Study Desk

At once they left the boat and their father and followed Jesus.

The news about Him went over all the country of Syria. They brought all the sick people to Him with many kinds of diseases and pains. They brought to Him those who had demons. They brought those who at times lose the use of their minds. They brought those who could not use their hands and legs. He healed them.

Many people followed Him from Galilee and Judea. They followed Him from the cities of Decapolis and Jerusalem. They followed Him from Judea and from the other side of the Jordan River.

Those who are hungry and thirsty to be right with God are happy, because they will be filled.

Be glad and full of joy because your reward will be much in heaven. They made it very hard for the early preachers who lived a long time before you.

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.

Let your light shine in front of men. Then they will see the good things you do and will honor your Father Who is in heaven.

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.

"When you pray, do not be as those who pretend to be someone they are not. They love to stand and pray in the places of worship or in the streets so people can see them. For sure, I tell you, they have all the reward they are going to get.

When you pray, do not say the same thing over and over again making long prayers like the people who do not know God. They think they are heard because their prayers are long.

"Do not gather together for yourself riches of this earth. They will be eaten by bugs and become rusted. Men can break in and steal them.

Gather together riches in heaven where they will not be eaten by bugs or become rusted. Men cannot break in and steal them.

"Do not give that which belongs to God to dogs. Do not throw your pearls in front of pigs. They will break them under their feet. Then they will turn and tear you to pieces.

I say to you, many people will come from the east and from the west. They will sit down with Abraham and with Isaac and with Jacob in the holy nation of heaven.

Then men were surprised and wondered about it. They said, "What kind of a man is He? Even the winds and the waves obey Him."

Jesus came to the other side of the lake into the country of the Gadarenes. Two men came to Him from among the graves. They had demons in them and were very wild men. They were so bad that no one would go near them.

Jesus said to the demons, "Go!" They came out of the men and went into the pigs. At once the pigs ran down the mountain side. They fell into the water and died.

The men who cared for the pigs ran fast into the city and told everything. They told what happened to the men who had the demons.

All the people saw this. They were surprised and wondered about it. Then they gave thanks to God because He had given such power to men.

The proud religious law-keepers saw this. They said to the followers of Jesus, "Why does your Teacher eat with men who gather taxes and with sinners?"