Matthew 20-28 (Translated)

## Contents

* 1 Chapter 20
* 2 Chapter 21
* 3 Chapter 22
* 4 Chapter 23
* 5 Chapter 24
* 6 Chapter 25
* 7 Chapter 26 -- the Last Supper begins at 26:20
* 8 Chapter 27
* 9 Chapter 28
* 10 References

## Chapter 20[edit]

Verse  | King James Version  | Proposed Conservative Translation  | Analysis

|
|
|

1  | For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.  | "For the Kingdom of heaven is like a landowner, who went out at dawn to hire workmen for his vineyard.  | οἰκοδεσπότης means head of the house, householder sounds dated, landowner seems to be more appropriate.... πρωΐ: at dawn, early in the morning, implying that he uses the whole day
2 | And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.  | "And when he had formed an agreement with the workmen to pay them a silver coin a day, he sent them into his vineyard.  | Silver coin is easily understood, shilling is almost as dated as denarius. (By "shilling" is meant the Roman denarius, worth ten assaria, four sesterces, or forty quadrants.)
3 | And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,  | "And he went out three hours later, and saw others standing without work in the public square,  | This is the αγορα or agora, which served as marketplace and place of legal transactions.

ἀργός was omitted.

4 | And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.  | "And said to them, 'Go also into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever wage is just.'  | ~~The phrase and they went their way is an interpolation.~~ The phrase and they went their way comes from the first words of the next verse οἱ δὲ ἀπῆλθον. and they went.
5 | Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.  | "and they went that way. And he went out again at midday and three hours later, and did the same thing.  | The hours of the day began at sunrise, as the hours of night began at sunset.
6 | And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?  | "And an hour before dusk he went out and found others standing around, and said to them, 'Why have you been standing here all day without work?'  | It's the proverbial eleventh hour, the five-minutes-until-midnight.
7 | They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.  | "They said to him, 'Because no man has hired us.' He said to them, 'Go also into the vineyard, and whatever is just, that you will receive.'  |
8 | So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.  | "So when the evening came, the lord of the vineyard said to his steward, 'Call the workmen, and pay them their wages, beginning from the last to the first.'  |
9 | And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.  | "And when they who had been hired at about the eleventh hour came, they each received a shilling.  |
10 | But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.  | "But when the first-hired men came, they thought that they would receive a higher wage, and they also received a shilling.  |
11 | And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,  | "And when they received it, they started complaining against the master of the house,  |
12 | Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.  | "saying, 'These last have been working only for one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who have carried the load and the heat of the full day.'  |
13 | But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?  | "But he answered one of them, and said, 'Friend, I'm not doing you any wrong. Didn't you agree to work for me for a shilling?  |
14 | Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.  | "'Take what is yours, and go on. I wish to give to this last man, even as I have given to you.  |
15 | Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?  | "'Isn't it lawful for me to do as I wish with what is mine? Is your eye evil, because I am good?'  | At issue is not the principle of "equal pay for comparable worth," but that an employer has the absolute right to pay whatever wage he wishes to pay, so long as he honors his agreements without discrimination. In the same way, God has the absolute right to reward those of us who serve Him exactly as He wishes, and He will always reliably honor the agreements He makes.
16 | So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.  | "So the last will be first, and the first last."  | The Byzantine manuscripts add, "For many are called, but few chosen." But it is obvious that is an unauthorized subsequent interpolation, once the mathematical logic of this parable is realized.
17 | And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,  | And Jesus, while going up to Jerusalem, took the Twelve aside on the road for a private consultation. He said to them,  | Jerusalem is an at elevation of 800 meters, the highest of any city; hence the phrase "going up." The most reliable manuscripts speak only of "the Twelve," because that they are the Twelve Apostles is well understood.
18 | Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,  | "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man will be betrayed to the leading priests and to the scribes, and they will condemn Him to death,  |
19 | And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.  | "And will deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify Him. And on the third day He will rise again."  |
20 | Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.  | Then the mother of Zebedee's children came to Him with her sons, falling down at His feet and wanting something from Him.  |
21 | And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.  | And He said to her, "What do you wish?" She said to Him, "Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom."  |
22 | But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.  | But Jesus in answer said, "You don't know what you're asking. Can you drink from the cup that I will drink from, and be baptized with the baptism that I will be baptized with?" And they said to him, "We can."  |
23 | And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.  | And He said to them, "You will certainly drink from My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with. But to sit on My right hand, or on My left, is not for Me to grant, but it will be granted to them for whom it is prepared by My Father."  |
24 | And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.  | And when the other ten heard it, they were indignant toward the two brothers.  |
25 | But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.  | But Jesus called them to Him, and said, "You know that the leaders of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and that the great ones exercise authority over them.  |
26 | But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;  | "But it will not be that way among you. If any man wants to be great among you, let him first be your table waiter,  | The Greek word used here is διακονος, which survives as the English word deacon. Thus Jesus prefigures the original appointment of the first deacons; see Acts 6 .
27 | And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:  | "And if anyone wants to be first, let him be your slave,  |
28 | Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.  | "Even as the Son of man came not to be waited on, but to wait on others, and to give his life as a ransom for many people."  |
29 | And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.  | And as they left Jericho, a great crowd followed them.  |
30 | And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.  | Two blind men sitting by the roadside, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, son of David."  |
31 | And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.  | And the crowd scolded them, saying that they should keep quiet. But they cried all the more, saying, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David."  |
32 | And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?  | And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, "What do you want me to do for you?"  |
33 | They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.  | They said to him, "Lord, we want our eyes opened."  |
34 | So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.  | So Jesus took pity on them, and touched their eyes. Immediately they regained their sight, and followed Him.  |

