Then He went all over Galilee, as He continued teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and curing any disease or malady among the people.

"Look out for false prophets, who come to you under the guise of sheep, but inside they are devouring wolves. You must recognize them by their fruits. People do not pick grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles, do they? read more. So any healthy tree bears good fruit and a sickly tree bears poor fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear poor fruit, and a sickly tree cannot bear good fruit. Any tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and burned up. So you must recognize them by their fruits. Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will get into the kingdom of heaven, but only those who practice doing the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, was it not in your name that we prophesied, and in your name that we drove out demons, and in your name that we did many wonder-works?' And then I will say to them openly, 'I never knew you at all. Go away from me, you who practiced doing wrong.' "So everyone who listens to my words and practices their teaching, will be like a prudent man who built his house on a rocky foundation. And the rain fell, and the rivers rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, but it did not fall, for its pillars had been laid on a rocky foundation. And anyone who listens to my words and does not practice their teaching, will be like an imprudent man who built his house on sand. And the rain fell, and the rivers rose, and the wind blew and beat against that house, and it collapsed, and the wreck of it was complete."

And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, even wild birds have roosts, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."

"'We played the wedding march for you, but you did not dance. We sang the funeral dirge, but you did not beat your breasts.'

That same day Jesus went out of His house and was sitting on the seashore.

That same day Jesus went out of His house and was sitting on the seashore. And the crowds that gathered about Him were so great that He got into a boat and remained sitting in it, while all the crowd stood on the seashore.

And the crowds that gathered about Him were so great that He got into a boat and remained sitting in it, while all the crowd stood on the seashore. And in stories, by way of comparison, He told them many things, as He continued to speak: "A sower went out to sow,

And in stories, by way of comparison, He told them many things, as He continued to speak: "A sower went out to sow, and as he was sowing, some of the seed fell along the path, and the birds came and ate them up,

and as he was sowing, some of the seed fell along the path, and the birds came and ate them up, and some fell upon rocky ground where they did not have much soil, and at once they sprang up, because there was no depth of soil,

and some fell upon rocky ground where they did not have much soil, and at once they sprang up, because there was no depth of soil, and when the sun was up they were scorched and dried up, because they had no root.

and when the sun was up they were scorched and dried up, because they had no root. And some fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them out.

And some fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them out. And some fell in rich soil, and yielded a crop, some a hundred, some sixty, some thirty-fold.

And some fell in rich soil, and yielded a crop, some a hundred, some sixty, some thirty-fold. Let him who has ears listen."

Let him who has ears listen." Then His disciples came up to Him and asked, "Why do you speak to them in stories?" read more. He answered: "It is you and not they who are granted the privilege of knowing the secrets of the kingdom of heaven.

He answered: "It is you and not they who are granted the privilege of knowing the secrets of the kingdom of heaven. For to anyone who has, more will be given, and his supply will overflow, but from anyone who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. read more. This is why I am speaking to them in stories, because they look but do not see, they listen but do not really hear or understand. So in them the prophecy of the prophet Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: "'You will listen and listen and not understand, and you will look and look and never see at all, For this people's soul has grown dull, and with their ears they can scarcely hear, and they have shut tight their eyes, so that they will never see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn to me, so that I may cure them!' "But blessed are your eyes, for they are beginning to see, and your ears, for they are beginning to hear. For I solemnly say to you, many prophets and upright men yearned to see what you are seeing, and did not see it, and to hear what you are hearing, and did not hear it. "Now listen closely to the story of the sower. When anyone hears the message of the kingdom and does not understand it, the wicked one comes and carries off the seed that was sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.

When anyone hears the message of the kingdom and does not understand it, the wicked one comes and carries off the seed that was sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. And what was sown upon the thin rocky soil illustrates the man who hears the message and bubbling over with joy at once accepts it,

And what was sown upon the thin rocky soil illustrates the man who hears the message and bubbling over with joy at once accepts it, but it takes no real root in him, and he lasts only a little while, and just as soon as suffering and persecution come for the truth's sake, he at once yields and falls.

but it takes no real root in him, and he lasts only a little while, and just as soon as suffering and persecution come for the truth's sake, he at once yields and falls. And what was sown among the thorns illustrates the man who hears the message, and the worries of the times and the pleasures of being rich choke the truth out, and he yields no fruit.

