The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:5–15)
1 UST One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him,“Lord, teach us how to pray. John the Baptist did that for his own disciples, and we would like you to do that for us.” 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 UST 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 UST Please give us the food we need each day. BSB BSB: Give us each day our daily bread.
4 UST Please forgive us for the wrong things that we have done. We ourselves will forgive people for the wrong things they have done to us. Help us to not sin when something tempts us.’” 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 UST Then he said to them,“Suppose that one of you goes to the house of a friend at midnight. You{ stand outside and} call 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 UST Another friend of mine who is traveling has just arrived at my house. But I do not have any food ready to serve him!’ BSB BSB: because a friend of mine has come to me on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him.’
7 UST And suppose that he responds from inside the house,‘Do not bother me! I have already locked the door, and my whole family is in bed. It would be too hard for me to get up and give you something!’ 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 UST I tell you, he may not want to get up and give his friend any food just because he is his friend. But if he keeps on asking, the man inside will certainly get up and give him everything 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 UST So I tell you: Keep asking God for the things you need, and he will give them to you. Keep seeking those things from God, and you will receive them. Ask God to make things possible for you, and he will act on your behalf. 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 UST You should do this because anyone who keeps asking God for the things he needs will receive them. Anyone who seeks those things from God will receive them. If anyone asks God to make things possible for him, God will act on his behalf. BSB BSB: For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
11 UST Suppose one of you fathers had a son who asked you for a fish to eat. You certainly would not give him a poisonous snake instead! BSB BSB: What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?
12 UST Suppose he asked you for an egg. You certainly would not give him a scorpion instead! BSB BSB: Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?
13 UST Even though you people are sinful, you still know how to give good gifts to your children. So it is even more certain that your Father in heaven will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask 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 UST One day Jesus was forcing out a demon who was keeping a man from speaking. After Jesus forced the demon out, the man began to talk. This amazed the crowd of people that was there. 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 UST 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 UST Other people there questioned his authority. They demanded that he perform a miracle to prove that God had sent him. BSB BSB: And others tested Him by demanding a sign from heaven.
17 UST But he knew what they were thinking. So he said to them,“If the people in one nation fight against each other, they will destroy their nation. If the people in one household oppose each other, they will destroy their family. 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 UST 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 UST If it is true that Beelzebul is enabling me to force out demons, it must also be true that he is enabling your disciples to force out demons.{ But you know that is not true.} So your own disciples 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 UST { Jesus continued,}“When a strong man who has many weapons guards his own house, no one can steal the things inside. BSB BSB: When a strong man, fully armed, guards his house, his possessions are secure.
22 UST But when someone else who is stronger attacks that man and subdues him, he takes away the weapons that the man was depending on. Then he can steal anything he wants from that man’ s house. 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 UST Anyone who is not supporting me is opposing me. Anyone who is not bringing people to me is sending them 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 UST { Then Jesus said,}“An evil spirit might leave someone and wander around in desolate areas looking for someone else to live in. If it does not find anyone there, it may say,‘I am going to go back to the person I used to live in!’ 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 UST So it goes back and finds that the person is like a house that someone has swept clean and put in order{, but which has no one living in it}. BSB BSB: On its return, it finds the house swept clean and put in order.
26 UST 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 in him. That person’ s condition was bad before, and it becomes even 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 UST When Jesus said that, a woman in the crowd{ who was listening} called out to him loudly,“God is pleased with the woman who gave birth to you and who nursed you!” 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 UST Then he replied,“God is even more pleased with 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 UST More and more people were coming to join the crowd around Jesus. He said,“The people living at this time are evil people. They want me to do a miracle{ to prove that I have come from God}. But the only proof they will see is a miracle like the one that 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 UST Long ago God did a miracle for Jonah to show the people living in the city of Nineveh that he had sent him. In the same way, God will do a similar miracle for me, the Son of Man, to show the people living now that he has sent me. BSB BSB: For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so the Son of Man will be a sign to this generation.
31 UST Long ago the Queen of Sheba traveled a great distance to hear the wise things that Solomon said. Now someone greater than Solomon is right here with you.{ But you have not really listened to what I am saying.} Therefore, at the time when God judges all people, she will stand up and condemn the people who are living 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 UST The people 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 people who lived in Nineveh will stand up and condemn the people who are living 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 UST People who light a lamp do not hide it or put it under a basket. Instead, they put it on a lampstand so that those who enter the room 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 UST Your eye lets light into your body. If your eye is working right, then your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is not working right, then your body will not get any light. 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 UST Therefore, be careful not to think that your eye is working right and letting in light if it is actually not working right and not letting in any light. BSB BSB: Be careful, then, that the light within you is not darkness.
36 UST So if light is getting into every part of your body, so that no part of it is in the dark, then all of your body will be full of light. Bright light will shine all over you inside, just as the bright light of a lamp shines all over you outside.” 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 UST 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 UST The Pharisee was surprised when he saw that Jesus did not ritually wash his hands first before eating. BSB BSB: But the Pharisee was surprised to see that Jesus did not first wash before the meal.
39 UST 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 UST You foolish people! Surely you know that God not only made the outside, but also made the inside! BSB BSB: You fools! Did not the One who made the outside make the inside as well?
41 UST { Instead of worrying about dishes being ritually clean, be merciful and} give whatever is inside the dishes to people in need. Then both the inside and outside of you will be acceptable to God. BSB BSB: But give as alms the things that are within you, and behold, everything will be clean for you.
42 UST 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 show God’ s love or fairness toward others. You should make sure that you do that, 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 UST 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 UST How terrible it will be for you, because you are like unmarked graves that people walk over without realizing it and so become ceremonially unclean.” BSB BSB: Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without even noticing.”
45 UST One of the teachers of the Jewish laws who were there complained to Jesus,“Teacher, when you say things like that, you are criticizing 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 UST But Jesus responded,“How terrible it will also be for you who are teachers of the Jewish laws! I say this because you tell people to follow so many rules, yet you will not do even the smallest thing to help them. 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 UST 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 UST 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 UST So God, who is very wise, also said,‘I will send prophets and messengers to guide my people. But they will cause them to suffer greatly. They 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 UST As a result, the people living at this time will be punished for the murder of all the prophets whom people have killed since 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 UST They will be punished for every murder from that of{ Adam’ s son} Abel{, whose brother Cain killed him,} right through to the murder of{ the prophet} Zechariah, whom the king’ s agents killed{ in the temple} between the altar and the holy place. 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 UST How terrible it will be for you teachers of the Jewish laws. You are keeping people from knowing about God! You do not know God yourselves, and you make things difficult for other people who want to know God better.” 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 UST { After Jesus finished saying those things,} he left the Pharisee’ s house. Then the teachers of the Jewish laws and the Pharisees began to act in a very hostile way toward him. They questioned him intensely 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 UST They kept listening for him to say something wrong so that they could accuse him of false teaching. BSB BSB: waiting to catch Him in something He might say.