# verses

book: Amos
contenido:
The Lord says, “Gaza has sinned again and again, and I will not forget it. I will not leave her unpunished anymore. For she sent my people into exile, selling them as slaves in Edom.


book: Amos
contenido:
I will kill the people of Ashdod and destroy Ekron and the king of Ashkelon; all Philistines left will perish.” The Lord has spoken.


book: Amos
contenido:
The Lord says, “The people of Tyre have sinned again and again, and I will not forget it. I will not leave them unpunished anymore. For they broke their treaty with their brother, Israel; they attacked and conquered him, and led him into slavery to Edom.


book: Amos
contenido:
The Lord says, “Edom has sinned again and again, and I will not forget it. I will not leave him unpunished anymore. For he chased his brother, Israel, with the sword; he was pitiless in unrelenting anger.


book: Amos
contenido:
The Lord says, “The people of Ammon have sinned again and again, and I will not forget it. I will not leave them unpunished anymore. For in their wars in Gilead to enlarge their borders they committed cruel crimes, ripping open pregnant women with their swords.


book: Amos
contenido:
“So I will set fire to the walls of Rabbah, and it will burn down their forts and palaces; there will be wild shouts of battle like a whirlwind in a mighty storm.


book: Amos
contenido:
The Lord says, “The people of Moab have sinned again and again, and I will not forget it. I will not leave them unpunished anymore. For they desecrated the tombs of the kings of Edom, with no respect for the dead.


book: Amos
contenido:
Now in return I will send fire upon Moab, and it will destroy all the palaces in Kerioth. Moab shall go down in tumult as the warriors shout and trumpets blare.


book: Amos
contenido:
The Lord says, “The people of Judah have sinned again and again, and I will not forget it. I will not leave them unpunished anymore. For they have rejected the laws of God, refusing to obey him. They have hardened their hearts and sinned as their fathers did.


book: Amos
contenido:
The Lord says, “The people of Israel have sinned again and again, and I will not forget it. I will not leave them unpunished anymore. For they have perverted justice by accepting bribes and sold into slavery the poor who can’t repay their debts; they trade them for a pair of shoes.


book: Amos
contenido:
They trample the poor in the dust and kick aside the meek.
“And a man and his father defile the same temple girl, corrupting my holy name.


book: Amos
contenido:
At their religious feasts they lounge in clothing stolen from their debtors, and in my own Temple they offer sacrifices of wine they purchased with stolen money.


book: Amos
contenido:
“Yet think of all I did for them! I cleared the land of the Amorites before them—the Amorites, as tall as cedar trees, and strong as oaks! But I lopped off their fruit and cut their roots.


book: Amos
contenido:
And I brought you out from Egypt and led you through the desert forty years, to possess the land of the Amorites.


book: Amos
contenido:
“But you caused the Nazirites to sin by urging them to drink your wine, and you silenced my prophets, telling them, ‘Shut up!’


book: Amos
contenido:
Your swiftest warriors will stumble in flight. The strong will all be weak, and the great ones can no longer save themselves.


book: Amos
contenido:
The archer’s aim will fail, the swiftest runners won’t be fast enough to flee, and even the best of horsemen can’t outrun the danger then.


book: Amos
contenido:
The most courageous of your mighty men will drop their weapons and run for their lives that day.” The Lord God has spoken.


book: Amos
contenido:
Listen! This is your doom! It is spoken by the Lord against both Israel and Judah—against the entire family I brought from Egypt:


book: Amos
contenido:
“Of all the peoples of the earth, I have chosen you alone. That is why I must punish you the more for all your sins.


book: Amos
contenido:
“Would I be roaring as a lion unless I had a reason? The fact is, I am getting ready to destroy you. Even a young lion, when it growls, shows it is ready for its food.


book: Amos
contenido:
The Lion has roared—tremble in fear. The Lord God has sounded your doom—I dare not refuse to proclaim it.


book: Amos
contenido:
“Call together the Assyrian and Egyptian leaders, saying, ‘Take your seats now on the mountains of Samaria to witness the scandalous spectacle of all Israel’s crimes.’


book: Amos
contenido:
My people have forgotten what it means to do right,” says the Lord. “Their beautiful homes are full of the loot from their thefts and banditry.


book: Amos
contenido:
Therefore,” the Lord God says, “an enemy is coming! He is surrounding them and will shatter their forts and plunder those beautiful homes.”


book: Amos
contenido:
The Lord says, “A shepherd tried to rescue his sheep from a lion, but it was too late; he snatched from the lion’s mouth two legs and a piece of ear. So it will be when the Israelites in Samaria are finally rescued—all they will have left is half a chair and a tattered pillow.


book: Amos
contenido:
“Listen to this announcement and publish it throughout all Israel,” says the Lord, the Lord Almighty:


book: Amos
contenido:
“On the same day that I punish Israel for her sins I will also destroy the idol altars at Bethel. The horns of the altar will be cut off and fall to the ground.


book: Amos
contenido:
“And I will destroy the beautiful homes of the wealthy—their winter mansions and their summer houses too—and demolish their ivory palaces.”


book: Amos
contenido:
Listen to me, you “fat cows” of Bashan living in Samaria—you women who encourage your husbands to rob the poor and crush the needy—you who never have enough to drink!


book: Amos
contenido:
The Lord God has sworn by his holiness that the time will come when he will put hooks in your noses and lead you away like the cattle you are; they will drag the last of you away with fishhooks!


book: Amos
contenido:
You will be hauled from your beautiful homes and tossed out through the nearest breach in the wall. The Lord has said it.


book: Amos
contenido:
Go ahead and sacrifice to idols at Bethel and Gilgal. Keep disobeying—your sins are mounting up. Sacrifice each morning and bring your tithes twice a week!


book: Amos
contenido:
Go through all your proper forms and give extra offerings. How you pride yourselves and crow about it everywhere!


book: Amos
contenido:
I ruined your crops by holding back the rain three months before the harvest. I sent rain on one city but not another. While rain fell on one field, another was dry and withered.


book: Amos
contenido:
People from two or three cities would make their weary journey for a drink of water to a city that had rain, but there wasn’t ever enough. Yet you wouldn’t return to me,” says the Lord.


book: Amos
contenido:
“I sent blight and mildew on your farms and your vineyards; the locusts ate your figs and olive trees. And still you wouldn’t return to me,” says the Lord.


book: Amos
contenido:
“I sent you plagues like those of Egypt long ago. I killed your lads in war and drove away your horses. The stench of death was terrible to smell. And yet you refused to come.


book: Amos
contenido:
I destroyed some of your cities, as I did Sodom and Gomorrah; those left are like half-burned firebrands snatched away from fire. And still you won’t return to me,” says the Lord.


book: Amos
contenido:
“Therefore, I will bring upon you all these further evils I have spoken of. Prepare to meet your God in judgment, Israel.


book: Amos
contenido:
For you are dealing with the One who formed the mountains, made the winds, and knows your every thought; he turns the morning to darkness and crushes down the mountains underneath his feet: Jehovah, the Lord, the Lord Almighty, is his name.”


book: Amos
contenido:
“Beautiful Israel lies broken and crushed upon the ground and cannot rise. No one will help her. She is left alone to die.”


book: Amos
contenido:
For the Lord God says, “The city that sends a thousand men to battle, a hundred will return. The city that sends a hundred, only ten will come back alive.”


book: Amos
contenido:
Don’t seek the idols of Bethel, Gilgal, or Beersheba; for the people of Gilgal will be carried off to exile, and those of Bethel shall surely come to grief.”


book: Amos
contenido:
Seek the Lord and live, or else he will sweep like fire through Israel and consume her, and none of the idols in Bethel can put it out.


book: Amos
contenido:
O evil men, you make “justice” a bitter pill for the poor and oppressed. “Righteousness” and “fair play” are meaningless fictions to you!


book: Amos
contenido:
Seek him who created the Seven Stars and the constellation Orion, who turns darkness into morning and day into night, who calls forth the water from the ocean and pours it out as rain upon the land. The Lord, Jehovah, is his name.


book: Amos
contenido:
You trample the poor and steal their smallest crumb by all your taxes, fines, and usury; therefore, you will never live in the beautiful stone houses you are building, nor drink the wine from the lush vineyards you are planting.


book: Amos
contenido:
For many and great are your sins. I know them all so well. You are the enemies of everything good; you take bribes; you refuse justice to the poor.


book: Amos
contenido:
Therefore, those who are wise will not try to interfere with the Lord in the dread day of your punishment.


book: Amos
contenido:
Be good, flee evil—and live! Then the Lord, the Lord Almighty, will truly be your Helper, as you have claimed he is.


book: Amos
contenido:
Hate evil and love the good; remodel your courts into true halls of justice. Perhaps even yet the Lord God of Hosts will have mercy on his people who remain.


book: Amos
contenido:
Therefore the Lord God says this: “There will be crying in all the streets and every road. Call for the farmers to weep with you too; call for professional mourners to wail and lament.


book: Amos
contenido:
You say, ‘If only the Day of the Lord were here, for then God would deliver us from all our foes.’ But you have no idea what you ask. For that day will not be light and prosperity, but darkness and doom! How terrible the darkness will be for you; not a ray of joy or hope will shine.


book: Amos
contenido:
In that day you will be as a man who is chased by a lion and is met by a bear, or a man in a dark room who leans against a wall and puts his hand on a snake.


book: Amos
contenido:
“I hate your show and pretense—your hypocrisy of ‘honoring’ me with your religious feasts and solemn assemblies.


book: Amos
contenido:
I will not accept your burnt offerings and thank offerings. I will not look at your offerings of peace.


book: Amos
contenido:
Away with your hymns of praise—they are mere noise to my ears. I will not listen to your music, no matter how lovely it is.


book: Amos
contenido:
“You sacrificed to me for forty years while you were in the desert, Israel—but always your real interest has been in your heathen gods—in Sakkuth your king, and in Kaiwan, your god of the stars, and in all the images of them you made. So I will send them into captivity with you far to the east of Damascus,” says the Lord, the Lord Almighty.


book: Amos
contenido:
Woe to those lounging in luxury at Jerusalem and Samaria, so famous and popular among the people of Israel.


book: Amos
contenido:
Go over to Calneh and see what happened there; then go to great Hamath and down to Gath in the Philistines’ land. Once they were better and greater than you, but look at them now.


book: Amos
contenido:
You push away all thought of punishment awaiting you, but by your deeds you bring the Day of Judgment near.


book: Amos
contenido:
You lie on ivory beds surrounded with luxury, eating the meat of the tenderest lambs and the choicest calves.


book: Amos
contenido:
You sing idle songs to the sound of the harp and fancy yourselves to be great musicians as King David was.


book: Amos
contenido:
You drink wine by the bucketful and perfume yourselves with sweet ointments, caring nothing at all that your brothers need your help.


book: Amos
contenido:
Jehovah the Almighty Lord has sworn by his own name, “I despise the pride and false glory of Israel and hate their beautiful homes. I will turn over this city and everything in it to her enemies.”


book: Amos
contenido:
A man’s uncle will be the only one left to bury him, and when he goes in to carry his body from the house, he will ask the only one still alive inside, “Are any others left?” And the answer will be, “No,” and he will add, “Shhh . . . don’t mention the name of the Lord—he might hear you.”


book: Amos
contenido:
Can horses run on rocks? Can oxen plow the sea? Stupid even to ask—but no more stupid than what you do when you make a mockery of justice and corrupt and sour all that should be good and right.


book: Amos
contenido:
And just as stupid is your rejoicing in how great you are when you are less than nothing—and priding yourselves on your own tiny power!


book: Amos
contenido:
“O Israel, I will bring against you a nation that will bitterly oppress you from your northern boundary to your southern tip, all the way from Hamath to the brook of Arabah,” says the Lord, the Lord Almighty.


book: Amos
contenido:
This is what the Lord God showed me in a vision: He was preparing a vast swarm of locusts to destroy all the main crop that sprang up after the first mowing, which went as taxes to the king.


book: Amos
contenido:
They ate everything in sight. Then I said, “O Lord God, please forgive your people! Don’t send them this plague! If you turn against Israel, what hope is there? For Israel is so small!”


book: Amos
contenido:
Then the Lord God showed me a great fire he had prepared to punish them; it had burned up the waters and was devouring the entire land.


book: Amos
contenido:
Then I said, “O Lord God, please don’t do it. If you turn against them, what hope is there? For Israel is so small!”


book: Amos
contenido:
Then he showed me this: The Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb line, checking it with a plumb line to see if it was straight.


book: Amos
contenido:
And the Lord said to me, “Amos, what do you see?”
I answered, “A plumb line.”
And he replied, “I will test my people with a plumb line. I will no longer turn away from punishing.


book: Amos
contenido:
The idol altars and temples of Israel will be destroyed, and I will destroy the dynasty of King Jeroboam by the sword.”


book: Amos
contenido:
But when Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, heard what Amos was saying, he rushed a message to Jeroboam, the king: “Amos is a traitor to our nation and is plotting your death. This is intolerable. It will lead to rebellion all across the land.


book: Amos
contenido:
Then Amaziah sent orders to Amos, “Get out of here, you prophet, you! Flee to the land of Judah and do your prophesying there!


book: Amos
contenido:
But Amos replied, “I am not really one of the prophets. I do not come from a family of prophets. I am just a herdsman and fruit picker.


book: Amos
contenido:
“Now, therefore, listen to this message to you from the Lord. You say, ‘Don’t prophesy against Israel.’


book: Amos
contenido:
The Lord’s reply is this: ‘Because of your interference, your wife will become a prostitute in this city, your sons and daughters will be killed, and your land divided up. You yourself will die in a heathen land, and the people of Israel will certainly become slaves in exile, far from their land.’”


book: Amos
contenido:
“What do you see, Amos?” he asked.
I replied, “A basket full of ripe fruit.”
Then the Lord said, “This fruit represents my people Israel—ripe for punishment. I will not defer their punishment again.


book: Amos
contenido:
The riotous sound of singing in the Temple will turn to weeping then. Dead bodies will be scattered everywhere. They will be carried out of the city in silence.” The Lord has spoken.


book: Amos
contenido:
you who long for the Sabbath to end and the religious holidays to be over so you can get out and start cheating again—using your weighted scales and under-sized measures;


book: Amos
contenido:
you who make slaves of the poor, buying them for their debt of a piece of silver or a pair of shoes, or selling them your moldy wheat:


book: Amos
contenido:
The land will tremble as it awaits its doom, and everyone will mourn. It will rise up like the river Nile at floodtime, toss about, and sink again.


book: Amos
contenido:
And I will turn your parties into times of mourning, and your songs of joy will be turned to cries of despair. You will wear funeral clothes and shave your heads as signs of sorrow, as if your only son had died; bitter, bitter will be that day.


book: Amos
contenido:
“The time is surely coming,” says the Lord God, “when I will send a famine on the land—not a famine of bread or water, but of hearing the words of the Lord.


book: Amos
contenido:
Men will wander everywhere from sea to sea, seeking the word of the Lord, searching, running here and going there, but will not find it.


book: Amos
contenido:
I saw the Lord standing beside the altar, saying, “Smash the tops of the pillars and shake the Temple until the pillars crumble and the roof crashes down upon the people below. Though they run, they will not escape; they all will be killed.


book: Amos
contenido:
“Though they dig down to Sheol, I will reach down and pull them up; though they climb into the heavens, I will bring them down.


book: Amos
contenido:
Though they hide among the rocks at the top of Carmel, I will search them out and capture them. Though they hide at the bottom of the ocean, I will send the sea serpent after them to bite and destroy them.


book: Amos
contenido:
Though they volunteer for exile, I will command the sword to kill them there. I will see to it that they receive evil and not good.”


book: Amos
contenido:
The Lord Almighty touches the land and it melts, and all its people mourn. It rises like the river Nile in Egypt and then sinks again.


book: Amos
contenido:
The upper stories of his home are in the heavens, the first floor on the earth. He calls for the vapor to rise from the ocean and pours it down as rain upon the ground. Jehovah, the Lord, is his name.


book: Amos
contenido:
“O people of Israel, are you any more to me than the Ethiopians are? Have not I, who brought you out of Egypt, done as much for other people too? I brought the Philistines from Caphtor and the Syrians out of Kir.


book: Amos
contenido:
“The eyes of the Lord God are watching Israel, that sinful nation, and I will root her up and scatter her across the world. Yet I have promised that this rooting out will not be permanent.


book: Amos
contenido:
For I have commanded that Israel be sifted by the other nations as grain is sifted in a sieve, yet not one true kernel will be lost.


book: Amos
contenido:
“Then, at that time I will rebuild the City of David, which is now lying in ruins, and return it to its former glory,


book: Amos
contenido:
and Israel will possess what is left of Edom and of all the nations that belong to me.” For so the Lord, who plans it all, has said.


book: Amos
contenido:
“The time will come when there will be such abundance of crops that the harvesttime will scarcely end before the farmer starts again to sow another crop, and the terraces of grapes upon the hills of Israel will drip sweet wine!


book: Amos
contenido:
I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel, and they will rebuild their ruined cities and live in them again; they will plant vineyards and gardens; they will eat their crops and drink their wine.


book: Amos
contenido:
I will firmly plant them there upon the land that I have given them; they shall not be pulled up again,” says the Lord your God.


book: Obad
contenido:
In a vision the Lord God showed Obadiah the future of the land of Edom.
“A report has come from the Lord,” he said, “that God has sent an ambassador to the nations with this message: ‘Attention! You are to send your armies against Edom and destroy her!’”


book: Obad
contenido:
“You are proud because you live in those high, inaccessible cliffs. ‘Who can ever reach us way up here!’ you boast. Don’t fool yourselves!


book: Obad
contenido:
Though you soar as high as eagles, and build your nest among the stars, I will bring you plummeting down,” says the Lord.


book: Obad
contenido:
“Far better it would be for you if thieves had come at night to plunder you—for they would not take everything! Or if your vineyards were robbed of all their fruit—for at least the gleanings would be left!


book: Obad
contenido:
“All your allies will turn against you and help to push you out of your land. They will promise peace while plotting your destruction. Your trusted friends will set traps for you, and all your counterstrategy will fail.


book: Obad
contenido:
In that day not one wise man will be left in all of Edom!” says the Lord. “For I will fill the wise men of Edom with stupidity.


book: Obad
contenido:
“And why? Because of what you did to your brother Israel. Now your sins will be exposed for all to see; ashamed and defenseless, you will be cut off forever.


book: Obad
contenido:
For you deserted Israel in his time of need. You stood aloof, refusing to lift a finger to help him when invaders carried off his wealth and divided Jerusalem among them by lot; you were as one of his enemies.


book: Obad
contenido:
“You should not have done it. You should not have gloated when they took him far away to foreign lands; you should not have rejoiced in the day of his misfortune; you should not have mocked in his time of need.


book: Obad
contenido:
You yourselves went into the land of Israel in the day of his calamity and looted him. You made yourselves rich at his expense.


book: Obad
contenido:
You stood at the crossroads and killed those trying to escape; you captured the survivors and returned them to their enemies in that terrible time of his distress.


book: Obad
contenido:
The Lord’s vengeance will soon fall upon all Gentile nations. As you have done to Israel, so will it be done to you. Your acts will boomerang upon your heads.


book: Obad
contenido:
You drank my cup of punishment upon my holy mountain, and the nations round about will drink it too; yes, they will drink and stagger back and disappear from history, no longer nations anymore.


book: Obad
contenido:
Israel will be a fire that sets the dry fields of Edom aflame. There will be no survivors,” for the Lord has spoken.


book: Obad
contenido:
Then my people who live in the Negeb shall occupy the hill country of Edom; those living in Judean lowlands shall possess the Philistine plains and repossess the fields of Ephraim and Samaria. And the people of Benjamin shall possess Gilead.


book: Obad
contenido:
The Israeli exiles shall return and occupy the Phoenician coastal strip as far north as Zarephath. Those exiled in Asia Minor shall return to their homeland and conquer the Negeb’s outlying villages.


book: Jonah
contenido:
“Go to the great city of Nineveh, and give them this announcement from the Lord: ‘I am going to destroy you, for your wickedness rises before me; it smells to highest heaven.’”


book: Jonah
contenido:
But Jonah was afraid to go and ran away from the Lord. He went down to the seacoast, to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket, went on board, and climbed down into the dark hold of the ship to hide there from the Lord.


book: Jonah
contenido:
But as the ship was sailing along, suddenly the Lord flung a terrific wind over the sea, causing a great storm that threatened to send them to the bottom.


book: Jonah
contenido:
Fearing for their lives, the desperate sailors shouted to their gods for help and threw the cargo overboard to lighten the ship. And all this time Jonah was sound asleep down in the hold.


book: Jonah
contenido:
So the captain went down after him. “What do you mean,” he roared, “sleeping at a time like this? Get up and cry to your god, and see if he will have mercy on us and save us!”


book: Jonah
contenido:
Then the crew decided to draw straws to see which of them had offended the gods and caused this terrible storm; and Jonah drew the short one.


book: Jonah
contenido:
“What have you done,” they asked, “to bring this awful storm upon us? Who are you? What is your work? What country are you from? What is your nationality?”


book: Jonah
contenido:
And he said, “I am a Jew; I worship Jehovah, the God of heaven, who made the earth and sea.” Then he told them he was running away from the Lord.
The men were terribly frightened when they heard this. “Oh, why did you do it?” they shouted.


book: Jonah
contenido:
“Throw me out into the sea,” he said, “and it will become calm again. For I know this terrible storm has come because of me.”


book: Jonah
contenido:
They tried harder to row the boat ashore, but couldn’t make it. The storm was too fierce to fight against.


book: Jonah
contenido:
Then they shouted out a prayer to Jehovah, Jonah’s God. “O Jehovah,” they pleaded, “don’t make us die for this man’s sin, and don’t hold us responsible for his death, for it is not our fault—you have sent this storm upon him for your own good reasons.”


book: Jonah
contenido:
Now the Lord had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights.


book: Jonah
contenido:
“In my great trouble I cried to the Lord and he answered me; from the depths of death I called, and Lord, you heard me!


book: Jonah
contenido:
You threw me into the ocean depths; I sank down into the floods of waters and was covered by your wild and stormy waves.


book: Jonah
contenido:
Then I said, ‘O Lord, you have rejected me and cast me away. How shall I ever again see your holy Temple?’


book: Jonah
contenido:
“I sank beneath the waves, and death was very near. The waters closed above me; the seaweed wrapped itself around my head.


book: Jonah
contenido:
I went down to the bottoms of the mountains that rise from the ocean floor. I was locked out of life and imprisoned in the land of death. But, O Lord my God, you have snatched me from the yawning jaws of death!


book: Jonah
contenido:
“When I had lost all hope, I turned my thoughts once more to the Lord. And my earnest prayer went to you in your holy Temple.


book: Jonah
contenido:
(Those who worship false gods have turned their backs on all the mercies waiting for them from the Lord!)


book: Jonah
contenido:
“I will never worship anyone but you! For how can I thank you enough for all you have done? I will surely fulfill my promises. For my deliverance comes from the Lord alone.”


book: Jonah
contenido:
Then the Lord spoke to Jonah again: “Go to that great city, Nineveh,” he said, “and warn them of their doom, as I told you to before!”


book: Jonah
contenido:
So Jonah obeyed and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city with many villages around it—so large that it would take three days to walk through it.


book: Jonah
contenido:
But the very first day when Jonah entered the city and began to preach, the people repented. Jonah shouted to the crowds that gathered around him, “Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!” And they believed him and declared a fast; from the king on down, everyone put on sackcloth—the rough, coarse garments worn at times of mourning.


book: Jonah
contenido:
For when the king of Nineveh heard what Jonah was saying, he stepped down from his throne, laid aside his royal robes, put on sackcloth, and sat in ashes.


book: Jonah
contenido:
And the king and his nobles sent this message throughout the city: “Let no one, not even the animals, eat anything at all, nor even drink any water.


book: Jonah
contenido:
Everyone must wear sackcloth and cry mightily to God, and let everyone turn from his evil ways, from his violence and robbing.


book: Jonah
contenido:
Who can tell? Perhaps even yet God will decide to let us live and will hold back his fierce anger from destroying us.”


book: Jonah
contenido:
And when God saw that they had put a stop to their evil ways, he abandoned his plan to destroy them and didn’t carry it through.


book: Jonah
contenido:
He complained to the Lord about it: “This is exactly what I thought you’d do, Lord, when I was there in my own country and you first told me to come here. That’s why I ran away to Tarshish. For I knew you were a gracious God, merciful, slow to get angry, and full of kindness; I knew how easily you could cancel your plans for destroying these people.


book: Jonah
contenido:
So Jonah went out and sat sulking on the east side of the city, and he made a leafy shelter to shade him as he waited there to see if anything would happen to the city.


book: Jonah
contenido:
And when the leaves of the shelter withered in the heat, the Lord arranged for a vine to grow up quickly and spread its broad leaves over Jonah’s head to shade him. This made him comfortable and very grateful.


book: Jonah
contenido:
But God also prepared a worm! The next morning the worm ate through the stem of the plant, so that it withered away and died.


book: Jonah
contenido:
Then when the sun was hot, God ordered a scorching east wind to blow on Jonah, and the sun beat down upon his head until he grew faint and wished to die. For he said, “Death is better than this!”


book: Jonah
contenido:
And God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry because the plant died?”
“Yes,” Jonah said, “it is; it is right for me to be angry enough to die!”


book: Jonah
contenido:
Then the Lord said, “You feel sorry for yourself when your shelter is destroyed, though you did no work to put it there, and it is, at best, short-lived.


book: Jonah
contenido:
And why shouldn’t I feel sorry for a great city like Nineveh with its 120,000 people in utter spiritual darkness and all its cattle?”


book: Mic
contenido:
These are messages from the Lord to Micah, who lived in the town of Moresheth during the reigns of King Jotham, King Ahaz, and King Hezekiah, all kings of Judah. The messages were addressed to both Samaria and Judah and came to Micah in the form of visions.


book: Mic
contenido:
Attention! Let all the peoples of the world listen. For the Lord in his holy Temple has made accusations against you!


book: Mic
contenido:
They melt beneath his feet and flow into the valleys like wax in fire, like water pouring down a hill.


book: Mic
contenido:
And why is this happening? Because of the sins of Israel and Judah. What sins? The idolatry and oppression centering in the capital cities, Samaria and Jerusalem!


book: Mic
contenido:
Therefore, the entire city of Samaria will crumble into a heap of rubble and become an open field, her streets plowed up for planting grapes! The Lord will tear down her wall and her forts, exposing their foundations, and pour their stones into the valleys below.


book: Mic
contenido:
All her carved images will be smashed to pieces; her ornate idol temples, built with the gifts of worshipers, will all be burned.


book: Mic
contenido:
I will wail and lament, howling as a jackal, mournful as an ostrich crying across the desert sands at night. I will walk naked and barefoot in sorrow and shame;


book: Mic
contenido:
for my people’s wound is far too deep to heal. The Lord stands ready at Jerusalem’s gates to punish her.


book: Mic
contenido:
Woe to the city of Gath. Weep, men of Bakah. In Beth-leaphrah roll in the dust in your anguish and shame.


book: Mic
contenido:
There go the people of Shaphir, led away as slaves—stripped, naked and ashamed. The people of Zaanan* dare not show themselves outside their walls. The foundations of Beth-ezel* are swept away—the very ground on which it stood.


book: Mic
contenido:
The people of Maroth vainly hope for better days, but only bitterness awaits them as the Lord stands poised against Jerusalem.


book: Mic
contenido:
Quick! Use your swiftest chariots and flee, O people of Lachish, for you were the first of the cities of Judah to follow Israel in her sin of idol worship. Then all the cities of the south began to follow your example.


book: Mic
contenido:
Write off Moresheth of Gath; there is no hope of saving her. The town of Achzib has deceived the kings of Israel, for she promised help she cannot give.


book: Mic
contenido:
You people of Mareshah will be a prize to your enemies. They will penetrate to Adullam, the “Pride of Israel.”


book: Mic
contenido:
Weep, weep for your little ones. For they are snatched away, and you will never see them again. They have gone as slaves to distant lands. Shave your heads in sorrow.


book: Mic
contenido:
Woe to you who lie awake at night, plotting wickedness; you rise at dawn to carry out your schemes; because you can, you do.


book: Mic
contenido:
You want a certain piece of land or someone else’s house (though it is all he has); you take it by fraud and threats and violence.


book: Mic
contenido:
But the Lord God says, “I will reward your evil with evil; nothing can stop me; never again will you be proud and haughty after I am through with you.


book: Mic
contenido:
Then your enemies will taunt you and mock your dirge of despair: ‘We are finished, ruined. God has confiscated our land and sent us far away; he has given what is ours to others.’”


book: Mic
contenido:
“Don’t say such things,” the people say. “Don’t harp on things like that. It’s disgraceful, that sort of talk. Such evils surely will not come our way.”


book: Mic
contenido:
Is that the right reply for you to make, O House of Jacob? Do you think the Spirit of the Lord likes to talk to you so roughly? No! His threats are for your good, to get you on the path again.


book: Mic
contenido:
Yet to this very hour my people rise against me. For you steal the shirts right off the backs of those who trusted you, who walk in peace.


book: Mic
contenido:
You have driven out the widows from their homes and stripped their children of every God-given right.


book: Mic
contenido:
Up! Begone! This is no more your land and home, for you have filled it with sin, and it will vomit you out.


book: Mic
contenido:
“I’ll preach to you the joys of wine and drink”—that is the kind of drunken, lying prophet that you like!


book: Mic
contenido:
“The time will come, O Israel, when I will gather you—all that are left—and bring you together again like sheep in a fold, like a flock in a pasture—a noisy, happy crowd.


book: Mic
contenido:
The Messiah will lead you out of exile and bring you through the gates of your cities of captivity, back to your own land. Your King will go before you—the Lord leads on.”


book: Mic
contenido:
yet you are the very ones who hate good and love evil; you skin my people and strip them to the bone.


book: Mic
contenido:
and then you plead with the Lord for his help in times of trouble! Do you really expect him to listen? He will look the other way!


book: Mic
contenido:
You false prophets! You who lead his people astray! You who cry “Peace” to those who give you food and threaten those who will not pay!
This is God’s message to you:


book: Mic
contenido:
“The night will close about you and cut off all your visions; darkness will cover you with never a word from God. The sun will go down upon you, and your day will end.


book: Mic
contenido:
But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, fearlessly announcing God’s punishment on Israel for her sins.


book: Mic
contenido:
you leaders who take bribes; you priests and prophets who won’t preach and prophesy until you’re paid. (And yet you fawn upon the Lord and say, “All is well—the Lord is here among us. No harm can come to us.”)


book: Mic
contenido:
It is because of you that Jerusalem will be plowed like a field and become a heap of rubble; the mountaintop where the Temple stands will be overgrown with brush.


book: Mic
contenido:
But in the last days Mount Zion will be the most renowned of all the mountains of the world, praised by all nations; people from all over the world will make pilgrimages there.


book: Mic
contenido:
“Come,” they will say to one another, “let us visit the mountain of the Lord, and see the Temple of the God of Israel; he will tell us what to do, and we will do it.” For in those days the whole world will be ruled by the Lord from Jerusalem! He will issue his laws and announce his decrees from there.


book: Mic
contenido:
He will arbitrate among the nations and dictate to strong nations far away. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nations shall no longer fight each other, for all war will end. There will be universal peace, and all the military academies and training camps will be closed down.


book: Mic
contenido:
Everyone will live quietly in his own home in peace and prosperity, for there will be nothing to fear. The Lord himself has promised this.


book: Mic
contenido:
(Therefore we will follow the Lord our God forever and ever, even though all the nations around us worship idols!)


book: Mic
contenido:
In that coming day, the Lord says that he will bring back his punished people—sick and lame and dispossessed—


book: Mic
contenido:
and make them strong again in their own land, a mighty nation, and the Lord himself shall be their King from Mount Zion forever.


book: Mic
contenido:
O Jerusalem—the Watchtower of God’s people—your royal might and power will come back to you again, just as before.


book: Mic
contenido:
But for now, you scream in terror. Where is your king to lead you? He is dead! Where are your wise men? All are gone! Pain has gripped you like a woman in labor.


book: Mic
contenido:
Writhe and groan in your terrible pain, O people of Zion, for you must leave this city and live in the fields; you will be sent far away into exile in Babylon. But there I will rescue you and free you from the grip of your enemies.


book: Mic
contenido:
True, many nations have gathered together against you, calling for your blood, eager to destroy you.


book: Mic
contenido:
But they do not know the thoughts of the Lord nor understand his plan, for the time will come when the Lord will gather together the enemies of his people like sheaves upon the threshing floor, helpless before Israel.


book: Mic
contenido:
Rise, thresh, O daughter of Zion; I will give you horns of iron and hoofs of brass; you will trample to pieces many people, and you will give their wealth as offerings to the Lord, the Lord of all the earth.


book: Mic
contenido:
Mobilize! The enemy lays siege to Jerusalem! With a rod they shall strike the Judge of Israel on the face.


book: Mic
contenido:
“O Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are but a small Judean village, yet you will be the birthplace of my King who is alive from everlasting ages past!”


book: Mic
contenido:
God will abandon his people to their enemies until she who is to give birth has her son; then at last his fellow countrymen—the exile remnants of Israel—will rejoin their brethren in their own land.


book: Mic
contenido:
And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God, and his people shall remain there undisturbed, for he will be greatly honored all around the world.


book: Mic
contenido:
He will be our Peace. And when the Assyrian invades our land and marches across our hills, he will appoint seven shepherds to watch over us, eight princes to lead us.


book: Mic
contenido:
They will rule Assyria with drawn swords and enter the gates of the land of Nimrod. He will deliver us from the Assyrians when they invade our land.


book: Mic
contenido:
for I will abolish the heathen shrines from among you, and destroy the cities where your idol temples stand.


book: Mic
contenido:
Listen to what the Lord is saying to his people:
“Stand up and state your case against me. Let the mountains and hills be called to witness your complaint.


book: Mic
contenido:
“And now, O mountains, listen to the Lord’s complaint! For he has a case against his people Israel! He will prosecute them to the full.


book: Mic
contenido:
O my people, what have I done that makes you turn away from me? Tell me why your patience is exhausted! Answer me!


book: Mic
contenido:
For I brought you out of Egypt and cut your chains of slavery. I gave you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to help you.


book: Mic
contenido:
“Don’t you remember, O my people, how Balak, king of Moab, tried to destroy you through the curse of Balaam, son of Beor, but I made him bless you instead? That is the kindness I showed you again and again. Have you no memory at all of what happened at Acacia and Gilgal and how I blessed you there?”


book: Mic
contenido:
“How can we make up to you for what we’ve done?” you ask. “Shall we bow before the Lord with offerings of yearling calves?”
Oh no!


book: Mic
contenido:
For if you offered him thousands of rams and ten thousands of rivers of olive oil—would that please him? Would he be satisfied? If you sacrificed your oldest child, would that make him glad? Then would he forgive your sins? Of course not!


book: Mic
contenido:
No, he has told you what he wants, and this is all it is: to be fair, just, merciful, and to walk humbly with your God.


book: Mic
contenido:
The Lord’s voice calls out to all Jerusalem—listen to the Lord if you are wise! “The armies of destruction are coming; the Lord is sending them.


book: Mic
contenido:
For your sins are very great—is there to be no end of getting rich by cheating? The homes of the wicked are full of ungodly treasures and lying scales.


book: Mic
contenido:
Shall I say ‘Good!’ to all your merchants with their bags of false, deceitful weights? How could God be just while saying that?


book: Mic
contenido:
Your rich men are wealthy through extortion and violence; your citizens are so used to lying that their tongues can’t tell the truth!


book: Mic
contenido:
You will eat but never have enough; hunger pangs and emptiness will still remain. And though you try and try to save your money, it will come to nothing at the end, and what little you succeed in storing up I’ll give to those who conquer you!


book: Mic
contenido:
You will plant crops but not harvest them; you will press out the oil from the olives and not get enough to anoint yourself! You will trample the grapes but get no juice to make your wine.


book: Mic
contenido:
“The only commands you keep are those of Omri; the only example you follow is that of Ahab! Therefore, I will make an awesome example of you—I will destroy you. I will make you the laughingstock of the world; all who see you will snicker and sneer!”


book: Mic
contenido:
Woe is me! It is as hard to find an honest man as grapes and figs when harvest days are over. Not a cluster to eat, not a single early fig, however much I long for it! The good men have disappeared from the earth; not one fair-minded man is left. They are all murderers, turning against even their own brothers.


book: Mic
contenido:
They go at their evil deeds with both hands, and how skilled they are in using them! The governor and judge alike demand bribes. The rich man pays them off and tells them whom to ruin. Justice is twisted between them.


book: Mic
contenido:
Even the best of them are prickly as briars; the straightest is more crooked than a hedge of thorns. But your judgment day is coming swiftly now; your time of punishment is almost here; confusion, destruction, and terror will be yours.


book: Mic
contenido:
For the son despises his father; the daughter defies her mother; the bride curses her mother-in-law. Yes, a man’s enemies will be found in his own home.


book: Mic
contenido:
Do not rejoice against me, O my enemy, for though I fall, I will rise again! When I sit in darkness, the Lord himself will be my Light.


book: Mic
contenido:
I will be patient while the Lord punishes me, for I have sinned against him; then he will defend me from my enemies and punish them for all the evil they have done to me. God will bring me out of my darkness into the light, and I will see his goodness.


book: Mic
contenido:
Then my enemy will see that God is for me and be ashamed for taunting, “Where is that God of yours?” Now with my own eyes I see them trampled down like mud in the street.


