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FREE Scholarly verse by verse commentaries on the Bible.

THE PENTATEUCH

GENESIS ---EXODUS--- LEVITICUS 1.1-7.38 --- 8.1-11.47 --- 12.1-16.34--- 17.1-27.34--- NUMBERS 1-10--- 11-19--- 20-36--- DEUTERONOMY 1.1-4.44 --- 4.45-11.32 --- 12.1-29.1--- 29.2-34.12 --- THE BOOK OF JOSHUA --- THE BOOK OF JUDGES --- PSALMS 1-17--- ECCLESIASTES --- ISAIAH 1-5 --- 6-12 --- 13-23 --- 24-27 --- 28-35 --- 36-39 --- 40-48 --- 49-55--- 56-66--- EZEKIEL --- DANIEL 1-7 ---DANIEL 8-12 ---

NAHUM--- HABAKKUK---ZEPHANIAH ---ZECHARIAH --- THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW ---THE GOSPEL OF MARK--- THE GOSPEL OF LUKE --- THE GOSPEL OF JOHN --- THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES --- 1 CORINTHIANS 1-7 --- 8-16 --- 2 CORINTHIANS 1-7 --- 8-13 -- -GALATIANS --- EPHESIANS --- COLOSSIANS --- 1 THESSALONIANS --- 2 THESSALONIANS --- 1 TIMOTHY --- 2 TIMOTHY --- TITUS --- HEBREWS 1-6 --- 7-10 --- 11-13 --- JAMES --- JOHN'S LETTERS --- REVELATION

--- THE GOSPELS

Good News from Luke.

CHAPTER ONE

1.1-2. Dear Theo,

A lot of men wrote down the story of what was done among us. We were told it by those who saw what happened from the start. It was told to us by men who were teaching the word.

1.3 I have looked at these things, from when they began, with a great deal of care. So, sir, I thought it would be a good idea to write the story down for you bit by bit just as it happened. You have been taught a little about it. I am doing this so that you will know it is true.

GOD TELLS HIS PEOPLE THAT JOHN THE BAPTISER WILL BE BORN.

1.4-5 There was a king of Judea called Herod. A priest called Zechariah lived at the same time. He was a member of a group of priests. This group of priests was named after a priest of long ago called Abijah.

The name of Zechariah’s wife was Elizabeth. Her father was a priest as well.

1.6-7 They both did what pleased God very much. They did all the things He had told them to do in the Bible. But they did not have any children. This was because Elizabeth was not able to have any children.

She and Zechariah were now very old.

1.8-9 One day Zechariah was doing his job as a priest in front of God. This was when Abijah’s group were in charge. They chose who would do the jobs that had to be done by tossing up. This way of doing things had been going on for a long time. One day Zechariah won the toss. The job he was picked to do was to burn some stuff which gave off a nice smell on God’s table. (It was called incense). So he waited in the Temple until the time came when he had to do this.

1.10 When that time came he went into a place that was set apart for God. It was inside the Temple of the Lord. The people waited outside. This was at the hour when the incense had to be burned.

1.11 One of God’s angels appeared to him there. The angel was standing by the table on which he had to burn the incense. He was on the right hand side.

1.12 When Zechariah saw him he was startled. And he was filled with fear.

1.13 But the angel said to him, “Don’t be frightened, Zechariah. God has listened to your prayers. Your wife Elizabeth will have a baby boy. You must call him John”.

1.14 “It will make you very happy. You will be filled with joy. Lots of people will be glad because he has been born”.

1.15 “This is because he will be a great man in God’s eyes. He will not drink wine or any other strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit from the moment he is born”.

1.16 “He will make many of the people of Israel turn to the Lord their God”.

1.17 “He will go before God with the same spirit and power that Elijah the prophet had. He will make fathers love their children more. He will make those who have not done what God said obey him properly. They will begin to do what the Bible says. He will get the Lord’s people ready for him”.

1.18 Then Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I know this is true? I am an old man. My wife is very old as well”.

1.19-20 The angel spoke back to him. He said to him, “I am Gabriel. I am one of those chosen to stand in front of God. He sent me to speak to you to tell you this good news. Let me tell you, what I have told you will happen. But now you will not be able to speak. This is because you have not believed what I told you. You will not able to speak until it has all happened”.

1.21 All this time the people were waiting for Zechariah. He was due to come out again from the special place in the Temple. They were amazed that he was spending so much time in there.

1.22 But when he came out he was not able to speak to them. They could tell he had seen a vision in the Temple. He made signs to them with his hands. He could not speak.

1.23-25 When his days of serving God in the Temple were over he went back home. Later on his wife Elizabeth found that she was having a baby. For five months she stayed at home out of sight. She said, “The Lord has seen my problem. He has noticed it. This is why this has happened. He has stopped people blaming me because I have not had children”. (In those days if women did not have children they were ashamed).

GOD TELLS HIS PEOPLE THAT JESUS WILL BE BORN.

1.26-27 Six months later God sent the angel Gabriel. He was sent to a town called Nazareth. It was in Galilee. He had a message for a woman who lived there. She was getting married to a man called Joseph. Joseph was a descendant of King David. The woman had never been to bed with a man. Her name was Mary.

1.28 The angel Gabriel came to her. He said to her, “I greet you. God has shown you great favour. The Lord is with you in a special way”.

