Matthew 13

1 In that day, Jesus, departing from the house, sat down beside the sea.

2 And such great crowds were gathered to him that he climbed into a boat and he sat down. And the entire multitude stood on the shore.

3 And he spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow seed.

4 And while he was sowing, some fell beside the road, and the birds of the air came and ate it.

5 Then others fell in a rocky place, where they did not have much soil. And they sprung up promptly, because they had no depth of soil.

6 But when the sun rose up, they were scorched, and because they had no roots, they withered.

7 Still others fell among thorns, and the thorns increased and suffocated them.

8 Yet some others fell upon good soil, and they produced fruit: some one hundred fold, some sixty fold, some thirty fold.

9 Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.”

10 And his disciples drew near to him and said, “Why do you speak to them in parables?”

11 Responding, he said to them: “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but it has not been given to them.

12 For whoever has, it shall be given to him, and he shall have in abundance. But whoever has not, even what he has shall be taken away from him.

13 For this reason, I speak to them in parables: because seeing, they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

14 And so, in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, who said, ‘Hearing, you shall hear, but not understand; and seeing, you shall see, but not perceive.

15 For the heart of this people has grown fat, and with their ears they hear heavily, and they have closed their eyes, lest at any time they might see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted, and then I would heal them.’

16 But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear.

17 Amen I say to you, certainly, that many of the prophets and the just desired to see what you see, and yet they did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and yet they did not hear it.

18 Listen, then, to the parable of the sower.

19 With anyone who hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, evil comes and carries away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received the seed by the side of the road.

20 Then whoever has received the seed upon a rocky place, this is one who hears the word and promptly accepts it with joy.

21 But he has no root in himself, so it is only for a time; then, when tribulation and persecution occur because of the word, he promptly stumbles.

22 And whoever has received the seed among thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of this age and the falseness of riches suffocate the word, and he is effectively without fruit.

23 Yet truly, whoever has received the seed into good soil, this is he who hears the word, and understands it, and so he bears fruit, and he produces: some a hundred fold, and another sixty fold, and another thirty fold.”

24 He proposed another parable to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.

25 But while the men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds amid the wheat, and then went away.

26 And when the plants had grown, and had produced fruit, then the weeds also appeared.

27 So the servants of the Father of the family, approaching, said to him: ‘Lord, did you not sow good seed in your field? Then how is it that it has weeds?’

28 And he said to them, ‘A man who is an enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Is it your will that we should go and gather them up?’

29 And he said: ‘No, lest perhaps in gathering the weeds, you might also root out the wheat together with it.

30 Permit both to grow until the harvest, and at the time of the harvest, I will say to the reapers: Gather first the weeds, and bind them into bundles to burn, but the wheat gather into my storehouse.’ “

31 He proposed another parable to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field.

32 It is, indeed, the least of all seeds, but when it has grown, it is greater than all the plants, and it becomes a tree, so much so that the birds of the air come and dwell in its branches.”

33 He spoke another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of fine wheat flour, until it was entirely leavened.”

34 All these things Jesus spoke in parables to the crowds. And he did not speak to them apart from parables,

35 in order to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet, saying: “I will open my mouth in parables. I will proclaim what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.”

36 Then, dismissing the crowds, he went into the house. And his disciples drew near to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”

37 Responding, he said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of man.

38 Now the field is the world. And the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom. But the weeds are the sons of wickedness.

39 So the enemy who sowed them is the devil. And truly, the harvest is the consummation of the age; while the reapers are the Angels.

40 Therefore, just as weeds are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the consummation of the age.

41 The Son of man shall send out his Angels, and they shall gather from his kingdom all who lead astray and those who work iniquity.

42 And he shall cast them into the furnace of fire, where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

43 Then the just ones shall shine like the sun, in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.

44 The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. When a man finds it, he hides it, and, because of his joy, he goes and sells everything that he has, and he buys that field.

45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking good pearls.

46 Having found one pearl of great value, he went away and sold all that he had, and he bought it.

47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net cast into the sea, which gathers together all kinds of fish.

48 When it has been filled, drawing it out and sitting beside the shore, they selected the good into vessels, but the bad they threw away.

49 So shall it be at the consummation of the age. The Angels shall go forth and separate the bad from the midst of the just.