And what was sown among the thorns illustrates the man who hears the message, and the worries of the times and the pleasures of being rich choke the truth out, and he yields no fruit. And what was sown in rich soil illustrates the man who hears the message and understands it, and yields fruit, one a hundred, one sixty, another thirty-fold."

And what was sown in rich soil illustrates the man who hears the message and understands it, and yields fruit, one a hundred, one sixty, another thirty-fold." He told them another story, as follows: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed seed in his field.

He told them another story, as follows: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed seed in his field. But while the world was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed wild wheat seed in the midst of the good seed, and went away.

But while the world was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed wild wheat seed in the midst of the good seed, and went away. And when the wheat plants grew up and yielded their ripened grain, the wild wheat plants appeared too.

And when the wheat plants grew up and yielded their ripened grain, the wild wheat plants appeared too. And the farmer's slaves came up to him and said, 'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Then where did the wild wheat plants come from?'

And the farmer's slaves came up to him and said, 'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Then where did the wild wheat plants come from?' He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' Then they said to him, 'Do you want us, then, to go and gather them?'

He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' Then they said to him, 'Do you want us, then, to go and gather them?' And he said, 'No, never, for while you are gathering the wild wheat plants you might root up the good ones with them. read more. Let them both grow together until harvest time, and at the harvest time I will order the reapers, "Gather first the wild wheat plants and tie them into bundles to be burned up, but get the wheat into my barn."'"

to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet: "I will open my mouth in stories, I will utter truths concealed since creation."

"The kingdom of heaven is like a pot of gold which was buried in a field, which a man found and buried again; and for joy over it he went and sold all he had and bought that field. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a gem-dealer who was looking for beautiful pearls.

The Pharisees and the Sadducees came up, and to test Him asked Him to show them a spectacular sign from heaven. He answered, read more. Omitted Text. "It is a wicked and immoral age that is hankering for a spectacular sign, so no sign will be given it but the sign of Jonah." Then He left them and went away.

Just at that moment the disciples came up and asked Jesus, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" And He called a little child to Him, and had him stand in the midst of them, read more. and said: "I solemnly say to you, unless you turn and become like little children, you can never get into the kingdom of heaven at all. So then, whoever becomes as lowly as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven,

"But that slave went out and found one of his fellow-slaves who owed him twenty dollars, and he caught him by the throat and began to choke him, demanding, 'Pay me what you owe me!' "And his fellow-slave fell down before him and pleaded, 'Give me time, and I will pay you.' read more. But he refused and went out and had him put in jail until he should pay the debt. "When his fellow-slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly troubled, and went and reported all that happened to their master. Then his master called to him, and said, 'I cancelled all that huge debt of yours, because you pleaded with me to do so. Ought you not to have shown mercy to your fellow-slave, as I too had done for you?' And the master was enraged and turned him over to the official torturers, until he should pay the whole debt. This is the way my heavenly Father too will deal with you, if you do not, each one, heartily forgive your brother."

And He asked her, "What do you want?" She answered Him, "Give orders that these two sons of mine may sit one at your right and one at your left in your kingdom."

"But what do you think? There was a man who had two sons, He came to the first and said, 'Son, go and work in my vineyard today.'

"Listen to another story. There was once an owner of an estate who planted a vineyard and built a fence around it, and hewed out a wine-vat in it, and built a tower, and rented it to tenant farmers, and then went abroad.