1.29 Mary was upset by what he said. She asked herself, ‘what is he talking about?’

1.30 The angel said to her, “Don’t be upset, Mary. God has been good to you. He has specially chosen you”.

1.31-33 “You will soon find that you are having a baby. You will have a son. You must call him Jesus. He will be a great one. He will be called the Son of the Most High God. The Lord God will make him king just as David his ancestor was. He will be king over God’s people for ever. His rule as king will never, never end”.

1.34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this happen? I have never been to bed with a man”.

1.35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come on you. The power of the Most High will cover you. Because of this the one who is to be born will be called special. He will be called the Son of God”.

1.36-37 “Look! You know your cousin Elizabeth? She is very old. Yet she is having a baby. They called her ‘the one who can have no children’. But her baby is coming. She has been having it for six months. For when God speaks He can do anything”.

1.38 Then Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant. You have told me what will happen. I am ready for it to happen”. When she had said this the angel left her.

MARY VISITS ELIZABETH

1.39-40 Soon Mary got up and went out. She was in a great hurry. She went to a town in the hills. There she went to Zechariah’s house. She said ‘hello’ to Elizabeth.

1.41 When Elizabeth heard her say ‘hello’ her baby jumped inside her. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

1.42-44 She said in a loud voice, “You are happier than any other woman. Your baby will be blessed too. How lucky I am that my Lord’s mother has come to me. When you said ‘hello’ my baby jumped inside me because he was so happy”.

1.45 “You said yes to what God said and you will be blessed. What the Lord has told you will happen”.

1.46-47 Mary said. “I think the Lord is wonderful. I praise Him with all my heart”.

1.48 “He saw that I was not very important. But long into the future all men and women will say I have been blessed. This will happen from now on”.

1.49 “The Great One has done great things for me. He is different from all others. He is very special”.

1.50 “He shows His kindness and forgiveness to all who listen to Him. This will happen right into the future”.

1.51 “What He has done has shown that He is strong. He has made those who think they are wonderful run away and hide in shame”.

1.52 “He makes princes get off their thrones. He makes people important who are not important”.

1.53 “He gives lots of good things to hungry people. He does not give anything to rich people”.

1.54 “He has helped His people Israel who serve Him. He has been kind and forgiving to them”.

1.55 “This is just what He told our ancestors He would do. It is what He promised to Abraham and his children for ever”.

1.56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months. Then she went home.

ELIZABETH HAS HER BABY.

1.57 The time for Elizabeth to have her baby came. She had a son.

1.58 Her neighbours and the people in her family heard the news. They heard that God had been very good to her. They were happy too.

1.59 Then the day came for giving the baby a name. On this day he would be made one of God’s people. This was in a special ceremony. This was eight days after he was born. They wanted to give him his father’s name Zechariah.

1.60. His mother said “No. We will call him John”.

1.61 They said, “But no one in your family is called that”.

1.62-63 Zechariah was still not able to speak. So they used signs. They asked him what he wanted to call the baby. He asked for a piece of slate. He wrote on it, “His name must be John”. They were all amazed.

1.64 As soon as he had said this Zechariah was able to speak again. He spoke and he praised God.

1.65 When this happened all the people who lived near him were a little afraid. Everyone talked about what had happened. The news spread among the people in the hills.

1.66 All who heard it thought about it in their hearts. They asked, “How great will this child be?”

As he grew up he had special help from the Lord.

1.67 Zechariah his father was filled with the Holy Spirit. This made him say what God wanted him to say.

1.68 He said, “Let the Lord be praised. He is the God of Israel. He has come to visit us. What He has done means that His people will be saved”.

1.69 “He has given us someone who will be strong and save us. This Saviour is from the family of King David”.

1.70 “In the past He promised this. From the start of time He has spoken through His special prophets.

1.71 “He promised to save us from our enemies. We will be saved from those who hate us”.

1.72 “He promised to show kindness and forgiveness to our ancestors long ago. He said He would remember the special promises He gave to them. He would remember His pact with them”.

1.73-74 “He made a special promise to Abraham who was the father of us all. He promised him that He would save us from our enemies. He promised that we would be able to serve Him and not be afraid of anyone”.

1.75 “He said that we would be specially His. He said that while we lived we would be able to live lives that pleased Him”.

1.76 “Yes. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High. You will go in front of the Lord to get the way ready for Him”.

1.77 - 78a “You will tell His people that they can be set free by having their sins forgiven. This is because of God’s feeling of kindness and forgiveness towards them”.

1.78b-79 “So someone who is like the start of a new sunny day will come to us. He will come to us from above. He will shine His light on those who sit in darkness. He will shine His light on those who are afraid to die. He will lead us along a path that will bring us peace”.

JOHN GROWS UP

1.80 The child John grew up. He was strong inside. He was a person who loved God. In the end he went to live alone in a quiet place. It was a wild and lonely place. It was almost a desert. He stayed there until it was time for God to show him to the people of Israel.

CHAPTER TWO

JESUS CHRIST IS BORN.

2.1 One day an official letter came round. It was while Mary was still waiting for her baby to come. In it the emperor Caesar Augustus said that everyone had to show they were loyal to him. They must do this by signing a paper to say they were his loyal subjects.

2.2 This was the first time this happened while Quirinius was governor of Syria.

2.3 Every important person had to go to his own home city to sign the paper.

2.4 Because of this Joseph, Mary’s husband, left Nazareth. (Nazareth was in Galilee). He went to Bethlehem. Bethlehem was the city that King David had come from. It was in Judea. He went to Bethlehem because he belonged to David’s family. He was one of his heirs.

