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13:23-30 Someone said to him. "Lord are only a few saved?" And he said to them. "Struggle to enter through the narrow door, because many I tell you will seek to enter and will not be able. For when the house-master is risen and he shuts the door and you are standing outside and begin to knock on the door saying "Lord open to us", he will say to you in answer. "I do know who you are or where you come from." Then you will begin to say "We ate and drank with you before and you taught in our streets." And he will say, telling you "I do not know where you come from. Stand away from me those who are
unrighteousness." There will be weeping and the gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God. But you on the other hand are being thrust outside. And they will come from the east and west and from the north and south and will recline in the kingdom of God. And look, there are those who are last yet who will be first. There are those who are first who will be last."
13:31-35 At the same time some Pharisees approached saying to him. "Depart from here because Herod wants to kill you." And he said to them “Go and tell that fox "Look I expel demons and accomplish cures to-day and to-morrow. And on the third day I am perfected. Nevertheless it behoves me to-day and to-morrow and on the following day to journey. This is because it is not possible for a prophet to perish outside Jerusalem."”
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who have been sent to her. How often I wished to gather your children to myself like a bird gathers her brood under her wings. Yet you did not want this. Behold your house is left to you. And I tell you you will not see me until the time when you say "Blessed is the one coming in the name of the Lord."
14:1-11 It happened that he went into the house of one of the leaders of the Pharisees on a Sabbath day to eat bread. They were watching him carefully. And there was a certain man with dropsy who was before him. Jesus responded to this and spoke to the lawyers and pharisees saying. "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?" They were silent. And taking (the man) he cured him and sent him on his way. He (then) said to them. "Which of you who if you have a son or an ox that falls into a pit would not immediately pull it up even on a Sabbath day?" They were not able to reply to these things. And he spoke a parable to the people who had been invited because he had been noting how they
were choosing the chief seats (at the table). "When you are invited by anyone to wedding festivities do not sit in the chief seat in case someone who is more honourable than yourself has been invited. Then the one who invited both yourself and him will say to you "Give this man your place." And then you will begin with shame to take the last place of all. Rather when you are invited go and sit in the last place so that when the one who invited you comes he will say to you. "Friend go up higher. Then you will be honoured before all those who are reclining with you." This is because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled. The one who humbles himself will be exalted."
14:12-14 He also spoke to the one inviting him. "When you make a dinner or a supper do not call your friends nor your brothers, nor your relatives, nor rich neighbours, lest they invite you in return and in that sense they repay you.
Rather when you make a party invite the poor, the maimed, the lame and the blind. Then you will be blessed because they cannot repay you. Rather you will be repaid in the resurrection of the just."
14:15-24 One of those who were reclining there on hearing these things said to him (Jesus). "Blessed is the one that eats bread in the kingdom of God." And He said to him "A certain man made a great supper and invited many people. When the time for the supper came he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited. Come because it is now prepared. And they all began with the same frame of mind to make excuses. One said "I have bought a farm and I have to go out to see it. I ask that you excuse me." Another said "I have bought a yoke of oxen and I am going to test them out. I
ask that you excuse me." Another said "I have married a wife and therefore cannot come." So coming up to the lord the slave reported these things to him. Then the house-master was angry. He told his slave. "Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city to the poor and the maimed and the blind and lame. Bring them in here." (Later) the slave said "Lord what you commanded has been carried out but there is still room. " So the Lord said to the slave. "Go out into the roads and hedges and compel them to come in so that my home may be filled. For I tell you that not any of those people who had been invited shall taste of my supper. "
14:25-35 Many crowds came together (around him) Turning he said to them. "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and his mother and his wife and children and brothers and sisters and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For who amongst you who wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost if you want to actually complete it. Otherwise after laying a foundation you cannot finish. Then all those who see such a one will mock him saying "This man began to build and was not able to finish." Or what king,
going out to attack another king in war, would not first sit down and deliberate. Will he be able to meet the other when he has ten thousand (soldiers) and he comes upon the other who has twenty thousand?" In such case while still at a distance he would send a delegation to negotiate for peace. So therefore any one of you who does not say farewell to his possessions cannot be my disciple. Salt is good. But if the salt becomes useless what can it be seasoned with? It is neither any good for soil nor for manure. They take it outside and throw it away. Let the one who has ears to hear this, let him listen."
