Study Desk

In the meantime, a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling one another. Jesus began to speak first to His disciples: "Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

So he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?'

So if you cannot do such a small thing, why do you worry about the rest?

Then you will be like servants waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once.

Blessed is that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.

So he said to the keeper of the vineyard, 'Look, for the past three years I have come to search for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Therefore cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?'

But the synagogue leader was indignant that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath. "There are six days for work," he told the crowd. "So come and be healed on those days and not on the Sabbath."

So Jesus asked the experts in the law and the Pharisees, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?"

But when you are invited, go and sit in the last place, so that your host will come and tell you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in front of everyone at the table with you.

Still another said, 'I have married a wife, so I cannot come.'

So the master told his servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.

So the Pharisees and scribes began to grumble: "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

The younger son said to him, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.

So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed the pigs.

So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.

For this son of mine was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found!' So they began to celebrate.

So he called one of the servants and asked what was going on.

The older son became angry and refused to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him.

But he answered his father, 'Look, all these years I have served you and never disobeyed a commandment of yours. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.