The Jefferson Bible

THE JEFFERSON BIBLE

The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth

Extracted Textually from the Gospels

Compiled by Thomas Jefferson

Edited by Eyler Robert Coates, Sr.

Copyright 1996 by Eyler Robert Coates, Sr.

Permission is hereby granted to any individual to copy any or

all the materials contained herein for non-commercial personal

use. Publication of these materials in whole or in part in any

form whatsoever is by written permission only.

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CHAPTER 1.

Now it came to pass in those days, that there went out a

decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be

enrolled.

2 (And this enrollment was the first which was made

when Quirinius, was governor of Syria.)

3 And all went to be enrolled, every one into his own

city.

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the

city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David,

which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house

and lineage of David,

5 To be enrolled with Mary his betrothed, being then

with child.

6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the

days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and

wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a

manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 And when eight days were accomplished for the

circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS.

9 And when they had performed all things according to

the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to

their own city Nazareth.

10 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit,

filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

And when he was twelve years old, they went up to

Jerusalem, unto the feast according to the custom.

12 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they

returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem;

and his parents knew not of it.

13 But they, supposing him to have been in the

company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among

their kinsfolk and acquaintances.

14 And when they found him not, they turned back

again to Jerusalem, seeking him.

15 And it came to pass, that after three days they

found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the

teachers, both hearing them, and asking them questions.

16 And all that heard him were astonished at his

understanding and answers.

17 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his

mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with

us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.

18 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth,

and was subject unto them.

19 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature.

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius

Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and

Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip

tetrarch of Ituraea and of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the

tetrarch of Abilene,

21 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests,

22 Appeared John the Baptist in the wilderness.

23 Now the same John had his raiment of camel's hair,

and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was

locusts and wild honey.

24 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea,

and all the region round about Jordan,

25 And were baptized of him in Jordan.

Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to

be baptized of him.

27 And Jesus himself, when he began his ministry, was

about thirty years of age.

28 After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his

mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they

continued there a few days.

And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to

Jerusalem.

30 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and

sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:

31 And when he had made a scourge of cords, he drove

them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen;

and poured out the changers' coins, and overthrew their

tables;

32 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these

things hence; make not my Father's house an house of

merchandise.

33 After these things came Jesus and his disciples

into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them,

and baptized.

Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison,

he departed into Galilee;

35 For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold

upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake,

his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her.

36 For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for

thee to have thy brother's wife.

37 Therefore Herodias had a grudge against him, and

would have killed him; but she could not:

38 For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just

man and holy, and protected him; and when he heard him,

he was sore perplexed, yet he heard him gladly.

39 And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on

his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains,

and chief men of Galilee;

40 And when the daughter of the said Herodias came

in, and danced, she pleased Herod and them that sat with

him; and the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me

whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.

41 And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask

of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.

42 And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What

shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.

43 And she came in immediately with haste unto the

king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me

straightway in a charger the head of John the Baptist.

44 And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his

oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he

would not refuse her.

45 And immediately the king sent an executioner, and

commanded his head to be brought: and he went and

beheaded him in the prison,

46 And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to

the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.

And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the

sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.

48 And they were astonished at his teaching: for he

taught them as one that had authority, and not as the

scribes.

At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the

corn fields; and his disciples were an hungred, and

began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat.

50 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him,

Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do

upon the sabbath day.

51 But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David

did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with

him;

52 How he entered into the house of God, and did eat

the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat,

neither for them which were with him, but only for the

priests?

53 Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the

sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the

sabbath, and are guiltless?

And when he was departed thence, he went into their

synagogue:

55 And, behold, there was a man which had his hand

withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to

heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.

56 And he said unto them, What man shall there be

among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall

into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on

it, and lift it out?

57 How much then is a man of more value than a sheep!

Wherefore it is lawful to do good on the sabbath days.

58 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for

man, and not man for the sabbath.

But the Pharisees went out, and held a council against

him, how they might destroy him.

60 But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from

thence: and great multitudes followed him.

And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into

a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to

God.

62 And when it was day, he called unto him his

disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he

named apostles;

63 Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his

brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,

64 Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and

Simon called the Zealot,

65 And Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot,

who became a traitor.

66 And he came down with them, and stood in the

plain; and there was a great company of his disciples,

and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and

Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon,

which came to hear him.

CHAPTER 2.

And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a

mountain: and when he was set down, his disciples

came unto him:

2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the

kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be

comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the

earth.

6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after

righteousness: for they shall be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain

mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see

God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be

called the children of God.

10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for

righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of

heaven.

11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and

persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against

you falsely, for my sake.

12 Rejoice, and be glad: for great is your reward in

heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were

before you.

13 But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have

received your consolation.

14 Woe unto you that are full now, for ye shall

hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now, for ye shall mourn

and weep.

15 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of

you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost

its savour, wherewith shall it again be salted? it is

thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and

to be trodden under foot by men.

17 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set

on an hill cannot be hid.

18 Neither do men light a lamp and put it under a

bushel, but on a lampstand; and it giveth light unto

all that are in the house.

19 Let your light so shine before men, that they may

see your good works, and glorify your Father which is

in heaven.

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the

prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

21 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth

pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from

the law, till all be fulfilled.

22 Whosoever therefore shall break one of the least

of these commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall

be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but

whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be

called great in the kingdom of heaven.

23 For I say unto you, That except your

righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the

scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into

the kingdom of heaven.

Ye have heard that it was said to them of old time,

Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be

in danger of judgment:

25 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with

his brother shall be in danger of judgment: and

whosoever shall abuse his brother, shall be in danger

of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool,

shall be in danger of hell fire.

26 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar,

and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought

against thee;

27 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy

way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come

and offer thy gift.

28 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou

art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary

deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee

to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.

29 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means

come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost

farthing.

Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt not commit

adultery:

31 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a

woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with

her already in his heart.

32 And if thy right eye causeth thee to offend,

pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is

profitable for thee that one of thy members should

perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into

hell.

33 And if thy right hand causeth thee to offend, cut

it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for

thee that one of thy members should perish, and not

that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

34 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his

wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:

35 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away

his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth

her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her

that is divorced committeth adultery.

Again, ye have heard that it hath been said to them of

old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt

perform unto the Lord thine oaths:

37 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by

heaven; for it is God's throne:

38 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool:

neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great

King.

39 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because

thou canst not make one hair white or black.

40 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay,

nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an

eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

42 But I say unto you, That ye resist not him that

is evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right

cheek, turn to him the other also.

43 And if any man will sue thee, and take away thy

coat, let him have thy cloak also.

44 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go

with him twain.

45 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that

would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love

thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

47 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, pray for

them that persecute you;

48 That ye may be the children of your Father which

is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil

and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on

the unjust.

49 For if ye love them which love you, what reward

have ye? do not even the tax-gatherers the same?

50 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye

more than others? do not even the Gentiles so?

51 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to

receive, what gain have ye? for sinners also lend to

sinners, to receive as much again.

52 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend,

hoping for nothing in return; and your reward shall be

great, and ye shall be the children of the Most High:

for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

53 Be ye merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

CHAPTER 3.

Take heed that ye do not your good works before men,

to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of

your Father which is in heaven.

2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound

a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the

synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory

of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand

know what thy right hand doeth: