But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, by being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.<n id="1" />p>

If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar and his word is not in us.

But whoever obeys his<n id="1" /> word, truly in this person<n id="2" /> the love of God has been perfected. By this we know that we are in him.

Blessed is the one who reads the words of this<n id="1" /> prophecy aloud,<n id="2" /> and blessed are<n id="3" /> those who hear and obey<n id="4" /> the things written in it, because the time is near!<n id="5" />p>

Then<n id="1" /> he said to me, &#8220;Do not seal up the words of the prophecy contained in this book, because the time is near.

But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">&#8220;Everyone<n id="1" /> who hears these words of mine and does them is like<n id="2" /> a wise man<n id="3" /> who built his house on rock.

Everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.

But the centurion replied,<n id="1" /> &#8220;Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. Instead, just say the word and my servant will be healed.

And if anyone will not welcome you or listen to your message, shake the dust off<n id="1" /> your feet as you leave that house or that town.

Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven.<n id="1" /> But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven,<n id="2" /> either in this age or in the age to come.p>

When anyone hears the word about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one<n id="1" /> comes and snatches what was sown in his heart;<n id="2" /> this is the seed sown along the path.

But as for the seed sown on good soil, this is the person who hears the word and understands. He bears fruit, yielding a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown.&#8221;<n id="1" />p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">Now when<n id="1" /> Jesus finished these sayings, he left Galilee and went to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan River.<n id="2" />

Jesus<n id="1" /> answered them, &#8220;I will also ask you one question. If you answer me then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things.

But as the man<n id="1" /> went out he began to announce it publicly and spread the story widely, so that Jesus<n id="2" /> was no longer able to enter any town openly but stayed outside in remote places. Still<n id="3" /> they kept coming<n id="4" /> to him from everywhere.p>

But<n id="1" /> these are the ones sown on good soil: They hear the word and receive it and bear fruit, one thirty times as much, one sixty, and one a hundred.&#8221;p>

The disciples were astonished at these words. But again Jesus said to them,<n id="1" /> &#8220;Children, how hard it is<n id="2" /> to enter the kingdom of God!

And now,<n id="1" /> because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time,<n id="2" /> you will be silent, unable to speak,<n id="3" /> until the day these things take place.&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,p> <p class="otpoetry"><b><i>&#8220;The voicei>b><n id="1" /> <b><i>of one shouting in the wilderness:i>b><n id="2" />p> <p class="otpoetry"><b><i>&#8216;Prepare the way for the Lord,i>b>p> <p class="otpoetry"><b><i>makei>b><n id="3" /> <i><b>his paths straightb>.i>p>