A question about the Sabbath

(Matthew 12.1-8; Mark 2.23-28)

1One Sabbath when Jesus and his disciples were walking through some wheat fields,6.1 walking through some wheat fields: It was the custom to let hungry travellers pick grains of wheat. the disciples picked some wheat. They rubbed the husks off with their hands and started eating the grain.6.1: Dt 23.25.

2Some Pharisees said, “Why are you picking grain on the Sabbath? You're not supposed to do that!”

3Jesus answered, “Surely you have read what David did when he and his followers were hungry.6.3,4: 1 S 21.1-6. 4He 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.”6.4: Lv 24.9.

5Jesus finished by saying, “The Son of Man is Lord over the Sabbath.”

A man with a crippled hand

(Matthew 12.9-14; Mark 3.1-6)

6On another Sabbath6.6 On another Sabbath: Some manuscripts have a reading which may mean “the Sabbath after the next”. Jesus was teaching in a Jewish meeting place, and a man with a crippled right hand was there. 7Some 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.

8Jesus knew what they were thinking. So he told the man to stand up where everyone could see him. And the man stood up. 9Then Jesus asked, “On the Sabbath should we do good deeds or evil deeds? Should we save someone's life or destroy it?”

10After he had looked around at everyone, he told the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did, and his bad hand became completely well.

11The teachers and the Pharisees were furious and started saying to each other, “What can we do about Jesus?”

Jesus chooses his twelve apostles

(Matthew 10.1-4; Mark 3.13-19)

12About that time Jesus went off to a mountain to pray, and he spent the whole night there. 13The next morning he called his disciples together and chose twelve of them to be his apostles. 14One was Simon, and Jesus named him Peter. Another was Andrew, Peter's brother. There were also James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, 15Matthew, Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus. The rest of the apostles were Simon, known as the Eager One,6.15 known as the Eager One: The word “eager” translates the Greek word “zealot”, which was a name later given to the members of a Jewish group that resisted and fought against the Romans. 16Jude, who was the son of James, and Judas Iscariot,6.16 Iscariot: This may mean “a man from Kerioth” (a place in Judea). But more probably it means “a man who was a liar” or “a man who was a betrayer”. who later betrayed Jesus.

Jesus teaches, preaches, and heals

(Matthew 4.23-25)

17Jesus 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 cities of Tyre and Sidon were there too. 18These people had come to listen to Jesus and to be healed of their diseases. All who were troubled by evil spirits were also healed. 19Everyone was trying to touch Jesus, because power was going out from him and healing them all.

Blessings and troubles

(Matthew 5.1-12)

20Jesus looked at his disciples and said:

God will bless you people

who are poor.

His kingdom belongs to you!

21God will bless

you hungry people.

You will have plenty

to eat!

God will bless you people

who are crying.

You will laugh!

22God 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.6.22: 1 P 4.14. 23Long 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.6.23: 2 Ch 36.16; Ac 7.52.

24But you rich people

are in for trouble.

You have already had

an easy life!

25You 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!

26You 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 5.38-48; 7.12a)

Jesus continued:

27This is what I say to all who will listen to me:

Love your enemies, and be good to everyone who hates you. 28Ask God to bless anyone who curses you, and pray for everyone who is cruel to you. 29If 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. 30Give to everyone who asks and don't ask people to return what they have taken from you. 31Treat others just as you want to be treated.6.31: Mt 7.12.

32If you love only someone who loves you, will God praise you for that? Even sinners love people who love them. 33If 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. 34If 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.

35But love your enemies and be good to them. Lend without expecting to be paid back.6.35 without expecting to be paid back: Some manuscripts have “without giving up on anyone”. 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. 36Have pity on others, just as your Father has pity on you.

Judging others

(Matthew 7.1-5)

37Jesus 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. 38If 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.

39Jesus also used some sayings as he spoke to the people. He said:6.39: Mt 15.14.

Can one blind person lead another blind person? Won't they both fall into a ditch? 40Are students better than their teacher? But when they are fully trained, they will be like their teacher.6.40: Mt 10.24,25; Jn 13.16; 15.20.

41You can see the speck in your friend's eye. But you don't notice the log in your own eye. 42How 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 7.17-20; 12.34b,35)

Jesus continued:

43A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot produce good fruit. 44You can tell what a tree is like by the fruit it produces. You cannot pick figs or grapes from thorn bushes.6.44: Mt 12.33. 45Good people do good things because of the good in their hearts. Bad people do bad things because of the evil in their hearts. Your words show what is in your heart.6.45: Mt 12.34.

Two builders

(Matthew 7.24-27)

Jesus continued:

46Why do you keep on saying that I am your Lord, when you refuse to do what I say? 47Anyone who comes and listens to me and obeys me 48is like someone who dug down deep and built a house on solid rock. When the flood came and the river rushed against the house, it was built so well that it didn't even shake. 49But 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!