Colossians 3 (Amplified Bible)

1 IF THEN you have been Raised with Christ [to a New Life, thus sharing His Resurrection from the dead], Aim At and Seek the [Rich, Eternal Treasures] that are Above, where Christ is, Seated at the Right Hand of God.

2 And Set your Minds and keep them Set on what is above (the Higher Things), not on the things that are on the earth.

3 For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [New, Real] Life is hidden with Christ in God.

4 When Christ, Who is our Life, Appears, then you also will Appear with Him in [the Splendor of His] Glory.

5 So Kill (Deaden, Deprive of Power) the evil desire lurking in your members [those animal impulses and all that is earthly in you that is employed in sin]: sexual vice, impurity, sensual appetites, unholy desires, and all greed and covetousness, for that is idolatry (the deifying of self and other created things instead of God).

6 It is on account of These [Very Sins] that the [Holy] Anger of God is ever coming upon the sons of disobedience (those who are Obstinately opposed to the Divine Will),

7 Among whom you also once walked, when you were Living In and Addicted To [such practices].

8 But now put away and rid yourselves [completely] of All these things: anger, rage, bad feeling toward others, curses and slander, and foulmouthed abuse and shameful utterances from your lips!

9 Do not lie to one another, for you have stripped off the old (unregenerate) self with its evil practices,

10 And have Clothed yourselves with the New [Spiritual Self], which is [Ever in the Process of Being] Renewed and Remolded into [Fuller and More Perfect Knowledge upon] Knowledge after the Image (the Likeness) of Him Who created it.

11 [In this New Creation all distinctions vanish.] There is no room for and there can be neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, [nor difference between nations whether alien] barbarians or Scythians who are the most savage of all, nor slave or free man; but Christ Is All and In All everything and everywhere, to all men, without distinction of person.

12 Clothe yourselves therefore, as God's Own Chosen Ones (His own Picked Representatives), [Who Are] Purified and Holy and Well-Beloved [by God Himself, by Putting On Behavior marked by] Tenderhearted Pity and Mercy, Kind Feeling, a Lowly Opinion of yourselves, Gentle Ways, [and] Patience [which is Tireless and Long-Suffering, and has the Power to Endure Whatever comes, with Good Temper].

13 Be Gentle and Forbearing with one another and, if one has a difference (a grievance or complaint) against another, Readily Pardoning each other; even as the Lord has [Freely] Forgiven you, so must you also [Forgive].

14 And above All These [Put On] Love and Enfold yourselves with the Bond of Perfectness [which Binds Everything Together Completely in Ideal Harmony].

15 And let the Peace (soul Harmony which comes) from Christ Rule (Act as Umpire Continually) in your Hearts [Deciding and Settling with Finality All Questions that arise in your minds, in that Peaceful State] to which as [Members of Christ's] One Body you were also Called [To Live]. And Be Thankful (Appreciative), [Giving Praise to God Always].

16 Let The Word [Spoken By] Christ (the Messiah) have its Home [In Your Hearts and Minds] and Dwell In You in [All Its] Richness, as you Teach and Admonish and Train one another in All Insight and Intelligence and Wisdom [in Spiritual Things, and as you Sing] Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs, making Melody to God with [His] Grace In Your Hearts.

17 And Whatever you do [No Matter What It Is] in Word or Deed, Do Everything in the Name of the Lord Jesus and in [Dependence upon] His Person, Giving Praise to God the Father Through Him.

18 Wives, be Subject to your husbands [Subordinate and Adapt yourselves to them], as is Right and Fitting and your Proper Duty in the Lord.

19 Husbands, Love your wives [Be Affectionate and Sympathetic with them] and do not be harsh or bitter or resentful toward them.

20 Children, Obey your parents In Everything, for This Is Pleasing to the Lord.

21 Fathers, do not provoke or irritate or fret your children [do not be hard on them or harass them], lest they become discouraged and sullen and morose and feel inferior and frustrated. [Do not break their spirit.]

22 Servants, Obey In Everything those who are your earthly masters, not only when their eyes are on you as pleasers of men, but in simplicity of purpose [With All Your Heart] because of your Reverence for the Lord and as a Sincere Expression of your Devotion to Him.

