VERSES FROM
THE BOOK OF MATTHEW

 
FAVORITE VERSES

You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. 
-- 1:21

We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him. -- 2:2

The voice of one crying in the wilderness, "Make ready the way of the LORD, make His paths straight."
-- 3:3

This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased." -- 3:16-17

From that time Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."-- 4:17

And He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." -- 4:19

You are the salt of the earth. -- 5:13

You are the light of the world. -- 5:14

Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. -- 5:17

Whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 
-- 5:39

Love your enemies... -- 5:44

You are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. -- 5:48

Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing ... -- 6:3

Do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. -- 6:13

where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. -- 6:21

No one can serve two masters ... You cannot serve God and Wealth. -- 6:24

Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. -- 6:28-29

seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. -- 6:33

Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged -- 7:1-2

Do not throw your pearls before swine -- 7:6

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. -- 7:7

In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets. -- 7:12

Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. -- 7:15

You will know them by their fruits. 
-- 7:20

Not everyone who says to Me, "Lord, Lord," will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. -- 7:21

He himself took our infirmities and carried away our diseases -- 8:17

The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head. -- 8:20

What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?
-- 8:27

The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.  Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest. -- 9:37-38

Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.
-- 10:16

He who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.  He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it. -- 10:38-39

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. -- 11:28

The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath. -- 12:8

The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. -- 13:45-46

A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household. -- 13:57

It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man. -- 15:11

They are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit. -- 15:14

I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. -- 15:24

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? -- 16:26

This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him! -- 17:5

Truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, "Move from here to there," and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. 
-- 17:20

Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. -- 18:3

Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. -- 19:14

If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me. -- 19:21

I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. -- 19:24

With God all things are possible. 
-- 19:26

Many who are first will be last; and the last, first. -- 19:30

Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise for yourself. -- 21:16

Many are called, but few are chosen. -- 22:14

Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's. -- 22:21

The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted. 
-- 23:11-12

For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, "Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord!" -- 23:39

My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will. -- 26:39

Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. -- 26:41

All those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword. -- 26:52
 

He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. -- 28:6

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit ... -- 28:19
 


 
 
FAVORITE PASSAGES
 

THE BIRTH OF JESUS

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: "BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL," which translated means, "GOD WITH US. And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.
-- 1:18-25

THE VISIT OF THE MAGI

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him." When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet: 'AND YOU, BETHLEHEM, LAND OF JUDAH, ARE BY NO MEANS LEAST AMONG THE LEADERS OF JUDAH; FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME FORTH A RULER WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.'" Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him." After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way. -- 2:1-12
 


THE MINISTRY OF JOHN THE BAPTIZER

I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. -- 3:9-12
 


THE BAPTISM OF JESUS

After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased." -- 3:16-17
 


THE THREE TEMPTATIONS OF JESUS

The tempter came and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." But He answered and said, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'"

Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, 'HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU'; and 'ON their HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.'" Jesus said to him, "On the other hand, it is written, 'YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.'"

Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, "All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me." Then Jesus said to him, "Go, Satan! For it is written, 'YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR
GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.'" Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to Minister to Him. -- 4:3-11
 


THE BEATITUDES

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 gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. --5:3-12
 


THE SALT OF THE EARTH

You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. -- 5:13
 


THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

You are the light of the world. A city set on a [6]hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. -- 5:14-16
 


THE FULFILMENT OF THE LAW

Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. -- 5:17-20

TURN THE OTHER CHEEK

You have heard that it was said, "AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH." But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. -- 5:38-39

LOVE YOUR ENEMIES

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. -- 5:44-48
 


GIVE IN SECRET

But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. -- 6:3-4
 


THE LORD'S PRAYER

Pray, then, in this way: "Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. ( For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. )" -- 6:9-13
 


TREASURE IN HEAVEN

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. -- 6:19-21
 


THE LAMP OF THE BODY

The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! -- 6:22-23
 


TWO MASTERS

No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. -- 6:24
 


DO NOT BE ANXIOUS

Do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, "What will we eat?" or "What will we drink?" or "What will we wear for clothing?" For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. -- 6:25-34

JUDGE NOT...

Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged.  Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?  Or how [2]can you say to your brother, "Let me take the speck out of your eye," and behold, the log is in
your own eye?  You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out  of your brother's eye. -- 7:1-5
 


ASK ... SEEK ... KNOCK

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened -- 7:7-8
 


THE NARROW GATE

Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and
there are many who enter through it.  For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. -- 7:13-14
 


THE HOUSE BUILT ON THE ROCK

Everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.  Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.  The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell -- and great was its fall. -- 7:24-27
 


THE AUTHORITY TO FORGIVE SINS

"Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, and walk'?  But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" -- then He said to the paralytic, "Get up, pick up your bed and go home." -- 9:5-6
 


NEW WINESKINS

But no one puts a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and a worse tear results.  Nor do people put new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wineskins burst, and the wine pours out and the wineskins are ruined; but they put new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved. -- 9:16-17
 


PROCLAIM IT FROM THE HOUSETOPS

There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.  What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops.  Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.  Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.  Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.  But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. -- 10:26-33
 


REST FOR YOUR SOULS

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. -- 11:28-30
 


KINGDOMS IN CONFLICT

Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and
any city or house divided against itself will not stand.  If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand?  If I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? For this reason they will be your judges.  But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
Or how can anyone enter the strong man's house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.  He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.  Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.
Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks
against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come. -- 12:25-32
 


THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER AND THE SEED

Behold, the sower went out to sow; and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up.  Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil.
But when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
Others fell [2]among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out.  And others fell on the good soil and yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.  He who has ears, let him hear. -- 13:4-9

Hear then the parable of the sower.  When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road.  The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away.  And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.  And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty. -- 13:18-23
 


THE FEEDING OF THE FIVE THOUSAND

When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.
When it was evening, the disciples came to Him and said, "This place is desolate and the hour is already
late; so send the crowds away, that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves."  But Jesus said to them, "They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat!"  They said to Him, "We have here only five loaves and two fish."  And He said, "Bring them here to Me."  Ordering the people to sit down on the grass, He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food, and breaking the loaves He gave them to the disciples, and the
disciples gave them to the crowds, and they all ate and were satisfied. They picked up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve full baskets.
There were about five thousand men who ate, besides women and children. -- 14:14-21
 


WALKING ON WATER

And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea.  When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!"  And they cried out in fear.  But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid."  Peter said to Him, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." And He said, "Come!"  And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.  But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, Lord, save me!"  Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"  When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. -- 14:25-32
 


UNCLEANNESS

The things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man.  For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders.  These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man. -- 15:18-20
 


PETER'S CONFESSION OF FAITH

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, "Who do
people say that the Son of Man is?"  And they said, "Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets."  He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"  Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."  And Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.  I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.  I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven." -- 16:13-19
 


PETER'S LACK OF FAITH

But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are
not setting your mind on God's interests, but Man's." -- 16:23
 


TAKE UP YOUR CROSS

If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.  For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.  For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in
exchange for his soul? -- 16:24-26
 


THE LOST SHEEP

If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying?  If it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety- nine which have not gone astray.  So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish. -- 18:12-14
 


THE POWER OF PRAYER

Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.  Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven.  For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst. -- 18:18-20
 


FORGIVENESS

Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up
to seven times?"  Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. -- 18:21-22
 


SELF DENIAL

Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name's sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life ... many who are first will be last; and the last, first. -- 19:30

Whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. -- 20:26-28
 


THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT

"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?"  And He said to him, "'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART,
AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.'  This is the great and foremost commandment.  The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.'  On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets." -- 22:36-40
 


THE SIGNS OF THE LAST DAYS

As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?"
And Jesus answered and said to them, "See to it that no one misleads you.  For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will mislead many.  You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be
famines and earthquakes.  But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.  Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of  My name.  At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another.  Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.  Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold.  But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.  This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.  Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains; Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house.  Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak.  But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!  But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath.  For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.  Then if anyone says to you, 'Behold, here is the Christ,' or 'There He is,' do not believe him.  For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.  Behold, I have told you in advance.  So if they say to you, 'Behold, He is in the wilderness,' do not go out, or, 'Behold, He is in the inner rooms,' do not believe them.  For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.  Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.  But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.  And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.  Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; So, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door.  Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.  But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone." --24:3-36
 


THE SHEEP AND GOAT JUDGMENT

When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.  All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the
shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.  Then the King will say to those on His right, "Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me."  Then the righteous will answer Him, "Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink?  And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You?  When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?"  The King will answer and say to them, "Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me."  Then He will also say to those on His left, "Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which
has been prepared for the devil and his angels;  for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me."  Then they themselves also will answer, "Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?"  Then He will answer them, "Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me." -- 25:31-45
 


THE BODY AND THE BLOOD

While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the
disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you;
for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins." -- 26:26-28
 


THE CRUCIFIXION

And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.  And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split.  The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many. -- 27:50-53
 


THE RESURRECTION

Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.  He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.  Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead. -- 28:5-7
 


THE GREAT COMMISSION

All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on
earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. -- 28:18-20


 

 
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Background: "The Mystical Nativity," by Sandro Botticelli