1One Sabbath, Jesus was walking through grain fields. His followers picked heads of grain, rubbed them in their hands, and ate them.
2But some of the Pharisees asked them, “Why are you doing something that isn’t allowed on the Sabbath day?”
3Jesus answered them, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?
4He went into God’s house, took the bread offered to God, ate it, and gave some to his companions. It is only lawful for priests to eat that bread.”
5He concluded by telling them, “The Son of Man has authority over the Sabbath.”
6On another Sabbath, Jesus went into the synagogue and taught. A man with a shriveled right hand was there.
7The teachers of the law and the Pharisees were watching Jesus closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath, so they could accuse him.
8But Jesus knew what they were thinking. He told the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up and come forward.” The man stood up and came forward.
9Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil? To save a life or to destroy it?”
10He looked around at all of them and then told the man, “Stretch out your hand.” The man did, and his hand was restored, as good as the other.
11But they were furious and began discussing with one another what they might do to Jesus.
12During those days, Jesus went out to a mountain to pray and spent the entire night praying to God.
13When morning came, he called his followers and chose twelve of them, whom he also named apostles:
14Simon, whom he also named Peter, and his brother Andrew; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew;
15Matthew; Thomas; James, son of Alphaeus; Simon, who was called the Zealot;
16Judas, son of James; and Judas Iscariot, who later betrayed him.
17Jesus came down with his disciples and a large crowd of people from all over Judea, Jerusalem, and the coastal towns of Tyre and Sidon. They all gathered on a level place to hear him and to be healed of their illnesses.
18Those who were troubled by evil spirits also came, and they were being healed.
19Everyone in the crowd tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.
20Jesus looked at his disciples and said, “God blesses you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God belongs to you.
21God blesses you who are hungry now, for you will be satisfied. God blesses you who cry now, for you will laugh.
22God blesses you when people hate you, shun you, insult you, and speak evil of you because you follow the Son of Man.
23When that happens, be glad and jump for joy, because your reward in heaven will be great. Their ancestors treated the prophets the same way.
24But how terrible for you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.
25How terrible for you who are full now, for you will be hungry. How terrible for you who laugh now, for you will mourn and cry.
26How terrible for you when everyone speaks well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets the same way.
27But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you.
28Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you.
29If someone strikes you on one cheek, offer them the other cheek as well. If someone takes your cloak, don’t stop them from taking your shirt too.
30Give to everyone who asks you, and if someone takes your belongings, don’t demand them back.
31Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.
32If you only love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.
33If you only do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same.
34If you lend to those from whom you hope to get something back, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners hoping to get back the same amount.
35Instead, love your enemies, do good, and lend without expecting anything in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to ungrateful and wicked people.
36So be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
37Don’t judge others, and you won’t be judged. Don’t condemn others, and you won’t be condemned. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.
38Give, and you will receive. You will be given a generous amount—pressed down, shaken together, and overflowing—poured into your lap. For the amount you give will be the amount you get back.
39He also told them a parable: “Can a blind person lead another blind person? Won’t both of them fall into a ditch?
40A student is not superior to their teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.
41Why do you see the tiny speck in your friend’s eye, but don’t notice the log in your own eye?
42How can you tell your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the tiny piece of dust in your eye,’ when you don’t see the big log in your own eye? You are a hypocrite! First, take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly enough to take the tiny piece of dust out of your brother’s eye.
43No good tree produces bad fruit, and no bad tree produces good fruit.
44Each tree is known by its own fruit. People don’t pick figs from thorn bushes, and they don’t pick grapes from a prickly bush.
45Good people bring out good things from the good stored in their hearts, and evil people bring out evil things from the evil stored in their hearts. For what they say comes from what is overflowing in their hearts.
46Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?
47Everyone who comes to me, listens to my words, and obeys them—I will show you whom he is like.
48He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid his foundation on a rock. When a flood came, the river rushed against that house, but it couldn't shake it because it was built on the rock.
49But anyone who hears my words and doesn't obey them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river rushed against it, the house immediately collapsed, and its destruction was complete.”