Matthew 11-12; Psalms 86 - Prayer Tents

Jesus and John the Baptist

11When Jesus had finished giving these instructions to his twelve disciples, he went out to teach and preach in towns throughout the region.G2532G1096G3753G2424G5055G1299G846G1427G3101G3327G1564G1321G2532G2784G1722G846G4172 2John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus,G1161G2491G191G1722G1201G2041G5547G3992G1417G846G3101 3"Are you the Messiah we've been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?"G2036G846G1488G4771G2064G2228G4328G2087 4Jesus told them, "Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen?G2424G611G2532G2036G846G4198G518G2491G518G3739G191G2532G991 5the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.G5185G308G2532G5560G4043G3015G2511G2532G2974G191G3498G1453G2532G4434G2097 6And tell him, 'God blesses those who do not turn away because of me.'"G2532G3107G2076G3739G4624G3362G4624G1722G1698 7As John's disciples were leaving, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds. "What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see? Was he a weak reed, swayed by every breath of wind?G1161G5130G4198G2424G756G3004G3793G4012G2491G5101G1831G1519G2048G2300G2563G4531G5259G417 8Or were you expecting to see a man dressed in expensive clothes? No, people with expensive clothes live in palaces.G235G5101G1831G1492G444G294G1722G3120G2440G2400G5409G3120G1526G1722G935G3624 9Were you looking for a prophet? Yes, and he is more than a prophet.G235G5101G1831G1492G4396G3483G3004G5213G2532G4055G4396 10John is the man to whom the Scriptures refer when they say, 'Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way before you.'G1063G3778G2076G4012G3739G1125G2400G1473G649G3450G32G4253G4675G4383G3739G2680G4675G3598G1715G4675 11"I tell you the truth, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he is!G281G3004G5213G1722G1084G1135G1453G3756G1453G3187G2491G910G1161G3398G1722G932G3772G2076G3187G846 12And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are attacking it.G1161G575G2250G2491G910G2193G737G932G3772G971G2532G973G726G846G726 13For before John came, all the prophets and the law of Moses looked forward to this present time.G1063G3956G4396G2532G3551G4395G2193G2491 14And if you are willing to accept what I say, he is Elijah, the one the prophets said would come.G2532G1487G2309G1209G846G2076G2243G3588G3195G2064 15Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!G2192G3775G191G191 16"To what can I compare this generation? It is like children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends,G1161G5101G3666G5026G1074G2076G3664G3808G2521G1722G58G2532G4377G846G2083 17'We played wedding songs, and you didn't dance, so we played funeral songs, and you didn't mourn.'G2532G3004G832G5213G2532G3738G3756G3738G2354G5213G2532G2875G3756G2875 18For John didn't spend his time eating and drinking, and you say, 'He's possessed by a demon.'G1063G2491G2064G3383G2068G3383G4095G2532G3004G2192G1140 19The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, 'He's a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!' But wisdom is shown to be right by its results."G5207G444G2064G2068G2532G4095G2532G3004G2400G444G5314G2532G3630G5384G5057G2532G268G2532G4678G1344G575G846G5043

Judgment for the Unbelievers

20Then Jesus began to denounce the towns where he had done so many of his miracles, because they hadn't repented of their sins and turned to God.G5119G756G3679G4172G1722G3739G4118G846G1411G1096G3754G3340G3756 21"What sorrow awaits you, Korazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have repented of their sins long ago, clothing themselves in burlap and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse.G3759G4671G5523G3759G4671G966G3754G1487G1411G3588G1096G1722G5213G1096G1722G5184G2532G4605G3340G302G3819G1722G4526G2532G4700 22I tell you, Tyre and Sidon will be better off on judgment day than you.G4133G3004G5213G2071G414G5184G2532G4605G1722G2250G2920G2228G5213 23"And you people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead. For if the miracles I did for you had been done in wicked Sodom, it would still be here today.G2532G4771G2584G3588G5312G2193G3772G2601G2193G86G3754G1487G1411G3588G1096G1722G4671G1096G1722G4670G302G3306G3360G4594 24I tell you, even Sodom will be better off on judgment day than you."G4133G3004G5213G3754G2071G414G1093G4670G1722G2250G2920G2228G4671

Jesus’ Prayer of Thanksgiving

25At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: "O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike.G1722G1565G2540G2424G611G2036G1843G4671G3962G2962G3772G2532G1093G3754G613G5023G575G4680G2532G4908G2532G601G846G3516 26Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way!G3483G3962G3754G3779G1096G2107G4675G1715 27"My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."G3956G3860G3427G5259G3450G3962G2532G3762G1921G5207G1508G3962G3761G1921G5100G3962G1508G5207G2532G3739G1437G5207G1014G601 28Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.G1205G4314G3165G3956G2872G2532G5412G2504G373G5209G373 29Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.G142G3450G2218G1909G5209G2532G3129G575G1700G3754G1510G4235G2532G5011G2588G2532G2147G372G5216G5590 30For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light."G1063G3450G2218G5543G2532G3450G5413G2076G1645

