⁷ If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’^[a](A) you would not have condemned the innocent.

³⁹ You study^[a] the Scriptures^(A) diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life.^(B) These are the very Scriptures that testify about me,^{(C) 40} yet you refuse to come to me^(D) to have life.

⁹ (They still did not understand from Scripture^(A) that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)^(B)

²² But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin,^(A) so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.

¹⁵ To the pure, all things are pure,^(A) but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure.^(B) In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.^(C)

³ Above all, you must understand that in the last days^(A) scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.^{(B) 4} They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised?^(C) Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”^{(D) 5} But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word^(E) the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water.^(F)