I will bless those who bless you. I will curse whoever curses you. All the people on earth will be blessed through you.

Balaam delivered this message: Balak brought me from Aram. The king of Moab summoned me from the eastern mountains. Come and curse Jacob for me, he said. 'Come and condemn Israel.

Jehovah sent Nathan to David. Nathan came to him and said: There were two men in a certain city. One was rich and the other was poor.

Jehovah sent Nathan to David. Nathan came to him and said: There were two men in a certain city. One was rich and the other was poor. The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle.

The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle. But the poor man had only one little female lamb that he bought. He raised her, and she grew up in his home with his children. She would eat his food and drink from his cup. She rested in his arms and was like a daughter to him.

But the poor man had only one little female lamb that he bought. He raised her, and she grew up in his home with his children. She would eat his food and drink from his cup. She rested in his arms and was like a daughter to him. Now, a visitor came to the rich man. The rich man thought it would be a pity to take one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler. So he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the traveler.

Now, a visitor came to the rich man. The rich man thought it would be a pity to take one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler. So he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the traveler.

I had two sons who fought with each other in the field. There was no one to separate them. One killed the other.

He wrote three thousand proverbs and more than a thousand songs.

When the king went by he cried out to him: Your servant went out into the fight. A man came to me. He brought a man to me and said: 'guard this man. Do not let him get away. Your life is the price of his life or you will have to give a talent of silver in payment.'

JOB CONTINUED:

JOB UTTERED THESE WORDS:

The princes of the people have assembled as the people of the God of Abraham. For the rulers (shields) (protectors) of the earth belong to God! He has ascended to the heights.

I will incline my ear (turn my attention) to a proverb. I will explain my riddle with the music of a harp.

I will open my mouth in an illustration. I will utter dark sayings of old,

You brought a vine from Egypt. You forced out the nations and planted it.

The proverbs 0f Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

A wise son makes a father glad: but a foolish son is sorrow (depression) (grief) for his mother.

As the legs of the lame are not equal so is a proverb in the mouth of fools. As he who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honor to a fool. read more. As a thorn goes into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

Listen, heaven, and pay attention, earth! Jehovah (YHWH) has spoken: I raised my children and helped them grow, but they have rebelled against me. The bull knows its owner, and donkey knows where its master feeds it. But Israel does not know. My people do not understand!

Let me sing to my loved one a song of my beloved concerning his vineyard: My loved one had a vineyard on a fertile hill. He dug the soil all around and removed its stones. He planted it with the choicest vine. And he built a tower in the middle of it and also hewed out a wine vat in it. Then he expected it to produce good grapes, but it only produced worthless ones. read more. Now then, you inhabitants of Jerusalem and Judah, judge between my vineyard and me! What more could have been done for my vineyard than what I have already done for it? When I waited for it to produce good grapes, why did it produce only sour, wild grapes? Here is what I am going to do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge and break down the wall that protects it. I will let wild animals eat it and trample it down. It will turn into a desert, neither pruned nor cultivated. It will be covered with thorns and briars. I will command the clouds not to send rain. I am Jehovah of Hosts (All Powerful)! Israel is the vineyard, and Judah is the garden I tended with care. I had hoped for honesty and for justice, but dishonesty and cries for mercy were all I found. Cursed are those who are joining house to house, and putting field to field, till there is no more living-space for any but themselves in all the land!

You will mock the king of Babylon with this saying: How the tyrant has come to an end! How his attacks have come to an end!

Does the plowman keep plowing all day in order to sow seed? Does he keep turning his soil and breaking the clods? When he has leveled its surface, does he not sow the black cummin and scatter the cummin, plant the wheat in rows, the barley in the appointed place, and the spelt in its place? read more. He instructs him in right judgment and his God teaches him. The black cummin is not threshed with a threshing sledge, nor is a cartwheel rolled over the cummin. But the black cummin is beaten out with a stick, and the cummin with a rod. Bread flour must be ground. Therefore he does not thresh it forever, break it with his cartwheel, or crush it with his horsemen.

The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the bull, but dust will be the serpent's food. They will neither harm nor destroy on my entire holy mountain, Jehovah proclaims.

Son of man, tell this riddle. Give this illustration to the nation of Israel.

Then I said: Oh no! Lord Jehovah, no! The people already say that I am only telling stories (a figure of speech or a parable).

Speak a parable to the rebellious house. Say to them: The Lord Jehovah says, Put on the cooking pot, put it on and also pour water in it.

