John 5:31 – ‘If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. 32 There is another that bears witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesses of me is true. 33 You sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth. 34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that you might be saved. 35 He was a burning and a shining light: and you were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father has given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father himself, which has sent me, has borne witness of me. You have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.’
Jesus’ Words Testify
38 ‘And you have not his word abiding in you: for whom he has sent, him you believe not. 39 Search the scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40 And you will not come to me, that you might have life.
41 I receive not honor from men. 42 But I know you, that you have not the love of God in you. 43 I am come in my Father’s name, and you receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him you will receive. 44 How can you believe, which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that comes from God only?
45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuses you, even Moses, in whom you trust. 46 For had you believed Moses, you would have believed me: for he wrote of me. 47 But if you believe not his writings, how shall you believe my words?’
Jesus Teaches About the Sabbath
Matthew 12:1-21 - At that time Jesus went on the Sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were hungry, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. 2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, ‘Behold, your disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the Sabbath day.’
3 But he said unto them, ‘Have you not read what David did, when he was hungry, and they that were with him; 4 How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the showbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?
5 Or have you not read in the law, how that on the Sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless? 6 But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. 7 But if you had known what this means, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day.’
9 And when he was departed from there, he went into their synagogue: 10 And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, ‘Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath days?’ that they might accuse him.
11 And he said unto them, ‘What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the Sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? 12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath days.’ 13 Then he said to the man, ‘Stretch forth your hand.’ And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.
14 Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him. 15 But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from there: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all; 16 And he charged them that they should not make him known: 17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, 18 ‘Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my life is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall show judgment to the Gentiles. 19 He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. 20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. 21 And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.’
Jesus Commissions His Disciples
Mark 3:13-19 – And he went up into a mountain, and called unto him whom he would: and they came unto him. 14 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, 15 And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:
16 And Simon he surnamed Peter; 17 And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder: 18 And Andrew, and Philip, and Bareholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite, 19 And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house.
Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount
Matthew 5:1 - And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2 And he taught them, saying, 3 ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. 13 You are the salt of the earth: but if the salt has lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted; it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel but on a candlestick; and it gives light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. 18 For truly I say unto you: Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all is fulfilled. 19 Whoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the Kingdom of heaven: but whoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the Kingdom of heaven.
20 For I say unto you: Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of heaven. 21 You have heard that it was said by them of old time, You shall not kill; and whoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22 But I say unto you, That whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whoever shall say, You fool, shall be in danger of Gehenna fire.
23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you; 24 Leave there your gift before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
25 Agree with your adversary quickly, whiles you are in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison. 26 Truly I say unto you: You shall by no means come out of there, till you have paid the uttermost farthing.
27 You have heard that it was said by them of old time: You shall not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That whoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. 29 And if your right eye offend you, pluck it out, and cast it from you: for it is profitable for you that one of your members should perish, and not that your whole body should be cast into Gehenna .
30 And if your right hand offend you, cut it off, and cast it from you: for it is profitable for you that one of your members should perish, and not that your whole body should be cast into Gehenna.
31 It has been said, whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: 32 But I say unto you, That whoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causes her to commit adultery: and whoever shall marry her that is divorced commits adultery.
33 Again, you have heard that it has been said by them of old time, You shall not forswear yourself, but shall perform unto the Lord your oaths: 34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: 35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. 36 Neither shall you swear by your head, because you can not make one hair white or black.
37 But let your communication be: ‘Yes, yes; Nay, nay’: for whatever is more than these comes of evil. 38 You have heard that it has been said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth’: 39 But I say unto you, that you resist not evil: but whoever shall smite you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40 And if any man will sue you at the law, and take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever shall compel you to go a mile, go with him twain. 42 Give to him that asks you, and from him that would borrow of you turn not you away.
43 You have heard that it has been said, ‘You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say unto you: Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if you love them which love you, what reward have you? Do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more than others? Do not even the publicans so? 48 Be you therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Beware of Hypocrisy
Matthew 6:1 – Take heed that you do not your good deeds before men, to be seen of them: otherwise you have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. 2 Therefore when you do your good deeds, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men.
Truly I say unto you: They have their reward. 3 But when you do good deeds, let not your left hand know what your right hand does, 4 so your good deeds may be in secret: and your Father which sees in secret himself shall reward you openly.
5 And when you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Truly I say unto you: They have their reward.
6 But you, when you pray, enter into your closet, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father which is in secret; and your Father which sees in secret shall reward you openly. 7 But when you pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8 Be not you therefore like unto them: for your Father knows what things you have need of, before you ask him.’