NIV Radiant Virtues Bible Sampler Gospel of Matthew
NIV Radiant Virtues Bible Sampler Gospel of Matthew
NIV Radiant Virtues Bible Sampler Gospel of Matthew
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Table of Contents
Welcome. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
52-Week Guide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi
Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .vii
This Bible offers you an opportunity to spend a year in God’s Word focusing on the virtues
of faith, hope, and love. Each week you will be blessed by reading the suggested Scripture
passage, reflecting with a devotional and prayer, responding with journaling, and coloring
a page of verse art. Or you can enjoy all of these activities on the same day!
The focus for each week (or day) rotates through the themes of faith, hope, and love. We begin
and end with the topic of love, because “the greatest of these is love.” We need a foundation
of love to build a virtuous life.
In addition to the suggested activities, you will also find the following features in this Bible
to help you grow a virtuous life:
been born king of the Jews? We saw his ¹⁷ Then what was said through the prophet
star when it rose and have come to wor- Jeremiah was fulfilled:
ship him.”
¹⁸ “A voice is heard in Ramah,
³ When King Herod heard this he was
weeping and great mourning,
disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.
Rachel weeping for her children
⁴ When he had called together all the peo- and refusing to be comforted,
ple’s chief priests and teachers of the law, because they are no more.” c
he asked them where the Messiah was to
be born. ⁵ “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they The Return to Nazareth
replied, “for this is what the prophet has
¹⁹ After Herod died, an angel of the Lord
written:
appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt
⁶ “ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of ²⁰ and said, “Get up, take the child and his
Judah, mother and go to the land of Israel, for
are by no means least among the those who were trying to take the child’s
rulers of Judah; life are dead.”
for out of you will come a ruler ²¹ So he got up, took the child and his
who will shepherd my people mother and went to the land of Israel.
Israel.’ a ” ²² But when he heard that Archelaus was
reigning in Judea in place of his father
⁷ Then Herod called the Magi secretly Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having
and found out from them the exact time been warned in a dream, he withdrew to
the star had appeared. ⁸ He sent them the district of Galilee, ²³ and he went and
to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search lived in a town called Nazareth. So was
carefully for the child. As soon as you find fulfilled what was said through the proph-
him, report to me, so that I too may go ets, that he would be called a Nazarene.
and worship him.”
⁹ After they had heard the king, they John the Baptist Prepares the Way
went on their way, and the star they had
seen when it rose went ahead of them
until it stopped over the place where the
3 In those days John the Baptist came,
preaching in the wilderness of Judea
² and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of
child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they heaven has come near.” ³ This is he who
were overjoyed. ¹¹ On coming to the house, was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:
they saw the child with his mother Mary,
and they bowed down and worshiped him. “A voice of one calling in the
Then they opened their treasures and pre- wilderness,
sented him with gifts of gold, frankincense ‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
and myrrh. ¹² And having been warned in make straight paths for him.’ ” d
a dream not to go back to Herod, they re- ⁴ John’s clothes were made of camel’s
turned to their country by another route. hair, and he had a leather belt around his
waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
The Escape to Egypt ⁵ People went out to him from Jerusalem
¹³ When they had gone, an angel of the and all Judea and the whole region of
Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get the Jordan. ⁶ Confessing their sins, they
up,” he said, “take the child and his mother were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell ⁷ But when he saw many of the Phar-
you, for Herod is going to search for the isees and Sadducees coming to where
child to kill him.” he was baptizing, he said to them: “You
¹⁴ So he got up, took the child and his brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee
mother during the night and left for Egypt, from the coming wrath? ⁸ Produce fruit
¹⁵where he stayed until the death of Herod. in keeping with repentance. ⁹ And do not
And so was fulfilled what the Lord had think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have
said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out
I called my son.” b of these stones God can raise up children
¹⁶ When Herod realized that he had been for Abraham. ¹⁰ The ax is already at the
outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, root of the trees, and every tree that does
and he gave orders to kill all the boys in not produce good fruit will be cut down
Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two and thrown into the fire.