## Chapter 21[edit]

Verse  | King James Version  | Proposed Conservative Translation  | Analysis

|
|
|

1 | And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,  | When they approached Jerusalem and had come to Bethphage, to Mount Olive, Jesus sent two of His students,  |
2 | Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.  | and told them, "Go into the next village you come to. As soon as you enter it, you will find a tethered donkey and a colt next to her. Untie them and bring them to Me.  |
3 | And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.  | "And if any man says anything to you, tell them, 'The Lord needs them,' and he'll send them right away."  |
4 | All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,  | All this was done in order to fulfil that which was spoken by Isaiah, who said,  |
5 | Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.  | "Tell the daughter of Zion, Behold, your King comes unto you, meek, and sitting on a donkey, and a colt that is a donkey's foal."  |
6 | And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,  | And the students went and did as Jesus told them,  |
7 | And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.  | and brought the donkey, and the colt, ad put their clothes on them, and they set Him on it.  |
8 | And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.  | And a very large crowd spread their cloaks in the road; others cut down branches from the trees and strewed them on the road.  | These were palm branches. The crowd probably did this, thinking to make the road softer and more tolerable for the donkey and the colt to walk on it.
9 | And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.  | And the crowds that walked ahead and behind shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord! Hosanna in the Highest!"  | Hosanna is an Aramaic word meaning "Save, I pray." The formula "Blessed is he who comes" is the Hebrew idiom that means "Welcome."
10 | And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?  | And when he had entered Jerusalem, everyone in the city was moved, and said, "Who is This?"  |
11 | And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.  | And the crowd said, "This is Jesus the Prophet of Nazareth of Galilee."  | Capitalized on account of Whom we're talking about, the Son of God, not on account of what the speaker might have thought He was.
12 | And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,  | And Jesus went into the Temple and threw out everyone who was selling and buying goods in the Temple, and turned over the tables of the moneychangers and the chairs of the dove-sellers,  | Most manuscripts say simply "Temple"; others add "of God."
13 | And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.  | And He told them, "It is written, 'My House shall be called the House of prayer.' But you have made it into a robbers' den."  | Jesus does not mean to say that all commerce is inherently evil. He does make the point that commercial activity in the Temple can never be proper. It was also the worst example of hypocrisy that He had yet encountered: the Pharisees, with all their regulations, had allowed this crass commercialism to go on in the Temple itself, and had done nothing about it.
14 | And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.  | And blind and lame people came to Him in the Temple, and He healed them.  |
15 | And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased,  | And when the leading priests and the scribes saw the absolutely amazing things that He did, and the children crying in the Temple, and saying, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were very much displeased.  | The Greek word θαυμασιος means something so amazing that a person watching it can only say, "Wow!"
16 | And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?  | They told Him, "Do you hear what they're saying?" And Jesus told them, "Of course I have. Haven't you ever read, 'Out of the mouths of babies and sucklings you have made praise complete'?"  |
17 | And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there.  | And He left them, and went out of the city into Bethany, and took up residence there.  |
18 | Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.  | The next morning, as He came back into the city, He was hungry.  |
19 | And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.  | And when He saw a fig tree in the road, He came to it, and found nothing on it but leaves. He told it, "Let no fruit grow on you from this moment forward, forever." And immediately the fig tree withered away.  |
20 | And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!  | And when the students saw it, they were bug-eye shocked, saying, "Look at how fast that fig tree withered away!"  |
21 | Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.  | In answer, Jesus told them, "I tell you truly: If you have faith, and don't doubt it, you will not only do what was just done to this fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, 'Remove yourself and throw yourself into the sea,' it will happen.  |
22 | And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.  | "And all thins, whatever you ask in prayer and while believing, you will receive."  |
23 | And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?  | And when He had entered the Temple, the leading priests and elders of the people came to Him as He was teaching, and said, "By what authority do You do these things, and who gave You this authority?"  |
24 | And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things.  | And in answer Jesus told them, "I will ask you one thing only. If you tell me, then I will tell you by what authority I do these things.  |
25 | The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?  | "Where did the baptism of John the Baptist come from? From heaven, or from men?" And they spoke among themselves, and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' then He will ask us, 'So why didn't you believe him?'  |
26 | But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.  | "But if we say, 'From men,' then there's no telling what all these people will do, because everyone thinks that John was a prophet."  |
27 | And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.  | So in answer to Jesus, they said, "We don't know." And He told them, "In that case, I won't tell you by what authority I do these things.  |
28 | But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.  | "But what do you think? A certain man had two sons. He came to the first, and said, 'Son, go and work today in my vineyard.'  |
29 | He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.  | "In answer, he said, 'I don't want to.' But later he changed his mind, and went.  |
30 | And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.  | "And he came to the other one, and said the same thing. And in answer, He said, "I am going, sir," but he did not go.  |
31 | Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.  | "Which of those two did what his father wished?" They said to him, "The first." Jesus told them, "I tell you truly: the tax-collectors and the prostitutes will go into the Kingdom of God ahead of you.  |
32 | For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.  | "For John came to you by the road of justice, and you didn't believe him. But the tax gatherers and prostitutes believe him. And you, when you saw that happen, did not change your minds afterward, so that you might believe him.  |
33 | Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:  | "I'll tell you another parable: A certain householder planted a vineyard, and planted a hedge around it, and dug a winepress in it, and built a tower, and rented it out to tenant farmers and went away on a long trip.  |
34 | And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.  | "When vintage time approached, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect the fruits of the vintage.  |
35 | And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.  | "And the tenants took his slaves, and beat one, killed another, and stoned another.  |
36 | Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.  | "Again he sent other slaves, in fact more the second time, and they did the same thing to them.  |
37 | But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.  | "But he finally sent his son to them, saying, "They will have proper respect for my son."  |
38 | But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.  | "But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, "This is the heir. Let's kill him and seize the inheritance for ourselves."  |
39 | And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.  | "And they caught him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.  |
40 | When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?  | "Now when the lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?"  |
41 | They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.  | They told Him, "He will ignominiously destroy those wicked men, and rent out his vineyard to other tenants, who will pay him his rightful share of the vintage."  |
42 | Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?  | Jesus told them, "Didn't you ever read in the Scriptures, 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the primary cornerstone: this is the Lord's doing, and it is amazing in our eyes'?  |
43 | Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.  | "So I tell you: The Kingdom of God will be taken away from you, and given to a nation that will produce Its fruits.  |
44 | And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.  | "And whoever falls on this stone will be broken. But whomever it falls on will be crushed."  | The provenance of this verse is not universally accepted and seems out-of-place.
45 | And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.  | And when the leading priests and the Pharisees had heard his parables, they recognized that He was talking about them.  |
46 | But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.  | But when they looked for a way to lay hands on him, they were afraid of the crowd, because they took Him for a prophet.  |

