The Gospel of Matthew

Gospels are books of the Bible about Jesus's life, death, and resurrection.  The first Gospel written was the Gospel of Mark.  But the Gospel of Matthew is felt to be the most important.

Matthew (also called Levi) was one of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ.  He wrote this book of the Bible in about 60 - 65 A.D.

Matthew was a tax collector. At that time, tax collectors were looked down on.
 

Matthew 17

 

Transfiguration of Jesus. Picture from LaVista Church of Christ

Peter, James, and John see Jesus shining with glory and talking to Moses and Elijah.


Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and James' brother, John, up on a high mountain. Jesus' appearance was changed in front of them. His face shined like the sun. His clothes were as white as the light.
[1] And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
[2] And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.


They also saw Moses and Elijah talking to Jesus.  Peter talked to Jesus. Peter said it was good for them to be there. If He wanted them to, they would make 3 tabernacles - one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.
[3] And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
[4] Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.


While Peter was talking, a bright cloud made a shadow on them.  Then, there was a voice in the cloud. The voice said, "This is my beloved Son. I am very pleased with Him. Listen to Him."
[5] While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.


When the disciples heard that, they fell on their faces and felt very afraid.
[6] And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.


Jesus came and touched them. He told them to get up and not to be afraid.
[7] And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.


When they opened their eyes, they only saw Jesus.
[8] And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.


As they walked down the mountain, Jesus told them not to tell anyone what they had seen. They can tell people about it after He rises from the dead.
[9] And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.

The disciples asked Him why the scribes say that Elijah must come first before the Messiah.
[10] And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?


Jesus answered them. He said, "Elijah must come first and restore all things.  But I am saying to you that Elijah has already come. He came, but they did not know him. They treated him any way they wanted.  In the same way, the Son of man will suffer by them, too."
[11] And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.
[12] But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.


Then, the disciples knew that Jesus was talking about John the Baptist.
[13] Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.

 

Jesus heals a boy after the disciples fail to heal him.


When they got to the crowd, a man came to Jesus. He was on his knees.  He said, "Lord, please have mercy on my son.  He is mentally ill and troubled. Often, he falls in the fire or in the water. I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him."
[14] And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,
[15] Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
[16] And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.


Jesus answered the man.  He said, "Oh you people with no faith. How long will I be with you? How long will I put up with you? Bring him to me."
[17] Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.


Jesus talked strongly to the devil in the boy, and the devil left. The boy was healed at that very hour.
[18] And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.


The disciples came to Jesus in private. They asked Him why they couldn't make the devil leave the boy.
[19] Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?


Jesus said it was because they didn't believe. He said, "Truly I say to you, if you have a little faith, even as small as a mustard seed, you can tell this mountain to move and it will move.  Nothing will be impossible for you. But this kind of devil only goes out with prayer and fasting."
[20] And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
[21] Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

 

Jesus tells His disciples that He will be killed and be raised on the third day.

While they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of man will be betrayed. He will be in the hands of men, and they will kill Him. On the third day, He will be raised again." The disciples were very sad about this.
[22] And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:
[23] And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.


 

Jesus and Peter discuss paying taxes, and Peter finds a coin in a fish's mouth.


They went to Capernaum. The tax collectors came to Peter. They asked him if Jesus paid taxes.
[24] And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?


Peter said yes. When he went into the house, Jesus stopped him, and asked him for his opinion. He asked Peter who the earth's kings took taxes from. Do they take it from their own children or from strangers?
[25] He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?


Peter said they take it from strangers.  Jesus said, "Then, the children are free. Even so, we should not offend them.  Go to the sea and throw a hook in. Get the first fish that comes up. Open it's mouth, and you will find a coin.  Take the coin and use it to pay taxes for you and Me."
[26] Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.
[27] Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.
 

Matthew 18

From LaVista Church of Christ

The disciples ask Jesus who will be greatest in heaven.
 

At the same time, the disciples came and asked Jesus a question. They asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
[1] At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?


Jesus called a little child to come to Him.  He set the child in the middle of them.
[2] And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,


He said, "Truly I say to you that unless you change and become like little children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. The people who make themselves humble like this little child will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
[3] And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
[4] Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.


Jesus continued, "The people who receive little children in My name also receive Me. But if someone hurts one of these who believe in Me, it would be better for him if a very heavy millstone was hung around his neck, and he was drowned in the deep sea."
[5] And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
[6] But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

 

He said, "The world will be punished greatly because of its sins.  There will always be sin, but the man who causes sins will be greatly punished."
[7] Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!


"If your hand or your food causes you to sin, cut them off and throw them far away from you.  It is better for you to live without your hands or feet than to be thrown into the fire forever."
[8] Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.


"If your eye causes you to sin, pull it out and throw it far away from you.  It is better to live with only one eye than to have two eyes and end up being thrown into the fire of hell."
[9] And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.


"Be careful that you do not hate one of these little children. I say to you that in heaven, their angels always see God's face."
[10] Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.


"The Son of man has come to save people who are lost."
[11] For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.


