Then he told his disciples, "The harvest is vast, but the workers are few.

Jesus asked them, "How many loaves of bread do you have?" They said, "Seven, and a few small fish."

"These last fellows worked only one hour, but you paid them the same as us, and we've been working all day, enduring the scorching heat!'

"In the same way, the last will be first, and the first will be last, because many are called, but few are chosen."

So he sent other servants after saying, "Tell those who have been invited, "Look! I've prepared my dinner. My oxen and fattened calves have been slaughtered. Everything is ready. Come to the wedding!"'

because many are invited, but few are chosen."

Remember, I've told you this beforehand.

The one who had received five talents came up and brought five more talents. "Master,' he said, "you gave me five talents. See, I've earned five more talents.'

"His master told him, "Well done, good and trustworthy servant! Since you've been trustworthy with a small amount, I'll put you in charge of a large amount. Come and share your master's joy!'

"The one with two talents also came forward and said, "Master, you gave me two talents. See, I've earned two more talents.

"His master told him, "Well done, good and trustworthy servant! Since you've been trustworthy with a small amount, I'll put you in charge of a large amount. Come and share your master's joy!'

Then you should've invested my money with the bankers. When I returned, I would've received my money back with interest.'

Surely this perfume could've been sold for a high price and the money given to the destitute."

teaching them to obey everything that I've commanded you. And remember, I am with you each and every day until the end of the age."

He couldn't perform a miracle there except to lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.

"I have compassion for the crowd, because they've already been with me for three days and have nothing to eat.

They also had a few small fish. He blessed them and said that the fish should also be distributed.

Then he began to teach them: "It is written, is it not, "My house is to be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you've turned it into a hideout for bandits!"

So be on your guard! I've told you everything before it happens."

However, after I've been raised, I'll go to Galilee ahead of you."

he began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled, as you've heard it read aloud."

So he instructed them, "The harvest is vast, but the workers are few. So ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers out into his harvest.

Then I'll say to myself, "You've stored up plenty of good things for many years. Take it easy, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself."'

But God told him, "You fool! This very night your life will be demanded back from you. Now who will get the things you've accumulated?'

"I've come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already ablaze!

So he told the gardener, "Look here! For three years I've been coming to look for fruit on this tree but I haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it waste the soil?'

Someone asked him, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?"

Then he goes home, calls his friends and neighbors together, and says to them, "Rejoice with me, because I've found my lost sheep!'

A few days later, the younger son gathered everything he owned and traveled to a distant country. There he wasted it all on wild living.

But he answered his father, "Listen! All these years I've worked like a slave for you. I've never disobeyed a command of yours. Yet you've never given me so much as a young goat for a festival so I could celebrate with my friends.

"Then the other servant came and said, "Sir, look! Here's your coin. I've kept it in a cloth for safekeeping

The one whose name was Cleopas answered him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who doesn't know what happened there in the past few days?"

After this, Jesus went down to Capernaum he, his mother, his brothers, and his disciples and they remained there for a few days.

Truly, I tell you emphatically, we know what we're talking about, and we testify about what we've seen. Yet you people do not accept our testimony.

"Come, see a man who told me everything I've ever done! Could he possibly be the Messiah?"

Now many of the Samaritans of that town believed in Jesus because the woman had testified, "He told me everything I've ever done."

It's the Spirit who gives life; the flesh accomplishes nothing. The words that I've spoken to you are spirit and life.

At this point Jesus, still teaching in the Temple, shouted, "So you know me and know where I've come from? I haven't come on my own accord. But the one who sent me is true, and he's the one you don't know.

I know him because I've come from him, and he sent me."

Jesus answered them, "Even though I'm testifying about myself, my testimony is valid because I know where I've come from and where I'm going. But you don't know where I come from or where I'm going.

Jesus replied, "You don't know me or my Father. If you had known me, you would've known my Father, too." He spoke these words in the treasury, while he was teaching in the Temple. Yet no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.

Jesus told them, "What have I been telling you all along? I have much to say about you and to condemn you for. But the one who sent me is truthful, and what I've heard from him I declare to the world."

"I know that you are Abraham's descendants. Yet you are trying to kill me because you've not received what I've told you.

I declare what I've seen in my Father's presence, and you're doing what you've heard from your father."

Jesus told them, "If God were your Father, you would've loved me, because I came from God and am here. I haven't come on my own accord, but he sent me.

Why don't you understand what I've said? It's because you can't listen to my words.

He answered them, "I've already told you, but you didn't listen. Why do you want to hear it again? You don't want to become his disciples, too, do you?"

The thief comes only to steal, slaughter, and destroy. I've come that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

Jesus replied to them, "I've shown you many good actions from my Father. For which of them are you going to stone me?"

