New Testament in 6 days

The chapter begins with the genealogy of Jesus, showing his line from Abraham and David. Joseph learns that Mary is pregnant by the Holy Spirit and, at an angel's command, accepts her as his wife. Jesus is born and fulfills the prophecy announcing Immanuel, "God with us."

Magi from the East seek the newborn king of the Jews. Guided by a star, they find Jesus at Bethlehem and offer him gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Warned in a dream, Joseph flees to Egypt with the child, while Herod has the children of Bethlehem massacred.

John the Baptist preaches in the wilderness of Judea and calls to repentance, baptizing in the Jordan. He announces the coming of one more powerful than himself. Jesus comes to be baptized; the Spirit of God descends like a dove, and a voice from heaven declares him the beloved Son.

Led into the wilderness, Jesus is tempted by the devil and resists through the Word of God. He then begins his ministry in Galilee by calling to repentance. He calls his first disciples — Peter, Andrew, James, and John — then teaches and heals the sick.

Jesus begins the Sermon on the Mount with the Beatitudes, declaring blessed the poor in spirit, those who mourn, and the peacemakers. He calls his disciples to be salt and light, and deepens the law on anger, adultery, and love of enemies.

Jesus teaches to practice almsgiving, prayer, and fasting with discretion. He gives the model of the Lord's Prayer. He invites us to store up treasures in heaven rather than on earth and not to worry, for God takes care of His own.

Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount: he teaches not to judge, to ask in order to receive, and presents the golden rule. He invites us to enter by the narrow gate, warns against false prophets, and compares the wise man who builds on the rock to the fool who builds on the sand.

Jesus heals a leper, the servant of a centurion whose faith he praises, and Peter's mother-in-law. He calms a storm with a single word on the sea, then delivers two demoniacs at Gadara by sending the demons into a herd of pigs.

Jesus heals a paralytic and forgives his sins. He calls Matthew the tax collector, raises the daughter of a ruler, heals a sick woman and blind men. Moved with compassion for the crowds, he invites us to pray for workers for the harvest.

Jesus chooses the twelve apostles and sends them to preach the kingdom of heaven and to heal. He instructs them about the mission, the persecutions to come, and the price of following him, promising that whoever welcomes them welcomes him.

John the Baptist, in prison, sends to ask whether Jesus is the one who is to come. Jesus praises John, rebukes the impenitent towns for their unbelief, then invites all who are weary and burdened to come to him to find rest.

Controversies break out over the Sabbath: Jesus heals a man and declares himself lord of the Sabbath. Accused of casting out demons by Beelzebul, he answers and warns against blasphemy against the Spirit. He designates those who do the will of God as his true family.

Jesus teaches in parables: the sower, the weeds, the mustard seed, the leaven, the hidden treasure, the pearl, and the net. He explains their meaning to his disciples, then is rejected in his hometown, Nazareth.

Herod has John the Baptist beheaded. Jesus withdraws, then feeds five thousand men with five loaves and two fish. At night, he walks on the water and invites Peter to join him; he saves him when his faith wavers.

Jesus denounces the hypocrisy of the Pharisees about traditions and teaches that defilement comes from the heart. He heals the daughter of a Canaanite woman because of her faith, then feeds four thousand men with seven loaves and a few fish.

Jesus warns against the leaven of the Pharisees. At Caesarea Philippi, Peter confesses him as the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus announces his death and resurrection, rebukes Peter, and calls us to deny ourselves in order to follow him.

Jesus is transfigured on the mountain before Peter, James, and John; Moses and Elijah appear, and a voice declares him the beloved Son. He heals a child the disciples could not deliver, again announces his death, and pays the temple tax.

Jesus teaches about humility, comparing the disciples to children. He warns against causes of stumbling, tells the parable of the lost sheep, explains how to rebuke a brother, and illustrates forgiveness through the parable of the unmerciful servant.

Jesus teaches about marriage and divorce and blesses the little children. He invites a rich young man to sell everything to follow him, then explains how difficult it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom, promising a reward to those who have followed him.

Through the parable of the workers of the eleventh hour, Jesus teaches the grace of God. He announces his death a third time, answers the request for honor from the sons of Zebedee by calling them to serve, and heals two blind men at Jericho.

