 CHAPTERS I THROUGH SEVEN of THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATHEW. THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATHEW, FROM THE WAYMETH NEW TESTAMENT IN MODERN SPEECH, TRANSLATED BY RICHARD FRANCIS WAYMETH, CHAPTERS I THROUGH SEVEN, CHAPTER I. THE GENIOLOGY OF JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF DAVID, THE SON OF ABRAHAM. Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac of Jacob, Jacob of Judah and his brothers. Judah was the father of Pires and Zira, Pires of Hezron, Hezron of Ram, Ram of Aminadab, Aminadab of Nashun, Nashun of Solomon, Solomon by Rahab of Boaz, Boaz by Ruth of Obed, Obed of Jesse, Jesse of David, the king. David by Uriah's widow was the father of Solomon, Solomon of Rehoboam, Rehoboam of Abijah, Abijah of Asa, Asa of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat of Jehoram, Jehoram of Isaiah, Asiah of Jotham, Jotham of Ahaz, Ahaz of Hezekiah, Hezekiah of Manasseh, Manasseh of Amon, Amon of Josiah, Josiah of Jekoniah and his brothers at the period of the removal to Babylon. After the removal to Babylon, Jekoniah had a son, Shieltyel. Shieltyel was the father of Zerubbabel, Zerubbabel of Abayud, Abayud of Eliakim, Eliakim of Azor, Azor of Zadok, Zadok of Akim, Akim of Eliud, Eliud of Eleazar, Eleazar of Matan, Matan of Jacob and Jacob of Joseph, the husband of Mary, who was the mother of Jesus, who is called Christ. There are therefore in all, fourteen generations from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the removal to Babylon, and fourteen from the removal to Babylon to the Christ. The circumstances of the birth of Jesus Christ were these. After his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they were united in marriage, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. But Joseph, her husband, being a kind-hearted man and unwilling publicly to disgrace her, had determined to release her privately from the betrothal. But while he was contemplating this step, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to bring home your wife Mary, for she is with child through the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to call his name Jesus. For he it is who will save his people from their sins. All this took place in fulfillment of what the Lord had spoken through the prophet. Mark, the maiden will be with child, and will give birth to a son, and they will call his name Emmanuel, a word which signifies God with us. When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded, and brought home his wife, but did not live with her until she had given birth to a son. The child's name he called Jesus. Now after the birth of Jesus, which took place at Bethlehem in Judea, in the reign of King Herod, excitement was produced in Jerusalem by the arrival of certain Magi from the east, inquiring, Where is the newly born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and have come here to do him homage. Reports of this soon reached the king, and greatly agitated not only him, but all the people of Jerusalem. So he assembled all the high priests and scribes of the people, and anxiously asked them where the Christ was to be born. At Bethlehem in Judea, they replied, for so it stands written in the words of the prophet. And thou, Bethlehem in the land of Judah, by no means the least honorable art thou among princely places in Judah, for from thee shall come a prince, one who shall be the shepherd of my people Israel. Thereupon Herod set privately for the Magi, and ascertained from them the exact time of the stars appearing. He then directed them to go to Bethlehem, adding, Go and make careful inquiry about the child, and when you have found him, bring me word that I too may come and do him homage. After hearing what the king said, they went to Bethlehem, while, strange to say, the star they had seen in the east led them on, until it came and stood over the place where the babe was. When they saw the star, the sight filled them with intense joy. So they entered the house, and when they saw the babe with his mother Mary, they prostrated themselves and did him homage, and opening their treasure chests offered gifts to him, gold, frankincense, and myrrh. But being forbidden by God in a dream to return to Herod, they went back to their own country by a different route. When they were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, Rise, take the babe and his mother and escape to Egypt, and remain there till I bring you word, for Herod is about to make search for the child in order to destroy him. So Joseph roused himself and took the babe and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt. There he remained till Herod's death, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled. Out of Egypt I called my son. Then Herod, finding that the magi had trifled with him, was furious, and sent and massacred all the boys under two years of age in Bethlehem and all its neighborhood, according to the date he had so carefully ascertained from the magi. Then were these words spoken by the prophet Jeremiah fulfilled. A voice was heard in Rama, wailing and bitter lamentation. It was Rachel bewailing her children, and she refused to be comforted because they were no more. But after Herod's death, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said to him, Rise from sleep and take the child and his mother and go into the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child's life are dead. So he roused himself and took the child and his mother and came into the land of Israel. But hearing that Archelaus had succeeded his father Herod on the throne of Judea, he was afraid to go there, and being instructed by God in a dream, he withdrew into Galilee, and went and settled in a town called Nazareth, in order that these words spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled. He shall be called a Nazarene. Chapter 3 About this time John the Baptist made his appearance, preaching in the desert of Judea. Repent, he said, for the kingdom of the heavens is now close at hand. He it is who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah when he said, the voice of one crying aloud, in the desert prepare ye a road for the Lord, make his highway straight. This man John wore a garment of camel's hair, and a loincloth of leather, and he lived upon locusts and wild honey. Then large numbers of people went out to him, people from Jerusalem, and from all Judea, and from the whole of the Jordan Valley, and were baptized by him in the Jordan, making full confession of their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he exclaimed, Oh vipers brood, who has warned you to flee from the coming wrath, therefore let your lives prove your change of heart, and do not imagine that you can say to yourselves, we have Abraham as our forefather, for I tell you that God can raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones, and already the axe is lying at the root of the trees, so that every tree which does not produce good fruit will quickly be hewn down and thrown into the fire. I indeed am baptizing you in water on a profession of repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, his sandals I am not worthy to carry for a moment. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire, his winnowing shovel is in his hand, and he will make a thorough clearance of his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the storehouse, but burning up the chaff in unquenchable fire. Just at that time, Jesus, coming from Galilee to the Jordan, presents himself to John to be baptized by him. John protested, it is I, he said, who have need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me? Let it be so on this occasion, Jesus replied, for so we ought to fulfill every religious duty. Then he consented, and Jesus was baptized and immediately went up from the water. At that moment, the heavens opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and a lighting upon him, while a voice came from heaven saying, This is my son, the dearly loved, in whom is my delight. At that time, Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the desert in order to be tempted by the devil. There he fasted for forty days and nights, and after that he suffered from hunger. So the tempter came and said, If you are the Son of God, command these stones to turn into loaves. It is written, replied Jesus, it is not on bread alone that a man shall live, but on whatsoever God shall appoint. Then the devil took him to the holy city, and caused him to stand on the roof of the temple, and said, If you are God's Son, throw yourself down, for it is written, to his angels he will give orders concerning thee, and on their hands they shall bear thee up. Lest at any moment thou shouldst strike thy foot against his stone. Again it is written, replied Jesus, Thou shalt not put the Lord thy God to the proof. Then the devil took him to the top of an exceedingly lofty mountain, from which he caused him to see all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor, and said to him, All this I will give you, if you will kneel down and do me homage. Be gone Satan, Jesus replied, for it is written, To the Lord thy God, Thou shalt do homage, and to him alone shalt thou render worship. Thereupon the devil left him, and angels at once came and ministered to him. Now when Jesus heard that John was thrown into prison, he withdrew into Galilee, and leaving Nazareth he went and settled at Capernaum, a town by the lake on the frontiers of Zebulun and Naftali, in order that these words spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled. Zebulun's land and Naftali's land, the road by the lake, the country beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations, the people who were dwelling in darkness, have seen a brilliant light, and on those who were dwelling in the region of the shadow of death, on them light has dawned. From that time Jesus began to preach. Repent, he said, for the kingdom of the heavens is now close at hand. And walking along the shore of the lake of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, called Peter, and his brother Andrew, throwing a dragnet into the lake, for they were fishers. And he said to them, Come and follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. So they immediately left their nets and followed him. As he went further on, he saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zabdai, and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zabdai, mending their nets. And he called them, and they at once left the boat and their father, and followed him. Then Jesus traveled through all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every kind of disease and infirmity among the people. Thus his fame spread through all Syria, and they brought all the sick to him, the people who were suffering from various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics. And he cured them. And great crowds followed him, coming from Galilee, from the ten towns, from Jerusalem, and from beyond the district, on the other side of the Jordan. Seeing the multitude of people, Jesus went up the hill. There he seated himself, and when his disciples came to him, he proceeded to teach them, and said, Blessed are the poor in spirit, for to them belongs the kingdom of the heavens. Blessed are the mourners, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they as heirs shall obtain possession of the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be completely satisfied. Blessed are the compassionate, for they shall receive compassion. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for it is they who will be recognized as sons of God. Blessed are those who have borne persecution in the cause of righteousness, for to them belongs the kingdom of the heavens. Blessed are you when they have insulted and persecuted you, and have said every cruel thing about you falsely for my sake. Be joyful and triumphant, because your reward is great in the heavens, for so were the prophets before you persecuted. You are the salt of the earth. But if salt has become tasteless, in what way can it regain its saltiness? It is no longer good for anything, but to be thrown away and trodden on by the passersby. You are the light of the world. A town cannot be hid if built on a hilltop, nor is a lamp lighted to be put under a bushel, but on the lampstand. And then it gives light to all in the house. Just so, let your light shine before all men, in order that they may see your holy lives, and may give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Do not for a moment suppose that I have come to abrogate the law or the prophets. I have not come to abrogate them, but to give them their completion. Solemnly I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not one eota or smallest detail will pass away from the law until all has taken place. Whoever therefore breaks one of these least commandments, and teaches others to break them, will be called the least in the kingdom of the heavens. But whoever practices them and teaches them, he will be acknowledged as great in the kingdom of the heavens. For I assure you that unless your righteousness greatly surpasses that of the scribes and the Pharisees, you will certainly not find entrance into the kingdom of the heavens. You have heard that it was said to the ancients, Thou shalt not commit murder, and whoever commits murder will be answerable to the magistrate. But I say to you that everyone who becomes angry with his brother shall be answerable to the magistrate, that whoever says to his brother, Raqqa, shall be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and that whoever says you fool shall be liable to the Gehenna of Fire. If therefore, when you are offering your gift upon the altar, you remember that your brother has a grievance against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go and make friends with your brother first, and then return and proceed to offer your gift. Come to terms without delay with your opponent, while you are yet with him on the way to the court, for fear he should obtain judgment from the magistrate against you, and the magistrate should give you intensity to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. I solemnly tell you, that you will certainly not be released till you have paid the very last farthing. You have heard that it was said, Thou shalt not commit adultery. But I tell you, that whoever looks at a woman and cherishes lustful thoughts has already in his heart become guilty with regard to her. If therefore your eye, even the right eye, is a snare to you, tear it out and away with it. It is better for you that one member should be destroyed, rather than that your whole body should be thrown into Gehenna. And if your right hand is a snare to you, cut it off and away with it. It is better for you that one member should be destroyed, rather than that your whole body should go into Gehenna. It was also said, if any man puts away his wife, let him give her a written notice of divorce. But I tell you, that every man who puts away his wife, except on the ground of unfaithfulness, causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries her when so divorced commits adultery. Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, Thou shalt not swear falsely, but shalt perform thy vows to the Lord. But I tell you not to swear at all, neither by heaven, for it is God's throne, nor by the earth, for it is the footstool under his feet, nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great king. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your language be yes, yes, or no, no. Anything in excess of this comes from the evil one. You have heard that it was said, I for I, tooth for tooth. But I tell you not to resist a wicked man, but if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him as well. If anyone wishes to go to law with you, and to deprive you of your undergarment, let him take your outer one also. And whoever shall compel you to convey his goods one mile, go with him too. To him who asks, give, from him who would borrow, turn not away. You have heard that it was said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I command you all, love your enemies, and pray for your persecutors, that so you may become true sons of your father in heaven, for he raises his son to rise on the wicked as well as the good, and sends rain upon those who do right and those who do wrong. For if you love only those who love you, what reward have you earned? Do not even the tax-gatherers do that? And if you salute only your near relatives, what praises do to you? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You, however, are to be complete in goodness, as your heavenly father is complete. Chapter 6 But beware of doing your good actions in the sight of men in order to attract their gays. If you do, there is no reward for you with your father who is in heaven. When you give in charity, never blow a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and streets, in order that their praises may be sung by men, I solemnly tell you, that they already have their reward. But when you are giving in charity, let not your left hand perceive what your right hand is doing, that your charities may be in secret, and then your father, he who sees in secret, will recompense you. And when praying, you must not be like the hypocrites. They are fond of standing and praying in the synagogues, or at the corners of the wider streets, in order that men may see them. I solemnly tell you, that they already have their reward. But you, whenever you pray, go into your own room and shut the door, then pray to your father who is in secret, and your father, he who sees in secret, will recompense you. And when praying, do not use needless repetitions as the Gentiles do, for they expect to be listened to because of their multitude of words. Do not, however, imitate them, for your father knows what things you need before ever you ask him. In this manner, therefore, pray. Our father, who art in heaven, may thy name be kept holy. Let thy kingdom come, let thy will be done, as in heaven so on earth. Give us today our bread for the day, and forgive us our shortcomings, as we also have forgiven those who have failed in their duty towards us. And bring us not into temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly father will forgive you also. But if you do not forgive others their offenses, neither will your father forgive yours. When any of you fast, never assume gloomy looks as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces in order that it may be evident to men that they are fasting. I solemnly tell you that they already have their reward. But whenever you fast, pour perfume on your hair and wash your face, that it may not be apparent to men that you are fasting, but to your father, who is in secret, and your father, he who sees in secret, will recompense you. Do not lay up stores of wealth for yourselves on earth, where the moth and wear and tear destroy, and where thieves break in and steal, but amass wealth for yourselves in heaven, where neither the moth nor wear and tear destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal, for where your wealth is, there also will your heart be. The eye is the lamp of the body. If then your eyesight is good, your whole body will be well-lighted. But if your eyesight is bad, your whole body will be dark. If, however, the very light within you is darkness, how dense must the darkness be? No man can be the bond-servant of two masters, for either he will dislike one and like the other, or he will attach himself to one and think slightingly of the other. You cannot be the bond-servant, both of God and of gold. For this reason I charge you not to be over anxious about your lives, inquiring what you are to eat or what you are to drink, nor yet about your bodies, inquiring what clothes you are to put on, is not the life more precious than its food than the body than its clothing? Look at the birds which fly in the air. They do not so or reap or store up in barns, but your heavenly Father feeds them, are not you of much greater value than they? Which of you, by being over anxious, can add a single foot to his height, and why be anxious about clothing? Learn a lesson from the wild lilies. Watch their growth. They neither toil nor spin, and yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his magnificence could array himself like one of these. And if God so clothes the wild herbage which today flourishes and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, is it not much more certain that he will clothe you, you men of little faith? Do not be over anxious, therefore, asking what shall we eat or what shall we drink or what shall we wear? For all these are questions that Gentiles are always asking, but your heavenly Father knows that you need these things, all of them. But make his kingdom and righteousness your chief aim, and then these things shall all be given you in addition. Do not be over anxious, therefore, about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own cares. Enough for each day are its own troubles. Chapter 7 Judge not that you may not be judged, for your own judgment will be dealt and your own measure meted to yourselves. And why do you look at the splinter in your brother's eye and not notice the beam which is in your own eye? Or how say to your brother, allow me to take the splinter out of your eye, while the beam is in your own eye? Hippocrite, first take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly how to remove the splinter from your brother's eye. Give not that which is holy to the dogs, nor throw your pearls to the swine, otherwise they will trample them under their feet, and then turn and attack you. Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you, for it is always he who asks that receives, he who seeks that finds, and he who knocks that has the door opened to him. What man is there among you, who, if his son shall ask him for bread, will offer him a stone, or if the son shall ask him for a fish, will offer him a snake? If you, then, imperfect as you are, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him? Everything therefore, be it what it may, that you would have men due to you, do you also the same to them? For in this the law and the prophets are summed up. Enter by the narrow gate, for wide is the gate, and broad the road which leads to ruin, and many there are who enter by it, because narrow is the gate, and contracted the road which leads to life, and few are those who find it. Beware of the false teachers, men who come to you in sheep's fleeces, but beneath that disguise they are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will easily recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from brambles? Just so, every good tree produces good fruit, but a poisonous tree produces bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor a poisonous tree good fruit. Every tree which does not yield good fruit is cut down and thrown aside for burning, so by their fruits at any rate you will easily recognize them. Not everyone who says to me, Master, Master, will enter the kingdom of the heavens, but only those who are obedient to my father who is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Master, Master, have we not prophesied in thy name, and in thy name expelled demons, and in thy name performed many good works? And then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you. Be gone from me, you doers of wickedness. Everyone who hears these my teachings and acts upon them will be found to resemble a wise man who builds his house upon rock, and the heavy rain falls, the swollen torrents come, and the winds blow and beat against the house, yet it does not fall, for its foundation is on rock. And everyone who hears these my teachings and does not act upon them will be found to resemble a fool who builds his house upon sand, the heavy rain descends, the swollen torrents come, and the winds blow and burst upon the house, and it falls, and disastrous is the fall. When Jesus had concluded this discourse, the crowds were filled with amazement at his teaching, for he had been teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes taught. The end of chapters 1 through 7 of The Gospel According to Matthew from the Weymouth New Testament in modern speech. Recording by Mark Penfold Chapters 8 through 14 of The Gospel According to Matthew This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Mark Penfold The Gospel According to Matthew from the Weymouth New Testament in modern speech, translated by Richard Francis Weymouth. Chapters 8 through 14 Chapter 8 Upon descending from the hill-country he was followed by immense crowds, and a leper came to him and, throwing himself at his feet, said, Sir, if only you are willing, you are able to cleanse me. So Jesus put out his hand and touched him, and said, I am willing. Be cleansed. Instantly he was cleansed from his leprosy, and Jesus said to him, Be careful to tell no one, but go, and show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift which Moses appointed as evidence for them. After his entry into Capernaum, a captain came to him and entreated him. Sir, he said, my servant at home is lying ill with paralysis, and is suffering great pain. I will come and cure him, said Jesus. Sir, replied the captain, I am not a fit person to receive you under my roof. Merely say the word, and my servant will be cured, for I myself am also under authority, and have soldiers under me. To one I say, go, and he goes, to another, come, and he comes, and to my slave do this or that, and he does it. Jesus listened to this reply, and was astonished, and said to the people following him, I solemnly tell you that in no Israelite have I found faith as great as this, and I tell you that many will come from the east and from the west, and will recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of the heavens, while the natural airs of the kingdom will be driven out into the darkness outside. There will be the weeping aloud, and the gnashing of teeth. And Jesus said to the captain, Go, and just as you have believed, so be it for you. And the servant recovered precisely at that time. After this Jesus went to the house of Peter, whose mother-in-law he found ill in bed with fever. He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and then she rose and waited upon him. In the evening many demoniacs were brought to him, and with a word he expelled the demons, and he cured all the sick, in order that this prediction of the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled. He took on him our weaknesses, and bore the burden of our diseases. Seeing great crowds about him, Jesus had given directions to cross to the other side of the lake, when a scribe came and said to him, Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go. Foxes have holes, replied Jesus, and birds have nests, but the son of man has nowhere to lay his head. Another of the disciples said to him, Sir, allow me first to go and bury my father. Follow me, said Jesus, and leave the dead to bury their own dead. Then he went on board a fishing boat, and his disciples followed him. But suddenly there arose a great storm on the lake, so that the waves threatened to engulf the boat. But he was asleep, so they came and woke him, crying, Master, save us, we are drowning! Why are you so easily frightened, he replied, Hugh men of little faith? Then he rose and reproved the winds and the waves, and there was a perfect calm, and the men, filled with amazement, exclaimed, What kind of man is this? For the very winds and waves obey him! On his arrival at the other side, in the country of the Gadarenes, there met him two men possessed by demons coming from among the tombs. They were so dangerously fierce that no one was able to pass that way. They cried aloud, What has thou to do with us, thou son of God, as thou come here to torment us before the time? Now at some distance from them a fast herd of swine were feeding, so the demons entreated him. If thou drive us thus out, they said, Send us into the herd of swine! Go, he replied. Then they came out from the men and went into the swine, whereupon the entire herd instantly rushed down the cliff into the lake and perished in the water. The swine herds fled and went and told the whole story in the town, including what had happened to the demoniacs. So at once the whole population came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they besought him to leave their country. Chapter 9 Accordingly he went on board and crossing over came to his own town. Here they brought to him a paralytic lying on a bed. Seeing their faith Jesus said to the paralytic, Take courage, my child, your sins are pardoned. Such language is impious, said some of the scribes among themselves. Knowing their thoughts Jesus said, Why are you cherishing evil thoughts in your hearts? Why, which is easier, to say your sins are pardoned, or to say rise up and walk, but to prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to pardon sins, he then says to the paralytic, Rise and take up your bed and go home. And he got up and went off home. And the crowds were awestruck when they saw it, and described the glory to God who had entrusted such power to a man. Passing on thence Jesus saw a man called Matthew sitting at the toll office and said to him, Follow me, and he arose and followed him. And while he was reclining at table, a large number of tax gatherers and notorious sinners were of the party with Jesus and his disciples. The Pharisees noticed this, and they inquired of his disciples, Why does your teacher eat with the tax gatherers and notorious sinners? He heard the question and replied, It is not men in good health who require a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means. It is mercy that I desire, not sacrifice, for I did not come to appeal to the righteous, but to sinners. At that time, John's disciples came and asked Jesus, Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not? Can the bridegroom's party mourn? he replied, As long as the bridegroom is with them, but other days will come when the bridegroom has been taken from them, and then they will fast. No one ever mends an old cloak with a patch of newly woven cloth, otherwise the patch put on would tear away some of the old, and a worse hole would be made. Nor do people pour new wine into old wineskins, otherwise the skins would split, the wine would escape, and the skins be destroyed. But they put new wine into fresh skins, and both are saved. While he was thus speaking, a ruler came up and profoundly bowing said, My daughter is just dead, but come and put your hand upon her, and she will return to life. And Jesus rose and followed him, as did also his disciples. But a woman who for twelve years had been afflicted with hemorrhage came behind him, and touched the tassel of his cloak, for she said to herself, If I but touch his cloak, I shall be cured. And Jesus turned and saw her and said, Take courage, daughter, your faith has cured you. And the woman was restored to health from that moment. Entering the ruler's house, Jesus saw the flute players and the crowd loudly wailing, and he said, Go out of the room, the little girl is not dead, but asleep. And they laughed at him. When however the place was cleared of the crowd, Jesus went in, and on his taking the little girl by the hand, she rose up. And the report of this spread throughout all that district. As Jesus passed on, two blind men followed him, shouting and saying, Pity us, son of David! And when he had gone indoors, they came to him. Do you believe that I can do this? He asked them. Yes, sir, they replied. So he touched their eyes and said, According to your faith, let it be to you. Then their eyes were opened, and assuming a stern tone, Jesus said to them, Be careful to let no one know. But they went out and published his fame in all that district. And as they were leaving his presence, a dumb demoniac was brought to him. When the demon was expelled, the dumb man could speak. And the crowds exclaimed in astonishment, Never was such a thing seen in Israel! But the Pharisees maintained, It is by the power of the prince of the demons that he drives out the demons. And Jesus continued his circuits through all the towns and the villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every kind of disease and infirmity. And when he saw the crowds, he was touched with pity for them, because they were distressed and were fainting on the ground like sheep which have no shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, The harvest is abundant, but the reapers are few. Therefore, entreat the owner of the harvest to send out reapers into his fields. Chapter 10 Then he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over foul spirits to drive them out and to cure every kind of disease and infirmity. Now the names of the twelve apostles were these, first Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew, James the son of Zabdai and his brother John, Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax-gatherer, James the son of Alphaeus and Thaddeus, Simon the Canaanian, and Judas the Ascariot, who also betrayed him. These twelve Jesus sent on a mission after giving them their instructions. Go not, he said, among the Gentiles and enter no Samaritan town, but instead of that, go to the lost sheep of Israel's race, and as you go, preach and say, The kingdom of the heavens is close at hand. Cure the sick, raise the dead to life, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. You have received without payment, give without payment. Provide no gold, nor even silver nor copper to carry in your pockets. No bag for your journey, nor change of linen, nor shoes nor stick, for the laborer deserves his food. Whatever town or village you enter, inquire for some good man, and make his house your home till you leave the place. When you enter the house, salute it, and if the house deserves it, the peace you invoke shall come upon it. If not, your peace shall return to you, and whoever refuses to receive you, or even to listen to your message, as you leave that house or town, shake off the very dust from your feet. I solemnly tell you that it will be more indurable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. Remember, it is I who am sending you out as sheep into the midst of wolves. Prove yourselves as sagacious as serpents, and as innocent as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to appear before Sanhedrin's, and will flog you in their synagogues. And you will even be put on trial before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness to them and to the Gentiles. But when they have delivered you up, have no anxiety as to how you shall speak, or what you shall say, for at that very time it shall be given you what to say. For it is not you who will speak, it will be the spirit of your father speaking through you. Brother will betray brother to death, and father, child, and children will rise against their own parents, and will put them to death. And you will be objects of universal hatred because you are called by my name. But he who holds out to the end, he will be saved. Whenever they persecute you in one town, escape to the next, for I solemnly tell you that you will not have gone the round of all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. The learner is never superior to his teacher, and the servant is never superior to his master. Enough for the learner to be on a level with his teacher, and for the servant to be on a level with his master. If they have called the master of the house Ba'al Zabul, how much more will they slander his servants? Fear them not. However, there is nothing veiled which will not be uncovered, nor secret which will not become known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light, and what is whispered into your ear, proclaim upon the roofs of the houses, and do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul, but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. Do not two sparrows sell for a half penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your father's leave. But as for you, the very hairs on your heads are all numbered. Away then with fear, you are more precious than a multitude of sparrows. Every man who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my father who is in heaven, but whoever disowns me before men, I also will disown before my father who is in heaven. Do not suppose that I came to bring peace to the earth? I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, and a man's own family will be his foes. Anyone who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and anyone who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me, and anyone who does not take up his cross and follow where I lead is not worthy of me. To save your life is to lose it, and to lose your life for my sake is to save it. Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. Everyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and everyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward, and whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink because he is a disciple, I solemnly tell you that he will not lose his reward. Chapter 11 When Jesus had concluded his instructions to his twelve disciples, he left in order to teach and to proclaim his message in the neighboring towns. Now John had heard in prison about the Christ's doings, and he sent some of his disciples to inquire. Are you the coming one, or is it a different person that we are to expect? Go and report to John what you see and hear, replied Jesus. Blind eyes receive sight, and cripples walk, lepers are cleansed, and deaf ears hear, the dead are raised to life, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them, and blessed is everyone who does not stumble and fall because of my claims. When the messengers had taken their leave, Jesus proceeded to say to the multitude concerning John, What did you go out into the desert to gaze at, a reed waving in the wind? But what did you go out to see, a man luxuriously dressed? Those who wear luxurious clothes are to be found in King's palaces. But why did you go out to see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and far more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, See, I am sending my messenger before thy face, and he will make thy road ready before thee. I solemnly tell you that among all of women, born no greater has ever been raised up than John the Baptist. Yet, one who is of lower rank in the kingdom of the heavens is greater than he. But from the time of John the Baptist till now, the kingdom of the heavens has been suffering violent assault, and the violent has been seizing it by force, for all the prophets and the law taught until John. And, if you are willing to receive it, he is the Elijah who was to come. Listen, everyone who has ears. But to what shall I compare the present generation? It is like children sitting in the open places who call to their playmates. We have played the flute to you, they say, and you have not danced. We have sung dirges, and you have not beaten your breasts. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He has a demon. The son of man came eating and drinking, and they exclaim, See this man, given to gluttony and tippling, and a friend of tax-gatherers and notorious sinners. And yet, wisdom is vindicated by her actions. Then began he to upgrade the towns where most of his mighty works had been done, because they had not repented. Alas for the Corazon, he cried. Alas for the Bethsaida, for had the mighty works been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in both of you, they would long ere now have repented, covered with sackcloth and ashes. Only I tell you that it will be more indurable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And thou, Capernaum, shall thou be exalted even to heaven, even to Hades shall thou descend, for had the mighty works been done in Sodom which have been done in thee, it would have remained until now. Only I tell you all that it will be more indurable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for thee. About that time Jesus exclaimed, I heartily praise thee, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, that thou hast hidden these things from sages and men of discernment, and hast unveiled them to babes. Yes, Father, for such has been thy gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one fully knows the Son except the Father, nor does anyone fully know the Father except the Son, and all to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all you toiling and burden ones, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For it is good to bear my yoke, and my burden is light. About that time Jesus passed on the Sabbath through the wheat fields, and his disciples became hungry, and began to gather ears of wheat and eat them. But the Pharisees sought and said to him, Look, your disciples are doing what the law forbids them to do on the Sabbath. Have you never read, he replied, what David did when he and his men were hungry, how he entered the house of God and ate the presented loaves, which it was not lawful for him or his men to eat, nor for any except the priests. And have you not read in the law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath without incurring guilt? But I tell you, that there is here that which is greater than the temple. And if you knew what this means, it is mercy I desire, not sacrifice. You would not have condemned those who are without guilt. For the Son of Man is the Lord of the Sabbath. Departing thence he went to their synagogue, where there was a man with a shriveled arm, and they questioned him. Is it right to cure people on the Sabbath? Their intention was to bring a charge against him. Which of you is there, he replied, who, if he has but a single sheep, and it falls into a hole on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? Is not a man, however, far superior to a sheep? Therefore it is right to do good on the Sabbath. Then he said to the man, stretch out your arm, and he stretched it out, and it was restored quite sound like the other. But the Pharisees, after leaving the synagogue, consulted together against him how they might destroy him. Aware of this, Jesus departed elsewhere, and a great number of people followed him, all of whom he cured. But he gave them strict injunctions not to blaze abroad his doings, that those words of the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled. This is my servant, whom I have chosen, my dearly loved one in whom my soul takes pleasure. I will put my spirit upon him, and he will announce justice to the nations. He will not wrangle or raise his voice, nor will his voice be heard in the broadways. A crushed reed he will not utterly break, nor will he quench the still smoldering wick, until he has led on justice to victory, and on his name shall the nations rest their hopes. At that time a demoniac was brought to him, blind and dumb, and he cured him, so that the dumb man could speak and see. And the crowds of people were all filled with amazement, and said, Can this be the son of David? The Pharisees heard it, and said, This man only expels demons by the power of Baalzebul, the prince of demons. Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, Every kingdom in which civil war has raged suffers desolation, and every city or house in which there is internal strife will be brought low. And if Satan is expelling Satan, he has begun to make war on himself, how therefore shall his kingdom last? And if it is by Baalzebul's power that I expel the demons, by whose power do your disciples expel them? They therefore shall be your judges. But if it is by the power of the Spirit of God that I expel the demons, it is evident that the kingdom of God has come upon you. Again, how can anyone enter the house of a strong man and carry off his goods, unless, first of all, he masters and secures the strong man? Then he will ransack his house. The man who is not with me is against me, and he who is not gathering with me is scattering abroad. This is why I tell you that men may find forgiveness for every other sin and impious word, but that for impious speaking against the Holy Spirit, they shall find no forgiveness. And whoever shall speak against the Son of Man may obtain forgiveness, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, neither in this nor in the coming age shall he obtain forgiveness. Either grant the tree to be wholesome and its fruit wholesome, or the tree poisonous and its fruit poisonous, for the tree is known by its fruit. O viper's brood, how can you speak what is good when you are evil? For it is from the overflow of the heart that the mouth speaks. A good man from his good store produces good things, and a bad man from his bad store produces bad things. But I tell you that for every careless word that men shall speak, they will be held accountable on the day of judgment. For each of you by his words shall be justified, or by his words shall be condemned. Then he was accosted by some of the scribes and of the Pharisees who said, Teacher, we wish to see a sign given by you. Wicked and faithless generation, he replied, they clamor for a sign, but none shall be given to them except the sign of the Prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days in the sea monster's belly, so will the Son of Man be three days in the heart of the earth. There will stand up men of Nineveh at the judgment together with the present generation, and will condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and Mark, there is one greater than Jonah here. The Queen of the South will awake at the judgment together with the present generation, and will condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and Mark, there is one greater than Solomon here. No sooner, however, has the foul spirit gone out of the man, than he roams about in places where there is no water, seeking rest but finding none. Then he says, I will return to my house that I left, and he comes and finds it unoccupied, swept clean, and in good order. Then he goes and brings back with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they come in and dwell there, and in the end that man's condition becomes worse than it was at first. So will it be also with the present wicked generation. While he was still addressing the people, his mother and his brothers were standing on the edge of the crowd desiring to speak to him. So someone told him, your mother and your brothers are standing outside and desire to speak to you. Who is my mother? he said to the man. And who are my brothers? And pointing to his disciples he added, See here are my mother and my brothers. To obey my father who is in heaven, that is to be my brother and my sister and my mother. Chapter 13 That same day Jesus had left the house and was sitting on the shore of the lake, when a vast multitude of people crowded round him. He therefore went on board a boat and sat there while all the people stood on the shore. He then spoke many things to them in figurative language. The sower goes out, he said, to sow. As he sows, some of the seed falls by the wayside, and the birds come and peck it up. Some falls on rocky ground where it has but scanty soil. It quickly shows itself above ground because it has no depth of earth. But when the sun is risen it is scorched by the heat and through having no root it withers up. Some falls among the thorns, but the thorns spring up and stifle it, but a portion falls upon good ground and gives a return. Some a hundred for one, some sixty, some thirty. Listen, everyone who has ears! And his disciples came and asked him, Why do you speak to them in figurative language? Because, he replied, while to you it is granted to know the secrets of the kingdom of the heavens, to them it is not. For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he shall have abundance, but whoever has not, from him even what he has shall be taken away. I speak to them in figurative language for this reason, that while looking they do not see, and while hearing they neither hear nor understand. And in regard to them the prophecy of Isaiah is receiving signal fulfillment. You will hear and hear and by no means understand, and you will look and look and by no means see. For this people's mind is stupified, their hearing has become dull, and their eyes they have closed, to prevent their ever seeing with their eyes, or hearing with their ears, or understanding with their minds, and turning back so that I might heal them. But as for you, blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For I solemnly tell you that many prophets and holy men have longed to see the sights you see, and have not seen them, and to hear the words you hear, and have not heard them. To you then I will explain the parable of the sower. When a man hears the message concerning the kingdom, and does not understand it, the evil one comes and catches away what has been sown in his heart. This is he who has received the seed by the roadside. He who has received the seed on the rocky ground is the man who hears the message, and immediately receives it with joy. It has struck no root, however, within him. He continues for a time, but when suffering comes, or persecution because of the message, he at once stumbles and falls. He who has received the seed among the thorns is the man who hears the message, but the cares of the present age and the delusions of riches quite stifle the message, and it becomes unfruitful. But he who has received the seed on good ground is he who hears and understands. Such hearers give a return, and yield one a hundred for one, another sixty, another thirty. Another parable he put before them. The kingdom of the heavens, he said, may be compared to a man who has sown good seed in his field, but during the night his enemy comes, and over the first seed he sows darnel among the wheat, and goes away. But when the blade shoots up and the grain is formed, then appears the darnel also. So the farmer's men come and ask him, sir, was it not good seed that you sowed on your land? Where then does the darnel come from? Some enemy has done this, he said. Shall we go and collect it, the men inquire? No, he replied, for fear that while collecting the darnel you should at the same time root up the wheat with it. Leave both to grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will direct the reapers, collect the darnel first, and make it up into bundles to burn it, but bring all the wheat into my barn. Another parable he put before them. The kingdom of the heavens, he said, is like a mustard seed, which a man takes and sows in his ground. It is the smallest of all seeds, and yet when full grown it is larger than any herb and forms a tree, so that the birds come and build in its branches. Another parable he spoke to them. The kingdom of the heavens, he said, is like yeast which a woman takes and buries in a bushel of flour for it to work there till the whole mass has risen. All this Jesus spoke to the people in figurative language, and except in figurative language he spoke nothing to them. In fulfillment of the saying of the prophet, I will open my mouth in figurative language, I will utter things kept hidden since the creation of all things. When he had dismissed the people and had returned to the house, his disciples came to him with a request. Explain to us the parable of the darnel sown in the field. The sower of the good seed, he replied, is the son of man. The field is the world. The good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom. The darnel, the sons of the evil one. The enemy who sows the darnel is the devil. The harvest is the close of the age. The reapers are the angels. As then the darnel is collected together and burnt up with fire, so will it be at the close of the age. The son of man will commission his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all who violate his laws, and these they will throw into the fiery furnace. There will be the weeping aloud, and the gnashing of teeth. Then will the righteous shine out like the son in their father's kingdom. Listen, everyone who has ears. The kingdom of the heavens is like treasure buried in the open country which a man finds but buries again, and in his joy about it goes and sells all he has and buys that piece of ground. Again the kingdom of the heavens is like a jewel merchant who is in quest of choice pearls. He finds one most costly pearl. He goes away, and though it costs all he has, he buys it. Again the kingdom of the heavens is like a drawn net let down into the sea which encloses fish of all sorts. When full they haul it up on the beach and sit down and collect the good fish in baskets while the worthless they throw away. So will it be at the close of the age. The angels will go forth and separate the wicked from among the righteous and will throw them into the fiery furnace. There will be the weeping aloud and the gnashing of teeth. Have you understood all this? He asked. Yes, they said. Therefore, he said, remember that every scribe well trained for the kingdom of the heavens is like a householder who brings out of his storehouse new things and old. Jesus concluded this series of parables and then departed, and he came into his own country and proceeded to teach in their synagogue so that they were filled with astonishment and exclaimed, Where did he obtain such wisdom and these wondrous powers? Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judah? And his sisters? Are they not all living here among us? Where then did he get all this? So they turned angrily away from him, but Jesus said to them, There is no prophet left without honor except in his own country and among his own family. And he performed but few mighty deeds there, because of their want of faith. Chapter 14 About that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus, and he said to his courtiers, This is John the Baptist. He has come back to life, and that is why these miraculous powers are working in him. For Herod had arrested John and had put him in chains and imprisoned him for the sake of Herodius, his brother Philip's wife, because John had persistently said to him, It is not lawful for you to have her. And he would have liked to put him to death, but was afraid of the people because they regarded John as a prophet. But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodius danced before all the company, and so pleased Herod, that with an oath he promised to give her whatever she asked. So she, instigated by her mother, said, Give me here on a dish the head of John the Baptist. The king was deeply vexed, yet because of his repeated oath and of the guests at his table, he ordered it to be given her, and he sent and beheaded John in the prison. The head was brought on a dish and given to the young girl, and she took it to her mother. Then John's disciples went and removed the body and buried it, and came and informed Jesus. Upon receiving these tidings, Jesus went away by boat to an uninhabited and secluded district, but the people heard of it and followed him in crowds from the towns by land. So Jesus went out and saw an immense multitude, and felt compassion for them, and cured those of them who were out of health. But when evening was come, the disciples came to him and said, This is an uninhabited place, and the best of the day is now gone. Send the people away to go into the villages and buy something to eat. They need not go away, replied Jesus. You yourselves must give them something to eat. We have nothing here, they said, but five loaves and a couple of fish. Bring them here to me, he said. And he told all the people to sit down on the grass. Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, and after looking up to heaven and blessing them, he broke up the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples distributed them to the people. So all ate and were fully satisfied. The broken portions that remained over, they gathered up, filling twelve baskets. Those who had eaten were about five thousand adult men, without reckoning women and children. Immediately afterwards he made the disciples go on board the boat and crossed to the opposite shore, leaving him to dismiss the people. When he had done this, he climbed the hill to pray in solitude. Night came on and he was there alone. Meanwhile the boat was far out on the lake, buffeted and tossed by the waves, the wind being adverse. But towards daybreak he went to them, walking over the waves. When the disciples saw him walking on the waves, they were greatly alarmed. It is a spirit, they exclaimed, and they cried out with terror. But instantly Jesus spoke to them and said, There is no danger, it is I. Do not be afraid. Master, answered Peter, If it is you, bid me to come to you upon the water. Come, said Jesus. Then Peter climbed down from the boat and walked upon the water to go to him. But when he felt the wind, he grew frightened and beginning to sink, he cried out, Master, save me. Instantly Jesus stretched out his hand and caught hold of him, saying to him, Oh little faith, why did you doubt? So they climbed into the boat and the wind lulled. And the men on board fell down before him and said, You are indeed God's son. When they had quite crossed over, they put ashore at Gennesaret, and the men of the place, recognizing him, sent word into all the country round. So they brought all the sick to him, and they entreated him that they might but touch the tassel of his outer garment, and all who did so were restored to perfect health. The end of chapters 8 through 14 of the Gospel according to Matthew from the Weymouth New Testament in modern speech, recording by Mark Penfold. Chapters 15 through 21 of the Gospel according to Matthew. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org, recording by Mark Penfold. The Gospel according to Matthew from the Weymouth New Testament in modern speech, translated by Richard Francis Weymouth. Chapters 15 through 21. Chapter 15 Then there came to Jesus a party of Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem, who inquired, Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders by not washing their hands before meals? Why do you too, he retorted, transgress God's commands for the sake of your tradition? For God said, Honor thy father and thy mother, and let him who reviles father or mother be certainly put to death. But you, this is what you say. If a man says to his father or mother, That is consecrated whatever it is which otherwise you should have received from me, he shall be absolved from honoring his father. And so you have abrogated God's word for the sake of your tradition. Hippocrates, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, This is a people who honor me with their lips while their heart is far away from me. But it is in vain they worship me, while they lay down precepts which are mere human rules. Then when he had called the people to him, Jesus said, Here and understand, It is not what goes into a man's mouth that defiles him, But it is what comes out of his mouth that defiles a man. Then his disciples came and said to him, Do you know that the Pharisees were greatly shocked when they heard these words? Every plant, he replied, Which my heavenly father has not planted will be rooted up. Leave them alone. They are blind guides of the blind, And if a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into some pit. Explain to us this figurative language, said Peter. Are even you, he answered, still without intelligence? Do you not understand that whatever enters the mouth passes into the stomach and is afterwards ejected from the body? But the things that come out of the mouth proceed from the heart, and it is these that defile the man. For out of the heart proceed wicked thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, perjury, impiety of speech. These are the things which defile the man. But eating with unwashed hands does not defile. Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew into the vicinity of Tyre and Sidon. Here a Canaanitesh woman of the district came out and persistently cried out, Sir, son of David pity me, my daughter is cruelly harassed by a demon. But he answered her not a word. Then the disciples interposed and begged him, saying, Send her away because she keeps crying behind us. I have only been sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, he replied. Then she came and threw herself at his feet and entreated him. Oh sir, help me, she said. It is not right, he said, to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs. Be it so, sir, she said, for even the dogs eat the scraps which fall from their master's tables. Oh woman, replied Jesus, great is your faith. Be it done to you as you desire. And from that moment her daughter was restored to health. Again, moving vents, Jesus went along by the lake of Galilee, and ascending the hill, he sat down there. Soon great crowds came to him, bringing with them those who were crippled in feet or hands, blind or dumb, and many besides, and they hastened to lay them at his feet, and he cured them, so that the people were amazed to see the dumb speaking, the maimed with their hands perfect, the lame walking, and the blind seeing, and they gave the glory to the God of Israel. But Jesus called his disciples to him and said, my heart yearns over this massive people, for it is now the third day that they have been with me, and they have nothing to eat. I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they should faint on the road. Where can we, asked the disciples, get enough bread in this remote place to satisfy so vast a multitude? How many loaves have you, Jesus asked? Seven, they said, and a few small fish. So he bade all the people sit down on the ground, and he took the seven loaves and the fish, and after giving thanks, he broke them up and then distributed them to the disciples and they to the people. And they all ate and were satisfied, the broken portions that remained over they took up, seven full hampers. Those who ate were four thousand adult men, without reckoning women and children. He then dismissed the people, went on board the boat, and came into the district of Magadan. Chapter 16 Here the Pharisees and Sadducees came to him and, to make trial of him, they asked him to show them a sign in the sky. He replied, In the evening you say, It will be fine weather for the sky is red, and in the morning it will be rough weather today, for the sky is red and murky. You learn how to distinguish the aspect of the heavens, but the signs of the times you cannot. A wicked and faithless generation are eager for a sign, but none shall be given to them except the sign of Jonah. And he left them and went away. When the disciples arrived at the other side of the lake, they found that they had forgotten to bring any bread. And when Jesus said to them, See to it, Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees. They reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have not brought any bread. Jesus perceived this and said, Why are you reasoning among yourselves, you men of little faith, because you have no bread? Do you not yet understand, nor even remember the five thousand and the five loaves, and how many basketfuls you carried away, nor the four thousand and the seven loaves, and how many hampers you carried away? How is it you do not understand that it was not about bread that I spoke to you, but beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Then they perceived that he had not warned them against bread yeast, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. When he arrived in the neighborhood of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus questioned his disciples. Who do people say that the Son of Man is? He asked. Some say John the Baptist, they replied. Others Elijah, others Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. But you, who do you say that I am? He asked again. You replied, Simon Peter, are the Christ, the Son of the ever living God? Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, said Jesus. For mere human nature has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven and I declare to you that you are Peter and that upon this rock I will build my church and the might of Hades shall not triumph over it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of the heavens and whatever you bind on earth shall remain bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth shall remain loosed in heaven. Then he urged his disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ. From this time Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer much cruelty from the elders and the high priests and the scribes and be put to death and on the third day be raised to life again. Then Peter took him aside and began taking him to task. Master, he said, God forbid, this will not be your lot. But he turned and said to Peter, Get behind me, adversary, you are a hindrance to me, because your thoughts are not God's thoughts but men's. Then Jesus said to his disciples, If anyone desires to follow me, let him renounce self and take up his cross and so be my follower, for whoever desires to save his life shall lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake shall find it. Why, what benefit will it be to a man if he gains the whole world but forfeits his life, or what shall a man give to buy back his life? For the Son of Man is soon to come in the glory of the Father with his angels, and then will he requite every man according to his actions. I solemnly tell you that some of those who are standing here will certainly not taste death till they have seen the Son of Man coming in his kingdom. Six days later Jesus took with him Peter and the brothers James and John and brought them up a high mountain to a solitary place. There in their presence his form underwent a change, his face shone like the sun, and his raiment became as white as the light, and suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them conversing with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, Master we are thankful to you that we are here, if you approve I will put up three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. He was still speaking when a luminous cloud spread over them, and a voice was heard from within the cloud which said, This is my Son, dearly beloved, in whom is my delight, listen to him. On hearing this voice the disciples fell on their faces and were filled with terror. But Jesus came and touched them and said, Rouse yourselves and have no fear. So they looked up and saw no one but Jesus. As they were descending the mountain Jesus laid a command upon them. Tell no one, he said, of the sight you have seen till the Son of Man has risen from among the dead. Why then, asked the disciples, do the scribes say that Elijah must come first? Elijah was indeed to come, he replied, and would reform everything. But I tell you that he has already come and they did not recognize him, but dealt with him as they chose, and before long the Son of Man will be treated by them in a similar way. Then it dawned upon the disciples that it was John the Baptist about whom he had spoken to them. When they had returned to the people, there came to him a man who fell on his knees before him and besought him. Sir, he said, Have pity on my son, for he is an epileptic and is very ill. Often he falls into the fire and often into the water. I have brought him to your disciples, and they have not been able to cure him. Oh, unbelieving and perverse generation, replied Jesus, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I endure you? Bring him to me. Then Jesus reprimanded the demon, and it came out and left him, and the boy was cured from that moment. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and asked him, Why could not we expel the demon? Because your faith is so small, he replied, for I solemnly declare to you that if you have faith like a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, Remove from this place to that, and it will remove, and nothing shall be impossible to you. But an evil spirit of this kind is only driven out by prayer and fasting. As they were traveling about in Galilee, Jesus said to them, The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will put him to death, but on the third day he will be raised to life again. And they were exceedingly distressed. After their arrival at Capernaum, the collectors of the half-shekel came and asked Peter, Does not your teacher pay the half-shekel? Yes, he replied, and then went into the house. But before he spoke a word, Jesus said, What think you, Simon? From whom do this world's kings receive customs or capitation tax? From their own children, or from others? From others, he replied, Then the children go free, said Jesus. However, lest we cause them to sin, go and throw a hook into the lake, and take the first fish that comes up. When you open its mouth, you will find a shekel in it. Bring that coin and give it to them for yourself and me. Chapter 18 Just then the disciples came to Jesus and asked, Who ranks higher than others in the kingdom of the heavens? So he called a young child to him, and bidding him stand in the midst of them, said, In solemn truth I tell you that unless you turn and become like little children, you will in no case be admitted into the kingdom of the heavens. Whoever therefore shall humble himself as this young child, he it is who is superior to others in the kingdom of the heavens. And whoever for my sake receives one young child such as this receives me. But whoever shall occasion the fall of one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for him to have a millstone hung round his neck, and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Alas for the world because of causes of falling, they cannot but come, but alas for each man through whom they come. If your hand or your foot is causing you to fall into sin, cut it off and away with it. It is better for you to enter into life crippled in hand or foot than to remain in possession of two sound hands or feet, but be thrown into the fire of the ages. And if your eye is causing you to fall into sin, tear it out and away with it. It is better for you to enter into life with only one eye than to remain in possession of two eyes, but be thrown into the Gehenna of fire. Beware of ever despising one of these little ones, for I tell you that in heaven their angels have continual access to my father who is in heaven. What do you yourselves think? Suppose a man gets a hundred sheep and one of them strays away. Will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go and look for the one that is straying? And if he succeeds in finding it, in solemn truth I tell you that he rejoices over it more than he does over the ninety-nine that have not gone a stray. Just so it is not the will of your father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost. If your brother acts wrongly towards you, go and point out his fault to him when only you and he are there. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not listen to you, go again and ask one or two to go with you that every word spoken may be attested by two or three witnesses. If he refuses to hear them appeal to the church, and if he refuses to hear even the church, regard him just as you regard a Gentile or a tax-gatherer. I solemnly tell you that whatever you as a church bind on earth will in heaven be held as bound, and whatever you loose on earth will in heaven be held to be loosed. I also solemnly tell you that if two of you here on earth agree together concerning anything whatever that they shall ask, the boon will come to them from my father who is in heaven, for where there are two or three assembled in my name, there am I in the midst of them. At this point Peter came to him with a question, Master, how often shall my brother act wrongly towards me and I forgive him seven times? I do not say seven times, answered Jesus, but seventy times seven times. For this reason the kingdom of the heavens may be compared to a king who determined to have a settlement of accounts with his servants, but as soon as he began the settlement, one was brought before him who owed ten thousand talents and was unable to pay, so his master ordered that he and his wife and children and everything that he had should be sold and payment be made. The servant therefore falling down prostrated himself at his feet and entreated him, only give me time, he said, and I will pay you the whole, whereupon his master touched with compassion, set him free and forgave him the debt, but no sooner had that servant gone out than he met with one of his fellow servants who owed him one hundred shillings and seizing him by the throat and nearly strangling him, he exclaimed, pay me all you owe. His fellow servant therefore fell at his feet and entreated him, only give me time, he said, and I will pay you. He would not, however, but went and threw him into prison until he should pay what was due. His fellow servants therefore, seeing what had happened, were exceedingly angry and they came and told their master without reserve all that had happened. At once his master called him and said, Wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt because you entreated me, ought not you also to have had pity on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you? So his master, greatly incensed, handed him over to the jailers until he should pay all he owed him. In the same way my heavenly Father will deal with you, if you do not all of you forgive one another from your hearts. CHAPTER 19 When Jesus had finished these discourses, he removed from Galilee and came into that part of Judea which lay beyond the Jordan, and a vast multitude followed him and he cured them there. Then came some of the Pharisees to him to put him to the proof by the question, Has a man a right to divorce his wife whenever he chooses? Have you not read, he replied, that he who made them made them from the beginning, male and female, and said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two shall be one? Thus they are no longer two, but one. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate. Why then, said they, did Moses command the husband to give her a written notice of divorce, and so put her away? Moses, he replied, In consideration of the hardness of your nature, permitted you to put away your wise, but it has not been so from the beginning. And I tell you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except her unfaithfulness, and marries another woman, commits adultery. If this is the case with a man in relation to his wife, said the disciples to him, it is better not to marry. It is not every man, he replied, who can receive this teaching, but only those on whom the grace has been bestowed. There are men who from their birth have been disabled from marriage, others who have been so disabled by men, and others who have disabled themselves for the sake of the kingdom of the heavens. He who is able to receive this, let him receive it. Then young children were brought to him for him to put his hands on them and pray, but the disciples interfered. Jesus, however, said, Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for it is to those who are childlike that the kingdom of the heavens belongs. So he laid his hands upon them and went away. Teacher, said one man, coming up to him, What that is good shall I do in order to win the life of the ages? Why do you ask me, he replied, About what is good? There is only one who is truly good. But if you desire to enter into life, keep the commandments. Which commandments, he asked, Jesus answered, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not lie in giving evidence, Honor thy father and thy mother, And Thou shalt love thy fellow man as much as thyself. All of these, said the young man, I have carefully kept. What do I still lack? If you desire to be perfect, replied