John Hepp, Jr.

It is likely that the Gospel of Mark is an example of the gospel as preached by the Apostle Peter. Though not an apostle himself, Mark was long involved with the apostolic circle (see references to him in Acts and in Paul’s writings). After helping Paul and Barnabas, he had a special relationship to Peter, who called him “my son” ({{1 Peter 5:13}}).

Mark’s Gospel seems to be an expanded version of Peter’s sermons summarized in Acts. For example, consider Acts 10, where under the Spirit’s direction Peter opened the door of salvation for the Gentiles. His sermon to them is surveyed in verses {{34-43}}. In his introduction ({{34-35}}) Peter recognized that God designed the gospel for all nations. Then he made these main points:

1. Messiah’s works ({{36-39a}}). God’s word had come to Israel through Jesus, the Messiah^{{{Note 1}}}, Lord of all. This has happened following the ministry of John the Baptist. Anointed with God’s Spirit, Jesus went about doing good and delivering from the devil. The apostles witnessed to these facts.

2. Messiah’s death and resurrection ({{39b-41}}). Though shamefully slain by the Jews, Jesus was raised from death and appeared to the chosen witnesses.

3. Forgiveness through faith in Messiah ({{42-43}}). Jesus commanded the witnesses to testify that God has chosen Him to rule (meaning of “judge”) over those now dead or alive. Those who believe in Him receive forgiveness.

Observe that this sermon of Peter’s in Acts 10 says nothing about Jesus’ origin or divinity. Neither does it explain the meaning of His death. Instead, it looks at the facts of His miraculous works, His death, and His resurrection—and points to His coming rule. These are the emphases in apostolic gospel preaching as recorded in Acts, also in the Gospel of Mark. Like them, Mark presents a Person to believe in—but whose story is incomplete. This Person did works that, if continued, could have transformed the world materially as well as spiritually. He could have brought a kingdom on earth such as described by all the prophets. And He will. That is the point.

Jesus constantly mentioned the kingdom. If we misunderstand what the kingdom is, we twist His message. Listed below are verses in Mark that either refer to the kingdom directly or bear on its meaning. (References in parentheses are less direct.) We will consider how they help to define the kingdom. We will see that throughout His ministry He referred to the kingdom as future. In a few references it could possibly—but not necessarily—be seen as present.

{{1:14-15}} The time has come; the kingdom has drawn near.

This was the message the Lord preached, His good news about the kingdom. Hearers were to repent (in order to enter the coming kingdom). He began preaching this message in Galilee after John’s imprisonment and preached it all over Galilee ({{1:38-39}}; cf. {{Matthew 9:35}}).

The fact that the time had come and that the kingdom was “near” shows that the kingdom was not God’s rule in the heart nor His universal rule. Such rules need no special time nor approach; they are always here: God has always ruled over the universe and in humble hearts. But this “near” kingdom must be one with a history, one that could come.

By not defining the kingdom, Jesus knew how the Jews would understand it: as the kingdom they were waiting for, their great hope for the future. They expected God to restore the kingdom He had taken away^{{{Note 2}}}. Even after Jesus’ entire earthly ministry, the apostles still had this expectation (see {{Acts 1:6}}). They had good reason for their hope; the final kingdom had been described in many prophecies, starting in Genesis^{{{Note 3}}}. Even as late as the birth of John and Jesus, there were several such prophecies ({{Luke 1:32-33, 51-55, 67-75}}; {{Luke 2:25-32, 38}}). These prophecies of the kingdom often repeated certain themes, such as, the restoration of Israel and Judah in the Lord’s favor, Jerusalem as the capital city, the Ruler from the tribe of Judah and the house of David, all the nations in subjection to Him, universal peace and justice, an eternal covenant, material abundance. The kingdom would be spiritual, because from God, but also material and political!

In short, the gospel Jesus preached had a solid basis in the Old Testament. Can we preach the gospel accurately without knowing those Scriptures?

{{1:27}} His power over unclean spirits

This power, of course, showed that He could overcome the wicked world ruler in this present age. The devil’s agents knew who Jesus was ({{24-25}}).

{{1:30-31}} His many miracles

{{Hebrews 6:5}} gives a commentary on Jesus’ miracles. It refers to those who “tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come.” “The good word” is an expression from {{Jeremiah 33:14}}, referring to the message about the glorious future kingdom in which Israel will be restored (see footnote 3). “Powers” translates the same Greek word as “miracles.” “The world [Greek, age] to come” is a synonym for that future kingdom^{{{Note 4}}}. Those who “tasted” this word and these miracles briefly saw Jesus doing what He will do when He comes in His kingdom. He proved that He had the powers of the Messiah—and could pass them to His apostles. But after that time of witness, the miracles ceased until He returns. Even the divinely inspired author of Hebrews, when speaking of such signs, wonders, and miracles, used the past tense ({{Hebrews 2:4}}).

{{2:19-20}} The Groom’s friends could not mourn while He was present.

Jesus was the Groom. His presence had to bring joy. By implication, He will again bring joy when He returns.

{{3:14}} He chose apostles to preach His message and use His power.