50 And they shall cast them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

51 Have you understood all these things?” They say to him, “Yes.”

52 He said to them, “Therefore, every scribe well-taught about the kingdom of heaven, is like a man, the father of a family, who offers from his storehouse both the new and the old.”

53 And it happened that, when Jesus had completed these parables, he went away from there.

54 And arriving in his own country, he taught them in their synagogues, so much so that they wondered and said: “How can such wisdom and power be with this one?

55 Is this not the son of a workman? Is not his mother called Mary, and his brothers, James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Jude?

56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Therefore, from where has this one obtained all these things?”

57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country and in his own house.”

58 And he did not work many miracles there, because of their unbelief.

Matthew 14

1 In that time, Herod the Tetrarch heard the news about Jesus.

2 And he said to his servants: “This is John the Baptist. He has risen from the dead, and that is why miracles are at work in him.”

3 For Herod had apprehended John, and bound him, and put him in prison, because of Herodias, the wife of his brother.

4 For John was telling him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”

5 And though he wanted to kill him, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet.

6 Then, on Herod’s birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced in their midst, and it pleased Herod.

7 And so he promised with an oath to give her whatever she would ask of him.

8 But, having been advised by her mother, she said, “Give me here, on a platter, the head of John the Baptist.”

9 And the king was greatly saddened. But because of his oath, and because of those who sat at table with him, he ordered it to be given.

10 And he sent and beheaded John in prison.

11 And his head was brought on a platter, and it was given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother.

12 And his disciples approached and took the body, and they buried it. And arriving, they reported it to Jesus.

13 When Jesus had heard it, he withdrew from there by boat, to a deserted place by himself. And when the crowds had heard of it, they followed him on foot from the cities.

14 And going out, he saw a great multitude, and he took pity on them, and he cured their sick.

15 And when evening had arrived, his disciples approached him, saying: “This is a deserted place, and the hour has now passed. Dismiss the crowds, so that, by going into the towns, they may buy food for themselves.”

16 But Jesus said to them: “They have no need to go. Give them something to eat yourselves.”

17 They answered him, “We have nothing here, except five loaves and two fish.”

18 He said to them, “Bring them here to me.”

19 And when he had ordered the multitude to sit down upon the grass, he took the five loaves and the two fish, and gazing up to heaven, he blessed and broke and gave the bread to the disciples, and then the disciples to the multitudes.

20 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up the remnants: twelve baskets full of fragments.

21 Now the number of those who ate was five thousand men, besides women and children.

22 And Jesus promptly compelled his disciples to climb into the boat, and to precede him in crossing the sea, while he dismissed the crowds.

23 And having dismissed the multitude, he ascended alone onto a mountain to pray. And when evening arrived, he was alone there.

24 But in the midst of the sea, the boat was being tossed about by the waves. For the wind was against them.

25 Then, in the fourth watch of the night, he came to them, walking upon the sea.

26 And seeing him walking upon the sea, they were disturbed, saying: “It must be an apparition.” And they cried out, because of fear.

27 And immediately, Jesus spoke to them, saying: “Have faith. It is I. Do not be afraid.”

28 Then Peter responded by saying, “Lord, if it is you, order me come to you over the waters.”

29 And he said, “Come.” And Peter, descending from the boat, walked over the water, so as to go to Jesus.

30 Yet truly, seeing that the wind was strong, he was afraid. And as he began to sink, he cried out, saying: “Lord, save me.”

31 And immediately Jesus extended his hand and took hold of him. And he said to him, “O little in faith, why did you doubt?”

32 And when they had ascended into the boat, the wind ceased.

33 Then those who were in the boat drew near and adored him, saying: “Truly, you are the Son of God.”

34 And having crossed the sea, they arrived in the land of Genesaret.

35 And when the men of that place had recognized him, they sent into all that region, and they brought to him all who had maladies.

36 And they petitioned him, so that they might touch even the hem of his garment. And as many as touched it were made whole.

Matthew 15

1 Then the scribes and the Pharisees came to him from Jerusalem, saying:

2 “Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”

3 But responding, he said to them: “And why do you transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said:

4 ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘Whoever will have cursed father or mother shall die a death.’

5 But you say: ‘If anyone will have said to father or mother, “It is dedicated, so that whatever is from me will benefit you,”

6 then he shall not honor his father or his mother.’ So have you nullified the commandment of God, for the sake of your tradition.

