Study Desk

Then Jesus' mother and brothers arrived. They stood outside the house and sent in a message, asking for him.

so that, ‘They may look and look, yet not see; they may listen and listen, yet not understand. For if they did, they would turn to God, and he would forgive them.'"

but the worries about this life, the love for riches, and all other kinds of desires crowd in and choke the message, and they don't bear fruit.

many times his feet and his hands had been tied, but every time he broke the chains and smashed the irons on his feet. He was too strong for anyone to control him.

and screamed in a loud voice, "Jesus, Son of the Most High God! What do you want with me? For God's sake, I beg you, don't punish me!"

But Jesus would not let him. Instead, he told him, "Go back home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how kind he has been to you."

So the man left and went all through the Ten Towns, telling what Jesus had done for him. And all who heard it were amazed.

There was a woman who had suffered terribly from severe bleeding for twelve years,

John the Baptist kept telling Herod, "It isn't right for you to marry your brother's wife!"

Finally Herodias got her chance. It was on Herod's birthday, when he gave a feast for all the top government officials, the military chiefs, and the leading citizens of Galilee.

With many vows he said to her, "I swear that I will give you anything you ask for, even as much as half my kingdom!"

So the girl went out and asked her mother, "What shall I ask for?" "The head of John the Baptist," she answered.

When Jesus got out of the boat, he saw this large crowd, and his heart was filled with pity for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began to teach them many things.

(For the Pharisees, as well as the rest of the Jews, follow the teaching they received from their ancestors: they do not eat unless they wash their hands in the proper way;

It is no use for them to worship me, because they teach human rules as though they were my laws!'

For Moses commanded, ‘Respect your father and your mother,' and, ‘If you curse your father or your mother, you are to be put to death.'

For from the inside, from your heart, come the evil ideas which lead you to do immoral things, to rob, kill,

"I feel sorry for these people, because they have been with me for three days and now have nothing to eat.

They also had a few small fish. Jesus gave thanks for these and told the disciples to distribute them too.

But Jesus gave a deep groan and said, "Why do the people of this day ask for a miracle? No, I tell you! No such proof will be given to these people!"