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”].”

But he heard that Archelaus [^Creigned from 4 bc to ad 6] was now ·king [reigning] in Judea ·since his father Herod had died [^Lin place of his father Herod]. So Joseph was afraid to go there. After being warned in a dream, he ·went [withdrew] to the ·area [region; district] of Galilee,

They confessed their sins, and he baptized them in the Jordan River.

Jesus Teaches About Sexual Sin

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You ·must [shall] not ·be guilty of [commit] adultery [Ex. 20:14; Deut. 5:18].’

But I tell you that if anyone looks at a woman ·and wants to sin sexually with her [lustfully; ^Lwith a desire for her], in his ·mind [heart] he has already ·done that sin [committed adultery] with her.

If your right eye causes you to ·sin [^Lstumble], ·take [tear; gouge] it out and throw it away. [^LFor] It is better to lose one part of your body than to have your whole body thrown into ·hell [^LGehenna; v. 22].

If your right hand causes you to ·sin [^Lstumble], cut it off and throw it away. It is better to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into ·hell [^LGehenna; v. 22].

“[^LSo] When you give to the poor, don’t be like the hypocrites. They blow trumpets [^Ceither figuratively (“blow their own horn”) or literally, since trumpets sometimes announced public events] in the synagogues and on the streets so that people will see them and ·honor [admire] them. I tell you the truth, those hypocrites already have their full reward [^Cpraise from people, rather than reward from God].

Forgive us for our ·sins [^Ldebts], just as we have forgiven ·those who sinned against us [^Lour debtors; ^Csin is pictured as a debt owed].

·Yes, [For] if you forgive others for their ·sins [transgressions; failings; trespasses], your Father in heaven will also forgive you.

But if you don’t forgive others, your Father in heaven will not forgive your ·sins [transgressions; failings; trespasses].

[^LAnd look/^Tbehold] Some people brought to Jesus a man who was paralyzed and lying on a ·mat [cot; bed]. When Jesus saw ·the faith of these people [^Ltheir faith], he said to the paralyzed man, “·Be encouraged [Have courage; Take heart], ·young man [son; child]. Your sins are forgiven.”

[^LFor] Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to tell him, ‘Stand up and walk’?

But ·I will prove to you [^Lso that you may know] that the Son of Man [^Ca title for the Messiah; Dan. 7:13–14] has authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Stand up, ·take [pick up] your ·mat [cot; bed], and go home.”

As Jesus was ·having dinner [^Lreclining; ^Caround a low table; the posture for a formal banquet or dinner party] at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ·ate [^Lreclined together] with Jesus and his ·followers [disciples].

When the Pharisees saw this, they asked Jesus’ ·followers [disciples], “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors [^Cdespised because they worked for the Roman rulers and were notorious for corruption and extortion] and sinners?”

Go and learn what this means: ‘I ·want [desire; require; am pleased by] ·kindness [compassion; mercy] ·more than I want [^Lnot] animal sacrifices [Hos. 6:6].’ [^LFor] I did not come to ·invite [call] ·good people [the righteous; ^Cmeaning the “self-righteous” who feel no need to repent] but to invite [call] sinners [^Cthose who recognize their need to repent].”

·Since the time [^LFrom the days] John the Baptist came until now, the kingdom of heaven has been ·going forward in strength [advancing forcefully; or subject to violence; suffering violent attacks], and ·forceful [or violent] people have been trying to ·take it by force [lay hold of it; or attack it].

The Son of Man came, eating and drinking, and people say, ‘Look at him! ·He eats too much and drinks too much wine [^LHe’s a glutton and a drunkard], and he is a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is ·proved to be right [vindicated] by ·what she does [or its deeds/actions/results; ^CWisdom is personified as a woman (Prov. 8), her “children” being those who respond favorably to the message of John and Jesus].”

Jesus Warns Unbelievers

Then Jesus began to ·criticize [denounce; reproach] the cities where he did ·most [so many] of his ·miracles [powerful deeds], because the people did not ·change their lives and stop sinning [repent].

The Sin Against the Holy Spirit

“Whoever is not with me is against me. Whoever does not ·work [gather] with me ·is working against me [scatters; ^Cprobably a reference to gathering or scattering a flock; John 10:12].

So I tell you, people can be forgiven for every sin and ·everything they say against God [blasphemy]. But whoever ·speaks [blasphemes] against the ·Holy Spirit [^LSpirit] will not be forgiven.

Jesus answered, “Evil and sinful people [^LAn evil and adulterous/unfaithful generation] are the ones who ·want to see [seek after; ask for; demand] ·a miracle for a sign [^La sign]. But no sign will be given to them, except the sign of the prophet Jonah.

But ·he does not let the teaching go deep into his life, so [^Lsince he has no root in himself] ·he keeps it only a short time [he does not endure; it is shortlived]. When trouble or persecution comes because of the ·teaching he accepted [word, message], he ·quickly [immediately] ·gives up [falls away; stumbles].

This ·is as [fulfills what] the prophet said: “I will ·speak using [^Lopen my mouth in] ·stories [parables]; I will ·tell [announce; utter] things ·that have been secret [hidden] since the ·world was made [creation/foundation of the world. Ps. 78:2].”