[This is] a record of the family background of Jesus Christ, the descendant of David, who was the descendant of Abraham. [Note: The following is an incomplete lineage through Jesus' step-father Joseph].

and Jesse begat David the king. And David the king begat Solomon, of her who had been Uriah's,

And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was this way. For his mother Mary, who was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found having in her womb from Holy Spirit.

Now Joseph, her husband [to be], being a man who did what was right, and not wanting to make a public spectacle out of her, decided to break off their engagement privately.

But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

She shall bring forth a son. You shall call his name Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins."

but did not have marital relations with her until she gave birth to a son, whom he named Jesus.

saying, 'Where is he who was born king of the Jews? for we saw his star in the east, and we came to bow to him.'

And thou Bethlehem, land of Judah, Art in no wise least among the princes of Judah: For out of thee shall come forth a governor, Who shall be shepherd of my people Israel.

Then Herod, when he realized that he had been tricked by the magi, was extremely angry, and he sent [soldiers] and put to death all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that area who were two years old and under, according to the date which he had learned from the magi.

[Jer. 31:15], "A voice was heard in [the town of] Ramah [Note: This was a village near Jerusalem, where Rachel was buried], with crying and deep mourning. It was Rachel crying for her children [Note: Initially this was a reference to the Israelites who were taken to Babylonian captivity. See Jer. 29-31]. She refused to be comforted because they were dead."

Arise, take to thee the little child and its mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they who sought the life of the little child are dead.

For this is he who has been spoken of through Esaias the prophet, saying, Voice of him that crieth in the wilderness: prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

'I indeed do baptize you with water to reformation, but he who after me is coming is mightier than I, of whom I am not worthy to bear the sandals, he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire,

But John tried to prevent Him [vigorously protesting], saying, “It is I who need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?”

And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

And after he who tempts came, he said to him, If thou are the Son of God, speak so that these stones may become bread.

in order that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah would be fulfilled, who said,

“The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee [in the district] of the Gentiles—

“The people who were sitting (living) in [spiritual] darkness have seen a great Light,
And for those who were sitting (living) in the land and shadow of [spiritual and moral] death,
Upon them a Light has dawned.”

And walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brethren, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishers.

Going further on, he saw two other men who were also brothers, James, Zebediah's son, and his brother John, in their boat with their father, mending their nets. Jesus called them,

And Jesus went about in all Galilee, teaching in their Synagogues and preaching the good news of the kingdom, and making well those who were ill with any disease among the people.

So the news about Him spread throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were sick, those suffering with various diseases and pains, those under the power of demons, and epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them.

“Blessed [spiritually prosperous, happy, to be admired] are the poor in spirit [those devoid of spiritual arrogance, those who regard themselves as insignificant], for theirs is the kingdom of heaven [both now and forever].

“Blessed [forgiven, refreshed by God’s grace] are those who mourn [over their sins and repent], for they will be comforted [when the burden of sin is lifted].

"How blessed are those who are humble, because it is they who will inherit the earth!

Blessed they who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.

Happy are those who have mercy: for they will be given mercy.

"How blessed are those who are pure in heart, because it is they who will see God!

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for it is they who will be recognized as sons of God.

Blessed they who are persecuted on account of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens.

Rejoice and exult, for your reward is great in the heavens; for thus have they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

It is you who are the Salt of the earth; but, if the salt should lose its strength, what will you use to restore its saltiness? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown away, and trampled underfoot.

It is you who are the Light of the world. A town that stands on a hill cannot be hidden.

Nor do men light a lamp and put it under the bushel, but upon the lamp-stand, and it shines for all who are in the house.

Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

So whoever breaks one of the least [important] of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least [important] in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever practices and teaches them, he will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

"You have heard that it was told those who lived long ago, "You are not to commit murder,' and, "Whoever murders will be subject to punishment.'

but I say unto you, that every one who is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment; and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council; and whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of the hell of fire.

Come to an agreement quickly with him who has a cause against you at law, while you are with him on the way, for fear that he may give you up to the judge and the judge may give you to the police and you may be put into prison.

But I say unto you, that every one who looks upon a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

It was also said--'Let any one who divorces his wife serve her with a notice of separation.'

but I -- I say to you, that whoever may put away his wife, save for the matter of whoredom, doth make her to commit adultery; and whoever may marry her who hath been put away doth commit adultery.

"Again, you have heard that it was told those who lived long ago, "You must not swear an oath falsely,' but, "You must fulfill your oaths to the Lord.'

But I say to you, do not resist an evil person [who insults you or violates your rights]; but whoever slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other toward him also [simply ignore insignificant insults or trivial losses and do not bother to retaliate—maintain your dignity, your self-respect, your poise].

