Matthew 19 Cross References - LEB

¹ And it happened that when Jesus had finished these statements, he went away from Galilee and came into the region of Judea on the other side of the Jordan. ² And large crowds followed him, and he healed them there. ³ And Pharisees came up to him in order to* test him, and asked* if it was permitted for a man to divorce his wife for any cause. ⁴ And he answered and* said, "Have you not read that the one who created them* from the beginning made them male and female ⁵ and said, 'On account of this a man will leave his* father and his* mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'?* ⁶ So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, man must not separate." ⁷ They said to him, "Why then did Moses command us* to give a document—a certificate of divorce—and to divorce her?" ⁸ He said to them, "Moses, with reference to your hardness of heart, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not like this. ⁹ Now I say to you that whoever divorces his wife, except on the basis of sexual immorality, and marries another commits adultery, and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery."* ¹⁰ The disciples* said to him, "If this is the case of a man with his* wife, it would be better not to marry!" ¹¹ But he said to them, "Not everyone can accept this saying but those to whom it has been given. ¹² For there are eunuchs who were born as such from their mother's womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by people, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs* for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who is able to accept this,* let him accept it."* ¹³ Then children were brought to him so that he could lay his* hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. ¹⁴ But Jesus said, "Allow the children, and do not forbid them to come to me, _⌊for to such belongs_⌋* the kingdom of heaven." ¹⁵ And he laid his* hands on them and* traveled on from there. ¹⁶ And behold, someone came up to him and* said, "Teacher, what good thing must I do so that I will have eternal life?" ¹⁷ And he said to him, "Why are you asking me about what is good? There is one who is good. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments!" ¹⁸ He said to him, "Which ones?" And Jesus said, "Do not commit murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, ¹⁹ honor your* father and your* mother, and love your neighbor as yourself." ²⁰ The young man said to him, "All these I have observed. What do I still lack?" ²¹ Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give the proceeds* to the poor—and you will have treasure in heaven—and come, follow me." ²² But when* the young man heard the statement, he went away sorrowful, because he was one who had many possessions. ²³ And Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly I say to you that with difficulty a rich person will enter into the kingdom of heaven! ²⁴ And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich person into* the kingdom of God." ²⁵ So when* the disciples heard this,* they were extremely amazed, saying, "Then who can be saved?" ²⁶ But Jesus looked at them* and* said to them, "With human beings this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." ²⁷ Then Peter answered and* said to him, "Behold, we have left everything and followed you. What then will there be for us?" ²⁸ And Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you that in the renewal of the world,* when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me—you also will sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ²⁹ And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife* or children or fields on account of my name will receive a hundred times as much, and will inherit eternal life. ³⁰ But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

²⁸ And it happened when Jesus finished these words the crowds were amazed at his teaching,

¹ And it happened that when Jesus had finished these statements, he went away from Galilee and came into the region of Judea on the other side of the Jordan. ² And large crowds followed him, and he healed them there. ³ And Pharisees came up to him in order to* test him, and asked* if it was permitted for a man to divorce his wife for any cause. ⁴ And he answered and* said, "Have you not read that the one who created them* from the beginning made them male and female ⁵ and said, 'On account of this a man will leave his* father and his* mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'?* ⁶ So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, man must not separate." ⁷ They said to him, "Why then did Moses command us* to give a document—a certificate of divorce—and to divorce her?" ⁸ He said to them, "Moses, with reference to your hardness of heart, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not like this. ⁹ Now I say to you that whoever divorces his wife, except on the basis of sexual immorality, and marries another commits adultery, and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery."*

¹ And from there he set out and* came to the region of Judea and the other side of the Jordan, and again crowds came together to him. And again, as he was accustomed to do,* he began to teach* them. ² And they asked* him if it was permitted for a man to divorce his* wife, in order to* test him. ³ And he answered and* said to them, "What did Moses command you?" ⁴ So they said, "Moses permitted a man* to write a certificate of divorce and to send her* away." ⁵ But Jesus said to them, "He wrote this commandment for you because of your hardness of heart. ⁶ But from the beginning of creation 'he made them male and female.* ⁷ Because of this a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife,* ⁸ and the two will become one flesh,'* so that they are no longer two but one flesh. ⁹ Therefore what God has joined together, man must not separate." ¹⁰ And in the house again the disciples began to ask* him about this. ¹¹ And he said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. ¹² And if she divorces her husband and* marries another, she commits adultery."

⁴⁰ And he went away again on the other side of the Jordan, to the place where John was baptizing at an earlier time, and he stayed there.

²³ And he went around through all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and every sickness among the people. ²⁴ And a report about him went out _⌊throughout_⌋* Syria, and they brought to him all those _⌊who were sick_⌋* with various diseases and afflicted by torments, demon-possessed* and epileptics and paralytics, and he healed them. ²⁵ And large crowds followed him from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from the other side of the Jordan.

³⁵ And Jesus was going around all the towns and the villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every* disease and every* sickness. ³⁶ And when he* saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were weary and dejected, like sheep that did not have a shepherd.

¹⁵ Now Jesus, when he* learned of it,* withdrew from there, and many* followed him, and he healed them all.

³⁵ And when* the men of that place recognized him, they sent word into that whole surrounding region, and they brought to him all those _⌊who were sick_⌋.* ³⁶ And they were imploring him that they might only touch the edge* of his cloak, and all those who touched it* were cured.

³⁰ And large crowds came to him, having with them the mute, blind, lame, crippled,* and many others, and they put them down at his feet, and he healed them. ³¹ So then the crowd was astonished when they* saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, and the lame walking, and the blind seeing, and they praised the God of Israel.

⁵⁵ They ran about through that whole region and began to carry around those _⌊who were sick_⌋* on stretchers, wherever they heard that he was. ⁵⁶ And wherever he would go, into villages or into towns or to farms, they would put those who were sick in the marketplaces and would implore him that if they could touch even the edge of his cloak. And all those who touched it were healed.

¹⁴ But you ask, "_⌊For what reason_⌋?"* Because Yahweh stands as a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have been unfaithful, even though she is your marriage partner and _⌊your wife by covenant_⌋.* ¹⁵ _⌊Did not one God make them?_⌋* But a remnant of the spirit is his.* And what does the one God desire? An offspring of God.* _⌊You must be attentive to_⌋* your spirit, and you must not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth. ¹⁶ "For I hate divorce,"* says Yahweh, the God of Israel, "and he who covers his clothing with violence," says Yahweh of hosts. "_⌊You must be attentive to_⌋* your spirit and you must not be unfaithful."

³¹ "And it was said, 'Whoever divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.'* ³² But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for a matter of sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

¹ And when* the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test him,* they asked him to show them a sign from heaven.

¹⁶ And they sent their disciples to him with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and _⌊you do not care what anyone thinks_⌋,* _⌊because you do not regard the opinion of people_⌋.* ¹⁷ Therefore tell us what you think. Is it permitted to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" ¹⁸ But because he* knew their maliciousness, Jesus said, "Hypocrites! Why are you testing me?

³⁵ And one of them, a legal expert, put a question to him* to test him:

² And they asked* him if it was permitted for a man to divorce his* wife, in order to* test him.

¹³ And they sent some of the Pharisees and the Herodians to him so that they could catch him unawares in a statement.

¹⁵ But because he* knew their hypocrisy, he said to them, "Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius so that I can look at it!"*

⁵³ And when* he departed from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to be terribly hostile, and to question him closely about many things, ⁵⁴ plotting to catch him with reference to something _⌊he might say_⌋.*

⁶ (Now they were saying this to test him, so that they would have an occasion* to bring charges against him.) But Jesus, bending down, began to write* with his* finger on the ground, taking no notice.*

⁹ where your fathers tested me by trial and saw my works

²⁷ So* God created humankind in* his image, in* the likeness of God he created him,* male and female he created them.