In that day they will taunt you and speak mournfully with sorrow and much grief: 'We are utterly ruined! He exchanged the portion of my people and removed it from me. He divided our fields and gave them to the apostate.'

The vision is yet for the appointed time. It moves quickly to the end. It will not lie! If it delays, wait for it for it will surely come. It will not be late!

Jesus walked all over Galilee teaching in the synagogues. He preached the Good News about the Kingdom. He also healed every kind of disease and infirmity among the people.

Watch out for the false prophets. They are disguised as sheep. But in their hearts they are vicious wolves. By their fruits you will know them. Do men get grapes from thorns or figs from thistles? read more. Every good tree gives righteous fruit. The bad tree gives evil fruit. A good tree does not give bad fruit. A bad tree does not give good fruit. Every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them. Not everyone who calls me Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven. He who does the will of my Father in heaven will enter. Many will say to me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' I will say to them, 'I never knew you. Depart from me, you workers of evil.' Everyone who hears my words, and does them is like a wise man that builds his house on a rock. The rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house; and it did not fall. It was built on a solid rock foundation. Every one who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand. The rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and battered the house and it fell with a great crash.

Jesus replied: Foxes have holes, and the birds of heaven have nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head.

They say: 'We piped for you and you did not dance. We cried and you did not mourn.'

That day Jesus left the house and sat by the seashore.

That day Jesus left the house and sat by the seashore. Large crowds gathered to him. He entered a boat while the crowd stood on the shore.

Large crowds gathered to him. He entered a boat while the crowd stood on the shore. He told them many illustrations. He said: A farmer went out to sow.

He told them many illustrations. He said: A farmer went out to sow. Some seeds fell by the roadside, and the birds devoured them.

Some seeds fell by the roadside, and the birds devoured them. Others fell on rocky places and did not have much soil.

Others fell on rocky places and did not have much soil. When they grew, the sun scorched them, and because they had no root they withered and died.

When they grew, the sun scorched them, and because they had no root they withered and died. Others fell upon the thorns. The thorns grew up and choked them.

Others fell upon the thorns. The thorns grew up and choked them. Some fell on good ground and yielded fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.

Some fell on good ground and yielded fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty. He that has ears let him hear.

He that has ears let him hear. The disciples asked him: Why do you speak in illustrations? read more. He responded: You are allowed to know the divine secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but it is not for others to know. (The Greek word for you is plural and is applied to the disciples as a group.)

He responded: You are allowed to know the divine secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but it is not for others to know. (The Greek word for you is plural and is applied to the disciples as a group.) He who has shall receive more to the point of abundance. He who does not have, it shall be taken away including that which he has. read more. I speak to them in illustrations (stories) (parables) (allegories), because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear. They just do not understand. The prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled. 'By hearing, you shall hear, and shall in no way understand. By seeing you shall see, and shall in no way perceive. The heart of this people is callous and dull. Their ears are plugged. They cannot hear. They closed their eyes and cannot see. They cannot see nor hear nor understand with their heart. They should turn around and I would heal them.' Happy and blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear. Truly, I tell you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see the things that you see, and could not see them. They also desired to hear the things that you hear, and could not hear them. Listen to the illustration of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand, the evil one takes away that which was sown in his heart. This is what was sown by the roadside.

When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand, the evil one takes away that which was sown in his heart. This is what was sown by the roadside. Anyone sown among the rocky places hears the word and immediately with joy receives it.

Anyone sown among the rocky places hears the word and immediately with joy receives it. There is no root in him. He endures for a while. When he has tribulation or persecution because of the word, he falls away.

There is no root in him. He endures for a while. When he has tribulation or persecution because of the word, he falls away. He that was sown among thorns hears the word. The cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.

He that was sown among thorns hears the word. The cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. He that was sown upon the good ground hears the word, and understands it. He bears fruit, producing sometimes a hundredfold, sometimes sixty, and sometimes thirty.

He that was sown upon the good ground hears the word, and understands it. He bears fruit, producing sometimes a hundredfold, sometimes sixty, and sometimes thirty. He told another illustration, saying: The kingdom of heaven is like a man that sowed good seed in his field.

He told another illustration, saying: The kingdom of heaven is like a man that sowed good seed in his field. While he slept, his enemy came and sowed weeds with the wheat, and went away.

While he slept, his enemy came and sowed weeds with the wheat, and went away. When the blade sprouted and brought forth fruit, it looked like wheat.

