Prayer
(Matthew 6.9-13Matthew 7.7-11)1 When Jesus had finished praying, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his followers to pray.”
2 So Jesus told them, “Pray in this way:
‘Father, help us
to honor your name.
Come and set up
your kingdom.
3 Give us each day
the food we need.
4 Forgive our sins,
as we forgive everyone
who has done wrong to us.
And keep us
from being tempted.’ ”
5 Then Jesus went on to say:
Suppose one of you goes to a friend in the middle of the night and says, “Let me borrow three loaves of bread. 6 A friend of mine has dropped in, and I don't have a thing for him to eat.” 7 And suppose your friend answers, “Don't bother me! The door is bolted, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up to give you something.”
8 He may not get up and give you the bread, just because you are his friend. But he will get up and give you as much as you need, simply because you are not ashamed to keep on asking.
9 So I tell you to ask and you will receive, search and you will find, knock and the door will be opened for you. 10 Everyone who asks will receive, everyone who searches will find, and the door will be opened for everyone who knocks. 11 Which one of you fathers would give your hungry child a snake if the child asked for a fish? 12 Which one of you would give your child a scorpion if the child asked for an egg? 13 As bad as you are, you still know how to give good gifts to your children. But your heavenly Father is even more ready to give the Holy Spirit to anyone who asks.
Jesus and the Ruler of Demons
(Matthew 12.22-30Mark 3.20-27)14 Jesus forced a demon out of a man who could not talk. And after the demon had gone out, the man started speaking, and the crowds were amazed. 15 But some people said, “He forces out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons!”
16 Others wanted to put Jesus to the test. So they asked him to show them a sign from God. 17 Jesus knew what they were thinking, and he said:
A kingdom where people fight each other will end up in ruin. And a family that fights will break up. 18 If Satan fights against himself, how can his kingdom last? Yet you say that I force out demons by the power of Beelzebul. 19 If I use his power to force out demons, whose power do your own followers use to force them out? They are the ones who will judge you. 20 But if I use God's power to force out demons, it proves that God's kingdom has already come to you.
21 When a strong man arms himself and guards his home, everything he owns is safe. 22 But if a stronger man comes and defeats him, he will carry off the weapons in which the strong man trusted. Then he will divide with others what he has taken. 23 If you are not on my side, you are against me. If you don't gather in the crop with me, you scatter it.
Return of an Evil Spirit
(Matthew 12.43-45)24 When an evil spirit leaves a person, it travels through the desert, looking for a place to rest. But when it doesn't find a place, it says, “I will go back to the home I left.” 25 When it gets there and finds the place clean and fixed up, 26 it goes off and finds seven other evil spirits even worse than itself. They all come and make their home there, and that person ends up in worse shape than before.
Being Really Blessed
27 While Jesus was still talking, a woman in the crowd spoke up, “The woman who gave birth to you and nursed you is blessed!”
28 Jesus replied, “That's true, but the people who are really blessed are the ones who hear and obey God's message!”
A Sign from God
(Matthew 12.38-42Mark 8.12)29 As crowds were gathering around Jesus, he said:
You people of today are evil! You keep looking for a sign from God. But what happened to Jonah is the only sign you will be given. 30 Just as Jonah was a sign to the people of Nineveh, the Son of Man will be a sign to the people of today. 31 When the judgment comes, the Queen of the South will stand there with you and condemn you. She traveled a long way to hear Solomon's wisdom, and yet here is something far greater than Solomon. 32 The people of Nineveh will also stand there with you and condemn you. They turned to God when Jonah preached, and yet here is something far greater than Jonah.
Light
(Matthew 5.15Matthew 6.22Matthew 23)33 No one lights a lamp and then hides it or puts it under a clay pot. A lamp is put on a lampstand, so everyone who comes into the house can see the light. 34 Your eyes are the lamp for your body. When your eyes are good, you have all the light you need. But when your eyes are bad, everything is dark. 35 So be sure your light isn't darkness. 36 If you have light, and nothing is dark, then light will be everywhere, as when a lamp shines brightly on you.
Jesus Condemns the Pharisees and Teachers of the Law of Moses
(Matthew 23.1-36Mark 12.38-40Luke 20.45-47)37 When Jesus finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him home for a meal. Jesus went and sat down to eat. 38 The Pharisee was surprised that he did not wash his hands before eating. 39 So the Lord said to him:
You Pharisees clean the outside of cups and dishes, but on the inside you are greedy and evil. 40 You fools! Didn't God make both the outside and the inside? 41 If you would only give what you have to the poor, everything you do would please God.
42 You Pharisees are in for trouble! You give God a tenth of the spices from your gardens, such as mint and rue. But you cheat people, and you don't love God. You should be fair and kind to others and still give a tenth to God.
43 You Pharisees are in for trouble! You love the front seats in the synagogues, and you like to be greeted with honor in the market. 44 But you are in for trouble! You are like unmarked graves that people walk on without even knowing it.
