The Gospel of Matthew for Readers

by Unknown

Verily I say unto you, Among those born of woman there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist who would make himself least in the kingdom of heaven. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffered violence and the violent took it by force. All the prophets and the law prophesied of John. If ye will receive it, this is Elias, who was to come. He that has ears to hear, let him hear.

But how shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the markets and calling unto their fellows saying, We have piped to you and ye have not danced. We have mourned you and ye have not lamented. John came neither eating nor drinking and they say he had a devil. The Son of man came eating and drinking and they say he is a gluttonous man, a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom shall be justified of her children.

Then He began to upbraid the cities where most of His mighty works were done because they did not repent. Woe unto thee, Chorazin! Woe unto thee, Bethsaida! If the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say to you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment than for you. And Capernaum, exalted unto heaven, shall be brought down to hell. If the mighty works which have been done in Capernaum had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for thee.

Then Jesus prayed aloud: I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou has hid these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. It is so, Father, for it seemed good in thy sight.

All things are delivered to me by my Father. No man knows the Son but the Father. Neither knows any man the Father except the Son. He is revealed to whomever the Son will reveal Him.

Come to me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me. I am meek and lowly in heart. Ye shall find rest for your souls because my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

12 It was a sabbath day when Jesus and His disciples passed through a cornfield. His disciples were hungry and began to pluck ears of corn to eat. When the Pharisees saw it, they said to Jesus, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath day. But Jesus answered them, Have ye not read what David did when he was hungry? He and those who were with him entered into the house of God and ate the showbread. This was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those with him because the bread was only for the priests.

And, have ye not read in the law how on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath and are blameless? But I say unto you, Here is one greater than the temple. If ye knew what this meant, ye would not have condemned the guiltless because the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

When Jesus went into the synagogue He was met by a man who had a withered hand. So that they might accuse Jesus, the Pharisees asked Him, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day? Jesus replied, What man is there among you who has one sheep and, if it falls into a pit on the sabbath day, will not lay hold on it and lift it out? How much more is a man worth than a sheep? Therefore, it is lawful to do good on the sabbath day. Jesus turned to the man and said, Stretch forth thine hand. The man stretched it forth and it was restored, whole and like his other hand.

Then the Pharisees left and held a council about how they might destroy Jesus. But when Jesus knew this, He departed from there. Great multitudes followed Him and He healed them all. He charged them that they should not make Him known. This was done to fulfill what was spoken by Esaias the prophet: Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my spirit upon Him and He shall show judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear His voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall He not break, and smoking flax shall He not quench till He send forth judgment unto victory. And in His name the Gentiles shall trust.