Introduction
“The Gospel According to Yeshua” is my personal gospel harmony or “Diatessaron” project.
A Gospel Harmony, for those unaware, is a project which seeks to merge all four of the main Gospels of the two Apostles Matthew and John, and the Evangelists Mark and Luke, as one unified Gospel account or book.
This gospel harmony project I have personally constructed, it is not in the style of a typical harmonisation, however, but rather, in the style of a “red letter” Bible. That being, highlighted focus being put entirely on the words of Yeshua alone.
This work aims to be a collection of all sayings, teachings and phrases of the Lord Yeshua, that we may focus entirely on his words without distraction, written and formatted in a first-person sense, to create an imitation of what might have been, if our Lord had written his own personal Gospel account of his teachings, or if he had presented a speech consisting of everything he ever taught whilst on Earth.
Thus, I have arranged these words in synchronisation as from all four books, not including the words of any other figures, nor including the narrated accounts of any of the miracles, stories or other detailed surrounding events, as is written in the four books.
This work is not intended to be a replacement for the Gospels, nor is it to be considered an inspired work, nor is it to promote the idea of “Yeshua-Onlyism” (that being the rejection of the writings of the Apostles), but only as a teaching tool and project in the aid of focusing on the words of Yeshua, and imagining what might have been if he had spoken a sermon consisting of every single teaching, phrase and parable he had spoken, as is recorded in the Gospels.
The setting and style of the text is of a sermon, given from the perspective of his direct calling to the nation of Israel being his audience, following through to a revelation to the rest of the Gentile world. The text shall consider the live Israelite audience to be his main attention, and some events of the Gospels shall be described in a “past tense” though in the original text were in “present tense”.
The passages shall also include “[insert]” dialogue, purely for the purposes of clarity and contextualisation of certain sentences, where the original narration provides important detail to make sense of a sentence (ie; an individual Yeshua was speaking to, or situation he was responding to), but no inserts shall add to any of the teachings or sayings of Yeshua (of which would be conflict with this project), but the text aims to be as pure as possible, within the intended style. Whilst rare translation difficulties will be written in “(bold brackets)” and hyperlinked to a related article for further explanation.
Whilst the text aims to arrange things in as best a chronological order as possible in accordance to the order of his teachings, revelations and events of his life on Earth, the text above all prioritises ‘topical’ order and synchronisation, over that of a chronological one, for the aim of a smooth narrative and flowing teaching style, in which sticking purely to a chronological order, would not be able to achieve or express.
The translation of choice this work is based off of is the 2001 Translation Project, with some minor translation and word choice adjustments of my own. Any “Majority Text” verses in this work which do not appear in the “Critical Text” (ie; Pericope Adulterae, etc), that are included, will be marked with a double “[[bracket]]”.
These are the words and teachings of Yeshua the Anointed our saviour, the Only-Begotten Son of our God and Father Yah…
The Gospel According to Yeshua
“[This is the good news, that I first preached to Israel]:
[I told John the Immerser, to immerse me in water], this [was] the right thing for us to do, so we can fulfil all that’s righteous.
[It is written in Isaiah];
‘The Breath (or spirit) of YHWH is upon me, and I’ve been anointed by Him to teach good news to the poor. He sent me to heal broken hearts, to proclaim a release to the captives, a regaining of sight to the blind, deliverance to those who’ve been oppressed, and to announce the year of YHWH’s favor’.
Today, this scripture that you just heard, has been fulfilled! …This period has reached its fulfilment, the Kingdom of God has drawn near [and] is at hand! So, believe the good news and repent!
‘Hear, Israel! YHWH is our God, YHWH is one! So, you must love your God YHWH with your whole heart, soul, mind, and strength’; This is the first and the greatest Commandment! The second, which is like it, is this: ‘You must love your neighbour as yourself.’
These two commandments are the basis of the whole Law and all the [words of the] Prophets!
Blessed are the poor, for theirs is the Kingdom of God.
Blessed are the humble, for theirs is the Kingdom of [God].
Blessed are those who are sad, for they’ll be given comfort.
Blessed are those who are crying, for they’ll find reasons to laugh.
Blessed are also the meek, for they’ll inherit the land.
Blessed are those hungering and thirsting for righteousness, for they’ll find satisfaction.
Blessed are those who show mercy, for mercy is what they’ll receive.
Blessed are those with pure hearts, for they’ll [come to] see God.
Blessed are those who make peace, for they’ll be called Sons of God.
Blessed are those who receive persecution for doing [things that are] righteous, since theirs is the Kingdom of [God].
You’re blessed when they [shout] insults at you, and when they persecute you, then say many bad things about you and lie about you for my sake, the Son of Man. For this, you should [cry out in] joy; Since your reward in the Heavens is great, for that’s how they treated the Prophets before you.
But, woe to those who are rich, for they won’t receive any comfort.
And woe to those with full [stomachs], for they’ll be the ones going hungry.
Also, woe to those who are laughing, because they’ll be crying and mourning.
And woe when people say nice things about you, for that’s what their fathers said of false prophets.
I say this to all who will listen:
You’re the salt of the earth; But if salt becomes weak, is it still salt? No, when it no longer has strength, it’s thrown outside to be walked on.
You’re the light of this world, and a city on a hill can’t be hidden! You don’t light a lamp and then put it under a basket, you put it on a lampstand instead, where it can shine throughout the whole house! So let your light shine before all, then they can speak of the good things you’ve done and give glory to your Father in the Heavens.
Don’t think that I came to destroy the Law or the [words of the] Prophets, for I came to fulfil, not to destroy. I’m telling you the truth when I say that it’s more likely that the land and skies would pass away, than for an iota or a small point on a letter of the Law to pass away before it’s all fulfilled. So, whoever breaks the least of the Commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called the least in the Kingdom of [God], while those who teach and follow [the Law] will be called great in the Kingdom. I also say this to you: If you aren’t more righteous than the Scribes and Pharisees, you won’t enter the Kingdom of [God].
You’ve heard that the ancients were told:
‘You must not commit murder, for those who murder will be judged.’
However, I tell you this: Anyone who stays angry with his brother [[without a cause]], will have to be judged, and anyone who calls his brother empty-headed must stand before the religious court. Also, anyone who [calls his brother] stupid will be [condemned] to [the fires in the Valley of] Gehenna. And if you bring a gift to [God’s] Altar, but while you’re on the way you remember that your brother holds something against you; leave your gift at the Altar and go [to him]. First make peace with your brother, and then return to offer your gift. Also, while you’re on your way [to a court], you should quickly work out an agreement with your adversary, so you won’t have to leave the matter in the hands of the judge, who may hand you over to the bailiff, who’ll then lock you in jail. If that happens, I tell you this for a fact: You won’t be released until you’ve paid the last coin!
You’ve all heard that it’s said:
‘You must not commit adultery.’
But I tell you that any man who stares at a woman and develops a desire [to have] her, has committed adultery [with her] in his heart. So if your right eye becomes a trap to you, pull it out and throw it away! For it’s better to lose a piece of yourself than to lose your whole body in [the Valley of] Gehenna. Or if your right hand becomes a trap to you, cut it off and throw it away! For it’s better to lose a piece of yourself than to lose your whole body in the [Valley of] Gehenna.
It is also said that:
‘[Any man] that releases his woman should give her a certificate of rejection‘.
But I say: [Any man] that releases and divorces his woman and marries another except on account of sexual immorality, leads her into adultery, and is also an adulterer [himself]! And [any man] that marries a woman who’s been released is committing adultery…
..You’ve read that the One who created them long ago made them male and female and said:
‘This is why a man will leave his father and mother and join to his woman, making the two one flesh.’
So they’re no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, no man should split apart what God has yoked together! Moses realized how hard-hearted you would be, so he allowed you to release your women, but that hasn’t always been the way.
…[There are] those who have the gift [of remaining single and not marrying]. For there are eunuchs that were born that way, eunuchs that were made that way by men, and those who have made themselves eunuchs for the Kingdom of [God]. So let those who can make room for it, make room for it!…
Again, you heard it was said long ago:
‘You must not swear a false oath; rather, you must do as you vow to YHWH.’
However, I tell you this: Swear oaths by nothing at all! Don’t swear by Heaven, for that’s God’s throne; nor should you swear oaths by the Earth, because that’s also [God’s] footstool; And don’t swear by Jerusalem, for that’s the city of the great king. Don’t swear oaths by the hairs on your head, for you can’t turn a hair black or white! Let your yes just mean yes, and let your no just mean no, for it’s things like this that lead you towards evil.
You’ve also heard it was said:
‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’
But I’m telling you this; Don’t oppose evil men. So if someone slaps your right cheek, turn the other to him also. And if someone wants to take you to court and sue for your underwear, give him the rest of your clothes! Or if someone makes you to serve him for a mile, go with him for two miles! Yes, give freely to all those who ask, and don’t tell them that they must repay, and don’t turn away those wishing to borrow.
You’ve heard the saying that goes:
‘You must love all your neighbours and hate your enemies.’
But I say; Show love for your enemies, for those who oppose you, do good to all those who hate you, and pray for those who persecute and insult you; For by doing this, you’ll prove yourselves the sons of your Father in the Heavens, who lets the sun arise on the wicked and the good, and sends rain to the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you only love those who love you; what kind of good are you doing? What reward are you really due? Don’t tax collectors do the same thing? Even sinners love those who love them. Also, if you’re just good to those who do good for you, what kind of kindness are you showing? Even sinners will do that same thing. And if you choose to lend without interest [only] to those whom you know will repay you, what kind of good deed are you doing? For, sinners lend to sinners without interest when they know that they’ll be paid back. And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing that’s special? Don’t the Gentiles do the same thing? So, just be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect!
So love those [that hate you] and do what’s good, and lend without hope of return; Then you’ll receive a better reward. You’ll be the sons of the Most High, Who is kind to even the ungrateful. Yes, show mercy as your Father shows mercy. Don’t judge [others], so you won’t be judged. Don’t condemn, and you won’t be condemned. Set free, and you’ll be set free. Give to others and you’ll receive. They’ll give you a generous portion, overflowing and tightly packed down. For the amount that you measure [to others] Is the amount that they’ll measure to you.
[You ask, just who is your neighbour?] A man was travelling from Jerusalem to Jericho when he was jumped by some robbers. They stripped him, beat him up, and left him for dead. Well, it so happened that a Priest was travelling along the same road. But when he saw [the injured man], he passed on the opposite side. In the same way, when a Levite reached that place and saw him, he too passed on the opposite side. However, when a Samaritan came along and saw him, he felt pity for him. So he got down and poured oil and wine on his wounds and bandaged them. Then he mounted the man on his own animal and carried him to an inn, where he cared for him. And the next day, he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, and told him:
‘Attend to this man, and I’ll repay you for all that you spend beyond this when I return.’
Now, which of the three men seems to have made himself a neighbour to the person who had been jumped by the robbers? [It is the one who showed mercy to him]. Go your way and do the same thing…
[Some of the Scribes and Pharisees tried testing me by asking what should be done with woman who they claimed was guilty of adultery, saying that by the Law of Moses she should be stoned. I said;]; [[Whoever among you who has no sin, let him be the first one throw a stone at her!]] [As nobody condemned her, I said to her]; [[‘Woman, where are your accusers? Has nobody condemned you? Neither do I condemn you. Go, and don’t sin anymore!’]].
Don’t judge others, so you won’t be judged. For the [rules] by which you judge others are the rules they’ll use to judge you. And the standards you’re setting for them are the standards that they’ll set for you… If a blind man leads another who’s blind, won’t both fall into a pit? A disciple isn’t over his teacher, but those who learn [from their teachers] will then become like their teachers… Why look for the splinter in your brother’s eye, when you can’t see the plank in yours? For, how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove this splinter from your eye’, when there’s a plank in yours? Hypocrites! Remove first the plank from your own eyes, and then you’ll be able to see how to take splinter from the eye of your brother.
There were two men who each owed money to a certain lender. One was in debt for five-hundred silver coins, and the other for fifty. Well, when neither one could pay him back, he freely forgave them both. So, which one will love him more? You judged correctly [that it was the one who he forgave most].
When I entered [Simon my Disciple’s] house, [he] didn’t give me any water for my feet. Yet [a sinful] woman wet my feet with her tears, and she wiped them dry with her hair! [Simon] didn’t greet me with a kiss. Yet from the time that I entered, this woman [had] been tenderly kissing my feet. [Simon] didn’t grease my head with oil either. Yet this woman greased my feet with perfumed ointment. So I tell you: Although she has many sins, they are forgiven because she showed a lot of love. However, those who haven’t been forgiven for much, don’t love as much.
If your brother should sin [against you], you should go to him and discuss it. And if he repents, forgive him! If he sins against you seven times in a day, and comes back seven times to tell you that he’s sorry, you should forgive him all seven times!
I tell you; [forgive] not up to seven times, but up to seventy-seven times! To illustrate;
The Kingdom of [God] is like a man, a king, who wanted to settle some accounts with his slaves. So he started by bringing in a man who owed him ten-thousand large silver coins. And because he couldn’t repay it, the master ordered that he, his wife, his children, and everything that he owned was to be sold to make the payment. However, the slave fell down with his face to the ground before [the master] and begged:
‘Be patient with me and I’ll pay back everything that I owe you!’
Well, [the king] was moved to pity at this, so he forgave him and freed him from his entire debt. But shortly thereafter, the slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves that owed him just one-hundred small coins, and he grabbed him and started choking him, saying:
‘Pay back everything that you owe me!’
Then his fellow slave fell down and started begging him, saying:
‘Be patient with me, and I’ll pay you back!’
However, [the first slave] had the man locked up until he could pay everything that he was owed. Well, when all the other slaves saw this they became very upset, so they went and told their master what had happened. Then the master summoned him and said this:
‘Wicked slave! I canceled all that debt for you because you begged me. So, why didn’t you see the need to show the same type of mercy for your fellow slave that I had shown to you?’
And the master became so furious that he had him taken off to jail until he could repay all that he owed. Now, this is how my Heavenly Father will deal with you if you don’t forgive your brothers from your hearts.
As you would like to be treated, is the way that you should treat others. For that’s [the whole point] of the Law and the Prophets! You should strive to enter through the gate that’s narrow; For the road to destruction is both broad and wide, and that’s the way most people are going. But the gateway to life is narrow and tight, and few are those who can find it.
For if you’re willing to forgive other people’s errors, your Father in the Heavens will overlook yours. However, if you aren’t willing to forgive their errors, your Father won’t forgive yours either…
For you’ll all be salted with fire, in the same way that a sacrifice is [offered with] salt. And although salt is good, if it loses its salty flavour, how can it be used for seasoning? So, you should each keep salt in yourselves by staying at peace with each other.
Since the Scribes and Pharisees have put themselves in the seat of Moses, you should do whatever they tell you to do. Yes, do and pay attention! But don’t do as they do, because they like to talk, but they don’t [practice what they preach].
Rather, they bundle heavy loads to lay on men’s shoulders, which they’re personally unwilling to try to lift with even a finger, since everything that they do is done just to be seen by men. They broaden the [scripture-carrying] cases they wear, they make the fringes [on their clothes] a bit longer, they like the first places at meals and the front seats in the synagogues, and they enjoy being greeted in the markets and having people call them ‘Rabbi’. But not you! Don’t [have people] call you ‘rabbi’, for you only have one teacher, while you’re all just brothers. Nor should you address anyone on this earth as ‘Father’, because there’s just One who’s your Father, the Heavenly One. Don’t even be called leaders, because you only have one Leader, the Anointed One. Rather, the greatest among you must be your servant. For those who promote themselves will be humbled, while those who humble themselves will be promoted…
…You know how the rulers of the nations like to be masters over [the people] and keep them under their feet. But you shouldn’t be like that! Rather, whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. For this is how the Son of Man came. Not to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Which of you has a slave who, after he’s been plowing or tending a flock, would say to him when he returns:
‘Come over here and recline at my table’ ?
No, it’s more likely that you’d tell him:
‘Put on an apron and prepare my supper, then serve it to me. [You can wait] until I’m done eating and drinking, and thereafter you can get yourself something to eat and drink.’
You won’t be grateful to that slave because he did what he was assigned, will you? So you to, after you’ve done all that you’ve been assigned, you should say:
‘We are just worthless slaves, and we’re just doing what we’re expected to do.’ …
Two men went up to the Temple to pray. A tax collector and a Pharisee. Now, the Pharisee stood up and said this concerning himself in his prayer:
‘I thank You O God, that I’m not like the rest, who are robbers, the unrighteous, and adulterers… Or like that tax collector [over there], for I fast two times every week, and contribute one tenth of all I receive.‘
Yet the tax collector, who stood at some distance, wouldn’t raise his eyes towards the sky. He just beat on himself as he said:
‘O God, please don’t be angry with this sinner!’
Well, I tell you that this man went back home more righteous than the other, because the self-promoters will be humbled, while the humble will be promoted.
