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Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.

“Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”

With a shriek, he screamed, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In the name of God, I beg you, don’t torture me!”

28 One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord.

The women fled from the tomb, trembling and bewildered, and they said nothing to anyone because they were too frightened. ---------- [The most ancient manuscripts of Mark conclude with verse 16:8. Later manuscripts add one or both of the following endings.] [Shorter Ending of Mark] Then they briefly reported all this to Peter and his companions. Afterward Jesus himself sent them out from east to west with the sacred and unfailing message of salvation that gives eternal life. Amen. [Longer Ending of Mark]

Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write an accurate account for you, most honorable Theophilus,

He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.

The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.

“And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord.

“Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.

As soon as he saw Jesus, he shrieked and fell down in front of him. Then he screamed, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Please, I beg you, don’t torture me!”

They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Search the Scriptures and see for yourself — no prophet ever comes from Galilee!” ---------- [The most ancient Greek manuscripts do not include John 7:53–8:11.]

37 But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in him.

However, the Most High doesn’t live in temples made by human hands. As the prophet says,

She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved.”

Inside, the people were all shouting, some one thing and some another. Everything was in confusion. In fact, most of them didn’t even know why they were there.

They were sad most of all because he had said that they would never see him again. Then they escorted him down to the ship.

But Paul replied, “I am not insane, Most Excellent Festus. What I am saying is the sober truth.

And since Fair Havens was an exposed harbor — a poor place to spend the winter — most of the crew wanted to go on to Phoenix, farther up the coast of Crete, and spend the winter there. Phoenix was a good harbor with only a southwest and northwest exposure.

Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good.

So this is the situation: Most of the people of Israel have not found the favor of God they are looking for so earnestly. A few have — the ones God has chosen — but the hearts of the rest were hardened.

Yet God was not pleased with most of them, and their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary.

So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all.

I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said.

After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died.

Most of you opposed him, and that was punishment enough.

Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.

And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear.

Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

1 This Melchizedek was king of the city of Salem and also a priest of God Most High. When Abraham was returning home after winning a great battle against the kings, Melchizedek met him and blessed him.

Then there was a curtain, and behind the curtain was the second room called the Most Holy Place.

But only the high priest ever entered the Most Holy Place, and only once a year. And he always offered blood for his own sins and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.

By these regulations the Holy Spirit revealed that the entrance to the Most Holy Place was not freely open as long as the Tabernacle and the system it represented were still in use.

With his own blood — not the blood of goats and calves — he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever.

And he did not enter heaven to offer himself again and again, like the high priest here on earth who enters the Most Holy Place year after year with the blood of an animal.

19 And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus.

By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place.

But most of all, my brothers and sisters, never take an oath, by heaven or earth or anything else. Just say a simple yes or no, so that you will not sin and be condemned.

Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.

Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires.

But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit,

And Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High, brought Abram some bread and wine.

Melchizedek blessed Abram with this blessing: “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.

And blessed be God Most High, who has defeated your enemies for you.” Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the goods he had recovered.

Abram replied to the king of Sodom, “I solemnly swear to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth,

Hang the inner curtain from clasps, and put the Ark of the Covenant in the room behind it. This curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.

“Then put the Ark’s cover — the place of atonement — on top of the Ark of the Covenant inside the Most Holy Place.