45 A teacher of the Law of Moses spoke up, “Teacher, you said cruel things about us.”
46 Jesus replied:
You teachers are also in for trouble! You load people down with heavy burdens, but you won't lift a finger to help them carry the loads. 47 Yes, you are really in for trouble. You build monuments to honor the prophets your own people murdered long ago. 48 You must think that was the right thing for your people to do, or else you would not have built monuments for the prophets they murdered.
49 Because of your evil deeds, the Wisdom of God said, “I will send prophets and apostles to you. But you will murder some and mistreat others.” 50 You people living today will be punished for all the prophets who have been murdered since the beginning of the world. 51 This includes every prophet from the time of Abel to the time of Zechariah, who was murdered between the altar and the temple. You people will certainly be punished for all of this.
52 You teachers of the Law of Moses are really in for trouble! You carry the keys to the door of knowledge about God. But you never go in, and you keep others from going in.
53 Jesus was about to leave, but the teachers and the Pharisees wanted to get even with him. They tried to make him say what he thought about other things, 54 so they could catch him saying something wrong.
Par lūgšanu
(Mt 6:9–15Mt 7:7–11)1 Kādā vietā Jēzus lūdza Dievu, un, kad viņš bija beidzis, viens no viņa mācekļiem sacīja: “Kungs, māci mūs Dievu lūgt, tāpat kā Jānis savus mācekļus mācīja.” 2 Un viņš tiem sacīja: “Kad jūs lūdzat, sakiet: Tēvs, svētīts lai top tavs vārds, lai nāk tava Valstība, 3 mūsu dienišķo maizi dod mums ik dienas 4 un piedod mums mūsu grēkus, jo arī mēs piedodam ikvienam savam parādniekam. Un neieved mūs kārdināšanā.” 5 Un viņš tiem sacīja: “Kuram no jums būtu tāds draugs, ka, aizejot pie viņa pusnaktī un sakot viņam: draugs, aizdod man trīs maizes, 6 jo kāds draugs no ceļa pie manis ir iegriezies un man nav ko viņam likt galdā, – 7 bet tas no iekšpuses sacītu: neapgrūtini mani, durvis jau ir aizslēgtas, un mani bērni ir pie manis gultā. Es nevaru celties un tev ko dot. 8 Es jums saku: ja arī viņš neceltos un nedotu tādēļ, ka tas ir viņa draugs, tad tomēr tā uzstājības dēļ viņš celsies un dos tam, cik nepieciešams. 9 Arī es jums saku: lūdziet, un jums tiks dots, meklējiet, un jūs atradīsiet, klaudziniet, un jums atvērs. 10 Ikviens, kas lūdz, saņem, un, kas meklē, atrod, un tam, kas klaudzina, atvērs. 11 Vai starp jums ir tēvs, kas dēlam dos čūsku, ja tas lūgs zivi? 12 Vai skorpionu, ja tas lūgs olu? 13 Ja nu jūs, samaitāti būdami, zināt dot saviem bērniem labas dāvanas, cik daudz vairāk jūsu Tēvs no debesīm dos Svēto Garu tiem, kas viņu lūdz.”
Jēzus un Belcebuls
(Mt 12:22–30Mk 3:20–27)14 Kādu reizi Jēzus izdzina dēmonu, kas bija mēms; dēmons izgāja, un mēmais sāka runāt, un ļaužu pūlis brīnījās. 15 Bet daži no tiem sacīja: “Viņš izdzen dēmonus ar Belcebula, dēmonu valdnieka, palīdzību.” 16 Bet citi, viņu izaicinādami, prasīja viņam kādu zīmi no debesīm. 17 Zinādams viņu domas, viņš tiem sacīja: “Ikviena valsts, kas sevī sašķelta, iet bojā, un nams uz namu krīt. 18 Ja nu sātans sevī sašķeļas, kā tad viņa valstība pastāvēs? Jūs taču sakāt, ka es izdzenu dēmonus ar Belcebula palīdzību. 19 Bet, ja es izdzenu dēmonus ar Belcebula palīdzību, kā tad jūsu dēli tos izdzen? Tādēļ viņi būs jūsu tiesneši. 20 Bet, ja es izdzenu dēmonus ar Dieva pirkstu, tad jau Dieva valstība pie jums ir atnākusi. 21 Kamēr stiprs vīrs apbruņojies sargā savu namu, viņa manta ir drošībā. 22 Bet, tiklīdz kāds stiprāks par viņu nāk un to uzveic, tas atņem viņa bruņas, uz kurām viņš bija paļāvies, un laupījumu izdala. 23 Kas nav ar mani, tas ir pret mani, un, kas ar mani nesavāc, tas izkaisa.
Nešķīstā gara iemājošana cilvēkā
(Mt 12:43–45)24 Kad nešķīstais gars ir izgājis no cilvēka, tas apstaigā izkaltušas vietas, meklēdams mieru un, to neatradis, saka: es atgriezīšos savā mājoklī, no kura izgāju. 25 Atnācis viņš atrod to izslaucītu un uzpostu. 26 Tad viņš iet un ņem sev līdzi septiņus citus garus, par sevi vēl ļaunākus, un iegājuši tie tur mājo. Un beigās šim cilvēkam kļūst daudz ļaunāk, nekā bija sākumā.”
