, if you want to, you can make me clean.”

3 Jesus reached out and touched him. “I do want to,” he answered. “Be clean!” At once the man was healed of his disease.

4 Then Jesus said to him, “Listen! Don’t tell anyone, but go straight to the priest and let him examine you; then in order to prove to everyone that you are cured, offer the sacrifice that Moses ordered.”

Jesus Heals a Roman Officer’s Servant

5 When Jesus entered Capernaum, a Roman officer met him and begged for help:

6 “Sir, my servant is sick in bed at home, unable to move and suffering terribly.”

7 “I will go and make him well,” Jesus said.

8 “Oh no, sir,” answered the officer. “I do not deserve to have you come into my house. Just give the order, and my servant will get well.

9 I, too, am a man under the authority of superior officers, and I have soldiers under me. I order this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; and I order that one, ‘Come!’ and he comes; and I order my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”

10 When Jesus heard this, he was surprised and said to the people following him, “I tell you, I have never found anyone in Israel with faith like this.

11 I assure you that many will come from the east and the west and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of heaven.

12 But those who should be in the Kingdom will be thrown out into the darkness, where they will cry and gnash their teeth.”

13 Then Jesus said to the officer, “Go home, and what you believe will be done for you.”

And the officer’s servant was healed that very moment.

Jesus Heals Many People

14 Jesus went to Peter’s home, and there he saw Peter’s mother-in-law sick in bed with a fever.

15 He touched her hand; the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.

16 When evening came, people brought to Jesus many who had demons in them. Jesus drove out the evil spirits with a word and healed all who were sick.

17 He did this to make come true what the prophet Isaiah had said, “He himself took our sickness and carried away our diseases.”

The Would-Be Followers of Jesus

18 When Jesus noticed the crowd around him, he ordered his disciples to go to the other side of the lake.

19 A teacher of the Law came to him. “Teacher,” he said, “I am ready to go with you wherever you go.”

20 Jesus answered him, “Foxes have holes, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lie down and rest.”

21 Another man, who was a disciple, said, “Sir, first let me go back and bury my father.”

22 “Follow me,” Jesus answered, “and let the dead bury their own dead.”

Jesus Calms a Storm

23 Jesus got into a boat, and his disciples went with him.

24 Suddenly a fierce storm hit the lake, and the boat was in danger of sinking. But Jesus was asleep.

25 The disciples went to him and woke him up. “Save us, Lord!” they said. “We are about to die!”

26 “Why are you so frightened?” Jesus answered. “What little faith you have!” Then he got up and ordered the winds and the waves to stop, and there was a great calm.

27 Everyone was amazed. “What kind of man is this?” they said. “Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

Jesus Heals Two Men with Demons

28 When Jesus came to the territory of Gadara on the other side of the lake, he was met by two men who came out of the burial caves there. These men had demons in them and were so fierce that no one dared travel on that road.

29 At once they screamed, “What do you want with us, you Son of God? Have you come to punish us before the right time?”

30 Not far away there was a large herd of pigs feeding.

31 So the demons begged Jesus, “If you are going to drive us out, send us into that herd of pigs.”

32 “Go,” Jesus told them; so they left and went off into the pigs. The whole herd rushed down the side of the cliff into the lake and was drowned.

33 The men who had been taking care of the pigs ran away and went into the town, where they told the whole story and what had happened to the men with the demons.

34 So everyone from the town went out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their territory.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/MAT/8-56eeac8357992b3a80612507af9c8067.mp3?version_id=68—

Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man

1 Jesus got into the boat and went back across the lake to his own town,

2 where some people brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a bed. When Jesus saw how much faith they had, he said to the paralyzed man, “Courage, my son! Your sins are forgiven.”

3 Then some teachers of the Law said to themselves, “This man is speaking blasphemy!”

4 Jesus perceived what they were thinking, and so he said, “Why are you thinking such evil things?

5 Is it easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?

6 I will prove to you, then, that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, pick up your bed, and go home!”

7 The man got up and went home.

8 When the people saw it, they were afraid, and praised God for giving such authority to people.

Jesus Calls Matthew

9 Jesus left that place, and as he walked along, he saw a tax collector, named Matthew, sitting in his office. He said to him, “Follow me.”

Matthew got up and followed him.

10 While Jesus was having a meal in Matthew’s house,many tax collectors and other outcasts came and joined Jesus and his disciples at the table.

11 Some Pharisees saw this and asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such people?”

12 Jesus heard them and answered, “People who are well do not need a doctor, but only those who are sick.

13 Go and find out what is meant by the scripture that says: ‘It is kindness that I want, not animal sacrifices.’ I have not come to call respectable people, but outcasts.”

The Question about Fasting

14 Then the followers of John the Baptist came to Jesus, asking, “Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don’t fast at all?”