"Listen to another story. There was once an owner of an estate who planted a vineyard and built a fence around it, and hewed out a wine-vat in it, and built a tower, and rented it to tenant farmers, and then went abroad. But when the time for gathering grapes was near, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his rent. read more. But the tenants took his slaves and beat the first one, killed the second, and stoned the third. Again he sent other slaves, and more than at first, and they treated them exactly the same way. At last he sent his son to them, for he said to himself, 'They will surely respect my son.' But when the tenants saw the son, they said among themselves, 'This is his heir, come on, let us kill him, and get all that is coming to him!' So they took him and drove him out of the vineyard and murdered him. Now when the owner of the estate comes back, what will he do to these tenants?" They answered, "In vengeance he will put the scoundrels to death, and rent the vineyard to other tenants who will promptly pay him the rent." Then Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures: 'That stone which the builders threw away has become the cornerstone; this is the work of the Lord and seems wonderful to us!' "This, I tell you, is why the kingdom will be taken away from you, and given to a people who will pay a fair rent for it. Who ever falls upon that stone will be broken to pieces, but whomever it falls upon will be crushed to powder." When the high priests and the Pharisees heard His stories, they knew that He was speaking about them, but although they were trying to have Him arrested, they were afraid of the people, for they considered Him a prophet.

Now five of them were thoughtless and five were thoughtful,

"For it is just like a man who was going on a long journey from his homeland, who called to him his slaves and turned his property over to them. He gave one five thousand dollars, another two thousand, another one thousand, to each in accordance with his ability. Then he started on his long journey. read more. The man who had received the five thousand dollars at once went out and invested it, and made five thousand more. In the same way the man who had received the two thousand made two thousand more. But the man who had received the one thousand went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master's money. After a long time the master of those slaves came back and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five thousand dollars came up and brought him five thousand more, saying, 'You turned over to me five thousand dollars; here are five thousand more I made.' His master said to him 'Well done, my good and faithful slave, you have been faithful in the use of a small amount; I will put you in charge of a larger one. Come, share your master's joy!' Then the man who had received the two thousand came up and said, 'Master, you turned over to me two thousand dollars; here are two thousand more I made.' His master said to him, 'Well done, my good and faithful slave, you have been faithful in the use of a small amount; I will put you in charge of a larger one. Come, share your master's joy!' Then the man who had received the one thousand came up and said, 'Master, I knew you were a hard man, who reaped where you had not sown, who gathered where you had not threshed. So I was afraid, and went off and buried your thousand dollars in the ground. Here is your money.' His master answered him, 'You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reaped where I had not sown and gathered where I had not threshed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, so that when I came back I could have collected my principal with interest. So take the thousand dollars away from him and give it to him who has ten thousand. For the man who has will have more given to him, even till it overflows, but from the man who has nothing even what he has will be taken away. And throw the good-for-nothing slave out into the darkness on the outside, where he will weep and grind his teeth.'

when I was a stranger you did not welcome me to your homes, when I needed clothes you did not put them on me, when I was sick and in prison, you did not look after me.'

He also was saying: "The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground, then continues sleeping by night and getting up by day, while the seed sprouts and comes up without his knowing how. read more. The ground of itself produces, first the stalk, then the head; at last there is the matured grain of wheat in the head. But as soon as the crop Will permit it, he puts in the sickle, for the reaping time has come."

It will be like a man who leaves his home and goes on a journey, after he has given orders to his slaves, to each his particular task, and has given orders to the watchman to keep watch. So you must keep alert, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming -- in the evening or at midnight or at daybreak or early in the morning -- read more. so that he may not come unexpectedly and find you asleep. And so what I say to you, I say to everybody, keep alert."

Then all the people in the synagogue, on hearing these things, were filled with fury,

"Two men were in debt to a money-lender. One owed him a hundred dollars, the other ten. Since they could not pay him, he graciously canceled the debts for both of them. Now which one of them will love him more?" read more. Simon answered, "The one, I suppose, for whom he canceled most." Then He said, "You are correct in your judgment."

So He said, "You are granted the privilege of knowing the secrets of the kingdom of God, but to others they are told in stories, so that they may look and not see, may hear and not understand.

Jesus answered: "A man was on his way down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell into the hands of robbers, who both stripped him and beat him till he was half dead, and then went off and left him. Now a priest happened to be going that way, but when he saw him, he went by on the other side of the road. read more. So a Levite likewise came down to the place, but when he saw him, he went by on the other side. But a Samaritan, while on a journey, came down to him, and when he saw him, his heart was moved with pity for him. So he went to him and dressed his wounds by pouring oil and wine upon them, and then he put him on his donkey and brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out a half dollar and handed it to the innkeeper, and said, 'Take care of him, and on my way back I will repay you.' Which one of these three do you think proved himself a real neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers' hands?" He said, "The one who took pity on him." Jesus said to him, "Go and practice it yourself."