¹⁸ Then* Yahweh God said, "it is not good that the man* is alone. I will make for him a helper _⌊as his counterpart_⌋."*

²³ And the man* said,
"_⌊She is now_⌋* bone from my bones and flesh from my flesh; _⌊she_⌋* shall be called 'Woman,' for _⌊she was taken_⌋* from man."

² Male and female he created them. And he blessed them. And he called their name "Humankind" when* they were created.

¹⁵ _⌊Did not one God make them?_⌋* But a remnant of the spirit is his.* And what does the one God desire? An offspring of God.* _⌊You must be attentive to_⌋* your spirit, and you must not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth.

³ So he said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those with him,

⁶ So the disciples went* and did* just as Jesus directed them,

⁴² Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the scriptures,
'The stone which the builders rejected, this has become _⌊the cornerstone_⌋.* This came about from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?*

³¹ Now concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, who said,

²⁵ And he said to them, "Have you never read what David did when he had need and he and those who were with him were hungry—

¹⁰ Have you not read this scripture:
'The stone which the builders rejected, this has become _⌊the cornerstone_⌋.*

²⁶ Now concerning the dead, that they are raised, have you not read in the book of Moses _⌊in the passage about the bush_⌋* how God spoke to him, saying, 'I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob'?*

³ And Jesus answered and* said to them, "Have you not read this, what David did when he and those who were with him were hungry—

²⁶ And he said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read it?"*

²¹ And Yahweh God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man.* While* he slept, he took one of his ribs, and closed up _⌊the flesh where it had been_⌋.* ²² And Yahweh God fashioned the rib which he had taken from the man* into a woman and brought her to the man.* ²³ And the man* said,
"_⌊She is now_⌋* bone from my bones and flesh from my flesh; _⌊she_⌋* shall be called 'Woman,' for _⌊she was taken_⌋* from man." ²⁴ Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall cling to his wife, and they shall be as one flesh.

³ And his soul clung to Dinah, the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the girl and spoke _⌊tenderly_⌋* to the girl.

⁴ But you, the ones holding fast to Yahweh your God, are all alive _⌊today_⌋.*

²⁰ Yahweh your God, you shall revere him, you shall serve him, and to him you shall cling, and by his name you shall swear.

²² Yes, if you diligently keep all* this commandment that I am commanding you _⌊to observe it_⌋, * by loving Yahweh your God _⌊by walking in_⌋* all his ways and by holding fast to him,

¹ _⌊When_⌋* he finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan became attached to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

²⁶ _⌊I am distressed_⌋* over you, my brother Jonathan. you were very dear to me; your love was more wonderful to me than the love of women.

² from the nations which Yahweh had said to the _⌊Israelites_⌋,* "You shall not _⌊marry them_⌋,* and they shall not _⌊marry you_⌋.* They will certainly turn your heart after other gods." But Solomon clung to them to love.

¹⁰ Hear, O daughter, and _⌊discern_⌋* and incline your ear, and forget your people and your father's house.

⁸ My soul clings to* you; your right hand upholds me.

⁵ But Jesus said to them, "He wrote this commandment for you because of your hardness of heart. ⁶ But from the beginning of creation 'he made them male and female.* ⁷ Because of this a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife,* ⁸ and the two will become one flesh,'* so that they are no longer two but one flesh. ⁹ Therefore what God has joined together, man must not separate."

⁹ Love must be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; be attached to what is good,

¹⁶ Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For it says, "The two will become one flesh."*

² But because of sexual immorality, let each man have* his own wife and let each woman have her own husband.

⁴ The wife does not have authority over her own body, but her husband does. And likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but his wife does.

³¹ "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh."*

¹⁷ she who forsakes the partner of her youth and has forgotten the covenant of her God,

¹⁴ But you ask, "_⌊For what reason_⌋?"* Because Yahweh stands as a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have been unfaithful, even though she is your marriage partner and _⌊your wife by covenant_⌋.*

⁹ Therefore what God has joined together, man must not separate."

² For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of the husband.

¹⁰ To the married I command—not I, but the Lord—a wife must not separate from her husband. ¹¹ But if indeed she does separate, she must remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife. ¹² Now to the rest I say—not the Lord—if any brother has an unbelieving wife and she consents to live with him, he must not divorce her. ¹³ And if any wife has an unbelieving husband and he consents to live with her, she must not divorce her husband. ¹⁴ For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the brother, since otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy.

²⁸ Thus also husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. The one who loves his own wife loves himself.

⁴ Marriage must be held in honor by all, and the marriage bed be undefiled, because God will judge sexually immoral people and adulterers.

¹ "When* a man takes a wife and he marries her _⌊and then_⌋* _⌊she does not please him_⌋,* because he found _⌊something objectionable_⌋* and writes her a letter of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her away from his house, ² and she goes from his house, and she goes out and becomes a wife _⌊for another man_⌋,* ³ and then the second man dislikes her and he writes her a letter of divorce and places it into her hand and sends her from his house, or if the second man dies who took her _⌊to himself_⌋* as a wife, ⁴ her first husband who sent her away is not allowed _⌊to take her again_⌋* to become a wife to him after she has _⌊been defiled_⌋,* for that is a detestable thing _⌊before_⌋* Yahweh, and so you shall not mislead into sin the land that Yahweh your God is giving to you as an inheritance.

¹ Thus says Yahweh:
"Where is this divorce document of your mother's divorce, with which I dismissed her? or to whom of my creditors did I sell you? Look! you were sold because of your sin, and your mother was dismissed because of your transgressions.

⁸ And I saw that _⌊for this very reason, that_⌋* on account of apostate* Israel committing adultery I divorced her and gave the letter of divorce to her. Yet her treacherous sister Judah was not afraid and she went and prostituted herself also.

¹⁶ "For I hate divorce,"* says Yahweh, the God of Israel, "and he who covers his clothing with violence," says Yahweh of hosts. "_⌊You must be attentive to_⌋* your spirit and you must not be unfaithful."

¹⁹ So Joseph her husband, being righteous and not wanting to disgrace her, intended to divorce her secretly.

³¹ "And it was said, 'Whoever divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.'*

⁴ So they said, "Moses permitted a man* to write a certificate of divorce and to send her* away."

²⁴ Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall cling to his wife, and they shall be as one flesh.

⁷ And Noah and his sons and his wife, and the wives of his sons with him, went into the ark because of the waters of the flood.

⁸ "Do not harden your heart as at Meribah, as in the day of Massah in the wilderness,

¹⁶ Thus says Yahweh: "Stand at the roads and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the way of the good is, and walk in it, and find rest for your inner selves.* But they said, 'We will not walk in it.'*

¹² _⌊They made their hearts adamant_⌋* in order not to hear the law* and the words that Yahweh of hosts had sent by his spirit through* the former prophets; therefore great wrath came from Yahweh of hosts.

¹³ And this you do _⌊as well_⌋:* you cover the altar of Yahweh with tears, with weeping and with groaning, because he* _⌊no longer regards the offering_⌋* or accepts it with favor from your hand. ¹⁴ But you ask, "_⌊For what reason_⌋?"* Because Yahweh stands as a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have been unfaithful, even though she is your marriage partner and _⌊your wife by covenant_⌋.*

¹⁵ But Jesus answered and* said to him, "Permit it now, for in this way it is right for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he permitted him.

³¹ So the demons implored him, saying, "If you are going to expel us, send us into the herd of pigs."

⁵ But Jesus said to them, "He wrote this commandment for you because of your hardness of heart.

⁶ But I say this as a concession, not as a command.

¹⁸ Then Pharaoh called for Abram and said, "What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? ¹⁹ Why did you say 'She is my sister,' so that I took her to myself as a wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go."

³ And God came to Abimelech in a dream at night. And he said to him, "Look, you are a dead man on account of the woman you have taken. For she is _⌊a married woman_⌋."*

¹¹ Moreover, he made high places in the hill country of Judah, and he enticed the inhabitants of Jerusalem to be unfaithful, and he led Judah astray.