When the blade sprouted and brought forth fruit, it looked like wheat. The servants of the householder said to him: 'Sir, did you sow good seed in your field? Why does it have weeds mixed in with the good wheat?'

The servants of the householder said to him: 'Sir, did you sow good seed in your field? Why does it have weeds mixed in with the good wheat?' He replied: 'An enemy did this.' The servants offered to remove the weeds.

He replied: 'An enemy did this.' The servants offered to remove the weeds. He said: 'No, you might uproot the wheat with them. read more. Let both grow together until the harvest. In the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers: Gather weeds first, and bind them in bundles to burn them. Then gather the wheat into my barn.'

That which was spoken through the prophet was fulfilled, saying: I will open my mouth in illustrations. I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world.

The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. A man found the treasure and hid it again in the field. He is so filled with joy he sells everything he owns and buys the field. The kingdom of heaven is also like a merchant seeking valuable pearls.

The Pharisees and Sadducees tested Jesus by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. He said to them, At nightfall you say the weather will be good, for the sky is red. read more. And in the morning, the weather will be bad today for the sky is red and angry. You are able to see the face of heaven, but not the signs of the time. An evil and false generation is searching after a sign. However, no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah. Then he left them.

In that hour the disciples came to Jesus. They asked: Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven? He took a little child and put him in the middle of them. read more. He said: Truly I tell you, if you do not have a change of heart and become like little children, you will not go into the kingdom of heaven. He who humbles himself to become like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Then that servant met another servant who was in debt to him for one hundred denarii. He took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay your debt now.' That servant fell down before him, saying, 'Give me time and I will make payment to you.' read more. He would not give him time. He put him into prison till he paid the debt. When the other servants saw what happened, they were very sad. They told their lord what had been done. His lord sent for him, and said: 'Evil servant; I made you free of all that debt, because of your request to me. Should you [also] show mercy to your fellow servant the same way I showed mercy to you?' His lord was angry and sent him to jail to be punished until he paid back all of his debt. My heavenly Father will treat you like that if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.

What is your desire? he asked. She said to him: Let my two sons be seated, the one at your right hand, and the other at your left, in your kingdom.

What do you think? A man had two sons. He asked the first to work today in the vineyard.

Listen to another illustration. A master of a house made a vineyard, and put a wall around it. He made a wine press and built a tower. Then he rented it to workers and traveled to another country.

Listen to another illustration. A master of a house made a vineyard, and put a wall around it. He made a wine press and built a tower. Then he rented it to workers and traveled to another country. When the time for the fruit came near, he sent his servants to the workmen, to get the fruit. read more. The workmen attacked his servants, striking one with a stone and killing the other. He sent other servants more in number than the first. They did the same to them. Finally he sent his son to them, saying, 'Certainly they will respect my son.' When the workmen saw the son, they said, 'Let us put him to death and take his heritage, for someday he will own this property.' They took him out of the vineyard and killed him. When the lord of the vineyard returns, what will he do to the workmen? They all said: He will put those cruel men to death. Then he will find other workmen who are worthy and who will give him fruit when it is ready. Jesus said to them: Have you read the Scriptures, 'The stone the builders rejected has been made the chief cornerstone of the building. This was Jehovah's doing, and it is wonderful in our eyes.' (Isaiah 28:16) For this reason I tell you, The kingdom of God will be taken away from you. It will be given to a nation producing fruit. Any man falling on this stone will be broken. Any man having this stone fall on him will be crushed to dust. When the chief priests and Pharisees heard his illustrations they realized he was talking about them. They wanted to seize him, but feared the people, because the people saw Jesus as a prophet.

Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.

It is like a man going to another country. He called his servants and put them in charge of his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one. He assigned according to the servants' ability. Then he went on his journey. read more. Right away the servant who received the five talents traded with them and made another five talents. In like manner, he who received the two gained another two. He who received the one dug a hole in the ground and hid his lord's money. After a long time the lord of those servants came back to settle with them. The servant who received five talents brought another five talents. He said: 'Lord, here are your five talents, plus the five I gained.' His lord said: 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, so I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' The one who received two talents said: 'Lord you gave me two talents and I gained another two talents.' His lord said: 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You were faithful over a few things. I will appoint you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' The servant who received one talent said: 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man. You reap where you did not sow and gather where you did not scatter. I was afraid, so I hid your talent in the earth. See, you have what is yours.' But his lord answered: 'You wicked and lazy servant. You knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I did not scatter. You should have put my money in the bank. I should have received my money back plus interest. Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. More will be given to every one who has and he will have abundance. He who does not have will have every thing taken away. Throw the worthless servant into outer darkness. There will be crying and grinding of teeth.'