A Discussion about the Sabbath

12At about that time Jesus was walking through some grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, so they began breaking off some heads of grain and eating them.G1722G1565G2540G2424G4198G4521G1223G4702G1161G846G3101G3983G2532G756G5089G4719G2532G2068 2But some Pharisees saw them do it and protested, "Look, your disciples are breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath."G1161G5330G1492G2036G846G2400G4675G3101G4160G3739G1832G3756G1832G4160G1722G4521 3Jesus said to them, "Haven't you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry?G1161G2036G846G314G3756G314G5101G1138G4160G3753G846G3983G2532G3326G846 4He went into the house of God, and he and his companions broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat.G4459G1525G1519G3624G2316G2532G5315G740G4286G3739G2258G3756G1832G846G5315G3761G3326G846G1508G3441G2409 5And haven't you read in the law of Moses that the priests on duty in the Temple may work on the Sabbath?G2228G314G3756G314G1722G3551G3754G4521G2409G1722G2411G953G4521G2532G1526G338 6I tell you, there is one here who is even greater than the Temple!G1161G3004G5213G3754G5602G2076G3187G2411 7But you would not have condemned my innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: 'I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.'G1161G1487G1097G5101G2076G2309G1656G2532G3756G2378G302G3756G2613G338 8For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!"G1063G5207G444G2076G2962G2532G4521

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath

9Then Jesus went over to their synagogue,G2532G3327G1564G2064G1519G846G4864 10where he noticed a man with a deformed hand. The Pharisees asked Jesus, "Does the law permit a person to work by healing on the Sabbath?" (They were hoping he would say yes, so they could bring charges against him.)G2532G2400G2258G444G2192G5495G3584G2532G1905G846G3004G1487G1832G2323G4521G2443G2723G846 11And he answered, "If you had a sheep that fell into a well on the Sabbath, wouldn't you work to pull it out? Of course you would.G1161G2036G846G5101G444G2071G1537G5216G3739G2192G1520G4263G2532G1437G5124G1706G1519G999G4521G2902G3780G2902G846G2532G1453 12And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath."G4214G3767G444G1308G4263G5620G1832G4160G2573G4521 13Then he said to the man, "Hold out your hand." So the man held out his hand, and it was restored, just like the other one!G5119G3004G444G1614G4675G5495G2532G1614G2532G600G5199G5613G243 14Then the Pharisees called a meeting to plot how to kill Jesus.G1161G5330G1831G2983G4824G2596G846G3704G622G846

Jesus, God’s Chosen Servant

15But Jesus knew what they were planning. So he left that area, and many people followed him. He healed all the sick among them,G1161G2424G1097G402G1564G2532G4183G3793G190G846G2532G2323G846G3956 16but he warned them not to reveal who he was.G2532G2008G846G3363G4160G3363G4160G846G5318 17This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah concerning him.G3704G4137G3588G4483G1223G2268G4396G3004 18"Look at my Servant, whom I have chosen. He is my Beloved, who pleases me. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.G2400G3450G3816G3739G140G3450G27G1519G3739G3450G5590G2106G5087G3450G4151G1909G846G2532G518G2920G1484 19He will not fight or shout or raise his voice in public.G2051G3756G2051G3761G2905G3761G5100G191G846G5456G1722G4113 20He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. Finally he will cause justice to be victorious.G4937G2563G2608G3756G2608G2532G5188G3043G4570G3756G4570G2193G302G1544G2920G1519G3534 21And his name will be the hope of all the world."G2532G1722G846G3686G1679G1484G1679

Jesus and the Prince of Demons

22Then a demon-possessed man, who was blind and couldn't speak, was brought to Jesus. He healed the man so that he could both speak and see.G5119G4374G846G1139G5185G2532G2974G2532G2323G846G5620G5185G2532G2974G2532G2980G2532G991 23The crowd was amazed and asked, "Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah?"G2532G3956G3793G1839G2532G3004G2076G3385G3778G5207G1138 24But when the Pharisees heard about the miracle, they said, "No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons."G1161G5330G191G2036G3778G1544G3756G1544G1140G1508G1722G954G758G1140 25Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, "Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart.G1161G2424G1492G846G1761G2036G846G3956G932G3307G2596G1438G2049G2532G3956G4172G2228G3614G3307G2596G1438G2476G3756G2476 26And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is divided and fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive.G2532G1487G4567G1544G4567G3307G1909G1438G4459G2476G3767G846G932G2476 27And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said.G2532G1487G1473G1722G954G1544G1140G1722G5101G5216G5207G1544G5124G1223G846G2071G5216G2923 28But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you.G1161G1487G1473G1544G1140G1722G4151G2316G686G932G2316G5348G1909G5209 29For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man like Satan and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.G2228G4459G1410G5100G1525G1519G2478G3614G2532G1283G846G4632G3362G4412G1210G2478G2532G5119G1283G846G3614 30"Anyone who isn't with me opposes me, and anyone who isn't working with me is actually working against me.G5607G3361G3326G1700G2076G2596G1700G2532G4863G3361G3326G1700G4650 31"So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven—except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven.G1223G5124G3004G5213G3956G266G2532G988G863G444G1161G988G4151G863G3756G863G444 32Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come.G2532G3739G302G2036G3056G2596G5207G444G863G846G3739G1161G302G2036G2596G40G4151G863G3756G863G846G3777G1722G5129G165G3777G1722G3195 33"A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad.G2228G4160G1186G2570G2532G846G2590G2570G2228G4160G1186G4550G2532G846G2590G4550G1063G1186G1097G1537G2590 34You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.G1081G2191G4459G1410G5607G4190G2980G18G1063G1537G4051G2588G4750G2980 35A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.G18G444G1537G18G2344G2588G1544G18G2532G4190G444G1537G4190G2344G1544G4190 36And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.G1161G3004G5213G3754G3956G692G4487G3739G1437G444G2980G591G3056G4012G846G1722G2250G2920 37The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you."G1063G1537G4675G3056G1344G2532G1537G4675G3056G2613

