The Bible, King James Version, Book 40: Matthew

The Gospel according to Matthew opens with a genealogy that traces Jesus Christ from Abraham through David to Joseph, establishing his royal and covenantal lineage. From there, it narrates the miraculous birth of Emmanuel, the arrival of the Magi, the flight into Egypt, and the execution of John the Baptist, a narrative saturated with danger and divine providence. The heart of the book is the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus delivers the Beatitudes, redefines the law, and teaches his disciples to pray. Matthew presents Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah who fulfills every Jewish prophecy, the teacher whose parables illuminate the kingdom of heaven, and the suffering servant whose crucifixion redeems the world. The resurrection confirms what the entire narrative has promised: death does not have the final word. This gospel has shaped Western civilization, informed literature and art for two millennia, and remains the most-read book in human history. It is for anyone seeking to understand the life and teachings of Jesus, or readers drawn to a foundational text that continues to shape how millions understand faith, morality, and hope.