2.5 He went so that he could sign the paper to say that he was loyal to the Emperor. He took with him Mary who was his wife. Her baby was due to come soon.

2.6-7 While they were in Bethlehem it was time for her baby to be born. She had her first baby. It was a boy. She put clothes round him to keep him safe and warm. Then she laid him in a feed box full of straw. This was where the animals ate their food.

The animals were always kept at the bottom of the house. Joseph and Mary were sleeping there because the house was so full up. There was no room upstairs in the guest room.

2.8 Near Bethlehem there were some shepherds. They were living and sleeping in the fields. This was because they were looking after their sheep in the dark.

2.9 One of the Lord’s angels came and stood by them. A great light from God shone round them. They were very frightened.

2.10-11 But the angel said to them, “Don’t be frightened. Look, I am bringing you very good news. It is news that will make people very happy. It is for everybody. Today a Saviour has been born. He has been born in David’s own city. He is the Lord Christ”.

2.12 “This is how you will know him. You will find a baby dressed in the kind of clothes that new babies wear. He will be in an animal’s feed box”.

2.13-14 Suddenly they saw a great crowd with the angel. It was the heavenly army. They were all praising God. They said, “Let everyone give glory to the Most High God. Those who are pleasing God will find peace on earth”.

2.15 The angels left them and went back to Heaven. Then the shepherds said to each other, “The Lord has told us about this. Shall we go to Bethlehem to see what has happened?”

2.16 They ran there and found Mary and Joseph. They also found the baby in the animal’s feed box.

2.17 When they saw it they told everyone what the angels had said about the child.

2.18 The news spread round. Everyone was amazed at what the shepherds had told them.

2.19 Mary kept a note of what had been said. She thought about it often.

2.20 The shepherds went back to their sheep. They gave God glory for all they had seen and heard. They were full of praise to God for what He had said to them.

GODLY PEOPLE KNOW WHO JESUS IS

2.21 Eight days passed. It was time to give the baby his name. He would also be made one of God’s people at a special ceremony. They called him Jesus. This was the name the angel gave him before he was born.

2.22 What the law of Moses said told them they must wait for some days after the birth. This was so that Mary could get better and get over the birth. Until then she was not seen as fit to come to God’s house. Then they must give Jesus to the Lord.

2.23-24 God’s law says that every first born man child must be seen as belonging to the Lord. Then something must be given up to buy him back. The sacrifice could be of two birds. It could be turtle doves or pigeons.

2.25 A man called Simeon was in Jerusalem. He was a very good man and loved God. He was looking for God to help His people and set them free. The Holy Spirit was on him.

2.26 The Holy Spirit had told him that he would not die until he had seen God’s Chosen One.

2.27 He came into the Temple and the Spirit was in him. Jesus’ parents brought their child Jesus into the Temple. They wanted to do what God’s law said.

2.28-32 Simeon took Jesus in his arms. He praised and thanked God. Then he said, “Lord, I am your servant. Now you can let me die in peace, just as you said. I have seen with my eyes the one who will save us. You have made him ready so that all will know him. He will be a light to open the eyes of many peoples. He will fill the people of Israel with wonder”.

2.33 Jesus’ father and mother gasped with surprise at the things people were saying about him.

2.34-35 Simeon asked God to bless them. He said to Jesus’ mother Mary, “Look. This child will cause many people in Israel to fall. He will also cause many to get up and walk again. People will see him as a sign. But they will speak against him. A sword will go through your own heart. This is so that everybody will see what men are really like”.

2.36-37a There was a woman called Anna. She was the daughter of Phanuel the Asherrite. God often spoke through her. She was over a hundred years old. First she got married and was married for seven years. Then she was a widow for eighty four years after her husband died.

2.37b She never left the Temple. She spent all her time singing praises to God and showing Him her love for Him. She would pray for God’s help for the world. She often went without food so that she could do it better.

2.38 She came in just when Jesus was being given to God. She thanked God for him. People who were looking for God to save Jerusalem often came to the Temple. When they came she told them about Jesus.

2.39 Joseph and Mary did everything God’s law asked them to do. Then they went back to Galilee. They went to Nazareth which was their home city.

JESUS GROWS UP

2.40 The child grew bigger and became strong. He was able to learn a lot. He became very wise. God showed His love for him all the time.

THE VISIT TO JERUSALEM

2.41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem. They went for a special event. It was called the Feast of the Passover.

2.42 When he was twelve years old they took him to the Feast. This was the usual thing to do. (At thirteen he would be seen as a grown-up man).

2.43-45 When the week had passed they started to go back home. They did not know that their boy Jesus had stayed in Jerusalem. They thought he was with some family members. This went on for a whole day. Then they went round and asked where Jesus was. They could not find him. So they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.

2.46-47 They looked for him for three days. Then they found him. He was in the Temple. He was sitting with the great teachers. He was listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed. He seemed to understood so much. He asked such sensible questions.

2.48 When his parents saw him they too were amazed. His mother said to him, “Why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been looking for you. We have been very upset”.

2.49 Jesus said to them. “Why did you have to look for me. Didn’t you know where I would be? I was where I could do what my Father wanted.”

2.50 They did not grasp what he was saying to them.

2.51 So he went with them and came to Nazareth. From then on he always did what they told him. His mother often thought about his words. She thought about everything that had been said about him. But she did not talk to anyone about it.

2.52 Jesus grew bigger and learned more and more. God and men were both pleased with him.

JOHN THE BAPTISER COMES.

Chapter 3.

