4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness 1 to be tempted by the devil. 2 After he fasted forty days and forty nights he was famished. 2 3 The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread.” 3 4 But he answered, 4 “It is written, ‘Man 5 does not live 6 by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 7 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, 8 had him stand 9 on the highest point 10 of the temple, 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you’ 11 and ‘with their hands they will lift you up, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 12 7 Jesus said to him, “Once again it is written: ‘You are not to put the Lord your God to the test.’” 13 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their grandeur. 14 9 And he said to him, “I will give you all these things if you throw yourself to the ground and worship 15 me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Go away, 16 Satan! For it is written: ‘You are to worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’” 17 11 Then the devil left him, and angels 18 came and began ministering to his needs.
12 Now when Jesus 19 heard that John had been imprisoned, 20 he went into Galilee. 13 While in Galilee, he moved from Nazareth 21 to make his home in Capernaum 22 by the sea, 23 in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by Isaiah the prophet would be fulfilled: 24
15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the way by the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles –
16 the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light,
and on those who sit in the region and shadow of death a light has dawned.” 25
17 From that time Jesus began to preach this message: 26 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
18 As 27 he was walking by the Sea of Galilee he saw two brothers, Simon (called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea (for they were fishermen). 28 19 He said to them, “Follow me, and I will turn you into fishers of people.” 29 20 They 30 left their nets immediately and followed him. 31 21 Going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in a boat 32 with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. Then 33 he called them. 22 They 34 immediately left the boat and their father and followed him.
23 Jesus 35 went throughout all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, 36 preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of disease and sickness among the people. 24 So a report about him spread throughout Syria. People 37 brought to him all who suffered with various illnesses and afflictions, those who had seizures, 38 paralytics, and those possessed by demons, 39 and he healed them. 25 And large crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, 40 Jerusalem, 41 Judea, and beyond the Jordan River. 42
5 When 1 he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain. 2 After he sat down his disciples came to him. 2 Then 3 he began to teach 4 them by saying:
3 “Blessed 5 are the poor in spirit, 6 for the kingdom of heaven belongs 7 to them.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 8
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger 9 and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children 10 of God.
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
11 “Blessed are you when people 11 insult you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things about you falsely 12 on account of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad because your reward is great in heaven, for they persecuted the prophets before you in the same way.
13 “You are the salt 13 of the earth. But if salt loses its flavor, 14 how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled on by people. 14 You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 People 15 do not light a lamp and put it under a basket 16 but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven.
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have not come to abolish these things but to fulfill them. 17 18 I 18 tell you the truth, 19 until heaven and earth pass away not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter 20 will pass from the law until everything takes place. 19 So anyone who breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others 21 to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever obeys them and teaches others to do so will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness goes beyond that of the experts in the law 22 and the Pharisees, 23 you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
21 “You have heard that it was said to an older generation, 24 ‘Do not murder,’ 25 and ‘whoever murders will be subjected to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that anyone who is angry with a brother 26 will be subjected to judgment. And whoever insults 27 a brother will be brought before 28 the council, 29 and whoever says ‘Fool’ 30 will be sent 31 to fiery hell. 32 23 So then, if you bring your gift to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother and then come and present your gift. 25 Reach agreement 33 quickly with your accuser while on the way to court, 34 or he 35 may hand you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the warden, and you will be thrown into prison. 26 I tell you the truth, 36 you will never get out of there until you have paid the last penny! 37
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ 38 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to desire her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away! It is better to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into hell. 39 30 If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away! It is better to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into hell.
31 “It was said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a legal document.’ 40 32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to an older generation, 41 ‘Do not break an oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ 42 34 But I say to you, do not take oaths at all – not by heaven, because it is the throne of God, 35 not by earth, because it is his footstool, and not by Jerusalem, 43 because it is the city of the great King. 36 Do not take an oath by your head, because you are not able to make one hair white or black. 37 Let your word be ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no.’ More than this is from the evil one. 44
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 45 39 But I say to you, do not resist the evildoer. 46 But whoever strikes you on the 47 right cheek, turn the other to him as well. 40 And if someone wants to sue you and to take your tunic, 48 give him your coat also. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, 49 go with him two. 42 Give to the one who asks you, 50 and do not reject 51 the one who wants to borrow from you.
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ 52 and ‘hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemy and 53 pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be like 54 your Father in heaven, since he causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors 55 do the same, don’t they? 47 And if you only greet your brothers, what more do you do? Even the Gentiles do the same, don’t they? 48 So then, be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. 56
