"But the foolish ones told the wise, "Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out!'

So keep on watching, because you don't know the day or the hour."

because to everyone who has something, more will be given, and he'll have more than enough. But from the person who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away from him.

because I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger, and you welcomed me.

because this is my blood of the new covenant that is being poured out for many people for the forgiveness of sins.

Then Jesus told them, "All of you will turn against me this very night, because it is written, "I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'

Then he came back and found them asleep, because they could not keep their eyes open.

After a little while, the people who were standing there came up and told Peter, "Obviously you're also one of them, because your accent gives you away."

The high priests picked up the pieces of silver and said, "It is not lawful to put this into the Temple treasury, because it is blood money."

He did this because he knew that they had handed him over out of jealousy.

While he was sitting on the judge's seat, his wife sent him a message that said, "Have nothing to do with that righteous man, because today I have suffered terribly due to a dream I had about him."

Suddenly, there was a powerful earthquake, because an angel of the Lord had come down from heaven, approached the stone, rolled it away, and was sitting on top of it.

While Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were throwing a net into the sea because they were fishermen.

The people were utterly amazed at his teaching, because he was teaching them like one with authority, and not like their scribes.

He healed many who were sick with various diseases and drove out many demons. However, he wouldn't allow the demons to speak because they knew who he was.

"Let's go to the neighboring town," he replied, "so I can preach there, too, because that's why I came."

Since they couldn't bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof over the place where he was. They dug through it and let down the mat on which the paralyzed man was lying.

Later, he was having dinner at Levi's house. Many tax collectors and sinners were also eating with Jesus and his disciples, because there were many who were following him.

Jesus looked around at them in anger, deeply hurt because of their hard hearts. Then he told the man, "Hold out your hand." The man held it out, and his hand was restored to health.

Jerusalem, Idumea, from across the Jordan, and from the region around Tyre and Sidon followed him. They came to him because they kept hearing about everything he was doing.

because he had healed so many people that everyone who had diseases kept crowding up against him in order to touch him.

When his family heard about it, they went to restrain him, because they kept saying, "He's out of his mind!"

"because they had been saying, "He has an unclean spirit."

Others fell on stony ground, where they didn't have a lot of soil. They sprouted at once, because the soil wasn't deep.

but since they don't have any roots, they last for only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes along because of the word, they immediately fall away.

because whoever has something, will have more given to him. But whoever has nothing, even what he has will be taken away."

But when the grain is ripe, he immediately starts cutting with his sickle because the harvest time has come."

He told him, "My name is Legion, because there are many of us." He kept pleading with Jesus not to send them out of that region.

because she had been saying, "If I can just touch his robe, I will get well."

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."

because Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him with chains, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, whom Herod had married.

because Herod was afraid of John. He knew that John was a righteous and holy man, and so he protected him. Whenever he listened to John, he did much of what he said. In fact, he liked listening to him.

The king was deeply saddened, yet because of his oaths and his guests he was reluctant to refuse her.

He told them, "Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest for a while," because so many people were coming and going that they didn't even have time to eat.

When he got out of the boat, he saw a large crowd. He had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things.

He saw that his disciples were straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he came to them, walking on the sea. He intended to go up right beside them,

because they didn't understand the significance of the loaves. Instead, their hearts were hardened.

Their worship of me is worthless, because they teach human rules as doctrines.'

Because Moses said, "Honor your father and your mother,' and, "Whoever curses his father or mother must certainly be put to death.'

Because it doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach, and then into the sewer, thereby expelling all foods."

because it's from within, from the human heart, that evil thoughts come, as well as sexual immorality, stealing, murder,

Then he told her, "Because you have said this, go! The demon has left your daughter."

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

Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, Jesus rebuked Peter, saying, "Get behind me, Satan, because you're not thinking God's thoughts, but human thoughts!"

because whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and for the gospel will save it.

(Peter didn't know how to respond, because they were terrified.)

because he was teaching his disciples, "The Son of Man will be betrayed into human hands. They will kill him, but after being dead for three days he will be raised."

But they kept silent, because they had argued on the road with one another about who was the greatest.

John told Jesus, "Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name. We tried to stop him, because he wasn't a follower like us."

