Lord of the Sabbath

1On a Sabbath, he passed through the grainfields.a His disciples were picking heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating them. 2But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath? ”a

3Jesus answered them, “Haven’t you read what David and those who were with him did when he was hungry —  4how he entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat?a He even gave some to those who were with him.”b 5Then he told them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

6On another Sabbatha he entered the synagogue and was teaching. A man was there whose right hand was shriveled. 7The scribes and Pharisees were watching him closely,a to see if he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they could find a charge against him.b 8But he knew their thoughtsa and told the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand here.”A So he got up and stood there. 9Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you: Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it? ”a 10After looking around at them all,a he told him, “Stretch out your hand.”b He did, and his hand was restored.A 11They, however, were filled with rage and started discussing with one another what they might do to Jesus.

The Twelve Apostles

12During those days he went out to the mountain to praya and spent all night in prayer to God. 13When daylight came, he summoned his disciples,a and he chose twelve of them, whom he also named apostles:b 14Simon, whom he also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; 15Matthew and Thomas;a James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot; 16Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

Teaching and Healing

17After coming down with them, he stood on a level place with a large crowd of his disciples and a great number of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon.a 18They came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those tormented by unclean spirits were made well. 19The whole crowd was trying to touch him,a because power was coming out from him and healing them all.b

The Beatitudes

20Then looking up at his disciples, he said:a

Blessed are you who are poor,

because the kingdom of God is yours.

21Blessed are you who are hungry now,

because you will be filled.

Blessed are you who weep now,

because you will laugh.

22Blessed are you when people hate you,

when they exclude you,a insult you,

and slander your name as evilb

because of the Son of Man.c

23“Rejoice in that day and leap for joy. Take note — your reward is great in heaven, for this is the way their ancestors used to treat the prophets.a

Woe to the Self-Satisfied

24But woe to you who are rich,

for you have received your comfort.

25Woe to you who are now full,

for you will be hungry.

Woe to youA who are now laughing,

for you will mourn and weep.

26Woe to youA

when all people speak well of you,

for this is the way their ancestors

used to treat the false prophets.a

Love Your Enemies

27“But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.a 29If anyone hits you on the cheek,a offer the other also. And if anyone takes away your coat, don’t hold back your shirt either. 30Give to everyone who asks you, and from someone who takes your things, don’t ask for them back. 31Just as you want others to do for you, do the same for them.a 32If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.a 33If you do what is good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you?a Even sinners lend to sinners to be repaid in full. 35But love your enemies, do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High.a For he is gracious to the ungrateful and evil. 36Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.a

Do Not Judge

37“Do not judge, and you will not be judged.a Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.b 38Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure — pressed down, shaken together, and running over — will be poured into your lap.a For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”b

39He also told them a parable: “Can the blind guide the blind? Won’t they both fall into a pit?a 40A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.a

41“Why do you look at the splinter in your brother’s eye, but don’t notice the beam of wood in your own eye? 42Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the splinter that is in your eye,’ when you yourself don’t see the beam of wood in your eye? Hypocrite! First take the beam of wood out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the splinter in your brother’s eye.

A Tree and Its Fruit

43“A good tree doesn’t produce bad fruit; on the other hand, a bad tree doesn’t produce good fruit.a a 44For each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs aren’t gathered from thornbushes, or grapes picked from a bramble bush. 45A good person produces good out of the good stored up in his heart. An evil person produces evil out of the evil stored up in his heart, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.

The Two Foundations

46“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do the things I say?a 47I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, hears my words, and acts on them:a 48He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. When the flood came, the river crashed against that house and couldn’t shake it, because it was well built. 49But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The river crashed against it, and immediately it collapsed. And the destruction of that house was great.”a