Study Desk

When a strong man, fully armed, guards his castle, his property is safe.

But when one stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his plunder.

While he was speaking, a Pharisee invited him to dine with him; so he went in and took his place at the table.

Meanwhile, when the crowd gathered by the thousands, so that they trampled on one another, he began to speak first to his disciples, "Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, that is, their hypocrisy.

He said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear.

Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.

Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them.

"But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.

And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and prudent manager whom his master will put in charge of his slaves, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time?

Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives.

Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions.

That slave who knew what his master wanted, but did not prepare himself or do what was wanted, will receive a severe beating.

Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none.

When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God.

But the Lord answered him and said, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water?

When he said this, all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing.

Jesus went through one town and village after another, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem.

At the time for the dinner he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come; for everything is ready now.'

So the slave returned and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his slave, ‘Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.'