Chapter 1

Copyright (C) 2002 by Lightheart.

The Gospel of Matthew for Readers

Editor's Preface

What is God's will for us? The answer can be found in the pages of the Gospel of Matthew, a rich source of information detailing the Son of God's instructions from Our Father to us. Here we learn, through Jesus' teachings and actions, what we must keep of the old. We find what must be replaced. We see what has been fulfilled and has come full circle. We discover the new material and the new message. The Gospel of Matthew holds out the keys to "this generation's" entry into the kingdom of heaven ... if we have ears to hear and eyes to see.

This edition of the Gospel of Matthew is designed for easy reading and is presented in chapter and paragraph style. The first chapter begins with the birth of Jesus rather than the geneological listing which can easily be found at the beginning of other editions. edited by Lightheart PracticeGodsPresence.com

1 The birth of Jesus Christ was thus: When Mary, His mother, was espoused to Joseph, and before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, a just man, not willing to make her a public example, decided to put her away privately. But while he thought about these things an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, Joseph, thou son of David, do not fear to take Mary as thy wife. The one who is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She shall bring forth a son and thou shall call Him Jesus. He will save His people from their sins.

All this was done so that what was spoken of the Lord by the prophet might be fulfilled: Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, God with us. Then Joseph awoke and did as the angel of the Lord told him and took unto him his wife. He knew her not until she brought forth her firstborn son, Jesus.

2 When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea, in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east went to Jerusalem. They said, Where is He that is born King of the Jews for we have seen His star in the east and go to worship Him. When Herod heard these things, he was troubled as was all Jerusalem. Herod gathered all the chief priests and scribes together and demanded to know where Christ would be born. They said, In Bethlehem of Judaea. It is written by the prophet: And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, the least among the princes of Juda, yet out of thee shall come a Governor that shall rule my people.

Herod called the wise men to enquire about the time the star would appear. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, Go and search diligently for the young child. When ye have found Him bring me word that I may come and worship Him also. After they met with the king they departed; and, lo, the star which they saw in the east went before them until it stood over the young child.

When they saw the star they rejoiced. The wise men came to the place and saw the young child with Mary, His mother. They bowed down and worshipped Him. They presented Him with gifts of gold, and frankincense and myrrh. Since they were warned by God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country by another way.

After they departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, Arise and take the young child and His mother and flee into Egypt. Stay there until I bring thee word for Herod will seek the young child to destroy Him. Joseph took the young child and His mother, by night, and departed into Egypt. There they remained until the death of Herod. This was so it might be fulfilled what was spoken of the Lord by the prophet: Out of Egypt have I called my son.

Herod realized he was mocked by the wise men and was exceedingly wrathful. He ordered that all the children that were in Bethlehem and in all the coasts two years old and under be slayed. This was based on what he was told by the wise men. Then that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet was fulfilled: In Rama there was heard the sound of lamentation, weeping, and great mourning. Rachel was weeping for her children and would not be comforted because they are no longer.

When Herod died an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt. The angel said, Arise and take the young child and His mother and go into the land of Israel. They are now dead who sought the young child's life. Joseph took the young child and His mother and started toward Israel. Along the way Joseph heard that Archelaus reigned in Judaea in the place of his father, Herod. Joseph was afraid to go there. Despite being warned by God in a dream, he turned toward Galilee. He came to dwell in a city called Nazareth that it might be fulfilled what was spoken by the prophets: He shall be called a Nazarene.

3 In those days John the Baptist preached in the wilderness of Judaea. He message was, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. John is the one that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias: The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord. Make His paths straight.

The same John wore camel's hair and a leathern girdle around his loins. His food was locusts and wild honey. He went out to Jerusalem. all Judaea, and all the region round Jordan. Many people were baptized by him and confessed their sins.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said to them, O generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth fruits fit for repentance. Do not say, We have Abraham for our father, because I say to you, God is able to raise up children to Abraham with these stones. The axe is now laid to the root of the trees. Every tree which does not bring forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire.

I baptize you with water for repentance but He that comes after me is mightier than I. His shoes I am not worthy to bear. He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with the fire whose fan is in His hand. He will throughly purge His floor and gather His wheat into the garner. He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

When Jesus came from Galilee to Jordan to be baptized by him, John forbad Him. He said, Why come to me? I should be baptized by thee. Jesus answered, For now, suffer it to be so because it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness.

When Jesus was baptized He came up out of the water and the heavens opened to Him. John saw the Spirit of God descend like a dove and light upon Him. A voice from heaven said, This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.

4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After He fasted forty days and forty nights He was hungry. The tempter came to Him and said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. Jesus answered, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. The devil then took Him up into the holy city and sat Him on a pinnacle of the temple. He said, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down, for it is written, He shall give His angels charge concerning thee and in their hands they shall bear thee up lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus countered Him saying, It is also written, Thou shalt not test the Lord thy God.

