The Ancestors of Jesus

(Luke 3.23-38)

Jesus Christ came from the family of King David and also from the family of Abraham. And this is a list of his ancestors. From Abraham to King David, his ancestors were: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah and his brothers (Judah's sons were Perez and Zerah, and their mother was Tamar), Hezron; Ram, Amminadab, Nahshon, Salmon, Boaz (his mother was Rahab), Obed (his mother was Ruth), Jesse, and King David. From David to the time of the exile in Babylonia, the ancestors of Jesus were: David, Solomon (his mother had been Uriah's wife), Rehoboam, Abijah, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Jehoram; Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, Manasseh, Amon, Josiah, and Jehoiachin and his brothers.

Then after her baby is born, name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

When the men went into the house and saw the child with Mary, his mother, they knelt down and worshiped him. They took out their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh and gave them to him.

They told how sorry they were for their sins, and he baptized them in the river.

An ax is ready to cut the trees down at their roots. Any tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into a fire.

The devil said, “If you are God's Son, jump off. The Scriptures say: ‘God will give his angels orders about you. They will catch you in their arms, and you won't hurt your feet on the stones.’ ”

Finally, the devil took Jesus up on a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms on earth and their power.

Jesus Chooses Four Fishermen

(Mark 1.16-20; Luke 5.1-11)

While Jesus was walking along the shore of Lake Galilee, he saw two brothers. One was Simon, also known as Peter, and the other was Andrew. They were fishermen, and they were casting their net into the lake.

Right then the two brothers dropped their nets and went with him.

Jesus walked on until he saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat with their father, mending their nets. Jesus asked them to come with him.

At once they left the boat and their father and went with Jesus.

Jesus Teaches, Preaches, and Heals

(Luke 6.17-19)

Jesus went all over Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the good news about God's kingdom. He also healed every kind of disease and sickness.

The Law of Moses

Don't suppose I came to do away with the Law and the Prophets. I did not come to do away with them, but to give them their full meaning.

If you love only those people who love you, will God reward you for this? Even tax collectors love their friends.

When you give to the poor, don't blow a loud horn. That's what show-offs do in the synagogues and on the street corners, because they are always looking for praise. I can assure you that they already have their reward.

Prayer

(Luke 11.2-4)

When you pray, don't be like those show-offs who love to stand up and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners. They do this just to look good. I can assure you that they already have their reward.

Worshiping God by Going without Eating

When you go without eating, don't try to look gloomy as those show-offs do when they go without eating. I can assure you that they already have their reward.

Why worry about clothes? Look how the wild flowers grow. They don't work hard to make their clothes.

You can tell who the false prophets are by their deeds.

A Warning

(Luke 13.26,27)

Not everyone who calls me their Lord will get into the kingdom of heaven. Only the ones who obey my Father in heaven will get in.

On the day of judgment many will call me their Lord. They will say, “We preached in your name, and in your name we forced out demons and worked many miracles.”

He taught them like someone with authority, and not like their teachers of the Law of Moses.

But the ones who should have been in the kingdom will be thrown out into the dark. They will cry and grit their teeth in pain.”

Jesus answered, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead.”

a terrible storm suddenly struck the lake, and waves started splashing into their boat. Jesus was sound asleep,