²² And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us,^(A) knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life^(B) and eat, and live forever.” ²³ So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden^(C) to work the ground^(D) from which he had been taken. ²⁴ After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side^[a] of the Garden of Eden^(E) cherubim^(F) and a flaming sword^(G) flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.^(H)

¹² From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence,^[a] and violent people have been raiding it.

The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl

⁴⁴ “The kingdom of heaven is like^(A) treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.^(B)

⁴⁵ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like^(C) a merchant looking for fine pearls. ⁴⁶ When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.