About this Bible Study........The King James Version of the Bible is written in a beautiful form of the English language. It can be hard for modern English readers to understand. In this study, you will find notes and summaries in brown just above the the verses from the Bible. We recommend that you read the notes and summaries first, and then read the verses in their KJV form.
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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.
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Picture from LaVista Church of Christ |
When Jesus saw the crowd, he went up on a mountain.
After he sat down, his disciples came to him. He taught them. He said:
[1] And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when
he was set, his disciples came unto him:
[2] And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
God will bless the people who understand that they
must depend on Him. They will have the kingdom of heaven.
[3] Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven.
God will bless the people who are mourning. They
will be comforted.
[4] Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
God will bless the people who are humble. They will
inherit the earth.
[5] Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
God will bless the people who want to obey God's laws. They will be
filled.
[6] Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they
shall be filled.
God will bless the people who show mercy to others.
They will also have mercy shown to them.
[7] Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
God will bless the people who have pure hearts. They will see God.
[8] Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
God will bless people who try to make peace. They will
be called the children of God.
[9] Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
God will bless people who are treated badly because they
do good things. They will have the kingdom of heaven.
[10] Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs
is the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus said, "You will be blessed when men hate you and treat you
badly because you believe in me (Jesus). Be happy and joyous. You will
have a big reward in heaven. The prophets who lived in the past were persecuted,
too.
[11] Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say
all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
[12] Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so
persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
The salt of the earth
You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses
its flavor, it can't make food taste salty. It is not good for anything except
to be thrown away for people to walk on.
[13] Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his
savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to
be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
The light of the world
You are the light of the world. A city that is high on a hill cannot be hidden.
[14] Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Let your light shine
Men don't light a candle and then put it under a
basket. They put it on a candlestick so it makes the house have light.
[15] Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a
candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Let your light shine so that men can see it. They can
see the good things you do. This glorifies your Father God in heaven.
[16] Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and
glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Jesus came to fulfill the law and prophecies
Don't think that I have come to destroy the law or prophets.
I came to fulfill the law and the prophecies.
[17] Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come
to destroy, but to fulfil.
I am saying to you that not one little thing in the law
will pass away. Everything will be fulfilled in the law before heaven and earth
passes.
[18] For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one
tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Obeying the laws
If anyone breaks even the smallest laws and teaches
other people to do the same, he will be the least in the kingdom of heaven.
But if someone obeys the laws and teaches other people to obey them, he will be
called great in the kingdom of heaven.
[19] Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall
teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but
whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom
of heaven.
You should obey the laws better than the scribes and
Pharisees obey them. If you don't, you will not be able to enter the kingdom of
heaven.
[20] For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the
righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the
kingdom of heaven.
You will be punished if you get angry without a reason
You have heard people in the past say that you should
not kill. They said that anyone who killed another person would be in
danger of being punished. But I am telling you this. If you are mad with
someone else without a reason, you will be punished. If you call someone a
bad name, you will be punished. If you call someone a fool, you will be in
danger of going to hell.
[21] Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill;
and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
[22] But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a
cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his
brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou
fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
Making peace with other people
Maybe you bring an offering to the altar and then
remember that you have done something wrong to someone else. You should
leave the offering in front of the altar, go solve your problem with the other
person, and then come back and make your offering.
[23] Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that
thy brother hath ought against thee;
[24] Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled
to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
Settle your problems with other people quickly while
you are with them. If you don't, they may make you go to court. The
judge might order you to be put into prison. You won't get out of jail until you
have paid every last cent.
[25] Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him;
lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver
thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
[26] Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou
hast paid the uttermost farthing.
If your eye or your hand cause you to sin
In the past, the law said that you should not commit
adultery. But I'm telling you that even if you just look at a woman and you feel
lust for her, you have already committed adultery in your heart.
[27] Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit
adultery:
[28] But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her
hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
If your right eye causes you to sin, poke it out and
throw it away. It's better that one of your body parts is gone instead of
your whole body going to hell.
[29] And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for
it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that
thy whole body should be cast into hell.
If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and
throw it away. It's better that one of your body parts is gone instead of
your whole body going to hell.
[30] And if thy right hand offend thee, cut if off, and cast it from thee: for
it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that
thy whole body should be cast into hell.
Divorce and remarriage
In the past, it was ok for a man to divorce his wife.