7 Hypocrites! How well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

8 ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

9 For in vain do they worship me, teaching the doctrines and commandments of men.’ “

10 And having called the multitudes to him, he said to them: “Listen and understand.

11 A man is not defiled by what enters into the mouth, but by what proceeds from the mouth. This is what defiles a man.”

12 Then his disciples drew near and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees, upon hearing this word, were offended?”

13 But in response he said: “Every plant which has not been planted by my heavenly Father shall be uprooted.

14 Leave them alone. They are blind, and they lead the blind. But if the blind are in charge of the blind, both will fall into the pit.”

15 And responding, Peter said to him, “Explain this parable to us.”

16 But he said: “Are you, even now, without understanding?

17 Do you not understand that everything that enters into the mouth goes into the gut, and is cast into the sewer?

18 But what proceeds from the mouth, goes forth from the heart, and those are the things that defile a man.

19 For from the heart go out evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false testimonies, blasphemies.

20 These are the things that defile a man. But to eat without washing hands does not defile a man.”

21 And departing from there, Jesus withdrew into the areas of Tyre and Sidon.

22 And behold, a woman of Canaan, going out from those parts, cried out, saying to him: “Take pity on me, Lord, Son of David. My daughter is badly afflicted by a demon.”

23 He did not say a word to her. And his disciples, drawing near, petitioned him, saying: “Dismiss her, for she is crying out after us.”

24 And responding, he said, “I was not sent except to the sheep who have fallen away from the house of Israel.”

25 But she approached and adored him, saying, “Lord, help me.”

26 And responding, he said, “It is not good to take the bread of the children and cast it to the dogs.”

27 But she said, “Yes, Lord, but the young dogs also eat from the crumbs that fall from the table of their masters.”

28 Then Jesus, responding, said to her: “O woman, great is your faith. Let it be done for you just as you wish.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

29 And when Jesus had passed from there, he arrived beside the sea of Galilee. And ascending onto a mountain, he sat down there.

30 And great multitudes came to him, having with them the mute, the blind, the lame, the disabled, and many others. And they cast them down at his feet, and he cured them,

31 so much so that the crowds wondered, seeing the mute speaking, the lame walking, the blind seeing. And they magnified the God of Israel.

32 And Jesus, calling together his disciples, said: “I have compassion on the crowds, because they have persevered with me now for three days, and they do not have anything to eat. And I am not willing to dismiss them, fasting, lest they faint along the way.”

33 And the disciples said to him: “From where, then, in the desert, would we obtain enough bread to satisfy so a great multitude?”

34 And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves of bread do you have?” But they said, “Seven, and a few little fish.”

35 And he instructed the crowds to recline upon the ground.

36 And taking the seven loaves and the fish, and giving thanks, he broke and gave to his disciples, and the disciples gave to the people.

37 And they all ate and were satisfied. And, from what was left over of the fragments, they took up seven full baskets.

38 But those who ate were four thousand men, plus children and women.

39 And having dismissed the crowd, he climbed into a boat. And he went into the coastal region of Magadan.

Matthew 16

1 And Pharisees and Sadducees approached him to test him, and they asked him to show them a sign from heaven.

2 But he responded by saying to them: “When evening arrives, you say, ‘It will be calm, for the sky is red,’

3 and in the morning, ‘Today there will be a storm, for the sky is red and gloomy.’ So then, you know how to judge the appearance of the sky, but you are unable to know the signs of the times?

4 An evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign. And a sign shall not be given to it, except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” And leaving them behind, he went away.

5 And when his disciples went across the sea, they forgot to bring bread.

6 And he said to them, “Consider and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.”

7 But they were thinking within themselves, saying, “It is because we have not brought bread.”

8 Then Jesus, knowing this, said: “Why do you consider within yourselves, O little in faith, that it is because you have no bread?

9 Do you not yet understand, nor remember, the five loaves among the five thousand men, and how many containers you took up?

10 Or the seven loaves among the four thousand men, and how many baskets you took up?

11 Why do you not understand that it was not because of bread that I said to you: Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees?”

12 Then they understood that he was not saying that they should beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.

13 Then Jesus went into parts of Caesarea Philippi. And he questioned his disciples, saying, “Who do men say that the Son of man is?”

