Luke 1-6
21st Century King James Version
1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,
2 even as they were delivered unto us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word,
3 it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
4 that thou mightest know the certainty of those things wherein thou hast been instructed.
5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the priestly course of Abijah; and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blameless in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
7 And they had no child because Elizabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.
8 And it came to pass that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course,
9 according to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the time of incense.
11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
12 And when Zacharias saw him he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13 But the angel said unto him, “Fear not, Zacharias, for thy prayer is heard, and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice at his birth.
15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink, and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost even from his mother’s womb.
16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
17 And he shall go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, “Whereby shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.”
19 And the angel answering said unto him, “I am Gabriel who stands in the presence of God, and am sent to speak unto thee and to show thee these glad tidings.
20 And behold, thou shalt be dumb and not able to speak until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words which shall be fulfilled in their season.”
21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he tarried so long in the temple.
22 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple; for he beckoned unto them and remained speechless.
23 And it came to pass that as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
24 And after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,
25 “Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein He looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.”
26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
27 to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
28 And the angel came in unto her and said, “Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women.”
29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying and cast about in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
30 And the angel said unto her, “Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favor with God.
31 And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a Son, and shalt call His name Jesus.
32 He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David,
33 and He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His Kingdom there shall be no end.”
34 Then said Mary unto the angel, “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?”
35 And the angel answered and said unto her, “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee. Therefore also that Holy Being who shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
36 And behold, thy cousin Elizabeth: she hath also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.”
38 And Mary said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” And the angel departed from her.
39 And Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah,
40 and entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elizabeth.
41 And it came to pass, when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost.
42 And she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
43 And why is it granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 For lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
45 And blessed is she that believed; for there shall be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”
46 And Mary said, “My soul doth magnify the Lord,
47 and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.
48 For He hath regarded the low estate of His handmaiden; for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
49 For He that is mighty hath done to me great things, and holy is His name.
50 And His mercy is on them that fear Him, from generation to generation.
51 He hath shown strength with His arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
53 He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He hath sent empty away.
54 He hath helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy,
55 as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed for ever.”
56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.
57 Now Elizabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered, and she brought forth a son.
58 And her neighbors and her kindred heard how the Lord had shown great mercy upon her, and they rejoiced with her.
59 And it came to pass that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.
60 But his mother answered and said, “Not so, but he shall be called John.”
61 And they said unto her, “There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.”
62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.
63 And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, saying, “His name is John.” And they marveled all.
64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spoke and praised God.
65 And fear came on all who dwelt round about them; and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judea.
66 And all those who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What manner of child shall this be?” And the hand of the Lord was with him.
67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost and prophesied, saying,
68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He hath visited and redeemed His people,
69 and hath raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David.
70 As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, who have been since the world began,
71 that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all that hate us,
72 to perform the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,
73 the oath which He swore to our father Abraham:
74 that He would grant unto us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.
76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest; for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,
77 to give knowledge of salvation unto His people by the remission of their sins,
78 through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the Dayspring from on high hath visited us,
79 to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80 And the child grew and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts until the day of his appearing unto Israel.
2 And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judea, unto the City of David which is called Bethlehem (because he was of the house and lineage of David)
5 to be taxed with Mary, his espoused wife, who was great with child.
6 And so it was that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!”
15 And it came to pass, when the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, “Let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.”
16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this Child.
18 And all those who heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the Child, His name was called Jesus, who was so named by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
22 And when the days of her purification according to the Law of Moses were accomplished, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord
23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord: “Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”),
24 and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord: “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for Him after the custom of the law,
28 then he took Him up in his arms, and blessed God and said,
29 “Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word;
30 for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation,
31 which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people,
32 a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.”
33 And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him.
34 And Simeon blessed them and said unto Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be spoken against
35 (yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher. She was of great age and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity,
37 and she was a widow of about fourscore and four years. She departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
38 And she, coming in that instant, gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
39 And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee to their own city, Nazareth.
40 And the Child grew and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him.
41 Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.
42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the Feast.
43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and His mother knew not of it.
44 But they, supposing Him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought Him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances.
