The Bible, Douay Rheims, Book 47: Matthew

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This eBook was produced by David Widger [widger@cecomet.net]
from etext #1581 prepared by Dennis McCarthy, Atlanta, Georgia
and Tad Book, student, Pontifical North American College, Rome.

THE HOLY BIBLE

Translated from the Latin Vulgate

Diligently Compared with the Hebrew, Greek,
and Other Editions in Divers Languages

THE OLD TESTAMENT
First Published by the English College at Douay
A.D. 1609 & 1610

and

THE NEW TESTAMENT
First Published by the English College at Rheims
A.D. 1582

With Annotations

The Whole Revised and Diligently Compared with
the Latin Vulgate by Bishop Richard Challoner
A.D. 1749-1752

THE HOLY GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO SAINT MATTHEW

Saint Matthew, one of the twelve Apostles, who from being a publican,
that is, a taxgatherer, was called by our Saviour to the Apostleship: in
that profession his name is Levi. (Luke 5.27, and Mark 2.14.) He was the
first of the Evangelists that wrote the Gospel, and that in Hebrew or
Syro-Chaldaic which the Jews in Palestine spoke at that time. The
original is not now extant; but it was translated in the time of the
Apostles into Greek, that version was of equal authority. He wrote about
six years after the Lord's Ascension.

Matthew Chapter 1

The genealogy of Christ: he is conceived and born of a virgin.

1:1. The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the
son of Abraham:

1:2. Abraham begot Isaac. And Isaac begot Jacob. And Jacob begot Judas
and his brethren.

1:3. And Judas begot Phares and Zara of Thamar. And Phares begot Esron.
And Esron begot Aram.

1:4. And Aram begot Aminadab. And Aminadab begot Naasson. And Naasson
begot Salmon.

1:5. And Salmon begot Booz of Rahab. And Booz begot Obed of Ruth. And
Obed begot Jesse.

1:6. And Jesse begot David the king. And David the king begot Solomon,
of her that had been the wife of Urias.

1:7. And Solomon begot Roboam. And Roboam begot Abia. And Abia begot
Asa.

1:8. And Asa begot Josaphat. And Josaphat begot Joram. And Joram begot
Ozias.

1:9. And Ozias begot Joatham. And Joatham begot Achaz. And Achaz begot
Ezechias.

1:10. And Ezechias begot Manasses. And Manasses begot Amon. And Amon
begot Josias.

1:11. And Josias begot Jechonias and his brethren in the transmigration
of Babylon.

1:12. And after the transmigration of Babylon, Jechonias begot
Salathiel. And Salathiel begot Zorobabel.

1:13. And Zorobabel begot Abiud. And Abiud begot Eliacim. And Eliacim
begot Azor.

1:14. And Azor begot Sadoc. And Sadoc begot Achim. And Achim begot
Eliud.

1:15. And Eliud begot Eleazar. And Eleazar begot Mathan. And Mathan
begot Jacob.

1:16. And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born
Jesus, who is called Christ.

The husband of Mary... The Evangelist gives us rather the pedigree of
St. Joseph, than that of the blessed Virgin, to conform to the custom of
the Hebrews, who in their genealogies took no notice of women; but as
they were near akin, the pedigree of the one sheweth that of the other.

1:17. So all the generations from Abraham to David, are fourteen
generations. And from David to the transmigration of Babylon, are
fourteen generations: and from the transmigration of Babylon to Christ
are fourteen generations.

1:18. Now the generation of Christ was in this wise. When as his mother
Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found
with child, of the Holy Ghost.

1:19. Whereupon Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing
publicly to expose her, was minded to put her away privately.

1:20. But while he thought on these things, behold the Angel of the Lord
appeared to him in his sleep, saying: Joseph, son of David, fear not to
take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her, is of
the Holy Ghost.

1:21. And she shall bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name
Jesus. For he shall save his people from their sins.

1:22. Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which the Lord
spoke by the prophet, saying:

1:23. Behold a virgin shall be with child, and bring forth a son, and
they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with
us.

1:24. And Joseph rising up from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had
commanded him, and took unto him his wife.