15 Jesus answered, “Do you expect the guests at a wedding party to be sad as long as the bridegroom is with them? Of course not! But the day will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.

16 “No one patches up an old coat with a piece of new cloth, for the new patch will shrink and make an even bigger hole in the coat.

17 Nor does anyone pour new wine into used wineskins, for the skins will burst, the wine will pour out, and the skins will be ruined. Instead, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins, and both will keep in good condition.”

The Official’s Daughter and the Woman Who Touched Jesus’ Cloak

18 While Jesus was saying this, a Jewish official came to him, knelt down before him, and said, “My daughter has just died; but come and place your hands on her, and she will live.”

19 So Jesus got up and followed him, and his disciples went along with him.

20 A woman who had suffered from severe bleeding for twelve years came up behind Jesus and touched the edge of his cloak.

21 She said to herself, “If only I touch his cloak, I will get well.”

22 Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, “Courage, my daughter! Your faith has made you well.” At that very moment the woman became well.

23 Then Jesus went into the official’s house. When he saw the musicians for the funeral and the people all stirred up,

24 he said, “Get out, everybody! The little girl is not dead—she is only sleeping!” Then they all started making fun of him.

25 But as soon as the people had been put out, Jesus went into the girl’s room and took hold of her hand, and she got up.

26 The news about this spread all over that part of the country.

Jesus Heals Two Blind Men

27 Jesus left that place, and as he walked along, two blind men started following him. “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” they shouted.

28 When Jesus had gone indoors, the two blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I can heal you?”

“Yes, sir!” they answered.

29 Then Jesus touched their eyes and said, “Let it happen, then, just as you believe!”—

30 and their sight was restored. Jesus spoke sternly to them, “Don’t tell this to anyone!”

31 But they left and spread the news about Jesus all over that part of the country.

Jesus Heals a Man Who Could Not Speak

32 As the men were leaving, some people brought to Jesus a man who could not talk because he had a demon.

33 But as soon as the demon was driven out, the man started talking, and everyone was amazed. “We have never seen anything like this in Israel!” they exclaimed.

34 But the Pharisees said, “It is the chief of the demons who gives Jesus the power to drive out demons.”

Jesus Has Pity for the People

35 Jesus went around visiting all the towns and villages. He taught in the synagogues, preached the Good News about the Kingdom, and healed people with every kind of disease and sickness.

36 As he saw the crowds, his heart was filled with pity for them, because they were worried and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

37 So he said to his disciples, “The harvest is large, but there are few workers to gather it in.

38 Pray to the owner of the harvest that he will send out workers to gather in his harvest.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/MAT/9-6d6539ddbe487523f53ac9c46394882c.mp3?version_id=68—

The Twelve Apostles

1 Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and every sickness.

2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James and his brother John, the sons of Zebedee;

3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew, the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;

4 Simon the Patriot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus.

The Mission of the Twelve

5 These twelve men were sent out by Jesus with the following instructions: “Do not go to any Gentile territory or any Samaritan towns.

6 Instead, you are to go to the lost sheep of the people of Israel.

7 Go and preach, ‘The Kingdom of heaven is near!’

8 Heal the sick, bring the dead back to life, heal those who suffer from dreaded skin diseases, and drive out demons. You have received without paying, so give without being paid.

9 Do not carry any gold, silver, or copper money in your pockets;

10 do not carry a beggar’s bag for the trip or an extra shirt or shoes or a walking stick. Workers should be given what they need.

11 “When you come to a town or village, go in and look for someone who is willing to welcome you, and stay with him until you leave that place.

12 When you go into a house, say, ‘Peace be with you.’

13 If the people in that house welcome you, let your greeting of peace remain; but if they do not welcome you, then take back your greeting.

14 And if some home or town will not welcome you or listen to you, then leave that place and shake the dust off your feet.

15 I assure you that on the Judgment Day God will show more mercy to the people of Sodom and Gomorrah than to the people of that town!

Coming Persecutions

16 “Listen! I am sending you out just like sheep to a pack of wolves. You must be as cautious as snakes and as gentle as doves.

17 Watch out, for there will be those who will arrest you and take you to court, and they will whip you in the synagogues.

18 For my sake you will be brought to trial before rulers and kings, to tell the Good News to them and to the Gentiles.

19 When they bring you to trial, do not worry about what you are going to say or how you will say it; when the time comes, you will be given what you will say.

20 For the words you will speak will not be yours; they will come from the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

21 “People will hand over their own brothers to be put to death, and fathers will do the same to their children; children will turn against their parents and have them put to death.

22 Everyone will hate you because of me. But whoever holds out to the end will be saved.

23 When they persecute you in one town, run away to another one. I assure you that you will not finish your work in all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

24 “No pupil is greater than his teacher; no slave is greater than his master.