15:1-32 Now all the tax-collectors and the sinners were drawing near to hear him. The Pharisees and the scribes murmured about this saying "This man receives sinners and eats with them." And he spoke a parable to them (the latter) saying "What man of you who has a hundred sheep and loses one of them does not leave the nine-nine in the desert and go after the one who was lost until he finds it? And on finding it he places it on his shoulders rejoicing. Then coming into his house he calls together his friends and neighbours saying to them. "Celebrate with me because I found my sheep which had been lost." I tell you that there is joy like that in heaven over one sinner who repents rather than over the nine-nine just ones who have no need of repentance. Or what woman who has ten drachmaes who, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek carefully until she finds it. And on finding it she calls together her friends and neighbours saying "Celebrate with me because I found the drachma which I had lost." So I tell you there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents." And he also said "There was a certain man who had two sons. The younger of them said to the father. "Father give me my share of the
property." So he divided up the living for them. And after not
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many days, the younger son, having gathered up all his things, departed to a far away country. There he spent his property by living lavishly. When he had spent all his money there came a severe famine throughout that country and he began to be in want. Going he joined (up with) one of the citizens of that country and he sent him into the fields to feed pigs. And he (the son) longed to feed his stomach with the very husks that the pigs ate but nobody gave any to him. So he thought to himself. "How many of the hired servants of my father have an abundance of bread. But I am perishing here with the famine. Rising up I will go (back) to my father and I will say to him. "Father I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me rather as one of your hired servants." And so rising up (the son) came to the father himself. Yet while he was still far away his father saw him and was moved with pity. (The father) ran and fell on the neck of (the son) and fervently kissed him. And the son said to him. "Father I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am not
worthy to be called your son." But the father said to his slaves. "Go quickly and bring out the best robe and clothe him. Give him a ring on his hand and sandals to his feet. Bring in the fattened calf to kill it and on eating it let us celebrate and be merry." But meanwhile the (father's) older son was in a field and as he came near the house he heard music and dancing. So calling one of the lads to him he asked what was going on. The latter said to him. "Your brother has come (home) and your father has killed the fattened calf to celebrate his home-coming. But he (the older brother) was angry and did not want to go in. So his father came out and besought him. But he (the older brother) answered and said to the father. "Look I have served you for many years and have never disobeyed any of your requests. And you have never given me a goat so that I could party with my friends. But when this son of yours, who after devouring his living with harlots has come back, you have killed the fattened calf for him." And he (the father) said to him. "Son you are always with me and everything that I have is yours." Yet it is right for us to celebrate because your brother who has been dead has come to life and being lost has been found."
16:1-13 He also said to the disciples. "There was a certain rich man who had a steward. And the complaint was made to him that (the steward) was wasting his possessions. So calling the latter to him (the rich man) said "What is this I hear about you? You will have to show me your accounts for you cannot be my steward any longer." And the steward said to himself. "What can I do. My employer is taking away my stewardship from me? I am not able to dig. I am too ashamed to beg. I know what I can do so that when I am removed out of the stewardship (job) people will receive me into their houses." And so calling to himself each one of the employer's debtors he said to the first one. "How much do you owe my employer?" And he said "A hundred barrels of oil." And he told him. "Here take the bill and sit down quickly and write fifty." Then to another he said "As for
you, how much do you owe?" He said "A hundred measures of wheat." He tells him "Take your bill and write eighty." And the employer of the steward (actually) praised the crooked dealings of the steward because he had acted realistically. (Then Jesus went on.) The sons of the times are more 'street smart' than the sons of the light. And I tell you. Make friends on a worldly level so when this fails you can be received into the eternal tabernacles. The man who is faithful in the least things (c/f worldly details) is also faithful in more important things. The man who is unrighteousness in the least things (c/f worldly things) is also unrighteous in more important things. If therefore you are not faithful in worldly details, who will entrust the (more important) truth to you. And if you are not faithful about what belongs to another, who will give anything into your care? No household slave can have two lords. Either he will hate the one and love the other or he will hold fast to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and mammon."