I've come into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me won't remain in the darkness.

The one who rejects me and doesn't receive my words has something to judge him: The word that I've spoken will judge him on the last day,

When Jesus had washed their feet and put on his outer robe, he sat down again and told them, "Do you realize what I've done to you?

I've set an example for you, so that you may do as I have done to you.

Believe me, I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Otherwise, believe me because of what I've been doing.

I've told you this now, before I leave, so that when I do leave, you will believe.

You are already clean because of what I've spoken to you.

I've told you this, so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.

I don't call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn't know what his master is doing. But I've called you friends, because I've made known to you everything that I've heard from my Father.

But I've told you this, so that when the time comes you'll remember that I told you about them. I didn't tell you this in the beginning, because I was still with you."

I have told you this so that through me you may have peace. In the world you'll have trouble, but be courageous I've overcome the world!"

So Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I've seen the Lord!" She also told them what he had told her.

So the other disciples kept telling him, "We've seen the Lord!" But he told them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands, put my finger into them, and put my hand into his side, I'll never believe!"

Jesus told him, "Is it because you've seen me that you have believed? How blessed are those who have never seen me and yet have believed!"

Jesus told them, "Bring me some of the fish you've just caught."

because John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit a few days from now."

for we cannot stop talking about what we've seen and heard."

I have surely seen the oppression of my people in Egypt, I've heard their groans, and I've come down to rescue them. Now come, I'll send you to Egypt.'

A few days later, Paul told Barnabas, "Let's go back and visit the brothers in every town where we proclaimed the word of the Lord and see how they're doing."

After staying there for quite a while longer, Paul said goodbye to the brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. He had his hair cut in Cenchrea, since he was under a vow.

It was while Apollos was in Corinth that Paul passed through the inland districts and came to Ephesus. He found a few disciples there

So do what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow.

Don't believe them, because more than 40 of them are planning to ambush him. They've taken an oath not to eat or drink before they've killed him. They are ready now, just waiting for your consent."

Since a plot against the man has been reported to me, I'm sending him to you at once, and I've also ordered his accusers to present their charges against him before you."

"The Lord answered, "I'm Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and stand on your feet, because I've appeared to you for the very purpose of appointing you to be my servant and witness of what you've seen and of what I'll show you.

I've had help from God to this day, and so I stand here to testify to both the powerful and the lowly alike, stating only what the prophets and Moses said would happen

Isaiah also calls out concerning Israel, "Although the descendants of Israel are as numerous as the grains of sand on the seashore, only a few will be saved.

I therefore urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercies, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices that are holy and pleasing to God, for this is the reasonable way for you to worship.

But now, having no further opportunities in these regions, I want to come to you, as I've desired to do for many years.

In view of the present crisis, I think it is prudent for a man to stay as he is.

Look at the Israelis from a human point of view. Those who eat the sacrifices share in what is on the altar, don't they?

So then, from now on we do not think of anyone from a human point of view. Even if we did think of the Messiah from a human point of view, we don't think of him that way anymore.

I have traveled extensively and have been endangered from rivers, robbers, my own people, and gentiles. I've also been in danger in the city, in the open country, at sea, from false brothers,

I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view of this. However, the one who is troubling you will suffer God's judgment, whoever he is.

Now, however, that grace has been revealed through the coming of our Savior the Messiah Jesus, who has destroyed death and through the gospel has brought life and release from death into full view.

so that they might escape from the Devil's snare, even though they've been held captive by him to do his will.

In the presence of God and the Messiah Jesus, who is going to judge those who are living and those who are dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly appeal to you

18If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to my account.this favor from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Messiah!

fixing our attention on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of the faith, who, in view of the joy set before him, endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

who disobeyed long ago in the days of Noah, when God waited patiently while the ark was being built. In it a few, that is, eight persons, were saved by water.

"I know what you've been doing, your toil, and your endurance. I also know that you cannot tolerate evil people. You have tested those who call themselves apostles, but are not, and have found them to be false.

But I have a few things against you: You have there some who hold to the teaching of Balaam, the one who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the people of Israel so that they would eat food sacrificed to idols and practice immorality.

"I know what you've been doing your love, faithfulness, service, and endurance and that your last actions are greater than the first.

To the person who conquers and continues to do what I've commanded to the end, I will give authority over the nations.

"I know what you've been doing. You are known for being alive, but you are dead. Be alert, and strengthen the things that are left, which are about to die. I note that your actions are incomplete before my God.

But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me in white clothes because they are worthy.

"I know what you've been doing. Look! I have put in front of you an open door that no one can shut. You have only a little strength, but you have obeyed my word and have not denied my name.