¹ A _⌊saying_⌋:* 'Look, if a man divorces his wife, and she goes from him _⌊and she becomes another man's wife_⌋,* will he return to her again?' Will not that land be greatly defiled? And you have prostituted yourself with many lovers, would you now return to me?" _⌊declares_⌋* Yahweh.

⁸ " 'And I passed by you, and I saw you, and look, _⌊your time of lovemaking had come_⌋,* and so I spread out my hem over you, and I covered your nakedness, and I swore to you, and I entered into* a covenant with you,' _⌊declares_⌋* the Lord Yahweh, 'and _⌊you became mine_⌋.*

¹⁵ 'And you trusted in your beauty, and you prostituted on account of your name, and you poured out your fornication on every one passing by, saying, "Let it be his."

²⁹ And you increased your fornication to the land of traders,* to Chaldea, and even with this you were not satisfied.

³² But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for a matter of sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

¹⁸ "Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and the one who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.

² For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of the husband. ³ Therefore as a result, if she belongs to another man while* her husband is living, she will be called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress if she* belongs to another man.

¹ It is reported everywhere that there is sexual immorality among you, and sexual immorality of such a kind which does not even exist among the Gentiles, so that someone has the wife of his father.

¹⁰ To the married I command—not I, but the Lord—a wife must not separate from her husband. ¹¹ But if indeed she does separate, she must remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife. ¹² Now to the rest I say—not the Lord—if any brother has an unbelieving wife and she consents to live with him, he must not divorce her. ¹³ And if any wife has an unbelieving husband and he consents to live with her, she must not divorce her husband.

³⁹ A wife is bound for as long a time as her husband lives. But if her husband _⌊dies_⌋*, she is free to marry whomever she wishes, only in the Lord.

¹⁵ Drink water from your own cistern and flowing waters from inside your own well. ¹⁶ Shall your springs be scattered outward? In the streets, shall there be streams of water? ¹⁷ May they be yours alone, and not for strangers who are with you. ¹⁸ May your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife* of your youth. ¹⁹ She is a deer of love and a doe of grace; may her breasts satisfy you _⌊always_⌋;* by her love may you be intoxicated continually.

²² He who finds a wife* finds good, and he will obtain favor from Yahweh.

¹³ A foolish child is a ruin to his father, and the quarreling of a woman* is a continuous dripping. ¹⁴ A house and wealth are an inheritance from fathers, but from Yahweh comes a woman* who is prudent.

⁹ Better to dwell on the corner of a roof than to share a house with a woman* of contention.

¹⁹ Better to live in a land of wilderness than with a wife of quarrels and provocation.

¹ Now concerning the things about which you wrote: "It is good for a man not to touch* a woman." ² But because of sexual immorality, let each man have* his own wife and let each woman have her own husband.

⁸ Now I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain as I am.

²⁶ Therefore, I consider this to be good because of the impending distress, that it is good for a man to be thus. ²⁷ Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek release. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. ²⁸ But if you marry, you have not sinned, and if the virgin marries, she has not sinned. But such people will have affliction in the flesh, and I would spare you.

³² But I want you to be free from care. The unmarried person cares for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord. ³³ But the one who is married cares for the things of the world, how he may please his wife, ³⁴ and he is divided. And the unmarried woman or the virgin cares for the things of the Lord, in order that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But the married woman cares for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. ³⁵ Now I am saying this for your own benefit, not that I may put a restriction on you, but to promote appropriate and devoted service to the Lord without distraction.

³⁹ A wife is bound for as long a time as her husband lives. But if her husband _⌊dies_⌋*, she is free to marry whomever she wishes, only in the Lord. ⁴⁰ But she is happier if she remains thus, according to my opinion—and I think I have the Spirit of God.

³ who forbid marrying and insist on abstaining from foods that God created for sharing in with thankfulness by those who believe and who know the truth,

¹¹ But refuse younger widows, for whenever their physical desires lead them away from Christ, they want to marry, ¹² thus incurring condemnation because they have broken their former pledge. ¹³ And at the same time also, going around from house to house, they learn to be idle, and not only idle, but also gossipy and busybodies, saying the things that are not necessary. ¹⁴ Therefore I want younger widows to marry, to bear children, to manage a household, to give the adversary no opportunity for reproach. ¹⁵ For already some have turned away and followed after Satan.

¹¹ And he answered and* said to them, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to those people it has not been granted.

⁷ I wish all people could be like myself, but each one has his own gift from God, one in this way and another in that way. ⁸ Now I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain as I am. ⁹ But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with sexual desire.

¹⁷ But to each one as the Lord has apportioned. As God has called each one, thus let him live—and thus I order in all the churches.

³⁵ Now I am saying this for your own benefit, not that I may put a restriction on you, but to promote appropriate and devoted service to the Lord without distraction.

⁷ 'And some of your sons who go out from you, whom you fathered, shall be taken, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.'"

³ And do not let the _⌊foreigner_⌋* who joins himself to Yahweh say, "Surely Yahweh will separate me from his people." And do not let the eunuch say, "Look! I am a dry tree!" ⁴ For thus says Yahweh, "To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, and choose that in which I delight, and who keep hold of my covenant.

³² But I want you to be free from care. The unmarried person cares for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord. ³³ But the one who is married cares for the things of the world, how he may please his wife, ³⁴ and he is divided. And the unmarried woman or the virgin cares for the things of the Lord, in order that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But the married woman cares for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. ³⁵ Now I am saying this for your own benefit, not that I may put a restriction on you, but to promote appropriate and devoted service to the Lord without distraction. ³⁶ But if anyone thinks he is behaving dishonorably concerning his virgin, if she is past her prime* and it ought to be thus, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin. Let them marry. ³⁷ But he who stands firm in his heart, not having necessity, but has authority concerning his own will, and has decided this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin, he will do well. ³⁸ So then, the one who marries* his own virgin does well, and the one who does not marry her will do better.

⁵ Do we not have the right to take along a sister as wife, like the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?

¹⁵ But I have not made use of any of these rights. And I am not writing these things in order that it may be thus with me. For it would be better to me rather to die than for anyone to deprive me of my reason for boasting.

¹ And it happened that after these things, it was said to Joseph, "Behold, your father is ill." And he took his two sons with him, Ephraim and Manasseh.

⁹ Then Joseph said to his father, "They are my sons whom God has given me here." And he said, "Please bring them to me that I may bless them." ¹⁰ Now the eyes of Israel were dim* on account of old age; he was not able to see. So he brought them near to him, and he kissed them and embraced them. ¹¹ And Israel said to Joseph, "I did not expect to see your face and behold, God has also shown me your offspring." ¹² Then Joseph removed them from his knees and bowed down with his face to the ground. ¹³ And Joseph took the two of them, Ephraim at his right to the left of Israel, and Manasseh at his left to the right of Israel. And he brought them near to him. ¹⁴ And Israel stretched out his right hand and put it on the head of Ephraim (now he was the younger), and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands, for Manasseh was the firstborn. ¹⁵ And he blessed Joseph and said,
"The God before whom my fathers, Abraham and Isaac, walked, The God who shepherded me _⌊all my life_⌋* unto this day, ¹⁶ The angel who redeemed me from all evil, may he bless the boys. And through them let my name be perpetuated,* and the name of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac. And let them multiply into many in the midst of the earth. ¹⁷ When Joseph saw that his father put his right hand on the head of Ephraim, he was displeased. And he took hold of his father's hand to remove it from the head of Ephraim over to the head of Manasseh. ¹⁸ And Joseph said to his father, "Not so, my father; because this one is the firstborn. Put your right hand upon his head." ¹⁹ But his father refused and said, "I know, my son; I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great, but his younger brother shall be greater than him, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations." ²⁰ So he blessed them that day, saying,
Through you Israel shall pronounce blessing, saying, 'May God make you like Ephraim and like Manasseh.'"
So he put Ephraim before Manasseh.

²⁴ Then she brought him up with her when she had weaned him, along with three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a skin* of wine. She brought him to the house of Yahweh at Shiloh while the boy was still young.

