1 N ow it came to pass on a sabbath, that he was going through the grainfields; and his disciples plucked the ears, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands.

On the next Day of Rest Jesus was walking through the grain-fields. His followers picked grain. They rubbed it in their hands and ate it.

2 B ut certain of the Pharisees said, Why do ye that which it is not lawful to do on the sabbath day?

Some of the proud religious law-keepers said to them, “Why are you doing what the Law says should not be done on the Day of Rest?”

3 A nd Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read even this, what David did, when he was hungry, he, and they that were with him;

Jesus answered them, “Have you not read what David did when he and his men were hungry?

4 h ow he entered into the house of God, and took and ate the showbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat save for the priests alone?

He went into the house of God and ate the special bread used in the religious worship. He gave some to those who were with him also. The Law says only the religious leaders may eat that bread.

5 A nd he said unto them, The Son of man is lord of the sabbath.

The Son of Man is Lord of the Day of Rest also.” Jesus Heals on the Day of Rest

6 A nd it came to pass on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man there, and his right hand was withered.

On another Day of Rest Jesus went into the Jewish place of worship and taught. A man with a dried-up hand was there.

7 A nd the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath; that they might find how to accuse him.

The teachers of the Law and the proud religious law-keepers watched to see if He would heal on the Day of Rest. They wanted to have something to say against Him.

8 B ut he knew their thoughts; and he said to the man that had his hand withered, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.

Jesus knew what they were thinking. He said to the man with the dried-up hand, “Stand up and come here.” The man stood up and went to Jesus.

9 A nd Jesus said unto them, I ask you, Is it lawful on the sabbath to do good, or to do harm? to save a life, or to destroy it?

Then Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one thing. Does the Law say to do good on the Day of Rest or to do bad? To save life or to kill?”

10 A nd he looked round about on them all, and said unto him, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored.

Jesus looked around at them all and said to the man, “Put out your hand.” He put it out and his hand was healed. It was as good as his other hand.

11 B ut they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.

The teachers of the Law and the proud religious law-keepers were filled with anger. They talked with each other about what they might do to Jesus. Jesus Calls His Twelve Followers

12 A nd it came to pass in these days, that he went out into the mountain to pray; and he continued all night in prayer to God.

One day Jesus went up on a mountain to pray. He prayed all night to God.

13 A nd when it was day, he called his disciples; and he chose from them twelve, whom also he named apostles:

In the morning He called His followers to Him. He chose twelve of them and called them.

14 S imon, whom he also named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip and Bartholomew,

There were Simon, whom He also named Peter, and his brother Andrew. There were James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,

15 a nd Matthew and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot,

Matthew and Thomas. There were James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Canaanite.

16 a nd Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor;

There were Judas, who was the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot who would hand Jesus over to be killed. Jesus Heals Many People

17 a nd he came down with them, and stood on a level place, and a great multitude of his disciples, and a great number of the people from all Judaea and Jerusalem, and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;

Then Jesus came down and stood on a plain with many of His followers. Many people came from the country of Judea and from Jerusalem and from the cities of Tyre and Sidon. They came to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases.

18 a nd they that were troubled with unclean spirits were healed.

Those who were troubled with demons came and were healed.

19 A nd all the multitude sought to touch him; for power came forth from him, and healed them all.

All the people tried to put their hands on Jesus. Power came from Him and He healed them all. Jesus Teaches on the Mountain

20 A nd he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed are ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.

He looked at His followers and said, “Those of you who are poor are happy, because the holy nation of God is yours.

21 B lessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.

Those of you who are hungry now are happy, because you will be filled. Those of you who have sorrow now are happy, because you will laugh.

22 B lessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.

You are happy when men hate you and do not want you around and put shame on you because you trust in Me.

23 R ejoice in that day, and leap for joy: for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for in the same manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

Be glad in that day. Be full of joy for your reward is much in heaven. Their fathers did these things to the early preachers.

24 B ut woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.

“It is bad for you who are rich. You are receiving all that you will get.

25 W oe unto you, ye that are full now! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you, ye that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.

It is bad for you who are full. You will be hungry. It is bad for you who laugh now. You will have sorrow and you will cry.

26 W oe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for in the same manner did their fathers to the false prophets.

