27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

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27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

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19 When anyone hears the word of (A)the kingdom and (B)does not understand it, (C)the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately (D)receives it with joy, 21 yet he has no root in himself, but (E)endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately (F)he falls away.[a] 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but (G)the cares of (H)the world and (I)the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 13:21 Or stumbles

19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom(A) and does not understand it, the evil one(B) comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.(C) 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth(D) choke the word, making it unfruitful.

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26 For (A)if we go on sinning deliberately (B)after receiving the knowledge of the truth, (C)there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 (D)but a fearful expectation of judgment, and (E)a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. 28 (F)Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy (G)on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one (H)who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned (I)the blood of the covenant (J)by which he was sanctified, and has (K)outraged the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, (L)“Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, (M)“The Lord will judge his people.” 31 (N)It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

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26 If we deliberately keep on sinning(A) after we have received the knowledge of the truth,(B) no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire(C) that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.(D) 29 How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God(E) underfoot,(F) who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant(G) that sanctified them,(H) and who has insulted the Spirit(I) of grace?(J) 30 For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[a](K) and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”[b](L) 31 It is a dreadful thing(M) to fall into the hands(N) of the living God.(O)

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 10:30 Deut. 32:35
  2. Hebrews 10:30 Deut. 32:36; Psalm 135:14

13 (A)each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed (B)by fire, and (C)the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.

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13 their work will be shown for what it is,(A) because the Day(B) will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work.(C)

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20 For if, (A)after they have escaped the defilements of the world (B)through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, (C)the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21 For (D)it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from (E)the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The (F)dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”

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20 If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing(A) our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ(B) and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.(C) 21 It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.(D) 22 Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,”[a](E) and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.”

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Peter 2:22 Prov. 26:11

10 Precisely because they have misled my people, (A)saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace, and because, when the people build a wall, (B)these prophets smear it with whitewash,[a] 11 say to those who smear it with whitewash that it shall fall! (C)There will be a deluge of rain, and you, O great hailstones, will fall, and a stormy wind break out. 12 And when the wall falls, will it not be said to you, ‘Where is the coating with which you smeared it?’ 13 Therefore thus says the Lord God: (D)I will make a stormy wind break out in my wrath, (E)and there shall be a deluge of rain in my anger, and great hailstones in wrath to make a full end. 14 And I will break down the wall that you have smeared with whitewash, and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation will be laid bare. When it falls, you shall perish in the midst of it, (F)and you shall know that I am the Lord. 15 Thus will I spend my wrath upon the wall and upon those who have smeared it with whitewash, and I will say to you, The wall is no more, nor those who smeared it, 16 the prophets of Israel who prophesied concerning Jerusalem (G)and saw visions of peace for her, when there was no peace, declares the Lord God.

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 13:10 Or plaster; also verses 11, 14, 15

10 “‘Because they lead my people astray,(A) saying, “Peace,”(B) when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash,(C) 11 therefore tell those who cover it with whitewash that it is going to fall. Rain will come in torrents, and I will send hailstones(D) hurtling down,(E) and violent winds will burst forth.(F) 12 When the wall collapses, will people not ask you, “Where is the whitewash you covered it with?”

13 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: In my wrath I will unleash a violent wind, and in my anger hailstones(G) and torrents of rain(H) will fall with destructive fury.(I) 14 I will tear down the wall(J) you have covered with whitewash and will level it to the ground so that its foundation(K) will be laid bare. When it[a] falls,(L) you will be destroyed in it; and you will know that I am the Lord. 15 So I will pour out my wrath against the wall and against those who covered it with whitewash. I will say to you, “The wall is gone and so are those who whitewashed it, 16 those prophets of Israel who prophesied to Jerusalem and saw visions of peace for her when there was no peace, declares the Sovereign Lord.(M)”’

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 13:14 Or the city

Return of an Unclean Spirit

43 “When (A)the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through (B)waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and (C)the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this (D)evil generation.”

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43 “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45 Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.(A) That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”

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