3.1. Many years had passed. Tiberius had now been emperor for fifteen years. Pontius Pilate was the governor of Judea. Another Herod was ruler of Galilee. His brother Philip was the ruler of Ituraea and Trachonitis. Lysanias was ruler of Abilene. Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests (but Annas had retired. He was looked on as a father figure).

3.2 God came to Zechariah’s son John. He was in a wild and lonely place. God told him what he wanted him to preach.

3.3 John went to many places. They were on both sides of the River Jordan. He preached that God was going to pour heavenly rain on men. God wanted them to turn from their sins so that they could be forgiven.

3.4-6 This was what the prophet Isaiah had said. “It is the voice of someone speaking in the wild places. ‘Get the Lord’s road ready. Make His pathway straight. Fill in every valley. Take the tops off the hills and mountains. Make them lower and easier to cross. Make the winding roads straight. Make the bumpy roads smooth. Everybody will see God’s power to save’.”

3.7 Many crowds went out to listen to John. He was drenching people with water in baptism. They wanted to be baptised too. He said to them. “Oh, children of vipers. Who warned you to wriggle away because God’s anger was coming?” (He saw them as being like snakes who left the cornfields before they were burned).

3.8 “You must begin to do things to show that you are truly sorry for what you have done. Do not think you can say, ‘Abraham is our father so God must be good to us’. Just being a child of Abraham does not mean you are special. God could turn these stones around us into children of Abraham”.

3.9 “God’s axe is now cutting at the roots of the trees. If a tree does not have good fruit on it will be cut down. It will be thrown into the bonfire”.

3.10 The crowds said to him, “What must we do?”

3.11 He gave them his answer. He said to them, “If you have two coats give one to someone who does not have a coat. If you have food give some to someone who has no food”.

3.12 Some government workers came to be baptised. They said to him, “Teacher, what must we do?”

3.13 He said to them, “Do not try to get more than you should from people”.

3.14 Soldiers came to him and asked him, “What must we do?”

He said to them. “You must treat people nicely. You must not be rough with them. You must not cheat them. Be happy with what you get as wages. Don’t use your job to get money in other ways”.

3.15 The people were very excited. They thought God’s kingdom was coming. They asked themselves, ‘Is John the Coming One?’.

3.16 John gave his answer to their questions. He said to them, “It is true that I soak you with water. But someone who is greater than I is coming. I am not fit to help him to take off his shoes. He will soak you with the Holy Spirit and with fire”.

3.17 “In his hands he has a tool. It is for getting the good grain out of the wheat. He will do a thorough job. He will gather the good grain into storehouses. He will burn up what is left in bonfires that cannot be put out”.

3.18 He taught many other things. He brought the good news of what was coming.

3.19 But he told off Herod the Ruler because of things he did. One thing that Herod did was to marry his brother’s wife. Her name was Herodias. She divorced his brother Philip so she could marry Herod. This was wrong.

3.20 Herod then showed how really bad he was. He put John in prison.

3.21 Lots of people were being baptised. Jesus was also baptised. As he prayed an opening appeared in Heaven. Through it came the Holy Spirit. He came down on Jesus in a way that could be seen. People saw it. What they saw looked something like a dove. A voice spoke from Heaven. It said, “You are my beloved Son. I am very pleased with you”.

3.22 Then Jesus began to teach. He was about thirty years old. Everyone thought of him as the son of Joseph.

THE ANCESTORS OF JESUS (Summarised)

3.23-38 Jospeh was the son of Heli. Heli was descended from King David. King David was descended from Judah. Judah was descended from Abraham. Abraham was descended from Adam. Adam was made by God.

CHAPTER 4

JESUS IS TEMPTED IN A DESERT PLACE.

4.1 Jesus was now full of the Holy Spirit. He came back from the River Jordan. Then the Spirit led him into a lonely place. It was in wild country.

4.2 The Devil was waiting for him. For forty days the Devil tested him out. He did it in many ways. During that time he did not eat anything. When the forty days ended he was very hungry.

4.3 The Devil said to him, “Are you really God’s Son? Then tell this stone to become bread”.

4.4 Jesus spoke back to him. He said. “The Bible says. ‘A man shall not live only by eating food’.”

4.5 The Devil took him up. In a flash he showed him all the countries of the world.

4.6-7 Then the Devil said to him. “I will make you lord of all this. I will give you its glory. It has been handed over to me. I can give it to whoever I want. If you will submit to me, it will all be yours”.

4.8 Jesus said back to him, “The Bible says you shall worship your Lord and God. You must serve only Him”.

4.9-11 So the Devil took Jesus to Jerusalem. He put him on the highest part of the Temple. Then he said, “If you are God’s Son, throw yourself down from here. The Bible says, ‘He will tell His angels to look after you’. It also says, ‘They will lift you up with their hands so that you will not crash into a stone’.”

4.12 Jesus again spoke back to him, saying, “The Bible says, ‘You must not put the Lord your God to a test’.”

4.13 The Devil did all he could to tempt him to do wrong. Then he left him for a short while.

JESUS GOES AROUND TEACHING

4.14 Jesus went back to Galilee. He was in the power of the Spirit. What he was doing made him famous everywhere.

4.15 He taught in their places of worship (the synagogues). Everyone thought he was wonderful.

4.16 He came to Nazareth where he had grown up. Like he always did he went to the place of worship on God’s day (the Sabbath). He stood up to read the Bible.

