The second of the synoptic gospels, and placed first in Biblical canonical order, this gospel, attributed to Matthew presents Jesus as the prophesied and divinely-sent Christ, who stands against the corruption of his Father's law by the scribes and Pharisees. Unlike its historical predecessor, Mark, this gospel begins with the origins of Jesus' family, and a reflection of his noble Messianic ancestry. He is called by three prominent titles throughout the book, besides the universal term 'Christ': Son of Man, Son of David, Son of God. These three titles present a relationship he has with the Father. Jesus as the Son of Man may serve a potential callback to the books of Ezekiel and Daniel, where the Lord calls Ezekiel 'son of man' in the former and Daniel beholds a figure 'like a son of man' in the latter. Christ as the Son of David is obviously a Messianic title, likely applied to Jesus by his disciples early on in his ministry, as inferred by Matthew 9:27, 12:33, and 20:30. The Son of David would be, according to the Scriptures, a figure who would inherit the throne of his 'father' and be an anointed king from the Israelite clan of Judah. Jesus' title as the Son of God is to some degree a combination of divine and Messianic titles. This can be seen when the Father refers to Israel as his firstborn son in Exodus 4:22, and it is also used in reference to an eternal reign, such as in II Samuel 7:13-16.
Despite its Messianic roots, Matthew's gospel in no way has any sympathy towards the Jews; on the contrary, they are looked down upon as an unjustly proud and hypocritical nation. The author of the text appears to vehemently agree with Jesus in his fiery criticism of the Pharisees, scribes, and the general religious establishment in Judea at the time. Here they are portrayed, as in all the gospels, as not able to understand even the most simple elements of Jesus' teaching, having long thrown the truths of God's kingdom in favor of the strict legalism that the Roman-occupied religious system had to offer. Such an idea is expressed also in Matthew and Luke's source text, the Gospel of Mark, although it appears to be more restrained in order to better illustrate Mark's view of Jesus as an obedient servant doing only that which is required of him. This gospel's view of a divine and very self-awre Christ shares a majority of its material with the other three synoptic gospels, as is anticipated, although Matthew seems to prefer a kingly or godly Jesus in favor of a prophetic one whenever he can. Had most of its story not been shared with Mark and Luke, it very well could have been classified as a divine gospel, or a gospel that presents Jesus as a heavenly being emanated from the Father.
On the subject of this translation, it is apart of the free-to-use and distribute New Covenant Edition (NCE) that our group has put together, and it has been compared with the KJV, NKJV, and the NIV to make for a concise and fluid read. It is our hope that you enjoy studying and reading this translation of the Gospel According to Matthew.
|
1THE BOOK OF the generation of Jesus the Christ, son of David, son of Abraham. 2 Now Abraham fathered Isaac, and Isaac fathered Jacob, and Jacob fathered Judah and his brothers. 3 And Judah fathered Phares and Zerah by Tamar; Phares fathered Esrom, and Esrom fathered Aram. 4 And Aram fathered Amminadab, and Amminadab fathered Nahshon, and Nahshon fathered Salmon; 5and Salmon fathered Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz fathered Obed by Ruth, and Obed fathered Jesse, 6 and Jesse fathered David the king; David fathered Solomon by she who belonged to Uriah. 7 And Solomon fathered Rehoboam, and Rehoboam fathered Abijah, and Abijah fathered Asaph, 8 and Asaph fathered Jehoshaphat; and Jehoshaphat fathered Joram, and Joram fathered Uzziah. 9 and Uzziah fathered Jotham, and Jotham fathered Ahaz, and Ahaz fathered Ezekiah. 10 And Ezekiah fathered Manasseh, and Manasseh fathered Amon, and Amon fathered Josias; 11 And Josiah fathered Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon. 12 After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah fathered Salathiel, and Salathiel fathered Zerubbabel, 13 and Zerubbabel fathered Abiud fathered Eliakim, and Eliakim fathered Azor. 14 And Azor fathered Zadok, and Zadok fathered Achim, and Achim fathered Eliud; 15 And Eliud fathered Eleazar, and Eleazar fathered Matthan, and Matthan fathered Jacob. 16 Jacob moreover fathered Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, the one called Christ. 17 In all, therefore, the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen; and from David until the carrying away to Babylon fourteen generations; and from the time of the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations. 18 Now in this way the birth of Jesus Christ occurred: his mother Mary was bound to Joseph. But before they came together, she was found to be bearing in her womb by the Holy Spirit. 19 And Joseph her husband, being a just man and not wanting to expose her publicly, planned to divorce her secretly. 20 And when he had pondered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to receive Mary as your wife; for truly, that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. 22 This has come to pass that what has been spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, 24 And Joseph was awoken from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord has commanded him, and received his wife, 25 and did not know her until she had brought forth a son. And he called his name Jesus. |
|
