The Dead Church

3 “And to the ^[a]angel of the church in Sardis write,

‘These things says He who ^(A)has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. ² Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before ^[b]God. ^3 (B)Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and ^(C)repent. ^(D)Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you ^(E)as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. ^4 [c]You have ^(F)a few names ^[d]even in Sardis who have not ^(G)defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me ^(H)in white, for they are worthy. ⁵ He who overcomes ^(I)shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not ^(J)blot out his name from the ^(K)Book of Life; but ^(L)I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

^6 (M)“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

²⁹ “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

The Parable of the Hidden Treasure

⁴⁴ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and ^(A)sells all that he has and ^(B)buys that field.

The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price

⁴⁵ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, ⁴⁶ who, when he had found ^(C)one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

The Parable of the Dragnet

⁴⁷ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and ^(D)gathered some of every kind, ⁴⁸ which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. ⁴⁹ So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, ^(E)separate the wicked from among the just, ⁵⁰ and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

^51 [a]Jesus said to them, “Have you understood all these things?”

They said to Him, “Yes, ^[b]Lord.”

⁵² Then He said to them, “Therefore every ^[c]scribe instructed ^[d]concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure ^(F)things new and old.”

Jesus Rejected at Nazareth^(G)

⁵³ Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, that He departed from there. ^54 (H)When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? ^55 (I)Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And ^(J)His brothers ^(K)James, ^[e]Joses, Simon, and Judas? ⁵⁶ And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?” ⁵⁷ So they ^(L)were offended at Him.

But Jesus said to them, ^(M)“A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.” ⁵⁸ Now ^(N)He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.