Study Desk

"The LORD of armies says this: 'Let your hands be strong, you who are listening in these days to these words from the mouth of the prophets, those who spoke in the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of armies was laid, so that the temple might be built.

You have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet you say, "How have we wearied Him?" In that you say, "Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and He delights in them," or, "Where is the God of justice?"

"Your words have been arrogant against Me," says the LORD. "Yet you say, 'What have we spoken against You?'

"And when you are praying, do not use thoughtless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words.

"Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts on them, will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

"And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.

When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching;

"And whoever does not receive you nor listen to your words, as you leave that house or city, shake the dust off your feet.

"For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

When Jesus had finished these words, He left Galilee and came into the region of Judea beyond the Jordan;

"Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

When Jesus had finished all these words, He said to His disciples,

"For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."

But he was deeply dismayed by these words, and he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.

And the disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus responded again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!

"Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

And again He went away and prayed, saying the same words.

"And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time."

as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: "THE VOICE OF ONE CALLING OUT IN THE WILDERNESS, 'PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT!

And all the people were speaking well of Him, and admiring the gracious words which were coming from His lips; and yet they were saying, "Is this not Joseph's son?"