He entered a boat, made the crossing, and came into his own town.  2 And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher.  When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.”  3 At that, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.”  4 Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, “Why do you harbor evil thoughts?  5 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?  6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic, “Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.”  7 He rose and went home.  8 When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to human beings. Jesus got into the boat again and went back across the lake to Capernaum where he lived (Mt. 4:13).  Jesus had gained a reputation for healing, so a large crowd of people gathered outside of the house to see him.  Some

When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 He began to teach them, saying: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. 6 Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Jesus’ sermon on the Mount (Mt. 5:1 to 7:29) was

Now many of the Jews who had come to Mary and seen what he had done began to believe in him.  46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.  47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin and said, “What are we going to do? This man is performing many signs.  48 If we leave him alone, all will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our land and our nation.”  49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing, 50 nor do you consider that it is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish.”  51 He did not say this on his own, but since he was high priest for that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, and not only for the nation, 52 but also to gather into one the dispersed children of God.  53 So from that day on they planned to kill him.  54 So Jesus no longer walked about in public among the J

King Herod heard about it, for his fame had become widespread, and people were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him.” 15 Others were saying, “He is Elijah”; still others, “He is a prophet like any of the prophets.” 16 But when Herod learned of it, he said, “It is John whom I beheaded. He has been raised up.”  17 Herod was the one who had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married. 18 John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 Herodias harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so. 20 Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody. When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him. 21 She had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday, gave a banquet for his courtiers, his military officers, and the leading m