23 Whatever may be your task, Work at it Heartily (from the soul), as [something done] for the Lord and not for men,

24 Knowing [With All Certainty] That It Is From The Lord [and not from men] that you will Receive the Inheritance which is your [Real] Reward. [The One Whom] you are actually serving [Is] The Lord Christ (The Messiah).

25 For he who Deals Wrongfully will [reap the fruit of his folly and] be punished for his Wrongdoing. And [With God] there is no Partiality [no matter what a person's position may be, whether he is the slave or the master].

MATTHEW 7 (AMPLIFIED BIBLE)

6 Do not give that which is Holy (the Sacred Thing) to the dogs, and do not throw your pearls before hogs, lest they trample upon them with their feet and turn and tear you in pieces.

7 Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [Reverently] and [the Door] will be opened to you.

8 For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, [the door] will be opened.

9 Or what man is there of you, if his son asks him for a loaf of bread, will hand him a stone?

10 Or if he asks for a fish, will hand him a serpent?

11 If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father Who is in Heaven [Perfect As He Is] give good and advantageous things to those who keep on asking Him!

12 So then, whatever you desire that others would do to and for you, even so do also to and for them, for this is (sums up) the Law and the Prophets.

13 Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction, and many are those who are entering through it.

14 But the gate is narrow (contracted by pressure) and the way is straitened and compressed that leads away to Life, and few are those who find it.

15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you dressed as sheep, but inside they are devouring wolves.

16 You will fully recognize them by their fruits. Do people pick grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?

17 Even so, every healthy (sound) tree bears good fruit [worthy of admiration], but the sickly (decaying, worthless) tree bears bad (worthless) fruit.

18 A good (healthy) tree cannot bear bad (worthless) fruit, nor can a bad (diseased) tree bear excellent fruit [worthy of admiration].

19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire.

20 Therefore, you will fully know them by their fruits.

21 Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, Will Enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who Does The Will Of My Father Who Is In Heaven.

22 Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not Prophesied in Your Name and driven out demons in Your Name and done many mighty works in Your Name?

23 And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; Depart From Me, you who act wickedly [Disregarding My Commands].

This message has been edited. Last edited by: <Rose>,

MATTHEW 9 (KING JAMES VERSION)

35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and Preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, and Healing Every sickness and Every disease among the people.

36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with Compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

37 Then saith He unto His Disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;

38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest.

Matthew 10 (King James Version)

1 And when He had called unto Him His twelve Disciples, He gave them Power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to Heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;

3 Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;

4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.

5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and Commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:

6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

7 And as ye go, Preach, saying, The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.

8 Heal the sick, Cleanse the lepers, Raise the dead, Cast out devils: Freely ye have Received, Freely Give.

9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,

10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is Worthy of his meat.

11 And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is Worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.

12 And when ye come into an house, salute it.

13 And if the house be Worthy, let your Peace come upon it: but if it be not Worthy, let your Peace return to you.

14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your Words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.

15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of Judgment, than for that city.

16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore Wise as serpents, and Harmless as doves.

MATTHEW 10:32-39

32 Therefore, everyone who Acknowledges Me before men and Confesses Me [out of a State of Oneness with Me], I will also Acknowledge him before My Father Who is in Heaven and Confess [that I Am Abiding In] him.

33 But whoever Denies and Disowns Me before men, I also will Deny and Disown him before My Father Who is in Heaven.

34 Do not think that I have come to bring Peace upon the earth; I have not come to bring Peace, but a Sword.

35 For I have come to part asunder a man from his father, and a daughter from her mother, and a newly married wife from her mother-in-law--

36 And a man's foes will be they of his own household.

37 He who Loves [and [Takes More Pleasure In] father or mother More than [In] Me is not Worthy of Me; and he who Loves [and Takes More Pleasure In] son or daughter More Than [In] Me Is Not Worthy Of Me;

38 And he who does not Take Up his Cross And Follow Me [Cleave Steadfastly To Me, Conforming WHOLLY to My Example in Living and, if need be, in dying also] is not Worthy of Me.

39 Whoever finds his [lower] life will lose it [The Higher Life], and whoever loses his [lower] life on My account Will Find It [The Higher Life].

