He<n id="1" /> sent them to Bethlehem and said, &#8220;Go and look carefully for the child. When you find him, inform me so that I can go and worship him as well.&#8221;

<t /><p class="bodytext">&#8220;Not everyone who says to me, &#8216;Lord, Lord,&#8217;<n id="1" /> will enter into the kingdom of heaven &#8211; only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.

On that day, many will say to me, &#8216;Lord, Lord, didn&#8217;t we prophesy in your name, and in your name cast out demons and do<n id="1" /> many powerful deeds?&#8217;

<t /><p class="bodytext">As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth.<n id="1" /> &#8220;Follow me,&#8221; he said to him. And he got up and followed him.

All things have been handed over to me by my Father.<n id="1" /> No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son decides<n id="2" /> to reveal him.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, &#8220;If anyone wants to become my follower,<n id="1" /> he must deny<n id="2" /> himself, take up his cross,<n id="3" /> and follow me.

Jesus answered,<n id="1" /> &#8220;You<n id="2" /> unbelieving<n id="3" /> and perverse generation! How much longer<n id="4" /> must I be with you? How much longer must I endure<n id="5" /> you?<n id="6" /> Bring him here to me.&#8221;

Jesus said to him, &#8220;If you wish to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give the money<n id="1" /> to the poor, and you will have treasure<n id="2" /> in heaven. Then come, follow me.&#8221;

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.

The<n id="1" /> one who had received the five talents came and brought five more, saying, &#8216;Sir,<n id="2" /> you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.&#8217;

<t /><p class="bodytext">Then<n id="1" /> Jesus<n id="2" /> called the crowd, along with his disciples, and said to them, &#8220;If anyone wants to become my follower,<n id="3" /> he must deny<n id="4" /> himself, take up his cross,<n id="5" /> and follow me.

But he saw through their hypocrisy and said<n id="1" /> to them, &#8220;Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius<n id="2" /> and let me look at it.&#8221;

Jesus<n id="1" /> said to them, &#8220;No doubt you will quote to me the proverb, &#8216;Physician, heal yourself!&#8217;<n id="2" /> and say, &#8216;What we have heard that you did in Capernaum,<n id="3" /> do here in your hometown too.&#8217;&#8221;

But Martha was distracted<n id="1" /> with all the preparations she had to make,<n id="2" /> so<n id="3" /> she came up to him and said, &#8220;Lord, don&#8217;t you care<n id="4" /> that my sister has left me to do all the work<n id="5" /> alone? Tell<n id="6" /> her to help me.&#8221;

Then<n id="1" /> he will reply<n id="2" /> from inside, &#8216;Do not bother me. The door is already shut, and my children and I are in bed.<n id="3" /> I cannot get up and give you anything.&#8217;<n id="4" />

Returning<n id="1" /> home, he calls together<n id="2" /> his<n id="3" /> friends and neighbors, telling them, &#8216;Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost.&#8217;

Won&#8217;t<n id="1" /> the master<n id="2" /> instead say to him, &#8216;Get my dinner ready, and make yourself ready<n id="3" /> to serve me while<n id="4" /> I eat and drink. Then<n id="5" /> you may eat and drink&#8217;?

The tax collector, however, stood<n id="1" /> far off and would not even look up<n id="2" /> to heaven, but beat his breast and said, &#8216;God, be merciful<n id="3" /> to me, sinner that I am!&#8217;<n id="4" />

When Jesus heard this, he said to him, &#8220;One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have<n id="1" /> and give the money<n id="2" /> to the poor,<n id="3" /> and you will have treasure<n id="4" /> in heaven. Then<n id="5" /> come, follow me.&#8221;

and said to them, &#8220;You brought me this man as one who was misleading<n id="1" /> the people. When I examined him before you, I<n id="2" /> did not find this man guilty<n id="3" /> of anything you accused him of doing.