And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?

So they kept it to themselves, but they often asked each other what he meant by “rising from the dead.”

But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they chose to abuse him, just as the Scriptures predicted.”

And whenever this spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn’t do it.”

So they brought the boy. But when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth.

The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”

But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up.

for he wanted to spend more time with his disciples and teach them. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies. He will be killed, but three days later he will rise from the dead.”

But they didn’t answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest.

“Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me.”

Using the Name of Jesus

John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he wasn’t in our group.”

“But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone hung around your neck.

Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? You must have the qualities of salt among yourselves and live in peace with each other.”

But Jesus responded, “He wrote this commandment only as a concession to your hard hearts.

But ‘God made them male and female’ from the beginning of creation.

and the two are united into one.’ Since they are no longer two but one,

Jesus Blesses the Children

One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.

But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’”

This amazed them. But Jesus said again, “Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God.

Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”

But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.”

They will mock him, spit on him, flog him with a whip, and kill him, but after three days he will rise again.”

But Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink? Are you able to be baptized with the baptism of suffering I must be baptized with?”

But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. God has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen.”

But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant,

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

“Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

He noticed a fig tree in full leaf a little way off, so he went over to see if he could find any figs. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit.

He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.”

When the leading priests and teachers of religious law heard what Jesus had done, they began planning how to kill him. But they were afraid of him because the people were so amazed at his teaching.

I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart.

But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”

But do we dare say it was merely human?” For they were afraid of what the people would do, because everyone believed that John was a prophet.

But the farmers grabbed the servant, beat him up, and sent him back empty-handed.

The owner then sent another servant, but they insulted him and beat him over the head.

“But the tenant farmers said to one another, ‘Here comes the heir to this estate. Let’s kill him and get the estate for ourselves!’

The religious leaders wanted to arrest Jesus because they realized he was telling the story against them—they were the wicked farmers. But they were afraid of the crowd, so they left him and went away.

So the second brother married the widow, but he also died without children. Then the third brother married her.

“But now, as to whether the dead will be raised—haven’t you ever read about this in the writings of Moses, in the story of the burning bush? Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, God said to Moses, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’

For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”

Jesus replied, “Yes, look at these great buildings. But they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!”

And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately.

Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in many parts of the world, as well as famines. But this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.

“When these things begin to happen, watch out! You will be handed over to the local councils and beaten in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me.

But when you are arrested and stand trial, don’t worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

And everyone will hate you because you are my followers. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

In fact, unless the Lord shortens that time of calamity, not a single person will survive. But for the sake of his chosen ones he has shortened those days.

Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.

“But not during the Passover celebration,” they agreed, “or the people may riot.”

But Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. Why criticize her for doing such a good thing to me?

You will always have the poor among you, and you can help them whenever you want to. But you will not always have me.

For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!”

But after I am raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there.”

Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

When he returned to them the third time, he said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But no—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

But one of the men with Jesus pulled out his sword and struck the high priest’s slave, slashing off his ear.

Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there among you teaching every day. But these things are happening to fulfill what the Scriptures say about me.”

Inside, the leading priests and the entire high council were trying to find evidence against Jesus, so they could put him to death. But they couldn’t find any.

Many false witnesses spoke against him, but they contradicted each other.

But even then they didn’t get their stories straight!

But Jesus was silent and made no reply. Then the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”

But Peter denied it. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said, and he went out into the entryway. Just then, a rooster crowed.

But Peter denied it again. A little later some of the other bystanders confronted Peter and said, “You must be one of them, because you are a Galilean.”

But Jesus said nothing, much to Pilate’s surprise.

But at this point the leading priests stirred up the crowd to demand the release of Barabbas instead of Jesus.

“Why?” Pilate demanded. “What crime has he committed?” But the mob roared even louder, “Crucify him!”

They offered him wine drugged with myrrh, but he refused it.

The leading priests and teachers of religious law also mocked Jesus. “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but he can’t save himself!

But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled aside.

but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body.

But when she told them that Jesus was alive and she had seen him, they didn’t believe her.

They rushed back to tell the others, but no one believed them.

Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned.

But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John.

But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.”

Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”

What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month.

But Elizabeth said, “No! His name is John!”

but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.

but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.

Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him.

Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer.

After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn’t miss him at first,

because they assumed he was among the other travelers. But when he didn’t show up that evening, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends.

“But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

But they didn’t understand what he meant.

John answered their questions by saying, “I baptize you with water; but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.”

But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone.’”

But I tell you the truth, no prophet is accepted in his own hometown.

And many in Israel had leprosy in the time of the prophet Elisha, but the only one healed was Naaman, a Syrian.”

but he passed right through the crowd and went on his way.

But Jesus reprimanded him. “Be quiet! Come out of the man,” he ordered. At that, the demon threw the man to the floor as the crowd watched; then it came out of him without hurting him further.

Many were possessed by demons; and the demons came out at his command, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But because they knew he was the Messiah, he rebuked them and refused to let them speak.

But he replied, “I must preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God in other towns, too, because that is why I was sent.”

“Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.”

But despite Jesus’ instructions, the report of his power spread even faster, and vast crowds came to hear him preach and to be healed of their diseases.

But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.

but they couldn’t reach him because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus.

But the Pharisees and teachers of religious law said to themselves, “Who does he think he is? That’s blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”

But the Pharisees and their teachers of religious law complained bitterly to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with such scum?”

I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”

But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.”

But no one who drinks the old wine seems to want the new wine. ‘The old is just fine,’ they say.”

But some Pharisees said, “Why are you breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath?”

But Jesus knew their thoughts. He said to the man with the deformed hand, “Come and stand in front of everyone.” So the man came forward.

Love for Enemies

“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you.

Students are not greater than their teacher. But the student who is fully trained will become like the teacher.

But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground, without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.”

So Jesus went with them. But just before they arrived at the house, the officer sent some friends to say, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself by coming to my home, for I am not worthy of such an honor.

But the Pharisees and experts in religious law rejected God’s plan for them, for they had refused John’s baptism.

But wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it.”

But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?”

Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair.

You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet.

You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume.

“I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.”

Other seed fell among rocks. It began to grow, but the plant soon wilted and died for lack of moisture.

He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables to teach the others so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled: ‘When they look, they won’t really see. When they hear, they won’t understand.’

The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation.

The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity.

“So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.”

The True Family of Jesus

Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they couldn’t get to him because of the crowd.

As they sailed across, Jesus settled down for a nap. But soon a fierce storm came down on the lake. The boat was filling with water, and they were in real danger.

The man who had been freed from the demons begged to go with him. But Jesus sent him home, saying,

But Jesus said, “Someone deliberately touched me, for I felt healing power go out from me.”

But when Jesus heard what had happened, he said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith, and she will be healed.”

The house was filled with people weeping and wailing, but he said, “Stop the weeping! She isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.”

But the crowd laughed at him because they all knew she had died.

Her parents were overwhelmed, but Jesus insisted that they not tell anyone what had happened.

But the crowds found out where he was going, and they followed him. He welcomed them and taught them about the Kingdom of God, and he healed those who were sick.

But Jesus said, “You feed them.” “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. “Or are you expecting us to go and buy enough food for this whole crowd?”

Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Peter replied, “You are the Messiah sent from God!”

“The Son of Man must suffer many terrible things,” he said. “He will be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead.”

If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.

And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?

But even as he was saying this, a cloud overshadowed them, and terror gripped them as the cloud covered them.

I begged your disciples to cast out the spirit, but they couldn’t do it.”

As the boy came forward, the demon knocked him to the ground and threw him into a violent convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the evil spirit and healed the boy. Then he gave him back to his father.

But they didn’t know what he meant. Its significance was hidden from them, so they couldn’t understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.

But Jesus knew their thoughts, so he brought a little child to his side.

Using the Name of Jesus

John said to Jesus, “Master, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he isn’t in our group.”

But Jesus said, “Don’t stop him! Anyone who is not against you is for you.”

But the people of the village did not welcome Jesus because he was on his way to Jerusalem.

But Jesus turned and rebuked them.

But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.”

He said to another person, “Come, follow me.” The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.”

But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.”

Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.”

But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”

These were his instructions to them: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.

But if a town refuses to welcome you, go out into its streets and say,

But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.”

I tell you, many prophets and kings longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it.”

“By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by.

A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.

But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”

But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details!

But I tell you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.

but some of them said, “No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons.”

You say I am empowered by Satan. But if Satan is divided and fighting against himself, how can his kingdom survive?

But if I am casting out demons by the power of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you.

“When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, searching for rest. But when it finds none, it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’

Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.”

The Sign of Jonah

As the crowd pressed in on Jesus, he said, “This evil generation keeps asking me to show them a miraculous sign. But the only sign I will give them is the sign of Jonah.

“The queen of Sheba will stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for she came from a distant land to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Now someone greater than Solomon is here—but you refuse to listen.

The people of Nineveh will also stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now someone greater than Jonah is here—but you refuse to repent.

“Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when it is unhealthy, your body is filled with darkness.

