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The Testimony of Yeshua
MATTHEW 1-11 (The Gabriel Version)
The Genealogy of Yeshua
2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac was the father of Jacob, Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers, 3 Judah was the father of Pharez and Zara of Tamar, Pharez was the father of Hezron, Hezron was the father of Ram, 4 Ram was the father of Aminadab, Aminadab was the father of Nahshon, Nahshon was the father of Salmon, 5 Salmon was the father of Boaz of Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed of Ruth, Obed was the father of Jesse, 6 Jesse was the father of David the king, David was the father of Solomon of the wife of Uriah, 7 Solomon was the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam was the father of Abia, Abia was the father of Asa, 8 Asa was the father of Yehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat was the father of Joram, Joram was the father of Uzziah, 9 Uzziah was the father of Jotham, Jotham was the father of Ahaz, Ahaz was the father of Hezekiah, 10 Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh, Manasseh was the father of Amon, Amon was the father of Josiah, 11 Josiah was succeeded by Jeconiah [1] and his brothers, about the time of the deportation to Babylon.
12 After the captivity of Babylon, Jeconiah was the father of Salathiel, Salathiel was the father of Zerubbabel, 13 Zerubbabel was the father of Abiud, Abiud was the father of Eliakim, Eliakim was the father of Azor, 14 Azor was the father of Zadok, Zadok was the father of Achim, Achim was the father of Eliud, 15 Eliud was the father of Eleazar, Eleazar was the father of Matthan, Matthan was the father of Jacob, 16 Jacob was the father of Joseph, Mary’s husband, who was Yeshua’s mother who is called the Messiah.
17 So there were fourteen generations from Abraham to David, and fourteen generations from David to the captivity in Babylon, and fourteen generations from the captivity of Babylon to the Messiah.
Messiah is Born
18 Here are the circumstances of Yeshua Messiah’s birth. While His mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, before they were married, while she was still a virgin, she discovered that she was pregnant by the 'special' spirit. 19 Joseph, her fiance was a righteous man and didn’t want her to be publicly disgraced. So he decided to break the engagement secretly.
20 As he was thinking about doing that, a Messenger of Yehovah appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to marry Mary, because the Child conceived in her is from the kadosh spirit. 21 She will give birth to a Son, and she [Aramaic] will name Him Yeshua, because He’ll Rescue His people from their sins.
22 This all took place to fulfill what Yehovah had revealed thru the prophet, 23 “A virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and they will name Him Emmanuel”, that being translated means, “Aloha is with us!”
24 When Joseph woke up he did what the Messenger of Yehovah had told him, and he married her. 25 She remained a virgin until she had given birth to her Son, the Firstborn, and she named Him Yeshua.
[1] The supposed problem with Yeshua’s genealogy is resolved in the Aramaic under the heading: The GOWRA Scenario: Exploding the Myth of a Flawed Genealogy (page 29).
The Magi Arrive
3 When king Herod heard about it he was disturbed, as well as everyone in Jerusalem. 4 So he called together all of the high priests and the Torah teachers of the people and asked them, “Where is the Messiah to be born?” 5 They answered, “In Bethlehem of Judea, because the prophet wrote, 6 ‘You also, Bethlehem of Judea, aren’t the least among the kings of Judea, because a King will come from you who will rule My people Israel.’
7 Then Herod privately called for the Magi and determined from them precisely when the star had appeared to them. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, adding, “Go and search carefully for the Child, and when you have found Him, come and tell me so that I can also come and pay Him homage.”
9 After they had heard from the king, they left, and the star that they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it came and stood over where the Child was! 10 When they saw the star they were filled with joy. 11 They went into the house and they saw the Child with Mary His mother. They bowed down and paid Him homage. Then they opened their treasure chests and presented Him with gifts of gold, myrrh [Aramaic order] and frankincense. 12 Then they were warned in a dream that they shouldn’t return to Herod. So they returned to their country by another route.
Escape to Egypt
13 After they left, a Messenger of Yehovah appeared to Joseph in a dream, and said, “Get up and take the Child and His mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, because Herod is going to search for the Child in order to destroy Him.”
14 So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother that night and escaped to Egypt. 15 He stayed there until Herod died, to fulfill what was spoken by Yehovah thru His prophet, “I called My Son out of Egypt.”