4.17-19 They gave him one of the books to read. It was the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened it. He found the place he wanted. It said, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me. He has chosen me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to tell prisoners they are free. To tell the blind that they will be able to see. He has sent me to set free those who have been hurt by life. He has sent me to say that God’s good time has come”.

4.20-21 When he had read it he closed the book. He gave it back to the helper. Then he sat down. All eyes were looking at him. Then he said, “Today what the Bible said here is happening”.

4.22 Everyone agreed what an effect his words had had. They were amazed at the loving words that he spoke. But they said, “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?”

4.23 Jesus said to them. “I know you will say to me, ‘Doctor, make yourself well. What you have done in Capernaum, do in your own home town”. (But no one in his own home town had brought sick people to him to be healed).

4.24 Then he said to them, “No prophet is welcomed by his own home town”.

4.25-26 “ What I say to you is true. There were many widows in Israel when Elijah was alive. In those days it did not rain for three and a half years. The result was that no food grew anywhere in the land. But Elijah was only sent to a widow woman in Zarephath-in-Sidon. He was not sent to any of the others”.

4.27 “When Elijah the prophet was alive there were many people ill with skin diseases. But the only one who was healed was Naaman the Syrian”.

4.28-29 The people in God’s house heard what he said. They were all very angry. They got up as one man. They took him out of the town. Then they led him to a steep cliff. It was on the hill where the town was built. They wanted to throw him from it.

4.30 But he walked through the angry crowd. He went on his way safely.

JESUS CASTS OUT AN EVIL SPIRIT

4.31-32 He went down to Capernaum. Capernaum was a town in Galilee. Every God’s Day he taught the people there. They were amazed at his teaching. He taught as though he had the right to teach.

4.33 He was in the house of worship. There there was a man who had an evil spirit in him. It was a devil.

4.33-34 The evil spirit shouted through the man. It said, “Ah! Jesus of Nazareth. We don’t want anything to do with you. Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are. You are the Holy One of God”.

4.35 Jesus told it off. He said, “Be quiet and come out of him”.

The evil spirit made the man fall to the ground. It was among all the people. Then he left him and the man was not hurt.

4.36 Everyone was amazed. They said to one another, “What kind of word is this? He speaks with power. He speaks as though he has the right to speak. He tells the evil spirits that they must leave, and they do it”.

4.37 So the story of what he was doing spread everywhere in that part of the country.

4.38-39 Then Jesus stood up and left the house of worship. He went to Simon’s house. There he found that Simon’s mother-in-law was very ill indeed. So they begged him to help her. He stood over her and told the illness off. The illness left her. She got up at once and got their dinner ready.

4.40 It was just before dark. People who had sick friends and relatives brought them to him. They had all sorts of illnesses. He put his hands on every single one of them and healed them.

4.41 Evil spirits also came out of many people. As they left they yelled, “You are the Son of God”. But he told them off. He would not let them speak because they knew he was God’s Chosen One.

4.42 Next day he left the house and went into a lonely and wild place. Crowds of people looked for him. They came to him and wanted him to stay with them. They did not want him ever to leave them.

4.43-44 But he said to them, “I must preach the good news to everyone. God’s new rule over men is here. I must tell other towns as well. That is why I have come”. He preached all over Galilee. He preached wherever men met together to learn about God.

JESUS PREACHES FROM A BOAT

5.1 One day he stood by the Lake Gennesaret. He found himself squashed. He was in the middle of a large crowd. They came as close as they could. They wanted to listen to the word of God.

5.2 So he looked around. He saw two boats on the beach by the lake. The fishermen had left them. They were sat nearby. They were mending their nets.

5.3 He got into one of the boats. It belonged to Simon. He asked him to row out a short way. Then he sat down and preached to the large crowd from the boat.

5.4 When he had stopped speaking he spoke to Simon. He said, “Go where it is deep and put your nets down to catch some fish.

5.5 Simon spoke back. He said “Teacher, we have worked hard all night and we have caught nothing. But because you have told me to, I will put down the nets”.

5.6 They put down the nets. They caught a huge number of fish. There were so many that it was breaking their nets.

5.7 So they made signs to the men in the other boat. They asked them to come and help them. These were men who often worked with them. They came over and filled both the boats. The boats soon so full that water was coming over the top.

5.8 When Simon Peter saw this he threw himself down at the knees of Jesus. Then he said, “Go away and leave me. I am a bad man. I am not fit for you to know”.

5.9 He said this because they had caught so many fish for he and his men were amazed.

5.10 James and John were in the other boat. They were the sons of Zebedee. They and Simon shared whatever they caught. They were amazed as well.

Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t worry. From now on you will catch men”.

5.11 The men brought their boats back to the shore. Then they left everything they had and went with Jesus.

JESUS HEALS A MAN WITH SKIN DISEASE

5.12 He went from town to town. In one of the towns there was a man who had a bad skin disease. (Because of this he could not mix with men. No one would touch him. And he could not go to God’s house). When he saw Jesus he fell in front of him. He put his face to the ground. Then he begged him, “Lord, if you want to, you can heal me from this skin disease”.

5.13 Jesus put out his hand and touched him. Then he said, “I will do it. You are now healed”. At once the man was healed. The skin disease left him.

5.14 He spoke to the man firmly. He told him not to tell anyone else what he had done. “Go on your way”, he said. “Show yourself to the priest. Offer the kind of gift to God that Moses told us to. Then you can mix with people again and go to God’s house”. (One of the priest’s jobs was to say whether someone was now free from skin disease).