## Chapter 22[edit]

Verse  | King James Version  | Proposed Conservative Translation  | Analysis

|
|
|

1 | And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,  | In answer, Jesus spoke to them again by means of parables, and said,  |
2 | The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,  | "The Kingdom of heaven is like a certain king, who arranged a marriage for his son,  |
3 | And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.  | "and sent out his slaves to call the invitees to the wedding, and they didn't want to come.  |
4 | Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.  | "He sent his slaves out again, saying, "Tell the invitees, 'I have gotten my dinner ready; my oxen and my fatted calves have been slaughtered; everything is ready. Come to the wedding.'"  |
5 | But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:  | "But they blew it off, and went their ways. One went to his farm, and another to his merchandise.  |
6 | And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.  | "And the rest of them took his slaves, treated them disgracefully, and killed them.  |
7 | But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.  | "The king was furious, as a magistrate might be, and he sent out his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned down their city.  |
8 | Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.  | "Then he told his slaves, 'The wedding is ready, but the original invitees didn't deserve to come.  |
9 | Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.  | "'So go into the roads, and invite as many people as you can find to the wedding.'  |
10 | So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.  | "So those slaves went out into the roads, and gathered together everyone they could find, good or bad, and the wedding had plenty of guests.  |
11 | And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:  | "But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man who was not properly dressed for a wedding.  |
12 | And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.  | "And he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without the proper clothes for a wedding?' And he couldn't say a word.  |
13 | Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  | "Then the king told his slaves, 'Tie him hand and foot, take him away, and throw him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.'  |
14 | For many are called, but few are chosen.  | "For many are called, but few chosen."  | This is the proper place for a verse that had been interpolated earlier.
15 | Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.  | "Then the Pharisees went away and held a meeting about how they might trap Him into saying something embarrassing.  |
16 | And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.  | And they send out to Him their own students with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth, and that You don't care about any man, because You are no Respecter of persons.  | The Herodians were partisans of Herod Antipas and the royal family of the Herods.
17 | Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?  | "So tell us what you think? Is it proper to pay the census tax to Caesar, or not?"  | The particular tax is called κηνσος or kensos. This is a direct transliteration, into Greek, of the Latin census tax.
18 | But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?  | But Jesus knew exactly the sort of wicked people He was dealing with. So He said, "Why are you always testing Me, you hypocrites?  |
19 | Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.  | "Show me the coin that you use to pay the census tax." And they brought him a Roman shilling.  | Specifically, the denarius, or dinar, a typical day's wages.
20 | And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?  | And He said to them, "Whose face and epigram is this?"  |
21 | They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.  | They told Him, "Caesar's." So He told them, "So give Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God."  |
22 | When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.  | When they heard these words, they were stupefied, and left Him, and went on their way.  |
23 | The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,  | On the same day the Sadducees came to Him. (The Sadducees say that there is no such thing as a resurrection of the dead.) They asked Him,  |
24 | Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.  | "Teacher, Moses said, 'If a man dies and leaves no children, his brother must marry his wife.'  | The Sadducees quote the Levirate Law from Deuteronomy.
25 | Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother:  | "Now there were seven brothers with us. The first brother married, then died and left no issue, so his wife married his brother.  |
26 | Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.  | "And the second brother did the same, and the third, and so on to the seventh.  |
27 | And last of all the woman died also.  | "Finally the woman died as well.  |
28 | Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.  | "Now: in the resurrection, whom is she married to? All seven had married her!"  |
29 | Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.  | In answer, Jesus said, "You are mistaken. You don't know either the Scriptures or the power of God.  | In other words, the Sadducees haven't done their homework.
30 | For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.  | "People in the resurrection neither marry nor are given away in marriage. To the contrary, they are like God's Messengers in heaven.  | This does not mean that Resurrected people will actually be angels. But it does say that angels do not marry. Angels are a company, not a race.
31 | But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,  | "But while we're on the subject of the resurrection of the dead: haven't you read what God Himself said? He said,  |
32 | I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.  | "'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' He is not the God of dead people, but of live people."  |
33 | And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.  | When the crowd heard this, they were amazed at His teaching.  |
34 | But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.  | When the Pharisees heard that He had shut the Sadducees up, they held a meeting.  |
35 | Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,  | Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question to test Him, and said,  | This "lawyer" was a teacher of Jewish law. Rome had no dedicated lawyers.
36 | Master, which is the great commandment in the law?  | "'Teacher, what is the most important commandment in the Law?'"  |
37 | Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  | Jesus said to Him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul, and all your mind.'  |
38 | This is the first and great commandment.  | "This is the first and most important commandment.  |
39 | And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  | "The second is just as important: 'You shall love your neighbor as you love yourself.'  |
40 | On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.  | "On these two commandments, the entire law depends, and the prophets."  |
41 | While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,  | While the Pharisees were still meeting, Jesus asked them,  |
42 | Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David.  | "What do you think about the Anointed One? Whose son is He?" They said to him, "The son of David."  |
43 | He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,  | He said to them, "So how does David in spirit call Him Lord, when he said,  |
44 | The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?  | "'The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit on My right hand, until I make Your enemies Your footstool?"'  | The expression "LORD" is actually the Tetragrammaton, which in Hebrew is יהוה or YHWH.
45 | If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?  | "So if David calls Him Lord, how can He be his son?"  |
46 | And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.  | And no one could say a word to Him in answer, and neither did any man dare ask Him any more questions from that day forward.  |

## Chapter 23[edit]

Verse  | King James Version  | Proposed Conservative Translation  | Analysis

|
|
|

1 | Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,  | Now Jesus spoke to the crowd, and to His students,  |
2 | Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:  | saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in the seat of Moses.  |
3 | All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.  | "So whatever they tell you to do, you do and keep. But don't follow their example. They say, but they don't do.  |
4 | For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.  | "They prepare burdens that are heavy and hard to carry, and lay them on other people's shoulders, but they themselves will not lift a finger to help anyone carry them.  |
5 | But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,  | "They do everything that they do in order to be seen by men. They make their Scripture carrying cases broad, and make their tassels large,  | In Deuteronomy 6:8 , Moses told the Jews to keep the words of God on their hands and on their foreheads. Furthermore he told them to write the word on their doorposts and gates. But whether Moses meant this literally or figuratively is an open question. The Pharisees took this command to a ridiculous extreme--and more to the point, that, together with the oversized tassels and other things that Jesus describes of their behavior, is all a sham.
6 | And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,  | "And love the couches of honor at public banquets, and seats of honor in the synagogues,  |
7 | And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.  | "And greedings in the public squares, and to be called 'Rabbi! Rabbi!' by men.  |
8 | But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.  | "Don't ask to be called 'Rabbi.' You have only One Teacher, namely Christ; and all of you are brothers.  |
9 | And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.  | "And don't call any man your father on earth. You have only One Father, Who is in heaven.  |
10 | Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.  | "Don't ask to be called masters. You have only One Master, namely Christ.  |
11 | But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.  | "But the greatest among you will be your table-waiter.  |
12 | And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.  | "And anyone who brings himself up will be brought low, and anyone who brings himself low will be brought up.  |
13 | But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.  | "But it will be terrible for you, you scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are shutting people out of the Kingdom of heaven. You don't go in yourselves, and don't let anyone else go in.  |
14 | Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.  | "How terrible for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You eat widows out of their houses, and make a long prayer, but you're only pretending. So you will be condemned all the worse for that.  | The provenance of this verse is doubtful, but it is in character with every other accusation that Jesus made against the Pharisees.
15 | Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.  | "How terrible for you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You scour sea and land to make one convert, but when you've converted him, you make him twice the child of hell you are.  |
16 | Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!  | "How terrible for you, you blind guides! You say, 'If you swear by the Temple, that's nothing, but if you swear by the gold of the Temple, you're in debt.'  |
17 | Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?  | "You blind morons! Which is more important, the gold, or the Temple that makes that gold holy?  |
18 | And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.  | "And: 'If you swear by the altar, that's nothing, but if you swear by the gift on the altar, you're in debt.'  |
19 | Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?  | "You blind morons! Which is greater, the gift, or the altar that makes that gift holy?  |
20 | Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.  | "So in fact, if someone swears by the altar, he's swearing by the alter and everything on it.  |
21 | And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.  | "And if he swears by the Temple, he's swearing by the Temple and everything in it.  |
22 | And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.  | "And if he swears by heaven, he's swearing by the throne of God, and by Him Who sits on it.  | It's worth repeating here that Jesus said, in the Sermon on the Mount, that people shouldn't take oaths, for this very reason.
23 | Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.  | "How terrible for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay ten percent of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the more important matters of law, and judgment, and mercy, and faith.  |
24 | Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.  | "You blind guides! You're straining at a gnat while swallowing a camel.  |
25 | Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.  | "How terrible for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and the platter, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.  |
26 | Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.  | "You blind Pharisee, first clean the things in the cup and platter, and then the outside will be clean, too.  |
27 | Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.  | "How terrible for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs. They certainly look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside they are full of dead men's bones and all sorts of unclean things.  | A tomb typically contains things that are unclean by any standard, not just the ceremonial.
28 | Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.  | "And just like them, you also look just to men on the outside, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.  |
29 | Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,  | "How terrible for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are building the tombs of the prophets, and decorating the burial caves of the just.  |
30 | And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.  | "And you say, 'If we had been alive in the days of our father, we wouldn't have taken part with them in killing the prophets.'  |
31 | Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.  | "Thus you are testifying against yourselves, that you are the sons of those who murdered the prophets.  |
32 | Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.  | "So fill up the measure of your fathers.  |
33 | Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?  | "You snakes, you jerks, how can you escape being sentenced to the eternal fire?  |
34 | Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:  | "For this reason, behold: I am sending you prophets, and wise men, and scribes. You will kill and crucify some of them, and have some of them scourges in your synagogues, and persecute them from one city to another,  |
35 | That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.  | "in order that all the just blood that has been shed on the earth will come on your heads, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you killed between the Temple and the altar.  | This is actually the eponymous prophet, not the High Priest of that name who also died in a similar manner and location.
36 | Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.  | "I tell you truly: this generation will be held to answer for all of these things.  |
37 | O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!  | "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets, and stones those that are sent to you, how often have I wanted to gather My children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you didn't want that!  |
38 | Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.  | "Your house is left to you empty and abandoned.  |
39 | For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.  | "Because I say to you: You will not see me again, until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord.'"  |