But now, the only reason for divorce is adultery. And the person who
marries her also commits adultery.
[31] It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a
writing of divorcement:
[32] But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the
cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry
her that is divorced committeth adultery.
Making promises or swearing
In the past, the law said to make a promise in the
Lord's name. Now, you should not make a promise in the Lord's name or by
heaven because heaven is God's throne.
[33] Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt
not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
[34] But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's
throne:
You should not make a promise by earth or Jerusalem.
The earth is God's footstool, and Jerusalem is the city of the great King.
[35] Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is
the city of the great King.
You should also not swear by your own head because you can't even make hair
black or white.
[36] Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair
white or black.
When you make a promise, just say yes or no. That
is enough. Anything more will cause evil.
[37] But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more
than these cometh of evil.
Turning the other cheek, walking an extra mile
In the past, the law said "an eye for an eye, and a
tooth for a tooth." But I am saying now that you should not take revenge.
If someone hits you on the right cheek, turn around and let him hit you on your
left cheek, too.
[38] Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a
tooth:
[39] But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee
on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
If someone takes you to court to sue you to take away
your shirt, give him also your coat.
[40] And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him
have thy cloke also.
If someone makes you walk for a mile, walk with him
another mile.
[41] And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
Give to people who ask you for something. If
someone asks to borrow something, do not tell them no.
[42] Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn
not thou away.
Love your enemies
You have heard that you should love your neighbor and
hate your enemy. But I am telling you that you should love your enemies.
Bless the people who talk bad to you. Do good for the people who hate you.
Pray for the people who use you and treat you badly.
[43] Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and
hate thine enemy.
[44] But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good
to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and
persecute you;
That will make you like your Father who is in heaven.
He makes the sun to come up on bad people and good people. He sends rain to fall
on the fair people and the unfair people.
[45] That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he
maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just
and on the unjust.
If you only love people who love you, how will you be
rewarded? Even nonbelievers do that. If you are good to only your
brothers, you are the same as everyone and the nonbelievers.
[46] For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the
publicans the same?
[47] And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not
even the publicans so?
Be perfect like God is perfect
You should always be perfect just like your Father in
heaven is perfect.
[48] Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Don't be like them. God the Father already knows what you need before you
ask Him.
[8] Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye
have need of, before ye ask him.
This is how you should pray:
Our Father who is in heaven, Your name is holy.
We want Your kingdom to come to earth. We want Your will to be done on
earth like it is done in heaven.
Give us our food to eat everyday.
Forgive our sins the same as we forgive the people who sin against us.
Please keep us away from temptation. Save us from evil
The kingdom, power, and glory are Yours forever. Amen.
[9] After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
[10] Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
[11] Give us this day our daily bread.
[12] And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
[13] And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the
kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Forgiving people who hurt you
If you forgive other people who do things that are
sinful, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you don't forgive
other people for their sins, God will not forgive your sins.
[14] For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also
forgive you:
[15] But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father
forgive your trespasses.
Fasting
When you fast (go without eating), don't have a sad
face like a hypocrite. They make themselves look sad so everyone knows they are
fasting. But truly I say to you, they already have their reward.
[16] Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for
they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say
unto you, They have their reward.
But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face. People shouldn't
know you are fasting. But God will know it, and He will reward you.
[17] But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
[18] That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in
secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
Your treasures should be in heaven
Do not store up treasures on earth. On earth, moths and
rust will destroy your treasures. Thieves will steal them. But your
treasures should be in heaven where nothing will destroy them. No one can
steal them. Your heart will be where your treasures are.
[19] Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth
corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
[20] But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust
doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
[21] For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Your eye is the light of your body
The eye is the light of the body. If your eye is bright
and good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is dark
and evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If the light in you is dark,
it is very bad darkness.
[22] The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy
whole body shall be full of light.
[23] But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If
therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
No one can serve both God and money.
No man can serve two masters. He will hate one and love
the other. You cannot serve God and money.
[24] No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the
other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve
God and mammon.
Don't worry about anything. God will take care of you.
I am telling you not to worry about your life, what you
will eat, or what you will drink. Don't worry about clothes. Isn't
your life about more than food or clothes?
[25] Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat,
or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the
life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
Look at the birds in the air. They don't plant seeds or harvest crops. They
store food in barns. But your heavenly Father feeds them. You are more valuable
than birds.
