The Gospel of Matthew for Readers

Part 1

Copyright (C) 2002 by Lightheart.

The Gospel of Matthew for Readers

Editor's Preface

What is God's will for us? The answer can be found in the pages of the Gospel of Matthew, a rich source of information detailing the Son of God's instructions from Our Father to us. Here we learn, through Jesus' teachings and actions, what we must keep of the old. We find what must be replaced. We see what has been fulfilled and has come full circle. We discover the new material and the new message. The Gospel of Matthew holds out the keys to "this generation's" entry into the kingdom of heaven ... if we have ears to hear and eyes to see.

This edition of the Gospel of Matthew is designed for easy reading and is presented in chapter and paragraph style. The first chapter begins with the birth of Jesus rather than the geneological listing which can easily be found at the beginning of other editions. edited by Lightheart PracticeGodsPresence.com

1 The birth of Jesus Christ was thus: When Mary, His mother, was espoused to Joseph, and before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, a just man, not willing to make her a public example, decided to put her away privately. But while he thought about these things an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, Joseph, thou son of David, do not fear to take Mary as thy wife. The one who is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She shall bring forth a son and thou shall call Him Jesus. He will save His people from their sins.

All this was done so that what was spoken of the Lord by the prophet might be fulfilled: Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, God with us. Then Joseph awoke and did as the angel of the Lord told him and took unto him his wife. He knew her not until she brought forth her firstborn son, Jesus.

2 When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea, in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east went to Jerusalem. They said, Where is He that is born King of the Jews for we have seen His star in the east and go to worship Him. When Herod heard these things, he was troubled as was all Jerusalem. Herod gathered all the chief priests and scribes together and demanded to know where Christ would be born. They said, In Bethlehem of Judaea. It is written by the prophet: And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, the least among the princes of Juda, yet out of thee shall come a Governor that shall rule my people.

Herod called the wise men to enquire about the time the star would appear. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, Go and search diligently for the young child. When ye have found Him bring me word that I may come and worship Him also. After they met with the king they departed; and, lo, the star which they saw in the east went before them until it stood over the young child.

When they saw the star they rejoiced. The wise men came to the place and saw the young child with Mary, His mother. They bowed down and worshipped Him. They presented Him with gifts of gold, and frankincense and myrrh. Since they were warned by God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country by another way.

After they departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, Arise and take the young child and His mother and flee into Egypt. Stay there until I bring thee word for Herod will seek the young child to destroy Him. Joseph took the young child and His mother, by night, and departed into Egypt. There they remained until the death of Herod. This was so it might be fulfilled what was spoken of the Lord by the prophet: Out of Egypt have I called my son.

Herod realized he was mocked by the wise men and was exceedingly wrathful. He ordered that all the children that were in Bethlehem and in all the coasts two years old and under be slayed. This was based on what he was told by the wise men. Then that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet was fulfilled: In Rama there was heard the sound of lamentation, weeping, and great mourning. Rachel was weeping for her children and would not be comforted because they are no longer.

When Herod died an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt. The angel said, Arise and take the young child and His mother and go into the land of Israel. They are now dead who sought the young child's life. Joseph took the young child and His mother and started toward Israel. Along the way Joseph heard that Archelaus reigned in Judaea in the place of his father, Herod. Joseph was afraid to go there. Despite being warned by God in a dream, he turned toward Galilee. He came to dwell in a city called Nazareth that it might be fulfilled what was spoken by the prophets: He shall be called a Nazarene.

3 In those days John the Baptist preached in the wilderness of Judaea. He message was, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. John is the one that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias: The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord. Make His paths straight.

The same John wore camel's hair and a leathern girdle around his loins. His food was locusts and wild honey. He went out to Jerusalem. all Judaea, and all the region round Jordan. Many people were baptized by him and confessed their sins.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said to them, O generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth fruits fit for repentance. Do not say, We have Abraham for our father, because I say to you, God is able to raise up children to Abraham with these stones. The axe is now laid to the root of the trees. Every tree which does not bring forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire.

I baptize you with water for repentance but He that comes after me is mightier than I. His shoes I am not worthy to bear. He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with the fire whose fan is in His hand. He will throughly purge His floor and gather His wheat into the garner. He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

When Jesus came from Galilee to Jordan to be baptized by him, John forbad Him. He said, Why come to me? I should be baptized by thee. Jesus answered, For now, suffer it to be so because it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness.

When Jesus was baptized He came up out of the water and the heavens opened to Him. John saw the Spirit of God descend like a dove and light upon Him. A voice from heaven said, This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.

4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After He fasted forty days and forty nights He was hungry. The tempter came to Him and said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. Jesus answered, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. The devil then took Him up into the holy city and sat Him on a pinnacle of the temple. He said, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down, for it is written, He shall give His angels charge concerning thee and in their hands they shall bear thee up lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus countered Him saying, It is also written, Thou shalt not test the Lord thy God.

Next, the devil took Him up into an exceedingly high mountain. He showed Him the kingdoms of the world in all their glory. He said, All these things I will give thee if thou will bow down and worship me. Then Jesus said, Get thee hence, Satan, for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and Him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil left Him. And, behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

When Jesus heard that John was cast into prison, He departed into Galilee. And, leaving Nazareth, He dwelt in Capernaum on the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim. This He did so that what was spoken by Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled: In the land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim by the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people which sat in darkness saw great light. And to those who sat in the region and shadow of death, light is sprung up. From this time forward Jesus began His teaching of repentance because the kingdom of God is at hand.

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