See comments under 1:30-31. In his account of the apostles’ early preaching, Matthew makes it clear that their main message—like that of Jesus—was the nearness of the kingdom ({{Matthew 10:7}}).

{{4:10-11}} Parables revealed the secrets of the kingdom to disciples.

“Secrets of the kingdom” were truths not previously revealed. These secrets did not abrogate earlier prophecies about the kingdom nor change its nature^{{{Note 5}}}. Instead, they added facts not known before. It is important to interpret these parables in harmony with what the disciples could have understood at the time; Jesus explained all the parables to them ({{4:33-34}}), and they understood ({{Matthew 13:51-52}}).

{{4:26-29}} Parable of the kingdom and the growing seed

In this and the other kingdom parables, interpreters find the kingdom according to their previous understanding. Those who think the kingdom is purely “spiritual” see it already in the seed when first sown—or the seed when growing. As the disciples understood the kingdom, however, they would have seen it in the harvest. What “secret” was revealed? Possibly two: the kingdom would come (1) only after an additional time of preparation unforeseen by the prophets, (2) with no need for human help.

{{4:30-32}} Parable of the kingdom and the mustard seed

The same observations apply as in the previous parable. The hearers would have understood that the kingdom is not the seed but the tree. Old Testament prophecies had prepared them to think of the kingdom as a tree ({{Ezekiel 17:5-6}}). Nothing had prepared them for some of the popular modern interpretations^{{{Note 6}}}.

{{8:29}} The great confession: You are the Messiah.

This confession, found in all four gospels and elsewhere ({{Acts 2:36}}; {{5:42}}; {{9:22}}; {{17:3}}, etc.), means that Jesus is the promised King. It is He who will accomplish God’s plan.

{{8:38}} Jesus referred to His future coming in glory.

He contrasted the sinful present with the glorious future. He will then be ashamed of (not admit into His kingdom?) those ashamed of Him now.

{{9:1}} Some standing there would see the kingdom of God come with power.

This promise clearly implied that the kingdom had not yet begun; it was future. Nor did it come at Pentecost; not “some” but all of those “standing there” were present at Pentecost. This promise was fulfilled in the Transfiguration ({{9:2-8}}), as {{2 Peter 1:16-18}} clearly states: three of the apostles had a preview of the Lord’s “power and coming [as] eyewitnesses of his majesty . . . in the holy mount.”

{{9:33-35}} The apostles argued about who was greatest.

This argument concerned their relative importance in the coming kingdom, as seen in the parallel passage in {{Matthew 18:1}}.

{{9:42-47}} Eternal consequences of offenses

Entering into life ({{vv. 43, 45}}) is clearly future and is equivalent to entering into the kingdom of God ({{v. 47}}).

{{10:14-15}} The kingdom belongs to the child-like.

In {{8:38}}; {{9:1,47}} the kingdom had just been seen as future. Yet, the future can belong to some-one now, as plainly stated in {{1 Corinthians 3:21-23}} (“All things are yours…things present, or things to come; all are yours”). Similarly, the Lord preached both before and after the Sermon on the Mount that the kingdom was “near” ({{Matthew 4:17}}; {{10:7}}), not present. Yet, in that sermon all the beatitudes pictured true believers as owners of the future kingdom ({{Matthew 5:3-10}}).

{{10:17-30}} The difficulty of inheriting eternal life (the kingdom)

This story of the rich young ruler begins with his question how to inherit eternal life ({{v. 17}}). Three times this is equated with entering the future kingdom ({{vv. 23,24,25}}), which is the same as being saved ({{v. 26}}), which is again equated with receiving eternal life “in the age to come” ({{v. 30}}). The best way to reconcile all these expressions is to realize that the future kingdom is the main aspect of salvation ({{Hebrews 1:14}}; {{2:3, 5, 10}}; {{9:28}}; etc.). To enter eternal life ({{Matthew 25:46}}) is above all to inherit the future kingdom ({{Matthew 25:34}}). This perfectly agrees with {{Mark 9:42-47}} (above).

{{10:37-40}} The request for glory in that kingdom

Even on their final trip to Jerusalem ({{10:1, 32}}), Jesus’ disciples certainly expected a future kingdom. James and John asked Jesus to let them sit, in His glory, on each side of Him ({{v. 37}}). Instead of contradicting the whole idea, Jesus said that such honor would be given to those “for whom it is prepared” ({{v. 40}}).

{{10:45}} The outline and meaning of Mark

As stated before, Mark—like the apostolic preaching—presents a Person to believe in. The two parts of this verse reflect the two parts of Mark: The Son of Man (1) ministers and (2) gives His life. Only rarely (as here and {{14:24}}) does Mark allude to the purpose of Jesus’ sacrifice.

{{11:9-10}} Praise to Him who comes as Ruler

These verses are full of Scriptural language from the Egyptian Hallel (Psalm 113-118), used by the Jews on many occasions. As seen in {{verses 1-7}}, Jesus was purposefully fulfilling {{Zechariah 9:9}} (the King coming to Jerusalem on a donkey). The people excitedly looked to Him as King (“He that cometh,” {{v. 9}}, was a special name for the expected “King of Israel,” {{John 12:12}}). He would rule over “the kingdom of our father David, that cometh” ({{v. 10}}). Little did they know that there would be a long gap before He would fulfill {{Zechariah 9:10}} by speaking peace to the nations. But a gap before the kingdom does not change its meaning nor prevent it from coming.

