Study Desk

When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.

Herod's brutal action fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:

"Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near."

Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.

Don't just say to each other, ‘We're safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.' That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones.

"I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I'm not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

But Jesus said, "It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires." So John agreed to baptize him.

After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him.

During that time the devil came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread."

But Jesus told him, "No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

and said, "If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won't even hurt your foot on a stone.'"

Jesus responded, "The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.'"

"Get out of here, Satan," Jesus told him. "For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.'"

This fulfilled what God said through the prophet Isaiah:

From then on Jesus began to preach, "Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near."

"God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.

God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.

God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.