Still others are like the seeds sown among the thorn bushes. These are the people who hear the word,

With many other parables like these, Jesus kept speaking his message to them according to their ability to understand.

When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were utterly amazed. "Where did this man get all these things?" they asked. "What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What great miracles are being done by his hands!

King Herod heard about this, because Jesus' name had become well-known. He was saying, "John the Baptist has been raised from the dead! That's why he is able to do these miracles."

He told them, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites. As it is written, "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.

All these things come from inside and make a person unclean."

His disciples answered him, "Where could anyone get enough bread to feed these people out here in the wilderness?"

"If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a large millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

When Jesus saw this, he became furious and told them, "Let the little children come to me, and stop keeping them away, because the kingdom of God belongs to people like these.

The man replied to him, "Teacher, I have obeyed all of these since I was a young man."

The disciples were startled by these words, but Jesus told them again, "Children, how hard it is for those who trust in their wealth to get into the kingdom of God!

and asked him, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority to do them?"

Jesus told them, "I'll ask you one question. Answer me, and then I'll tell you by what authority I'm doing these things.

So they answered Jesus, "We don't know." Then Jesus told them, "Then I won't tell you by what authority I'm doing these things."

Then the man sent another, and that one they killed. So it was with many other servants. Some of these they beat, and others they killed.

The second is this: "You must love your neighbor as yourself.' No other commandment is greater than these."

"Do you see these large buildings?" Jesus responded. "Not one stone here will be left on another that will not be torn down."

"Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign when these things will be put into effect?"

But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, stop being alarmed. These things must take place, but the end hasn't come yet,

because nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes and famines in various places. These things are only the beginning of the birth pains."

In the same way, when you see these things taking place, you will know that the Son of Man is near, right at the door.

I tell all of you with certainty, this generation will not disappear until all these things take place.

Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, "Don't you have any answer to what these men are testifying against you?"

These are the signs that will accompany those who believe: In my name they'll drive out demons, they'll speak in new languages,