book: Mic
contenido:
Citizens of many lands will come and honor you—from Assyria to Egypt, and from Egypt to the Euphrates, from sea to sea and from distant hills and mountains.


book: Mic
contenido:
O Lord, come and rule your people; lead your flock; make them live in peace and prosperity; let them enjoy the fertile pastures of Bashan and Gilead as they did long ago.


book: Mic
contenido:
“Yes,” replies the Lord, “I will do mighty miracles for you, like those when I brought you out of slavery in Egypt.


book: Mic
contenido:
All the world will stand amazed at what I will do for you and be embarrassed at their puny might. They will stand in silent awe, deaf to all around them.”


book: Mic
contenido:
They will see what snakes they are, lowly as worms crawling from their holes. They will come trembling out from their fortresses to meet the Lord our God. They will fear him; they will stand in awe.


book: Mic
contenido:
Where is another God like you, who pardons the sins of the survivors among his people? You cannot stay angry with your people, for you love to be merciful.


book: Mic
contenido:
Once again you will have compassion on us. You will tread our sins beneath your feet; you will throw them into the depths of the ocean!


book: Mic
contenido:
You will bless us as you promised Jacob long ago. You will set your love upon us, as you promised our father Abraham!


book: Nah
contenido:
This is the vision God gave to Nahum, who lived in Elkosh, concerning the impending doom of Nineveh:


book: Nah
contenido:
God is jealous over those he loves; that is why he takes vengeance on those who hurt them. He furiously destroys their enemies.


book: Nah
contenido:
He is slow in getting angry, but when aroused, his power is incredible, and he does not easily forgive. He shows his power in the terrors of the cyclone and the raging storms; clouds are billowing dust beneath his feet!


book: Nah
contenido:
At his command the oceans and rivers become dry sand; the lush pastures of Bashan and Carmel fade away; the green forests of Lebanon wilt.


book: Nah
contenido:
Who can stand before an angry God? His fury is like fire; the mountains tumble down before his anger.


book: Nah
contenido:
The Lord is good. When trouble comes, he is the place to go! And he knows everyone who trusts in him!


book: Nah
contenido:
What are you thinking of, Nineveh, to defy the Lord? He will stop you with one blow; he won’t need to strike again.


book: Nah
contenido:
He tosses his enemies into the fire like a tangled mass of thorns. They burst into flames like straw.


book: Nah
contenido:
But the Lord is not afraid of him! “Though he build his army millions strong,” the Lord declares, “it will vanish.
“O my people, I have punished you enough!


book: Nah
contenido:
And to the king he says, “I have ordered an end to your dynasty; your sons will never sit upon your throne. And I will destroy your gods and temples, and I will bury you! For how you stink with sin!”


book: Nah
contenido:
See, the messengers come running down the mountains with glad news: “The invaders have been wiped out and we are safe!” O Judah, proclaim a day of thanksgiving and worship only the Lord, as you have vowed. For this enemy from Nineveh will never come again. He is cut off forever; he will never be seen again.


book: Nah
contenido:
Nineveh, you are finished! You are already surrounded by enemy armies! Sound the alarm! Man the ramparts! Muster your defenses, full force, and keep a sharp watch for the enemy attack to begin!


book: Nah
contenido:
For the land of the people of God lies empty and broken after your attacks, but the Lord will restore their honor and power again!


book: Nah
contenido:
Shields flash red in the sunlight! The attack begins! See their scarlet uniforms! See their glittering chariots moving forward side by side, pulled by prancing steeds!


book: Nah
contenido:
Your own chariots race recklessly along the streets and through the squares, darting like lightning, gleaming like torches.


book: Nah
contenido:
The king shouts for his officers; they stumble in their haste, rushing to the walls to set up their defenses.


book: Nah
contenido:
The queen of Nineveh is brought out naked to the streets and led away, a slave, with all her maidens weeping after her; listen to them mourn like doves and beat their breasts!


book: Nah
contenido:
Nineveh is like a leaking water tank! Her soldiers slip away, deserting her; she cannot hold them back. “Stop, stop,” she shouts, but they keep on running.


book: Nah
contenido:
Loot the silver! Loot the gold! There seems to be no end of treasures. Her vast, uncounted wealth is stripped away.


book: Nah
contenido:
Soon the city is an empty shambles; hearts melt in horror; knees quake; her people stand aghast, pale-faced and trembling.


book: Nah
contenido:
Where now is that great Nineveh, lion of the nations, full of fight and boldness, where even the old and feeble, as well as the young and tender, lived unafraid?


book: Nah
contenido:
O Nineveh, once mighty lion! You crushed your enemies to feed your children and your wives, and filled your city and your homes with captured goods and slaves.


book: Nah
contenido:
But now the Lord Almighty has turned against you. He destroys your weapons. Your chariots stand there, silent and unused. Your finest youths lie dead. Never again will you bring back slaves from conquered nations; never again will you rule the earth.


book: Nah
contenido:
Listen! Hear the crack of the whips as the chariots rush forward against her, wheels rumbling, horses’ hoofs pounding, and chariots clattering as they bump wildly through the streets!


book: Nah
contenido:
See the flashing swords and glittering spears in the upraised arms of the cavalry! The dead are lying in the streets—bodies, heaps of bodies, everywhere. Men stumble over them, scramble to their feet, and fall again.


book: Nah
contenido:
All this because Nineveh sold herself to the enemies of God. The beautiful and faithless city, mistress of deadly charms, enticed the nations with her beauty, then taught them all to worship her false gods, bewitching people everywhere.


book: Nah
contenido:
“No wonder I stand against you,” says the Lord Almighty; “and now all the earth will see your nakedness and shame.


book: Nah
contenido:
All who see you will shrink back in horror: “Nineveh lies in utter ruin.” Yet no one anywhere regrets your fate!


book: Nah
contenido:
Ethiopia and the whole land of Egypt were her mighty allies, and she could call on them for infinite assistance, as well as Put and Libya.


book: Nah
contenido:
Yet Thebes fell and her people were led off as slaves; her babies were dashed to death against the stones of the streets. Soldiers drew straws to see who would get her officers as servants. All her leaders were bound in chains.


book: Nah
contenido:
All your forts will fall. They will be devoured like first-ripe figs that fall into the mouths of those who shake the trees.


book: Nah
contenido:
Your troops will be weak and helpless as women. The gates of your land will be opened wide to the enemy and set on fire and burned.


book: Nah
contenido:
Get ready for the siege! Store up water! Strengthen the forts! Prepare many bricks for repairing your walls! Go into the pits to trample the clay, and pack it in the molds!


book: Nah
contenido:
But in the middle of your preparations, the fire will devour you; the sword will cut you down; the enemy will consume you like young locusts that eat up everything before them. There is no escape, though you multiply like grasshoppers.


book: Nah
contenido:
Merchants, numerous as stars, filled your city with vast wealth, but your enemies swarm like locusts and carry it away.


book: Nah
contenido:
Your princes and officials crowd together like grasshoppers in the hedges in the cold, but all of them will flee away and disappear, like locusts when the sun comes up and warms the earth.


book: Nah
contenido:
O Assyrian king, your princes lie dead in the dust; your people are scattered across the mountains; there is no shepherd now to gather them.


book: Nah
contenido:
There is no healing for your wound—it is far too deep to cure. All who hear your fate will clap their hands for joy, for where can one be found who has not suffered from your cruelty?


book: Hab
contenido:
O Lord, how long must I call for help before you will listen? I shout to you in vain; there is no answer. “Help! Murder!” I cry, but no one comes to save.


book: Hab
contenido:
Must I forever see this sin and sadness all around me?
Wherever I look I see oppression and bribery and men who love to argue and to fight.


book: Hab
contenido:
The law is not enforced, and there is no justice given in the courts, for the wicked far outnumber the righteous, and bribes and trickery prevail.


book: Hab
contenido:
The Lord replied: “Look, and be amazed! You will be astounded at what I am about to do! For I am going to do something in your own lifetime that you will have to see to believe.


book: Hab
contenido:
I am raising a new force on the world scene, the Chaldeans, a cruel and violent nation who will march across the world and conquer it.


book: Hab
contenido:
Their horses are swifter than leopards. They are a fierce people, more fierce than wolves at dusk. Their cavalry move proudly forward from a distant land; like eagles they come swooping down to pounce upon their prey.


book: Hab
contenido:
“They scoff at kings and princes and scorn their forts. They simply heap up dirt against their walls and capture them!


book: Hab
contenido:
They sweep past like wind and are gone, but their guilt is deep, for they claim their power is from their gods.”


book: Hab
contenido:
O Lord my God, my Holy One, you who are eternal—is your plan in all of this to wipe us out? Surely not! O God our Rock, you have decreed the rise of these Chaldeans to chasten and correct us for our awful sins.


book: Hab
contenido:
We are wicked, but they far more! Will you, who cannot allow sin in any form, stand idly by while they swallow us up? Should you be silent while the wicked destroy those who are better than they?


book: Hab
contenido:
Are we but fish, to be caught and killed? Are we but creeping things that have no leader to defend them from their foes?


book: Hab
contenido:
Then they will worship their nets and burn incense before them! “These are the gods who make us rich,” they’ll say.


book: Hab
contenido:
And the Lord said to me, “Write my answer on a billboard, large and clear, so that anyone can read it at a glance and rush to tell the others.


book: Hab
contenido:
But these things I plan won’t happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day!


book: Hab
contenido:
“Note this: Wicked men trust themselves alone as these Chaldeans do, and fail; but the righteous man trusts in me and lives!*


book: Hab
contenido:
What’s more, these arrogant Chaldeans are betrayed by all their wine, for it is treacherous. In their greed they have collected many nations, but like death and hell, they are never satisfied.


book: Hab
contenido:
The time is coming when all their captives will taunt them, saying: ‘You robbers! At last justice has caught up with you! Now you will get your just deserts for your oppression and extortion!’


book: Hab
contenido:
“Suddenly your debtors will rise up in anger and turn on you and take all you have, while you stand trembling and helpless.


book: Hab
contenido:
You have ruined many nations; now they will ruin you. You murderers! You have filled the countryside with lawlessness and all the cities too.


book: Hab
contenido:
The very stones in the walls of your homes cry out against you, and the beams in the ceilings echo what they say.


book: Hab
contenido:
Has not the Lord decreed that godless nations’ gains will turn to ashes in their hands? They work so hard, but all in vain!


book: Hab
contenido:
(“The time will come when all the earth is filled, as the waters fill the sea, with an awareness of the glory of the Lord.)


book: Hab
contenido:
“Woe to you for making your neighboring lands reel and stagger like drunkards beneath your blows, and then gloating over their nakedness and shame.


book: Hab
contenido:
Soon your own glory will be replaced by shame. Drink down God’s judgment on yourselves. Stagger and fall!


book: Hab
contenido:
You cut down the forests of Lebanon—now you will be cut down! You terrified the wild animals you caught in your traps—now terror will strike you because of all your murdering and violence in cities everywhere.


book: Hab
contenido:
“What profit was there in worshiping all your man-made idols? What a foolish lie that they could help! What fools you were to trust what you yourselves had made.


book: Hab
contenido:
Woe to those who command their lifeless wooden idols to arise and save them, who call out to the speechless stone to tell them what to do. Can images speak for God? They are overlaid with gold and silver, but there is no breath at all inside!


book: Hab
contenido:
O Lord, now I have heard your report, and I worship you in awe for the fearful things you are going to do. In this time of our deep need, begin again to help us, as you did in years gone by. Show us your power to save us. In your wrath, remember mercy.


book: Hab
contenido:
I see God moving across the deserts from Mount Sinai. His brilliant splendor fills the earth and sky; his glory fills the heavens, and the earth is full of his praise! What a wonderful God he is!


book: Hab
contenido:
He stops; he stands still for a moment, gazing at the earth. Then he shakes the nations, scattering the everlasting mountains and leveling the hills. His power is just the same as always!


book: Hab
contenido:
Was it in anger, Lord, you smote the rivers and parted the sea? Were you displeased with them? No, you were sending your chariots of salvation! All saw your power! Then springs burst forth upon the earth at your command!


book: Hab
contenido:
The mountains watched and trembled. Onward swept the raging water. The mighty deep cried out, announcing its surrender to the Lord.


book: Hab
contenido:
The lofty sun and moon began to fade, obscured by brilliance from your arrows and the flashing of your glittering spear.


book: Hab
contenido:
You went out to save your chosen people. You crushed the head of the wicked and laid bare his bones from head to toe.


book: Hab
contenido:
You destroyed with their own weapons those who came out like a whirlwind, thinking Israel would be an easy prey.


book: Hab
contenido:
I tremble when I hear all this; my lips quiver with fear. My legs give way beneath me, and I shake in terror. I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon the people who invade us.


book: Hab
contenido:
Even though the fig trees are all destroyed, and there is neither blossom left nor fruit; though the olive crops all fail, and the fields lie barren; even if the flocks die in the fields and the cattle barns are empty,


book: Hab
contenido:
The Lord God is my strength; he will give me the speed of a deer and bring me safely over the mountains.
(A note to the choir director: When singing this ode, the choir is to be accompanied by stringed instruments.)


book: Zeph
contenido:
Subject: a message from the Lord.
To: Zephaniah (son of Cushi, grandson of Gedaliah, great-grandson of Amariah, and great-great-grandson of Hezekiah). When: During the reign of Josiah (son of Amon) king of Judah.


book: Zeph
contenido:
I will sweep away both men and animals alike. Mankind and all the idols that he worships—all will vanish. Even the birds of the air and the fish in the sea will perish.


book: Zeph
contenido:
I will crush Judah and Jerusalem with my fist and destroy every remnant of those who worship Baal; I will put an end to their idolatrous priests, so that even the memory of them will disappear.


book: Zeph
contenido:
They go up on their roofs and bow to the sun, moon, and stars. They ‘follow the Lord,’ but worship Molech too! I will destroy them.


book: Zeph
contenido:
And I will destroy those who formerly worshiped the Lord, but now no longer do, and those who never loved him and never wanted to.”


book: Zeph
contenido:
Stand in silence in the presence of the Lord. For the awesome Day of his Judgment has come; he has prepared a great slaughter of his people and has chosen their executioners.


book: Zeph
contenido:
“On that Day of Judgment I will punish the leaders and princes of Judah and all others wearing heathen clothing.


book: Zeph
contenido:
Yes, I will punish those who follow heathen customs and who rob and kill to fill their masters’ homes with evil gain of violence and fraud.


book: Zeph
contenido:
A cry of alarm will begin at the farthest gate of Jerusalem, coming closer and closer until the noise of the advancing army reaches the very top of the hill where the city is built.


book: Zeph
contenido:
“Wail in sorrow, you people of Jerusalem. All your greedy businessmen, all your loan sharks—all will die.


book: Zeph
contenido:
“I will search with lanterns in Jerusalem’s darkest corners to find and punish those who sit contented in their sins, indifferent to God, thinking he will leave them alone.


book: Zeph
contenido:
They are the very ones whose property will be plundered by the enemy, whose homes will be ransacked; they will never have a chance to live in the new homes they have built. They will never drink wine from the vineyards they have planted.


book: Zeph
contenido:
It is a day of the wrath of God poured out; it is a day of terrible distress and anguish, a day of ruin and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, of clouds, blackness,


book: Zeph
contenido:
“I will make you as helpless as a blind man searching for a path because you have sinned against the Lord; therefore, your blood will be poured out into the dust and your bodies will lie there rotting on the ground.”


book: Zeph
contenido:
Your silver and gold will be of no use to you in that day of the Lord’s wrath. You cannot ransom yourselves with it. For the whole land will be devoured by the fire of his jealousy. He will make a speedy riddance of all the people of Judah.


book: Zeph
contenido:
while there still is time—before judgment begins and your opportunity is blown away like chaff; before the fierce anger of the Lord falls and the terrible day of his wrath begins.


book: Zeph
contenido:
Beg him to save you, all who are humble—all who have tried to obey.
Walk humbly and do what is right; perhaps even yet the Lord will protect you from his wrath in that day of doom.


book: Zeph
contenido:
Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron—these Philistine cities, too, will be rooted out and left in desolation.


book: Zeph
contenido:
And woe to you Philistines living on the coast and in the land of Canaan, for the judgment is against you too. The Lord will destroy you until not one of you is left.


book: Zeph
contenido:
There the little remnant of the tribe of Judah will be pastured. They will lie down to rest in the abandoned houses in Ashkelon. For the Lord God will visit his people in kindness and restore their prosperity again.


book: Zeph
contenido:
“I have heard the taunts of the people of Moab and Ammon, mocking my people and invading their land.


book: Zeph
contenido:
Therefore as I live,” says the Lord Almighty, God of Israel, “Moab and Ammon will be destroyed like Sodom and Gomorrah and become a place of stinging nettles, salt pits, and eternal desolation; those of my people who are left will plunder and possess them.”


book: Zeph
contenido:
They will receive the wages of their pride, for they have scoffed at the people of the Lord Almighty.


book: Zeph
contenido:
The Lord will do terrible things to them. He will starve out all those gods of foreign powers, and everyone shall worship him, each in his own land throughout the world.


book: Zeph
contenido:
and so will the lands of the north; he will destroy Assyria and make its great capital Nineveh a desolate wasteland like a wilderness.


book: Zeph
contenido:
That once proud city will become a pastureland for sheep. All sorts of wild animals will have their homes in her. Hedgehogs will burrow there; the vultures and the owls will live among the ruins of her palaces, hooting from the gaping windows; the ravens will croak from her doors. All her cedar paneling will lie open to the wind and weather.


book: Zeph
contenido:
This is the fate of that vast, prosperous city that lived in such security, that said to herself, “In all the world there is no city as great as I.” But now—see how she has become a place of utter ruins, a place for animals to live! Everyone passing that way will mock or shake his head in disbelief.


book: Zeph
contenido:
In her pride she won’t listen even to the voice of God. No one can tell her anything; she refuses all correction. She does not trust the Lord nor seek for God.


book: Zeph
contenido:
Her leaders are like roaring lions hunting for their victims—out for everything that they can get. Her judges are like ravenous wolves at evening time, who by dawn have left no trace of their prey.


book: Zeph
contenido:
Her “prophets” are liars seeking their own gain; her priests defile the Temple by their disobedience to God’s laws.


book: Zeph
contenido:
But the Lord is there within the city, and he does no wrong. Day by day his justice is more evident, but no one heeds—the wicked know no shame.


book: Zeph
contenido:
“I have cut off many nations, laying them waste to their farthest borders; I have left their streets in silent ruin and their cities deserted without a single survivor to remember what happened.


book: Zeph
contenido:
I thought, ‘Surely they will listen to me now—surely they will heed my warnings, so that I’ll not need to strike again.’ But no; however much I punish them, they continue all their evil ways from dawn to dusk and dusk to dawn.”


book: Zeph
contenido:
But the Lord says, “Be patient; the time is coming soon when I will stand up and accuse these evil nations. For it is my decision to gather together the kingdoms of the earth and pour out my fiercest anger and wrath upon them. All the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.


book: Zeph
contenido:
“At that time I will change the speech of my returning people to pure Hebrew so that all can worship the Lord together.


book: Zeph
contenido:
My scattered people who live in the Sudan, beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, will come with their offerings, asking me to be their God again.


book: Zeph
contenido:
And then you will no longer need to be ashamed of yourselves, for you will no longer be rebels against me. I will remove all your proud and arrogant people from among you; there will be no pride or haughtiness on my holy mountain.


book: Zeph
contenido:
They will not be sinners, full of lies and deceit. They will live quietly, in peace, and lie down in safety, and no one will make them afraid.”


book: Zeph
contenido:
Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.


book: Zeph
contenido:
For the Lord will remove his hand of judgment and disperse the armies of your enemy. And the Lord himself, the King of Israel, will live among you! At last your troubles will be over—you need fear no more.


book: Zeph
contenido:
For the Lord your God has arrived to live among you. He is a mighty Savior. He will give you victory. He will rejoice over you with great gladness; he will love you and not accuse you.” Is that a joyous choir I hear? No, it is the Lord himself exulting over you in happy song.
“I have gathered your wounded and taken away your reproach.


book: Zeph
contenido:
And I will deal severely with all who have oppressed you. I will save the weak and helpless ones, and bring together those who were chased away. I will give glory to my former exiles, mocked and shamed.


book: Zeph
contenido:
“At that time, I will gather you together and bring you home again, and give you a good name, a name of distinction among all the peoples of the earth, and they will praise you when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes,” says the Lord.


book: Hag
contenido:
Subject: a message from the Lord.
To: Haggai the prophet, who delivered it to Zerubbabel (son of Shealtiel), governor of Judah; and to Joshua (son of Josedech), the High Priest—for it was addressed to them.
When: In late August of the second year of the reign of King Darius I.


book: Hag
contenido:
His reply to them is this: “Is it then the right time for you to live in luxurious homes, when the Temple lies in ruins?


book: Hag
contenido:
You plant much but harvest little. You have scarcely enough to eat or drink and not enough clothes to keep you warm. Your income disappears, as though you were putting it into pockets filled with holes!


book: Hag
contenido:
“Think it over,” says the Lord Almighty. “Consider how you have acted and what has happened as a result!


book: Hag
contenido:
Then go up into the mountains, bring down timber, and rebuild my Temple, and I will be pleased with it and appear there in my glory,” says the Lord.


book: Hag
contenido:
“You hope for much but get so little. And when you bring it home, I blow it away—it doesn’t last at all. Why? Because my Temple lies in ruins, and you don’t care. Your only concern is your own fine homes.


book: Hag
contenido:
In fact, I have called for a drought upon the land, yes, and in the highlands too—a drought to wither the grain and grapes and olives and all your other crops, a drought to starve both you and all your cattle and ruin everything you have worked so hard to get.”


book: Hag
contenido:
Then Zerubbabel (son of Shealtiel), the governor of Judah, and Joshua (son of Josedech), the High Priest, and the few people remaining in the land obeyed Haggai’s message from the Lord their God; they began to worship him in earnest.


book: Hag
contenido:
Then the Lord told them (again sending the message through Haggai, his messenger), “I am with you; I will bless you.”


book: Hag
contenido:
And the Lord gave them a desire to rebuild his Temple; so they all gathered in early September of the second year of King Darius’s reign and volunteered their help.


book: Hag
contenido:
“‘Who among you can remember the Temple as it was before? How glorious it was! In comparison, it is nothing now, is it?


book: Hag
contenido:
But take courage, O Zerubbabel and Joshua and all the people; take courage and work, for I am with you, says the Lord Almighty.


book: Hag
contenido:
“For the Lord Almighty says, ‘In just a little while I will begin to shake the heavens and earth—and the oceans, too, and the dry land.


book: Hag
contenido:
I will shake all nations, and the Desire of All Nations shall come to this Temple, and I will fill this place with my glory,’ says the Lord Almighty.


book: Hag
contenido:
‘The future splendor of this Temple will be greater than the splendor of the first one! For I have plenty of silver and gold to do it! And here I will give peace,’ says the Lord.”


book: Hag
contenido:
In early December, in the second year of the reign of King Darius, this message came from the Lord through Haggai the prophet:


book: Hag
contenido:
‘If one of you is carrying a holy sacrifice in his robes and happens to brush against some bread or wine or meat, will it too become holy?’”
“No,” the priests replied. “Holiness does not pass to other things that way.”


book: Hag
contenido:
Then Haggai asked, “But if someone touches a dead person, and so becomes ceremonially impure, and then brushes against something, does it become contaminated?”
And the priests answered, “Yes.”


book: Hag
contenido:
Haggai then made his meaning clear. “You people,” he said (speaking for the Lord), “were contaminating your sacrifices by living with selfish attitudes and evil hearts—and not only your sacrifices, but everything else that you did as a ‘service’ to me.


book: Hag
contenido:
And so everything you did went wrong. But all is different now because you have begun to build the Temple.


book: Hag
contenido:
Before, when you expected a twenty-bushel crop, there were only ten. When you came to draw fifty gallons from the olive press, there were only twenty. I rewarded all your labor with rust and mildew and hail. Yet, even so, you refused to return to me, says the Lord.


book: Hag
contenido:
“But now note this: From today, this 24th day of the month, as the foundation of the Lord’s Temple is finished, and from this day onward, I will bless you. Notice, I am giving you this promise now before you have even begun to rebuild the Temple structure, and before you have harvested your grain, and before the grapes, the figs, the pomegranates, and olives have produced their next crops: From this day I will bless you.”


book: Hag
contenido:
to overthrow thrones, destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations. I will overthrow their armed might, and brothers and companions will kill each other.


book: Hag
contenido:
But when that happens, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, and honor you like a signet ring upon my finger; for I have specially chosen you,’ says the Lord Almighty.”


book: Zech
contenido:
Subject: messages from the Lord. These messages from the Lord were given to Zechariah (son of Berechiah and grandson of Iddo the prophet) in early November of the second year of the reign of King Darius.


book: Zech
contenido:
Don’t be like your fathers were! The earlier prophets pled in vain with them to turn from all their evil ways.
“Come, return to me,” the Lord God said. But no, they wouldn’t listen; they paid no attention at all.


book: Zech
contenido:
Your fathers and their prophets are now long dead, but remember the lesson they learned, that God’s Word endures! It caught up with them and punished them. Then at last they repented.
“We have gotten what we deserved from God,” they said. “He has done just what he warned us he would.”


book: Zech
contenido:
The following February, still in the second year of the reign of King Darius, another message from the Lord came to Zechariah (son of Berechiah and grandson of Iddo the prophet), in a vision in the night:


book: Zech
contenido:
I saw a Man sitting on a red horse that was standing among the myrtle trees beside a river. Behind him were other horses, red and bay and white, each with its rider.


book: Zech
contenido:
An angel stood beside me, and I asked him, “Sir, what are all those horses for?”
“I’ll tell you,” he replied.


book: Zech
contenido:
Then the rider on the red horse—he was the Angel of the Lord—answered me, “The Lord has sent them to patrol the earth for him.”


book: Zech
contenido:
Then the other riders reported to the Angel of the Lord, “We have patrolled the whole earth, and everywhere there is prosperity and peace.”


book: Zech
contenido:
Upon hearing this, the Angel of the Lord prayed this prayer: “O Lord Almighty, for seventy years your anger has raged against Jerusalem and the cities of Judah. How long will it be until you again show mercy to them?”


book: Zech
contenido:
Then the angel said, “Shout out this message from the Lord Almighty: ‘Don’t you think I care about what has happened to Judah and Jerusalem? I am as jealous as a husband for his captive wife.


book: Zech
contenido:
I am very angry with the heathen nations sitting around at ease, for I was only a little displeased with my people, but the nations afflicted them far beyond my intentions.’


book: Zech
contenido:
Therefore the Lord declares: ‘I have returned to Jerusalem filled with mercy; my Temple will be rebuilt,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and so will all Jerusalem.’


book: Zech
contenido:
Say it again: ‘The Lord Almighty declares that the cities of Israel will again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort Jerusalem and bless her and live in her.’ ”


book: Zech
contenido:
“What are these?” I asked the angel.
He replied, “They represent the four world powers that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.”


book: Zech
contenido:
“What have these men come to do?” I asked.
The angel replied, “They have come to take hold of the four horns that scattered Judah so terribly, and to pound them on the anvil and throw them away.”


book: Zech
contenido:
“Where are you going?” I asked.
“To measure Jerusalem,” he said. “I want to see whether it is big enough for all the people!”


book: Zech
contenido:
“Go tell this young man,” said the other angel, “that Jerusalem will some day be so full of people that she won’t have room enough for all! Many will live outside the city walls, with all their many cattle—and yet they will be safe.


book: Zech
contenido:
For the Lord himself will be a wall of fire protecting them and all Jerusalem; he will be the glory of the city.


book: Zech
contenido:
“Come, flee from the land of the north, from Babylon,” says the Lord to all his exiles there; “I scattered you to the winds, but I will bring you back again. Escape, escape to Zion now!” says the Lord.


book: Zech
contenido:
“The Lord of Glory has sent me against the nations that oppressed you, for he who harms you sticks his finger in Jehovah’s eye!


book: Zech
contenido:
“I will smash them with my fist and their slaves will be their rulers! Then you will know it was the Lord Almighty who sent me.


book: Zech
contenido:
“At that time many nations will be converted to the Lord, and they too shall be my people; I will live among them all. Then you will know it was the Lord Almighty who sent me to you. And Judah shall be the Lord’s inheritance in the Holy Land, for God shall once more choose to bless Jerusalem.


book: Zech
contenido:
“Be silent, all mankind, before the Lord, for he has come to earth from heaven, from his holy home.”


book: Zech
contenido:
Then the Angel showed me (in my vision) Joshua the High Priest standing before the Angel of the Lord; and Satan was there too, at the Angel’s right hand, accusing Joshua of many things.


book: Zech
contenido:
And the Lord said to Satan, “I reject your accusations, Satan; yes, I, the Lord, for I have decided to be merciful to Jerusalem—I rebuke you. I have decreed mercy to Joshua and his nation; they are like a burning stick pulled out of the fire.”


book: Zech
contenido:
Then the Angel said to the others standing there, “Remove his filthy clothing.” And turning to Joshua he said, “See, I have taken away your sins, and now I am giving you these fine new clothes.”


book: Zech
contenido:
Then I said, “Please, could he also have a clean turban on his head?” So they gave him one.
Then the Angel of the Lord spoke very solemnly to Joshua and said,


book: Zech
contenido:
“The Lord Almighty declares: ‘If you will follow the paths I set for you and do all I tell you to, then I will put you in charge of my Temple, to keep it holy; and I will let you walk in and out of my presence with these angels.


book: Zech
contenido:
Listen to me, O Joshua the High Priest, and all you other priests, you are illustrations of the good things to come. Don’t you see?—Joshua represents my servant the Branch whom I will send.


book: Zech
contenido:
He will be the Foundation Stone of the Temple that Joshua is standing beside, and I will engrave this inscription on it seven times: I will remove the sins of this land in a single day.


book: Zech
contenido:
And after that,’ the Lord Almighty declares, ‘you will all live in peace and prosperity, and each of you will own a home of your own where you can invite your neighbors.’”


book: Zech
contenido:
“What do you see now?” he asked.
I answered, “I see a gold lampstand holding seven lamps, and at the top there is a reservoir for the olive oil that feeds the lamps, flowing into them through seven tubes.


book: Zech
contenido:
Then he said, “This is God’s message to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty—you will succeed because of my Spirit, though you are few and weak.’


book: Zech
contenido:
Therefore no mountain, however high, can stand before Zerubbabel! For it will flatten out before him! And Zerubbabel will finish building this Temple with mighty shouts of thanksgiving for God’s mercy, declaring that all was done by grace alone.”*


book: Zech
contenido:
“Zerubbabel laid the foundation of this Temple, and he will complete it. (Then you will know these messages are from God, the Lord Almighty.)


book: Zech
contenido:
Do not despise this small beginning, for the eyes of the Lord rejoice to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. For these seven lamps represent the eyes of the Lord that see everywhere around the world.”


book: Zech
contenido:
“What do you see?” he asked.
“A flying scroll!” I replied. “It appears to be about thirty feet long and fifteen feet wide!”


book: Zech
contenido:
“This scroll,” he told me, “represents the words of God’s curse going out over the entire land. It says that all who steal and lie have been judged and sentenced to death.”


book: Zech
contenido:
“I am sending this curse into the home of every thief and everyone who swears falsely by my name,” says the Lord Almighty. “And my curse shall remain upon his home and completely destroy it.”


book: Zech
contenido:
Then the angel left me for a while, but he returned and said, “Look up! Something is traveling through the sky!”


book: Zech
contenido:
“What is it?” I asked.
He replied, “It is a bushel basket filled with the sin prevailing everywhere throughout the land.”


book: Zech
contenido:
Suddenly the heavy lead cover on the basket was lifted off, and I could see a woman sitting inside the basket!


book: Zech
contenido:
He said, “She represents wickedness,” and he pushed her back into the basket and clamped down the heavy lid again.


book: Zech
contenido:
Then I saw two women flying toward us, with wings like those of a stork. And they took the bushel basket and flew off with it, high in the sky.


book: Zech
contenido:
Then I looked up again and saw four chariots coming from between what looked like two mountains made of brass.


book: Zech
contenido:
He replied, “These are the four heavenly spirits who stand before the Lord of all the earth; they are going out to do his work.


book: Zech
contenido:
The chariot pulled by the black horses will go north, and the one pulled by white horses will follow it there, while the dappled-grays will go south.”


book: Zech
contenido:
The red horses were impatient to be off, to patrol back and forth across the earth, so the Lord said, “Go. Begin your patrol.” So they left at once.


book: Zech
contenido:
Then the Lord summoned me and said, “Those who went north have executed my judgment and quieted my anger there.”


book: Zech
contenido:
“Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah will bring gifts of silver and gold from the Jews exiled in Babylon. The same day they arrive, meet them at the home of Josiah (son of Zephaniah), where they will stay. Accept their gifts and make from them a crown from the silver and gold. Then put the crown on the head of Joshua (son of Josedech) the High Priest.


book: Zech
contenido:
Tell him that the Lord Almighty says, ‘You represent the Man who will come, whose name is “The Branch”—he will grow up from himself—and will build the Temple of the Lord.


book: Zech
contenido:
To him belongs the royal title. He will rule both as King and as Priest, with perfect harmony between the two!’


book: Zech
contenido:
“Then put the crown in the Temple of the Lord, to honor those who gave it—Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and also Josiah.


book: Zech
contenido:
These three who have come from so far away represent many others who will someday come from distant lands to rebuild the Temple of the Lord. And when this happens, you will know my messages have been from God, the Lord Almighty. But none of this will happen unless you carefully obey the commandments of the Lord your God.”


book: Zech
contenido:
Another message came to me from the Lord in late November of the fourth year of the reign of King Darius.


book: Zech
contenido:
The Jews of the city of Bethel had sent a group of men headed by Sharezer, the chief administrative officer of the king, and Regem-melech, to the Lord’s Temple at Jerusalem, to seek his blessing


book: Zech
contenido:
and to speak with the priests and prophets about whether they must continue their traditional custom of fasting and mourning during the month of August each year, as they had been doing for so long.


book: Zech
contenido:
“When you return to Bethel, say to all your people and your priests, ‘During those seventy years of exile when you fasted and mourned in August and October, were you really in earnest about leaving your sins behind and coming back to me? No, not at all!


book: Zech
contenido:
And even now in your holy feasts to God, you don’t think of me, but only of the food and fellowship and fun.


book: Zech
contenido:
Long years ago, when Jerusalem was prosperous and her southern suburbs out along the plain were filled with people, the prophets warned them that this attitude would surely lead to ruin, as it has.’”


book: Zech
contenido:
Then this message from the Lord came to Zechariah. “Tell them to be honest and fair—and not to take bribes—and to be merciful and kind to everyone.


book: Zech
contenido:
Tell them to stop oppressing widows and orphans, foreigners and poor people, and to stop plotting evil against each other.


book: Zech
contenido:
Your fathers would not listen to this message. They turned stubbornly away and put their fingers in their ears to keep from hearing me.


book: Zech
contenido:
They hardened their hearts like flint, afraid to hear the words that God, the Lord Almighty, commanded them—the laws he had revealed to them by his Spirit through the early prophets. That is why such great wrath came down on them from God. 


book: Zech
contenido:
I scattered them as with a whirlwind among the far-off nations. Their land became desolate; no one even traveled through it; the Pleasant Land lay bare and blighted.”


book: Zech
contenido:
The Lord Almighty says, “I am greatly concerned—yes, furiously angry—because of all that Jerusalem’s enemies have done to her.


book: Zech
contenido:
Now I am going to return to my land, and I, myself, will live within Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem shall be called ‘The Faithful City,’ and ‘The Holy Mountain,’ and ‘The Mountain of the Lord Almighty.’”


book: Zech
contenido:
The Lord Almighty declares that Jerusalem will have peace and prosperity so long that there will once again be aged men and women hobbling through her streets on canes,


book: Zech
contenido:
The Lord says, “This seems unbelievable to you—a remnant, small, discouraged as you are—but it is no great thing for me.


book: Zech
contenido:
I will bring them home again to live safely in Jerusalem, and they will be my people, and I will be their God, just and true and yet forgiving them their sins!”


book: Zech
contenido:
The Lord Almighty says, “Get on with the job and finish it! You have been listening long enough! For since you began laying the foundation of the Temple, the prophets have been telling you about the blessings that await you when it’s finished.


book: Zech
contenido:
Before the work began there were no jobs, no wages, no security; if you left the city, there was no assurance you would ever return, for crime was rampant.


book: Zech
contenido:
“For I am sowing peace and prosperity among you. Your crops will prosper; the grapevines will be weighted down with fruit; the ground will be fertile, with plenty of rain; all these blessings will be given to the people left in the land.


book: Zech
contenido:
‘May you be as poor as Judah,’ the heathen used to say to those they cursed! But no longer! For now Judah is a word of blessing, not a curse. ‘May you be as prosperous and happy as Judah is,’ they’ll say. So don’t be afraid or discouraged! Get on with rebuilding the Temple!


book: Zech
contenido:
If you do, I will certainly bless you. And don’t think that I might change my mind. I did what I said I would when your fathers angered me and I promised to punish them, and I won’t change this decision of mine to bless you.


book: Zech
contenido:
Don’t plot harm to others; don’t swear that something is true when it isn’t! How I hate all that sort of thing!” says the Lord.


book: Zech
contenido:
“The traditional fasts and times of mourning you have kept in July, August, October, and January are ended. They will be changed to joyous festivals if you love truth and peace!


