The Gospel.

by Lightheart.

The Gospel of Matthew

1.

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Abraham became the father of Isaac; Isaac became the father of Jacob; Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers; Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar; and Perez became the father of Hezron; Hezron became the father of Ram; Ram became the father of Amminadab; and Amminadab the father of Nahshon; and Nahshon the father of Salmon; Salmon became the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab; and Boaz became the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth; Obed the father of Jesse; Jesse the father of David the king; David the king became the father of Solomon whose mother had been the wife of Uriah.

Solomon became the father of Rehoboam; and Rehoboam the father of Abia; and Abia the father of Asa; Asa became the father of Jehosaphat; and Jehosaphat the father of Joram; and Joram the father of Ozias; And Ozias became the father of Joatham; and Joatham the father of Achaz; and Achaz the father of Hezekiah; And Hezekiah became the father of Mana.s.seh; and Mana.s.seh the father of Amos; and Amos the father of Josiah; And Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time they were exiled to Babylon.

After they were in Babylon, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel; and Shealtiel the father of Zorobabel; And Zorobabel became the father of Abiud; and Abiud the father of Eliakim; and Eliakim the father of Azor; And Azor became the father of Zadoc; Zadoc the father of Achim; and Achim the father of Eliud; And Eliud became the father of Eleazar; and Eleazar the father of Matthan; and Matthan the father of Jacob; And Jacob became the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, the Christ.

The generations from Abraham to David are fourteen, from David until the exile to Babylon are fourteen; and from the exile to Babylon until the birth of Christ are fourteen generations.

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, G.o.d 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, magi, from the east went to Jerusalem. They said, One is born King of the Jews. We have seen His star in the east and we are going to worship Him. When Herod heard this, 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 magi to find out the time the star would appear. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, Go and search diligently for the young child. When you have found Him, bring word to me so I may also go to worship Him. After they met with the king they departed; and, lo, the star that they saw in the east went before them until it stood over the young child.

When they saw the star they rejoiced. The magi went 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 G.o.d 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. They remained there 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 deceived by the magi and became exceedingly wrathful. He ordered that all the children in Bethlehem and the surrounding coasts who were aged two years old and under be slayed.

This was based on the timing he was given by the magi. Then the saying of Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: In Ramah 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 G.o.d 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. His message was, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

John is the one that was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah: 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, G.o.d 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 who comes after me is mightier than I. His shoes I am not worthy to carry. He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit 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 G.o.d 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 G.o.d, 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 G.o.d. 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 G.o.d, 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 G.o.d.

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 G.o.d 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 Isaiah 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 G.o.d 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 mult.i.tudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan followed Him.

5. Seeing the mult.i.tudes, 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 those who mourn for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those 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 G.o.d. Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of G.o.d. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when men revile and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you 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 that others 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 pa.s.s away, not one letter or one word shall pa.s.s 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 you 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 h.e.l.l 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 l.u.s.t 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 h.e.l.l. 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 h.e.l.l.

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 G.o.d'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 you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. And, if any one lawfully sues you and takes away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. Whoever compels you to go a mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks of you. From him who would borrow from you, 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.