Study Desk

But he answered his father, "Listen! All these years I've worked like a slave for you. I've never disobeyed a command of yours. Yet you've never given me so much as a young goat so that I could celebrate with my friends.

But this son of yours spent your money on prostitutes, and when he came back, you killed the fattened calf for him!'

So he called for him and asked him, 'What's this I hear about you? Give me a report about your management, because you can't be my manager any longer.'

"So he called for each of his master's debtors. He asked the first, 'How much do you owe my master?'

The master praised the dishonest manager for being so clever. For worldly peoplethe sons of this age">[fn] are more clever than enlightened peoplethe sons of light">[fn] in dealing with their own generation.John 12:36; Ephesians 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:5;">[xr]

"I'm telling you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous riches,mammon, an Aram. term meaning wealth">[fn] so that when they're gone you'll be welcomedthey will welcome you">[fn] into eternal homes.tents">[fn]Daniel 4:27; Matthew 6:19; 19:21; Luke 11:41; 1 Timothy 6:17-19;">[xr]

"No servant can serve two masters. For either he will hate one and love the other, or be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and riches!"mammon, an Aram. term meaning wealth">[fn]Matthew 6:24;">[xr]

So he said to them, "You try to justify yourselves in front of people, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly valued by people is detestable to God.1 Samuel 16:7; Psalm 7:9; Luke 10:29;">[xr]

However, it is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for one stroke of a letter in the law to be dropped.Psalm 102:21,27; Isaiah 40:8; 51:6; Matthew 5:18; 1 Peter 1:25;">[xr]

for I have five brothers - to warn them, so that they won't end up in this place of torture, too.'

JesusHe">[fn] said to his disciples, "It is inevitable that temptations to sin will come, but how terrible it will be for the person through whom they come!Matthew 18:6-7; Mark 9:42; 1 Corinthians 11:19;">[xr]

It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.

Of course not. Instead, he would say to him, 'Get dinner ready for me, and put on your apron and wait on me until I eat and drink. Then you can eat and drink.'Luke 12:37;">[xr]

He doesn't praise the servant for doing what was commanded, does he?

PeopleThey">[fn] won't say, 'Look! Here it is!' or "There it is!' For the kingdom of God is amongwithin">[fn] you."Luke 17:23; Romans 14:17;">[xr]

For just as lightning flashes and shines from one end of the sky to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.in his day">[fn]Matthew 24:27;">[xr]

For a while the judgehe">[fn] refused. But later he said to himself, 'I don't fear God or respect people.

I tell you, this man, rather than the other, went down to his home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the person who humbles himself will be exalted."Job 1:22:29; Matthew 23:12; Luke 14:11; James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5-6;">[xr]

Jesus, however, called for them and said, "Let the little children come to me, and stop keeping them away. For the kingdom of God belongs to people like these.1 Corinthians 14:20; 1 Peter 2:2;">[xr]

Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? Nobody is good except for one - God.