Next, the devil took Him up into an exceedingly high mountain. He showed Him the kingdoms of the world in all their glory. He said, All these things I will give thee if thou will bow down and worship me. Then Jesus said, Get thee hence, Satan, for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and Him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil left Him. And, behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

When Jesus heard that John was cast into prison, He departed into Galilee. And, leaving Nazareth, He dwelt in Capernaum on the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim. This He did so that what was spoken by Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled: In the land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim by the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people which sat in darkness saw great light. And to those who sat in the region and shadow of death, light is sprung up. From this time forward Jesus began His teaching of repentance because the kingdom of God is at hand.

As Jesus walked by the sea of Galilee, He saw Simon, called Peter, and Andrew, his brother. They were fishers and were casting a net into the sea. He said to them, Follow me and I will make you fishers of men. They left their nets and followed Him.

Going on from there, Jesus saw two other brethren, James, the son of Zebedee, and John. They were in a boat, mending their nets, with Zebedee, their father. Jesus called them and they immediately left the boat and their father and followed Him. Then Jesus went all about Galilee, teaching in the synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and disease among the people.

His fame spread throughout all Syria. They brought to Him sick people who were taken with diverse diseases, torments, and those who were possessed with devils. They brought those who were lunatic, and those who had palsy. He healed them. Great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan followed Him. 5 Seeing the multitudes, He went up into a mountain and sat. His disciples came and He taught them: Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.

Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure of heart for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness' sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when men revile and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad. Great is your reward in heaven. And, likewise, they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Ye are the salt of the earth. If the salt loses its savour it is good for nothing except to be cast out and walked on. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. A candle is not lighted to be put under a bushel, but on a candlestick. This way it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they see your good works reflecting only your Father in heaven.

Do not think that I came to destroy the law or the words of the prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For verily I say, Until heaven and earth pass away, not one jot or one tittle shall pass from the law until all is fulfilled. Whoever breaks one of these least commandments, and teaches others to do likewise shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever shall keep these least commandments and teach them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way ye shall enter the kingdom of heaven.

Ye have heard it was said of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment. But I say to you, Whoever is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment. Whoever shows contempt toward his brother shall be in danger of the council. But whosoever curses his brother is in danger of hell fire.

So, if thou bring a gift to the altar and then remember that thy brother has something against thee, leave the gift before the altar. Be reconciled to thy brother first. Then come back and offer thy gift. Agree with thine adversary quickly while thou art with him; lest, at any time, thy adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt not come out then until all is paid.

Ye have heard it said by them of old, Thou shalt not commit adultery. But I say, Whoever looks on a woman in lust has already committed adultery in his heart. If thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out and cast it away. It is more profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish rather than thy whole body be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off and cast it from thee. It is more profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish rather than thy whole body be cast into hell.

It has been said, Whoever puts away his wife shall give her a writing of divorcement. But I say, Whoever puts away his wife, except for reason of fornication, causes her to commit adultery. And whoever marries her that is divorced commits adultery.

Also, ye have heard it said by them of old, Thou shalt not forswear thyself but perform your oaths unto the Lord. But I say, take no oaths at all. Do not swear by heaven because it is God's throne. Do not swear by the earth because it is His footstool. Do not swear by Jerusalem for it is the city of the great King. Do not swear by thy self because you are incapable of making even one hair white or black. Let your statement be only Yea, yes; Nay, no: for anything more than this comes to evil.

Ye have heard it said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say, Do not resist evil. Whoever strikes thee on thy right cheek, turn the other to him also. And, if any one lawfully sues thee and takes away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. Whoever compels thee to go a mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks of thee. From him who would borrow of thee, do not turn away.

Ye have heard it said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour and hate thine enemy. But I say, Love your enemy. Bless those who curse you. Do good to those who hate you. Pray for those who spitefully use and persecute you.

Do this that ye may be the children of your Father in heaven. He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good. He sends rain on the just and on the unjust. If ye love only those who love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans do this? And if ye greet your friends only, what do ye do more than others? Do not even the publicans do this? Instead be ye as perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect.

6 Take heed that ye do not do your almsgiving to be seen by others. If so, ye have no reward from your Father in heaven. When you give, do not sound a trumpet in the synagogues and in the streets as do the hypocrites. They seek the glory of men. Verily, I say unto you, They have their reward.

When you give alms, do not let thy left hand know what thy right does. Give alms in secret and thy Father, who sees in secret, shall reward thee openly.

When thou pray, thou shalt not be like the hypocrites. They love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets so they may be seen. Verily, I say unto you, They have their reward.

When thou pray, enter into thy closet. When thou has shut thy door, pray to thy Father in secret. Thy Father, who sees in secret, shall reward thee openly.

When ye pray, do not use vain repetitions like the heathen. They think that they shall be heard for their long speaking. Be not like them. Your Father knows what things ye need even before ye ask Him.

