I tell you, many will come from the east and west to share the banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven,

But Jesus called them and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions use their authority over them.

“Then they will hand you over to be persecuted and will kill you. You will be hated by all the nations because of my name.

Then people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and take their places at the banquet table in the kingdom of God.

So Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’

But they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me.

But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath for yourselves in the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment is revealed!

Think about the circumstances of your call, brothers and sisters. Not many were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were born to a privileged position.

So, brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but instead as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.

For this reason, if food causes my brother or sister to sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I may not cause one of them to sin.

Each competitor must exercise self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.

These things happened to them as examples and were written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages have come.

So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away – look, what is new has come!

as unknown, and yet well-known; as dying and yet – see! – we continue to live; as those who are scourged and yet not executed;

to reveal his Son in me so that I could preach him among the Gentiles, I did not go to ask advice from any human being,

But the scripture imprisoned everything and everyone under sin so that the promise could be given – because of the faithfulness of Jesus Christ – to those who believe.

and to enlighten everyone about God’s secret plan – a secret that has been hidden for ages in God who has created all things.

I feel torn between the two, because I have a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far,

For the hidden power of lawlessness is already at work. However, the one who holds him back will do so until he is taken out of the way,

But the widow who is truly in need, and completely on her own, has set her hope on God and continues in her pleas and prayers night and day.