 CHAPTERS 1-4 OF THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATHEW CHAPTER 1. BOOK OF THE GENERATION OF JESUS CHRIST, SON OF DAVID, SON OF ABRAHAM Abraham begot Isaac, and Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers, and Judah begot Farez and Zahra of Tamar, and Farez begot Hesron, and Hesron begot Ram, begot Aminadab, and Aminadab begot Nashon, and Nashon begot Solomon, and Solomon begot Boaz of Rahab, and Boaz begot Obed of Ruth, and Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David, the king. And David begot Solomon of the life of Uraya, and Solomon begot Rehoboam, and Rehoboam begot Abijah, and Abijah begot Asa, and Asa begot Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat begot Joram, and Joram begot Uzayah, and Uzayah begot Jotham, and Jotham begot Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah, and Hezekiah begot Manasseh, and Manasseh begot Amin, and Amin begot Josiah, and Josiah begot Jekoniah and his brothers at the time of the removal to Babylon. And after the removal to Babylon, Jekoniah begot Salatheel, and Salatheel begot Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel begot Abayud, and Abayud begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor, and Azor begot Zadak, and Zadak begot Akim, and Akim begot Eliud, and Eliud begot Eliezer, and Eliezer begot Mathan, and Mathan begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. All the generations therefore from Abraham unto David are fourteen generations, and from David unto the removal to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the removal to Babylon unto the Christ fourteen generations. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was after this manner, his mother Mary having been betrothed to Joseph before they came together, she was found with child by the Holy Spirit. And Joseph, her husband, being just and not willing to expose her openly, desired to put her away privately. But while he thought on these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream saying, Joseph, son of David, fear not to take to thee Mary thy wife, for that which is begotten in her is of the Holy Spirit, and she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. And all this has come to pass, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emanuel, which is interpreted God with us. And Joseph, awake from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord bade him, and took to him his wife, and he knew her not till she brought forth a son, and he called his name Jesus. Chapter 2 And Jesus, having been born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the King, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born king of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and came to do him homage. And the king, Herod, hearing it, was troubled and all Jerusalem with him. And having assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ should be born. And they said to him, In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet, and thou Bethlehem land of Judah art by no means least among the princes of Judah, for out of thee shall come forth a governor who shall rule my people Israel. Then Herod, having secretly called the wise men, inquired of them exactly the time of the appearing of the star. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, Go and inquire strictly concerning the child, and when ye have found him bring me word again that I also may come and do him homage. And they, having heard the king departed, and lo the star which they saw in the east went before them till it came and stood over where the child was. And seeing the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And coming into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and fell down and did homage to him. And opening their treasures they presented to him gifts, gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed into their own country by another way. And when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream saying, Arise and take the child and his mother and flee into Egypt, and be there until I bring thee word, for Herod is about to seek the child to destroy him. And he arose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophets, saying, Out of Egypt I called my son. Then Herod, seeing that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly enraged, and he sent forth and slew all the male children that were in Bethlehem and in all its borders, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had exactly learned from the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet, saying, A voice was heard in Rama, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and would not be comforted, because they are not. But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appears in a dream to Joseph in Egypt saying, Arise and take the child and his mother and go into the land of Israel, for they are dead who sought the child's life. And he arose and took the child and his mother and came into the land of Israel. But hearing that Arkeleus reigned in Judea instead of Herod his father, he was afraid to go thither, and being warned by God in a dream, he retired into the region of Galilee. And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareff, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets. He shall be called a Nazarene. Chapter 3 In those days comes John the Immerser, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand! For this is he that was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord! Make straight his paths! And he, John, had his raiment of camel's hair and a leathern girdle about his loins, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan, and they were immersed by him in the Jordan confessing their sins. But seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his immersion, he said to them, Brute of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of repentance, and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for our Father. For I say to you that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham, and already the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that brings not forth good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire. I indeed immerse you in water unto repentance, but he that comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to bear. He will immerse you in the Holy Spirit and fire, whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor, and will gather his wheat into the garner, but the chaff he will burn up with fire unquenchable. Then Jesus comes from Galilee to the Jordan to John to be immersed by him. But John sought to hinder him, saying, I have need to be immersed by thee, and dost thou come to me? And Jesus answering said to him, Suffer it now, for thus it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him, and having been immersed, Jesus went up immediately from the water, and lo, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and coming upon him, and lo, a voice out of heaven saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased! Chapter 4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil, and having fasted forty days and forty nights he afterwards hungered, and coming to him the tempter said, If thou art the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread! But he answering said, It is written, Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Then the devil takes him into the holy city, and sets him on the pinnacle of the temple, and says to him, If thou art the Son of God, cast thyself down, for it is written, He will give his angels command concerning thee, and on their hands they will bear thee up, lest happily thou dash thy foot against a stone! Jesus said to him, Again it is written, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God! Again the devil takes him into an exceedingly high mountain, and shows him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them, and says to him, All these things I will give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me! Then Jesus says to him, Get thee hence Satan, for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve! Then the devil leaves him, and behold, angels came and ministered to him. And hearing that John was delivered up, he retired into Galilee, and leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the borders of Zebulun and Naftali, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, The land of Zebulun, and the land of Naftali, by the way of the sea beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people that sat in darkness saw great light, and to those sitting in the region and shadow of death, light sprang up. From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand! And walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, called Peter, and Andrew, his brother, casting Annette into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he says to them, Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they immediately leaving the nets, followed him, and going on from thence, he saw other two brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. And they, immediately leaving the ship and their father, followed him. And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every infirmity among the people. And his fame went forth into all Syria, and they brought to him all that were sick, taken with diverse diseases and torments, and possessed with demons, and lunatic, and palsied, and he healed them. And great multitudes followed him from Galilee, and Decapolis, and Jerusalem, and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan. The end of chapters one through four of the Gospel according to Matthew from the American Bible Union's New Testament. And seeing the multitudes, he went up into the mountain, and he having sat down, his disciples came to him, and he opened his mouth and taught them, saying, Happy the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Happy they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. Happy the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Happy they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. Happy the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Happy the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Happy the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Happy they who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Happy are ye when they shall revile and persecute you, and shall say all evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and exult, because great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets that were before you. Ye are the salt of the earth. But if the salt becomes tasteless, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot by men. Ye are the light of the world, a city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under the bushel, but on the lamp stand, and it shines to all that are in the house. Thus let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I came not to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say to you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall not pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever shall do and teach them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you, that except your righteousness shall exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees. Ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Ye heard that it was said to those of old, thou shalt not kill, and whoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment. But I say to you, that everyone who is angry with his brother without cause shall be in danger of the judgment, and whoever shall say to his brother, raka shall be in danger of the council, and whoever shall say, thou fool shall be in danger of hellfire. Therefore, if thou bringest thy gift to the altar, and there rememberst that thy brother has ought against thee, leave there thy gift before the altar, and go, first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Agree with thine adversary quickly, while thou art in the way with him, lest happily the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say to thee, thou shalt not come out thence till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. Ye heard that it was said, thou shalt not commit adultery, but I say to you, that everyone who looks on a woman too lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart, and if thy right eye causes thee to offend, pluck it out and cast it from thee, for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members perish, and not thy whole body be cast into hell, and if thy right hand causes thee to offend, cut it off and cast it from thee, for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members perish, and not thy whole body be cast into hell. And it was said, Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement. But I say to you, that whoever shall put away his wife, save for the cause of fornication, makes her commit adultery, and whoever shall marry her when put away commits adultery. Again ye heard that it was said to those of old, Thou shalt not swear falsely, that shalt perform to the Lord thine oaths. But I say to you, swear not at all, neither by heaven, for it is God's throne, nor by the earth, for it is his footstool, nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great king, nor shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your word be, yea, yea, nay, nay, for that which is more than these comes of evil. Ye heard that it was said, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, that ye resist not evil, but whoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law and take thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whoever shall compel thee to go one mile, go with him too. Give to him that asks of thee, and from him that would borrow of thee, turn not away. Ye heard that it was said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and shalt hate thine enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that ye may be sons of your father who is in heaven. For he causes his son to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. For if ye love those who love you, what reward have ye? Do not also the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye that excels? Do not also they heathen thus? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your father who is in heaven is perfect. CHAPTER VI Take heed that ye do not your righteousness before men, to be seen by them, otherwise ye have no reward with your father who is in heaven. Therefore, when thou doest alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets that they may have glory of men. Verily I say to you, they have in full their reward, but when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand does, that thine alms may be in secret, and thy father who sees in secret will himself reward thee. And when ye pray, ye shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets that they may be seen by men. Verily I say to you, they have in full their reward, but thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and having shut thy door, pray to thy father who is in secret, and thy father who sees in secret will reward thee. But when ye pray, ye shall not vain repetitions as the heathen do, for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like to them, for your father knows what things ye have need of before ye ask him, do ye therefore pray after this manner. Our father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done as in heaven, so also on the earth. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as also we forgave our debtors, and bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly father will also forgive you, but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your father forgive your trespasses. And when ye fast, be not as the hypocrites of a sad countenance, for they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men too fast. Verily I say to you, they have in full their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thy head, and wash thy face, that thou appear not to men too fast, but to thy father who is in secret, and thy father who sees in secret will reward thee. Lay not up for yourselves treasures on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body will be light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body will be dark. If therefore the light that is in thee is darkness, how great the darkness no man can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and Mammon. For this cause I say to you, take not thought for your life, what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink, nor for your body what ye shall put on, is not the life more than food and the body than raiment? Behold the birds of the air, that they sown not, nor reap, nor gather into barns, and your heavenly father feeds them. Are ye not much better than they? And which of you by taking thought can add one cubit to his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow, they toil not, nor spin, and I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. And if God so clothes the grass of the field, which to-day is and to-morrow is cast into the oven, will he not much more you, he of little faith? Take not thought therefore, saying, what shall we eat, or what shall we drink, or wherewith shall we be clothed? For after all these do the Gentiles seek, for your heavenly father knows that ye have need of all these. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these shall be added to you. Take not thought therefore for the morrow, for the morrow will take thought for itself. Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof. CHAPTER VII Judge not that ye be not judged, for with what judgment ye judge ye shall be judged, and with what measure ye meet it shall be measured to you. And why beholdest thou the moat that is in thy brother's eye, but perceive us not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me cast out the moat from thine eye, and behold, the beam is in thine own eye? Hippocrate! First cast out the beam out of thine own eye, and then thou wilt see clearly to cast out the moat out of thy brother's eye. Give not that which is holy to the dogs, nor cast your pearls before the swine, lest they trample them with their feet, and turn and rend you. Ask, and it shall be given you. Seek, and ye shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened to you. For everyone that asks receives, and he that seeks finds, and to him that knocks, it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, of whom if his son asked bread will he give him a stone? And if he asked a fish will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him? Therefore, all things whatever ye would that men should do to you, so also do ye to them. For this is the law and the prophets. Enter in through the straight gate, because wide is the gate, and broad the way that leads to destruction, and many are they who go in there at. Because straight is the gate, and narrow the way that leads to life, and few are they who find it. Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them from their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? So every good tree brings forth good fruit, but the corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, nor a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire. So then from their fruits ye shall know them. Not everyone that says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that does the will of my father who is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in thy name, and in thy name cast out demons, and in thy name do many miracles? And then will I profess to them, I never knew you. Depart from me, ye who work iniquity. Everyone therefore who hears these sayings of mine and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock, and the rain descended and the streams came and the winds blew and fell upon that house, and it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these sayings of mine and does them not shall be likened to a foolish man who built his house on the sand, and the rain descended and the streams came and the winds blew and beat upon that house, and it fell and great was the fall of it. And it came to pass when Jesus ended these sayings that the multitudes were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as having authority and not as the scribes. The end of chapters five through seven of the Gospel according to Matthew from the American Bible Union's New Testament. Chapter eight through eleven of the Gospel according to Matthew from the American Bible Union's New Testament. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Chapter eight through eleven of the Gospel according to Matthew. Chapter eight. When he had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him, and, behold, there came a leper and bowed down to him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst cleanse me. And stretching forth his hand, he touched him, saying, I will, be thou cleansed. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed, and Jesus says to him, See thou tell no one, but go, show thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded for a testimony to them. And as he entered into Capernaum, there came to him a centurion, beseeching him and saying, Lord, my servant lies at home, palsied, grievously tormented. And Jesus says to him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldst come under my roof, but only say in a word, and my servant will be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me, and I say to this one, go, and he goes, and to another, come, and he comes, and to my servant, do this, and he does it. And Jesus, hearing it, marveled, and said to those who followed, Verily I say to you, I found not so great faith, even in Israel, and I say to you that many will come from the east and west, and will recline at table with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness, there will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. And Jesus said to the centurion, Go thy way, and as thou didst believe, be it done to thee, and his servant was healed in that hour. And Jesus, coming into the house of Peter, saw his mother-in-law lying, and sick with fever, and he touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she arose and ministered to him. When evening was come, they brought to him many that were possessed with demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all that were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses. And Jesus, seeing great multitudes about him, commanded to depart to the other side, and a certain scribe came and said to him, Teacher, I will follow thee wither so ever thou goest. And Jesus says to him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air