Then he said to them, “Nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

Then he opened their minds so they could understand the scriptures,

But those days are coming, and when the bridegroom is taken from them, at that time they will fast.”

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

“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near.

Then they will see the Son of Man arriving in a cloud with power and great glory.

Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’

So the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this man your place.’ Then, ashamed, you will begin to move to the least important place.

“The law and the prophets were in force until John; since then, the good news of the kingdom of God has been proclaimed, and everyone is urged to enter it.

Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. Those who are inside the city must depart. Those who are out in the country must not enter it,

“When an unclean spirit goes out of a person, it passes through waterless places looking for rest but not finding any. Then it says, ‘I will return to the home I left.’

Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there, so the last state of that person is worse than the first.”

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.

How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck from your eye,’ while you yourself don’t see the beam in your own? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

So the slave came back and reported this to his master. Then the master of the household was furious and said to his slave, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’