The Family History of Jesus

This is the ·family history [record of the ancestors; genealogy; ^Lbook of the offspring/family; ^Cperhaps a title for the entire book] of Jesus ·Christ [the Messiah]. ·He came from the family of David, and David came from the family of Abraham [^L…the son of David, the son of Abraham; ^C“son” can mean descendant].

While Joseph ·thought about [considered; decided; resolved to do] these things, [^Llook; ^Tbehold] an angel of the Lord ·came [appeared] to him in a dream. The angel said, “Joseph, ·descendant [son] of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because ·the baby [^Lwhat is conceived] in her is from the Holy Spirit.

She will give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins [^Cthe name Jesus means “the Lord saves”].”

“[^LLook; ^TBehold] The virgin will ·be pregnant [^Lconceive in her womb; Is. 7:14]. She will ·have [give birth to] a son, and they will name him Immanuel,” which [^Cin Hebrew] means “God is with us.”

but he did not have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son. And ·Joseph [^Lhe] named him Jesus.

·But God warned the wise men [^LBeing warned; ^Cthe passive verb implies God as subject] in a dream not to go back to Herod, so they returned to their own country by a different way.

And Joseph stayed in Egypt until Herod died. This happened to ·bring about [fulfill] what the Lord had said through the prophet: “I called my son out of Egypt [Hos. 11:1; ^CJesus fulfills the role of Israel by leading a spiritual Exodus].”

·So [Then] what ·God had said [^Lwas spoken; ^Cthe passive verb implies God as subject] through the prophet Jeremiah ·came true [was fulfilled]:

to a town called Nazareth, and lived there. And so what ·God had said [was spoken; ^Cthe passive verb implies God as subject] through the prophets ·came true [was fulfilled]: “He will be called a Nazarene [^Ca person from the town of Nazareth; perhaps a reference to Is. 11:1, where the Hebrew word translated “branch” sounds like “Nazarene”].”

Many of the Pharisees and Sadducees came to the place where John was baptizing people. When John saw them, he said, “You ·are snakes [^Tbrood/offspring of vipers]! Who warned you to ·run [slither; ^Lflee] away from God’s coming ·punishment [wrath; retribution]?

And don’t ·think you can [presume to] say to yourselves, ‘Abraham is our father [^Ca claim to be God’s special people].’ [^LFor] I tell you that God could ·make [create; ^Lraise up] children for Abraham from these rocks.

Jesus answered, “Let it ·be this way for [happen] now. ·We should do all things that are God’s will [or In this way we will do what God requires; ^LFor thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness].” So John ·agreed to baptize Jesus [gave in; consented; allowed it].

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he came up out of the water. Then ·heaven [the sky/heavens] opened, and he saw God’s Spirit ·coming down [descending and lighting/settling] on him like a dove [^Ceither in the form of a dove, or in bird-like descent].

And a voice from heaven said, “This is my ·Son, whom I love [dearly beloved Son; Ps. 2:7; Gen. 22:2], and I am ·very [well] pleased with him [Is. 42:1].”

The ·devil came to Jesus to tempt him [^Ltempter/tester came to Jesus], saying, “If you are the Son of God, ·tell [command] these rocks to ·become bread [turn into loaves].”

Jesus answered, “It is written in the Scriptures, ‘A person lives not on bread alone, but by ·everything God says [^Levery word that comes out of God’s mouth; Deut. 8:3].’”

The devil said, “If you are the Son of God, ·jump [^Lthrow yourself] down, because it is written in the Scriptures: ‘He ·has put his angels in charge of you [or will order his angels to protect you; ^Lwill command his angel concerning you]. They will ·catch you in [lift you up with] their hands so that you will not hit your foot on a rock [Ps. 91:11–12].’”

Jesus answered him, “It also says in the Scriptures, ‘Do not test the Lord your God [Deut. 6:16].’”

Jesus said to him, “·Go away from me [Get out of here; Be gone], Satan! [^LFor] It is written in the Scriptures, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him [Deut. 6:13].’”

As Jesus ·continued walking by Lake Galilee [went on from there], he saw two other brothers, ·James and John, the sons of Zebedee [^LJames the son of Zebedee, and his brother John]. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, ·mending [or preparing] their nets. Jesus ·told them to come with him [called them].

They are blessed who ·grieve [mourn], for ·God will comfort them [^Lthey will be comforted; ^Cthe passive verb implies God as subject].

They are blessed who show mercy to others, for ·God will show mercy to them [^Lthey will be shown mercy; ^Cthe passive verb implies God as subject].

They are blessed ·whose thoughts are pure [or whose hearts are pure; ^Tthe pure in heart], for they will see God.

They are blessed who work for peace [^TBlessed are the peacemakers], for they will be called God’s ·children [or sons].

“·You are blessed [^TBlessed are you; or God will bless you] when people ·insult [mock; abuse; revile] you and ·hurt [persecute] you. They will lie and say all kinds of evil things ·about [against] you because ·you follow [^Lof] me.