^14 (A)But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Christ the Power and Wisdom of God^(A)

¹⁸ For the ^[a]message of the cross is ^(B)foolishness to ^(C)those who are perishing, but to us ^(D)who are being saved it is the ^(E)power of God.

⁵ For ^(A)those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, ^(B)the things of the Spirit. ⁶ For ^(C)to be ^[a]carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. ⁷ Because ^(D)the ^[b]carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, ^(E)nor indeed can be. ⁸ So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

¹¹ He answered and said to them, “Because ^(A)it has been given to you to know the ^[a]mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. ^12 (B)For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. ¹³ Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. ¹⁴ And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:

¹⁶ But ^(H)blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; ¹⁷ for assuredly, I say to you ^(I)that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

⁴ whose minds ^(A)the god of this age ^(B)has blinded, who do not believe, lest ^(C)the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, ^(D)who is the image of God, should shine on them. ^5 (E)For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ^(F)ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶ For it is the God ^(G)who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has ^(H)shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.