16 Herod was furious when he realized that he had been misled by the Magi, so he sent men and killed all of the boys in Bethlehem and in all its bordering areas who were two years of age [1] and under, based on the time that he determined from the Magi. 17 Then what Jeremiah the prophet had declared was fulfilled, 18 “A voice was heard in Rama—crying and loud mourning, Rachel crying for her children. She refused to be comforted because they no longer exist.”
He’ll Be Called a Nazarene
19 But after king Herod died, a Messenger of Yehovah appeared to Joseph in a dream in Egypt, 20 and said, “Get up and take the Child and His mother and go to the land of Israel, because the people who were trying to take [destroy] his life are dead.
21 So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother and went back to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus, the successor of his father Herod was king in Judea, he was afraid to go there. Then he was told in a dream that he should go to the region of Galilee. 23 He came and lived in a town called Nazareth. This fulfilled what was fortold by the prophet [Singular: Isaiah], “He’ll be called a Nazarene.”
[1] One year old according to our reckoning, since children were considered to be a year old at birth.
Preparing the Way
4 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and he lived on locusts and wild honey. 5 The people of Jerusalem and all of Judea, and the whole region around the Jordan went out to him. 6 He immersed them in the Jordan river while they were confessing their sins. 7 But when He saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to be immersed, He told them, “Offspring of vipers, who warned you to escape from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit that’s consistent with a changed mind. 9 Don’t think you can say, ‘Abraham is our ancestor’, because I tell you that Yehovah is able to raise up descendants of Abraham from these stones. 10 Even now the ax lies against the roots of trees. So every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
11 I immerse you in water for a changed mind, but the One coming after me is more powerful than I am. I’m not even worthy to carry [2] His sandals. He’ll immerse [or baptize] you with the 'special' spirit and [3] in fire. 12 His winnowing shovel is in His hand, and He’ll completely empty His threshing floor, gathering the wheat into His granary. But He’ll completely burn up the chaff with inextinguishable fire.”
Yeshua Immersed
13 Then Yeshua came from Galilee, to the Jordan, in order to be immersed by John. 14 But John, trying to deter Him said, “I need to be immersed by You, so why have You come to me?” 15 Then Yeshua told him, “Consent to this now because it is necessary to fulfill every righteous condition”. So He consented.16 After Yeshua was immersed, He immediately came up from the water. Heaven was opened to Him and He saw Yehovah’s spirit descending like a dove, and it landed on Him. 17 Then a voice from Heaven said, “This is My dearly loved Son who I am delighted with.”
[1] This is quoted from Isaiah 40:3, Strong’s Yehovah (Yeh-ho-vaw’—ignore the link’s sound feature that says Adonay). [2] The Greek says “untie”. [3] I suspect that this means either you will be immersed with the 'special' spirit or later you will be immersed in real fire, because of the dichotomy of the very next verse. It refers to a burning with unquenchable fire”. So the spirit option is by far preferable to the fire option! You only get “one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5). Some get the “water” and some get the “fire”.
The Adversary Tempts Yeshua
5 Then the Adversary took Him to the distinguished city and set Him on the highest point of the Temple 6 and said, “If You are Yehovah’s Son, You can jump, because the Scriptures say, ‘He’ll put His messengers in charge of you and they’ll hold you in their hands so that you don’t strike your foot against a stone.’”
7 Yeshua replied, “It’s also written in the Scriptures, ‘You shouldn’t test Yehovah your Aloha.’”
8 Next the Adversary took Him to the top of a very high mountain and showed Him all of the kingdoms of the world, and their splendor, 9 and told Him, “I’ll give You all of these things if You’ll fall down and worship me. 10 Then Yeshua told him, “Go away Satan, because the Scriptures say, ‘You’ll worship Yehovah your Aloha, and only worship Him.’”
11 Then the Adversary left Him and spirit messengers came to take care of Him. 12 Now when Yeshua heard that John was thrown into prison, He returned to Galilee. 13 He left Nazareth and came and stayed in Capernaum, on the seaside, in the region of Zebulon and Naphthali. 14 This fulfilled what was 'foretold' by the prophet Isaiah:
15 “The land of Zebulon, the land of Naphthali, the highway by the sea, the ford of Jordan, Galilee of many ethnicities [Gr. ethnos], 16 the people who sat in darkness have seen great light, and for those who sat near the shadow of death, light has dawned.”
