1. Then Thomas asked, "Lord what is the kingdom of God?"
2. Jesus spoke this parable to them, "To what shall I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that a person throws into their garden, and it grows into a tree, and the birds of the air nest in its branches.
3. "The kingdom of God is like yeast put into the dough; the dough is covered and hidden, and when it is seen again, it has grown many times its original size.
4. "The kingdom is like hidden treasure in a field, which the owner never knew was there. The owner died and left it to his children, but they never found the treasure themselves. When they died, a wanderer found the treasure. The wanderer hid the treasure again, and with much joy, sold all he had in order to buy the field and claim the treasure as his own.
5. "The kingdom is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, the merchant goes and sells all that he has and buys that pearl.
6. "But the kingdom is also like a fisher's net cast into the sea gathering fish of every kind. But when the net is pulled up the good fish are gathered and the bad are thrown away.
7. "So it will be at the end of this age when the kingdom arrives: angels will come and take out the wicked from among the righteous and will throw them into the furnace of fire. In that place, there will be great weeping and gnashing of teeth.
8. "Have you understood what I have said to you?"
9. Thomas replied, "Yes, Lord I have understood it all."
10. And Jesus said to him, "Now you are like the head of a household who brings out of their treasure things new and old."
11. Soon after that, an argument started among the disciples as to who would be the greatest in the kingdom of God.
12. So, Jesus called a child over to Himself and set her before them and said to them, "Unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of God.
13. "Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me, and whoever receives Me does not only receive Me, but receives Him who sent Me.
14. "Therefore, the one who is least among all of you is the one who will be the greatest in the kingdom, and the one who humbles themselves as a child is the one who will be first.
15. "Even more, whoever causes one such as this child who believes in Me to stumble, it would be better for that person to have a millstone hung about their neck and be cast into the depths of the sea.
16. "Truly I say to you, if you do not enter the kingdom of God like a child, you will never enter it at all. For the person old in years will ask a little child, seven days old, about the place in life, and that person will live.
17. "See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven.
18. "For the first will be last, and all the last will become a single one.
19. "Who is greater? Is it the one who reclines at the table, or the one who serves at the table? Indeed it is the one who reclines. My Father has granted Me an everlasting kingdom, and yet I am among you as one who serves?
20. "But Just as My Father has granted Me a kingdom, I grant to you a kingdom, that you may always eat and drink at My table, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
21. "For you are the ones who have stood by Me in My trials.
22. "When you know yourselves, then you will understand that you are children of the Living Father. But if you do not know yourselves, then you live in poverty--indeed you have become that poverty."
23. Then He told a parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and viewed others with contempt, and He said:
24. "Two men went up to the church to pray to God, one a religious leader and the other a tax collector.
25. "The Pharisee stood and prayed: 'Thank You God that I am not like other people, the swindlers, the unjust, the adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.'
26. "But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his chest saying, 'God, be merciful, for I am a horrible sinner!'
27. "I tell you, the tax collector went to his house justified rather than the Pharisee. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted."
28. Then John said, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name; and we tried to prevent him, because he does not follow with us."
29. But Jesus said, "Do not hinder that one. For whoever is not against you is for you. And whoever performs miracles in My name will not speak bad of Me soon after."
30. As Jesus walked with His disciples they came to a town, but they were not permitted to enter it, because they were travelers, and James said to Jesus, "Lord, do You want us to call down fire and destruction from heaven to consume them?"
31. But Jesus turned to him and rebuked him, saying, "You do not know what spirit you are of; the Son of Man has come not to destroy lives, but to save them."
32. And they went on to another village, leaving that town to itself.
33. Some eight days later, Jesus took Peter, John and James up on a mountain, and there they began to pray, and as they did the face of Jesus became different and shone like the sun.
34. His clothing also changed and appeared white and gleaming like light, and behold, others were suddenly with Him and talking with Him about His departure from the world which would soon occur.
35. Peter said, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will build temples for each of you."
36. But while Peter was speaking a cloud enveloped them all, and a voice out of the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; listen to Him!"
37. When the disciples heard this they fell face down on the ground and were terrified.
38. But Jesus came to them and touched them and said, "Get up, and do not be afraid."
39. And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus, Himself, alone.
40. As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them to tell no one what they had seen until the Son of Man had been raised from the dead.
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