14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, and others say Elijah, still others say Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

15 Jesus said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

16 Simon Peter responded by saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

17 And in response, Jesus said to him: “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father, who is in heaven.

18 And I say to you, that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.

19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound, even in heaven. And whatever you shall release on earth shall be released, even in heaven.”

20 Then he instructed his disciples that they should tell no one that he is Jesus the Christ.

21 From that time, Jesus began to reveal to his disciples that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and to suffer much from the elders and the scribes and the leaders of the priests, and to be killed, and to rise again on the third day.

22 And Peter, taking him aside, began to rebuke him, saying, “Lord, may it be far from you; this shall not happen to you.”

23 And turning away, Jesus said to Peter: “Get behind me, Satan; you are an obstacle to me. For you are not behaving according to what is of God, but according to what is of men.”

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “If anyone is willing to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

25 For whoever would save his life, will lose it. But whoever will have lost his life for my sake, shall find it.

26 For how does it benefit a man, if he gains the whole world, yet truly suffers damage to his soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

27 For the Son of man will arrive in the glory of his Father, with his Angels. And then he will repay each one according to his works.

28 Amen I say to you, there are some among those standing here, who shall not taste death, until they see the Son of man arriving in his reign.”

Matthew 17

1 And after six days, Jesus took Peter and James and his brother John, and he led them onto a lofty mountain separately.

2 And he was transfigured before them. And his face shined brightly like the sun. And his garments were made white like snow.

3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, speaking with him.

4 And Peter responded by saying to Jesus: “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you are willing, let us make three tabernacles here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

5 And while he was still speaking, behold, a shining cloud overshadowed them. And behold, there was a voice from the cloud, saying: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.”

6 And the disciples, hearing this, fell prone on their face, and they were very afraid.

7 And Jesus drew near and touched them. And he said to them, “Rise up and do not be afraid.”

8 And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one, except Jesus alone.

9 And as they were descending from the mountain, Jesus instructed them, saying, “Tell no one about the vision, until the Son of man has risen from the dead.”

10 And his disciples questioned him, saying, “Why then do the scribes say that it is necessary for Elijah to arrive first?”

11 But in response, he said to them: “Elijah, indeed, shall arrive and restore all things.

12 But I say to you, that Elijah has already arrived, and they did not recognize him, but they did whatever they wanted to him. So also shall the Son of man suffer from them.”

13 Then the disciples understood that he had spoken to them about John the Baptist.

14 And when he had arrived at the multitude, a man approached him, falling to his knees before him, saying: “Lord, take pity on my son, for he is an epileptic, and he suffers harm. For he frequently falls into fire, and often also into water.

15 And I brought him to your disciples, but they were not able to cure him.”

16 Then Jesus responded by saying: “What an unbelieving and perverse generation! How long shall I be with you? How long shall I endure you? Bring him here to me.”

17 And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon went out of him, and the boy was cured from that hour.

18 Then the disciples approached Jesus privately and said, “Why were we unable to cast him out?”

19 Jesus said to them: “Because of your unbelief. Amen I say to you, certainly, if you will have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it shall move. And nothing will be impossible for you.

20 But this kind is not cast out, except through prayer and fasting.”

21 And when they were conversing together in Galilee, Jesus said to them: “The Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.

22 And they will kill him, but he will rise again on the third day.” And they were extremely saddened.

23 And when they had arrived at Capernaum, those who collected the half shekel approached Peter, and they said to him, “Doesn’t your Teacher pay the half shekel?”

24 He said, “Yes.” And when he had entered into the house, Jesus went before him, saying: “How does it seem to you, Simon? The kings of the earth, from whom do they receive tribute or the census tax: from their own sons or from foreigners?”

25 And he said, “From foreigners.” Jesus said to him: “Then the sons are free.

26 But so that we may not become an obstacle to them: go to the sea, and cast in a hook, and take the first fish that is brought up, and when you have opened its mouth, you will find a shekel. Take it and give it to them, for me and for you.”

Matthew 18

1 In that hour, the disciples drew near to Jesus, saying, “Whom do you consider to be greater in the kingdom of heaven?”

2 And Jesus, calling to himself a little child, placed him in their midst.

3 And he said: “Amen I say to you, unless you change and become like little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

4 Therefore, whoever will have humbled himself like this little child, such a one is greater in the kingdom of heaven.

5 And whoever shall accept one such little child in my name, accepts me.

6 But whoever will have led astray one of these little ones, who trust in me, it would be better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck, and to be submerged in the depths of the sea.

