Matthew

Here's a poem. It's a summary of the good news that God loves you
It's the New Testament in iambic tetrameter
Which means the beat never changes
And it's called The Bible Rhymes. Chapter One
The Gospel of Matthew Rhymes

God made existence, then made man
Raised people up through Abraham

Laid down the rules and gave them choice
Some would refuse, and some rejoice

And some would speak the words he gave
That would foretell his plan to save

Ole Joe would leave his fiancée
When she was found in family way

But his response, must have been awed
When an angel said, "The dad is God"

The heavens spoke Messiah's fame
So from the east the Magi came

Though Herod tried to have him killed
Escape to Egypt as God willed

Then Joseph got another dream
That made the boy a Nazarene

John preached out in the hot frontier
"Repent, for God's kingdom is near."

Those who confessed he then baptized
But hypocrites he criticized

John said good trees produce good fruit
But bad ones get chopped at the root

He spoke of One whose pow'r was high'r
Who'd baptize with the Spirit and fire

Then Jesus came from Galilee
And said to John, "You baptize me"

God's Spirit came down like a dove
"This is my Son, and him I love."

Then Jesus went away to fast
And after forty days had passed

The devil came to tempt him thrice
He said, "I bet some bread sounds nice"

Christ said, "Bread's not what keeps the bod
But each word from the mouth of God"

Satan said, "Jump, if you're so blessed"
Christ said, "Don't put God to the test"

Next, "All the world I'll give to thee
If you'll bow down and worship me"

Then Jesus said, "You go away
I'll kneel to God and him obey"

In Zebulun and then beyond
For those in darkness, light had dawned

Reform and heaven Christ proclaims
Called Simon, Andrew, John and James

He preached the kingdom and good news
He healed the sick among the Jews

And as the people multiplied
He preached along the mountainside

"The poor in spirit in heaven reign
And those who mourn shall comfort gain

The land will belong to the meek
Get righteousness, shall those who seek

On merciful, mercy is poured
The pure in heart shall see the Lord

The peacemakers shall be God's heirs
And those oppressed, the kingdom's theirs

If someone's persecuting you
You're blessed, they hurt the prophets too

You are the salt and you're the light
Be God's example of what's right

The Law will stand, Christ kept it all
You broke it, whether large or small

Don't kill, we've known this all along
Hate in your heart is just as wrong

Adultery is sure unjust
And so is it to gaze with lust

Don't swear, just tell the truth of course
Don't seek revenge, and don't divorce

We can all love our friends with ease
Love too, like God, your enemies

It's good to give to charity
And best to do it secretly

Pray not for men, with show and pride
But humbly, God sees what's inside

Praise you, O God, your kingdom come
Provide our needs and keep us from

Temptation and the evil one
Forgive us. May your will be done

If you forgive those who hurt you
Then you'll receive forgiveness too

And when you fast, don't make a show
But only you and God should know

Don't store your wealth in bins on earth
In heaven, treasure keeps its worth

I have to break it to you, honey
You cannot serve both God and money

Seek God's domain and righteousness
He'll take care of your food and dress

Don't judge and say "oh he's the worst"
Instead correct your own sin first

Just keep in mind in all you do
You do as you'd have done to you

The road is broad, the gate is wide
That to destruction lets you slide

If you'd have Life become your fate
Choose narrow road with little gate

From teachers who make good fruit, learn
Producers of bad fruit will burn."

In closing, Jesus told his flock
"Be wise and build upon the rock."

He said to "Go!" and to "Be clean!"
He healed as prophets had foreseen

Just "Follow me" - we think we can -
But no rest for the Son of Man

When seas get rough, we get real scared
It's like we think God's not prepared

But he's the Lord that makes and saves
He's Lord of all, of wind and waves

He drives out demons, forgive sins
The hearts of sickly sinners wins

He says "let mercy fill your slate"
He is the cause to celebrate

He healed her who for years had bled
He raised a young girl from the dead

He healed the mute, he healed the blind
His deeds the Pharisees maligned

He preached in each town he went through
The harvest ready, workers few

He said, "Disciples, off you go
Israelites yes, Gentiles no

And don't take cash, you're worth your bread
Just drive out demons, raise the dead

Give peace among the homes you stay
But if refused, shake dust away

Your message that must stay premier
The kingdom heaven has is near

The world will hate you 'cause of me
A house will have disunity

When they arrest you, things look bleak
Don't fret, for through you God will speak

Don't fear those who your flesh control
But God who owns your flesh and soul

He knows each bird, alive or dead
He knows each hair upon your head

Acknowledge me in front of men
In front of God, I'll save you then

Serve me or anyone I send
And you'll receive a dividend."

John asked, "It's you? or is there more?"
Christ said, "Good news preached to the poor"

"My messenger prepared a path
But doubters doubt, and will get wrath

God gets to choose who will be blessed
Now come to me and you'll find rest."

On legal technicality
Can one heal abnormality?

When asked by teachers if he should
"It's always lawful to do good."

With actions benedictory
He leads justice to victory

Blaspheme the Spirit - no fresh start
The words you say flow from your heart

Ask not to see a miracle
Faith's not from the empirical

Defining his own family
"It's those who follow God's decree."