Jesus, Go and sell all that you have, And give to the poor, And you shall have wealth in heaven, And come, follow me. On hearing those words the young man went away much cast down, For he had much property. So Jesus said to his disciples, I solemnly tell you that it is with difficulty that a rich man will enter the kingdom of the heavens. Yes, I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. These words utterly amazed the disciples, and they asked, Who then can be saved? Jesus looked at them and said, With men this is impossible. But with God everything is possible. Then Peter said to Jesus, See, we have forsaken everything and followed you, What then will be our reward? I solemnly tell you, replied Jesus, That in the new creation when the Son of Man has taken his seat on his glorious throne, All of you who have followed me shall also sit on twelve thrones And judge the twelve tribes of Israel. And whoever has forsaken houses, Or brothers or sisters, Or father or mother, Or children or lands, for my sake, Shall receive many times as much, And shall have as his inheritance the life of the ages. But many who are now first will be last, And many who are now last will be first. Chapter 20 For the kingdom of the heavens is like an employer who went out early in the morning To hire men to work in his vineyard, And having made an agreement with them for a shilling a day, sent them into his vineyard. About nine o'clock he went out and saw others loitering in the marketplace. To these also he said, You also go into the vineyard and whatever is right I will give you. So they went. Again about twelve and about three o'clock he went out and did the same. And going out about five o'clock he found others loitering, and he asked them, Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing? Because no one has hired us, they replied. You also go into the vineyard, he said. When evening came the master said to his steward, Call the men and pay them their wages, Begin with the last set and finish with the first. When those came who had begun at five o'clock, They received a shilling apiece, and when the first came, they expected to get more, But they also each got the shilling. So when they had received it, They grumbled against the employer, saying, These who came last have done only one hour's work, and you have put them on a level with us who have worked the whole day, and have borne the scorching heat. My friend, he answered to one of them, I am doing you no injustice. Did you not agree with me for a shilling? Take your money and go. I choose to give this last comer just as much as I give you. Have I not a right to do what I choose with my own property? Or are you envious because I am generous? So the last shall be first, and the first last. Jesus was now going up to Jerusalem, and he took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and on the way he said to them, We are going up to Jerusalem, and there the Son of Man will be betrayed to the high priests and scribes. They will condemn him to death, and hand him over to the Gentiles to be made sport of, and scourged and crucified, and on the third day he will be raised to life. Then the mother of the sons of Zabdi came to him with her sons, and knelt before him to make a request of him. What is it you desire? he asked. Command, she replied, that these my two sons may sit one at your right hand, and one at your left in your kingdom. None of you know what you are asking for, said Jesus. Can you drink out of the cup from which I am about to drink? We can, they replied. You shall drink out of my cup, he said, but a seat at my right hand or at my left it is not for me to allot, but it belongs to those for whom it has been prepared by my father. The other ten heard of this, and their indignation was aroused against the two brothers. But Jesus called to them and said, You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. Not so shall it be among you, but whoever desires to be great among you shall be your servant, and whoever desires to be first among you shall be your bond servant, just as the son of man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as the redemption price for many. As they were leaving Jericho, an immense crowd followed him. Two blind men sitting by the roadside heard that it was Jesus who was passing by, and cried aloud, Sir, son of David, pity us! The people angrily tried to silence them, but they cried all the louder, Oh, sir, son of David, pity us! they said. So Jesus stood still and called to them. What shall I do for you? he asked. Sir, let our eyes be opened, they replied. Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes, and immediately they regained their sight and followed him. Chapter 21 When they were come near Jerusalem, and had arrived at Bethphage and the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of the disciples on in front, saying to them, Go to the village you see facing you, and as you enter it you will find a she-ass tied up, and a foal with her, untie her, and bring them to me. And if anyone says anything to you, say, the master needs them, and he will at once send them. This took place in order that the prophet's prediction might be fulfilled. Tell the daughter of Zion, see thy king is coming to thee, gentle, and yet mounted on an ass, even on a colt the foal of a beast of burden. So the disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the she-ass and the foal, and threw their outer garments on them, so he sat on them. And most of the crowd kept spreading their garments along the road, while others kept branches from the trees and carpeted the road with them. And the multitudes, some of the people preceding him and some following, saying aloud, God save the son of David, blessings on him who comes in the Lord's name, God in the highest heavens, save him. When he thus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was thrown into commotion, everyone inquiring, who is this? This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth and Galilee, replied the crowds. Entering the temple, Jesus drove out all who were buying and selling there, and overturned the money-changers' tables and the seats of the pigeon-dealers. It is written, he said, my house shall be called the house of prayer, but you are making it a robbers' cave. And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he cured them. But when the high priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he had done and the children who were crying aloud in the temple, God save the son of David, they were filled with indignation. Do you hear, they ask him, what these children are saying? Yes, he replied, have you never read, out of the mouths of infants and of babes, at the breast thou hast brought forth the praise which is due? So he left them and went out of the city to Bethany and passed the night there. Early in the morning as he was on his way to return to the city he was hungry, and seeing a fig tree on the roadside he went up to it, but found nothing on it but leaves. On you, he said, no fruit shall ever again grow, and immediately the fig tree withered away. When the disciples sought, they exclaimed in astonishment, how instantaneously the fig tree has withered away. I solemnly tell you, said Jesus, that if you have an unwavering faith, you shall not only perform such a miracle as this of the fig tree, but that even if you say to this mountain, be thou lifted up and hurled into the sea, it shall be done. And everything, whatever it be, that you ask for in your prayers, if you have faith, you shall obtain. He entered the temple, and while he was teaching, the high priests and the elders of the people came to him and asked him, by what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority? And I also have a question to ask you, replied Jesus, and if you answer me, I in turn will tell you by what authority I do these things. John's baptism, once was it, had it a heavenly or a human origin? So they debated the matter among themselves. If we say a heavenly origin, they argued, he will say, why then did you not believe him? And if we say a human origin, we have the people to fear, for they all hold John to have been a prophet. So they answered Jesus, we do not know. Nor do I tell you, he replied, by what authority I do these things. But give me your judgment. There was a man who had two sons. He came to the elder of them and said, my son, go and work in the vineyard today. I will not, he replied. But afterwards he was sorry and went. He came to the second and spoke in the same manner. His answer was, I will go, sir. But he did not go. Which of the two did as his father desired? The first, they said, I solemnly tell you, replied Jesus, that the tax-gatherers and the notorious sinners are entering the kingdom of God in front of you, for John came to you observing all sorts of ritual and you put no faith in him. The tax-gatherers and the notorious sinners did put faith in him. And you, though you saw this example sent you, were not even afterwards sorry so as to believe him. Listen to another parable. There was a householder who planted a vineyard, made a fence round it, dug a wine-tank in it, and built a strong lodge, then let the place to vine-dressers and went abroad. When vintage time approached, he sent his servants to the vine-dressers to receive his share of the grapes. But the vine-dressers seized the servants and one they cruelly beat, one they killed, one they pelted with stones. Again he sent another party of servants more numerous than the first, and these they treated in the same manner. Later still he sent to them his son, saying, They will respect my son. But the vine-dressers, when they saw the son, said to one another, Here is the heir, Come, let us kill him and get his inheritance. So they seized him, dragged him out of the vineyard and killed him. When then the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-dressers? He will put the wretches to a wretched death, was the reply, and will entrust the vineyard to other vine-dressers who will render the produce to him at the vintage season. Have you never read in the scriptures, said Jesus? The stone which the builders rejected has been made the cornerstone. This cornerstone came from the Lord and is wonderful in our eyes. That, I tell you, is the reason why the kingdom of God will be taken away from you, and given to a nation that will exhibit the power of it. He who falls on this stone will be severely hurt, but he on whom it falls will be utterly crushed. After listening to his parables, the high priests and the Pharisees perceived that he was speaking about them, but though they were eager to lay hands upon him, they were afraid of the people, for by them he was regarded as a prophet. The end of chapters 15 through 21 of the Gospel according to Matthew from the Weymouth New Testament in modern speech. Recording by Mark Penfold