Matthew 11:27-30

Thursday of the 4th week.

Reverend.

The Gospel of Matthew, conceived 44

At that time Jesus was passing through the sown fields on the Sabbath; and his disciples hungered, and began to pluck the ears of corn and eat. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, Behold, thy disciples are doing what they ought not to do on the sabbath. And he said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he hungered and those who were with him? how did he enter into the house of God, and eat the showbread, which he was not to eat, nor to those who were with him, but only to the priests? And have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath, but are innocent? But I tell you that here is He who is greater than the temple; if you had known what it means, I desire mercy and not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the innocent, for the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.

Matthew 12:1-8

Friday of the 4th week.

The Gospel of Matthew, conceived 45

In those days Jesus entered the synagogue of the Jews. And behold, there was a man with a withered hand. And they asked Jesus, to accuse him, Is it permissible to heal on the Sabbath? And he said to them, "Which of you, having one sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath day, does not take it and pull it out? How many better men are the sheep! Thus, it is possible to do good on Saturdays. Then He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and she was as well as the other.

Matthew 12:9b–13

Monday of the 5th week.

The Gospel of Matthew, conceived 46a

In those days, the Pharisees had a conference against Jesus, how to destroy Him. But when Jesus found out, he departed from there. And a great multitude followed him, and he healed them all, and forbade them to declare him. Then they brought to Him a demon-possessed, blind and dumb man; and he healed him, so that the blind and dumb man began to speak and see. And all the people were amazed, and said, Is this not Christ, the son of David? And when the Pharisees heard this, they said, He casteth out demons except by the power of Beelzebub, the prince of demons. But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be desolate; and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. And if Satan casts out Satan, then he is divided from himself: how then will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by the power of Beelzebub, by whose power do your sons cast out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then surely the Kingdom of God has reached you. Or how can a man enter into the house of a strong man, and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong? and then he shall plunder his house. He who is not with Me is against Me; and whoever does not gather with Me scatters.

Matthew 12:14-16, 22-30