The man<n id="1" /> replied, &#8220;I have wholeheartedly obeyed<n id="2" /> all these laws<n id="3" /> since my youth.&#8221;<n id="4" />

When a strong man,<n id="1" /> fully armed, guards his own palace,<n id="2" /> his possessions are safe.<n id="3" />

But he replied,<n id="1" /> &#8220;Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey<n id="2" /> it!&#8221;p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">Now<n id="1" /> there were shepherds<n id="2" /> nearby<n id="3" /> living out in the field, keeping guard<n id="4" /> over their flock at night.

For Jesus<n id="1" /> had started commanding<n id="2" /> the evil<n id="3" /> spirit to come out of the man. (For it had seized him many times, so<n id="4" /> he would be bound with chains and shackles<n id="5" /> and kept under guard. But<n id="6" /> he would break the restraints and be driven by the demon into deserted<n id="7" /> places.)<n id="8" />

Then<n id="1" /> he said to them, &#8220;Watch out and guard yourself from<n id="2" /> all types of greed,<n id="3" /> because one&#8217;s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.&#8221;