MATTHEW 11 (KING JAMES VERSION)

25 At that time Jesus Answered and Said, I Thank Thee, O Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, because Thou Hast Hid These Things from the wise and prudent, and Hast Revealed Them unto babes.

26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed Good in Thy Sight.

27 All things are Delivered unto Me of My Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will Reveal Him.

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I Will Give you Rest.

29 Take My yoke upon you, and Learn of Me; for I Am meek and lowly in Heart: and ye shall Find rest unto your souls.

30 For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.

MATTHEW 11 (AMPLIFIED BIBLE)

25 At that time Jesus began to Say, I Thank You, Father, Lord of Heaven and earth [and I Acknowledge Openly and Joyfully to Your Honor], that You have Hidden These Things from the wise and clever and learned, and Revealed Them to babies [to the childish, untaught, and unskilled].

26 Yes, Father, [I Praise You that] such was Your Gracious Will and Good Pleasure.

27 All things have been Entrusted and Delivered to Me by My Father; and no one Fully Knows and Accurately Understands the Son Except the Father, and no one Fully Knows and Accurately Understands the Father Except the Son and "anyone" to whom the Son Deliberately Wills to make Him Known.

28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to Rest. [I will Ease and Relieve and Refresh your souls.]

29 Take My yoke upon you and Learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in Heart, and you will find Rest (Relief and Ease and Refreshment and Recreation and Blessed quiet) for your souls.

30 For My yoke is Wholesome (Useful, Good--not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but Comfortable, Gracious, and Pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.

Matthew 15 (Amplified Bible)

1 THEN FROM Jerusalem came scribes and Pharisees and said,

2 Why do Your disciples transgress and violate the rules handed down by the elders of the past? For they do not practice [ceremonially] washing their hands before they eat.

3 He replied to them, And why also do you transgress and violate the Commandment of God for the sake of the rules handed down to you by your forefathers (the elders)?

4 For God Commanded, Honor your father and your mother, and, He who curses or reviles or speaks evil of or abuses or treats improperly his father or mother, let him surely come to his end by death.

5 But you say, If anyone tells his father or mother, What you would have gained from me [that is, the money and whatever I have that might be used for helping you] is already dedicated as a gift to God, then he is exempt and no longer under obligation to honor and help his father or his mother.

6 So for the sake of your tradition (the rules handed down by your forefathers), you have set aside the Word of God [Depriving It of Force and Authority and making it of No Effect].

7 You pretenders (hypocrites)! Admirably and truly did Isaiah Prophesy of you when he said:

8 These people draw near Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts hold off and are far away from Me.

9 Uselessly do they worship Me, for they teach as doctrines the commands of men.

10 And Jesus called the people to Him and said to them, Listen and Grasp and Comprehend this:

11 It is not what goes into the mouth of a man that makes him unclean and defiled, but what comes out of the mouth; this makes a man unclean and defiles [him].

12 Then the disciples came and said to Him, Do You know that the Pharisees were displeased and offended and indignant when they heard this saying?

13 He answered, Every plant which My Heavenly Father has not planted will be torn up by the roots.

14 Let them alone and disregard them; they are blind guides and teachers. And if a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a ditch.

15 But Peter said to Him, Explain this proverb (this maxim) to us.

16 And He said, Are you also even yet dull and ignorant [without understanding and unable to put things together]?

17 Do you not see and understand that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the abdomen and so passes on into the place where discharges are deposited?

18 But whatever comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this is what makes a man unclean and defiles [him].

19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts (reasonings and disputings and designs) such as murder, adultery, sexual vice, theft, false witnessing, slander, and irreverent speech.

20 THESE are what make a man unclean and defile [him]; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him unclean or defile [him].

Matthew 19 (Amplified Bible)


16 And behold, there came a man up to Him, saying, Teacher, what Excellent and Perfectly and Essentially Good Deed must I do to possess Eternal Life?

17 And He said to him, Why do you ask Me about the Perfectly and Essentially Good? There is only One Who is Good [Perfectly and Essentially]--God. If you would enter into the Life, you must Continually Keep the Commandments.

18 He said to Him, What sort of Commandments? [Or, which ones?] And Jesus answered, You shall not kill, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness,

19 Honor your father and your mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself.

20 The young man said, I have observed all these from my youth; what still do I lack?

21 Jesus answered him, If you would be Perfect [that is, have that spiritual maturity which accompanies self-sacrificing character], go and sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have riches in Heaven; and come, be My disciple [side with My party and follow Me].

22 But when the young man heard this, he went away sad (grieved and in much distress), for he had great possessions.

23 And Jesus said to His disciples, Truly I say to you, it will be difficult for a rich man to get into the Kingdom of Heaven.

24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to go into the Kingdom of Heaven.

25 When the disciples heard this, they were utterly puzzled (astonished, bewildered), saying, Who then can be Saved [from Eternal death]?

26 But Jesus looked at them and said, With men this is impossible, but all things are possible with God.

27 Then Peter answered Him, saying, Behold, we have left [our] all and have become Your disciples [sided with Your party and followed You]. What then shall we receive?

28 Jesus said to them, Truly I say to you, in the new age [the Messianic Rebirth of the world], when the Son of Man shall sit down on the Throne of His Glory, you who have [become My disciples, sided with My party and] followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel.

29 And anyone and everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for My Name's sake will receive many [even a hundred] times more and Will Inherit Eternal Life.

30 But many who [now] are first will be last [then], and many who [now] are last will be first [then].

Rose, forgive me if I say anything to offend you. I really don't want to, I just want to ask you a question.

I don't understand the reason behind quoting reams of Scripture and wonder why you do it post after post. We all have Bibles and are quite capable of reading them. That's pretty obvious from reading what people post.

Is it that you think we're not as spiritual as you and can't see Scripture the way you see it or do you think that we need to only look at the Scriptures you point out?

Again, please don't take offense, I just want to know your reason for posting pages and pages of text easily attainable to all of us, and probably quite costly to the one who keeps this site going.

Collosians 3 (Amplified Bible)

16 Let The Word [Spoken By] Christ (the Messiah) have its Home [In Your Hearts and Minds] and Dwell In You in [All Its] Richness, as you Teach and Admonish and Train one another in All Insight and Intelligence and Wisdom [in Spiritual Things, and as you Sing] Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs, making Melody to God with [His] Grace In Your Hearts.

17 And Whatever you do [No Matter What It Is] in Word or Deed, Do Everything in the Name of the Lord Jesus and in [Dependence upon] His Person, Giving Praise to God the Father Through Him.



Ephesians 5 (Amplified Bible)

15 Look Carefully then how you Walk! Live Purposefully and Worthily and Accurately, not as the Unwise and Witless, but as Wise (Sensible, Intelligent people),

16 Making the Very Most of the time [Buying Up Each Opportunity], because the days are evil.

17 Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but Understanding and Firmly Grasping what the Will of the Lord Is.

18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but Ever Be Filled and Stimulated with The [Holy] Spirit.

19 Speak out to one another in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs, offering Praise with voices [and instruments] and making Melody with All your Heart to the Lord,

20 At All times and for Everything giving Thanks in The Name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.

21 Be Subject to one another out of Reverence for Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).


II Corinthians II (Amplified Bible)

14 But Thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in Triumph [as Trophies of Christ's Victory] and Through us Spreads and Makes Evident the Fragrance of the Knowledge of God Everywhere,

15 For we Are the Sweet Fragrance of Christ [which exhales] unto God, [Discernible Alike] among Those who Are Being Saved and among those who are perishing:

16 To the latter it is an aroma [wafted] from death to death [a fatal odor, the smell of doom]; to the former it is an aroma from Life to Life [A Vital Fragrance, Living and Fresh]. And Who Is Qualified (Fit and Sufficient) For These Things? [Who Is Able For Such A Ministry? We?]

17 For we are not, like so many, [like hucksters making a trade of] peddling God's Word [Shortchanging and Adulterating The Divine Message]; but like [men] of Sincerity and the Purest Motive, as [Commissioned AND Sent] By God, We Speak [His Message] In Christ (The Messiah), in the [Very] Sight and Presence of God.





I'll let the Scriptures speak for me Jones! I hope they have answered your questions!


ROSE

This message has been edited. Last edited by: <Rose>,

I have been wondering the same thing as Jones for a long time and never put this question up because me too, I didn't want to offend you Rose....But why don't you answer this with a normal answer, you might have your reasons for quoting scripture daily, but when someone asks a kind question, I don't think this is the way to answer....

Unfortanetly long posts that simply list Scripture after Scripture rarely get read. Which is a real shame because many important points are lost that way. My experience seems to be that using your own words and simply referring to Scripture does a better job of keeping the conversational moving along.

Sorry Rose but I still don't "get it". Copying pages of Scripture without any words to explain what you're trying to say just doesn't work for me.

I want to hear from you, what you think, how you feel, then back that up with Scripture. But to post pages of Scripture without any kind of personal feedback doesn't really seem to speak to me.

Like Elaine said, "Unfortanetly long posts that simply list Scripture after Scripture rarely get read".

Rose:

When I first came to Gaychurch your faithfulness to post scriptures was a great blessing. I hope you don't mind if I share a couple paragraphs of my personal notes to you from that time...

Dear Rose:
"I just wanted to write you to personally thank you for your posts in "Re: God's promises to us" on the message board. From August 26th to last on May 12 they are so right on and SO encouraging. God does indeed watch over His word to perform it and as you can see from my posts He's been very VERY faithful in doing so on my behalf. Thank you for taking time to bring His Word to the Board and for being
faithful to share as He leads you."

and from my second note...

"Surely we do not live by bread alone. I've noticed that you're a very prolific contributor and have been enjoying your poems and encouragement to others. God is most specifically leading me in a rather difficult journey just now but I believe His promise about my future found in Jeremiah and when I began looking at your most recent "Word" contribution I skimmed back to see just when they began to look as though you'd been "reading my mail." As I noted in a previous e-mail, they've been right on for several posts. So I will keep on reading and keep on listening for God and looking for His direction in my life and my ministry."

Jones: We never know what "ministry style" will pierce a person's heart. In my case the Word of God struck me like arrows and became Rhema Word to me. It was alive then and now as I looked each day to see what Rose posts after praying over just which scriptures to give. Sometimes God speaks to us through other people but most times it's through His uncompromised Word of Truth. I myself often "hear" a scripture come up in my spirit when ministering the love of God to others. Some will hear me, hear the intent, some will not. I continue to minister that way because it is the "style" if you will, that God has given me in which to minister. However a person ministers love, which is the essence of ALL ministry, seems to be the way God uses that person. In my personal instance The Word always seems to be right on when it is lifting Jesus or one of God's promises to us.

For myself then, I thank Rose for her faithfulness as she continues to search the Holy scriptures for the the purpose of teaching, edifying and glorifying our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ in Daily Vitamin or other threads. I don't believe it's a coincidence when those posts hit the nail on the head for me or others, any more than when I post a prophecy on the another thread and someone comes back to say that it was "just what they needed to hear."

2 Timothy 3:16 "All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."

In His Love,
Katie42

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Katie42,

Hey Rose!

Is Katie right? Is that why you do it? Why not just say so?

Katie, I'm glad you find them helpful. I hope others do too!

I was thinking today as I picked up my mail that almost every day I go to my mailbox and it has something in it.

There seems to always be some flyers from stores advertising their latest specials, maybe a pizza place offering their latest deal, often coupon books, and what do I do with all of this stuff? Throw it in the Recycling bin we have right beside the row of mailboxes (we live in a townhouse).

Then I sift through the "real mail", stuff that I can't throw into a bin, the stuff that is addressed to me personally, that has some responsibility attached to it, something that has consequences to face if I don't open it and look at it.

The stuff that gets recycled is important to the people who are sending it, but not to me. If I want to look for something on special I know where to find and I can find it myself.

I don't like wasting people's time and I don't like wasting people's money. I don't like mine wasted either.

You know when I just don't know what to do I ask for my wifes opinion. Of course I should do that sooner no? Lol! Anyway, she had an excellent point(s) concerning posting styles. First off she pointed out that everyone expresses themself differently. Second, that we're not all as verbose (sp?) as others. I can go on and on about something and my wife usually has 2-3 words to say and that's about it. She pointed out that she'd post with 2-3 words and a Bible passage most of the time too. Three, is that while I may go on about posting in such a way as to make a post more 'readable' and in such a way as to 'give it a wider audiance' (i.e. so others just don't read the first sentence or two and then skip the rest). My other half pointed out that that is my goals while posting may not be someone elses point in posting. I can't lay my paradigm of the world onto someone else. As long as posts follow along the few basic tenants we attempt to adher to around here they are fine. We may not like someones posting style but not everyone is like us (thank goodness!).

I repeat, my question to Rose was why? why all the pages and pages and pages of Scripture without any explanation of why they are there.

It may be her style and I don't have a problem with people's styles. Who cares if they differ from mine, we're not all cut from the same cloth. Some people write paragraphs about how they feel, some have only a sentence or two.
(Chris and I differ quite often on that).

What I was asking (and still haven't been answered) was just a simple "why" because I don't get it.

I don't want to be rude, I don't want to offend anyone. It was just a question.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Jones,

MATTHEW 21 (AMPLIFIED BIBLE)


23 And when He entered the Sacred enclosure of the Temple, the chief priests and elders of the people came up to Him as He was Teaching and said, By What Power Of Authority are You Doing These Things, and Who gave You This Power Of Authority?

24 Jesus Answered them, I also will Ask you a question, And If you Give Me The Answer, then I Also Will Tell you By What Power Of Authority I Do These Things.

25 The Baptism of John--from where was it? From Heaven or from men? And they reasoned and argued with one another, If we say, From Heaven, He will ask us, Why Then Did you Not Believe him?

26 But if we say, From men--we are afraid of and must reckon with the multitude, for they all regard John as a Prophet.

27 So they answered Jesus, We do not know. And He said to them, Neither Will I Tell you By What Power Of Authority I Do These Things.

28 What do you think? There was a Man who had two sons. He came to the first and said, Son, go and work today in the vineyard.

29 And he answered, I will not; but afterward he changed his mind and went.

30 Then The Man came to the second and said the same [thing]. And he replied, I will [go], Sir; but he did not go.

31 Which of the two Did The Will Of The Father? They replied, The first one. Jesus said to them, Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the harlots will get into the Kingdom of Heaven before you.

32 For John came to you Walking In The Way Of An Upright man In Right Standing With God, And you Did Not Believe him, but the tax collectors and the harlots Did Believe him; and you, even when you saw that, did not afterward change your minds and Believe him [Adhere To, Trust In, And Rely On What He Told you].

33 Listen to Another Parable: There was a Master of a House who planted a vineyard and put a hedge around it and dug a wine vat in it and built a Watchtower. Then He let it out [for rent] to tenants and went into another country.

34 When the fruit season drew near, He sent His Servants to the tenants to get His [share of the] fruit.

35 But the tenants Took His Servants And Beat One, Killed Another, And Stoned Another.

36 Again He Sent Other Servants, more than the first time, and they Treated Them The Same Way.

37 Finally He Sent His Own Son to them, Saying, They Will Respect And Give Heed To My Son.

38 But when the tenants saw The Son, they said to themselves, This is The Heir; come on, let us kill Him and have His Inheritance.

39 And they took Him and threw Him out of the vineyard and killed Him.

40 Now when The Owner of the vineyard comes back, What Will He Do to those tenants?

41 They said to Him, He will put those wretches to a miserable death and rent the vineyard to other tenants Of Such A Character that they will give Him the fruits promptly in their season.

42 Jesus asked them, Have You Never Read In The Scriptures: The Very Stone which the builders Rejected and Threw Away Has Become The Cornerstone; This Is The Lord's Doing, And It Is Marvelous In our eyes?

43 I Tell you, For This Reason The Kingdom Of God Will Be Taken Away From You And Given To A People Who Will Produce The Fruits Of It.

44 And Whoever Falls On This Stone Will Be Broken To Pieces, But he On Whom It Falls Will Be Crushed To Powder [And It Will Winnow him, Scattering him Like Dust].

45 And when the chief priests and the Pharisees heard His Parables (Comparisons, Stories Used To Illustrate And Explain), they Perceived That He Was Talking About Them.

46 And although they were trying to arrest Him, they feared the throngs because they Regarded Him As A Prophet.