Study Desk

Think how the flowers grow. They do not work or make cloth. Yet, I tell you, that King Solomon in all his greatness was not dressed as well as one of these flowers.

But understand this, that if the owner of a house had known when the robber was coming, he would have been watching. He would not have allowed his house to be broken into.

The Lord said, "Who is the faithful and wise servant his owner made boss over the others? He is the one who is to have food ready at the right time.

That servant is happy who is doing his work when the owner comes.

But the servant who did not know what his owner wanted done, but did things that would be reason to be beaten, will be beaten only a few times. The man who receives much will have to give much. If much is given to a man to take care of, men will expect to get more from him.

Then He told them this picture-story: "A man had a fig tree in his grape-field. He looked for fruit on it but found none.

He said to his servant, ‘See! For three years I have been coming here looking for fruit on this fig tree. I never find any. Cut it down. Why does it even waste the ground?'

Then He put His hand on her. At once she stood up straight and gave thanks to God.

The Lord said to him, "You pretend to be someone you are not! Do not each of you let his cow or his donkey out and lead them to water on the Day of Rest?

It is like a mustard seed which a man took and planted in his field. It grew and became a tree. The birds of the sky stayed in its branches."

Jesus taught the people as He went through the cities and towns on His way to Jerusalem.

And they were not able to answer His questions.

Then Jesus said to the man who asked Him to eat in his house, "When you have a supper, do not ask your friends or your brothers or your family or your rich neighbors. They will ask you to come to their place for a supper. That way you will be paid back for what you have done.

"The servant went back to his owner and told him these things. Then his owner became angry. He said to his servant, ‘Hurry into the streets and narrow roads of the city and bring poor people here. Bring those whose bodies are diseased. Bring those who cannot walk and those who are blind.'

Then the owner said to his servant, ‘Go out along the roads leading away from the city and into the fields. Tell them they must come. Do this so my house will be filled.

"If any man comes to Me and does not have much more love for Me than for his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be My follower.

If he does not carry his cross and follow Me, he cannot be My follower.

I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven because of one sinner who is sorry for his sins and turns from them, than for ninety-nine people right with God who do not have sins to be sorry for.

I tell you, it is the same way among the angels of God. If one sinner is sorry for his sins and turns from them, the angels are very happy."

The younger son said to his father, ‘Father, let me have the part of the family riches that will be coming to me.' Then the father divided all that he owned between his two sons.