5.15 The more he told people not to talk about what he had done, the more they did. Stories about him went everywhere. Great crowds came together to hear him. Many wanted to be healed.

5.16 So he went away into lonely, wild places. He wanted to spend time in prayer.

JESUS HEALS A PARALYSED MAN

5.17. One day he was teaching as usual. Some important men were there. There were some Pharisees. Also some Teachers of the Law. (Pharisees were men who had made lots of religious rules. Then they worked hard to keep them. This often made them feel very pleased with themselves). They had come from many towns in Galilee, Judea and Jerusalem.

Jesus healed many people because the power of the Lord was also there.

5.18 Some men came along carrying a mattress. Lying on the mattress was a paralysed man. ( This is a man who cannot move parts of his body. This one could not walk). They tried to get to Jesus to bring the man to him. But the crowd was too thick. They could not get through.

5.19 There were some steps up the back of the house. So they used these to get on to the roof. Then they broke the roof open. They let the mattress down with the man on it. It landed on the floor beside Jesus.

5.20 When Jesus saw how big their belief was he spoke to the man. He said, “Man, your sins are forgiven”.

5.21 The Teachers and the Pharisees began to talk with each other. They said, “Who is this man? He is insulting God. Only God can forgive sins”.

5.22-23 But Jesus saw what they were thinking. He spoke back to them. He said, “Why are you talking to each other like this? Tell me, which is easier. Is it easier to say ‘your sins are forgiven’, or to say ‘get up and walk’?”

5.24 “I want you to know that I am the Son of Man. As the Son of Man I have power to forgive sins here on earth”. So he said to the paralysed man, “Get up. Pick up your mattress and go home”.

5.25 The man got up straight away. He picked up his mattress and went home. As he went he praised God and gave Him glory.

5.26 Everyone was amazed. They praised God and gave Him glory. They were filled with awe. They said, “Today we have seen something very unusual.”

JESUS CALLS A TAX-COLLECTOR TO BE HIS DISCIPLE

5.27-28 After this Jesus went for a walk. There he saw a tax collector called Levi. He was taking taxes at the customs post. Jesus said to him, “Become my disciple”. Levi got up. He left everything that he had and followed Jesus.

5.29 He put on a great party in his house. It was in honour of Jesus. Lots of tax collectors came. Other people came too. They were just ordinary people. They did not follow religious rules closely. (One of these rules was to wash in a special way before eating). They all sat with Jesus at the table. His disciples were there as well.

5.30 The Pharisees and the Teachers saw this. They were upset with his disciples. They said to them, “Why do you eat with tax collectors and with people who do not keep our rules?”

5.31-32 It was Jesus who spoke back to them. He said. “People who are well do not need a doctor. It is people who are ill who need a doctor. I have not come to help those who think they are good enough. I have come to help those who do wrong. I want to help them to change their minds. To be truly sorry for what they have done.”

5.33 Some people said to him. “John’s followers often go without food. They do this so they can pray better. And they pray a lot. Those who follow the Pharisees do the same. Why then do your disciples spend their time eating and drinking at a party?”

5.34 Jesus said to them. “Can you make the guests at a wedding go without food and drink while the bridegroom is with them?”

5.35 “The time will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them. Then they will go without food.”

PICTURES COMPARING HIS NEW TEACHING WITH THE OLD TEACHING.

5.36 He gave them another example. He said. “No one patches up an old shirt by cutting up a new shirt. If he does, he spoils the new shirt. The patch is too new as well. It does not fit in with the old shirt. Both are spoilt”

5.37-38 “No man puts new wine into old wine-skins. They are dry. The new wine will make the skins burst. The wine will be spilt and the wine-skins will be ruined. New wine must be put into fresh wine-skins.”

5.39 “But a man who has drunk old wine often does not want new wine. He says ‘The old is better’.” CHAPTER 6.

JESUS IS LORD OVER GOD’S DAY.

6.1 One day it was God’s Day. Jesus and his disciples were going through a field. It was full of wheat. The disciples were hungry. They began to pluck bits of the wheat. Then they rubbed it in their hands and ate it.

6.2 Some of the Pharisees saw this. They said to the disciples. “Why do you do work on God’s Day? He told us not to work on His Day.””

6.3-4 Jesus spoke back. He said, “Haven’t you read what David and his men did when he was hungry? He went into God’s house. Then he ate the special bread that only the priest should eat. And he gave some to those who were with him.” (Yet because he was David these men did not blame him for what he had done).

6.5 Then he said. “The Son of Man is even Lord over God’s Day”.

JESUS HEALS A MAN WITH A WITHERED HAND.

6.6 On another God’s Day he went into a place of worship. He taught the people there. One of the men had a useless hand. It was his right hand.

6.7 The Teachers and the Pharisees watched him. They wanted to see if he would heal on God’s day. They did this because they wanted to blame him for it. (Their rules said that no one must heal on God’s Day unless someone would die).

6.8 Jesus knew what they were thinking. He spoke to the man who had the useless hand. He said, “Get up. Come and stand among us.” The man did as he was told.

6.9 Then Jesus said to them. “Let me ask you. Is it right to do good on God’s Day, or should we do harm? Is it right to save a life, or should we destroy it?”

6.10 He looked round at all those who blamed him. Then he said to the man. “Put out your hand”. The man did as he was told and his hand was healed.

6.11 But the men who blamed him were very angry. They talked together. They wanted to know how they could deal with Jesus.