## Chapter 24[edit]

Verse  | King James Version  | Proposed Conservative Translation  | Analysis

|
|
|

1 | And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.  | And Jesus went out, away from the Temple. His students came to Him to show Him the Temple buildings.  |
2 | And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.  | And Jesus told them, "Do you see all these things? I tell you truly: there won't be one stone left on top of another, that won't be torn down."  |
3 | And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?  | And as he sat on Mount Olive, the students came to Him privately, and said, "Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and the end of the world?"  |
4 | And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.  | And Jesus in answer told them, "Make sure not to let anyone lie to you.  |
5 | For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.  | "Many men will come in My Name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many others.  |
6 | And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.  | "You are about to hear about wars and rumors of wars. Make sure not to worry about that; all these things have to happen, but this isn't the end.  |
7 | For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.  | "Ethnic groups and nation-states will fight against one another, and famines and earthquakes will strike in various places.  | Many manuscripts add "and pandemics" between the famines and the earthquakes.
8 | All these are the beginning of sorrows.  | "All these things are the beginning of birth-pains.  |
9 | Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.  | "Then they will bind you over to be punished, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all ethnic groups on account of My Name.  | The first use of "Then" in reference to verse 3 and "Sign of your coming and end of the age"
10 | And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.  | "And then many people will start to have doubts, and will double-cross one another, and will come to hate one another.  |
11 | And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.  | "Many false prophets will arise and deceive many people.  |
12 | And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.  | "And because lawlessness will be overwhelmingly present, the love of many people will die out.  |
13 | But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.  | "But anyone who can endure until the end, will be saved.  | The context started in verse 9 in that believers will be facing death but if they endure, they will be saved. The same Greek word for saved is used in verse 22 which is more clearly in reference to physical salvation.
14 | And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.  | "And this Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world as a testimony to all ethnic groups. That's when the end will come.  | Defines the end. In addition to people, Angels will fly in the sky to preach the Gospel per Revelation 14:6. After the rapture of the Church, God will operate in the World as He did during the Jewish time period with large scale supernatural events such as angels preaching the Gospel and Moses and Elijah style miracles performed by the Two Witnesses Revelation 11:1-12.
15 | When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)  | "So when you see the Abomination that Makes Desolate, that Daniel the prophet spoke about, standing in the Holy Place (and those who read about this will know what I'm talking about),  |
16 | Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:  | "then anyone in Judea needs to run to the high hills.  | This is how to endure. If a believer is killed before the end, then they will not be rescued by angels per Daniel 12:1 but will instead be resurrected per Daniel 12:2. These believers were born again after the rapture of the church since they will not have power over the Anti-Christ Matthew 16:18.
17 | Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:  | "If anyone is on the housetop, he should not come down to take anything out of his house.  |
18 | Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.  | "If anyone is in the field, he should not come back even to take his clothes.  |
19 | And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!  | "And it will be terrible for pregnant and nursing women in those days!  |
20 | But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:  | "And pray that you won't have to flee in the wintertime, or on the Sabbath day.  |
21 | For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.  | "Because then a great oppression will supervene, such as has not been seen since the beginning of the world until this time, nor ever will be seen again.  |
22 | And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.  | "In fact, if those days weren't cut short, no one would remain alive. But for the sake of the chosen ones, those days will be cut short.  |
23 | Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.  | "Then if anyone says to you, "Look! Christ is here!" (or "there!"), don't believe it.  |
24 | For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.  | "False Christs, and false prophets, will arise, and will show great signs and wonders, so much so that they could deceive even the chosen ones if they could.  |
25 | Behold, I have told you before.  | "Remember, I went over this before.  |
26 | Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.  | "So if they tell you, 'Look! He's in the desert!' don't go. Or if they say, 'Look! He's in the private rooms!" don't believe it.  |
27 | For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  | "Because as lightning comes out of the east, and shines even to the western sky, that's how the coming of the Son of man will be.  |
28 | For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.  | "For wherever the dead body is, the vultures will be flocking together.  | The vulture described here is the Middle Eastern black vulture Gyps fulvus that has the wingspan of an eagle and tends to nest in very high elevations.
29 | Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:  | "Immediately after the oppression of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the skies will be shaken.  | The Greek word φεγγος or phengos refers to reflected light, not the primary light from a body like the sun.

The "falling stars" will likely be meteors. In those days, the word star stood for any pinpoint-like object in the sky, and not exclusively the bodies of hydrogen and helium known to astronomy by that name.

30 | And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.  | "And then the sign of the Son of man will appear in heaven. Then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see 'the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven' with power and great glory.  |
31 | And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.  | "And He will send His Messengers with a loud trumpet blast, and they will gather His chosen ones from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.  | Daniel 12:1 Angels physically save believers who survive or endured to the end. Joel 2:32 Believers who are alive at the end will be rescued or physically saved. Angels do not resurrect people but angels excel at physical salvation.
32 | Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:  | "Learn now a parable of the fig tree. When its branch is still tender, and puts out leaves, you know that summer is near.  |
33 | So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.  | "In the same way you, when you see all these things, know that it is practically at your doorstep.  |
34 | Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.  | "I tell you truly: This generation will not pass away until all these things are fulfilled.  |
35 | Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.  | "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My Truth will not pass away.  |
36 | But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.  | "But no man knows that day and hour, not even the Messengers of heaven, but only My Father.  |
37 | But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  | "And as it was in the days of Noah, the coming of the Son of man will be.  | Jesus expressly mentions the Great Flood here.
38 | For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,  | "In the days before the Great Flood people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving away in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the Ark.  | The Greek word used is κιβωτος, which usually means "box." This is further evidence that Noah's Ark was rectilinear and not tub-shaped as many popular paintings depict it.
39 | And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  | "And they didn't know anything until the Flood came, and swept them all the way. That's how the coming of the Son of man will be.  | The them who were taken away were all of the sinners. Believers were left behind on the Earth. This is how the coming of the Son of Man will be.
40 | Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.  | "Two men will be in a field, and one will be taken and the other left.  | In the days of Noah, believers were left alive on the Earth and sinners were taken off the Earth. At the Second Advent when Jesus returns, all sinners will be taken off of the Earth and only believers will be left behind.
41 | Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.  | "Two women will be grinding grain at the mill; one will be taken and the other left.  |
42 | Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.  | "So stay alert, because you don't know at what hour your Lord will come.  |
43 | But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.  | "But know this: If the master of the house had known in advance what time the thief would come, he would have been watching, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.  |
44 | Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.  | "So you be ready as well, because the Son of man will come when you least expect Him.  |
45 | Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?  | "Who, then, is a faithful and wise slave, whom his lord has made master of his household, to pay them their wages on time?  |
46 | Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.  | "Blessed is that servant, whom his lord, when he comes, will find doing as he asked.  |
47 | Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.  | "I tell you truly, that he will make that man the steward of all his goods.  |
48 | But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;  | "But if that evil servant will tell himself, 'My lord will be late in coming',  |
49 | And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;  | "and will start striking his fellow slaves, and to eat and drink with intoxicated people,  |
50 | The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,  | "that slave's lord will come on a day when he least expects him, and in an hour that he doesn't know,  |
51 | And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  | "and will punish him severely, and will treat him the same as any hypocrite: there will be weeping and grinding of teeth."  |

