Study Desk

But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said, "Why do you have these questions in your minds?

The Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins. But how can I prove this to you? Maybe you are thinking it was easy for me to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven.' There's no proof that it really happened. But what if I say to the man, ‘Stand up and walk'? Then you will be able to see that I really have this power." So Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "I tell you, stand up! Take your mat and go home!"

But the Pharisees and those who taught the law for the Pharisees began to complain to the followers of Jesus, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and other sinners?"

They said to Jesus, "John's followers often fast and pray, the same as the followers of the Pharisees. But your followers eat and drink all the time."

But the time will come when the groom will be taken away from them. Then his friends will fast."

But Jesus knew what they were thinking. He said to the man with the crippled hand, "Get up and stand here where everyone can see." The man got up and stood there.

"But how bad it will be for you rich people, because you had your easy life.

"How bad it is when everyone says nothing but good about you. Just look at the false prophets. Their ancestors always said good things about them.

"But I say to you people who are listening to me, love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you.

Students are not better than their teacher. But when they have been fully taught, they will be like their teacher.

"Why do you notice the small piece of dust that is in your friend's eye, but you don't see the big piece of wood that is in your own eye?

Good people have good things saved in their hearts. That's why they say good things. But those who are evil have hearts full of evil, and that's why they say things that are evil. What people say with their mouths comes from what fills their hearts.

"Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,' but you don't do what I say?

They are like a man building a house. He digs deep and builds his house on rock. The floods come, and the water crashes against the house. But the flood cannot move the house, because it was built well.

"But the people who hear my words and do not obey are like a man who builds a house without preparing a foundation. When the floods come, the house falls down easily and is completely destroyed."

So what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, John is a prophet. But I tell you, he is more than that.

I tell you, no one ever born is greater than John. But even the least important person in God's kingdom is greater than John."

But the Pharisees and experts in the law refused to accept God's plan for themselves; they did not let John baptize them.)

They are like children sitting in the marketplace. One group of children calls to the other children and says, ‘We played flute music for you, but you did not dance; we sang a sad song, but you did not cry.'

But wisdom is shown to be right by those who accept it."