 Chapter 1 of the Gospel according to Matthew, American Standard Version. This is the LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information and to find out how you can volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Sam Stinson, by hisfaith.com. Chapter 1. The Book of the Generation of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham. Abraham begat Isaac and Isaac begat Jacob, and Jacob begat Judah and his brethren. In Judah begat Perez in Zirah of Tamar, and Perez begat Hezren, and Hezren begat Ram, and Ram begat Amenadab, and Amenadab begat Nashon, and Nashon begat Salman, and Salman begat Boaz of Rahab, and Boaz begat Obed of Ruth, and Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David the King. And David begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Uriah, and Solomon begat Rehoboam, and Rehoboam begat Abijah, and Abijah begat Asa, and Asa begat Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat begat Joram, and Joram begat Uzziah, and Uzziah begat Joffam, and Joffam begat Ahaz, and Ahaz begat Hezekiah, and Hezekiah begat Manasseh, and Manasseh begat Amon, and Amon begat Josiah, and Josiah begat Jechaniah, and his brethren at the time of the carrying away to Babylon. And after the carrying away to Babylon, Jechaniah begat Shaaltiel, and Shaaltiel begat Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel begat Abiyod, and Abiyod begat Eliakim, and Eliakim begat Azor, and Azor begat Sadaq, and Sadaq begat Akim, and Akim begat Eliud, and Eliad begat Eleazar, and Eleazar begat Mathan, and Mathan begat Jacob, and Jacob begat Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, and from David unto the carrying away to Babylon fourteen generations, and from carrying away to Babylon unto the Christ fourteen generations. Now, the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. And Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But when he thought on these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary, thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit, and she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus, for it is he that shall save his people from their sins. Now 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 being interpreted God with us. And Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took unto him his wife, and knew her not till she had brought forth a Son, and he called his name Jesus. End of chapter 1. Chapter 2 of the Gospel According to Matthew, American Standard Version. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information and to find out how you can volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Sam Stinson, by hisfaith.com. Chapter 2. Now, when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the King, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the East, and are come to worship him. And when Herod the King heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ should be born. And they said unto him, And Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written through the prophet. And thou Bethlehem, land of Judah, art in no wise least among the princes of Judah. For out of these shall come forth a governor, who shall be shepherd of my people Israel. Then Herod privily called the wise men, and learned of them exactly what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search out exactly concerning the young child. And when ye have found him, bring me word that I also may come and worship him. And they, having heard the King, went their way, and lo, the star, which they saw on the East, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And they came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother. And they fell down and worshiped him. And opening their treasures they offered unto him gifts, gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. Now when they were departed, behold an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, O rise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I tell thee, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. And he arose and took the young 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 prophet, saying, Out of Egypt did I call my son. Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding Roth, and sent forth, and slew all the male children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had exactly learned of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken through Jeremiah, the prophet, saying, A voice was heard in Rehma, weeping in great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be comforted because they are not. But when Herod was dead, behold an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, Arise and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel, for they are dead, that sought the young child's life. And he arose and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Arkelus was reigning over Judea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither, and being warned of God in a dream, he withdrew into the parts of Galilee, and came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets, that he should be called a Nazarene. Chapter three of the Gospel according to Matthew, American standard version. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information and to find out how you can volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org, recording by Sam Stinson, by his faith.com. Chapter three. And in those days cometh John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of through Isaiah the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, make ye ready the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Now John himself had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leather and girdle about his loins, and his food was locus and wild honey. Then went out unto him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the regent round about the Jordan, and they were baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees in Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said unto them, Ye off spring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of repentance, and think not to say within yourselves, we have Abraham to our Father, for I say unto you that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham, and even now the axe lieth at the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you in water unto repentance, but he that cometh after me is my dear than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear. He shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire, whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor, and he will gather his wheat into the garner, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire. Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan unto John to be baptized of him. But John would have hindered him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and cometh thou to me. But Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it now, for thus it be cometh us to fulfill all righteousness, then he suffereth him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway from the water, and lo, the heavens were opened unto him. And he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him, and lo, a voice out of the heavens, saying, This is my beloved Son, and whom I am well pleased. End of chapter 3. Chapter 4 of the Gospel according to Matthew, American Standard Version. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information and to find out how you can volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org, recording by Sam Stinson, by his faith.com. Chapter 4. Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted 40 days and 40 nights, he afterward hungered. And the tempter came and said unto him, If thou art the Son of God, command that these stones become bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil taketh him into the holy city, and he set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto him, If thou art the Son of God, cast thyself down, for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee, and on their hands they shall bear thee up, lest happily thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, Again it is written, Thou shalt not make trial of the Lord thy God. Again the devil taketh him unto an exceeding, high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them. And he said unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence Satan, for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shall thou serve. Then the devil leaveeth him, and behold, angels came and ministered unto him. Now when he heard that John was delivered up, he withdrew unto 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, toward the sea beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people that sat in darkness saw great light, and to them that sat in the region and shadow of death, to them did light spring up. From that time began Jesus to preach and to say, Repent ye for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. And walking by the sea of Galilee he saw two brethren, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea, for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left the nets and followed him. And going on from Thence he saw two other brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. And they straightway left the boat and their father, and followed him. And Jesus went about in all Galilee teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing, all manner of disease, and all manner of sickness among the people. And the report of him went forth into all Syria, and they brought unto him all that were sick, holdent with diverse diseases and torments, possessed with demons and epileptic, and palsied, and he healed them. And there followed him great multitudes from Galilee, and Decapolis, and Jerusalem, and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan. End of chapter four. Chapter five of the gospel according to Matthew, American standard version. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information and to find out how you can volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Sam Stinson, by his faith.com. Chapter five. And seeing the multitudes, he went up into the mountain, and when he had sat down, his disciples came unto him, and he opened his mouth and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are they that have been persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when men shall reproach you and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so persecuted they the prophets that were before you. Ye are the salt of the earth, but if the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world, a city set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a lamp and put it under the bushel, but on the stand, and it shineth unto all that are in the house. Even so 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 unto you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jaunt or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whosoever shall do, and teach them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven. Ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, thou shalt not kill, and whosoever shall kill, shall be in danger of the judgment. But I say unto you, that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment, and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raqqa shall be in danger of the council, and whosoever shall say thou fool, shall be in danger of the hell of fire. If therefore thou art offering thy gift at the altar, and there remembers that thy brother hath ought against thee, leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way, first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Agree with thine adversary quickly, while thou art with him in the way, lest happily the adversary deliver thee to the judge. And the judge delivered thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee, thou shalt by no means come out vence till thou have paid the last farthing. Ye have heard that it was said, thou shalt not commit adultery. But I say unto you, that everyone that looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye causeth thee to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from thee. For it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish and not thy whole body to be cast into hell. And if thy right hand causeth thee to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from thee. For it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish and not thy whole body go into hell. It was said also, whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement. But I say unto you, that everyone that put it away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, maketh her an adulteress, and whosoever shall marry her, when she is put away, commiteth adultery. Again ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths. But I say unto you, swear not at all, neither by the heaven, for it is the throne of God, nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet, nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great king. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, for thou canst not make one hair white or black, but let your speech be yea, yea, nay, nay, and whatsoever is more than these is of the evil one. Ye have heard that it was said, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, but I say unto you, resist not him that is evil, but whosoever smighteth thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man would go to law with thee, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also, and whosoever shall compel thee to go one mile, go with him too. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee, turn not thou away. Ye have heard that it was said, thou shalt love thine neighbor and hate thine enemy, but I say unto you, love your enemies, and pray for them that persecute you, that ye may be sons of your Father who is in heaven, for he maketh his son to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust, for if ye love them that love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? Do not even the Gentiles the same? Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. End of chapter 5. Chapter 6 of the Gospel according to Matthew, American Standard Version. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information and to find out how you can volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org, recording by Sam Stinson, by hisfaith.com. Chapter 6. Take heed that ye do not your righteousness before men, to be seen of them, else ye have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. When therefore thou doest alms, sound not 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 unto you, they have received their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth, that thine alms may be in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret shall recompense thee. And when ye pray, ye shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have received their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thine inner chamber, and having shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret shall recompense thee. And in praying, use not vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do, for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not therefore like unto them, for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray, ye. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, as in heaven so on earth. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And bring us not unto temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. 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. Moreover, when ye fast, be not as the hypocrites of a sad countenance, for they disfigure their faces that they may be seen of men to fast. Verily I say unto you, they have received their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thy head and wash thy face, that thou be not seen of men to fast, but of thy Father who is in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret shall recompense thee. Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon 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 doth consume, and where thieves do not break through nor steal, for where thy treasure is, there will thy heart be also. The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is the darkness. No man can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I say unto you, be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink, nor yet for your body what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than the food and the body than the raiment? Behold the birds of the heaven that they so not, neither did they reap nor gather into barns, and your heavenly Father feedeth them, are not ye of much more value than they? In which of you by being anxious can add one cubit unto the measure of his life? And why are ye anxious concerning raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow, they toil not, neither do they spin. Yet I say unto you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God doth so clothe the grass of the field, which today is and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, oh ye of little faith? Be not therefore anxious, sing, what shall we eat or what shall we drink, or wherewithal shall we be clothed? For after all these things do the Gentiles seek, for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. Be not therefore anxious for the morrow, for the morrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. LibriVox.org Recording by Sam Stinson by hisfaith.com Chapter 7 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 unto you. And why beholdest thou the moat that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, let me cast out the moat out of thine eye, and lo, the beam is in thine own eye? Thou, hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the moat out of thy brother's eye. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast your pearls before the swine, lest happily they trample them under 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 unto you, for everyone that asketh receiveth, and he that seeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, who if his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone, or if he shall ask for a fish, will give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? All things therefore whatsoever ye would, that men should do unto you, even so do ye also unto them, for this is the law and the prophets. Enter ye in by the narrow gate, for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby. For narrow is the gate, and straightened the way that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it. Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. By their fruits ye shall know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so, every good tree bringeth forth good fruit. But the corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire. Therefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. But he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophecy by thy name, and by thy name cast out demons, and by thy name do many mighty works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you, depart from me ye that work iniquity. Everyone therefore that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man who built his house upon the rock. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house. And it fell not, for it was founded upon the rock. And everyone that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man who built his house upon the sand. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and smote upon that house. And it fell, and great was the fall thereof. And it came to pass when Jesus had finished these words. The multitudes were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes. End of chapter 7 Chapter 8 of the Gospel according to Matthew, American Standard Version This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information and to find out how you can volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. And behold, there came to him a leper, and worshiped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And he stretched forth his hand and touched him, saying, I will, be thou made clean. In straight way his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man, but go, show thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded for a testimony unto them. And when he was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, and saying, Lord, my servant Lyeth in the house, sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And he saith unto him, I will come and heal him. And the centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldst come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having under myself soldiers. And I say to this one, go, and he goeth. And to another, come, and he cometh. And to my servant, do this, and he doeth it. And when Jesus heard it, he marveled and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And I say unto you that many shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom shall be cast forth into the outer darkness. There shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way, as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And the servant was healed in that hour. And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother lying sick of a fever. And he touched her hand and the fever left her. And she arose and ministered unto him. And when even was come, they brought unto him many 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 bear our diseases. Now, when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side. And there came a scribe and said unto him, Teacher, I will follow thee wither so ever thou goest. And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the heaven have nests. But the son of man hath not wear to lay his head. And another of the disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. But Jesus saith unto him, follow me and leave the dead to bury their own dead. And when he was entered into a boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, and so much that the boat was covered with the waves. But he was asleep. And they came to him and awoke him, saying, Save, Lord, we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, oh ye of little faith? Then he arose and 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 was come to the other side and to the country of the Gadarenes, there met him too possessed with demons, coming forth out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man could pass by that way. And behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, thou son of