And the one who wants to go to court with you and take your tunic, {let him have} your outer garment also.

to him who is asking of thee be giving, and him who is willing to borrow from thee thou mayest not turn away.

You have knowledge that it was said, Have love for your neighbour, and hate for him who is against you:

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who insult you and persecute you,

that ye may be sons of your Father who is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust.

For if ye should love those who love you, what reward have ye? Do not also the tax-gatherers the same?

ye shall therefore be perfect, as your Father who is in the heavens is perfect.

Take heed that ye do not your righteousness before men, to be seen of them: else ye have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.

that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret shall recompense thee.

And when you make your prayers, be not like the false-hearted men, who take pleasure in getting up and saying their prayers in the Synagogues and at the street turnings so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, They have their reward.

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thine inner chamber, and having shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret shall recompense thee.

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as those who are of the nations: for they think they shall be heard through their much speaking.

You must not be like them. For God, who is your Father, knows what you need before you ask him.

After this manner therefore pray ye. Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

"Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done, as in heaven so also upon earth;

and forgive us our shortcomings, as we also have forgiven those who have failed in their duty towards us;

For, if ye may forgive men their trespasses He also will forgive you -- your Father who is in the heavens;

And, when you fast, do not put on gloomy looks, as hypocrites do who disfigure their faces that they may be seen by men to be fasting. That, I tell you, is their reward!

that thou be not seen of men to fast, but of thy Father who is in secret: and thy Father, who seeth in secret, shall recompense thee.

'And who of you, being anxious, is able to add to his age one cubit?

Now if that is the way God clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and thrown into an oven tomorrow, won't he clothe you much better you who have little faith?

because it is the unbelievers who are eager for all those things. Surely your heavenly Father knows that you need all of them!

"Do not offer sacred things to dogs, and do not throw your pearls in front of [wild] pigs [i.e., to those who will not appreciate them], because they will probably trample on them with their feet and then turn around and attack you.

for every one who is asking doth receive, and he who is seeking doth find, and to him who is knocking it shall be opened.

Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

Or if he asks for a fish, who will give him a serpent?

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Enter in through the narrow gate, for wide the gate and broad the way that leads to destruction, and many are they who enter in through it.

For narrow the gate and straitened the way that leads to life, and they are few who find it.

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven.

and then I will acknowledge to them, that -- I never knew you, depart from me ye who are working lawlessness.

Every one therefore that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man, who built his house upon the rock:

And every one that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand:

for He was teaching them as one who had authority [to teach entirely of His own volition], and not as their scribes [who relied on others to confirm their authority].

And he saw a leper who came up, and bowed to the ground before him, and said: "Master, if only you are willing, you are able to make me clean."

For I also am a man under authority who has soldiers under me, and I say to this one, 'Go!' and he goes, and to another one, 'Come!' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this!' and he does [it]."

And when Jesus heard it, he wondered, and said to those who followed, Verily I say unto you, Not even in Israel have I found so great faith.

But the children who [are supposed to] belong to the kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness where there will be crying and excruciating pain."

And evening having come, they brought to him many demoniacs, and he did cast out the spirits with a word, and did heal all who were ill,

in order that what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah would be fulfilled, who said, "He himself took away our sicknesses, and carried away our diseases."

"Master," said another, who was a disciple, "let me first go and bury my father."

He asked them, "Why are you afraid, you who have little faith?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.

And when he had come to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, there came out to him from the place of the dead, two who had evil spirits, so violent that no man was able to go that way.

Then the men who tended them fled. They went into the city and reported everything—especially what had happened to those who were demon-possessed.

Behold, they brought to him a man who was paralyzed, lying on a bed. Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, "Son, cheer up! Your sins are forgiven you."

But so that you may see that on earth the Son of man has authority for the forgiveness of sins, (then said he to the man who was ill,) Get up, and take up your bed, and go to your house.

But when the multitudes saw it, they were afraid, and glorified God, who had given such authority unto men.

and while Jesus was at table in Matthew's house, several publicans and loose people happen'd to come in, who sat down with him and his disciples.

And Jesus having heard, said to them, 'They who are whole have no need of a physician, but they who are ill;

Go and learn what this [Scripture] means: ‘I desire compassion [for those in distress], and not [animal] sacrifice,’ for I did not come to call [to repentance] the [self-proclaimed] righteous [who see no need to change], but sinners [those who recognize their sin and actively seek forgiveness].”

While he spoke these things to them, behold, one ruler who came worshiped him, saying, My daughter has just now perished, but after coming, lay thy hand upon her, and she will live.