Study Desk

"He who wants to keep his life will have it taken away from him. He who loses his life will have it given back to him.

He said, "There was a man in one of the cities who was head of the court. His work was to say if a person was guilty or not. This man was not afraid of God. He did not respect any man.

Will not God make the things that are right come to His chosen people who cry day and night to Him? Will He wait a long time to help them?

But the man who gathered taxes stood a long way off. He would not even lift his eyes to heaven. But he hit himself on his chest and said, ‘God, have pity on me! I am a sinner!'

I tell you, this man went back to his house forgiven, and not the other man. For whoever makes himself look more important than he is will find out how little he is worth. Whoever does not try to honor himself will be made important."

People took their little children to Jesus so He could put His hand on them. When His followers saw it, they spoke sharp words to the people.

Jesus said to them, "For sure, I tell you, anyone who has left his house or parents or brothers or wife or children because of the holy nation of God

At once he came down and was glad to have Jesus come to his house.

But other men in his country hated him. They sent men after him to tell him they did not want him as their king.

After he had been given the other nation, he returned as king. He asked for his servants who had received the money to come to him. He wanted to know how much more they had after putting it to use.

When Jesus was coming near the towns of Bethphage and Bethany by the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His followers on ahead.

At the time of gathering fruit he sent one of his servants to the farmers to get some of the fruit. But the farmers beat him and sent him away without fruit.

"Teacher, Moses wrote to us in the Law, ‘If a man's brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, then his brother must marry her. He should have children for his brother who died.'

The second brother took her for his wife. He died without children.

The third brother took her for his wife. In the same way all seven took her for a wife. They all died without children.

David calls Him, ‘Lord!' Then how can He be his son?"

All the people were listening. He said to His followers,

Then He said to them, "But now whoever has a money-bag and a bag for food should take it. Whoever does not have a sword should sell his coat and buy one.

He walked away from them about as far as a stone can be thrown. There He got down with His face on the ground and prayed.

His heart was much troubled and He prayed all the more. Water ran from His face like blood and fell to the ground.