## Chapter 25[edit]

Verse  | King James Version  | Proposed Conservative Translation  | Analysis

|
|
|

1 | Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.  | "The Kingdom of heaven will be like ten bridesmaids, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  | Matthew 5:16 Lamps represent good works before people.
2 | And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.  | "Five of them were foolish, and five sensible.  | Psalms 53:1 A fool does not believe in God
3 | They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:  | "The foolish ones took their lamps, but took no oil with them.  | Oil represents Holy Spirit at salvation. Foolish virgins can only perform good works via their own human effort.
4 | But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.  | "But the sensible ones took oil in vessels with their lamps.  | The wise have oil in vessels since they have a choice to empower good works (light their lamps) via motivation from the Holy Spirit or by their human effort.
5 | While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.  | "While the bridegroom took time to come, they all grew drowsy and slept.  | None of them were shining their lamps, they were all acting like sinners.
6 | And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.  | "At midnight a cry went out, 'Behold! The bridegroom is coming! Go out to meet him!'  |
7 | Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.  | "Then all those bridesmaids woke up, and trimmed their lamps.  | This "trimming" operation involves cutting off the burnt part of the wick so that the lamp would continue to burn brightly.
8 | And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.  | "And the foolish ones said to the sensible ones, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps have gone out.'  | The foolish virgin's lamps or good works may have looked the same to people, but God can tell who has the oil of the Holy Spirit.
9 | But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.  | "But the sensible ones said in answer, 'We can't do that; we wouldn't have enough oil for all of us. Instead, go to the sellers and buy oil for yourselves.'  |
10 | And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.  | "And while they were going to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding, and the door was shut.  |
11 | Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.  | "Afterward the other bridesmaids came also, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!'  |
12 | But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.  | But in answer he said, 'I tell you truly: I don't know you.'  |
13 | Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.  | "So stay alert, because you don't know either the day or the hour."  | The Byzantine manuscripts add "when the Son of man comes" to that last.
14 | For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.  | "A certain man was going away from home on a long trip. He called his own slaves and entrusted his goods to them.  |
15 | And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.  | "To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his particular ability, and left on his trip right away.  | The talent was the weight of any precious metal that a man could carry on his back.
16 | Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.  | "Then the one who received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.  |
17 | And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.  | "And likewise the one who received the two, also made another two.  |
18 | But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.  | "But the one who received the one talent went and dug in the earth and hid his lord's money.  | The Greek word used here for money is αργυριον, or silver. Therefore these were probably silver talents that the slaves had to work with.
19 | After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.  | "After a long time the lord of these slaves came back and settled accounts with them.  |
20 | And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.  | "And so the one who had received the five talents came and brought five more talents, and said, 'Lord, you entrusted five talents to me; I have made five talents more.'  |
21 | His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.  | "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave. You have been faithful over a few things, so I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'  |
22 | He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.  | "Also, the one who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you entrusted two talents to me. Behold, I have made two more talents besides these.'  |
23 | His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.  | "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave. You have been faithful over a few things, so I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'  |
24 | Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:  | "Then the one who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew that you are a hard man, and that you reap where you haven't sown, and gather where you haven't threshed.  |
25 | And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.  | "'And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Here is your money back.'  |
26 | His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:  | "In answer, his lord told him, 'You wicked and lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I haven't sown, and gather where I haven't threshed.  |
27 | Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.  | "'So you should have given my money to the moneychangers, and then when I came back I would have had my money back with interest.  |
28 | Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.  | "'So take the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.  |
29 | For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.  | "'Because to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundant amount. But from him who has nothing, even what little he has will be taken away.  |
30 | And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  | "'And throw the worthless slave into outer darkness; there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.'  |
31 | When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:  | "When the Son of man comes in His glory, and all the holy Messengers with Him, He will then sit on the throne of His glory.  |
32 | And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:  | "Before him will be gathered all races of man, and he will separate them from one another, the way a shepherd separates his sheep from the goats.  |
33 | And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.  | "He will set the sheep to his right, and the goats to his left.  | Perhaps this should be translated as "He will set the sheep to his conservative side, and the goats to his liberal side." The Greek word "δεξιός" (translated here as "right") can be translated metaphorically as "cautious authority"; "εὐώνυμος" (translated here as "left") can be translated metaphorically as "unlucky", "sinister" or ... "liberal"?
34 | Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  | "Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world.  |
35 | For I was an hungrey, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:  | "'When I was hungry, you gave Me food. When I was thirsty, you gave Me drink. When I was a stranger, you took Me in.  |
36 | Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.  | "'When I was naked, you clothed Me. I was sick, and you visited Me. I was in prison, and you came to Me.'  |
37 | Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?  | "Then the just will say in answer, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You? Or thirsty, and give You drink?  |
38 | When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?  | "'When did we see You a stranger, and take You in? Or naked, and clothe You?  |
39 | Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?  | "'Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'  |
40 | And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.  | "And the King will tell them in answer, 'I tell you truly: to the extent that you have done it for the least of these My brothers, you have done it for Me.'  |
41 | Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:  | "Then he'll also say to those on His left hand, 'Go away from Me, you accursed ones, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the Slanderer and his messengers.  |
42 | For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:  | "'I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink.  |
43 | I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.  | "'I was a stranger, and you didn't take Me in. I was naked, and you didn't clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.'  |
44 | Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?  | "Then they also will tell Him in answer, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and not wait on You?'  |
45 | Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.  | "Then He will say in answer to them, 'I tell you truly: to the extent that you failed to do this for one of the least of these, you failed to do it for Me.'  |
46 | And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.  | "And these people will go away into eternal punishment, but the just into eternal life."  |

