1En dag, da det var sabbat, kom Jesus og hans disciple på deres vandring forbi nogle kornmarker. Disciplene plukkede nogle aks, gned dem mellem hænderne og spiste kernerne. (Matt 12,1; Mark 2,23)2Men nogle af farisæerne irettesatte dem: „Hvorfor høster I korn på en sabbat, hvor man ikke må arbejde?”3„Har I aldrig læst, hvad David gjorde, da han og hans mænd var sultne?” sagde Jesus.4„Han gik op til Guds hus, spiste af de hellige brød og gav også nogle til sine ledsagere. Det er jo ellers kun præsterne, der har lov til at spise af dem.”5Så tilføjede han: „Menneskesønnen er herre over sabbatten.”
Jesus helbreder en mand på sabbatten
6En anden sabbat var Jesus igen gået ind i en synagoge og underviste forsamlingen. Blandt de tilstedeværende var en mand, hvis højre hånd var forkrøblet. (Matt 12,9; Mark 3,1)7De skriftlærde og farisæerne holdt øje med Jesus for at se, om han ville helbrede på en sabbat, for så havde de noget at anklage ham for.8Jesus var klar over, hvad de tænkte, og han vendte sig mod manden med den forkrøblede hånd. „Rejs dig og stå her i midten,” sagde han. Manden rejste sig.9Så vendte Jesus sig mod farisæerne og de skriftlærde og spurgte: „Hvad siger Guds Lov? Skal hviledagen bruges til noget godt eller noget ondt, til at redde liv eller til at ødelægge liv?”10Han så rundt på dem alle sammen og vendte sig så mod manden: „Ræk hånden frem!” sagde han. I samme øjeblik han gjorde det, var hånden rask.11Farisæerne og de skriftlærde blev rasende, og de gav sig til at drøfte indbyrdes, hvad de skulle stille op med Jesus.
Jesus udvælger de 12 apostle
12En dag gik Jesus op på en bakketop for at bede. Han tilbragte natten i bøn til Gud, (Matt 10,1; Mark 3,13)13og ved daggry kaldte han sine disciple til sig og udvalgte 12 af dem, som han også kaldte apostle.14Her er navnene på dem: Simon, som han også kaldte Peter, og dennes bror Andreas; Jakob og Johannes; Filip; Bartolomæus;15Mattæus; Thomas; Jakob, søn af Alfæus; Simon Frihedskæmper;16Judas, søn af Jakob, og Judas Iskariot, som blev forræder.
Jesu helbredende kraft
17-18Da de var kommet ned fra bjerget, gik de ud på en slette, hvor mange af Jesu disciple samledes omkring dem. Der var også en stor skare mennesker, som var kommet for at høre ham og for at blive helbredt for deres sygdomme. Der var jøder fra hele Judæa og Jerusalem og folk så langt nordfra som kystområdet ved Tyrus og Sidon. Jesus uddrev mange onde ånder,19og alle i menneskemængden søgte at røre ved ham, for en sådan kraft strømmede fra ham, at alle, der rørte ved ham, blev helbredt.
20Jesus så ud over sine disciple og sagde: „Velsignede er I, som erkender jeres afmagt[1]— for I skal få del i Guds rige. (Matt 5,1; Matt 5,3; Luk 4,18)21Velsignede er I, som nu er sultne— for I skal få jeres sult stillet. Velsignede er I, som nu sørger— for I skal komme til at juble.22I er velsignede, selv når mennesker hader jer, fryser jer ud, håner jer og sværter jer til, fordi I hører mig til.23Glæd jer, når det sker! Ja, dans af glæde, for der venter jer en stor løn i Himlen. Sådan er Guds profeter altid blevet behandlet.24Men ve jer, der har alt— for I har haft jeres gode dage.25Ve jer, der er mætte nu— for I vil komme til at lide sult. Ve jer, der jubler nu— for I vil komme til at sørge og græde.26Ve jer, der lever højt på menneskelig popularitet, for den har de falske profeter altid solet sig i.”
