Study Desk

"During the time of Elijah it did not rain in Israel for three and a half years. There was no food anywhere in the whole country. There were many widows in Israel during that time. But the fact is, Elijah was sent to none of those widows in Israel. He was sent only to a widow in Zarephath, a town in Sidon.

Demons came out of many people. The demons shouted, "You are the Son of God." But Jesus gave a strong command for the demons not to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah.

The next day Jesus went to a place to be alone. The people looked for him. When they found him, they tried to stop him from leaving.

Then Jesus said, "Don't tell anyone about what happened. But go and let the priest look at you. And offer a gift to God for your healing as Moses commanded. This will show people that you are healed."

The Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins. But how can I prove this to you? Maybe you are thinking it was easy for me to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven.' There's no proof that it really happened. But what if I say to the man, ‘Stand up and walk'? Then you will be able to see that I really have this power." So Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "I tell you, stand up! Take your mat and go home!"

Everyone was completely amazed and began to praise God. They were filled with great respect for God's power. They said, "Today we saw amazing things!"

After this Jesus went out and saw a tax collector sitting at his place for collecting taxes. His name was Levi. Jesus said to him, "Follow me!"

Then Levi gave a big dinner at his house for Jesus. At the table there were many tax collectors and some other people too.

But the Pharisees and those who taught the law for the Pharisees began to complain to the followers of Jesus, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and other sinners?"

You can be happy then and jump for joy, because you have a great reward in heaven. The ancestors of those people did the same things to the prophets.

"But how bad it will be for you rich people, because you had your easy life.

How bad it will be for you people who are full now, because you will be hungry. How bad it will be for you people who are laughing now, because you will be sad and cry.

Ask God to bless the people who ask for bad things to happen to you. Pray for the people who are mean to you.

Give to everyone who asks you for something. When someone takes something that is yours, don't ask for it back.

Do for others what you want them to do for you.

"If you love only those who love you, should you get any special praise for doing that? No, even sinners love those who love them!

If you do good only to those who do good to you, should you get any special praise for doing that? No, even sinners do that!

If you lend things to people, always expecting to get something back, should you get any special praise for that? No, even sinners lend to other sinners so that they can get back the same amount!

He loves our people and he built the synagogue for us."

So Jesus went with them. He was coming near the officer's house when the officer sent friends to say, "Lord, you don't need to do anything special for me. I am not good enough for you to come into my house.