“Laimīgi, kas Dieva vārdu dzird un pilda”
27 Kad viņš tā runāja, kāda sieviete ļaužu pūlī paceltā balsī sacīja viņam: “Laimīgas tās miesas, kas tevi nēsājušas, un krūtis, kas tevi zīdījušas!” 28 Bet viņš teica: “Vēl jo vairāk laimīgi ir tie, kas Dieva vārdu dzird un to pilda!”
Jonas zīme
(Mt 12:38–42Mk 8:12)29 Kad sapulcējās ļaužu pūlis, viņš sāka runāt: “Šī paaudze ir samaitāta paaudze. Tā meklē zīmi, bet cita zīme tai netiks dota kā vien Jonas zīme. 30 Tāpat kā Jona kļuva par zīmi niniviešiem, tā Cilvēka Dēls būs šai paaudzei. 31 Dienvidu ķēniņiene celsies tiesas dienā pret šīs paaudzes ļaudīm un tos notiesās, jo viņa nāca no tālām zemēm dzirdēt Sālamana gudrību; un, redzi, te ir vairāk nekā Sālamans. 32 Ninives vīri celsies tiesas dienā pret šo paaudzi un to notiesās, jo, kad Jona sludināja, tie atgriezās no grēkiem; un, redzi, šeit ir vairāk nekā Jona.
Acs ir miesas gaismeklis
(Mt 5:15)33 Gaismekli iededzis, neviens to neliek slēptuvē vai zem pūra, bet liek to lukturī, lai ienācēji redzētu gaismu. 34 Miesas gaismeklis ir acs; ja tava acs ir skaidra, tad visa tava miesa ir gaismas pilna; bet, ja acs kļūst ļauna, arī tava miesa ir aptumšota. 35 Tad nu pielūko, ka gaisma tevī nav tapusi par tumsu. 36 Ja nu visa tava miesa ir apgaismota un neviena tās daļa nav tumsā, tā visa būs tik gaiša, itin kā gaismeklis ar savu spožumu tevi apspīdētu.”
Jēzus par rakstu mācītājiem un farizejiem
(Mt 23:1–36Mk 12:38–40Lk 20:45–47)37 Kad Jēzus beidza runāt, kāds farizejs uzaicināja viņu pie sevis uz maltīti; un iegājis viņš apsēdās pie galda. 38 Farizejs brīnījās, redzēdams, ka viņš pirms azaida nemazgājas. 39 Un Kungs tam sacīja: “Tagad jūs, farizeji, šķīstījat kausa un bļodas ārpusi, bet jūsu iekšpuse ir pilna alkatības un ļaunuma. 40 Jūs nejēgas, vai tas, kas radījis ārpusi, nav radījis arī iekšpusi? 41 Labāk izdaliet to, kas iekšpusē, žēlastības dāvanās, un, redzi, viss jūsos būs šķīsts. 42 Vai! jums, farizeji! Jūs atdodat desmito daļu no mētrām un rūtām, un visādiem dārzeņiem, bet neievērojat Dieva tiesu un mīlestību; tas jums bija darāms, bet nevajadzēja atstāt novārtā arī šo. 43 Vai! jums, farizeji! Jums patīk pirmās vietas sinagogās un tikt sveicinātiem uz ielām. 44 Vai! jums! Jūs esat kā apslēpti kapi – ļaudis staigā jums pāri un to nezina.” 45 Kāds likuma zinātājs vērsās pie viņa un teica: “Skolotāj, tā runādams, tu aizvaino arī mūs.” 46 Bet viņš teica: “Vai! jums, likuma zinātāji! Jūs uzkraujat cilvēkiem nepanesamas nastas, bet paši šai nastai nepiedurat ne pirksta. 47 Vai! jums! Jūs praviešiem ceļat pieminekļus, bet jūsu tēvi tos nonāvēja. 48 Tādējādi jūs apliecināt, ka piekrītat savu tēvu darbiem, jo viņi tos nonāvēja, bet jūs ceļat pieminekļus. 49 Tādēļ arī Dieva gudrība ir teikusi: es sūtīšu pie viņiem praviešus un apustuļus, no tiem citus nonāvēs, citus vajās, 50 tā ka visu praviešu asinis, kas izlietas no pasaules iesākuma, tiks atprasītas no šīs paaudzes – 51 no Ābela asinīm līdz Zeharjas asinīm, kas tika nonāvēts starp altāri un svētnīcu. Patiesi es jums saku: tās tiks atprasītas no šīs paaudzes. 52 Vai! jums, likuma zinātāji! Jūs esat piesavinājušies atziņas atslēgas. Paši jūs neesat iegājuši un tos, kas grib ieiet, jūs kavējat.” 53 Kad viņš no turienes aizgāja, rakstu mācītāji un farizeji sāka viņam neganti uzbrukt ar uzbāzīgiem jautājumiem, 54 slepus glūnēdami, lai viņu varētu pieķert kādos vārdos un apsūdzēt.
