Study Desk

But the day will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast."

But Jesus knew their thoughts and said to the man, "Stand up and come here to the front." The man got up and stood there.

"But how terrible for you who are rich now; you have had your easy life!

"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

No pupils are greater than their teacher; but all pupils, when they have completed their training, will be like their teacher.

"Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but pay no attention to the log in your own eye?

He is like a man who, in building his house, dug deep and laid the foundation on rock. The river flooded over and hit that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.

But anyone who hears my words and does not obey them is like a man who built his house without laying a foundation; when the flood hit that house it fell at once—and what a terrible crash that was!"

Tell me, what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes indeed, but you saw much more than a prophet.

I tell you," Jesus added, "John is greater than anyone who has ever lived. But the one who is least in the Kingdom of God is greater than John."

But the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law rejected God's purpose for themselves and refused to be baptized by John.

They are like children sitting in the marketplace. One group shouts to the other, ‘We played wedding music for you, but you wouldn't dance! We sang funeral songs, but you wouldn't cry!'

Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your home, and you gave me no water for my feet, but she has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair.

You did not welcome me with a kiss, but she has not stopped kissing my feet since I came.

You provided no olive oil for my head, but she has covered my feet with perfume.

I tell you, then, the great love she has shown proves that her many sins have been forgiven. But whoever has been forgiven little shows only a little love."

But Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

and he answered, "The knowledge of the secrets of the Kingdom of God has been given to you, but to the rest it comes by means of parables, so that they may look but not see, and listen but not understand.

The seeds that fell along the path stand for those who hear; but the Devil comes and takes the message away from their hearts in order to keep them from believing and being saved.

The seeds that fell on rocky ground stand for those who hear the message and receive it gladly. But it does not sink deep into them; they believe only for a while but when the time of testing comes, they fall away.