{{12:34}} A teacher not far from the kingdom

Before the kingdom comes, a person can draw near to it and even enter it in the sense of enrolling in it. Occasionally there is a similar thought in the epistles, where the kingdom is normally presented as our future inheritance ({{James 2:5}}; {{Ephesians 5:5}}; {{1 Corinthians 6:9-10}}; etc.). As those sure to share in that inheritance ({{Colossians 1:12}}), we have already been delivered out of the darkness we now live in and been transferred to that future kingdom ({{Colossians 1:13}}).

{{12:35-37}} How can the Messiah be the Son of David?

By asking this, Jesus did not deny that Messiah must be David’s Son. But by pointing out that David called Him “Lord,” He showed that Messiah must be more than a mere man. The implications of this fact are not shown in the Synoptic Gospels but in John and the epistles.

{{13:9-10}} The Good News will be preached to all nations.

This message before the end is the same one Jesus preached (and we preach), that the kingdom is near. In our eagerness to expand and explain the message, we can proclaim Jesus’ divine nature and the purpose of His sacrifice. But we should never neglect the basic facts that He is King and in Him the kingdom drew near.^{{{Note 7}}}

{{14:61-62}} Are you Messiah, the Son of God?

It was Jesus’ response to this question that got Him convicted and executed. Probably the high priest did not mean to ask if Jesus claimed deity; “Son of God” was used of kings, including Messiah ({{Psalm 2:7}}). Jesus’ response, however, spoke of sitting beside God and coming from heaven—Messiah indeed but greater than they imagined! Compare the same confession in {{8:29}} and “coming in glory” in {{8:38}}.

{{15:2, 9, 12, 18, 26, 32}} Jesus was crucified as King of the Jews.

Six repetitions of this thought certainly shows the emphasis. And it is not simply ironic. Israel will some day look with repentance on the God they have pierced ({{Zechariah 12:10}}); in that day a fountain will be opened to cleanse them ({{Zechariah 13:1}}). And then the Lord shall be King over them as well as “over all the earth” ({{Zechariah 14:9}})

{{15:42-43}} Joseph was waiting for the kingdom of God.

This is the last direct mention in Mark of the kingdom. It gives no hint that the kingdom had already come—because it had not.

{{16:15}} Preach the gospel to all creation.

This means to preach that the kingdom is still coming—and the King is Jesus. It certainly helps if we get our message straight.

NOTES

^{Note 1}Messiah is a better translation than Christ. Both mean “anointed,” but Messiah retains the connotation of rulership, which Christ has lost.

^{Note 2}{{Micah 4:8}} identified the coming kingdom as “the first dominion.”

^{Note 3}See {{Genesis 12:3}}, promising God’s blessing for all families of the world, and {{Genesis 49:10–11}}, describing the worldwide and wealthy kingdom ruled over by a descendant of Judah. For examples in one of the prophets, see {{Jeremiah 3:14–18}}; {{23:5–6}}; {{30:8–9,18–22}}; {{31:1–40}}; {{32:15,36–44}}; {{33:6–26}}. In contrast to most of his messages of doom, Jeremiah’s promises of the future kingdom were called the “good word” of the Lord ({{29:10}}; {{33:14}}).

^{Note 4}The “age to come” did not begin with Jesus or even at Pentecost. Years later Paul still contrasted “this age” with “the one to come” ({{Ephesians 1:21}}).

^{Note 5}One popular interpretation is that they reveal a “mystery form” of the kingdom. If so, most of the prophesied features of the kingdom are absent. There is no need to assume such a “form.” Both in and after the “secrets,” Jesus still presented His kingdom as future and glorious, with never a hint to distinguish supposed present and future forms.

^{Note 6}Such as, for example: “The parable of the mustard seed suggests the rapid but unsubstantial growth of the mystery aspect of the kingdom” (Scofield Bible, p. 1015). Conceivably, the Parable of the Tares, earlier in Matthew 13, could have suggested such “unsubstantial growth.” But there is no such preparation in Mark 4; in context the parable is clearly encouraging, not a warning. Even in Matthew 13, the field of mixed wheat and tares is the world ({{13:38}}), not the kingdom, which does not appear until the end of the age ({{13:39–43}}).

^{Note 7}It is enlightening to compare the accounts in Acts with the epistles written later to the same churches. Assuming that Acts faithfully records the evangelistic messages, these apparently did not include Jesus’ deity and the theology of His death. But such subjects were taught soon after conversion. For example, compare the sermon to the “Galatians” in {{Acts 13:16–41}} to {{Galatians 1:4}}; {{2:15–21}}; {{3:13}}; {{4:4–5}}; {{6:14}}.

[[1 Peter 5:13]]

She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark.

[[1 Peter 5:13]]

[[34-43]]

³⁴Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism ³⁵but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. ³⁶You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. ³⁷You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— ³⁸how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
³⁹“We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, ⁴⁰but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. ⁴¹He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. ⁴²He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

[[34-43]]

[[34-35]]

³⁴Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism ³⁵but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.”