[So] be careful not to practice your righteousness before other men so that they can see what you’re doing; for if you do, you won’t receive a reward from your Father in the Heavens. And when you’re giving gifts to the needy, don’t blow a trumpet in the synagogue or out in the streets like the hypocrites do so they can be praised by the people. I tell you the truth: when they do this, that’s the only reward they’ll receive!
Rather, when you give gifts to the needy, don’t [tell] your left hand what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts to the needy in secret, and then your Father who watches in secret will be [the one] that repays you.
And don’t pray like the hypocrites do, for they [like to] pray as they’re standing in their synagogues and on the corners of the main streets, so that people will notice what they’re doing. I tell you the truth: that’s their full reward. Instead, when you pray, go into your room and after shutting the door, pray to your Father in secret. Then you’ll be repaid by your Father who’s watching in secret. Also, when praying, don’t babble the same words like the Gentiles do. For they think that they may only be heard through the use of many words. No, don’t act like them, for your God and Father already knows everything that you need before you ask Him.
Now, this is how you should pray:
‘Our Father who’s in the Heavens, may Your Name be treated as Holy, and may Your Kingdom arrive. May Your will take place on the earth, as it has in the Heavens. Give us our needed bread of substance, and please forgive all our debts, as we’ve forgiven our debtors. Into temptation, may we not be led, and from the wicked [one], save us.’
Also, when you fast, don’t put on a sad face like the hypocrites do, because they contort their faces to make sure that everyone knows they’re fasting. I tell you the truth: this is all the reward they’ll receive. But whenever you fast, wash your face and rub your head with oil, so that no one will know that you’re fasting other than your Father who’s watching in secret, and then your Father who’s watching in secret will be [the one] that repays you.
If you’re invited to a wedding reception, don’t go and recline in the very best place. For if someone more honoured arrives, the host will have to come there and say: ‘Let this man have that spot’, and you’ll be shamed when you’re sent to the least honoured place. So whenever you’re invited [to a banquet], go and recline in the very last spot. Then, when the host arrives, he’ll say: ‘Friend, take a better position!’ And you’ll be honoured before all his guests. For the self-exalting will be humbled, and the humble will be lifted high.
When you spread a dinner or a supper, don’t call your friends and your brothers, nor your kin or your rich neighbours; for you’ll then get your reward when they invite you [for a meal]. But whenever you’re planning a banquet, invite the crippled and poor, as well as the lame and the blind, those who can’t repay you; for then you’ll receive your reward when the righteous are standing again.
Watch out for the Scribes who like to walk around in robes, who wish to be greeted in the markets, and who want the front seats in the synagogues and the first positions at the meals. For despite the fact that they devour the homes of widows, they like to put on great pretences and deliver very long prayers to cover up their wrong doing. So, this is why they’re going to receive a heavier judgment.
I tell you the truth: [a] poor widow put in more than all the rest that were dropping their money into the Treasury chest, because they’re throwing in something of which they have plenty. However, this needy woman dropped in everything that she had, her whole [means of] living!
[A young rich ruler calling me ‘good teacher’ asked what good thing he must do to gain everlasting life. I said]; ‘Why do you call me good? [And] why are you asking me about doing what’s good? No one is good except The One, God… If you want to enter into the life, just follow the Commandments! You must not murder, you must not commit adultery, you must not steal, you must not testify falsely, you must honour [your] father and mother, and you must love your neighbour as yourself. If you want to be perfect, go and sell your belongings and give to the poor, then come follow me and you’ll have treasures in the Heavens…’.
I tell you the truth: It’ll be difficult for a rich man to get into the Kingdom of [God]. Let me put it this way, it would be easier [to thread] a rope through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into the Kingdom of God… With men, this is an impossibility. However, all things are possible with God. I tell you the truth: All who leave their homes, or their fields, brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, wives or children for my sake, and for the sake of the Good News of the Kingdom of God, will get one-hundred times more, along with everlasting life in the era that’s coming. However, many that are first will be last, and the last will be first.
There was a rich man who had a house manager that was accused of mishandling his belongings. So [the rich man] called him in and asked:
‘What’s this that I’m hearing about you? Turn in your things! You’re not managing [my] house anymore!’
Then the [house manager] thought to himself:
‘What should I do now that my master is taking away my position? I’m not strong enough to dig and I’d be too ashamed to beg. Ah! I know what I’ll do when I lose my job! I’ll do something to make people welcome me into their homes!’
So he called in everyone who owed debts to his master, and he asked the first one: ‘How much do you owe my master?’
He replied:
‘Nine-hundred gallons of olive oil.’
Then he told him:
‘Here, take your contract, then sit down and quickly write four-hundred-and-fifty’.‘
Then [he] asked the next:
‘How much do you owe?’‘
And he replied:
‘Thirty-six thousand quarts of wheat.’‘
So he told him:
‘Take your contract and write twenty-nine thousand.’
Well, although [what he’d done] was unrighteous, his master praised him, because he showed very good sense.
As you can see, the sons of this age are better at understanding how to deal with this people than the sons of light. Therefore, I’m telling you to make friends from the unrighteous wealth, so that when everything else fails, they’ll welcome you into their tents throughout the ages. For the one who’s faithful in little things will also be faithful in much. But the one who’s unrighteous in little things will also be unrighteous in much! So if you fail to prove that you’re faithful with the unrighteous wealth [of this world], who will trust you with things that are true? And if you fail to prove that you’re faithful with things belonging to others, who of us will trust you with our things? You can’t slave for two [different] masters; for you’ll hate one and you’ll love the other, and you’ll stick to one while despising the other, so you can’t slave for both God and wealth.
Keep your eyes open and guard against greed. For the things that you own won’t buy you life!
A rich man’s fields produced well, so he thought about this and then asked himself:
‘What should I do, since there’s not enough room In which to store all my crops?’
Then he said:
‘Ah, I’ll do this – I’ll tear down my barns and build larger, and that’s where I’ll put all my wheat as well as my other good things. Then I’ll say to myself; You now have many good things saved away [to last] many years. So, you can just take it easy! Yes, eat, drink, and enjoy it!’
But God said:
‘O foolish man! Tonight, they’re demanding your life! So, who will now own all these things?’
Yes, this is what will happen to a man who lays away treasures for himself, but fails to gain wealth with God!
Stop storing up treasures here on the earth that can be eaten by rust and by moths, or which thieves can break in and steal. Rather, store your treasures in the Heavens where they can’t be consumed by moths or by rust, and where thieves can’t break in and steal them; For your hearts will be wherever your treasures are! Your eyes are the lamps of your bodies, and if [you keep] your eyes simple, they’ll make your whole body bright. But if your eyes are just wicked, they’ll make your whole body dark. And when the only light within you is darkness, how great that darkness will be! No one can slave for two masters. For you’ll [find that] you won’t care for one, but love the other. Yes, you’ll be devoted to one, but you’ll despise the other. And this is why you can’t slave for God and for wealth!
I’m also telling you that you shouldn’t worry about your lives, or what you’ll eat, or your bodies and what you’ll wear. Life is more than food; and the body more than clothes. Rather, notice the birds in the skies. They don’t plant seeds, or harvest, or put things in storage sheds, because your Father in the Heavens provides their food. And aren’t you [greater than] they are? Which of you can, through worry, add even a tiny length to your lifespan? So if [worry] is unable fix little things, why be concerned about all these other things? Also, when it comes to clothes, why should you worry? Rather, pay attention to the way that lilies grow in the fields. For even though they don’t work or spin cloth, not even Solomon in all of his glory was as well-dressed as them. So, if God so well-dresses the plants in the fields (that are here today and thrown into the oven tomorrow), wouldn’t He rather clothe you? You with so little faith?
Therefore, never be worried and ask; ‘What are we going to eat or drink’, or, ‘What are we going to wear?’ For these are the types of things that the Gentiles are concerned with, and your Father in the Heavens already knows that you need these things! Rather, put the Kingdom and righteousness first, and then all these other things will be given to you. No, don’t worry about what tomorrow will bring, for tomorrow will have its own problems, and each day will have its own badness.
Which of you has a friend to whom you could go at midnight and say:
‘Friend, loan me three loaves [of bread] because another friend of mine has arrived after a long journey, and I don’t have anything [to feed him]?’
Wouldn’t he call to you from inside [his house] and say:
‘Don’t give me any trouble! My door is already locked and my kids are here in bed with me, so I can’t get up and give you anything!’
But I tell you the truth – although he won’t get up to give you anything because he’s your friend, he will get up and give you what you need if you keep on bothering him.
There was a judge in a city who didn’t fear God and couldn’t be shamed by other men. But a widow in that city kept coming and saying:
‘I want justice from the man whom I [sued].‘
Well at first, [the judge] did nothing at all, But then he started to reason:
‘Although I don’t fear God, and there aren’t men who can shame me, since this widow keeps coming and making more work, I’ll see that she receives justice so she doesn’t nag me to death!’
Now, did you hear what this unrighteous judge said? So won’t God, who is patient, also give justice to His chosen ones that call out to Him day and night? Yes, I tell you, He’ll bring speedy justice for you!
But when the Son of Man arrives, will he really find the faith on earth?
Keep asking and you’ll receive. Keep searching and you’ll find. Keep knocking and [the door] will be opened. For all will receive that keep asking. All that keep searching, will find. And [the door] will be opened to all those who knock. For about which man, isn’t this true: If his son should ask him for bread, he won’t hand him a stone. Or if he should ask for a fish, he won’t hand him a snake. Or if he asks for an egg, who would hand him a scorpion? So if you, in your wicked condition, will provide good gifts to your children; how much more will your Father in heaven give Holy Breath (or spirit) to those who keep asking Him?
Don’t be afraid, little flock, for it’s the delight of your Father to give you the Kingdom! Therefore, sell what you own and give it to those who really need it. Make purses for yourselves that won’t wear out. The unfailing treasures in the Heavens, which can’t be consumed by thieves or by moths. For where your treasures are is where your hearts will be.
When you see a cloud arise in the west, you say that a storm is approaching, and it happens. And when you see the wind blow in from the south, you say that a heat wave is coming, and it happens. Hypocrites! Since you know how to read the land and the sky, why can’t you read the [signs of the] times?
Do you think those Galileans [who were killed and their blood mingled with their own sacrifices by Pontius Pilate] suffered such things because they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No! For I tell you this: If you don’t repent, you’ll be destroyed that same way! And what about those eighteen people upon whom the tower at Siloam fell and killed? Do you think they were worse sinners than all the others that live in Jerusalem? No! I tell you this: If you don’t repent, you’ll all be destroyed that same way!
There was a man who had a fig tree in his vineyard, And when he went there looking for fruit, He wasn’t able to find any. So he said to the man who cared for the vineyard:
‘For the past three years, I’ve come looking for fruit from this tree, but so far, I haven’t found any. So, you should just cut it down, for it is just wasting space.’
But [the vine dresser] gave this reply:
‘Master, leave it alone for just one more year, while I’ll cultivate and fertilize it, then, it may bear fruit in the future, but if not, I’ll just cut it down.’
Why cry out to me, ‘O Lord, O Lord,’ If you don’t do the things that I say? Not all that shout ‘Lord, Lord’, to me will enter the Kingdom of [God], just those who are doing the will of my Father in the Heavens. Yet, many will say;
‘O Lord! In your name, didn’t I prophesy? And in your name, didn’t I cast out demons? Yes, haven’t we done great deeds in your name?’
But I’ll tell them:
‘I never knew you! Get away from me, you lawbreakers!’
Those who come here to listen and do as I say are like the very wise man who dug down to rock to lay the foundation for his house. So because of its solid foundation, it’ll be able to stand when winds, floods, rivers, and rains beat on his house, because it was built upon rock. But those who don’t listen and do as I say are like the man who built his house on the sand. So when winds, rains, and floods and the river washed on it, it fell in a mighty collapse, resulting in damage.
You must strive to enter through the gate that’s narrow, for I tell you that many will try to get in, but they’ll not have enough strength. So when the master gets up and latches the door; If you find yourself on the outside, knocking and shouting:
‘Lord, open to us!’‘
He will say:
‘I don’t know where you’re from!’
And if you should say:
‘But before you, we ate and we drank, and you taught us along our main streets!‘
Yet, he will then give this reply:
‘No I don’t know where you’re from, get away from me, you unrighteous people!’‘
Then, you’ll be crying and grinding your teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob with all the Prophets in the Kingdom of God, as you are left on the outside. For they’ll come from the east, west, north, and the south to recline at the table in the Kingdom of God. But Look! those who are last will be first, and those who are first will be last.
Just who’s my mother, and who are my brothers? Look, my mother and my brothers! For all those who are doing the will of my Father in the Heavens are my brothers, sisters, and mother. My mother and brothers are these that hear the word of God and obey it.
I tell you the truth; unless a person is born from above, born from water and [God’s] Breath (or spirit), he can’t enter the Kingdom of God. Because, things that have been born from the flesh are fleshly, while things that have been born from the Breath (or spirit) are spiritual. However, don’t be surprised because I told you that people have to be born above. For the wind blows wherever it wishes, and although you can hear the noise, you don’t know where it’s coming from or where it’s going, and that’s how it’ll be for everyone who’s been born from the Breath (or spirit).
No one has gone to Heaven other than the one who came down from Heaven, the Son of Man, [[he is amongst the Heavens]]. And as Moses raised the [sign of the] snake in the desert – that’s how the Son of Man must also be raised. So that everyone who believes in him might have everlasting life. This is how [much] God loved the world: He gave His one-and-only Son so that everyone who believes in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life.
God didn’t send His Son into the world to judge it, but rather, so that the world might be saved through him! Therefore, those who believe in [the Son] won’t be condemned, while those who don’t believe have already been condemned, because they haven’t put faith in the name of God’s one-and-only Son! Indeed, this [is the basis] for their judgment!
Although the light has now entered the world, these men have loved darkness more than the light, because the things that they’re doing are evil. For people who do what’s foul hate the light. They don’t come into the light so [that they won’t] be disciplined for the [bad] things they’re doing. However, those who do what’s true will come towards the light, so the things they’re doing can be exposed as having been done in God.
Beware of false prophets that come dressed as sheep, but on the inside, are just hungry wolves. You’ll recognize them by the fruit that they bear, for you don’t pick grapes from the thorns, and you don’t pick figs among thistles. A good tree will bear fruit that’s good, while the rotten ones bear fruit that’s bad. So a good tree won’t bear fruit that’s bad, and a rotten tree won’t bear fruit that’s good. Then the trees that don’t bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown in a fire. So you’ll recognize them by the fruit that they bear! So a good man brings good from the good in his heart, while the wicked bring bad things from theirs; For their mouths speak from all the badness that they’ve treasured within their hearts.
Don’t lay your holy things before dogs nor throw your pearls before pigs, so they can’t trample them under their feet and then turn around and tear you open.
I tell you the truth; [many of] you aren’t looking for me because you saw signs, but because you were filled up by the bread you had to eat [that I provided]. Don’t work for food that can spoil. Rather, [work for] for the bread of life that lasts throughout the ages, which the Son of Man –who was sealed by our Father The God– will give to you.
[A woman named Martha was angry with her sister Mary for leaving her alone to prepare a large meal for me. Because she wanted to sit at my feet to hear my teachings instead, so I said to her]; ‘Martha, Martha, you’re worried and upset about [preparing] many things, when all we need is just a few things, or just one. Mary has chosen the best part, something that they can’t take away from her!’
All that God requires, is that you believe in the one He sent… I tell you the truth; the bread that Moses gave [your ancestors in the desert] didn’t [really] come from Heaven. However, my Father will give you bread that truly does come from Heaven. For God’s bread is the one who came from Heaven so as to give life to the world… I am that bread of life. And those who come to me won’t ever be hungry again, nor will those who believe in me ever be thirsty again.
Whoever drinks water [from a well] will just get thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water that I give him won’t be thirsty again in this age! For the water that I give will become a fountain inside him that bubbles up everlasting life… If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink! For the scriptures say that those who’ll put faith in me will have rivers of living water flowing from them.
Although [many of] you [Judeans] have seen me, you still don’t believe. All those whom the Father has given to me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I won’t throw away, because I didn’t come down from Heaven to do my will, but [to do] the will of the One who sent me. And this is what His will is: That I shouldn’t lose any of those He’s given to me, and that I should resurrect them [on] the Last Day. Yes, it’s the will of my Father that everyone who pays close attention to the Son and believes in him should have everlasting life! For I will resurrect him on the Last Day! …[So you Judeans] stop your grumbling! Nobody can come to me unless he’s drawn by the Father who sent me, and then I’ll resurrect him on the last day. It’s written in the Prophets:
‘They’ll all be taught by God.’‘
So, all who listen to the Father and learn, will come to me. However, nobody’s seen the Father other than the one who was with God, yes, he’s seen the Father. And I tell you the truth; those who believe this will have everlasting life, because I am the bread of life! Even though your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, they [still] died. But those who eat this bread which came from heaven will not die! I am the living bread that came from heaven, and all that eat this bread will have everlasting life. Yes, the bread that I’m offering up is my flesh, and I’m giving it away so that I can bring life into the world!