Om at elske sine fjender i stedet for at gøre gengæld
27Jesus fortsatte: „Til jer, som ønsker at adlyde mig, siger jeg: Elsk jeres fjender! Gør godt mod dem, som hader jer. (Matt 5,39)28Velsign dem, som forbander jer. Bed for dem, som mishandler jer.29Hvis nogen slår dig på den ene kind, så vend den anden til. Hvis nogen vil tage din yderkjortel fra dig, så lad ham også få din inderkjortel.30Giv enhver, som beder dig, og hvis nogen tager dine ejendele, så lad være med at kræve dem tilbage.31Gør mod andre, som I ønsker, at de skal gøre mod jer.32Hvis I kun elsker dem, der elsker jer, hvad særligt godt skulle der være ved det? Det kan enhver synder jo gøre.33Hvis I kun gør godt mod dem, der gør godt mod jer, hvad prisværdigt skulle der være ved det? Det gør syndere jo også.34Hvad særligt er der ved at låne penge ud, når I ved, I får dem igen? Selv syndere låner ud til andre syndere, når blot de får deres penge igen.35Nej, elsk jeres fjender og gør godt imod dem. Lån jeres penge ud uden at spekulere på, om I får dem tilbage. Så bliver I rigeligt belønnet og handler som børn af den højeste Gud. Gud er nemlig god, også mod de utaknemmelige og onde.36Vær barmhjertige, ligesom jeres Far er barmhjertig.
Om ikke at dømme andre
37Lad være med at dømme andre, ellers bliver I selv dømt. Fordøm ikke, så I ikke selv skal blive fordømt. Tilgiv, så vil I selv få tilgivelse. (Matt 7,1)38Giv, så skal der gives jer. Den målestok, I anvender over for andre, vil blive anvendt over for jer. Er I gavmilde, vil I modtage et godt, rystet, presset mål med top på.”
Om falske og ugudelige ledere
39Jesus anvendte tit billeder i sin undervisning. „Kan en blind lede en blind?” sagde han. „Falder de ikke begge i grøften? (Matt 7,3; Matt 10,24; Matt 15,14)40En lærling står ikke over sin mester. Men enhver, som er udlært, bliver som sin mester.41Du kan let se splinten i din vens øje, men bjælken i dit eget øje kan du slet ikke få øje på.42Hvordan kan du sige til din ven: ‚Kom, lad mig tage splinten ud af dit øje’, når du ikke ser bjælken i dit eget? Din selvretfærdige hykler! Sørg først for at få bjælken ud af dit eget øje, så kan du se klart til at tage splinten ud af din vens øje.
Vurder efter resultaterne
43Et godt træ bærer gode frugter, og et dårligt træ bærer dårlige frugter. (Matt 7,16)44Man bedømmer et træ efter de frugter, det frembringer. Man plukker jo heller ikke figner i et tjørnekrat eller vindruer fra en tornebusk.45Et godt menneske henter gode ting frem af sit hjertes gode forråd. Et ondt menneske henter onde ting frem af sit hjertes onde forråd. For hvad hjertet er fuldt af, løber munden over med.
Sande og falske disciple
46Hvorfor kalder I mig ‚Herre’, når I ikke gør, hvad jeg siger? (Matt 7,24)47Men de, som kommer til mig og hører mine ord og handler på dem, lad mig fortælle jer, hvem de ligner.48De ligner en mand, der skulle til at bygge et hus. Han gravede dybt ned til han nåede klippegrunden, og den brugte han som fundament for sit hus. Selv da der blev oversvømmelse, og vandet skyllede mod huset, stod det urokkeligt fast, for det var bygget på et godt fundament.[2] (Matt 7,25)49De, som har hørt mine ord uden at handle på dem, ligner derimod en mand, der byggede sit hus på den bare jord uden et godt fundament. Da så oversvømmelsen kom og skyllede imod det hus, styrtede det hele sammen i en ruinhob.”
