Category: Scripture

“However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son, Himself. Only the Father knows.”

“When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. People didn’t realize what was was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. This is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes. “

Two men will be working together in the field: one will be taken, the other one left. Two women will be grinding flour at the mill, one will be taken, the other left.”

“So you, too, must keep watch! For. you don’t know what day our Lord is coming. Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. You mst also be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected. (vv. 36-44, NLT)

As Jesus was leaving the Temple grounds, His disciples pointed out to him the various Temple buildings. But He responded, “Do you see all these buildings? I tell you the truth, they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!”

Later, Jesus sat on the. Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sing will signal Your return and the end of the world?”

Jesus told them,”Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately.. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.

“Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will all be hated all over the world because you are My followers. And many will turn away from Me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it, and then, the end will come.” (vv. 1-14, NLT)

Then, surrounded by the Pharisees, Jesus asked them a question: “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?”

The responded, “He is the son of David.”

Jesus responded, “Then why does David, speaking under the inspiration of the Spirit, call the Messiah ‘my Lord’? For David said, ‘The Lord shall be my Lord. Sit in the palace of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies beneath your feet’.

Since David call the Messiah, ‘my Lord,’ how can it be the Messiah be his son?”

No one could answer Him. And after that, no on dated to ask Him anymore questions. (vv. 41-46, NLT)

But when the Pharisees heard that He (Jesus) had silenced the Sadducees with His reply, they met together to question Him again. One of them and expert in religious law, tried to trap Him wit this question: “Teacher, when is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”

Jesus replied, “You must love the Lord, your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important:’Love your neighbor as yourself;. The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” (vv. 34-40, NLT)

When Jesus returned to the Temple and began teaching, the leading priests and elders came up to Him. They demanded, “By what authority are you doing all these things? Who gave you the right?”

“I’ll tell you by what authority I do these things if you answer one question,” Jesus replied. “Did John’s authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human?”

They talked it over among themselves. “If we say it was from heaven, he will ask us why we didn’t believe in John. But if we say it was merely human, we will be mobbed because the people believe John was a prophet.” So they finally replied, :We don’t know.”

And Jesus responded, “Then I won’t tell you by what authority I do these things.” (vv 23-27, NLT)

Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor. “What is your request?” He asked.

She replied, “In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to You, one on your right, and the other on Your left.”

But Jesus answered by saying to them, “You don’t know what your are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?”

“Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!:”

Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup. But I have no right to say who will sit on My right or My left. My Father has prepared those places for the ones He has chosen.”

When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over the people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever want to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many.” (vv. 20-28, NLT)

When Jesus had finished saying these things, He left Galilee and went down to the region of Judea east of the Jordan River. Large crowds followed Him there, and He healed their sick.

Some Pharisees came and tried to trap Him with this question: “Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife for any reason?”

“Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning, ‘God made them male and female.'” And He said,”‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.”

“Then why did Moses say in the law that a man could give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away?” they asked.

Jesus replied, “Moses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts, but it was not what God had originally contended. And I tell you this, whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery – unless his wife has been unfaithful.”

Jesus’ disciples then said to him “If this is the case, it is better not to marry!”

“Not everyone can accept this statement,” Jesus said. “Only those who God helps. Some are born as eunuchs, and some have been made eunuchs by others, and some chose not to marry for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. Let anyone accept this who can.” (vv. 1-12, NLT)

About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?”

Jesus called a little child to Him and put the child among them. Then He said,”I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child. is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.”

“And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on My behalf is welcoming Me. But if you cause one of these little ones who trust in Me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drown into the depths of the sea.”

What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting.” (vv 1-7, NLT)

Six days later Jesus took Peter and the two brothers James and John, and led then upon a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that His face shown like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking to Jesus.

Peter exclaimed, “Lord, it’s wonderful for us to be here! If you want, I’ll make three shelters as memorials – one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings Me great joy. Listen to Him.” The disciples were terrified and fell face down on the ground.

Then Jesus cam over and touched them. “Get up,” He said. “Don’t be afraid.” And when they looked up, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus.

As they went back down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen until the Son of Man has ben raised from the dead.” (vv. 1-9, NLT)

When Jesus came to the region of Caeserea Philipi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

“Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”

Then He asked them,”But who do you say I am?”

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build My church, and al the power in hell will not conquer it. And I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”

Then He sternly warned the disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Messiah. (vv. 13-20, NLT)