years old and under, in accordance with ¹¹ “I baptize you with e water for repen-
the time he had learned from the Magi. tance. But after me comes one who is more
a b c d e
6 Micah 5:2,4 15 Hosea 11:1 18 Jer. 31:15 3 Isaiah 40:3 11 Or in
MATTHEW 3:12 944 944 MATTHEW 5:2
Oaths Prayer
³³“Again, you have heard that it was said ⁵ “And when you pray, do not be like the
to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your hypocrites, for they love to pray stand-
oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you ing in the synagogues and on the street
have made.’ ³⁴ But I tell you, do not swear corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell
an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is you, they have received their reward in
God’s throne; ³⁵ or by the earth, for it is his full. ⁶ But when you pray, go into your
footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city room, close the door and pray to your
of the Great King. ³⁶ And do not swear by Father, who is unseen. Then your Father,
your head, for you cannot make even one who sees what is done in secret, will re-
hair white or black. ³⁷ All you need to say ward you. ⁷ And when you pray, do not
is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond keep on babbling like pagans, for they
this comes from the evil one. a think they will be heard because of their
many words. ⁸ Do not be like them, for
Eye for Eye your Father knows what you need before
³⁸ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye you ask him.
for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ b ³⁹ But I tell ⁹ “This, then, is how you should pray:
you, do not resist an evil person. If any- “ ‘Our Father in heaven,
one slaps you on the right cheek, turn to hallowed be your name,
them the other cheek also. ⁴⁰ And if any- ¹⁰ your kingdom come,
one wants to sue you and take your shirt, your will be done,
hand over your coat as well. ⁴¹ If anyone on earth as it is in heaven.
forces you to go one mile, go with them ¹¹ Give us today our daily bread.
two miles. ⁴² Give to the one who asks you, ¹² And forgive us our debts,
and do not turn away from the one who as we also have forgiven our
wants to borrow from you. debtors.
¹³ And lead us not into temptation, d
Love for Enemies but deliver us from the evil one. e ’
⁴³“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love
your neighborc and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴But ¹⁴ For if you forgive other people when they
I tell you, love your enemies and pray for sin against you, your heavenly Father
those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not
be children of your Father in heaven. He forgive others their sins, your Father will
causes his sun to rise on the evil and the not forgive your sins.
good, and sends rain on the righteous and
the unrighteous. ⁴⁶ If you love those who Fasting
love you, what reward will you get? Are not ¹⁶ “When you fast, do not look somber
even the tax collectors doing that? ⁴⁷And if as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure
you greet only your own people, what are their faces to show others they are fast-
you doing more than others? Do not even ing. Truly I tell you, they have received
pagans do that? ⁴⁸ Be perfect, therefore, as their reward in full. ¹⁷ But when you fast,
your heavenly Father is perfect. put oil on your head and wash your face,
¹⁸ so that it will not be obvious to others
Giving to the Needy that you are fasting, but only to your
Father, who is unseen; and your Father,
6 “Be careful not to practice your righ-
teousness in front of others to be seen
by them. If you do, you will have no reward
who sees what is done in secret, will re-
ward you.
from your Father in heaven.
² “So when you give to the needy, do not Treasures in Heaven
announce it with trumpets, as the hypo- ¹⁹ “Do not store up for yourselves trea-
crites do in the synagogues and on the sures on earth, where moths and vermin
streets, to be honored by others. Truly I destroy, and where thieves break in and
tell you, they have received their reward steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves trea-
in full. ³ But when you give to the needy, sures in heaven, where moths and vermin
do not let your left hand know what your do not destroy, and where thieves do not
right hand is doing, ⁴ so that your giving break in and steal. ²¹ For where your trea-
may be in secret. Then your Father, who sure is, there your heart will be also.
sees what is done in secret, will reward you. ²² “The eye is the lamp of the body. If
a b c d
37 Or from evil 38 Exodus 21:24; Lev. 24:20; Deut. 19:21 43 Lev. 19:18 13 The Greek
e
for temptation can also mean testing. 13 Or from evil ; some late manuscripts one, / for yours
is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
MATTHEW 6:23 947 947 MATTHEW 7:25
your eyes are healthy, a your whole body Ask, Seek, Knock
will be full of light. ²³ But if your eyes are ⁷ “Ask and it will be given to you; seek
unhealthy, b your whole body will be full and you will find; knock and the door
of darkness. If then the light within you will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who
is darkness, how great is that darkness! asks receives; the one who seeks finds;
²⁴ “No one can serve two masters. Either and to the one who knocks, the door will
you will hate the one and love the oth- be opened.
er, or you will be devoted to the one and ⁹ “Which of you, if your son asks for
despise the other. You cannot serve both bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰ Or if he
God and money. asks for a fish, will give him a snake? ¹¹ If
you, then, though you are evil, know how
Do Not Worry to give good gifts to your children, how
²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry much more will your Father in heaven give
about your life, what you will eat or drink; good gifts to those who ask him! ¹² So in
or about your body, what you will wear. everything, do to others what you would
Is not life more than food, and the body have them do to you, for this sums up the
more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of Law and the Prophets.
the air; they do not sow or reap or store
away in barns, and yet your heavenly Fa- The Narrow and Wide Gates
ther feeds them. Are you not much more ¹³ “Enter through the narrow gate. For
valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you wide is the gate and broad is the road
by worrying add a single hour to your lifec? that leads to destruction, and many en-
²⁸“And why do you worry about clothes? ter through it. ¹⁴ But small is the gate and
See how the flowers of the field grow. They narrow the road that leads to life, and
do not labor or spin. ²⁹Yet I tell you that only a few find it.
not even Solomon in all his splendor was
dressed like one of these. ³⁰If that is how God True and False Prophets
clothes the grass of the field, which is here
¹⁵ “Watch out for false prophets. They
today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire,
will he not much more clothe you — you of come to you in sheep’s clothing, but in-
little faith? ³¹So do not worry, saying, ‘What wardly they are ferocious wolves. ¹⁶By their
shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or fruit you will recognize them. Do people
‘What shall we wear?’ ³²For the pagans run pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from
after all these things, and your heavenly Fa- thistles? ¹⁷ Likewise, every good tree bears
ther knows that you need them. ³³But seek good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
first his kingdom and his righteousness, ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a
and all these things will be given to you as bad tree cannot bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every
well. ³⁴Therefore do not worry about tomor- tree that does not bear good fruit is cut
row, for tomorrow will worry about itself. down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Thus, by
Each day has enough trouble of its own. their fruit you will recognize them.
beat against that house; yet it did not fall, Jesus Heals Many
because it had its foundation on the rock. ¹⁴ When Jesus came into Peter’s house,
²⁶ But everyone who hears these words of he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed
mine and does not put them into practice with a fever. ¹⁵ He touched her hand and
is like a foolish man who built his house on the fever left her, and she got up and be-
sand. ²⁷ The rain came down, the streams gan to wait on him.
rose, and the winds blew and beat against ¹⁶ When evening came, many who were
that house, and it fell with a great crash.” demon-possessed were brought to him,
²⁸ When Jesus had finished saying these and he drove out the spirits with a word
things, the crowds were amazed at his and healed all the sick. ¹⁷ This was to ful-
teaching, ²⁹ because he taught as one who fill what was spoken through the prophet
had authority, and not as their teachers Isaiah:
of the law. “He took up our infirmities
and bore our diseases.” b
Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy
The Cost of Following Jesus
8 When Jesus came down from the
mountainside, large crowds followed
him. ² A man with leprosya came and knelt
¹⁸ When Jesus saw the crowd around
him, he gave orders to cross to the other
before him and said, “Lord, if you are will- side of the lake. ¹⁹ Then a teacher of the
ing, you can make me clean.” law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will
³ Jesus reached out his hand and follow you wherever you go.”
touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. ²⁰ Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and
“Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed birds have nests, but the Son of Man has
of his leprosy. ⁴Then Jesus said to him, “See no place to lay his head.”
that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show ²¹ Another disciple said to him, “Lord,
yourself to the priest and offer the gift Mo- first let me go and bury my father.”
ses commanded, as a testimony to them.” ²² But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and
let the dead bury their own dead.”
The Faith of the Centurion
⁵ When Jesus had entered Capernaum, Jesus Calms the Storm
a centurion came to him, asking for help. ²³Then he got into the boat and his dis-
⁶ “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home ciples followed him. ²⁴Suddenly a furious
paralyzed, suffering terribly.” storm came up on the lake, so that the waves
⁷ Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.
heal him?” ²⁵The disciples went and woke him, saying,
⁸ The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
deserve to have you come under my roof. ²⁶ He replied, “You of little faith, why
But just say the word, and my servant will are you so afraid?” Then he got up and
be healed. ⁹ For I myself am a man under rebuked the winds and the waves, and it
authority, with soldiers under me. I tell was completely calm.
this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ²⁷ The men were amazed and asked,
‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds
‘Do this,’ and he does it.” and the waves obey him!”
¹⁰When Jesus heard this, he was amazed
and said to those following him, “Truly I Jesus Restores Two Demon-
tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel Possessed Men
with such great faith. ¹¹ I say to you that ²⁸ When he arrived at the other side in
many will come from the east and the the region of the Gadarenes, c two demon-
west, and will take their places at the feast possessed men coming from the tombs
with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the met him. They were so violent that no
kingdom of heaven. ¹² But the subjects of one could pass that way. ²⁹ “What do you
the kingdom will be thrown outside, into want with us, Son of God?” they shouted.
the darkness, where there will be weeping “Have you come here to torture us before
and gnashing of teeth.” the appointed time?”
¹³ Then Jesus said to the centurion, ³⁰ Some distance from them a large herd
“Go! Let it be done just as you believed of pigs was feeding. ³¹ The demons begged
it would.” And his servant was healed at Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the
that moment. herd of pigs.”
a
2 The Greek word traditionally translated leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the
b c
skin. 17 Isaiah 53:4 (see Septuagint) 28 Some manuscripts Gergesenes; other
manuscripts Gerasenes
MATTHEW 8:32 949 949 MATTHEW 9:34
³² He said to them, “Go!” So they came ¹⁶ “No one sews a patch of unshrunk
out and went into the pigs, and the whole cloth on an old garment, for the patch
herd rushed down the steep bank into will pull away from the garment, making
the lake and died in the water. ³³ Those the tear worse. ¹⁷ Neither do people pour
tending the pigs ran off, went into the new wine into old wineskins. If they do,
town and reported all this, including what the skins will burst; the wine will run out
had happened to the demon-possessed and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they
men. ³⁴ Then the whole town went out to pour new wine into new wineskins, and
meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they both are preserved.”
pleaded with him to leave their region.
Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals
Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralyzed a Sick Woman
Man ¹⁸ While he was saying this, a synagogue
³⁸Whoever does not take up their cross and Prophets and the Law prophesied until
follow me is not worthy of me. ³⁹ Whoever John. ¹⁴ And if you are willing to accept it,
finds their life will lose it, and whoever he is the Elijah who was to come. ¹⁵ Who-
loses their life for my sake will find it. ever has ears, let them hear.
⁴⁰ “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes ¹⁶ “To what can I compare this genera-
me, and anyone who welcomes me wel- tion? They are like children sitting in the
comes the one who sent me. ⁴¹ Whoever marketplaces and calling out to others:
welcomes a prophet as a prophet will
¹⁷ “ ‘We played the pipe for you,
receive a prophet’s reward, and who-
and you did not dance;
ever welcomes a righteous person as a
we sang a dirge,
righteous person will receive a righteous
and you did not mourn.’
person’s reward. ⁴² And if anyone gives
even a cup of cold water to one of these ¹⁸ For John came neither eating nor drink-
little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell ing, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ ¹⁹ The
you, that person will certainly not lose Son of Man came eating and drinking, and
their reward.” they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunk-
ard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’
Jesus and John the Baptist But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”
The Parable of the Weeds ⁴⁰“As the weeds are pulled up and burned
²⁴ Jesus told them another parable: “The in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age.
kingdom of heaven is like a man who ⁴¹The Son of Man will send out his angels,
sowed good seed in his field. ²⁵ But while and they will weed out of his kingdom
everyone was sleeping, his enemy came everything that causes sin and all who do
and sowed weeds among the wheat, and evil. ⁴²They will throw them into the blazing
went away. ²⁶ When the wheat sprouted furnace, where there will be weeping and
and formed heads, then the weeds also gnashing of teeth. ⁴³Then the righteous will
appeared. shine like the sun in the kingdom of their
²⁷ “The owner’s servants came to him Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.