45 And when they found Him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking Him.
46 And it came to pass that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions.
47 And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.
48 And when they saw Him they were amazed, and His mother said unto Him, “Son, why hast Thou thus dealt with us? Behold, Thy father and I have sought Thee sorrowing.”
49 And He said unto them, “How is it that ye sought Me? Knew ye not that I must be about My Father’s business?”
50 And they understood not the saying which He spoke unto them.
51 And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them. But His mother kept all these things in her heart.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
3 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,
2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the Word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
3 And he came into all the country about the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins,
4 as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.
5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;
6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”
7 Then said he to the multitude who came forth to be baptized by him, “O generation of vipers! Who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say among yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say unto you, that God is able from these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
9 And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees. Every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire.”
10 And the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?”
11 He answered and said unto them, “He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none. And he that hath meat, let him do likewise.”
12 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, “Master, what shall we do?”
13 And he said unto them, “Exact no more than that which is appointed you.”
14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, “And what shall we do?” And he said unto them, “Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.”
15 And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts whether John was the Christ or not,
16 John answered, saying unto them all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I cometh, the straps of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose. He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.
17 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor and will gather the wheat into His garner; but the chaff He will burn with fire unquenchable.”
18 And with many other exhortations preached he unto the people.
19 But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,
20 added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.
21 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized. And while He prayed the heaven was opened,
22 and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from Heaven, which said, “Thou Art My Beloved Son; In Thee I Am Well Pleased.”
23 And Jesus Himself had become about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, who was the son of Heli,
24 who was the son of Matthat, who was the son of Levi, who was the son of Melchi, who was the son of Janna, who was the son of Joseph,
25 who was the son of Mattathias, who was the son of Amos, who was the son of Nahum, who was the son of Esli, who was the son of Naggai,
26 who was the son of Maath, who was the son of Mattathias, who was the son of Semei, who was the son of Joseph, who was the son of Juda,
27 who was the son of Joanna, who was the son of Rhesa, who was the son of Zerubbabel, who was the son of Shealtiel, who was the son of Neri,
28 who was the son of Melchi, who was the son of Addi, who was the son of Cosam, who was the son of Elmodam, who was the son of Er,
29 who was the son of Jose, who was the son of Eliezer, who was the son of Jorim, who was the son of Matthat, who was the son of Levi,
30 who was the son of Simeon, who was the son of Judah, who was the son of Joseph, who was the son of Jonan, who was the son of Eliakim,
31 who was the son of Melea, who was the son of Menan, who was the son of Mattatha, who was the son of Nathan, who was the son of David,
32 who was the son of Jesse, who was the son of Obed, who was the son of Boaz, who was the son of Salmon, who was the son of Nahshon,
33 who was the son of Amminadab, who was the son of Aram, who was the son of Hezron, who was the son of Perez, who was the son of Judah,
34 who was the son of Jacob, who was the son of Isaac, who was the son of Abraham, who was the son of Terah, who was the son of Nahor,
35 who was the son of Serug, who was the son of Reu, who was the son of Peleg, who was the son of Eber, who was the son of Shelah,
36 who was the son of Cainan, who was the son of Arphaxad, who was the son of Shem, who was the son of Noah, who was the son of Lamech,
37 who was the son of Methuselah, who was the son of Enoch, who was the son of Jared, who was the son of Mahalaleel, who was the son of Cainan,
38 who was the son of Enos, who was the son of Seth, who was the son of Adam, who was the son of God.
4 And Jesus, being full of the Holy Ghost, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
2 and for forty days was tempted by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward when they were ended, He hungered.
3 And the devil said unto Him, “If Thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.”
4 And Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’”
5 And the devil, taking Him up onto a high mountain, showed unto Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
6 And the devil said unto Him, “All this power will I give Thee, and the glory of them; for this has been delivered unto me, and to whomsoever I will, I give it.
7 If Thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be Thine.”
8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, “Get thee behind Me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.’”
9 And he brought Him to Jerusalem, and set Him on a pinnacle of the temple and said unto Him, “If Thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down from hence.
10 For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over thee to keep thee,’
11 and, ‘In their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.’”