7 Woe to a world that leads people astray! Although it is necessary for temptations to arise, nevertheless: Woe to that man through whom temptation arises!

8 So if your hand or your foot leads you to sin, cut it off and cast it away from you. It is better for you to enter into life disabled or lame, than to be sent into eternal fire having two hands or two feet.

9 And if your eye leads you to sin, root it out and cast it away from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, than to be sent into the fires of Hell having two eyes.

10 See to it that you do not despise even one of these little ones. For I say to you, that their Angels in heaven continually look upon the face of my Father, who is in heaven.

11 For the Son of man has come to save what had been lost.

12 How does it seem to you? If someone has one hundred sheep, and if one of them has gone astray, should he not leave behind the ninety-nine in the mountains, and go out to seek what has gone astray?

13 And if he should happen to find it: Amen I say to you, that he has more joy over that one, than over the ninety-nine which did not go astray.

14 Even so, it is not the will before your Father, who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should be lost.

15 But if your brother has sinned against you, go and correct him, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you will have regained your brother.

16 But if he will not listen you, invite with you one or two more, so that every word may stand by the mouth of two or three witnesses.

17 And if he will not listen to them, tell the Church. But if he will not listen to the Church, let him be to you like the pagan and the tax collector.

18 Amen I say to you, whatever you will have bound on earth, shall be bound also in heaven, and whatever you will have released on earth, shall be released also in heaven.

19 Again I say to you, that if two of those among you have agreed on earth, about anything whatsoever that they have requested, it shall be done for them by my Father, who is in heaven.

20 For wherever two or three are gathered in my name, there am I, in their midst.”

21 Then Peter, drawing near to him, said: “Lord, how many times shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Even seven times?”

22 Jesus said to him: “I do not say to you, even seven times, but even seventy times seven times.

23 Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is compared to a man who was king, who wanted to take account of his servants.

24 And when he had begun taking account, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.

25 But since he did not have any way to repay it, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children, and all that he had, in order to repay it.

26 But that servant, falling prostrate, begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay it all to you.’

27 Then the lord of that servant, being moved with pity, released him, and he forgave his debt.

28 But when that servant departed, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him one hundred denarius. And taking hold of him, he choked him, saying: ‘Repay what you owe.’

29 And his fellow servant, falling prostrate, petitioned him, saying: ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay it all to you.’

30 But he was not willing. Instead, he went out and had him sent to prison, until he would repay the debt.

31 Now his fellow servants, seeing what was done, were greatly saddened, and they went and reported to their lord all that was done.

32 Then his lord called him, and he said to him: ‘You wicked servant, I forgave you all your debt, because you pleaded with me.

33 Therefore, should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I also had compassion on you?’

34 And his lord, being angry, handed him over to the torturers, until he repaid the entire debt.

35 So, too, shall my heavenly Father do to you, if each one of you will not forgive his brother from your hearts.”

Matthew 19

1 And it happened that, when Jesus had completed these words, he moved away from Galilee, and he arrived within the borders of Judea, across the Jordan.

2 And great crowds followed him, and he healed them there.

3 And the Pharisees approached him, testing him, and saying, “Is it lawful for a man to separate from his wife, no matter what the cause?”

4 And he said to them in response, “Have you not read that he who made man from the beginning, made them male and female?” And he said:

5 “For this reason, a man shall separate from father and mother, and he shall cling to his wife, and these two shall become one flesh.

6 And so, now they are not two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no man separate.”

7 They said to him, “Then why did Moses command him to give a bill of divorce, and to separate?”

8 He said to them: “Although Moses permitted you to separate from your wives, due to the hardness of your heart, it was not that way from the beginning.

9 And I say to you, that whoever will have separated from his wife, except because of fornication, and who will have married another, commits adultery, and whoever will have married her who has been separated, commits adultery.”

10 His disciples said to him, “If such is the case for a man with a wife, then it is not expedient to marry.”

11 And he said to them: “Not everyone is able to grasp this word, but only those to whom it has been given.

12 For there are chaste persons who were born so from their mother’s womb, and there are chaste persons who have been made so by men, and there are chaste persons who have made themselves chaste for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Whoever is able to grasp this, let him grasp it.”