God? Art thou come hither to torment us before the time? Now there was afar 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 unto them, Go. And they came out and went into the swine, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep into the sea, and perished in the waters. And they that fed them fled, and went away into the city, and told everything, and what was befallen to them that were possessed with demons. And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart from their borders. Chapter 9 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 hath authority on earth to forgive sins, then saith he to the sick of the palsy, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go unto thy house. And he arose, and departed to his house. But when the multitudes saw it, they were afraid, and glorified God, who had given such authority unto men. And as Jesus passed by from thence, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the place of toll, and he saith unto him, Follow me, and he arose and followed him. And it came to pass, as he sat at meet in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your teacher with the publicans and sinners? But when he heard it, he said, They that are whole have no need of a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what this meaneth. I desire mercy and not sacrifice, for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners. Then come to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said unto them, Can the sons of the bride chamber mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then will they fast. And no man puteth a piece of undressed cloth upon an old garment, for that which should fill it up, taketh from the garment, and a worse rent is made. Neither do men put new wine into old wine skins, else the skins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the skins perish, but they put new wine into fresh wine skins, and both are preserved. While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a ruler and worshiped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead, but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. And Jesus arose and followed him, and so did his disciples. And behold, a woman who had an issue of blood, twelve years, came behind him, and touched the border of his garment. For she said within herself, If I do but touch his garment, I shall be made whole. But Jesus, turning and seeing her, said, Daughter, be of good cheer, thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour. And when Jesus came into the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a tumult, he said, Give place, for the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. But when the crowd was put forth, he entered in and took her by the hand, and the damsel arose, and the fame hereof went forth into all that land. And as Jesus passed by from thence, two blind men followed him, crying out and saying, Have mercy on us, thou son of David. And when he was coming to the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this. They say unto him, Ye Lord, then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith, be it done unto you. And their eyes were opened, and Jesus strictly charged them, saying, See that no man know it. But they went forth and spread abroad his fame in all that land. And as they went forth, behold, there was brought to him a dumb man possessed with a demon. And when the demon was cast out, the dumb man spake, and the multitudes marveled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel. But the Pharisees said, By the prince of the demons casteth, he out demons. And Jesus went about all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of disease, and all manner of sickness. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were distressed and scattered as sheep not having a shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest indeed is plenteous, but the laborers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send forth laborers, and to his harvest. End of chapter 9. Chapter 10 of the gospel, according to Matthew, American Standard Version. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, and to find out how you can volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Sam Stinson, by hisfaith.com. Chapter 10. And he called unto him his 12 disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of disease, and all manner of sickness. Now, the names of the 12 apostles are these. The 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 Thaddeus, Simon the Canaanian, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. These 12 Jesus sent forth, and charged them saying, Go not into any way of the Gentiles, and enter not into any city of the Samaritans, 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 the lepers, cast out demons. Freely ye received, freely give. Get you no gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, no wallet for your journey, neither two coats, nor shoes, nor staff, for the laborer is worthy of his food. And into whatsoever city or village ye shall enter. Search out who in it is worthy, and there abide till ye go forth. And as ye enter 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 whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words. As ye go forth out of that house or that city, shake off the dust of your feet. Verily I say unto 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 ye therefore wisest serpents and harmless as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils, and in their synagogues they will scourge you. Ye, and before governors and kings, shall ye be brought for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, be not anxious 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 speaketh in you. And brother shall deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children shall rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my namesake, but he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved. But when they persecute you in this city, flee into the next, for verily I say unto you, ye shall not have gone through the cities of Israel till the Son of man become. A disciple is not above his teacher, nor servant above his Lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his teacher, and the servant as his Lord. If they have called the master of the house be Elzabab, how much more them 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 tell you in the darkness, speak ye in the light, and what ye hear in the ear, proclaim upon the housetops, and be not afraid of them that 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 two sparrows sold for a penny, and not one of them shall 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 confess me before men, him will I also confess before my Father who is in heaven, but whosoever 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, I came not to send peace, but a sword, for I came to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, and a man's foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me, and he that doth not take his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it, and he that loveth his life for my sake shall find it. He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward, and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward, and whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only, and the name of a disciple verily I say unto you he shall in no wise lose his reward. End of chapter 10 Chapter 11 of The Gospel According to Matthew, American Standard Version This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information and to find out how you can volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org, recording by Sam Stinson, by hisfaith.com. Chapter 11 And it came to pass when Jesus had finished commanding his twelve disciples. He departed thence to teach and preach in their cities. Now, when John heard in the prison the works of the Christ, he sent by his disciples and said unto him, art thou he that cometh, or look we for another? And Jesus answered and said unto them, go and tell John the things which ye hear and see. The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good tidings preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall find no occasion of stumbling in me. And as these went their way, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, what went ye out into the wilderness to behold? A reed shaken with the wind. But what went ye out to see? A man clothed in soft raiment. Behold, they that wear soft raiment are in king's houses. But wherefore went ye out to see a prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet, this is he of whom it is written, behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee. Verily I say unto you, among them that are born of women, there hath not arisen a greater than John the Baptist. Yet he that is but little in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. And from the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and men of violence take it by force. For all the prophets in the law prophesied until John. And if ye are willing to receive it, this is Elijah that is to come. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. But wherein to shall I liken this generation? It is liken to children sitting in the marketplaces who call unto their fellows and say, we piped unto you and ye did not dance. We wailed and ye did not mourn. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, he hath a demon. The son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, behold, a gluttonous man and a wine-biber, a friend of publicans and sinners, and wisdom is justified by her works. Then began he to upgrade the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not. Woe unto thee, Corazin! Woe unto thee, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which were done in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. And thou, Capernaum, shalt thou be exalted unto heaven, thou shalt go down unto Hades. For if the mighty works had been done in Sodom, which were done in thee, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for thee. At that season, Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou didst hide these things from the wise and understanding, and didst reveal them unto babes. Yea, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in thy sight. All things have been delivered unto me of my Father, and no one knoweth the Son save the Father. Neither doth any know the Father save the Son. And he, to whomsoever the Son willeth to reveal him, come unto me, all ye that labor in our heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light. End of chapter 11. Chapter 12 of the Gospel according to Matthew, American Standard Version. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information and to find out how you can volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org, recording by Sam Stinson by hisfaith.com. At that season, Jesus went on the Sabbath day through the grain fields, and his disciples were hungry and began to pluck ears and to eat. But the Pharisees, when they saw it, said unto him, Behold thy disciples, do that which it is not lawful to do upon the Sabbath. But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did when he was hungry, and they that were with him, how he entered into the house of God, and ate the showbread which it was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them that were with him, but only for the priests? Or have ye not read in the law that on the Sabbath day, the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? But I say unto you that one greater than the temple is here. But if ye had known what this meaneth, I desire mercy and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath. And he departed thence and went into their synagogue, and behold, a man having a withered hand. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath day? That they might accuse him. And he said unto them, What man shall there be of you that shall have one sheep? And if this fall into a pit on the Sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it and lifted out? How much then is a man of more value than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath day. And saith he to the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he stretched it forth, and it was restored whole as the other. But the Pharisees went out and took counsel against him how they might destroy him. And Jesus perceiving it withdrew from thence, and many followed him, and he healed them all, and 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 have chosen, my beloved in whom my soul is well pleased, I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall declare judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not strive nor cry aloud, neither shall any one hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall he not break. And smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory, and in his name shall the Gentiles hope. Then was brought unto him one possessed with a demon, blind and dumb, and he healed him, and so much that the dumb man spake and saw. And all the multitudes were amazed, and said, Can this be the son of David? But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This man doth not cast out demons, but by Beelzebub, the prince of the demons, and knowing their thoughts, he said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand. And if Satan casts it out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then shall his kingdom stand? And if I by Beelzebub cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore shall they be your judges. But if I by the Spirit of God cast out demons, then is the kingdom of God come upon you. Or how can one enter into the house of the strong man and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? And then he will spoil his house. He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. Therefore I say unto you, Every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him. But whosoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall 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 the tree is known by its fruit. Ye offspring of vipers, how can ye being evil speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. The good man out of his good treasure bringeth forth good things, and the evil man out of his evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. And I say unto you that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, Teacher, we would see a sign from thee. But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign, and there shall no sign 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 whale, so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh shall stand up in the judgment with this generation and shall condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, a greater than Jonah is here. The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation and shall condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, a greater than Solomon is here. But the unclean spirit, when he is gone out of the man, passeth through waterless places, seeking rest, and findeth it not? Then he saith, I will return into my house once I came out, and when he has come, he findeth it empty, swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter and indwell there, and the last state of that man becomeeth worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this evil generation. While he was yet speaking to the multitudes, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without seeking to speak to him, and once said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without seeking to speak to thee. But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother, and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples and said, Behold, my mother and my brethren, for whosoever shall do the will of my Father, who is in heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother. On that day went Jesus out of the house and sat by the seaside, and there were gathered unto him great multitudes so that he entered into a boat and sat, and all the multitudes stood on the beach. And he spake to them many things and parables, saying, Behold, the sower went forth to sow, and as he sowed, some seeds fell by the wayside, and the birds came and devoured them, and others fell upon the rocky places where they had not much earth, and straightway they sprang up, because they had no deepness of earth, and when the sun was risen, they were scorched, and because they had no root, they withered away, and others fell upon the thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them, and others fell upon the good ground and yielded fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He that hath ears, let him hear. And the disciples came and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? And he answered and said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have abundance, but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away, even that which he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables, because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And unto them it is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand, and seeing ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive. For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest happily they should perceive with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should turn again, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears for they hear, for verily I say unto you, that many prophets and righteous men desired to see the things which ye see, and saw them not, and to hear the things which ye hear, and heard them not. Here then ye the parable of the sower, when anyone heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the evil one, and snatcheth away, that which hath been sown in his heart. This is he that was sown by the wayside, and he that was sown upon the rocky places, this is he that heareth the word, and straightway with joy receiveth it, yet hath he not root in himself, but endureth for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, straightway he stumbleeth, and he that was sown among the thorns, this is he that heareth the word, and the care of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becomeeth unfruitful, and he that was sown upon the good ground, this is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it, who verily beareth fruit, and bringeth forth some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Another parable set he before them, saying, the kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man that sowed good seed in his field, but while men slept his enemy came and sowed tares also among the wheat, and went away, but when the blade sprang up and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also, and the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? Once then hath it tares, and he said unto them, an enemy hath done this, and the servants say unto him, wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he sayeth, nay, lest happily while ye gather up the tares, ye root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the time of the harvest, I will say to the reapers, gather up first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn. Another parable set he before them, saying, the kingdom of heaven is likened to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is less than all seeds, but when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs, and becomeeth a tree, so that the birds of the heaven come and lodge in the branches thereof. Another parable spake he unto them, the kingdom of heaven is likened to leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till it was all leavened. All these things spake Jesus and parables unto the multitudes, and without a parable spake he nothing unto them, that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken through the prophets, saying, I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world. Then he left the multitudes and went into the house, and his disciples came unto him, saying, explain unto us the parable of the tares of the field. And he answered and said, he that soweth the good seed as the son of man, and the field is the world, and the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom, and the tares are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy that sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the world, and the reapers are angels. As therefore the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be in the end of the world. The son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and them that do iniquity, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire. There shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the son and the kingdom of their father. He that hath ears let him hear. The kingdom of heaven is like unto a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid, and in his joy he goeth and selleth all that he hath, and bieth that field. Again the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is 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 unto a net that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind, which when it was filled they drew up on the beach, and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels. But the bad they cast away, so shall it be in the end of the world. The angels shall come forth and sever the wicked from among the righteous, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire. There shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yay! And he said unto them, therefore every scribe who hath been made a disciple to the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a householder who bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old. And it came to pass when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence. And coming into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, and so much that they were astonished and said, Once hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works. Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary, and his brethren James and Joseph and Simon and Judas, and his sisters? Are they not all with us? Once then hath this man all these things. And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honor save in his own country and in his own house. And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief. End of chapter 13 Chapter 14 of the Gospel according to Matthew, American Standard Version This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information and to find out how you can volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org recording by Sam Stinson, by hisfaith.com Chapter 14 At that season, Herod the tetrarch heard the report concerning Jesus and said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist. He is risen from the dead and therefore do these powers work in him. For Herod had laid hold on John and bound him and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her. And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude because they counted him as a prophet. But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced in the midst and pleased Herod, whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she should ask. And she, being put forward by her mother, Seath, give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist. And the king was grieved, but for the sake of his oaths and of them that sat at meet 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 given to the damsel. And she brought it to her mother. And his disciples came and took up the corpse and buried him. And they went and told Jesus. Now when Jesus heard it, he withdrew from thence in a boat to a desert place apart. And when the multitudes heard thereof, they followed him on foot from the cities. And he came forth and saw a great multitude. And he had compassion on them and healed their sick. And when even was come, the disciples came to him saying, the place is desert and the time is already past. Send the multitudes away that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food. But Jesus said unto them, they have no need to go away. Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, we have here but five loaves and two fishes. And he said, bring them hither to me. And he commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And he took the five loaves and the two fishes and looking up to heaven. He blessed and break and gave the loaves to the disciples and the disciples to the multitudes. And they all ate and were filled. And they took up that which remained over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. And they that did eat were about five thousand men besides women and children. And straightway, he constrained the disciples to enter into the boat and to go before him unto the other side till he should send the multitudes away. And after he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into the mountain apart to pray. And when even was come, he was there alone. But the boat was now in the midst of the sea distressed by the waves for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night, he came unto them walking upon the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled saying, It is a ghost. And they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them saying, Be of good cheer. It is I. Be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, If it be thou, bid me come unto thee upon the waters. And he said, Come. And Peter went down from the boat and walked upon the waters to come to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and beginning to sink, he cried out saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand and took hold of him and saith unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they were gone up into the boat, the wind ceased. And they that were in the boat worshiped him saying, Of a truth, thou art the Son of God. And when they had crossed over, they came to the land unto Gennesaret. And when the men of that place knew him, they sent into all that region round about and brought unto him all that were sick. And they besought him that they might only touch the border of his garment. And as many as touched were made whole. End of chapter 14. Chapter 15 of the Gospel according to Matthew, American Standard Version. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information and to find out how you can volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Sam Stinson by hisfaith.com. Chapter 15. Then there come to Jesus from Jerusalem Pharisees and scribes saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they wash not their hands when they eat bread. And he answered and sent unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? For God said, Honor thy father and thy mother, And he that speaketh evil of father or mother let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, That wherewith thou mightest have been profited by me is given to God. He shall not honor his father, And ye have made void the word of God because of your tradition. Ye hypocrites, Well did Isaiah prophecy of you saying, This people honoreth me with their lips, But their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship me, teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men. And he called to him the multitude and said unto them, Hear and understand, Not that which enters into the mouth defileeth the man, but that which proceedeth out of the mouth, this defileeth the man. Then came the disciples and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying? But he answered and said, Every plant which my heavenly father planted not shall be rooted up. Let them alone, they are blind guides, and if the blind guide the blind, both shall fall into a pit. And Peter answered and said unto him, Declare unto us the parable. And he said, Are ye also even yet without understanding? Perceive ye not that whatsoever goeth into the mouth, passeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But the things which proceed out of the mouth come forth out of the heart, and they defile the man. For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, railings. These are the things which defile the man, but to eat with unwashed hands defileeth not the man. And Jesus went out thence, and withdrew into the parts of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanidish woman came out from those borders and cried, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David, my daughter is grievously vexed with a demon. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away, for she cried after us. But he answered and said, I was not sent, but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. But she came and worshiped him, saying, Lord, help me. And he answered and said, It is not meat to take the children's bread and cast it to the dogs. But she said, Ye Lord, for even the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their master's table. Then Jesus answered and sent unto her, O woman, great is thy faith. Be it done unto thee, even as thou wilt. And her daughter was healed from that hour. And Jesus departed thence and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee. And he went up into the mountain and sat there. And there came unto him great multitudes having with them the lame, blind, dumb, maimed and many others. And they cast them down at his feet and he healed them. In so much that the multitude wondered when they saw the dumb speaking, the maimed whole, and the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel. And Jesus called unto him his disciples and said, I have compassion on the multitude because they continue with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I would not send them away fasting lest happily they faint on the way. And the disciples said unto him, once should we have so many loaves in a desert place as to fill so great a multitude? And Jesus said unto them, how many loaves have ye? And they said, seven and a few small fishes. And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves and the fishes and he gave thanks and break and gave to the disciples. And the disciples to the multitudes. And they all ate and were filled. And they took up that which remained over of the broken pieces, seven baskets full. And they that did eat were four thousand men besides women and children. And he sent away the multitudes and entered into the boat and came into the borders of Magadan. End of chapter 15. Chapter 16 of the Gospel according to Matthew, American Standard Version. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information and to find out how you can volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org recording by Sam Stinson by hisfaith.com. Chapter 16. And the Pharisees and Sadducees came and trying him asked him to show them a sign from heaven. But he answered and said unto them, When in his evening ye say it will be fair weather for the heaven is red. And in the morning it will be foul weather today for the heaven is red and lowering. Ye know how to discern the face of the heaven but ye cannot discern the signs of the times. An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign and there shall no sign be given unto it but the sign of Jonah. And he left them and departed. And the disciples came to the other side and forgot to take bread. And Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. And they reasoned among themselves saying, We took no bread. And Jesus perceiving it said, Oh ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves because ye have no bread? Do ye not yet perceive neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets ye took up? Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many baskets ye took up? How is it that ye do not perceive that I spake not to you concerning bread but beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees? Then understood they that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciple saying who do men say that the son of man is? And they said some say John the Baptist some Elijah and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets he saith unto them but who say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said Thou art the Christ the son of the living God and Jesus answered and sent unto him Blessed art thou Simon Barjona for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee but my Father who is in heaven and I also say unto thee that thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven and whatsoever thou shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever thou shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven Then charged he the disciples that they should tell no man that he was the Christ From that time began Jesus to show unto his disciples that he must go unto Jerusalem and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed and the third day be raised up and Peter took him and began to rebuke him saying Be it far from thee Lord this shall never be unto thee but he turned and sent unto Peter Get thee behind me Satan Thou art a stumbling block unto me for thou mine is not the things of God but the things of men Then said Jesus unto his disciples If any man would come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me for whosoever would save his life shall lose it and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it for what shall a man be profited if he shall gain the whole world and forfeit his life or what shall a man give in exchange for his life for the son of man shall come in the glory of his father with his angels and then shall he render unto every man according to his deeds Verily I say unto you there are some of them that stand here who shall in no wise taste of death till they see the son of man coming in his kingdom End of chapter 16 Chapter 17 of the Gospel According to Matthew American Standard Version This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information and to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Sam