12 And Jesus answering said unto him, “It is said, ‘Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.’”
13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from Him for a season.
14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and His fame went out through all the region round about.
15 And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.
16 And He came to Nazareth where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up to read.
17 And there was delivered unto Him the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor. He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19 to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”
20 And He closed the book, and He gave it again to the minister and sat down. And the eyes of all those who were in the synagogue were fastened on Him.
21 And He began to say unto them, “This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears.”
22 And all bore Him witness and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?”
23 And He said unto them, “Ye will surely say unto Me this proverb: ‘Physician, heal thyself! Whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.’”
24 And He said, “Verily I say unto you, no prophet is accepted in his own country.
25 But I tell you in truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land.
26 But unto none of them was Elijah sent, save unto Zarephath, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.
27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed, except Naaman the Syrian.”
28 Then all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,
29 and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him unto the brow of a hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast Him down headlong.
30 But He, passing through the midst of them, went His way.
31 And He came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the Sabbath days.
32 And they were astonished at His doctrine, for His word was with power.
33 And in the synagogue there was a man, who had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,
34 saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with Thee, Thou Jesus of Nazareth? Art Thou come to destroy us? I know Thee and who Thou art — the Holy One of God!”
35 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Hold thy peace, and come out of him!” And when the devil had thrown him in their midst, he came out of him and hurt him not.
36 And they were all amazed, and spoke among themselves, saying, “What a word is this! For with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.”
37 And His fame went out into every place in the country round about.
38 And He arose out of the synagogue and entered into Simon’s house. And Simon’s wife’s mother was taken with a great fever, and they besought Him for her.
39 And He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and ministered unto them.
40 Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them, and healed them.
41 And devils also came out of many, crying out and saying, “Thou art Christ, the Son of God!” And He, rebuking them, suffered them not to speak; for they knew that He was Christ.
42 And when it was day, He departed and went into a desert place. And the people sought Him and came unto Him and would have stayed Him, that He should not depart from them.
43 But He said unto them, “I must preach the Kingdom of God to other cities also, for therefore am I sent.”
44 And He preached in the synagogues of Galilee.
5 And it came to pass that, as the people pressed upon Him to hear the Word of God, He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret
2 and saw two boats standing by the lake, but the fishermen were gone out of them and were washing their nets.
3 And He entered into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the people from the boat.
4 Now when He was through speaking, He said unto Simon, “Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draft.”
5 And Simon answering said unto Him, “Master, we have toiled all the night and have taken nothing. Nevertheless, at Thy word I will let down the net.”
6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes, and their net began to break.
7 And they beckoned unto their partners, who were in the other boat, that they should come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.
8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”
9 For he was astonished, and all those who were with him, at the draft of the fishes which they had taken;
10 and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, “Fear not. From henceforth thou shalt catch men.”
11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.
12 And it came to pass when He was in a certain city, behold, a man full of leprosy, seeing Jesus, fell on his face and besought Him, saying, “Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.”
13 And He put forth His hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be thou clean.” And immediately the leprosy departed from him.
14 And He charged him to tell no man, but, “Go and show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing according as Moses commanded, as a testimony unto them.”
15 But so much the more His fame spread abroad, and great multitudes came together to hear and to be healed by Him of their infirmities.
16 And He withdrew Himself into the wilderness and prayed.
17 And it came to pass on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, who had come from every town of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.
18 And behold, men brought in on a bed a man who was taken with a palsy, and they sought means to bring him in and to lay him before Him.
19 And when they could not find a way to bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down on his couch through the tiling into the midst before Jesus.
20 And when He saw their faith, He said unto him, “Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.”
21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?”
22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answering said unto them, “What reason ye in your hearts:
23 whether it is easier to say, ‘Thy sins be forgiven thee,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and walk’?
24 But that ye may know that the Son of Man hath power upon earth to forgive sins,” He said unto the one sick with the palsy, “I say unto thee, arise and take up thy couch and go into thine house.”
25 And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.
26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today.”
27 And after these things He went forth and saw a publican named Levi, sitting in the customhouse, and He said unto him, “Follow Me.”
