Matthew 9:13
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13 Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous but sinners.”(A)
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Mark 2:17
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17 When Jesus heard this, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician but those who are sick; I have not come to call the righteous but sinners.”(A)
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Luke 19:10
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10 For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.”
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Hosea 6:6
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6 For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,
the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.(A)
Luke 5:32
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32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”(A)
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Matthew 12:7
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7 But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.(A)
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1 Timothy 1:13-16
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13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief,(A) 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me[a] with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.(B) 15 The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the foremost.(C) 16 But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience as an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life.
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- 1.14 Gk lacks for me
Proverbs 21:3
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3 To do righteousness and justice
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.(A)
2 Peter 3:9
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9 The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you,[a] not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.(A)
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- 3.9 Other ancient authorities read on your account
Micah 6:6-8
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What God Requires
6 “With what shall I come before the Lord
and bow myself before God on high?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”(A)
8 He has told you, O mortal, what is good,
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice and to love kindness
and to walk humbly with your God?(B)
Matthew 21:28-32
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The Parable of the Two Sons
28 “What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’(A) 29 He answered, ‘I will not,’ but later he changed his mind and went. 30 The father[a] went to the second and said the same, and he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you.(B) 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him, and even after you saw it you did not change your minds and believe him.(C)
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- 21.30 Gk He
Acts 3:19
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19 Repent, therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out,
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1 Corinthians 6:9-11
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9 Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! The sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes,[a] men who engage in illicit sex,[b](A) 10 thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, swindlers—none of these will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And this is what some of you used to be. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ[c] and in the Spirit of our God.(B)
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Acts 11:18
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18 When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, “Then God has given even to the gentiles the repentance that leads to life.”(A)
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Matthew 3:2
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2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”[a](A)
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- 3.2 Or is at hand
Matthew 18:10-13
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The Parable of the Lost Sheep
10 “Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven.[a](A) 12 What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray.
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- 18.10 Other ancient authorities add 18.11, For the Son of Man came to save the lost
Isaiah 55:6-7
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6 Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call upon him while he is near;(A)
7 let the wicked forsake their way
and the unrighteous their thoughts;
let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.(B)
Romans 2:4-6
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4 Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?(A) 5 But by your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.(B) 6 He will repay according to each one’s deeds:(C)
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Romans 3:10-24
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10 as it is written:
“There is no one who is righteous, not even one;(A)
11 there is no one who has understanding;
there is no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
there is no one who shows kindness;
there is not even one.”
13 “Their throats are opened graves;
they use their tongues to deceive.”
“The venom of vipers is under their lips.”(B)
14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;(C)
16 ruin and misery are in their paths,
17 and the way of peace they have not known.”
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
19 Now we know that, whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world may be held accountable to God.(D) 20 For no human will be justified before him by deeds prescribed by the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.(E)
Righteousness through Faith
21 But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed and is attested by the Law and the Prophets,(F) 22 the righteousness of God through the faith of Jesus Christ[a] for all who believe.[b] For there is no distinction,(G) 23 since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;(H) 24 they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,(I)
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Acts 5:31
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31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.(A)
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Luke 24:47
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47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.(A)
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Matthew 4:17
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17 From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”[a](A)
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- 4.17 Or is at hand
Acts 26:18-20
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18 to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’(A)
Paul Tells of His Preaching
19 “After that, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision 20 but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout the countryside of Judea, and also to the gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God and do deeds consistent with repentance.(B)
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Acts 2:38
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38 Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.(A)
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2 Timothy 2:25-26
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25 correcting opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant that they will repent and come to know the truth(A) 26 and that they may escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.[a]
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- 2.26 Or by him, to do his (that is, God’s) will
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