 

The parable of the lost sheep

What do you think? A man has 100 sheep, and one of them goes missing. Doesn't he leave the other 99 sheep and go into the mountains to look for the one that's missing? And if he finds the missing sheep, truly I say to you, that he is happier because he found the missing sheep than he is about the 99 who were not lost.
[12] How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
[13] And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.


In the same way, it is not the will of God the Father in heaven that even one of these little ones should die.
[14] Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.


Also, if your brother does something against you, go and discuss with him alone.  If he listens to you, then you have gained a brother. But if he doesn't listen to you,  then take 1 or 2 other people with you and talk to him again.  They are witnesses to show it is the truth. If he doesn't listen to all of you, then tell the church what he did.  He if doesn't listen to the church,  then think of him as someone who does not believe or obey God.
[15] Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
[16] But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
[17] And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.


I say to you truly that whatever you allow on earth will be allowed in heaven.  Whatever you don't allow on earth will not be allowed in heaven.
[18] Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.



I say to you again that if two of you agree about something on earth, anything you ask will be done by my Father in heaven. When 2 or 3 people are in a group in My name, I am there with them.
[19] Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
[20] For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

 

Peter asks about forgiving other people.


Peter came to Jesus. He asked, "Lord, if my brother sins often against me, how many times must I forgive him? Seven times?"
[21] Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?


Jesus said it is not 7 times, but 70 x 7.
[22] Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.


He said that the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to see how much money his servants owed him.
[23] Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.


When he started checking his records, a servant who owed him 10,000 talents was brought to him. The man couldn't pay what he owed. The king ordered for him, his wife, and his children to be sold. Then, the money could be paid to the king.
[24] And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
[25] But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

The servant fell down and worshipped the king. He begged the king to have patience with him and promised he would pay everything he owed.
[26] The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.


The king felt sorry for the servant, so he let him go and told him that he didn't have to pay his debt.
[27] Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
 

The same servant went out and found another servant who owed him money.  He grabbed him by the throat and demanded that he pay him what he owed him.
[28] But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.

The other servant fell down at his feet and begged him to be patient with him. He promised he would pay what he owed him.
[29] And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.


But the servant would not be patient and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay his debt.
[30] And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.


Some of the other servants saw this happen. They didn't like it, and they told the king about it.
[31] So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.


The king call the servant to come to him. He called him wicked. He said he forgave the servant the debt he owed him because he felt sorry for him.  The servant should have done the same thing and felt sorry for the other servant.
[32] Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
[33] Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?


The king was angry and had him punished and tortured until he paid the king what he owed him.
[34] And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
 

Jesus said that His heavenly Father will do the same to them if they do not forgive their brothers for their sins.
[35] So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
 

Matthew 19


The Pharisees ask Jesus about divorce

Jesus said they had hard hearts and that is why Moses gave the law for divorce.  But He said that in the beginning, that was not the way it was.  Jesus said that if a man divorces his wife because she committed adultery, he may marry again. But if she did not commit adultery, he must not marry someone else or he will be committing adultery.  If the woman who committed adultery marries someone else, the new husband is also guilty of adultery.
[8] He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.
[9] And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.


His disciples said to Him, "If this is the situation with a husband and wife, it is good not to get married."
[10] His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.
 

Jesus said that not everyone can accept that it is good not to get married. Only people who are given that. There are people who cannot get married because of the way they were born or if they have been disabled from something someone did to them. Some have chosen to stay single for the kingdom of heaven.  Anyone who can accept that should stay single.
[11] But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.
[12] For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.


Some little children were brought to Jesus so that He could put His hands on them and pray.  The disciples scolded them. But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me. Do not tell them no.  People who have faith like little children will have the kingdom of heaven."
[13] Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.
[14] But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.


Jesus laid His hands on them and then left.
[15] And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.

 

A rich young man asks Jesus how he can live forever.


A young man came to Jesus. He asked, "Good Master, what good thing can I do so that I can live forever?"
[16] And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?


Jesus asked the man why he was calling Him good. He said God is the only good one.  He told him that if wanted to live forever, he should obey God's laws.
[17] And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.


The man asked him which laws he should obey. Jesus said, "Do not murder. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not lie. Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as much as you love yourself."
[18] He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
[19] Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.


The young man said that he has obeyed all of those laws since he was a boy. He asked what else he needed to do.
[20] The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

Jesus said, "If you want to be perfect, go and sell everything you have and give the money to poor people.  Then, you will have valuable treasure in heaven. Then, come and follow me."
[21] Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.


When the young man heard that, he was sad and left because he was rich and owned many things.
[22] But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.


Jesus said to His disciples, "Truly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.  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."
[23] Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
[24] And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.


When His disciples heard that, they were amazed. They said, "Then, who can be saved?"
[25] When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?


Jesus saw them and said to them, "With men, it is impossible. But with God, all things are possible."
[26] But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.


Peter answered. He said, "We have given up everything and followed You. What will we have?"
[27] Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?


Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you who have followed Me that when the Son of man sits on His throne in glory, you will sit on 12 thrones and judge the 12 tribes of Israel.
[28] And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.


Everyone who has given up their houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, wife, children or land for My name's sake will receive 100 times as much. They will live forever.
[29] And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.


Many that are first will be last, and the last will be first."
[30] But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.