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The Gospel According to MATTHEW

Challenge to Jerusalem

17 JESUS WAS JOURNEYING towards Jerusalem, and on the way he took the Twelve aside, and said to them, 18 'We are going to Jerusalem, and the is Son of Man will be given up to the chief priests and the doctors of the law; they will condemn him to death 19 and hand him over to the foreign power, to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and on the third day he will be raised to life again.'

20 The mother of Zebedee's sons then came before him, with her sons. She bowed low and begged a favour. 21 'What is it you wish?' asked Jesus. 'I want you', she said, 'to give orders that in your kingdom my two sons here may sit next to you, one at your right, and the other at your left.' 22 Jesus turned to the brothers and said, 'You do not understand what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I am to drink?' We can', they replied. 23 Then he said to them, 'You shall indeed share my cup; but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant; it is for those to whom it has already been assigned by my Father.'

24 When the other ten heard this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25 So Jesus called them to him and said, 'You know that in the world, rulers lord it over their subjects, and their great men make them feel the weight of authority; 26 but it shall not be so with you. Among you, whoever wants to be great must be vour servant, 27 and whoever would be first must be the willing slave of allù 28 like the Son of Man; he did not come to be served, but to serve, and to surrender his life as a ransom for many.'

29 As they were leaving Jericho he was followed by a great crowd of people. 30 At the roadside sat two blind men. When they heard it said that Jesus was passing they shouted, 'Have pity on us. Son of David.' 31 The people rounded on them and told them to be quiet. But they shouted all the more, 'Sir, have pity on us, have pity on us, Son of David.' 32 Jesus stopped and called the men. 'What do you want me to do for you?' 33 he asked. 'Sir,' they answered, 'we want our sight.' 34 Jesus was deeply moved, and touched their eyes. At once their sight came back, and they went on after him.

Chapter: 21

1 THEY WERE NOW nearing Jerusalem; and when they reached Bethphage at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples 2 with these instructions: 'Go to the village opposite, where you will at once find a donkey tethered with her foal beside her; untie them, and bring them to me. 3 If anyone speaks to you, say, "Our Master needs them"; and he will let you take them at once.' 4 This was in fulfilment of the prophecy which says,

6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed, 7 and brought the donkey and her foal; they laid their cloaks on them and Jesus mounted. 8 Crowds of people carpeted the road with their cloaks, and some cut branches from the trees to spread in his path. 9 Then the crowd that went ahead and the others that came behind raised the shout:
'Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessings on him who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the heavens!' 10 When he entered Jerusalem the whole city went wild with excitement. 'Who is this?' people asked,
11 and the crowd replied, 'This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.'

12 Jesus then went into the temple and drove out all who were buying and selling in the temple precincts; he upset the tables of the money-changers and the seats of the dealers in pigeons; 13 and said to them, 'Scripture says, "My house shall be called a house of prayer"; but you are making it a robbers' cave.'

14 In the temple blind men and cripples came to him, and he healed them. 15 The chief priests and doctors of the law saw the wonderful things he did, and heard the boys in the temple shouting, 'Hosanna to the Son of David!', 16 and they asked him indignantly, 'Do you hear what they are saying?' Jesus answered, 'I do; have you never read that text, "Thou hast made children and babes at the breast sound aloud thy praise"?' 17 Then he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.

18 Next morning on his way to the city he felt hungry; 19 and seeing a fig-tree at the roadside he went up to it, but found nothing on it but leaves. He said to the tree, 'You shall never bear fruit any more!'; and the tree withered away at once. 20 The disciples were amazed at the sight. 'How is it', they asked, 'that the tree has withered so suddenly?' 21 Jesus answered them, 'I tell you this: if only you have faith and have no doubts, you will do what has been done to the fig-tree; and more than that, you need only say to this mountain, "Be lifted from your place and hurled into the sea" 22 And whatever you pray for in faith you will receive.'

23 He entered the temple, and the chief priests and elders of the nation came to him with the question: 'By what authority are you acting like this? Who gave you this authority?' 24 Jesus replied, 'I have a question to ask too; answer it, and I will tell you by what authority I act. 25 The baptism of John: was it from God, or from men?' This set them arguing among themselves: 'If we say, "from God", he will say, "Then why did you not believe him ?" 26 But if we say, "from men", we are afraid of the people, for they all take John for a prophet.' 27 So they answered, 'We do not know.' And Jesus said: 'Then neither will I tell you by what authority I act.

28 'But what do you think about this? A man had two sons. He went to the first, and said, "My boy, go and work today in the vineyard." 29 "I will, sir", the boy replied; but he never went. The father came to the second and said the same. 30 "I will not", he replied, but afterwards he changed his mind and went. 31 Which of these two did as his father wished?' 'The second', they said. Then Jesus answered, 'I tell you this: tax-gatherers and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For when John came to show you the right way to live, you did not believe him, but the tax-gatherers and prostitutes did; and even when you had seen that, you did not change your minds and believe him.

