14
When the Pharisees, a money-obsessed bunch, heard him say these things, they rolled their eyes, dismissing him as hopelessly out of touch.
15
So Jesus spoke to them: "You are masters at making yourselves look good in front of others, but God knows what's behind the appearance. What society sees and calls monumental, God sees through and calls monstrous.
16
God's Law and the Prophets climaxed in John; Now it's all kingdom of God - the glad news and compelling invitation to every man and woman.
17
The sky will disintegrate and the earth dissolve before a single letter of God's Law wears out.
18
Using the legalities of divorce as a cover for lust is adultery; Using the legalities of marriage as a cover for lust is adultery.
19
"There once was a rich man, expensively dressed in the latest fashions, wasting his days in conspicuous consumption.
20
A poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, had been dumped on his doorstep.
21
All he lived for was to get a meal from scraps off the rich man's table. His best friends were the dogs who came and licked his sores.
22
"Then he died, this poor man, and was taken up by the angels to the lap of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried.
23
In hell and in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham in the distance and Lazarus in his lap.
24
He called out, 'Father Abraham, mercy! Have mercy! Send Lazarus to dip his finger in water to cool my tongue. I'm in agony in this fire.'