Jesus said to them, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of your hard hearts, but from the beginning it was not this way.

They said to him, 'Because no one hired us.' He said to them, 'You go and work in the vineyard too.'

Am I not permitted to do what I want with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?'

They wanted to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowds, because the crowds regarded him as a prophet.

They sent to him their disciples along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are truthful, and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You do not court anyone's favor because you show no partiality.

Jesus answered them, "You are deceived, because you don't know the scriptures or the power of God.

"Then they will hand you over to be persecuted and will kill you. You will be hated by all the nations because of my name.

and because lawlessness will increase so much, the love of many will grow cold.

"Therefore stay alert, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.

Therefore you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.'

Therefore stay alert, because you do not know the day or the hour.

Then Jesus said to them, "This night you will all fall away because of me, for it is written: 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'

Peter said to him, "If they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away!"

(For he knew that they had handed him over because of envy.)

He trusts in God -- let God, if he wants to, deliver him now because he said, 'I am God's Son'!"

The guards were shaken and became like dead men because they were so afraid of him.

The people there were amazed by his teaching, because he taught them like one who had authority, not like the experts in the law.

So he healed many who were sick with various diseases and drove out many demons. But he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.

When they were not able to bring him in because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Jesus. Then, after tearing it out, they lowered the stretcher the paralytic was lying on.

Because of the crowd, he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him so the crowd would not press toward him.

(because they said, "He has an unclean spirit").

Other seed fell on rocky ground where it did not have much soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep.

When the sun came up it was scorched, and because it did not have sufficient root, it withered.

But they have no root in themselves and do not endure. Then, when trouble or persecution comes because of the word, immediately they fall away.

And when the grain is ripe, he sends in the sickle because the harvest has come."

And he was amazed because of their unbelief. Then he went around among the villages and taught.

Now King Herod heard this, for Jesus' name had become known. Some were saying, "John the baptizer has been raised from the dead, and because of this, miraculous powers are at work in him."

For Herod himself had sent men, arrested John, and bound him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because Herod had married her.

because Herod stood in awe of John and protected him, since he knew that John was a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard him, he was thoroughly baffled, and yet he liked to listen to John.

Although it grieved the king deeply, he did not want to reject her request because of his oath and his guests.

As Jesus came ashore he saw the large crowd and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he taught them many things.

He saw them straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. As the night was ending, he came to them walking on the sea, for he wanted to pass by them.

because they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

Then he said to her, "Because you said this, you may go. The demon has left your daughter."

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

John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he was not following us."

But Jesus said, "Do not stop him, because no one who does a miracle in my name will be able soon afterward to say anything bad about me.

For I tell you the truth, whoever gives you a cup of water because you bear Christ's name will never lose his reward.

But Jesus said to them, "He wrote this commandment for you because of your hard hearts.

The chief priests and the experts in the law heard it and they considered how they could assassinate him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed by his teaching.

Now they wanted to arrest him (but they feared the crowd), because they realized that he told this parable against them. So they left him and went away.

When they came they said to him, "Teacher, we know that you are truthful and do not court anyone's favor, because you show no partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn't we?"

Jesus said to them, "Aren't you deceived for this reason, because you don't know the scriptures or the power of God?

"You must watch out for yourselves. You will be handed over to councils and beaten in the synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a witness to them.

You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

And if the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would be saved. But because of the elect, whom he chose, he has cut them short.

Stay alert, then, because you do not know when the owner of the house will return -- whether during evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or at dawn --

But he denied it again. A short time later the bystanders again said to Peter, "You must be one of them, because you are also a Galilean."

(For he knew that the chief priests had handed him over because of envy.)

Because he wanted to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them. Then, after he had Jesus flogged, he handed him over to be crucified.

Then they went out and ran from the tomb, for terror and bewilderment had seized them. And they said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

Then he appeared to the eleven themselves, while they were eating, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen him resurrected.

So it seemed good to me as well, because I have followed all things carefully from the beginning, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,

But they did not have a child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both very old.

And now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will be silent, unable to speak, until the day these things take place."

When he came out, he was not able to speak to them. They realized that he had seen a vision in the holy place, because he was making signs to them and remained unable to speak.

because he has looked upon the humble state of his servant. For from now on all generations will call me blessed,

because he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name;

"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, because he has come to help and has redeemed his people.

Because of our God's tender mercy the dawn will break upon us from on high

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David.

And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

but (because they assumed that he was in their group of travelers) they went a day's journey. Then they began to look for him among their relatives and acquaintances.

But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of Herodias, his brother's wife, and because of all the evil deeds that he had done,

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and the regaining of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed,

They were amazed at his teaching, because he spoke with authority.

Demons also came out of many, crying out, "You are the Son of God!" But he rebuked them, and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.

But since they found no way to carry him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down on the stretcher through the roof tiles right in front of Jesus.

The whole crowd was trying to touch him, because power was coming out from him and healing them all.

Rejoice in that day, and jump for joy, because your reward is great in heaven. For their ancestors did the same things to the prophets.

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to ungrateful and evil people.

He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep, and laid the foundation on bedrock. When a flood came, the river burst against that house but could not shake it, because it had been well built.

because he loves our nation, and even built our synagogue."

(Now all the people who heard this, even the tax collectors, acknowledged God's justice, because they had been baptized with John's baptism.

However, the Pharisees and the experts in religious law rejected God's purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)

Other seed fell on rock, and when it came up, it withered because it had no moisture.

Now Jesus' mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not get near him because of the crowd.

Jesus then asked him, "What is your name?" He said, "Legion," because many demons had entered him.

Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, because they were all waiting for him.

because he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, and she was dying. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds pressed around him.

And they began making fun of him, because they knew that she was dead.

Now Herod the tetrarch heard about everything that was happening, and he was thoroughly perplexed, because some people were saying that John had been raised from the dead,

Now the day began to draw to a close, so the twelve came and said to Jesus, "Send the crowd away, so they can go into the surrounding villages and countryside and find lodging and food, because we are in an isolated place."

John answered, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he is not a disciple along with us."

but the villagers refused to welcome him, because he was determined to go to Jerusalem.

On that same occasion Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your gracious will.

because a friend of mine has stopped here while on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him.'

I tell you, even though the man inside will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of the first man's sheer persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.

So if Satan too is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? I ask you this because you claim that I cast out demons by Beelzebul.

The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon -- and now, something greater than Solomon is here!

The people of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented when Jonah preached to them -- and now, something greater than Jonah is here!

So you testify that you approve of the deeds of your ancestors, because they killed the prophets and you build their tombs!

Then he said to them, "Watch out and guard yourself from all types of greed, because one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."

He answered them, "Do you think these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered these things?

But the president of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the crowd, "There are six days on which work should be done! So come and be healed on those days, and not on the Sabbath day."

"Exert every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.

At that time, some Pharisees came up and said to Jesus, "Get away from here, because Herod wants to kill you."

Nevertheless I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the next day, because it is impossible that a prophet should be killed outside Jerusalem.'