Study Desk

After getting into a boat he crossed to the other side and came to his own town.

As Jesus was having a meal in Matthew's house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Jesus and his disciples.

When the Pharisees saw this they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"

Jesus and his disciples got up and followed him.

But a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak.

For she kept saying to herself, "If only I touch his cloak, I will be healed."

Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.

Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest."

Jesus called his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits so they could cast them out and heal every kind of disease and sickness.

Now these are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (called Peter), and Andrew his brother; James son of Zebedee and John his brother;

no bag for the journey, or an extra tunic, or sandals or staff, for the worker deserves his provisions.

"Brother will hand over brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise against parents and have them put to death.

"A disciple is not greater than his teacher, nor a slave greater than his master.

It is enough for the disciple to become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house ‘Beelzebul,' how much more will they defame the members of his household!

For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law,

and a man's enemies will be the members of his household.

And whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life because of me will find it.

And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple, I tell you the truth, he will never lose his reward."

When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their towns.