11:14- 31 Now when the Pharisees heard these things they scoffed at him as they were money lovers. And he said to them. "You are the ones who justify yourselves before people. But God knows your hearts. What is exalted before people is in fact an abomination before God. The law and the prophets were the priority until the time of John. From then on the kingdom of God has been preached and everyone is pressing towards it. But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one little part of the law to become void. Everyone who dismisses his wife and marries another commits adultery. The one who marries a woman who has been dismissed from another commits adultery.
Now there was a certain man who was rich. He used to put on a purple robe and fine linen
and spent every day in splendour being merry. And a certain poor man by the name of Lazarus had been placed at his gate. He was covered with sores and he wanted to be fed from what was falling from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. And it happened that the poor man died and was carried away by the angels into the bosom of Abraham. Then the rich man also died and was buried. And when in Hades, the latter lifted up his eyes in torment. He saw Abraham far off and Lazarus in his bosom. He called out and said "Father Abraham. Pity me and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger into water and cool my tongue because I am suffering in this flame. But Abraham said "Child. remember that you received
good things in your life. Lazarus received the bad. But now, here he is, comforted. But you are suffering. And amongst all these things there is between us and you, a great chasm that has been firmly fixed so that those wanting to pass from here to yourself cannot do so. Neither can they cross over to us.
And (the previously rich man said) "I ask you therefore father that you could send him to my father's house. For I have five brothers, so that he may warn them in case they also come to this place of torment. But Abraham says. "They have Moses and the prophets. Let them hear them." But he said "No father Abraham. But if someone from the dead should go to them, they will repent. " But he said to him. "If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither if someone rises out of the dead, will they be persuaded."
17:1-10 He said to his disciples. It is impossible that offences should not be committed. But woe to the one through whom they come. It would be better for a millstone to be put around his neck and he be thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. Take note yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him. And if in the one day he sins against you seven times, and then he turns to you saying "I repent," you should forgive him." The apostles said to the Lord. "Help us to increase our faith." The Lord said "If you have faith as small as a grain of mustard you
would have been able to say to this
sycamine tree "Be uprooted and be planted in the
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sea." And it would have obeyed you. But who amongst you who has a slave ploughing or herding who when he comes out of the farm will say to him. "Come up immediately and rest." Rather you will say to him. "Get me something to eat. Then fix up your clothes and wait on me while I eat and drink. Then after these things you can eat and drink yourself." He does not have to thank the slave because he did what he was told. And so it is with yourselves. When you do everything that has been commanded you admit "We are (still) unprofitable slaves. We have only done what we should have done."
17:11-19 It happened that as he continued to go up to Jerusalem he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. As he entered into a certain village he came upon ten leprous men who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voice saying "Jesus Master, pity us." And seeing them he said "Go and show yourselves to the priests." As it happened, as they went up to show themselves, they were cleansed.
One of them, seeing that he was cured, returned with a great voice praising God. He fell on his face at the feet of (Jesus). He was a Samaritan. Answering Jesus said to him. "Were not all ten cleansed? But where are the other nine? Only one has returned to give glory to God and he is a stranger." He said to him. "Get up and go. It is your faith that has healed you."
17: 20-21 On being questioned by the Pharisees about when the kingdom of God comes he answered them and said “The kingdom of God
does not come with obvious signs. Nor will they say "Look it is here or there." For the kingdom of God lies within you.”