1On a Sabbath,[1] while he was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands. (5.Mos 23,25; Matt 12,1; Mark 2,23)2But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?” (2.Mos 20,9; Matt 9,11)3And Jesus answered them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: (1.Sam 21,1; Matt 21,16)4how he entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?” (2.Mos 25,30; 3.Mos 24,5)5And he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.” (Luk 5,24)
A Man with a Withered Hand
6On another Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. (Matt 12,9; Mark 3,1; Mark 6,2)7And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse him. (Luk 11,54; Luk 14,1; Luk 20,20; Joh 8,6)8But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come and stand here.” And he rose and stood there. (Matt 9,4)9And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?” (Luk 14,3)10And after looking around at them all he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored. (1.Kong 13,4; Mark 3,34; Mark 5,32; Mark 10,21; Mark 10,23)11But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus. (2.Tim 3,9)
The Twelve Apostles
12In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. (Matt 14,23)13And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles: (Matt 10,1; Matt 10,2; Mark 3,13; Mark 3,16; Mark 6,7; Mark 6,30; Luk 9,1; Joh 13,18; Ap G 1,13)14Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, (Matt 4,18; Matt 4,21; Matt 16,18; Joh 1,42)15and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, (Matt 9,9; Ap G 21,20)16and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. (Joh 14,22)
Jesus Ministers to a Great Multitude
17And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, (Matt 4,25; Matt 5,1; Matt 11,21; Mark 3,7; Luk 6,12)18who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. (Matt 4,24)19And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all. (Matt 14,36; Mark 3,10; Luk 8,46; Ap G 5,15)
The Beatitudes
20And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. (Matt 5,3; Luk 12,32; Joh 6,5)21“Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. “Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. (Es 25,8; Es 57,18; Matt 5,4; Luk 1,53)22“Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! (Matt 10,22; Joh 9,22; Joh 12,42; Joh 15,21; Joh 16,2; Heb 11,26; 1.Pet 4,14)23Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets. (Matt 5,12; Matt 21,35)
27“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, (Ord 25,21; Matt 5,44; Rom 12,20)28bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. (Luk 6,27; 1.Pet 3,9)29To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic[2] either. (Es 50,6; Klag 3,30; Matt 5,39; Matt 26,67; Rom 12,17)30Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. (Salm 37,21; Ord 21,26)31And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. (Matt 7,12)32“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. (Matt 5,46)33And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.34And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. (Salm 37,26; Ord 19,17; Matt 5,42; Luk 14,12)35But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. (Matt 5,45; Mark 5,7; Luk 1,32; Luk 6,27; Jak 1,5)36Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. (Matt 5,7; Matt 5,48; Ef 5,1; Jak 3,17; Jak 5,11)
Judging Others
37“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; (Matt 6,14; Matt 7,1; Matt 18,23; Luk 6,41; Rom 14,13; 1.Kor 4,5; Jak 5,9)38give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” (Dom 1,7; Salm 79,12; Es 65,6; Mark 4,24; 2.Kor 9,6)39He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? (Matt 15,14)40A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. (Matt 10,24; 1.Kor 1,10; 2.Kor 13,11; 2.Tim 3,17; Heb 13,21; 1.Pet 5,10)41Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? (Luk 6,37; Joh 8,7)42How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.
A Tree and Its Fruit
43“For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, (Matt 7,16; Matt 7,20)44for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. (Matt 12,33)45The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. (Matt 5,37; Matt 12,34; Matt 12,35; Matt 13,52; Matt 15,18; Ef 4,29)
Build Your House on the Rock
46“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? (Mal 1,6; Matt 7,21; Joh 13,13)47Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: (Matt 7,24)48he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.[3]49But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.” (Ez 13,10; Amos 6,11)