17 From that time on, Yeshua began to proclaim, “Amend your ways, because the royal power of the Kingdom of the Heavens is near.”
18 As He walked on the shore of the sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon called Cephas and Andrew his brother who were throwing a dragnet into the sea, because they were fishermen. 19 Yeshua told them, “Follow Me and I’ll have you fishing for people.” 20 So they immediately left their nets and followed Him.
21 As He went on from there He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a boat with Zebedee their father, as they were mending their nets. Yeshua called them too. 22 They too immediately left the boat and their father and followed Him.
Yeshua The Healer
23 Yeshua traveled all thru Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom, and He healed every disease and malady of the people who gathered. 24 News about Him spread all thru Syria. They brought everyone who was sick with various diseases and pains to Him, and others who were in pain, demon possessed, epileptics and paralytics, and He healed them all. 25 Large crowds followed Him from Galilee, and from the Ten Cities, Jerusalem, Judea, and from across the Jordan.The Many Blessings
11 You are blessed when people insult you and persecute you, and tell all sorts of evil lies about you because of Me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because your compensation in Heaven is great [1]. They persecuted the prophets who were before you in the same way.
Salt of the Earth
13 You are the salt of the earth! But if the salt becomes insipid, how can it be used for seasoning? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under foot. 14 You are the light of the world. A city built on a hilltop can’t be hidden! 15 People don’t put a lamp under a measuring basket, but on a lamp stand, and it provides light for everyone in the house. 16 So allow your light to shine so that people can see your good works, and praise your heavenly Father.Yeshua Strengthens the Torah
17 Don’t ever suppose that I came to abolish or destroy the Torah or the Prophets, I haven’t come to destroy them, but to 'establish, illustrate, and explain' them [Commentary]. 18 I am certain that until Heaven and Earth go away [2], not one yod [3] or one point [4] will 'disappear' from the Torah until everything comes to pass [5]. 19 Anyone who breaks one of the smallest prescribed rules and teaches it as doctrine to others will be called small in the Kingdom of the Heavens, but anyone who carries out and teaches them, will be called great in the Kingdom of the Heavens. 20 I assure you that unless your righteousness greatly surpasses the Torah teachers and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of the Heavens.
Murder—A State of Mind
21 You’ve heard that the ancients were told, ‘Don’t murder, and whoever murders is subject to the tribunal.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is rashly angry with an acquaintance is subject to the tribunal, and anyone who says to an acquaintance, ‘I spit on you’ is subject to the tribunal, and anyone who says, ‘You are a coward’ is subject to Gehenna fire!
23 So if while you are making your ze’bak [sacrifice] on the altar, you remember that an acquaintance has a grievance against you, 24 leave your zebak in front of the altar and first go and be reconciled with the acquaintance, then return and offer your zebak.
25 Come to terms with your adversary quickly while on the way with him to court, because your adversary may deliver you over to the judge, and the judge can deliver you over to the sheriff, and you can end up in prison. 26 It is certain that you won’t get out until you have paid the last quadrans.’
Adultery—A State of Mind
27 You’ve heard it was said, ‘Don’t commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone who stares at a woman, lusting for her, has already committed adultery with her in his mind. 29 So if your right eye causes you to sin, rip it out and throw it away, because it is better for you if one part of your body is destroyed, than for your whole body to be thrown into Gehenna. 30 If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off, and throw it away, because it is better for you if one part of your body is destroyed, than for your whole body to be thrown into Gehenna.
Divorce
31 It has been said, ‘For a man to divorce his wife, he must give her a written notice.” 32 But I tell you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason other than illicit sex [Gr. porneia], causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries the divorced woman commits adultery.’
33 Again, you have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘Don’t lie under oath, and you must fulfill yours oaths to Yehovah.’ 34 But I tell you not to make an oath at all, not by Heaven, because it is Yehovah’s throne, 35 and not by the earth, because it is the footstool under His feet, or by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the Great King. 36 And don’t swear by your head, because you can’t change a single hair on it to black or white. 37 You should let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’, and your ‘No’, ‘No’. Anything beyond that is evil.
