Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees; so any tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

“I baptize you with water for repentance, but the one who comes after me is greater than I—I am not worthy even to remove his · sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

His · winnowing fork is in · his hand, and he will clean out · his threshing floor and gather · his wheat into the barn; but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.”

But I say to you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raka,’ will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.

leave your gift there · before the altar and first go and be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer · your gift.

But seek first the kingdom of God and · his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

You hypocrite! First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will be able to see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother’s eye. ·

Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

Another · of his disciples said to him, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury · my father.”

These are the names of the · twelve apostles: first, Simon, who is called Peter, then Andrew · his brother; · James the son of Zebedee, and John · his brother;

Or how can someone enter the strong man’s house · and carry off · his belongings, unless he first ties up the strong man? And then he will ransack his · house.

Then it goes and brings along with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and settle down there; and the last state of that person turns out to be worse than the first. So will it be for this evil generation as well.” ·

Let both grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time · I will tell the harvesters, “First gather the weeds and bind them into bundles to · be burned, then gather the wheat into · my barn.”’”

Therefore just as the weeds are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age.

And the disciples asked him, saying, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

and said, “Lord, take pity on my · son, because he is an epileptic and suffers terribly; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water.

“Yes,” he answered. And when he went into the house, Jesus spoke to Peter first, · saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do · earthly kings · collect tolls or taxes—from · their sons or from · outsiders?”

But lest · we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. · When you have opened · its mouth, you will find a four drachma coin; take it and give it to them for me and you.”

“If · · your hand or · your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to enter · life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into · eternal fire. ·

And if · your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away; it is better for you to enter life with one eye · than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.

But many will be first who were last, and last who were first.

And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last and going back to the first.’

· When those who were hired first came, they thought they would receive more; but they also each received · a denarius.

So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

and whoever would be first among you must be your servant;