A Question about the Sabbath
(Matthew 12.1-8Mark 2.23-28)1 One Sabbath when Jesus and his disciples were walking through some wheat fields, the disciples picked some wheat. They rubbed the husks off with their hands and started eating the grain.
2 Some Pharisees said, “Why are you picking grain on the Sabbath? You're not supposed to do that!”
3 Jesus answered, “You surely have read what David did when he and his followers were hungry. 4 He went into the house of God and took the sacred loaves of bread that only priests were supposed to eat. He not only ate some himself, but even gave some to his followers.”
5 Jesus finished by saying, “The Son of Man is Lord over the Sabbath.”
A Man with a Paralyzed Hand
(Matthew 12.9-14Mark 3.1-6)6 On another Sabbath Jesus was teaching in a synagogue, and a man with a paralyzed right hand was there. 7 Some Pharisees and teachers of the Law of Moses kept watching Jesus to see if he would heal the man. They did this because they wanted to accuse Jesus of doing something wrong.
8 Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he told the man to stand up where everyone could see him. And the man stood up. 9 Then Jesus asked, “On the Sabbath should we do good deeds or evil deeds? Should we save someone's life or destroy it?”
10 After he had looked around at everyone, he told the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did, and his bad hand became completely well.
11 The teachers and the Pharisees were furious and started saying to one another, “What can we do about Jesus?”
Jesus Chooses His Twelve Apostles
(Matthew 10.1-4Mark 3.13-19)12 About that time Jesus went off to a mountain to pray, and he spent the whole night there. 13 The next morning he called his disciples together and chose twelve of them to be his apostles. 14 One was Simon, and Jesus named him Peter. Another was Andrew, Peter's brother. There were also James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, 15 Matthew, Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus. The rest of the apostles were Simon, known as the Eager One, 16 Jude, who was the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who later betrayed Jesus.
Jesus Teaches, Preaches, and Heals
(Matthew 4.23-25)17 Jesus and his apostles went down from the mountain and came to some flat, level ground. Many other disciples were there to meet him. Large crowds of people from all over Judea, Jerusalem, and the coastal towns of Tyre and Sidon were there too. 18 These people had come to listen to Jesus and to be healed of their diseases. All who were troubled by evil spirits were also healed. 19 Everyone was trying to touch Jesus, because power was going out from him and healing them all.
Blessings and Troubles
(Matthew 5.1-12)20 Jesus looked at his disciples and said:
God will bless you people
who are poor.
His kingdom belongs to you!
21 God will bless
you hungry people.
You will have plenty
to eat!
God will bless you people
who are now crying.
You will laugh!
22 God will bless you when others hate you and won't have anything to do with you. God will bless you when people insult you and say cruel things about you, all because you are a follower of the Son of Man. 23 Long ago your own people did these same things to the prophets. So when this happens to you, be happy and jump for joy! You will have a great reward in heaven.
24 But you rich people
are in for trouble.
You have already had
an easy life!
25 You well-fed people
are in for trouble.
You will go hungry!
You people
who are laughing now
are in for trouble.
You are going to cry
and weep!
26 You are in for trouble when everyone says good things about you. That is what your own people said about those prophets who told lies.
Love for Enemies
(Matthew 5.38-48Matthew 7.12a)27 This is what I say to all who will listen to me:
Love your enemies, and be good to everyone who hates you. 28 Ask God to bless anyone who curses you, and pray for everyone who is cruel to you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, don't stop that person from slapping you on the other cheek. If someone wants to take your coat, don't try to keep back your shirt. 30 Give to everyone who asks and don't ask people to return what they have taken from you. 31 Treat others just as you want to be treated.
32 If you love only someone who loves you, will God praise you for that? Even sinners love people who love them. 33 If you are kind only to someone who is kind to you, will God be pleased with you for that? Even sinners are kind to people who are kind to them. 34 If you lend money only to someone you think will pay you back, will God be pleased with you for that? Even sinners lend to sinners because they think they will get it all back.
35 But love your enemies and be good to them. Lend without expecting to be paid back. Then you will get a great reward, and you will be the true children of God in heaven. He is good even to people who are unthankful and cruel. 36 Have pity on others, just as your Father has pity on you.
Judging Others
(Matthew 7.1-5)37 Jesus said:
Don't judge others, and God won't judge you. Don't be hard on others, and God won't be hard on you. Forgive others, and God will forgive you. 38 If you give to others, you will be given a full amount in return. It will be packed down, shaken together, and spilling over into your lap. The way you treat others is the way you will be treated.