I tell you the truth; if you don’t eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you won’t have life in yourselves. For those who eat my flesh and drink my blood will have everlasting life, because I will resurrect them on the Last Day.
Since my flesh is truly food, and my blood is truly drink, those who eat my flesh and drink my blood will remain in me, and I in them. I was sent here by the living Father and live because of the Father. So, those who feed on me will live because of me! Yes, this is the bread that came down from heaven. It’s not the same as the bread that your fathers ate and then died; for those who eat this bread will live throughout the ages… Has this become a trap for you? [If so], what’ll happen when you see the Son of Man going back up to the place he came from? [Understand that] the Breath (or spirit) is what makes you alive, the flesh is useless. These things that I’m telling you are life and breath, yet, some of you still don’t believe… This is why I told you that none of you can come to me unless you’ve been given to me by the Father….
I want you to know that the Son of Man has the power to forgive sins here on the earth…
My Father has kept working until now, and I keep working… I tell you the truth; the Son can’t do anything other than what he sees the Father doing. Whatever [the Father] does, is what the Son does. And because the Father cares about the Son, He shows him everything that He’s doing… And [God] will show him greater works than these, just to amaze you! For just as the Father raises the dead and makes them alive, the Son can also give life to whomever he wishes. And the Father doesn’t judge anyone, for He’s left all the judging to the Son, so that everyone may honour the Son just as they honour the Father.
Therefore, whoever doesn’t honour the Son, doesn’t honour the Father who sent him! I tell you the truth; those who hear what I say and believe in the One who sent me will have everlasting life! They won’t have to be judged, for they’ve come out of death and into life!
I also truthfully say that the time’s coming when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who listen to him will live. For just as the Father has life in Himself, He’s given the Son life in himself and authorized him to do judging, because he’s the Son of Man. Don’t be surprised at this, because the time is coming when everybody in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life, and those who practised what’s foul to a resurrection of judgment.
[Understand that] I won’t do something just because I want to, I judge by what [evidence] I hear, and my judgments are righteous, because I’m not looking to do what I want, but to do the will of the One who sent me!
Now, if I were to testify about myself, that testimony wouldn’t be true. But someone else has already testified about me, and I know that the testimony he gave about me is true. For you [Judeans] sent [people] to John and he testified to the truth. Nevertheless, I don’t really need the testimony of men, I’m just telling you these things to save you.
[John the Immerser] was a burning, shining lamp, and you all wished to rejoice in that light during his hour. But now I have a testimony that’s even greater than John’s, because I’m doing the work that my Father assigned me to finish. And these things will testify about me [and prove] that I was sent by the Father. For even the Father who sent me has testified about me, yet, you’ve never heard His voice or seen His shape, and His words don’t stick with you, because you don’t believe in the one who He sent!
Rather, you keep searching the Scriptures, thinking they’ll give you everlasting life. And although they actually do testify about me, you still refuse to come to me so you can live!
I don’t [need] glory from people, and I know that you don’t have God’s love in you. Even though I’ve come in the Name of my Father, you haven’t welcomed me, yet if someone else came in his own name, you’d welcome him! So how can you believe, when you receive your glory from each other, and you don’t glorify the one who’s come here from the One God? Now, don’t think that I’m going to accuse you before the Father, because the one who accuses you is Moses! The very person you’re putting all your hope in! For if you believed Moses, you’d also believe me, since he wrote about me! However, if you don’t even believe what he wrote, how can you believe what I have to say?
What I’m teaching you isn’t mine, it belongs to the One who sent me. And everyone who wants to do His will already know whether the things I’m teaching come from God, or if I’m speaking on my own. For those who speak on behalf of themselves are just trying to glorify themselves. But this one’s only wish is to glorify that One who sent him, and [he] is telling the truth, and there isn’t any unrighteousness in him…. Yes, you know me, and you know [Nazareth is] where I’m from! But, coming here wasn’t my idea; for the One who sent me here is real, and you don’t know Him. I know Him, because I came from Him and He sent me here!
I am the light of the world, and whoever follows me won’t ever walk in darkness, because he’ll have the light of life…
…I’ll be here with you just a little while longer before I go to the One who sent me. And then you’ll look for me, but not find me; for where I’m [going], you can’t go… You came from the things below, and I came from the things above, you’re from this world, but I’m not from this world. So just like I told you before, you’ll die in your sins. Indeed, if you don’t believe that I’m the one, you’ll die in your sins!
..The judgments that I’m bringing into this world are helping those who don’t see, [start] to see, and makes those who can see, blind!…
…[The blind man I healed] wasn’t born blind because of the sins he or his parents committed. This happened so that the works of God could be demonstrated through him. For I must do the work of the One who sent me while it is still day, since the night is coming when no one can work. And as long as I’m in the world, I’m its light…
…The sickness [Lazarus had wasn’t] for death, [it was] for the glory of God, so that the Son of God will be glorified by it… [Why did I go back to where the Judeans wanted to stone me? You ask.] Aren’t there twelve hours of daylight? If a person walks in the daylight he doesn’t bump into things, because he sees the light of this world. But if someone walks around during the night he’ll bump into things, because there isn’t any light in him. Our friend Lazarus [was] lying down and [I went] there to wake him up… Lazarus [had] died, and I [was] happy for [my Disciples] sakes that I wasn’t there, so [they could] believe.
[I said to Martha, the sister of Lazarus]; ‘Your brother will stand again! …I am the resurrection and the life; so, whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live. And all the living that believe in me won’t see death into the age! Do you believe this?’ …[I asked] where [they had] laid him [and to] lift the [tomb sealing] stone… [I asked Martha]; ‘Didn’t I tell you that if you believed, you’d see the glory of God?’ …[I then prayed]; ‘Father, thank You for listening to me. I know that You always listen to me, but I said this for the sake of the crowd that’s standing around, so they can believe that You sent me’… [And then I called]; ‘Lazarus come on out!’ …[and for everyone to] untie and unwrap him!
…I must do the work of the One who sent me while it is still day, since the night is coming when no one can work. And as long as I’m in the world, I’m its light.
The light will be among you for just a little while longer. Therefore, walk while you have the light, so that darkness doesn’t overtake you. For those who walk in darkness, don’t know where they’re going. But as long as you have the light, you have to put faith in that light, so you can become Sons of the Light…
Those who believe in me aren’t just believing in me alone, but in the One who sent me. And whoever sees me also sees the One who sent me! For I came as a light to this world so that all those who believe in me won’t remain in the darkness.
Now, if anyone hears the things that I’m saying and doesn’t obey them, I’m not going to judge that person. For I didn’t come into the world to judge it, but to save it! However, those who ignore me and don’t welcome what I say already have someone who’s judging them! The things that I’ve said are what will judge them on the last day, since the things that I’ve said didn’t come from me. Rather, it was the Father who sent me who commanded me and told me what to say. And since I know that His Commandments mean everlasting life, I’ve just told you whatever the Father told me. Yes, these are the things that I’ve been saying to you!
[When you all looked for John the Immerser] what did you go to the desert to see? Reeds being blown in the wind? Yes, what did you go out to see? A man who’s dressed in soft clothes? Those wearing soft clothes live in mansions! So, why did you really go out there? Did [you go there] to [visit] a Prophet? Yes, and one who’s more than a Prophet! For, this is the one of whom it was written:
‘I’ll send My messenger ahead to prepare the road that’s before him!’
I tell you the truth: Of those born to women, none have been raised that are greater than John. But the least in the Kingdom of [God] will be greater than him. For from the time of John [until now], the Kingdom of [God] has been taken by force, and the forceful are the ones who’ve seized it. Indeed, this was all prophesied in the Law and the Prophets. And if you’re willing to accept it; he’s the Elijah that was to come, let those who have ears pay attention!
Elijah does indeed come and he restores everything. However, I tell you that Elijah has already come and they didn’t recognize him. So they did whatever they wanted to him, and this is the same way that the Son of Man is about to suffer at their hands!
To whom can I liken this people? They’re like children playing in the markets that shout at their mates:
‘We played the flute, but you didn’t dance! We wailed, but you didn’t beat on your chests!’
When John came along; because he didn’t eat fine food or drink any [wine], they said that he had a demon! But because the Son of Man loves fine foods and wine, they call him an alcoholic and glutton, a friend of tax collectors and sinners! Yet, wisdom is proven righteous by its results.
…You [people] just refuse to believe unless you see signs and omens…
[I told the chief of the synagogue when a man’s daughter died]; ‘Don’t be afraid, just have faith’.
[A man with a demon possessed child asked if I could help him. I said in reply]; ‘You said, If you can! Don’t you know that everything is possible for those who have faith?’
[I said to Nicodemus]; ‘You’re a teacher of Israel, and you don’t know [how it is possible to be born above]? I tell you the truth; we talk about things we know, and we testify to things we’ve seen. Yet you haven’t accepted our testimony. So if you don’t believe the earthly things that I’m telling you, how will you believe the heavenly things?’
[My Disciples once asked me why they couldn’t cast out a demon. I said]; ‘Because of your lack of faith! …[And] this is the kind [of demon] that will only come out through prayer [[and fasting]]’.
[When Peter saw me walking on the sea and asked to walk over, I said]; ‘Come to me!’ [But when he became afraid and started to sink I said]; ‘O you with so little faith! Why did you start to doubt?’
[When I was with my Disciples on the boat, they thought they were about to die when the sea became violent, so I said]; ‘Why are you so afraid [and] cowardly, you with so little faith? Don’t you have any faith?’
[When my Disciples asked me about not having enough bread, I said]; ’You with so little faith! Why are you talking about not having any bread? Don’t you get the point? Don’t you remember how many baskets you picked up after [we fed] five thousand [men with just] five loaves; or how many provision baskets you picked up after we fed four thousand [men] with just seven loaves? Why don’t you understand that I’m not talking about bread? [I’m telling you to] watch out for the fermentation of the Pharisees and Sadducees!’
[The Sadduces deny the resurrection, and questioned me on who’s wife a woman will be in resurrection. I said to them]; ‘This is why you’re headed in the wrong direction. For you don’t understand the Scriptures or the power of God…. Although the sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, those who’ve been found worthy of that age in the resurrection, they won’t marry or be given in marriage nor will they die anymore, for they’ll be like the angels in the Heavens, since as sons of the resurrection, they [will also be] sons of God. Also, haven’t you read what God told you about the resurrection of the dead? [Through] Moses He showed that the dead will be raised! For when [Moses was] at the [burning] bush, he called YHWH the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. He isn’t the God of the dead, but of the living! Since they’re all living to Him!’
O faithless and twisted people! How much longer must I be with you [and] put up with you? …Because of your lack of faith!
…[I said to a fig tree]; ‘Let no fruit come from you anymore throughout the rest of the age’ [and it withered]. I tell you the truth: If you have faith (and you must not doubt), not only will you be able to do what I did to this fig tree… [but even with] faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree: ‘Pull out of the ground and plant yourself in the sea!’‘ and it would likely obey you… you could say to this mountain; ‘Move from here to there… Lift up and be thrown into the sea!’ And it would go! Nothing would be impossible for you! You’ll receive anything you ask for in prayer if you have faith.
[To two blind men I said]; ‘Do you really believe that I can do this thing [and heal you]? May it happen to you in accordance to your faith!’
[I said to a leper who asked if I wanted to make him clean]; ‘I want to [make you clean]… Be clean’.
[I said a man sat by the pool of Bethzatha, who was lame for thirty-eight years]; ‘Would you like to get well? …Man – your sins are forgiven! Get up, pick up your cot, and go home… See, now you’re healthy! Don’t sin anymore, so that something worse doesn’t happen to you.’
[When a woman with a condition of bleeding touched the fringe of my garment, I said]; ‘Who touched my clothes? Daughter, your faith has saved you! Go in peace… And may this be the last of the plague’.
[To those mourning a dead child I said]; ‘You should all leave now, because the little girl isn’t really dead, she’s just sleeping!’
[To a man cured of a legion demons, I said]; ‘Go back to your home and family and tell them all the things that YHWH has done for you, and about the great mercy He has shown to you’.
[To a paralyzed man brought to me who showed much faith, I said]; ‘Take courage, child, your sins are forgiven…’ [When others doubted and questioned I said]; ‘Is it easier to say; your sins are forgiven, or just; get up and walk? However, I want you to know that the Son of Man has the power to forgive sins here on the earth’… [Then I said to the man] ‘get up, pick up your cot, and go home’.
[I said to a blind man I healed]; ‘Have you started to put faith in the Son of Man?’ [When he asked to see him, I replied]; ‘You’ve already seen him, for this one who’s speaking to you is him. The judgments that I’m bringing into this world are helping those who don’t see, [start] to see, and makes those who can see, blind!’
[The children shout ‘save the son of David’]. Yes. Haven’t you ever read this?:
‘From the mouths of infants and babies You have ordered up praises.’
[I asked my Disciples]; ‘What do you believe about the Anointed One? Whose son is he to be? Why do they say that the Anointed One is David’s son? Why did David in the scroll of the Psalms, through the Breath (or spirit) [of God], call him his Lord, when he said:
‘YHWH said this to my lord: ‘Sit here at my right hand, ‘Til I set your enemies as a stool for your feet?’
So if David called him ‘Lord,’ how could he be his son? …Who are people saying that the Son of Man is? …Who do you say that I am?’
Simon son of Jonah is blessed [for knowing I am Son of the Living God and the Anointed One], because this wasn’t shown to [him] by flesh and blood, but by my Father in the Heavens. [He’s now called] Peter [meaning, Rock], and I’ll build my congregation on this bedrock so that the gates of the place of the dead won’t overpower it. I’ll also give [him] the keys to the Kingdom of the Heavens, so that whatever [he] binds on earth will be bound in the Heavens, and whatever [he] sets free on the earth will be set free in the Heavens.
Look [at Nathaniel]… An Israelite who really speaks his mind! Before Philip called [him], while [he was] under the fig tree, I saw [him]… [I said to him]; ‘Do you [only] believe [I am the Son of God and King of Israel] because I said that I saw you under the fig tree? You’ll see even greater things than that! I tell you men the truth; you’ll see the Heavens opening up and the messengers [of God] ascending and descending upon the Son of Man!’
I tell you the truth; those who don’t enter the sheep pen through the gate, but climb in at some other place, are thieves and robbers. Only the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of those sheep. He’s the gatekeeper that opens to them, and the sheep listen to his voice. So he calls his sheep by their names and then he leads them out. And after he has them all out, he leads the sheep and they follow, because they recognize his voice. They won’t follow a stranger, they’ll run from him, since they don’t recognize the voice of a stranger…
I tell you the truth; I’m the gateway to the sheep, and all those who came ahead of me were thieves and robbers, so the sheep didn’t listen to them. Whoever enters through me will be saved! He can come in or he can go out and find a place to graze.
So while thieves only enter to steal, kill, and destroy, I came here so they can have life, and plenty of it! I’m the good shepherd, and a good shepherd will give his life for his sheep. A hired hand (someone who isn’t a shepherd and who doesn’t own the sheep) will leave them and run away whenever he sees a wolf coming, so the wolf can scatter them and snatch some away. For since he’s just a hired hand, he doesn’t really care about the sheep.
However, I’m the fine shepherd, and I know my sheep and they know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. Therefore, I’ll lay down my life for my sheep! I also have other sheep that aren’t in this pen, and I must lead them too. They’ll listen to my voice and they’ll all become one flock under one shepherd. This is why I’m so loved by the Father, because I’m willing to lay down my life and then take it back again. Nobody’s going to take it from me, I’m giving it away! For I’m authorized to lay it down, and I’m authorized to receive it again. Yes, this is the rule that I received from my Father!
When you [Judeans] tear down this temple sanctuary, I will rebuild it in three days…. The Son of Man must suffer many things. He will be rejected by the Elders, Chief Priests, and Scribes, and he will be killed. But on the third day, he will wake up. [Simon Peter said that I should be kind to myself because this would not happen to me. So I said to him]; ‘Get behind me [you] opposer! You’re a trap to me, because you aren’t thinking God’s thoughts, but those of men!’
[When The Slanderer tested me in the desert by asking me to turn stones into bread whilst I fasted, I replied]; ‘It is written: ‘Man doesn’t live by just bread alone, but by every word that comes from God’s mouth!’’. [When The Slander asked me to throw myself off the temple tower that angels might catch me to prove I am a son of God, I said]; ‘Once again, it is written’: ‘Don’t put YHWH your God to the test!’’. [And when The Slanderer asked me to bow down and worship him in exchange for the kingdoms of world, I said]; ‘It is written: ‘Indeed; you must worship YHWH, your God, and Him alone should you serve!’’.
If you hang onto these things that I’m telling you, then you are really my disciples. You’ll know the truth, and the truth will set you free!