1:25. And he knew her not till she brought forth her first born son: and
he called his name Jesus.

Till she brought forth her firstborn son... From these words Helvidius
and other heretics most impiously inferred that the blessed Virgin Mary
had other children besides Christ; but St. Jerome shews, by divers
examples, that this expression of the Evangelist was a manner of
speaking usual among the Hebrews, to denote by the word until, only what
is done, without any regard to the future. Thus it is said, Genesis 8. 6
and 7, that Noe sent forth a raven, which went forth, and did not return
till the waters were dried up on the earth. That is, did not return any
more. Also Isaias 46. 4, God says: I am till you grow old. Who dare
infer that God should then cease to be: Also in the first book of
Machabees 5. 54, And they went up to mount Sion with joy and gladness,
and offered holocausts, because not one of them was slain till they had
returned in peace. That is, not one was slain before or after they had
returned. God saith to his divine Son: Sit on my right hand till I make
thy enemies thy footstool. Shall he sit no longer after his enemies are
subdued? Yea and for all eternity. St. Jerome also proves by Scripture
examples, that an only begotten son, was also called firstborn, or first
begotten: because according to the law, the firstborn males were to be
consecrated to God; Sanctify unto me, saith the Lord, every firstborn
that openeth the womb among the children of Israel, etc. Ex. 13. 2.

Matthew Chapter 2

The offerings of the wise men: the flight into Egypt: the massacre of
the Innocents.

2:1. When Jesus therefore was born in Bethlehem of Juda, in the days of
king Herod, behold, there came wise men from the East to Jerusalem,

2:2. Saying: Where is he that is born king of the Jews? For we have seen
his star in the East, and are come to adore him.

2:3. And king Herod hearing this, was troubled, and all Jerusalem with
him.

2:4. And assembling together all the chief priests and the scribes of
the people, he inquired of them where Christ should be born.

2:5. But they said to him: In Bethlehem of Juda. For so it is written by
the prophet:

2:6. And thou Bethlehem the land of Juda art not the least among the
princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come forth the captain that shall
rule my people Israel.

2:7. Then Herod, privately calling the wise men learned diligently of
them the time of the star which appeared to them;

2:8. And sending them into Bethlehem, said: Go and diligently inquire
after the child, and when you have found him, bring me word again, that
I also may come and adore him.

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 Archclaus 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.

4:3. And the tempter coming said to him: If thou be the Son of God,
command that these stones be made bread.

4:4. Who answered and said: It is written, Not in bread alone doth man
live, but in every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God.

4:5. Then the devil took him up into the holy city, and set him upon the
pinnacle of the temple,

4:6. And said to him: If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down, for
it is written: That he hath given his angels charge over thee, and in
their hands shall they bear thee up, lest perhaps thou dash thy foot
against a stone.

4:7. Jesus said to him: It is written again: Thou shalt not tempt the
Lord thy God.

4:8. Again the devil took him up into a very high mountain, and shewed
him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them,

Shewed him, etc... That is, pointed out to him where each kingdom lay;
and set forth in words what was most glorious and admirable in each of
them. Or also set before his eyes, as it were in a large map, a lively
representation of all those kingdoms.

4:9. And said to him: All these will I give thee, if falling down thou
wilt adore me.

4:10. Then Jesus saith to him: Begone, Satan: for it is written: The
Lord thy God shalt thou adore, and him only shalt thou serve.

4:11. Then the devil left him; and behold angels came and ministered to
him.

4:12. And when Jesus had heard that John was delivered up, he retired
into Galilee:

4:13. And leaving the city Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capharnaum on
the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and of Nephthalim;

4:14. That it might be fulfilled which was said by Isaias the prophet:

4:15. Land of Zabulon and land of Nephthalim, the way of the sea beyond
the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles:

4:16. The people that sat in darkness, hath seen great light: and to
them that sat in the region of the shadow of death, light is sprung up.

4:17. From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say: Do penance, for
the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

4:18. And Jesus walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon
who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea
(for they were fishers).

4:19. And he saith to them: Come ye after me, and I will make you to be
fishers of men.

4:20. And they immediately leaving their nets, followed him.

4:21. And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son
of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father,
mending their nets: and he called them.

4:22. And they forthwith left their nets and father, and followed him.

4:23. And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues,
and preaching the gospel of the kingdom: and healing all manner of
sickness and every infirmity, among the people.

4:24. And his fame went throughout all Syria, and they presented to him
all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and
such as were possessed by devils, and lunatics, and those that had the
palsy, and he cured them:

4:25. And much people followed him from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and
from Jerusalem, and from Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

Matthew Chapter 5

Christ's sermon upon the mount. The eight beatitudes.

5:1. And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain, and when he
was set down, his disciples came unto him.

5:2. And opening his mouth he taught them, saying:

5:3. Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven.

The poor in spirit... That is, the humble; and they whose spirit is not
set upon riches.

5:4. Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land.

5:5. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

5:6. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they
shall have their fill.

5:7. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

5:8. Blessed are the clean of heart: they shall see God.

5:9. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children
of God.

5:10. Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake: for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

5:11. Blessed are ye when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and
speak all that is evil against you, untruly, for my sake:

5:12. Be glad and rejoice for your reward is very great in heaven. For
so they persecuted the prophets that were before you.

5:13. You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt lose its savour,
wherewith shall it be salted? It is good for nothing anymore but to be
cast out, and to be trodden on by men.

5:14. You are the light of the world. A city seated on a mountain cannot
be hid.

5:15. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but upon
a candlestick, that it may shine to all that are in the house.

5:16. So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good
works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

5:17. Do not think that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets. I
am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

To fulfil... By accomplishing all the figures and prophecies; and
perfecting all that was imperfect.

5:18. For amen I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot, or
one tittle shall not pass of the law, till all be fulfilled.

Amen... That is, assuredly of a truth... This Hebrew word, amen, is here
retained by the example and authority of all the four Evangelists. It is
used by our Lord as a strong asseveration, and affirmation of the truth.

5:19. He therefore that shall break one of these least commandments, and
shall so teach men shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven.
But he that shall do and teach, he shall be called great in the kingdom
of heaven.

5:20. For I tell you, that unless your justice abound more than that of
the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter into the kingdom of
heaven.

The scribes and Pharisees... The scribes were the doctors of the law of
Moses: the Pharisees were a precise set of men, making profession of a
more exact observance of the law: and upon that account greatly esteemed
among the people.

5:21. You have heard that it was said to them of old: Thou shalt not
kill. And whosoever shall kill, shall be in danger of the judgment.

Shall be in danger of the judgment... That is, shall deserve to be
punished by that lesser tribunal among the Jews, called the Judgment,
which took cognizance of such crimes.

5:22. But I say to you, that whosoever is angry with his brother, shall
be in danger of the judgment. And whosoever shall say to his brother,
Raca, shall be in danger of the council. And whosoever shall say, Thou
fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

Raca... A word expressing great indignation or contempt. Shall be in
danger of the council... That is, shall deserve to be punished by the
highest court of judicature, called the Council, or Sanhedrim,
consisting of seventy-two persons, where the highest causes were tried
and judged, which was at Jerusalem. Thou fool... This was then looked
upon as a heinous injury, when uttered with contempt, spite, or malice:
and therefore is here so severely condemned. Shall be in danger of hell
fire... literally, according to the Greek, shall deserve to be cast
into the Gehenna of fire. Which words our Saviour made use of to express
the fire and punishments of hell.

5:23. If therefore thou offer thy gift at the altar, and there thou
remember that thy brother hath anything against thee;

5:24. Leave there thy offering before the altar, and go first to be
reconciled to thy brother, and then coming thou shalt offer thy gift.

5:25. Be at agreement with thy adversary betimes, whilst thou art in the
way with him: lest perhaps the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and
the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.

5:26. Amen I say to thee, thou shalt not go out from thence till thou
repay the last farthing.

5:27. You have heard that it was said to them of old: Thou shalt not
commit adultery.

5:28. But I say to you, that whosoever shall look on a woman to lust
after her, hath already committed adultery with her in his heart.

