For the kingdom of God is demonstrated not in idle talk but with power.

Did the word of God begin with you, or did it come to you alone?

Now the one who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with the one who teaches it.

For we never appeared with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed – God is our witness –

encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good thing you do or say.

This saying is trustworthy: “If someone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a good work.”

You be on guard against him too, because he vehemently opposed our words.

For everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced in the message of righteousness, because he is an infant.

But be sure you live out the message and do not merely listen to it and so deceive yourselves.

You have been born anew, not from perishable but from imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.

They will face a reckoning before Jesus Christ who stands ready to judge the living and the dead.

Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue but in deed and truth.

The seed sown among thorns is the person who hears the word, but worldly cares and the seductiveness of wealth choke the word, so it produces nothing.

These are the ones on the path where the word is sown: Whenever they hear, immediately Satan comes and snatches the word that was sown in them.

The person who does not love me does not obey my words. And the word you hear is not mine, but the Father’s who sent me.

Remember what I told you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they obeyed my word, they will obey yours too.

Let your word be ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no.’ More than this is from the evil one.

When Jesus finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed by his teaching,

Then the disciples came to him and said, “Do you know that when the Pharisees heard this saying they were offended?”

He said to them, “Not everyone can accept this statement, except those to whom it has been given.