13 Then they brought to him little children, so that he would place his hands upon them and pray. But the disciples rebuked them.

14 Yet truly, Jesus said to them: “Allow the little children to come to me, and do not choose to prohibit them. For the kingdom of heaven is among such as these.”

15 And when he had imposed his hands upon them, he went away from there.

16 And behold, someone approached and said to him, “Good Teacher, what good should I do, so that I may have eternal life?”

17 And he said to him: “Why do you question me about what is good? One is good: God. But if you wish to enter into life, observe the commandments.”

18 He said to him, “Which?” And Jesus said: “You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not give false testimony.

19 Honor your father and your mother. And, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

20 The young man said to him: “All these I have kept from my childhood. What is still lacking for me?”

21 Jesus said to him: “If you are willing to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and then you will have treasure in heaven. And come, follow me.”

22 And when the young man had heard this word, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

23 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, I say to you, that the wealthy shall enter with difficulty into the kingdom of heaven.

24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for the wealthy to enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

25 And upon hearing this, the disciples wondered greatly, saying: “Then who will be able to be saved?”

26 But Jesus, gazing at them, said to them: “With men, this is impossible. But with God, all things are possible.”

27 Then Peter responded by saying to him: “Behold, we have left behind all things, and we have followed you. So then, what will be for us?”

28 And Jesus said to them: “Amen I say to you, that at the resurrection, when the Son of man shall sit on the seat of his majesty, those of you who have followed me shall also sit on twelve seats, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

29 And anyone who has left behind home, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or land, for the sake of my name, shall receive one hundred times more, and shall possess eternal life.

30 But many of those who are first shall be last, and the last shall be first.”

Matthew 20

1 “The kingdom of heaven is like the father of a family who went out in early morning to lead workers into his vineyard.

2 Then, having made an agreement with the workers for one denarius per day, he sent them into his vineyard.

3 And going out about the third hour, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace.

4 And he said to them, ‘You may go into my vineyard, too, and what I will give you will be just.’

5 So they went forth. But again, he went out about the sixth, and about the ninth hour, and he acted similarly.

6 Yet truly, about the eleventh hour, he went out and found others standing, and he said to them, ‘Why have you stood here idle all day?’

7 They say to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also may go into my vineyard.’

8 And when evening had arrived, the lord of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning from the last, even to the first.’

9 And so, when those who had arrived about the eleventh hour came forward, each received a single denarius.

10 Then when the first ones also came forward, they considered that they would receive more. But they, too, received one denarius.

11 And upon receiving it, they murmured against the father of the family,

12 saying, ‘These last have worked for one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who worked bearing the weight and heat of the day.’

13 But responding to one of them, he said: ‘Friend, I caused you no injury. Did you not agree with me to one denarius?

14 Take what is yours and go. But it is my will to give to this last, just as to you.

15 And is it not lawful for me to do what I will? Or is your eye wicked because I am good?’

16 So then, the last shall be first, and the first shall be last. For many are called, but few are chosen.”

17 And Jesus, ascending to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside in private and said to them:

18 “Behold, we are ascending to Jerusalem, and the Son of man shall be handed over to the leaders of the priests and to the scribes. And they shall condemn him to death.

19 And they shall hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified. And on the third day, he shall rise again.”

20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached him, with her sons, adoring him, and petitioning something from him.

21 And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Declare that these, my two sons, may sit, one at your right hand, and the other at your left, in your kingdom.”

22 But Jesus, responding, said: “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink from the chalice, from which I will drink?” They said to him, “We are able.”

23 He said to them: “From my chalice, indeed, you shall drink. But to sit at my right or my left is not mine to give to you, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”

24 And the ten, upon hearing this, became indignant with the two brothers.

25 But Jesus called them to himself and said: “You know that the first ones among the Gentiles are their rulers, and that those who are greater exercise power among them.

26 It shall not be this way among you. But whoever will want to be greater among you, let him be your minister.

27 And whoever will want to be first among you, he shall be your servant,

28 even as the Son of man has not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a redemption for many.”

29 And as they were departing from Jericho, a great crowd followed him.

30 And behold, two blind men, sitting by the way, heard that Jesus was passing by; and they cried out, saying, “Lord, Son of David, take pity on us.”

