"From the daysof Johnthe Baptistuntilnowthe kingdomof heavensuffers violence,and violent mentake it by force.
"TrulyI sayto you, amongthose bornof womenthere has not arisen[anyone] greaterthan Johnthe Baptist!Yetthe onewho is leastin the kingdomof heavenis greaterthan he.
"For allthe prophetsand the LawprophesieduntilJohn.
But Jesusansweringsaidto him, "Permit[it] at this time;for in this wayit is fittingfor us to fulfillallrighteousness."Thenhe permittedHim.
"Striveto enterthroughthe narrowdoor;for many,I tellyou, will seekto enterand will not be able.
"The Lawand the Prophets[were proclaimed] untilJohn;sincethat timethe gospelof the kingdomof Godhas been preached,and everyoneis forcing his wayinto it.
for an angelof the Lordwent downat certainseasonsinto the pooland stirredup the water;whoever thenfirst,afterthe stirringup of the water,steppedin was madewellfrom whateverdiseasewith whichhe was afflicted].
"Do not workfor the foodwhich perishes,but for the foodwhich enduresto eternallife,whichthe Sonof Manwill giveto you, for on Him the Father,God,has set His seal."
So then,my beloved,justas you have alwaysobeyed,not as in my presenceonly,but nowmuchmorein my absence,workout your salvationwith fearand trembling;