17: 22-37 He said to his disciples. "The days will come when you will long to see the days of the Son of man and you will not see them. And they will say to you. "Look there. Look here." But do not go away nor follow. For as the lightning flashes in one part of the sky and lights up to the other part of it, so will it be in the day of the Son of man. But first it behoves him to suffer many things and to be rejected by this generation. And, as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of man. For they were eating drinking, marrying and giving in marriage until the day when Noah went into the ark. Then came the flood and destroyed all. Likewise as it was in the days of Lot. They were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building. But on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it
rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed all. So it will be in the same way on the day when the Son of man is revealed. In that day whoever is on the roof and has his goods in the house, let him not come down to take them. Likewise for the one in a field. Let him not turn back to the things left behind. Remember Lot's wife. Whoever seeks to preserve his life, will lose it. Whoever will lose it will preserve it. I tell you this very night there will be two men on the one couch. The one will be taken and the other will be left. There will be two women grinding together. The one will be taken and the other will be left. And so answering him (Jesus) they (the disciples) say. "When Lord?" And he said to them. "Where the body is, there also the eagles will be gathered together."
18:1-8 He told a parable to them to point out they must always pray and not give up. He said "There was a certain judge in a certain city who did not fear God nor have regard for people's opinion. There was also a widow in that city and she came to him saying "Give me justice from my opponent." But he would not for a time. But after this he said to himself "I do not fear God, nor have regard for other people. But because
this widow is causing me trouble I will give her justice in case in the end she exhausts me." Then the Lord (Jesus) said "Hear then what the unrighteous judge is saying and consider. Will God not give justice to his chosen ones who cry out to him day and night? Will he not be patient with them? I tell you that he will vindicate them quickly. Even so, will the Son of man when coming find faith on the earth?"
18:9-14 He also told a parable to some of those who relied on themselves. They considered that they were righteous and despised the others. He said "Two men went up to the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee and the other a tax-collector. The Pharisee was standing there and was really praying to himself. He said "God I thank you that I am not like the rest of men - rapacious, unjust, adulterers or even like this tax- collector.
I fast twice a week. I tithe everything that I get." But on the other hand the tax-collector stood far off and would not even lift his eyes up to heaven. Rather he struck his breast saying "God be merciful to me, a sinner." "I tell you this man went down to his house justified rather than the other one. Because, everyone who exalts himself will be humbled. The one humbling himself will be exalted.
18:15-17 They also brought him babies so he might touch them. But seeing that the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him saying "Let the children come to me and do not prevent them. The kingdom of God is made up of such as these. Truly I tell you whoever does not
receive the kingdom of God as a child, will definitely not by no means will enter into it. The kingdom of God is made up of such as these. Truly I tell you whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a child, will by no (other) means enter into it.
18:18-25 A certain ruler questioned him saying "Good teacher what should I do to inherit eternal life?" And Jesus said to him "Why do you say that I am good? Nobody is good except the one God. You know the commandments. "Do not commit adultery. Do not kill. Do not steal. Do not bear false witness. Honour your father and mother." And he (the other) said "I have kept all these things from my youth. But on hearing this Jesus said to him. "One thing is still lacking to you. Sell
everything that you have and distribute this to poor people. Then you will have treasure in the heavens. Then come and follow me." But he on hearing these things became very grieved, for he was exceedingly rich. Seeing him like this Jesus said "How hard it is for those who have property to enter into the kingdom of God. It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."
18:26 -27 The ones hearing this said "(If such is the case) who can be saved?" And he said
"Things that are impossible with men are possible with God."
18:28-30 Peter said "Look. We are leaving our own things in following you." And he said to them "Truly I tell you that there is nobody who has left house or wife or brothers or
parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive their reward many times over in this age and in the coming eternal life."
18:31-33 And taking the twelve he said to them "Behold we are going up to Jerusalem and everything will be accomplished with the Son of man according to how it has been written through the prophets. He will be delivered up
to the nations (Gentiles) and will be mocked and will be insulted and spat at. And after scourging him they will kill him. And on the third day (after this) he will rise again."
(Note: Text is mainly a paraphrase of the Literal translation in the RSV Interlinear Greek-English New Testament, 1988)
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