The Sign of Jonah

38One day some teachers of religious law and Pharisees came to Jesus and said, "Teacher, we want you to show us a miraculous sign to prove your authority."G5119G5100G1122G2532G5330G611G3004G1320G2309G1492G4592G575G4675 39But Jesus replied, "Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah.G1161G611G2036G846G4190G2532G3428G1074G1934G4592G2532G3756G4592G1325G846G1508G4592G4396G2495 40For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.G1063G5618G2495G2258G5140G2250G2532G5140G3571G1722G2785G2836G3779G5207G444G2071G5140G2250G2532G5140G3571G1722G2588G1093 41"The people of Nineveh will stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now someone greater than Jonah is here—but you refuse to repent.G435G3536G450G1722G2920G3326G5026G1074G2532G2632G846G3754G3340G1519G2782G2495G2532G2400G4119G2495G5602 42The queen of Sheba will also stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for she came from a distant land to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Now someone greater than Solomon is here—but you refuse to listen.G938G3558G1453G1722G2920G3326G5026G1074G2532G2632G846G3754G2064G1537G4009G1093G191G4678G4672G2532G2400G4119G4672G5602 43"When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none.G1161G3752G169G4151G1831G575G444G1330G1223G504G5117G2212G372G2532G2147G3756 44Then it says, 'I will return to the person I came from.' So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order.G5119G3004G1994G1519G3450G3624G3606G1831G2532G2064G2147G4980G4563G2532G2885 45Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. That will be the experience of this evil generation."G5119G4198G2532G3880G3326G1438G2033G2087G4151G4191G1438G2532G1525G2730G1563G2532G2078G1565G444G1096G5501G4413G3779G2071G2532G5026G4190G1074

The True Family of Jesus

46As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him.G2089G846G1161G2980G3793G2400G3384G2532G846G80G2476G1854G2212G2980G846 47Someone told Jesus, "Your mother and your brothers are outside, and they want to speak to you."G1161G5100G2036G846G2400G4675G3384G2532G4675G80G2476G1854G2212G2980G4671 48Jesus asked, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?"G1161G611G2036G2036G846G5101G2076G3450G3384G2532G5101G1526G3450G80 49Then he pointed to his disciples and said, "Look, these are my mother and brothers.G2532G1614G846G5495G1909G846G3101G2036G2400G3450G3384G2532G3450G80 50Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!"G1063G3748G302G4160G2307G3450G3962G3588G1722G3772G846G2076G3450G80G2532G79G2532G3384

86[A prayer of David.] Bend down, O Lord, and hear my prayer; answer me, for I need your help.H8605H1732H5186H241H3068H6030H6041H34 2Protect me, for I am devoted to you. Save me, for I serve you and trust you. You are my God.H8104H5315H2623H430H3467H5650H982 3Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am calling on you constantly.H2603H136H7121H3117 4Give me happiness, O Lord, for I give myself to you.H8055H5315H5650H136H5375H5315 5O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.H136H2896H5546H7227H2617H7121 6Listen closely to my prayer, O Lord; hear my urgent cry.H238H3068H8605H7181H6963H8469 7I will call to you whenever I’m in trouble, and you will answer me.H3117H6869H7121H6030 8No pagan god is like you, O Lord. None can do what you do!H430H136H4639 9All the nations you made will come and bow before you, Lord; they will praise your holy name.H1471H6213H935H7812H6440H136H3513H8034 10For you are great and perform wonderful deeds. You alone are God.H1419H6213H6381H430 11Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you.H3384H1870H3068H1980H571H3161H3824H3372H8034 12With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God. I will give glory to your name forever,H3034H136H430H3824H3513H8034H5769 13for your love for me is very great. You have rescued me from the depths of death.H1419H2617H5337H5315H8482H7585 14O God, insolent people rise up against me; a violent gang is trying to kill me. You mean nothing to them.H430H2086H6965H5712H6184H1245H5315H7760 15But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.H136H410H7349H2587H750H639H7227H2617H571 16Look down and have mercy on me. Give your strength to your servant; save me, the son of your servant.H6437H2603H5414H5797H5650H3467H1121H519 17Send me a sign of your favor. Then those who hate me will be put to shame, for you, O Lord, help and comfort me.H6213H226H2896H8130H7200H954H3068H5826H5162