[[34-35]]

[[36-39a]]

³⁶You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. ³⁷You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— ³⁸ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. ^39a“We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem.

[[36-39a]]

[[39b-41]]

^39bThey killed him by hanging him on a cross, ⁴⁰but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. ⁴¹He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

[[39b-41]]

[[42-43]]

⁴²He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

[[42-43]]

[[1:14-15]]

¹⁴After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. ¹⁵“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

[[1:14-15]]

[[1:38-39]]

³⁸Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” ³⁹So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

[[1:38-39]]

[[Matthew 9:35]]

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.

[[Matthew 9:35]]

[[Acts 1:6]]

Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

[[Acts 1:6]]

[[Luke 1:32-33, 51-55, 67-75]]

³²He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, ³³and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

⁵¹He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
⁵²He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
⁵³He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
⁵⁴He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
⁵⁵to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”

⁶⁷His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
⁶⁸“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
⁶⁹He has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David
⁷⁰(as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
⁷¹salvation from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us—
⁷²to show mercy to our ancestors
and to remember his holy covenant,
⁷³the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
⁷⁴to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
and to enable us to serve him without fear
⁷⁵in holiness and righteousness
before him all our days.”

[[Luke 1:32-33, 51-55, 67-75]]

[[Luke 2:25-32, 38]]

²⁵Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. ²⁶It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. ²⁷Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, ²⁸Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
²⁹“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
³⁰For my eyes have seen your salvation,
³¹which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
³²a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”

³⁸Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

[[Luke 2:25-32, 38]]

[[1:27]]

The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.”

[[1:27]]

[[24-25]]

²⁴“What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
²⁵“Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!”

[[24-25]]

[[1:30-31]]

³⁰Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. ³¹So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.

[[1:30-31]]

[[Hebrews 6:5]]

who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age

[[Hebrews 6:5]]

[[Jeremiah 33:14]]

“‘The days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah.

[[Jeremiah 33:14]]

[[Hebrews 2:4]]

God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

[[Hebrews 2:4]]

[[2:19-20]]

¹⁹Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. ²⁰But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast.

[[2:19-20]]

[[3:14]]

He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach

[[3:14]]

[[Matthew 10:7]]

As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’

[[Matthew 10:7]]

[[4:10-11]]

¹⁰When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. ¹¹He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables.”

[[4:10-11]]

[[4:33-34]]

³³With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. ³⁴He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.

[[4:33-34]]

[[Matthew 13:51-52]]

⁵¹“Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked.
“Yes,” they replied.
⁵²He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”

[[Matthew 13:51-52]]

[[4:26-29]]

²⁶He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground.²⁷ Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. ²⁸ All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. ²⁹ As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”

[[4:26-29]]

[[4:30-32]]

³⁰Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? ³¹It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. ³²Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”

[[4:30-32]]

[[Ezekiel 17:5-6]]

⁵“‘He took one of the seedlings of the land and put it in fertile soil. He planted it like a willow by abundant water, ⁶ and it sprouted and became a low, spreading vine. Its branches turned toward him, but its roots remained under it. So it became a vine and produced branches and put out leafy boughs.'”

[[Ezekiel 17:5-6]]

[[8:29]]

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”

[[8:29]]

[[Acts 2:36]]

“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

[[Acts 2:36]]

[[5:42]]

Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.

[[5:42]]

[[9:22]]

Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.

[[9:22]]

[[17:3]]

explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,” he said.

[[17:3]]

[[8:38]]

If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

[[8:38]]

[[9:1]]

And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.”

[[9:1]]

[[9:2-8]]

²After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. ³ His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. ⁴ And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.
⁵ Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” ⁶ (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)
⁷ Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”
⁸ Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

[[9:2-8]]

[[2 Peter 1:16-18]]

¹⁶For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. ¹⁷ He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” ¹⁸ We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.

[[2 Peter 1:16-18]]

[[9:33-35]]

³³They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” ³⁴ But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.
³⁵ Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

[[9:33-35]]

[[Matthew 18:1]]

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

[[Matthew 18:1]]

[[9:42-47]]

⁴²“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea. ⁴³ If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out, ⁴⁴ where ‘the worms that eat them do not die, and the fire is not quenched.’ ⁴⁵ And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell, ⁴⁶ where ‘the worms that eat them do not die, and the fire is not quenched.’⁴⁷ And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell.”

[[9:42-47]]

[[vv. 43, 45]]

⁴³If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out.⁴⁵And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.

[[vv. 43, 45]]

[[v. 47]]

And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell.

[[v. 47]]

[[10:14-15]]

¹⁴When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. ¹⁵ Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

[[10:14-15]]

[[8:38]]

If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

[[8:38]]

[[9:1,47]]

¹And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.”
⁴⁷And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell.

[[9:1,47]]

[[1 Corinthians 3:21-23]]

²¹So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours, ²² whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, ²³ and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.