Then He said to them: "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him in the middle of the night and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has just come to my house on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him to eat.' read more. And suppose he answers from inside, 'Stop bothering me; the door is now locked, and my children are packed about me in bed; I cannot get up and give you any.' I tell you, although he will not get up and give you any because he is your friend, yet because of your persistence he will get up and give you all your needs. So I tell you, keep on asking, and the gift will be given you; keep on seeking, and you will find; keep on knocking, and the door will open to you. For everyone who keeps on asking, receives; and the one who keeps on seeking, finds; and to the one who keeps on knocking, the door will open. Now is there a father among you who, if his son asks him for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or, if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? So if you, in spite of your being bad, know how to give your children what is good, how much more surely will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who continue to ask Him?"

Then He told them a story, as follows: "A certain rich man's lands yielded bountifully. So he began to argue with himself, 'What am I to do, because I have nowhere to store my crops?' read more. Then he said, 'This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and in them I will store all my grains and my goods. Then I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Go on taking your ease; continue to eat, drink, and enjoy yourself."' But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your soul is to be demanded of you. Then who will have all that you have prepared?' So it is with the man who continues to pile up possessions for himself, and is not rich in God."

"You must keep your belts tight and your lamps burning, and be like men waiting for their master when he comes home from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks, they at once may open the door for him. read more. Happy are those slaves whom the master, when he comes, will find on the watch for him. I solemnly say to you, he will tighten his belt and have them sit at table, and he will go around and wait on them. Whether he comes before or after midnight, if he finds them so, happy are they. But be sure of this, that if the master of the house had known what time the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.

And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful, thoughtful manager whom his master will put in charge of his household, to give out the supplies at the proper time? Happy is that slave whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. read more. I tell you truly, he will put him in charge of all his property. But if that slave says to himself, my Master is not coming back for a long time, and begins to beat the men and women slaves, and to eat and drink and get drunk, his master will come back some day when he is not expecting him, and at an hour of which he is not aware, and will cut him in two, and give him his share with the unfaithful.

By no means, I tell you, but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen people at Siloam on whom the tower fell and whom it crushed to death, do you think that they were offenders worse than all the rest of the people who live in Jerusalem? read more. By no means, I tell you, but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did." Then He told them this story: "A man had a fig tree planted by his vineyard, and he kept going and looking for figs on it, but did not find any. So he said to the vine-dresser, 'Look here! for three years I have been coming to look for figs on this fig tree, and have not found any. Cut it down. Why waste the ground with it?' But he answered, 'Leave it, sir, just one more year, till I dig around it and manure it.

"When you are invited by anyone to a wedding supper, never take the best place, for someone of greater distinction than you may have been invited,

Then He proceeded to say to the man who invited Him: "When you give a luncheon or a dinner, stop the social custom of inviting your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your rich neighbors, for they may invite you in return and so you will be repaid. But when you give a reception, make it your habit to invite people that are poor, maimed, crippled, or blind.

But one of the fellow-guests heard this, and said to Him, "Happy will be the man who is fortunate enough to be at the feast in the kingdom of God." Then Jesus said to him: "Once a man was giving a great dinner and invited many people to it. read more. And at the dinner hour he sent his slave to say to the invited guests, 'Come, for it is now ready.' But they all in the same attitude began to excuse themselves. The first one said, 'I have just bought a piece of land and I must go and look it over. Please excuse me.' Another said, 'I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I am on my way to try them. Please excuse me.' Another said, 'I have just gotten married, and so I cannot come.' So the slave returned and reported these answers to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his slave, 'Hurry out into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in here the poor, the maimed, the crippled, and the blind.' Then the slave said, 'Sir, what you ordered has been done, and still there is room.' "Then the master said to his slave, 'Go out on the roads and by the hedges and make the people come in, so that my house may be filled. For I tell you, not one of those people who were invited shall get a taste of my dinner!'"

