Because

This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Moab, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because he burned to lime the bones of Edom’s king.

This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Judah, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they reject the Law of the LORD and fail to keep His statutes; they are led astray by the lies in which their fathers walked.

This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Israel, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they sell the righteous for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals.

Therefore, because you trample on the poor and exact from him a tax of grain, you will never live in the stone houses you have built; you will never drink the wine from the lush vineyards you have planted.

But never prophesy at Bethel again, because it is the sanctuary of the king and the temple of the kingdom.”

Because of the violence against your brother Jacob, you will be covered with shame and cut off forever.

“Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before Me.”

Then the men were even more afraid and said to him, “What have you done?” The men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.

Because of this I will lament and wail; I will walk barefoot and naked. I will howl like a jackal and mourn like an ostrich.

Woe to those who devise iniquity and plot evil on their beds! At morning’s light they accomplish it because the power is in their hands.

Arise and depart, for this is not your place of rest, because its defilement brings destruction—a grievous destruction!

Then they will cry out to the LORD, but He will not answer them. At that time He will hide His face from them because of the evil they have done.

Then the seers will be ashamed and the diviners will be disgraced. They will all cover their mouths because there is no answer from God.”

Therefore, because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, and the temple mount a wooded ridge.

Therefore I am striking you severely, to ruin you because of your sins.

Because I have sinned against Him, I must endure the rage of the LORD, until He argues my case and executes justice for me. He will bring me into the light; I will see His righteousness.

Then the earth will become desolate because of its inhabitants, as the fruit of their deeds.

Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance—who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion?

…because of the many harlotries of the harlot, the seductive mistress of sorcery, who betrays nations by her prostitution and clans by her witchcraft.

Because you have plundered many nations, the remnant of the people will plunder you—because of your bloodshed against man and your violence against the land, the city, and all their dwellers.

Because you have plundered many nations, the remnant of the people will plunder you—because of your bloodshed against man and your violence against the land, the city, and all their dwellers.

For your violence against Lebanon will overwhelm you, and the destruction of animals will terrify you, because of your bloodshed against men and your violence against the land, the city, and all their dwellers.

I will bring such distress on mankind that they will walk like the blind, because they have sinned against the LORD. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their flesh like dung.

You expected much, but behold, it amounted to little. And what you brought home, I blew away. Why? declares the LORD of Hosts. Because My house still lies in ruins, while each of you is busy with his own house.

Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, as well as all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God and the words of the prophet Haggai, because the LORD their God had sent him. So the people feared the LORD.

…and said to him, “Run and tell that young man: ‘Jerusalem will be a city without walls because of the multitude of men and livestock within it.

This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Old men and old women will again sit along the streets of Jerusalem, each with a staff in hand because of great age.

But I will camp around My house because of an army, because of those who march to and fro, and never again will an oppressor overrun My people, for now I keep watch with My own eyes.

But I will camp around My house because of an army, because of those who march to and fro, and never again will an oppressor overrun My people, for now I keep watch with My own eyes.

As for you, because of the blood of My covenant, I will release your prisoners from the waterless pit.

They will be like mighty men in battle, trampling the enemy in the mire of the streets. They will fight because the LORD is with them, and they will put the horsemen to shame.

I will strengthen the house of Judah and save the house of Joseph. I will restore them because I have compassion on them, and they will be as though I had not rejected them. For I am the LORD their God, and I will answer them.

And if anyone still prophesies, his father and mother who bore him will say to him, ‘You shall not remain alive, because you have spoken falsely in the name of the LORD.’ When he prophesies, his father and mother who bore him will pierce him through.

For My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place, incense and pure offerings will be presented in My name, because My name will be great among the nations,” says the LORD of Hosts.

If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to honor My name,” says the LORD of Hosts, “I will send a curse among you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already begun to curse them, because you are not taking it to heart.

For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts.

“So I in turn have made you despised and humiliated before all the people, because you have not kept My ways, but have shown partiality in matters of the law.”

And this is another thing you do: You cover the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping and groaning, because He no longer regards your offerings or receives them gladly from your hands.

Yet you ask, “Why?” It is because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have broken faith, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.

Has not the LORD made them one, having a portion of the Spirit? And why one? Because He seeks godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith with the wife of your youth.

“Because I, the LORD, do not change, you descendants of Jacob have not been destroyed.

Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and was unwilling to disgrace her publicly, he resolved to divorce her quietly.

She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”

“A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.

Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.

The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because its foundation was on the rock.

…because He taught as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.

Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward.

Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward.

And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is My disciple, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.”

Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles had been performed, because they did not repent.

At that time Jesus declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.

Some fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow.

But when the sun rose, the seedlings were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.

But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.

But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.

But since he has no root, he remains for only a season. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.

And He did not do many miracles there, because of their unbelief.

…because John had been telling him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”

Although Herod wanted to kill John, he was afraid of the people, because they regarded John as a prophet.

The king was grieved, but because of his oaths and his guests, he ordered that her wish be granted

…but the boat was already far from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

Then Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “I have compassion for this crowd, because they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may faint along the way.”

They discussed this among themselves and concluded, “It is because we did not bring any bread.”

“Because you have so little faith,” He answered. “For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Because of this, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.

Then the master summoned him and said, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave all your debt because you begged me.

Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of your hardness of heart. But it was not this way from the beginning.

When the young man heard this, he went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth.

‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. So he told them, ‘You also go into my vineyard.’

Do I not have the right to do as I please with what is mine? Or are you envious because I am generous?’

Although they wanted to arrest Him, they were afraid of the crowds, because the people regarded Him as a prophet.

They sent their disciples to Him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are honest and that You teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You seek favor from no one, because You pay no attention to external appearance.

Jesus answered, “You are mistaken because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.

Because of this, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and others you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town.

Then they will deliver you over to be persecuted and killed, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.

Because of the multiplication of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.

Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come.

For this reason, you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.

Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

While Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered terribly in a dream today because of Him.”

The people were astonished at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.

And He healed many who were ill with various diseases and drove out many demons. But He would not allow the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.

Jesus made this statement because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”

Some fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow.

But when the sun rose, the seedlings were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.

But they themselves have no root, and they remain for only a season. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.

And as soon as the grain is ripe, he swings the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

…because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man. When he heard John’s words, he was greatly perplexed; yet he listened to him gladly.

The king was consumed with sorrow, but because of his oaths and his guests, he did not want to refuse her.

When Jesus stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And He began to teach them many things.

He could see that the disciples were straining to row, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea. He intended to pass by them,

…because it does not enter his heart, but it goes into the stomach and then is eliminated.” (Thus all foods are clean.)

Then Jesus told her, “Because of this answer, you may go. The demon has left your daughter.”

“I have compassion for this crowd, because they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat.

…because He was teaching His disciples. He told them, “The Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill Him, and after three days He will rise.”