Mary’s husband, Joseph, was a good man. He did not want to cause her public disgrace, so he planned to divorce her secretly.

But Joseph did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And he named him Jesus.

But God warned the wise men in a dream not to go back to Herod. So they went home to their own country a different way.

I know what you are thinking. You want to say, ‘but Abraham is our father!’ That means nothing. I tell you, God could make children for Abraham from these rocks.

The ax is now ready to cut down the trees. Every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

“I baptize you with water to show that you have changed your hearts and lives. But there is someone coming later who is able to do more than I can. I am not good enough to be the slave who takes off his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

He will come ready to clean the grain. He will separate the good grain from the straw, and he will put the good part into his barn. Then he will burn the useless part with a fire that cannot be stopped.”

Jesus ate nothing for 40 days and nights. After this, he was very hungry.

The devil came to tempt him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these rocks to become bread.”

Jesus answered him, “The Scriptures say, ‘It is not just bread that keeps people alive. Their lives depend on what God says.’”

He said to Jesus, “If you are the Son of God, jump off, because the Scriptures say, ‘God will command his angels to help you, and their hands will catch you, so that you will not hit your foot on a rock.’”

Jesus answered, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”

But he did not stay in Nazareth. He went to live in Capernaum, a town near Lake Galilee in the area near Zebulun and Naphtali.

Jesus said to them, “Come, follow me, and I will make you a different kind of fishermen. You will bring in people, not fish.”

Jesus Teaches and Heals the People

Jesus went everywhere in the country of Galilee. He taught in the synagogues and told the Good News about God’s kingdom. And he healed all the people’s diseases and sicknesses.

Great blessings belong to those who suffer persecution for doing what is right. God’s kingdom belongs to them.

In the same way, you should be a light for other people. Live so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.

Jesus and the Old Testament Writings

“Don’t think that I have come to destroy the Law of Moses or the teaching of the prophets. I have come not to destroy their teachings but to give full meaning to them.

I assure you that nothing will disappear from the law until heaven and earth are gone. The law will not lose even the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter until it has all been done.

“A person should obey every command in the law, even one that does not seem important. Whoever refuses to obey any command and teaches others not to obey it will be the least important in God’s kingdom. But whoever obeys the law and teaches others to obey it will be great in God’s kingdom.

I tell you that you must do better than the teachers of the law and the Pharisees. If you are not more pleasing to God than they are, you will never enter God’s kingdom.

Jesus Teaches About Anger

“You have heard that it was said to our people long ago, ‘You must not murder anyone. Any person who commits murder will be judged.’

I assure you that you will not leave there until you have paid everything you owe.

Jesus Teaches About Sexual Sin

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You must not commit adultery.’

Jesus Teaches About Divorce

“It was also said, ‘Any man who divorces his wife must give her a written notice of divorce.’