So He told them the following story: "What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep, and if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and continue to look for the lost one until he finds it? read more. And when he finds it, with joy he puts it on his shoulders, and when he reaches home he calls in his friends and neighbors, and says to them, 'Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!' Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinful person who repents than over ninety-nine upright people who do not need any repentance. "Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one of them, does not light a lamp and sweep the house, and look carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls in her friends and neighbors, and says, 'Rejoice with me, because I have found the coin which I lost!' Just so, I tell you, there is joy among the angels of God over one sinful person who repents!" Then He said: "There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that falls to me.' So he divided his property between them. Not many days after that, the younger son got together all he had and went away to a distant country, and there he squandered all his property by living in dissipation. After he had spent it all, a severe famine struck that country, and he began to suffer want. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, and he sent him to his fields to feed hogs. And often he craved to fill himself with the carob-pods which the hogs were eating, and nobody gave him a bite. Then he came to himself and said, 'How many of my father's hired men have more to eat than they need, and here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your opinion; I no longer deserve to be called your son; just treat me like one of your hired men."' So he got up and went to his father. But, while he was still a long way off, his father saw him, and his heart was moved with pity for him, and he ran and fell on his neck, and kissed him affectionately. His son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your opinion; I no longer deserve to be called your son; just treat me like one of your hired men.' But his father said to his slaves, 'Bring out at once a robe, yes, the finest one, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet; take the fattening calf and kill it, and let us feast and celebrate, because this son of mine was dead and has come to life, was lost and has been found!' So they began to celebrate. "Now his elder son was in the field. So, on coming in, as he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. Then he called one of the servant-boys and asked him what this meant. He said to him, 'Your brother has come back, and your father has killed the fattening calf, because he has gotten him back safe and sound.' So he became angry and would not go into the house. Then his father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, 'See! I have served you all these years and have never disobeyed a command of yours, but you have never given me even a kid, so that I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours arrives, who has eaten up your property with immoral women, you have killed for him the fattening calf.' Then he said to him, 'My child, you have been with me all the time, and all I have is yours. But we just had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life, was lost and has been found.'"

"Once there was a rich man who used to dress in purple and fine linen and live in dazzling luxury every day. And a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores, had been laid at his gate, read more. and he was always craving to get a square meal from the scraps that fell from the rich man's table. Yes, the very dogs used to come and lick his sores. One day the beggar died and was carried away by the angels to be Abraham's bosom companion, and the rich man too died and was buried. And in Hades he looked up, in constant tortures as he was, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus his bosom companion. So he called and said, 'Father Abraham, take pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water to cool off my tongue, because I am ceaselessly tortured in this flame.' But Abraham said, 'My child, remember that you received in full your blessings in your lifetime, and Lazarus his hardships in his, but now he is continuously comforted here, while you are continuously tortured there. Besides all this, between you and us there stands fixed a great chasm, so that those who want to cross from this side to you cannot, nor can they cross from your side to us.' Then he said, 'For this reason, I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house (for I have five brothers) to warn them, that they too may not come to this place of torture.' But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them listen to them.' But he pleaded, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone went to them from the dead, they would repent.' Then he answered, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced, even if someone rises from the dead.'"

and so people will not say, 'Look! Here it is,' nor, 'There it is,' for the kingdom of God is within you."

Now He told them the following story to show how necessary it is for people always to pray and never to give up: "Once there was in a city a judge who had no reverence for God nor respect for men. read more. And in that city there was a widow who continued to come to him and say, 'Give me justice and protection from my opponent.' And he would not for a time, but afterward he said to himself, Though I have no reverence for God nor respect for men, yet because this widow continues to bother me, I will give her justice and protection, so that she may not finally wear me out by her continual coming." Then the Lord added, "Listen to what the unrighteous judge says! And will not God give justice and protection to His chosen people who continue to cry to Him day and night, since He is so patient with them? I tell you, He will give them justice and protection, and that without delay. But when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?" To some people who were confident that they themselves were upright, but who scorned everybody else, He told the following story: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax-collector.