book: Zech
contenido:
People from around the world will come on pilgrimages and pour into Jerusalem from many foreign cities to attend these celebrations. People will write their friends in other cities and say, ‘Let’s go to Jerusalem to ask the Lord to bless us and be merciful to us. I’m going! Please come with me. Let’s go now!’


book: Zech
contenido:
Yes, many people, even strong nations, will come to the Lord Almighty in Jerusalem to ask for his blessing and help.


book: Zech
contenido:
In those days ten men from ten different nations will clutch at the coat sleeves of one Jew and say, ‘Please be my friend, for I know that God is with you.’”


book: Zech
contenido:
This is the message concerning God’s curse on the lands of Hadrach and Damascus, for the Lord is closely watching all mankind, as well as Israel.


book: Zech
contenido:
Though Tyre has armed herself to the hilt and become so rich that silver is like dirt to her, and fine gold like dust in the streets,


book: Zech
contenido:
yet the Lord will dispossess her and hurl her fortifications into the sea; and she shall be set on fire and burned to the ground.


book: Zech
contenido:
“Ashkelon will see it happen and be filled with fear; Gaza will huddle in desperation, and Ekron will shake with terror, for their hopes that Tyre would stop the enemies’ advance will all be dashed. Gaza will be conquered, her king killed, and Ashkelon will be completely destroyed.


book: Zech
contenido:
I will yank her idolatry out of her mouth and pull from her teeth her sacrifices that she eats with blood. Everyone left will worship God and be adopted into Israel as a new clan: the Philistines of Ekron will intermarry with the Jews, just as the Jebusites did so long ago.


book: Zech
contenido:
And I will surround my Temple like a guard to keep invading armies from entering Israel. I am closely watching their movements, and I will keep them away; no foreign oppressors will again overrun my people’s land.


book: Zech
contenido:
“Rejoice greatly, O my people! Shout with joy! For look—your King is coming! He is the Righteous One, the Victor! Yet he is lowly, riding on a donkey’s colt!


book: Zech
contenido:
I will disarm all peoples of the earth, including my people in Israel, and he shall bring peace among the nations. His realm shall stretch from sea to sea, from the river to the ends of the earth.


book: Zech
contenido:
“I have delivered you from death in a waterless pit because of the covenant I made with you, sealed with blood.


book: Zech
contenido:
Come to the place of safety, all you prisoners, for there is yet hope! I promise right now, I will repay you two mercies for each of your woes!


book: Zech
contenido:
Judah, you are my bow! Ephraim, you are my arrow! Both of you will be my sword, like the sword of a mighty soldier brandished against the sons of Greece.”


book: Zech
contenido:
The Lord shall lead his people as they fight! His arrows shall fly like lightning; the Lord God shall sound the trumpet call and go out against his enemies like a whirlwind off the desert from the south.


book: Zech
contenido:
He will defend his people, and they will subdue their enemies, treading them beneath their feet. They will taste victory and shout with triumph. They will slaughter their foes, leaving horrible carnage everywhere.


book: Zech
contenido:
The Lord their God will save his people in that day, as a Shepherd caring for his sheep. They shall shine in his land as glittering jewels in a crown. How wonderful and beautiful all shall be! The abundance of grain and grapes will make the young men and girls flourish; they will be radiant with health and happiness.


book: Zech
contenido:
Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime, and he will answer with lightning and showers. Every field will become a lush pasture.


book: Zech
contenido:
How foolish to ask the idols for anything like that! Fortune-tellers’ predictions are all a bunch of silly lies; what comfort is there in promises that don’t come true? Judah and Israel have been led astray and wander like lost sheep; everyone attacks them, for they have no shepherd to protect them.


book: Zech
contenido:
“My anger burns against your ‘shepherds’—your leaders—and I will punish them—these goats. For the Lord Almighty has arrived to help his flock of Judah. I will make them strong and glorious like a proud steed in battle.


book: Zech
contenido:
From them will come the Cornerstone, the Peg on which all hope hangs, the Bow that wins the battle, the Ruler over all the earth.


book: Zech
contenido:
They will be mighty warriors for God, grinding their enemies’ faces into the dust beneath their feet. The Lord is with them as they fight; their enemy is doomed.


book: Zech
contenido:
“I will strengthen Judah, yes, and Israel too; I will reestablish them because I love them. It will be as though I had never cast them all away, for I, the Lord their God, will hear their cries.


book: Zech
contenido:
They shall be like mighty warriors. They shall be happy as with wine. Their children, too, shall see the mercies of the Lord and be glad. Their hearts shall rejoice in the Lord.


book: Zech
contenido:
When I whistle to them, they’ll come running, for I have bought them back again. From the few that are left, their population will grow again to former size.


book: Zech
contenido:
Though I have scattered them like seeds among the nations, still they will remember me and return again to God; with all their children, they will come home again to Israel.


book: Zech
contenido:
I will bring them back from Egypt and Assyria and resettle them in Israel—in Gilead and Lebanon; there will scarcely be room for all of them!


book: Zech
contenido:
They shall pass safely through the sea of distress, for the waves will be held back. The Nile will become dry—the rule of Assyria and Egypt over my people will end.”


book: Zech
contenido:
The Lord says, “I will make my people strong with power from me! They will go wherever they wish, and wherever they go they will be under my personal care.”


book: Zech
contenido:
Open your doors, O Lebanon, to judgment. You will be destroyed as though by fire raging through your forests.


book: Zech
contenido:
Weep, O cypress trees, for all the ruined cedars; the tallest and most beautiful of them are fallen. Cry in fear, you oaks of Bashan, as you watch the thickest forests felled.


book: Zech
contenido:
Listen to the wailing of Israel’s leaders—all these evil shepherds—for their wealth is gone. Hear the young lions roaring—the princes are weeping, for their glorious Jordan Valley lies in ruins.


book: Zech
contenido:
Then said the Lord my God to me, “Go and take a job as shepherd of a flock being fattened for the butcher.


book: Zech
contenido:
This will illustrate the way my people have been bought and slain by wicked leaders, who go unpunished. ‘Thank God, now I am rich!’ say those who have betrayed them—their own shepherds have sold them without mercy.


book: Zech
contenido:
And I won’t spare them either,” says the Lord, “for I will let them fall into the clutches of their own wicked leaders, and they will slay them. They shall turn the land into a wilderness, and I will not protect it from them.”


book: Zech
contenido:
So I took two shepherd’s staffs, naming one Grace and the other Union, and I fed the flock as I had been told to do.


book: Zech
contenido:
And I got rid of their three evil shepherds in a single month. But I became impatient with these sheep—this nation—and they hated me too.


book: Zech
contenido:
So I told them, “I won’t be your shepherd any longer. If you die, you die; if you are killed, I don’t care. Go ahead and destroy yourselves!”


book: Zech
contenido:
And I took my staff called Grace and snapped it in two, showing that I had broken my contract to lead and protect them.


book: Zech
contenido:
That was the end of the agreement. Then those who bought and sold sheep, who were watching, realized that God was telling them something through what I did.


book: Zech
contenido:
And I said to their leaders, “If you like, give me my pay, whatever I am worth; but only if you want to.”
So they counted out thirty little silver coins as my wages.


book: Zech
contenido:
And the Lord told me, “Use it to buy a field from the pottery makers—this magnificent sum they value you at!”
So I took the thirty coins and threw them into the Temple for the pottery makers.


book: Zech
contenido:
Then I broke my other staff, “Union,” to show that the bond of unity between Judah and Israel was broken.


book: Zech
contenido:
Then the Lord told me to go again and get a job as a shepherd; this time I was to act the part of a worthless, wicked shepherd.


book: Zech
contenido:
And he said to me, “This illustrates how I will give this nation a shepherd who will not care for the dying ones, nor look after the young, nor heal the broken bones, nor feed the healthy ones, nor carry the lame that cannot walk; instead, he will eat the fat ones, even tearing off their feet.


book: Zech
contenido:
Woe to this worthless shepherd who doesn’t care for the flock. God’s sword will cut his arm and pierce through his right eye; his arm will become useless and his right eye blinded.”


book: Zech
contenido:
This is the fate of Israel, as pronounced by the Lord, who stretched out the heavens, laid the foundation of the earth, and formed the spirit of man within him:


book: Zech
contenido:
“I will make Jerusalem and Judah like a cup of poison to all the nearby nations that send their armies to surround Jerusalem.


book: Zech
contenido:
Jerusalem will be a heavy stone burdening the world. And though all the nations of the earth unite in an attempt to move her, they will all be crushed.


book: Zech
contenido:
“In that day,” says the Lord, “I will bewilder the armies drawn up against her, and make fools of them, for I will watch over the people of Judah, but blind all her enemies.


book: Zech
contenido:
“And the clans of Judah shall say to themselves, ‘The people of Jerusalem have found strength in the Lord Almighty, their God.’


book: Zech
contenido:
“In that day I will make the clans of Judah like a little fire that sets the forest aflame—like a burning match among the sheaves; they will burn up all the neighboring nations right and left, while Jerusalem stands unmoved.


book: Zech
contenido:
The Lord will give victory to the rest of Judah first, before Jerusalem, so that the people of Jerusalem and the royal line of David won’t be filled with pride at their success.


book: Zech
contenido:
“The Lord will defend the people of Jerusalem; the weakest among them will be as mighty as King David! And the royal line will be as God, like the Angel of the Lord who goes before them!


book: Zech
contenido:
“Then I will pour out the spirit of grace and prayer on all the people of Jerusalem. They will look on him they pierced, and mourn for him as for an only son, and grieve bitterly for him as for an oldest child who died.


book: Zech
contenido:
The sorrow and mourning in Jerusalem at that time will be even greater than the grievous mourning for the godly King Josiah, who was killed in the valley of Megiddo.


book: Zech
contenido:
“All of Israel will weep in profound sorrow. The whole nation will be bowed down with universal grief—king, prophet, priest, and people. Each family will go into private mourning, husbands and wives apart, to face their sorrow alone.


book: Zech
contenido:
“At that time a Fountain will be opened to the people of Israel and Jerusalem, a Fountain to cleanse them from all their sins and defilement.”


book: Zech
contenido:
And the Lord Almighty declares, “In that day I will get rid of every vestige of idol worship throughout the land, so that even the names of the idols will be forgotten. All false prophets and fortune-tellers will be wiped out,


book: Zech
contenido:
and if anyone begins false prophecy again, his own father and mother will slay him! ‘You must die,’ they will tell him, ‘for you are prophesying lies in the name of the Lord.’


book: Zech
contenido:
“No one will be boasting then of his prophetic gift! No one will wear prophet’s clothes to try to fool the people then.


book: Zech
contenido:
“‘No,’ he will say. ‘I am not a prophet; I am a farmer. The soil has been my livelihood from my earliest youth.’


book: Zech
contenido:
“And if someone asks, ‘Then what are these scars on your chest and your back?’ he will say, ‘I got into a brawl at the home of a friend!’*


book: Zech
contenido:
“Awake, O sword, against my Shepherd, the man who is my associate and equal,” says the Lord Almighty. “Strike down the Shepherd and the sheep will scatter, but I will come back and comfort and care for the lambs.


book: Zech
contenido:
Two-thirds of all the nation of Israel will be cut off and die, but a third will be left in the land.


book: Zech
contenido:
I will bring the third that remain through the fire and make them pure, as gold and silver are refined and purified by fire. They will call upon my name and I will hear them; I will say, ‘These are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’”


book: Zech
contenido:
Watch, for the day of the Lord is coming soon! On that day the Lord will gather together the nations to fight Jerusalem; the city will be taken, the houses rifled, the loot divided, the women raped; half the population will be taken away as slaves, and half will be left in what remains of the city.


book: Zech
contenido:
That day his feet will stand upon the Mount of Olives, to the east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will split apart, making a very wide valley running from east to west, for half the mountain will move toward the north and half toward the south.


book: Zech
contenido:
You will escape through that valley, for it will reach across to the city gate. Yes, you will escape as your people did long centuries ago from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah, king of Judah, and the Lord my God shall come, and all his saints and angels* with him.


book: Zech
contenido:
yet there will be continuous day! Only the Lord knows how! There will be no normal day and night—at evening time it will still be light.


book: Zech
contenido:
Life-giving waters will flow out from Jerusalem, half toward the Dead Sea and half toward the Mediterranean, flowing continuously both in winter and in summer.


book: Zech
contenido:
And the Lord shall be King over all the earth. In that day there shall be one Lord—his name alone will be worshiped.


book: Zech
contenido:
All the land from Geba (the northern border of Judah) to Rimmon (the southern border) will become one vast plain, but Jerusalem will be on an elevated site, covering the area all the way from the Gate of Benjamin over to the site of the old gate, then to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the king’s winepresses.


book: Zech
contenido:
And the Lord will send a plague on all the people who fought Jerusalem. They will become like walking corpses, their flesh rotting away; their eyes will shrivel in their sockets, and their tongues will decay in their mouths.


book: Zech
contenido:
They will be seized with terror, panic-stricken from the Lord, and will fight against each other in hand-to-hand combat.


book: Zech
contenido:
All Judah will be fighting at Jerusalem. The wealth of all the neighboring nations will be confiscated—great quantities of gold and silver and fine clothing.


book: Zech
contenido:
(This same plague will strike the horses, mules, camels, donkeys, and all the other animals in the enemy camp.)


book: Zech
contenido:
In the end, those who survive the plague will go up to Jerusalem each year to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, to celebrate a time of thanksgiving.


book: Zech
contenido:
And any nation anywhere in all the world that refuses to come to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, will have no rain.


book: Zech
contenido:
In that day the bells on the horses will have written on them, “These Are Holy Property”; and the trash cans in the Temple of the Lord will be as sacred as the bowls beside the altar.


book: Zech
contenido:
In fact, every container in Jerusalem and Judah shall be sacred to the Lord Almighty; all who come to worship may use any of them free of charge to boil their sacrifices in; there will be no more grasping traders in the Temple of the Lord Almighty!


book: Mal
contenido:
“I have loved you very deeply,” says the Lord.
But you retort, “Really? When was this?”
And the Lord replies, “I showed my love for you by loving your father, Jacob. I didn’t need to. I even rejected his very own brother, Esau, and destroyed Esau’s mountains and inheritance, to give it to the jackals of the desert.


book: Mal
contenido:
And if his descendants should say, ‘We will rebuild the ruins,’ then the Lord Almighty will say, ‘Try to if you like, but I will destroy it again,’ for their country is named ‘The Land of Wickedness,’ and their people are called ‘Those Whom God Does Not Forgive.’”


book: Mal
contenido:
O Israel, lift your eyes to see what God is doing all around the world; then you will say, “Truly, the Lord’s great power goes far beyond our borders!”


book: Mal
contenido:
“A son honors his father, a servant honors his master. I am your Father and Master, yet you don’t honor me, O priests, but you despise my name.”
“Who? Us?” you say. “When did we ever despise your name?”


book: Mal
contenido:
“When you offer polluted sacrifices on my altar.”
“Polluted sacrifices? When have we ever done a thing like that?”
“Every time you say, ‘Don’t bother bringing anything very valuable to offer to God!’


book: Mal
contenido:
You tell the people, ‘Lame animals are all right to offer on the altar of the Lord—yes, even the sick and the blind ones.’ And you claim this isn’t evil? Try it on your governor sometime—give him gifts like that—and see how pleased he is!


book: Mal
contenido:
“‘God have mercy on us,’ you recite; ‘God be gracious to us!’ But when you bring that kind of gift, why should he show you any favor at all?


book: Mal
contenido:
“Oh, to find one priest among you who would shut the doors and refuse this kind of sacrifice! I have no pleasure in you,” says the Lord Almighty, “and I will not accept your offerings.


book: Mal
contenido:
“But my name will be honored by the Gentiles from morning till night. All around the world they will offer sweet incense and pure offerings in honor of my name. For my name shall be great among the nations,” says the Lord Almighty.


book: Mal
contenido:
“But you dishonor it, saying that my altar is not important and encouraging people to bring cheap, sick animals to offer to me on it.


book: Mal
contenido:
“You say, ‘Oh, it’s too difficult to serve the Lord and do what he asks.’ And you turn up your noses at the rules he has given you to obey. Think of it! Stolen animals, lame and sick—as offerings to God! Should I accept such offerings as these?” asks the Lord.


book: Mal
contenido:
“Cursed is that man who promises a fine ram from his flock and substitutes a sick one to sacrifice to God. For I am a Great King,” says the Lord Almighty, “and my name is to be mightily revered among the Gentiles.”


book: Mal
contenido:
Listen, you priests, to this warning from the Lord Almighty:
“If you don’t change your ways and give glory to my name, then I will send terrible punishment upon you, and instead of giving you blessings as I would like to, I will turn on you with curses. Indeed, I have cursed you already because you haven’t taken seriously the things that are most important to me.


book: Mal
contenido:
“Take note that I will rebuke your children; I will spread on your faces the manure of these animals you offer me and throw you out like dung.


book: Mal
contenido:
Then at last you will know it was I who sent you this warning to return to the laws I gave your father Levi,” says the Lord Almighty.


book: Mal
contenido:
“The purpose of these laws was to give him life and peace, to be a means of showing his respect and awe for me by keeping them.


book: Mal
contenido:
He passed on to the people all the truth he got from me. He did not lie or cheat; he walked with me, living a good and righteous life, and turned many from their lives of sin.


book: Mal
contenido:
“Priests’ lips should flow with the knowledge of God so the people will learn God’s laws. The priests are the messengers of the Lord Almighty, and men should come to them for guidance.


book: Mal
contenido:
But not to you! For you have left God’s paths. Your ‘guidance’ has caused many to stumble in sin. You have distorted the covenant of Levi and made it into a grotesque parody,” says the Lord Almighty.


book: Mal
contenido:
“Therefore, I have made you contemptible in the eyes of all the people; for you have not obeyed me, but you let your favorites break the law without rebuke.”


book: Mal
contenido:
We are children of the same father, Abraham, all created by the same God. And yet we are faithless to each other, violating the covenant of our fathers!


book: Mal
contenido:
In Judah, in Israel, and in Jerusalem, there is treachery, for the men of Judah have defiled God’s holy and beloved Temple by marrying heathen women who worship idols.


book: Mal
contenido:
May the Lord cut off from his covenant every last man, whether priest or layman, who has done this thing!


book: Mal
contenido:
Yet you cover the altar with your tears because the Lord doesn’t pay attention to your offerings anymore, and you receive no blessing from him.


book: Mal
contenido:
“Why has God abandoned us?” you cry. I’ll tell you why; it is because the Lord has seen your treachery in divorcing your wives who have been faithful to you through the years, the companions you promised to care for and keep.


book: Mal
contenido:
You were united to your wife by the Lord. In God’s wise plan, when you married, the two of you became one person in his sight. And what does he want? Godly children from your union. Therefore, guard your passions! Keep faith with the wife of your youth.


book: Mal
contenido:
For the Lord, the God of Israel, says he hates divorce and cruel men. Therefore, control your passions—let there be no divorcing of your wives.


book: Mal
contenido:
You have wearied the Lord with your words.
“Wearied him?” you ask in fake surprise. “How have we wearied him?”
By saying that evil is good, that it pleases the Lord! Or by saying that God won’t punish us—he doesn’t care.


book: Mal
contenido:
“Listen: I will send my messenger before me to prepare the way. And then the One you are looking for will come suddenly to his Temple—the Messenger of God’s promises, to bring you great joy. Yes, he is surely coming,” says the Lord Almighty.


book: Mal
contenido:
“But who can live when he appears? Who can endure his coming? For he is like a blazing fire refining precious metal, and he can bleach the dirtiest garments!


book: Mal
contenido:
Like a refiner of silver he will sit and closely watch as the dross is burned away. He will purify the Levites, the ministers of God, refining them like gold or silver, so that they will do their work for God with pure hearts.


book: Mal
contenido:
Then once more the Lord will enjoy the offerings brought to him by the people of Judah and Jerusalem, as he did before.


book: Mal
contenido:
At that time my punishments will be quick and certain; I will move swiftly against wicked men who trick the innocent, against adulterers and liars, against all those who cheat their hired hands, who oppress widows and orphans, or defraud strangers, and do not fear me,” says the Lord Almighty.


book: Mal
contenido:
“For I am the Lord—I do not change. That is why you are not already utterly destroyed, for my mercy endures forever.


book: Mal
contenido:
“Though you have scorned my laws from earliest time, yet you may still return to me,” says the Lord Almighty. “Come and I will forgive you.
“But you say, ‘We have never even gone away!’


book: Mal
contenido:
“Will a man rob God? Surely not! And yet you have robbed me.
“‘What do you mean? When did we ever rob you?’
“You have robbed me of the tithes and offerings due me.


book: Mal
contenido:
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so that there will be food enough in my Temple; if you do, I will open up the windows of heaven for you and pour out a blessing so great you won’t have room enough to take it in!
“Try it! Let me prove it to you!


book: Mal
contenido:
Your crops will be large, for I will guard them from insects and plagues. Your grapes won’t shrivel away before they ripen,” says the Lord Almighty.


book: Mal
contenido:
“And all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land sparkling with happiness. These are the promises of the Lord Almighty.


book: Mal
contenido:
“Your attitude toward me has been proud and arrogant,” says the Lord.
“But you say, ‘What do you mean? What have we said that we shouldn’t?’


book: Mal
contenido:
“Listen; you have said, ‘It is foolish to worship God and obey him. What good does it do to obey his laws, and to sorrow and mourn for our sins? From now on, as far as we’re concerned, “Blessed are the arrogant.” For those who do evil shall prosper, and those who dare God to punish them shall get off scot-free.’”


book: Mal
contenido:
Then those who feared and loved the Lord spoke often of him to each other. And he had a Book of Remembrance drawn up in which he recorded the names of those who feared him and loved to think about him.


book: Mal
contenido:
“They shall be mine,” says the Lord Almighty, “in that day when I make up my jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares an obedient and dutiful son.


book: Mal
contenido:
Then you will see the difference between God’s treatment of good men and bad, between those who serve him and those who don’t.


book: Mal
contenido:
“Watch now,” the Lord Almighty declares, “the day of judgment is coming, burning like a furnace. The proud and wicked will be burned up like straw; like a tree, they will be consumed—roots and all.


book: Mal
contenido:
“But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.


book: Mal
contenido:
“See, I will send you another prophet like Elijah before the coming of the great and dreadful judgment day of God.


book: Mal
contenido:
His preaching will bring fathers and children together again, to be of one mind and heart, for they will know that if they do not repent, I will come and utterly destroy their land.”


book: Matt
contenido:
Abraham was the father of Isaac; Isaac was the father of Jacob; Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers.


book: Matt
contenido:
Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah (Tamar was their mother); Perez was the father of Hezron; Hezron was the father of Aram;


book: Matt
contenido:
Aram was the father of Amminadab; Amminadab was the father of Nahshon; Nahshon was the father of Salmon;


book: Matt
contenido:
Salmon was the father of Boaz (Rahab was his mother); Boaz was the father of Obed (Ruth was his mother); Obed was the father of Jesse;


book: Matt
contenido:
Jesse was the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon (his mother was the widow of Uriah);


book: Matt
contenido:
Solomon was the father of Rehoboam; Rehoboam was the father of Abijah; Abijah was the father of Asa;


book: Matt
contenido:
Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat; Jehoshaphat was the father of Jehoram; Jehoram was the father of Uzziah;


book: Matt
contenido:
Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh; Manasseh was the father of Amos; Amos was the father of Josiah;


book: Matt
contenido:
Zerubbabel was the father of Abiud; Abiud was the father of Eliakim; Eliakim was the father of Azor;


book: Matt
contenido:
Eliud was the father of Eleazar; Eleazar was the father of Matthan; Matthan was the father of Jacob;


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contenido:
Jacob was the father of Joseph (who was the husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ the Messiah).


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These are fourteen of the generations from Abraham to King David; and fourteen from King David’s time to the exile; and fourteen from the exile to Christ.


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These are the facts concerning the birth of Jesus Christ: His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But while she was still a virgin she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit.


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Then Joseph, her fiancé, being a man of stern principle,* decided to break the engagement but to do it quietly, as he didn’t want to publicly disgrace her.


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As he lay awake considering this, he fell into a dream, and saw an angel standing beside him. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “don’t hesitate to take Mary as your wife! For the child within her has been conceived by the Holy Spirit.


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And she will have a Son, and you shall name him Jesus (meaning ‘Savior’), for he will save his people from their sins.


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‘Listen! The virgin shall conceive a child! She shall give birth to a Son, and he shall be called “Emmanuel” (meaning “God is with us”).’”


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Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem, in Judea, during the reign of King Herod.
At about that time some astrologers from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking,


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“Where is the newborn King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in far-off eastern lands and have come to worship him.”


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He called a meeting of the Jewish religious leaders.
“Did the prophets tell us where the Messiah would be born?” he asked.


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‘O little town of Bethlehem, you are not just an unimportant Judean village, for a Governor shall rise from you to rule my people Israel.’”


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Then Herod sent a private message to the astrologers, asking them to come to see him; at this meeting he found out from them the exact time when they first saw the star. Then he told them,


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“Go to Bethlehem and search for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him too!”


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After this interview the astrologers started out again. And look! The star appeared to them again, standing over Bethlehem.


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Entering the house where the baby and Mary, his mother, were, they threw themselves down before him, worshiping. Then they opened their presents and gave him gold, frankincense, and myrrh.


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But when they returned to their own land, they didn’t go through Jerusalem to report to Herod, for God had warned them in a dream to go home another way.


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After they were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up and flee to Egypt with the baby and his mother,” the angel said, “and stay there until I tell you to return, for King Herod is going to try to kill the child.”


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and stayed there until King Herod’s death. This fulfilled the prophet’s prediction,
“I have called my Son from Egypt.”


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Herod was furious when he learned that the astrologers had disobeyed him. Sending soldiers to Bethlehem, he ordered them to kill every baby boy two years old and under, both in the town and on the nearby farms, for the astrologers had told him the star first appeared to them two years before.


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“Screams of anguish come from Ramah,
Weeping unrestrained;
Rachel weeping for her children,
Uncomforted—
For they are dead.”


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“Get up and take the baby and his mother back to Israel, for those who were trying to kill the child are dead.”


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But on the way he was frightened to learn that the new king was Herod’s son, Archelaus. Then, in another dream, he was warned not to go to Judea, so they went to Galilee instead


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and lived in Nazareth. This fulfilled the prediction of the prophets concerning the Messiah,
“He shall be called a Nazarene.”


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While they were living in Nazareth, John the Baptist began preaching out in the Judean wilderness. His constant theme was,


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Isaiah the prophet had told about John’s ministry centuries before! He had written,
“I hear a shout from the wilderness, ‘Prepare a road for the Lord—straighten out the path where he will walk.’”


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John’s clothing was woven from camel’s hair and he wore a leather belt; his food was locusts and wild honey.


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People from Jerusalem and from all over the Jordan Valley, and, in fact, from every section of Judea went out to the wilderness to hear him preach,


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But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees* coming to be baptized, he denounced them.
“You sons of snakes!” he warned. “Who said that you could escape the coming wrath of God?


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Don’t try to get by as you are, thinking, ‘We are safe for we are Jews—descendants of Abraham.’ That proves nothing. God can change these stones here into Jews!


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“And even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised to chop down every unproductive tree. They will be chopped and burned.


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“With water I baptize those who repent of their sins; but someone else is coming, far greater than I am, so great that I am not worthy to carry his shoes! He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit* and with fire.


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He will separate the chaff from the grain, burning the chaff with never-ending fire and storing away the grain.”


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John didn’t want to do it.
“This isn’t proper,” he said. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you.”


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After his baptism, as soon as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God coming down in the form of a dove.


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Then Satan tempted him to get food by changing stones into loaves of bread.
“It will prove you are the Son of God,” he said.


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But Jesus told him, “No! For the Scriptures tell us that bread won’t feed men’s souls: obedience to every word of God is what we need.”


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“Jump off,” he said, “and prove you are the Son of God; for the Scriptures declare, ‘God will send his angels to keep you from harm,’ . . . they will prevent you from smashing on the rocks below.”


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Next Satan took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him the nations of the world and all their glory.


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“Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “The Scriptures say, ‘Worship only the Lord God. Obey only him.’”


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When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he left Judea and returned home to Nazareth in Galilee; but soon he moved to Capernaum, beside the Lake of Galilee, close to Zebulun and Naphtali.


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“The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, beside the lake, and the countryside beyond the Jordan River, and Upper Galilee where so many foreigners live—there the people who sat in darkness have seen a great Light; they sat in the land of death, and the Light broke through upon them.”


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From then on, Jesus began to preach, “Turn from sin and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”


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One day as he was walking along the beach beside the Lake of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—out in a boat fishing with a net, for they were commercial fishermen.


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A little farther up the beach he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, mending their nets; and he called to them to come too.


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Jesus traveled all through Galilee teaching in the Jewish synagogues, everywhere preaching the Good News about the Kingdom of Heaven. And he healed every kind of sickness and disease.


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The report of his miracles spread far beyond the borders of Galilee so that sick folk were soon coming to be healed from as far away as Syria. And whatever their illness and pain, or if they were possessed by demons, or were insane, or paralyzed—he healed them all.


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Enormous crowds followed him wherever he went—people from Galilee, and the Ten Cities, and Jerusalem, and from all over Judea, and even from across the Jordan River.


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One day as the crowds were gathering, he went up the hillside with his disciples and sat down and taught them there.


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Be happy about it! Be very glad! for a tremendous reward awaits you up in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted too.


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contenido:
“You are the world’s seasoning, to make it tolerable. If you lose your flavor, what will happen to the world? And you yourselves will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.


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Don’t hide your light! Let it shine for all; let your good deeds glow for all to see, so that they will praise your heavenly Father.


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contenido:
“Don’t misunderstand why I have come—it isn’t to cancel the laws of Moses and the warnings of the prophets. No, I came to fulfill them and to make them all come true.


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With all the earnestness I have I say: Every law in the Book will continue until its purpose is achieved.


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And so if anyone breaks the least commandment and teaches others to, he shall be the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But those who teach God’s laws and obey them shall be great in the Kingdom of Heaven.


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“But I warn you—unless your goodness is greater than that of the Pharisees and other Jewish leaders, you can’t get into the Kingdom of Heaven at all!


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But I have added to that rule and tell you that if you are only angry, even in your own home,* you are in danger of judgment! If you call your friend an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse him, you are in danger of the fires of hell.*


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“So if you are standing before the altar in the Temple, offering a sacrifice to God, and suddenly remember that a friend has something against you,


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leave your sacrifice there beside the altar and go and apologize and be reconciled to him, and then come and offer your sacrifice to God.


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Come to terms quickly with your enemy before it is too late and he drags you into court and you are thrown into a debtor’s cell,


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But I say: Anyone who even looks at a woman with lust in his eye has already committed adultery with her in his heart.


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So if your eye—even if it is your best eye!—causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. Better for part of you to be destroyed than for all of you to be cast into hell.


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And if your hand—even your right hand—causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. Better that than find yourself in hell.


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“The law of Moses says, ‘If anyone wants to be rid of his wife, he can divorce her merely by giving her a letter of dismissal.’


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But I say that a man who divorces his wife, except for fornication, causes her to commit adultery if she marries again. And he who marries her commits adultery.


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But I say: Don’t make any vows! And even to say ‘By heavens!’ is a sacred vow to God, for the heavens are God’s throne.


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And if you say ‘By the earth!’ it is a sacred vow, for the earth is his footstool. And don’t swear ‘By Jerusalem!’ for Jerusalem is the capital of the great King.


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Say just a simple ‘Yes, I will’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Your word is enough. To strengthen your promise with a vow shows that something is wrong.


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“The law of Moses says, ‘If a man gouges out another’s eye, he must pay with his own eye. If a tooth gets knocked out, knock out the tooth of the one who did it.’


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In that way you will be acting as true sons of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust too.


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contenido:
If you are friendly only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even the heathen do that.


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“Take care! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired, for then you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven.


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When you give a gift to a beggar, don’t shout about it as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you in all earnestness, they have received all the reward they will ever get.


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But when you do a kindness to someone, do it secretly—don’t tell your left hand what your right hand is doing.


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“And now about prayer. When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who pretend piety by praying publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. Truly, that is all the reward they will ever get.


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But when you pray, go away by yourself, all alone, and shut the door behind you and pray to your Father secretly, and your Father, who knows your secrets, will reward you.


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“Don’t recite the same prayer over and over as the heathen do, who think prayers are answered only by repeating them again and again. Remember, your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!


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We ask that your kingdom will come now. May your will be done here on earth, just as it is in heaven.


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contenido:
Your heavenly Father will forgive you if you forgive those who sin against you; but if you refuse to forgive them, he will not forgive you.


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“And now about fasting. When you fast, declining your food for a spiritual purpose, don’t do it publicly, as the hypocrites do, who try to look wan and disheveled so people will feel sorry for them. Truly, that is the only reward they will ever get.


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so that no one will suspect you are hungry, except your Father who knows every secret. And he will reward you.


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But if your eye is clouded with evil thoughts and desires, you are in deep spiritual darkness. And oh, how deep that darkness can be!


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“You cannot serve two masters: God and money. For you will hate one and love the other, or else the other way around.


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“So my counsel is: Don’t worry about things—food, drink, and clothes. For you already have life and a body—and they are far more important than what to eat and wear.


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Look at the birds! They don’t worry about what to eat—they don’t need to sow or reap or store up food—for your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are.


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contenido:
And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won’t he more surely care for you, O men of little faith?


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“So don’t worry at all about having enough food and clothing. Why be like the heathen? For they take pride in all these things and are deeply concerned about them. But your heavenly Father already knows perfectly well that you need them,


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“So don’t be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time.


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contenido:
Should you say, ‘Friend, let me help you get that speck out of your eye,’ when you can’t even see because of the board in your own?


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contenido:
“Don’t give holy things to depraved men. Don’t give pearls to swine! They will trample the pearls and turn and attack you.


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contenido:
“Ask, and you will be given what you ask for. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened.


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For everyone who asks, receives. Anyone who seeks, finds. If only you will knock, the door will open.


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And if you hard-hearted, sinful men know how to give good gifts to your children, won’t your Father in heaven even more certainly give good gifts to those who ask him for them?


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“Do for others what you want them to do for you. This is the teaching of the laws of Moses in a nutshell.


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“Heaven can be entered only through the narrow gate! The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide enough for all the multitudes who choose its easy way.


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“Beware of false teachers who come disguised as harmless sheep, but are wolves and will tear you apart.


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You can detect them by the way they act, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit. You need never confuse grapevines with thorn bushes or figs with thistles.


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A variety that produces delicious fruit never produces an inedible kind. And a tree producing an inedible kind can’t produce what is good.


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“Not all who sound religious are really godly people. They may refer to me as ‘Lord,’ but still won’t get to heaven. For the decisive question is whether they obey my Father in heaven.


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At the Judgment many will tell me, ‘Lord, Lord, we told others about you and used your name to cast out demons and to do many other great miracles.’


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contenido:
“All who listen to my instructions and follow them are wise, like a man who builds his house on solid rock.


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Though the rain comes in torrents, and the floods rise and the storm winds beat against his house, it won’t collapse, for it is built on rock.


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“But those who hear my instructions and ignore them are foolish, like a man who builds his house on sand.


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For when the rains and floods come, and storm winds beat against his house, it will fall with a mighty crash.”


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contenido:
Look! A leper is approaching. He kneels before him, worshiping. “Sir,” the leper pleads, “if you want to, you can heal me.”


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Then Jesus says to him, “Don’t stop to talk to anyone; go right over to the priest to be examined; and take with you the offering required by Moses’ law for lepers who are healed—a public testimony of your cure.”


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When Jesus arrived in Capernaum, a Roman army captain came and pled with him to come to his home and heal his servant boy who was in bed paralyzed and racked with pain.


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Then the officer said, “Sir, I am not worthy to have you in my home; and it isn’t necessary for you to come. If you will only stand here and say, ‘Be healed,’ my servant will get well! I know, because I am under the authority of my superior officers and I have authority over my soldiers, and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave boy, ‘Do this or that,’ and he does it. And I know you have authority to tell his sickness to go—and it will go!”


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Jesus stood there amazed! Turning to the crowd he said, “I haven’t seen faith like this in all the land of Israel!


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And I tell you this, that many Gentiles like this Roman officer, shall come from all over the world and sit down in the Kingdom of Heaven with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.


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And many an Israelite—those for whom the Kingdom was prepared—shall be cast into outer darkness, into the place of weeping and torment.”


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Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, “Go on home. What you have believed has happened!” And the boy was healed that same hour!


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contenido:
That evening several demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus; and when he spoke a single word, all the demons fled; and all the sick were healed.


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When Jesus noticed how large the crowd was growing, he instructed his disciples to get ready to cross to the other side of the lake.


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Just then one of the Jewish religious teachers* said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you no matter where you go!”


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But Jesus said, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but I, the Messiah, have no home of my own—no place to lay my head.”


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But Jesus answered, “O you men of little faith! Why are you so frightened?” Then he stood up and rebuked the wind and waves, and the storm subsided and all was calm.


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The disciples just sat there, awed! “Who is this,” they asked themselves, “that even the winds and the sea obey him?”


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When they arrived on the other side of the lake, in the country of the Gadarenes, two men with demons in them met him. They lived in a cemetery and were so dangerous that no one could go through that area.


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They began screaming at him, “What do you want with us, O Son of God? You have no right to torment us yet.”


