Nathaniel Mokgosi (South African, 1946–2016), “Come, ye blessed . . . ,” 1980 Matthew 5:1-12 NRSV When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for ri

Christ Calling the Apostles Peter and Andrew. © Duccio di Buoninsegna, 1308 Matthew 4:12-23 NRSV 12-16 Now when Jesus   heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 15 “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali,   on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the gentiles— 16 the peopl

Lamb. © Fransisco Zurbarán, 1638 Matthew 1:29-42 NRSV 29-31  The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32-34  Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a

Baptism of Christ. ©Dave Zalenka Matthew 3:13-17 The Message 13-14 Jesus then appeared, arriving at the Jordan River from Galilee. He wanted John to baptize him. John objected, “I’m the one who needs to be baptized, not you !” 15 But Jesus insisted. “Do it. God’s work, putting things right all these centuries, is coming together right now in this baptism.” So John did it. 16-17 The moment Jesus came up out of the baptismal waters, the skies opened up and he saw God’s Spirit—i

The Massacre of the Innocents - Pieter Bruegel the Elder and his son Pieter Brueghel the Younger Matthew 2:13-23 NIV When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was

Icon of St Joseph with Christ, ©Sister Marie-Paul Matthew 1:18-25 The Message The birth of Jesus took place like this. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. Before they enjoyed their wedding night, Joseph discovered she was pregnant. (It was by the Holy Spirit, but he didn’t know that.) Joseph, chagrined but noble, determined to take care of things quietly so Mary would not be disgraced. While he was trying to figure a way out, he had a dream. God’s angel spo

Tears of the People, © Lauren Wright Pittman Matthew 11:2-11 NIV When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples   to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy   are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.   Blessed is any

Saint John the Baptist, Alvise Vivarini ca. 1475 Matthew 3:1-12 NIV In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”    J ohn’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts an

Old Woman and Boy with Candles, Peter Paul Rubens ca. 1616-17 Matthew 24:36-44 NIV But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took t

Matthew 25:31-46 Common English Bible 31-33 “Now when the Human One comes in his majesty and all his angels are with him, he will sit on...

Matthew 25:14-30 The Message Translation 14-18 “It’s also like a man going off on an extended trip. He called his servants together and...

Matthew 25:1-13 1-6“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of...

Matthew 23:1-12 The Message Translation 1-3 Now Jesus turned to address his disciples, along with the crowd that had gathered with them....

Matthew 22:15-22 The Message Translation 34-36 When the Pharisees heard how he had bested the Sadducees, they gathered their forces for...

Matthew 22:15-22 The Message Translation That’s when the Pharisees plotted a way to trap him into saying something damaging. They sent...

Matthew 22:1-14 The Message Translation 1-3 Jesus responded by telling still more stories. “God’s kingdom,” he said, “is like a king who...

Matthew 21:33-46 NRSV Translation 33 "Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug...

Matthew 21:23-32 NIV Translation 23 Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the...

Matthew 20:1-16 NRSV Translation 1-2 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers...

Matthew 18:21-35 NRSV Translation 21 Then Peter came and said to him, "Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often...