The people living in darkness have seen a great light, and for those living in the land and shadow of death, a light has risen."

Some Pharisees came to him in order to test him. They asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?"

Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead. He is going ahead of you into Galilee, and you will see him there. Remember, I have told you!"

On their way down the mountain, Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

After Jesus had risen early on the first day of that week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had driven out seven demons.

Finally he appeared to his eleven disciples while they were eating. He rebuked them for their unbelief and stubbornness, because they had not believed those who had seen him after he had risen.

They kept saying, "The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon!"

The one who belongs to God listens to the words of God. The reason you don't listen is because you don't belong to God."

since he was the reason why so many of the Jews were leaving to believe in Jesus.

"Now my soul is in turmoil, and what should I say "Father, save me from this hour'? No! It was for this very reason that I came to this hour.

But this happened so that what has been written in their Law might be fulfilled: "They hated me for no reason.'

Although they found no reason to sentence him to death, they asked Pilate to have him executed.

because we are in danger of being charged with rioting today, and there is no good reason we can give to justify this commotion."

For this reason the Jewish leaders grabbed me in the Temple and kept trying to kill me.

They examined me and wanted to let me go because there was no reason for me to receive the death penalty in my case.

For this reason, God delivered them to sexual impurity as they followed the lusts of their hearts and dishonored their bodies with one another.

For this reason, God delivered them to degrading passions as their females exchanged their natural sexual function for one that is unnatural.

But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid, for it is not without reason that they bear the sword. Indeed, they are God's servants to administer punishment to anyone who does wrong. Therefore, it is necessary for you to be acquiescent to the authorities, not only for the sake of God's punishment, but also for the sake of your own conscience.

For this reason the Messiah died and returned to life, so that he might become the Lord of both the dead and the living.

As for the faith you do have, have it as your own conviction before God. How blessed is the person who has no reason to condemn himself because of what he approves!

But I have not used any of these rights, and I'm not writing this so that they may be applied in my case. I would rather die than let anyone deprive me of my reason for boasting.

For this reason I want you to be aware that no one who is speaking by God's Spirit can say, "Jesus is cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.

But at this moment the Messiah stands risen from the dead, the first one offered in the harvest of those who have died.

just as you have already understood us partially, so that on the Day of our Lord Jesus we can be your reason to boast, even as you are ours.

This is the very reason I wrote you, so that when I did come I might not be made sad by those who should have made me happy. For I had confidence that all of you would share the joy that I have.

We are not recommending ourselves to you again but are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so that you can answer those who are proud of outward things rather than inward character.

For this reason I am writing this while I am away from you: When I come I do not want to be severe in using the authority the Lord gave me to build you up and not to tear you down.

For this reason I, Paul, am the prisoner of the Messiah Jesus for the sake of you gentiles.

This is the reason I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah,

For this reason, take up the whole armor of God so that you may be able to take a stand whenever evil comes. And when you have done everything you could, you will be able to stand firm.

I am sending him to you for this very reason, so that you may know how we are doing and that he may encourage your hearts.

although I could have confidence in the flesh. If anyone thinks he can place confidence in the flesh, I have more reason to think so.

For this reason, since the day we heard about this, we have not stopped praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the full knowledge of God's will with respect to all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

Let no one who delights in humility and the worship of angels cheat you out of the prize by rejoicing about what he has seen. Such a person is puffed up for no reason by his carnal mind.

I am sending him to you for this very reason, so that you may know how we are doing and that he may encourage your hearts.

Here is another reason why we constantly give thanks to God: When you received God's word, which you heard from us, you did not accept it as the word of humans but for what it really is the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.

After all, who is our hope, joy, or reason for rejoicing in the presence of our Lord Jesus at his coming? It is you, isn't it?

For this reason, God will send them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie.

I am the worst of them. But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the worst sinner, the Messiah Jesus might demonstrate all of his patience as an example for those who would believe in him for eternal life.

For this reason I was appointed to be an announcer, an apostle, and a faithful and true teacher of the gentiles. (I am telling you the truth. I am not lying.)

For this reason, I am reminding you to fan into flames the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands.

For that reason, I endure everything for the sake of those who have been chosen so that they, too, may receive the salvation that is in the Messiah Jesus, along with eternal glory.

The reason I left you in Crete was to complete what still needed to be done and to appoint elders in every city, as I myself commanded you.

That statement is true. For this reason, refute them sharply so that they may become healthy in the faith

For this reason, although in the Messiah I have complete freedom to order you to do what is proper,

For this reason we must pay closer attention to the things we have heard, or we may drift away,

For that reason he is obligated to offer sacrifices for his own sins as well as for those of the people.

For this reason, the Scriptures say, when the Messiah was about to come into the world: "You did not want sacrifices and offerings, but you prepared a body for me.

You ask for something but do not get it because you ask for it for the wrong reason for your own pleasure.

For this very reason, you must make every effort to supplement your faith with moral character, your moral character with knowledge,

The person who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no reason for him to stumble.

See what kind of love the Father has given us: We are called God's children and that is what we are! For this reason the world does not recognize us, because it did not recognize him, either.

The person who practices sin belongs to the evil one, because the Devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason that the Son of God was revealed was to destroy what the Devil has been doing.

For this reason, when I come I will call attention to what he is doing in spreading false charges against us. And not content with that, he refuses to receive the brothers. He even tries to stop those who want to accept them and throws them out of the church.

For this reason, her diseases that result in death, misery, and famine will come in a single day. She will be burned up in a fire, because powerful is the Lord God who judges her."