The Lord’s Prayer
(Matthew 6:5–15)

1One day Jesus had been praying in a certain place, and as soon as he had done, one of his disciples said to him, instruct us about prayer, as John the baptist instructed his disciples.

2he said therefore to them, when ye pray, say, "our father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth, as in heaven.

3give us every day our portion of bread.

4and forgive us our sins: since we forgive every one that has offended us, and leave us not under temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."

Ask, Seek, Knock
(Matthew 7:7–12)

5Then he said to them, suppose any of you should go to his friend at midnight; and say to him, friend, lend me three loaves: 6for a friend of mine, a traveller, is come to my house, and I have nothing to entertain him with. 7and he within should give this answer, don't trouble me now: the door is made fast, and my family are all in bed: I can't get up to supply you. 8I tell you, tho' he will not rise, to supply him, out of friendship: yet out of regard to his importunity, he will rise, and lend him whatever he has occasion for.

9I tell you likewise, ask, and it shall be given: seek, and ye shall find: knock, and the door shall be opened. 10for every one that asketh, receives: he that seeketh, finds: and he that knocks has admittance. 11what father among you would give his son a stone, when he asketh for bread? or if for a fish, instead of a fish would he give him a serpent? 12or instead of an egg will he offer him a scorpion? 13if ye then, wicked as ye are, know how to give what is proper to your children: how much more shall your heavenly father give the holy spirit to them that ask him?

A House Divided
(Matthew 12:22–30; Mark 3:20–27)

14At another time Jesus was casting out a demon, that was dumb: and as soon as the demon was gone out, the dumb man spoke: and the people wondred. 15but some of them said, he casteth out demons by Beelzebub the prince of the demons. 16others, to try him, desir'd he would show some miraculous sign in the heaven. 17but Jesus perceiving their suspicions, said to them, every kingdom divided against itself will soon be desolate: one family divided against another, falls to ruin. 18so if satan be divided against himself, how can his kingdom subsist? 19for you assert, that I cast out demons by Beelzebub, but if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? wherefore they shall be your judges. 20but if I cast out demons by the finger of God, it follows, that the reign of the Messiah is now begun among you. 21when a man that is stout and well arm'd guards his palace, his possessions are safe. 22but if a stronger than he should assault, and overcome him, he will strip him of all his furniture on which he relyed, and divide the plunder. 23He that does not join with me, is against me: and he that is not active for me, is a deserter.

An Unclean Spirit Returns
(Matthew 12:43–45)

24When the impure spirit is gone out of a man, he wanders about the wilds in quest of some repose: but finding none, I will return, says he, to the abode I have quitted. 25and at his return he findeth it swept and garnished. 26then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself: they all enter in and dwell there, and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first.

True Blessedness

27As he was discoursing thus, a certain woman in the middle of the crowd lift up her voice, and said to him, happy the mother, who bare thee: happy the nurse, who gave thee milk. 28but rather, said he, happy are they who hear the word of God, and put it in practice.

The Sign of Jonah
(Matthew 12:38–42)

29and as the crowd grew more numerous, he thus began, this is a degenerate race of men: they demand a miracle: but no miracle shall be exhibited, but such as happen'd in the person of Jonas the prophet. 30for as the case of Jonas was a miraculous instance to the Ninevites, so shall the son of man be to this generation. 31the queen of the south shall rise up in the day of judgment against this generation, and condemn it: for she came from the remote parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; but now, a greater than Solomon is here. 32the people of Nineve shall rise up in the day of Judgment, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; but now, a greater than Jonas is here.

The Lamp of the Body
(Matthew 6:22–24)

33However, when a man has once lighted his lamp, he does not hide it in a by-place, or under a bushel; but sets it on a stand, that all who come in may have light. 34the eye is the light of the body: if therefore your eye be clear, every member of your body will have the benefit of the light: but if it be spoil'd, they must all rest in darkness. 35take care therefore, that the light which is in thee do not become darkness. 36for if thy whole body be enlightned, and no part dark, your whole conduct will be regulated, just as the light of a lamp directs all your motions.

Woes to Pharisees and Experts in the Law
(Matthew 23:1–36)

37While he was speaking, a Pharisee invited him to dine his house, where he went, and sat down at table. 38but the Pharisee was surprized to see that he did not wash before dinner. 39upon which the Lord said to him, you Pharisees won't leave any filth upon the outside of a cup or a platter: while your consciences are abandon'd to rapine, and sensuality. 40do you stupidly imagine that he, who made the outward man, did not make the inward too? 41be but charitable to the utmost of your ability, and every thing will be pure to you.

42but wo unto you Pharisees: for you will pay the tythes of mint, and rue, and all sorts of herbs, but as for justice and true piety, those you neglect, these you ought to have practised, without omitting however the other. 43wo unto you Pharisees, for you affect to have the first rank in the synagogue, and to be complimented in publick places. 44wo unto you: for you resemble subterraneous monuments, which men walk over, without perceiving them.

45Then a doctor of the law objected to him, saying, master, your discourse is an insult upon us also. 46but Jesus said, wo unto you likewise, doctors of the law; for you load men with insupportable burthens, the least part of which you will not yourselves bear: 47wo unto you, for you rebuild the sepulchres of those prophets, whom your fathers put to death: 48they were guilty of slaughter, and you raise monuments to their memory. 49agreeably to this, in the Wisdom of God 'tis said, "I will send them prophets and apostles: some they will kill, and others they will persecute: 50" so that the blood of all the prophets, which has been shed since the creation of the world, may be required of this generation, 51from the blood of Abel to that of Zacharias, who perished between the altar and the temple: yes, I assure you, this generation shall be responsible for it all. 52wo unto you, doctors of the law; for after having taken the key of knowledge, you remain still in the dark, and hinder others, who desire to have light.

53As he was pursuing his discourse, the Scribes and Pharisees passionately urg'd him with many captious questions, in order to ensnare him, 54and draw something from his own mouth, that might be brought as evidence against him.