33 'Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard: he put a wall round it, hewed out a winepress, and built a watch-tower; then he let it out to vine-growers and went abroad. 34 When the vintage season approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect the produce due to him. 35 But they took his servants and thrashed one, murdered another, and stoned a third. 36 Again, he sent other servants, this time a larger number; and they did the same to them. 37 At last he sent to them his son. "They will respect my son", he said. 38 But when they saw the son the tenants said to one another, "This is the heir; come on, let us kill him, and get his inheritance." 39 And they took him, flung him out of the vineyard, and murdered him. 40 When the owner of the vineyard comes, how do you think he will deal with those tenants?' 41 'He will bring those bad men to a bad end', they answered, 'and hand the vineyard over to other tenants, who will let him have his share of the crop when the season comes.' 42 Then Jesus said to them, 'Have you never read in the scriptures:

"The stone which the builders rejected has become the main corner-stone.
This is the Lord's doing, and it is wonderful in our eyes"? 43 Therefore, I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you, and given to a nation that yields the proper fruit.'"
44 [Some manuscripts add: Any man who falls on this stone will be dashed to pieces; and if it falls on a man he will be crushed by it.]

45 When the chief priests and Pharisees heard his parables, they saw that he was referring to them; 46 they wanted to arrest him, but they were afraid of the people, who looked on Jesus as a prophet.

Chapter: 22

1 THEN JESUS SPOKE to them again in parables: 'The kingdom of Heaven is like this. 2 There was a king who prepared a feast for his son's wedding; 3 but when he sent his servants to summon the guests he had invited, they would not come. 4 He sent others again, telling them to say to the guests, "See now! I have prepared this feast for you. I have had my bullocks and fatted beasts slaughtered; everything is ready; come to the wedding at once." 5 But they took no notice; one went off to his farm, another to his business, 6 and the others seized the servants, attacked them brutally, and killed them. 7 The king was furious; he sent troops to kill those murderers and set their town on fire. 8 Then he said to his servants, "The wedding-feast is ready; but the guests I invited did not deserve the honour. 9 Go out to the main thoroughfares, and invite everyone you can find to the wedding." 10 The servants went out into the streets, and collected all they could find, good and bad alike. So the hall was packed with guests.

11 'When the king came in to see the company at table, he observed one man who was not dressed for a wedding. 12 "My friend," said the king, "how do you come to be here without your wedding clothes?" He had nothing to say. 13 The king then said to his attendants, "Bind him hand and foot; turn him out into the dark, the place of wailing and grinding of teeth." 14 For though many are invited, few are chosen.'

15 THEN THE PHARISEES went and agreed on a plan to trap him in his own words. 16 Some of their followers were sent to him in company with men of Herod's party. They said, 'Master, you are an honest man, we know; you teach in all honesty the way of life that God requires, truckling to no man, whoever he may be. 17 Give us your ruling on this: are we or are we not is permitted to pay taxes to the Roman Emperor?' 18 Jesus was aware of their malicious intention and said to them, 'You hypocrites! Why are you trying to catch me out? 19 Show me the money in which the tax is paid.' They handed him a silver piece. 20 Jesus asked, 'Whose head is this, and whose inscription?' 21 'Caesar's', they replied. He said to them, 'Then pay Caesar what is due to Caesar, and pay God what is due to God.' 22 This answer took them by surprise, and they went away and left him alone.

23 The same day Sadducees came to him, maintaining that there is no resurrection. Their question was this: 24 'Master, Moses said, "If a man should die childless, his brother shall marry the widow and carry on his brother's family." 25 Now we knew of seven brothers. The first married and died, and as he was without issue his wife was left to his brother. 26 The same thing happened with the second, and the third, and so on with all seven. 27 Last of all the woman died. 28 At the resurrection, then, whose wife will she be, for they had all married her?' 29 Jesus answered: 'You are mistaken, because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God. 30 At the resurrection men and women do not marry, but are like angels in heaven.

31 'But about the resurrection of the dead, have you never read what God himself said to you: 32 "I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob"? He is not God of the dead but of the living.' 33 The people heard what he said, and were astounded at his teaching.

34 Hearing that he had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees met together; 35 and one of their number tested him with this question: 36 'Master, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?' 37 He answered, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind." 38 That is the greatest commandment. It comes first. 39 The second is like it: Love your neighbour as yourself." 40 Everything in the Law and the prophets hangs on these two commandments.'

41 Turning to the assembled Pharisees Jesus asked them, 42 'What is your opinion about the Messiah? Whose son is he?' 'The son of David', they replied. 43 'How then is it', he asked, 'that David by inspiration calls him "Lord"? For he says, 44 "The Lord said to my Lord, 'Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.' 45 "If David calls him "Lord", how can he be David's son?' 46 Not a man could say a word in reply; and from that day forward no one dared ask him another question.