¹⁴ May Yahweh give you increase, you and your children. ¹⁵ May you be blessed by Yahweh, who made heaven and earth.

³⁹ And I will give to them one heart and one way, to revere me _⌊forever_⌋,* for good to them, and to their children after them.

²² And Peter took him aside and* began to rebuke him, saying, _⌊God forbid_⌋,* Lord! This will never happen to you!"

² And calling a child to himself, he had him stand in their midst ³ and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you turn around and become like young children, you will never enter into the kingdom of heaven! ⁴ Therefore whoever humbles himself like this child, this person is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, ⁵ and whoever welcomes one child such as this in my name welcomes me.

³¹ And the crowd rebuked them so that they would be quiet. But they called out all the more, saying, "Lord, have mercy on us,* Son of David!"

¹³ And they were bringing young children to him so that he could touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. ¹⁴ But when* Jesus saw it,* he was indignant, and said to them, "Let the young children come to me. Do not forbid them, _⌊for to such belongs_⌋* the kingdom of God. ¹⁵ Truly I say to you, whoever does not welcome the kingdom of God like a young child will never enter into it." ¹⁶ And after* taking them* into his arms, he blessed them, placing his* hands on them.

⁴⁹ And John answered and* said, "Master, we saw someone expelling demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him, because he does not follow in company with us." ⁵⁰ But Jesus said to him, "Do not prevent him,* because whoever is not against you is for you."

⁵⁴ Now when* the disciples James and John saw it,* they said, "Lord, do you want us to call fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" ⁵⁵ But he turned around and* rebuked them,

¹⁵ Now they were bringing even their* babies to him so that he could touch them. But when* the disciples saw it,* they rebuked them. ¹⁶ But Jesus called them to himself, saying, "Allow the children to come to me, and do not forbid them, _⌊for to such belongs_⌋* the kingdom of God. ¹⁷ Truly I say to you, whoever does not welcome the kingdom of God like a young child will never enter into it."

³⁹ For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all those who are far away, as many as the Lord our God calls to himself."

¹⁴ For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the brother, since otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy.

⁷ And I will establish my covenant between me and you, and between your offspring after you, throughout their generations as an everlasting covenant to be as God for you and to your offspring after you. ⁸ And I will give to you and to your offspring after you _⌊the land in which you are living as an alien_⌋,* all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting property. And I will be to them as God."

²⁴ Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he circumcised the flesh of his foreskin. ²⁵ And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he circumcised the flesh of his foreskin. ²⁶ Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised on the same day.

⁴ And Abraham circumcised Isaac his son when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.

⁷ And he said to me, 'Look, you will conceive and bear a son, so then, do not drink wine or strong drink, and do not eat anything unclean, for the boy will be a Nazirite of God from birth* until the day of his death.'"

¹¹ She _⌊made a vow_⌋* and said: "O Yahweh of hosts, if you will look with compassion on the misery of your female servant, and will remember me, and not forget your female servant, and will give to your female servant _⌊a male child_⌋* then I will give him to Yahweh all the days of his life, and a razor will never pass over his head."*

²² But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, "Once the boy is weaned, I will bring him, so that he may appear before Yahweh; and he will remain there forever."

¹⁸ Now Samuel was serving before Yahweh, as a boy wearing a linen ephod.

²⁵ At that time Jesus answered and* said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent, and have revealed them to young children.*

³ and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you turn around and become like young children, you will never enter into the kingdom of heaven!

¹⁴ But when* Jesus saw it,* he was indignant, and said to them, "Let the young children come to me. Do not forbid them, _⌊for to such belongs_⌋* the kingdom of God.

²⁰ Brothers, do not become children in your understanding, but with respect to wickedness be as a child, and in your understanding be mature.

¹ Therefore, ridding yourselves of all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, ² like newborn infants long for the unadulterated spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up to salvation,

¹¹ He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arm, and he will carry them in his bosom; he will lead those who nurse.

¹⁶ And after* taking them* into his arms, he blessed them, placing his* hands on them.

¹⁵ and that from childhood you have known the holy writings that are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

² And many from those sleeping _⌊in the dusty ground_⌋* will awake, some to _⌊everlasting life_⌋* and some to disgrace and _⌊everlasting contempt_⌋.*

¹⁷ And he said to him, "Why are you asking me about what is good? There is one who is good. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments!" ¹⁸ He said to him, "Which ones?" And Jesus said, "Do not commit murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony,

²⁶ But Jesus looked at them* and* said to them, "With human beings this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

²⁹ And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife* or children or fields on account of my name will receive a hundred times as much, and will inherit eternal life.

⁴⁶ And these will depart into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

¹⁷ And as* he was setting out on his way, one individual ran up and knelt down before him and* asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do so that I will inherit eternal life?" ¹⁸ So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. ¹⁹ You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'"* ²⁰ And he said to him, "Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth." ²¹ And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing: Go, sell all that you have, and give the proceeds* to the poor—and you will have treasure in heaven—and come, follow me." ²² But he looked gloomy at the statement and* went away sorrowful, _⌊because he had_⌋* many possessions. ²³ And Jesus looked around and* said to his disciples, "How _⌊difficult it is for_⌋* those who possess wealth to enter into the kingdom of God!" ²⁴ And the disciples were astounded at his words. But Jesus answered and* said to them again, "Children, how difficult it is to enter into the kingdom of God! ²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of God." ²⁶ And they were very astounded, saying to one another, "And who can be saved?" ²⁷ Jesus looked at them and* said, "With human beings it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God." ²⁸ Peter began to say to him, "Behold, we have left everything and followed you." ²⁹ Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields on account of me and on account of the gospel ³⁰ _⌊who will not_⌋* receive a hundred times as much now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and fields, together with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.

²⁵ And behold, a certain legal expert stood up to test him, saying, "Teacher, what must I do so that I will inherit eternal life?" ²⁶ And he said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read it?"* ²⁷ And he answered and* said, "You shall love the Lord your God from all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind,* and your neighbor as yourself."* ²⁸ And he said to him, "You have answered correctly. Do this and you will live."

¹⁸ And a certain ruler asked him, saying, "Good Teacher, by* doing what will I inherit eternal life?" ¹⁹ And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. ²⁰ You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.'"* ²¹ And he said, "All these I have observed from my* youth." ²² And when he* heard this,* Jesus said to him, "_⌊You still lack one thing_⌋:* Sell all that you have, and distribute the proceeds* to the poor—and you will have treasure in heaven—and come, follow me." ²³ But when he* heard these things he became very sad, because he was extremely wealthy. ²⁴ And Jesus took notice of him* and* said, "How _⌊difficult it is for_⌋* those who possess wealth to enter into the kingdom of God! ²⁵ For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of God. ²⁶ So those who heard this* said, "And who can be saved?" ²⁷ But he said, "What is impossible with men is possible with God." ²⁸ And Peter said, "Behold, we have left _⌊all that is ours_⌋* and* followed you." ²⁹ And he said to them, "Truly I say to you that there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children on account of the kingdom of God, ³⁰ who will not receive many times more in this time and in the age to come, eternal life."

¹⁵ so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life."*

¹⁴ But whoever drinks of this water which I will give to him will never be thirsty for eternity, but the water which I will give to him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life."

³⁹ You search* the scriptures because you think that you have eternal life in them, and it is these that testify about me.

²⁷ Do not work for the food that perishes, but the food that remains to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For God the Father has set his seal on this one." ²⁸ So they said to him, "What shall we do that we can accomplish the works of God?" ²⁹ Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God: that you believe in the one whom that one sent."

⁴⁷ Truly, truly I say to you, the one who believes has eternal life.

⁶⁸ Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.

²⁸ And I give them eternal life, and they will never perish _⌊forever_⌋,* and no one will seize them out of my hand.

²⁵ The one who loves his life loses it, and the one who hates his life in this world preserves it for eternal life.

² just as you have given him authority over all flesh, in order that he would give eternal life to them—everyone whom you have given him. ³ Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

³⁰ And he brought them outside and* said, "Sirs, what must I do so that I can be saved?"