1AND AFTER JESUS had been born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, 2 ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? Indeed, we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him. 3 Having heard this, Herod the king was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And having gathered together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 And they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for in this way it has been written through the prophet: 7 Then Herod, having secretly called the magi, inquired of them the time of the star’s appearing 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go, search carefully for the child; and when you have found him, report to me, that I also might come and worship him.” 9 When they had heard the king, they went away; and behold, the star that they saw in the east, went before them until it came to rest over where the child was. 10 And having seen the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And upon entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and having fallen down, they worshiped him. And opening their treasures, they offered to him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been divinely warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they withdrew into their own country by another route. 13 And when they had left, the messenger of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise. Take the child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and remain there until whenever I tell you; for Herod is about to seek the child to destroy him. 14 Moreover, having arisen, he took the child and his mother by night and withdrew into Egypt, 15 and remained there until the death of Herod; that what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, “Out of Egypt have I called my son.” 16 Then Herod, seeing that he had been outwitted by the magi, sent forth his soldiers and put to death all the boys that were in Bethlehem and in its region, from two years old and under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the magi. 17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, 19 Moreover Herod, having died, behold, a messenger of the Lord appears in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 “Arise. Take with you the child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel, for those seeking the life of the child have died.” 21 And he got up, took the child and his mother and came into the land of Israel. 22 And he heard that Archelaus reigns over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go. And having been divinely warned in a dream, he withdrew into the district of Galilee. 23 And when he came he dwelt in a city called Nazareth; so that what has been spoken through the prophets should be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene. |
|
1AND IN THOSE days came John the Immerser, proclaiming in the wilderness of Judea: 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” 3 Indeed, this is the one that was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, 4 John himself had a garment of camel’s hair, and a belt of leather around his waist. And his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then the people went out to him from Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan, 6 and they were immersed in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and the Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, 8 “O brood of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Produce, therefore, fruit worthy of repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for even from these stones is God able to raise up children to Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid at the root of the trees: therefore every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 I immerse you with water unto repentance; however, after me comes one mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, and he will gather his wheat into his barn; but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.” 13 Then at that time Jesus came up from Galilee to the Jordan, to John that he might be baptized by him. 14 But John prevented him, saying, “I must be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?” 15 However, Jesus answered and said to him, "Let it alone now; for thus it is fitting that we fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him. 16 And when he was immersed, Jesus immediately rose up out of the water. And behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down as a dove, and coming upon him. 17 Behold, a voice out of the heavens, saying, "This is my son, the Beloved One, with whom I am well pleased." |
|
1THEN JESUS WAS led into a secluded place by the Spirit to be tempted by the Accuser. 2 And having fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward he hungered. 3 And the tempter came, and he said to him, “If you are the Son of God, speak, that the stones might become loaves of bread.” 4 Jesus answered him, saying, “It has been written, 5 Then the Accuser took him to the holy city, and set him upon the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, 6 “If you are the Son of God, cast yourself down; for it has been written, 7 Jesus said to him, Again, it has been written, 'you shall not test the Lord your God.' 8 Again, the tempter took him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; 9 and he said to him, “All these things I will give to you, if you fall down and worship me. 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way, Satan! Indeed, it has been written, 11 Then the Accuser left him, and behold, messengers came and served him. 12 And when he heard that John had been arrested, he departed into Galilee. 13 And having left Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is on the seaside, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali; 14 that what has been spoken by Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, 17 From that time, Jesus began to proclaim and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” 18 And walking beside the sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon called Peter and Andrew his brother casting a large net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Come and follow after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 And they immediately left the nets and followed him. 21 And having gone on from there, he saw others—two brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. 22 And immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. 23 And he went in all the Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people. 24 And report of him went out into all Syria, and they brought to him all the sick: those having various diseases and oppressing pains, and those being possessed by spirits, and those being epileptics and paralytics, and he healed them. 25 And many crowds followed him from the Galilee and Decapolis, and Jerusalem, and Judea, and beyond the Jordan. |
|
1AND WHEN HE saw the crowds, he went up to the mountain; and as he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 And opening his mouth, he taught them, saying... Coming soon! |
|
1BBBB BB B BBBBBBBBBBBBB |
|
|
|
|