Stinson by his faith.com Chapter 17 And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter and James and John his brother and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart and he was transfigured before them and his face did shine as the sun and his garments became white as the light and behold there appeared unto them Moses and Elijah talking with him and Peter answered and sent unto Jesus Lord it is good for us to be here if thou wilt I will make here three tabernacles 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 when the disciples heard it they fell on their face and were so afraid and Jesus came and touched them and said arise and be not afraid and lifting up their eyes they saw no one save Jesus only and as they were coming down from the mountain Jesus commanded them saying tell the vision to no man until the son of man be risen from the dead and his disciples asked him saying why then say the scribes that Elijah must first come and he answered and said Elijah indeed cometh and shall restore all things but I say unto you that Elijah is come already and they knew him not but did unto him whatsoever they would even so shall the son of man also suffer of them then understood the disciples that he spake unto them of John the Baptist and when they were coming to the multitude there came to him a man kneeling to him and saying Lord have mercy on my son for he is epileptic and suffereth grievously for off times he falleth into the fire and off times into the water and I brought him to thy disciples and they could not cure him and Jesus answered and 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 of him and the boy was cured from that hour then came the disciples to Jesus apart and said why could not we cast it out and he saith unto them because of your little faith for verily I say unto you if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed ye shall say unto this mountain remove hence to yonder place and it shall remove and nothing shall be impossible unto you and while they abode in Galilee Jesus said unto them the son of man shall be delivered up into the hands of men and they shall kill him and the third day he shall be raised up and they were exceeding sorry and when they were come to Capernaum they that received the half shekel came to Peter and said doth not your teacher pay the half shekel he saith yay and when he came into the house Jesus spake first to him saying what thinkest thou Simon the kings of the earth from whom do they receive toll or tribute from their sons or from strangers and when he said from strangers Jesus said unto him therefore the sons are free but lest we cause them to stumble go thou to the sea and cast a hook and take up the fish that first cometh up and when thou hast opened his mouth thou shall find a shekel that take and give unto them for me and thee and of chapter 17 Chapter 18 of the Gospel according to Matthew American Standard Version this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information and to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Sam Stinson by his faith.com Chapter 18 In that hour came the disciples unto Jesus saying who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven and he called to him a little child and set him in the midst of them and said verily I say unto you except ye turn and become as little children ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven and whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me but whoso shall cause one of these little ones that believe on me to stumble it is profitable for him that a great millstone should be hanged about his neck and that he should be sunk in the depth of the sea woe unto the world because of occasions of stumbling for it must needs be that the occasions come but woe to that man through whom the occasion cometh and if thy hand or thy foot causeth thee to stumble cut it off and cast it from thee it is good for thee to enter into life maimed or halt rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the eternal fire and if thine eye causeth thee to stumble pluck it out and cast it from thee it is good for thee to enter into life with one eye rather than having two eyes to be cast into the hell of fire see that ye despise not one of these little ones for I say unto you that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my father who is in heaven how think ye if any man have a hundred sheep and one of them be gone astray doth he not leap the ninety and nine and go unto the mountains and seek that which goeth astray and if so be that he find it verily I say unto you he rejoiceth over it more than over the ninety and nine which have not gone astray even so it is not the will of your father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish and if thy brother sin against thee go show him his fault between thee and him alone if he hear thee thou hast gained thy brother but if he hear thee not take with thee one or two more that at the mouth of two witnesses or three every word may be established and if he refuse to hear them tell it unto the church and if he refuse to hear the church also let him be unto thee as the Gentile and the Publican verily I say unto you what things soever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and what things soever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven again I say unto you that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask it shall be done for them of 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 came Peter and said to him Lord how off shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him until seven times Jesus saith unto him I say not unto thee until seven times but until 70 times seven therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king who would make a reckoning with his servants and when he had begun to reckon one was brought unto him that owed him 10,000 talents but for as much as he had not wherewith 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 fell down and worshiped him saying Lord have patience with me and I will pay thee all and the Lord of that servant being 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 shillings and he laid hold on him and took him by the throat saying pay what thou o'est so 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 that which was due so when his fellow servant saw what was done they were exceeding sorry and came and told unto their Lord all that was done then his Lord called him unto him and saith to him thou wicked servant I forgave thee all that debt because thou besoughtest me should as not thou also have had mercy on thy fellow servant even as I had mercy on thee and his Lord was wroth and delivered him to the tormentors till he should pay all that was due so shall also my heavenly Father do unto you if ye forgive not every one his brother from your hearts and of chapter 18 chapter 19 of the gospel according to Matthew American Standard Version this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information and to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Sam Stinson by his faith.com chapter 19 and it came to pass when Jesus had finished these words 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 there came unto him Pharisees trying him and saying is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause and he answered and said 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 his father and mother and shall cleave to his wife and the two shall become one flesh so that they are no more two but one flesh what therefore God hath joined together let not man put us under they say unto him why then did Moses command to give a bill of divorcement and to put her away he saith unto them Moses for your hardness of heart suffered you to put away your wives but from the beginning it hath not been so and I say unto you whosoever shall put away his wife except for fornication and shall marry another commiteth adultery and he that marryeth her when she is put away commiteth adultery the disciples say unto him if the case of the man is so with his wife it is not expedient to marry but he said unto them not all men can receive this saying but they to whom it is given for there are eunuchs that were so born from their mother's womb and there are eunuchs that were made eunuchs by men and there are eunuchs that made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake he that is able to receive it let him receive it then were there brought unto him little children that he should lay his hands on them and pray and the disciples rebuked them but Jesus said suffer the little children and forbid them not to come unto me for to such belongeth 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 thing shall I do that I may have eternal life and he said unto him why askest thou me concerning that which is good one there is who is good but if thou wouldest enter into life keep the commandments he saith unto him which and 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 saith unto him all these things have I observed what lack I yet Jesus said unto him if thou wouldest be perfect go sell that which thou hast and give to the poor and thou shalt have treasure in heaven and come follow me but when the young man heard the saying he went away sorrowful for he was one that had great possession and Jesus said unto his disciples verily I say unto you it is hard for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven and again I say unto you it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God and when the disciples heard it they were astonished exceedingly saying who then can be saved and Jesus looking upon them said to them with men this is impossible but with God all things are possible then answered Peter and said unto him lo we have left all and followed thee what then shall we have and Jesus said unto them verily I say unto you that ye who have followed me in the regeneration when the son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory ye also shall sit upon 12 thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel and everyone that hath left houses or brethren or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for my namesake shall receive a hundredfold and shall inherit eternal life but many shall be last that are first and first that are last end of chapter 19 chapter 20 of the gospel according to Matthew American standard version this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information and to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Sam Stinson by his faith.com chapter 20 for the kingdom of heaven is likened to a man that was a householder who went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard and when he had agreed with the laborers for a shilling a day he sent them into his vineyard and he went out about the third hour and saw others standing in the marketplace idle and to them he said go ye also into the vineyard and whatsoever is right I will give you and they went their way again he went out about the sixth then the ninth hour and did likewise and about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing and he saith unto them why stand ye here all the day idle they say unto him because no man hath hired us he saith unto them go ye also into the vineyard and when even was come the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward call the laborers and pay them