Study Desk

"Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.

The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat!

And what about the eighteen people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them? Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem?

When they refused to answer, Jesus touched the sick man and healed him and sent him away.

Then he turned to his host. "When you put on a luncheon or a banquet," he said, "don't invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will invite you back, and that will be your only reward.

But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.'

"The servant returned and told his master what they had said. His master was furious and said, ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.'

They would say, ‘There's the person who started that building and couldn't afford to finish it!'

Here's the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home.

For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don't end up in this place of torment.'

"But Abraham said, ‘Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.'

"The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.'

"But Abraham said, ‘If they won't listen to Moses and the prophets, they won't be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.'"

He looked at them and said, "Go show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy.

One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.

One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But when the disciples saw this, they scolded the parents for bothering him.

They will flog him with a whip and kill him, but on the third day he will rise again."

But they didn't understand any of this. The significance of his words was hidden from them, and they failed to grasp what he was talking about.

"‘Yes,' the king replied, ‘and to those who use well what they are given, even more will be given. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.

So they went and found the colt, just as Jesus had said.