[26] Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor
gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better
than they?
Which of you can make yourself taller by worrying?
[27] Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
Why do you worry about clothes? Think about the lilies in the field. They
grow, but they don't work or spin yarn to make cloth. But I tell you that not even
King Solomon with his fine clothes was dressed as beautiful as them.
[28] And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how
they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
[29] And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed
like one of these.
The grass of the field is here for a day and then
thrown into the oven to burn. If God makes it beautiful, won't he give you
clothes that are even more beautiful? Do you have only a little faith?
[30] Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to
morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little
faith?
So, don't worry about what you will eat or drink or
wear. These are the things that unbelievers worry about. Your heavenly
Father knows what you need.
[31] Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we
drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
[32] (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father
knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
But always look for God's kingdom first and obey His
laws. Then, all of these things will be given to you.
[33] But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these
things shall be added unto you.
So, don't worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow has enough
things to worry about. Tomorrow has enough trouble.
[34] Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought
for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
People who see other people's faults, but not their own
Why do you worry about a little piece of wood in your
brother's eye, but you don't think about the big piece of wood in your own eye?
You tell the other person you will take the little piece of wood out of their
eye, but you have a much bigger piece of wood in your own eye.
[3] And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but
considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
[4] Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine
eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
You are a hypocrite. You should first take the
big piece of wood out of your own eye. Then, you can see better to take the
little piece of wood out of the other person's eye.
[5] Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt
thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
Pearls before swine
Don't give things that are holy to the dogs. And don't
put your pearls in with pigs. They will step on them and trample them, and then
they will attack you.
[6] Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls
before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend
you.
Ask God for what you need.
Ask God, and He will give you what you ask Him for.
If you look, you will find. If you knock on the door, the door will be
opened for you. Everyone who asks will receive. Everyone who looks will
find. Everyone who knocks will have the door opened for them.
[7] Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall
be opened unto you:
[8] For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him
that knocketh it shall be opened.
Who would give his son a rock if his son asked him for
bread? Or if his son asked for a fish, would he give him a snake?
[9] Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a
stone?
[10] Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
You are evil, and you know how to give good gifts to your children. So, your
Father in heaven will give much more good things to the people who ask Him.
[11] If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how
much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask
him?
Treat other people the way you want to be treated.
So, you should treat other people the same way you want
them to treat you. This is the law of the prophets.
[12] Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye
even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
The narrow gate
Enter through the narrow gate. The wide gate leads to
destruction. Many will go through that gate. But the narrow gate
leads to life, and few people go through it.
[13] Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way,
that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
[14] Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life,
and few there be that find it.
A warning against false prophets.
Be careful for false prophets. They come
dressed in sheep's clothes, but inside, they are really hungry wolves.
[15] Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but
inwardly they are ravening wolves.
You will know them by the fruit they produce.
People do not pick grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles. Good trees
produce good fruit. But a bad tree produces evil fruit. A good tree cannot
produce evil fruit, and a bad tree cannot produce good fruit.
[16] Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs
of thistles?
[17] Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree
bringeth forth evil fruit.
[18] A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring
forth good fruit.
Every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down
and thrown into the fire.
[19] Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into
the fire.
You will know if it is a good tree or a bad tree by
the fruit it produces.
[20] Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Not everyone will obey Jesus.
Many people will say to me, "Lord, Lord" but not all of them
will enter into the kingdom of heaven.
[21] Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom
of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Many people will say that they made prophecies in
my name and made evil spirits leave. They will say they did wonderful work
in my name. But I will tell them to get away from me because I
never knew them. They are dishonest, evil people.
[22] Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy
name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful
works?
[23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye
that work iniquity.
There will be people who hear what I say and do what I
say. I say those people are like a wise man who built his house on a rock. The
rains fell hard and the floods came. The winds blew hard and beat on his
house. But it did not fall down because it was built on a rock.
[24] Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will
liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
[25] And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat
upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
There will be people who hear what I say, but not do what I say. These
people are like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rains fell
hard and the floods came. The winds blew hard and beat on his house. The
house fell down and was destroyed.
[26] And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall
be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
[27] And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat
upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
After Jesus finished talking, the people were amazed at
the things He was teaching. He taught them with authority. He did not
teach the way the scribes did.
[28] And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were
astonished at his doctrine:
[29] For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.