The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:5–15)
1 ULT And it happened that, when he was praying in a certain place, when he stopped, one of his disciples said to him,“Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also 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 ULT And he said to them,“When you pray, say,‘Father, let your name be made holy. Let your kingdom come. BSB BSB: So Jesus told them, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come.
3 ULT Give us our daily bread each day. BSB BSB: Give us each day our daily bread.
4 ULT And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone owing us. And do not bring us into temptation.’” 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 ULT And he said to them,“Which of you will have a friend and will go to him at midnight and say to him,‘Friend, lend three loaves to me, 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 ULT since my friend has come to me from the road, and I do not have anything to serve 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 ULT And answering from inside, he may say,‘Do not cause me trouble. The door has already been shut, and my children are in the bed with me. I am not able to get up to give to you.’ 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 ULT I say to you, even if he does not get up to give{ it} to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence, rising up, he will give to him as much as he needs. 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 ULT I also say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 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 ULT For everyone asking receives; and the one seeking finds; and to the one knocking, it will be opened. BSB BSB: For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
11 ULT And which father among you, his son will ask for a fish, and instead of a fish, he will give him a snake? BSB BSB: What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?
12 ULT Or also he will ask for an egg, he will give him a scorpion? BSB BSB: Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?
13 ULT Therefore, if you being evil know to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father from heaven give the Holy Spirit to the ones asking him?” 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 ULT And he was casting out a mute demon. And it happened that, the demon having gone out, the mute{ man} spoke, and the crowds marveled. 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 ULT But some of them said,“By Beelzebul, the ruler of demons, he casts out the demons.” BSB BSB: but some of them said, “It is by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons, that He drives out demons.”
16 ULT And others tested{ him}, seeking from him a sign from heaven. BSB BSB: And others tested Him by demanding a sign from heaven.
17 ULT But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them,“Every kingdom divided against itself is made desolate, and house against house falls. 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 ULT But if Satan is also divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say I cast out the demons by Beelzebul. 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 ULT But if I cast out the demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Because of this, they will be your judges. 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 ULT When the strong man{ who} has been fully armed is guarding his own courtyard, his possessions are at peace, BSB BSB: When a strong man, fully armed, guards his house, his possessions are secure.
22 ULT but when a stronger than he attacks him, he will overcome him, take away his armor in which he trusted, and divide his spoils. 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 ULT The one not being with me is against me, and the one not gathering with me scatters. 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 ULT When the unclean spirit has gone out from the man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and not finding any, it says,‘I will return to my house from which I came out.’ 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 ULT And having come, it finds{ it} having been swept out and put in order. BSB BSB: On its return, it finds the house swept clean and put in order.
26 ULT Then it goes and takes along seven other spirits more evil than itself and they having entered, it resides there. And the last things of that man become worse than the first things.” 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 ULT And it happened that, as he was saying these things, a certain woman from the crowd, lifting up her voice, said to him,“Blessed{ is} the womb that bore you and the breasts that you nursed at.” 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 ULT But he said,“Rather, blessed{ are} the ones hearing the word of God and keeping{ 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 ULT And as the crowds were increasing, he began to say,“This generation is an evil generation. It seeks a sign, but a sign will not be given to it except the sign of 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 ULT For as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation. BSB BSB: For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so the Son of Man will be a sign to this generation.
31 ULT The Queen of the South will stand up in 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 behold, something greater than Solomon{ is} here. 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 ULT The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah{ is} here. 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 ULT No one, having lit a lamp, puts{ it} in a hidden place, nor under the measure, but on the lampstand, so that the ones entering may 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 ULT The lamp of the body is your eye. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is also illuminated. But when it is evil, your body{ is} also dark. 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 ULT Therefore, beware that the light{ that is} in you is not darkness. BSB BSB: Be careful, then, that the light within you is not darkness.
36 ULT If therefore your whole body{ is} illuminated, not having any part dark, it will all be illuminated, as when the lamp with{ its} brightness illuminates you.” 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 ULT And when he had spoken, a Pharisee asks him that he would dine with him. And having gone in, he reclined 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 ULT And the Pharisee, having seen this, marveled that he did not first wash before the meal. BSB BSB: But the Pharisee was surprised to see that Jesus did not first wash before the meal.
39 ULT But the Lord said to him,“Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the bowl, but the inside of you is full of greed and evil. 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 ULT You foolish ones! Did not the one having made the outside also make the inside? BSB BSB: You fools! Did not the One who made the outside make the inside as well?
41 ULT But give as charity{ what} is inside, and behold, all things are clean to you. BSB BSB: But give as alms the things that are within you, and behold, everything will be clean for you.
42 ULT But woe to you Pharisees, because you tithe the mint and the rue and every garden herb, but you neglect the justice and the love of God. But it was necessary to do these and those not to neglect. 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 ULT Woe to you Pharisees, for you love the first seats in the synagogues and the greetings 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 ULT Woe to you, for you are like the unseen graves, and the men walking over them do not know it.” BSB BSB: Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without even noticing.”
45 ULT Then answering, one of the lawyers says to him,“Teacher, saying these things, you insult us too.” BSB BSB: One of the experts in the law told Him, “Teacher, when You say these things, You insult us as well.”
46 ULT But he said,“Woe also to you lawyers! For you burden men with burdens difficult to carry, but you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. 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 ULT Woe to you, because you build the tombs of the prophets, but your fathers killed them. BSB BSB: Woe to you! For you build tombs for the prophets, but it was your fathers who killed them.
48 ULT So you testify and consent to the works of your fathers, for they indeed killed them, but you are building. BSB BSB: So you are witnesses consenting to the deeds of your fathers: They killed the prophets, and you build their tombs.
49 ULT Because of this, the wisdom of God also said,‘I will send to them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute’ 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 ULT that the blood of all the prophets having been shed from the foundation of the world may be required from this generation, 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 ULT from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the one having perished between the altar and the house. Yes, I say to you, it will be required from this generation. 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 ULT Woe to you lawyers, because you have taken away the key of knowledge; you have not entered yourselves, and you have hindered the ones entering.” 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 ULT { After} he went out from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to oppose him fiercely and to argue against 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 ULT lying in wait for him to trap something from his mouth. BSB BSB: waiting to catch Him in something He might say.