[The Scribes and Pharisees ask why I welcome and eat with these tax collectors and sinners. I said to them]; ‘Those who are well don’t need a doctor, only the ill do. So I didn’t come to call the righteous, but the sinners [[to repentance]]. Now, go and learn the meaning of the words;
‘I want mercy, not sacrifice’.
Which of you who owns one-hundred sheep, and then should lose just one, wouldn’t leave the ninety-nine out in the fields, to search for the lost until it is found? Then when you find it, you will rejoice, and [carry it home] on your shoulders. And when you get home, you’ll call your friends and neighbours and say: ‘Come and with me, rejoice, for I’ve found my sheep that was lost!’.
So in the same way, I tell you this: There is more rejoicing in heaven over just one sinner that turns from bad ways, than over ninety-nine of the righteous who have no need of repentance. Or when a woman with ten silver coins finds that she has lost one, she’ll light [all her] lamps and sweep her whole house to search until she has found it, and when she finds it, she’ll call her neighbours and friends, and say:‘ Come and with me rejoice, for I’ve found the silver coin that I lost!’ …So it is with the Father in the Heavens… So I tell you: There is joy among the angels of God over each sinner that repents.
There once was a man who had two sons. And the youngest went to his father and said:
‘Please give me my share of what I’ll inherit!’
So he gave him the portion that was his. Well, just a few days after that, this younger son gathered his things and travelled to a far-away land, where he quickly squandered all that he had. Then after he’d spent [all his money], a famine came to that land, which left him in a very bad spot. So he went to work for a man in that place that sent him to watch over his pigs. And soon he even started longing for the carob pods he was feeding the pigs, for the man gave him nothing [to eat]. Then, when he came to his senses, he thereafter asked of himself:
‘Since my father’s hired-hands have plenty of bread, why am I here, dying from hunger? So I’ll get up and return to my father! And since I’ve sinned against heaven and him, I’ll admit that I am unworthy to be called his son anymore, and I’ll tell him that I just want to work as one of his hired hands.’
So then he got up and returned to his father. However, while he was still far way, his father recognized him in the distance, and in pity, he ran and fell on his neck and then he tenderly kissed him. But the son said:
‘Father, I’ve sinned against heaven and you, so I’m unworthy to be called your son anymore, just let me be one of your hired hands.‘
But the father said this to his slaves:
‘Quickly bring him a robe! Bring the very best one, then put a ring on his finger and put some shoes on his feet. Also, slaughter the calf that we’ve fattened with wheat, then let’s hold [a feast] and have a good time! For my son who was dead is alive! He was lost, but now he’s been found!’‘
So thereafter, they held a banquet for him. Meanwhile, the older son had been out in the fields, and as he returned and got close to his home, he could hear [the sounds] of music and dancing. So he called to one of the servants and asked:
‘What is happening here?’
And in reply, [the servant] said this:
‘Your brother has just returned, so your father had us slaughter the calf that was fattened, because [your brother] returned in good health!‘
Well at that, [the son] became very angry and he refused go back inside. So his father came and begged him to come on in. But this is what he said to his father:
‘Even though I’ve slaved for you all these years and I’ve never broken your rules, you’ve not given me even a single kid goat that I could enjoy with my friends. Yet, when this son returns home who spent all his money on whores, for him, you slaughtered the wheat-fattened calf!’‘
But this is what his father then said:
‘Child, you’ve always been with me, and everything I have is yours also. However, we had to celebrate and rejoice, because your brother, who was as one of the dead, has now been brought back to life! The one who was lost, has been found!’
[This is why] Salvation has come to [the] house of [Zacchaeus the chief tax collector], for he’s also a son of Abraham! This is the reason why the Son of Man came! To search for and save those who are lost!
[When my Discples asked if we should call down fire upon the Samaritans that insulted us on the way to Jerusalem, I replied]; [[‘You don’t know what kind of spirit you are! For the Son of man didn’t come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them!’]]
[I told my Disciples who tried to stop someone casting out demons in my name because he wasn’t following us]; ‘Don’t try to stop him, because those who do powerful deeds in my name won’t be too quick to say bad things about me. For those who aren’t against us are for us!’
[As I said to my Disciples when they tried to prevent the children approaching me]; ‘Leave the children alone and don’t stop them from coming to me, because the Kingdom of [God] is for people just like this! I tell you the truth; anyone who doesn’t welcome the Kingdom of God like a young child won’t ever get into it.
Whoever wants to be first must be the last and the servant of the rest. Unless you change your ways and become like [a] little boy, you won’t get into the Kingdom of the Heavens! But the one who humbles himself like [a] little boy will be the greatest in the Kingdom of the Heavens. And whoever welcomes someone like [a] little boy in my name, welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me, welcomes the One who sent me.
Therefore, the one who acts as the least one among you will be the greatest. But if anyone sets a snare before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for him to have the type of millstone that’s turned by a donkey, hung around his neck, and then to be dropped into the open sea! Woe to this system of things because of its snares! …Of course, there’ll always be snare, but woe to the man who sets them! So, pay attention to yourselves! If your hand or foot is a snare to you, cut it off and throw it away, for it’s better to enter life maimed or lame than to be thrown into the everlasting fire with two hands or two feet. Also, if your eye is a snare to you, rip it out and throw it away, for it’s better to enter life with one eye than to be thrown with two eyes into the fires of the [Valley of] Gehenna.
This is why you should never disregard any of these little ones! For I tell you: Their messengers in the Heavens gaze upon the face of my Father in the Heavens! …He doesn’t want even one of these little ones to perish.
Therefore, if your brother should fail in some way, take him aside and discuss it between you and him alone; then if he listens to you, you’ll have won over your brother. But if he doesn’t listen, you should bring along one or two others, so that whatever is said [by him] can be proven by the mouths of two or three witnesses. However, if he refuses to listen even to them, you should speak to the congregation. And if he refuses to listen to even the congregation, let him become as a Gentile or as a tax collector among you. I tell you the truth: everything that you bind on the earth will be bound in the Heavens, and everything that you set free on the earth will be set free in the Heavens. Again, I truthfully say: If two of you agree to anything on this earth that you must request, it’ll happen because of my Father in heaven. For wherever two or three are gathered in my name, I’ll be there among them’.
‘[When the Pharaisees complained that I heal on the Sabbath. I said]; ‘I do [this] one thing and you’re all astounded!
Moses gave you the circumcision (although it’s not really from Moses but from your forefathers), so you circumcise men on the Sabbath. [So] if a man can be circumcised on a Sabbath without breaking the Law of Moses, then why are you so angry with me because I made a man healthy on a Sabbath? Stop judging from the way things look on the surface, judge righteously!
Is it legal to do something good or bad, or to save a life or destroy it on the Sabbath?
If any of you had a sheep that fell into a pit on the Sabbath; which one of you wouldn’t go there to lift it out? …Don’t you untie your bulls and donkeys from their stalls and lead them out to drink on the Sabbath? Yet, this [disabled and bent over woman I healed] is a daughter of Abraham, whom The Opposer has held tied! Look! For some eighteen years! So, isn’t it appropriate for her to be untied from this type of bondage on the Sabbath?’ …A man is worth much more than sheep, [bulls and donkeys]! Yes, it is legal to do good things for him on the Sabbath!
[When they complained that my Disciples plucked heads of grain on the Sabbath. I said]; ‘Haven’t you read what David did when he and his men got hungry? How they entered God’s House and ate the show bread on YHWH’s table, which wasn’t legal for them to eat, since it was only for the Priests? Or haven’t you read in the Law that the Priests in the Temple can break the Sabbath rules [by offering sacrifices] and not be found guilty? So I’m telling you that something greater than the Temple is here now! And if you understood what the words mean; ‘I want mercy, not sacrifices’, you probably wouldn’t be condemning these innocent ones. For the Son of Man is the Lord of the Sabbath!’
So [I say to all the people]; come to me, you who’ve worked hard, and you who’ve born heavy loads, I’ll also give you rest. Yes, learn from me and put on my yoke. For I’m meek, and I have a kind heart, so your souls will find refreshment in me. This yoke of mine is very gentle and the load is light!
[They complained that my Disciples don’t wash their hands before eating. I said]; ‘You Pharisees like to wash the outsides of dishes and cups, but your insides are filled with wickedness and robbery! Unreasonable people! Didn’t the One who made the insides also make the outsides? Hypocrites – because you wash the outsides of cups and dishes that are still filled with theft and excesses on the insides. Blind Pharisees: first clean the insides of the cups and dishes, so that the outsides can also be clean! If you’ll be charitable to those who are in need. Look! Not just your outsides, but everything about you will be clean!
But, woe to you Pharisees, for although you offer even your mint and your rue when you tithe, you keep overlooking justice and the love of God! Yes, you do all that [the Law] requires of you, but then you bypass all the rest. Yes, woe to you Pharisees, for you love [to sit in the] front seats in the synagogues and [to receive] all the greetings in the markets! Yes, woe to you, for you’re like the hidden graves that men unwittingly walk on. Woe to you Scribes and Pharisees – hypocrites – because you’re like whitewashed graves that look beautiful on the outside, but you’re full of dead men’s bones and every sort of filth on the inside. You look like righteous men on the outside, but on the inside, you’re full of hypocrisy and lawlessness! Woe to you who are trained in the Law, for you pile loads upon men so high that they can’t be carried and which you wouldn’t touch with even a finger! Yes, woe to you! For you build tombs for the Prophets that were murdered by your fathers! Yes, you decorate the tombs of the righteous and say:
‘If we had lived back in the days of our forefathers, we wouldn’t have shared in [spilling] the blood of the Prophets!’
But when you say this, you’re testifying against yourselves, since you’re approving of the very same things that your fathers did when they murdered those Prophets, those whose tombs you’re now building. You’re testifying against yourselves that you’re the sons of those who murdered the Prophets! And now [it’s time] for you to fully measure up to [the badness of] your ancestors! Yes, you snakes and children of vipers! How can you escape the judgment of the [Valley of] Gehenna [fire]?
It was concerning such things that the Wisdom of God said this:
‘I’m sending Apostles and Prophets to you whom you’ll persecute and you’ll kill.’
You’ll hang some on poles, and you’ll whip others in your synagogues and chase them down in one city after another. And this is why the blood of all of the Prophets that’s been spilled since this system was founded will be laid upon this people! From the blood of Abel to that of Zechariah, who [was murdered] between the [Temple] Holy Place and Altar. It’ll all be laid upon this people!
So, woe to you who are trained in the Law, for although you accept the key to [great] knowledge, you fail to come through [the door], while blocking the way for everyone else trying to enter! O Jerusalem, Jerusalem you killer of Prophets and stoner of those who were sent to you! How often I’ve wanted to gather your children the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you didn’t want that! So look… Your house has been taken from you! I tell you the truth: You won’t see me again until you say:
‘Praise the one who comes in YHWH’s Name!’
…Don’t you get the point? Don’t you realize that whatever you put into your mouth just goes into your belly and then into the sewer? However, the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart. These are the things that dirty a man. For out of the heart comes wicked thinking, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, thievery, false testimonies, and blasphemy. These are the things that pollute a man! But eating with unwashed hands doesn’t make him dirty’.
[When they asked why my Disciples don’t fast like John’s disciples and the Pharisees, I said]; ‘The bridegroom’s friends don’t have any reason to be sad when he’s with them, do they? However, the day is coming when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they’ll fast’.
Understand that nobody sews a patch of unshrunk cloth onto old clothes, because its [shrinking] strength will pull the clothes and make the tear worse. And people don’t put new wine into old wineskins; for if they do, the old wineskins will burst, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. This is why people put new wine into new wineskins, so that both things are preserved, and anyone who’s tasted the old wine, doesn’t want the new anyway, for they say that the old [wine] is better!
…Now, there once was a very rich man who dressed himself in purple and linen, and he enjoyed the very best things each day. There was also a poor man named Lazarus who used to sit just outside of [the rich man’s] porch. This [poor] man was covered with sores, and all he wanted was to eat some of the things that fell from the rich man’s table. Also, even dogs would come and lick his sores. Well, the poor man [eventually] died, and [God’s] messengers carried him off to the most favoured position of Abraham. Then the rich man also died and was buried. But from the place of the dead he raised his eyes, and he was tormented when he saw Abraham off in the distance with Lazarus lying before him. So [the rich man] called out and said:
‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me! Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water to cool off my tongue, for I’m suffering in these flames!‘
But Abraham replied:
‘Child, remember that you had all the good things in life, while Lazarus [had just] the bad. So now he’s here [receiving my] comfort, while you are there suffering. Also, an abyss has been placed between us, so that those who are here can’t go there, and those who are there can’t come here.‘
Well at that, [the rich man] said:
‘Then I beg you, please father, send him to the house of my father, for I have five brothers, get him to warn them what happened, so they don’t end up in this place of torment!‘
But Abraham replied:
‘They’ve already got the Prophets and Moses, [so your brothers] should listen to them!‘
Then [the rich man] said:
‘No indeed, Father Abraham; for they’d surely repent if someone were to come to them from the dead!‘
But [Abraham] said:
‘No! If they won’t listen to the Prophets or Moses, then they wouldn’t be persuaded even if someone rose from the dead!’
…Although Moses gave you the Law, none of you are trying to do what the Law says, for why are you looking to kill me?…
[You ask me if it’s lawful to pay taxes to Ceasar?] Why are you testing me, you hypocrites? Show me the coin that you use to pay the head tax. Whose image and inscription is on this? Pay Caesar’s things to Caesar, but God’s things to God!’ …[I said to Simon Peter]; ‘What do you think, Simon; from whom do the kings of the earth get their duties and head taxes? From their sons, or from strangers? …The sons are really tax-free, aren’t they? But because we don’t want to stumble them, go over to the sea and cast out a hook, then take the first fish that you catch. And when you open its mouth, you’ll find a coin. Take [the coin] and give it to them for both you and me’.
You [Pharisees] claim to be righteous before men, but God knows what’s really in your hearts; and things that are important to men are disgusting in God’s eyes.
Why do you overstep the Commands of God with your traditions? For God told you to honour your fathers and mothers, and to have those who speak badly to their fathers or mothers put to death! Yet you’re telling your fathers and mothers that all you might have to give to them is already [dedicated] as a gift [to God]. So [what you’re really saying], is that you don’t have to honour your parents at all. And when you do this, you’re voiding the word of God with your traditions. You hypocrites! How well Isaiah prophesied about you, when he said:
‘Although they offer Me praise with their lips, They’re far away from Me in their hearts! So it’s in vain that they come to bow before Me, Since they’re teaching the ideas and instructions of men.’
Woe to you Scribes and Pharisees – you hypocrites – for you’re blocking the way into the Kingdom of the Heavens. You don’t enter it, and you don’t allow the rest that are on their way to enter it! So, woe to you Scribes and Pharisees – you hypocrites – because you travel land and sea to make a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of the Gehenna [Valley] fires as yourselves!
And woe to you blind guides that say:
‘If someone swears an oath by the Temple, it doesn’t mean anything. But if he swears by the gold in the Temple, the oath is binding.’
Morons and blind men! Which is really greater? The gold, or the Temple that makes the gold holy?
You also say:
‘If someone swears an oath by the Altar, it doesn’t mean anything; but if anyone swears by the gift on [the Altar], the oath is binding.
Blind men! Which is really greater? The gift, or the Altar that makes the gift holy? Those who swear an oath by the Altar are not only swearing by it, but also by everything that’s on it. Also, those who swear an oath by the Temple are swearing by the One who dwells there, and those who swear an oath by heaven are swearing by the throne of God and by the One who’s sitting upon it!
Yes, woe to you Scribes and Pharisees – hypocrites – for even though you contribute even one tenth of your mint, dill, and cumin, you ignore the deeper things of the Law, like justice, mercy, and faith! Yes, you should do those things also, in addition to the rest. [However, you’re just] blind guides that strain out weevils as you gulp down camels!
It is written:
‘My house will be called a house of prayer…’‘
But, you’re turning it into a den of thieves! Get these things out of here! Quit turning my Father’s House into a marketplace!
[When I came riding into Jerusalem on young donkey, you wanted the people casting their robes along the road and calling me the coming king in the name of YHWH to be silent, but] I tell you this: If they were to remain silent, these stones would be doing the shouting!
[You ask if I am the Anointed One], I [already] told you, but you don’t want to believe it! Even though the things I’m doing in my Father’s Name all testify about me, you still don’t believe it, because you aren’t my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice, I know them all, and they follow me, so I’m giving them everlasting life! No, none of them will be lost in this age, because no one can snatch them out of my hands. For my Father who gave them to me is greater than everyone, and no one can snatch them from His hands, and my Father and I are one!
…I’ve shown you all these good things that I did, which came from the Father, so, which of these good deeds are you getting ready to stone me for? [You say it is for making myself to be God (or; “a god”)?] …Isn’t it written in your Law:
‘I say that you are gods?’
