“I’m telling you to love your enemies and do good to them. Lend to people without expecting to get anything back. If you do this, you will have a great reward. You will be children of the Most High God. Yes, because God is good even to the people who are full of sin and not thankful.
Think carefully about what you are hearing. God will know how much to give you by how much you understand now. But he will give you more than you deserve.
You know about Jesus from Nazareth. God made him the Messiah by giving him the Holy Spirit and power. Jesus went everywhere doing good for people. He healed those who were ruled by the devil, showing that God was with him.
So think carefully about what you are hearing. The people who have some understanding will receive more. But those who do not have understanding will lose even what they think they have.”
And what about the seed that fell on the good ground? That is like the people who hear God’s teaching with a good, honest heart. They obey it and patiently produce a good crop.
The rest of the seed fell on good ground. This seed grew and made 100 times more grain.” Jesus finished the story. Then he called out, “You people who hear me, listen!”
“People will hate you because you belong to the Son of Man. They will make you leave their group. They will insult you. They will think it is wrong even to say your name. When these things happen, know that great blessings belong to you.
Then King Jeroboam said to the man of God, “Please pray to the Lord your God for me. Ask him to heal my arm.” So the man of God prayed to the Lord, and the king’s arm was healed, as it was before.