Study Desk

They pile heavy burdens on people's shoulders and won't lift a finger to help.

Everything they do is just to show off in front of others. They even make a big show of wearing Scripture verses on their foreheads and arms, and they wear big tassels for everyone to see.

They love the best seats at banquets and the front seats in the meeting places.

And when they are in the market, they like to have people greet them as their teachers.

You Pharisees and teachers are in for trouble! You're nothing but show-offs. You're like tombs that have been whitewashed. On the outside they are beautiful, but inside they are full of bones and filth.

Many will come and claim to be me. They will say that they are the Messiah, and they will fool many people.

False messiahs and false prophets will come and work great miracles and signs. They will even try to fool God's chosen ones.

Then a sign will appear in the sky. And there will be the Son of Man. All nations on earth will weep when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

They didn't know anything was happening until the flood came and swept them all away. That is how it will be when the Son of Man appears.

Homeowners never know when a thief is coming, and they are always on guard to keep one from breaking in.

That servant will then be punished and thrown out with the ones who only pretended to serve their master. There they will cry and grit their teeth in pain.

Some time later the master of those servants returned. He called them in and asked what they had done with his money.

Everyone who has something will be given more, and they will have more than enough. But everything will be taken from those who don't have anything.

They planned how they could sneak around and have Jesus arrested and put to death.

But when his disciples saw this, they became angry and complained, "Why such a waste?

Jesus knew what they were thinking, and he said: Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing for me.

You may be sure that wherever the good news is told all over the world, people will remember what she has done. And they will tell others.

and asked, "How much will you give me if I help you arrest Jesus?" They paid Judas thirty silver coins,

They did as Jesus told them and prepared the meal.

Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.