25 So a pupil should be satisfied to become like his teacher, and a slave like his master. If the head of the family is called Beelzebul, the members of the family will be called even worse names!

Whom to Fear

26 “So do not be afraid of people. Whatever is now covered up will be uncovered, and every secret will be made known.

27 What I am telling you in the dark you must repeat in broad daylight, and what you have heard in private you must announce from the housetops.

28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather be afraid of God, who can destroy both body and soul in hell.

29 For only a penny you can buy two sparrows, yet not one sparrow falls to the ground without your Father’s consent.

30 As for you, even the hairs of your head have all been counted.

31 So do not be afraid; you are worth much more than many sparrows!

Confessing and Rejecting Christ

32 “Those who declare publicly that they belong to me, I will do the same for them before my Father in heaven.

33 But those who reject me publicly, I will reject before my Father in heaven.

Not Peace, but a Sword

34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the world. No, I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

35 I came to set sons against their fathers, daughters against their mothers, daughters-in-law against their mothers-in-law;

36 your worst enemies will be the members of your own family.

37 “Those who love their father or mother more than me are not fit to be my disciples; those who love their son or daughter more than me are not fit to be my disciples.

38 Those who do not take up their cross and follow in my steps are not fit to be my disciples.

39 Those who try to gain their own life will lose it; but those who lose their life for my sake will gain it.

Rewards

40 “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.

41 Whoever welcomes God’s messenger because he is God’s messenger, will share in his reward. And whoever welcomes a good man because he is good, will share in his reward.

42 You can be sure that whoever gives even a drink of cold water to one of the least of these my followers because he is my follower, will certainly receive a reward.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/MAT/10-3f539d10a62738e1a0ebb5e90a4d35f7.mp3?version_id=68—

The Messengers from John the Baptist

1 When Jesus finished giving these instructions to his twelve disciples, he left that place and went off to teach and preach in the towns near there.

2 When John the Baptist heard in prison about the things that Christ was doing, he sent some of his disciples to him.

3 “Tell us,” they asked Jesus, “are you the one John said was going to come, or should we expect someone else?”

4 Jesus answered, “Go back and tell John what you are hearing and seeing:

5 the blind can see, the lame can walk, those who suffer from dreaded skin diseases are made clean,the deaf hear, the dead are brought back to life, and the Good News is preached to the poor.

6 How happy are those who have no doubts about me!”

7 While John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus spoke about him to the crowds: “When you went out to John in the desert, what did you expect to see? A blade of grass bending in the wind?

8 What did you go out to see? A man dressed up in fancy clothes? People who dress like that live in palaces!

9 Tell me, what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes indeed, but you saw much more than a prophet.

10 For John is the one of whom the scripture says: ‘God said, I will send my messenger ahead of you to open the way for you.’

11 I assure you that John the Baptist is greater than anyone who has ever lived. But the one who is least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than John.

12 From the time John preached his message until this very day the Kingdom of heaven has suffered violent attacks,and violent men try to seize it.

13 Until the time of John all the prophets and the Law of Moses spoke about the Kingdom;

14 and if you are willing to believe their message, John is Elijah, whose coming was predicted.

15 Listen, then, if you have ears!

16 “Now, to what can I compare the people of this day? They are like children sitting in the marketplace. One group shouts to the other,

17 ‘We played wedding music for you, but you wouldn’t dance! We sang funeral songs, but you wouldn’t cry!’

18 When John came, he fasted and drank no wine, and everyone said, ‘He has a demon in him!’

19 When the Son of Man came, he ate and drank, and everyone said, ‘Look at this man! He is a glutton and wine drinker, a friend of tax collectors and other outcasts!’ God’s wisdom, however, is shown to be true by its results.”

The Unbelieving Towns

20 The people in the towns where Jesus had performed most of his miracles did not turn from their sins, so he reproached those towns.

21 “How terrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How terrible for you too, Bethsaida! If the miracles which were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, the people there would have long ago put on sackcloth and sprinkled ashes on themselves, to show that they had turned from their sins!

22 I assure you that on the Judgment Day God will show more mercy to the people of Tyre and Sidon than to you!

23 And as for you, Capernaum! Did you want to lift yourself up to heaven? You will be thrown down to hell! If the miracles which were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would still be in existence today!

24 You can be sure that on the Judgment Day God will show more mercy to Sodom than to you!”

Come to Me and Rest

25 At that time Jesus said, “Father, Lord of heaven and earth! I thank you because you have shown to the unlearned what you have hidden from the wise and learned.

26 Yes, Father, this was how you were pleased to have it happen.

27 “My Father has given me all things. 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.

28 “Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke and put it on you, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit; and you will find rest.

30 For the yoke I will give you is easy, and the load I will put on you is light.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/MAT/11-311b1abdfc3c2cd48b4e7b1774097182.mp3?version_id=68—