Bible verses about "troublemakers" | AUV

¹⁹ “Now there was a certain rich man who was dressed in purple [clothing] and soft linen [garments] and who lived every day in pleasure and luxury. ²⁰ And a certain beggar named Lazarus, who was full of sores, was laid at the rich man’s doorway. ²¹ He longed to be fed with scraps that fell from the rich man’s table and even dogs came and licked his sores. ²² And it happened that the beggar died and [his spirit] was carried away by angels to a place close to Abraham. And the rich man also died and [his body] was buried. ²³ And in the unseen place of departed spirits the rich man, who was being tormented, looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus close beside him. ²⁴ And he shouted out, ‘Forefather Abraham, take pity on me and send Lazarus [to me], so he can dip the tip of his finger in water [and touch] my tongue to cool it, because I am in agony in these flames.’ ²⁵ But Abraham said [to him], ‘Son, remember how you enjoyed good things when you were alive [on earth] and how Lazarus had to put up with bad things? But now here [i.e., in the unseen place of departed spirits] he is being comforted and you are in agony. ²⁶ And besides all this, there is a huge chasm situated between us and you so that those who wanted to go from here to there [where you are] cannot do it. And no one can cross over from there to us [over here].’ ²⁷ Then the rich man said, ‘I beg you therefore, forefather [Abraham], that you would send Lazarus to my father’s house, ²⁸ where I have five brothers. Then he could warn them so that they will not [have to] come to this [terrible] place of torment also.’ ²⁹ But Abraham said, ‘They have [the writings of] Moses and the prophets; let them pay attention to them.’ ³⁰ Then the rich man said, ‘No, forefather Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, [then] they will repent [i.e., change their hearts and lives].’ ³¹ And Abraham replied, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded [even] if someone rises from the dead [i.e., to come back and warn them].’”

¹⁶ For God loved the world [of sinners] so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that every person who believes in Him would not [have to] be destroyed, but have never ending life.

¹² For our struggle is not [actually] against human beings, but against rulers and authorities and leaders of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. [Note: “Heavenly realms” here refers to the struggle against Satanic powers which permeates life around us].

¹ Children, you should obey your parents in the Lord [i.e., as part of your Christian responsibility], for this is the right thing to do.

¹ Therefore, you should put out of your lives all malice [i.e., bad attitudes], and all deceit and hypocrisy, and all envy and unwholesome talk. ² [So], like newly born babies, you should desire the genuine, spiritual milk [i.e., God’s word. See Heb. 5:12-13], so that by it you may grow toward [final] salvation, ³ since you have experienced the goodness of the Lord [i.e., that the Lord is good]. ⁴ You should come to Him, who is a living stone, rejected by people, but chosen as precious in God’s sight. ⁵ And you yourselves are also like living stones, being constructed into a spiritual house. For you are like holy priests who offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ⁶ For it says in the Scripture [Isa. 28:16], “Look, I am placing a stone in [the city of] Zion [i.e., Jerusalem]. It is a specially selected, very valuable cornerstone. And the person who trusts in the Him [i.e., the One represented by this stone] will never have to suffer shame [i.e., because of unforgiven sin being brought up against him].” ⁷ To those of you who believe in Him then, this “Stone” is [very] precious. But to those who do not believe [Psa. 118:22 says], “The stone which those in charge of the building project have rejected has been made the principal stone for aligning the whole structure.” ⁸ [And it also says, Isa. 8:14, that He would be], “A stone that people would stumble over and a rock over which they would trip and fall.” The way they stumble is by disobeying the Gospel message. They were destined [though not forced] to do this. ⁹ But you people are especially chosen [by God]; you are a royal body of priests; you are a nation especially set apart for God’s use; you are a people who belong exclusively to God, that you may express the virtues of the One who called you out of darkness [i.e., of sin and error], and into His marvelous light [i.e., righteousness and truth]. ¹⁰ At one time you [Gentiles] were not a [chosen] people, but now you are God’s [special] people. Once you had not received [His] mercy, but now you have received it. ¹¹ My dearly loved ones, I urge you, as a people who are foreigners and strangers [in this world], do not give in to sinful desires, which wage war against the soul. ¹² You should live such good lives before [unconverted] Gentiles, so that even though they accuse you of being evildoers, by seeing your good deeds, they will [be led to] honor God [for you] on the day He visits us again [i.e., to bring judgment]. ¹³ Submit yourselves to every authority set up by people for the Lord’s sake. [Submit to] a king as the [highest] authority, ¹⁴ or to governors who are appointed by him to punish wrongdoers, and to commend those who do right. ¹⁵ For it is God’s will that, by doing good, you should put to silence the ignorant [talk and actions] of foolish people. ¹⁶ As servants of God, you should live as free people, but do not use this freedom to cover up your wrongdoing. ¹⁷ Show [proper] respect for everyone. Love your [Christian] brothers [and sisters]. Have an awe-inspiring respect for God. Show honor to the king. ¹⁸ Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters and show them respect, not just the ones who are good [to you] and treat you well, but also to those who are harsh toward you. ¹⁹ For those of you who put up with such suffering unjustly, because of your close relationship to God, are to be commended. ²⁰ But it is no credit to you if you put up with a beating you deserve. But if you patiently tolerate suffering for doing good, this is pleasing to God. ²¹ [After all], this is what you were called to do, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you would follow in His steps. ²² [For] He neither sinned nor used deceitful words. ²³ When He was spoken to with harsh insults, He did not reply in the same way. When He was made to suffer, He did not threaten [His tormentors], but instead entrusted Himself to God, [whom He knew] would make a righteous judgment [in the matter]. ²⁴ Jesus took upon Himself our sins [when] His body was placed upon the cross so that we, [through] dying to [i.e., giving up] the sinful life, would live for righteousness. You were healed [from your sins] by His being brutally treated. ²⁵ For you people were wandering away like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

⁹ “Those persons who attempt to make peace [between people] will be blessed because they will be called God’s children.

¹⁸ If it is at all possible, as far as your part is concerned, live peacefully with all people.

⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

¹⁷ Now I urge you, brothers, watch out for those who are causing divisions and occasions for falling [away from God over matters] contrary to the teaching you have learned, and withdraw from them [i.e., stop listening to their false teaching].