their hire beginning from the last unto the first and when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour they received every man a shilling and when the first came they supposed that they would receive more and they likewise received every man a shilling and when they received it they murmured against the householder saying these last have spent but one hour and thou hast made them equal unto us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat but he answered and said to one of them friend I do thee no wrong did not thou agree with me for a shilling take up that which is thine and go thy way it is my will to give unto this last even as unto thee is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own or is thine I evil because I am good so the last shall be first and the first last and as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem he took the twelve disciples apart and on the way he said unto them behold we go up to Jerusalem and the son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests and scribes and they shall condemn him to death and shall deliver him unto the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify and the third day he shall be raised up then came to him the mother of the sons of Zebedee with her sons worshiping him and asking a certain thing of him and he said unto her what wouldest thou she saith unto him command that these my two sons may sit one on thy right hand and one on thy left hand in thy kingdom but Jesus answered and said ye know not what ye ask are ye able to drink the cup that I am about to drink they say unto him we are able he saith unto them my cup indeed ye shall drink but to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give but it is for them for whom it hath been prepared of my father and when the ten heard it they were moved with indignation concerning the two brethren but Jesus called them unto him and said ye know that the rulers of the Gentiles lorded over them and their great ones exercised authority over them not so shall it be among you but whosoever would become great among you shall be your minister and whosoever would be first among you shall be your servant even as the son of man came not to be ministered on two but to minister and to give his life a ransom for many and as they went out from Jericho great multitude followed him and behold two blind men sitting by the wayside when they heard that Jesus was passing by cried out saying Lord have mercy on us thou son of David and the multitude rebuked them that they should hold their peace but they cried out the more saying Lord have mercy on us thou son of David and Jesus stood still and called them and said what will ye that I should do unto you they say unto him Lord that our eyes may be opened and Jesus being moved with compassion touched their eyes and straightway they received their sight and followed him end of chapter 20 chapter 21 of the gospel according to Matthew American standard version this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information and to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Sam Stinson by his faith.com chapter 21 and when they drew nigh into Jerusalem and came unto Bethphage unto the Mount of Olives then Jesus sent two disciples saying unto them go into the village that is over against you and straightway ye shall find an ass tied and a cult with her loose them and bring them unto me and if anyone say ought unto you ye shall say the Lord hath need of them and straightway he will send them now this is come to pass that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet saying tell ye the daughter of Zion behold thy king cometh unto thee meek and riding upon an ass and upon a cult the full of an ass and the disciples went and did even as Jesus appointed them and brought the ass and the cult and put on them their garments and he sat there on and the most part of the multitude spread their garments in the way and others cut branches from the trees and spread them in the way and the multitudes that went before him and that followed cried saying Hosanna to the son of David blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord Hosanna in the highest and when he was coming to Jerusalem all the city was stirred saying who is this and the multitude said this is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth of Galilee and Jesus entered into the temple of God and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple and overthrew the tables of the money changers and the seats of them that sold the doves and he saith unto them it is written my house shall be called a house of prayer but ye make it a den of robbers and the blind in the lame came to him in the temple and he healed them but when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did and the children that were crying in the temple and saying Hosanna to the son of David they were moved with indignation and said unto him hear us thou what these are saying and Jesus saith unto them ye did ye never read out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise and he left them and went forth out of the city to Bethany and lodged there now in the morning as he returned to the city he hungered and seeing a fig tree by the wayside he came to it and found nothing there on but leaves only and he saith unto it let there be no fruit from thee hence forward forever and immediately the fig tree withered away and when the disciples saw it they marveled saying how did the fig tree immediately wither away and Jesus answered and said unto them verily I say unto you if ye have faith and doubt not ye shall not only do what is done to the fig tree but even if ye shall say unto this mountain be thou taken up and cast into the sea it shall be done and all things whatsoever shall ask in prayer believing ye shall receive and when he was come into the temple the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching and said by what authority doest thou these things and who gave thee this authority and Jesus answered and said unto them I also will ask you one question which if ye tell me I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things the baptism of John whence was it from heaven or from men and they reasoned with themselves saying if we shall say from heaven he will say unto us why then did ye not believe him but if we shall say from men we fear the multitude for all hold John as a prophet and they answered Jesus and said we know not he also said unto them neither tell I 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 answered and said I will not but afterward he repented himself and went and he came to the second and said likewise and he answered and said I go sir and went not which of the two did the will of his father they say the first Jesus saith unto them verily I say unto you that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you for John came unto you in the way of righteousness and ye believed him not but the publicans and the harlots believed him and ye when ye saw it did not even repent yourselves afterward that ye might believe him here another parable there was a man that was a householder who planted a vineyard and said a hedge about it and digged a wine press in it and built a tower and let it out to husbandmen and went into another country and when the season of the fruits drew near he sent his servants to the husbandmen to receive his fruits and the husbandmen took his servants and beat one and killed another and stoned another again he sent other servants more than the first and they did unto them in like manner but afterward he sent unto them his son saying they will reverence my son but the husbandmen when they saw the son said among themselves this is the heir come let us kill him and take his inheritance and they took him and cast him forth out of the vineyard and killed him when therefore the Lord of the vineyard shall come what will he do unto those husbandmen they say unto him he will miserably destroy those miserable men and will let out the vineyard unto other husbandmen who shall render him the fruits in their seasons Jesus saith unto them did ye never read in the scriptures the stone which the builders rejected the same was made the head of the corner this was from the Lord and it is marvelous in our eyes therefore say I unto you the kingdom of God shall be taken away from you and shall be given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof and he that falleth on this stone shall be broken to pieces but on whom soever it shall fall it will scatter him as dust and when the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables they perceived that he spake of them and when they sought to lay hold on him they feared the multitudes because they took him for a profit End of chapter 21 Chapter 22 of the Gospel according to Matthew American Standard Version this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information and to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Sam Stinson by hisfaith.com Chapter 22 And Jesus answered and spake again in parables unto them saying the kingdom of heaven is likened unto a certain king who made a marriage feast for his son and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the marriage feast and they would not come again he sent forth other servants saying tell them that are bidden behold I have made ready my dinner my oxen and my fatlings are killed and all things are ready come to the marriage feast but they made light of it and went their ways one to his own farm another to his merchandise and the rest laid hold on his servants and treated them shamefully and killed them but the king was wroth and he sent his armies and destroyed those murderers and burned their city then saith he to his servants the wedding is ready but they that were bidden were not worthy go ye therefore unto the partings of the highways and as many as ye shall find bid to the marriage feast 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 filled with guests but when the king came in to behold the guests he saw there a man who had not on a wedding garment and he saith unto him friend how cameest thou in hither not having a wedding garment and he was speechless then the king said to the servants bind him hand and foot and cast him out into the outer darkness there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth for many are called but few chosen then went the Pharisees and took counsel how they might ensnare him in his talk and they sent to him their disciples with the Herodians saying teacher we know that thou art true and teachest the way of God in truth and carest not for anyone for thou regardest not the person of men tell us therefore what thinkest thou is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar or not but Jesus perceived their wickedness and said why make ye trial of me ye hypocrites show me the tribute money and they brought unto him a denarius and he saith unto them who is this image and superscription they saith unto him Caesar's then saith he unto them render therefore unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's and when they heard it they marveled and left him and went away on that day there came to him Sadducees they that say there is no resurrection and they asked him saying teacher Moses said if a man die having no children his brother shall marry his wife and raise up seed unto his brother now there were