"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax-collector. The Pharisee stood and said this self-centered prayer, 'O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of men, robbers, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax-collector. read more. I fast two days in the week. I pay a tithe on everything I get.' But the tax-collector stood at a distance and would not even lift his eyes to heaven, but continued to beat his breast, and say, 'O God, have mercy on me, a sinner!' I tell you, this man, and not the other, went back home forgiven and accepted by God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but whoever humbles himself will be exalted."

But Jesus called them to Him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and stop preventing them from it, for to such as these the kingdom of God belongs.

So He said: "Once upon a time a man of noble birth went off to a distant country to get for himself a kingdom and then return. He called in ten of his slaves and gave them twenty dollars apiece and told them to do business with his money while he was gone. read more. But his citizens continued to hate him, and sent a delegation after him to say, 'We do not want this man to become king over us.' Then after he had gotten the appointment as king, he returned and ordered those slaves to whom he had given his money to be called in, that he might find out what business they had done. Now the first one came in and said, 'Your twenty dollars, sir, has made two hundred more.' So he said to him, 'Well done, my good slave! Because you have proven dependable in a very small business, be governor of ten cities!' The second one came in and said, 'Your twenty dollars, sir, has made a hundred!' So he said to him too, 'Be governor of five cities? But another one came in and said, 'Here is your twenty dollars, sir, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief. For I lived in constant dread of you, because you are a stern man, you pick up what you did not put down, you reap what you did not sow.' He said to him, 'On the ground of what you say I will sentence you, you wicked slave! You knew that I was a stern man, that I picked up what I did not put down, and reaped what I did not sow. So why did you not put my money into the bank? In that case, when I came back I could have gotten interest on my principal.' So he said to the bystanders, 'Take the twenty dollars away from him and give it to the man who has the two hundred.' And they said, 'Sir, he has two hundred already.' 'I tell you, the man who gets will have more given to him, but the man who does not get will have even what he has taken away from him! But bring those enemies of mine here who did not want me to become king over them and slay them in my presence!'"

They drew lots to divide His clothes among them.

and to say, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!"

"I most solemnly say to you, whoever does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs over at some other place is a thief and a robber. But the one who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. read more. The doorkeeper opens the door to him, and the sheep obey his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out.

The doorkeeper opens the door to him, and the sheep obey his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out. So when he gets his sheep all out, he goes on before them, and the sheep come on behind him, because they know his voice. read more. But they will never come on behind a stranger, but will run away from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers." Jesus told them this allegory, but they did not understand what He meant by it. So Jesus said to them again: "I most solemnly say to you, I am the door to the sheepfold myself. All who came as such before me are thieves and robbers, but the true sheep would not listen to them.

"I am the real vine, and my Father is the cultivator. He cuts away any branch on me that stops bearing fruit, and He repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more. read more. You are already pruned because of the teaching that I have given you. You must remain in union with me and I will remain in union with you. Just as no branch by itself can bear fruit unless it remains united to the vine, so you cannot unless you remain in union with me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in union with me and I in union with him will bear abundant fruit, because you cannot do anything cut off from union with me. If anyone does not remain in union with me, he is thrown away as a mere branch and is dried up; then it is picked up and thrown into the fire and burned up. If you remain in union with me and my words remain in you, you may ask whatever you please and you shall have it. By your continuously bearing abundant fruit and in this way proving yourselves to be real disciples of mine, my Father is glorified.

"I have told you these things in allegories, but a time is coming when I shall not do so any longer, but will plainly tell you about the Father.

"I have told you these things in allegories, but a time is coming when I shall not do so any longer, but will plainly tell you about the Father.

Jesus answered, "My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would have been fighting to keep me from being turned over to the Jews. But as a matter of fact, my kingdom does not come from such a source."

But God proves His love for us by the fact that Christ died for us while we were still sinners.

for it is merely a symbol of the present time in connection with which gifts and sacrifices are repeatedly offered though they cannot make the conscience of the worshiper perfect,

For he considered the fact that God was able to raise people from the dead; and so from the dead, in a figure, he did receive him back.