Jesus enters Jerusalem acclaimed by the crowd and drives the sellers out of the temple. He curses a barren fig tree, answers the leaders about his authority, and tells the parables of the two sons and of the murderous vinedressers.

Jesus tells the parable of the royal wedding feast. He foils the traps of the Pharisees and the Sadducees about the tax to Caesar, the resurrection, and the greatest commandment — to love God and one's neighbor — then questions them about the Christ, son of David.

Jesus denounces the hypocrisy of the scribes and the Pharisees through a series of "woe to you," rebuking them for imposing burdens and neglecting justice and mercy. He weeps over Jerusalem, which rejects those God sends to it.

On the Mount of Olives, Jesus announces the destruction of the temple and speaks of the signs of the end of the age: wars, tribulations, and his coming in glory. He urges us to keep watch, for no one knows the day or the hour.

Jesus teaches through the parables of the ten virgins and of the talents, calling for vigilance and faithfulness. He describes the last judgment, where the Son of Man will separate the nations as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

Jesus is anointed at Bethany; Judas betrays him for thirty pieces of silver. He institutes the Lord's Supper, prays at Gethsemane, then is arrested. Peter denies him, and he appears before the Sanhedrin, which condemns him.

Judas hangs himself. Jesus appears before Pilate, who hands him over after offering Barabbas. He is flogged, crowned with thorns, and crucified at Golgotha. He dies, the veil of the temple is torn, and he is laid in the tomb, guarded by soldiers.

On Easter morning, an angel announces to the women that Jesus is risen. Jesus appears to them, then shows himself to his disciples in Galilee. He commands them to go and make disciples of all nations, promising to be with them until the end.

John the Baptist preaches repentance and baptizes Jesus. Jesus begins to preach in Galilee. He heals the sick, casts out demons, and calls his first disciples.

Back in Capernaum, Jesus heals a paralytic. He sees Levi and calls him to follow. He eats at the same table as tax collectors and people of ill repute. Jesus teaches about fasting and the Sabbath. He continues his divine mission of forgiving sinners.

Jesus heals a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath day, which prompts the Pharisees to seek to put him to death. He calls twelve apostles to follow him and to preach. The scribes accuse him of being possessed, but Jesus answers them by speaking of division and the power of forgiveness.

Jesus teaches the crowd in parables, explaining that of the sower and comparing the kingdom of God to a mustard seed. In the evening, he calms a storm at sea, demonstrating his power over nature.

Jesus casts out a legion of demons from a possessed man in the country of the Gadarenes. He then crosses the sea, heals a woman with a flow of blood in response to her faith, and raises the daughter of Jairus, a synagogue leader.

Jesus teaches in his hometown but meets with unbelief. He sends his disciples to preach and to heal. John the Baptist is beheaded at Herod's command. Jesus feeds five thousand men with five loaves and two fish, then walks on the water to join his disciples. Wherever he goes, the sick are healed simply by touching his garments.

The Pharisees criticize Jesus' disciples for not observing the traditions of purification. Jesus teaches that true impurity comes from the heart. He heals the daughter of a Syrophoenician woman possessed by a demon and a deaf-mute man.

Jesus miraculously feeds four thousand people with seven loaves and a few fish. He refuses to give a sign from heaven to the Pharisees. Jesus heals a blind man at Bethsaida and discusses his identity with his disciples. He foretells his suffering, death, and resurrection, while teaching about sacrifice and faith.

Jesus is transfigured before Peter, James, and John, with Elijah and Moses. He heals a possessed child after his disciples could not. He foretells his death and resurrection, discusses humility and service with his disciples, and teaches about the importance of getting rid of what causes sin.

Jesus teaches about marriage and divorce, blesses children, and explains the difficulty for those with great riches to enter the kingdom of God. He foretells his death and resurrection at Jerusalem and discusses humility and service. At Jericho, he heals the blind man Bartimaeus.

On a colt, Jesus enters Jerusalem in triumph. He curses a fruitless fig tree, cleanses the temple, and teaches about faith in God. The religious authorities question his authority, but Jesus answers them with a question they cannot answer.

Jesus tells the parable of the vinedressers who kill the servants and the owner's son. He skillfully answers questions about paying tribute to Caesar and about the resurrection. Jesus teaches that the greatest commandments are to love God and one's neighbor. He criticizes the scribes for their hypocrisy and praises the generosity of a poor widow.