So if God called those whom The Word of God spoke against, ‘gods’, and you can’t void the Scriptures, how can you tell me, one who was made holy and sent into the world by the Father, that I’m blaspheming because I say that I’m God’s Son? Now, if what I’m doing isn’t my Father’s will, then don’t believe me! But if what I’m [doing really is His will], then believe in what I’m doing, even if you don’t believe in me! For then you’ll come to know, and keep on knowing, that the Father’s in me, and I’m in the Father.
Even if I am testifying about myself, my testimony is true, because I know where I came from and where I’ll return. However, you don’t know where I came from, or where I’ll be going, since your judgment is fleshly. Now, I’m not really judging anyone! But if I should judge, my judgment would be true, because I’m not alone! For with me is the Father who sent me!
Isn’t it written in your Law that whatever two people testify about is true? So although I’m testifying about myself, the Father who sent me has also testified about me…. You don’t know me or my Father; for if you knew me, you’d also know my Father… I’m about to go away and then you’ll look for me. However, you’ll just die in your sins, because I’m going to a place where you can’t go. …I’ll be here with you just a little while longer before I go to the One who sent me. And then you’ll look for me, but not find me; for where I’m [going], you can’t go…
You came from the things below, and I came from the things above, you’re from this world, but I’m not from this world. So just like I told you before, you’ll die in your sins. Indeed, if you don’t believe that I’m the one, you’ll die in your sins! …Why am I even speaking to you? [I am] The Beginning and that what I’ve been saying to you! Yet, I have so many things to tell you and to judge about you… For the One who sent me is true, and I’m telling the world whatever I heard from Him… After you hang the Son of Man up, you’ll know who I am and that I haven’t been doing anything on my own… I’ve just been telling you what I was taught by the Father. For the One who sent me is with me, and He didn’t send me off alone, because I always do the things that please Him.
I tell you the truth; everyone who sins is really a slave to sin. And a slave doesn’t always live in the house. Only the son lives there throughout the age. Yet if the Son sets you free, you’ll really be free! I know that you’re Abraham’s offspring, however, you’re looking to kill me, because what I’m saying isn’t getting through to you.
Although I’m telling you the things I saw [while I was] with my Father, you’re still doing the things that you heard from your father… If you really are Abraham’s children, then do what Abraham did! However, you still want to kill me, a man who’s just telling you the truth that I heard from God! Abraham wouldn’t do that! So you’re doing the things that your father wants. If God were your Father, you’d love me, because I came out from God and have come here. And I didn’t come here on my own [accord], He sent me here!
Do you know why you don’t understand what I’m saying? Because you aren’t listening! You’re from your father The Slanderer! And you’re wanting to do the will of your father, who’s been a murderer from the beginning. He didn’t stick with the truth, because there isn’t any truth in him. So when he tells a lie, he’s saying something that’s his, since he’s a liar and the father of the lie. This is why, although I’m telling you the truth, you don’t believe me.
Who among you can accuse me of sinning? And if I’m telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? Those who come from God listen to what He says. And that’s why you aren’t listening, because you aren’t from God!
..The judgments that I’m bringing into this world are helping those who don’t see, [start] to see, and makes those who can see, blind!’ If you were blind you wouldn’t have any sin. But because you claim to see, your sins remain.
[You Judeans and Pharisees say I have a demon, and that it is by the power of Beelzebub, ruler of demons, that I cast out demons].
I don’t have a demon. I’m honouring my Father, and you’re dishonouring me! I’m not trying to glorify myself! However, there’s someone who is watching and judging! And I truthfully say that those of you who obey my words won’t see death throughout the age… The One you claim to be your God, although you’ve never really known Him, I know Him, and if I ever say that I don’t know Him, I’d be a liar like you! However, I do know Him and I’m doing what He told me to do. Your father Abraham shouted in joy over the hope of seeing my day! Yes he saw it, and he rejoiced! …[You all wonder how I have seen Abraham though I am not yet fifty years old?]; I tell you the truth; I existed before Abraham was born!
A kingdom that’s divided will fall, and a city or house that’s divided won’t stand. So if The Opposer casts out The Opposer, he’s fighting himself and his kingdom won’t stand. Now, if I’m really using Beelzebub’s [power] to cast out demons, then whose [power] are your sons using when they cast them out?
You see, it’s things like this that condemn you! For if I’m really casting out demons by means of God’s Breath (or spirit), then God’s Kingdom has rolled over [and] overrun you! After all, no one can break into the house of a powerful person and steal his things unless they first tie him up, only then can they loot his house. So now; those who aren’t with me are against me, and those who aren’t on my side will be scattered.
And I’m telling you this: All sins and blasphemies can be forgiven, but not blasphemy against [God’s Holy] Breath (or spirit). That won’t be forgiven! If someone speaks badly against the Son of Man, this is something that can be forgiven. But if someone blasphemes [God’s] Holy Breath (or spirit), he won’t be forgiven, no, not in this age or in that to come.
So, either declare the tree and its fruit to be good or declare it [all] to be rotten. For you’ll recognize the trees by the fruit that they bear. O you offspring of vipers! How can evil people like you speak of good things, since what you’re saying is coming from your hearts? A good man will bring what’s good from the good [that’s in his heart], while the evil just bring bad things from what’s stored there. So I’m telling you now that when the Judgment Day arrives, you’ll each answer for the things that you’ve said to mislead. You’ll either be found righteous, or you’ll be condemned by the things that you’re saying.
A wicked and adulterous people [are always] looking for signs. However, they won’t receive one other than the sign of Jonah the Prophet, for just as Jonah was a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be to this people. For as Jonah was in the sea creature’s belly for three days and three nights; the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. Then the men of Nineveh will stand in the Judgment along with this people, and they’ll condemn it; for they repented at what Jonah preached. But look; something greater than Jonah is here! The Queen of the South will also arise in the judgment, and she will condemn this people; for she came from the ends of the land to listen to Solomon’s wisdom. But look; something greater than Solomon is here!
When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it travels through [many] dry places, searching for a [good] place to rest. But if it can’t find one, it says: ‘I’ll just go back to the house that I left.’ And then, upon his return, if he finds [the house] empty, furnished, and swept, he’ll move back in, bringing along seven more spirits that are even more wicked than himself. So then, after [he] gets inside [of the man], the others will dwell in him also, making things worse for him than they were before. Yet, that’s how this people will be.
Let me ask you something, and if you answer me, I’ll tell you who authorized me to do these things. What was the source of John’s immersing? Did it come from heaven or from men? …[You claim you don’t know so] I’m not going to tell you where I got the authority to do the things that I’m doing.
What do you think? There was once a man who had two children. He went to the first one and said:
‘Son, I want you to work in the vineyard today.
This one answered:
‘Yes sir!’‘
But he didn’t [do it]. Then [the man] went to the second son and said the same thing. And he replied:
‘I don’t want to…’‘
But later, he felt sorry, and he did go [to work in the vineyard]. So, which of the two did what their father wanted? I tell you the truth; tax collectors and whores will go ahead of you into the Kingdom of God, because John came to you [preaching] the ways of righteousness, but you didn’t believe him. However, tax collectors and whores believed him! And although you saw this, you didn’t feel sorry later and put faith in what he was saying.
Listen to another parable:
There was a man – the master of his house – who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, built a tower [to protect it], and hired [people to] cultivate it before he travelled abroad. Then when the [harvest] season arrived, he sent his servants to the farm hands to collect the fruit. However, those farm hands took his slaves and beat the first one up, threw stones at the second, and killed the third one. So he then sent other slaves to them (more than the first) but they did the same things to these. Finally, he sent his son to them, saying:
‘They’ll show respect for my son!’
But when they saw the son, the farmers said:
‘This is the heir! Let’s kill him and get his inheritance!’
So they grabbed him and threw him out of the vineyard, then they killed him. Now, when the owner of the vineyard returns, what do you think he will do to those farm hands?
Haven’t you ever read in the Scriptures?:
‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the foundation cornerstone. By YHWH this was done, and this is a wonderful thing in our eyes’.
This is why I tell you that the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation that produces its fruit. For the person who falls on this stone will be shattered, and anyone it falls on will be smashed into dust!
The Kingdom of the Heavens [of God] is like a man who prepared a large supper. A king, that arranged a wedding banquet for his son. And thereafter, after the meal was prepared, he sent his slaves out to call all those whom he wished to invite, saying
‘Come on the banquet is ready!’
However, none of the people wanted to come. So then he sent other slaves, giving them these instructions:
‘Tell those whom I invited that the banquet is ready. Bulls and fattened animals have been slaughtered, and everything is prepared, so they should come to the feast!’
However, none of them paid any attention. Each thereafter gave an excuse. The first said:
‘I must look at a field that I’ve bought; so, please let me be excused.’
And then another said this:
‘I’ve purchased five pairs of oxen, and I must now go to inspect them; so, please let me be excused’.
Still another replied:
‘Because I’m about to get married, I’m unable to come at this time.’
One went out to his field, another to his business, and the rest grabbed his slaves, abused them, and then killed them. Of course, this sent the king into a rage! So he sent his army to destroy those murderers and to burn their city. And after he did that, he said to his slaves:
‘The marriage feast is indeed ready, but those whom I invited were unworthy. So, go out to the roads that lead into the city and invite everyone you can find to my wedding banquet! Bring the crippled and poor, as well as the blind and the lame’.
Therefore, the slaves went out to the roads and they gathered everyone they could find (both the wicked and the good), and the banquet hall was soon filled with people reclining at the tables. And when [they] returned, the slave told him:
‘Although I did everything you told me to do, there’s still plenty of room!’‘
So the master then gave these instructions:
‘Go out to the roads and backyards, and make people come, so my house will be filled! For I tell you that nobody I invited will get even a taste of my supper!’
But then, when the king came in to inspect the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t properly dressed for a wedding celebration. So he asked him:
’How did you get in here [dressed like that]?’
Well, the man was speechless. Then the king said to his servants:
‘Tie him hand and foot and throw him into the darkness outside, where he can cry and grind his teeth!’
For, many are called, but few are chosen’
…[The Pharasiees were offended by what what I said, but] anything that my heavenly Father didn’t plant will be uprooted. So [I told my Disciples to] just let them go, for they’re blind guides! And if a blind man leads a blind man, they’ll both fall into a pit…
[I told my brothers]; ‘My time hasn’t arrived yet, but it’s always your time, because the world has no reason to hate you. It hates me, because I testify to the fact that its ways are wicked…’
[I told my Disciples]; ‘Pull out to where it’s deep and let down your nets for a catch! Follow me and I’ll make you fishers of men! Stop being afraid! Come be my follower!
I’ve got food to eat that you [Disciples of mine] don’t know about… Doing the will of the One who sent me and finishing His work is my food! For although you say that there’s still four more months until the harvest, I say to you, look up and notice the fields! Because they’re already white and ready for harvesting! Yes, the harvesters are already getting their pay, and they’re gathering in the fruit of everlasting life, so the planters and the harvesters can now rejoice together. For the saying is true:
‘One person plants, another harvests’.’
I’m now sending you out to harvest what you didn’t [plant]. Yes, although others have done the work, you’re now benefiting from their efforts!
There is, in fact, a huge harvest. But there aren’t enough workers. So, beg the Master of the harvest to send more workers into the field to do His harvesting!
…Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel… You [should each] go your own way; and as you go, you should proclaim that the Kingdom of [God] has drawn near. Cure sick people, make lepers clean, and throw out demons. You received it freely, so give it freely! You won’t have to carry along any gold, silver, or copper [coins] in your waist sashes or a food pouch for the trip; nor should you carry two pairs of underwear, or extra sandals, or walking sticks, because the worker has earned his provisions.
Then, whenever you enter a city or village, you should search for those who are deserving and stay with them until you must travel on. Whenever you enter a city and they welcome you, eat whatever they set before you, then cure their sick and tell them that the Kingdom of God is near! And when you enter any house, offer the household a greeting of peace, you should say: ‘May this house have peace’. And if the house is worthy let peace come into it, and if a son of peace lives there, your peace will rest upon him. But if it isn’t worthy, let the peace return to you. So, stay in that house and eat and drink the things that they provide, because a worker deserves his wages, don’t keep moving from one house to another.
Wherever the people don’t take you in and listen to your words; when you leave that house or that city, just shake the dust off your feet. Go into its main streets and say: ‘We’re wiping off the dust that got stuck on our feet in this city – and giving it all back to you!’ Remember this; The Kingdom of God is really near! For I tell you the truth; On the Judgment Day, it will be more bearable for the lands of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that city!
Woe to you, O Chorazin, and woe to you, O Bethsaida; for if the powerful deeds that had happened in you had also happened in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented in sackcloth and ashes a long time ago. This is why it’ll be easier for Tyre and Sidon to endure the Judgment Day than for you! And you, O Capernaum, will you be raised to the heavens? No, you’ll go down to the place of the dead! For if the powerful deeds that happened in you had also happened in Sodom, [that city] would still be here today. So I tell you that it’ll be better for the land of Sodom in the Judgment than it will be for you!
Understand that those who listen to you’re also listening to me, and those who ignore you are also ignoring me, and those who ignore me are ignoring the One who sent me.
Those who invite you into [their homes] are also inviting me in. And those who are inviting me in, are inviting the One by whom I was sent. Those who welcome a Prophet because he’s a Prophet, will receive a Prophet’s reward. And those who welcome the righteous because they’re righteous, will receive the reward of the righteous. For whoever gives one of these least ones so much as a cold cup of water because he’s my disciple, I swear that he won’t lose his reward.
The blind are seeing, the lame are walking, the lepers are being cleansed, the deaf are hearing, the dead are being raised, and the poor are being taught the good news. So, anyone who doesn’t stumble over me will be blessed…
Look! I saw The Opposer falling like lightning from the sky! For I’ve given you [Disciples] the authority to walk on serpents, scorpions, and on the power of the enemy! And nothing will harm you! However, don’t be joyful because [evil] spirits obeyed you; be joyful that your names have now been written in the Heavens!
I publicly praise you O Father, Lord of the Heavens and earth; For You’ve hidden these things from the smart and the wise, while you revealed them to infants. Yes, Father; this is the thing that you have approved. All that I have, came from my Father; For no one knows the Father as well as His Son, and no one knows the Son as well as his Father, or those to whom he’s revealed Him.
The eyes that are seeing the things that you’re seeing [my Disciples], are blessed; for I tell you that many prophets and kings wished to see the things that you’re seeing, but didn’t see them, and to hear the things that you’re hearing, but didn’t hear them.
Look! I’m sending you out as sheep among wolves. So, prove yourselves to be as cautious as snakes while remaining as innocent as doves. Now, be careful, because men will carry you before religious courts and they’ll whip you in their synagogues. Yes, you’ll be taken before governors and kings for my sake as a witness to them and to the Gentiles. But when they bring you up [for trial], don’t worry about what you should say or how you should say it, because, what you must say will be given to you in that hour.. You won’t be the one doing the talking, the Breath (or spirit) of your Father will be speaking through you.
For brothers will hand their own brothers over for death, and fathers will do the same to their children. Yes, even children will rise against their own parents and hand them over for death. Everyone will hate you because of my name. But those who endure to the end will be saved. So when they chase you out of one city, just run to another. For I tell you the truth: You may not get to all of Israel’s cities before the Son of Man arrives.
Understand that a disciple can’t be greater than his teacher, and a slave can’t be greater than his master. However, a disciple may become like his teacher and a slave may become like his master. But if they’re calling the master Beelzebub, then how much more [will they say this] of those in his home? So [expect this] to happen to you, and don’t be afraid!
Watch out for the fermentation of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. For there’s nothing that’s covered which won’t be shown, and there are no secrets that won’t be known. What I say in darkness, you must say in the light; and whatever is whispered to you in your ear must be proclaimed from the rooftops!
Don’t fear those who can kill the body, but can’t kill the person within. Rather, fear the One who can fully destroy the person and his body in the [fires in the Valley of] Gehenna. Don’t two sparrows cost very little? You can buy five sparrows with just two small coins. Yet whenever one falls to the ground, your Father’s aware of what happened, for He’s even counted the hairs on your head! So you have no reason to fear; For, more than many sparrows, is your value to Him! If you’ll admit that you’re with me to others, I’ll also admit that I’m with you before my Father and the angels in the Heavens. But if you deny that you know me to men, I’ll also deny knowing you before my Father and the angels in the Heavens.
Now, those who speak against the Son of Man can be forgiven; but those who blaspheme [God’s] Holy Breath (or spirit) won’t be forgiven! So when they drag you up before synagogues, or authorities, or government officials, don’t worry about what you must do or what you must say in your defence. For you’ll be taught what to say by [God’s] Holy Breath (or spirit) in that hour…
I came here to start a fire on the earth; so, what more could I possibly wish than to see it already lit? But there’s also an immersion coming that I must endure, and I’m under great pressure until it arrives.
