Study Desk

Then a church worker rode by and stopped and looked, but kept right on riding.

But Martha worked herself into a tizzy and went and asked Jesus, "Do you even care that I'm bustin' my butt for y'all and Mary is just sitting there? Tell her to get up and help."

But Jesus said, "Whoa, Martha! Quit worrying and fussin'.

But I'll say this, if you keep knocking on that door, he will give you a bag of beans just to make you go away. Persistence and boldness are the keys to prayer.

You see, evil and selfish hearts control y'all, but you still know how to take care of your kids. If this is so, how much will your actual Dad in heaven take care of his kids with the Holy Spirit when they need help?"

You say I ride for the devil, but if I'm fightin' the one I ride for, how can his crew succeed?

but if I am working for the Boss in heaven, then his outfit has arrived on earth.

Jesus replied, "But even more blessed is the one who listens to what I say and does it."

More and more folks crowded around Jesus as he talked, "All those ridin' for themselves keep asking me to do more and more miracles. But the only miracle they will see will be the same one the Boss did for Jonah.

Even the people of Nineveh will talk bad about y'all on Judgment Day. They listened and did what Jonah told them to, but there is someone greater than even Jonah here, but y'all won't turn from your sorry ways.

But if you are only looking for the ways of the world to please you, then your eye is squeezed shut, and no light is within you.

Jesus knew what the man was thinking and said, "You religious leaders make sure you look squeaky clean on the outside, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.

"Y'all religious people are going to get what's coming to you. Y'all make sure and tithe even the money that comes from your herb patches, but you don't even realize that sticking up for the less fortunate and loving God are just as important. Don't pick and choose what you are supposed to do. Do it all.

Y'all religious people are going to get what's coming to you. Y'all are like septic tanks in the ground. There's green grass on top that people admire, but they don't know the filth that lies underneath."

"Y'all experts on the code of Moses will get what's coming to you too! You are good at pointing fingers, but you won't lift a finger to help anyone.

You're gonna get what's coming to ya! You build statues honoring the cowboys of God from the past, but you act like your ancestors who killed them in the first place.

This is why our wise Boss said, 'I'll send them cowboys and guides, but the people will just hurt them and even kill them.'

They wanted to trap him, but he didn't take the bait.

But listen, be afraid of the One who has power over your soul. We should fear the Boss because he is the only one who has the authority and power to throw you in the trash fire which is forever. He's the One you should be bowing down to.

"But before you start thinking the Boss is against you, consider this, what do a few birds cost—two cents at the most? But God doesn't even forget about these little birds.