<p class="bodytext">While he was still speaking, someone from the synagogue ruler&#8217;s<n id="1" /> house came and said, &#8220;Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the teacher any longer.&#8221;

<t /><p class="bodytext">Now Herod<n id="1" /> the tetrarch<n id="2" /> heard about everything that was happening, and he was thoroughly perplexed,<n id="3" /> because some people were saying that John<n id="4" /> had been raised from the dead,

They<n id="1" /> answered,<n id="2" /> &#8220;John the Baptist; others say Elijah;<n id="3" /> and still others that one of the prophets of long ago has risen.&#8221;<n id="4" />

Then<n id="1" /> a man from the crowd cried out,<n id="2" /> &#8220;Teacher, I beg you to look at<n id="3" /> my son &#8211; he is my only child!

<t /><p class="bodytext">John answered,<n id="1" /> &#8220;Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop<n id="2" /> him because he is not a disciple<n id="3" /> along with us.&#8221;

So<n id="1" /> if<n id="2" /> Satan too is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? I ask you this because<n id="3" /> you claim that I cast out demons by Beelzebul.

So you testify that you approve of<n id="1" /> the deeds of your ancestors,<n id="2" /> because they killed the prophets<n id="3" /> and you build their<n id="4" /> tombs!<n id="5" />

Woe to you experts in religious law! You have taken away<n id="1" /> the key to knowledge! You did not go in yourselves, and you hindered<n id="2" /> those who were going in.&#8221;p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">Jesus<n id="1" /> also said to the crowds, &#8220;When you see a cloud rising in the west,<n id="2" /> you say at once, &#8216;A rainstorm<n id="3" /> is coming,&#8217; and it does.

<t /><p class="bodytext">At that time,<n id="1" /> some Pharisees<n id="2" /> came up and said to Jesus,<n id="3" /> &#8220;Get away from here,<n id="4" /> because Herod<n id="5" /> wants to kill you.&#8221;

At<n id="1" /> the time for the banquet<n id="2" /> he sent his slave<n id="3" /> to tell those who had been invited, &#8216;Come, because everything is now ready.&#8217;

Then<n id="1" /> when she has found it, she calls together her<n id="2" /> friends and neighbors, saying, &#8216;Rejoice<n id="3" /> with me, for I have found the coin<n id="4" /> that I had lost.&#8217;

because this son of mine was dead, and is alive again &#8211; he was lost and is found!&#8217;<n id="1" /> So<n id="2" /> they began to celebrate.p>

It was appropriate<n id="1" /> to celebrate and be glad, for your brother<n id="2" /> was dead, and is alive; he was lost and is found.&#8217;&#8221;<n id="3" />p>

So you too, when you have done everything you were commanded to do, should say, &#8216;We are slaves undeserving of special praise;<n id="1" /> we have only done what was our duty.&#8217;&#8221;<n id="2" />p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">Jesus<n id="1" /> also told this parable to some who were confident that they were righteous and looked down<n id="2" /> on everyone else.

He<n id="1" /> was trying to get a look at Jesus,<n id="2" /> but being a short man he could not see over the crowd.<n id="3" />

Then<n id="1" /> Jesus said to him, &#8220;Today salvation<n id="2" /> has come to this household,<n id="3" /> because he too is a son of Abraham!<n id="4" />

And the king<n id="1" /> said to him, &#8216;Well done, good slave! Because you have been faithful<n id="2" /> in a very small matter, you will have authority<n id="3" /> over ten cities.&#8217;

For I was afraid of you, because you are a severe<n id="1" /> man. You withdraw<n id="2" /> what you did not deposit<n id="3" /> and reap what you did not sow.&#8217;