[[1 Corinthians 3:21-23]]

[[Matthew 4:17]]

From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

[[Matthew 4:17]]

[[10:7]]

As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’

[[10:7]]

[[Matthew 5:3-10]]

³“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
⁵ Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled,
⁷ Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

[[Matthew 5:3-10]]

[[10:17-30]]

¹⁷As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
¹⁸ “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. ¹⁹ You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’”
²⁰ “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
²¹ Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
²² At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
²³ Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”
²⁴ The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
²⁶ The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”
²⁷ Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
²⁸ Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!”
²⁹ “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel ³⁰ will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life.

[[10:17-30]]

[[v. 17]]

As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him.
“Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

[[v. 17]]

[[vv. 23,24,25]]

²³ Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”
²⁴ The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

[[vv. 23,24,25]]

[[v. 26]]

The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”

[[v. 26]]

[[v. 30]]

will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life.

[[v. 30]]

[[Hebrews 1:14]]

Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

[[Hebrews 1:14]]

[[2:3, 5, 10]]

³how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him.
⁵It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. 6 But there is a place where someone has testified: “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, a son of man that you care for him?
¹⁰In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered.

[[2:3, 5, 10]]

[[9:28]]

so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

[[9:28]]

[[Matthew 25:46]]

“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

[[Matthew 25:46]]

[[Matthew 25:34]]

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

[[Matthew 25:34]]

[[Mark 9:42-47]]

⁴²“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea. ⁴³ If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out, ⁴⁴ where ‘the worms that eat them do not die, and the fire is not quenched.’ ⁴⁵ And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell, ⁴⁶ where ‘the worms that eat them do not die, and the fire is not quenched.’⁴⁷ And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell.”

[[Mark 9:42-47]]

[[10:37-40]]

³⁷They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”
³⁸ “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”
³⁹ “We can,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, ⁴⁰ but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”

[[10:37-40]]

[[10:1, 32]]

¹Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them.
³²They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him.

[[10:1, 32]]

[[v. 37]]

They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”

[[v. 37]]

[[v. 40]]

but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”

[[v. 40]]

[[10:45]]

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

[[10:45]]

[[14:24]]

“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them.

[[14:24]]

[[11:9-10]]

⁹Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,
“Hosanna!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
¹⁰ “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

[[11:9-10]]

[[verses 1-7]]

¹As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, ² saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. ³ If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”
⁴ They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, ⁵ some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” ⁶ They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. ⁷ When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it.

[[verses 1-7]]

[[Zechariah 9:9]]

Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

[[Zechariah 9:9]]

[[v. 9]]

Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,
“Hosanna!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

[[v. 9]]

[[John 12:12]]

The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem.

[[John 12:12]]

[[v. 10]]

“Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

[[v. 10]]

[[Zechariah 9:10]]

I will take away the chariots from Ephraim
and the warhorses from Jerusalem,
and the battle bow will be broken.
He will proclaim peace to the nations.
His rule will extend from sea to sea
and from the River to the ends of the earth.

[[Zechariah 9:10]]

[[12:34]]

When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.

[[12:34]]

[[James 2:5]]

Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?

[[James 2:5]]

[[Ephesians 5:5]]

For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

[[Ephesians 5:5]]

[[1 Corinthians 6:9-10]]

⁹Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men ¹⁰ nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

[[1 Corinthians 6:9-10]]

[[Colossians 1:12]]

and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.

[[Colossians 1:12]]

[[Colossians 1:13]]

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,

[[Colossians 1:13]]

[[12:35-37]]

³⁵While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he asked, “Why do the teachers of the law say that the Messiah is the son of David? ³⁶ David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared:
“‘The Lord said to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand
until I put your enemies
under your feet.”’
³⁷ David himself calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?”
The large crowd listened to him with delight.

[[12:35-37]]

[[13:9-10]]

⁹“You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. ¹⁰ And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.

[[13:9-10]]

[[14:61-62]]

⁶¹But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” ⁶² “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

[[14:61-62]]

[[Psalm 2:7]]

I will proclaim the LORD’s decree:
He said to me, “You are my son;
today I have become your father.

[[Psalm 2:7]]

[[8:29]]

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”

[[8:29]]

[[8:38]]

If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

[[8:38]]

[[15:2, 9, 12, 18, 26, 32]]

²“Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate. “You have said so,” Jesus replied.
⁹“Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate
¹²“What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them.
¹⁸And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!”
²⁶The written notice of the charge against him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS.
³²Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

[[15:2, 9, 12, 18, 26, 32]]

[[Zechariah 12:10]]

“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.

[[Zechariah 12:10]]

[[Zechariah 13:1]]

“On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity.

[[Zechariah 13:1]]

[[Zechariah 14:9]]

The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name.

[[Zechariah 14:9]]

[[15:42-43]]

It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached,Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body.

[[15:42-43]]

[[16:15]]

He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”

[[16:15]]

[[Micah 4:8]]

As for you, watchtower of the flock,
stronghold of Daughter Zion,
the former dominion will be restored to you;
kingship will come to Daughter Jerusalem.”

[[Micah 4:8]]

[[Genesis 12:3]]

I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.”

[[Genesis 12:3]]

[[Genesis 49:10–11]]

¹⁰The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his. ¹¹ He will tether his donkey to a vine,
his colt to the choicest branch,
he will wash his garments in wine,
his robes in the blood of grapes.

[[Genesis 49:10–11]]

[[Jeremiah 3:14–18]]

¹⁴“Return, faithless people,” declares the LORD, “for I am your husband. I will choose you—one from a town and two from a clan—and bring you to Zion. ¹⁵ Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding. ¹⁶ In those days, when your numbers have increased greatly in the land,” declares the LORD, “people will no longer say, ‘The ark of the covenant of the LORD.’ It will never enter their minds or be remembered; it will not be missed, nor will another one be made. ¹⁷ At that time they will call Jerusalem The Throne of the LORD, and all nations will gather in Jerusalem to honor the name of the LORD. No longer will they follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts. ¹⁸ In those days the people of Judah will join the people of Israel, and together they will come from a northern land to the land I gave your ancestors as an inheritance.

[[Jeremiah 3:14–18]]

[[23:5–6]]

⁵“The days are coming,” declares the LORD,
“when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch,
a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land.
⁶ In his days Judah will be saved
and Israel will live in safety.
This is the name by which he will be called:
The LORD Our Righteous Savior.

[[23:5–6]]

[[30:8–9,18–22]]

⁸“‘In that day,’ declares the LORD Almighty,
‘I will break the yoke off their necks
and will tear off their bonds;
no longer will foreigners enslave them.
⁹ Instead, they will serve the LORD their God
and David their king,
whom I will raise up for them.
¹⁸“This is what the LORD says:
“‘I will restore the fortunes of Jacob’s tents
and have compassion on his dwellings;
the city will be rebuilt on her ruins,
and the palace will stand in its proper place.
¹⁹From them will come songs of thanksgiving
and the sound of rejoicing.
I will add to their numbers,
and they will not be decreased;
I will bring them honor,
and they will not be disdained.
²⁰Their children will be as in days of old,
and their community will be established before me,
I will punish all who oppress them.
²¹Their leader will be one of their own;
I will bring him near and he will come close to me—
for who is he who will devote himself
to be close to me?’
declares the LORD.
²²“‘So you will be my people,
and I will be your God.’”

[[30:8–9,18–22]]

[[31:1–40]]

¹“At that time,” declares the LORD, “I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be my people.”
² This is what the LORD says:
“The people who survive the sword
will find favor in the wilderness;
I will come to give rest to Israel.”
³ The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying:
“I have loved you with an everlasting love;
I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.
⁴ I will build you up again,
and you, Virgin Israel, will be rebuilt.
Again you will take up your timbrels
and go out to dance with the joyful.
⁵Again you will plant vineyards
on the hills of Samaria;
the farmers will plant them
and enjoy their fruit.
⁶There will be a day when watchmen cry out
on the hills of Ephraim,
‘Come, let us go up to Zion,
to the LORD our God.’”
⁷This is what the LORD says:
“Sing with joy for Jacob;
shout for the foremost of the nations.
Make your praises heard,
and say, ‘LORD, save your people,
the remnant of Israel.’
⁸See, I will bring them from the land of the north
and gather them from the ends of the earth.
Among them will be the blind and the lame,
expectant mothers and women in labor;
a great throng will return.
⁹They will come with weeping;
they will pray as I bring them back.
I will lead them beside streams of water
on a level path where they will not stumble,
because I am Israel’s father,
and Ephraim is my firstborn son.
¹⁰“Hear the word of the LORD, you nations;
proclaim it in distant coastlands:
‘He who scattered Israel will gather them
and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.’
¹¹For the LORD will deliver Jacob
and redeem them from the hand of those stronger than they.
¹²They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion;
they will rejoice in the bounty of the LORD—
the grain, the new wine and the olive oil,
the young of the flocks and herds.
They will be like a well-watered garden,
and they will sorrow no more.
¹³Then young women will dance and be glad,
young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning into gladness;
I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.
¹⁴I will satisfy the priests with abundance,
and my people will be filled with my bounty,”
declares the LORD.
¹⁵This is what the LORD says:
“A voice is heard in Ramah,
mourning and great weeping,
Rachel weeping for her children
and refusing to be comforted,
because they are no more.”
¹⁶This is what the LORD says:
“Restrain your voice from weeping
and your eyes from tears,
for your work will be rewarded,”
declares the LORD.
“They will return from the land of the enemy
¹⁷So there is hope for your descendants,”
declares the LORD.
“Your children will return to their own land.
¹⁸“I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning:
‘You disciplined me like an unruly calf,
and I have been disciplined.
Restore me, and I will return,
because you are the LORD my God.
¹⁹After I strayed,
I repented;
after I came to understand,
I beat my breast.
I was ashamed and humiliated
because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’
²⁰Is not Ephraim my dear son,
the child in whom I delight?
Though I often speak against him,
I still remember him.
Therefore my heart yearns for him;
I have great compassion for him,”
declares the LORD.
²¹“Set up road signs;
put up guideposts.
Take note of the highway,
the road that you take.
Return, Virgin Israel,
return to your towns.
²²How long will you wander,
unfaithful Daughter Israel?
The LORD will create a new thing on earth—
the woman will return to the man.”
²³This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “When I bring them back from captivity, the people in the land of Judah and in its towns will once again use these words: ‘The LORD bless you, you prosperous city, you sacred mountain.’ ²⁴ People will live together in Judah and all its towns—farmers and those who move about with their flocks. ²⁵ I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”
²⁶At this I awoke and looked around. My sleep had been pleasant to me.
²⁷“The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will plant the kingdoms of Israel and Judah with the offspring of people and of animals. ²⁸ Just as I watched over them to uproot and tear down, and to overthrow, destroy and bring disaster, so I will watch over them to build and to plant,” declares the LORD. ²⁹ “In those days people will no longer say,
‘The parents have eaten sour grapes,
and the children’s teeth are set on edge.’
³⁰Instead, everyone will die for their own sin; whoever eats sour grapes—their own teeth will be set on edge.
³¹“The days are coming,” declares the LORD,
“when I will make a new covenant
with the people of Israel
and with the people of Judah.
³²It will not be like the covenant
I made with their ancestors
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt,
because they broke my covenant,
though I was a husband to them,”
declares the LORD.
³³“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel
after that time,” declares the LORD.
“I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
³⁴No longer will they teach their neighbor,
or say to one another,
‘Know the LORD,’
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest,”
declares the LORD.
“For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more.”
³⁵This is what the LORD says,
he who appoints the sun to shine by day,
who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night,
who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—
the LORD Almighty is his name:
³⁶“Only if these decrees vanish from my sight,”
declares the LORD,
“will Israel ever cease being a nation before me.”
³⁷This is what the LORD says:
“Only if the heavens above can be measured
and the foundations of the earth below be searched out
will I reject all the descendants of Israel
because of all they have done,”
declares the LORD.
³⁸“The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when this city will be rebuilt for me from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate. ³⁹ The measuring line will stretch from there straight to the hill of Gareb and then turn to Goah. ⁴⁰ The whole valley where dead bodies and ashes are thrown, and all the terraces out to the Kidron Valley on the east as far as the corner of the Horse Gate, will be holy to the LORD. The city will never again be uprooted or demolished.”

