Study Desk

"For I have come to SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND 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 [own] HOUSEHOLD [when one believes and another does not].

"And he who does not take his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me] is not worthy of Me.

"Whoever finds his life [in this world] will [eventually] lose it [through death], and whoever loses his life [in this world] for My sake will find it [that is, life with Me for all eternity].

"And whoever gives to one of these little ones [these who are humble in rank or influence] even a cup of cold water to drink because he is my disciple, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward."

When Jesus had finished giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He went on from there to teach and to preach in their [Galilean] cities.

Now when John [the Baptist] in prison heard about the activities of Christ, he sent word by his disciples

Then He began to denounce [the people in] the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent [and change their hearts and lives].

At that particular time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them.

"HE WILL NOT QUARREL, NOR CRY OUT LOUDLY; NOR WILL ANYONE HEAR HIS VOICE IN THE STREETS.

"AND IN HIS NAME THE GENTILES (all the nations of the world) WILL HOPE [with confidence]."

"If Satan casts out Satan [that is, his demons], he has become divided against himself and disunited; how then will his kingdom stand?

"Or how can anyone go into a strong man's house and steal his property unless he first overpowers and ties up the strong man? Then he will ransack and rob his house.

"The good man, from his [inner] good treasure, brings out good things; and the evil man, from his [inner] evil treasure, brings out evil things.

While He was still talking to the crowds, it happened that His mother and brothers stood outside, asking to speak to Him.

And stretching out His hand toward His disciples [and all His other followers], He said, "Here are My mother and My brothers!

He told them many things in parables, saying, "Listen carefully: a sower went out to sow [seed in his field];

"When anyone hears the word of the kingdom [regarding salvation] and does not understand and grasp it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road.

Jesus gave them another parable [to consider], saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.

"But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds [resembling wheat] among the wheat, and went away.