nests, but the son of man has not where he may lay his head. And another of his disciples said to him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. But Jesus said to him, Follow me and let the dead bury their own dead. And when he had entered into the ship, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea so that the ship was covered by the waves. But he was sleeping. And the disciples came and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us, we perish. And he says to them, Why are ye fearful, ye of little faith? Then rising he rebuked the winds in the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, What manner of man is this that even the winds in the sea obey him? And when he had come to the other side, into the country of the Gadarenes, there met him to possessed with demons coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce so that no one was able to pass by that way. And behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, son of God? Came as thou hither to torment us before the time? And there was a far off from them a herd of many swine feeding. And the demons besought him saying, If thou cast us out, send us away into the herd of swine. And he said to them, Go! And they, coming out, went away into the swine. And behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep into the sea and perished in the waters. And the herdsmen fled and went away into the city and told everything and what had befallen the possessed with demons. And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and seeing him, they besought that he would depart from their borders. Chapter 9 And entering into the ship he passed over and came to his own city. And behold, they brought to him one that was palsied, lying on a bed. And Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the palsied man, Child, be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven. And behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man, blasphemes! And Jesus knowing their thoughts, said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts, for which is easier to say, Thy sins are forgiven, or to say, Arise and walk. But that ye may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins. Then says he to the palsied man, Arise, take up thy bed and go to thy house. And rising up, he departed to his house. And seeing it, the multitudes feared and glorified God, who gave such power to men. And Jesus, passing on from vents, saw a man named Matthew sitting at the place of receiving custom. And he says to him, Follow me. And he rose up and followed him. And it came to pass that as he reclined at table in the house. Behold, many publicans and sinners came and reclined at table with Jesus and his disciples. And the Pharisees, seeing it, said to his disciples, Why does your teacher eat with the publicans and the sinners? And Jesus hearing it said, They who are well need not a physician, but they who are sick, but go and learn what this means. I desire mercy and not sacrifice, for I came not to call righteous men, but sinners. Then come to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said to them, Can the sons of the bride chamber mourn so long as the bridegroom is with them? But days will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and then they will fast. And no one puts a piece of unfold cloth on an old garment, for that which fills it up takes from the garment, and a worse rent is made. Nor do they put new wine into old skins, else the skins burst, and the wine runs out and the skins are destroyed. But they put new wine into new skins, and both are preserved together. While he was speaking these things to them, behold, there came a ruler and bowed down to him, saying, My daughter just now died. But come and lay thy hand upon her, and she will live! And Jesus arose and was following him, he and his disciples. And behold, a woman having a flow of blood twelve years came behind, and touched the fringe of his garment. For she said within herself, If I only touch his garment, I shall be made whole. And Jesus, turning and seeing her, said, Daughter, be of good cheer, thy faith has made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour. And Jesus, coming into the house of the ruler, and seeing the minstrels and the crowd making a noise, said, Give place, for the maiden is not dead, but is sleeping. And they laughed him to scorn. But when the crowd was put forth, he went in and took hold of her hand. And the maiden arose, and this report went abroad into all that land. And as Jesus passed on from thence, two blind men followed him, crying and saying, Have mercy on us, son of David! And when he had come into the house, the blind men came to him. And Jesus says to them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They say to him, Yay, Lord! Then he touched their eyes, saying, According to your faith, be it done to you. And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly charged them, saying, Take heed, let no one know it. But they, going out, spread abroad his fame in all that country. And as they were going out, behold, they brought to him a man dumb, possessed with a demon, and the demon being cast out, the dumb spoke, and the multitudes marveled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel. But the Pharisees said, He casts out the demons through the Prince of the demons. And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every infirmity. And seeing the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and scattered as sheep having no shepherd. Then he says to his disciples, The harvest indeed is great, but the laborers are few, pray therefore the Lord of the harvest that he will send forth laborers into his harvest. Chapter 10 And calling to him his twelve disciples, he gave them authority over unclean spirits, so as to cast them out, and to heal every sickness and every infirmity. And the names of the twelve apostles are these. First Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the Publican, James the son of Alpheus, and Libius, surnamed Thaddeus, Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. These twelve Jesus sent forth and charged them, saying, Go not into the way to the Gentiles, and into a city of Samaritans, enter not, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and as ye go preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons, freely ye received, freely give. Provide not gold nor silver nor brass in your girdles, nor bag for the journey, nor two coats, nor sandals, nor staff, for the laborer is worthy of his living. And into whatever city or village ye shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and there abide till ye go thence. But when ye come into the house, salute it, and if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you, and whoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words when ye go out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Verily I say to you it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city. Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves, be therefore wise as serpents, and simple as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and will scourge you in their synagogues, and before governors also and kings will ye be brought for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take not thought how or what ye shall speak, for it shall be given you in that hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the spirit of your father that speaks in you, and the brother will deliver up the brother to death and the father the child, and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death, and ye will be hated by all for my name's sake. But he that has endured to the end, the same shall be saved. But when they persecute you in this city, flee into the other, for verily I say to you, ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel till the son of man come. A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his teacher, and the servant as his lord. If they called the master of the house, Beelzebul, how much more those of his household. Fear them not therefore, for there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed, and hid that shall not be known. What I say to you in the darkness, that speak ye in the light, and what ye hear in the ear, that proclaim upon the housetops, and be not afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul, but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell, are not too sparrows sold for a penny, and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. Everyone therefore, who shall acknowledge me before men, him will I also acknowledge before my father who is in heaven. But whoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my father who is in heaven. Think not that I came to send peace on the earth, cry came not to send peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man at variance with his father, and a daughter with her mother, and a bride with her mother-in-law, and a man's foes will be they of his household. He that loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and he that loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me, and he that does not take his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. He that finds his life shall lose it, and he that loses his life for my sake shall find it. He that receives you receives me, and he that receives me receives him who sent me. He that receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward, and he that receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward, and whoever shall give to drink a cup of cold water only to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple, verily I say to you, he shall not lose his reward. Chapter 11 And it came to pass when Jesus made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, that he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities, and John, having heard in the prison the works of the Christ, sent by his disciples and said to him, Are thou he that comes, or look we for another? And Jesus answering said to them, Go and report to John what ye hear and see, the blind receive sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and to the poor good tidings are published, and happy is he, whoever shall not be offended at me. And as these were departing, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John, What went he out into the wilderness to behold? A reed shaken by the wind? But what went he out to see a man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they who wear soft clothing are in King's houses. But what went he out to see? A prophet? Yea, I say to you, and more than a prophet, for this is he of whom it is written, Behold, I send forth my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee. Verily, I say to you, among those born of women, there has not risen a greater than John the Immerser. But he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he, and from the days of John the Immerser until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent seas upon it. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John, and if ye are willing to receive it, he is the Elijah that should come, he that has ears to hear, let him hear. But to what shall I like in this generation? It is like two children sitting in the markets who call to their fellows and say, We piped to you, and ye danced not, we sang the lament, and ye did not beat the breast. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He has a demon. The son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold, a glutton and a wine drinker, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom was justified on the part of her children. Then began he to abrade the cities wherein most of his miracles were done, because they repented not. Woe to thee, Corazine! Woe to thee, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that 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 will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. And thou, Copernium, that was exalted to heaven, shalt go down to the underworld. For if the miracles that were done in thee had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for thee. At that time Jesus answered and said, I think thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou didst hide these things from the wise and discerning and reveal them to babes. Yay, O Father, that so it seemed good in thy sight. All things were delivered to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son but the Father, nor does anyone know the Father but the Son, and he to whom the Son is pleased to reveal him. Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light. The end of chapters 8 through 11 of the Gospel according to Matthew from the American Bible Union's New Testament. Recording by Mark Penfold. CHAPTERS 12 THROUGH 15 OF THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATHEW FROM THE AMERICAN BIBLE UNION'S NEW TESTIMENT. THIS IS A LIBRAVOX RECORDING. ALL LIBRAVOX RECORDINGS ARE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN. FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO VOLUNTEER, PLEASE VISIT LIBRAVOX.ORG. RECORDING BY MARK PENFOLD. CHAPTERS 12 THROUGH 15 OF THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATHEW. CHAPTER 12. At that time Jesus went on the Sabbath through the grain fields, and his disciples were hungry and began to pluck ears of corn and to eat, and the Pharisees seeing it said to him, Behold, thy disciples are doing that which it is not lawful to do on the Sabbath. And he said to them, Have ye not read what David did when he hungered, himself and those with him, how he entered into the house of God and ate the showbread, which it was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those with him, but for the priests alone? Or have ye not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are blameless? But I say to you that a greater than the temple is here, but if ye had known what this means, I desire mercy and not sacrifice. Ye would not have condemned the blameless, for the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath. And departing from thence he went into their synagogue, and behold there was a man having his hand withered, and they asked him, Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, that they might accuse him? And he said to them, What man will there be of you that shall have one sheep, and if this fall into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and raise it up? How much better then is a man than a sheep, so that it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath? Then he says to the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he stretched it forth, and it was restored whole as the other. And the Pharisees went out and took counsel against him how they might destroy him, but Jesus, knowing it, withdrew from thence, and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all. And he charged them that they should not make him known, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the Prophet, saying, Behold my servant whom I chose, my beloved in whom my soul is well pleased, I will put my spirit upon him, and he will declare judgment to the Gentiles. He will not strive nor cry, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and smoking flax he will not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory, and in his name will Gentiles hope. Man was brought to him one possessed with a demon, blind and dumb, and he healed him so that the blind and dumb both spoke and saw, and all the multitudes were amazed and said, Is this the son of David? But the Pharisees hearing it said, This man does not cast out the demons except through Beelzebul, prince of the demons, and Jesus knowing their thoughts said to them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and any city or house divided against itself shall not stand. And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself, how then shall his kingdom stand? And if I through Beelzebul cast out the demons, through whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. But if I through the spirit of God cast out the demons, then is the kingdom of God come near to you? Or how can anyone enter into a strong man's house and seize upon his goods, except he first bind the strong man, and then he will plunder his house? He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathers not with me scatters abroad. Therefore I say to you every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven to men, but the blasphemy against the spirit will not be forgiven, and whoever speaks a word against the son of man it will be forgiven him. But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit it will not be forgiven him, neither in this world nor in that which is to come. Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree corrupt and its fruit corrupt, for from the tree the fruit is known. Brute of vipers! How can ye being evil speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man out of the good treasure sends forth good things, and the evil man out of the evil treasure sends forth evil things. But I say to you that every idle word that men shall speak they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For from thy words thou shalt be justified, and from thy words thou shalt be condemned. Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered him, saying, Teacher, we desire to see a sign from thee! But he answering said to them, An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the fish, so shall the son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Men of Nineveh will rise in the judgment with this generation and will condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, a greater than Jonah is here. A queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and will condemn it, for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, a greater than Solomon is here. But when the unclean spirit has gone out from the man, he goes through dry places seeking rest and finds it not. Then he says, I will return into my house from whence I came out, and coming he finds it empty, swept, and set in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there, and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. So shall it be also with this wicked generation. While he was yet speaking to the multitudes, behold, his mother and his brothers were standing without seeking to speak to him, and one said to him, Behold, thy mother and thy brothers are standing without seeking to speak to thee. But he answering said to him that told him, Who is my mother, and who are my brothers? And stretching forth his hand toward his disciples, he said, Behold, my mother and my brothers, for whoever shall do the will of my father who is in heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother. CHAPTER XIII And on that day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the seaside, and great multitudes were gathered together to him, so that he went into the ship and sat down, and all the multitudes stood on the beach, and he spoke many things to them in parables, saying, Behold, the sower went forth to sow, and as he sowed some fell by the wayside, and the birds came and devoured them, and others fell on the rocky places where they had not much earth, and forthwith they sprang up because they had not depth of earth, and when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had not root they withered away, and others fell upon the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them, and others fell on the good ground, and yielded fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He that has ears to hear, let him hear, and the disciples came and said to him, Why dost thou speak to them in parables? And he answering said to them, To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given, for whoever has, to him shall be given, and he shall have abundance, but whoever has not, even what he has shall be taken from him. Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, nor understand, and in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah which says, With the hearing ye will hear and will not understand, and seeing ye will see and will not perceive, for the heart of this people is become gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest happily they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I shall heal them. But happy are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. For verily I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what ye are beholding, and did not see, and to hear what ye are hearing, and did not hear. Hear therefore the parable of the sower. When any one hears the word of the kingdom, and understands not, then comes the evil one, and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is that which was sown by the wayside. And that sown on the rocky places, this is he that hears the word, and immediately with joy receives it, and has not root in himself, but is only for a time. And when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he is offended. And that sown among the thorns, this is he that hears the word, and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. And that sown on the good ground, this is he that hears the word, and understands, who bears fruit, and produces some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Another parable he put forth to them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened to a man that sowed good seed in his field. But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed darnel among the wheat, and went away, and when the blades sprang up and produced fruit, then appeared the darnel also, and the servants of the householder came and said to him, Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? From whence then has it darnel? He said to them, An enemy did this. The servants said to him, Will thou then that we go and gather them up? He said, Nay, lest while ye gather up the darnel, ye root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and in time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather up first the darnel, and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn. Another parable he put forth to them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard which a man took and sowed in his field, which is the least indeed of all seeds, but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree so that the birds of the air come and lodge in its branches. Another parable he spoke to them. The kingdom of heaven is like to leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till the whole was leavened. All these things Jesus spoke to the multitudes and parables, and without a parable he spoke nothing to them, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world. Then