31 But the crowd rebuked them to be quiet. But they cried out all the more, saying, “Lord, Son of David, take pity on us.”

32 And Jesus stood still, and he called them and said, “What do you want, that I might do for you?”

33 They said to him, “Lord, that our eyes be opened.”

34 Then Jesus, taking pity on them, touched their eyes. And immediately they saw, and they followed him.

Matthew 21

1 And when they had drawn near to Jerusalem, and had arrived at Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,

2 saying to them: “Go into the town that is opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Release them, and lead them to me.

3 And if anyone will have said anything to you, say that the Lord has need of them. And he will promptly dismiss them.”

4 Now all this was done in order to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet, saying,

5 “Tell the daughter of Zion: Behold, your king comes to you meekly, sitting on a donkey and on a colt, the son of one accustomed to the yoke.”

6 Then the disciples, going out, did just as Jesus instructed them.

7 And they brought the donkey and the colt, and they laid their garments on them, and they helped him sit upon them.

8 Then a very numerous crowd spread their garments on the way. But others cut branches from the trees and scattered them on the way.

9 And the crowds that preceded him, and those that followed, cried out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!”

10 And when he had entered into Jerusalem, the entire city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?”

11 But the people were saying, “This is Jesus, the Prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”

12 And Jesus entered into the temple of God, and he cast out all who were selling and buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the chairs of the vendors of doves.

13 And he said to them: “It is written: ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer. But you have made it into a den of robbers.’ “

14 And the blind and the lame drew near to him in the temple; and he healed them.

15 Then the leaders of the priests and the scribes became indignant, seeing the miracles that he wrought, and the children crying out in the temple, saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!”

16 And they said to him, “Do you hear what these ones are saying?” But Jesus said to them, “Certainly. Have you never read: For out of the mouth of babes and infants, you have perfected praise?”

17 And leaving them behind, he went out, beyond the city, into Bethania, and he lodged here.

18 Then, as he was returning to the city in the morning, he was hungry.

19 And seeing a certain fig tree beside the way, he approached it. And he found nothing on it, except only leaves. And he said to it, “May fruit never spring forth from you, for all time.” And immediately the fig tree was dried up.

20 And seeing this, the disciples wondered, saying, “How did it dry up so quickly?”

21 And Jesus responded to them by saying: “Amen I say to you, if you have faith and do not hesitate, not only shall you do this, concerning the fig tree, but even if you would say to this mountain, ‘Take and cast yourself into the sea,’ it shall be done.

22 And all things whatsoever that you shall ask for in prayer: believing, you shall receive.”

23 And when he had arrived at the temple, as he was teaching, the leaders of the priests and the elders of the people approached him, saying: “By what authority do you do these things? And who has given this authority to you?”

24 In response, Jesus said to them: “I also will question you with one word: if you tell me this, I also will tell you by what authority I do these things.

25 The baptism of John, where was it from? Was it from heaven, or from men?” But they thought within themselves, saying:

26 “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From men,’ we have the crowd to fear, for they all hold John to be a prophet.”

27 And so, they answered Jesus by saying, “We do not know.” So he also said to them: “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

28 But how does it seem to you? A certain man had two sons. And approaching the first, he said: ‘Son, go out today to work in my vineyard.’

29 And responding, he said, ‘I am not willing.’ But afterwards, being moved by repentance, he went.

30 And approaching the other, he spoke similarly. And answering, he said, ‘I am going, lord.’ And he did not go.

31 Which of the two did the will of the father?” They said to him, “The first.” Jesus said to them: “Amen I say to you, that tax collectors and prostitutes shall precede you, into the kingdom of God.

32 For John came to you in the way of justice, and you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. Yet even after seeing this, you did not repent, so as to believe him.

33 Listen to another parable. There was a man, the father of a family, who planted a vineyard, and surrounded it with a hedge, and dug a press in it, and built a tower. And he loaned it out to farmers, and he set out to sojourn abroad.

34 Then, when the time of the fruits drew near, he sent his servants to the farmers, so that they might receive its fruits.