38 You’ve heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to oppose [6] a wicked person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him as well. 40 If someone wants to sue the pants off of you, let him have your shirt as well. 41 Whoever compels you to perform a public service for one mile, go with him two. 42 Give when someone begs you for something, and if someone wants to borrow from you, don’t refuse them.’
Love Your Enemies
43 You’ve heard that it was said, ‘You should love your friends and hate your enemies.’ 44 But I tell you, “Love your enemies and bless those who curse you. Do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who take you away in chains or persecute you, 45 so that you’ll become the very sons of your heavenly Father, who causes His sun to rise on the good and on the bad, and sends His rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.’ 46 Because if you only love those who love you, what compensation do you deserve? Don’t even tax extractors do that? 47 If you only greet your relatives, what are you doing that differs from everyone else? Don’t even tax extractors do that? 48 So become perfect, just as your Heavenly Father is perfect.
[1] OK, so your compensation is in Heaven. How do you get it? See Revelation 21:1-5. [2] I saw a New Heaven and a New Earth, because the first Heaven and the first earth had gone... (Revelation 21:1) [3] “Yod” is the smallest letter in both the Aramaic and Hebrew alphabets. “Biblical Greek” has no small letters. [4] “Point” is how the (Aramaic) Etheridge version renders this, as in a vowel point, serif or even, as in this case a dot! [5] The primary meaning of “ginomai” means “to come into existence”, but it can also mean, “come to pass”. [6] Literally “take a stand”, and the Greek says “take a public stand”
Good Works Pay Off
2 Don’t announce your presence with a trumpet like the pretenders do in the synagogues and in the streets, in order to be praised. Most surely, they’ve already gotten their compensation. 3 When you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your donation is done in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will compensate you openly.
When You Pray
5 When you pray, don’t be like the pretenders who love standing up in the synagogues and on street corners, praying just so they’ll be seen by other people. That’s most certainly their compensation. 6 But when you pray, enter a storage closet and close the door and pray to your Father who is unseen. Your Father who sees the unseen will compensate you openly. 7 When you pray, don’t use meaningless repetition like the pagans who think they’ll be heard if they keep on talking. 8 Don’t be like them because your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. 9 So you should pray like this, ‘Our Father in Heaven, may Your name be revered. 10 May Your Kingdom arrive, and Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. 11 Give us our daily bread today. 12 Disregard our sins and debts, as we disregard those of people who haven’t made amends with us.13 Don’t bring us into trial, but rescue us from evil, because the Kingdom and the power and the splendor is Yours into eternity. Aw-main’.
14 If you disregard people’s faults, your Heavenly Father will also disregard and acquit yours. 15 But if you don’t disregard people’s faults, your Father won’t disregard and acquit your faults.
When You Fast
16 When you fast, don’t appear to be sad like the pretenders do. They try to look sad to make it obvious that they’re fasting. That’s most certainly their compensation. 17 But when you are fasting, wash your face and anoint your head 18 so that it won’t be obvious to others that you are fasting, except for your Father, who tho He is hidden from you, still sees what is done in secret and will compensate you.
19 Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moths and rust spoil them and where thieves dig thru and steal them. 20 Instead, store up treasure for yourselves in Heaven where moths and rust can’t spoil them and where thieves can’t break in and steal it. 21 Because where your passion is, is where your treasure is. 22 The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyesight is good your whole body will will be illuminated 23 but if your eyes are diseased, your whole body will be dark. So if the light in you turns to darkness, how intense your darkness will be! 24 No one can be a slave to two masters, because they’ll either hate one and love the other, or they’ll be devoted to one and neglect the other. You can’t serve Yehovah and money.
No Worries
25 So that’s why I tell you to stop worrying about your life—what you’ll eat and what you’ll drink, or about your body, how you’ll clothe yourselves. Isn’t life more important than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds in the sky. They don’t sow, or harvest, and they don’t gather grain into granaries, yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you far more important than they are? 27 Which of you by being worried can add a cubit to your height?”28 And why be worried about clothing? Consider the lilies of the wilderness, the way they grow. They don’t work, and they don’t spin clothing. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was arrayed like one of them. 30 If Yehovah clothes the herbs of the field that exists today and tomorrow are tossed into an oven, won’t He clothe you much more, you of little faith? 31 So don’t worry or ask, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or say “I don’t have anything to wear.” 32 Those are things that the heathen pursue. Your Father in Heaven knows that you need all of those things. 33 But first strive for the Kingdom of Yehovah, and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 So don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow has its own problems. Every day has enough trouble of its own.
Don’t Condemn
3 Why do you look at the chaff in your brother’s eye, without noticing the rafter in your own eye? 4 And how can you say to a friend, “Allow me to remove the chaff from your eye”, when you have a rafter in your own eye? 5 You pretender, first remove the rafter from your own eye, and then you’ll see clearly to remove the chaff from your friend’s eye!
6 Don’t hang earrings on dogs, or throw your pearls to swine, because they’ll trample them underfoot and then turn around and tear you to pieces.
Keep Knocking
7 Ask, and you’ll receive. Search, and you’ll find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you. 8 Everyone who asks will receive. Everyone who searches will find. The person knocking at the door will have the door opened.9 Which of you would hand his son a stone if he asks for bread, 10 or if he asks him for a fish, would hand him a snake? 11 So if you, imperfect as you are, know how to give good things to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask Him? 12 Whatever you want people to do for you, you should also do for them, because this summarizes the Torah and the Prophets.
The Narrow Doorway
13 Enter thru the narrow door, because the door is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and many enter thru it. 14 How narrow is the doorway and constricted is the road that leads to eternal Life, and very few find it!
You Can Tell by the Fruit
15 Watch out for false [Gr. pseudo] prophets who come to you 'disguised' as sheep, but inwardly they are extortioning wolves. 16 You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes picked from brambles, or figs from briars? 17 Similarly, every good tree produces good fruit, but a diseased tree produces worthless fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce worthless fruit, and a worthless tree can’t produce good fruit. 19 Every tree [person] that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So you’ll know them by their fruit.
I Never Knew You!
21 Not just anyone who says to Me, “Master, Master”, will enter the Kingdom of the Heavens, but only those who actually do the will of My Father in the Heavens. 22 Many will say to Me on 'Judgment' Day, “Master, Master, didn’t we prophesy in Your name and in Your name cast out demons, and perform many miracles in Your name?” 23 Then I’ll tell them publicly [see root words 3674 and 3056], “I never knew you. Get away from Me you Torah breakers” [1].
A Solid Rock Foundation
24 So everyone who hears these teachings and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on a rock. 25 The rain came down, flood water rose and the winds blew and beat against the house, yet it didn’t collapse because its foundation was built on bedrock. 26 Anyone who hears My teachings and doesn’t act on them is like the foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 Heavy rain came down followed by floods, and the winds blew and beat on the house. It collapsed, and its collapse was disastrous.”
28 When Yeshua had finished saying all these things, the crowds were astonished at His doctrine, 29 because He taught them as someone with Torah authority [the Gr. root word applies to law or Torah], unlike the Torah teachers and Pharisees.”
[1] The Greek nomos almost always means Torah in the Testimony of Yeshua, while anomos means without Torah.
Yeshua Heals the Leper
The Centurion’s Son Healed
5 When Yeshua entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him and called Him aside to ask: 6 “Master, my child [Gr. servant] lies at home paralyzed and in terrible pain.” 7 Yeshua told him, “I’ll come and heal him.”
8 The centurion replied, “Master, I don’t deserve to have you come under my roof, but just say the word and my child will be healed. 9 Because I’m also a man under authority, and there are soldiers under my command. I say to one of them, ‘Go’, and he goes, and to another, ‘Come’, and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this’, and he does it.” 10 Now when Yeshua heard this, He was amazed and said to those who were walking with Him, “I am certain that I haven’t found faith like this in all of Israel. 11 I am certain that many will come from the east and from the west and sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of the Heavens, 12 but the native descendants of the Kingdom will be thrown into outer darkness. There will be wailing and grinding of teeth.” 13 Yeshua told the centurion. “Go, what you have believed has been done.” And his child was instantly healed.
Simon’s Mother-in-Law Healed
14 Yeshua came to Simon’s house and saw his mother-in-law lying down with a fever. 15 He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began serving them.
16 That evening they brought many demon possessed people to Him, and He drove out their demons with a word, and healed everyone who was sick; 17 This fulfilled what the prophet Isaiah had prophesied, “He’ll bear our sorrows and He’ll take our weaknesses.”
First Things First
18 When Yeshua saw the large crowds around Him, He instructed His disciples to go to the opposite shore. 19 A Torah teacher came and told him, “Rabbi, I’ll follow You wherever You go.” 20 Yeshua told him, “Foxes have their dens, and the birds of the sky have nests, but there is nowhere for the Human Son to rest His head.
21 Another disciple asked Him, “Master, allow me to first go and bury my father.” 22 But Yeshua told him, “Follow Me, and allow the dead to bury their own dead.”
The Wind Obeys Him
23 When Yeshua got on the boat, His disciples embarked with Him. 24 Suddenly, an immense storm arose at sea, and the vessel was being covered by waves, but Yeshua was asleep. 25 His disciples came and woke Him, shouting, “Master, save us. We’re going to die!” 26 Yeshua replied, “Why are you so afraid, you of little faith!” Then He got up and gave an order to the wind and the sea, and it became perfectly calm. 27 The men were amazed, and asked, “What kind of Man is this? Even the wind and the sea obey Him!”
28 When Yeshua arrived on the opposite shore in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon possessed people met Him as they were coming out of the tombs, so savage that no one traveled that way. 29 They shouted, “What do You want with us, Yeshua, Son of Yehovah? Did You come here to torment us before the appointed time?”
30 In the distance there was a large herd of swine feeding. 31 The demons began to plead with Him and asked, “If You cast us out, allow us to go into that herd of swine.” 32 Yeshua told them, “Go.” And immediately they came out, and went into the swine, and the entire herd ran impulsively straight down an incline, and then plunged into the sea and died in the water. 33 The herdsmen fled into town and told everyone what had happened, particularly about the demon possessed men. 34 Everyone in town came out to meet Yeshua, and when they saw Him they urged Him to leave their coastal area.
The Man on the Cot
3 Some of the Torah teachers said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming”. 4 But Yeshua, knowing what they were thinking, asked them, “Why are you entertaining evil thoughts in your minds?” 5 Which is the easier to say, “Your sins have departed”, or to say, “Get up and walk?” 6 But so that you’ll know that the Human Son has authority on earth to send away sins, He said to the paralytic, “Get up, pick up your cot and go home.” 7 He got up and went home. 8 When the crowd saw this they were awestruck and they praised Aloha for entrusted such authority to people.
Matthew the Tax Man
9 As Yeshua went on from there, He saw a man sitting in a tax office whose name was Matthew. He told him, “Follow Me”, so he got up and followed Him. 10 As they were eating in his house, many tax extractors and sinners arrived to eat with Yeshua and His disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax extractors and very wicked sinners?”
12 When Yeshua heard that, He said, “Healthy people don’t need a physician, but those who are very sick do. 13 Go and learn what this means, ‘I require compassion, not ze’bakim [sacrifices]!’ I didn’t come to call the righteous, but the sinful.
Disciples Not Fasting
14 Then John’s disciples came to Him, and asked, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast frequently, but Your disciples don’t fast? 15 Yeshua replied, “The groomsmen’ [literally: sons] of the bridal 'party' [3567] can’t fast [2] as long as the bridegroom is with them. But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, then they’ll fast.”
16 No one ever mends an old garment with a new piece of cloth, because the patch will pull off, tearing the garment, and the rip gets even bigger. 17 Nor do people pour new wine into old wineskins because the wineskins will burst, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. Instead, people put new wine into new wineskins and both are preserved.”
A Healing and a Resurrection
18 While He was still talking with them, a certain leader came and bowed down before Him, and said, “My daughter just died, but come lay Your hands on her and she’ll live!” 19 Yeshua and His disciples got up and followed Him.
20 Then a woman came up behind Him who had been hemorrhaging for twelve years and touched a tzitzit [3] on His clothing. 21 She thought to herself, “If I can only touch His garment, I’ll be healed.” 22 Yeshua turned around and looked at her, and told her, “Be encouraged My daughter, your faith has given you life. The woman was healed that very moment.”
23 Yeshua came to the leader’s house, and He saw the pipe players and the wailing crowd. 24 He told them, “Clear out! The girl isn’t dead, she’s sleeping.” And they laughed at Him. 25 After He cleared the crowds, He went in and took her by the hand and the girl got up. 26 The news of this occurrence spread thruout the region.
Two Blind Men Healed
27 As Yeshua was traveling on, two blind men followed Him, shouting, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”
28 When He went into the house, the blind men were brought to Him, and Yeshua asked them, “Do you believe that I can do this?” They replied, “Yes Master”. 29 So He touched their eyes, and said, “It will happen for you just as you have believed.” 30 Their eyes were opened immediately. Then Yeshua warned them, “See that no one knows about it. 31 But they went out and spread the news about it thruout the region.
The Mute Man
32 As Yeshua was leaving, a mute demon possessed man was brought to Him. 33 When the demon was gone, the mute man could talk. The crowds exclaimed in astonishment, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel!” 34 But the Pharisees said, “He drives out demons by the leader of the demons.”
35 Yeshua traveled thru all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaimed the Good News of the Kingdom, and healed all diseases and debilities. 36 When Yeshua saw the crowd, He pitied them because they were troubled and dispersed, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then He told His Disciples, “The harvest is vast and the laborers are few.” 38 So ask Yehovah the harvester to send laborers out to His harvest.
[1] The Jews were right in understanding that only Aloha is capable of forgiving sins, but quite wrong in not realizing that Yeshua was Aloha! Be careful saying that you forgive someone. You can only disregard and acquit people’s sins. To have their sins literally “depart” requires Aloha. If you could actually forgive sins, then why would we need Aloha to do it? [2] Strangely, the Greek says “mourn” here. [3] This is the same “tassels” or “fringes of a garment” that Yeshua criticized the Jews for lengthening in Chapter 23:5
Twelve Envoys
2 These are the names of the twelve envoys: The first of them, Simon who is called Cephas, and his brother Andrew, James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew the tax collector, James the son of Alpheus, Lebbeus who was called Thaddeus; 4 Simon the zealous [or Canaanite], and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him.
5 Yeshua sent out these twelve after instructing them, “Don’t go to the other ethnicities, and don’t enter any of the Samaritan towns. 6 But rather go to the lost sheep of the household of Israel. 7 As you travel, herald, ‘The Kingdom of the Heavens has approached.’ 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the leprous, raise the dead, and cast out demons. You’ve received freely, so give freely. 9 Don’t accumulate gold or silver or brass in your money belts 10 or take a traveling bag for the journey or an extra coat or sandals or a walking stick, because a laborer deserves his food.
11 Whatever city or town you enter, seek out someone worthy there, and stay there until you leave. 12 When you enter a house, visit with the family. 13 If the home is worthy, your tranquility will come to it, but if it isn’t worthy, your tranquility will return to you. 14 Whoever refuses to accept you or hear your teachings—when you leave that house or that town, shake off the dust from your feet. 15 I am certain that it will be more bearable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on Judgment Day than for that town!
Sheep Among Wolves
16 Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as savvy as serpents and as innocent as doves. 17 But beware of men, because they’ll hand you over to the tribunals and scourge you in their synagogues. 18 You’ll be brought before governors and kings because of Me, to testify to them and to all nations. 19 When they apprehend you, don’t worry about what to say or how to say it, because the response will be given to you at that time. 20 It won’t be you speaking, but your Father’s spirit speaking thru you.
21 Brothers will betray brothers to death, and fathers their sons, children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You’ll be hated by everyone because of My name. But anyone who endures to the end will have eternal Life. 23 When they persecute you in one town, escape to another. I am certain that you won’t have finished your mission in the towns of the lineage of Israel, before the Human Son appears in public.
24 No disciple is better than his master, nor is a servant better than his master. 25 It is enough for a disciple to be like his master, and the servant like his master. If they’ve called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they slander his family members?
26 So don’t be afraid of them, because there is nothing covered up that won’t be exposed, or secret, that won’t be revealed.
Shout it From the Rooftops
27 Whatever I tell you in the dark, repeat in the light. And what is whispered in your ear, shout from the rooftops. 28 Don’t be afraid of those who can kill the body but can’t kill the consciousness [psyche, Gr: psuche]. Instead, be afraid of the One who can destroy both your 'spirit' [Gr. psuche, “inner self”] and your body in Gehenna. 29 Aren’t two sparrows sold for an assarium? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground against your Father’s will. 30 As for you, the very hairs on your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid, because you are far more precious than sparrows.32 Whoever acknowledges Me in public, I’ll also acknowledge before My heavenly Father. 33 But whoever disowns Me in public, I’ll also disown before My heavenly Father.
Peace on Earth?
34 Don’t assume that I came to 'bring' world peace. I haven’t come to bring peace, but a sword [conflict]. 35 I came to alienate a man against his father and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 A person’s enemies will be the members of their own household.
37 Anyone who loves [defers to] their father or mother more than Me isn’t worthy of Me, and anyone who loves their son or daughter more than Me, isn’t worthy of Me. 38 Whoever doesn’t pick up their cross and follow Me isn’t worthy of Me. 39 Whoever attempts to save their life, will lose it, and anyone who loses their life for My sake, will preserve it.
Whoever Welcomes You
40 Whoever welcomes you welcomes Me, and whoever welcomes Me is welcomed by the One who sent Me. 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet, because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s compensation, and anyone who is the companion of a righteous person, because they are a righteous person, will receive a righteous person’s compensation [1]. 42 And whoever gives one of these inexperienced ones so much as a cup of cold water to drink, because they are a disciple, I tell you, they certainly won’t lose their compensation.[1] See Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible.
Go Tell John
2 When John heard in prison about the works of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to 3 ask Him, “Are You the One to come or should we expect someone else?”
4 Yeshua told them, “Go and tell John the things that you have heard and seen— 5 the blind see, the lame walk, the leprous are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor hear the Good News, 6 and anyone who isn’t offended because of Me is blessed.”
7 After they had left, Yeshua began to ask the crowd about John, “What did you go into the wilderness to see, a reed waving in the wind? 8 If not, what did you go out to see, a man dressed in soft [1] clothing? Look, those who are dressed in soft clothing live in king’s palaces. 9 If not, what did you go to see? A prophet? Yes, I say and more than a prophet. 10 He is the one mentioned in the Scriptures: “Look, I’ll send My messenger before You, so that he can prepare the way before you!” 11 “I am certain that among those born of women, there hasn’t arisen anyone greater than John the Immerser, yet the least influential person in the Kingdom of the Heavens is greater than he. 12 From the time of John the Immerser until now, the Kingdom of the Heavens has been attacked by force, and violent people continue attacking it [2]. 13 All of the Prophets and the Torah prophesied until the time of John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who was prophesied to come. 15 Anyone who has listening ears should listen! 16 But what can I compare this nation to? It is like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to their friends, 17 saying, “We have sung [3] to you and you didn’t dance. We mourned for you, and you didn’t lament.
18 John didn’t come eating or drinking, yet they said, “He has a demon!” 19 The Human Son came eating and drinking, and they said, ‘Look, a glutton and a wino, and a friend of tax extractors and notorious sinners.” But wisdom is vindicated by her works.
Sodom on Judgment Day
20 Then Yeshua began to criticize the cities that many of His powerful miracles were done in because they hadn’t amended their ways. 21 He said, “I pity you Chorazin! I pity you Bethsaida! If the powerful miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon, they would have amended their ways in sackcloth and ashes long ago! 22 I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on Judgment Day than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, “exalted to heaven”, will be brought down to sheol, because if the powerful miracles that were done for you had been done in Sodom, it would be standing till this very day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for the land of Sodom on Judgment Day than for you.”
Wisdom Hidden From the Scholars
25 Then Yeshua exclaimed, “I praise you Father, Aloha of Heaven and earth, because You’ve hidden these things from the scholars and the knowledgeable, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, because this was what You wanted.
27 My Father has handed over everything to Me. No one fully knows the Son except for the Father. Also, no one fully knows the Father except for the Son, and anyone who the Son wants to reveal Him to.
28 Come to Me all of you who are weary and carrying burdens, and I’ll give you rest. 29 Take on My yoke and learn from Me, because I’m gentle and humble and you’ll find your needed rest, 30 because My yoke is pleasant and My burden is light.”
[1] “Soft” often refers to “effeminate”. [2] “The King and His herald suffered violence, and this is the primary and greater meaning, but also, some were resolutely becoming disciples. CF Lk 16:16.” —Scofield Reference Notes [3] The Greek says, “played a flute”.
Compare the Testimony of Yeshua Version of this book with the 1851 Murdock or the 1849 Etheridge Versions of “The Testimony of Yeshua” (New Testament).
MATTHEW 12 continues here.