## Chapter 26 -- the Last Supper begins at 26:20[edit]

Verse  | King James Version  | Proposed Conservative Translation  | Analysis

|
|
|

1 | And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples,  | And it happened, when Jesus had finished saying all these things, He said to His students,  |
2 | Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.  | "You know that the feast of Passover takes place in two days, and the Son of man will be betrayed to be crucified."  |
3 | Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,  | Then the leading priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people assembled together, in the palace of the High Priest, Caiaphas by name,  |
4 | And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him.  | and held a meeting on how they might arrest Jesus by treachery and have Him killed.  |
5 | But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.  | But they said, "We cannot do it on the feast day; if we do, the people will riot."  |
6 | Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,  | Now when Jesus was staying in Bethany, in the home of Simon the leper,  |
7 | There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.  | a woman came to him who had an alabaster box of very expensive ointment. She poured it out onto his head as he reclined to dine.  |
8 | But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?  | And when His students saw it, they were indignant. "What a waste!" they said.  |
9 | For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.  | "This ointment might have been sold for a lot of money, money we could have given to the poor!"  |
10 | When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.  | When Jesus realized what was happening, He said, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a good work for Me.  |
11 | For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.  | "You will always have the poor with you, but you won't always have Me.  |
12 | For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.  | "When she poured out this ointment on My body, she did it for My funeral.  |
13 | Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.  | I tell you truly: wherever this Good News is preached in the whole world, this thing that this woman has done will also be talked of as a memorial of her."  |
14 | Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,  | Then one of the Twelve, named Judas Iscariot, went to the members of the Sanhedrin,  |
15 | And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.  | and asked them, "What will you pay me if I deliver Him to you?" They hired him for thirty pieces of silver.  | Oddly, Delilah's price for betraying Samson was fifty-five hundred pieces of silver, eleven hundred from each of the Lords of the Five Cities. One could, therefore, argue that Judas sold Jesus out fairly cheaply by comparison.
16 | And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.  | And from that time forward he looked for a chance to betray Him.  |
17 | Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?  | Now on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread the students came to Jesus, saying to Him, "Where do you want us to prepare a place for You to eat the Passover meal?"  |
18 | And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.  | And He said, "Go into the city to a certain man, and tell him, 'The Teacher says, "My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with My students."'"  |
19 | And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover.  | And the students did as Jesus had instructed them, and prepared the Passover.  |
20 | Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.  | That evening, He sat down with the Twelve.  |
21 | And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.  | As they were eating, He said, "I tell you truly: one of you will betray Me."  |
22 | And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?  | And they were very much distressed, and every one of them started asking Him, "Lord, it isn't I, is it?"  |
23 | And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.  | In answer He said, "The one dipping His hand with Me in the dish, is the one who will betray Me.  |
24 | The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.  | "The Son of man is going as it was written that He would go. But it will be terrible for that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed. It would have been better for that man if he had not been born."  |
25 | Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.  | Then Judas (who eventually did betray Him) said in answer, "Teacher, it isn't I, is it?" He said to him, "You've said it."  |
26 | And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.  | As they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to the students, and said, "Take. Eat. This is My Body."  |
27 | And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;  | And, taking a cup, He gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from this, all of you.  | Some manuscripts have "the cup."
28 | For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.  | "For this is My Blood of the Testament, Which is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins.  | Some manuscripts have "New Testament."
29 | But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.  | "But I tell you, from now on I will not drink of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's Kingdom.  |
30 | And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.  | And when they had sung a hymn, they went out into Mount Olivet.  |
31 | Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.  | Then Jesus told them, "All of you will have doubts about Me this night. Scripture says, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered abroad.'  |
32 | But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.  | "But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee."  |
33 | Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.  | Peter, in answer, said to Him, "Even if all men doubt You, I will never doubt You."  |
34 | Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.  | Jesus told him, "I tell you truly: on this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times."  |
35 | Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.  | Peter told him, "Even if I die with You, I will never deny You." The other students said the same.  |
36 | Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.  | Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the students, "Stay here, while I go and pray over there."  |
37 | And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.  | He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with Him, and began to be pained and distressed.  |
38 | Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.  | Then He told them, "My soul is very distressed, even to death. Stay here and keep watch with Me."  |
39 | And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.  | And He went a little further on, and fell on His face, and prayed, "O Father, if You can, let this cup pass from Me. But don't do what I want, but rather what You want."  |
40 | And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?  | And he came to the students, and found them asleep, and said to Peter, "Couldn't you stay up with Me for one hour?  |
41 | Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.  | "Stay up and pray that you not enter into a test. The spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak."  |
42 | He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.  | He went away again the second time, and prayed, "My Father, if this cup cannot pass from Me unless I drink from it, then let it be done as You wish."  |
43 | And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.  | And He came and found them asleep again, because their eyes were heavy.  |
44 | And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.  | And He left them, and went away again, and prayed for a third time, saying the same words.  |
45 | Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.  | Then He came to His disciples, and told them, "Sleep on now, and take your rest. The hour has arrived, and the Son of man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.  |
46 | Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.  | "Get up, and let's go. Behold, the one who is to betray me has arrived."  |
47 | And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.  | And while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, came. With him came a great crowd armed with swords and sticks, from among the leading priests and elders of the people.  |
48 | Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.  | Now the traitor gave them a sign. He said, "The Man that I kiss, He is the One. Hold Him fast."  |
49 | And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.  | And at once he came to Jesus, and said, "Hello, Teacher," and kissed Him.  |
50 | And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.  | And Jesus said to him, "Friend, why have you come?" Then the crowd came, and laid hands on Jesus, and arrested Him.  |
51 | And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear.  | And then one of the men with Jesus reached with his hand, drew his sword, and struck a slave of the High Priest and cut off his ear.  |
52 | Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.  | Then Jesus told him, "Put your sword back into its place. Everyone who takes the sword will die by the sword.  |
53 | Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?  | "Do you really think that I can't pray to My Father, and He wouldn't immediately give Me more than twelve brigades of His messengers?  | The military unit that Jesus named was the Roman legion. A legion typically included six thousand troops and auxiliaries, which is actually more than a modern infantry brigade.
54 | But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?  | "But in that case, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled, the ones that say that this is how it has to be?"  |
55 | In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.  | In that same hour Jesus said to the crowds, "Have you come out as you would against an insurrectionist, to arrest Me with swords and sticks? I was sitting every day with you, teaching in the Temple, and you didn't arrest Me then."  |
56 | But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.  | But all this happened, so that the Scriptures of the prophets would be fulfilled. Then all the students left Him behind, and ran away.  |
57 | And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.  | And those who had arrested Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the High Priest, where the scribes and the elders were already assembled.  | This was a middle-of-the-night session of the Sanhedrin, a process of highly dubious legality in and of itself.
58 | But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.  | But Peter followed Him at a distance to the palace of the High Priest, and went in, and sat with the attendants, to see the end.  |
59 | Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;  | Now the leading priests, and the elders, and the entire Sanhedrin, sought trumped-up testimony against Jesus, to have Him condemned to death.  |
60 | But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,  | But they found none. Even though many lying witnesses came, they still found none. At last came two lying witnesses,  |
61 | And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.  | who said, "This fellow said, 'I can destroy the Temple of God and rebuild it in three days.'"  |
62 | And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?  | And the High Priest got up, and said to Him, "Have you no answer to what these witnesses are saying against You?"  |
63 | But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.  | But Jesus kept quiet. Then the High Priest in answer said, "I am putting you under oath by the living God: Tell us whether you are the Messiah, the Son of God."  |
64 | Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.  | Jesus said to him, "You just said it. Nevertheless I tell you: Hereafter you will see 'the Son, a man, sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.'"  | According to Andrew Schlafly, "Son of man" is better translated as "'the' Son, a man". However, no other scholar agreeing with this version has been found yet.
65 | Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.  | Then the High Priest tore his clothes, and said, "He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need witnesses anymore? You have heard His blasphemy!  | The ritual tearing of clothes (specifically, ripping one's robe down the middle) was a sign of deep mourning or extreme indignation. But Caiaphas broke the regulations on his conduct by doing this.
66 | What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.  | "How say you?" In answer, they voted "Guilty and sentenced to death."  | This was a taking of a verdict.
67 | Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,  | Then they spat in His face, and struck Him, and others slapped Him with the flats of their hands,  |
68 | Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?  | and said, "Who hit You, Messiah? Guess!"  |
69 | Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.  | Now Peter was sitting outside in the palace. A young woman came to him, saying, "You were also with Jesus of Galilee."  |
70 | But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.  | But he denied it in front of everyone, saying, "I don't know what you're talking about!"  |
71 | And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.  | And when he had gone out onto the portico, another young woman saw him, and said to everyone present, "This man was also with Jesus of Nazareth!"  |
72 | And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.  | And again he denied; this time he swore and said, "I don't know the Man!"  |
73 | And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech betrayeth thee.  | And after a while the bystanders came up to him and said to Peter, "You have to be one of them; your own words give you away."  |
74 | Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.  | Then he started to curse and swear, saying, "I don't know the Man!" And immediately the rooster crowed.  |
75 | And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.  | And Peter remembered the words that Jesus had said to him: "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.  |