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contenido:
“All right,” Jesus told them. “Begone.”
And they came out of the men and entered the pigs, and the whole herd rushed over a cliff and drowned in the water below.


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and the entire population came rushing out to see Jesus and begged him to go away and leave them alone.


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Soon some men brought him a paralyzed man on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the sick man, “Cheer up, son! For I have forgiven your sins!”


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I, the Messiah, have the authority on earth to forgive sins. But talk is cheap—anybody could say that. So I’ll prove it to you by healing this man.” Then, turning to the paralyzed man, he commanded, “Pick up your stretcher and go on home, for you are healed.”


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A chill of fear swept through the crowd as they saw this happen right before their eyes. How they praised God for giving such authority to a man!


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contenido:
As Jesus was going on down the road, he saw a tax collector, Matthew, sitting at a tax collection booth. “Come and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him, and Matthew jumped up and went along with him.


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contenido:
Later, as Jesus and his disciples were eating dinner at Matthew’s house, there were many notorious swindlers there as guests!


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contenido:
Then he added, “Now go away and learn the meaning of this verse of Scripture,
‘It isn’t your sacrifices and your gifts I want—I want you to be merciful.’
For I have come to urge sinners, not the self-righteous, back to God.”


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One day the disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus and asked him, “Why don’t your disciples fast as we do and as the Pharisees do?”


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contenido:
“Should the bridegroom’s friends mourn and go without food while he is with them?” Jesus asked. “But the time is coming when I will be taken from them. Time enough then for them to refuse to eat.


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contenido:
“And who would patch an old garment with unshrunk cloth? For the patch would tear away and make the hole worse.


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contenido:
And who would use old wineskins to store new wine? For the old skins would burst with the pressure, and the wine would be spilled and skins ruined. Only new wineskins are used to store new wine. That way both are preserved.”


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contenido:
As he was saying this, the rabbi of the local synagogue came and worshiped him. “My little daughter has just died,” he said, “but you can bring her back to life again if you will only come and touch her.”


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contenido:
a woman who had been sick for twelve years with internal bleeding came up behind him and touched a tassel of his robe,


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contenido:
Jesus turned around and spoke to her. “Daughter,” he said, “all is well! Your faith has healed you.” And the woman was well from that moment.


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contenido:
he said, “Get them out, for the little girl isn’t dead; she is only sleeping!” Then how they all scoffed and sneered at him!


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contenido:
When the crowd was finally outside, Jesus went in where the little girl was lying and took her by the hand, and she jumped up and was all right again!


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contenido:
As Jesus was leaving her home, two blind men followed along behind, shouting, “O Son of King David, have mercy on us.”


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contenido:
They went right into the house where he was staying, and Jesus asked them, “Do you believe I can make you see?”
“Yes, Lord,” they told him, “we do.”


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contenido:
So Jesus cast out the demon, and instantly the man could talk. How the crowds marveled! “Never in all our lives have we seen anything like this,” they exclaimed.


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contenido:
But the Pharisees said, “The reason he can cast out demons is that he is demon-possessed himself—possessed by Satan, the demon king!”


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contenido:
Jesus traveled around through all the cities and villages of that area, teaching in the Jewish synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And wherever he went he healed people of every sort of illness.


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contenido:
And what pity he felt for the crowds that came, because their problems were so great and they didn’t know what to do or where to go for help. They were like sheep without a shepherd.


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contenido:
“So pray to the one in charge of the harvesting, and ask him to recruit more workers for his harvest fields.”


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contenido:
Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of sickness and disease.


book: Matt
contenido:
Here are the names of his twelve disciples: Simon (also called Peter), Andrew (Peter’s brother), James (Zebedee’s son), John (James’s brother), Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew (the tax collector), James (Alphaeus’s son), Thaddaeus, Simon (a member of “The Zealots,” a subversive political party), Judas Iscariot (the one who betrayed him).


book: Matt
contenido:
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure the lepers, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!


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contenido:
don’t even carry a duffle bag with extra clothes and shoes, or even a walking stick; for those you help should feed and care for you.


book: Matt
contenido:
Whenever you enter a city or village, search for a godly man and stay in his home until you leave for the next town.


book: Matt
contenido:
Any city or home that doesn’t welcome you—shake off the dust of that place from your feet as you leave.


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contenido:
Yes, and you must stand trial before governors and kings for my sake. This will give you the opportunity to tell them about me, yes, to witness to the world.


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contenido:
“When you are arrested, don’t worry about what to say at your trial, for you will be given the right words at the right time.


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contenido:
For it won’t be you doing the talking—it will be the Spirit of your heavenly Father speaking through you!


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contenido:
“Brother shall betray brother to death, and fathers shall betray their own children. And children shall rise against their parents and cause their deaths.


book: Matt
contenido:
Everyone shall hate you because you belong to me. But all of you who endure to the end shall be saved.


book: Matt
contenido:
“When you are persecuted in one city, flee to the next! I will return before you have reached them all!


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contenido:
The student shares his teacher’s fate. The servant shares his master’s! And since I, the master of the household, have been called ‘Satan,’ how much more will you!


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contenido:
But don’t be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when the truth will be revealed: their secret plots will become public information.


book: Matt
contenido:
“What I tell you now in the gloom, shout abroad when daybreak comes. What I whisper in your ears, proclaim from the housetops!


book: Matt
contenido:
“Don’t be afraid of those who can kill only your bodies—but can’t touch your souls! Fear only God who can destroy both soul and body in hell.


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contenido:
Not one sparrow (What do they cost? Two for a penny?) can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.


book: Matt
contenido:
“If anyone publicly acknowledges me as his friend, I will openly acknowledge him as my friend before my Father in heaven.


book: Matt
contenido:
I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—


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contenido:
If you love your father and mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine.


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“Those who welcome you are welcoming me. And when they welcome me they are welcoming God who sent me.


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If you welcome a prophet because he is a man of God, you will be given the same reward a prophet gets. And if you welcome good and godly men because of their godliness, you will be given a reward like theirs.


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“And if, as my representatives, you give even a cup of cold water to a little child, you will surely be rewarded.”


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When Jesus had finished giving these instructions to his twelve disciples, he went off preaching in the cities where they were scheduled to go.


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contenido:
John the Baptist, who was now in prison, heard about all the miracles the Messiah was doing, so he sent his disciples to ask Jesus,


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contenido:
the blind people I’ve healed, and the lame people now walking without help, and the cured lepers, and the deaf who hear, and the dead raised to life; and tell him about my preaching the Good News to the poor.


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When John’s disciples had gone, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds. “When you went out into the barren wilderness to see John, what did you expect him to be like? Grass blowing in the wind?


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For John is the man mentioned in the Scriptures—a messenger to precede me, to announce my coming, and prepare people to receive me.


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“Truly, of all men ever born, none shines more brightly than John the Baptist. And yet, even the lesser lights in the Kingdom of Heaven will be greater than he is!


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And from the time John the Baptist began preaching and baptizing until now, ardent multitudes have been crowding toward the Kingdom of Heaven,


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and if you are willing to understand what I mean, he is Elijah, the one the prophets said would come at the time the Kingdom begins.


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“What shall I say about this nation? These people are like children playing, who say to their little friends,


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For John the Baptist doesn’t even drink wine and often goes without food, and you say, ‘He’s crazy.’


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And I, the Messiah, feast and drink, and you complain that I am ‘a glutton and a drinking man, and hang around with the worst sort of sinners!’ But brilliant men like you can justify your every inconsistency!”*


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Then he began to pour out his denunciations against the cities where he had done most of his miracles, because they hadn’t turned to God.


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“Woe to you, Chorazin, and woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did in your streets had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have repented long ago in shame and humility.


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And Capernaum, though highly honored, shall go down to hell! For if the marvelous miracles I did in you had been done in Sodom, it would still be here today.


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And Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding the truth from those who think themselves so wise, and for revealing it to little children.


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“Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father. Only the Father knows the Son, and the Father is known only by the Son and by those to whom the Son reveals him.


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Come to me and I will give you rest—all of you who work so hard beneath a heavy yoke. Wear my yoke—for it fits perfectly—and let me teach you; for I am gentle and humble, and you shall find rest for your souls; for I give you only light burdens.”


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About that time, Jesus was walking one day through some grainfields with his disciples. It was on the Sabbath, the Jewish day of worship, and his disciples were hungry; so they began breaking off heads of wheat and eating the grain.


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But some Pharisees saw them do it and protested, “Your disciples are breaking the law. They are harvesting on the Sabbath.”


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But Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you ever read what King David did when he and his friends were hungry?


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He went into the Temple and they ate the special bread permitted to the priests alone. That was breaking the law too.


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And haven’t you ever read in the law of Moses how the priests on duty in the Temple may work on the Sabbath?


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But if you had known the meaning of this Scripture verse, ‘I want you to be merciful more than I want your offerings,’ you would not have condemned those who aren’t guilty!


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and noticed there a man with a deformed hand. The Pharisees asked Jesus, “Is it legal to work by healing on the Sabbath day?” (They were, of course, hoping he would say yes, so they could arrest* him!)


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This was his answer: “If you had just one sheep, and it fell into a well on the Sabbath, would you work to rescue it that day? Of course you would.


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Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your arm.” And as he did, his hand became normal, just like the other one!


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But he knew what they were planning and left the synagogue, with many following him. He healed all the sick among them,


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“Look at my Servant.
See my Chosen One.
He is my Beloved, in whom my soul delights.
I will put my Spirit upon him,
And he will judge the nations.


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He does not crush the weak,
Or quench the smallest hope;
He will end all conflict with his final victory,


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Then a demon-possessed man—he was both blind and unable to talk—was brought to Jesus, and Jesus healed him so that he could both speak and see.


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But when the Pharisees heard about the miracle, they said, “He can cast out demons because he is Satan, king of devils.”


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Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, “A divided kingdom ends in ruin. A city or home divided against itself cannot stand.


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And if, as you claim, I am casting out demons by invoking the powers of Satan, then what power do your own people use when they cast them out? Let them answer your accusation!


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“Even blasphemy against me or any other sin can be forgiven—all except one: speaking against the Holy Spirit shall never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come.


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“A tree is identified by its fruit. A tree from a select variety produces good fruit; poor varieties don’t.


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You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For a man’s heart determines his speech.


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A good man’s speech reveals the rich treasures within him. An evil-hearted man is filled with venom, and his speech reveals it.


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Your words now reflect your fate then: either you will be justified by them or you will be condemned.”


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One day some of the Jewish leaders, including some Pharisees, came to Jesus asking him to show them a miracle.


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But Jesus replied, “Only an evil, faithless nation would ask for further proof; and none will be given except what happened to Jonah the prophet! For as Jonah was in the great fish for three days and three nights, so I, the Messiah, shall be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.


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The men of Nineveh shall arise against this nation at the judgment and condemn you. For when Jonah preached to them, they repented and turned to God from all their evil ways. And now one greater than Jonah is here—and you refuse to believe him.


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The queen of Sheba shall rise against this nation in the judgment and condemn it; for she came from a distant land to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and now one greater than Solomon is here—and you refuse to believe him.*


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“This evil nation is like a man possessed by a demon. For if the demon leaves, it goes into the deserts for a while, seeking rest but finding none. Then it says, ‘I will return to the man I came from.’ So it returns and finds the man’s heart clean but empty! Then the demon finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and all enter the man and live in him. And so he is worse off than before.”


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As Jesus was speaking in a crowded house, his mother and brothers were outside, wanting to talk with him. When someone told him they were there,


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where an immense crowd soon gathered. He got into a boat and taught from it while the people listened on the beach. He used many illustrations such as this one in his sermon:
“A farmer was sowing grain in his fields.


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And some fell on rocky soil where there was little depth of earth; the plants sprang up quickly enough in the shallow soil,


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But some fell on good soil and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as he had planted.


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Then he explained to them that only they were permitted to understand about the Kingdom of Heaven, and others were not.


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“For to him who has will more be given,” he told them, “and he will have great plenty; but from him who has not, even the little he has will be taken away. That is why I use these illustrations, so people will hear and see but not understand.


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For their hearts are fat and heavy, and their ears are dull, and they have closed their eyes in sleep,


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so they won’t see and hear and understand and turn to God again, and let me heal them.’
But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear.


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Many a prophet and godly man has longed to see what you have seen and hear what you have heard, but couldn’t.


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The hard path where some of the seeds fell represents the heart of a person who hears the Good News about the Kingdom and doesn’t understand it; then Satan comes and snatches away the seeds from his heart.


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The shallow, rocky soil represents the heart of a man who hears the message and receives it with real joy,


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but he doesn’t have much depth in his life, and the seeds don’t root very deeply, and after a while when trouble comes, or persecution begins because of his beliefs, his enthusiasm fades, and he drops out.


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The ground covered with thistles represents a man who hears the message, but the cares of this life and his longing for money choke out God’s Word, and he does less and less for God.


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The good ground represents the heart of a man who listens to the message and understands it and goes out and brings thirty, sixty, or even a hundred others into the Kingdom.”


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Here is another illustration Jesus used: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer sowing good seed in his field;


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“The farmer’s men came and told him, ‘Sir, the field where you planted that choice seed is full of thistles!’


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Let both grow together until the harvest, and I will tell the reapers to sort out the thistles and burn them, and put the wheat in the barn.’”


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Here is another of his illustrations: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a tiny mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds but becomes the largest of plants, and grows into a tree where birds can come and find shelter.”


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He also used this example:
“The Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a woman making bread. She takes a measure of flour and mixes in the yeast until it permeates every part of the dough.”


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Jesus constantly used these illustrations when speaking to the crowds. In fact, because the prophets said that he would use so many, he never spoke to them without at least one illustration. For it had been prophesied, “I will talk in parables; I will explain mysteries hidden since the beginning of time.”


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Then, leaving the crowds outside, he went into the house. His disciples asked him to explain to them the illustration of the thistles and the wheat.


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The field is the world, and the seed represents the people of the Kingdom; the thistles are the people belonging to Satan.


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The enemy who sowed the thistles among the wheat is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world, and the reapers are the angels.


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“Just as in this story the thistles are separated and burned, so shall it be at the end of the world:


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I will send my angels, and they will separate out of the Kingdom every temptation and all who are evil,


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“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure a man discovered in a field. In his excitement, he sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field—and get the treasure, too!


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“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by a fisherman—he casts a net into the water and gathers in fish of every kind, valuable and worthless. When the net is full, he drags it up onto the beach and sits down and sorts out the edible ones into crates and throws the others away.


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That is the way it will be at the end of the world—the angels will come and separate the wicked people from the godly,


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Then he added, “Those experts in Jewish law who are now my disciples have double treasures—from the Old Testament as well as from the New!”


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When Jesus had finished giving these illustrations, he returned to his hometown, Nazareth in Galilee, and taught there in the synagogue and astonished everyone with his wisdom and his miracles.


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“How is this possible?” the people exclaimed. “He’s just a carpenter’s son, and we know Mary his mother and his brothers—James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas.


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And they became angry with him!
Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own country, and among his own people!”


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he said to his men, “This must be John the Baptist, come back to life again. That is why he can do these miracles.”


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For Herod had arrested John and chained him in prison at the demand of his wife Herodias, his brother Philip’s ex-wife,


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The king was grieved, but because of his oath, and because he didn’t want to back down in front of his guests, he issued the necessary orders.


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As soon as Jesus heard the news, he went off by himself in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds saw where he was headed and followed by land from many villages.


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So when Jesus came out of the wilderness, a vast crowd was waiting for him, and he pitied them and healed their sick.


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That evening the disciples came to him and said, “It is already past time for supper, and there is nothing to eat here in the desert; send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy some food.”


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Then he told the people to sit down on the grass; and he took the five loaves and two fish, looked up into the sky, and asked God’s blessing on the meal, then broke the loaves apart and gave them to the disciples to place before the people.


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And everyone ate until full! And when the scraps were picked up afterwards, there were twelve basketfuls left over!


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Immediately after this, Jesus told his disciples to get into their boat and cross to the other side of the lake while he stayed to get the people started home.


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Then afterwards he went up into the hills to pray. Night fell, and out on the lake the disciples were in trouble. For the wind had risen and they were fighting heavy seas.


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Then Peter called to him: “Sir, if it is really you, tell me to come over to you, walking on the water.”


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“All right,” the Lord said, “come along!”
So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.


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But when he looked around at the high waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.


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Instantly Jesus reached out his hand and rescued him. “O man of little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”


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The news of their arrival spread quickly throughout the city, and soon people were rushing around, telling everyone to bring in their sick to be healed.


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“Why do your disciples disobey the ancient Jewish traditions?” they demanded. “For they ignore our ritual of ceremonial handwashing before they eat.”


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But you say, ‘Even if your parents are in need, you may give their support money to the church instead.’ And so, by your man-made rule, you nullify the direct command of God to honor and care for your parents.


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You aren’t made unholy by eating nonkosher food! It is what you say and think that makes you unclean.”


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Jesus replied, “Every plant not planted by my Father shall be rooted up, so ignore them. They are blind guides leading the blind, and both will fall into a ditch.”


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Then Peter asked Jesus to explain what he meant when he said that people are not defiled by nonkosher food.


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These are what defile; but there is no spiritual defilement from eating without first going through the ritual of ceremonial handwashing!”


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A woman from Canaan who was living there came to him, pleading, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, King David’s Son! For my daughter has a demon within her, and it torments her constantly.”


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But Jesus gave her no reply—not even a word. Then his disciples urged him to send her away. “Tell her to get going,” they said, “for she is bothering us with all her begging.”


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“Yes, it is!” she replied, “for even the puppies beneath the table are permitted to eat the crumbs that fall.”


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“Woman,” Jesus told her, “your faith is large, and your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed right then.


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And a vast crowd brought him their lame, blind, maimed, and those who couldn’t speak, and many others, and laid them before Jesus, and he healed them all.


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What a spectacle it was! Those who hadn’t been able to say a word before were talking excitedly, and those with missing arms and legs had new ones; the crippled were walking and jumping around, and those who had been blind were gazing about them! The crowds just marveled and praised the God of Israel.


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Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I pity these people—they’ve been here with me for three days now and have nothing left to eat; I don’t want to send them away hungry or they will faint along the road.”


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Jesus asked them, “How much food do you have?” And they replied, “Seven loaves of bread and a few small fish!”


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and he took the seven loaves and the fish, and gave thanks to God for them, and divided them into pieces, and gave them to the disciples who presented them to the crowd.


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And everyone ate until full—four thousand men besides the women and children! And afterwards, when the scraps were picked up, there were seven basketfuls left over!


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One day the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus’ claim of being the Messiah by asking him to show them some great demonstrations in the skies.


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He replied, “You are good at reading the weather signs of the skies—red sky tonight means fair weather tomorrow; red sky in the morning means foul weather all day—but you can’t read the obvious signs of the times!


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This evil, unbelieving nation is asking for some strange sign in the heavens, but no further proof will be given except the miracle that happened to Jonah.” Then Jesus walked out on them.


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Jesus knew what they were thinking and told them, “O men of little faith! Why are you so worried about having no food?


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Won’t you ever understand? Don’t you remember at all the five thousand I fed with five loaves, and the basketfuls left over?


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How could you even think I was talking about food? But again I say, ‘Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.’”


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Then at last they understood that by yeast he meant the wrong teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.


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“Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist; some, Elijah; some, Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”


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“God has blessed you, Simon, son of Jonah,” Jesus said, “for my Father in heaven has personally revealed this to you—this is not from any human source.


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You are Peter, a stone; and upon this rock I will build my church; and all the powers of hell shall not prevail against it.


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And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven; whatever doors you lock on earth shall be locked in heaven; and whatever doors you open on earth shall be open in heaven!”


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From then on Jesus began to speak plainly to his disciples about going to Jerusalem, and what would happen to him there—that he would suffer at the hands of the Jewish leaders, that he would be killed, and that three days later he would be raised to life again.


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But Peter took him aside to remonstrate with him. “Heaven forbid, sir,” he said. “This is not going to happen to you!”


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Jesus turned on Peter and said, “Get away from me, you Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are thinking merely from a human point of view, and not from God’s.”


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Then Jesus said to the disciples, “If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.


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For anyone who keeps his life for himself shall lose it; and anyone who loses his life for me shall find it again.


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What profit is there if you gain the whole world—and lose eternal life? What can be compared with the value of eternal life?


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For I, the Son of Mankind, shall come with my angels in the glory of my Father and judge each person according to his deeds.


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and as they watched, his appearance changed so that his face shone like the sun and his clothing became dazzling white.


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Peter blurted out, “Sir, it’s wonderful that we can be here! If you want me to, I’ll make three shelters, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”


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But even as he said it, a bright cloud came over them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, and I am wonderfully pleased with him. Obey him.”


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As they were going down the mountain, Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone what they had seen until after he had risen from the dead.


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His disciples asked, “Why do the Jewish leaders insist Elijah must return before the Messiah comes?”


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And, in fact, he has already come, but he wasn’t recognized, and was badly mistreated by many. And I, the Messiah, shall also suffer at their hands.”


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When they arrived at the bottom of the hill, a huge crowd was waiting for them. A man came and knelt before Jesus and said,


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“Sir, have mercy on my son, for he is mentally deranged and in great trouble, for he often falls into the fire or into the water;


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contenido:
Jesus replied, “Oh, you stubborn, faithless people! How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to me.”


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contenido:
“Because of your little faith,” Jesus told them. “For if you had faith even as small as a tiny mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move!’ and it would go far away. Nothing would be impossible.


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One day while they were still in Galilee, Jesus told them, “I am going to be betrayed into the power of those who will kill me, and on the third day afterwards I will be brought back to life again.” And the disciples’ hearts were filled with sorrow and dread.


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On their arrival in Capernaum, the Temple tax collectors came to Peter and asked him, “Doesn’t your master pay taxes?”


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“Of course he does,” Peter replied.
Then he went into the house to talk to Jesus about it, but before he had a chance to speak, Jesus asked him, “What do you think, Peter? Do kings levy assessments against their own people or against conquered foreigners?”


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“Against the foreigners,” Peter replied.
“Well, then,” Jesus said, “the citizens are free! However, we don’t want to offend them, so go down to the shore and throw in a line, and open the mouth of the first fish you catch. You will find a coin to cover the taxes for both of us; take it and pay them.”


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About that time the disciples came to Jesus to ask which of them would be greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven!


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and said, “Unless you turn to God from your sins and become as little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.


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And any of you who welcomes a little child like this because you are mine is welcoming me and caring for me.


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But if any of you causes one of these little ones who trusts in me to lose his faith, it would be better for you to have a rock tied to your neck and be thrown into the sea.


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“Woe upon the world for all its evils. Temptation to do wrong is inevitable, but woe to the man who does the tempting.


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So if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. Better to enter heaven crippled than to be in hell with both of your hands and feet.


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And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. Better to enter heaven with one eye than to be in hell with two.


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“Beware that you don’t look down upon a single one of these little children. For I tell you that in heaven their angels have constant access to my Father.


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“If a man has a hundred sheep, and one wanders away and is lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others and go out into the hills to search for the lost one?


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“If a brother sins against you, go to him privately and confront him with his fault. If he listens and confesses it, you have won back a brother.


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But if not, then take one or two others with you and go back to him again, proving everything you say by these witnesses.


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If he still refuses to listen, then take your case to the church, and if the church’s verdict favors you, but he won’t accept it, then the church should excommunicate him.


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And I tell you this—whatever you bind on earth is bound in heaven, and whatever you free on earth will be freed in heaven.


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“I also tell you this—if two of you agree down here on earth concerning anything you ask for, my Father in heaven will do it for you.


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Then Peter came to him and asked, “Sir, how often should I forgive a brother who sins against me? Seven times?”


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contenido:
He couldn’t pay, so the king ordered him sold for the debt, also his wife and children and everything he had.


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contenido:
“But the man fell down before the king, his face in the dust, and said, ‘Oh, sir, be patient with me and I will pay it all.’


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contenido:
“But when the man left the king, he went to a man who owed him $2,000 and grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment.


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contenido:
“The man fell down before him and begged him to give him a little time. ‘Be patient and I will pay it,’ he pled.


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contenido:
“But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and jailed until the debt would be paid in full.


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contenido:
And the king called before him the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil-hearted wretch! Here I forgave you all that tremendous debt, just because you asked me to—


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After Jesus had finished this address, he left Galilee and circled back to Judea from across the Jordan River.


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contenido:
Some Pharisees came to interview him and tried to trap him into saying something that would ruin him.
“Do you permit divorce?” they asked.


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contenido:
“Don’t you read the Scriptures?” he replied. “In them it is written that at the beginning God created man and woman,


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contenido:
and that a man should leave his father and mother, and be forever united to his wife. The two shall become one—no longer two, but one! And no man may divorce what God has joined together.”


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“Then, why,” they asked, “did Moses say a man may divorce his wife by merely writing her a letter of dismissal?”


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contenido:
Jesus replied, “Moses did that in recognition of your hard and evil hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended.


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contenido:
And I tell you this, that anyone who divorces his wife, except for fornication, and marries another, commits adultery.”


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contenido:
Some are born without the ability to marry, and some are disabled by men, and some refuse to marry for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. Let anyone who can, accept my statement.”


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contenido:
Little children were brought for Jesus to lay his hands on them and pray. But the disciples scolded those who brought them. “Don’t bother him,” they said.


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contenido:
But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and don’t prevent them. For of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.”


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contenido:
“When you call me good you are calling me God,” Jesus replied, “for God alone is truly good. But to answer your question, you can get to heaven if you keep the commandments.”


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“Which ones?” the man asked.
And Jesus replied, “Don’t kill, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t lie,


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contenido:
Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell everything you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”


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contenido:
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “It is almost impossible for a rich man to get into the Kingdom of Heaven.


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contenido:
I say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God!”


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contenido:
Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, no one. But with God, everything is possible.”


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And Jesus replied, “When I, the Messiah, shall sit upon my glorious throne in the Kingdom,* you my disciples shall certainly sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.


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And anyone who gives up his home, brothers, sisters, father, mother, wife, children, or property, to follow me, shall receive a hundred times as much in return, and shall have eternal life.


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contenido:
Here is another illustration of the Kingdom of Heaven. “The owner of an estate went out early one morning to hire workers for his harvest field.


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“A couple of hours later he was passing a hiring hall and saw some men standing around waiting for jobs,


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so he sent them also into his fields, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day.


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contenido:
“At five o’clock that evening he was in town again and saw some more men standing around and asked them, ‘Why haven’t you been working today?’


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contenido:
“‘Because no one hired us,’ they replied.
“‘Then go on out and join the others in my fields,’ he told them.


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contenido:
“That evening he told the paymaster to call the men in and pay them, beginning with the last men first.


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So when the men hired earlier came to get theirs, they assumed they would receive much more. But they, too, were paid $20.


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“They protested, ‘Those fellows worked only one hour, and yet you’ve paid them just as much as those of us who worked all day in the scorching heat.’


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and talked to them about what would happen to him when they arrived.
“I will be betrayed to the chief priests and other Jewish leaders, and they will condemn me to die.


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contenido:
And they will hand me over to the Roman government, and I will be mocked and crucified, and the third day I will rise to life again.”


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contenido:
Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, brought them to Jesus and respectfully asked a favor.


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contenido:
“What is your request?” he asked. She replied, “In your Kingdom, will you let my two sons sit on two thrones next to yours?”


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But Jesus told her, “You don’t know what you are asking!” Then he turned to James and John and asked them, “Are you able to drink from the terrible cup I am about to drink from?”
“Yes,” they replied, “we are able!”


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“You shall indeed drink from it,” he told them. “But I have no right to say who will sit on the thrones next to mine. Those places are reserved for the persons my Father selects.”


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contenido:
But Jesus called them together and said, “Among the heathen, kings are tyrants and each minor official lords it over those beneath him.


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Your attitude must be like my own, for I, the Messiah,* did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give my life as a ransom for many.”


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contenido:
Two blind men were sitting beside the road, and when they heard that Jesus was coming that way, they began shouting, “Sir, King David’s Son, have mercy on us!”


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When Jesus came to the place where they were, he stopped in the road and called, “What do you want me to do for you?”
“Sir,” they said, “we want to see!”


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contenido:
Jesus was moved with pity for them and touched their eyes. And instantly they could see, and followed him.


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contenido:
As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, and were near the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of them into the village ahead.


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“Just as you enter,” he said, “you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them here.


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If anyone asks you what you are doing, just say, ‘The Master needs them,’ and there will be no trouble.”


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And some in the crowd threw down their coats along the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them out before him.


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Then the crowds surged on ahead and pressed along behind, shouting, “God bless King David’s Son!” . . . “God’s Man is here!” . . . “Bless him, Lord!” . . . “Praise God in highest heaven!”


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Jesus went into the Temple, drove out the merchants, and knocked over the money changers’ tables and the stalls of those selling doves.


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“The Scriptures say my Temple is a place of prayer,” he declared, “but you have turned it into a den of thieves.”


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But when the chief priests and other Jewish leaders saw these wonderful miracles and heard even the little children in the Temple shouting, “God bless the Son of David,” they were disturbed and indignant and asked him, “Do you hear what these children are saying?”


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“Yes,” Jesus replied. “Didn’t you ever read the Scriptures? For they say, ‘Even little babies shall praise him!’”


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and noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went over to see if there were any figs, but there were only leaves. Then he said to it, “Never bear fruit again!” And soon the fig tree withered up.


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Then Jesus told them, “Truly, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this Mount of Olives, ‘Move over into the ocean,’ and it will.


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When he had returned to the Temple and was teaching, the chief priests and other Jewish leaders came up to him and demanded to know by whose authority he had thrown out the merchants the day before.


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contenido:
“Was John the Baptist sent from God or not?”
They talked it over among themselves. “If we say, ‘From God,’” they said, “then he will ask why we didn’t believe what John said.


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So they finally replied, “We don’t know!”
And Jesus said, “Then I won’t answer your question either.


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“But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, ‘Son, go out and work on the farm today.’


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Which of the two was obeying his father?”
They replied, “The first, of course.”
Then Jesus explained his meaning: “Surely evil men and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom before you do.


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For John the Baptist told you to repent and turn to God, and you wouldn’t, while very evil men and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to repent, and so you couldn’t believe.


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“Now listen to this story: A certain landowner planted a vineyard with a hedge around it, and built a platform for the watchman, then leased the vineyard to some farmers on a sharecrop basis, and went away to live in another country.


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“But when these farmers saw the son coming, they said among themselves, ‘Here comes the heir to this estate; come on, let’s kill him and get it for ourselves!’


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The Jewish leaders replied, “He will put the wicked men to a horrible death and lease the vineyard to others who will pay him promptly.”


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contenido:
Then Jesus asked them, “Didn’t you ever read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone rejected by the builders has been made the honored cornerstone; how remarkable! what an amazing thing the Lord has done’?


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“What I mean is that the Kingdom of God shall be taken away from you, and given to a nation that will give God his share of the crop.


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contenido:
All who stumble on this rock of truth shall be broken, but those it falls on will be scattered as dust.”


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contenido:
When the chief priests and other Jewish leaders realized that Jesus was talking about them—that they were the farmers in his story—


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contenido:
they wanted to get rid of him but were afraid to try because of the crowds, for they accepted Jesus as a prophet.


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contenido:
Jesus told several other stories to show what the Kingdom of Heaven is like.
“For instance,” he said, “it can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding dinner for his son.


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contenido:
Many guests were invited, and when the banquet was ready, he sent messengers to notify everyone that it was time to come. But all refused!


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contenido:
“But the guests he had invited merely laughed and went on about their business, one to his farm, another to his store;


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And he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren’t worthy of the honor.


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contenido:
“So the servants did, and brought in all they could find, good and bad alike; and the banquet hall was filled with guests.


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But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing the wedding robe provided for him.


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contenido:
“‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how does it happen that you are here without a wedding robe?’ And the man had no reply.


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contenido:
“Then the king said to his aides, ‘Bind him hand and foot and throw him out into the outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.’


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contenido:
Then the Pharisees met together to try to think of some way to trap Jesus into saying something for which they could arrest him.


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contenido:
They decided to send some of their men along with the Herodians to ask him this question: “Sir, we know you are very honest and teach the truth regardless of the consequences, without fear or favor.


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But Jesus saw what they were after. “You hypocrites!” he exclaimed. “Who are you trying to fool with your trick questions?


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contenido:
“Caesar’s,” they replied.
“Well, then,” he said, “give it to Caesar if it is his, and give God everything that belongs to God.”


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contenido:
But that same day some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection after death, came to him and asked,


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contenido:
“Sir, Moses said that if a man died without children, his brother should marry the widow and their children would get all the dead man’s property.


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contenido:
Well, we had among us a family of seven brothers. The first of these men married and then died, without children, so his widow became the second brother’s wife.


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contenido:
This brother also died without children, and the wife was passed to the next brother, and so on until she had been the wife of each of them.


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contenido:
But now, as to whether there is a resurrection of the dead—don’t you ever read the Scriptures? Don’t you realize that God was speaking directly to you when he said,


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contenido:
but not the Pharisees! When they heard that he had routed the Sadducees with his reply, they thought up a fresh question of their own to ask him. One of them, a lawyer, spoke up:


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This is the first and greatest commandment. The second most important is similar: ‘Love your neighbor as much as you love yourself.’


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contenido:
All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets stem from these two laws and are fulfilled if you obey them. Keep only these and you will find that you are obeying all the others.”


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contenido:
“Then why does David, speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, call him ‘Lord’?” Jesus asked. “For David said,


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contenido:
“You would think these Jewish leaders and these Pharisees were Moses, the way they keep making up so many laws!


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contenido:
And of course you should obey their every whim! It may be all right to do what they say, but above anything else, don’t follow their example. For they don’t do what they tell you to do.


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“Everything they do is done for show. They act holy by wearing on their arms little prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside,* and by lengthening the memorial fringes of their robes.


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Don’t ever let anyone call you that. For only God is your Rabbi and all of you are on the same level, as brothers.


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And don’t address anyone here on earth as ‘Father,’ for only God in heaven should be addressed like that.


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But those who think themselves great shall be disappointed and humbled; and those who humble themselves shall be exalted.


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“Woe to you, Pharisees, and you other religious leaders. Hypocrites! For you won’t let others enter the Kingdom of Heaven and won’t go in yourselves. And you pretend to be holy, with all your long, public prayers in the streets, while you are evicting widows from their homes. Hypocrites!


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Yes, woe upon you hypocrites. For you go to all lengths to make one convert, and then turn him into twice the son of hell you are yourselves.


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Blind guides! Woe upon you! For your rule is that to swear ‘By God’s Temple’ means nothing—you can break that oath, but to swear ‘By the gold in the Temple’ is binding!


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And you say that to take an oath ‘By the altar’ can be broken, but to swear ‘By the gifts on the altar’ is binding!


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“Yes, woe upon you, Pharisees, and you other religious leaders—hypocrites! For you tithe down to the last mint leaf in your garden, but ignore the important things—justice and mercy and faith. Yes, you should tithe, but you shouldn’t leave the more important things undone.


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“Woe to you, Pharisees, and you religious leaders—hypocrites! You are so careful to polish the outside of the cup, but the inside is foul with extortion and greed.


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contenido:
“Woe to you, Pharisees, and you religious leaders! You are like beautiful mausoleums—full of dead men’s bones, and of foulness and corruption.


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contenido:
You try to look like saintly men, but underneath those pious robes of yours are hearts besmirched with every sort of hypocrisy and sin.


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contenido:
“Yes, woe to you, Pharisees, and you religious leaders—hypocrites! For you build monuments to the prophets killed by your fathers and lay flowers on the graves of the godly men they destroyed, and say, ‘We certainly would never have acted as our fathers did.’


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“I will send you prophets, and wise men, and inspired writers, and you will kill some by crucifixion, and rip open the backs of others with whips in your synagogues, and hound them from city to city,


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so that you will become guilty of all the blood of murdered godly men from righteous Abel to Zechariah (son of Barachiah), slain by you in the Temple between the altar and the sanctuary.


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contenido:
Yes, all the accumulated judgment of the centuries shall break upon the heads of this very generation.


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“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones all those God sends to her! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me.


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For I tell you this, you will never see me again until you are ready to welcome the one sent to you from God.”


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contenido:
As Jesus was leaving the Temple grounds, his disciples came along and wanted to take him on a tour of the various Temple buildings.


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contenido:
But he told them, “All these buildings will be knocked down, with not one stone left on top of another!”


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contenido:
“When will this happen?” the disciples asked him later, as he sat on the slopes of the Mount of Olives. “What events will signal your return and the end of the world?”


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contenido:
When you hear of wars beginning, this does not signal my return; these must come, but the end is not yet.


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contenido:
The nations and kingdoms of the earth will rise against each other, and there will be famines and earthquakes in many places.


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contenido:
“And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it, and then, finally, the end will come.


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“So, when you see the horrible thing (told about by Daniel* the prophet) standing in a holy place (Note to the reader: You know what is meant!*),


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For there will be persecution such as the world has never before seen in all its history and will never see again.


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“In fact, unless those days are shortened, all mankind will perish. But they will be shortened for the sake of God’s chosen people.


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contenido:
“Then if anyone tells you, ‘The Messiah has arrived at such and such a place, or has appeared here or there,’ don’t believe it.


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contenido:
For false Christs shall arise, and false prophets, and will do wonderful miracles so that if it were possible, even God’s chosen ones would be deceived.


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contenido:
“So if someone tells you the Messiah has returned and is out in the desert, don’t bother to go and look. Or, that he is hiding at a certain place, don’t believe it!


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For as the lightning flashes across the sky from east to west, so shall my coming be, when I, the Messiah, return.


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contenido:
“Immediately after the persecution of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give light, and the stars will seem to fall from the heavens, and the powers overshadowing the earth will be convulsed.*


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contenido:
“And then at last the signal of my coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning all around the earth. And the nations of the world will see me arrive in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.


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And I shall send forth my angels with the sound of a mighty trumpet blast, and they shall gather my chosen ones from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.


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contenido:
“Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When her branch is tender and the leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is almost here.


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contenido:
Just so, when you see all these things beginning to happen, you can know that my return is near, even at the doors.


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contenido:
But no one knows the date and hour when the end will be—not even the angels. No, nor even God’s Son. Only the Father knows.


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contenido:
“The world will be at ease—banquets and parties and weddings—just as it was in Noah’s time before the sudden coming of the Flood;


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contenido:
people wouldn’t believe what was going to happen until the Flood actually arrived and took them all away. So shall my coming be.


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contenido:
“Are you a wise and faithful servant of the Lord? Have I given you the task of managing my household, to feed my children day by day?


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contenido:
and severely whip you and send you off to the judgment of the hypocrites; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.


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contenido:
“The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.


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contenido:
But only five of them were wise enough to fill their lamps with oil, while the other five were foolish and forgot.


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contenido:
“So, when the bridegroom was delayed, they lay down to rest until midnight, when they were roused by the shout, ‘The bridegroom is coming! Come out and welcome him!’


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contenido:
“All the girls jumped up and trimmed their lamps. Then the five who hadn’t any oil begged the others to share with them, for their lamps were going out.


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contenido:
“But while they were gone, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked.


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contenido:
“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going into another country, who called together his servants and loaned them money to invest for him while he was gone.


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contenido:
“He gave $5,000 to one, $2,000 to another, and $1,000 to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities—and then left on his trip.


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contenido:
The man who received the $5,000 began immediately to buy and sell with it and soon earned another $5,000.


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contenido:
“After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to him to account for his money.


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contenido:
“His master praised him for good work. ‘You have been faithful in handling this small amount,’ he told him, ‘so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Begin the joyous tasks I have assigned to you.’


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contenido:
“Next came the man who had received the $2,000, with the report, ‘Sir, you gave me $2,000 to use, and I have doubled it.’


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contenido:
“‘Good work,’ his master said. ‘You are a good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over this small amount, so now I will give you much more.’


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contenido:
“Then the man with the $1,000 came and said, ‘Sir, I knew you were a hard man, and I was afraid you would rob me of what I earned, so I hid your money in the earth and here it is!’


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contenido:
For the man who uses well what he is given shall be given more, and he shall have abundance. But from the man who is unfaithful, even what little responsibility he has shall be taken from him.


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contenido:
And throw the useless servant out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’


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contenido:
“But when I, the Messiah, shall come in my glory, and all the angels with me, then I shall sit upon my throne of glory.


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contenido:
And all the nations shall be gathered before me. And I will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,


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contenido:
“Then I, the King, shall say to those at my right, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, into the Kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world.


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contenido:
For I was hungry and you fed me; I was thirsty and you gave me water; I was a stranger and you invited me into your homes;


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contenido:
“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Sir, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you anything to drink?


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contenido:
Then I will turn to those on my left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons.


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contenido:
a stranger, and you refused me hospitality; naked, and you wouldn’t clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’


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contenido:
“Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’


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contenido:
“And I will answer, ‘When you refused to help the least of these my brothers, you were refusing help to me.’


book: Matt
contenido:
At that very moment the chief priests and other Jewish officials were meeting at the residence of Caiaphas the high priest,


book: Matt
contenido:
While he was eating, a woman came in with a bottle of very expensive perfume and poured it over his head.


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contenido:
The disciples were indignant. “What a waste of good money,” they said. “Why, she could have sold it for a fortune and given it to the poor.”


book: Matt
contenido:
Jesus knew what they were thinking and said, “Why are you criticizing her? For she has done a good thing to me.


book: Matt
contenido:
And she will always be remembered for this deed. The story of what she has done will be told throughout the whole world, wherever the Good News is preached.”


book: Matt
contenido:
and asked, “How much will you pay me to get Jesus into your hands?” And they gave him thirty silver coins.


book: Matt
contenido:
On the first day of the Passover ceremonies, when bread made with yeast was purged from every Jewish home, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where shall we plan to eat the Passover?”


book: Matt
contenido:
He replied, “Go into the city and see Mr. So-and-So, and tell him, ‘Our Master says, my time has come, and I will eat the Passover meal with my disciples at your house.’”


book: Matt
contenido:
For I must die just as was prophesied, but woe to the man by whom I am betrayed. Far better for that one if he had never been born.”


book: Matt
contenido:
As they were eating, Jesus took a small loaf of bread and blessed it and broke it apart and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take it and eat it, for this is my body.”


book: Matt
contenido:
And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks for it and gave it to them and said, “Each one drink from it,


book: Matt
contenido:
Mark my words—I will not drink this wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom.”


book: Matt
contenido:
Then Jesus said to them, “Tonight you will all desert me. For it is written in the Scriptures that God will smite the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.


book: Matt
contenido:
Jesus told him, “The truth is that this very night, before the cock crows at dawn, you will deny me three times!”


book: Matt
contenido:
Then Jesus brought them to a garden grove, Gethsemane, and told them to sit down and wait while he went on ahead to pray.


book: Matt
contenido:
He took Peter with him and Zebedee’s two sons James and John, and began to be filled with anguish and despair.


book: Matt
contenido:
Then he told them, “My soul is crushed with horror and sadness to the point of death . . . stay here . . . stay awake with me.”


book: Matt
contenido:
He went forward a little, and fell face downward on the ground, and prayed, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup be taken away from me. But I want your will, not mine.”


book: Matt
contenido:
Then he returned to the three disciples and found them asleep. “Peter,” he called, “couldn’t you even stay awake with me one hour?


book: Matt
contenido:
Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you. For the spirit indeed is willing, but how weak the body is!”


book: Matt
contenido:
Again he left them and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot go away until I drink it all, your will be done.”


book: Matt
contenido:
Then he came to the disciples and said, “Sleep on now and take your rest . . . but no! The time has come! I am betrayed into the hands of evil men!


book: Matt
contenido:
At that very moment while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived with a great crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent by the Jewish leaders.


book: Matt
contenido:
So now Judas came straight to Jesus and said, “Hello, Master!” and embraced him in friendly fashion.


book: Matt
contenido:
Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly?


book: Matt
contenido:
Then Jesus spoke to the crowd. “Am I some dangerous criminal,” he asked, “that you had to arm yourselves with swords and clubs before you could arrest me? I was with you teaching daily in the Temple and you didn’t stop me then.


book: Matt
contenido:
But this is all happening to fulfill the words of the prophets as recorded in the Scriptures.”
At that point, all the disciples deserted him and fled.


book: Matt
contenido:
Then the mob led him to the home of Caiaphas, the high priest, where all the Jewish leaders were gathering.


book: Matt
contenido:
Meanwhile, Peter was following far to the rear, and came to the courtyard of the high priest’s house and went in and sat with the soldiers, and waited to see what was going to be done to Jesus.


book: Matt
contenido:
The chief priests and, in fact, the entire Jewish Supreme Court assembled there and looked for witnesses who would lie about Jesus, in order to build a case against him that would result in a death sentence.


book: Matt
contenido:
But even though they found many who agreed to be false witnesses, these always contradicted each other.
Finally two men were found who declared, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the Temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”


book: Matt
contenido:
Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Well, what about it? Did you say that, or didn’t you?”


book: Matt
contenido:
But Jesus remained silent.
Then the high priest said to him, “I demand in the name of the living God that you tell us whether you claim to be the Messiah, the Son of God.”


book: Matt
contenido:
“Yes,” Jesus said, “I am. And in the future you will see me, the Messiah, sitting at the right hand of God and returning on the clouds of heaven.”


book: Matt
contenido:
Then the high priest tore at his own clothing, shouting, “Blasphemy! What need have we for other witnesses? You have all heard him say it! What is your verdict?”
They shouted, “Death!—Death!—Death!”


book: Matt
contenido:
Meanwhile, as Peter was sitting in the courtyard, a girl came over and said to him, “You were with Jesus, for both of you are from Galilee.”


book: Matt
contenido:
Later, out by the gate, another girl noticed him and said to those standing around, “This man was with Jesus—from Nazareth.”


book: Matt
contenido:
But after a while the men who had been standing there came over to him and said, “We know you are one of his disciples, for we can tell by your Galilean accent.”


book: Matt
contenido:
Peter began to curse and swear. “I don’t even know the man,” he said.
And immediately the cock crowed.


book: Matt
contenido:
Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said, “Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went away, crying bitterly.


book: Matt
contenido:
When it was morning, the chief priests and Jewish leaders met again to discuss how to induce the Roman government to sentence Jesus to death.


book: Matt
contenido:
About that time Judas, who betrayed him, when he saw that Jesus had been condemned to die, changed his mind and deeply regretted what he had done, and brought back the money to the chief priests and other Jewish leaders.


book: Matt
contenido:
“I have sinned,” he declared, “for I have betrayed an innocent man.”
“That’s your problem,” they retorted.


book: Matt
contenido:
The chief priests picked the money up. “We can’t put it in the collection,” they said, “since it’s against our laws to accept money paid for murder.”


book: Matt
contenido:
They talked it over and finally decided to buy a certain field where the clay was used by potters, and to make it into a cemetery for foreigners who died in Jerusalem.


book: Matt
contenido:
This fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah which says,
“They took the thirty pieces of silver—the price at which he was valued by the people of Israel—


book: Matt
contenido:
Now Jesus was standing before Pilate, the Roman governor. “Are you the Jews’ Messiah?” the governor asked him.
“Yes,” Jesus replied.


book: Matt
contenido:
But when the chief priests and other Jewish leaders made their many accusations against him, Jesus remained silent.


book: Matt
contenido:
Now the governor’s custom was to release one Jewish prisoner each year during the Passover celebration—anyone they wanted.


book: Matt
contenido:
and as the crowds gathered before Pilate’s house that morning he asked them, “Which shall I release to you—Barabbas, or Jesus your Messiah?”


book: Matt
contenido:
For he knew very well that the Jewish leaders had arrested Jesus out of envy because of his popularity with the people.


book: Matt
contenido:
Just then, as he was presiding over the court, Pilate’s wife sent him this message: “Leave that good man alone; for I had a terrible nightmare concerning him last night.”


book: Matt
contenido:
Meanwhile the chief priests and Jewish officials persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas’s release, and for Jesus’ death.


book: Matt
contenido:
So when the governor asked again, “Which of these two shall I release to you?” the crowd shouted back their reply: “Barabbas!”


book: Matt
contenido:
When Pilate saw that he wasn’t getting anywhere and that a riot was developing, he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this good man. The responsibility is yours!”


book: Matt
contenido:
Then Pilate released Barabbas to them. And after he had whipped Jesus, he gave him to the Roman soldiers to be taken away and crucified.


book: Matt
contenido:
and made a crown from long thorns and put it on his head, and placed a stick in his right hand as a scepter and knelt before him in mockery. “Hail, King of the Jews,” they yelled.


book: Matt
contenido:
After the mockery, they took off the robe and put his own garment on him again, and took him out to crucify him.


book: Matt
contenido:
As they were on the way to the execution grounds they came across a man from Cyrene, in Africa—Simon was his name—and forced him to carry Jesus’ cross.


book: Matt
contenido:
“So! You can destroy the Temple and build it again in three days, can you? Well, then, come on down from the cross if you are the Son of God!”


book: Matt
contenido:
And the chief priests and Jewish leaders also mocked him. “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but he can’t save himself! So you are the King of Israel, are you? Come down from the cross and we’ll believe you! He trusted God—let God show his approval by delivering him! Didn’t he say, ‘I am God’s Son’?”


book: Matt
contenido:
That afternoon, the whole earth was covered with darkness for three hours, from noon until three o’clock.


book: Matt
contenido:
About three o’clock, Jesus shouted, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”


book: Matt
contenido:
One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine and put it on a stick and held it up to him to drink.


book: Matt
contenido:
And look! The curtain secluding the Holiest Place in the Temple was split apart from top to bottom; and the earth shook, and rocks broke,


book: Matt
contenido:
After Jesus’ resurrection, they left the cemetery and went into Jerusalem, and appeared to many people there.


book: Matt
contenido:
The soldiers at the crucifixion and their sergeant were terribly frightened by the earthquake and all that happened. They exclaimed, “Surely this was God’s Son.”


book: Matt
contenido:
And many women who had come down from Galilee with Jesus to care for him were watching from a distance.


book: Matt
contenido:
Among them were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of James and John (the sons of Zebedee).


book: Matt
contenido:
and placed it in his own new rock-hewn tomb, and rolled a great stone across the entrance as he left.


book: Matt
contenido:
The next day—at the close of the first day of the Passover ceremonies—the chief priests and Pharisees went to Pilate,


book: Matt
contenido:
So we request an order from you sealing the tomb until the third day, to prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he came back to life! If that happens, we’ll be worse off than we were at first.”


book: Matt
contenido:
Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to the tomb.


book: Matt
contenido:
Suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and rolled aside the stone and sat on it.


book: Matt
contenido:
Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be frightened!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified,


book: Matt
contenido:
but he isn’t here! For he has come back to life again, just as he said he would. Come in and see where his body was lying. . . .


book: Matt
contenido:
And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and that he is going to Galilee to meet them there. That is my message to them.”


book: Matt
contenido:
The women ran from the tomb, badly frightened, but also filled with joy, and rushed to find the disciples to give them the angel’s message.


book: Matt
contenido:
And as they were running, suddenly Jesus was there in front of them!
“Good morning!” he said. And they fell to the ground before him, holding his feet and worshiping him.


book: Matt
contenido:
Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be frightened! Go tell my brothers to leave at once for Galilee, to meet me there.”


book: Matt
contenido:
As the women were on the way into the city, some of the Temple police who had been guarding the tomb went to the chief priests and told them what had happened.


book: Matt
contenido:
A meeting of all the Jewish leaders was called, and it was decided to bribe the police to say they had all been asleep when Jesus’ disciples came during the night and stole his body.


book: Matt
contenido:
“If the governor hears about it,” the Council promised, “we’ll stand up for you and everything will be all right.”


book: Matt
contenido:
So the police accepted the bribe and said what they were told to. Their story spread widely among the Jews and is still believed by them to this very day.


book: Matt
contenido:
Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had said they would find him.


book: Matt
contenido:
Therefore go and make disciples in all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,


book: Matt
contenido:
and then teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you; and be sure of this—that I am with you always, even to the end of the world.”


book: Mark
contenido:
In the book written by the prophet Isaiah, God announced that he would send his Son to earth, and that a special messenger would arrive first to prepare the world for his coming.


book: Mark
contenido:
“This messenger will live out in the barren wilderness,” Isaiah said, “and will proclaim that everyone must straighten out his life to be ready for the Lord’s arrival.”*


book: Mark
contenido:
This messenger was John the Baptist. He lived in the wilderness and taught that all should be baptized as a public announcement of their decision to turn their backs on sin, so that God could forgive them.


book: Mark
contenido:
People from Jerusalem and from all over Judea traveled out into the Judean wastelands to see and hear John, and when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.


book: Mark
contenido:
His clothes were woven from camel’s hair and he wore a leather belt; locusts and wild honey were his food.


book: Mark
contenido:
Here is a sample of his preaching:
“Someone is coming soon who is far greater than I am, so much greater that I am not even worthy to be his slave.


book: Mark
contenido:
Then one day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and was baptized by John there in the Jordan River.


book: Mark
contenido:
The moment Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens open and the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove descending on him,


book: Mark
contenido:
Immediately the Holy Spirit urged Jesus into the desert. There, for forty days, alone except for desert animals, he was subjected to Satan’s temptations to sin. And afterwards the angels came and cared for him.


book: Mark
contenido:
“At last the time has come!” he announced. “God’s Kingdom is near! Turn from your sins and act on this glorious news!”


book: Mark
contenido:
One day as Jesus was walking along the shores of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew fishing with nets, for they were commercial fishermen.


book: Mark
contenido:
He called them too, and immediately they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and went with him.


book: Mark
contenido:
Jesus and his companions now arrived at the town of Capernaum and on Saturday morning went into the Jewish place of worship—the synagogue—where he preached.


book: Mark
contenido:
The congregation was surprised at his sermon because he spoke as an authority and didn’t try to prove his points by quoting others—quite unlike what they were used to hearing!


book: Mark
contenido:
“Why are you bothering us, Jesus of Nazareth—have you come to destroy us demons? I know who you are—the holy Son of God!”


book: Mark
contenido:
Amazement gripped the audience and they began discussing what had happened.
“What sort of new religion is this?” they asked excitedly. “Why, even evil spirits obey his orders!”


book: Mark
contenido:
Then, leaving the synagogue, he and his disciples went over to Simon and Andrew’s home, where they found Simon’s mother-in-law sick in bed with a high fever. They told Jesus about her right away.


book: Mark
contenido:
He went to her bedside, and as he took her by the hand and helped her to sit up, the fever suddenly left, and she got up and prepared dinner for them!


book: Mark
contenido:
By sunset the courtyard was filled with the sick and demon-possessed, brought to him for healing; and a huge crowd of people from all over the city of Capernaum gathered outside the door to watch.


book: Mark
contenido:
So Jesus healed great numbers of sick folk that evening and ordered many demons to come out of their victims. (But he refused to allow the demons to speak, because they knew who he was.)


book: Mark
contenido:
But he replied, “We must go on to other towns as well, and give my message to them too, for that is why I came.”


book: Mark
contenido:
So he traveled throughout the province of Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and releasing many from the power of demons.


book: Mark
contenido:
Once a leper came and knelt in front of him and begged to be healed. “If you want to, you can make me well again,” he pled.


book: Mark
contenido:
Jesus then told him sternly, “Go and be examined immediately by the Jewish priest. Don’t stop to speak to anyone along the way. Take along the offering prescribed by Moses for a leper who is healed, so that everyone will have proof that you are well again.”


book: Mark
contenido:
But as the man went on his way he began to shout the good news that he was healed; as a result, such throngs soon surrounded Jesus that he couldn’t publicly enter a city anywhere, but had to stay out in the barren wastelands. And people from everywhere came to him there.


book: Mark
contenido:
Several days later he returned to Capernaum, and the news of his arrival spread quickly through the city.


book: Mark
contenido:
Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there wasn’t room for a single person more, not even outside the door. And he preached the Word to them.


book: Mark
contenido:
They couldn’t get to Jesus through the crowd, so they dug through the clay roof above his head and lowered the sick man on his stretcher, right down in front of Jesus.


book: Mark
contenido:
When Jesus saw how strongly they believed that he would help, Jesus said to the sick man, “Son, your sins are forgiven!”


book: Mark
contenido:
I, the Messiah, have the authority on earth to forgive sins. But talk is cheap—anybody could say that. So I’ll prove it to you by healing this man.” Then, turning to the paralyzed man, he commanded, “Pick up your stretcher and go on home, for you are healed!”


book: Mark
contenido:
The man jumped up, took the stretcher, and pushed his way through the stunned onlookers! Then how they praised God. “We’ve never seen anything like this before!” they all exclaimed.


book: Mark
contenido:
As he was walking up the beach he saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting at his tax collection booth. “Come with me,” Jesus told him. “Come be my disciple.”
And Levi jumped to his feet and went along.


book: Mark
contenido:
That night Levi invited his fellow tax collectors and many other notorious sinners to be his dinner guests so that they could meet Jesus and his disciples. (There were many men of this type among the crowds that followed him.)


book: Mark
contenido:
But when some of the Jewish religious leaders saw him eating with these men of ill repute, they said to his disciples, “How can he stand it, to eat with such scum?”


book: Mark
contenido:
When Jesus heard what they were saying, he told them, “Sick people need the doctor, not healthy ones! I haven’t come to tell good people to repent, but the bad ones.”


book: Mark
contenido:
John’s disciples and the Jewish leaders sometimes fasted, that is, went without food as part of their religion. One day some people came to Jesus and asked why his disciples didn’t do this too.


book: Mark
contenido:
Jesus replied, “Do friends of the bridegroom refuse to eat at the wedding feast? Should they be sad while he is with them?


book: Mark
contenido:
Besides, going without food is part of the old way of doing things. It is like patching an old garment with unshrunk cloth! What happens? The patch pulls away and leaves the hole worse than before.


book: Mark
contenido:
You know better than to put new wine into old wineskins. They would burst. The wine would be spilled out and the wineskins ruined. New wine needs fresh wineskins.”


book: Mark
contenido:
Another time, on a Sabbath day as Jesus and his disciples were walking through the fields, the disciples were breaking off heads of wheat and eating the grain.


book: Mark
contenido:
Some of the Jewish religious leaders said to Jesus, “They shouldn’t be doing that! It’s against our laws to work by harvesting grain on the Sabbath.”


book: Mark
contenido:
But Jesus replied, “Didn’t you ever hear about the time King David and his companions were hungry, and he went into the house of God—Abiathar was high priest then—and they ate the special bread only priests were allowed to eat? That was against the law too.


book: Mark
contenido:
While in Capernaum Jesus went over to the synagogue again, and noticed a man there with a deformed hand.


book: Mark
contenido:
Since it was the Sabbath, Jesus’ enemies watched him closely. Would he heal the man’s hand? If he did, they planned to arrest him!


book: Mark
contenido:
Then turning to his enemies he asked, “Is it all right to do kind deeds on Sabbath days? Or is this a day for doing harm? Is it a day to save lives or to destroy them?” But they wouldn’t answer him.


book: Mark
contenido:
Looking around at them angrily, for he was deeply disturbed by their indifference to human need, he said to the man, “Reach out your hand.” He did, and instantly his hand was healed!


book: Mark
contenido:
Meanwhile, Jesus and his disciples withdrew to the beach, followed by a huge crowd from all over Galilee, Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, from beyond the Jordan River, and even from as far away as Tyre and Sidon. For the news about his miracles had spread far and wide and vast numbers came to see him for themselves.


book: Mark
contenido:
He instructed his disciples to bring around a boat and to have it standing ready to rescue him in case he was crowded off the beach.


book: Mark
contenido:
For there had been many healings that day and as a result great numbers of sick people were crowding around him, trying to touch him.


book: Mark
contenido:
And whenever those possessed by demons caught sight of him they would fall down before him shrieking, “You are the Son of God!”


book: Mark
contenido:
Afterwards he went up into the hills and summoned certain ones he chose, inviting them to come and join him there; and they did.


book: Mark
contenido:
Then he selected twelve of them to be his regular companions and to go out to preach and to cast out demons.


book: Mark
contenido:
These are the names of the twelve he chose: Simon (he renamed him “Peter”), James and John (the sons of Zebedee, but Jesus called them “Sons of Thunder”), Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (the son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon (a member of a political party advocating violent overthrow of the Roman government), Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him).


book: Mark
contenido:
When he returned to the house where he was staying, the crowds began to gather again, and soon it was so full of visitors that he couldn’t even find time to eat.


book: Mark
contenido:
When his friends heard what was happening, they came to try to take him home with them.
“He’s out of his mind,” they said.


book: Mark
contenido:
But the Jewish teachers of religion who had arrived from Jerusalem said, “His trouble is that he’s possessed by Satan, king of demons. That’s why demons obey him.”


book: Mark
contenido:
Jesus summoned these men and asked them (using proverbs they all understood), “How can Satan cast out Satan?


book: Mark
contenido:
Satan must be bound before his demons are cast out, just as a strong man must be tied up before his house can be ransacked and his property robbed.


book: Mark
contenido:
He told them this because they were saying he did his miracles by Satan’s power instead of acknowledging it was by the Holy Spirit’s power.


book: Mark
contenido:
Now his mother and brothers arrived at the crowded house where he was teaching, and they sent word for him to come out and talk with them. “Your mother and brothers are outside and want to see you,” he was told.


book: Mark
contenido:
Once again an immense crowd gathered around him on the beach as he was teaching, so he got into a boat and sat down and talked from there.


book: Mark
contenido:
Some fell on thin soil with underlying rock. It grew up quickly enough, but soon wilted beneath the hot sun and died because the roots had no nourishment in the shallow soil.


book: Mark
contenido:
Other seeds fell among thorns that shot up and crowded the young plants so that they produced no grain.


book: Mark
contenido:
But some of the seeds fell into good soil and yielded thirty times as much as he had planted—some of it even sixty or a hundred times as much!


book: Mark
contenido:
Afterwards, when he was alone with the Twelve and with his other disciples, they asked him, “What does your story mean?”


book: Mark
contenido:
He replied, “You are permitted to know some truths about the Kingdom of God that are hidden to those outside the Kingdom:
‘Though they see and hear, they will not understand or turn to God, or be forgiven for their sins.’


book: Mark
contenido:
But if you can’t understand this simple illustration, what will you do about all the others I am going to tell?


book: Mark
contenido:
“The farmer I talked about is anyone who brings God’s message to others, trying to plant good seed within their lives.


book: Mark
contenido:
The hard pathway, where some of the seed fell, represents the hard hearts of some of those who hear God’s message; Satan comes at once to try to make them forget it.


book: Mark
contenido:
but, like young plants in such soil, their roots don’t go very deep, and though at first they get along fine, as soon as persecution begins, they wilt.


book: Mark
contenido:
but all too quickly the attractions of this world and the delights of wealth, and the search for success and lure of nice things come in and crowd out God’s message from their hearts, so that no crop is produced.


book: Mark
contenido:
“But the good soil represents the hearts of those who truly accept God’s message and produce a plentiful harvest for God—thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as was planted in their hearts.”


book: Mark
contenido:
Then he asked them, “When someone lights a lamp, does he put a box over it to shut out the light? Of course not! The light couldn’t be seen or used. A lamp is placed on a stand to shine and be useful.


book: Mark
contenido:
And be sure to put into practice what you hear. The more you do this, the more you will understand what I tell you.


book: Mark
contenido:
For the soil made the seeds grow. First a leaf blade pushed through, and later the heads of wheat formed, and finally the grain ripened,


book: Mark
contenido:
It is like a tiny mustard seed! Though this is one of the smallest of seeds, yet it grows to become one of the largest of plants, with long branches where birds can build their nests and be sheltered.”


book: Mark
contenido:
In fact, he taught only by illustrations in his public teaching, but afterwards, when he was alone with his disciples, he would explain his meaning to them.


book: Mark
contenido:
So they took him just as he was and started out, leaving the crowds behind (though other boats followed).


book: Mark
contenido:
But soon a terrible storm arose. High waves began to break into the boat until it was nearly full of water and about to sink.


book: Mark
contenido:
Jesus was asleep at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. Frantically they wakened him, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you even care that we are all about to drown?”


book: Mark
contenido:
Then he rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Quiet down!” And the wind fell, and there was a great calm!


book: Mark
contenido:
And they were filled with awe and said among themselves, “Who is this man, that even the winds and seas obey him?”


book: Mark
contenido:
When they arrived at the other side of the lake, a demon-possessed man ran out from a graveyard, just as Jesus was climbing from the boat.


book: Mark
contenido:
This man lived among the gravestones and had such strength that whenever he was put into handcuffs and shackles—as he often was—he snapped the handcuffs from his wrists and smashed the shackles and walked away. No one was strong enough to control him.


book: Mark
contenido:
All day long and through the night he would wander among the tombs and in the wild hills, screaming and cutting himself with sharp pieces of stone.


book: Mark
contenido:
When Jesus was still far out on the water, the man had seen him and had run to meet him, and fell down before him.


book: Mark
contenido:
Then Jesus spoke to the demon within the man and said, “Come out, you evil spirit.”
It gave a terrible scream, shrieking, “What are you going to do to me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? For God’s sake, don’t torture me!”


book: Mark
contenido:
“What is your name?” Jesus asked, and the demon replied, “Legion, for there are many of us here within this man.”


book: Mark
contenido:
And Jesus gave them permission. Then the evil spirits came out of the man and entered the hogs, and the entire herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned.


book: Mark
contenido:
The herdsmen fled to the nearby towns and countryside, spreading the news as they ran. Everyone rushed out to see for themselves.


book: Mark
contenido:
And a large crowd soon gathered where Jesus was; but as they saw the man sitting there, fully clothed and perfectly sane, they were frightened.


book: Mark
contenido:
So he got back into the boat. The man who had been possessed by the demons begged Jesus to let him go along.


book: Mark
contenido:
But Jesus said no.
“Go home to your friends,” he told him, “and tell them what wonderful things God has done for you; and how merciful he has been.”


book: Mark
contenido:
So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to tell everyone about the great things Jesus had done for him; and they were awestruck by his story.


book: Mark
contenido:
When Jesus had gone across by boat to the other side of the lake, a vast crowd gathered around him on the shore.


book: Mark
contenido:
pleading with him to heal his little daughter.
“She is at the point of death,” he said in desperation. “Please come and place your hands on her and make her live.”


book: Mark
contenido:
She had suffered much from many doctors through the years and had become poor from paying them, and was no better but, in fact, was worse.


book: Mark
contenido:
She had heard all about the wonderful miracles Jesus did, and that is why she came up behind him through the crowd and touched his clothes.


book: Mark
contenido:
Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”


book: Mark
contenido:
Then the frightened woman, trembling at the realization of what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and told him what she had done.


book: Mark
contenido:
While he was still talking to her, messengers arrived from Jairus’s home with the news that it was too late—his daughter was dead and there was no point in Jesus’ coming now.


book: Mark
contenido:
Then Jesus halted the crowd and wouldn’t let anyone go on with him to Jairus’s home except Peter and James and John.


book: Mark
contenido:
When they arrived, Jesus saw that all was in great confusion, with unrestrained weeping and wailing.


book: Mark
contenido:
He went inside and spoke to the people.
“Why all this weeping and commotion?” he asked. “The child isn’t dead; she is only asleep!”


book: Mark
contenido:
They laughed at him in bitter derision, but he told them all to leave, and taking the little girl’s father and mother and his three disciples, he went into the room where she was lying.


book: Mark
contenido:
Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Get up, little girl!” (She was twelve years old.) And she jumped up and walked around! Her parents just couldn’t get over it.


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Jesus instructed them very earnestly not to tell what had happened and told them to give her something to eat.


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Soon afterwards he left that section of the country and returned with his disciples to Nazareth, his hometown.


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The next Sabbath he went to the synagogue to teach, and the people were astonished at his wisdom and his miracles because he was just a local man like themselves.
“He’s no better than we are,” they said. “He’s just a carpenter, Mary’s boy, and a brother of James and Joseph, Judas and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.” And they were offended!


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Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his hometown and among his relatives and by his own family.”


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contenido:
And because of their unbelief he couldn’t do any mighty miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them.


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contenido:
And he could hardly accept the fact that they wouldn’t believe in him.
Then he went out among the villages, teaching.


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contenido:
And he called his twelve disciples together and sent them out two by two, with power to cast out demons.


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contenido:
He told them to take nothing with them except their walking sticks—no food, no knapsack, no money, not even an extra pair of shoes or a change of clothes.


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“Stay at one home in each village—don’t shift around from house to house while you are there,” he said.


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“And whenever a village won’t accept you or listen to you, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave; it is a sign that you have abandoned it to its fate.”


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King Herod soon heard about Jesus, for his miracles were talked about everywhere. The king thought Jesus was John the Baptist come back to life again. So the people were saying, “No wonder he can do such miracles.”


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contenido:
Others thought Jesus was Elijah the ancient prophet, now returned to life again; still others claimed he was a new prophet like the great ones of the past.


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For Herod had sent soldiers to arrest and imprison John because he kept saying it was wrong for the king to marry Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife.


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And Herod respected John, knowing that he was a good and holy man, and so he kept him under his protection. Herod was disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so he liked to listen to him.


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contenido:
Herodias’s chance finally came. It was Herod’s birthday and he gave a stag party for his palace aides, army officers, and the leading citizens of Galilee.


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contenido:
Then Herodias’s daughter came in and danced before them and greatly pleased them all.
“Ask me for anything you like,” the king vowed, “even half of my kingdom, and I will give it to you!”


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contenido:
So she hurried back to the king and told him, “I want the head of John the Baptist—right now—on a tray!”


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So he sent one of his bodyguards to the prison to cut off John’s head and bring it to him. The soldier killed John in the prison,


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contenido:
The apostles now returned to Jesus from their tour and told him all they had done and what they had said to the people they visited.


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contenido:
Then Jesus suggested, “Let’s get away from the crowds for a while and rest.” For so many people were coming and going that they scarcely had time to eat.


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contenido:
So the usual vast crowd was there as he stepped from the boat; and he had pity on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he taught them many things they needed to know.


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contenido:
Late in the afternoon his disciples came to him and said, “Tell the people to go away to the nearby villages and farms and buy themselves some food, for there is nothing to eat here in this desolate spot, and it is getting late.”


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But Jesus said, “You feed them.”
“With what?” they asked. “It would take a fortune to buy food for all this crowd!”


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contenido:
“How much food do we have?” he asked. “Go and find out.”
They came back to report that there were five loaves of bread and two fish.


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Then Jesus told the crowd to sit down, and soon colorful groups of fifty or a hundred each were sitting on the green grass.


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He took the five loaves and two fish and looking up to heaven, gave thanks for the food. Breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave some of the bread and fish to each disciple to place before the people.


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There were about 5,000 men there for that meal, and afterwards twelve basketfuls of scraps were picked up off the grass!


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Immediately after this Jesus instructed his disciples to get back into the boat and strike out across the lake to Bethsaida, where he would join them later. He himself would stay and tell the crowds good-bye and get them started home.


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During the night, as the disciples in their boat were out in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land,


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contenido:
he saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves.
About three o’clock in the morning he walked out to them on the water. He started past them,


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but when they saw something walking along beside them, they screamed in terror, thinking it was a ghost,


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for they all saw him.
But he spoke to them at once. “It’s all right,” he said. “It is I! Don’t be afraid.”


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contenido:
For they still didn’t realize who he was, even after the miracle the evening before! For they didn’t want to believe!


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and ran throughout the whole area to spread the news of his arrival, and began carrying sick folks to him on mats and stretchers.


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Wherever he went—in villages and cities, and out on the farms—they laid the sick in the market plazas and streets, and begged him to let them at least touch the fringes of his clothes; and as many as touched him were healed.


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(For the Jews, especially the Pharisees, will never eat until they have sprinkled their arms to the elbows, as required by their ancient traditions.


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So when they come home from the market, they must always sprinkle themselves in this way before touching any food. This is but one of many examples of laws and regulations they have clung to for centuries, and still follow, such as their ceremony of cleansing for pots, pans, and dishes.)


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So the religious leaders asked him, “Why don’t your disciples follow our age-old customs? For they eat without first performing the washing ceremony.”


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Jesus replied, “You bunch of hypocrites! Isaiah the prophet described you very well when he said, ‘These people speak very prettily about the Lord but they have no love for him at all. Their worship is a farce, for they claim that God commands the people to obey their petty rules.’ How right Isaiah was!


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“For instance, Moses gave you this law from God: ‘Honor your father and mother.’ And he said that anyone who speaks against his father or mother must die.


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But you say it is perfectly all right for a man to disregard his needy parents, telling them, ‘Sorry, I can’t help you! For I have given to God what I could have given to you.’


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And so you break the law of God in order to protect your man-made tradition. And this is only one example. There are many, many others.”


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Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear. “All of you listen,” he said, “and try to understand.


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contenido:
Then he went into a house to get away from the crowds, and his disciples asked him what he meant by the statement he had just made.


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contenido:
For food doesn’t come in contact with your heart, but only passes through the digestive system.” (By saying this he showed that every kind of food is kosher.)


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wanting what belongs to others, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, pride, and all other folly.


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Then he left Galilee and went to the region of Tyre and Sidon, and tried to keep it a secret that he was there, but couldn’t. For as usual the news of his arrival spread fast.


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Right away a woman came to him whose little girl was possessed by a demon. She had heard about Jesus and now she came and fell at his feet,


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and pled with him to release her child from the demon’s control. (But she was Syrophoenician—a “despised Gentile”!)


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Jesus told her, “First I should help my own family—the Jews. It isn’t right to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.”


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contenido:
She replied, “That’s true, sir, but even the puppies under the table are given some scraps from the children’s plates.”


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“Good!” he said. “You have answered well—so well that I have healed your little girl. Go on home, for the demon has left her!”


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A deaf man with a speech impediment was brought to him, and everyone begged Jesus to lay his hands on the man and heal him.


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contenido:
Jesus led him away from the crowd and put his fingers into the man’s ears, then spat and touched the man’s tongue with the spittle.


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contenido:
Jesus told the crowd not to spread the news, but the more he forbade them, the more they made it known,


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contenido:
for they were overcome with utter amazement. Again and again they said, “Everything he does is wonderful; he even corrects deafness and stammering!”


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contenido:
One day about this time as another great crowd gathered, the people ran out of food again. Jesus called his disciples to discuss the situation.
“I pity these people,” he said, “for they have been here three days and have nothing left to eat.


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And if I send them home without feeding them, they will faint along the road! For some of them have come a long distance.”


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contenido:
So he told the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves, thanked God for them, broke them into pieces and passed them to his disciples; and the disciples placed them before the people.


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And the whole crowd ate until they were full, and afterwards he sent them home. There were about 4,000 people in the crowd that day and when the scraps were picked up after the meal, there were seven very large basketfuls left over!


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When the local Jewish leaders learned of his arrival, they came to argue with him.
“Do a miracle for us,” they said. “Make something happen in the sky. Then we will believe in you.”


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contenido:
He sighed deeply when he heard this and he said, “Certainly not. How many more miracles do you people need?”


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contenido:
But the disciples had forgotten to stock up on food before they left and had only one loaf of bread in the boat.


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contenido:
As they were crossing, Jesus said to them very solemnly, “Beware of the yeast of King Herod and of the Pharisees.”


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contenido:
“What does he mean?” the disciples asked each other. They finally decided that he must be talking about their forgetting to bring bread.


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contenido:
Jesus realized what they were discussing and said, “No, that isn’t it at all! Can’t you understand? Are your hearts too hard to take it in?


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contenido:
‘Your eyes are to see with—why don’t you look? Why don’t you open your ears and listen?’ Don’t you remember anything at all?


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“What about the 5,000 men I fed with five loaves of bread? How many basketfuls of scraps did you pick up afterwards?”
“Twelve,” they said.


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When they arrived at Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch and heal him.


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contenido:
Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and spat upon his eyes, and laid his hands over them.
“Can you see anything now?” Jesus asked him.


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contenido:
The man looked around. “Yes!” he said, “I see men! But I can’t see them very clearly; they look like tree trunks walking around!”


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contenido:
Then Jesus placed his hands over the man’s eyes again and as the man stared intently, his sight was completely restored, and he saw everything clearly, drinking in the sights around him.


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contenido:
Jesus and his disciples now left Galilee and went out to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. As they were walking along he asked them, “Who do the people think I am? What are they saying about me?”


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contenido:
“Some of them think you are John the Baptist,” the disciples replied, “and others say you are Elijah or some other ancient prophet come back to life again.”


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contenido:
Then he began to tell them about the terrible things he would suffer, and that he would be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the other Jewish leaders—and be killed, and that he would rise again three days afterwards.


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contenido:
He talked about it quite frankly with them, so Peter took him aside and chided him. “You shouldn’t say things like that,” he told Jesus.


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contenido:
Jesus turned and looked at his disciples and then said to Peter very sternly, “Satan, get behind me! You are looking at this only from a human point of view and not from God’s.”


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contenido:
Then he called his disciples and the crowds to come over and listen. “If any of you wants to be my follower,” he told them, “you must put aside your own pleasures and shoulder your cross, and follow me closely.


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If you insist on saving your life, you will lose it. Only those who throw away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live.


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And anyone who is ashamed of me and my message in these days of unbelief and sin, I, the Messiah, will be ashamed of him when I return in the glory of my Father, with the holy angels.”


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Jesus went on to say to his disciples, “Some of you who are standing here right now will live to see the Kingdom of God arrive in great power!”


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Six days later Jesus took Peter, James and John to the top of a mountain. No one else was there.
Suddenly his face began to shine with glory,


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contenido:
and his clothing became dazzling white, far more glorious than any earthly process could ever make it!


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“Teacher, this is wonderful!” Peter exclaimed. “We will make three shelters here, one for each of you. . . . ”


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contenido:
He said this just to be talking, for he didn’t know what else to say and they were all terribly frightened.


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But while he was still speaking these words, a cloud covered them, blotting out the sun, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”


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As they descended the mountainside he told them never to mention what they had seen until after he had risen from the dead.


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contenido:
So they kept it to themselves, but often talked about it, and wondered what he meant by “rising from the dead.”


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contenido:
Now they began asking him about something the Jewish religious leaders often spoke of, that Elijah must return before the Messiah could come.


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contenido:
Jesus agreed that Elijah must come first and prepare the way—and that he had, in fact, already come! And that he had been terribly mistreated, just as the prophets had predicted. Then Jesus asked them what the prophets could have been talking about when they predicted that the Messiah would suffer and be treated with utter contempt.


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At the bottom of the mountain they found a great crowd surrounding the other nine disciples, as some Jewish leaders argued with them.


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contenido:
One of the men in the crowd spoke up and said, “Teacher, I brought my son for you to heal—he can’t talk because he is possessed by a demon.


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contenido:
And whenever the demon is in control of him it dashes him to the ground and makes him foam at the mouth and grind his teeth and become rigid. So I begged your disciples to cast out the demon, but they couldn’t do it.”


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contenido:
Jesus said to his disciples, “Oh, what tiny faith you have;* how much longer must I be with you until you believe? How much longer must I be patient with you? Bring the boy to me.”


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contenido:
So they brought the boy, but when he saw Jesus, the demon convulsed the child horribly, and he fell to the ground writhing and foaming at the mouth.


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contenido:
and the demon often makes him fall into the fire or into water to kill him. Oh, have mercy on us and do something if you can.”


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When Jesus saw the crowd was growing, he rebuked the demon.
“O demon of deafness and dumbness,” he said, “I command you to come out of this child and enter him no more!”


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contenido:
Then the demon screamed terribly and convulsed the boy again and left him; and the boy lay there limp and motionless, to all appearance dead. A murmur ran through the crowd—“He is dead.”


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contenido:
Afterwards, when Jesus was alone in the house with his disciples, they asked him, “Why couldn’t we cast that demon out?”


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contenido:
Leaving that region they traveled through Galilee where he tried to avoid all publicity in order to spend more time with his disciples, teaching them. He would say to them, “I, the Messiah, am going to be betrayed and killed and three days later I will return to life again.”


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contenido:
And so they arrived at Capernaum. When they were settled in the house where they were to stay, he asked them, “What were you discussing out on the road?”


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contenido:
He sat down and called them around him and said, “Anyone wanting to be the greatest must be the least—the servant of all!”


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contenido:
“Anyone who welcomes a little child like this in my name is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming my Father who sent me!”


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contenido:
One of his disciples, John, told him one day, “Teacher, we saw a man using your name to cast out demons; but we told him not to, for he isn’t one of our group.”


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contenido:
If anyone so much as gives you a cup of water because you are Christ’s—I say this solemnly—he won’t lose his reward.


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contenido:
But if someone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to lose faith—it would be better for that man if a huge millstone were tied around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.


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contenido:
“If your hand does wrong, cut it off. Better live forever with one hand than be thrown into the unquenchable fires of hell with two!


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contenido:
If your foot carries you toward evil, cut it off! Better be lame and live forever than have two feet that carry you to hell.


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contenido:
“And if your eye is sinful, gouge it out. Better enter the Kingdom of God half blind than have two eyes and see the fires of hell,


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contenido:
“Good salt is worthless if it loses its saltiness; it can’t season anything. So don’t lose your flavor! Live in peace with each other.”


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contenido:
Then he left Capernaum and went southward to the Judean borders and into the area east of the Jordan River. And as always there were the crowds; and as usual he taught them.


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contenido:
“He said it was all right,” they replied. “He said that all a man has to do is write his wife a letter of dismissal.”


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contenido:
“And why did he say that?” Jesus asked. “I’ll tell you why—it was a concession to your hardhearted wickedness.


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contenido:
But it certainly isn’t God’s way. For from the very first he made man and woman to be joined together permanently in marriage; therefore a man is to leave his father and mother,


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contenido:
Once when some mothers were bringing their children to Jesus to bless them, the disciples shooed them away, telling them not to bother him.


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contenido:
But when Jesus saw what was happening he was very much displeased with his disciples and said to them, “Let the children come to me, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as they. Don’t send them away!


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contenido:
I tell you as seriously as I know how that anyone who refuses to come to God as a little child will never be allowed into his Kingdom.”


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contenido:
As he was starting out on a trip, a man came running to him and knelt down and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to get to heaven?”


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contenido:
But as for your question—you know the commandments: don’t kill, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t lie, don’t cheat, respect your father and mother.”


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contenido:
Jesus felt genuine love for this man as he looked at him. “You lack only one thing,” he told him; “go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor—and you shall have treasure in heaven—and come, follow me.”


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contenido:
Jesus watched him go, then turned around and said to his disciples, “It’s almost impossible for the rich to get into the Kingdom of God!”


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contenido:
This amazed them. So Jesus said it again: “Dear children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the Kingdom of God.


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contenido:
It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.”


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contenido:
The disciples were incredulous! “Then who in the world can be saved, if not a rich man?” they asked.


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contenido:
Jesus looked at them intently, then said, “Without God, it is utterly impossible. But with God everything is possible.”


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contenido:
Then Peter began to mention all that he and the other disciples had left behind. “We’ve given up everything to follow you,” he said.


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contenido:
And Jesus replied, “Let me assure you that no one has ever given up anything—home, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or property—for love of me and to tell others the Good News,


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contenido:
who won’t be given back, a hundred times over, homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and land—with persecutions!
“All these will be his here on earth, and in the world to come he shall have eternal life.


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But many people who seem to be important now will be the least important then; and many who are considered least here shall be greatest there.”


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contenido:
Now they were on the way to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking along ahead; and as the disciples were following they were filled with terror and dread.
Taking them aside, Jesus once more began describing all that was going to happen to him when they arrived at Jerusalem.


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contenido:
“When we get there,” he told them, “I, the Messiah, will be arrested and taken before the chief priests and the Jewish leaders, who will sentence me to die and hand me over to the Romans to be killed.


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contenido:
They will mock me and spit on me and flog me with their whips and kill me; but after three days I will come back to life again.”


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contenido:
Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came over and spoke to him in a low voice. “Master,” they said, “we want you to do us a favor.”


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contenido:
“We want to sit on the thrones next to yours in your Kingdom,” they said, “one at your right and the other at your left!”


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contenido:
But Jesus answered, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of sorrow I must drink from? Or to be baptized with the baptism of suffering I must be baptized with?”


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contenido:
“Oh, yes,” they said, “we are!”
And Jesus said, “You shall indeed drink from my cup and be baptized with my baptism,


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contenido:
but I do not have the right to place you on thrones next to mine. Those appointments have already been made.”


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contenido:
So Jesus called them to him and said, “As you know, the kings and great men of the earth lord it over the people;


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contenido:
For even I, the Messiah, am not here to be served, but to help others, and to give my life as a ransom for many.”


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contenido:
And so they reached Jericho. Later, as they left town, a great crowd was following. Now it happened that a blind beggar named Bartimaeus (the son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road as Jesus was going by.


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contenido:
When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus from Nazareth was near, he began to shout out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”


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contenido:
“Shut up!” some of the people yelled at him.
But he only shouted the louder, again and again, “O Son of David, have mercy on me!”


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contenido:
When Jesus heard him, he stopped there in the road and said, “Tell him to come here.”
So they called the blind man. “You lucky fellow,” they said, “come on, he’s calling you!”


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contenido:
And Jesus said to him, “All right, it’s done. Your faith has healed you.”
And instantly the blind man could see and followed Jesus down the road!


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contenido:
As they neared Bethphage and Bethany on the outskirts of Jerusalem and came to the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples on ahead.


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contenido:
“Go into that village over there,” he told them, “and just as you enter you will see a colt tied up that has never been ridden. Untie him and bring him here.


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contenido:
And if anyone asks you what you are doing, just say, ‘Our Master needs him and will return him soon.’”


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contenido:
Off went the two men and found the colt standing in the street, tied outside a house. As they were untying it, some who were standing there demanded, “What are you doing, untying that colt?”


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contenido:
So the colt was brought to Jesus, and the disciples threw their cloaks across its back for him to ride on.


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contenido:
Then many in the crowd spread out their coats along the road before him, while others threw down leafy branches from the fields.


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contenido:
He was in the center of the procession with crowds ahead and behind, and all of them shouting, “Hail to the King!” “Praise God for him who comes in the name of the Lord!” . . .


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contenido:
“Praise God for the return of our father David’s kingdom. . . . ” “Hail to the King of the universe!”


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contenido:
And so he entered Jerusalem and went into the Temple. He looked around carefully at everything and then left—for now it was late in the afternoon—and went out to Bethany with the twelve disciples.


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contenido:
A little way off he noticed a fig tree in full leaf, so he went over to see if he could find any figs on it. But no, there were only leaves, for it was too early in the season for fruit.


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contenido:
Then Jesus said to the tree, “You shall never bear fruit again!” And the disciples heard him say it.


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contenido:
When they arrived back in Jerusalem, he went to the Temple and began to drive out the merchants and their customers, and knocked over the tables of the money changers and the stalls of those selling doves,


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contenido:
He told them, “It is written in the Scriptures, ‘My Temple is to be a place of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a den of robbers.”


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contenido:
When the chief priests and other Jewish leaders heard what he had done, they began planning how best to get rid of him. Their problem was their fear of riots because the people were so enthusiastic about Jesus’ teaching.


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contenido:
Next morning, as the disciples passed the fig tree he had cursed, they saw that it was withered from the roots!


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contenido:
Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said to the tree on the previous day and exclaimed, “Look, Teacher! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”


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contenido:
In reply Jesus said to the disciples, “If you only have faith in God—this is the absolute truth—you can say to this Mount of Olives, ‘Rise up and fall into the Mediterranean,’ and your command will be obeyed. All that’s required is that you really believe and have no doubt!


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contenido:
But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive you your sins too.”


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contenido:
By this time they had arrived in Jerusalem again, and as he was walking through the Temple area, the chief priests and other Jewish leaders* came up to him demanding, “What’s going on here? Who gave you the authority to drive out the merchants?”


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contenido:
They talked it over among themselves. “If we reply that God sent him, then he will say, ‘All right, why didn’t you accept him?’


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But if we say God didn’t send him, then the people will start a riot.” (For the people all believed strongly that John was a prophet.)


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contenido:
So they said, “We can’t answer. We don’t know.”
To which Jesus replied, “Then I won’t answer your question either!”


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contenido:
Here are some of the story-illustrations Jesus gave to the people at that time:
“A man planted a vineyard and built a wall around it and dug a pit for pressing out the grape juice, and built a watchman’s tower. Then he leased the farm to tenant farmers and moved to another country.


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contenido:
“The owner then sent another of his men, who received the same treatment, only worse, for his head was seriously injured.


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contenido:
there was only one left—his only son. He finally sent him, thinking they would surely give him their full respect.


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contenido:
“But when the farmers saw him coming they said, ‘He will own the farm when his father dies. Come on, let’s kill him—and then the farm will be ours!’


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contenido:
“What do you suppose the owner will do when he hears what happened? He will come and kill them all, and lease the vineyard to others.


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contenido:
Don’t you remember reading this verse in the Scriptures? ‘The Rock the builders threw away became the cornerstone, the most honored stone in the building!


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contenido:
The Jewish leaders wanted to arrest him then and there for using this illustration, for they knew he was pointing at them—they were the wicked farmers in his story. But they were afraid to touch him for fear of a mob. So they left him and went away.


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contenido:
But they sent other religious and political leaders to talk with him and try to trap him into saying something he could be arrested for.


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contenido:
“Teacher,” these spies said, “we know you tell the truth no matter what! You aren’t influenced by the opinions and desires of men, but sincerely teach the ways of God. Now tell us, is it right to pay taxes to Rome, or not?”


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contenido:
When they handed it to him he asked, “Whose picture and title is this on the coin?” They replied, “The emperor’s.”


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contenido:
“All right,” he said, “if it is his, give it to him. But everything that belongs to God must be given to God!” And they scratched their heads in bafflement at his reply.


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contenido:
Then the Sadducees stepped forward—a group of men who say there is no resurrection. Here was their question:


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contenido:
“Teacher, Moses gave us a law that when a man dies without children, the man’s brother should marry his widow and have children in his brother’s name.


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contenido:
Well, there were seven brothers and the oldest married and died, and left no children. So the second brother married the widow, but soon he died too and left no children. Then the next brother married her and died without children, and so on until all were dead, and still there were no children; and last of all, the woman died too.


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“What we want to know is this: In the resurrection, whose wife will she be, for she had been the wife of each of them?”


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For when these seven brothers and the woman rise from the dead, they won’t be married—they will be like the angels.


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contenido:
“But now as to whether there will be a resurrection—have you never read in the book of Exodus about Moses and the burning bush? God said to Moses, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and I am the God of Isaac, and I am the God of Jacob.’


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“God was telling Moses that these men, though dead for hundreds of years, were still very much alive, for he would not have said, ‘I am the God’ of those who don’t exist! You have made a serious error.”


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contenido:
One of the teachers of religion who was standing there listening to the discussion realized that Jesus had answered well. So he asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”


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contenido:
“The second is: ‘You must love others as much as yourself.’ No other commandments are greater than these.”


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contenido:
The teacher of religion replied, “Sir, you have spoken a true word in saying that there is only one God and no other.


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contenido:
And I know it is far more important to love him with all my heart and understanding and strength, and to love others as myself, than to offer all kinds of sacrifices on the altar of the Temple.”


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contenido:
Realizing this man’s understanding, Jesus said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And after that, no one dared ask him any more questions.


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contenido:
Later, as Jesus was teaching the people in the Temple area, he asked them this question:
“Why do your religious teachers claim that the Messiah must be a descendant of King David?


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contenido:
For David himself said—and the Holy Spirit was speaking through him when he said it—‘God said to my Lord, sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.’


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contenido:
Since David called him his Lord, how can he be his son?”
(This sort of reasoning delighted the crowd and they listened to him with great interest.)


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Here are some of the other things he taught them at this time:
“Beware of the teachers of religion! For they love to wear the robes of the rich and scholarly, and to have everyone bow to them as they walk through the markets.


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but they shamelessly cheat widows out of their homes and then, to cover up the kind of men they really are, they pretend to be pious by praying long prayers in public. Because of this, their punishment will be the greater.”


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Then he went over to the collection boxes in the Temple and sat and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Some who were rich put in large amounts.


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He called his disciples to him and remarked, “That poor widow has given more than all those rich men put together! For they gave a little of their extra fat, while she gave up her last penny.”


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As he was leaving the Temple that day, one of his disciples said, “Teacher, what beautiful buildings these are! Look at the decorated stonework on the walls.”


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And as he sat on the slopes of the Mount of Olives across the valley from Jerusalem, Peter, James, John, and Andrew got alone with him and asked him, “Just when is all this going to happen to the Temple? Will there be some warning ahead of time?”


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“For nations and kingdoms will proclaim war against each other, and there will be earthquakes in many lands, and famines. These herald only the early stages of the anguish ahead.


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But when these things begin to happen, watch out! For you will be in great danger. You will be dragged before the courts, and beaten in the synagogues, and accused before governors and kings of being my followers. This is your opportunity to tell them the Good News.


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But when you are arrested and stand trial, don’t worry about what to say in your defense. Just say what God tells you to. Then you will not be speaking, but the Holy Spirit will.


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“Brothers will betray each other to death, fathers will betray their own children, and children will betray their parents to be killed.


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And everyone will hate you because you are mine. But all who endure to the end without renouncing me shall be saved.


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contenido:
“When you see the horrible thing standing in the Temple—reader, pay attention!—flee, if you can, to the Judean hills.


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contenido:
Hurry! If you are on your rooftop porch, don’t even go back into the house. If you are out in the fields, don’t even return for your money or clothes.


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For those will be days of such horror as have never been since the beginning of God’s creation, nor will ever be again.


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contenido:
And unless the Lord shortens that time of calamity, not a soul in all the earth will survive. But for the sake of his chosen ones he will limit those days.


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contenido:
For there will be many false Messiahs and false prophets who will do wonderful miracles that would deceive, if possible, even God’s own children.


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contenido:
And I will send out the angels to gather together my chosen ones from all over the world—from the farthest bounds of earth and heaven.


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contenido:
“Now, here is a lesson from a fig tree. When its buds become tender and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that spring has come.


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contenido:
And when you see these things happening that I’ve described, you can be sure that my return is very near, that I am right at the door.


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contenido:
“However, no one, not even the angels in heaven, nor I myself, knows the day or hour when these things will happen; only the Father knows.


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contenido:
“My coming can be compared with that of a man who went on a trip to another country. He laid out his employees’ work for them to do while he was gone and told the gatekeeper to watch for his return.


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“Keep a sharp lookout! For you do not know when I will come, at evening, at midnight, early dawn or late daybreak. Don’t let me find you sleeping. Watch for my return! This is my message to you and to everyone else.”


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contenido:
The Passover observance began two days later—an annual Jewish holiday when no bread made with yeast was eaten. The chief priests and other Jewish leaders were still looking for an opportunity to arrest Jesus secretly and put him to death.


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contenido:
Meanwhile Jesus was in Bethany, at the home of Simon the leper; during supper a woman came in with a beautiful flask of expensive perfume. Then, breaking the seal, she poured it over his head.


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contenido:
Some of those at the table were indignant among themselves about this “waste,” as they called it.
“Why, she could have sold that perfume for a fortune and given the money to the poor!” they snarled.


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contenido:
You always have the poor among you, and they badly need your help, and you can aid them whenever you want to; but I won’t be here much longer.


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And I tell you this in solemn truth, that wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and praised.”


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contenido:
Then Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, went to the chief priests to arrange to betray Jesus to them.


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contenido:
When the chief priests heard why he had come, they were excited and happy and promised him a reward. So he began looking for the right time and place to betray Jesus.


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contenido:
On the first day of the Passover, the day the lambs were sacrificed, his disciples asked him where he wanted to go to eat the traditional Passover supper.


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He sent two of them into Jerusalem to make the arrangements.
“As you are walking along,” he told them, “you will see a man coming toward you carrying a pot of water. Follow him.


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contenido:
At the house he enters, tell the man in charge, ‘Our Master sent us to see the room you have ready for us, where we will eat the Passover supper this evening!’


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contenido:
So the two disciples went on ahead into the city and found everything as Jesus had said, and prepared the Passover.


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contenido:
and as they were sitting around the table eating, Jesus said, “I solemnly declare that one of you will betray me, one of you who is here eating with me.”


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contenido:
I must die, as the prophets declared long ago; but, oh, the misery ahead for the man by whom I* am betrayed. Oh, that he had never been born!”


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contenido:
As they were eating, Jesus took bread and asked God’s blessing on it and broke it in pieces and gave it to them and said, “Eat it—this is my body.”


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contenido:
Then he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it and gave it to them; and they all drank from it.


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contenido:
And he said to them, “This is my blood, poured out for many, sealing the new agreement between God and man.


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contenido:
I solemnly declare that I shall never again taste wine until the day I drink a different kind in the Kingdom of God.”


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contenido:
“All of you will desert me,” Jesus told them, “for God has declared through the prophets, ‘I will kill the Shepherd, and the sheep will scatter.’


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contenido:
“Peter,” Jesus said, “before the cock crows a second time tomorrow morning you will deny me three times.”


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contenido:
“No!” Peter exploded. “Not even if I have to die with you! I’ll never deny you!” And all the others vowed the same.


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contenido:
And now they came to an olive grove called the Garden of Gethsemane, and he instructed his disciples, “Sit here, while I go and pray.”


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contenido:
And he said to them, “My soul is crushed by sorrow to the point of death; stay here and watch with me.”


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contenido:
He went on a little farther and fell to the ground and prayed that if it were possible the awful hour awaiting him might never come.


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contenido:
“Father, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take away this cup from me. Yet I want your will, not mine.”


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contenido:
Then he returned to the three disciples and found them asleep.
“Simon!” he said. “Asleep? Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour?


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contenido:
Watch with me and pray lest the Tempter overpower you. For though the spirit is willing enough, the body is weak.”


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contenido:
Again he returned to them and found them sleeping, for they were very tired. And they didn’t know what to say.


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contenido:
The third time when he returned to them he said, “Sleep on; get your rest! But no! The time for sleep has ended! Look! I am betrayed into the hands of wicked men.


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contenido:
And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas (one of his disciples) arrived with a mob equipped with swords and clubs, sent out by the chief priests and other Jewish leaders.


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contenido:
Judas had told them, “You will know which one to arrest when I go over and greet him. Then you can take him easily.”


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contenido:
So as soon as they arrived he walked up to Jesus. “Master!” he exclaimed, and embraced him with a great show of friendliness.


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contenido:
Jesus asked them, “Am I some dangerous robber, that you come like this, armed to the teeth to capture me?


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contenido:
Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there teaching every day. But these things are happening to fulfill the prophecies about me.”


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contenido:
There was, however, a young man following along behind, clothed only in a linen nightshirt. When the mob tried to grab him, he escaped, though his clothes were torn off in the process, so that he ran away completely naked.


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contenido:
Jesus was led to the high priest’s home where all of the chief priests and other Jewish leaders soon gathered.


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contenido:
Peter followed far behind and then slipped inside the gates of the high priest’s residence and crouched beside a fire among the servants.


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contenido:
Inside, the chief priests and the whole Jewish Supreme Court were trying to find something against Jesus that would be sufficient to condemn him to death. But their efforts were in vain.


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contenido:
“We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this Temple made with human hands and in three days I will build another, made without human hands!’”


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contenido:
Then the high priest stood up before the Court and asked Jesus, “Do you refuse to answer this charge? What do you have to say for yourself?”


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contenido:
Jesus said, “I am, and you will see me sitting at the right hand of God, and returning to earth in the clouds of heaven.”


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contenido:
Then the high priest tore at his clothes and said, “What more do we need? Why wait for witnesses? You have heard his blasphemy. What is your verdict?” And the vote for the death sentence was unanimous.


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contenido:
Then some of them began to spit at him, and they blindfolded him and began to hammer his face with their fists.
“Who hit you that time, you prophet?” they jeered. And even the bailiffs were using their fists on him as they led him away.


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contenido:
Meanwhile Peter was below in the courtyard. One of the maids who worked for the high priest noticed Peter warming himself at the fire.
She looked at him closely and then announced, “You were with Jesus, the Nazarene.”


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contenido:
Peter denied it. “I don’t know what you’re talking about!” he said, and walked over to the edge of the courtyard.
Just then, a rooster crowed.


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contenido:
The maid saw him standing there and began telling the others, “There he is! There’s that disciple of Jesus!”


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contenido:
Peter denied it again.
A little later others standing around the fire began saying to Peter, “You are, too, one of them, for you are from Galilee!”


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contenido:
And immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Suddenly Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he began to cry.


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contenido:
Early in the morning the chief priests, elders and teachers of religion—the entire Supreme Court—met to discuss their next steps. Their decision was to send Jesus under armed guard to Pilate, the Roman governor.


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contenido:
Then the chief priests accused him of many crimes, and Pilate asked him, “Why don’t you say something? What about all these charges against you?”


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contenido:
Now, it was Pilate’s custom to release one Jewish prisoner each year at Passover time—any prisoner the people requested.


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contenido:
One of the prisoners at that time was Barabbas, convicted along with others for murder during an insurrection.


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contenido:
(For he realized by now that this was a frameup, backed by the chief priests because they envied Jesus’ popularity.)


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contenido:
But at this point the chief priests whipped up the mob to demand the release of Barabbas instead of Jesus.


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contenido:
Then Pilate, afraid of a riot and anxious to please the people, released Barabbas to them. And he ordered Jesus flogged with a leaded whip, and handed him over to be crucified.


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contenido:
Then the Roman soldiers took him into the barracks of the palace, called out the entire palace guard, dressed him in a purple robe, and made a crown of long, sharp thorns and put it on his head.


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contenido:
And they beat him on the head with a cane, and spat on him, and went down on their knees to “worship” him.


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contenido:
When they finally tired of their sport, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him again, and led him away to be crucified.


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contenido:
Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country just then, was pressed into service to carry Jesus’ cross. (Simon is the father of Alexander and Rufus.)


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contenido:
A signboard was fastened to the cross above his head, announcing his crime. It read, “The King of the Jews.”


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contenido:
The people jeered at him as they walked by, and wagged their heads in mockery.
“Ha! Look at you now!” they yelled at him. “Sure, you can destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days! If you’re so wonderful, save yourself and come down from the cross.”


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contenido:
The chief priests and religious leaders were also standing around joking about Jesus.
“He’s quite clever at ‘saving’ others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself!”


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contenido:
“Hey there, Messiah!” they yelled at him. “You ‘King of Israel’! Come on down from the cross and we’ll believe you!”
And even the two robbers dying with him cursed him.


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contenido:
Then Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” (“My God, my God, why have you deserted me?”)


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contenido:
So one man ran and got a sponge and filled it with sour wine and held it up to him on a stick.
“Let’s see if Elijah will come and take him down!” he said.


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contenido:
When the Roman officer standing beside his cross saw how he dismissed his spirit, he exclaimed, “Truly, this was the Son of God!”


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contenido:
Some women were there watching from a distance—Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James the Younger and of Joses), Salome, and others.


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contenido:
They and many other Galilean women who were his followers had ministered to him when he was up in Galilee, and had come with him to Jerusalem.


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contenido:
This all happened the day before the Sabbath. Late that afternoon Joseph from Arimathea, an honored member of the Jewish Supreme Court (who personally was eagerly expecting the arrival of God’s Kingdom), gathered his courage and went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body.


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contenido:
Pilate couldn’t believe that Jesus was already dead so he called for the Roman officer in charge and asked him.


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contenido:
Joseph bought a long sheet of linen cloth and, taking Jesus’ body down from the cross, wound it in the cloth and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb, and rolled a stone in front of the entrance.


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contenido:
The next evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene and Salome and Mary the mother of James went out and purchased embalming spices.
Early the following morning, just at sunrise, they carried them out to the tomb.


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contenido:
But when they arrived they looked up and saw that the stone—a very heavy one—was already moved away and the entrance was open!


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contenido:
So they entered the tomb—and there on the right sat a young man clothed in white. The women were startled,


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contenido:
but the angel said, “Don’t be so surprised. Aren’t you looking for Jesus, the Nazarene who was crucified? He isn’t here! He has come back to life! Look, that’s where his body was lying.


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contenido:
Now go and give this message to his disciples including Peter:
“‘Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died!’”


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contenido:
It was early on Sunday morning when Jesus came back to life, and the first person who saw him was Mary Magdalene—the woman from whom he had cast out seven demons.


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contenido:
She found the disciples wet-eyed with grief and exclaimed that she had seen Jesus, and he was alive! But they didn’t believe her!


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contenido:
Later that day he appeared to two who were walking from Jerusalem into the country, but they didn’t recognize him at first because he had changed his appearance.


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contenido:
When they finally realized who he was, they rushed back to Jerusalem to tell the others, but no one believed them.


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contenido:
Still later he appeared to the eleven disciples as they were eating together. He rebuked them for their unbelief—their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him alive from the dead.


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contenido:
And then he told them, “You are to go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere.


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contenido:
Those who believe and are baptized will be saved. But those who refuse to believe will be condemned.


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contenido:
“And those who believe shall use my authority to cast out demons, and they shall speak new languages.


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contenido:
They will be able even to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them; and they will be able to place their hands on the sick and heal them.”


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contenido:
When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down at God’s right hand.


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contenido:
And the disciples went everywhere preaching, and the Lord was with them and confirmed what they said by the miracles that followed their messages.


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contenido:
Dear friend who loves God:
Several biographies of Christ have already been written using as their source material the reports circulating among us from the early disciples and other eyewitnesses.


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contenido:
However, it occurred to me that it would be well to recheck all these accounts from first to last and after thorough investigation to pass this summary on to you,


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contenido:
My story begins with a Jewish priest, Zacharias, who lived when Herod was king of Judea. Zacharias was a member of the Abijah division of the Temple service corps. (His wife, Elizabeth, was, like himself, a member of the priest tribe of the Jews, a descendant of Aaron.)


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contenido:
Zacharias and Elizabeth were godly folk, careful to obey all of God’s laws in spirit as well as in letter.


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contenido:
One day as Zacharias was going about his work in the Temple—for his division was on duty that week—the honor fell to him by lot to enter the inner sanctuary and burn incense before the Lord.


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contenido:
Meanwhile, a great crowd stood outside in the Temple court, praying as they always did during that part of the service when the incense was being burned.


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contenido:
Zacharias was in the sanctuary when suddenly an angel appeared, standing to the right of the altar of incense! Zacharias was startled and terrified.


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contenido:
But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zacharias! For I have come to tell you that God has heard your prayer, and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son! And you are to name him John.


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contenido:
For he will be one of the Lord’s great men. He must never touch wine or hard liquor—and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from before his birth!


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contenido:
He will be a man of rugged spirit and power like Elijah, the prophet of old; and he will precede the coming of the Messiah, preparing the people for his arrival. He will soften adult hearts to become like little children’s, and will change disobedient minds to the wisdom of faith.”*


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contenido:
Zacharias said to the angel, “But this is impossible! I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.”


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contenido:
Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to you with this good news!


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contenido:
And now, because you haven’t believed me, you are to be stricken silent, unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly come true at the proper time.”


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contenido:
Meanwhile the crowds outside were waiting for Zacharias to appear and wondered why he was taking so long.


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contenido:
When he finally came out, he couldn’t speak to them, and they realized from his gestures that he must have seen a vision in the Temple.


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contenido:
He shall be very great and shall be called the Son of God. And the Lord God shall give him the throne of his ancestor David.


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contenido:
The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of God shall overshadow you; so the baby born to you will be utterly holy—the Son of God.


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contenido:
Furthermore, six months ago your Aunt Elizabeth—‘the barren one,’ they called her—became pregnant in her old age!


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contenido:
Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant, and I am willing to do whatever he wants. May everything you said come true.” And then the angel disappeared.


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contenido:
A few days later Mary hurried to the highlands of Judea to the town where Zacharias lived, to visit Elizabeth.


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contenido:
At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her and she was filled with the Holy Spirit.


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contenido:
She gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “You are favored by God above all other women, and your child is destined for God’s mightiest praise.


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contenido:
For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and now generation after generation forever shall call me blest of God.


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contenido:
By now Elizabeth’s waiting was over, for the time had come for the baby to be born—and it was a boy.


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contenido:
The word spread quickly to her neighbors and relatives of how kind the Lord had been to her, and everyone rejoiced.


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contenido:
When the baby was eight days old, all the relatives and friends came for the circumcision ceremony. They all assumed the baby’s name would be Zacharias, after his father.


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contenido:
Wonder fell upon the whole neighborhood, and the news of what had happened spread through the Judean hills.


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contenido:
And everyone who heard about it thought long thoughts and asked, “I wonder what this child will turn out to be? For the hand of the Lord is surely upon him in some special way.”


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contenido:
“He has been merciful to our ancestors, yes, to Abraham himself, by remembering his sacred promise to him,


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contenido:
“And you, my little son, shall be called the prophet of the glorious God, for you will prepare the way for the Messiah.


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contenido:
All this will be because the mercy of our God is very tender, and heaven’s dawn is about to break upon us,


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contenido:
to give light to those who sit in darkness and death’s shadow, and to guide us to the path of peace.”


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contenido:
The little boy greatly loved God and when he grew up he lived out in the lonely wilderness until he began his public ministry to Israel.


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contenido:
About this time Caesar Augustus, the Roman emperor, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the nation.


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contenido:
And because Joseph was a member of the royal line, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, King David’s ancient home—journeying there from the Galilean village of Nazareth.


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contenido:
and she gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the village inn.


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Suddenly an angel appeared among them, and the landscape shone bright with the glory of the Lord. They were badly frightened,


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contenido:
but the angel reassured them.
“Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you the most joyful news ever announced, and it is for everyone!


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contenido:
When this great army of angels had returned again to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Come on! Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this wonderful thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”


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They ran to the village and found their way to Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger.


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Then the shepherds went back again to their fields and flocks, praising God for the visit of the angels, and because they had seen the child, just as the angel had told them.


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Eight days later, at the baby’s circumcision ceremony, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was even conceived.


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When the time came for Mary’s purification offering at the Temple, as required by the laws of Moses after the birth of a child, his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord;


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for in these laws God had said, “If a woman’s first child is a boy, he shall be dedicated to the Lord.”


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At that time Jesus’ parents also offered their sacrifice for purification—“either a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons” was the legal requirement.


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That day a man named Simeon, a Jerusalem resident, was in the Temple. He was a good man, very devout, filled with the Holy Spirit and constantly expecting the Messiah to come soon.


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For the Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen him—God’s anointed King.


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The Holy Spirit had impelled him to go to the Temple that day; and so, when Mary and Joseph arrived to present the baby Jesus to the Lord in obedience to the law,


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“Lord,” he said, “now I can die content! For I have seen him as you promised me I would. I have seen the Savior you have given to the world.


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Simeon blessed them but then said to Mary, “A sword shall pierce your soul, for this child shall be rejected by many in Israel, and this to their undoing. But he will be the greatest joy of many others. And the deepest thoughts of many hearts shall be revealed.”


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Anna, a prophetess, was also there in the Temple that day. She was the daughter of Phanuel, of the Jewish tribe of Asher, and was very old, for she had been a widow for eighty-four years following seven years of marriage. She never left the Temple but stayed there night and day, worshiping God by praying and often fasting.


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She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she also began thanking God and telling everyone in Jerusalem who had been awaiting the coming of the Savior that the Messiah had finally arrived.


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When Jesus’ parents had fulfilled all the requirements of the Law of God, they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee.


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There the child became a strong, robust lad, and was known for wisdom beyond his years; and God poured out his blessings on him.


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When Jesus was twelve years old, he accompanied his parents to Jerusalem for the annual Passover Festival, which they attended each year.


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After the celebration was over they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn’t miss him the first day,


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for they assumed he was with friends among the other travelers. But when he didn’t show up that evening, they started to look for him among their relatives and friends;


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Three days later they finally discovered him. He was in the Temple, sitting among the teachers of Law, discussing deep questions with them and amazing everyone with his understanding and answers.


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His parents didn’t know what to think. “Son!” his mother said to him. “Why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.”


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“But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you realize that I would be here at the Temple, in my Father’s House?”


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Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them; and his mother stored away all these things in her heart.


