Which is easier, ¹  to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up, take your stretcher, and walk’?

A crowd was sitting around him and they said to him, “Look, your mother and your brothers ¹  are outside looking for you.”

He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. ¹  Go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ ¹  and, ‘Whoever insults his father or mother must be put to death.’ ² 

They said to him, “Permit one of us to sit at your right hand and the other at your left in your glory.”

So he said to them, “When you pray, ¹  say: Father, ²  may your name be honored; ³  may your kingdom come. ⁴ 

But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life ¹  will be demanded back from ²  you, but who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ ³ 

But when this son of yours ¹  came back, who has devoured ²  your assets with prostitutes, ³  you killed the fattened calf ⁴  for him!’

And now, Lord, pay attention to ¹  their threats, and grant ²  to your servants ³  to speak your message ⁴  with great courage, ⁵ 

and said to him, ‘Go out from your country and from your relatives, and come to the land I will show you.’ ¹ 

Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord ¹  that he may perhaps forgive you for the intent of your heart. ² 

he said, “I will give you a hearing ¹  when your accusers arrive too.” Then ²  he ordered that Paul ³  be kept under guard in Herod’s palace. ⁴ 

“Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars; I alone am left and they are seeking my life!” ¹ 

But you who eat vegetables only – why do you judge your brother or sister? ¹  And you who eat everything – why do you despise your brother or sister? ²  For we will all stand before the judgment seat ³  of God.

For if your brother or sister ¹  is distressed because of what you eat, ²  you are no longer walking in love. ³  Do not destroy by your food someone for whom Christ died.

I ¹  have had great joy and encouragement because ²  of your love, for the hearts ³  of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness. So God, your God, has anointed you over your companions ¹  with the oil of rejoicing.” ² 

But to which of the angels ¹  has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? ² 

If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away! It is better to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into hell. ¹ 

But whenever you pray, go into your room, ¹  close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. ²