[[31:1–40]]

[[32:15,36–44]]

¹⁵For this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Houses, fields and vineyards will again be bought in this land.” ³⁶“You are saying about this city, ‘By the sword, famine and plague it will be given into the hands of the king of Babylon’; but this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: “You are saying about this city, ‘By the sword, famine and plague it will be given into the hands of the king of Babylon’; but this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ³⁷ I will surely gather them from all the lands where I banish them in my furious anger and great wrath; I will bring them back to this place and let them live in safety. ³⁸ They will be my people, and I will be their God. ³⁹ I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me and that all will then go well for them and for their children after them. ⁴⁰ I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me. ⁴¹ I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul.
⁴² “This is what the LORD says: As I have brought all this great calamity on this people, so I will give them all the prosperity I have promised them. ⁴³ Once more fields will be bought in this land of which you say, ‘It is a desolate waste, without people or animals, for it has been given into the hands of the Babylonians.’ ⁴⁴ Fields will be bought for silver, and deeds will be signed, sealed and witnessed in the territory of Benjamin, in the villages around Jerusalem, in the towns of Judah and in the towns of the hill country, of the western foothills and of the Negev, because I will restore their fortunes, declares the LORD.”

[[32:15,36–44]]

[[33:6–26]]

⁶“‘Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security. ⁷ I will bring Judah and Israel back from captivity and will rebuild them as they were before. ⁸ I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me. ⁹Then this city will bring me renown, joy, praise and honor before all nations on earth that hear of all the good things I do for it; and they will be in awe and will tremble at the abundant prosperity and peace I provide for it.’
¹⁰ “This is what the LORD says: ‘You say about this place, “It is a desolate waste, without people or animals.” Yet in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are deserted, inhabited by neither people nor animals, there will be heard once more ¹¹ the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those who bring thank offerings to the house of the LORD, saying,
“Give thanks to the LORD Almighty,
for the LORD is good;
his love endures forever.”
For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were before,’ says the LORD.
¹² “This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘In this place, desolate and without people or animals—in all its towns there will again be pastures for shepherds to rest their flocks. ¹³ In the towns of the hill country, of the western foothills and of the Negev, in the territory of Benjamin, in the villages around Jerusalem and in the towns of Judah, flocks will again pass under the hand of the one who counts them,’ says the LORD.
¹⁴ “‘The days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah.
¹⁵ “‘In those days and at that time
I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line;
he will do what is just and right in the land.
¹⁶ In those days Judah will be saved
and Jerusalem will live in safety.
This is the name by which it will be called:
The LORD Our Righteous Savior.’
¹⁷ For this is what the LORD says: ‘David will never fail to have a man to sit on the throne of Israel, ¹⁸ nor will the Levitical priests ever fail to have a man to stand before me continually to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings and to present sacrifices.’”
¹⁹ The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: ²⁰ “This is what the LORD says: ‘If you can break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night, so that day and night no longer come at their appointed time, ²¹ then my covenant with David my servant—and my covenant with the Levites who are priests ministering before me—can be broken and David will no longer have a descendant to reign on his throne. ²² I will make the descendants of David my servant and the Levites who minister before me as countless as the stars in the sky and as measureless as the sand on the seashore.’”
²³ The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: ²⁴ “Have you not noticed that these people are saying, ‘The LORD has rejected the two kingdoms he chose’? So they despise my people and no longer regard them as a nation. ²⁵ This is what the LORD says: ‘If I have not made my covenant with day and night and established the laws of heaven and earth, ²⁶ then I will reject the descendants of Jacob and David my servant and will not choose one of his sons to rule over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. For I will restore their fortunes and have compassion on them.’”

