THE HOLY GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO SAINT MATTHEW
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2:9. Who having heard the king, went their way; and behold the star which they had seen in the East, went before them, until it came and stood over where the child was.
2:10. And seeing the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
2:11. And entering into the house, they found the child with Mary his mother, and falling down they adored him: and opening their treasures, they offered him gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
2:12. And having received an answer in sleep that they should not return to Herod, they went back another way into their country.
2:13. And after they were departed, behold an angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph, saying: Arise, and take the child and his mother, and fly into Egypt: and be there until I shall tell thee. For it will come to pass that Herod will seek the child to destroy him.
2:14. Who arose, and took the child and his mother by night, and retired into Egypt: and he was there until the death of Herod:
2:15. That it might be fulfilled which the Lord spoke by the prophet, saying: Out of Egypt have I called my son.
2:16. Then Herod perceiving that he was deluded by the wise men, was exceeding angry: and sending killed all the menchildren that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.
2:17. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremias the prophet, saying:
2:18. A voice in Rama was heard, lamentation and great mourning; Rachel bewailing her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
2:19. But when Herod was dead, behold an angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph in Egypt,
2:20. Saying: Arise, and take the child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel. For they are dead that sought the life of the child.
2:21. Who arose, and took the child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.
2:22. But hearing that Archelaus reigned in Judea in the room of Herod his father, he was afraid to go thither: and being warned in sleep retired into the quarters of Galilee.
2:23. And coming he dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was said by the prophets: That he shall be called a Nazarene.
Matthew Chapter 3
The preaching of John: Christ is baptized.
3:1. And in those days cometh John the Baptist preaching in the desert of Judea.
3:2. And saying: Do penance: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Do penance... Paenitentiam agite. Which word, according to the use of the scriptures and the holy fathers, does not only signify repentance and amendment of life, but also punishing past sins by fasting, and such like penitential exercises.
3:3. For this is he that was spoken of by Isaias the prophet, saying: A voice of one crying in the desert, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.
3:4. And the same John had his garment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins: and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
3:5. Then went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea, and all the country about Jordan:
3:6. And were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
3:7. And seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them: Ye brood of vipers, who hath shewed you to flee from the wrath to come?
Pharisees and Sadducees... These were two sects among the Jews: of which the former were for the most part notorious hypocrites; the latter, a kind of freethinkers in matters of religion.
3:8. Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of penance.
3:9. And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for our father. For I tell you that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham.
3:10. For now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that doth not yield good fruit, shall be cut down, and cast into the fire.
3:11. I indeed baptize you in water unto penance, but he that shall come after me, is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you in the Holy Ghost and fire.
3:12. Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his floor and gather his wheat into the barn; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.
3:13. Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan, unto John, to be baptized by him.
3:14. But John stayed him, saying: I ought to be baptized by thee, and comest thou to me?
3:15. And Jesus answering, said to him: Suffer it to be so now. For so it becometh us to fulfil all justice. Then he suffered him.
3:16. And Jesus being baptized, forthwith came out of the water: and lo, the heavens were opened to him: and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him.
3:17. And behold a voice from heaven saying: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Matthew Chapter 4
Christ's fast of forty days: He is tempted. He begins to preach, to call disciples to him, and to work miracles.
4:1. Then Jesus was led by the spirit into the desert, to be tempted by the devil.
4:2. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterwards he was hungry.