having sent away the multitudes he went into the house, and his disciples came to him saying, Explain to us the parable of the darnel of the field, and answering he said to them, He that sows the good seed is the son of man, the field is the world. The good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom, but the darnel are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy that sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the world, and the reapers are angels. As therefore the darnel are gathered up and are burned with fire, so shall it be in the end of the world. The son of man will send forth his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all the causes of offence, and those who do iniquity, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be the wailing and the gnashing of teeth. Then will the righteous shine forth as the son in the kingdom of their father. He that has ears to hear, let him hear. Again the kingdom of heaven is like to a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and concealed, and for joy thereof he goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field. Again the kingdom of heaven is like to a merchant seeking goodly pearls, and having found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. Again the kingdom of heaven is like to a net cast into the sea and gathering together of every kind, which when it was filled they drew up upon the beach and sat down and gathered the good into vessels but cast the bad away. So will it be in the end of the world. The angels will go forth and will separate the wicked from among the just, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be the wailing and the gnashing of teeth. Did ye understand all these things? They say to him, Ye Lord! and he said to them, Therefore every scribe instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like to a householder who brings forth out of his treasure new and old, and it came to pass when Jesus finished these parables, that he departed thence, and coming into his own country he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, Wenz has this man this wisdom and the miracles. Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary, and his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And his sisters? Are they not all with us? Wenz then has this man all these things? And they were offended at him. But Jesus said to them, A prophet is not without honor save in his own country and in his own house, and he did not many miracles there because of their unbelief. CHAPTER XIV At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the fame of Jesus, and he said to his servants, This is John the Immerser. He is risen from the dead, and therefore do these powers work in him! For Herod laid hold of John and bound him and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, the wife of Philip his brother, for John said to him, It is not lawful for thee to have her! And though desiring to put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they held him as a prophet, but when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod, whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatever she should ask, and she, being urged on by her mother, says, Give me here on a platter the head of John the Immerser! The king was sorry, but for the sake of the oath and of those who reclined at table with him he commanded it to be given, and he sent and beheaded John in the prison, and his head was brought on a platter and was given to the damsel and she brought it to her mother, and his disciples came and took up the body and buried it, and they went and reported it to Jesus. And when Jesus heard it he withdrew from thence by ship into a desert place apart, and the multitudes hearing of it followed him on foot from the cities, and going forth he saw a great multitude and had compassion on them, and he healed their sick. And when it was evening his disciples came to him saying, The place is desert, and the time is already passed away, dismiss the multitudes that they may go away into the villages and by themselves victuals. But Jesus said to them, They need not go away, give ye them to eat. And they say to him, We have here but five loaves and two fishes. He said, Bring them hither to me. And he commanded that the multitudes should lie down on the grass and took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven he blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples and the disciples to the multitudes. And they all ate and were filled, and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full, and they who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children. And straightway he constrained his disciples to enter into the ship and to go before him to the other side while he dismissed the multitudes. And having dismissed the multitudes he went up into the mountain apart to pray, and when evening was come he was there alone, but the ship was already in the midst of the sea, vexed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night he went to them, walking on the sea. And the disciples, seeing him walking on the sea, were troubled, saying, It is a specter! And they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spoke to them, saying, Be of good cheer, it is I, be not afraid. And Peter answering him said, Lord, if it is thou, bid me come to thee on the water. And he said, Come! And coming down from the ship Peter walked on the water to go to Jesus. But seeing the wind, boisterous, he was afraid and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, Lord, save me! And immediately Jesus, stretching forth his hand, took hold of him and said to him, Thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they had entered into the ship the wind ceased, and those in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth, thou art the Son of God! And passing over they came into the land of Gennesaret, and the men of that place, knowing him, sent out into all that country round, and brought to him all that were diseased, and besought him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment, and as many as touched were made whole. Then there come to Jesus the scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders, for they wash not their hands when they eat bread? And he answering said to them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God commanded, saying, Honor thy father and mother, and he that curses father or mother, let him surely die. But ye say, whoever says to his father or his mother, It is a gift, whatever thou mightest be profited with from me, shall not honor his father or his mother. And he made the word of God of no effect for the sake of your tradition. Hippocrates! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you saying, This people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me, but in vain they worship me, teaching as doctrines commandments of men. And calling to him the multitude, he said to them, Hear and understand, not that which enters into the mouth defiles the man, but that which comes out of the mouth, this defiles the man. Then came to him his disciples and said to him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees when they heard the saying were offended? And he answering said, Every plant which my heavenly father planted not shall be rooted up. Let them alone, they are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into the ditch. And Peter answering said to him, Explain to us this parable. And he said, Are ye also even yet without understanding? Do ye not yet understand that whatever enters into the mouth goes into the belly and is cast out into the drain? But the things that proceed out of the mouth come forth out of the heart, and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witnessings, blasphemies. These are the things that defile the man. But to eat with unwashed hands defiles not the man. And Jesus going forth from thence withdrew into the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan coming out from those borders cried to him saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, son of David, my daughter is grievously possessed with a demon. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him saying, dismiss her because she cries after us. But he answering said, I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. But she came and bowed down to him saying, Lord, help me. But he answering said, it is not good to take the children's bread and cast it to the dogs. And she said, Yay, Lord, for the dogs also eat of the crumbs that fall from their master's table. Then Jesus answering said to her, Oh, woman, great is thy faith, be it done to thee as thou wilt. And her daughter was healed from that hour. And departing from thence, Jesus came near to the Sea of Galilee and going up into the mountain he sat down there. And great multitudes came to him having with them lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and laid them down at his feet. And he healed them so that the multitudes wondered when they saw the dumb speaking, the maimed whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel. And Jesus having called to him his disciples said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I will not dismiss them fasting, lest they faint in the way. And his disciples say to him, Whence should we have so many loaves in the wilderness as to fill so great a multitude? And Jesus says to them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven and a few little fishes. And he commanded the multitudes to lie down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and broke, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they all ate, and were filled, and they took up of the fragments that remained, seven baskets full. And they who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children. And dismissing the multitudes, he entered into the ship, and came into the borders of Magdala. The end of chapters 12 through 15 of the Gospel According to Matthew from the American Bible Union's New Testament. Recording by Mark Penfold. Chapters 16 through 20 of the Gospel According to Matthew from the American Bible Union's New Testament. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Mark Penfold. Chapters 16 through 20 of the Gospel According to Matthew. Chapter 16. And the Pharisees and Sadducees came to him, and tempting desired him to show them a sign from heaven. And he answering said to them, When it is evening ye say, Fair weather, for the sky is red, and in the morning a storm today, for the sky is red and lowering, ye know how to discern the face of the sky, but can ye not the signs of the times? An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it but the sign of Jonah. And he left them and departed. And coming to the other side, his disciples forgot to take bread, and Jesus said to them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. And they reasoned among themselves saying, Because we took no bread. And Jesus knowing it said, Ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves because ye took no bread? Do ye not yet understand nor remember the five loads of the 5000 and how many baskets ye took up, nor the seven loaves of the 4000 and how many baskets ye took up? How is it that ye do not understand that I spoke not to ye of bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Then they understood that he did not bid them beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. And having come into the region of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked his disciples saying, Who do men say that the Son of Man is? And they said, Some John the Immerser, and others Elijah, and others Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. He says to them, But who do ye say that I am? And Simon Peter answering said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answering said to him, Happy art thou, Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood did not reveal it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven. And I also say to thee that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the underworld shall not prevail against it, and I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever thou shalt lose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Then he charged his disciples that they should tell no one that he is the Christ. From that time Jesus began to show to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be put to death and rise on the third day. And Peter taking him aside began to rebuke him saying, Be it far from thee, Lord, this shall not be to thee. But he turned and said to Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan, thou art an offense to me, for thou thinkest not the things of God, but those of men. Then Jesus said to his disciples, If anyone will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever will save his life shall lose it, and whoever may lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? Or what shall a man give as an exchange for his soul? For the Son of man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will reward each one according to his works. Fairly, I say to you, there are some of those standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom. Chapter 17 And after six days Jesus takes with him Peter and James and John his brother, and brings them up into a high mountain apart. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shown as the Son, and his garments became white as the light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah talking with him, and Peter answering said to Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here. If thou wilt, let us make here three tents, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah. While he was yet speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud saying, This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Hear ye him! And the disciples, hearing it, fell on their face and were exceedingly afraid. And Jesus coming to them touched them and said, Arise and be not afraid! And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one save Jesus only. And as they came down out of the mountain, Jesus charged them saying, Tell no one the vision until the Son of man is risen from the dead. And his disciples asked him saying, Why then say the scribes that Elijah must come first? And he answering said, Elijah indeed comes and will restore all things. But I say to you that Elijah is already come, and they knew him not, but did with him whatever they would. So also is the Son of man about to suffer by them. Then the disciples understood that he spoke to them of John the Immerser. And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a man kneeling down to him and saying, Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is lunatic and is sorely afflicted. For oft times he falls into the fire and often to the water, and I brought him to thy disciples and they could not cure him. And Jesus answering said, Oh, faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him hither to me. And Jesus rebuked him and the demon went out from him, and the child was cured from that hour. Then the disciples coming to Jesus apart said, Why, why could we not cast him out? And he said to them, Because of your want of faith, for verily I say to you, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard, ye shall say to this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place, and it shall remove, and nothing shall be impossible to you. But this kind goes not forth except by prayer and fasting. And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said to them, The Son of man is about to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will put him to death, and he will rise on the third day. And they were exceedingly sorrowful. And they, having come to Capernaum, those who received the half-shekel came to Peter and said, Does not your teacher pay the half-shekel? He says, Yes. And when he came into the house, Jesus anticipated him saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? Of whom do the kings of the earth take customs or tribute? Of their sons? Or of strangers? He says to him, Of strangers? Jesus said to him, Then are the sons free, but that we may not offend them. Go to the sea and cast a hook, and take the fish that first comes up, and opening its mouth thou wilt find a shekel that take and give to them for me and thee. CHAPTER XVIII. At that time came the disciples to Jesus, saying, Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus, calling a little child to him, placed it in the midst of them and said, Verily I say to you, If ye do not turn and become as the little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, and whoever shall receive one such little child in my name receives me. But whoever shall cause one of these little ones that believe on me to offend, it were better for him that an upper millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were plunged in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world for causes of offence! For it must needs be that causes of offence come. But woe to that man through whom the cause of offence comes! But if thy hand or thy foot causes thee to offend, cut it off and cast it from thee. It is better for thee to enter into life lame or maimed than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the everlasting fire. And if thine eye causes thee to offend, pluck it out and cast it from thee. It is better for thee to enter into life with one eye than having two eyes to be cast into hellfire. Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always behold the face of my father who is in heaven, for the son of man came to save that which was lost. What think ye? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them is gone astray, does he not leave the ninety and nine upon the mountains, and go and seek that which is gone astray? And if it be that he find it, verily I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety and nine that went not astray. So it is not the will of your father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish. But if thy brother shall sin against thee, go show him his fault between thee and him alone. If he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he hear not, take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it to the church. And if he neglect to hear the church also, let him be to thee as a heathen and a publican. Verily I say to you, whatever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, that if two of you shall agree on earth concerning anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them by my father who is in heaven, for where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Then Peter came to him and said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him, until seven times? Jesus says to him, I say not to thee until seven times, but until seventy times seven. Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened to a certain king who desired to make a reckoning with his servants, and when he had begun to reckon there was brought to him one who owed ten thousand talents. But as he was not able to pay, his Lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore, falling, prostrated himself before him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all! And the Lord of that servant, moved with compassion, released him and forgave him the debt. But that servant went out and found one of his fellow-servants who owed him a hundred denaries, and laying hold of him he took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou o'est! Therefore his fellow-servant fell down and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee! And he would not, but went and cast him into prison till he should pay the debt. And his fellow-servants, seeing what was done, were very sorry, and came at disclose to their Lord all that was done. Then having called him, his Lord says to him, Thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou besoughtest me. Should us not thou also have had pity on thy fellow-servant, as I too had pity on thee? And his Lord was angry and delivered him to the tormentors till he should pay all that was due to him. So also will my heavenly Father, due to you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother. CHAPTER 19 And it came to pass when Jesus finished these sayings that he departed from Galilee and came into the borders of Judea beyond the Jordan, and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them there. And the Pharisees came to him, tempting him and saying, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answering said to them, Have ye not read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female? And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh, so that they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God joined together, let not man put us under. They say to him, Why then did Moses command to give a writing of divorcement and to put her away? He says to them, Moses, for your hardness of heart, suffered you to put away your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you that whoever shall put away his wife, except for fornication, and shall marry another commits adultery, and whoever marries her when put away commits adultery, his disciples say to him, If the cause of the man with a woman is so, it is not good to marry. But he said to them, Not all can receive this saying, but they to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs who were so born from the mother's womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it. Then were brought to him little children, that he might put his hands on them and pray, and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, Suffer the little children and forbid them not to come to me, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven. And he laid his hands on them and departed thence. And behold, one came to him and said, Teacher, what good shall I do that I may have eternal life? And he said to him, Why dost thou ask me concerning good? One is the good. But if thou desirest to enter into life, keep the commandments. He says to him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness. Honor thy father and thy mother, and thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. The young man says to him, All these I kept. What do I yet lack? Jesus said to him, If thou desirest to be perfect, go, sell what thou hast and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come, follow me. But when the young man heard this saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. And Jesus said to his disciples, Verily I say to you that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven, and again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And