⁷ to those who, by perseverance in good work, seek glory and honor and immortality, eternal life,

²¹ so that just as sin reigned in death, so also grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

²² But now, having been set free from sin and having been enslaved to God, you have your fruit leading to sanctification, and its end is eternal life. ²³ For the compensation due sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

¹⁶ But because of this I was shown mercy, in order that in me foremost, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his total patience, for an example for those who are going to believe in him for eternal life.

¹² Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

¹⁹ storing up for themselves a good foundation for the future, in order that they may take hold of what is truly life.

² in the hope of eternal life which God, who does not lie, promised before eternal ages,

⁷ so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

² and the life was revealed, and we have seen and testify and announce to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was revealed to us—

²⁵ And this is the promise which he himself promised us: eternal life.

¹¹ And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. ¹² The one who has the Son has the life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. ¹³ These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life.

²⁰ And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, in order that we may know the one who is true, and we are in the one who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This one is the true God and eternal life.

²¹ keep yourselves in the love of God, looking forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.

⁵ And you shall observe* my statutes and my regulations _⌊by which the person doing them shall live_⌋;* I am Yahweh.

² There is no one holy like Yahweh, for there is no one besides you, and there is no rock like our God.

²⁹ You warned them so that they would return to your law.* Yet they acted arrogantly and did not listen to your commandments but sinned against your judgments that a person must do so that they may live. They turned a stubborn shoulder and stiffened their neck and would not listen.

¹ For the music director. A maskil of David. When Doeg the Edomite came and informed Saul. And he said to him, "David has come to the house of Ahimelech."*
Why do you boast about evil, O mighty man? The loyal love of God endures _⌊continually_⌋.*

⁷ They will utter * the renown of your abundant goodness, and they will proclaim with joy your righteousness. ⁸ Yahweh is gracious and compassionate, _⌊slow to anger_⌋* and great in loyal love. ⁹ Yahweh is good to all, and his mercies are over all his works.

¹¹ and I gave my statutes to them, and my regulations I made known to them, which, if a person does them, then he will live by them. ¹² And also my Sabbaths I gave to them to be a sign between me and between them _⌊so they would know_⌋* that I, Yahweh, am the one sanctifying them.

²¹ But the children rebelled against me; _⌊they did not walk in my statutes_⌋,* and _⌊they did not observe my regulations_⌋,* which if a person does them, then he will live by them. My Sabbaths they desecrated, and I decided to pour out my rage on them, to finish my anger against them in the desert.

⁵ For Moses writes about the righteousness that is from the law: "The person who does this* will live by it."**

¹¹ Now it is clear that no one is justified in the sight of God by the law, because "the one who is righteous will live by faith."* ¹² But the law is not from faith, but "the one who does these things will live by them."* ¹³ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by* becoming a curse for us, because it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree,"*

¹⁷ Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of change.

⁸ The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. ⁹ By this the love of God is revealed in us: that God sent his one and only Son into the world in order that we may live through him. ¹⁰ In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation* for our sins.

¹⁶ And we have come to know and have believed the love that God has in us. God is love, and the one who resides in love resides in God, and God resides in him.

¹² "Honor your father and your mother, so that your days can be long on the land that Yahweh your God is giving you. ¹³ "You shall not murder. ¹⁴ "You shall not commit adultery. ¹⁵ "You shall not steal. ¹⁶ "You shall not testify against your neighbor with a false witness. ¹⁷ "You shall not covet the house of your neighbor; you will not covet the wife of your neighbor or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that is your neighbor's."

¹⁶ 'Honor your father and your mother, as Yahweh your God commanded you, so that it will be good for you* _⌊in the land_⌋* that Yahweh your God is giving to you. ¹⁷ 'You shall not murder. ¹⁸ 'And you shall not commit adultery. ¹⁹ 'And you shall not steal. ²⁰ 'And you shall not falsely bear evidence against your neighbor. ²¹ 'And you shall not covet the wife of your neighbor, and you shall not crave the house of your neighbor, his field or his slave or his slave woman or his ox and his donkey or anything _⌊that belongs to your neighbor_⌋.'*

²¹ "You have heard that it was said to the _⌊people of old_⌋,* 'Do not commit murder,'* and 'whoever commits murder will be subject to judgment.' ²² But I say to you that everyone who is angry at his brother will be subject to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, 'Stupid fool!'* will be subject to the council, and whoever says, 'Obstinate fool!'* will be subject to fiery hell. ²³ Therefore if you present your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there before the altar and first go be reconciled to your brother, and then come and* present your gift. ²⁵ _⌊Settle the case quickly with your accuser_⌋* while you are with him on the way, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. ²⁶ Truly I say to you, you will never come out of there until you have paid back the last penny! ²⁷ "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.'* ²⁸ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

¹⁹ You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'"*

²⁰ You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.'"*

⁸ Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another, for the one who loves someone else has fulfilled the law. ⁹ For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery, you shall not commit murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet,"* and if there is any other commandment, are summed up in this statement: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."* ¹⁰ Love does not commit evil against a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

¹⁰ For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse, for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all the things that are written in the book of the law to do them."*

¹⁰ For whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles in one point only has become guilty of all of it. ¹¹ For the one who said "Do not commit adultery"* also said "Do not murder."* Now if you do not commit adultery but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

¹² "Honor your father and your mother, so that your days can be long on the land that Yahweh your God is giving you.

¹⁴ "You shall not commit adultery. ¹⁵ "You shall not steal.

³ Each of you must revere your mother* and your father,* and you* must keep my Sabbaths; I am Yahweh your* God.

¹⁸ You* shall not seek vengeance, and you* shall not harbor a grudge against _⌊your* fellow citizens_⌋;* and you* shall love your* neighbor like yourself; * I am Yahweh.

¹⁶ 'Honor your father and your mother, as Yahweh your God commanded you, so that it will be good for you* _⌊in the land_⌋* that Yahweh your God is giving to you.

¹⁷ The eye that mocks a father and scorns the obedience of a mother— the ravens of the valley will peck it out, and the offspring of vultures will eat it.

⁴³ "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor'* and 'Hate your enemy.'*

⁴ For God said, 'Honor your* father and your* mother,'* and 'The one who speaks evil of father or mother _⌊must certainly die_⌋*.'* ⁵ But you say, 'Whoever says to his* father or his* mother, "Whatever _⌊benefit you would have received_⌋* from me is a gift to God," ⁶ need not honor his father,'* and you make void the word of God for the sake of your tradition.

³⁹ And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'*

²⁷ And he answered and* said, "You shall love the Lord your God from all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind,* and your neighbor as yourself."*

⁹ For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery, you shall not commit murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet,"* and if there is any other commandment, are summed up in this statement: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."*

¹⁴ For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."*

¹ Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ² "Honor your father and mother" (which is the first* commandment with a promise),

⁸ However, if you carry out the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself,"* you are doing well.

²⁰ And he said to him, "Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth." ²¹ And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing: Go, sell all that you have, and give the proceeds* to the poor—and you will have treasure in heaven—and come, follow me."

⁷ I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.

²⁹ But he answered and* said to his father, 'Behold, so many years I have served you, and have never disobeyed your command! And you never gave me a young goat so that I could celebrate with my friends!

¹¹ The Pharisee stood and* prayed these things with reference to himself: 'God, I give thanks to you that I am not like other people—swindlers, unrighteous people, adulterers, or even like this tax collector! ¹² I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all that I get.'

²¹ And he said, "All these I have observed from my* youth." ²² And when he* heard this,* Jesus said to him, "_⌊You still lack one thing_⌋:* Sell all that you have, and distribute the proceeds* to the poor—and you will have treasure in heaven—and come, follow me."

⁷ And when they persisted in asking him, straightening up he said* to them, "The one of you without sin, let him throw the first stone at her!"

