Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the one to come.
When he said this, he was referring to the Holy Spirit. Those who believed in Jesus would later receive the Spirit. But at that time, the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus hadn’t been glorified yet.
I used to say insulting things about Jesus. I tried to hurt his followers, and I even used violence against them. But God had mercy on me because I did those things without knowing any better. I wasn’t a believer.
will receive 100 times as much in this world. They will have other homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and fields—and they’ll also be systematically oppressed by others. But in the world to come they’ll live forever.
But when the Son of Man came, he did eat and drink, but you said, ‘He always eats and drinks way too much, and he has tax collectors and sinners for friends.’
But when the Son of Man came, he did eat and drink the way most people do, and you said, ‘He’s always eating and drinking too much. He’s a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.” ’ But wisdom is proved right by its own actions.”
The seed that fell among the thorns stands for those who hear the message but then have it crowded out by the worries of this life and the false promises of wealth, which keep it from producing fruit.
“Even though the manager had not been honest, the master praised him for being clever. The people of this world are more clever in dealing with their own kind than God’s people are.
Command people who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to put their hope in riches, which are so uncertain. Tell them to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is to take care of widows and orphans who are in trouble and not let the world contaminate you.