Matthew 23
Matthews 23
1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his followers, 2 "The teachers of
the law and the Pharisees have the authority to tell you what the law of
Moses says. 3 So you should obey and follow whatever they tell you, but
their lives are not good examples for you to follow. They tell you to do
things, but they themselves don't do them. 4 They make strict rules and
try to force people to obey them, but they are unwilling to help those who
struggle under the weight of their rules.
5 "They do good things so that other people will see them. They enlarge
the little boxes[a] holding Scriptures that they wear, and they make their
special prayer clothes very long. 6 Those Pharisees and teachers of the
law love to have the most important seats at feasts and in the
synagogues. 7 They love people to greet them with respect in the
marketplaces, and they love to have people call them 'Teacher.'
8 "But you must not be called 'Teacher,' because you have only one
Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters together. 9 And don't call
any person on earth 'Father,' because you have one Father, who is in
heaven. 10 And you should not be called 'Master,' because you have
only one Master, the Christ. 11 Whoever is your servant is the greatest
among you. 12 Whoever makes himself great will be made humble.
Whoever makes himself humble will be made great.
13 "How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You are
hypocrites! You close the door for people to enter the kingdom of
heaven. You yourselves don't enter, and you stop others who are trying
to enter. [ 14 How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees.
You are hypocrites. You take away widows' houses, and you say long
prayers so that people will notice you. So you will have a worse
punishment.][b]
15 "How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You are
hypocrites! You travel across land and sea to find one person who will
change to your ways. When you find that person, you make him more fit
for hell than you are.
16 "How terrible for you! You guide the people, but you are blind. You
say, 'If people swear by the Temple when they make a promise, that
means nothing. But if they swear by the gold that is in the Temple, they
must keep that promise.' 17 You are blind fools! Which is greater: the
gold or the Temple that makes that gold holy?18 And you say, 'If people
swear by the altar when they make a promise, that means nothing. But if
they swear by the gift on the altar, they must keep that promise.' 19 You
are blind! Which is greater: the gift or the altar that makes the gift holy?
20 The person who swears by the altar is really using the altar and also
everything on the altar. 21 And the person who swears by the Temple is
really using the Temple and also everything in the Temple. 22 The
person who swears by heaven is also using God's throne and the One
who sits on that throne.
23 "How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You are
hypocrites! You give to God one-tenth of everything you earn—even
your mint, dill, and cumin.[c] But you don't obey the really important
teachings of the law—justice, mercy, and being loyal. These are the
things you should do, as well as those other things. 24 You guide the
people, but you are blind! You are like a person who picks a fly out of a
drink and then swallows a camel![d]
25 "How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You are
hypocrites! You wash the outside of your cups and dishes, but inside
they are full of things you got by cheating others and by pleasing only
yourselves. 26 Pharisees, you are blind! First make the inside of the cup
clean, and then the outside of the cup can be truly clean.
27"How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You are
hypocrites! You are like tombs that are painted white. Outside, those
tombs look fine, but inside, they are full of the bones of dead people and
all kinds of unclean things. 28 It is the same with you. People look at you
and think you are good, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and
evil.
29"How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You are
hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets, and you show honor to the
graves of those who lived good lives. 30 You say, 'If we had lived during
the time of our ancestors, we would not have helped them kill the
prophets.' 31 But you give proof that you are descendants of those who
murdered the prophets. 32 And you will complete the sin that your
ancestors started.
33"You are snakes! A family of poisonous snakes! How are you going to
escape God's judgment? 34 So I tell you this: I am sending to you
prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and
crucify. Some of them you will beat in your synagogues and chase from
town to town. 35 So you will be guilty for the death of all the good people
who have been killed on earth—from the murder of that good man Abel
to the murder of Zechariah[e] son of Berakiah, whom you murdered
between the Temple and the altar. 36 I tell you the truth, all of these
things will happen to you people who are living now.
Matthew 5
Jesus Teaches the People
1 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a hill and sat down. His
followers came to him, 2 and he began to teach them, saying:
3 "They are blessed who realize their spiritual poverty,
for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
4 They are blessed who grieve,
for God will comfort them.
5 They are blessed who are humble,
for the whole earth will be theirs.
6 They are blessed who hunger and thirst after justice,
for they will be satisfied.
7 They are blessed who show mercy to others,
for God will show mercy to them.
8 They are blessed whose thoughts are pure,
for they will see God.
9 They are blessed who work for peace,
for they will be called God's children.