39 Jesus also used some sayings as he spoke to the people. He said:
Can one blind person lead another blind person? Won't they both fall into a ditch? 40 Are students better than their teacher? But when they are fully trained, they will be like their teacher.
41 You can see the speck in your friend's eye, but you don't notice the log in your own eye. 42 How can you say, “My friend, let me take the speck out of your eye,” when you don't see the log in your own eye? You show-offs! First, get the log out of your own eye; then you can see how to take the speck out of your friend's eye.
A Tree and Its Fruit
(Matthew 7.17-20Matthew 12.34bMatthew 35)43 A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot produce good fruit. 44 You can tell what a tree is like by the fruit it produces. You cannot pick figs or grapes from thornbushes. 45 Good people do good things because of the good in their hearts, but bad people do bad things because of the evil in their hearts. Your words show what is in your heart.
Two Builders
(Matthew 7.24-27)46 Why do you keep on saying that I am your Lord, when you refuse to do what I say? 47 Anyone who comes and listens to me and obeys me 48 is like someone who dug down deep and built a house on solid rock. When a flood came and the river rushed against the house, it was built so well that it didn't even shake. 49 But anyone who hears what I say and doesn't obey me is like someone whose house wasn't built on solid rock. As soon as the river rushed against that house, it was smashed to pieces!
1 Un notika, kādā sabatā, Viņam caur labību ejot, Viņa mācekļi plūca vārpas un ēda, ar rokām tās berzdami. 2 Bet kādi no farizejiem tiem sacīja: "Kam jūs darāt to, kas sabatā darīt aizliegts?" 3 Un Jēzus atbildēja un tiem sacīja: "Vai jūs neesat lasījuši, ko Dāvids ir darījis, kad tas bija izsalcis, un tie, kas pie viņa bija? 4 Ka tas ir iegājis Dieva namā un ir ņēmis un ēdis skatāmās maizes un devis arī tiem, kas bija pie viņa, lai gan vienīgi priesteriem bija atļauts tās ēst." 5 Un Viņš tiem sacīja: "Cilvēka Dēls ir kungs arī par sabatu." 6 Bet atkal citā sabatā, Viņam sinagogā ejot un mācot, notika, ka tur bija cilvēks, kam labā roka bija pamirusi. 7 Bet rakstu mācītāji un farizeji uz Viņu glūnēja, vai Viņš sabatā nedziedinās, lai atrastu iemeslu Viņu apsūdzēt. 8 Bet Viņš nomanīja viņu domas un sacīja uz cilvēku, kam roka bija pamirusi: "Celies un stājies šeit vidū!" Un tas cēlās un nostājās. 9 Tad Jēzus sacīja: "Es jums ko vaicāšu: vai ir brīv sabatā labu darīt vai ļaunu: dzīvību glābt vai maitāt?" 10 Un, visus viņus uzlūkojis, Viņš uz slimo sacīja: "Izstiep savu roku!" Un tas to darīja, un viņa roka tapa vesela. 11 Tad tie saskaitās līdz ārprātam un sarunājās savā starpā, ko varētu nodarīt Jēzum. 12 Bet notika tanīs dienās, ka Viņš aizgāja uz kalnu Dievu lūgt; un Viņš pavadīja visu nakti Dieva lūgšanā. 13 Un, kad gaisma ausa, tad Viņš sasauca Savus mācekļus un izredzēja no tiem divpadsmit, kurus Viņš nosauca par apustuļiem: 14 Sīmani, kuru Viņš nosauca par Pēteri, viņa brāli Andreju, Jēkabu, Jāni, Filipu un Bartolomeju, 15 Mateju, Tomu, Jēkabu, Alfeja dēlu, Sīmani, sauktu Zelotu, 16 Jūdu, Jēkaba dēlu, un Jūdu Iskariotu, kas vēlāk kļuva par nodevēju. 17 Nokāpis līdz ar viņiem no kalna, Viņš nostājās līdzenā vietā, un tur bija liels mācekļu pulks un liels ļaužu daudzums no visas Jūdejas un Jeruzālemes, kā arī no Tiras un Sidonas jūrmalas, kas bija sanākuši viņu klausīties un likties dziedināties no savām slimībām. 