Study Desk

"I tell you that even if he will not rise and give him the loaves because he is his friend, at any rate because of his persistency he will rouse himself and give him as many as he requires.

And what father is there among you, who, if his son asks for a slice of bread, will offer him a stone? or if he asks for a fish, will instead of a fish offer him a snake?

And if Satan really has engaged in fierce conflict with himself, how shall his kingdom stand?--because you say that I expel demons by the power of Baal-zebul.

"Whenever a strong man, fully armed and equipped, is guarding his own castle, he enjoys peaceful possession of his property;

but as soon as another stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away that complete armour of his in which he trusted, and distributes the plunder he has collected.

When He had thus spoken, a Pharisee invited Him to breakfast at his house; so He entered and took His place at table.

Now the Pharisee saw to his surprise that He did not wash His hands before breakfasting.

lying in wait to catch some unguarded expression from His lips.

Meanwhile the people had come streaming towards Him by tens of thousands, so that they were trampling one another under foot. And now He proceeded to say to His disciples first, "Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, that is to say, beware of hypocrisy.

And to the people He said, "Take care, be on your guard against all covetousness, for no one's life consists in the superabundance of his possessions."

Then turning to His disciples He said, "For this reason I say to you, `Dismiss all anxious care for your lives, inquiring what you are to eat, and for your bodies, what you are to put on.'

And which of you is able by anxious thought to add a moment to his life?

Observe the lilies, how they grow. They neither labour nor spin. And yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was as beautifully dressed as one of these.

But make His Kingdom the object of your pursuit, and these things shall be given you in addition.

Of this be sure, that if the master of the house had known what time the robber was coming, he would have kept awake and not have allowed his house to be broken into.

"Who, then," replied the Lord, "is the faithful and intelligent steward whom his Master will put in charge of His household to serve out their rations at the proper times?

Blessed is that servant whom his Master when He comes shall find so doing.

I tell you truly that He will put him in authority over all His possessions.

But if that servant should say in his heart, `My Master is a long time in coming,' and should begin to beat the menservants and the maids, and to eat and drink, drinking even to excess;

And that servant who has been told his Master's will and yet made no preparation and did not obey His will, will receive many lashes.