35 And the farmers apprehended his servants; they struck one, and killed another, and stoned yet another.

36 Again, he sent other servants, more than before; and they treated them similarly.

37 Then, at the very end, he sent his son to them, saying: ‘They will revere my son.’

38 But the farmers, seeing the son, said among themselves: ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and then we will have his inheritance.’

39 And apprehending him, they cast him outside the vineyard, and they killed him.

40 Therefore, when the lord of the vineyard arrives, what will he do to those farmers?”

41 They said to him, “He will bring those evil men to an evil end, and he will loan out his vineyard to other farmers, who shall repay to him the fruit in its time.”

42 Jesus said to them: “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone that the builders have rejected has become the cornerstone. By the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes?’

43 Therefore, I say to you, that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you, and it shall be given to a people who shall produce its fruits.

44 And whoever will have fallen on this stone shall be broken, yet truly, on whomever it shall fall, it will crush him.”

45 And when the leaders of the priests, and the Pharisees had heard his parables, they knew that he was speaking about them.

46 And though they sought to take hold of him, they feared the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet.

Matthew 22

1 And responding, Jesus again spoke to them in parables, saying:

2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who was king, who celebrated a wedding for his son.

3 And he sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding. But they were not willing to come.

4 Again, he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell the invited: Behold, I have prepared my meal. My bulls and fatlings have been killed, and all is ready. Come to the wedding.’

5 But they ignored this and they went away: one to his country estate, and another to his business.

6 Yet truly, the rest took hold of his servants and, having treated them with contempt, killed them.

7 But when the king heard this, he was angry. And sending out his armies, he destroyed those murderers, and he burned their city.

8 Then he said to his servants: ‘The wedding, indeed, has been prepared. But those who were invited were not worthy.

9 Therefore, go out to the ways, and call whomever you will find to the wedding.’

10 And his servants, departing into the ways, gathered all those whom they found, bad and good, and the wedding was filled with guests.

11 Then the king entered to see the guests. And he saw a man there who was not clothed in a wedding garment.

12 And he said to him, ‘Friend, how is it that you have entered here without having a wedding garment?’ But he was dumbstruck.

13 Then the king said to the ministers: ‘Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

14 For many are called, but few are chosen.’ “

15 Then the Pharisees, going out, took counsel as to how they might entrap him in speech.

16 And they sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians, saying: “Teacher, we know that you are truthful, and that you teach the way of God in truth, and that the influence of others is nothing to you. For you do not consider the reputation of men.

17 Therefore, tell us, how does it seem to you? Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar, or not?”

18 But Jesus, knowing their wickedness, said: “Why do you test me, you hypocrites?

19 Show me the coin of the census tax.” And they offered him a denarius.

20 And Jesus said to them, “Whose image is this, and whose inscription?”

21 They said to him, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Then render to Caesar what is of Caesar; and to God what is of God.”

22 And hearing this, they wondered. And having left him behind, they went away.

23 In that day, the Sadducees, who say there is to be no resurrection, approached him. And they questioned him,

24 saying: “Teacher, Moses said: If anyone will have died, having no son, his brother shall marry his wife, and he shall raise up offspring to his brother.

25 Now there were seven brothers with us. And the first, having taken a wife, died. And having no offspring, he left his wife to his brother:

26 similarly with the second, and the third, even to the seventh.

27 And last of all, the woman also passed away.

28 In the resurrection, then, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her.”

29 But Jesus responded to them by saying: “You have gone astray by knowing neither the Scriptures, nor the power of God.

30 For in the resurrection, they shall neither marry, nor be given in marriage. Instead, they shall be like the Angels of God in heaven.

31 But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken by God, saying to you:

32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?’ He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”

33 And when the crowds heard this, they wondered at his doctrine.

34 But the Pharisees, hearing that he had caused the Sadducees to be silent, came together as one.

35 And one of them, a doctor of the law, questioned him, to test him:

36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

37 Jesus said to him: ” ‘You shall love the Lord your God from all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind.’

38 This is the greatest and first commandment.

39 But the second is similar to it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

40 On these two commandments the entire law depends, and also the prophets.”

41 Then, when the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus questioned them,

42 saying: “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “David’s.”

43 He said to them: “Then how can David, in the Spirit, call him Lord, saying:

44 ‘The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool?’

45 So then, if David calls him Lord, how can he be his son?”

46 And no one was able to respond to him a word. And neither did anyone dare, from that day forward, to question him.