“The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”

“A kingdom divided by civil war will collapse.

He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders,

Parable of the Growing Seed

Jesus also said, “The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground.

Parable of the Mustard Seed

Jesus said, “How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What story should I use to illustrate it?

He even vowed, “I will give you whatever you ask, up to half my kingdom!”

Jesus went on to say, “I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Kingdom of God arrive in great power!”

The Greatest in the Kingdom

After they arrived at Capernaum and settled in a house, Jesus asked his disciples, “What were you discussing out on the road?”

And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out. It’s better to enter the Kingdom of God with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,

When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children.

I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!”

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

In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”

Blessings on the coming Kingdom of our ancestor David! Praise God in highest heaven!”

Realizing how much the man understood, Jesus said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.

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.

I tell you the truth, I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new in the Kingdom of God.”

Joseph of Arimathea took a risk and went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. (Joseph was an honored member of the high council, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come.)