[[33:6–26]]

[[29:10]]

This is what the LORD says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place.

[[29:10]]

[[33:14]]

“‘The days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah.'”

[[33:14]]

[[Ephesians 1:21]]

far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

[[Ephesians 1:21]]

[[13:38]]

The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one

[[13:38]]

[[13:39–43]]

³⁹and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
⁴⁰ “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. ⁴¹ The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. ⁴² They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ⁴³ Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.

[[13:39–43]]

[[Acts 13:16–41]]

¹⁶Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: “Fellow Israelites and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me! ¹⁷ The God of the people of Israel chose our ancestors; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt; with mighty power he led them out of that country; ¹⁸ for about forty years he endured their conduct in the wilderness; ¹⁹ and he overthrew seven nations in Canaan, giving their land to his people as their inheritance. ²⁰ All this took about 450 years.
“After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. ²¹ Then the people asked for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years. ²² After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’
²³ “From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised. ²⁴ Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel. ²⁵ As John was completing his work, he said: ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not the one you are looking for. But there is one coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’
²⁶ “Fellow children of Abraham and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent. ²⁷ The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath. ²⁸ Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed. ²⁹ When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb. ³⁰ But God raised him from the dead, ³¹ and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people.
³² “We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors ³³ he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm:
“‘You are my son;
today I have become your father.’
³⁴ God raised him from the dead so that he will never be subject to decay. As God has said,
‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’
³⁵ So it is also stated elsewhere:
‘You will not let your holy one see decay.’
³⁶ “Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed. ³⁷ But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay.
³⁸ “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. ³⁹ Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses. ⁴⁰ Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you:
⁴¹ “‘Look, you scoffers,
wonder and perish,
for I am going to do something in your days
that you would never believe,
even if someone told you.’”

[[Acts 13:16–41]]

[[Galatians 1:4]]

who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father

[[Galatians 1:4]]

[[2:15–21]]

¹⁵“We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles ¹⁶ know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.
¹⁷ “But if, in seeking to be justified in Christ, we Jews find ourselves also among the sinners, doesn’t that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! ¹⁸ If I rebuild what I destroyed, then I really would be a lawbreaker.
¹⁹ “For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. ²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. ²¹ I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”

[[2:15–21]]

[[3:13]]

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”

[[3:13]]

[[4:4–5]]

⁴But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, ⁵ to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.

[[4:4–5]]

[[6:14]]

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

[[6:14]]

[[Note 1]]Messiah is a better translation than Christ. Both mean “anointed,” but Messiah retains the connotation of rulership, which Christ has lost.[[Note 1]]

[[Note 2]]Micah 4:8 identified the coming kingdom as “the first dominion.”[[Note 2]]

[[Note 3]]See Genesis 12:3, promising God’s blessing for all families of the world, and 49:10–11, describing the worldwide and wealthy kingdom ruled over by a descendant of Judah. For examples in one of the prophets, see Jeremiah 3:14–18; 23:5–6; 30:8–9,18–22; 31:1–14,15–22,23–30,31–34,35–40; 32:15,36–44; 33:6–26. In contrast to most of his messages of doom, Jeremiah’s promises of the future kingdom were called the “good word” of the Lord (29:10; 33:14).[[Note 3]]

[[Note 4]]The “age to come” did not begin with Jesus or even at Pentecost. Years later Paul still contrasted “this age” with “the one to come” (Eph. 1:21).[[Note 4]]

[[Note 5]]One popular interpretation is that they reveal a “mystery form” of the kingdom. If so, most of the prophesied features of the kingdom are absent. There is no need to assume such a “form.” Both in and after the “secrets,” Jesus still presented His kingdom as future and glorious, with never a hint to distinguish supposed present and future forms.[[Note 5]]

[[Note 6]]Such as, for example: “The parable of the mustard seed suggests the rapid but unsubstantial growth of the mystery aspect of the kingdom” (Scofield Bible, p. 1015). Conceivably, the Parable of the Tares, earlier in Matthew 13, could have suggested such “unsubstantial growth.” But there is no such preparation in Mark 4; in context the parable is clearly encouraging, not a warning. Even in Matthew 13, the field of mixed wheat and tares is the world (v. 38), not the kingdom, which does not appear until the end of the age (vv. 39–43).[[Note 6]]

[[Note 7]]It is enlightening to compare the accounts in Acts with the epistles written later to the same churches. Assuming that Acts faithfully records the evangelistic messages, these apparently did not include Jesus’ deity and the theology of His death. But such subjects were taught soon after conversion. For example, compare the sermon to the “Galatians” in Acts 13:16–41 to Gal. 1:4; 2:15–21; 3:13; 4:4–5; 6:14.[[Note 7]]