The Kingdom Of God

Once when little children were brought to Jesus that he might touch

them, the disciples found fault with those who brought them. When Jesus

saw it, he was displeased and said to his disciples, "Allow the little

children to come to me; and do not forbid them, for of such as these is

the Kingdom of God. I tell you, whoever will not accept the Kingdom of

God like a little child, will never enter it." Then he took the

chil ren in his arms, laid his hands on them, and lovingly blessed them.



One Sabbath day Jesus went to dine at the house of a leading Pharisee.

One of the guests said to him, "Fortunate is he who will have a share in

the Kingdom of God."



But Jesus said to him, "A man once gave a great dinner and invited many

guests. At dinner-time he sent out his servant to say to those who had

been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.' But all of them began

to make excuses. The first said, 'I have bought a field and must go and

look at it. I must ask you to excuse me.' Another said, 'I have bought

five yoke of oxen and am on my way to try them. I must ask you to excuse

me.' Another said, 'I have just married and so I cannot come.'



"The servant returned and reported these answers to his master. Then the

master of the house was angry and said to his servant, 'Go out at once

into the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in the poor, the

crippled, the blind, and the lame.' When the servant reported, 'Sir,

your order has been carried out, yet there is still room,' the master

said to him, 'Go out into the highways and the country lanes and compel

people to come, so that my house may be filled; for I tell you, that not

one of those who were first invited shall taste of my dinner.'"



Once when Jesus was walking along the road, a man ran up and knelt

before him and asked, "Good Master, what must I do that I may be sure of

eternal life?" Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is

good except one only: God. You know the commandments: 'Do not commit

adultery. Do not murder. Do not steal. Do not bear false witness. Do not

be dishonest. Honor your father and mother.'" He said to him, "Master, I

have kept all these commands from my youth." Looking upon him, Jesus

loved him and said, "One thing you lack; go, sell all that you have and

give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come with

me." But when the man heard this, he looked sad, and he went away in

sorrow, for he had great wealth. Then Jesus looked around and said to

his disciples, "How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the

Kingdom of God!" They were surprised at his words, but again he said,

"Children, how hard it is for those who trust in wealth to enter the

Kingdom of God. It is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye

than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God." And they were so

astonished that they said, "Then who can be saved?" Jesus looked at

them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God, for with

God everything is possible."