and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed
in your field? Where then did the weeds The Parables of the Hidden Treasure
come from?’ and the Pearl
²⁸ “ ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. ⁴⁴ “The kingdom of heaven is like trea-
“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want sure hidden in a field. When a man found
us to go and pull them up?’ it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went
²⁹ “ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you and sold all he had and bought that field.
are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the ⁴⁵ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like
wheat with them. ³⁰Let both grow together a merchant looking for fine pearls. ⁴⁶When
until the harvest. At that time I will tell the he found one of great value, he went away
harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie and sold everything he had and bought it.
them in bundles to be burned; then gather
the wheat and bring it into my barn.’ ” The Parable of the Net
⁴⁷“Once again, the kingdom of heaven is
The Parables of the Mustard Seed like a net that was let down into the lake
and the Yeast and caught all kinds of fish. ⁴⁸ When it
³¹ He told them another parable: “The was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the
kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, shore. Then they sat down and collected
which a man took and planted in his field. the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad
³² Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet away. ⁴⁹ This is how it will be at the end of
when it grows, it is the largest of garden the age. The angels will come and separate
plants and becomes a tree, so that the the wicked from the righteous ⁵⁰and throw
birds come and perch in its branches.” them into the blazing furnace, where there
³³ He told them still another parable: will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
“The kingdom of heaven is like yeast ⁵¹ “Have you un derstood all these
that a woman took and mixed into about things?” Jesus asked.
sixty pounds a of flour until it worked all “Yes,” they replied.
through the dough.” ⁵² He said to them, “Therefore every
³⁴ Jesus spoke all these things to the teacher of the law who has become a dis-
crowd in parables; he did not say any- ciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the
thing to them without using a parable. owner of a house who brings out of his
³⁵So was fulfilled what was spoken through storeroom new treasures as well as old.”
the prophet:
A Prophet Without Honor
“I will open my mouth in parables, ⁵³ When Jesus had finished these para-
I will utter things hidden since the bles, he moved on from there. ⁵⁴ Coming
creation of the world.” b to his hometown, he began teaching the
people in their synagogue, and they were
The Parable of the Weeds Explained amazed. “Where did this man get this
³⁶ Then he left the crowd and went into wisdom and these miraculous powers?”
the house. His disciples came to him and they asked. ⁵⁵ “Isn’t this the carpenter’s
said, “Explain to us the parable of the son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and
weeds in the field.” aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon
³⁷ He answered, “The one who sowed the and Judas? ⁵⁶ Aren’t all his sisters with
good seed is the Son of Man. ³⁸ The field is us? Where then did this man get all these
the world, and the good seed stands for things?” ⁵⁷ And they took offense at him.
the people of the kingdom. The weeds are But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not
the people of the evil one, ³⁹ and the enemy without honor except in his own town and
who sows them is the devil. The harvest in his own home.”
is the end of the age, and the harvesters ⁵⁸And he did not do many miracles there
are angels. because of their lack of faith.
a b
33 Or about 27 kilograms 35 Psalm 78:2
MATTHEW 14:1 | 955 955 MATTHEW 15:7
⁸ “ ‘These people honor me with their lips, came to him, bringing the lame, the blind,
but their hearts are far from me. the crippled, the mute and many others,
⁹ They worship me in vain; and laid them at his feet; and he healed
their teachings are merely human them. ³¹ The people were amazed when
rules.’ a” they saw the mute speaking, the crippled
made well, the lame walking and the blind
¹⁰Jesus called the crowd to him and said,
seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.
“Listen and understand. ¹¹ What goes into
³² Jesus called his disciples to him and
someone’s mouth does not defile them,
said, “I have compassion for these people;
but what comes out of their mouth, that
they have already been with me three
is what defiles them.”
days and have nothing to eat. I do not
¹² Then the disciples came to him and
want to send them away hungry, or they
asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees
may collapse on the way.”
were offended when they heard this?”
³³ His disciples answered, “Where could
¹³ He replied, “Every plant that my heav-
enly Father has not planted will be pulled we get enough bread in this remote place
up by the roots. ¹⁴ Leave them; they are to feed such a crowd?”
blind guides. b If the blind lead the blind, ³⁴ “How many loaves do you have?”
both will fall into a pit.” Jesus asked.
