Study Desk

Open your doors, O Lebanon, so that fire may destroy your cedars!

So I took care of the flock that was to be killed, and those of the flock who suffered. I took two walking sticks. One I called Favor, and the other I called Agreement. I took care of the flock.

So it was broken on that day. And those of the flock who suffered and were watching me knew that it was the Word of the Lord.

I said to them, "If you think it is right, give me my pay. But if not, keep it." So they weighed out thirty pieces of silver as my pay.

Then the Lord said to me, "Throw it to the one who makes pots—the great price they thought I was worth." So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the pot maker in the house of the Lord.

The Lord will save the tents of Judah first, so that the shining-greatness of the family of David and of the people of Jerusalem may not be greater than that of Judah.

Then you will know that I have sent this word to you, so that My agreement with Levi may be kept," says the Lord of All.

"My agreement with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him, that he might honor Me with fear. So he honored Me with fear. My name filled him with fear and wonder.

"So I have made you hated and ashamed in front of all the people, for you are not keeping My ways. You have shown favor to certain people when you teach them."

"For I hate divorce," says the Lord, the God of Israel. "And I hate the man who does wrong to his wife," says the Lord of All. "So be careful in your spirit, and be one who can be trusted."

He will sit as one who melts silver and makes it pure. He will make the sons of Levi pure. He will make them pure like gold and silver, so that they may bring the right gifts to the Lord.

"For I, the Lord, do not change. So you, O children of Jacob, are not destroyed.

Bring the tenth part into the store-house, so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this," says the Lord of All. "See if I will not then open the windows of heaven and pour out good things for you until there is no more need.

I will speak sharp words to the destroyer for you, so that it may not destroy the fruits of the ground. And your vine in the field will be sure to give its grapes," says the Lord of All.

So now we say that it is good to be proud. Not only are sinners doing well, but they put God to the test and get away with it.'"

So the number of families from Abraham to David was fourteen. The number of families from David to the time the people were taken to Babylon was fourteen. The number of families after they were taken to Babylon to the birth of Jesus Christ was fourteen.

Then God spoke to them in a dream. He told them not to go back to Herod. So they went to their own country by another road.

Men do not light a lamp and put it under a basket. They put it on a table so it gives light to all in the house.

But I tell you, do not fight with the man who wants to fight. Whoever hits you on the right side of the face, turn so he can hit the other side also.

When you give to the poor, do not be as those who pretend to be someone they are not. They blow a horn in the places of worship and in the streets so people may respect them. For sure, I tell you, they have all the reward they are going to get.