## Chapter 27[edit]

Verse  | King James Version  | Proposed Conservative Translation  | Analysis

|
|
|

1 | When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:  | The next morning, all the leading priests and elders of the people held a conference against Jesus, seeking a means to have Him executed.  | The Sanhedrin, being merely an advisory body and subject to Roman law, had no authority to order anyone executed.
2 | And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.  | And they bound Him, led Him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor.  | In short, the Sanhedrin sought a Roman warrant for Christ's execution, and they could get it only from the governor of Judea Province.
3 | Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,  | Then Judas, who had betrayed Him, when he saw that He had been convicted, had a change of mind, and brought the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and elders,  |
4 | Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.  | and told them, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." And they said, "So what? That's your problem, not ours."  | Some manuscripts use a different Greek word that means "just" or "righteous." The favorite word is the one meaning "innocent" in the sense "not guilty."
5 | And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.  | And he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple, and left, and went out and killed himself.  | The Greek word απαγχομαι or apagchomai is sometimes translated "I kill myself by hanging." However, it is actually the middle-voice form of απαγω which actually means "I put someone to death"--by any means. Matthew does not actually give any greater detail than this about how Judas died, but Luke does, in Acts 1 .
6 | And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.  | And the leading priests took the silver pieces, and said, "We can't put this into the treasury; this is blood money."  |
7 | And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in.  | And they held a conference, and used the money to buy a potter's field for burying aliens.  | The Greek words used literally do mean "a potter's field" and carries the same connotation as that English phrase carries today. "Aliens" is a better translation of ξένοις than "strangers" or "foreigners". Further investigation of what the potter's field really was used for might even justify "illegal aliens."
8 | Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.  | And that is why that field is called the Field of Blood, even today.  |
9 | Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value;  | Thus these words were fulfilled that were spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the Precious One, held precious by the children of Israel,  |
10 | And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me.  | "and gave them to buy a potter's field, as the Lord instructed Me."  | Some manuscripts say "threw" rather than "gave".
11 | And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.  | And Jesus stood before the governor. The governor asked Him, "Are you the King of the Jews?"  |
12 | And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.  | And when He was accused by the leading priests and elders, He gave no answer.  |
13 | Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?  | Then Pilate said to him, "Don't you hear how many things to which they testify against You?"  |
14 | And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.  | And Jesus never said one word in answer, so that the governor was shocked as he had never been shocked before.  | Presumably Pilate had never seen anything like this in his career in public life, nor heard any fellow Senator tell a similar tale from his days as a magistrate in the provinces.
15 | Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.  | Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release to the people a prisoner, whomever they wanted released.  |
16 | And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.  | And at the time they held a notable prisoner, named Barabbas.  | Some manuscripts actually preface the name "Barabbas" with "Jesus", which doesn't make much sense.
17 | Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?  | So when they were assembled, Pilate told them, "Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus that is called Christ?"  |
18 | For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.  | Because he knew that they had handed Him over out of envy.  |
19 | When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.  | When he had sat down on the judgment seat, his wife sent him a message: "Don't have anything to do with That Just Man. I have had many nightmares today on His account!"  | The Greek word βημα was the word used for "judgment seat." To be more specific, this was the classic semicircular and backless curule chair on which Roman magistrates sat when they held court.
20 | But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.  | But the leading priests and elders had persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.  |
21 | The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.  | The governor said in answer, "Which of these two do you want me to release to you?" They said, "Barabbas."  |
22 | Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.  | Pilate said to them, "Then what should I do with Jesus called Christ?" They asll said to him, "Let Him be crucified!"  |
23 | And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.  | And the governor said, "Why? What crime has He committed?" But they cried out even more loudly: "Let Him be crucified!"  |
24 | When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.  | When Pilate realized that he could not win, and indeed risked having a riot on his hands, he took water, and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood; this is your responsibility!"  | Some manuscripts specify "this just man's blood."
25 | Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.  | Then all the people shouted in answer, "Let His blood be on us, and on our children!"  |
26 | Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.  | So he released Barabbas to them, and when he had had Jesus scourged, he handed him over to be crucified.  |
27 | Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.  | Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the garrison courtyard, and gathered the entire garrison together to watch Him.  | The Greek word πραιτωριον or praetorion is a Greek transliteration of the Roman word praetorium, the headquarters of any garrison or, more specifically, the Praetorian or Palace Guard of the Emperor.
28 | And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.  | And they tore His clothes off, and put a red infantryman's cloak on Him.  |
29 | And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!  | Then they wove together a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and put a reed in His right hand. Then they dropped to one knee before Him, and mocked Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!"  | The flimsy reed was their idea of a scepter.
30 | And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.  | And they spat on Him, and took the reed away from Him, and batted Him on the head with it.  |
31 | And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.  | And after they were finished mocking Him, they took the war cloak off Him, and put his own clothes back on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him.  |
32 | And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.  | As they were coming out, they found a man from Cyrene, named Simon. They forced him to carry His cross.  |
33 | And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,  | And when they had come to a place called Golgotha, i.e. "Skull Hill",  |
34 | They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.  | they gave Him a vinegar-and-bile mixture to drink. When He had tasted that, He wouldn't drink it.  |
35  | And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.  | And they crucified Him, and divided His clothes by gambling, so that these prophetic words might be fulfilled: "They divided my clothes among them, and threw dice for my apparel."  | "casting lots" is archaic today, when the term "gambling" is far more familiar. This verse helps illustrate the demonic nature of gambling, and how un-Christ-like gambling is. The essential point is the devotion to chance as a force that triumphs temporarily over good here.
36 | And sitting down they watched him there;  | And they sat down and watched Him there,  |
37 | And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.  | and set up over his head his written accusation: "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews."  |
38 | Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.  | Two robbers were crucified with Him, one to His right, and the other to His left.  |
39 | And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,  | And the passersby taunted him, wagging their heads,  |
40 | And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.  | and saying, "Hey, You! You said that You could destroy the Temple and build it in three days! Why don't You save Yourself? If You're really the Son of God, come down from the cross!"  |
41 | Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,  | In the same way the leading priests mocked him, together with the scribes and elders. They said,  |
42 | He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.  | "He saved others, but can't save Himself. If he's really the King of Israel, then He can dome down from the cross, and we'll believe Him.  |
43 | He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.  | "He trusted in God, so let Him deliver Him now, if He wants. After all, He said, 'I am the Son of God.'"  |
44 | The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.  | The robbers also, who were being crucified with Him, threw those same words in His teeth.  | Remarkably, that idiom survives today in English, even in a literal, word-for-word translation.
45 | Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.  | Now from the sixth hour of the day, darkness fell over the entire country until the ninth hour.  | Hours of the ancient day were measured from sunrise. The equivalent phrase today would be "from noon until three p.m."
46 | And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?  | And at about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" That means, "My God, My God, why have You abandoned Me?"  |
47 | Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias.  | Some of the bystanders, when they heard that, said, "He's calling for Elijah."  |
48 | And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.  | Immediately one of them ran from Him, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave it to Him to drink.  |
49 | The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.  | The rest of them said, "Leave Him alone; let's see whether Elijah will come to save Him."  |
50 | Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.  | Jesus then cried out again in a loud voice and breathed his last.  | The literal idiomatic Greek phrase reads "gave up the breath."
51 | And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;  | And at that moment the veil of the Temple was torn into two pieces from top to bottom, and the earth shook, and the rocks split,  | The Greek "Καὶ ἰδού" in this context emphasizes the identical timing[1] \- ignoring ἰδού (or any word) in translation is disfavored, see Bible Translation Issues.
52 | And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,  | And the graves were opened, and many bodies of dead saints rose up,  |
53 | And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.  | and came out of those graves after His Resurrection, and went into the Holy City, and appeared to many people.  |
54 | Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.  | The centurion, and those standing with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake and the other happenings. They were very much afraid, and said, "This must have been the Son of God."  |
55 | And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:  | And many women were there watching from a distance. They had been following Jesus ever since He began in Galilee, and used to wait on Him.  |
56 | Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children.  | They included Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.  |
57 | When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:  | That evening, a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, came. He also had been a student of Jesus.  |
58 | He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.  | He went to Pilate, and claimed the body of Jesus. The Pilate ordered the body turned over to him.  |
59 | And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,  | When Joseph had taken possession of the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,  |
60 | And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.  | and buried it in his own new tomb, one that he had chiseled out in the rock. He had a large stone rolled across the entrance to the tomb, and went away.  |
61 | And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.  | And Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting next to the tomb.  |
62 | Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,  | The next day, the day following the day of preparation, the leading priests and the Pharisees came together to Pilate.  |
63 | Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.  | They said, "Sir, we remember what that Liar said, while He was still alive, 'After three days I will rise again.'  | Capitalized on account of Who He actually is, not on account of what the speakers thought He was.
64 | Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.  | So give orders that the tomb be secured until the third day. We don't want His students to come in the middle of the night and steal His body, and tell the people, 'He has risen from the dead.' If that happens, we'll have an even worse problem."  | The literal Greek idiom translates, "The last error will be worse than the first."
65 | Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.  | Pilate told them, "You'll have a guard. Go and make it as secure as you can."  |
66 | So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.  | So they went, and secured the tomb by sealing the stone, and posted a guard.  | One assumes that this was a guard of Roman soldiers, not a Jewish Temple guard. The Sanhedrin could post its own guard over a tomb without asking for Roman authority, if it wanted.

