Study Desk

and he said, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the Kingdom of God; but the rest are taught in parables, so that they may look but not see, and listen but not understand .

The ones along the path are those who hear, but then the Adversary comes and takes the message out of their hearts, in order to keep them from being saved by trusting it.

The ones on rock are those who, when they hear the word, accept it with joy; but these have no root — they go on trusting for awhile; but when a time of testing comes, they apostatize.

As for what fell in the midst of thorns these are the ones who hear; but as they go along, worries and wealth and life's gratifications crowd in and choke them, so that their fruit never matures.

But what fell in rich soil — these are the ones who, when they hear the message, hold onto it with a good, receptive heart; and by persevering, they bring forth a harvest.

Pay attention, then, to how you hear! For anyone who has something will be given more; but from anyone who has nothing, even what he seems to have will be taken away."

Then Yeshua's mother and brothers came to see him, but they couldn't get near him because of the crowd.

But he gave them this answer: "My mother and brothers are those who hear God's message and act on it!"

As Yeshua stepped ashore, a man from the town who had demons came to meet him. For a long time he had not worn clothes; and he lived, not in a house, but in the burial caves.

For Yeshua had ordered the unclean spirit to come out of the man. It had often taken hold of him — he had been kept under guard, chained hand and foot, but had broken the bonds and been driven by the demon into the desert.

The man from whom the demons had gone out begged that he might go with him; but Yeshua sent him away, saying,

But Yeshua said, "Someone did touch me, because I felt power go out of me."

But on hearing this, Yeshua answered him, "Don't be afraid! Just go on trusting, and she will be made well."

All the people were wailing and mourning for her; but he said, "Don't weep; she hasn't died, she's sleeping."

But he took her by the hand, called out, "Little girl, get up!"

Her parents were astounded, but he instructed them to tell no one what had happened.

But the crowds found out and followed him. Welcoming them, he went on to speak to them about the Kingdom of God and to heal those who needed to be healed.

But he said to them, "Give them something to eat, yourselves!" They said, "We have no more than five loaves of bread and two fish — unless we ourselves are supposed to go and buy food for all these people!"

They answered, "Yochanan the Immerser; but others say Eliyahu, and others that some prophet of long ago has risen."

"But you," he said to them, "who do you say I am?" Kefa answered, "The Mashiach of God!"