Mark 10:31

“I tell you, keep asking, and it will be given you. Keep seeking, and you will find. Keep knocking, and it will be opened to you.

When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they declared God to be just, having been baptized with John’s baptism.

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

Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

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

“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.

But if I by the Spirit of God cast out demons, then God’s Kingdom has come upon you.

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

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

Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming close to him to hear him.

Jesus said to him, “Today, salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham.

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.

The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but he is patient with us, not wishing that anyone should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

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

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.

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

Isn’t it yet a very little while, and Lebanon will be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field will be regarded as a forest?

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

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),

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

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

As Jesus passed by from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax collection office. He said to him, “Follow me.” He got up and followed him.

As you go, preach, saying, ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!’

For whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

and said, “Most certainly I tell you, unless you turn, and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

He answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind, and went.

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.

For many are called, but few chosen.”

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.

Behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that he was reclining in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment.

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.”

But the multitudes, perceiving it, followed him. He welcomed them, spoke to them of God’s Kingdom, and he cured those who needed healing.

One said to him, “Lord, are they few who are saved?” He said to them,

Even so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner repenting.”

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

“He said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant! You knew that I am an exacting man, taking up that which I didn’t lay down, and reaping that which I didn’t sow.

Jesus said to her, “I am he, the one who speaks to you.”

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

Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, that those who don’t see may see; and that those who see may become blind.”

Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred Roman pounds.

But rise up and enter into the city, then you will be told what you must do.”

So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.

The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked. But now he commands that all people everywhere should repent,

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

Now we know that whatever things the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God.

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

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

You were running well! Who interfered with you that you should not obey the truth?

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

Let’s fear therefore, lest perhaps anyone of you should seem to have come short of a promise of entering into his rest.

For you need endurance so that, having done the will of God, you may receive the promise.

make you complete in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

that you no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

The world is passing away with its lusts, but he who does God’s will remains forever.

Your own mouth condemns you, and not I. Yes, your own lips testify against you.

Tell them, ‘ “As I live,” says the Lord Yahweh, “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why will you die, house of Israel?” ’

For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished.

“When you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Most certainly, I tell you, they have received their reward.

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

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.

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