Luke 13:23

He called the multitude to himself with his disciples, and said to them, “Whoever wants to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

A highway will be there, a road, and it will be called “The Holy Way”. The unclean shall not pass over it, but it will be for those who walk in the Way. Wicked fools shall not go there.

But many will be last who are first; and first who are last.

Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.

These will war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings, and those who are with him are called chosen and faithful.”

Yahweh said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria.

Ahaziah fell down through the lattice in his upper room that was in Samaria, and was sick. So he sent messengers, and said to them, “Go, inquire of Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I will recover of this sickness.”

Then Saul said to his servant, “But, behold, if we go, what should we bring the man? For the bread is spent in our sacks, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?”

You will show me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy. In your right hand there are pleasures forever more.

I walk in the way of righteousness, in the middle of the paths of justice,

But many who are first will be last; and the last first.”

For I tell you that none of those men who were invited will taste of my supper.’ ”

I have told you these things, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble; but cheer up! I have overcome the world.”

strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many afflictions we must enter into God’s Kingdom.

and when you turn to the right hand, and when you turn to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way. Walk in it.”

“Enter in by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter in by it.

How narrow is the gate, and restricted is the way that leads to life! Few are those who find it.

Behold, there are some who are last who will be first, and there are some who are first who will be last.”

Whom he predestined, those he also called. Whom he called, those he also justified. Whom he justified, those he also glorified.

Isaiah is very bold and says, “I was found by those who didn’t seek me. I was revealed to those who didn’t ask for me.”

For this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that when you received from us the word of the message of God, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also works in you who believe.

Therefore, brothers, be more diligent to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never stumble.

Their father, Israel, said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Take from the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry down a present for the man, a little balm, a little honey, spices and myrrh, nuts, and almonds;

All who were counted of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron counted at the commandment of Yahweh, by their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty-two thousand.

even those who were counted of them, were eight thousand five hundred eighty.

Yahweh didn’t set his love on you nor choose you, because you were more in number than any people; for you were the fewest of all peoples;

Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return and depart from Mount Gilead.’ ” So twenty-two thousand of the people returned, and ten thousand remained.

He who escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and he who escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill.

They said to him, “A man came up to meet us, and said to us, ‘Go, return to the king who sent you, and tell him, “Yahweh says, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel, that you send to inquire of Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you will not come down from the bed where you have gone up, but you will surely die.’ ” ’ ”

The king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” He departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of clothing.

The king said to Hazael, “Take a present in your hand, and go, meet the man of God, and inquire of Yahweh by him, saying, ‘Will I recover from this sickness?’ ”

and let the maiden who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.” The thing pleased the king, and he did so.

See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.

The path of life leads upward for the wise, to keep him from going downward to Sheol.

Unless Yahweh of Armies had left to us a very small remnant, we would have been as Sodom. We would have been like Gomorrah.

Therefore the curse has devoured the earth, and those who dwell therein are found guilty. Therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men are left.

Don’t be afraid, you worm Jacob, and you men of Israel. I will help you,” says Yahweh. “Your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.

“Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel my called: I am he. I am the first. I am also the last.

Just as many were astonished at you— his appearance was marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men—

He will say, “Build up, build up, prepare the way! Remove the stumbling-block out of the way of my people.”

Yahweh says, “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, ‘Where is the good way?’ and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’

Now when Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, a eunuch, who was in the king’s house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon (the king was then sitting in Benjamin’s gate),

You shall take of it a few in number, and bind them in the folds of your robe.

But I will leave a few men of them from the sword, from the famine, and from the pestilence, that they may declare all their abominations among the nations where they come. Then they will know that I am Yahweh.’ ”

Before the rooms was a walk of ten cubits’ width inward, a way of one cubit; and their doors were toward the north.

When the disciples heard it, they were exceedingly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”

So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen.”

For many are called, but few chosen.”

Unless those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved. But for the sake of the chosen ones, those days will be shortened.

He got into the boat with them; and the wind ceased, and they were very amazed among themselves, and marveled;

They were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He makes even the deaf hear, and the mute speak!”

The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus answered again, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter into God’s Kingdom!

They were exceedingly astonished, saying to him, “Then who can be saved?”

Unless the Lord had shortened the days, no flesh would have been saved; but for the sake of the chosen ones, whom he picked out, he shortened the days.

Joseph of Arimathaea, a prominent council member who also himself was looking for God’s Kingdom, came. He boldly went in to Pilate, and asked for Jesus’ body.

Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what kind of woman this is who touches him, that she is a sinner.”

Were there none found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?”

Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?”

They went out of the city, and were coming to him.

They will put you out of the synagogues. Yes, the time comes that whoever kills you will think that he offers service to God.

brought them out, and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

But certain men joined with him and believed, among whom also was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

Why? Because they didn’t seek it by faith, but as it were by works of the law. They stumbled over the stumbling stone;

For, “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Greet Rufus, the chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.

Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself.) I am more so: in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, and in deaths often.

Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service.

who before were disobedient, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, while the ship was being built. In it, few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.

Many will follow their immoral ways, and as a result, the way of the truth will be maligned.

Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Most certainly I tell you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering into God’s Kingdom before you.

Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.”

Don’t be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.

I tell you that even so there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.

The way of peace, they haven’t known.”

The law came in that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace abounded more exceedingly;

What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, who didn’t follow after righteousness, attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith;