John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he is not a disciple along with us.”

So if Satan too is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? I ask you this because you claim that I cast out demons by Beelzebul.

So you testify that you approve of the deeds of your ancestors, because they killed the prophets and you build their tombs!

Woe to you experts in religious law! You have taken away the key to knowledge! You did not go in yourselves, and you hindered those who were going in.”

Jesus also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A rainstorm is coming,’ and it does.

At that time, some Pharisees came up and said to Jesus, “Get away from here, because Herod wants to kill you.”

At the time for the banquet he sent his slave to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, because everything is now ready.’

Then when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’

because this son of mine was dead, and is alive again – he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.

It was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost and is found.’”

So you too, when you have done everything you were commanded to do, should say, ‘We are slaves undeserving of special praise; we have only done what was our duty.’”

Jesus also told this parable to some who were confident that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else.

He was trying to get a look at Jesus, but being a short man he could not see over the crowd.

Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this household, because he too is a son of Abraham!

And the king said to him, ‘Well done, good slave! Because you have been faithful in a very small matter, you will have authority over ten cities.’

For I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You withdraw what you did not deposit and reap what you did not sow.’

‘I tell you that everyone who has will be given more, but from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.

saying, “If you had only known on this day, even you, the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.

For the days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and surround you and close in on you from every side.

So they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’