and he took it and ate it in front of them.

But the one who denies me before men will be denied before God’s angels.

in holiness and righteousness before him for as long as we live.

So then, if you will worship me, all this will be yours.”

But these words seemed like pure nonsense to them, and they did not believe them.

But Jesus said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in men’s eyes, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly prized among men is utterly detestable in God’s sight.

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High. For you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,

Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God.

Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’

In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”

for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth.

And he will go as forerunner before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.”

Just then some men showed up, carrying a paralyzed man on a stretcher. They were trying to bring him in and place him before Jesus.

Immediately he stood up before them, picked up the stretcher he had been lying on, and went home, glorifying God.

I will get up and go to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.

The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.

When the woman saw that she could not escape notice, she came trembling and fell down before him. In the presence of all the people, she explained why she had touched him and how she had been immediately healed.

But when you are invited, go and take the least important place, so that when your host approaches he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up here to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who share the meal with you.

Then his son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. When I examined him before you, I did not find this man guilty of anything you accused him of doing.