Study Desk

At about that time Jesus was walking through some grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, so they began breaking off some heads of grain and eating them.

Jesus said to them, "Haven't you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry?

He went into the house of God, and he and his companions broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat.

Then he said to the man, "Hold out your hand." So the man held out his hand, and it was restored, just like the other one!

He will not fight or shout or raise his voice in public.

And his name will be the hope of all the world."

But when the Pharisees heard about the miracle, they said, "No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons."

And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is divided and fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive.

For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.

As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him.

Then he pointed to his disciples and said, "Look, these are my mother and brothers.

As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them.

His disciples came and asked him, "Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?"

Here is another story Jesus told: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field.

But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away.

Then, leaving the crowds outside, Jesus went into the house. His disciples said, "Please explain to us the story of the weeds in the field."

The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will remove from his Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.

"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.

Then he added, "Every teacher of religious law who becomes a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a homeowner who brings from his storeroom new gems of truth as well as old."

He returned to Nazareth, his hometown. When he taught there in the synagogue, everyone was amazed and said, "Where does he get this wisdom and the power to do miracles?"