28 And he left all, rose up, and followed Him.
29 And Levi made Him a great feast in his own house, and there was a great company of publicans and of others who sat down with them.
30 But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against His disciples, saying, “Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?”
31 And Jesus answering said unto them, “They that are whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
33 And they said unto Him, “Why do the disciples of John fast often and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees, but thine eat and drink?”
34 And He said unto them, “Can ye make the attendants of the bridechamber fast while the bridegroom is with them?
35 But the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.”
36 And He spoke also a parable unto them: “No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; otherwise, both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old.
37 And no man putteth new wine into old wineskins; else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins shall perish.
38 But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved.
39 No man also, having drunk old wine, straightway desireth new; for he saith, ‘The old is better.’”
6 And it came to pass on the second Sabbath after the first, that He went through the cornfields. And His disciples plucked the ears of corn and, rubbing them in their hands, ate.
2 And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, “Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the Sabbath days?”
3 And Jesus answering them said, “Have ye not read so much as this, what David did when he himself hungered and they that were with him:
4 how he went into the house of God, and took and ate the showbread and gave also to them that were with him, which it is not lawful to eat except for the priests alone?”
5 And He said unto them, “The Son of Man is Lord also of the Sabbath.”
6 And it came to pass also on another Sabbath, that He entered into the synagogue and taught. And there was a man whose right hand was withered.
7 And the scribes and Pharisees watched Him to see whether He would heal on the Sabbath day, that they might find an accusation against Him.
8 But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, “Rise up and stand forth in the midst.” And he arose and stood forth.
9 Then said Jesus unto them, “I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the Sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? To save life, or to destroy it?”
10 And looking round about upon them all, He said unto the man, “Stretch forth thy hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored whole as the other.
11 And they were filled with madness, and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.
12 And it came to pass in those days that He went out onto a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
13 And when it was day, He called unto Him His disciples, and from them He chose twelve, whom also He named apostles:
14 Simon (whom He also named Peter), and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,
15 Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot,
16 and Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot who also was the traitor.
17 And He came down with them and stood on the plain with the company of His disciples and a great multitude of people out of all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases,
18 and those who were vexed with unclean spirits; and they were healed.
19 And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for there went virtue out of Him and healed them all.
20 And He lifted up His eyes on His disciples and said, “Blessed be ye poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God.
21 Blessed are ye that hunger now, for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now, for ye shall laugh.
22 Blessed are ye when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man’s sake.
23 Rejoice ye in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in Heaven; for in like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
24 “But woe unto you that are rich, for ye have received your consolation.
25 Woe unto you that are full, for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now, for ye shall mourn and weep.
26 Woe unto you when all men shall speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
27 “But I say unto you that hear: Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you.
28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them that despitefully use you.
29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek, offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak, forbid not to take thy coat also.
30 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods, ask them not back.
31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
32 For if ye love them that love you, what thanks have ye? For sinners also love those that love them.
33 And if ye do good to them that do good to you, what thanks have ye? For sinners also do even the same.
34 And if ye lend to them from whom ye hope to receive, what thanks have ye? For sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
35 But love ye your enemies, and do good and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest; for He is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
37 “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged. Condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned. Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.
38 Give, and it shall be given unto you: good measure, pressed down and shaken together and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete, therewith it shall be measured to you again.”
39 And He spoke a parable unto them: “Can the blind lead the blind? Shall they not both fall into the ditch?
40 The disciple is not above his master, but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.
41 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
42 Or how canst thou say to thy brother, ‘Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye,’ when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite! Cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye.
43 “For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
44 For every tree is known by his own fruit. For from thorns men do not gather figs, nor from a bramble bush gather they grapes.
45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil; for of the abundance of his heart his mouth speaketh.
46 “And why call ye Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not the things which I say?
47 Whosoever cometh to Me, and heareth My sayings and doeth them, I will show you to whom he is like:
48 He is like a man who built a house and dug deep and laid the foundation on a rock; and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house and could not shake it, for it was founded upon a rock.
49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that built a house without a foundation upon the earth, against which the stream beat vehemently, and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”
Copyright © 1994 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc.