Then Judah became God’s special people, and Israel became his kingdom.

But God’s holy people will receive the kingdom, and they will have the kingdom forever and ever.’

The little horn kept killing God’s holy people until the Ancient King came and judged him. The Ancient King announced his decision about the little horn. This judgment helped God’s holy people, and they received the kingdom.

Then God’s holy people will rule over the kingdom and all the people from all the kingdoms of earth. This kingdom will last forever, and people from all the other kingdoms will respect and serve them.’

John said, “Change your hearts and lives, because God’s kingdom is now very near.”

From that time Jesus began to tell people his message: “Change your hearts and lives, because God’s kingdom is now very near.”

Jesus Teaches and Heals the People

Jesus went everywhere in the country of Galilee. He taught in the synagogues and told the Good News about God’s kingdom. And he healed all the people’s diseases and sicknesses.

“Great blessings belong to those who know they are spiritually in need. God’s kingdom belongs to them.

Great blessings belong to those who suffer persecution for doing what is right. God’s kingdom belongs to them.

“A person should obey every command in the law, even one that does not seem important. Whoever refuses to obey any command and teaches others not to obey it will be the least important in God’s kingdom. But whoever obeys the law and teaches others to obey it will be great in God’s kingdom.

I tell you that you must do better than the teachers of the law and the Pharisees. If you are not more pleasing to God than they are, you will never enter God’s kingdom.

Put God’s Kingdom First

“So I tell you, don’t worry about the things you need to live—what you will eat, drink, or wear. Life is more important than food, and the body is more important than what you put on it.

What you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what he wants you to do. Then he will give you all these other things you need.

“Not everyone who calls me Lord will enter God’s kingdom. The only people who will enter are those who do what my Father in heaven wants.

Many people will come from the east and from the west. These people will sit and eat with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in God’s kingdom.

Jesus Feels Sorry for the People

Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages. He taught in their synagogues and told people the Good News about God’s kingdom. He healed all kinds of diseases and sicknesses.

When you go, tell them this: ‘God’s kingdom is now very near.’

“The truth is that John the Baptizer is greater than anyone who has ever come into this world. But even the least important person in God’s kingdom is greater than John.

Since the time John the Baptizer came until now, God’s kingdom has been going forward strongly. And people have been trying to take control of it by force.

But I use the power of God’s Spirit to force out demons, and this shows that God’s kingdom has come to you.

Jesus answered, “Only you can know the secret truths about God’s kingdom. Those other people cannot know these secret truths.

“What about the seed that fell by the path? That is like the people who hear the teaching about God’s kingdom but do not understand it. The Evil One comes and takes away what was planted in their hearts.

A Story About Wheat and Weeds

Then Jesus used another story to teach them. Jesus said, “God’s kingdom is like a man who planted good seed in his field.

What Is God’s Kingdom Like?

Then Jesus told the people another story: “God’s kingdom is like a mustard seed that a man plants in his field.

Then Jesus told them another story: “God’s kingdom is like yeast that a woman mixes into a big bowl of flour to make bread. The yeast makes all the dough rise.”