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In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius Caesar, a message came from God to John (the son of Zacharias), as he was living out in the deserts. (Pilate was governor over Judea at that time; Herod, over Galilee; his brother Philip, over Iturea and Trachonitis; Lysanias, over Abilene; and Annas and Caiaphas were high priests.)


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Then John went from place to place on both sides of the Jordan River, preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had turned to God and away from their sins, in order to be forgiven.


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In the words of Isaiah the prophet, John was “a voice shouting from the barren wilderness, ‘Prepare a road for the Lord to travel on! Widen the pathway before him!


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Here is a sample of John’s preaching to the crowds that came for baptism: “You brood of snakes! You are trying to escape hell without truly turning to God! That is why you want to be baptized!


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First go and prove by the way you live that you really have repented. And don’t think you are safe because you are descendants of Abraham. That isn’t enough. God can produce children of Abraham from these desert stones!


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The ax of his judgment is poised over you, ready to sever your roots and cut you down. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.”


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“If you have two coats,” he replied, “give one to the poor. If you have extra food, give it away to those who are hungry.”


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Even tax collectors—notorious for their corruption—came to be baptized and asked, “How shall we prove to you that we have abandoned our sins?”


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“By your honesty,” he replied. “Make sure you collect no more taxes than the Roman government requires you to.”


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“And us,” asked some soldiers, “what about us?”
John replied, “Don’t extort money by threats and violence; don’t accuse anyone of what you know he didn’t do; and be content with your pay!”


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Everyone was expecting the Messiah to come soon, and eager to know whether or not John was he. This was the question of the hour and was being discussed everywhere.


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John answered the question by saying, “I baptize only with water; but someone is coming soon who has far higher authority than mine; in fact, I am not even worthy of being his slave. He will baptize you with fire—with the Holy Spirit.


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He will separate chaff from grain, and burn up the chaff with eternal fire and store away the grain.”


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(But after John had publicly criticized Herod, governor of Galilee, for marrying Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for many other wrongs he had done, Herod put John in prison, thus adding this sin to all his many others.)


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Then one day, after the crowds had been baptized, Jesus himself was baptized; and as he was praying, the heavens opened,


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and the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove settled upon him, and a voice from heaven said, “You are my much loved Son, yes, my delight.”


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contenido:
Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his public ministry.
Jesus was known as the son of Joseph.
Joseph’s father was Heli;
Heli’s father was Matthat;
Matthat’s father was Levi;
Levi’s father was Melchi;
Melchi’s father was Jannai;
Jannai’s father was Joseph;
Joseph’s father was Mattathias;
Mattathias’s father was Amos;
Amos’s father was Nahum;
Nahum’s father was Esli;
Esli’s father was Naggai;
Naggai’s father was Maath;
Maath’s father was Mattathias;
Mattathias’s father was Semein;
Semein’s father was Josech;
Josech’s father was Joda;
Joda’s father was Joanan;
Joanan’s father was Rhesa;
Rhesa’s father was Zerubbabel;
Zerubbabel’s father was Shealtiel;
Shealtiel’s father was Neri;
Neri’s father was Melchi;
Melchi’s father was Addi;
Addi’s father was Cosam;
Cosam’s father was Elmadam;
Elmadam’s father was Er;
Er’s father was Joshua;
Joshua’s father was Eliezer;
Eliezer’s father was Jorim;
Jorim’s father was Matthat;
Matthat’s father was Levi;
Levi’s father was Simeon;
Simeon’s father was Judah;
Judah’s father was Joseph;
Joseph’s father was Jonam;
Jonam’s father was Eliakim;
Eliakim’s father was Melea;
Melea’s father was Menna;
Menna’s father was Mattatha;
Mattatha’s father was Nathan;
Nathan’s father was David;
David’s father was Jesse;
Jesse’s father was Obed;
Obed’s father was Boaz;
Boaz’s father was Salmon;
Salmon’s father was Nahshon;
Nahshon’s father was Amminadab;
Amminadab’s father was Admin;
Admin’s father was Arni;
Arni’s father was Hezron;
Hezron’s father was Perez;
Perez’s father was Judah;
Judah’s father was Jacob;
Jacob’s father was Isaac;
Isaac’s father was Abraham;
Abraham’s father was Terah;
Terah’s father was Nahor;
Nahor’s father was Serug;
Serug’s father was Reu;
Reu’s father was Peleg;
Peleg’s father was Eber;
Eber’s father was Shelah;
Shelah’s father was Cainan;
Cainan’s father was Arphaxad;
Arphaxad’s father was Shem;
Shem’s father was Noah;
Noah’s father was Lamech;
Lamech’s father was Methuselah;
Methuselah’s father was Enoch;
Enoch’s father was Jared;
Jared’s father was Mahalaleel;
Mahalaleel’s father was Cainan;
Cainan’s father was Enos;
Enos’s father was Seth;
Seth’s father was Adam;
Adam’s father was God.


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contenido:
Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan River, being urged by the Spirit out into the barren wastelands of Judea, where Satan tempted him for forty days. He ate nothing all that time and was very hungry.


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But Jesus replied, “It is written in the Scriptures, ‘Other things in life are much more important than bread!’”


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contenido:
and the devil told him, “I will give you all these splendid kingdoms and their glory—for they are mine to give to anyone I wish—if you will only get down on your knees and worship me.”


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Then Satan took him to Jerusalem to a high roof of the Temple and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say that God will send his angels to guard you and to keep you from crashing to the pavement below!”


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Then Jesus returned to Galilee, full of the Holy Spirit’s power. Soon he became well known throughout all that region


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When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on Saturday, and stood up to read the Scriptures.


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“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; he has appointed me to preach Good News to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted and to announce that captives shall be released and the blind shall see, that the downtrodden shall be freed from their oppressors, and that God is ready to give blessings to all who come to him.”


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He closed the book and handed it back to the attendant and sat down, while everyone in the synagogue gazed at him intently.


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contenido:
All who were there spoke well of him and were amazed by the beautiful words that fell from his lips. “How can this be?” they asked. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”


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Then he said, “Probably you will quote me that proverb, ‘Physician, heal yourself’—meaning, ‘Why don’t you do miracles here in your hometown like those you did in Capernaum?’


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contenido:
For example, remember how Elijah the prophet used a miracle to help the widow of Zarephath—a foreigner from the land of Sidon. There were many Jewish widows needing help in those days of famine, for there had been no rain for three and a half years, and hunger stalked the land; yet Elijah was not sent to them.


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Or think of the prophet Elisha, who healed Naaman, a Syrian, rather than the many Jewish lepers needing help.”


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and jumping up, they mobbed him and took him to the edge of the hill on which the city was built, to push him over the cliff.


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Then he returned to Capernaum, a city in Galilee, and preached there in the synagogue every Saturday.


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Here, too, the people were amazed at the things he said. For he spoke as one who knew the truth, instead of merely quoting the opinions of others as his authority.


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“Go away! We want nothing to do with you, Jesus from Nazareth. You have come to destroy us. I know who you are—the Holy Son of God.”


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contenido:
Jesus cut him short. “Be silent!” he told the demon. “Come out!” The demon threw the man to the floor as the crowd watched, and then left him without hurting him further.


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After leaving the synagogue that day, he went to Simon’s home where he found Simon’s mother-in-law very sick with a high fever. “Please heal her,” everyone begged.


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Standing at her bedside he spoke to the fever, rebuking it, and immediately her temperature returned to normal, and she got up and prepared a meal for them!


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As the sun went down that evening, all the villagers who had any sick people in their homes, no matter what their diseases were, brought them to Jesus; and the touch of his hands healed every one!


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contenido:
Some were possessed by demons; and the demons came out at his command, shouting, “You are the Son of God.” But because they knew he was the Christ, he stopped them and told them to be silent.


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Early the next morning he went out into the desert. The crowds searched everywhere for him, and when they finally found him, they begged him not to leave them but to stay at Capernaum.


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But he replied, “I must preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God in other places too, for that is why I was sent.”


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contenido:
One day as he was preaching on the shore of Lake Gennesaret, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the Word of God.


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Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push out a little into the water, so that he could sit in the boat and speak to the crowds from there.


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contenido:
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper and let down your nets and you will catch a lot of fish!”


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“Sir,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, we’ll try again.”


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A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.


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When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, sir, please leave us—I’m too much of a sinner for you to have around.”


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and his partners too—James and John, the sons of Zebedee. Jesus replied, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for the souls of men!”


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One day in a certain village he was visiting, there was a man with an advanced case of leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell to the ground before him, face downward in the dust, begging to be healed.
“Sir,” he said, “if you only will, you can clear me of every trace of my disease.”


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Jesus reached out and touched the man and said, “Of course I will. Be healed.” And the leprosy left him instantly!


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Then Jesus instructed him to go at once without telling anyone what had happened and be examined by the Jewish priest. “Offer the sacrifice Moses’ law requires for lepers who are healed,” he said. “This will prove to everyone that you are well.”


book: Luke
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Now the report of his power spread even faster and vast crowds came to hear him preach and to be healed of their diseases.


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One day while he was teaching, some Jewish religious leaders and teachers of the Law were sitting nearby. (It seemed that these men showed up from every village in all Galilee and Judea, as well as from Jerusalem.) And the Lord’s healing power was upon him.


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Then—look! Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to push through the crowd to Jesus but couldn’t reach him. So they went up on the roof above him, took off some tiles, and lowered the sick man down into the crowd, still on his sleeping mat, right in front of Jesus.


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“Who does this fellow think he is?” the Pharisees and teachers of the Law exclaimed among themselves. “This is blasphemy! Who but God can forgive sins?”


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And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped to his feet, picked up his mat and went home praising God!


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Everyone present was gripped with awe and fear. And they praised God, remarking over and over again, “We have seen strange things today.”


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Later on as Jesus left the town he saw a tax collector—with the usual reputation for cheating—sitting at a tax collection booth. The man’s name was Levi. Jesus said to him, “Come and be one of my disciples!”


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Soon Levi held a reception in his home with Jesus as the guest of honor. Many of Levi’s fellow tax collectors and other guests were there.


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But the Pharisees and teachers of the Law complained bitterly to Jesus’ disciples about his eating with such notorious sinners.


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My purpose is to invite sinners to turn from their sins, not to spend my time with those who think themselves already good enough.”


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Their next complaint was that Jesus’ disciples were feasting instead of fasting. “John the Baptist’s disciples are constantly going without food and praying,” they declared, “and so do the disciples of the Pharisees. Why are yours wining and dining?”


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Then Jesus used this illustration: “No one tears off a piece of a new garment to make a patch for an old one. Not only will the new garment be ruined, but the old garment will look worse with a new patch on it!


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And no one puts new wine into old wineskins, for the new wine bursts the old skins, ruining the skins and spilling the wine.


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But no one after drinking the old wine seems to want the fresh and the new. ‘The old ways are best,’ they say.”


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One Sabbath as Jesus and his disciples were walking through some grainfields, they were breaking off the heads of wheat, rubbing off the husks in their hands and eating the grains.


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But some Pharisees said, “That’s illegal! Your disciples are harvesting grain, and it’s against the Jewish law to work on the Sabbath.”


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Jesus replied, “Don’t you read the Scriptures? Haven’t you ever read what King David did when he and his men were hungry?


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He went into the Temple and took the shewbread, the special bread that was placed before the Lord, and ate it—illegal as this was—and shared it with others.”


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On another Sabbath he was in the synagogue teaching, and a man was present whose right hand was deformed.


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The teachers of the Law and the Pharisees watched closely to see whether he would heal the man that day, since it was the Sabbath. For they were eager to find some charge to bring against him.


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How well he knew their thoughts! But he said to the man with the deformed hand, “Come and stand here where everyone can see.” So he did.


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Then Jesus said to the Pharisees and teachers of the Law, “I have a question for you. Is it right to do good on the Sabbath day, or to do harm? To save life, or to destroy it?”


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He looked around at them one by one and then said to the man, “Reach out your hand.” And as he did, it became completely normal again.


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At daybreak he called together his followers and chose twelve of them to be the inner circle of his disciples. (They were appointed as his “apostles,” or “missionaries.”)


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Here are their names: Simon (he also called him Peter), Andrew (Simon’s brother), James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (the son of Alphaeus), Simon (a member of the Zealots, a subversive political party), Judas (son of James), Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him).


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When they came down the slopes of the mountain, they stood with Jesus on a large, level area, surrounded by many of his followers who, in turn, were surrounded by the crowds. For people from all over Judea and from Jerusalem and from as far north as the seacoasts of Tyre and Sidon had come to hear him or to be healed. And he cast out many demons.


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Everyone was trying to touch him, for when they did, healing power went out from him and they were cured.


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Then he turned to his disciples and said, “What happiness there is for you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours!


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What happiness there is for you who are now hungry, for you are going to be satisfied! What happiness there is for you who weep, for the time will come when you shall laugh with joy!


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What happiness it is when others hate you and exclude you and insult you and smear your name because you are mine!


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When that happens, rejoice! Yes, leap for joy! For you will have a great reward awaiting you in heaven. And you will be in good company—the ancient prophets were treated that way too!


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They are fat and prosperous now, but a time of awful hunger is before them. Their careless laughter now means sorrow then.


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And what sadness is ahead for those praised by the crowds—for false prophets have always been praised.


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“If someone slaps you on one cheek, let him slap the other too! If someone demands your coat, give him your shirt besides.


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Give what you have to anyone who asks you for it; and when things are taken away from you, don’t worry about getting them back.


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And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, what good is that? Even the most wicked will lend to their own kind for full return!


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“Love your enemies! Do good to them! Lend to them! And don’t be concerned about the fact that they won’t repay. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as sons of God: for he is kind to the unthankful and to those who are very wicked.


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“Never criticize or condemn—or it will all come back on you. Go easy on others; then they will do the same for you.


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For if you give, you will get! Your gift will return to you in full and overflowing measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use to give—large or small—will be used to measure what is given back to you.”


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Here are some of the story-illustrations Jesus used in his sermons: “What good is it for one blind man to lead another? He will fall into a ditch and pull the other down with him.


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“And why quibble about the speck in someone else’s eye—his little fault—when a board is in your own?


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How can you think of saying to him, ‘Brother, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the board in yours? Hypocrite! First get rid of the board, and then perhaps you can see well enough to deal with his speck!


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“A tree from good stock doesn’t produce scrub fruit nor do trees from poor stock produce choice fruit.


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A tree is identified by the kind of fruit it produces. Figs never grow on thorns, or grapes on bramble bushes.


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A good man produces good deeds from a good heart. And an evil man produces evil deeds from his hidden wickedness. Whatever is in the heart overflows into speech.


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But all those who come and listen and obey me are like a man who builds a house on a strong foundation laid upon the underlying rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against the house, it stands firm, for it is strongly built.


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“But those who listen and don’t obey are like a man who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it crumbles into a heap of ruins.”


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When the captain heard about Jesus, he sent some respected Jewish elders to ask him to come and heal his slave.


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contenido:
So they began pleading earnestly with Jesus to come with them and help the man. They told him what a wonderful person the captain was.
“If anyone deserves your help, it is he,” they said,


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Jesus went with them; but just before arriving at the house, the captain sent some friends to say, “Sir, don’t inconvenience yourself by coming to my home, for I am not worthy of any such honor or even to come and meet you. Just speak a word from where you are, and my servant boy will be healed! I know, because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my men. I only need to say ‘Go!’ and they go; or ‘Come!’ and they come; and to my slave, ‘Do this or that,’ and he does it. So just say, ‘Be healed!’ and my servant will be well again!”


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Jesus was amazed. Turning to the crowd he said, “Never among all the Jews in Israel have I met a man with faith like this.”


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Not long afterwards Jesus went with his disciples to the village of Nain, with the usual great crowd at his heels.


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A funeral procession was coming out as he approached the village gate. The boy who had died was the only son of his widowed mother, and many mourners from the village were with her.


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Then he walked over to the coffin and touched it, and the bearers stopped. “Laddie,” he said, “come back to life again.”


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contenido:
A great fear swept the crowd, and they exclaimed with praises to God, “A mighty prophet has risen among us,” and, “We have seen the hand of God at work today.”


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contenido:
The disciples of John the Baptist soon heard of all that Jesus was doing. When they told John about it,


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contenido:
he sent two of his disciples to Jesus to ask him, “Are you really the Messiah? Or shall we keep on looking for him?”


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The two disciples found Jesus while he was curing many sick people of their various diseases—healing the lame and the blind and casting out evil spirits. When they asked him John’s question, this was his reply: “Go back to John and tell him all you have seen and heard here today: how those who were blind can see. The lame are walking without a limp. The lepers are completely healed. The deaf can hear again. The dead come back to life. And the poor are hearing the Good News.


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After they left, Jesus talked to the crowd about John. “Who is this man you went out into the Judean wilderness to see?” he asked. “Did you find him weak as grass, moved by every breath of wind?


book: Luke
contenido:
Did you find him dressed in expensive clothes? No! Men who live in luxury are found in palaces, not out in the wilderness.


book: Luke
contenido:
He is the one to whom the Scriptures refer when they say, ‘Look! I am sending my messenger ahead of you, to prepare the way before you.’


book: Luke
contenido:
In all humanity there is no one greater than John. And yet the least citizen of the Kingdom of God is greater than he.”


book: Luke
contenido:
And all who heard John preach—even the most wicked of them—agreed that God’s requirements were right, and they were baptized by him.


book: Luke
contenido:
All, that is, except the Pharisees and teachers of Moses’ law. They rejected God’s plan for them and refused John’s baptism.


book: Luke
contenido:
They are like a group of children who complain to their friends, ‘You don’t like it if we play “wedding” and you don’t like it if we play “funeral”!’


book: Luke
contenido:
For John the Baptist used to go without food and never took a drop of liquor all his life, and you said, ‘He must be crazy!’


book: Luke
contenido:
But I eat my food and drink my wine, and you say, ‘What a glutton Jesus is! And he drinks! And has the lowest sort of friends!’


book: Luke
contenido:
One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to come to his home for lunch and Jesus accepted the invitation. As they sat down to eat,


book: Luke
contenido:
a woman of the streets—a prostitute—heard he was there and brought an exquisite flask filled with expensive perfume.


book: Luke
contenido:
Going in, she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping, with her tears falling down upon his feet; and she wiped them off with her hair and kissed them and poured the perfume on them.


book: Luke
contenido:
When Jesus’ host, a Pharisee, saw what was happening and who the woman was, he said to himself, “This proves that Jesus is no prophet, for if God had really sent him, he would know what kind of woman this one is!”


book: Luke
contenido:
Then Jesus spoke up and answered his thoughts. “Simon,” he said to the Pharisee, “I have something to say to you.”
“All right, Teacher,” Simon replied, “go ahead.”


book: Luke
contenido:
Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—$5,000 to one and $500 to the other.


book: Luke
contenido:
But neither of them could pay him back, so he kindly forgave them both, letting them keep the money! Which do you suppose loved him most after that?”


book: Luke
contenido:
Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look! See this woman kneeling here! When I entered your home, you didn’t bother to offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair.


book: Luke
contenido:
You refused me the customary kiss of greeting, but she has kissed my feet again and again from the time I first came in.


book: Luke
contenido:
You neglected the usual courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has covered my feet with rare perfume.


book: Luke
contenido:
Therefore her sins—and they are many—are forgiven, for she loved me much; but one who is forgiven little, shows little love.”


book: Luke
contenido:
Then the men at the table said to themselves, “Who does this man think he is, going around forgiving sins?”


book: Luke
contenido:
Not long afterwards he began a tour of the cities and villages of Galilee to announce the coming of the Kingdom of God, and took his twelve disciples with him.


book: Luke
contenido:
Some women went along, from whom he had cast out demons or whom he had healed; among them were Mary Magdalene (Jesus had cast out seven demons from her),


book: Luke
contenido:
Joanna, Chuza’s wife (Chuza was King Herod’s business manager and was in charge of his palace and domestic affairs), Susanna, and many others who were contributing from their private means to the support of Jesus and his disciples.


book: Luke
contenido:
One day he gave this illustration to a large crowd that was gathering to hear him—while many others were still on the way, coming from other towns.


book: Luke
contenido:
“A farmer went out to his field to sow grain. As he scattered the seed on the ground, some of it fell on a footpath and was trampled on; and the birds came and ate it as it lay exposed.


book: Luke
contenido:
Other seed fell on shallow soil with rock beneath. This seed began to grow, but soon withered and died for lack of moisture.


book: Luke
contenido:
Still other fell on fertile soil; this seed grew and produced a crop one hundred times as large as he had planted.” (As he was giving this illustration he said, “If anyone has listening ears, use them now!”)


book: Luke
contenido:
He replied, “God has granted you to know the meaning of these parables, for they tell a great deal about the Kingdom of God. But these crowds hear the words and do not understand, just as the ancient prophets predicted.


book: Luke
contenido:
The hard path where some seed fell represents the hard hearts of those who hear the words of God, but then the devil comes and steals the words away and prevents people from believing and being saved.


book: Luke
contenido:
The stony ground represents those who enjoy listening to sermons, but somehow the message never really gets through to them and doesn’t take root and grow. They know the message is true, and sort of believe for a while; but when the hot winds of persecution blow, they lose interest.


book: Luke
contenido:
The seed among the thorns represents those who listen and believe God’s words but whose faith afterwards is choked out by worry and riches and the responsibilities and pleasures of life. And so they are never able to help anyone else to believe the Good News.


book: Luke
contenido:
“But the good soil represents honest, good-hearted people. They listen to God’s words and cling to them and steadily spread them to others who also soon believe.”


book: Luke
contenido:
Another time he asked, “Who ever heard of someone lighting a lamp and then covering it up to keep it from shining? No, lamps are mounted in the open where they can be seen.


book: Luke
contenido:
This illustrates the fact that someday everything in men’s hearts shall be brought to light and made plain to all.


book: Luke
contenido:
So be careful how you listen; for whoever has, to him shall be given more; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.”


book: Luke
contenido:
Once when his mother and brothers came to see him, they couldn’t get into the house where he was teaching because of the crowds.


book: Luke
contenido:
One day about that time, as he and his disciples were out in a boat, he suggested that they cross to the other side of the lake.


book: Luke
contenido:
On the way across he lay down for a nap, and while he was sleeping the wind began to rise. A fierce storm developed that threatened to swamp them, and they were in real danger.


book: Luke
contenido:
They rushed over and woke him up. “Master, Master, we are sinking!” they screamed.
So he spoke to the storm: “Quiet down,” he said, and the wind and waves subsided and all was calm!


book: Luke
contenido:
Then he asked them, “Where is your faith?”
And they were filled with awe and fear of him and said to one another, “Who is this man, that even the winds and waves obey him?”


book: Luke
contenido:
As he was climbing out of the boat a man from the city of Gadara came to meet him, a man who had been demon-possessed for a long time. Homeless and naked, he lived in a cemetery among the tombs.


book: Luke
contenido:
As soon as he saw Jesus, he shrieked and fell to the ground before him, screaming, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of God Most High? Please, I beg you, oh, don’t torment me!”


book: Luke
contenido:
For Jesus was already commanding the demon to leave him. This demon had often taken control of the man so that even when shackled with chains he simply broke them and rushed out into the desert, completely under the demon’s power.


book: Luke
contenido:
“What is your name?” Jesus asked the demon. “Legion,” they replied—for the man was filled with thousands of them!


book: Luke
contenido:
A herd of pigs was feeding on the mountainside nearby, and the demons pled with him to let them enter into the pigs. And Jesus said they could.


book: Luke
contenido:
So they left the man and went into the pigs, and immediately the whole herd rushed down the mountainside and fell over a cliff into the lake below, where they drowned.


book: Luke
contenido:
Soon a crowd came out to see for themselves what had happened and saw the man who had been demon-possessed sitting quietly at Jesus’ feet, clothed and sane! And the whole crowd was badly frightened.


book: Luke
contenido:
And everyone begged Jesus to go away and leave them alone (for a deep wave of fear had swept over them). So he returned to the boat and left, crossing back to the other side of the lake.


book: Luke
contenido:
“Go back to your family,” he told him, “and tell them what a wonderful thing God has done for you.”
So he went all through the city telling everyone about Jesus’ mighty miracle.


book: Luke
contenido:
On the other side of the lake the crowds received him with open arms, for they had been waiting for him.


book: Luke
contenido:
And now a man named Jairus, a leader of a Jewish synagogue, came and fell down at Jesus’ feet and begged him to come home with him,


book: Luke
contenido:
for his only child was dying, a little girl twelve years old. Jesus went with him, pushing through the crowds.


book: Luke
contenido:
As they went a woman who wanted to be healed came up behind and touched him, for she had been slowly bleeding for twelve years, and could find no cure (though she had spent everything she had on doctors). But the instant she touched the edge of his robe, the bleeding stopped.


book: Luke
contenido:
“Who touched me?” Jesus asked.
Everyone denied it, and Peter said, “Master, so many are crowding against you. . . . ”


book: Luke
contenido:
But Jesus told him, “No, it was someone who deliberately touched me, for I felt healing power go out from me.”


book: Luke
contenido:
When the woman realized that Jesus knew, she began to tremble and fell to her knees before him and told why she had touched him and that now she was well.


book: Luke
contenido:
While he was still speaking to her, a messenger arrived from the Jairus’s home with the news that the little girl was dead. “She’s gone,” he told her father; “there’s no use troubling the Teacher now.”


book: Luke
contenido:
But when Jesus heard what had happened, he said to the father, “Don’t be afraid! Just trust me, and she’ll be all right.”


book: Luke
contenido:
When they arrived at the house, Jesus wouldn’t let anyone into the room except Peter, James, John, and the little girl’s father and mother.


book: Luke
contenido:
The home was filled with mourning people, but he said, “Stop the weeping! She isn’t dead; she is only asleep!”


book: Luke
contenido:
Her parents were overcome with happiness, but Jesus insisted that they not tell anyone the details of what had happened.


book: Luke
contenido:
One day Jesus called together his twelve apostles and gave them authority over all demons—power to cast them out—and to heal all diseases.


book: Luke
contenido:
Then he sent them away to tell everyone about the coming of the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.


book: Luke
contenido:
“Don’t even take along a walking stick,” he instructed them, “nor a beggar’s bag, nor food, nor money. Not even an extra coat.


book: Luke
contenido:
“If the people of a town won’t listen to you when you enter it, turn around and leave, demonstrating God’s anger against it by shaking its dust from your feet as you go.”


book: Luke
contenido:
When reports of Jesus’ miracles reached Herod, the governor, he was worried and puzzled, for some were saying, “This is John the Baptist come back to life again”;


book: Luke
contenido:
and others, “It is Elijah or some other ancient prophet risen from the dead.” These rumors were circulating all over the land.


book: Luke
contenido:
“I beheaded John,” Herod said, “so who is this man about whom I hear such strange stories?” And he tried to see him.


book: Luke
contenido:
After the apostles returned to Jesus and reported what they had done, he slipped quietly away with them toward the city of Bethsaida.


book: Luke
contenido:
But the crowds found out where he was going and followed. And he welcomed them, teaching them again about the Kingdom of God and curing those who were ill.


book: Luke
contenido:
Late in the afternoon all twelve of the disciples came and urged him to send the people away to the nearby villages and farms, to find food and lodging for the night. “For there is nothing to eat here in this deserted spot,” they said.


book: Luke
contenido:
But Jesus replied, “You feed them!”
“Why, we have only five loaves of bread and two fish among the lot of us,” they protested; “or are you expecting us to go and buy enough for this whole mob?”


book: Luke
contenido:
For there were about 5,000 men there!
“Just tell them to sit down on the ground in groups of about fifty each,” Jesus replied.


book: Luke
contenido:
Jesus took the five loaves and two fish and looked up into the sky and gave thanks; then he broke off pieces for his disciples to set before the crowd.


book: Luke
contenido:
One day as he was alone, praying, with his disciples nearby, he came over and asked them, “Who are the people saying I am?”


book: Luke
contenido:
“John the Baptist,” they told him, “or perhaps Elijah or one of the other ancient prophets risen from the dead.”


book: Luke
contenido:
“For I, the Messiah, must suffer much,” he said, “and be rejected by the Jewish leaders—the elders, chief priests, and teachers of the Law—and be killed; and three days later I will come back to life again!”


book: Luke
contenido:
Then he said to all, “Anyone who wants to follow me must put aside his own desires and conveniences and carry his cross with him every day and keep close to me!


book: Luke
contenido:
Whoever loses his life for my sake will save it, but whoever insists on keeping his life will lose it;


book: Luke
contenido:
“When I, the Messiah, come in my glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels, I will be ashamed then of all who are ashamed of me and of my words now.


book: Luke
contenido:
But this is the simple truth—some of you who are standing here right now will not die until you have seen the Kingdom of God.”


book: Luke
contenido:
And as he was praying, his face began to shine, and his clothes became dazzling white and blazed with light.


book: Luke
contenido:
They were splendid in appearance, glorious to see; and they were speaking of his death at Jerusalem, to be carried out in accordance with God’s plan.


book: Luke
contenido:
Peter and the others had been very drowsy and had fallen asleep. Now they woke up and saw Jesus covered with brightness and glory, and the two men standing with him.


book: Luke
contenido:
As Moses and Elijah were starting to leave, Peter, all confused and not even knowing what he was saying, blurted out, “Master, this is wonderful! We’ll put up three shelters—one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah!”


book: Luke
contenido:
But even as he was saying this, a bright cloud formed above them; and terror gripped them as it covered them.


book: Luke
contenido:
Then, as the voice died away, Jesus was there alone with his disciples. They didn’t tell anyone what they had seen until long afterwards.


book: Luke
contenido:
and a demon keeps seizing him, making him scream; and it throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth; it is always hitting him and hardly ever leaves him alone.


book: Luke
contenido:
“O you stubborn faithless people,” Jesus said to his disciples, “how long should I put up with you? Bring him here.”


book: Luke
contenido:
As the boy was coming the demon knocked him to the ground and threw him into a violent convulsion. But Jesus ordered the demon to come out, and healed the boy and handed him over to his father.


book: Luke
contenido:
Awe gripped the people as they saw this display of the power of God.
Meanwhile, as they were exclaiming over all the wonderful things he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples,


book: Luke
contenido:
But the disciples didn’t know what he meant, for their minds had been sealed and they were afraid to ask him.


book: Luke
contenido:
and said to them, “Anyone who takes care of a little child like this is caring for me! And whoever cares for me is caring for God who sent me. Your care for others is the measure of your greatness.”


book: Luke
contenido:
His disciple John came to him and said, “Master, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons. And we told him not to. After all, he isn’t in our group.”


book: Luke
contenido:
As the time drew near for his return to heaven, he moved steadily onward toward Jerusalem with an iron will.


book: Luke
contenido:
But they were turned away! The people of the village refused to have anything to do with them because they were headed for Jerusalem.


book: Luke
contenido:
When word came back of what had happened, James and John said to Jesus, “Master, shall we order fire down from heaven to burn them up?”


book: Luke
contenido:
As they were walking along someone said to Jesus, “I will always follow you no matter where you go.”


book: Luke
contenido:
But Jesus replied, “Remember, I don’t even own a place to lay my head. Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but I, the Messiah, have no earthly home at all.”


book: Luke
contenido:
Another time, when he invited a man to come with him and to be his disciple, the man agreed—but wanted to wait until his father’s death.


book: Luke
contenido:
Jesus replied, “Let those without eternal life concern themselves with things like that. Your duty is to come and preach the coming of the Kingdom of God to all the world.”


book: Luke
contenido:
But Jesus told him, “Anyone who lets himself be distracted from the work I plan for him is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”


book: Luke
contenido:
The Lord now chose seventy other disciples and sent them on ahead in pairs to all the towns and villages he planned to visit later.


book: Luke
contenido:
These were his instructions to them: “Plead with the Lord of the harvest to send out more laborers to help you, for the harvest is so plentiful and the workers so few.


book: Luke
contenido:
Don’t take any money with you, or a beggar’s bag, or even an extra pair of shoes. And don’t waste time along the way.


book: Luke
contenido:
“When you enter a village, don’t shift around from home to home, but stay in one place, eating and drinking without question whatever is set before you. And don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, for the workman is worthy of his wages!


book: Luke
contenido:
“If a town welcomes you, follow these two rules:
(1) Eat whatever is set before you.
(2) Heal the sick; and as you heal them, say, ‘The Kingdom of God is very near you now.’


book: Luke
contenido:
‘We wipe the dust of your town from our feet as a public announcement of your doom. Never forget how close you were to the Kingdom of God!’


book: Luke
contenido:
What horrors await you, you cities of Chorazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did for you had been done in the cities of Tyre and Sidon, their people would have sat in deep repentance long ago, clothed in sackcloth and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse.


book: Luke
contenido:
And you people of Capernaum, what shall I say about you? Will you be exalted to heaven? No, you shall be brought down to hell.”


book: Luke
contenido:
Then he said to the disciples, “Those who welcome you are welcoming me. And those who reject you are rejecting me. And those who reject me are rejecting God who sent me.”


book: Luke
contenido:
When the seventy disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, “Even the demons obey us when we use your name.”


book: Luke
contenido:
And I have given you authority over all the power of the Enemy, and to walk among serpents and scorpions and to crush them. Nothing shall injure you!


book: Luke
contenido:
However, the important thing is not that demons obey you, but that your names are registered as citizens of heaven.”


book: Luke
contenido:
Then he was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit and said, “I praise you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for hiding these things from the intellectuals and worldly wise and for revealing them to those who are as trusting as little children. Yes, thank you, Father, for that is the way you wanted it.


book: Luke
contenido:
I am the Agent of my Father in everything; and no one really knows the Son except the Father, and no one really knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”


book: Luke
contenido:
Then, turning to the twelve disciples, he said quietly, “How privileged you are to see what you have seen.


book: Luke
contenido:
Many a prophet and king of old has longed for these days, to see and hear what you have seen and heard!”


book: Luke
contenido:
One day an expert on Moses’ laws came to test Jesus’ orthodoxy by asking him this question: “Teacher, what does a man need to do to live forever in heaven?”


book: Luke
contenido:
“It says,” he replied, “that you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind. And you must love your neighbor just as much as you love yourself.”


book: Luke
contenido:
The man wanted to justify his lack of love for some kinds of people, so he asked, “Which neighbors?”


book: Luke
contenido:
Jesus replied with an illustration: “A Jew going on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes and money, and beat him up and left him lying half dead beside the road.


book: Luke
contenido:
“By chance a Jewish priest came along; and when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by.


book: Luke
contenido:
Kneeling beside him the Samaritan soothed his wounds with medicine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his donkey and walked along beside him till they came to an inn, where he nursed him through the night.


book: Luke
contenido:
The next day he handed the innkeeper two twenty-dollar bills and told him to take care of the man. ‘If his bill runs higher than that,’ he said, ‘I’ll pay the difference the next time I am here.’


book: Luke
contenido:
The man replied, “The one who showed him some pity.”
Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”


book: Luke
contenido:
As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem they came to a village where a woman named Martha welcomed them into her home.


book: Luke
contenido:
But Martha was the jittery type and was worrying over the big dinner she was preparing.
She came to Jesus and said, “Sir, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”


book: Luke
contenido:
There is really only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it—and I won’t take it away from her!”


book: Luke
contenido:
Once when Jesus had been out praying, one of his disciples came to him as he finished and said, “Lord, teach us a prayer to recite just as John taught one to his disciples.”


book: Luke
contenido:
And this is the prayer he taught them: “Father, may your name be honored for its holiness; send your Kingdom soon.


book: Luke
contenido:
And forgive our sins—for we have forgiven those who sinned against us. And don’t allow us to be tempted.”


book: Luke
contenido:
Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this illustration: “Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You would shout up to him, ‘A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit and I’ve nothing to give him to eat.’


book: Luke
contenido:
He would call down from his bedroom, ‘Please don’t ask me to get up. The door is locked for the night and we are all in bed. I just can’t help you this time.’


book: Luke
contenido:
“But I’ll tell you this—though he won’t do it as a friend, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you everything you want—just because of your persistence.


book: Luke
contenido:
And so it is with prayer—keep on asking and you will keep on getting; keep on looking and you will keep on finding; knock and the door will be opened.


book: Luke
contenido:
“You men who are fathers—if your boy asks for bread, do you give him a stone? If he asks for fish, do you give him a snake?


book: Luke
contenido:
“And if even sinful persons like yourselves give children what they need, don’t you realize that your heavenly Father will do at least as much, and give the Holy Spirit to those who ask for him?”


book: Luke
contenido:
Once, when Jesus cast out a demon from a man who couldn’t speak, his voice returned to him. The crowd was excited and enthusiastic,


book: Luke
contenido:
He knew the thoughts of each of them, so he said, “Any kingdom filled with civil war is doomed; so is a home filled with argument and strife.


book: Luke
contenido:
Therefore, if what you say is true, that Satan is fighting against himself by empowering me to cast out his demons, how can his kingdom survive?


book: Luke
contenido:
And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own followers? For they cast out demons! Do you think this proves they are possessed by Satan? Ask them if you are right!


book: Luke
contenido:
But if I am casting out demons because of power from God, it proves that the Kingdom of God has arrived.


book: Luke
contenido:
until someone stronger and better armed attacks and overcomes him and strips him of his weapons and carries off his belongings.


book: Luke
contenido:
“When a demon is cast out of a man, it goes to the deserts, searching there for rest; but finding none, it returns to the person it left,


book: Luke
contenido:
Then it goes and gets seven other demons more evil than itself, and they all enter the man. And so the poor fellow is seven times worse off than he was before.”


book: Luke
contenido:
As he was speaking, a woman in the crowd called out, “God bless your mother—the womb from which you came, and the breasts that gave you suck!”


book: Luke
contenido:
As the crowd pressed in upon him, he preached them this sermon: “These are evil times, with evil people. They keep asking for some strange happening in the skies to prove I am the Messiah, but the only proof I will give them is a miracle like that of Jonah, whose experiences proved to the people of Nineveh that God had sent him. My similar experience will prove that God has sent me to these people.


book: Luke
contenido:
“And at the Judgment Day the queen of Sheba shall arise and point her finger at this generation, condemning it, for she went on a long, hard journey to listen to the wisdom of Solomon; but one far greater than Solomon is here and few pay any attention.


book: Luke
contenido:
“The men of Nineveh, too, shall arise and condemn this nation, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and someone far greater than Jonah is here, but this nation won’t listen.


book: Luke
contenido:
“No one lights a lamp and hides it! Instead, he puts it on a lampstand to give light to all who enter the room.


book: Luke
contenido:
Your eyes light up your inward being. A pure eye lets sunshine into your soul. A lustful eye shuts out the light and plunges you into darkness.


book: Luke
contenido:
If you are filled with light within, with no dark corners, then your face will be radiant too, as though a floodlight is beamed upon you.”


book: Luke
contenido:
As he was speaking, one of the Pharisees asked him home for a meal. When Jesus arrived, he sat down to eat without first performing the ceremonial washing required by Jewish custom. This greatly surprised his host.


book: Luke
contenido:
Then Jesus said to him, “You Pharisees wash the outside, but inside you are still dirty—full of greed and wickedness!


book: Luke
contenido:
“But woe to you Pharisees! For though you are careful to tithe even the smallest part of your income, you completely forget about justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes, but you should not leave these other things undone.


book: Luke
contenido:
“Woe to you Pharisees! For how you love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the respectful greetings from everyone as you walk through the markets!


book: Luke
contenido:
Yes, awesome judgment is awaiting you. For you are like hidden graves in a field. Men go by you with no knowledge of the corruption they are passing.”


book: Luke
contenido:
“Sir,” said an expert in religious law who was standing there, “you have insulted my profession, too, in what you just said.”


book: Luke
contenido:
“Yes,” said Jesus, “the same horrors await you! For you crush men beneath impossible religious demands—demands that you yourselves would never think of trying to keep.


book: Luke
contenido:
Murderers! You agree with your fathers that what they did was right—you would have done the same yourselves.


book: Luke
contenido:
“This is what God says about you: ‘I will send prophets and apostles to you, and you will kill some of them and chase away the others.’


book: Luke
contenido:
“And you of this generation will be held responsible for the murder of God’s servants from the founding of the world—


book: Luke
contenido:
from the murder of Abel to the murder of Zechariah who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, it will surely be charged against you.


book: Luke
contenido:
“Woe to you experts in religion! For you hide the truth from the people. You won’t accept it for yourselves, and you prevent others from having a chance to believe it.”


book: Luke
contenido:
The Pharisees and legal experts were furious; and from that time on they plied him fiercely with a host of questions, trying to trap him into saying something for which they could have him arrested.


book: Luke
contenido:
Meanwhile the crowds grew until thousands upon thousands were milling about and crushing each other. He turned now to his disciples and warned them, “More than anything else, beware of these Pharisees and the way they pretend to be good when they aren’t. But such hypocrisy cannot be hidden forever.


book: Luke
contenido:
Whatever they have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms shall be broadcast from the housetops for all to hear!


book: Luke
contenido:
“Dear friends, don’t be afraid of these who want to murder you. They can only kill the body; they have no power over your souls.


book: Luke
contenido:
“What is the price of five sparrows? A couple of pennies? Not much more than that. Yet God does not forget a single one of them.


