Matthew 7-9 - Prayer Tents

Matthew 7

Do Not Judge Others

7"Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.G2919G3361G3363G2919G3363G2919 2For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.G1722G3739G1063G2917G2919G2919G2532G1722G3739G3358G3354G488G5213G488 3"And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own?G1161G5101G991G2595G1722G4675G80G3788G1161G2657G3756G1385G1722G4674G3788 4How can you think of saying to your friend, 'Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,' when you can't see past the log in your own eye?G2228G4459G2046G4675G80G863G1544G2595G575G4675G3788G2532G2400G1385G1722G4675G3788 5Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye.G5273G4412G1544G1385G1537G4675G3788G2532G5119G1227G1544G2595G1537G4675G80G3788 6"Don't waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don't throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.G1325G3361G3588G40G2965G3366G906G5216G3135G1715G5519G3379G2662G846G1722G846G4228G2532G4762G4486G5209

Effective Prayer

7"Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.G154G2532G1325G5213G2212G2532G2147G2925G2532G455G5213 8For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.G1063G3956G154G2983G2532G2212G2147G2532G2925G455 9"You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead?G2228G5101G444G2076G1537G5216G3739G1437G846G5207G154G740G3361G1929G846G3037 10Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not!G2532G1437G154G2486G3361G1929G846G3789 11So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.G1487G5210G3767G5607G4190G1492G1325G18G1390G5216G5043G4214G3123G5216G3962G3588G1722G3772G1325G18G154G846

The Golden Rule

12"Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.G3767G3956G302G3745G2309G2443G444G4160G5213G4160G5210G2532G3779G846G1063G3778G2076G3551G2532G4396

The Narrow Gate

13"You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.G1525G1223G4728G4439G3754G4116G4439G2532G2149G3598G520G1519G684G2532G4183G1526G3588G1525G1223G846 14But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.G3754G4728G4439G2532G2346G3598G3588G520G1519G2222G2532G3641G1526G2147G846

The Tree and Its Fruit

15"Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.G1161G4337G575G5578G3748G2064G4314G5209G1722G4263G1742G1161G2081G1526G727G3074 16You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?G1921G846G575G846G2590G3385G4816G4718G575G173G2228G4810G575G5146 17A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit.G3779G3956G18G1186G4160G2570G2590G1161G4550G1186G4160G4190G2590 18A good tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit.G18G1186G3756G1410G4160G4190G2590G3761G4550G1186G4160G2570G2590 19So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire.G3956G1186G4160G3361G4160G2570G2590G1581G2532G906G1519G4442 20Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.G686G575G846G2590G1921G846

True Disciples

21"Not everyone who calls out to me, 'Lord! Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.G3756G3956G3004G3427G2962G2962G1525G1519G932G3772G235G4160G2307G3450G3962G1722G3772 22On judgment day many will say to me, 'Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.'G4183G2046G3427G1722G1565G2250G2962G2962G4395G3756G4395G4674G3686G2532G4674G3686G1544G1140G2532G4674G3686G4160G4183G1411 23But I will reply, 'I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God's laws.'G2532G5119G3670G846G3754G3763G1097G5209G672G575G1700G2038G458

Building on a Solid Foundation

24"Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.G3767G3956G3748G191G5128G3056G3450G2532G4160G846G3666G846G5429G435G3748G3618G846G3614G1909G4073 25Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won't collapse because it is built on bedrock.G2532G1028G2597G2532G4215G2064G2532G417G4154G2532G4363G1565G3614G2532G4098G3756G1063G2311G1909G4073 26But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn't obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand.G2532G3956G191G5128G3056G3450G2532G4160G846G3361G3666G3474G435G3748G3618G846G3614G1909G285 27When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash."G2532G1028G2597G2532G4215G2064G2532G417G4154G2532G4350G1565G3614G2532G4098G2532G3173G2258G4431G846 28When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching,G2532G1096G3753G2424G4931G5128G3056G3793G1605G1909G846G1322 29for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law.G1063G1321G2258G846G5613G2192G1849G2532G3756G5613G1122