¹⁵ Peter said, “Explain the parable to us.” “Seven,” they replied, “and a few small
¹⁶ “Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked fish.”
them. ¹⁷ “Don’t you see that whatever en- ³⁵ He told the crowd to sit down on the
ters the mouth goes into the stomach and ground. ³⁶ Then he took the seven loaves
then out of the body? ¹⁸ But the things that and the fish, and when he had given
come out of a person’s mouth come from thanks, he broke them and gave them
the heart, and these defile them. ¹⁹ For out to the disciples, and they in turn to the
of the heart come evil thoughts — murder, people. ³⁷ They all ate and were satisfied.
adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false Afterward the disciples picked up seven
testimony, slander. ²⁰ These are what de- basketfuls of broken pieces that were left
file a person; but eating with unwashed over. ³⁸ The number of those who ate was
hands does not defile them.” four thousand men, besides women and
children. ³⁹ After Jesus had sent the crowd
The Faith of a Canaanite Woman away, he got into the boat and went to the
vicinity of Magadan.
²¹ Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew
to the region of Tyre and Sidon. ²² A Ca-
naanite woman from that vicinity came
The Demand for a Sign
to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David,
have mercy on me! My daughter is demon- 16 The Pharisees and Sadducees came
to Jesus and tested him by asking
him to show them a sign from heaven.
possessed and suffering terribly.”
²³Jesus did not answer a word. So his dis- ² He replied, “When evening comes, you
ciples came to him and urged him, “Send say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is
her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” red,’ ³ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be
²⁴ He answered, “I was sent only to the stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You
lost sheep of Israel.” know how to interpret the appearance of
²⁵ The woman came and knelt before the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs
him. “Lord, help me!” she said. of the times. c ⁴ A wicked and adulterous
²⁶ He replied, “It is not right to take the generation looks for a sign, but none will
children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus
²⁷ “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the then left them and went away.
dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their
master’s table.” The Yeast of the Pharisees and
²⁸ Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you Sadducees
have great faith! Your request is grant- ⁵ When they went across the lake, the
ed.” And her daughter was healed at that disciples forgot to take bread. ⁶ “Be care-
moment. ful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard
against the yeast of the Pharisees and
Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand Sadducees.”
²⁹Jesus left there and went along the Sea ⁷ They discussed this among themselves
of Galilee. Then he went up on a moun- and said, “It is because we didn’t bring
tainside and sat down. ³⁰ Great crowds any bread.”
a b c
9 Isaiah 29:13 14 Some manuscripts blind guides of the blind 2,3 Some early
manuscripts do not have When evening comes . . . of the times.
MATTHEW 16:8 | 957 957 MATTHEW 17:15
⁸ Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, themselves and take up their cross and
“You of little faith, why are you talking follow me. ²⁵ For whoever wants to save
among yourselves about having no bread? their life d will lose it, but whoever loses
⁹ Do you still not understand? Don’t you their life for me will find it. ²⁶ What good
remember the five loaves for the five thou- will it be for someone to gain the whole
sand, and how many basketfuls you gath- world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can
ered? ¹⁰ Or the seven loaves for the four anyone give in exchange for their soul?
thousand, and how many basketfuls you ²⁷ For the Son of Man is going to come in
gathered? ¹¹ How is it you don’t understand his Father’s glory with his angels, and then
that I was not talking to you about bread? he will reward each person according to
But be on your guard against the yeast of what they have done.
the Pharisees and Sadducees.” ¹² Then they ²⁸“Truly I tell you, some who are stand-
understood that he was not telling them ing here will not taste death before they see
to guard against the yeast used in bread, the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
but against the teaching of the Pharisees
and Sadducees. The Transfiguration
Peter Declares That Jesus Is the
Messiah
17 After six days Jesus took with him
Peter, James and John the brother of
James, and led them up a high mountain
¹³When Jesus came to the region of Caes- by themselves. ² There he was transfigured
area Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who before them. His face shone like the sun,
do people say the Son of Man is?” and his clothes became as white as the
¹⁴ They replied, “Some say John the Bap- light. ³ Just then there appeared before
tist; others say Elijah; and still others, them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” ⁴ Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for
¹⁵ “But what about you?” he asked. “Who us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three
do you say I am?” shelters — one for you, one for Moses and
¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the one for Elijah.”