Pray like this: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

If ye forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if ye do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Moreover, when ye fast, be not as the hypocrites. They disfigure their faces and look sad so they may appear to others to fast. Verily, I say unto you, They have their reward.

However, when thou fast, anoint thy head and wash thy face so that thou not appear to fast. Keep secret except unto thy Father, who is in secret, and thy Father shall reward thee openly.

Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust corrupts, and where thieves break in and steal. Instead, lay up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust corrupts, nor thieves can break in and steal. For, where your treasure is, there, also, will be your heart.

The light of the body is the eye. If thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But, if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. And, if the light that is in thee becomes darkness, how much greater will be that darkness!

No man can serve two masters. He will either hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore, I say unto you, Take no concern for your life: what ye shall eat, what ye shall drink; nor for your body: what ye shall put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air. They sow not, and neither do they reap nor gather into barns. Yet, your heavenly Father feeds them. Are ye not worth as much as they are? And, who of you, by worrying, can add one cubit to his stature? So why take thought for raiment?

Consider the lilies of the field and how they grow. They toil not and neither do they spin. Even Solomon, in all his glory, was not arrayed like one of them. So, if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is here and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall He not clothe you even more, O ye of little faith?

So, take no concern by saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, How shall we be clothed? Your heavenly Father knows that ye need all these things. Instead, seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Then all these things shall be added unto you. Take no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take care of itself. The cares of today are sufficient for today.

7 Judge not that ye be not judged, for with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged. And with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

Why behold the mote in thy brother's eye, but not consider the beam in thine own eye? How can you say to thy brother, Let me pull the mote out of thine eye when, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite. First, cast out the beam from thine own eye, then thou shall see clearly enough to cast the mote from thy brother's eye.

Do not give that which is holy to dogs. And do not cast your pearls before swine lest they trample them under their feet and turn around and rend you.

Ask and it shall be given you. Seek and ye shall find. Knock and it shall be opened to you. Who of you is there who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or, if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If ye, then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him? Therefore, all things ye would have others do to you, do so to them. This is the law and the meaning of the prophets.

Enter in at the strait gate. Wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction. Many go in that way. Because the gate is strait and the way that leads to life is narrow, there are few who find it.

Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing but are inwardly ravenous wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? No, every good tree brings forth good fruit. A corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit. A corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruit. Every tree that does not bring forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire. So, by their fruits ye shall know them.

Now, not every one that says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. Only he who does the will of my Father in heaven shall enter. Many will say to me, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? In thy name have we not cast out devils? And, in thy name, have we not done many wonderful works? Then will I say to them, I never knew you. Depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Whoever hears these sayings and does them, I liken to a wise man who built his house upon a rock. When the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon the house, it did not fall because it was founded upon a rock.

Whoever hears these sayings and does not do them I liken to a foolish man who built his house upon the sand. When the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, it fell. And a great fall it was.

When Jesus finished these sayings, people were astonished at His doctrine because He taught as one having authority different from the scribes.

8 When He came down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. And, behold, there came a leper who worshipped Him, saying, Lord, if Thou will, Thou can make me clean. Jesus put out His hand, touched him, and said, Be thou clean. Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Then Jesus said to him, See that thou tell no man. Go thy way, show thyself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded for a testimony.

Then, when Jesus was in Capernaum, a centurion beseeched Him saying, Lord, my servant lies at home sick with palsy and grievously tormented. Jesus said to him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered, Lord, I am not worthy that thou should come under my roof, but only give the word and my servant shall be healed. I am a man of authority, understand commands, and have soldiers under me. I command this man, Go, and he goes. To another I say, Come, and he comes. I direct my servant to do this, and he does it.

When Jesus heard this, He marvelled and said to those who followed, Verily, I say unto you, I have not found such great faith anywhere, no, not even in Israel. And I say to you, Many shall come from the east and west and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Jesus said to the centurion, Go thy way. As thou has believed, so be it done unto thee. And the servant was healed that same hour.

When Jesus went to Peter's house, He saw Peter's wife's mother laid sick with a fever. He touched her hand and the fever left her. She arose and ministered to them. That evening they brought to Him many that were possessed with devils and He cast out the spirits with His word. He healed all who were sick so that it might be fulfilled what was spoken by Esaias the prophet: He took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.

Jesus saw great multitudes gathering. He decided they should depart to the other side of the water. A scribe approached Him and said, Master, I will follow wherever thou go. Jesus only replied, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has no place to lay His head. Another came to Him and said, Lord, let me first go and bury my father. But Jesus replied, Follow me and let the dead bury their dead. Then they got in a boat and started for the other side.

Behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea. It was so great that the boat was covered with the waves. Jesus was asleep. His disciples woke Him and said, Lord, save us. We will perish. Jesus replied, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea. There was a great calm. The disciples marvelled and said, What kind of man is this who even the winds and the sea obey!