Then the Lord said to him, “You Pharisees are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and wickedness!

“What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.

But in fact, you stand as witnesses who agree with what your ancestors did. They killed the prophets, and you join in their crime by building the monuments!

This is what God in his wisdom said about you: ‘I will send prophets and apostles to them, but they will kill some and persecute the others.’

But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear.

But anyone who denies me here on earth will be denied before God’s angels.

Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

“But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’

“Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”

These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs.

He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready.

But what if the servant thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk?

“And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished.

But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.

You fools! You know how to interpret the weather signs of the earth and sky, but you don’t know how to interpret the present times.

Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

Then Jesus told this story: “A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed.

But the leader in charge of the synagogue was indignant that Jesus had healed her on the Sabbath day. “There are six days of the week for working,” he said to the crowd. “Come on those days to be healed, not on the Sabbath.”

But the Lord replied, “You hypocrites! Each of you works on the Sabbath day! Don’t you untie your ox or your donkey from its stall on the Sabbath and lead it out for water?

This shamed his enemies, but all the people rejoiced at the wonderful things he did.

“Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail.

When the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. You will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Lord, open the door for us!’ But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’

Then you will say, ‘But we ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’

“There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, for you will see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God, but you will be thrown out.

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me.

But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’

“But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?

“Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again?

The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.

“But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet.

for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.

but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends.

We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’”

“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.

Then he said to them, “You like to appear righteous in public, but God knows your hearts. What this world honors is detestable in the sight of God.

“Until John the Baptist, the law of Moses and the messages of the prophets were your guides. But now the Good News of the Kingdom of God is preached, and everyone is eager to get in.

But that doesn’t mean that the law has lost its force. It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the smallest point of God’s law to be overturned.

“But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish.

“But Abraham said, ‘Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.’

“The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.’

“But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Teachings about Forgiveness and Faith

One day Jesus said to his disciples, “There will always be temptations to sin, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting!

Then he said to his disciples, “The time is coming when you will long to see the day when the Son of Man returns, but you won’t see it.

People will tell you, ‘Look, there is the Son of Man,’ or ‘Here he is,’ but don’t go out and follow them.

But first the Son of Man must suffer terribly and be rejected by this generation.

The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people,

but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’”

I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”

“But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’

Jesus Blesses the Children

One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But when the disciples saw this, they scolded the parents for bothering him.

But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother.’”

But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich.

They will flog him with a whip and kill him, but on the third day he will rise again.”

But they didn’t understand any of this. The significance of his words was hidden from them, and they failed to grasp what he was talking about.

“Be quiet!” the people in front yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd.

But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled.

But his people hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We do not want him to be our king.’

“But the third servant brought back only the original amount of money and said, ‘Master, I hid your money and kept it safe.

“‘But, master,’ they said, ‘he already has ten pounds!’

“‘Yes,’ the king replied, ‘and to those who use well what they are given, even more will be given. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.

But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!”

Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem

But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep.

“How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes.

He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.”

After that, he taught daily in the Temple, but the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the other leaders of the people began planning how to kill him.

But they could think of nothing, because all the people hung on every word he said.

But if we say it was merely human, the people will stone us because they are convinced John was a prophet.”

At the time of the grape harvest, he sent one of his servants to collect his share of the crop. But the farmers attacked the servant, beat him up, and sent him back empty-handed.

So the owner sent another servant, but they also insulted him, beat him up, and sent him away empty-handed.

“But when the tenant farmers saw his son, they said to each other, ‘Here comes the heir to this estate. Let’s kill him and get the estate for ourselves!’

The teachers of religious law and the leading priests wanted to arrest Jesus immediately because they realized he was telling the story against them—they were the wicked farmers. But they were afraid of the people’s reaction.

They posed this question: “Teacher, Moses gave us a law that if a man dies, leaving a wife but no children, his brother should marry the widow and have a child who will carry on the brother’s name.

So the second brother married the widow, but he also died.

But in the age to come, those worthy of being raised from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage.

“But now, as to whether the dead will be raised—even Moses proved this when he wrote about the burning bush. Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, he referred to the Lord as ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’

For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.”

Jesus Speaks about the Future

Some of his disciples began talking about the majestic stonework of the Temple and the memorial decorations on the walls. But Jesus said,

He replied, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and saying, ‘The time has come!’ But don’t believe them.

And when you hear of wars and insurrections, don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place first, but the end won’t follow immediately.”

“But before all this occurs, there will be a time of great persecution. You will be dragged into synagogues and prisons, and you will stand trial before kings and governors because you are my followers.

But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me.

But not a hair of your head will perish!