The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:5–15)
1 UDB One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished praying, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us what to say when we pray, as John taught his disciples!" BSB BSB: One day in a place where Jesus had just finished praying, one of His disciples requested, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
2 UDB He said to them, "When you pray, say things like this: 'Father, may all people honor your name as holy. May you soon rule all people everywhere. BSB BSB: So Jesus told them, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come.
3 UDB Please give us each day the food that we need. BSB BSB: Give us each day our daily bread.
4 UDB Please forgive us for the wrong things that we have done, just as we ourselves forgive people for the wrong things that they do to us. Help us to not sin when we are tempted.'" BSB BSB: And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’”
Ask, Seek, Knock (Matthew 7:7–12)
5 UDB Then he said to them, "Suppose that one of you goes to the house of a friend at midnight. Suppose that you stand outside and call out to him, 'My friend, please lend me three loaves of bread! BSB BSB: Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose one of you goes to his friend at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread,
6 UDB Another friend of mine who is traveling has just arrived at my house, but I have no food ready to give to him!' BSB BSB: because a friend of mine has come to me on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him.’
7 UDB Suppose that he answers you from inside the house, 'Do not bother me! The door has been locked and all my family members are in bed. So I cannot get up and give you anything!' BSB BSB: And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Do not bother me. My door is already shut, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.’
8 UDB I tell you, he may not want to get up and give you any food even though you are his friend. But because you keep persisting in asking him, he will certainly get up and give you whatever you need. BSB BSB: I tell you, even though he will not get up to provide for him because of his friendship, yet because of the man’s persistence, he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
9 UDB So I tell you this: Keep asking God for what you need, and he will give it to you. Keep seeking his will, and he will show it to you. Keep on praying urgently to God, like someone knocking on a door, and he will open the way for you to receive what you pray for. BSB BSB: So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.
10 UDB Remember that anyone who asks will receive, anyone who seeks will find, and anyone who knocks will have the door opened for him. BSB BSB: For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
11 UDB If one of you had a son who asked you for a fish to eat, you certainly would not give him a poisonous snake instead, would you? BSB BSB: What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?
12 UDB And if he asked you for an egg, you certainly would not give him a scorpion instead, would you? BSB BSB: Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?
13 UDB Even though you people are sinful, you know how to give good things to your children. So it is even more certain that your Father in heaven will give the Holy Spirit to you if you ask him to do that." BSB BSB: So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
A House Divided (Matthew 12:22–30; Mark 3:20–27)
14 UDB One day a man came to Jesus. This man was not able to speak because a demon controlled him. After Jesus forced out the demon, the man began to talk, and crowds of people were amazed. BSB BSB: One day Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. And when the demon was gone, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowds were amazed,
15 UDB But some of them said, "It is Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons, who enables this man to force out demons!" BSB BSB: but some of them said, “It is by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons, that He drives out demons.”
16 UDB Other people there asked him to perform a miracle to prove he was from God. BSB BSB: And others tested Him by demanding a sign from heaven.
17 UDB But he knew what they were thinking. So he said to them, "If the people in one nation fight against each other, their nation will be destroyed. If the people in one household oppose each other, their family will fall apart. BSB BSB: Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and a house divided against a house will fall.
18 UDB Similarly, if Satan and his demons were fighting against each other, his rule over them would certainly not last! I say this because you are saying that I force out demons by the power of the ruler of demons! BSB BSB: If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? After all, you say that I drive out demons by Beelzebul.
19 UDB Now if it is really true that Satan is enabling me to force out demons, is it also true that your disciples who force out demons do so by Satan's power? Of course not! So they prove that you are wrong. BSB BSB: And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.
21 UDB Jesus continued, "When a strong man who has many weapons guards his own house, no one can steal the things in his house. BSB BSB: When a strong man, fully armed, guards his house, his possessions are secure.
22 UDB But when someone else who is stronger attacks that man and subdues him, he is able to take away the weapons in which the man trusted. Then he can take from that man's house anything he wants to. BSB BSB: But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted, and then he divides up his plunder.
23 UDB Anyone who is not supporting me is opposing me, and anyone who does not bring people to me causes them to go away from me." BSB BSB: He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
An Unclean Spirit Returns (Matthew 12:43–45)
24 UDB Then Jesus said this: "Sometimes when an evil spirit leaves someone, it wanders around in desolate areas seeking relief. If it does not find any, it says to itself, 'I will return to the person in whom I used to live!' BSB BSB: When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it passes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’
25 UDB So it goes back and finds that the person is like a house that has been swept clean and put in order, but is still empty. BSB BSB: On its return, it finds the house swept clean and put in order.
26 UDB Then this evil spirit goes and gets seven other spirits that are even more evil than it is. They all enter that person and begin living there. So, although that person's condition was bad before, it became much worse." BSB BSB: Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and dwell there. And the final plight of that man is worse than the first.”
True Blessedness 27 UDB When Jesus said that, a woman who was listening called out to him loudly, "How greatly blessed by God is the woman who gave birth to you and who nursed you at her breasts!" BSB BSB: As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and blessed are the breasts that nursed You!”
28 UDB Then he replied, "Even more blessed by God are those who hear his message and obey it!" BSB BSB: But He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
The Sign of Jonah (Jonah 3:1–10; Matthew 12:38–42)
29 UDB As more and more people were coming to join the crowd around Jesus, he said, "The people living at this time are evil people. Many of you want me to perform a miracle as proof that I have come from God. But the only proof that you will receive is a miracle like what happened to Jonah. BSB BSB: As the crowds were increasing, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.
30 UDB Just as the miracle that God did for Jonah long ago was a testimony to the people from the city of Nineveh, so God will do a similar miracle for the Son of Man that will be a testimony to you people living now. BSB BSB: For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so the Son of Man will be a sign to this generation.
31 UDB Long ago the Queen of Sheba traveled a very long distance to hear Solomon speak wise things. And now someone who is much greater than Solomon is here, but you have not really listened to what I say. Therefore, at the time when God will judge all people, this queen will stand there and condemn the people alive now. BSB BSB: The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here.
32 UDB The men who lived in the ancient city of Nineveh turned from their sinful ways when Jonah preached to them. And now I, who am greater than Jonah, have come and preached to you, but you have not turned from your sinful ways. Therefore, at the time when God judges all people, the men who lived in Nineveh long ago will stand there and condemn the people alive now. BSB BSB: The men of Nineveh will stand at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now One greater than Jonah is here.
The Lamp of the Body (Matthew 6:22–24)
33 UDB "People who light a lamp do not then hide it or put it under a basket. Instead they put it on a lampstand so that those who enter the room or house can see the light. BSB BSB: No one lights a lamp and puts it in a cellar or under a basket. Instead, he sets it on a stand, so those who enter can see the light.
34 UDB Your eye is the lamp of your body. If your eye is healthy, then your whole body is full of light. If, on the other hand, it is unhealthy, then your body will be full of darkness. BSB BSB: Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body is full of darkness.
35 UDB Therefore, be careful that the light in you is not darkness. BSB BSB: Be careful, then, that the light within you is not darkness.
36 UDB If your whole body is full of light and no part of it is darkened, all of your body will be full of light like the light of a lamp that enables you to see everything clearly." BSB BSB: So if your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, you will be radiant, as though a lamp were shining on you.”
Woes to Pharisees and Experts in the Law (Matthew 23:1–36)
37 UDB After Jesus finished saying those things, a Pharisee invited him to eat a meal with him. So Jesus went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table to eat. BSB BSB: As Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee invited Him to dine with him; so He went in and reclined at the table.
38 UDB The Pharisee was surprised when he saw that Jesus did not ritually wash his hands before eating. BSB BSB: But the Pharisee was surprised to see that Jesus did not first wash before the meal.
39 UDB The Lord Jesus said to Him, "You Pharisees wash the outside of cups and dishes before you eat, but within yourselves you are very greedy and wicked. BSB BSB: Then the Lord said, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.
40 UDB You foolish people! Surely you know that God not only made the outside, but he also made the inside! BSB BSB: You fools! Did not the One who made the outside make the inside as well?
41 UDB Instead of worrying about dishes being ritually clean, be merciful and give whatever is inside the dishes to those in need, and then both the inside and outside of you will be clean. BSB BSB: But give as alms the things that are within you, and behold, everything will be clean for you.
42 UDB "But how terrible it will be for you Pharisees! You carefully give to God a tenth of all you have, including even the herbs that you grow in your gardens. But then you do not love God or act justly toward others. You should make sure that you love God and act justly toward others in addition to giving to God. BSB BSB: Woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithes of mint, rue, and every herb, but you disregard justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former.
43 UDB How terrible it will be for you Pharisees because you like to sit in the most important seats in the synagogues, and you like people to greet you with special honor in the marketplaces. BSB BSB: Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the chief seats in the synagogues and the greetings in the marketplaces.
44 UDB How terrible it will be for you because you are like unmarked graves that cannot be seen, which people walk over without realizing it and become ceremonially unclean." BSB BSB: Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without even noticing.”
45 UDB One of those who was an expert in the Jewish laws replied, "Teacher, by saying this you are criticizing us also!" BSB BSB: One of the experts in the law told Him, “Teacher, when You say these things, You insult us as well.”
46 UDB Jesus said, "How terrible it will be for you who are experts in the Jewish laws! You weigh people down with very heavy burdens, yet you will not do even the smallest thing to help people bear those burdens! BSB BSB: “Woe to you as well, experts in the law!” He replied. “For you weigh men down with heavy burdens, but you yourselves will not lift a finger to lighten their load.
47 UDB How terrible it will be for you because you construct buildings to mark the graves of the prophets, but your ancestors are the ones who killed them! BSB BSB: Woe to you! For you build tombs for the prophets, but it was your fathers who killed them.
48 UDB So when you build these buildings, you are declaring that you approve of what your ancestors did when they killed the prophets. BSB BSB: So you are witnesses consenting to the deeds of your fathers: They killed the prophets, and you build their tombs.
49 UDB So God, who is very wise, said, 'I will send prophets and apostles to guide my people. But they will cause them to suffer greatly and will even kill some of them.' BSB BSB: Because of this, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles; some of them they will kill and others they will persecute.’
50 UDB As a result, many of the people living now at this time will be considered guilty of the murder of all God's prophets from the time the world was created, BSB BSB: As a result, this generation will be charged with the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the foundation of the world,
51 UDB starting from when Abel was killed by his brother and continuing until the prophet Zechariah was killed in the temple between the altar and the holy place. Yes, the people living at this time will be considered guilty for all those murders of the prophets! BSB BSB: from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, all of it will be charged to this generation.
52 UDB How terrible it will be for you who are experts in the Jewish laws. Because of you, people cannot know how to have God rule over them! You do not let God rule over you, and you even get in the way of people who want to have God rule over them." BSB BSB: Woe to you experts in the law! For you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”
53 UDB After Jesus finished saying those things, he left there. Then the men who taught the Jewish laws and the Pharisees began to act in a very hostile way toward him. They intensely questioned him about many things. BSB BSB: As Jesus went on from there, the scribes and Pharisees began to oppose Him bitterly and to ply Him with questions about many things,
54 UDB They kept waiting for him to say something wrong for which they could accuse him. BSB BSB: waiting to catch Him in something He might say.