HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 1237
M ATTHEW 8
page 867
how to give good gifts to your children, how
much more will your heavenly Father give good
gifts to those who ask him.
The Golden Rule
12 “Do to others whatever you would like them to
do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught
in the law and the prophets.
The Narrow Gate
13 “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through
the narrow gate. The highway to hell* is broad,
and its gate is wide for the many who choose
that way. 14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever
find it.
— promises —
from God
“Keep on asking, and you
will receive what you ask
for. Keep on seeking, and
you will find. Keep on
knocking, and the door
will be opened to you.”
M AT T H EW 7:7
The Tree and Its Fruit
15 “Beware of false prophets who come disguised
as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.
16 You can identify them by their fruit, that is,
by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from
thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 A good tree
produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces
bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit,
and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 19 So
every tree that does not produce good fruit is
chopped down and thrown into the fire. 20 Yes,
just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you
can identify people by their actions.
True Disciples
21 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord!
Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only
those who actually do the will of my Father in
heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will
say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your
name and cast out demons in your name and
performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I
will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me,
you who break God’s laws.’
7:13 Greek The road that leads to destruction. 8:4 See Lev
14:2-32. 8:5 Greek a centurion; similarly in 8:8, 13. 8:6 Or
child; also in 8:13.
Building on a Solid Foundation
24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house
on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds
beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who
hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand.
27 When the rains and floods come and the
winds beat against that house, it will collapse
with a mighty crash.”
28 When Jesus had finished saying these
things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching,
29 for he taught with real authority—quite unlike
their teachers of religious law.
Jesus Heals a Man with Leprosy
Large crowds followed Jesus as he came
down the mountainside. 2 Suddenly, a man
with leprosy approached him and knelt before
him. “Lord,” the man said, “if you are willing,
you can heal me and make me clean.”
3 Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am
willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly
the leprosy disappeared. 4 Then Jesus said to
him, “Don’t tell anyone about this. Instead,
go to the priest and let him examine you. Take
along the offering required in the law of Moses
for those who have been healed of leprosy.* This
will be a public testimony that you have been
cleansed.”
8
The Faith of a Roman Officer
5 When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman
officer* came and pleaded with him, 6 “Lord, my
young servant* lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.”
7 Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.”
8 But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy
to have you come into my home. Just say the
word from where you are, and my servant will
be healed. 9 I know this because I am under the
authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’
and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I
say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.”
10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed.
Turning to those who were following him,
he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen
faith like this in all Israel! 11 And I tell you
this, that many Gentiles will come from all
over the world—from east and west—and sit
down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the
feast in the Kingdom of Heaven. 12 But many
Israelites—those for whom the Kingdom was
prepared—will be thrown into outer darkness,
where there will be weeping and gnashing
of teeth.”
13 Then Jesus said to the Roman officer,
“Go back home. Because you believed, it has