Don’t think that I came to bring peace to the earth; No, for I’m not bringing peace, just the sword! I’ve come to create divisions! So, if there are five in a house, they’ll be divided three against two, Or two against three. I came to divide fathers from sons, and sons [will be] against their own fathers, as well as daughters from mothers, and brides [and] daughters-in-laws from their mothers-in-law, and mothers-in-law against daughters-in-law! Your enemies will be those in your own homes; but those who care less for me than for their fathers or mothers, [will never] be worthy of me. And the one who cares less for me than for his sons or his daughters, isn’t worthy of me. Unless those who come to me care less for their fathers, mothers, wives, children, brothers, and sisters – yes, even for their own lives – they can’t become my disciples…
…[James and John, you ask to rule at my side in the Kingdom]; You don’t really know what you’re asking… Can [you] drink from the same cup that I’ll be drinking? You will indeed drink from my same cup! But sitting on my right and left isn’t mine to give, it belongs to those for whom my Father has prepared it…
Although foxes have burrows and birds in the skies have their nests, the Son of Man has no place to lay his head… [I said to a man who wanted to bury his father before following me]; Just keep on following me and let the dead bury their own dead… You should go out and preach about the Kingdom of God! [And I said to another who wanted to say goodbye to his family]; No one who looks back after he puts his hands to a plough is well suited for the Kingdom of God…
Those who won’t lift their own torture devices and follow behind me, aren’t worthy. For those who seek first their own lives are really the ones who’ll lose them; but they’ll find them, if they lose their lives for my sake.
I tell you the truth; unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a kernel. But if it dies, it produces much fruit. So, those who care for their lives will lose them, while those who don’t care about their lives in this system of things are grabbing hold of everlasting life. Therefore, if anyone wants to serve me, he must follow me, so that my servants will be wherever I am. For the Father will honor all those who wish to serve me.
If anyone wants to follow me, he’ll have to deny his own needs, you must set aside everything else that you want, then pick up his impaling wood and travel behind me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. So, what good would it do for a man to gain the whole world, if he just loses his life? And what will a man give [to save] his own life? Yet if anyone is ashamed of me and what I’m saying, then the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he arrives in his glory and in the glory of the Father and His holy messengers.
Which of you who might choose to build a tower for himself wouldn’t first sit down to calculate the costs, so you’d be sure that you have enough [funds] to complete it? Because, if you laid the foundation and then found out that you couldn’t finish the project, everyone who sees it would make fun of you and say: ‘This man started the job, but then he couldn’t complete it!’‘
Or, what king, when he’s marching [to battle], doesn’t first sit down and ask his advisors if his ten-thousand troops can possibly beat the one coming with twenty-thousand? Because if he’s unable to do that, while [his enemy] is still far away, he’ll send his ambassadors to sue for peace. So, you must be sure too! For anyone who doesn’t give up everything they own, isn’t capable of being my disciple! Yes, salt is good, but if it loses all its strength, what good will it be for seasoning your food? So if it isn’t any good to use on soil or manure, people will just throw it away! Now, let those who have ears pay attention to this!
The Son of Man is about to come into the glory of his Father and of His messengers, and then he’ll repay each person for the things that he’s done. [And] I tell you the truth when I say that some of you standing here won’t taste death at all until you see the Son of Man and God’s Kingdom coming with power!’
[I said to my Disciples at first]; ‘Don’t go to the Gentiles or to any of the Samaritan cities…’ [because] I wasn’t sent here to [help] anyone other than just the lost sheep of the house of Israel. [And] it isn’t right to take bread from the children and throw it to the little puppies…
[But] I tell you the truth when I say that no Prophet is ever accepted in his own hometown. A Prophet doesn’t go without honour anywhere – other than in his own home, among his relatives, and in the area where he grew up. It’s a fact that although there were many widows in Israel back in the days of Elijah (when the skies were closed up for three-and-a-half years, causing a terrible famine in the land), Elijah wasn’t sent to any of them… Rather, he was just sent to a widow in the land of Sidon. And although there were many lepers in Israel during the time of the Prophet Elisha, the only one who was cleansed was Naaman – a Syrian, [a Gentile woman]…
[I said to a Phoenician] woman [asking me to help her daughter]; you have a lot of faith, may it be as you wish. Because [she] said ‘[little puppies are allowed to eat the crumbs that fall from the tables of their masters]’, [so I said]; “go, the demon has left your daughter”.
[To a Samaritan woman who said she had no husband, I said]; ‘It’s good that you say you don’t have a husband, because you’ve had five husbands. And the one you’ve got now isn’t your husband. [You] spoken the truth. [She said that our ancestors worshipped on the mountain of Gerizim, and that the Jews say it is Jerusalem we must worship], but [I said]; ‘believe me woman; the time is coming when you won’t worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem! You [Samaritans] worship what you haven’t known, while we worship what we have known, for salvation comes from the Jews. But the time is coming (and it’s now) when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, because, the Father is searching for such people to worship Him. And since God is spirit, those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth. I, this person who’s speaking to you, am that one [you are waiting for, the Anointed One]!’
[There were] ten [people between Samaria and Galilee] that were cleansed [of leporsy]. [I asked]; ‘where are the other nine? Was this man of another race, [a Samaritan], the only one who returned to glorify God?’ So I said [to the Samaritan man]; ‘get up and go, for your faith has saved you!’
[To a Roman Centurion asking for his servant to be healed, I said]; ‘Just go on, let it be just as you’ve believed!”… I tell you the truth, I haven’t found anyone in Israel with this much faith!’
So I’m saying this:
Many will be coming from the sunrise to the sunset, and they’ll recline [at the table] along with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of [God], while the Sons of the Kingdom, [the house of Israel], will be thrown outside into the darkness, where they’ll cry and grind their teeth.
This good news of the Kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole habitation of mankind as a testimony to all the nations before the end arrives.
To what can the Kingdom of God be compared? To what can it really be likened?
A farmer went out to do planting, and some of his seeds fell by the road, where birds quickly came there and ate them. Others fell among rocks where there wasn’t much soil, yet, they quickly started to sprout. But when the sun rose, they were scorched, and they withered, because they couldn’t spread roots. Still others fell among thorny briers, which [quickly] grew and choked them all out. Yet the rest fell upon the good soil, and there they started producing [much] fruit, one-hundred times more. This one sixty, that one one-hundred, and just thirty for another. Let those who have ears, pay attention!
Although [my Disciples] have been allowed to understand the mysteries of the Kingdom of [God], [the others haven’t]. The rest of these people just hear the stories. So when they look, they look in vain, and when they hear, they don’t understand. So, those who have will be given more, and they’ll have more than enough. But, as for those who don’t have, even what they own will be taken from them. Therefore, this is why I’m speaking to them in parables; because when they look they can’t see, and when they listen they don’t hear or understand the meaning of it. And in this, the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled in them that says:
‘By listening, you’ll hear, but not understand, and by looking, you’ll look, but not see. For the hearts of these people have grown thick; So their ears now listen very slowly, and all their eye lids are closed. So they’re unable to see with their eyes, And they can’t hear with their ears, Nor can they understand in their hearts, Then turn back, so that I can heal them.’
However, [my Disciples’] eyes are blessed because they can see, as are [their] ears, because they can hear. I tell you the truth: many of the Prophets and righteous men wished to see the things that [they’ve seen]… but they didn’t see them. And [they wished] to hear the things that [my Disciples heard], but they didn’t hear them. So now, listen to the [meaning of the] parable of the farmer that planted:
Whenever someone hears about the Kingdom but doesn’t understand it, the wicked one comes, The Slanderer, and snatches away whatever has been planted in his heart, the word from their hearts, so they don’t believe and come to salvation. This is the one who grew alongside the road. As for the one who grew among the rocks; he hears the word and quickly accepts it with joy. But because he has no roots, he just lasts a short time, when hard times, testing, or persecution come along because of the word, he’s immediately trapped. As for the one who grew among the thistles [and] thorns; This one hears the word, but the concerns of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth, and the pleasures of living, choke out the word, so he doesn’t produce any fruit. But as for the one who’s planted on good soil; they have good and pure hearts. And after hearing the Word, they remember it and keep on bearing fruit. He hears the word, understands it, and actually puts out fruit, this one-hundred, that one sixty, and the other thirty.
The Kingdom of the Heavens is much like a man who planted good seeds in his field. But while all his people were sleeping, an enemy scattered weed seeds over his wheat. So when the blades started sprouting with fruit, the weeds also appeared. Then the master’s slaves came and asked him:
‘Lord, weren’t those good seeds [that you gave us] to plant? And if so, then, why are there so many weeds?’
And he replied:
‘It was an enemy of mine that did this.’‘
So they asked him:
‘Then, should we go and pull up [the weeds]?’
And he told them:
‘No, for as you’re pulling up weeds, you may also uproot the wheat! Let them grow together ‘unitil the harvest arrives. Then I’ll tell the reapers to collect the weeds first, and put them in bundles and burn them; Then, gather the wheat into my barn.’
The one who planted the good seeds is the Son of Man, and the field is this system of things.The good seeds are the sons of the Kingdom, the weeds are the sons of the wicked one, and the enemy who planted them is The Slanderer. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are [God’s] messengers. So, just as the weeds are collected and burned in a fire; that’s what will happen at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his messengers to collect all the snares and all the lawless people out of his Kingdom, and they’ll be thrown into a flaming furnace, where they’ll cry and grind [their] teeth. But after that, the righteous will shine as brightly as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. Let those who have ears pay attention to this!
The Kingdom of the Heavens is like mustard seeds that a man had planted in his field. Even though it’s [one of] the smallest of seeds; It can grow to become the largest of plants, a tree in whose branches the birds in the skies can then roost.
The Kingdom of the Heavens is like a bit of [leaven] fermentation that a woman hid within in three scoops of flour until the mass rose, so it soon became filled with [the leaven].
The Kingdom of the Heavens is like a treasure that a man found and hid in a field. Then to [get that treasure], he went and sold everything that he had to buy that field.
The Kingdom of the Heavens is also like a travelling merchant who was searching for good pearls; And when he found one very valuable pearl, he went away and quickly sold everything that he had to buy it.
Again, the Kingdom of the Heavens is like a net that’s dropped into the sea and collects all sorts [of sea creatures]. Then, when it’s full, they haul it onto the beach and sit down to collect the good things, which they throw into baskets, while they toss all the bad things away. Yes, that’s how it’ll be at the end of the age, [God’s] messengers will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous, and they’ll throw [the wicked] into a flaming furnace, where they’ll cry and grind their teeth.
Do you understand all these things? …Well, this is how all the disciples of the Kingdom of the Heavens will teach. They’ll be like a man –a master of his house– who brings both old and new things out of his stores.
You don’t put a lamp under a basket, nor do you put it under a bed. You it put on a table, instead. So there’s no secret that won’t be made known, or anything hidden that won’t be show. Let those who have ears pay attention! Pay attention to the things that I’m saying! Whatever amount that you measure for others Is the amount that you’ll receive. And more will be added to that. For those who have will be given more, while all will be taken from those who don’t have, [and] what they think they have will be taken away from them.
I tell you the truth: In the rebirth – when the Son of Man sits down on his glorious throne – [the twelve Disciples] who’ve followed me will sit on twelve thrones and [they’ll] judge the twelve tribes of Israel. Also, anyone who has left a house, or his brothers, sisters, father, mother, children, or land for the sake of my name will receive many times more, and he will inherit everlasting life. Yet, many that are the first will be the last, and the last will be the first.
For the Kingdom of the Heavens is like a man, the master of his house, who went out very early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. And when they agreed on a payment of one silver coin per day, he sent them out to work in his field. However, he thereafter went out again (about the third hour) and noticed others that were standing in the marketplace looking for work, and he said:
‘You go into the vineyard also, and I’ll pay you whatever is fair.’
So off they went. Then he went out again about the sixth and the ninth hours and he did the same thing. Finally, about the eleventh hour, he went out and found more workers standing around, and he asked them:
‘Why have you been standing here all day long unemployed?’
And they said:
‘Because nobody has hired us!’‘
So, he said to them:
‘Then you go into my vineyard too.’
Well, later that evening, the master of the vineyard told the man in charge to call in all the workers and pay them their wages, and he told him to pay the last ones first. So [after] the eleventh hour, the men came in and he started paying each of them a silver coin. However, when it came time [to pay] the first, these figured that they’d be getting more, yet they were also paid a [single] silver coin. And as they were receiving it, they started complaining about the master, saying:
‘Even though these last ones just put in only one hour’s work, he paid them the same as those of us that worked all day long in the burning heat!’ ‘
But in reply to one of them, [the master] said:
‘Man, I haven’t done you any wrong! Didn’t we agree on one silver coin? Take what is yours and go. I paid the last ones the same as you, because I want to! And isn’t it legal for me to do whatever I wish with my own things? Are you viewing me as wicked because I’ve done something good?’
So understand this: The last will be the first and the first will be the last.
[I said to my Disciples]; ‘Do you see [the Temple]? I tell you the truth: there won’t be a stone left on top of a stone here that won’t be thrown down….
[Oh] if [Jerusalem] just knew this today, [of] the things that [would have led it] to peace. But now they’ve been hidden from [their] eyes. For the days are coming when [their] enemies will come here and build a fort of pointed stakes around [them]. Yes, they’ll completely surround [them] and come at [them] in force from all sides! Then they’ll toss [them] and [their] young to the ground, and they won’t leave a stone on top of a stone here, because [they] failed to recognize the time of [their] being inspected….
The coming of the Kingdom of God won’t be easily noticed, so people won’t be saying, ‘Look, it’s here’, or, ‘It’s there!’ Rather, the Kingdom of God is within you! The time is coming when you’ll wish that you could see just one of these days of the Son of Man, but you’ll no longer be able to see them.
Watch out so that no one misleads you; for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Anointed, I’m the One’ and ‘The time has arrived!’, and they’ll mislead many. Don’t follow them! You’ll also hear of wars and reports of wars, and disorder, but don’t let that frighten you, for these things must happen too. But that isn’t the end. Yes, nations will be rising against nations and kingdoms against kingdoms, and there’ll be famines, plagues and great shakings and rumblings in many places, and great signs in the skies! Yet, these will just be the beginnings of the birth pains.
However, before all these things happen, [my Disciples], people will hand you over to be persecuted and arrested, to lead you up before religious courts [where] you’ll be whipped in the synagogue, [and they will try to] have you locked up [and] killed. Yes, because of my name they’ll drag you before governors and kings, [and for my sake] you will be taken as a witness to them! And that’ll be your sign! But when this happens, don’t bother to plan your defense [or] worry about what you should say! Just say whatever will be given to you in that hour, for I’ll give you a mouth and enough wisdom so that anyone who lies about you will be unable to resist or contradict you, [God’s] Holy Breath (or spirit) will be doing the speaking, not you. And because many will be stumbled, they’ll hate each other and they’ll even betray each other!
Your own brothers and parents, yes, even your own families and friends will betray you and kill some of you! Fathers [will hand over] their children, and children will oppose their parents. And although you’ll be hated by all the nations [and] everyone will hate you because of my name, not a hair on your heads will be harmed. So by your endurance, you’ll have gained your own lives!
There’ll also be false prophets that will arise and mislead many; and because of the increasing of lawlessness, the love of the majority will grow cold. However, those who endure to the end will be saved.
And the good news must be preached to all the Gentiles! For this good news of the Kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole habitation of mankind as a testimony to all the nations before the end arrives.
[But] when you see armies camped around Jerusalem, [and] the disgusting destroyer that was spoken of through the Prophet Daniel standing in the Holy Place, know that her destruction is near! Those [living] in Judea should flee to the mountains! Yes, everyone in her midst should flee… For those will be days of avenging and for accomplishing all that’s been written about her. The man who’s standing on his roof shouldn’t go down to remove things from his house, and the man who’s standing in his field shouldn’t [go back home] to get his clothes. Also, woe to those who are pregnant and those who are nursing babies in those days, for there’ll be great distress in the land as [God’s] wrath is brought upon these people! They’ll either be cut down by swords or be carried off to the nations as captives! Then Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. [So] they should keep praying that their time to run doesn’t arrive in the winter or on a Sabbath! For a difficult time will then arrive that will be unlike anything that has happened since the beginning of this arrangement until now, nor should ever happen again! And if those days weren’t going to be shortened, no flesh could be saved! But for the sake of the elected, those days will be shortened.
Then if anyone should say:
‘Look! [He’s] here!’‘
Or:
‘There! It’s the Anointed One!’‘
Don’t believe it! Because, false anointed [ones] and false prophets will arise. They’ll perform such great omens and signs that they could possibly mislead even the elected! Now, I’ve warned you! And although people will be saying, ‘Look he’s here’, or, ‘He’s there’ don’t follow them.
If people should say:
‘Look! He’s in the desert!’‘
…you shouldn’t go there. Or [if they say]:
‘Look, He’s in that barn!’
…you shouldn’t believe it. For as lightning flashes across the skies from the east to the west, that’s how you’ll know that the Son of Man is nearby on his day… [Just] like when vultures gather at a carcass.