Chapter: 23

1 JESUS THEN ADDRESSED the people and his disciples in these words: 2 'The doctors of the law and the Pharisees sit in the chair of Moses; 3 therefore do what they tell you; pay attention to their words. But do not follow their practice; for they say one thing and do another. 4 They make up heavy packs and pile them on men's shoulders, but will not raise a finger to lift the load themselves. 5 Whatever they do is done for show. They go about with broad phylacteries " [See Deuteronomy 6. 8-9 and Exodus 13.9.] and wear deep fringes on their robes; 6 they like to have places of honour at feasts and the chief seats in synagogues, 7 to be greeted respectfully in the street, and to be addressed as "rabbi".

8 'But you must not be called "rabbi"; for you have one Rabbi, and you are all brothers. 9 Do not call any man on earth "father"; for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Nor must you be called "teacher"; you have one Teacher, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you must be your servant. 12 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled; and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

13 'Alas, alas for you, lawyers and Pharisees, hypocrites that you are! You shut the door of the kingdom of Heaven in men's faces; you do not enter yourselves, and when others are entering, you stop them. 14 [Some manuscripts add: Alas for you, lawyers and Pharisees, hypocrites! You eat up the property of widows, while you say long prayers for appearance' sake. You will receive the severest sentence.]
15 'Alas for you, lawyers and Pharisees, hypocrites! You travel over sea and land to win one convert; and when you have won him you make him twice as fit for hell as you are yourselves.

16 'Alas for you, blind guides! You say, "If a man swears by the sanctuary, that is nothing; but if he swears by the gold in the sanctuary, he is bound by his oath." 17 Blind fools! Which is the more important, the gold, or the sanctuary which sanctifies the gold? 18 Or you say, "If a man swears by the altar, that is nothing; but if he swears by the offering that lies on the altar, he is bound by his oath." 19 What blindness! Which is the more important, the offering, or the altar which sanctifies it? 20 To swear by the altar, then, is to swear both by the altar and by whatever lies on it; 21 to swear by the sanctuary is to swear both by the sanctuary and by him who dwells there; 22 and to swear by heaven is to swear both by the throne of God and by um who sits upon it.

23 'Alas for you, lawyers and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin; but you have overlooked the weightier demands of the Law, justice, mercy, and good faith. It is these you should have practised, without neglect 24 Blind guides! You strain off a midge, yet gulp down a camel! 25 'Alas for you, lawyers and Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of cup and dish, which you have filled inside by robbery and self-indulgence! 26 Blind Pharisee! Clean the inside of the cup first; then the outside will be clean also.

27 'Alas for you, lawyers and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like tombs covered with whitewash; they look well from outside, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all kinds of filth. 28 So it is with you: outside you look like honest men, but inside you are brim-full of hypocrisy and crime.

29 'Alas for you, lawyers and Pharisees, hypocrites! You build up the tombs of the prophets and embellish monuments of the saints, 30 and you say, "If we had boeen alive in our fathers' time, we should never have taken part with them in the murder of the prophets." 31 So you acknowledge that you are the sons of the men -vho killed the prophets. 32 Go on then, finish off what your fathers began!

33 'You snakes, you vipers' brood, how can you escape being condemned to hell? 34 I send you therefore prophets, sages, and teachers; some of them you will kill and crucify, others you will flog in your synagogues and hound from city to city. 35 And so, on you will fall the guilt of all the innocent blood spilt on the ground, from innocent Abel to Zechariah son of Berachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. 36 Believe me, this generation will bear the guilt of it all.

37 'O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that murders the prophets and stones the messengers sent to her! How often have I longed to gather your children, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings; but you would as not let me. 38 Look, look! there is your temple, forsaken by God. 39 And I tell you, you shall never see me until the time when you say, "Blessings on him who comes in the name of the Lord." '

References: [ Mt.21.5: Is.62.11, Zch.9.9 ] [ Mt.21.9: Ps.118.26 ] [ Mt.21.13: Is.56.7, Is.60.7, Jr.7.11 ] [ Mt.21.16: Ps.8.2 ] [ Mt.21.43: Ps.118.22-23 ] [ Mt.22.24: Dt.25.5 ] [ Mt.22.32: Ex.3.6, Ex.3.15 ] [ Mt.22.37: Dt.6.5, Jos.22.5 ] [ Mt.22.39: Lv.19.18 ] [ Mt.22.44: Ps.110.1 ] [ Mt.23.38: 1Kgs.9.7-8, Jr.22.5 ] [ Mt.23.39: Ps.118.26 ]
NEBNew English Bible: © The Delegates of the Oxford University Press & the Syndics of the Cambridge University Press 1961. This Webpage layout © Paul Ingram 2009. Any mismatches, truncated verses, other mistakes? Please e-mail me.