But take care that your hearts are not loaded down with self-indulgence and drunkenness and worldly cares, and that day takes you by surprise, like a trap.

The kingdom

"Repent!" he said, "for the Kingdom of Heaven is coming!"

Another figure which he used in speaking to them was this: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field,

For the Kingdom of Heaven is like an employer who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.

"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a king, who gave a wedding banquet for his son.

Ten

I appreciate your always remembering me, and your standing by the things I passed on to you, just as you received them.

They are the men who have not been defiled by relations with women; they are celibates. It is they who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They have been ransomed from among men as the first-fruits for God and the Lamb,

Which

Your light must burn in that way among men so that they will see the good you do, and praise your Father in heaven.

You must be ready with your lamps burning,

so that you will be blameless and honest, faultless children of God in the midst of a crooked and perverted age, in which you appear like stars in a dark world,

Went

Now the crown of uprightness awaits me, which the Lord, the upright judge, will award me on that Day, and not only me but also all who have loved and hoped for his appearing.

while we wait for the fulfilment of our blessed hope in the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Christ Jesus.

Yet I think it right, as long as I live in my present tent, to arouse you by a reminder,

while you await and hasten the coming of the Day of God, which will cause the heavens to burn up and dissolve and the heavenly bodies to blaze and melt.

The bridegroom

Jesus said to them, "Can wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But a time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and they will fast then.

"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a king, who gave a wedding banquet for his son.

Jesus said to them, "Can wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast.

Jesus said to them, "Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?

It is the bridegroom who has the bride; but the bridegroom's friend who stands outside and listens for his voice is very glad when he hears the bridegroom speak. So this happiness of mine is now complete.

I feel a divine jealousy about you, for I betrothed you to Christ, to present you as a pure bride to her one husband.

You who are husbands must love your wives, just as Christ loves the church and gave himself for her,

Let us be glad and triumphant and give him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.

And I saw the new Jerusalem, the holy city, come down out of heaven from God, like a bride dressed and ready to meet her husband.