with us seven brethren and the first married and deceased and having no seed left his wife unto his brother and like manner the second also and the third unto the seventh and after them all the woman died and the resurrection therefore whose wife shall she be of the seven for they all had her but Jesus answered and said unto them ye do err not knowing the scriptures nor the power of God for in the resurrection they neither married nor are given in marriage but are as angels in heaven but as touching the resurrection of the dead have ye not read that which was spoken unto 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 when the multitudes heard it they were astonished at his teaching but the Pharisees when they heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence gathered themselves together and one of them a lawyer asked him a question trying him teacher which is the great commandment in the law and he said unto 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 a second like unto it is this thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself on these two commandments the whole law hangeth and the prophets now while the Pharisees were gathered together Jesus asked them a question saying what think ye of the Christ whose son is he they say unto him the son of David he saith unto them how then doth David in the spirit call him Lord saying the Lord said unto my Lord sit thou on my right hand till I put thine enemies underneath thy feet if David then calleth him Lord how is he his son and no one was able to answer him a word neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions end of chapter 22 chapter 23 of the gospel according to Matthew American standard version this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information and to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Sam Stinson by hisfaith.com chapter 23 then spake Jesus to the multitudes and to his disciples saying the scribes in the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat all things therefore whatsoever they bid you these do and observe but do not ye after their works for they say and do not yea they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be born and lay them on men's shoulders but they themselves will not move them with their finger but all their works they do to be seen of men for they make broad their phylacteries and enlarge the borders of their garments and love the chief place at feasts and the chief seats in the synagogues and the salutations in the marketplaces and to be called of men rabbi but be not ye called rabbi for one is your teacher and all ye are brethren and call no man your father on the earth for one is your father even he who is in heaven neither be ye called masters for one is your master even the Christ but he that is greatest among you shall be your servant and whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled and whosoever shall humble himself shall be exalted but woe unto you scribes and Pharisees hypocrites because ye shut the kingdom of heaven against men for ye enter not in yourselves neither suffer ye them that are entering in to enter woe unto you scribes and Pharisees hypocrites for ye compass see and land to make one proselyte and when he has become so ye make him twofold more son of hell than yourselves woe unto you ye blind guides that say whosoever shall swear by the temple it is nothing but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple he is a debtor ye fools and blind for which is greater the gold or the temple that hath sanctified the gold and whosoever shall swear by the altar it is nothing but whosoever shall swear by the gift that is upon it he is a debtor ye blind for which is greater the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift he therefore that sweareth by the altar sweareth by it and by all things thereon and he that sweareth by the temple sweareth by it and by him that dwelleth therein and he that sweareth by the heaven sweareth by the throne of God and by him that sitteth thereon woe unto you scribes and Pharisees hypocrites for ye tithe mint and anise and cumin and have left undone the weightier matters of the law justice and mercy and faith but these ye ought to have done and not to have left the other undone ye blind guides that strain out the net and swallow the camel woe unto you scribes and Pharisees hypocrites for ye cleanse the outside of the cup and up the platter but within they are full from extortion and excess thou blind Pharisee cleanse first the inside of the cup and of the platter that the outside thereof may become clean also woe unto you scribes and Pharisees hypocrites for ye are like unto whiteed sepulchers which outwardly appear beautiful but inwardly are full of dead men's bones and of all uncleanness even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men but inwardly ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity woe unto you scribes and Pharisees hypocrites for ye build the sepulchers of the prophets and garnish the tombs of the righteous and say if we had been in the days of our fathers we should not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets wherefore ye witness to yourselves that ye are sons of them that slew the prophets fill ye up then the measure of your fathers ye serpents ye offspring of vipers how shall ye escape the judgment of hell therefore behold I send unto you prophets and wise men and scribes some of them shall ye kill and crucify and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth from the blood of Abel the righteous unto the blood of Zechariah son of Barakiah whom ye slew between the sanctuary and the altar verily I say unto you all these things shall come upon this generation oh Jerusalem Jerusalem that killeth the prophets and stoneeth them that are sent unto her how often would I have gathered thy children together even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings and ye would not behold your house is left unto you desolate for I say unto you ye shall not see me henceforth till ye shall say blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord End of Chapter 23 Chapter 24 of the Gospel According to Matthew American Standard Version This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information and to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Sam Stinson by hisfaith.com Chapter 24 And Jesus went out from the temple and was going on his way and his disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple but he answered and said unto them See ye not all these things verily I say unto 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 Olives the disciples came unto him privately saying Tell us when shall these things be and what shall be the sign of thy coming and of the end of the world And Jesus answered and said unto them Take heed that no man lead you astray for many shall come in my name saying I am the Christ and shall lead many astray and ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars See that ye be not troubled for these things must needs come to pass but the end is not yet for nations shall rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom and there shall be famines and earthquakes in diverse places but all these things are the beginning of travail then shall they deliver you up unto tribulation and shall kill you and ye shall be hated of all the nations for my name's sake and then shall many stumble and shall deliver up one another and shall hate one another and many false prophets shall arise and shall lead many astray and because iniquity shall be multiplied the love of the many shall wax cold but he that endureth to the end the same shall be saved and this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a testimony unto all the nations and then shall the end come when therefore ye see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet standing in the holy place let him that readeth understand then let them that are in Judea flee unto the mountains let him that is on the housetop not go down to take out the things that are in his house and let him that is in the field not return back to take his cloak but woe unto them that are with child and to them that give succ in those days and pray ye that your flight be not in the winter neither on a Sabbath for then shall be great tribulation such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now no, nor ever shall be and except those days had been shortened no flesh would have been saved but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened then if any man shall say unto you lo, here is the Christ or here, believe it not for there shall arise false Christ and false prophets and shall show great signs and wonders so as to lead astray if possible even the elect behold, I have told you beforehand if therefore they shall say unto you behold, he is in the wilderness go not forth behold, he is in the inner chambers believe it not for as the lightning cometh forth from the east and as seen even unto the west so shall be the coming of the Son of Man wheresoever the carcass is there will the eagles be gathered together but immediately after the tribulation 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 the heavens 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 they shall see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory and he shall send forth his angels with a great sound of a trumpet and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds from one end of heaven to the other now from the fig tree learn her parable when her branches now become tender and put forth its leaves ye know that the summer is nigh even so ye also when ye see all these things know ye that he is nigh even at the doors verily I say unto you this generation shall not pass away till all these things be accomplished heaven and earth shall pass away but my words shall not pass away but of that day and hour knoweth no one not even the angels of heaven neither the Son but the Father only and as were the days of Noah so shall be the coming of the Son of Man for as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking marrying and giving in marriage until the day that Noah entered into the ark and they knew not until the flood came and took them all away so shall be the coming of the Son of Man then shall two men be in the field one is taken and one is left two women shall be grinding at the mill one is taken and one is left watch therefore for ye know not on what day your Lord cometh but know this that if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief was coming he would have watched and would not have suffered his house to be broken through therefore be ye also ready for in an hour that ye think not the Son of Man cometh who then is the faithful and wise servant whom his Lord hath set over his household to give them their food in due season blessed is that servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing verily I say unto you that he will set him over all that he hath but if that evil servant shall say in his heart my Lord tarryeth and shall begin to beat his fellow servants and shall eat and drink with the drunken the Lord of that servant shall come in a day when he expected not and in an hour when he knoweth not and shall cut him asunder and appoint his portion with the hypocrites there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth End of chapter 24