It is bad for you when everyone speaks well of you. In the same way, their fathers spoke well of the false teachers. Jesus Teaches What the Law Says about Love

27 B ut I say unto you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you,

“I say to you who hear Me, love those who work against you. Do good to those who hate you.

28 b less them that curse you, pray for them that despitefully use you.

Respect and give thanks for those who try to bring bad to you. Pray for those who make it very hard for you.

29 T o him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and from him that taketh away thy cloak withhold not thy coat also.

Whoever hits you on one side of the face, turn so he can hit the other side also. Whoever takes your coat, give him your shirt also.

30 G ive to every one that asketh thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.

Give to any person who asks you for something. If a person takes something from you, do not ask for it back.

31 A nd as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

Do for other people what you would like to have them do for you.

32 A nd if ye love them that love you, what thank have ye? for even sinners love those that love them.

“If you love those who love you, what pay can you expect from that? Sinners also love those who love them.

33 A nd if ye do good to them that do good to you, what thank have ye? for even sinners do the same.

If you do good to those who do good to you, what pay can you expect from that? Sinners also do good to those who do good to them.

34 A nd if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? even sinners lend to sinners, to receive again as much.

If you let people use your things and expect to get something back, what pay can you expect from that? Even sinners let sinners use things and they expect to get something back.

35 B ut love your enemies, and do them good, and lend, never despairing; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be sons of the Most High: for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil.

But love those who hate you. Do good to them. Let them use your things and do not expect something back. Your reward will be much. You will be the children of the Most High. He is kind to those who are not thankful and to those who are full of sin. Jesus Teaches about Finding Bad in Others

36 B e ye merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

“You must have loving-kindness just as your Father has loving-kindness.

37 A nd judge not, and ye shall not be judged: and condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: release, and ye shall be released:

Do not say what is wrong in other people’s lives. Then other people will not say what is wrong in your life. Do not say someone is guilty. Then other people will not say you are guilty. Forgive other people and other people will forgive you.

38 g ive, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, shall they give into your bosom. For with what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again.

“Give, and it will be given to you. You will have more than enough. It can be pushed down and shaken together and it will still run over as it is given to you. The way you give to others is the way you will receive in return.”

39 A nd he spake also a parable unto them, Can the blind guide the blind? shall they not both fall into a pit?

Jesus used a picture-story as He spoke to them. He said, “Can one blind man lead another blind man? Will they not fall into the ditch together?

40 T he disciple is not above his teacher: but every one when he is perfected shall be as his teacher.

The follower is not more important than his teacher. But everyone who learns well will be like his teacher. Jesus Teaches about Saying What Is Wrong in Others

41 A nd why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

“Why do you look at the small piece of wood in your brother’s eye and do not see the big piece of wood in your own eye?

42 O r how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me cast out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.

How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take that small piece of wood out of your eye,’ when you do not see the big piece of wood in your own eye? You pretend to be someone you are not. First, take the big piece of wood out of your own eye. Then you can see better to take the small piece of wood out of your brother’s eye. Jesus Teaches about False Teachers

43 F or there is no good tree that bringeth forth corrupt fruit; nor again a corrupt tree that bringeth forth good fruit.

“A good tree cannot have bad fruit. A bad tree cannot have good fruit.

44 F or each tree is known by its own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.

For every tree is known by its own fruit. Men do not gather figs from thorns. They do not gather grapes from thistles.

45 T he good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth that which is evil: for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

Good comes from a good man because of the riches he has in his heart. Sin comes from a sinful man because of the sin he has in his heart. The mouth speaks of what the heart is full of. Jesus Teaches about Houses Built on Rock and Sand

46 A nd why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

“And why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but do not do what I say?

47 E very one that cometh unto me, and heareth my words, and doeth them, I will show you to whom he is like:

Whoever comes to Me and hears and does what I say, I will show you who he is like.

48 h e is like a man building a house, who digged and went deep, and laid a foundation upon the rock: and when a flood arose, the stream brake against that house, and could not shake it: because it had been well builded.

He is like a man who built a house. He dug deep to put the building on rock. When the water came up and the river beat against the house, the building could not be shaken because it was built on rock.

49 B ut he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that built a house upon the earth without a foundation; against which the stream brake, and straightway it fell in; and the ruin of that house was great.

But he who hears and does not do what I say, is like a man who built a house on nothing but earth. The water beat against the house. At once it fell and was destroyed.”