the disciples, hearing it, were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus, looking on them, said to them, With men this is impossible. But with God all things are possible. Then Peter answering said to him, Behold, we forsook all and follow thee. What then shall we have? And Jesus said to them, Verily I say to you that ye who followed me in the renovation, when the son of man shall sit on his throne of glory, shall also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel, and every one who forsook houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive manifold more, and shall inherit everlasting life. But many first will be last, and last first. CHAPTER XX For the kingdom of heaven is like to a householder who went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard, and having agreed with the laborers for a denariah day, he sent them into his vineyard, and he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and to them he said, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you, and they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise, and about the eleventh he went out and found others standing, and says to them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say to him, Because no one hired us. He says to them, Go ye also into the vineyard. And when evening was come the Lord of the vineyard says to his steward, Call the laborers, and pay them the hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And they of the eleventh hour came and received every man a denariah. But when the first came they supposed that they should receive more, and they also received each one a denariah, and on receiving it they murmured against the householder saying, These last labored one hour, and thou madeest them equal to us, who bore the burden of the day and the burning heat. But he answering said to one of them, Friend, I do thee know wrong, dis thou not agree with me for a denari? Take what is thine and go, but I will give to this last even as to thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with my own? Is thine I evil, because I am good? So will the last be first, and the first last, for many are called, but few are chosen. And Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples apart, and in the way he said to them, Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and will deliver him to the Gentiles to mock and scourge and crucify, and on the third day he will rise again. Then came to him the mother of the sons of Zebedee with her sons, bowing down and asking a certain thing of him, and he said to her, Not wilt thou? She says to him, Command that these my two sons shall sit, one on thy right hand and one on thy left in thy kingdom. But Jesus answering said, Ye know not what he ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of? They say to him, We are able, and he says to them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, but to sit on my right hand and on my left is not mine to give, but is for them for whom it has been prepared by my father. And the ten hearing it were much displeased with the two brothers, but Jesus, having called them to him, said, Ye know that the rulers of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and they that are great exercise authority over them. Not so shall it be among you, but whoever would become great among you, let him be your minister, and whoever would be first among you, let him be your servant. Even as the son of man came not to be ministered too, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. And as they were going forth from Jericho a great multitude followed him, and behold, two blind men sitting by the wayside, hearing that Jesus was passing by, cried, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, son of David! And the multitude rebuked them that they should hold their peace, but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, son of David! And Jesus stood still and called them and said, What will ye that I shall do to you? They say to him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened! And Jesus, moved with compassion, touched their eyes, and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him. The end of chapters sixteen through twenty of the Gospel according to Matthew from the American Bible Union's New Testament, recording by Mark Penfold. Chapters twenty-one through twenty-four of the Gospel according to Matthew from the American Bible Union's New Testament. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain, recording by Mark Penfold. Chapters twenty-one through twenty-four of the Gospel according to Matthew. Chapter twenty-one. And when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage at the Mount of the Olives, Jesus sent forth two disciples saying to them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye will find an astide, and a colt with her, loose and bring them to me. And if any one say ought to you, ye shall say, The Lord has need of them, and straightway he will send them. Now all this has been done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the Prophet, saying, Say to the daughter of Zion, Behold thy king comes to thee, meek and mounted upon an ass, and upon a colt the full of a beast of burden. And the disciples, having gone and done as Jesus commanded them, brought the ass and the colt, and put on them their garments, and he sat thereon. And most of the multitude spread their own garments in the way, and others cut down branches from the trees, and strewed in the way. And the multitudes that went before and that followed cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest! And as he entered into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? And the multitude said, This is Jesus the Prophet, from Nazareth of Galilee. And Jesus entered into the temple of God, and cast out all that sold and bought in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers, and the seats of those who sold doves. And he says to them, It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer, but ye make it a den of robbers. And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. But the chief priests and the scribes, seeing the wonders that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the son of David, were much displeased, and said to him, Dost thou hear what these say? And Jesus says to them, Ye, did ye never read from the mouth of babes and sucklings thou prepare its praise? And leaving them, he went forth out of the city into Bethany, and lodged there. And in the morning, as he was returning into the city, he hungered, and seeing a fig tree, by the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon but leaves only. And he says to it, Let there be no fruit from the tree, henceforward, for ever. And immediately the fig tree withered away. And the disciples, seeing it, wondered, saying, How did the fig tree immediately wither away? And Jesus answering said to them, Verily I say to you, If ye have faith and do not doubt, not only shall ye do what is done to the fig tree, but even if ye say to this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea, it shall be done. And all things whatever ye ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. And when he had come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? And who gave thee this authority? And Jesus answering said to them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I too will tell you by what authority I do these things? John's immersion, whence was it, from heaven or from men? And they reasoned among themselves, saying, If we say from heaven, he will say to us, Why then did ye not believe him? But if we say from men, we fear the multitude, for all hold John as a prophet. And they answered Jesus, saying, We do not know. And he said to them, Neither do I say to you by what authority I do these things? But what think ye? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, Son, go work today in the vineyard. And he answering said, I will not. But afterward he repented and went. And he came to the other and said likewise. And he answering said, I will, sir. And went not. Which of the two did the father's will? They say to the first. Jesus says to them, Verily I say to you that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and ye did not believe him. But the publicans and the harlots believed him. And ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward that ye might believe him. Here another parable. There was a householder who planted a vineyard and put a hedge around it and dug a wine-press in it and built a tower and let it out to husband men and went abroad. And when the season of fruits drew near, he sent his servants to the husband men to receive his fruits, and the husband men taking his servants beat one and killed another and stoned another. Again he sent other servants more than the first, and they did to them likewise. And afterward he sent to them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. But the husband men, seeing the son, said among themselves, This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance. And taking him they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. When, therefore, the Lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those husband men? They say to him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out the vineyard to other husband men who will deliver over to him the fruits in their seasons. Jesus says to them, Did ye never read in the scriptures the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is become the head of the corner? This is from the Lord and is wonderful in our eyes. Therefore I say to you that the kingdom of God shall be taken from you and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof, and he that falls upon this stone will be broken, but on whomsoever it shall fall it will grind him to powder. And the chief priests and Pharisees, hearing his parables, knew that he spoke of them, and they sought to lay hold of him, but feared the multitudes since they held him as a prophet. Chapter 22 And Jesus answering spoke to them again in parables, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a certain king who made a marriage for his son, and he sent forth his servants to call those who were bidden to the wedding, and they would not come. Again he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell those who are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen, and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready, come to the marriage. But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his merchandise, and the rest laid hold of his servants and ill-treated and slew them. And the king, hearing it, was angry and sending forth his armies, he destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then he says to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they who were bidden were not worthy. Go, therefore, into the thoroughfares, and as many as ye find bid to the marriage. And those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found both bad and good, and the wedding was furnished with guests. And the king, coming in to view the guests, saw there a man not clothed with a wedding garment, and he says to him, Friend, how came it thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, Bind him hand and foot, and cast him forth into the outer darkness. There