Study Desk

"But the tenants took his servants and beat one, and killed another, and stoned a third.

"Finally he sent his own son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son and have regard for him.'

"But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, 'This [man] is the heir; come on, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.'

When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard His parables, they understood that He was talking about them.

"The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son.

"And he sent his servants to call those who had [previously] been invited to the wedding feast, but they refused to come.

"But they paid no attention [they disregarded the invitation, treating it with contempt] and went away, one to his farm, another to his business.

"The rest [of the invited guests] seized his servants and mistreated them [insulting and humiliating them] and killed them.

"The king was enraged [when he heard this], and sent his soldiers and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

"Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding [feast] is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy.

saying, "Teacher, Moses said, 'IF A MAN DIES, LEAVING NO CHILDREN, HIS BROTHER AS NEXT OF KIN SHALL MARRY HIS WIDOW, AND RAISE CHILDREN FOR HIS BROTHER.'

"Now there were seven brothers among us; the first married and died, and having no children left his wife to his brother.

When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.

Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples,

"Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'Whoever swears [an oath] by the sanctuary of the temple, that is nothing (non-binding); but whoever swears [an oath] by the gold of the temple is obligated [as a debtor to fulfill his vow and keep his promise].'

"And [you scribes and Pharisees say], 'Whoever swears [an oath] by the altar, that is nothing (non-binding), but whoever swears [an oath] by the offering on it, he is obligated [as a debtor to fulfill his vow and keep his promise].'

"Listen carefully: your house is being left to you desolate [completely abandoned by God and destitute of His protection]!

Jesus left the temple area and was going on His way when His disciples came up to Him to call His attention to the [magnificent and massive] buildings of the temple.

"Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things that are in his house [because there will not be enough time].

"Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his coat.