Now it was during this time that Jesus went out to the mountain to pray, and he spent all night in prayer to God.

But I tell you most certainly, there are some standing here who will not experience death before they see the kingdom of God.”

But Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

But the other rebuked him, saying, “Don’t you fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?

Then he looked up at his disciples and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God belongs to you.

But he replied to them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”

But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded back from you, but who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.

So the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen; everything was just as they had been told.

“Ha! Leave us alone, Jesus the Nazarene! Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are – the Holy One of God.”

Now Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing around him to hear the word of God.

Then astonishment seized them all, and they glorified God. They were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen incredible things today.”

Some time afterward he went on through towns and villages, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him,

Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

For this reason also the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,’

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.

When one of those at the meal with Jesus heard this, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will feast in the kingdom of God!”

For a while he refused, but later on he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor have regard for people,

Won’t God give justice to his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he delay long to help them?