Matthew 8

Jesus Heals a Man with Leprosy

8Large crowds followed Jesus as he came down the mountainside.G1161G846G2597G575G3735G4183G3793G190G8462Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached him and knelt before him. "Lord," the man said, "if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean."G2532G2400G2064G3015G4352G846G3004G2962G1437G2309G1410G2511G3165G25113Jesus reached out and touched him. "I am willing," he said. "Be healed!" And instantly the leprosy disappeared.G2532G2424G1614G5495G680G846G3004G2309G2511G2532G2112G846G3014G25114Then Jesus said to him, "Don't tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed."G2532G2424G3004G846G3708G2036G3367G235G5217G1166G4572G2409G2532G4374G1435G3739G3475G4367G1519G3142G846

The Faith of a Roman Officer

5When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him,G1161G1525G2424G1525G1519G2584G4334G846G1543G3870G8466"Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain."G2532G3004G2962G3450G3816G906G1722G3614G3885G1171G9287Jesus said, "I will come and heal him."G2532G2424G3004G846G1473G2064G2323G8468But the officer said, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed.G1543G611G2532G5346G2962G1510G3756G2425G2443G1525G5259G3450G4721G235G2036G3056G3440G2532G3450G3816G23909I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, 'Go,' and they go, or 'Come,' and they come. And if I say to my slaves, 'Do this,' they do it."G1063G2532G1473G1510G444G5259G1849G2192G4757G5259G1683G2532G3004G5129G4198G2532G4198G2532G243G2064G2532G2064G2532G3450G1401G4160G5124G2532G416010When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, "I tell you the truth, I haven't seen faith like this in all Israel!G1161G2424G191G2296G2532G2036G190G281G3004G5213G2147G3761G2147G5118G4102G3761G1722G247411And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world—from east and west—and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven.G1161G3004G5213G3754G4183G2240G575G395G2532G1424G2532G347G3326G11G2532G2464G2532G2384G1722G932G377212But many Israelites—those for whom the Kingdom was prepared—will be thrown into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."G1161G5207G932G1544G1519G1857G4655G1563G2071G2805G2532G1030G359913Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, "Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened." And the young servant was healed that same hour.G2532G2424G2036G1543G5217G2532G5613G4100G1096G4671G2532G846G3816G2390G1722G1565G5610

Jesus Heals Many People

14When Jesus arrived at Peter's house, Peter's mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever.G2532G2424G2064G1519G4074G3614G1492G846G3994G906G2532G444515But when Jesus touched her hand, the fever left her. Then she got up and prepared a meal for him.G2532G680G846G5495G2532G4446G863G846G2532G1453G2532G1247G84616That evening many demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. He cast out the evil spirits with a simple command, and he healed all the sick.G1161G3798G1096G4374G846G4183G1139G2532G1544G4151G3056G2532G2323G3956G2192G256017This fulfilled the word of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah, who said, "He took our sicknesses and removed our diseases."G3704G4137G4483G1223G2268G4396G3004G846G2983G2257G769G2532G941G3554

The Cost of Following Jesus

18When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he instructed his disciples to cross to the other side of the lake.G1161G2424G1492G4183G3793G4012G846G2753G565G1519G400819Then one of the teachers of religious law said to him, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go."G2532G1520G1122G4334G2036G846G1320G190G4671G1437G3699G56520But Jesus replied, "Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head."G2532G2424G3004G846G258G2192G5454G2532G4071G3772G2682G1161G5207G444G2192G3756G4226G2827G277621Another of his disciples said, "Lord, first let me return home and bury my father."G1161G2087G846G3101G2036G846G2962G2010G3427G4412G565G2532G2290G3450G396222But Jesus told him, "Follow me now. Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead."G1161G2424G2036G846G190G3427G2532G863G3498G2290G1438G3498

Jesus Calms the Storm

23Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples.G2532G846G1684G1519G4143G846G3101G190G84624Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.G2532G2400G1096G3173G4578G1722G2281G5620G4143G2572G5259G2949G1161G846G251825The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!"G2532G846G3101G4334G1453G846G3004G2962G4982G2248G62226Jesus responded, "Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!" Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.G2532G3004G846G5101G2075G1169G3640G5119G1453G2008G417G2532G2281G2532G1096G3173G105527The disciples were amazed. "Who is this man?" they asked. "Even the winds and waves obey him!"G1161G444G2296G3004G4217G2076G3778G3754G2532G417G2532G2281G5219G846

Jesus Heals Two Demon-Possessed Men

28When Jesus arrived on the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gadarenes, two men who were possessed by demons met him. They lived in a cemetery and were so violent that no one could go through that area.G2532G846G2064G1519G4008G1519G5561G1086G5221G846G1417G1139G1831G1537G3419G3029G5467G5620G3361G5100G2480G3928G1223G1565G359829They began screaming at him, "Why are you interfering with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before God's appointed time?"G2532G2400G2896G3004G5101G2254G2532G4671G2424G5207G2316G2064G5602G928G2248G4253G254030There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding in the distance.G1161G2258G3112G575G846G34G4183G5519G100631So the demons begged, "If you cast us out, send us into that herd of pigs."G1161G1142G3870G846G3004G1487G1544G2248G1544G2010G2254G565G1519G34G551932"All right, go!" Jesus commanded them. So the demons came out of the men and entered the pigs, and the whole herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water.G2532G2036G846G5217G1161G1831G565G1519G34G5519G2532G2400G3956G34G5519G3729G2596G2911G1519G2281G2532G599G1722G520433The herdsmen fled to the nearby town, telling everyone what happened to the demon-possessed men.G1161G1006G5343G2532G565G1519G4172G518G3956G2532G113934Then the entire town came out to meet Jesus, but they begged him to go away and leave them alone.G2532G2400G3956G4172G1831G1519G4877G2424G2532G1492G846G3870G3704G3327G575G846G3725

Matthew 9

Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man

9Jesus climbed into a boat and went back across the lake to his own town.G2532G1684G1519G4143G1276G2532G2064G1519G2398G41722Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven."G2532G2400G4374G846G3885G906G1909G2825G2532G2424G1492G846G4102G2036G3885G5043G2293G4675G266G863G46713But some of the teachers of religious law said to themselves, "That's blasphemy! Does he think he's God?"G2532G2400G5100G1122G2036G1722G1438G3778G9874Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, "Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts?G2532G2424G1492G846G1761G2036G2444G1760G5210G4190G1722G5216G25885Is it easier to say 'Your sins are forgiven,' or 'Stand up and walk'?G1063G5101G2076G2123G2036G266G863G4671G2228G2036G1453G2532G40436So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins." Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, "Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!"G1161G2443G1492G3754G5207G444G2192G1849G1909G1093G863G266G5119G3004G3885G1453G142G4675G2825G2532G5217G1519G4675G36247And the man jumped up and went home!G2532G1453G565G1519G846G36248Fear swept through the crowd as they saw this happen. And they praised God for sending a man with such great authority.G1161G3793G1492G2296G2532G1392G2316G3588G1325G5108G1849G444

Jesus Calls Matthew

9As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector's booth. "Follow me and be my disciple," Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him.G2532G2424G3855G1564G1492G444G3004G3156G2521G1909G5058G2532G3004G846G190G3427G2532G450G190G84610Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners.G2532G1096G2424G345G1722G3614G2532G2400G4183G5057G2532G268G2064G4873G846G2532G846G310111But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with such scum?"G2532G5330G1492G2036G846G3101G1302G2068G5216G1320G3326G5057G2532G26812When Jesus heard this, he said, "Healthy people don't need a doctor—sick people do."G1161G2424G191G2036G846G2192G2480G5532G3756G2395G235G2192G256013Then he added, "Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: 'I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.' For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners."G1161G4198G3129G5101G2076G2309G1656G2532G3756G2378G1063G2064G3756G2064G2564G1342G235G268G1519G3341

A Discussion about Fasting

14One day the disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus and asked him, "Why don't your disciples fast like we do and the Pharisees do?"G5119G4334G846G3101G2491G3004G1302G2249G2532G5330G3522G4183G1161G4675G3101G3522G375615Jesus replied, "Do wedding guests mourn while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.G2532G2424G2036G846G3361G1410G5207G3567G3996G1909G3745G3566G2076G3326G846G1161G2250G2064G3752G3566G522G575G846G2532G5119G352216"Besides, who would patch old clothing with new cloth? For the new patch would shrink and rip away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger tear than before.G1161G3762G1911G1915G46G4470G1909G3820G2440G1063G4138G142G846G575G2440G2532G4978G1096G550117"And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the old skins would burst from the pressure, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine is stored in new wineskins so that both are preserved."G3761G906G3501G3631G1519G3820G779G1490G779G4486G2532G3631G1632G2532G779G622G235G906G3501G3631G1519G2537G779G2532G297G4933

Jesus Heals in Response to Faith

18As Jesus was saying this, the leader of a synagogue came and knelt before him. "My daughter has just died," he said, "but you can bring her back to life again if you just come and lay your hand on her."G846G2980G5023G846G2400G2064G1520G758G4352G846G3004G3754G3450G2364G737G5053G235G2064G2007G4675G5495G1909G846G2532G219819So Jesus and his disciples got up and went with him.G2532G2424G1453G190G846G2532G846G310120Just then a woman who had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding came up behind him. She touched the fringe of his robe,G2532G2400G1135G131G1427G2094G4334G3693G680G2899G846G244021for she thought, "If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed."G1063G3004G1722G1438G1437G680G3440G680G846G2440G498222Jesus turned around, and when he saw her he said, "Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well." And the woman was healed at that moment.G1161G2424G1994G2532G1492G846G2036G2364G2293G4675G4102G4982G4571G4982G2532G1135G4982G575G1565G561023When Jesus arrived at the official's home, he saw the noisy crowd and heard the funeral music.G2532G2424G2064G1519G758G3614G2532G1492G834G2532G3793G235024"Get out!" he told them. "The girl isn't dead; she's only asleep." But the crowd laughed at him.G3004G846G402G1063G2877G599G3756G599G235G2518G2532G2606G846G260625After the crowd was put outside, however, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up!G1161G3753G3793G1544G1525G2902G846G5495G2532G2877G145326The report of this miracle swept through the entire countryside.G2532G5345G3778G1831G1519G3650G1565G1093

Jesus Heals the Blind

27After Jesus left the girl's home, two blind men followed along behind him, shouting, "Son of David, have mercy on us!"G2532G2424G3855G1564G1417G5185G190G846G2896G2532G3004G5207G1138G1653G224828They went right into the house where he was staying, and Jesus asked them, "Do you believe I can make you see?" "Yes, Lord," they told him, "we do."G1161G2064G1519G3614G5185G4334G846G2532G2424G3004G846G4100G3754G1410G4160G5124G3004G846G3483G296229Then he touched their eyes and said, "Because of your faith, it will happen."G5119G680G846G3788G3004G2596G5216G4102G1096G521330Then their eyes were opened, and they could see! Jesus sternly warned them, "Don't tell anyone about this."G2532G846G3788G455G2532G2424G1690G846G3004G3708G3367G109731But instead, they went out and spread his fame all over the region.G1161G1831G1310G846G1310G1722G3650G1565G109332When they left, a demon-possessed man who couldn't speak was brought to Jesus.G1161G846G1831G2400G4374G846G2974G444G113933So Jesus cast out the demon, and then the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed. "Nothing like this has ever happened in Israel!" they exclaimed.G2532G1140G1544G2974G2980G2532G3793G2296G3004G3754G3763G3779G5316G1722G247434But the Pharisees said, "He can cast out demons because he is empowered by the prince of demons."G1161G5330G3004G1544G1140G1722G758G1140

The Need for Workers

35Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness.G2532G2424G4013G3956G4172G2532G2968G1321G1722G846G4864G2532G2784G2098G932G2532G2323G3956G3554G2532G3956G3119G1722G299236When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.G1161G1492G3793G4697G4012G846G3754G2258G1590G2532G4496G5616G4263G2192G3361G416637He said to his disciples, "The harvest is great, but the workers are few.G5119G3004G846G3101G2326G3303G4183G1161G2040G364138So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields."G1189G3767G2962G2326G3704G1544G2040G1519G846G2326