## Chapter 28[edit]

Verse  | King James Version  | Proposed Conservative Translation  | Analysis

|
|
|

1 | In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.  | After the Sabbaths, as the dawn began on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.  |
2 | And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.  | And a great earthquake struck, because a Messenger from the Lord came down from heaven, came to the tomb, rolled back the stone from its entrance, and sat on it.  | The particular Messenger, or angel, is not identified here.
3 | His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:  | His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were as white as snow.  |
4 | And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.  | And the guards shook out of fear of him, and passed out, like so many corpses.  |
5 | And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.  | And the Messenger said in answer to the women, "Don't be afraid. I know you're looking for Jesus, Who was crucified.  |
6 | He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.  | "He isn't here. He has been raised up, as He said He would be. Come and see the place where He was lying.  | Some manuscripts, including the Byzantine, have "where the Lord was lying."
7 | And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.  | "And go quickly, and tell His students that He has been raised up from the dead. Look, He's going ahead of you into Galilee; you'll see Him there. I have told you."  |
8 | And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.  | And they went away quickly from the tomb, in fear and in great joy, and ran to bring word to His students.  | Some manuscripts have "And they went out quickly."
9 | And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.  | And as they were going to tell His students, behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Hello, everyone." And they came and held Him by His feet, and kissed His feet.  |
10 | Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.  | Then Jesus told them, "Don't be afraid. Go and tell My brothers that they must go into Galilee. There they will see Me."  |
11 | Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.  | Now when they were going, some of the guards came into the city, and told the leading priests everything that had happened.  |
12 | And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,  | When the leading priests met with the elders and conferred with them, they gave a lot of silver pieces to the soldiers,  | How many silver pieces is never reported, but it must have been a very large bribe. (See below)
13 | Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.  | and said, "Say, 'His students came in the night and stole Him away while we were asleep.'  |
14 | And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.  | "And if the governor hears about this, we will persuade him and keep you out of trouble."  | The penalty in the Roman army for sleeping on watch in a military situation was death, so the soldiers would have welcomed the protection against punishment. Whether that harsh penalty would have applied to soldiers in this context is less clear.
15 | So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.  | So they took the bribe, and did as they had been instructed. This tale is commonly told among the Jews to this day.  | "σήμερον" can be translated as "this day" or even "this very day."
16 | Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.  | Then the eleven students went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had told them to go.  |
17 | And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.  | And when they saw Him, they fell at His feet, but some had doubts.  |
18 | And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  | And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All the power in heaven and earth is given to Me.  | This is the Great Commission.
19 | Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  | "So go and make students from all ethnic groups, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Divine Guide,  |
20 | Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.  | "teaching them to keep absolutely everything that I commanded you. And remember that I am with you always, even to the end of the world."  | The Byzantine manuscripts add "Amen," i.e., "So be it."

Matthew 1-9 (Translated)
Matthew 10-19 (Translated)
Gospel of Matthew (Translated)

## References[edit]

1. ↑ See, for example, the various translations of Καὶ ἰδού (depending on the context) to include "suddenly" and "at that time" at [1]