10 They are blessed who are persecuted for doing good,
for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
11 "People will insult you and hurt you. They will lie and say all kinds of
evil things about you because you follow me. But when they do, you will
be blessed. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because you have a great reward
waiting for you in heaven. People did the same evil things to the
prophets who lived before you.
13"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its salty taste, it
cannot be made salty again. It is good for nothing, except to be thrown
out and walked on. 14 "You are the light that gives light to the world. A
city that is built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 And people don't hide a
light under a bowl. They put it on a lamp stand so the light shines for all
the people in the house. 16 In the same way, you should be a light for
other people. Live so that they will see the good things you do and will
praise your Father in heaven.
17 "Don't think that I have come to destroy the law of Moses or the
teaching of the prophets. I have not come to destroy them but to bring
about what they said. 18 I tell you the truth, nothing will disappear from
the law until heaven and earth are gone. Not even the smallest letter or
the smallest part of a letter will be lost until everything has happened. 19
Whoever refuses to obey any command and teaches other people not to
obey that command will be the least important in the kingdom of heaven.
But whoever obeys the commands and teaches other people to obey
them will be great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 I tell you that if you are
no more obedient than the teachers of the law and the Pharisees, you
will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
The Holy Bible, New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005
by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his followers, 2 "The teachers of
the law and the Pharisees have the authority to tell you what the law of
Moses says. 3 So you should obey and follow whatever they tell you, but
their lives are not good examples for you to follow. They tell you to do
things, but they themselves don't do them. 4 They make strict rules and
try to force people to obey them, but they are unwilling to help those who
struggle under the weight of their rules.
5 "They do good things so that other people will see them. They enlarge
the little boxes[a] holding Scriptures that they wear, and they make their
special prayer clothes very long. 6 Those Pharisees and teachers of the
law love to have the most important seats at feasts and in the
synagogues. 7 They love people to greet them with respect in the
marketplaces, and they love to have people call them 'Teacher.'
8 "But you must not be called 'Teacher,' because you have only one
Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters together. 9 And don't call
any person on earth 'Father,' because you have one Father, who is in
heaven. 10 And you should not be called 'Master,' because you have
only one Master, the Christ. 11 Whoever is your servant is the greatest
among you. 12 Whoever makes himself great will be made humble.
Whoever makes himself humble will be made great.
13 "How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You are
hypocrites! You close the door for people to enter the kingdom of
heaven. You yourselves don't enter, and you stop others who are trying
to enter. [ 14 How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees.
You are hypocrites. You take away widows' houses, and you say long
prayers so that people will notice you. So you will have a worse
punishment.][b]
15 "How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You are
hypocrites! You travel across land and sea to find one person who will
change to your ways. When you find that person, you make him more fit
for hell than you are.
16 "How terrible for you! You guide the people, but you are blind. You
say, 'If people swear by the Temple when they make a promise, that
means nothing. But if they swear by the gold that is in the Temple, they
must keep that promise.' 17 You are blind fools! Which is greater: the
gold or the Temple that makes that gold holy?18 And you say, 'If people
swear by the altar when they make a promise, that means nothing. But if
they swear by the gift on the altar, they must keep that promise.' 19 You
are blind! Which is greater: the gift or the altar that makes the gift holy?
20 The person who swears by the altar is really using the altar and also
everything on the altar. 21 And the person who swears by the Temple is
really using the Temple and also everything in the Temple. 22 The
person who swears by heaven is also using God's throne and the One
who sits on that throne.
23 "How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You are
hypocrites! You give to God one-tenth of everything you earn—even
your mint, dill, and cumin.[c] But you don't obey the really important
teachings of the law—justice, mercy, and being loyal. These are the
things you should do, as well as those other things. 24 You guide the
people, but you are blind! You are like a person who picks a fly out of a
drink and then swallows a camel![d]
25 "How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You are
hypocrites! You wash the outside of your cups and dishes, but inside
they are full of things you got by cheating others and by pleasing only
yourselves. 26 Pharisees, you are blind! First make the inside of the cup
clean, and then the outside of the cup can be truly clean.
27"How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You are
hypocrites! You are like tombs that are painted white. Outside, those
tombs look fine, but inside, they are full of the bones of dead people and
all kinds of unclean things. 28 It is the same with you. People look at you
and think you are good, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and
evil.
29"How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You are
hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets, and you show honor to the
graves of those who lived good lives. 30 You say, 'If we had lived during
the time of our ancestors, we would not have helped them kill the
prophets.' 31 But you give proof that you are descendants of those who
murdered the prophets. 32 And you will complete the sin that your
ancestors started.