will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen. Then the Pharisees went into council how they might ensnare him with a word, and they sent out to him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Teacher, we know that thou art true and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any one, for thou regardest not the person of men. Tell us, therefore, what thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar or not? But Jesus, knowing their wickedness, said, Why tempt ye me, hypocrites? Show me the tribute money. And they brought to him a denary, and he says to them, Whose is this image and the inscription? They say to him, Caesar's! Then says he to them, Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And hearing it, they wondered, and left him, and went away. On that day came to him Sadducees, who say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, saying, Teacher, Moses said, If any one die having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up seed to his brother. Now there were with us seven brothers, and the first married and died, and having no seed left his wife to his brother. Likewise the second also, and the third unto the seventh, and last of all the woman died also. In the resurrection therefore, of which of the seven shall she be wife? For they all had her. Jesus answering said to them, Ye heir, not knowing the scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken to you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living, and the multitudes, hearing it, were astonished at his teaching, and the Pharisees, hearing that he had put the Sadducees to silence, collected together, and one of them a lawyer, asked, tempting him and saying, Teacher, what commandment is great in the law? Jesus said to him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the great and first commandment, and the second is like to it. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. While the Pharisees were collected together, Jesus asked them, saying, What think ye concerning the Christ? Of whom is he the Son? They say to him, Of David, he says to them, How then does David in the Spirit call him Lord, saying, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit on my right hand till I put thine enemies under thy feet. If then David calls him Lord, how is he his Son? And no one was able to answer him a word, nor durst any one from that day question him any more. Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples, saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit down in Moses seat, all therefore whatever they bid you do and observe, but do not according to their works, for they say, and do not, for they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be born and lay them on men's shoulders, but will not move them with their finger. But all their works they do to be seen by men, they make broad their phylacteries and enlarge the fringes, and love the first place at feast, and the first seats in the synagogues, and the greetings in the markets, and to be called by men, Rabbi Rabbi, but be not ye called Rabbi, for one is your teacher, and all ye are brethren, and call not any your father on the earth, for one is your father, he who is in heaven, neither be called leaders, for one is your leader, the Christ, but the greatest of you shall be your servant, and whoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled, and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. But woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men, for ye go not in, nor suffer those who are entering to go in. Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because ye traverse sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more a child of hell than yourselves. Woe to you blind guides, who say, whoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing, but whoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is bound, fools and blind, for which is greater the gold, or the temple that sanctifies the gold, and whoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing, but whoever shall swear by the gift that is upon it, he is bound, fools and blind, for which is greater the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift. He therefore who swears by the altar swears by it, and by all things thereon, and he that swears by the temple swears by it, and by him who dwells therein, and he that swears by heaven swears by the throne of God, and by him who sits thereon. Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because ye pay tithe of the mint and the dill and the coming, and omitted the way to your things of the law, judgment and mercy and faith, these ought ye to have done and not leave those undone, blind guides that strain out the net and swallow the camel. Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because ye cleanse the outside of the cup in the platter, but within they are full of rapacity and excess. Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup in the platter, that its outside also may become clean. Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because ye are like two whited sepulchres, which outwardly indeed appear beautiful, but within are full of bones of the dead and of all uncleanness. So also ye outwardly indeed appear righteous to men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because ye build the sepulchres of the prophets and adorn the tombs of the righteous and say, if we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets, so that ye witness to yourselves that ye are sons of those who killed the prophets, and fill ye up the measure of your fathers. Serpents, brood of vipers, how can ye escape the judgment of hell? Therefore, behold, I send forth to you prophets and wise men and scribes, and some of them ye will kill and crucify, and some of them ye will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, that on you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Barakiah, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. Verily I say to you, all these things shall come upon this generation. Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that killest the prophets, and stoneest those sent to her. How often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and ye would not. Behold, your house is left to you, desolate. For I say to you, ye shall not see me henceforth till ye shall say, blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord. Chapter 24 And Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and his disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple, and he answering said to them, See ye not all these things? Verily I say to you, there shall not be left here one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down. And as he sat on the mount of the olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, Tell us, when will these things be, and what is the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answering said to them, Take heed lest any one lead you astray, for many will come in my name, saying, I am the Christ, and will lead astray many, and he will hear of wars and rumors of wars. Take heed, be not troubled, for all must come to pass. But not yet is the end, for nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and pestilences and earthquakes in diverse places. But all these are the beginning of sorrows. Then will they deliver you up unto affliction, and will kill you, and ye will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. And then will many be offended, and will deliver up one another, and will hate one another. And many false prophets will arise, and will lead many astray, and because iniquity abounds, the love of the many will become cold. But he that has endured to the end the same shall be saved, and this good news of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a testimony to all nations, and then shall come the end. When therefore ye see the abomination of desolation spoken of through Daniel the prophet standing in the holy place, let him that reads Mark. Then let those in Judea flee to the mountains. He that is upon the house, let him not come down to take the things out of his house, and he that is in the field, let him not turn back to take his garments. But woe to those who are with child, and to those who give suck in those days, and pray that your flight be not in winter, nor on a sabbath. For then will be great affliction such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor shall be. And unless those days were shortened no flesh would be saved, but for the sake of the chosen those days shall be shortened. Then if anyone say to you, Lo, here is the Christ, or here believe it not, for there will arise false Christs and false prophets and will show great signs and wonders so as, if possible, to lead even the chosen astray. Behold, I have told you before. If therefore they say to you, Behold, he is in the desert, go not forth. Behold, he is in the secret chambers. Believe it not, for as the lightning comes forth from the east and shines even unto the west, so shall be the coming of the Son of Man. For wherever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together. And immediately after the affliction of those days the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven shall be shaken, and then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven, and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and shall see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, and he will send forth his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his chosen from the four winds from one end of heaven to the other, and learn the parable from the fig tree. When its branches already become tender and puts forth leaves, ye know that the summer is near. So also ye, when ye see all those things, know that it is near at the doors. Verily I say to you, this generation shall not pass till all these things are done. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour Noah knows, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noah, so shall be also the coming of the Son of Man. For as they were in the days before the flood, eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took all away, so shall be also the coming of the Son of Man. Then shall there be two men in the field, one is taken, and one is left. Two women grinding at the mill, one is taken, and one is left. Watch, therefore, for ye know not in what day your Lord comes. But know this, that if the Master of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken through. Therefore be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man comes. Who then is the faithful and wise servant whom his Lord set over his household to give them their food in due season? Happy that servant whom his Lord, when he comes, shall find so doing. Verily I say to you that he will set him over all his goods, but if that evil servant shall say in his heart, my Lord delays his coming, and shall begin to beat his fellow servants, and shall eat and drink with a drunken, the Lord of that servant will come in a day when he looks not for it, and in an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him asunder, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. There will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. The end of chapters 21 through 24 of the Gospel according to Matthew, from the American Bible Union's New Testament, recording by Mark Penfold.