Then immediately after that difficult time:
‘The sun will grow dark, The moon won’t give out its light, the stars will fall from the skies, and the powers of the Heavens will be shaken’,
…and on the Earth, the nations will all be in distress for they’ll be confused by the roaring and the rolling surges of the seas. Then men’s hearts will become weak with fear in expectation of the things that will be coming upon the habitation of mankind, as [they see] the powers in the Heavens being shaken. Thereafter, the Son of Man’s sign will appear in the skies, and all the tribes of the Earth will beat themselves in grief as they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds in the sky with great power and glory. For He will send his messengers [blowing] loud trumpets that will then collect his elected from the four winds. From one end of the skies to the other.
Now, learn the parable of the fig tree;
When its young branches grow tender and it starts putting out leaves [and] buds, you know that summer is near.
So when you see these [things start to happen], know that it’s near, at the doors! When you see these things start to happen, you should know that the Kingdom of God has drawn near!
I tell you the truth, this people won’t pass away until all these things are fulfilled. Although the lands and the skies may all pass away, my words won’t pass away! So pay attention to yourselves, and don’t let your hearts become overburdened. Don’t allow the worries of life to make your hearts reel, and let you get drunk, so that day doesn’t sneak up upon you. For, it’ll arrive like a snare upon all that sit on the face of the earth. Therefore, you must keep watch in every season and keep praying that you’ll have the strength to escape all these things that will happen, and before the Son of Man, be able to stand.
But before that, [the Son of Man] will have to endure many things and be rejected by this people… But, no one knows that day or hour, not the angels in the Heavens or the Son, just the Father.
For as it was in the days of Noah is how it’ll be at the day [and] arrival of the Son of Man. Back in the days that led up to the Downpour, the people were all eating and drinking, getting married and being taken in marriage, right up to the very day that Noah entered the Ark. Yes, they were unaware until the Downpour came and swept them all away destroying them all!
The same thing happened in Lot’s day. They were also eating and drinking, buying, selling, planting, and building right up until the day that Lot [fled from] Sodom. Then fire and sulfur rained down from the sky, destroying them all.
Yes, this is how it’ll be on the day that the Son of Man is revealed [and] arrives. In that night, there’ll be two in one bed, one will be taken along, and the other will be left behind. Then, where there are two men in a field, one will be taken along while the other is abandoned. Also, where two are grinding [grain] at one mill; one will be taken along, while the other will be abandoned. So in that day, the man [who’s] on his roof shouldn’t go back down into his house to retrieve his things, and the person out in a field shouldn’t go back for things he’s left behind. Rather, remember [what happened to] Lot’s woman! For those who try to save their lives will lose them, while those who lose them will live. [This will happen] when [you see] the vultures gather at the carcass.
So stay awake, since you don’t know the day that your Lord will arrive. I want you to recognize this: If the master of the house had known in which watch the thief would be coming, he would have stayed awake and not allowed his house to be [broken into]. So always prove yourselves ready; for the Son of Man will arrive at a time that he isn’t expected.
Who is the faithful house steward and sensible slave that the master has assigned by his lord to be in charge over his faithful friends [and] household to provide them their food at the right times? That slave will be blessed if he’s found doing this when his master arrives. I tell you the truth; he’ll put him in charge of everything that he owns! However, if that bad slave should ever say in his heart: ‘My master’s return is delayed, [he] is late in arriving‘ and then he starts beating [the Lord’s] men and women [who are] his fellow slaves, and eats and drinks [along] with the drunks, that slave’s master will arrive on a day and hour that he isn’t expected, and he will he’ll whip him, [and] cut him down and assign him among hypocrites and count him among the unfaithful, where he’ll weep and grind his teeth. So the slave that knows what his master expects And doesn’t prepare or do what he wants will be lashed with a whip many times. But the one who doesn’t understand and does things for which he deserves to be whipped, will be beaten with [just a] few [strokes]. For from those to whom much is given, much is also expected. And from those who’ve been put in charge over much, much is also required.
For the Kingdom of the Heavens is like ten virgins that took their lamps and went out to meet the groom and his bride. Five of them were wise, but [the other] five just didn’t care. For although they brought their lamps, they didn’t bring any oil, while the wise brought jars of oil for their lamps. Well, as the bridegroom was taking his time, they all nodded off and went to sleep. But in the middle of the night, someone shouted:
‘Look, it’s the groom [and his bride]! Let’s go out and meet them!’‘
So thereafter, all the [wise] virgins got up and started preparing their lamps. However, those who didn’t care then said to the wise:
‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are about to go out!’
But the wise replied:
‘There probably isn’t enough for us all, so you’d best go to the store to buy your own.’
Well, the [bride and] groom happened to arrive just as these ones were leaving. So those who were ready entered the wedding banquet along with him, and then the door was closed. Well later on, the other virgins finally showed up and they shouted:
‘Lord! Lord! Open to us!’
But he said to them:
‘I tell you the truth: I don’t know you!’
So, this is why you must stay awake! For you don’t know the day or the hour! …Therefore, wrap on your sashes and light up your lamps, then act like men who are awaiting their master’s return from his wedding, so that when he arrives and starts knocking, you can open [the door] to him right away. Blessed are those slaves who are watching when their master arrives! For I tell you this as the truth: He will then put on his apron, and make them recline at his table; Then, he will come there and serve them! If it’s in the second watch that he should arrive, or even if it’s during the third, you’ll be blessed if he finds you doing these things!
Recognize this: If the master of the house would’ve known the time when the thieves would arrive, he would have been keeping watch and not let them enter his house. Likewise, you must also be ready! For the Son of Man will arrive at a time that you consider unlikely.
It’s [the same] as when a man who was about to travel abroad, [or] a certain man of noble birth travelled to a far-away land to be appointed as king called for his slaves to entrust his belongings to them. To one he gave five [silver] coins, to another he gave two, and to another he gave just one, [and to others] a large silver coin, (each according to their abilities), and he said; ‘Do business [with this], until I return.‘ And thereafter, he left on his trip… But, he was hated by some of his subjects, who sent envoys ahead to say this about him:
‘We don’t want this man as our ruler!’
Well, the one who got the five went right out and put [his five coins] to work, gaining five more coins. The same was true of the slave who’d received two; he gained two more. But [the slave] that received just one went and dug a hole in the ground, where he buried his master’s silver. Then after some time, the master of those slaves [finally] returned appointed as a king, and he summoned all of those slaves to whom he’d entrusted his silver, to find out how much they’d gained [and] called them in for an accounting.
The first one came forth and said:
‘With your coins, I’ve earned ten silver coins!’‘
And [the king] said this in reply:
‘Well-done, my good slave! Since you’ve proved yourself faithful in small things, I’ll appoint you over ten cities.‘
Then the second [slave] came up and said:
‘With your coins, I’ve earned five silver coins!‘
So [the king] said:
‘I’ll appoint you over five cities‘
So the one who received the five coins came forward carrying the five more and said:
‘Lord, you gave me five coins, and look… I’ve gained you five more!’
And his master said:
‘Well done, good and faithful slave! Since you’ve been faithful in a few things, I’ll appoint you over many! Enjoy the favor of your Lord!’
Next, the one who received the two coins came forward and said to his master:
‘Lord, you gave me two coins, and look I’ve gained you two more!’
So his master said to him:
‘You’ve done well, my good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things, so I’ll appoint you over many! Share in the joy of your Lord!’
Finally, the [slave] that was given the one coin came up to his master and said:
‘Lord, here’s the coin you gave me, which I wrapped up in a bandanna… I know that you’re a hard man who who picks up what he hasn’t put down, reaps where he doesn’t sow and harvests where he doesn’t plant. So because I was afraid, I hid your coin in the ground… Now see; I give you what’s yours!’
In reply, his master then said to him:
‘O you wicked and lazy slave! From the words of your mouth, I’ve judged you! So you know that I’m a very harsh man, who picks up what he hasn’t put down, that I reap where I don’t sow and I harvest where I don’t plant, do you? Then you should have deposited my silver with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received what’s mine with interest!‘
Then he said this to those who were standing nearby;
‘So now; take the coin away from him and give it to the one who has ten coins.
But when they said:
‘O Lord, he already has ten!’
He said [in reply]:
‘More will be given to those who have much, and they’ll have plenty. While all will be taken from those who have none. Now, throw this useless slave into the darkness outside, where he will weep and grind his teeth! Bring all my enemies here, those who didn’t want me to serve as their king, and before me, slaughter them all!’
It’s like a man, who before leaving his house and traveling abroad, instructed each of his slaves to just go on doing their jobs… But he commanded his doorkeeper to stay awake. This is why you must stay awake, because you don’t know when the Master of the house will return. Whether it’s in the evening, at midnight, at rooster crowing, or early in the morning. Just be sure that when he suddenly arrives, he doesn’t find you sleeping! So, what I’m saying to you, I’m saying to everyone: Stay awake!
This is what’s going to happen when the Son of Man arrives in his glory along with all of the messengers: He’s going to sit down on his glorious throne, and all nations will be led before him. Then he’ll separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right, but the goats on his left. And at that, the king will say to those on his right:
‘Come, you who’ve been praised by my Father; inherit the Kingdom that has been prepared for you since the founding of the arrangement. For when I was hungry, you fed me. When I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink. When I was a stranger, you took me in. When I was naked, you clothed me. When I was sick, you looked after me. And when I was in prison, you came to me.’
Then the righteous will ask:
‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and take you in, or naked and clothe you? Yes, when did we see you sick or in prison and come to your [aid]?’
And the king will say:
‘I tell you the truth: when you did it for the least of my brothers, you also did it for me.
Then he will say to those on his left:
‘Leave me, you who’ve been cursed into the everlasting fire that was prepared for The Opposer and his messengers! For when I was hungry, you didn’t feed me. When I was thirsty, you gave me nothing to drink. When I was a stranger, you didn’t take me in. When I was naked, you didn’t clothe me. And when I was sick and in prison, you didn’t come to my aid.’
Then they’ll also ask:
‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and not serve your needs?’ ‘
And he will answer:
‘I tell you the truth; when you didn’t do it for one of these least ones, you didn’t do it for me.‘
Then these will go into an everlasting cutting off, as the righteous go into everlasting life.
When [a] woman, [Mary], poured perfumed oil on my body, she did it to prepare me for my burial… [My Disciples and Judas Iscariot complained that she could have sold the oil to help the poor, so I said]; ‘Leave her alone! Why are you making trouble for her? She just did a good thing for me, let her keep this observance of the day of my burial. For you’ll always have the poor with you, and you can do good things for them whenever you wish; but you won’t always have me… And I tell you the truth: wherever this good news is preached throughout the entire world, what this woman did for me will be told in memory of her…’.
[When the time for my death came, I said to my Disciples]; ‘The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men who will kill him… But he will be raised on the third day…. We’re heading towards Jerusalem, where everything that the Prophets wrote about the Son of Man is now going to be fulfilled… Where the Son of Man will be handed over to the Chief Priests and Scribes, who’ll then condemn him to death and hand him over to the Gentiles. They in turn will make fun of him, spit on him, flay him with a whip, and finally kill him. But after three days, he will stand again…
[My Disciples]; You know that the Passover will be here […], and the Son of Man is going to be betrayed and hung on wood…’
[During the Passover meal I said]; ‘I really wanted to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you that I won’t eat it again until it’s fulfilled in the Kingdom of God. Take some of this [bread] and eat it, because this is my body which is being handed over for you. Continue to do this in memory of me. All of you should drink from this [cup]; for indeed, this is my blood of the [[New]] Sacred Contract with the many, which is being poured out on your behalf [and] for the forgiveness of sins. However, I’m telling you now that I definitely won’t be drinking the product of the fruit of the vine anymore until the day that I drink it anew with you in the Kingdom of God, my Father…
The kings of the Gentiles like to dominate them, and those with power like to be called their benefactors. However, you shouldn’t be like that. Rather, the greatest among you should act like the youngest, and the one taking the lead should be the servant of the others. For, which one is truly the greatest? The one who reclines at the table, or the one who does the serving? Isn’t it the one who reclines at the table? Yet, here among you, I’m the one who’s been serving!
Now, because you’re the ones who stuck with me during my trials, I’m giving this appointment to you, as my Father has given the appointment to me, for a Kingdom: In my Kingdom, you’ll eat and drink at my table, and you’ll sit on thrones, from which you’ll judge the twelve tribes of Israel. But Simon, O Simon, look! The Opposer has demanded to have you so [he can] sift you like wheat! However, I’ve pleaded with [God] on your behalf so that your faith doesn’t give out, and then after you return, you can strengthen your brothers… All of you [my Disciples] will be stumbled [by what will happen to] me [on this night], because it’s written: ‘When the shepherd is struck, the sheep will be scattered.’ You can’t follow me to the place where I’m going now [Peter], but you’ll follow later… Will you give your life for me [as you say]? I tell you this truth Peter; [you say you will never leave me, but] a rooster won’t crow today until you’ve denied knowing me three times!…
When I sent you [all] out before without a money bag, or a food pouch, or extra sandals, you didn’t really need anything else, did you? But now; if you have a money bag, you must carry it along, as well as a pouch for your food. And if you don’t have a sword, you should go sell your coat and buy one. For I’m telling you that the thing that was written about me must now be fulfilled: “He was counted among the law breakers.‘ Yes, this scripture is now going to be fulfilled in me…
The time has now arrived for the Son of Man to be glorified…
Now, I’m deeply disturbed, so what should I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, for this is why I came to this hour! So Father; glorify Your Name! …The voice [you Disciples heard from Heaven] didn’t happen for my sake, but for yours, since this system of things is now going to be judged, and the ruler of this arrangement will be cast out! For when I’m hung high off the ground, I’ll draw all men towards me.
Let these words live in your ears: ‘The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men!’…
[I then began to wash Peter’s feet, and I said them all]; ‘You won’t understand what I’m doing right now, but you’ll understand later… If I don’t wash you, you’ll never have a share with me… Someone who’s taken a bath is already completely clean and he doesn’t need to have anything more than his feet washed, and you men are clean, but not all… Not all of you are clean… Do you know what I’ve done for you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and there’s nothing wrong with that, because that’s what I am. But, if I as your Lord and Teacher washed your feet, you should also wash the feet of each other! Now, I’ve set the pattern for you, so you must do just as I’ve done to you. I tell you the truth; a slave isn’t greater than his master, nor is the one who’s sent greater than the one who sent him! So if you understand these things and do them, you’ll be blessed…
However, I’m not talking about all of you, for I know those whom I chose. And the scripture must be fulfilled that says: ‘The one who used to eat my bread has lifted his heel against me’. So, from now on I’ll be telling you things before they happen. That way, when they do happen, you’ll believe that I am the one. I tell you the truth; those who welcome anyone who I send are welcoming me. And those who welcome me, are also welcoming the One who sent me… I tell you the truth; one of you will betray me! …The hand of my betrayer is with me here at this table! So the Son – who indeed is from among mankind – will be going the way that has been marked out for him. But, woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is being betrayed! It would be better for him had he never been born!
This piece of bread that I’m dipping – it’s the one I’m going to give it to……[Judas] you said it yourself [that it’s you]… Now, hurry and do all that you’ve planned to do!
Now the Son of Man is being glorified, and through him, God will also be glorified! For God Himself will glorify him, and he’ll be glorified right away!
Little children; I’ll only be with you a little while longer. Then you’ll look for me, and as I told the Judeans: ‘Where I’m going you can’t come…’‘ And I’m saying the same thing to you right now. Therefore, I’m giving you a new commandment; to love each other! Yes, love each other just as I’ve loved you! For they’ll recognize you as my disciples by the love that you have for each other…
Now, don’t let your hearts be troubled. Just have faith in God and have faith in me. Understand that there are many rooms in my Father’s house. If this weren’t so, I wouldn’t have told you that I’m going there to prepare a place for you. And if I’m going to prepare a place for you, I’ll also return and take you back with me, so you’ll then be wherever I am. And you’ll know the way to the place where I’m going…. I am the way, the truth, and the life. So nobody can come to the Father unless [he comes] through me. If you men had [truly] known me, you would have recognized my Father also, and from now on, you’ve known Him and you’ve seen Him…’
[Phillip then asked me to show him the Father, so I said]; ‘Have I spent so much time with you and you haven’t come to know me yet, Philip? Since those who’ve seen me have also seen the Father, why are you saying: ‘Show us the Father’? ‘Don’t you believe that I’m in the Father and the Father is in me? I’m not coming up with the things that I’m saying to you all on my own. It’s the Father who’s in me who’s doing His work. Yes, believe me when I say that I’m in the Father and the Father is in me, or just believe because of the things that I’m doing!