JESUS CHOOSES HIS APOSTLES

6.12 Around that time he went into a mountain to pray. He stayed there all night, praying to God.

6.13-16 When the day came he called his disciples together. Then he chose twelve to be Apostles. These were: Simon, whom he called Peter. Andrew, Peter’s brother. James and John. Philip and Bart. Matthew and Thomas. James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Rebel. Judas the son of James and Judas Iscariot, who would be the traitor.

JESUS PREACHES TO HIS DISCIPLES

6.17 They came down from the mountain. They found themselves on a level piece of ground. By now he had a great crowd of disciples. There were also huge crowds of other people. They came from Judea and Jerusalem. They even came from Tyre and Sidon. They all wanted to listen to him. They wanted to be healed from their illnesses.

6.18 Some of them had trouble with evil spirits. Jesus healed them.

6.19 Everyone in the crowd wanted to touch him. This was because power came out of him. He healed all of them.

6.20 He looked round on his disciples. Then he preached to them.

He said, “You who are poor are blessed. For it means you want to serve God. You have chosen to come under His Rule.”

6.21 “You who are now hungry are blessed. For you will be filled”.

“You who weep now are blessed. For you will soon be laughing.”

6.22 “Because you follow the Son of Man men will hate you. They will tell you to keep away from them. They will yell at you. They will say that you are evil. But you will be blessed.

6.23 “When all this happens be glad. Jump for joy. For you will have a big reward in Heaven. Remember. That is how their fathers treated the prophets.

6.24 “It is sad for you who are rich. You have already had your blessings.

6.25 “It is sad for you who are already full. You will go hungry.”

“It is sad for you who can laugh now. For you will weep and mourn.”

6.26 “It is sad for you when everyone says nice things about you. That is how their fathers treated the false prophets.”

6.27 “But to those who will listen I say this. Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you.

6.28 “When men curse you, bless them. When they treat you badly, pray for them.”

6.29 “If someone slaps you on one cheek. Offer him the other cheek.

“If someone takes away your coat. Give him your shirt as well.

6.30 “If anyone asks you to give him something. Give him what he asks for.”

“If someone takes away what belongs to you. Do not ask for it back.”

6.31 “Whatever you would like men to do to you. Treat them in the same way.”

6.32 “For if you only love those who love you. Why should you be thanked? Even bad people love those who love them.”

6.33 “If you only do good to those who do good to you. Why should you be thanked? Bad people do the same.”

6.34 “If you only lend to those from whom you will get it back. Why should you be thanked? Bad people lend to bad people, if they think they will get it all back.”

6.35 “But love your enemies. Do good to them. Lend. Do not say ‘they will never pay me back’. You will get a big reward. And you will be true sons of the Most High God. For He is kind towards those who are ungrateful. He is kind towards those who are evil.”

6.36 “Be kind and show love. Just as your Father is kind and shows love.”

6.37 “Do not judge people. Then you will not be judged. Do not condemn people. Then you will not be condemned.”

“Forgive others. Then God will forgive you.”

6.38 “Give, and you will get back more. You will get back a full bagful. Lots will be squashed in. It will be so full that things will fall out. For the way you treat people is how you will be treated.”

6.39 He also used this picture with them. He said, “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Won’t they both fall into a ditch?”

6.40 “A disciple is not higher than his master. But when he is made perfect he will be like his Master.”

6.41 “Why do you make a fuss about the piece of sawdust in your brother’s eye? But you do not notice the wooden plank in your own eye?”

6.42 “If you cannot see the great plank in your own eye, how can you help your brother? How can you say to him, ‘Brother, let me take that piece of sawdust out of your eye’?”

“You cheat. First take the wooden plank out of your own eye. Then you will see clearly. Then you can take the sawdust out of your brother’s eye.”

6.43-44 “A good tree does not grow bad fruit. A bad tree does not grow good fruit. Every tree is known by what it grows.”

6.44 “Men don't pick figs from thorn bushes. They can’t pick grapes from a bramble bush.”

6.45 “The good man does what is right because he is good deep inside. The bad man does what is wrong because he is bad inside. What is inside a man decides how he speaks.”

6.46 “Why do you say to me, “Lord, Lord, if you do not do what I tell you?”

6.47-48 “I will show you what the man who comes to me is like. The man who listens to what I say and does it. He is like a good builder. The builder digs deep. He finds rock. Then he builds the house on it. So when the flood comes, it smashes into the house. But it cannot shake it. This is because it has been well built.”

6.49 “What about the man who listens to me and does not do what I tell him? He is like a man who builds his house on sand. It has nothing to stand on. The flood hits it and it has no chance. Its walls fall in. It becomes a great ruin.”

CHAPTER 7

JESUS HEALS FROM A DISTANCE.

7.1 Jesus came to an end of his words. Lots of people heard him. Then he went to Capernaum.

7.2 A Roman army captain lived there. He had a servant. He loved this servant. The servant was very ill. He was dying.

7.3 He heard what Jesus was doing. He went to the local Jewish leaders. He asked them to speak to Jesus. He wanted him to heal his servant.

7.4-5 The leaders came to Jesus. They begged him to do it. They said, “This man deserves it. He loves our people. He has built us a house for worship.”

7.6-7 Jesus went with them. He did not reach the house. Before he got there the captain sent some friends to him. They told him his words. “Lord do not bother yourself. I am not fit that you should come under my roof. That is why I did not come. I am not fit to come to you. Just say the word. Then my servant will be healed.”