¹⁹ Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those under the law, in order that every mouth may be closed and the whole world may become accountable to God. ²⁰ For by the works of the law _⌊no person will be declared righteous_⌋* before him, for through the law comes knowledge of sin. ²¹ But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified about by the law and the prophets— ²² that is, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ* to all who believe. For there is no distinction, ²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

⁹ And I was alive once, apart from the law, but when* the commandment came, sin sprang to life

²⁴ So then, the law became our guardian until Christ, in order that we could be justified by faith.

⁶ according to zeal persecuting the church, according to the righteousness in the law being blameless.

⁹ These are the generations* of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, without defect in his generations. Noah walked with God.

¹ When* Abram was ninety-nine years old Yahweh appeared to Abram. And he said to him, "I am El-Shaddai;* walk before me and be blameless

¹ There was a man in the land of Uz whose* name was Job. That* man was blameless and upright and God-fearing and turning away from evil.

³⁷ Observe the blameless and look at the upright, for there is a future for a man of peace.

¹⁹ And he said to them, "_⌊Follow me_⌋* and I will make you fishers of people."

¹⁹ Therefore whoever abolishes one of the least of these commandments and teaches people to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever keeps them and teaches them, this person will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰ For I say to you that unless your righteousness greatly surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter into the kingdom of heaven.

⁴⁸ Therefore you be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.

¹⁹ "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and consuming insect* destroy and where thieves break in and steal, ²⁰ but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor consuming insect* destroy and where thieves do not break in or steal.

²² But Jesus said to him, "Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead!"

⁹ And as* Jesus was going away from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth and said to him, "Follow me!" And he stood up and* followed him.

²⁴ Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone wants to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

²⁸ And Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you that in the renewal of the world,* when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me—you also will sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

¹⁴ And as he* was passing by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, "Follow me!" And he stood up and* followed him.

³⁴ And summoning the crowd together with his disciples, he said to them, "If anyone wants to come* after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

²¹ And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing: Go, sell all that you have, and give the proceeds* to the poor—and you will have treasure in heaven—and come, follow me."

²⁷ And after these things, he went out and saw a tax collector _⌊named_⌋* Levi sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, "Follow me!"

⁴⁰ A disciple is not superior to his* teacher, but everyone, when he* is fully trained, will be like his teacher.

²³ And he said to them all, "If anyone wants to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross every day and follow me.

³³ Sell your possessions and give charitable gifts. Make for yourselves money bags that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven* where thief does not approach or moth destroy.

³³ In the same way, therefore, every one of you who does not renounce all his own possessions _⌊cannot be_⌋* my disciple.

⁹ And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it runs out they will welcome you into the eternal dwellings.

²² And when he* heard this,* Jesus said to him, "_⌊You still lack one thing_⌋:* Sell all that you have, and distribute the proceeds* to the poor—and you will have treasure in heaven—and come, follow me."

²⁷ My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

²⁶ If anyone serves me, he must follow me, and where I am, there my servant will be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

⁴⁵ And they began selling* their* possessions and property, and distributing these things to all, to the degree that anyone had need.

³² Now the group of those who believed were one heart and soul, and no one said anything of what belonged to him was his own, but all things were theirs in common. ³³ And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on them all. ³⁴ For there was not even anyone needy among them, because all those who were owners of plots of land or houses were selling them* and* bringing the proceeds of the things that were sold ³⁵ and placing them* at the feet of the apostles. And it was being distributed to each as anyone had need.

¹² Not that I have already received this,* or have already been made perfect, but I press on if indeed I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ.* ¹³ Brothers, I do not consider myself to have laid hold of it.* But I do one thing, forgetting the things behind and straining toward the things ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ Therefore as many as are perfect, _⌊let us hold this opinion_⌋*, and if you think anything differently, God will reveal this also to you.

¹⁷ Command those who are rich in this present age not to be proud and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of riches, but in God, who provides us all things richly for enjoyment, ¹⁸ to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, sharing freely, ¹⁹ storing up for themselves a good foundation for the future, in order that they may take hold of what is truly life.

³⁴ For you both sympathized with the prisoners and put up with the seizure of your belongings with joy because you* knew that you yourselves had a better and permanent possession.

²³ And they called to the descendants* of Dan, who turned around to face them, and they said to Micah, "What is the matter with you that you assembled together?" ²⁴ He said, "You took away my gods that I had made, and the priest, and then you go away. What is now left for me? How can you say to me, 'What is the matter?'"

¹⁴ from men by your hand, O Yahweh, from men of this world. Their share is in _⌊this life_⌋,* and you fill their stomach with your treasure. They are satisfied with children. They bequeath their excess to their children.

³¹ And they come to you _⌊as people do_⌋,* and they sit _⌊before you_⌋,* and my people hear your words, and they do not do them, for they are showing* passion in their mouth, but their heart is going after ill-gotten gain.

¹⁴ Then the king, when* he heard that _⌊report_⌋,* he was extremely distressed over it; and _⌊concerning Daniel_⌋* _⌊he was determined_⌋* to rescue him. And until the setting of the sun he was making every effort to deliver him. ¹⁵ Then these men came as a group to the king and _⌊said_⌋,* "Recall, O king, that with respect to the law of* the Medes and Persians that _⌊any_⌋* decree or edict that the king establishes cannot be changed." ¹⁶ Then the king gave the command, and Daniel was brought in and they threw him into _⌊the lion pit_⌋.* _⌊The king said_⌋* to Daniel, "Your God, whom you serve _⌊faithfully_⌋,* may he rescue you!" ¹⁷ And a* stone was brought and it was put on the entrance of the pit, and the king sealed it with his signet ring and with the signet rings of his lords,* so that nothing would be changed concerning Daniel.

²⁴ "No one is able to serve two masters. For either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You are not able to serve God and money.*

²² And what was sown into the thorn plants—this is the one who hears the word, and the anxiety of this world* and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word and it becomes unproductive.

⁹ And although* the king was distressed, because of his oaths and his _⌊dinner guests_⌋* he commanded the request* to be granted.

²⁶ For what will a person be benefited if he gains the whole world but forfeits his life? Or what will a person give in exchange for his life?

²⁶ And although he* was deeply grieved, the king, because of his* oaths and _⌊dinner guests_⌋,* did not want to refuse her.

²² But he looked gloomy at the statement and* went away sorrowful, _⌊because he had_⌋* many possessions.

²³ But when he* heard these things he became very sad, because he was extremely wealthy.

¹² From this point on Pilate was seeking to release him, but the Jews shouted, saying, "If you release this man, you are not a friend of Caesar! Everyone who makes himself out to be a king opposes Caesar!" ¹³ So Pilate, when he* heard these words, brought Jesus outside and sat down on the judgment seat, in the place called The Stone Pavement (but Gabbatha in Aramaic). ¹⁴ (Now it was the day of preparation of the Passover; it was about the sixth hour.) And he said to the Jews, "Behold your king!" ¹⁵ Then those shouted, "Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your king?" The chief priests replied, "We do not have a king except Caesar!" ¹⁶ So then he handed him over to them in order that he could be crucified.

⁵ For this you know _⌊for certain_⌋*, that every sexually immoral person, or unclean person, or greedy person (who is an idolater), does not have an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

⁵ Therefore put to death _⌊what is earthly in you_⌋*: sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustful passion, evil desire, and greediness, which is idolatry,

¹⁰ "And then it will happen that when Yahweh your God will bring you to the land that he swore to your ancestors,* to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give to you large and fine cities that you did not build, ¹¹ and houses full of all sorts of good things* that you did not fill, and hewn cisterns that you did not hew, vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant, and _⌊you have eaten your fill_⌋,* ¹² then take care for yourself, so that you do not forget Yahweh, who brought you out from the land of Egypt from the house of slavery.

