Study Desk

Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.

And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'

And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.' So he divided his wealth between them.

And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate living recklessly.

So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

So he rose up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet,

"Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.

But he became angry and was not wanting to go in, and his father came out and began pleading with him.

But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and never have I neglected a command of yours. And yet never have you given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends.

Now He was also saying to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a steward, and this steward was reported to him as squandering his possessions.

And he summoned each one of his master's debtors, and he began saying to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?'

And his master praised the unrighteous steward because he had acted shrewdly, for the sons of this age are more shrewd in relation to their own kind than the sons of light.

"The Law and the Prophets were until John; since that time the good news of the kingdom of God is proclaimed, and everyone is forcing his way into it.

"Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman who is divorced from a husband commits adultery.

But a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores,

and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man's table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores.

And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and *saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom.