The Gospel of Matthew for Readers | Page 6

good
tree cannot bring forth evil fruit. A corrupt tree cannot bring forth good
fruit. Every tree that does not bring forth good fruit is hewn down and
cast into the fire. So, by their fruits ye shall know them.
Now, not every one that says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the
kingdom of heaven. Only he who does the will of my Father in heaven
shall enter. Many will say to me, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in
thy name? In thy name have we not cast out devils? And, in thy name,
have we not done many wonderful works? Then will I say to them, I
never knew you. Depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Whoever hears these sayings and does them, I liken to a wise man who
built his house upon a rock. When the rain descended, and the floods
came, and the winds blew and beat upon the house, it did not fall
because it was founded upon a rock.
Whoever hears these sayings and does not do them I liken to a foolish

man who built his house upon the sand. When the rain descended, and
the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, it fell.
And a great fall it was.
When Jesus finished these sayings, people were astonished at His
doctrine because He taught as one having authority different from the
scribes.
8 When He came down from the mountain, great multitudes followed
Him. And, behold, there came a leper who worshipped Him, saying,
Lord, if Thou will, Thou can make me clean. Jesus put out His hand,
touched him, and said, Be thou clean. Immediately his leprosy was
cleansed. Then Jesus said to him, See that thou tell no man. Go thy way,
show thyself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded for
a testimony.
Then, when Jesus was in Capernaum, a centurion beseeched Him
saying, Lord, my servant lies at home sick with palsy and grievously
tormented. Jesus said to him, I will come and heal him. The centurion
answered, Lord, I am not worthy that thou should come under my roof,
but only give the word and my servant shall be healed. I am a man of
authority, understand commands, and have soldiers under me. I
command this man, Go, and he goes. To another I say, Come, and he
comes. I direct my servant to do this, and he does it.
When Jesus heard this, He marvelled and said to those who followed,
Verily, I say unto you, I have not found such great faith anywhere, no,
not even in Israel. And I say to you, Many shall come from the east and
west and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob in the
kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out
into darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Jesus said
to the centurion, Go thy way. As thou has believed, so be it done unto
thee. And the servant was healed that same hour.
When Jesus went to Peter's house, He saw Peter's wife's mother laid
sick with a fever. He touched her hand and the fever left her. She arose
and ministered to them. That evening they brought to Him many that
were possessed with devils and He cast out the spirits with His word.
He healed all who were sick so that it might be fulfilled what was
spoken by Esaias the prophet: He took our infirmities and bore our
sicknesses.
Jesus saw great multitudes gathering. He decided they should depart to

the other side of the water. A scribe approached Him and said, Master,
I will follow wherever thou go. Jesus only replied, The foxes have
holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has no
place to lay His head. Another came to Him and said, Lord, let me first
go and bury my father. But Jesus replied, Follow me and let the dead
bury their dead. Then they got in a boat and started for the other side.
Behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea. It was so great that the
boat was covered with the waves. Jesus was asleep. His disciples woke
Him and said, Lord, save us. We will perish. Jesus replied, Why are ye
fearful, O ye of little faith? Then He got up and rebuked the winds and
the sea. There was a great calm. The disciples marvelled and said, What
kind of man is this who even the winds and the sea obey!
On the other side they came into the country of the Gergesenes. There
He met two men coming out of the tombs who were possessed with
devils