I was a stranger and you did not take me in. I was naked and you did not dress me. I was sick and in prison and you did not visit me.'

He added: The kingdom of God is like this. A man plants seed in the earth. He sleeps and gets up night and day until the plants grow though he has no idea how. read more. The earth gives fruit by itself. First comes the leaf, then the head, then full grain. When the grain is ready he immediately sends men to cut it, because the time for cutting has come.

It is similar to a man traveling to another country. He leaves his house and gives authority to his servants to do the work. He commands them to watch. Watch therefore for you do not know when the lord of the house comes. It could be in the evening, at midnight or in the morning (when the cock crows). read more. He could come suddenly and find you sleeping. What I say to you I say to all, be on the watch (be vigilant) (stay awake) (be circumspect) (attentive and ready)!

Everyone in the synagogue was angry when they heard these things.

A certain lender had two debtors. One owed five hundred shillings and the other fifty. They did not have money to pay the debt so he forgave them both. Which of them did he love the most? read more. Simon answered: I suppose it was the one whom he forgave the most. Jesus said: Your judgment is correct.

He said: You are meant to know the secrets of the kingdom of God. I speak to the rest in illustrations, that seeing they may not see and hearing they may not understand.

Jesus answered: A man traveled from Jerusalem to Jericho. He fell among robbers. They stripped him, beat him and left him half dead. A priest traveled on that road. When he saw him he passed by on the other side. read more. When a Levite came to the place he saw the man and passed by on the other side. Then a Samaritan arrived where he was. He was moved with compassion when he saw him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds pouring oil and wine on them. He set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn to take care of him. The next day he paid the host two shillings. He said take care of him and if you spend more I will repay you when I return. Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers? He said: The one who showed mercy to him. Jesus said to him: Go and you do like wise.

He also said: Which of you have a friend you would approach at midnight and say lend me three loaves. This is because a friend of mine is visiting and I do not have any food to feed him. read more. You hear a voice from the house say, 'The door is shut, my children are in bed, do not bother me. I cannot rise and help you.' I tell you even if he will not rise and give you what you need because he is your friend, he will arise and give you what you need because you keep asking. I say to you: Ask and it will be given you. Seek and you will find. Knock and it will be opened to you. Every one who asks receives. Everyone who seeks will find. It will be opened to everyone who knocks. What father would give his son a stone when he asked for a loaf? What father would give a serpent when his son asked for a fish? If he asked for an egg would he give a scorpion? If you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?

He spoke an illustration to them: The land of a rich man produced well. He reasoned to himself, what will I do? I have nowhere to store my fruits? read more. He said: I would pull down my barns and build larger barns. I will store all my grain and goods there. I will say to my self: 'You have many possessions saved for many years. Take it easy and eat, drink and be merry.' But God said to him: 'You fool this night you will give up your life. Then who will have all these things you accumulated?' He who lays up (earthly) treasure for himself is not rich toward God.

Gird your loins (strengthen yourselves) and light your lamps. Be like men looking for their master to return. He will knock when he returns from the marriage feast, and it will immediately be opened to him. read more. Those servants are blessed, for the master will find them alert when he comes. I tell you he will tighten his belt, have them sit down at the table, and he will serve them the meal. Even if he comes in the second watch or the third and he finds the same his servants are blessed. Know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming he would have watched. He would not have allowed his house to be broken into.

The Lord said: Who is the faithful and wise steward, whom his master shall appoint over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? That servant will be blessed when his master comes and finds him doing so. read more. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all that he has. If that servant says in his heart, my master delays his coming; and beats the other servants and eats and drinks to excess, the master of that servant will come when he does not expect. He will come in an hour that he does not know. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

It does not! I tell you; if you do not turn from your sins, you will die as they did. What about the eighteen people in Siloam killed when the castle tower fell on them? Do you think this proves that they were worse than all the other people living in Jerusalem? read more. It does not! I tell you if you do not turn from your sins, you will die as they did. Jesus told them an illustration: There was a man who had a fig tree growing in his vineyard. He looked for figs on it but found none. So he told his gardener, I have been coming here looking for figs on this tree for three years. I have not found any. So cut it down! Why should it continue using the soil? But the gardener said: Just give it one more year, sir. I will dig around it, fertilize it and leave it alone.