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contenido:
And he knows the number of hairs on your head! Never fear, you are far more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows.


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contenido:
“And I assure you of this: I, the Messiah, will publicly honor you in the presence of God’s angels if you publicly acknowledge me here on earth as your Friend.


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contenido:
(Yet those who speak against me may be forgiven—while those who speak against the Holy Spirit shall never be forgiven.)


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contenido:
“And when you are brought to trial before these Jewish rulers and authorities in the synagogues, don’t be concerned about what to say in your defense,


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contenido:
Then someone called from the crowd, “Sir, please tell my brother to divide my father’s estate with me.”


book: Luke
contenido:
Beware! Don’t always be wishing for what you don’t have. For real life and real living are not related to how rich we are.”


book: Luke
contenido:
In fact, his barns were full to overflowing—he couldn’t get everything in. He thought about his problem,


book: Luke
contenido:
and finally exclaimed, ‘I know—I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones! Then I’ll have room enough.


book: Luke
contenido:
And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “Friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Wine, women, and song for you!”’


book: Luke
contenido:
Then turning to his disciples he said, “Don’t worry about whether you have enough food to eat or clothes to wear.


book: Luke
contenido:
Look at the ravens—they don’t plant or harvest or have barns to store away their food, and yet they get along all right—for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds!


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contenido:
“And besides, what’s the use of worrying? What good does it do? Will it add a single day to your life? Of course not!


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contenido:
And if worry can’t even do such little things as that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?


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contenido:
“Look at the lilies! They don’t toil and spin, and yet Solomon in all his glory was not robed as well as they are.


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contenido:
And if God provides clothing for the flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, don’t you suppose that he will provide clothing for you, you doubters?


book: Luke
contenido:
And don’t worry about food—what to eat and drink; don’t worry at all that God will provide it for you.


book: Luke
contenido:
He will always give you all you need from day to day if you will make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.


book: Luke
contenido:
“So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.


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contenido:
Sell what you have and give to those in need. This will fatten your purses in heaven! And the purses of heaven have no rips or holes in them. Your treasures there will never disappear; no thief can steal them; no moth can destroy them.


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contenido:
for your Lord’s return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks.


book: Luke
contenido:
There will be great joy for those who are ready and waiting for his return. He himself will seat them and put on a waiter’s uniform and serve them as they sit and eat!


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contenido:
He may come at nine o’clock at night—or even at midnight. But whenever he comes, there will be joy for his servants who are ready!


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contenido:
“Everyone would be ready for him if they knew the exact hour of his return—just as they would be ready for a thief if they knew when he was coming.


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contenido:
And the Lord replied, “I’m talking to any faithful, sensible man whose master gives him the responsibility of feeding the other servants. If his master returns and finds that he has done a good job, there will be a reward—his master will put him in charge of all he owns.


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contenido:
“But if the man begins to think, ‘My Lord won’t be back for a long time,’ and begins to whip the men and women he is supposed to protect, and to spend his time at drinking parties and in drunkenness—


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contenido:
well, his master will return without notice and remove him from his position of trust and assign him to the place of the unfaithful.


book: Luke
contenido:
“But anyone who is not aware that he is doing wrong will be punished only lightly. Much is required from those to whom much is given, for their responsibility is greater.


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contenido:
From now on families will be split apart, three in favor of me, and two against—or perhaps the other way around.


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contenido:
A father will decide one way about me; his son, the other; mother and daughter will disagree; and the decision of an honored mother-in-law will be spurned by her daughter-in-law.”


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contenido:
Then he turned to the crowd and said, “When you see clouds beginning to form in the west, you say, ‘Here comes a shower.’ And you are right.


book: Luke
contenido:
Hypocrites! You interpret the sky well enough, but you refuse to notice the warnings all around you about the crisis ahead.


book: Luke
contenido:
“If you meet your accuser on the way to court, try to settle the matter before it reaches the judge, lest he sentence you to jail;


book: Luke
contenido:
About this time he was informed that Pilate had butchered some Jews from Galilee as they were sacrificing at the Temple in Jerusalem.


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contenido:
“Do you think they were worse sinners than other men from Galilee?” he asked. “Is that why they suffered?


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contenido:
Not at all! And don’t you realize that you also will perish unless you leave your evil ways and turn to God?


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contenido:
“And what about the eighteen men who died when the Tower of Siloam fell on them? Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem?


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contenido:
Then he used this illustration: “A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if he could find any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed.


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contenido:
Finally he told his gardener to cut it down. ‘I’ve waited three years and there hasn’t been a single fig!’ he said. ‘Why bother with it any longer? It’s taking up space we can use for something else.’


book: Luke
contenido:
“‘Give it one more chance,’ the gardener answered. ‘Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer.


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contenido:
he saw a seriously handicapped woman who had been bent double for eighteen years and was unable to straighten herself.


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contenido:
But the local Jewish leader in charge of the synagogue was very angry about it because Jesus had healed her on the Sabbath day. “There are six days of the week to work,” he shouted to the crowd. “Those are the days to come for healing, not on the Sabbath!”


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contenido:
But the Lord replied, “You hypocrite! You work on the Sabbath! Don’t you untie your cattle from their stalls on the Sabbath and lead them out for water?


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contenido:
And is it wrong for me, just because it is the Sabbath day, to free this Jewish woman from the bondage in which Satan has held her for eighteen years?”


book: Luke
contenido:
Now he began teaching them again about the Kingdom of God: “What is the Kingdom like?” he asked. “How can I illustrate it?


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contenido:
It is like a tiny mustard seed planted in a garden; soon it grows into a tall bush and the birds live among its branches.


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contenido:
He went from city to city and village to village, teaching as he went, always pressing onward toward Jerusalem.


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contenido:
“The door to heaven is narrow. Work hard to get in, for the truth is that many will try to enter but when the head of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. Then if you stand outside knocking, and pleading, ‘Lord, open the door for us,’ he will reply, ‘I do not know you.’


book: Luke
contenido:
“And he will reply, ‘I tell you, I don’t know you. You can’t come in here, guilty as you are. Go away.’


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contenido:
“And there will be great weeping and gnashing of teeth as you stand outside and see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets within the Kingdom of God—


book: Luke
contenido:
And note this: some who are despised now will be greatly honored then; and some who are highly thought of now will be least important then.”


book: Luke
contenido:
A few minutes later some Pharisees said to him, “Get out of here if you want to live, for King Herod is after you!”


book: Luke
contenido:
Jesus replied, “Go tell that fox that I will keep on casting out demons and doing miracles of healing today and tomorrow; and the third day I will reach my destination.


book: Luke
contenido:
Yes, today, tomorrow, and the next day! For it wouldn’t do for a prophet of God to be killed except in Jerusalem!


book: Luke
contenido:
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem! The city that murders the prophets. The city that stones those sent to help her. How often I have wanted to gather your children together even as a hen protects her brood under her wings, but you wouldn’t let me.


book: Luke
contenido:
And now—now your house is left desolate. And you will never again see me until you say, ‘Welcome to him who comes in the name of the Lord.’”


book: Luke
contenido:
One Sabbath as he was in the home of a member of the Jewish Council, the Pharisees were watching him like hawks to see if he would heal a man who was present who was suffering from dropsy.


book: Luke
contenido:
Jesus said to the Pharisees and legal experts standing around, “Well, is it within the Law to heal a man on the Sabbath day, or not?”


book: Luke
contenido:
And when they refused to answer, Jesus took the sick man by the hand and healed him and sent him away.


book: Luke
contenido:
Then he turned to them: “Which of you doesn’t work on the Sabbath?” he asked. “If your cow falls into a pit, don’t you proceed at once to get it out?”


book: Luke
contenido:
When he noticed that all who came to the dinner were trying to sit near the head of the table, he gave them this advice:


book: Luke
contenido:
“If you are invited to a wedding feast, don’t always head for the best seat. For if someone more respected than you shows up,


book: Luke
contenido:
the host will bring him over to where you are sitting and say, ‘Let this man sit here instead.’ And you, embarrassed, will have to take whatever seat is left at the foot of the table!


book: Luke
contenido:
“Do this instead—start at the foot; and when your host sees you he will come and say, ‘Friend, we have a better place than this for you!’ Thus you will be honored in front of all the other guests.


book: Luke
contenido:
For everyone who tries to honor himself shall be humbled; and he who humbles himself shall be honored.”


book: Luke
contenido:
Then he turned to his host. “When you put on a dinner,” he said, “don’t invite friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors! For they will return the invitation.


book: Luke
contenido:
Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, “What a privilege it would be to get into the Kingdom of God!”


book: Luke
contenido:
When all was ready, he sent his servant around to notify the guests that it was time for them to arrive.


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contenido:
But they all began making excuses. One said he had just bought a field and wanted to inspect it, and asked to be excused.


book: Luke
contenido:
“The servant returned and reported to his master what they had said. His master was angry and told him to go quickly into the streets and alleys of the city and to invite the beggars, crippled, lame, and blind.


book: Luke
contenido:
“‘Well, then,’ said his master, ‘go out into the country lanes and out behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full.


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contenido:
For none of those I invited first will get even the smallest taste of what I had prepared for them.’”


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contenido:
“Anyone who wants to be my follower must love me far more than he does his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, or sisters—yes, more than his own life—otherwise he cannot be my disciple.


book: Luke
contenido:
“But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first getting estimates and then checking to see if he has enough money to pay the bills?


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contenido:
Otherwise he might complete only the foundation before running out of funds. And then how everyone would laugh!


book: Luke
contenido:
“‘See that fellow there?’ they would mock. ‘He started that building and ran out of money before it was finished!’


book: Luke
contenido:
“Or what king would ever dream of going to war without first sitting down with his counselors and discussing whether his army of 10,000 is strong enough to defeat the 20,000 men who are marching against him?


book: Luke
contenido:
“If the decision is negative, then while the enemy troops are still far away, he will send a truce team to discuss terms of peace.


book: Luke
contenido:
So no one can become my disciple unless he first sits down and counts his blessings—and then renounces them all for me.


book: Luke
contenido:
Flavorless salt is fit for nothing—not even for fertilizer. It is worthless and must be thrown out. Listen well if you would understand my meaning.”


book: Luke
contenido:
but this caused complaints from the Jewish religious leaders and the experts on Jewish law because he was associating with such despicable people—even eating with them!


book: Luke
contenido:
So Jesus used this illustration: “If you had a hundred sheep and one of them strayed away and was lost in the wilderness, wouldn’t you leave the ninety-nine others to go and search for the lost one until you found it?


book: Luke
contenido:
When you arrived you would call together your friends and neighbors to rejoice with you because your lost sheep was found.


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contenido:
“Well, in the same way heaven will be happier over one lost sinner who returns to God than over ninety-nine others who haven’t strayed away!


book: Luke
contenido:
“Or take another illustration: A woman has ten valuable silver coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and look in every corner of the house and sweep every nook and cranny until she finds it?


book: Luke
contenido:
When the younger told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now, instead of waiting until you die!’ his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.


book: Luke
contenido:
“A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and took a trip to a distant land, and there wasted all his money on parties and prostitutes.


book: Luke
contenido:
The boy became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the swine looked good to him. And no one gave him anything.


book: Luke
contenido:
“When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired men have food enough and to spare, and here I am, dying of hunger!


book: Luke
contenido:
“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long distance away, his father saw him coming, and was filled with loving pity and ran and embraced him and kissed him.


book: Luke
contenido:
“His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and you, and am not worthy of being called your son—’


book: Luke
contenido:
“But his father said to the slaves, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. And a jeweled ring for his finger; and shoes!


book: Luke
contenido:
for this son of mine was dead and has returned to life. He was lost and is found.’ So the party began.


book: Luke
contenido:
“Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working; when he returned home, he heard dance music coming from the house,


book: Luke
contenido:
“‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the calf we were fattening and has prepared a great feast to celebrate his coming home again unharmed.’


book: Luke
contenido:
but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve worked hard for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to; and in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends.


book: Luke
contenido:
Yet when this son of yours comes back after spending your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the finest calf we have on the place.’


book: Luke
contenido:
“‘Look, dear son,’ his father said to him, ‘you and I are very close, and everything I have is yours.


book: Luke
contenido:
But it is right to celebrate. For he is your brother; and he was dead and has come back to life! He was lost and is found!’”


book: Luke
contenido:
Jesus now told this story to his disciples: “A rich man hired an accountant to handle his affairs, but soon a rumor went around that the accountant was thoroughly dishonest.


book: Luke
contenido:
“So his employer called him in and said, ‘What’s this I hear about your stealing from me? Get your report in order, for you are to be dismissed.’


book: Luke
contenido:
“The accountant thought to himself, ‘Now what? I’m through here, and I haven’t the strength to go out and dig ditches, and I’m too proud to beg.


book: Luke
contenido:
“So he invited each one who owed money to his employer to come and discuss the situation. He asked the first one, ‘How much do you owe him?’ ‘My debt is 850 gallons of olive oil,’ the man replied. ‘Yes, here is the contract you signed,’ the accountant told him. ‘Tear it up and write another one for half that much!’


book: Luke
contenido:
“‘And how much do you owe him?’ he asked the next man. ‘A thousand bushels of wheat,’ was the reply. ‘Here,’ the accountant said, ‘take your note and replace it with one for only 800 bushels!’


book: Luke
contenido:
“The rich man had to admire the rascal for being so shrewd. And it is true that the citizens of this world are more clever in dishonesty* than the godly* are.


book: Luke
contenido:
But shall I tell you to act that way, to buy friendship through cheating? Will this ensure your entry into an everlasting home in heaven?


book: Luke
contenido:
No! For unless you are honest in small matters, you won’t be in large ones. If you cheat even a little, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.


book: Luke
contenido:
And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?


book: Luke
contenido:
And if you are not faithful with other people’s money, why should you be entrusted with money of your own?


book: Luke
contenido:
“For neither you nor anyone else can serve two masters. You will hate one and show loyalty to the other, or else the other way around—you will be enthusiastic about one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”


book: Luke
contenido:
Then he said to them, “You wear a noble, pious expression in public, but God knows your evil hearts. Your pretense brings you honor from the people, but it is an abomination in the sight of God.


book: Luke
contenido:
Until John the Baptist began to preach, the laws of Moses and the messages of the prophets were your guides. But John introduced the Good News that the Kingdom of God would come soon. And now eager multitudes are pressing in.


book: Luke
contenido:
But that doesn’t mean that the Law has lost its force in even the smallest point. It is as strong and unshakable as heaven and earth.


book: Luke
contenido:
“So anyone who divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”


book: Luke
contenido:
“There was a certain rich man,” Jesus said, “who was splendidly clothed and lived each day in mirth and luxury.


book: Luke
contenido:
As he lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores.


book: Luke
contenido:
Finally the beggar died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham in the place of the righteous dead. The rich man also died and was buried,


book: Luke
contenido:
“‘Father Abraham,’ he shouted, ‘have some pity! Send Lazarus over here if only to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in these flames.’


book: Luke
contenido:
“But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted and you are in anguish.


book: Luke
contenido:
And besides, there is a great chasm separating us, and anyone wanting to come to you from here is stopped at its edge; and no one over there can cross to us.’


book: Luke
contenido:
for I have five brothers—to warn them about this place of torment lest they come here when they die.’


book: Luke
contenido:
“But Abraham said, ‘The Scriptures have warned them again and again. Your brothers can read them any time they want to.’


book: Luke
contenido:
“The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham, they won’t bother to read them. But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will turn from their sins.’


book: Luke
contenido:
“But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t listen even though someone rises from the dead.’”


book: Luke
contenido:
“There will always be temptations to sin,” Jesus said one day to his disciples, “but woe to the man who does the tempting.


book: Luke
contenido:
If he were thrown into the sea with a huge rock tied to his neck, he would be far better off than facing the punishment in store for those who harm these little children’s souls. I am warning you!
“Rebuke your brother if he sins, and forgive him if he is sorry.


book: Luke
contenido:
Even if he wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, forgive him.”


book: Luke
contenido:
“If your faith were only the size of a mustard seed,” Jesus answered, “it would be large enough to uproot that mulberry tree over there and send it hurtling into the sea! Your command would bring immediate results!


book: Luke
contenido:
When a servant comes in from plowing or taking care of sheep, he doesn’t just sit down and eat, but first prepares his master’s meal and serves him his supper before he eats his own. And he is not even thanked, for he is merely doing what he is supposed to do.


book: Luke
contenido:
Just so, if you merely obey me, you should not consider yourselves worthy of praise. For you have simply done your duty!”


book: Luke
contenido:
He looked at them and said, “Go to the Jewish priest and show him that you are healed!” And as they were going, their leprosy disappeared.


book: Luke
contenido:
He fell flat on the ground in front of Jesus, face downward in the dust, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a despised Samaritan.


book: Luke
contenido:
One day the Pharisees asked Jesus, “When will the Kingdom of God begin?” Jesus replied, “The Kingdom of God isn’t ushered in with visible signs.


book: Luke
contenido:
You won’t be able to say, ‘It has begun here in this place or there in that part of the country.’ For the Kingdom of God is within you.”


book: Luke
contenido:
Later he talked again about this with his disciples. “The time is coming when you will long for me to be with you even for a single day, but I won’t be here,” he said.


book: Luke
contenido:
“Reports will reach you that I have returned and that I am in this place or that; don’t believe it or go out to look for me.


book: Luke
contenido:
For when I return, you will know it beyond all doubt. It will be as evident as the lightning that flashes across the skies.


book: Luke
contenido:
“When I return the world will be as indifferent to the things of God* as the people were in Noah’s day.


book: Luke
contenido:
They ate and drank and married—everything just as usual right up to the day when Noah went into the ark and the Flood came and destroyed them all.


book: Luke
contenido:
“And the world will be as it was in the days of Lot: people went about their daily business—eating and drinking, buying and selling, farming and building—


book: Luke
contenido:
until the morning Lot left Sodom. Then fire and brimstone rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.


book: Luke
contenido:
“Those away from home that day must not return to pack; those in the fields must not return to town—


book: Luke
contenido:
Two women will be working together at household tasks; one will be taken, the other left; and so it will be with men working side by side in the fields.”


book: Luke
contenido:
“Lord, where will they be taken?” the disciples asked.
Jesus replied, “Where the body is, the vultures gather!”


book: Luke
contenido:
One day Jesus told his disciples a story to illustrate their need for constant prayer and to show them that they must keep praying until the answer comes.


book: Luke
contenido:
The judge ignored her for a while, but eventually she got on his nerves.
“‘I fear neither God nor man,’ he said to himself, ‘but this woman bothers me. I’m going to see that she gets justice, for she is wearing me out with her constant coming!’”


book: Luke
contenido:
Yes! He will answer them quickly! But the question is: When I, the Messiah, return, how many will I find who have faith and are praying*?”


book: Luke
contenido:
“Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a proud, self-righteous Pharisee, and the other a cheating tax collector.


book: Luke
contenido:
The proud Pharisee ‘prayed’ this prayer: ‘Thank God, I am not a sinner like everyone else, especially like that tax collector over there! For I never cheat, I don’t commit adultery,


book: Luke
contenido:
“But the corrupt tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed, but beat upon his chest in sorrow, exclaiming, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner.’


book: Luke
contenido:
I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home forgiven! For the proud shall be humbled, but the humble shall be honored.”


book: Luke
contenido:
One day some mothers brought their babies to him to touch and bless. But the disciples told them to go away.


book: Luke
contenido:
Then Jesus called the children over to him and said to the disciples, “Let the little children come to me! Never send them away! For the Kingdom of God belongs to men who have hearts as trusting as these little children’s. And anyone who doesn’t have their kind of faith will never get within the Kingdom’s gates.”


book: Luke
contenido:
Once a Jewish religious leader asked him this question: “Good sir, what shall I do to get to heaven?”


book: Luke
contenido:
“Do you realize what you are saying when you call me ‘good’?” Jesus asked him. “Only God is truly good, and no one else.


book: Luke
contenido:
“But as to your question, you know what the Ten Commandments say—don’t commit adultery, don’t murder, don’t steal, don’t lie, honor your parents, and so on.”


book: Luke
contenido:
“There is still one thing you lack,” Jesus said. “Sell all you have and give the money to the poor—it will become treasure for you in heaven—and come, follow me.”


book: Luke
contenido:
Jesus watched him go and then said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!


book: Luke
contenido:
“Yes,” Jesus replied, “and everyone who has done as you have, leaving home, wife, brothers, parents, or children for the sake of the Kingdom of God,


book: Luke
contenido:
Gathering the Twelve around him he told them, “As you know, we are going to Jerusalem. And when we get there, all the predictions of the ancient prophets concerning me will come true.


book: Luke
contenido:
The crowds ahead of Jesus tried to hush the man, but he only yelled the louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”


book: Luke
contenido:
And instantly the man could see and followed Jesus, praising God. And all who saw it happen praised God too.


book: Luke
contenido:
As Jesus was passing through Jericho, a man named Zacchaeus, one of the most influential Jews in the Roman tax-collecting business (and, of course, a very rich man),


book: Luke
contenido:
When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name! “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick! Come down! For I am going to be a guest in your home today!”


book: Luke
contenido:
Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “Sir, from now on I will give half my wealth to the poor, and if I find I have overcharged anyone on his taxes, I will penalize myself by giving him back four times as much!”


book: Luke
contenido:
Jesus told him, “This shows that salvation has come to this home today. This man was one of the lost sons of Abraham, and I, the Messiah,* have come to search for and to save such souls as his.”


book: Luke
contenido:
And because Jesus was nearing Jerusalem, he told a story to correct the impression that the Kingdom of God would begin right away.


book: Luke
contenido:
“A nobleman living in a certain province was called away to the distant capital of the empire to be crowned king of his province.


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Before he left he called together ten assistants and gave them each $2,000 to invest while he was gone.


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But some of his people hated him and sent him their declaration of independence, stating that they had rebelled and would not acknowledge him as their king.


book: Luke
contenido:
“Upon his return he called in the men to whom he had given the money, to find out what they had done with it, and what their profits were.


book: Luke
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“‘Fine!’ the king exclaimed. ‘You are a good man. You have been faithful with the little I entrusted to you, and as your reward, you shall be governor of ten cities.’


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contenido:
‘because I was afraid you would demand my profits, for you are a hard man to deal with, taking what isn’t yours and even confiscating the crops that others plant.’


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contenido:
‘You vile and wicked slave,’ the king roared. ‘Hard, am I? That’s exactly how I’ll be toward you! If you knew so much about me and how tough I am,


book: Luke
contenido:
then why didn’t you deposit the money in the bank so that I could at least get some interest on it?’


book: Luke
contenido:
“Then turning to the others standing by he ordered, ‘Take the money away from him and give it to the man who earned the most.’


book: Luke
contenido:
“‘Yes,’ the king replied, ‘but it is always true that those who have, get more, and those who have little, soon lose even that.


book: Luke
contenido:
As they came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany, on the Mount of Olives, he sent two disciples ahead,


book: Luke
contenido:
with instructions to go to the next village, and as they entered they were to look for a donkey tied beside the road. It would be a colt, not yet broken for riding.
“Untie him,” Jesus said, “and bring him here.


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contenido:
and sure enough, as they were untying it, the owners demanded an explanation.
“What are you doing?” they asked. “Why are you untying our colt?”


book: Luke
contenido:
So they brought the colt to Jesus and threw some of their clothing across its back for Jesus to sit on.


book: Luke
contenido:
Then the crowds spread out their robes along the road ahead of him, and as they reached the place where the road started down from the Mount of Olives, the whole procession began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles Jesus had done.


book: Luke
contenido:
“God has given us a King!” they exulted. “Long live the King! Let all heaven rejoice! Glory to God in the highest heavens!”


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But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Sir, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!”


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and crush you to the ground, and your children within you; your enemies will not leave one stone upon another—for you have rejected the opportunity God offered you.”


book: Luke
contenido:
saying to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple is a place of prayer; but you have turned it into a den of thieves.’”


book: Luke
contenido:
After that he taught daily in the Temple, but the chief priests and other religious leaders and the business community were trying to find some way to get rid of him.


book: Luke
contenido:
On one of those days when he was teaching and preaching the Good News in the Temple, he was confronted by the chief priests and other religious leaders and councilmen.


book: Luke
contenido:
They talked it over among themselves. “If we say his message was from heaven, then we are trapped because he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’


book: Luke
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But if we say John was not sent from God, the people will mob us, for they are convinced that he was a prophet.”


book: Luke
contenido:
Now he turned to the people again and told them this story: “A man planted a vineyard and rented it out to some farmers, and went away to a distant land to live for several years.


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When harvest time came, he sent one of his men to the farm to collect his share of the crops. But the tenants beat him up and sent him back empty-handed.


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Then he sent another, but the same thing happened; he was beaten up and insulted and sent away without collecting.


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“‘What shall I do?’ the owner asked himself. ‘I know! I’ll send my cherished son. Surely they will show respect for him.’


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“But when the tenants saw his son, they said, ‘This is our chance! This fellow will inherit all the land when his father dies. Come on. Let’s kill him, and then it will be ours.’


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I’ll tell you—he will come and kill them and rent the vineyard to others.”
“But they would never do a thing like that,” his listeners protested.


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Jesus looked at them and said, “Then what does the Scripture mean where it says, ‘The Stone rejected by the builders was made the cornerstone’?”


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And he added, “Whoever stumbles over that Stone shall be broken; and those on whom it falls will be crushed to dust.”


book: Luke
contenido:
When the chief priests and religious leaders heard about this story he had told, they wanted him arrested immediately, for they realized that he was talking about them. They were the wicked tenants in his illustration. But they were afraid that if they themselves arrested him, there would be a riot. So they tried to get him to say something that could be reported to the Roman governor as reason to arrest him.


book: Luke
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They said to Jesus, “Sir, we know what an honest teacher you are. You always tell the truth and don’t budge an inch in the face of what others think, but teach the ways of God.


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“Show me a coin. Whose portrait is this on it? And whose name?”
They replied, “Caesar’s—the Roman emperor’s.”


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Thus their attempt to outwit him before the people failed; and marveling at his answer, they were silent.


book: Luke
contenido:
Then some Sadducees—men who believed that death is the end of existence, that there is no resurrection—


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contenido:
came to Jesus with this:
“The laws of Moses state that if a man dies without children, the man’s brother shall marry the widow, and their children will legally belong to the dead man, to carry on his name.


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And so it went, one after the other, until each of the seven had married her and died, leaving no children.


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contenido:
Now here is our question: Whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For all of them were married to her!”


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Jesus replied, “Marriage is for people here on earth, but when those who are counted worthy of being raised from the dead get to heaven, they do not marry.


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And they never die again; in these respects they are like angels, and are sons of God, for they are raised up in new life from the dead.


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“But as to your real question—whether or not there is a resurrection—why, even the writings of Moses himself prove this. For when he describes how God appeared to him in the burning bush, he speaks of God as ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ To say that the Lord is some person’s God means that person is alive, not dead! So from God’s point of view, all men are living.”


book: Luke
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Then he presented them with a question. “Why is it,” he asked, “that Christ, the Messiah, is said to be a descendant of King David?


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For David himself wrote in the book of Psalms: ‘God said to my Lord, the Messiah, “Sit at my right hand until I place your enemies beneath your feet.”’


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“Beware of these experts in religion, for they love to parade in dignified robes and to be bowed to by the people as they walk along the street. And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and at religious festivals!


book: Luke
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But even while they are praying long prayers with great outward piety, they are planning schemes to cheat widows out of their property. Therefore God’s heaviest sentence awaits these men.”


book: Luke
contenido:
For they have given a little of what they didn’t need, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.”


book: Luke
contenido:
Some of his disciples began talking about the beautiful stonework of the Temple and the memorial decorations on the walls.


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But Jesus said, “The time is coming when all these things you are admiring will be knocked down, and not one stone will be left on top of another; all will become one vast heap of rubble.”


book: Luke
contenido:
He replied, “Don’t let anyone mislead you. For many will come announcing themselves as the Messiah, and saying, ‘The time has come.’ But don’t believe them!


book: Luke
contenido:
And when you hear of wars and insurrections beginning, don’t panic. True, wars must come, but the end won’t follow immediately—


book: Luke
contenido:
and there will be great earthquakes, and famines in many lands, and epidemics, and terrifying things happening in the heavens.


book: Luke
contenido:
“But before all this occurs, there will be a time of special persecution, and you will be dragged into synagogues and prisons and before kings and governors for my name’s sake.


book: Luke
contenido:
for I will give you the right words and such logic that none of your opponents will be able to reply!


book: Luke
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Even those closest to you—your parents, brothers, relatives, and friends will betray you and have you arrested; and some of you will be killed.


book: Luke
contenido:
“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you will know that the time of its destruction has arrived.


book: Luke
contenido:
Then let the people of Judea flee to the hills. Let those in Jerusalem try to escape, and those outside the city must not attempt to return.


book: Luke
contenido:
For those will be days of God’s judgment, and the words of the ancient Scriptures written by the prophets will be abundantly fulfilled.


book: Luke
contenido:
Woe to expectant mothers in those days, and those with tiny babies. For there will be great distress upon this nation and wrath upon this people.


book: Luke
contenido:
They will be brutally killed by enemy weapons, or sent away as exiles and captives to all the nations of the world; and Jerusalem shall be conquered and trampled down by the Gentiles until the period of Gentile triumph ends in God’s good time.


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“Then there will be strange events in the skies—warnings, evil omens and portents in the sun, moon and stars; and down here on earth the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides.


book: Luke
contenido:
The courage of many people will falter because of the fearful fate they see coming upon the earth, for the stability of the very heavens will be broken up.


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contenido:
Then the peoples of the earth shall see me, the Messiah, coming in a cloud with power and great glory.


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In the same way, when you see the events taking place that I’ve described you can be just as sure that the Kingdom of God is near.


book: Luke
contenido:
“Watch out! Don’t let my sudden coming catch you unawares; don’t let me find you living in careless ease, carousing and drinking, and occupied with the problems of this life, like all the rest of the world.


book: Luke
contenido:
Keep a constant watch. And pray that if possible you may arrive in my presence without having to experience these horrors.”


book: Luke
contenido:
Every day Jesus went to the Temple to teach, and the crowds began gathering early in the morning to hear him. And each evening he returned to spend the night on the Mount of Olives.


book: Luke
contenido:
And now the Passover celebration was drawing near—the Jewish festival when only bread made without yeast was used.


book: Luke
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The chief priests and other religious leaders were actively plotting Jesus’ murder, trying to find a way to kill him without starting a riot—a possibility they greatly feared.


book: Luke
contenido:
and he went over to the chief priests and captains of the Temple guards to discuss the best way to betray Jesus to them.


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So he began to look for an opportunity for them to arrest Jesus quietly when the crowds weren’t around.


book: Luke
contenido:
Now the day of the Passover celebration arrived, when the Passover lamb was killed and eaten with the unleavened bread.


book: Luke
contenido:
And he replied, “As soon as you enter Jerusalem, you will see a man walking along carrying a pitcher of water. Follow him into the house he enters,


book: Luke
contenido:
and say to the man who lives there, ‘Our Teacher says for you to show us the guest room where he can eat the Passover meal with his disciples.’


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contenido:
He will take you upstairs to a large room all ready for us. That is the place. Go ahead and prepare the meal there.”


book: Luke
contenido:
They went off to the city and found everything just as Jesus had said, and prepared the Passover supper.


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and he said, “I have looked forward to this hour with deep longing, anxious to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins.


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For I tell you now that I won’t eat it again until what it represents has occurred in the Kingdom of God.”


book: Luke
contenido:
Then he took a glass of wine, and when he had given thanks for it, he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves.


book: Luke
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Then he took a loaf of bread; and when he had thanked God for it, he broke it apart and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, given for you. Eat it in remembrance of me.”


book: Luke
contenido:
After supper he gave them another glass of wine, saying, “This wine is the token of God’s new agreement to save you—an agreement sealed with the blood I shall pour out to purchase back your souls.


book: Luke
contenido:
And they began to argue among themselves as to who would have the highest rank in the coming Kingdom.


book: Luke
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Jesus told them, “In this world the kings and great men order their slaves around, and the slaves have no choice but to like it!


book: Luke
contenido:
Out in the world the master sits at the table and is served by his servants. But not here! For I am your servant.


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contenido:
to eat and drink at my table in that Kingdom; and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.


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but I have pleaded in prayer for you that your faith should not completely fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen and build up the faith of your brothers.”


book: Luke
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But Jesus said, “Peter, let me tell you something. Between now and tomorrow morning when the rooster crows, you will deny me three times, declaring that you don’t even know me.”


book: Luke
contenido:
Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you out to preach the Good News and you were without money, duffle bag, or extra clothing, how did you get along?”
“Fine,” they replied.


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contenido:
“But now,” he said, “take a duffle bag if you have one and your money. And if you don’t have a sword, better sell your clothes and buy one!


book: Luke
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For the time has come for this prophecy about me to come true: ‘He will be condemned as a criminal!’ Yes, everything written about me by the prophets will come true.”


book: Luke
contenido:
Then, accompanied by the disciples, he left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives.


book: Luke
contenido:
He walked away, perhaps a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed this prayer: “Father, if you are willing, please take away this cup of horror from me. But I want your will, not mine.”


book: Luke
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for he was in such agony of spirit that he broke into a sweat of blood, with great drops falling to the ground as he prayed more and more earnestly.


book: Luke
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At last he stood up again and returned to the disciples—only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief.


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contenido:
But even as he said this, a mob approached, led by Judas, one of his twelve disciples. Judas walked over to Jesus and kissed him on the cheek in friendly greeting.


book: Luke
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When the other disciples saw what was about to happen, they exclaimed, “Master, shall we fight? We brought along the swords!”


book: Luke
contenido:
But Jesus said, “Don’t resist anymore.” And he touched the place where the man’s ear had been and restored it.


book: Luke
contenido:
Then Jesus addressed the chief priests and captains of the Temple guards and the religious leaders who headed the mob. “Am I a robber,” he asked, “that you have come armed with swords and clubs to get me?