18 Arī tie, kas bija ļaunu garu apsēsti, tapa veseli. 19 Un visi ļaudis mēģināja Viņam pieskarties, jo spēks izgāja no Viņa, un Viņš visus darīja veselus. 20 Bet Viņš, pacēlis Savas acis uz Saviem mācekļiem, sacīja: "Svētīgi jūs nabagi, jo jums pieder Dieva valstība! 21 Svētīgi jūs, kas tagad izsalkuši, jo jūs būsit paēduši! Svētīgi jūs, kas tagad raudat, jo jūs smiesities! 22 Svētīgi jūs esat, kad cilvēki jūs nīst, izslēdz no sava vidus, lamā un zaimo jūsu vārdu Cilvēka Dēla dēļ. 23 Priecājieties viņā dienā un dejiet, jo jūsu alga ir liela debesīs, jo to pašu viņu tēvi ir darījuši praviešiem. 24 Bet vai jums bagātiem, jo jums jau ir sava alga! 25 Vai jums, kas tagad esat paēduši, jo jūs izsalksit! Vai jums, kas tagad smejaties, jo jūs skumsit un raudāsit! 26 Vai jums, kad visi ļaudis jums teic glaimus! To pašu viņu tēvi darījuši viltus praviešiem. 27 Bet jums, Saviem klausītājiem, Es saku: mīliet savus ienaidniekus, darait labu tiem, kas jūs ienīst, 28 svētījiet tos, kas jūs nolād, lūdziet par tiem, kas jūs kaitina. 29 Kas tevi sit vienā vaigā, tam pagriez arī otru, kas ņem tavu apmetni, tam neliedz arī savus svārkus. 30 Katram lūdzējam dod un neatprasi savu mantu no tā, kas tev to atņem, 31 un, kā jūs gribat, lai ļaudis jums dara, tāpat darait viņiem. 32 Ja jūs mīlat tos, kas jūs mīl, kāda pateicība jums nākas? Arī grēcinieki mīl tos, kas viņus mīl. 33 Un, ja jūs saviem labdariem darāt labu, kāda pateicība jums nākas? Arī grēcinieki dara to pašu. 34 Un, ja jūs aizdodat tiem, no kuriem cerat atdabūt, kāda pateicība jums nākas? Arī grēcinieki grēciniekiem aizdod, lai to atdabūtu. 35 Bet mīliet savus ienaidniekus un darait labu un aizdodiet, atmaksu negaidīdami, un tad jūsu alga būs liela un jūs būsit Visuaugstākā bērni; jo Viņš ir laipnīgs pret nepateicīgajiem un ļaunajiem. 36 Tāpēc esiet žēlīgi, kā jūsu Tēvs ir žēlīgs. 37 Netiesājiet, tad jūs netapsit tiesāti; nepazudiniet, tad jūs netapsit pazudināti; piedodiet, tad jums taps piedots. 38 Dodiet, tad jums taps dots: pilnu, saspaidītu, sakratītu un pārpārim ejošu mēru jums iedos jūsu klēpī; jo ar to mēru, ar ko jūs mērojat, jums atmēros." 39 Viņš tiem arī sacīja līdzību: "Vai akls aklam ceļu var rādīt? Vai abi nekritīs bedrē? 40 Māceklis nav augstāks par savu mācītāju; bet, kad tas ir pilnīgs, tad tas būs kā viņa mācītājs. 41 Bet ko tu redzi skabargu sava brāļa acī, bet baļķi sava paša acī tu nepamani? 42 Jeb kā tu vari sacīt uz savu brāli: laid, brāli, es izvilkšu skabargu no tavas acs, un baļķi savā paša acī tu neredzi? Tu liekuli, izvelc papriekš baļķi no savas acs, un tad pārdomā, kā izvilkt skabargu no sava brāļa acs. 43 Jo tas nav labs koks, kas nes nelāga augļus, nedz tas ir nelāga koks, kas nes labus augļus. 44 Ikkatru koku pazīst no viņa augļiem. Jo no ērkšķiem nevar lasīt vīģes, nedz vīnogas no dadžiem. 45 Labs cilvēks no savas labās sirds krājuma izdod labu, un ļauns cilvēks no savas ļaunās sirds krājumiem izdod ļaunu. Jo no sirds pārpilnības mute runā. 46 Ko jūs Mani saucat: Kungs, Kungs! - bet nedarāt, ko Es saku? 47 Ikviens, kas pie Manis nāk un Manus vārdus dzird un dara, - Es jums rādīšu, kam viņš līdzināms. 48 Tas ir līdzināms cilvēkam, kas, ēku celdams, dziļi raka un pamatu lika uz klints. Kad nu plūdi nāca, tad ūdeņi lauzās uz ēku, bet nespēja to kustināt, jo tā bija celta uz klints. 49 Bet, kas dzird un nedara, tas ir līdzināms cilvēkam, kas ēku uztaisīja uz zemes, bez pamata; un, kad ūdeņi tai lauzās virsū, tad ēka tūdaļ sagruva, un šīs ēkas gāšanās bija liela."