When you are invited to a marriage feast do not take the place of honor. Someone more distinguished than you may be invited.

Jesus said to his host: When you give a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your rich neighbors. They will invite you back, and in this way you will be paid for what you did. When you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.

One of the guests at the table then said to Jesus: Those who sit down at the feast in the Kingdom of God will be happy! Jesus said: There was a man who gave a great feast to which he invited many people. read more. He sent his servant to tell the guests that everything is ready. They all made excuses one after another. The first one told the servant: 'I bought a field and must go and look at it. Please accept my apologies.' Another said: 'I purchased five pairs of oxen and am on my way to try them out. Please accept my apologies.' Another explained: 'I am newly married and I cannot come.' The servant returned and conveyed this to his master. The master was furious. He commanded his servant to hurry into the streets and alleys of the town, and bring back the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame. The servant soon told his master, 'Your order has been carried out but there is still more room.' The master told the servant, 'Go to the country roads and lanes and make people come so my house will be full.' None of those who were invited will taste my dinner! He said.

Then Jesus told them an illustration: If you have a hundred sheep and lose one of them, what do you do? You leave the other ninety-nine sheep in the pasture and go looking for the one you lost until you find it. read more. When you find it you are happy. You carry it on your shoulders. You bring it back home. You invite your friends and neighbors together to celebrate. You say, 'I am so happy I found my lost sheep.' It is the same. I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine good people who do not need to repent. Suppose a woman with ten silver coins loses one of them. What does she do? She lights a lamp and sweeps her house. She looks carefully everywhere until she finds it. When she finds it she calls her friends and says let us celebrate. I am happy I found the lost coin. I tell you, it is the same for the angels of God who rejoice over one sinner who repents. Jesus said: A man had two sons. The younger one said to him, Father I want my share of the property. He divided his property between his two sons. In a short time the younger son sold his share of the property. He left home with the money and traveled to a far away country where he wasted his money in reckless living. He spent everything! When a famine spread over that country he was left with nothing. He went to work for a citizen of that country who sent him to his farm to take care of the pigs. He wanted to eat the Carob bean pods the pigs ate, but no one gave him anything to eat. Finally it dawned on him, my father's hired workers have more than they can eat and I am about to starve! I will go to my father and say: 'Father I have sinned against God and against you. I am not fit to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired workers.' He went to his father. He was a long way from home when his father saw him. His heart filled with pity. He ran and threw his arms around his son and kissed him. Father, the son said: 'I have sinned against God and against you. I am not fit to be called your son.' The father called his servants. He said: 'Hurry and bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet. Get the prize calf and kill it. Let us celebrate with a feast! My son was dead. Now he is alive. He was lost. Now he has been found. The feasting began.' The older son was out in the field. When he came close to the house he heard music and dancing. He asked one of the servants what was happening? Your brother returned home, the servant answered. Your father killed the prize calf because he has returned safely. The older brother was so angry he would not enter the house. His father came out and begged him to come in. He spoke to his father in anger. All these years I have worked like a slave for you. I have never disobeyed you. What have you given me? Not even a goat for me to have a feast with my friends! This son of yours wasted all your property on prostitutes. When he comes home you kill the prize calf for him! The father answered, My son, you are always here. And everything I have is yours! We had to celebrate and be happy. Your brother was dead. Now he is alive! He was lost and now he has been found!'

A rich man dressed in the most expensive clothes and lived in great luxury every day. A poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, used to be brought to the rich man's door. read more. He hoped he could eat the bits of food that fell from the rich man's table. Then the dogs would come and lick his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man died and was buried. He was in great torment in the grave (hades). He looked up and saw Abraham, far away, with Lazarus at his side. He called out: Father Abraham! Take pity on me! Please send Lazarus to dip his finger in some water and cool off my tongue. I am in torment in this fire! Abraham said: Remember, my son, in your lifetime you were given good things, while Lazarus got all the bad things. Now he is enjoying himself while you are in torment. There is a deep pit lying between us, so that those who want to cross over from here to you cannot do so. And no one can cross over to us from where you are. The rich man said: I beg you, father Abraham, send Lazarus to my father's house. Have him go warn my five brothers that they will not come to this place of torment. Abraham said: Your brothers have Moses and the prophets to warn them. They should listen to them. The rich man responded: It is not enough father Abraham! If someone from the dead went to them they would repent. Abraham said: If they would not listen to Moses and the prophets, they would not listen to someone from the dead.

