Study Desk

When a strong man armed keepeth his doorway, his property rests securely.

But if a stronger than he come and overpower him, he taketh away all his arms on which he relied, and divideth the spoil of him.

And when he had said these things to them, the Scribes and Pharisees began to be offended, and became angry, and carped at his discourses,

and practised many wiles upon him, seeking to catch some thing from his lips, that they might accuse him.

And when great multitudes were assembled by myriads, so that they trod one upon another, Jesus began to say to his disciples: First of all, beware for yourselves of that leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

And he said to his disciples: Beware of all avarice, for life consisteth not in abundance of riches.

And he said to his disciples: Therefore I tell you, Be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat; nor for your body, what ye shall put on.

And which of you, by taking pains, can add one cubit to his stature?

Consider the lilies, how they grow: they toil not, nor do they spin. Yet I say to you, that not even Solomon in all his glory, was clothed like one of these.

Happy are those servants, whom their lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing. Verily I say to you: He will gird his loins, and make them recline, and will pass around and serve them.

And this know ye, that if the lord of the house had known at what watch the thief would come, he would have been awake and would not have suffered his house to be broken into.

Jesus said to him: Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord will place over all his domestics, to give them their portion in due time?

Happy is that servant whom his lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing.

Verily I say to you: He will place him over all his possessions.

But if that servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to smite the servants and the maidens of his lord; and shall begin to eat and to drink and be drunk;

the lord of that servant will come in a day he thinketh not, and in an hour he knoweth not, and will cut him in two; and will assign him his portion with them that are unfaithful.

And the servant that knew his lord's pleasure, and did not prepare for him according to his pleasure, shall be beaten with many [fn] .

But he that knew not, yet did that which deserved stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For to whomsoever much is given, from him will much be required; and to whom much is committed, the more will be required at his hand.

For a father will be divided against his son, and a son against his father; a mother against her daughter, and a daughter against her mother; a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

And he spoke this similitude: A man had a fig-tree that was planted in his vineyard: and he came, seeking fruits upon it, and found none.