I tell you the truth; whoever believes in me will do the same things that I’m doing. In fact, he’ll do even greater things than these, because I’m going to the Father now, and thereafter, I’ll do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son can glorify the Father. Yes, whatever you ask in my name, I’ll do. And if you truly love me, you’ll follow my commandments! Now, I’m going to ask the Father and He’ll provide another advocate for you that will be with you throughout the age: The Breath (or Spirit) of Truth. The world won’t receive it, because they can’t see it or understand it. However, you will recognize it, for it’ll stay with you and in you. Yet, I’m not leaving you as orphans, because I’ll be coming [back] to you. Nevertheless, in just a little while, the world won’t see me anymore.
However, you will see me again, because I’ll be alive and you’ll be alive. And in that day, you’ll come to know that I am in my Father, just as you’ll be in me and I’ll be in you. Those who know my commandments and obey them are the ones who truly love me. And because they love me, they’ll be loved by my Father, and I’ll love them and reveal myself to them.
If anyone loves me, he’ll obey my words. Then my Father will love him and we’ll come to him and dwell in him. However, those who don’t love me won’t obey my words. And the words that you’re hearing aren’t mine, they belong to the Father who sent me. Now, I’ve told you these things while I was with you, but the Advocate – the Holy Breath (or spirit) that the Father will send in my name – will teach you everything and remind you of everything that I’ve told you. So now, I leave you peace, I’m giving you my peace. I’m not giving it to you in the same way as this system of things offers it; I’m giving it to you so that your hearts won’t be troubled or fearful. For although you heard me say that I’m going away. believe that I’ll also return! And if you love me, you’ll cry out in joy that I’m going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I am!
Now, I’ve told you all of these things before they happen, so that when they do happen, you can believe. I won’t be saying many more things to you, because the ruler of this system of things is coming, yet, he has no hold on me. Then the world will know that I love the Father, and that I’ve [fulfilled] all the commandments that the Father gave to me…
I am the true vine, and my Father is the cultivator. So He’ll remove any branch in me that doesn’t produce fruit, and He’ll clean up all those who do produce, so that they can bear more fruit. Now you’ve already been cleaned by the things that I’ve told you, so stick with me, and I’ll stick with you! For just as a branch can’t produce fruit unless it remains on the vine, you can’t either, unless you remain in me. Yes, I’m the vine and you’re my branches. So those who are in me (and I in them) will produce much fruit. But apart from me, you can’t do anything. For when someone doesn’t remain in me, his branch will be removed and wither. Then men will gather up such branches and throw them into the fire, where they’ll be burned.
However, if you remain in me, and if the things that I tell you remain in you, then you can ask for anything you want and it’ll happen! My Father is glorified when you keep on producing much fruit and you continue to prove that you’re my disciples. So in the same way that the Father has loved me and I’ve loved you, remain in my love. Yes, if you’ll obey my commandments, you’ll remain in my love, just as I’ve obeyed the commandments of the Father and I’ve remained in His love.
Now, I’m telling you these things so that you can share in the joy that I have, and so that your joy can grow. And this is what I’m commanding you: Love each other just as I’ve loved you! No one has greater love than a man who will lay down his life for his friends, and you’re my friends – as long as you keep on doing what I’m commanding you!
I’m not calling you slaves, because a slave doesn’t really know what his master is doing. Rather, I’m calling you friends, because I’ve told you everything that I heard from my Father. Understand that you didn’t choose me, I chose you! Yes, I appointed you! So, you must now go and produce fruit, fruit that will last, so that whatever you might ask from the Father in my name, He’ll give to you! Yes, this is what I’m commanding you: Love each other!
And know that if this world hates you, it hated me first! If you’re from this world, the world will be fond of what is its own. But because you’re no part of this world – since I chose you out of the world – it won’t care much for you. Remember what I told you: ‘A slave isn’t greater than his master!’‘ So if they’ve hunted me down, they’ll also hunt you down. But if they’ve obeyed my words, they’ll also obey yours. So, they’re going to do all these things against you because of my name, since they don’t know the One who sent me. And if I hadn’t come and spoken to them, they wouldn’t be guilty of sin, but now they won’t have any excuse for their sins!
Understand that those who hate me, hate my Father also. And if I hadn’t done things that no one else has ever done among them, they wouldn’t be guilty of sin. However, they have [in fact witnessed these things], and they’ve shown that they don’t care for my Father or for me. Yet, all of these things have happened so that the words written in [the Psalms] would be fulfilled: ‘They hated me for no reason.’
Now, when the Advocate that I’m going to send to you from the Father arrives – [that is,] the Breath (or Spirit) of Truth which comes from the Father – that will testify about me… And you’re also going to testify [about me], because you’ve been with me from the start.
Now, I’m telling you these things so you won’t be stumbled, for they’re going to expel you from their synagogues. In fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he’s doing a service to God! However, they’ll be doing these things because they don’t know me or the Father. I’ve told you this so that when their hour arrives, you might remember how I [warned] you about these things. I didn’t say anything about this at first, because I was with you. But now I’m going to the One who sent me, and yet, none of you have asked me where I’m going…
I know that because I’ve told you these things, your hearts are now filled with grief. But, believe me when I say that my going away is for your own good, because, if I didn’t go away, the Advocate wouldn’t come to you. However, after I go, I’ll send it to you. And when that one arrives, it’ll condemn this arrangement over its sins, its righteousness, and its judgments.
About sin: Because they have no faith in me.
About righteousness: Because I’m going to the Father and you won’t see me anymore.
About judgments: Because the Ruler of this world has been judged.
I still have so many things to tell you, but you won’t be able to handle them all right now. However, when that one; the Breath (or Spirit) of Truth arrives, it’ll lead you to all truth, and it won’t be speaking for itself; it’ll tell you what it hears and then it’ll announce the things that will be coming. That one will also glorify me, because it’ll receive things from me and then announce them to you. For everything that the Father has is now mine, and that’s why I say that it’ll receive things from me and then announce them to you! Because, in just a little while, you won’t be able to see me anymore. But then after a little while, you’ll also see me again.
…Are you asking each other questions because I said; ‘After a little while you won’t see me; and after a while you’ll see me again?’
I tell you the truth; you’ll cry and bawl while the world rejoices. Yes, you’ll be very sad, but then your grief will be turned into joy! Whenever a woman is about to give birth, she’s in pain because her time has arrived. But after the child is born, she forgets about the difficult time that she had because of her joy in knowing that a human has been born into the world. So, although you’re now feeling grief, I’ll see you again, and then your hearts will rejoice and no one will ever be able to take away that joy!
Also, you then won’t have to ask me any more questions! I tell you the truth; if you ask the Father for anything thereafter, He’ll give it to you in my name. Until now, you haven’t asked for anything in my name; but then you’ll ask and receive, and your joy will be complete. For up to now, I’ve been explaining all these things to you through parables. But the time is coming when I’ll no longer have to speak to you in parables, for I’ll talk to you openly and bring back reports to you about the Father. And in that day, you’ll ask in my name and I’ll no longer [have to] tell you that I’ll ask the Father for you. Understand that the Father cares for you, because you cared for me, and because you believed that I came here from the Father! So, since I came into the world from the Father, I’ll also be leaving the world and returning to the Father…
Do you believe right now? Look! The time is coming (in fact it’s already arrived) when you’ll each be scattered to your own homes and you’ll abandon me! Yet I won’t be alone, because the Father is [always] with me. I’ve told you these things so you can find peace in me. For in this world, you’ll only find hard times. But take courage, because I’ve conquered the world!
It’s a fact that the Son of Man must leave, just as it was written about him …My soul has been saddened to the point of death, so, please wait here and stay awake with me….’
[I then prayed]; ‘Abba, My Father; if it’s possible, let this cup pass from me. However, not my will, but Yours… My Father; if this can’t pass and I have to drink it, may Your will be done… Father, the time has arrived! Now, glorify your son so your son can glorify You. You’ve put him over all flesh so that he can give everlasting life to all those whom You’ve given to him. And knowing You –the only true God– and the one whom You sent –Yeshua the Anointed– means everlasting life.
Father, I’ve glorified You on the earth and perfectly completed the work that You’ve assigned to me. So now, glorify me alongside You with the same glory that I had beside You before there was this arrangement. For I’ve made Your Name shine among these men whom You gave me from the world. They were Yours, but You gave them to me, and they’ve obeyed everything that You told them to do. They also realize that everything that You gave to me came from You; for I’ve passed along to [these men] everything You told me, and they’ve welcomed it. And they know for a fact that I came here from You. Yes, they believe that You’re the One who sent me! So, this is why I’m asking on their behalf. I’m not asking on behalf of the whole world, just for these whom You’ve given to me, because they’re Yours, for all that’s Yours is mine, and all that’s mine is Your, and now I’ve been glorified among them!
However, because I’m no longer in this world (although they are), and I’m coming to You, Holy Father, watch over these whom You’ve given to me because of Your Name, and so that they may be in [each other], as we are in [each other].
I’ve watched over these while I was with them (these whom You’ve given to me because of Your Name). Yes, I’ve watched over them so that none [of them] would be destroyed apart from the son of destruction, and so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled. But now I’m coming to You and I’m saying these things in the world so that they may all experience the joy that I have in themselves. I’ve also given them Your Word. So the world hasn’t cared much for them, because they’re no part of this arrangement, just as I’m no part of this arrangement. I’m not asking You to take them out of the world, just to protect them from the Wicked One, since they’re no part of this arrangement, just as I’m no part of this arrangement. Please, make them holy with the truth, for Your Word is the truth! And as You sent me into the world, I’m now sending them into the world, for I’m making myself holy on their behalf, so that they may be made holy through the truth.
Now, I’m not just asking for just these, [I’m asking that] all those who say that they believe may become one, just as You, Father, are in me, and I’m in You. Yes, may they become one in us, so that the world may believe that You sent me. I’ve also given them the glory that You gave to me, so that they can be one with [each other], just as we’re one with [each other]. I in them, and You in me! May they be perfected into one, so the whole world may know that You sent me, and that You love them, as You love me.
Father, as for these that You’ve given to me, I want them to be where I am, so they can see the glory that You’re giving to me – because You’ve loved me since before the founding of the cosmos! Righteous Father, The world never knew You, but I know You, and these whom You’ve sent to me have come to know [You]. I’ve made Your Name known to them, and I’ll [continue to] make it known, so that Your love for me can be in them, and that I [can be] in them also’.
[When I was praying my Disciples fell asleep, so I said to them]; ‘Aren’t you strong enough to stay awake with me for just one hour? You should stay awake and pray that you won’t be put to the test! But indeed, although the spirit is willing, the flesh is weak. Here you’re resting and sleeping and look! The time has arrived when the Son of Man will be handed over to sinners…’
[When Judas Iscariot then came over with those who sought to kill me, and kissed me in a greeting, I said]; ‘Judas, do you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?’ [And I said to my accusers]; ‘Who are you looking for? [Yeshua the Nazarene?] That’s me… And if I’m the only one you’re looking for, then let the rest of them go’… [Peter took out his sword and struck one of the men, so I said]; ‘Put the sword away [Peter], for all who take up the sword will perish by the sword! Don’t you realize that I can ask my Father to immediately send more than twelve battalions of angels? But if [I did] that, how would the scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way? Shouldn’t I drink from the cup that the Father has given me to drink?’
[I then said to the mob who came for me]; ‘Have you come with swords and clubs to arrest me like some robber? I used to sit and teach in the Temple every day, and you didn’t choose to grab me then! However, this is your hour and the power of darkness! All of this has happened so that the writings of the Prophets can be fulfilled….’
[When they took me before the Chief Priests, I said]; ‘I’ve spoken publicly before the whole world, and I’ve taught in the synagogues and in the Temple where all the Judeans meet. So, since I haven’t said anything in secret, why are you questioning me? Question those who heard what I said! See, they all know what I said!’. [When an officer struck me for my words, I said]; ‘If I spoke in error, then testify that what I said was wrong. But if [what I said was] right, then why did you hit me?’
[The Chiefs and High Priest then asked if I am the Anointed One and the Son of God, so I said]; ‘If I told you, you wouldn’t even start to believe it! And if I asked you any questions, you wouldn’t answer! [But] you’re saying it yourself. I am [the Anointed one, Son of the praised One]. Now, let me tell you something: from this point on, you’ll see the Son of Man sitting at [His] powerful right hand and coming on the clouds in the sky!’
[When I was then sent before Pontius Pilate, I said]; ‘You wouldn’t have any power at all over me unless it had been given to you from above, and that’s why the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin… [When he then asked if I was king of the Jews, I said]; ‘Is it your idea to ask [if I’m king of the Jews], or did others tell you about me? …My Kingdom isn’t from this world. If my Kingdom was from this world, my followers would likely have fought [for me] so I wouldn’t be handed over to the Judeans, but my Kingdom isn’t from here.… You said it yourself that I am a King. The reason why I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth, and everyone who’s on the side of truth listens to my voice.’
[When I afterward was taken through the streets to be impaled at the demand of the Chief Priests, Temple officers and Judaens, I said to the women crying]; ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, stop crying for me, cry instead for yourselves and for your children! Because, Look! The days are coming when people will say:
‘Those without any children, And those whose wombs have not given birth, or whose breasts haven’t nursed, are the blessed! ‘
For they’ll then call to the mountains and say:
‘Come and fall over us!’
And to the hills they’ll shout;
‘[Fall down] and cover us over! For if [the Romans] have been willing to do such bad things while the tree is still moist, what will they do after it’s withered?’
[When I was then impaled onto the wood, I said]; ‘Father, forgive them, they don’t know what they’re doing.’ [And I said to the thief crucified at my side who put faith in me]; ‘Truly I tell you today you’ll be with me in the Paradise’. [As hung, I called out]; My God, my God; Why have you abandoned me?’ [Then before I died I said]; ‘I’m thirsty’ [and drank some sour wine given to me on a sponge from a hyssop branch, and then I said]; ‘It is finished! …Father, I leave my breath in Your hands’, [and I died].
[I was then raised from the dead three days later, and I approached Mary of Magdala at my tomb and said]; ‘Woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for? ..Mary! Rejoice! Don’t be afraid! …Don’t cling to me, because I haven’t ascended to the Father yet. However, go to my brothers and tell them that I’m ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God. [Tell them to] go back to Galilee… They’ll see me there’.
[When I met my Disciples who lacked faith in my resurrection, I said]; ‘O senseless ones, whose hearts are slow when it comes to believing all the things that the Prophets said! Wasn’t it necessary for the Anointed One to suffer these things and then enter his glory? …Why are you so worried, and what sort of conclusions are you reaching in your hearts? Look… My hands and my feet… It’s me! Touch me and see, because a spirit doesn’t have flesh and bones as you see that I have! …These are the things I talked to you about while I was still with you; for everything that was written about me in the Law of Moses, in the Prophets, and in the Psalms, had to be fulfilled…. It was written that the Anointed One would suffer this way and then rise from the dead on the third day. Then in his name, [the message of] repentance for the forgiveness of sins is to be preached among all the ethnics, starting from Jerusalem….
In the same way that the Father sent me, I’m now sending you, receive Holy Breath (or spirit) [that I now blow on you]. For from now on, if you forgive anyone’s sins, they’ll remain forgiven. But if you don’t forgive their sins, they won’t be forgiven.’ … You [are the ones] that are to serve as the witnesses to these things! …So look! I’ll [soon] be sending you [something] that was promised by my Father. Therefore, you must stay in this city until after you’ve become clothed with the power from above… May you have peace.
[When Thomas still doubted my resurrection I said]; ‘Put your finger here, look at my hands! Then take your hand and stick it into my side! Stop doubting and start believing! …Do you believe because you’ve seen me? It’s those who haven’t seen and still believe that are blessed’.
[When I met them all later on the shore I said]; ‘Children! You don’t have anything to eat yet, do you? Cast your net on the right side of the boat and you’ll find some! …Bring me some of those fish that you just caught. …Now, come and get your breakfast! [I then said to Simon Peter] ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these [fish]? …Feed my lambs! Simon, son of Jonah; do you love me? …Shepherd my sheep! …Simon, son of Jonah; do you care for me? …Feed my sheep! …I tell you the truth… When you were young, you used to wrap your clothes around you and walk wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you’ll stretch out your hands and someone else will wrap you up and take you where you don’t wish to go… [But] keep on following me!’ [When Peter then asked about my Disciple John, I said]; ‘If I want him to remain until I return, what’s that to you? You just keep on following me!’
[I then said to all my Disciples]; ‘All the power in the Heavens and on the earth has now been given to me! Look! I’ll be with you every day until the end of the age! So now, go make disciples in all the nations in my name, immersing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (or; “my name”), and teach them to obey all the things that I’ve commanded’.
Proselyte of Yah 
Thank you very much. I want to start reading this tonight.Carolyn 😊
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Hi Matthew,
This project really is amazing.
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div>Will you be printing the Diatessar
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Hi Matt,
Serena here…Thank you for This Gospel according to Yeshua, I am greatful to read and take in His words… they are life and very moving to me and I have always just wanted to see an account of what He said. I pray He is with you wherever you are.
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