Neither shall they say it is here or over there! The kingdom of God is here with you (in your midst) (among you).

He spoke an illustration to them emphasizing the need to pray and not become tired: There was a judge in a city that did not fear God and had no respect for man. read more. There was a widow in that same city. She went to him asking for legal protection from her adversary. At first he refused. Then he thought about it and he said to himself, I do not fear God and have little respect for man. However this widow bothers me. For this reason I will avenge her. If she keeps coming to me she will wear me out. The Lord continued: Pay attention to what the unrighteous judge said. Should God avenge his chosen that cry to him day and night, and yet he is longsuffering over them? I say to you, that he will avenge them quickly. Nevertheless, will the Son of man find faith on the earth when he comes? He then spoke this illustration to some who trusted in themselves. They were very self-righteous. They looked down on others: Two men went to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector.

Two men went to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed like this: God, I thank you, that I am not like the rest of men, extortionists, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. read more. I fast twice per week. I give tithes of all that I get. But the tax collector stood far away and would not lift up so much as his eyes to heaven. He beat his breast, saying: God, be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you the tax collector and not the Pharisee was right with God when he went home. He who exalts himself will be humbled! He who humbles himself will be exalted!

Jesus said: Invite the little children to come to me, and do not forbid them for the kingdom of God belongs to them.

He said: A nobleman traveled to a country far away to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. He called ten of his servants and gave them ten pounds, and said do business with this until I return. read more. His citizens hated him. They sent a spokesman to him saying we do not want this man to rule us. He received the kingdom and went back to check on his servants. He wanted to know what they had gained by trading with the money he gave them. The first reported: Your pound has made ten pounds more. He said: Well done, you good servant. You were faithful in very little. Now you shall have authority over ten cities. The second said: Your pound, Lord, has made five pounds. He replied: You should be over five cities. Another reported: Lord, here is your pound. I kept it stored in a napkin. I feared you because you are an austere man. You take up what you do not lay down and you reap that which you did not sow. He said to him: Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I am an austere man, taking up that which I did not lay down, and reaping that which I did not sow. Why did you not put my money in the bank? That way I could collect interest when I returned. The nobleman said: Take away the pound he was given and give it to him that has the ten pounds. They said: Lord he has ten pounds! I say to you, that every one who has more shall be given. The man who does not have what little he has shall be taken away from him. Bring my enemies that do not want me to rule over them and kill them in front of me.

[Jesus said: Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do.](This verse not found in older manuscripts.) They cast lots and divided his garments among themselves.

saying: If you are the King of the Jews save yourself.

Truly I tell you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs up some other way is a thief and a robber. He who enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. read more. The doorkeeper opens to him and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his sheep by name and leads them.

The doorkeeper opens to him and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his sheep by name and leads them. When all of his own are out he leads them. The sheep follow him for they know his voice. read more. They will not follow a stranger but will flee from him. They do not know the voice of a stranger. They did not understand this illustration Jesus spoke to them. Jesus explained: I am the door of the sheep. Thieves and robbers came in place of me but the sheep did not listen to them.

I am the true vine, and my Father is the cultivator. He takes away the branches in me that do not bear fruit. He cleans every branch that bears fruit. That way it may bear more fruit. read more. You are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Remain with me, and I with you. The branch cannot bear fruit by itself. It must remain on the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain with me. I am the vine and you are the branches. He that remains with me, and I with him, the same bears much fruit. You can do nothing apart from me. If a man does not remain with me, he is removed as a branch, and withers. They gather them and throw them into the fire where they are burned (destroyed) (consumed). If you remain with me, and my words remain with you, ask whatever you will, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified when you bear much fruit. You will be my disciples.

I have spoken to you in figurative language (illustrations and proverbs). The hour comes when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language. I will tell you plainly from the Father.

I have spoken to you in figurative language (illustrations and proverbs). The hour comes when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language. I will tell you plainly from the Father.

Jesus answered: My kingdom is not of this world! If my kingdom were of this world my servants would fight that I should not be delivered to the Jews. My kingdom is not from this domain.

But God demonstrates (commends) his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

This is a symbol that points to the present time. It means that the offerings and animal sacrifices presented to God cannot make the worshiper's heart perfect,

Abraham reasoned that God is able to raise him from the dead. So he figured he would receive him back.