But Jesus said, "Don't stop him, because no one who works a miracle in my name can slander me soon afterwards.

I tell all of you with certainty, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to the Messiah will never lose his reward."

Because everyone will be salted with fire, and every sacrifice will be salted with salt.

But Jesus told them, "It was because of your hardness of heart that he wrote this command for you.

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.

Shocked at this statement, the man went away sad, because he had many possessions.

Jesus said, "I tell all of you with certainty, there is no one who has left his home, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or fields because of me and the gospel

because even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many people."

Seeing in the distance a fig tree covered with leaves, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing except leaves because it wasn't the season for figs.

When the high priests and elders heard this, they began to look for a way to kill him, because they were afraid of him, since the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.

But if we say, "From humans'"?" They were afraid of the crowd, because everyone really thought John was a prophet.

They came and told him, "Teacher, we know that you are sincere. You don't favor any individual, because you pay no attention to external appearance. Rather, you teach the way of God truthfully. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay them or shouldn't we?"

Jesus answered them, "Aren't you mistaken because you don't know the Scriptures or God's power?

because all of them contributed out of their surplus, but out of her poverty she has given everything she had to live on."

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."

"As for yourselves, be on your guard! People will hand you over to local councils, and you will be beaten in their synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings to testify to them because of me.

When they take you away and hand you over for trial, don't worry ahead of time about what you will say. Instead, say whatever is given to you at that time, because it won't be you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

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

because those days will be a time of suffering, a kind that has not happened from the beginning of God's creation until now, and certainly will never happen again.

because false messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce signs and omens to deceive, if possible, the elect.

Be careful! Watch out! Because you don't know when the time will come.

So keep on watching, because you don't know when the master of the house is coming whether in the evening, at three o'clock in the morning, or at dawn.

because they kept saying, "This must not happen during the festival. Otherwise, there'll be a riot among the people."

because you'll always have the destitute with you and can help them whenever you want, but you won't always have me.

Then Jesus told them, "All of you will turn against me, because it is written, "I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.'

Again he came back and found them asleep, because they could not keep their eyes open. They didn't even know what they should say to him.

Again he denied it. After a little while, the people who were standing there began to say to Peter again, "Obviously you're one of them, because you are a Galilean!"

because he knew that the high priests had handed him over due to jealousy.

So they left the tomb and ran away, overwhelmed by shock and astonishment. They didn't say a thing to anyone, because they were afraid.

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 had no children because Elizabeth was barren and because both of them were getting old.

But the angel told him, "Stop being afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to name him John.

because he will be great in the Lord's presence. He will never drink wine or any strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born.

But because you did not believe my announcement, which will be fulfilled at its proper time, you will become silent and unable to speak until the day this happens."

Then the angel told her, "Stop being afraid, Mary, because you have found favor with God.

because he has looked favorably on his humble servant. From now on, all generations will call me blessed,

because the Almighty has done great things for me. His name is holy.

Everyone who heard about it kept thinking what had happened and asked, "What will this child become?" because it was obvious that the hand of the Lord was with him.

And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, because you will go ahead of the Lord to prepare his way

Because of the tender mercy of our God, his light from on high has visited us,

Joseph, too, went up from the city of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the City of David (called Bethlehem), because he was a descendant of the household and family of David.

and she gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no place for them in the guest quarters.

because my eyes have seen your salvation,

Produce fruit that is consistent with repentance! Don't begin to say to yourselves, "We have father Abraham!' because I tell you that God can raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones!

Now Herod the tetrarch had been rebuked by John because he had married his brother's wife Herodias and because of all of the other evil things Herod had done.

He told Jesus, "I will give you all this authority, along with their glory, because it has been given to me, and I give it to anyone I please.

because it is written, "God will put his angels in charge of you to watch over you carefully.

They were utterly amazed at what he taught, because his message was spoken with authority.

Overwhelmed with amazement, they all kept saying to one another, "What kind of statement is this? because with authority and power he gives orders to unclean spirits, and they come out!"

Even demons came out of many people, screaming, "You are the Son of God!" But Jesus rebuked them and ordered them not to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah.

But he told them, "I have to proclaim the good news about the kingdom of God in other cities, because I was sent to do that also."