7.8 “I am also a man who can give orders. I have soldiers under me. I say to one, ‘Go’, and he goes. I say to another, ‘Come’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this’. Then he does it.”

7.9 When Jesus heard this he was filled with wonder. He turned to the crowd who followed him. He said, “I tell you this. I have not heard of anyone with faith like this. No! Not in all Israel.”

7.10 Those who had been sent to Jesus went back. They came to the captain’s house. They found the servant was well.

JESUS RAISES A DEAD WOMAN.

7.11 Very soon he went to a town called Nain. His disciples went with him. A great crowd followed them.

7.12 He came close to the gate of the town. A dead man was being carried out. He was his mother’s only son. Her husband had died. She was a widow. Many people from the town were with her.

7.13 When the Lord saw her he was sorry for her. He said to her, “Don’t cry”.

7.14 He came close to the stretcher which had the body on. He put his hand on it. The men who carried it stood still. He spoke to the dead man. He said, “Young man. Listen to me. Get up.”

7.15 The dead man sat up. He began to talk.

Jesus gave him to his mother.

7.16 Everyone was filled with awe. They praised God. They said, “A great prophet has come among us”. Some said, “God has come among His people”.

7.17 The story of what he had done went everywhere. The whole of Judea heard about it. It spread even further. It reached the near by countries.

JOHN THE BAPTISER ASKS JESUS IF HE IS THE CHOSEN ONE

7.18-19. Some disciples of John told him about this. He called for two of his disciples. He sent them to the Lord. He asked, “Are you the Coming One? Or should we look for someone else?”

7.20 The men came to Jesus. They said, “John the Baptiser has sent us to you. He wants to know something. Are you the Coming One? Or should we look for someone else?”

7.21 At that time he cured many from their illnesses. From their troubles. From evil spirits. He made blind men see.

7.22 He spoke back to them. He said, “Go back to John. Tell him what you have seen and heard. Blind men receive their sight back again. Lame men walk. Men with skin diseases are healed. Men who are deaf, hear. Dead men are brought to life. Good news is preached to the poor.”

7.23 “The one who keeps trusting in me will be blessed. The one who is not put off by what they see and hear.”

JESUS SPEAKS ABOUT JOHN THE BAPTISER

7.24 When the men who came from John had left Jesus spoke to the crowd about him. He said, “What did you go out into the wild and lonely place to see? Some grass blown by the wind?”

7.25. “What did you go out to see? A man who was richly dressed? Look! Those who are richly dressed and have soft lives live in the courts of kings.”

7.26 “But what did you go out to see? Did you expect a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and someone greater than a prophet.

7.27 “This is the one the Bible spoke about. It said: “See, I send my herald in front of you. He will get the way before you ready.”

7.28 “I tell you. Among men who are born from a woman, no one is greater than John. Yet when men come under God’s Rule, the least important one is greater than he.”

7.29 “When all the people and the tax collectors listened to him. They saw that God was right. They were baptised with John’s baptism.

7.30 “But the Pharisees and the Teachers turned down God’s advice. They were not baptised by him.”

7.31-32 “What shall I say the people who live today are like? They are like children playing in the street. They shout to one another. They say, “We played our mouth organs. But you did not dance. We shed tears, but you did not copy us.”

7.33 “John the Baptiser came. He did not eat bread. He did not drink wine. So you say ‘he has a devil in him’.”

7.34 “I, the Son of Man, have come. I eat and drink. So you say, ‘look! a greedy man, a drunk. A friend of the worst kind of people.”

7.35 “How men think decides what they become”.

A WOMAN WASHES THE FEET OF JESUS.

7.36 One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to dinner. He went to the Pharisee’s house. There he lay on cushions to eat. (That was what people did then).

7.37-38 In that town there was a woman. She did not keep the religious rules. She was seen as a bad woman. She heard that he had gone to dinner at the Pharisee’s house. She had a jar of special perfume. She took it in with her and stood at the feet of Jesus.

7.38 She was crying. She washed his feet with her tears. She wiped them with her hair. She kissed his feet. She poured perfume on them.

7.39 The Pharisee who had invited Jesus to dinner saw this. He thought, ‘if this man was a prophet he would have known what this woman was like. He would have known she was a bad woman. He would not have let her touch him’.

7.40 Jesus knew what he was thinking. He said to him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”

Simon spoke back. “Carry on, Teacher,.” he said. What is it?”.

7.41 Jesus said, “There was once a man who lent money to two people. One owed him ten thousand pounds. The other owed him a thousand pounds. But both of them could not pay him back. So he let them off. Which do you think will love him most?”

Simon said back, “I think it would be the man who owed him most.”

Jesus said to him, “You are quite right. You have made the right choice.”

7.44 Then he looked at the woman. He said to Simon. “Do you see this woman? I came to your house. But you did not give me water so I could wash my feet. Yet this woman has washed my dusty feet with her tears. She has wiped them on her hair.”

7.45 “You did not welcome me with a kiss. But since she came in she has not stopped kissing my feet.”

7.46 “You did not put perfume on me. But this woman has put perfume on my feet.”

7.47 “So I tell you this. She had many sins. But they are all forgiven. That is why she is so very grateful. The person who thinks he has few sins is not so grateful when he is forgiven.”

7.48 Then he said to the woman. “Your sins are forgiven.”

7.49 The men who were eating with him looked at each other. They asked one another, “Who is this who forgives people their sins?”

7.50 Jesus spoke again to the woman. He said to her, “Your faith has put you right. Go with peace in your heart.”