5:29. And if thy right eye scandalize thee, pluck it out and cast it
from thee. For it is expedient for thee that one of thy members should
perish, rather than thy whole body be cast into hell.

Scandalize thee... That is, if it be a stumblingblock, or occasion of
sin to thee. By which we are taught to fly the immediate occasions of
sin, though they be as dear to us, or as necessary as a hand or an eye.

5:30. And if thy right hand scandalize thee, cut it off, and cast it
from thee: for it is expedient for thee that one of thy members should
perish, rather than that thy whole body go into hell.

5:31. And it hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him
give her a bill of divorce.

5:32. But I say to you, that whosoever shall put away his wife,
excepting the cause of fornication, maketh her to commit adultery: and
he that shall marry her that is put away, committeth adultery.

5:33. Again you have heard that it was said to them of old, thou shalt
not forswear thyself: but thou shalt perform thy oaths to the Lord.

5:34. But I say to you not to swear at all, neither by heaven for it is
the throne of God:

Not to swear at all... It is not forbid to swear in truth, justice and
judgment; to the honour of God, or our own or neighbour's just defence:
but only to swear rashly, or profanely, in common discourse, and without
necessity.

5:35. Nor by the earth, for it is his footstool: nor by Jerusalem, for
it is the city of the great king:

5:36. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make
one hair white or black.

5:37. But let your speech be yea, yea: no, no: and that which is over
and above these, is of evil.

5:38. You have heard that it hath been said: An eye for an eye, and a
tooth for a tooth.

5:39. But I say to you not to resist evil: but if one strike thee on thy
right cheek, turn to him also the other:

Not to resist evil, etc... What is here commanded, is a Christian
patience under injuries and affronts, and to be willing even to suffer
still more, rather than to indulge the desire of revenge: but what is
further added does not strictly oblige according to the letter, for
neither did Christ nor St. Paul turn the other cheek. St. John 18., and
Acts 23.

5:40. And if a man will contend with thee in judgment, and take away thy
coat, let go thy cloak also unto him.

5:41. And whosoever will force thee one mile, go with him other two.

5:42. Give to him that asketh of thee, and from him that would borrow of
thee turn not away.

5:43. You have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy
neighbour, and hate thy enemy.

5:44. But I say to you, Love your enemies: do good to them that hate
you: and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you:

5:45. That you may be the children of your Father who is in heaven, who
maketh his sun to rise upon the good, and bad, and raineth upon the just
and the unjust.

5:46. For if you love them that love you, what reward shall you have? do
not even the publicans this?

The publicans... These were the gatherers of the public taxes: a set of
men, odious and infamous among the Jews, for their extortions and
injustice.

5:47. And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more? do not
also the heathens this?

5:48. Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew Chapter 6

A continuation of the sermon on the mount.

6:1. Take heed that you do not your justice before men, to be seen by
them: otherwise you shall not have a reward of your Father who is in
heaven.

Your justice... that is, works of justice; viz., fasting, prayer, and
almsdeeds; which ought to be performed not out of ostentation, or a view
to please men, but solely to please God.

6:2. Therefore when thou dost an alms-deed, sound not a trumpet before
thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that
they may be honoured by men. Amen I say to you, they have received their
reward.

6:3. But when thou dost alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right
hand doth.

6:4. That thy alms may be in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret
will repay thee.

6:5. And when ye pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, that love to
stand and pray in the synagogues and corners of the streets, that they
may be seen by men: Amen I say to you, they have received their reward.

6:6. But thou when thou shalt pray, enter into thy chamber, and having
shut the door, pray to thy Father in secret, and thy father who seeth in
secret will repay thee.

6:7. And when you are praying, speak not much, as the heathens. For
they think that in their much speaking they may be heard.

6:8. Be not you therefore like to them for your Father knoweth what is
needful for you, before you ask him.

6:9. Thus therefore shall you pray: Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.

6:10. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

6:11. Give us this day our supersubstantial bread.

Supersubstantial bread... In St. Luke the same word is rendered daily
bread. It is understood of the bread of life, which we receive in the
Blessed Sacrament.

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