He told the crowd a parable
Said, "live in soil that's arable"

Some hear but don't hear God's command
But blessed are you who understand

As wheat among the evil weeds
As power inside mustard seeds

As pearls or nets, be leaven-like
That's what the reign of heaven's like

He healed and had compassion on
The crowds after the death of John

With bread and just a couple fish
He fed five thousand all they wished

Christ walked on water faithfully
And if we're called to, so can we

Don't have cold hearts like blinded fools
Seek God, not mere religious rules

The people fed, a girl set free
By faith and with humility

Beware false teachers, right now, run
Instead heed the Anointed One

Though Jesus renamed Simon Rock
He soon became a stumbling block

To save your life, count it a loss
To follow Christ, pick up your cross

To gain the world, in part or whole
Is worthless if you lose your soul

They hiked up to a mountain space
Where like the sun shined Jesus' face

A cloud engulfed them, big and bright
Said God, "In my Son I delight"

A man approached the Lord and kneeled
He begged for his son to be healed

Disciples watched the spirit bout
As Jesus drove the demon out

They asked, "Why couldn't we succeed?"
He said, "You lack the faith you need."

"Betrayed soon to the hands of men
I'll die and then I'll rise again

Be humble like a little child
Christ came to clean the most defiled

Be bold, God is your guarantor
Forgive, you've been forgiven more

The rules aren't to be cut and spliced
Be innocent, and follow Christ

The Lord is just, so for him sweat
Don't worry 'bout what others get

The first to last, the last to first
The perfect killed for the accursed."

Indignant at two brothers' nerve
Disciples learned - to be great, Serve

Despite the crowd, two blind men plea
"Have mercy Lord," soon they could see

Into the city rode the king
To make himself an offering

He drove out merchants to declare
His house shall be a house of prayer

The children cheered. The fig tree died
You can have all with prayer applied

The leaders still he did confound
Then with some parables expound

What matters more; just what you say
Or actions that you do today?

God won't reward those offered first
If they refuse him, they'll be cursed

The party's on, so just say Yes
And clothe yourself with righteousness

He wasn't trapped by a tax quiz
"Give rulers theirs, and God what's his"

He answered next, "Have you not read?
God rules the living, not the dead."

They tried to test him on the Law
"Love God. Love people. There, that's all."

Then Christ unleashed his diatribe
Against the Pharisees and scribes

"They add new rules for men to reach
But do not practice what they preach

All that they do's for men to see
Their tassels and phylacteries

They love their titles and good seats
To be saluted in the streets

Though they put up a clean facade
They swear by gold and don't trust God

A tenth of spices they collect
But Faith and Mercy they neglect

They preach abroad but shut the door
On sinners, prophets, God and more

They're self-indulgent hypocrites
Whose house has been made desolate

Instead, be servants, you redeemed
Be humbled first, to be esteemed."

Discussing how the world would end
Disciples said, "So, tell us when."

"First wars and famines, earthquakes too
Then they'll hate Jesus freaks like you

The faith of many will erode
As wickedness makes love grow cold

In all the world, good news extend
The saved will stand firm to the end

When "I am God" claims the accursed
Then flee and prepare for the worst

Don't trust false prophets' sorcery
When Jesus comes back, all shall see

Don't join the drunkards, that'd be dumb
Keep watch, you don't know when he'll come

Keep watch with your light burning bright
So you'll be ready day or night

Serve God with talents given you
Do not let fear and sloth accrue

When helping others, those in need
God will reward you, guaranteed."

The bad guys met before the feast
To plot with Caiaphus the priest

To capture Jesus. Judas joins
He'll trade Christ in for thirty coins

A woman poured upon his head
Perfume, since soon he would be dead

Christ said, once Passover was made
"By one of you I'll be betrayed

Now eat, and drink, my blood is poured
The price for sin, in God's accord

You are my flock, but you'll take flight
In fact, you'll fall away tonight

Sit here while I go there to pray
I'm sad and filled with much dismay

Keep watch or sin may on you sneak
The spirit willing, body weak

My Father, take this from my please
But only as your will decrees."

Then Judas led a multitude
He kissed Christ and a fight ensued

Till Jesus said, "Put down your sword
You think I couldn't stop this horde?

But all must pass as prophets said."
Then the disciples, they all fled

They grabbed and led him off to court
Their witness did the truth distort

The chief priest said, "Won't you reply?
Are you the Son of God Most High?"

"As you have said. Now from this hour
The Son of Man shall sit with power

They cried, "We've heard from his own breath
That's blasphemy, send him to death."

Questioned if he with Jesus ran
Said Peter, "I don't know the man"

Then Judas, too, filled with remorse
Returned the money to its source

The governor, now, for the Feast
Asked if they wanted Christ released

The crowd did not want, he asked "Why?"
But they just shouted, "Crucify!"

The soldiers mocked the king with scorn
And capped him with a crown of thorns

They crucified him, took his clothes
They mocked him to add to his woes

"Though others he healed and forgave
It seems himself he cannot save."

Then darkness came, though it was day
"My God, why have you gone away?"

When Jesus died, the earth, it shook
The soldiers shared a frightened look

Now terrified, what had they done?
"For surely this man was God's son."

His body, wrapped, entombed it lay
A guard was posted night and day

The Marys, shocked out of their gloom
An angel opened up the tomb!

The angel was like lightning, bright
The guards all nearly died of fright

The angel said, "Don't be afraid
Go see the place where he was laid

Now he has risen from the dead
Now go, for he has gone ahead."

They ran till Jesus they did meet
They fell and worshipped at his feet

Soon the disciples met him too
Some doubted while some worshipped true

Said Jesus, "All authority
On earth and heaven giv'n to me

Now go and all the nations reach
Disciple them, baptize and teach

I am with you, at every stage
Unto the very end of age."