Messiah, the Son of the living God.” ⁵ While he was still speaking, a bright
¹⁷ Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon cloud covered them, and a voice from the
son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love;
you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
heaven. ¹⁸And I tell you that you are Peter,a ⁶ When the disciples heard this, they
and on this rock I will build my church, and fell facedown to the ground, terrified.
the gates of Hades b will not overcome it. ⁷ But Jesus came and touched them. “Get
¹⁹I will give you the keys of the kingdom of up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” ⁸ When they
heaven; whatever you bind on earth will looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
be c bound in heaven, and whatever you ⁹ As they were coming down the moun-
loose on earth will be c loosed in heaven.” tain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell
²⁰ Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son
anyone that he was the Messiah. of Man has been raised from the dead.”
¹⁰ The disciples asked him, “Why then
Jesus Predicts His Death do the teachers of the law say that Elijah
²¹ From that time on Jesus began to must come first?”
explain to his disciples that he must go ¹¹ Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes
to Jerusalem and suffer many things at and will restore all things. ¹² But I tell you,
the hands of the elders, the chief priests Elijah has already come, and they did
and the teachers of the law, and that he not recognize him, but have done to him
must be killed and on the third day be everything they wished. In the same way
raised to life. the Son of Man is going to suffer at their
²² Peter took him aside and began to hands.” ¹³ Then the disciples understood
rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This that he was talking to them about John
shall never happen to you!” the Baptist.
²³Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get be-
hind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Boy
to me; you do not have in mind the con- ¹⁴ When they came to the crowd, a man
cerns of God, but merely human concerns.” approached Jesus and knelt before him.
²⁴ Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Who- ¹⁵ “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said.
ever wants to be my disciple must deny “He has seizures and is suffering greatly.
a b c
18 The Greek word for Peter means rock. 18 That is, the realm of the dead 19 Or will
d
have been 25 The Greek word means either life or soul ; also in verse 26.
MATTHEW 17:16 958 958 MATTHEW 18:18
He often falls into the fire or into the wa- never enter the kingdom of heaven.
ter. ¹⁶ I brought him to your disciples, but ⁴ Therefore, whoever takes the lowly posi-
they could not heal him.” tion of this child is the greatest in the king-
¹⁷ “You unbelieving and perverse gen- dom of heaven. ⁵ And whoever welcomes
eration,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I one such child in my name welcomes me.
stay with you? How long shall I put up with
you? Bring the boy here to me.” ¹⁸ Jesus re- Causing to Stumble
buked the demon, and it came out of the ⁶ “If anyone causes one of these little
boy, and he was healed at that moment. ones — those who believe in me — to
¹⁹ Then the disciples came to Jesus in stumble, it would be better for them to
private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive have a large millstone hung around their
it out?” neck and to be drowned in the depths of
²⁰ He replied, “Because you have so little the sea. ⁷ Woe to the world because of the
faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as things that cause people to stumble! Such
small as a mustard seed, you can say to things must come, but woe to the person
this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ through whom they come! ⁸ If your hand
and it will move. Nothing will be impos- or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it
sible for you.” [²¹] a off and throw it away. It is better for you
to enter life maimed or crippled than to
Jesus Predicts His Death a Second have two hands or two feet and be thrown
Time into eternal fire. ⁹ And if your eye causes
²² When they came together in Galilee, you to stumble, gouge it out and throw
he said to them, “The Son of Man is going it away. It is better for you to enter life
with one eye than to have two eyes and
to be delivered into the hands of men.
be thrown into the fire of hell.
²³ They will kill him, and on the third day
he will be raised to life.” And the disciples
The Parable of the Wandering Sheep
were filled with grief.
¹⁰ “See that you do not despise one of
The Temple Tax these little ones. For I tell you that their
angels in heaven always see the face of
²⁴AfterJesus and his disciples arrived in Ca-
my Father in heaven. [¹¹] b
pernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma ¹² “What do you think? If a man owns a
temple tax came to Peter and asked, hundred sheep, and one of them wanders
“Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?” away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on
²⁵ “Yes, he does,” he replied. the hills and go to look for the one that
When Peter came into the house, Jesus wandered off ? ¹³ And if he finds it, truly I
was the first to speak. “What do you think, tell you, he is happier about that one sheep
Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the than about the ninety-nine that did not
kings of the earth collect duty and taxes — wander off. ¹⁴ In the same way your Father
from their own children or from others?” in heaven is not willing that any of these
²⁶ “From others,” Peter answered. little ones should perish.
“Then the children are exempt,” Jesus
said to him. ²⁷ “But so that we may not Dealing With Sin in the Church
cause offense, go to the lake and throw ¹⁵ “If your brother or sister c sins, d go
out your line. Take the first fish you catch; and point out their fault, just between
open its mouth and you will find a four- the two of you. If they listen to you, you
drachma coin. Take it and give it to them have won them over. ¹⁶ But if they will not
for my tax and yours.” listen, take one or two others along, so
that ‘every matter may be established by
The Greatest in the Kingdom the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ e
of Heaven ¹⁷ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the
¹⁹ “Again, truly I tell you that if two of ³ Some Pharisees came to him to test
you on earth agree about anything they him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to
ask for, it will be done for them by my Fa- divorce his wife for any and every reason?”
ther in heaven. ²⁰ For where two or three ⁴ “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that
gather in my name, there am I with them.” at the beginning the Creator ‘made them
male and female,’d ⁵and said, ‘For this rea-
The Parable of the Unmerciful son a man will leave his father and mother
Servant and be united to his wife, and the two will
²¹ Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, become one flesh’e? ⁶So they are no longer
“Lord, how many times shall I forgive my two, but one flesh. Therefore what God
brother or sister who sins against me? Up has joined together, let no one separate.”
to seven times?” ⁷ “Why then,” they asked, “did Moses
²² Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven command that a man give his wife a cer-
times, but seventy-seven times. a tificate of divorce and send her away?”
²³ “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is ⁸ Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to
like a king who wanted to settle accounts divorce your wives because your hearts
with his servants. ²⁴ As he began the settle- were hard. But it was not this way from
ment, a man who owed him ten thousand the beginning. ⁹ I tell you that anyone
bags of gold b was brought to him. ²⁵ Since who divorces his wife, except for sexual
he was not able to pay, the master ordered immorality, and marries another woman
that he and his wife and his children and commits adultery.”
all that he had be sold to repay the debt. ¹⁰ The disciples said to him, “If this is the
²⁶ “At this the servant fell on his knees situation between a husband and wife, it
before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he is better not to marry.”
begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ ¹¹ Jesus replied, “Not everyone can ac-
²⁷ The servant’s master took pity on him, cept this word, but only those to whom it
canceled the debt and let him go. has been given. ¹² For there are eunuchs
²⁸ “But when that servant went out, he who were born that way, and there are
found one of his fellow servants who owed eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by
him a hundred silver coins. c He grabbed others — and there are those who choose
him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back to live like eunuchs for the sake of the
what you owe me!’ he demanded. kingdom of heaven. The one who can
²⁹ “His fellow servant fell to his knees accept this should accept it.”
and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and
I will pay it back.’ The Little Children and Jesus
³⁰ “But he refused. Instead, he went off ¹³ Then people brought little children to
and had the man thrown into prison until Jesus for him to place his hands on them
he could pay the debt. ³¹ When the other and pray for them. But the disciples re-
servants saw what had happened, they buked them.
were outraged and went and told their ¹⁴Jesus said, “Let the little children come
master everything that had happened. to me, and do not hinder them, for the
³²“Then the master called the servant in. kingdom of heaven belongs to such as
‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled these.” ¹⁵ When he had placed his hands
all that debt of yours because you begged on them, he went on from there.
me to. ³³ Shouldn’t you have had mercy on
your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ The Rich and the Kingdom of God
³⁴ In anger his master handed him over to ¹⁶ Just then a man came up to Jesus and
the jailers to be tortured, until he should asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I
pay back all he owed. do to get eternal life?”
³⁵ “This is how my heavenly Father will ¹⁷ “Why do you ask me about what is
treat each of you unless you forgive your good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One
brother or sister from your heart.” who is good. If you want to enter life, keep
the commandments.”
Divorce ¹⁸ “Which ones?” he inquired.