¹⁰ And you will eat, and _⌊you will be satisfied_⌋,* and you will bless Yahweh your God because of the good land that he has given to you. ¹¹ "Take care for yourself so that you not forget Yahweh your God by not keeping his commandments and his regulations and his statutes that I am commanding you _⌊today_⌋,* ¹² lest when you have eaten and you are satisfied and you have built good houses and you live in them, ¹³ and your herds and your flocks have multiplied, and _⌊you have accumulated silver and gold_⌋,* and all that _⌊you have_⌋* has multiplied, ¹⁴ then your heart _⌊becomes proud_⌋* and you forget Yahweh your God, _⌊the one who brought you out_⌋* from the land of Egypt, from the house of slavery, ¹⁵ the one leading you in the great and terrible desert infested with _⌊dangerous_⌋* snakes* and scorpions* and parched ground, where there is* no water, and the one bringing out water for you from flint rock, ¹⁶ the one _⌊feeding you_⌋* manna in the desert, food that your ancestors* did not know, in order to humble you and in order to test you so that he could do good to you _⌊in the future_⌋.* ¹⁷ And you may think* in your heart, 'My strength and the might of my hand _⌊acquired this wealth for_⌋* me.' ¹⁸ But you must remember Yahweh your God, for he is the one giving you strength to acquire wealth in order to confirm his covenant that he swore to your ancestors* _⌊as it is today_⌋.*

²⁴ "If I have made gold my trust, or* I have called fine gold my security, ²⁵ if I have rejoiced because my wealth was great or* because my hand found a fortune,

⁶ those who trust their wealth and boast about the abundance of their riches? ⁷ Surely a man cannot redeem a brother. He cannot give to God his ransom

¹⁶ Do not fear when a man becomes rich, when the wealth* of his house increases, ¹⁷ because when he dies he will not take away any of it. His wealth will not follow down after him. ¹⁸ Though he congratulated his soul while he was living —and people will praise you when you do well for yourself— ¹⁹ it* will go to the generation of his fathers. Never will they see light.

²⁸ He who trusts in his wealth is he who will fall, but like a green leaf the righteous will flourish.

⁸ Keep falsehood and a _⌊lying word_⌋* far from me; do not give me poverty or wealth; provide me with food only for my need. ⁹ Or else I will be satisfied and will deny him and say "Who is Yahweh?" Or* I will be poor and will steal and profane the name of my God.

²⁰ For I say to you that unless your righteousness greatly surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter into the kingdom of heaven.

³¹ Which of the two did the will of his* father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going ahead of you into the kingdom of God!

²³ And Jesus looked around and* said to his disciples, "How _⌊difficult it is for_⌋* those who possess wealth to enter into the kingdom of God!"

¹⁵ And he said to them, "Watch out and guard yourselves from all greediness, because not even when someone has an abundance _⌊does_⌋* his life consist of his possessions." ¹⁶ And he told a parable to them, saying, "The land of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. ¹⁷ And he reasoned to himself, saying, 'What should I do? For I do not have anywhere I can gather in my crops.' ¹⁸ And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and I will gather in there all my grain and possessions. ¹⁹ And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many possessions stored up for many years. Relax, eat, drink, celebrate!" ' ²⁰ But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your life* is demanded from you, and the things which you have prepared—whose will they be?' ²¹ So is the one who stores up treasure for himself, and who is not rich toward God!"

¹³ No domestic slave is able to serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and will despise the other. You are not able to serve God and money." ¹⁴ Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him.

¹⁹ "Now a certain man was rich, and dressed in purple cloth and fine linen, feasting sumptuously every day. ²⁰ And a certain poor man _⌊named_⌋* Lazarus, covered with sores, lay at his gate, ²¹ and was longing to be filled with what fell from the table of the rich man. But even the dogs came and* licked his sores. ²² Now it happened that the poor man died, and he was carried away by the angels to _⌊Abraham's side_⌋.* And the rich man also died and was buried. ²³ And in Hades he lifted up his eyes as he* was in torment and* saw Abraham from a distance, and Lazarus _⌊at his side_⌋.* ²⁴ And he called out and* said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he could dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am suffering pain in this flame!' ²⁵ But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that you received your good things during your life, and Lazarus likewise bad things. But now he is comforted here, but you are suffering pain. ²⁶ And in addition to all these things, a great chasm has been established between us and you, so that those who want to cross over from here to you are not able to do so,* nor can they cross over from there to us.' ²⁷ So he said, 'Then I ask you, father, that you send him to my father's house, ²⁸ for I have five brothers, so that he could warn them, in order that they also should not come to this place of torment!'

²⁴ And Jesus took notice of him* and* said, "How _⌊difficult it is for_⌋* those who possess wealth to enter into the kingdom of God!

³ Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly I say to you, unless someone is born from above,* he is not able to see the kingdom of God."

⁵ Jesus answered, "Truly, truly I say to you, unless someone is born of water and spirit, he is not able to enter into the kingdom of God.

²² strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them* to continue in the faith and saying,* "Through many persecutions* it is necessary for us to enter into the kingdom of God."

²⁶ For consider your calling, brothers, that not many were wise according to human standards,* not many were powerful, not many were well born.

⁹ But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and a trap and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge those people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all evil, by which some, because they* desire it, have gone astray from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains.

⁹ Now let the brother of humble circumstances boast in his high position, ¹⁰ but the rich person in his humiliation, because he will pass away like a flower of the grass. ¹¹ For the sun rises with its burning heat and dries up the grass, and its flower falls off, and the beauty of its appearance is lost. So also the rich person in his pursuits* will wither away.

⁶ But you have dishonored the poor! Are not the rich exploiting you and they themselves dragging you into the courts?

¹ Come now, you rich people, weep and cry aloud over the miseries that are coming upon you! ² Your wealth has rotted, and your clothing has become moth-eaten. ³ Your gold and silver have become corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you, and it will consume your flesh like fire. You have stored up treasure in the last days. ⁴ Behold, the wages that were held back by you from the workers who reap your fields cry out, and the cries of the reapers have come to the ears of the Lord of hosts.

²³ Can a Cushite change his skin, or a leopard his spots? Then you also will be able to do good, who are accustomed to doing evil.

²⁴ Blind guides who filter out a gnat and swallow a camel!

²⁴ And the disciples were astounded at his words. But Jesus answered and* said to them again, "Children, how difficult it is to enter into the kingdom of God! ²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of God."

²⁵ For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of God.

⁴⁴ How are you able to believe, if you* accept glory from one another, and do not seek the glory which is from the only God?

²² And unless those days had been shortened, _⌊no human being would be saved_⌋.* But for the sake of the elect, those days will be shortened.

²⁰ And if the Lord had not shortened the days, _⌊no human being would be saved_⌋.* But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he has shortened the days.

²³ And someone said to him, "Lord, _⌊are there only_⌋* a few who are saved?" And he said to them, ²⁴ "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able to,

¹³ For "everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved."*

⁵ So in this way also at the present time, there is a remnant _⌊selected by grace_⌋*. ⁶ But if by grace, it is no longer by works, for otherwise grace would no longer be grace. ⁷ What then? What Israel was searching for, this it did not obtain. But the elect obtained it, and the rest were hardened,

¹⁴ Is anything too difficult for Yahweh? At the appointed time I will return to you _⌊in the spring_⌋* and Sarah shall have a son."

²³ And Yahweh said to Moses, "_⌊Is Yahweh's power limited_⌋?* Now you will see if my word will happen or not."

² "I know that you can do all things, and any scheme from you will not be thwarted.

⁸ To Yahweh belongs deliverance; may your blessing be over your people. Selah

¹¹ Once God has spoken; twice I have heard this: that strength belongs to God.

¹⁷ 'Ah Lord Yahweh! Look, you made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm. _⌊Nothing_⌋* is too difficult for you,

²⁷ "Look, I am Yahweh, the God of all flesh; is _⌊anything_⌋* too difficult for me?"

⁶ Thus says Yahweh of hosts: 'Even if it seems impossible* _⌊to the remnant_⌋* of this people in those days, should it also seem impossible* _⌊to me_⌋?'* _⌊declares_⌋* Yahweh of hosts.

²⁷ Jesus looked at them and* said, "With human beings it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God."

³⁷ For _⌊nothing will be impossible with God_⌋."*

²⁷ But he said, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."

