Study Desk

But what if the servant thinks, ‘My master won't be back for a while,' and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk?

"Why can't you decide for yourselves what is right?

he saw a woman who had been crippled by an evil spirit. She had been bent double for eighteen years and was unable to stand up straight.

But the leader in charge of the synagogue was indignant that Jesus had healed her on the Sabbath day. "There are six days of the week for working," he said to the crowd. "Come on those days to be healed, not on the Sabbath."

But the Lord replied, "You hypocrites! Each of you works on the Sabbath day! Don't you untie your ox or your donkey from its stall on the Sabbath and lead it out for water?

This dear woman, a daughter of Abraham, has been held in bondage by Satan for eighteen years. Isn't it right that she be released, even on the Sabbath?"

"Work hard to enter the narrow door to God's Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail.

When the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. You will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Lord, open the door for us!' But he will reply, ‘I don't know you or where you come from.'

"There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, for you will see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God, but you will be thrown out.

Yes, today, tomorrow, and the next day I must proceed on my way. For it wouldn't do for a prophet of God to be killed except in Jerusalem!

"Instead, take the lowest place at the foot of the table. Then when your host sees you, he will come and say, ‘Friend, we have a better place for you!' Then you will be honored in front of all the other guests.

For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."

Then he turned to his host. "When you put on a luncheon or a banquet," he said, "don't invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will invite you back, and that will be your only reward.

Then at the resurrection of the righteous, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you."

After the servant had done this, he reported, ‘There is still room for more.'

For none of those I first invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet.'"

"But don't begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?

"Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again?

Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown away. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!"

"If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won't he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it?