Day 272 of 364

^3:1In those days, John the Baptizer came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, ^3:2“Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” ^3:3For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, make the way of the Lord ready! Make his paths straight!” ^3:4Now John himself wore clothing made of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. ^3:5Then people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him. ^3:6They were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. ^3:7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ^3:8Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance! ^3:9Don’t think to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. ^3:10Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire. ^3:11“I indeed baptize you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit. ^3:12His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.” ^3:13Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. ^3:14But John would have hindered him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?” ^3:15But Jesus, answering, said to him, “Allow it now, for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him. ^3:16Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him. ^3:17Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” ^4:1Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. ^4:2When he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry afterward. ^4:3The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” ^4:4But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of God’s mouth.’” ^4:5Then the devil took him into the holy city. He set him on the pinnacle of the temple, ^4:6and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and, ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you don’t dash your foot against a stone.’” ^4:7Jesus said to him, “Again, it is written, ‘You shall not test the Lord, your God.’” ^4:8Again, the devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. ^4:9He said to him, “I will give you all of these things, if you will fall down and worship me.” ^4:10Then Jesus said to him, “Get behind me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.’” ^4:11Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and served him. ^4:12Now when Jesus heard that John was delivered up, he withdrew into Galilee. ^4:13Leaving Nazareth, he came and lived in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, ^4:14that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, ^4:15“The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, ^4:16the people who sat in darkness saw a great light; to those who sat in the region and shadow of death, to them light has dawned.” ^4:17From that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say, “Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” ^4:18Walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers: Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. ^4:19He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers for men.” ^4:20They immediately left their nets and followed him. ^4:21Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them. ^4:22They immediately left the boat and their father, and followed him. ^4:23Jesus went about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people. ^4:24The report about him went out into all Syria. They brought to him all who were sick, afflicted with various diseases and torments, possessed with demons, epileptics, and paralytics; and he healed them. ^4:25Great multitudes from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan followed him. ^5:1Seeing the multitudes, he went up onto the mountain. When he had sat down, his disciples came to him. ^5:2He opened his mouth and taught them, saying, ^5:3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. ^5:4Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. ^5:5Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. ^5:6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. ^5:7Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. ^5:8Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. ^5:9Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. ^5:10Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. ^5:11“Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake. ^5:12Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you. ^5:13“You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavor, with what will it be salted? It is then good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men. ^5:14“You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden. ^5:15Neither do you light a lamp and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house. ^5:16Even so, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven. ^5:17“Don’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfill. ^5:18For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished. ^5:19Therefore, whoever shall break one of these least commandments and teach others to do so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. ^5:20For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. ^5:21“You have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not murder;’ and ‘Whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ ^5:22But I tell you that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will be in danger of the judgment. Whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ will be in danger of the council. Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of Gehenna. ^5:23“If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you, ^5:24leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. ^5:25Agree with your adversary quickly while you are with him on the way; lest perhaps the prosecutor deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison. ^5:26Most certainly I tell you, you shall by no means get out of there until you have paid the last penny. ^5:27“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery;’ ^5:28but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. ^5:29If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna. ^5:30If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna. ^5:31“It was also said, ‘Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce,’ ^5:32but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits adultery. ^5:33“Again you have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,’ ^5:34but I tell you, don’t swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God; ^5:35nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. ^5:36Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can’t make one hair white or black. ^5:37But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No.’ Whatever is more than these is of the evil one. ^5:38“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ ^5:39But I tell you, don’t resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. ^5:40If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. ^5:41Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. ^5:42Give to him who asks you, and don’t turn away him who desires to borrow from you. ^5:43“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ^5:44But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, ^5:45that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. ^5:46For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? ^5:47If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? ^5:48Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.