⁹ The one saying of his father and of his mother, 'I have not regarded them,' and his brothers he did not acknowledge, and his children* he did not know, but rather they observed your word, and your covenant they kept.

²⁰ And immediately they left their nets and* followed him. ²¹ And going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. ²² And immediately they left the boat and their father and* followed him.

¹⁰ And when* the first came, they thought that they would receive more, and they also received a denarius apiece. ¹¹ And when they* received it,* they began to complain* against the master of the house, ¹² saying, 'These last people worked one hour and you made them equal to us who have endured the burden of the day and the burning heat!'

¹⁷ And Jesus said to them, "_⌊Follow_⌋* me and I will make you become fishers of people." ¹⁸ And immediately they left their nets and* followed him. ¹⁹ And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and his brother John, and they were in the boat mending the nets. ²⁰ And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and* went away after him.

²⁸ Peter began to say to him, "Behold, we have left everything and followed you."

¹¹ And after they* brought their* boats to the land, they left everything and* followed him.

²⁷ And after these things, he went out and saw a tax collector _⌊named_⌋* Levi sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, "Follow me!" ²⁸ And leaving everything behind, he got up and* began to follow* him.

²⁸ And Peter said, "Behold, we have left _⌊all that is ours_⌋* and* followed you."

²⁹ so that all flesh may not boast before God.

⁷ For who concedes you superiority? And what do you have that you did not receive? But if indeed you received it, why do you boast as if you* did not receive it?

⁸ _⌊More than that_⌋*, I even consider all things to be loss because of the surpassing greatness of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for the sake of whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and consider them* dung, in order that I may gain Christ

²⁷ And they came to Elim, and twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees were there, and they encamped there at the water.

⁴ And Moses wrote all the words of Yahweh, and he rose early in the morning, and he built an altar at the base of the mountain and set up twelve memorial stones for the twelve tribes of Israel.

²¹ The stones will be according to the names of the _⌊Israelites_⌋,* twelve according to their names, with seal engravings, each according to its name they will be for the twelve tribes.

⁵ "And you shall take finely milled flour, and you shall bake with it twelve ring-shaped bread cakes: each one shall be two-tenths of an ephah.

¹² So then, take twelve men from the tribes of Israel, _⌊one from each tribe_⌋.*

³¹ Elijah took twelve stones according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of God came, saying, "Israel shall be your name."

¹⁷ And they offered during the dedication of this house of God one hundred young bulls, two hundred young rams, four hundred lambs, and twelve male goats as a sin offering for Israel according to the number of the tribes of Israel.

¹⁷ For look! I am about to create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered, and they shall not _⌊come to mind_⌋.*

²² "For just as the new heavens and earth that I am about to make shall stand before me," _⌊declares_⌋* Yahweh, "so shall your descendants* and your name stand.

²⁷ For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and at that time he will reward each one according to _⌊what he has done_⌋.*

²¹ And he said to her, "What do you want?" She said to him, "Say that these two sons of mine may sit one at your right hand and one at your left in your kingdom."

³¹ Now when the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.

²⁸ "And you are the ones who have remained* with me in my trials, ²⁹ and I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred on me, ³⁰ that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

²¹ whom heaven must receive until the times of the restoration of all things, about which God spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from earliest times.

² Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if by you the world is judged, are you unworthy of the most insignificant courts? ³ Do you not know that we will judge angels, not to mention ordinary matters?

⁷ and to you who are being afflicted, rest with us at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his powerful angels, ⁸ with burning flame* giving punishment to those who do not know God and who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus, ⁹ who will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his strength, ¹⁰ whenever he should come to be glorified on that day by his saints and to be marveled at by all who believe, because our testimony was believed among you,

¹² if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;

¹³ But according to his promise, we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness resides.

²⁶ And the one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, I will give him authority over the nations, ²⁷ and "he will shepherd them with an iron rod; he will break them in pieces like jars made of clay,"*

²¹ The one who conquers, I will grant to him to sit down with me on my throne, as I also have conquered and have sat down with my Father on his throne.

⁴ And around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders dressed in white clothing, and on their heads were gold crowns.

⁴ And I heard the number of the ones who were sealed, one hundred forty-four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:

¹ And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun and with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars,

⁴ And I saw thrones, and they sat down on them, and authority to judge was granted to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and did not receive the mark on their* forehead and on their hand, and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

¹¹ And I saw a great white throne and the one who was seated on it, _⌊from whose presence_⌋* earth and heaven fled, and a place was not found for them. ¹² And I saw the dead—the great and the small—standing before the throne, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to their deeds. ¹³ And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and each one was judged according to their deeds. ¹⁴ And Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire. ¹⁵ And if anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

⁵ And the one seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new!" And he said, "Write, because these words are faithful and true."

¹² It has* a great and high wall that has twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written on the gates which are* of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel— ¹³ on the east, three gates, and on the north, three gates, and on the south, three gates, and on the west, three gates. ¹⁴ And the wall of the city has twelve foundations, and on them are twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

² in the middle of its street, and _⌊on both sides of the river_⌋* is the tree of life, producing twelve fruits—yielding its fruit according to every month—and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

¹¹ Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you, lying on account of me.

³³ But seek first his kingdom and righteousness,* and all these things will be added to you.

²¹ And another of the disciples* said to him, "Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father." ²² But Jesus said to him, "Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead!"

²² and you will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end—this one will be saved.

³⁷ The one who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and the one who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. ³⁸ And whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

⁸ But other seed fell on the good soil and produced grain,* this one a hundred times as much and this one sixty and this one thirty.

²³ But what was sown on the good soil—this is the one who hears the word and understands it,* who indeed bears fruit and produces, this one a hundred times as much, and this one sixty, and this one thirty."

²⁵ For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life on account of me will find it.

¹⁶ And behold, someone came up to him and* said, "Teacher, what good thing must I do so that I will have eternal life?"

³⁴ Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world!

²² Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil on account of the Son of Man.

²⁶ "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, and furthermore, even his own life, _⌊he cannot be_⌋* my disciple.

¹⁹ If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, for this reason the world hates you.

¹⁶ For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name."

⁹ But just as it is written,
"Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and have not entered into the heart of man, all that* God has prepared for those who love him."*

¹⁶ So then, from now on we know no one _⌊from a human point of view_⌋*, if indeed we have known Christ _⌊from a human point of view_⌋*, but now we know him this way no longer.

¹⁴ If you are reviled on account of the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

⁷ For they have gone out on behalf of the name, accepting nothing from the pagans.*

¹¹ But I say to you that many will come from east and west and _⌊be seated at the banquet_⌋* with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. ¹² But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!"

¹⁶ Thus the last will be first and the first last."

³¹ Which of the two did the will of his* father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going ahead of you into the kingdom of God! ³² For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did believe him. And when* you saw it,* you did not even change your minds later so as to believe in him.

³¹ But many who are first will be last, and the last first."

²⁹ (And all the people, when they* heard this*—even the tax collectors—affirmed the righteousness of God, because they* had been baptized with the baptism of John, ³⁰ but the Pharisees and the legal experts rejected the purpose of God for themselves, because they* had not been baptized by him.)

³⁰ And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last."

¹³ But the tax collector, standing far away, did not want even to raise his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' ¹⁴ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than that one! For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

²⁰ Now the law came in as a side issue, in order that the trespass could increase, but where sin increased, grace was present in greater abundance, ²¹ so that just as sin reigned in death, so also grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

³⁰ What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness—even the righteousness that is by faith. ³¹ But Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, did not attain to the law. ³² Why that? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if by works. They stumbled over the _⌊stone that causes people to stumble_⌋*, ³³ just as it is written,
"Behold, I am laying in Zion _⌊a stone that causes people to stumble_⌋*, and _⌊a rock that causes them to fall_⌋*, and the one who believes in him will not be put to shame."*

⁷ You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?

¹ Therefore let us fear, while there* remains a promise of entering into his rest, that none of you appear to fall short of it.