The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.

When his time of service was completed, he returned home.

He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.

The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free,

But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.”

Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?”

Love for Enemies

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that.

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

A Tree and Its Fruit

“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.

A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.

The Parable of the Sower

After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him,

Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.” When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.

What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?

As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)

Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.”

Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”