33"You are snakes! A family of poisonous snakes! How are you going to
escape God's judgment? 34 So I tell you this: I am sending to you
prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and
crucify. Some of them you will beat in your synagogues and chase from
town to town. 35 So you will be guilty for the death of all the good people
who have been killed on earth—from the murder of that good man Abel
to the murder of Zechariah[e] son of Berakiah, whom you murdered
between the Temple and the altar. 36 I tell you the truth, all of these
things will happen to you people who are living now.
Matthew 5
Jesus Teaches the People
1 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a hill and sat down. His
followers came to him, 2 and he began to teach them, saying:
3 "They are blessed who realize their spiritual poverty,
for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
4 They are blessed who grieve,
for God will comfort them.
5 They are blessed who are humble,
for the whole earth will be theirs.
6 They are blessed who hunger and thirst after justice,
for they will be satisfied.
7 They are blessed who show mercy to others,
for God will show mercy to them.
8 They are blessed whose thoughts are pure,
for they will see God.
9 They are blessed who work for peace,
for they will be called God's children.
10 They are blessed who are persecuted for doing good,
for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
11 "People will insult you and hurt you. They will lie and say all kinds of
evil things about you because you follow me. But when they do, you will
be blessed. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because you have a great reward
waiting for you in heaven. People did the same evil things to the
prophets who lived before you.
13"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its salty taste, it
cannot be made salty again. It is good for nothing, except to be thrown
out and walked on. 14 "You are the light that gives light to the world. A
city that is built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 And people don't hide a
light under a bowl. They put it on a lamp stand so the light shines for all
the people in the house. 16 In the same way, you should be a light for
other people. Live so that they will see the good things you do and will
praise your Father in heaven.
17 "Don't think that I have come to destroy the law of Moses or the
teaching of the prophets. I have not come to destroy them but to bring
about what they said. 18 I tell you the truth, nothing will disappear from
the law until heaven and earth are gone. Not even the smallest letter or
the smallest part of a letter will be lost until everything has happened. 19
Whoever refuses to obey any command and teaches other people not to
obey that command will be the least important in the kingdom of heaven.
But whoever obeys the commands and teaches other people to obey
them will be great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 I tell you that if you are
no more obedient than the teachers of the law and the Pharisees, you
will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
The Holy Bible, New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005
by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Heavenly Father, we come
before you today to ask your
forgiveness and to seek your
direction and guidance. We
know Your Word says, 'Woe
to those who call evil
good,' but that is exactly
what we have done. �
We have lost our spiritual
equilibrium and reversed
our values.�
We have exploited the poor
and called it the lottery. �
We have rewarded laziness
and called it
welfare. �
We have killed our unborn
and called it
choice. �
We have shot abortionists
and called it justifiable. �
We have neglected to
discipline our children and
called it building self
esteem.�
We have abused power and
called it politics. �
We have coveted our
neighbor's possessions
and called it ambition. �
We have polluted the air
with profanity and
pornography and called it
freedom of expression. �
We have ridiculed the time-
honored values
of our forefathers and called
it enlightenment.�
Search us, Oh, God, and
know our hearts today;
cleanse us from every sin
and set us free..
Amen!
By Minister Joe Wright
before you today to ask your
forgiveness and to seek your
direction and guidance. We
know Your Word says, 'Woe
to those who call evil
good,' but that is exactly
what we have done. �
We have lost our spiritual
equilibrium and reversed
our values.�
We have exploited the poor
and called it the lottery. �
We have rewarded laziness
and called it
welfare. �
We have killed our unborn
and called it
choice. �
We have shot abortionists
and called it justifiable. �
We have neglected to
discipline our children and
called it building self
esteem.�
We have abused power and
called it politics. �
We have coveted our
neighbor's possessions
and called it ambition. �
We have polluted the air
with profanity and
pornography and called it
freedom of expression. �
We have ridiculed the time-
honored values
of our forefathers and called
it enlightenment.�
Search us, Oh, God, and
know our hearts today;
cleanse us from every sin
and set us free..
Amen!
By Minister Joe Wright
Derek Prince
Need some
understand and
guidance on how to
stay strong while in
the battle with the
family courts.
Derek Prince has a
special way of
opening up the bible
and helping you
understand.
Derek will bring peace
to your spirit. Visit the
book section of this
web site.
Need some
understand and
guidance on how to
stay strong while in
the battle with the
family courts.
Derek Prince has a
special way of
opening up the bible
and helping you
understand.
Derek will bring peace
to your spirit. Visit the
book section of this
web site.
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