Study Desk

"‘Listen, Joshua, the high priest, and your friends who are sitting in front of you. They are symbols of what will happen. I am going to bring my servant called the Branch.

"But now I will do something different. I am planning to do good to Jerusalem and Judah. So don't be afraid.

I will protect my Temple from armies who would come or go. No one will hurt my people again, because now I am watching them.

You prisoners who have hope, return to your place of safety. Today I am telling you that I will give you back twice as much as before.

The Lord says, "I am angry at my shepherds, and I will punish the leaders. I, the Lord All-Powerful, care for my flock, the people of Judah. I will make them like my proud war horses.

"I will strengthen the people of Judah and save the people of Joseph. I will bring them back, because I care about them. It will be as though I had never left them, because I am the Lord their God, and I will answer them.

Their buyers kill them and are not punished. Those who sell them say, ‘Praise the Lord , I am rich.' Even the shepherds don't feel sorry for their sheep.

because I am going to get a new shepherd for the country. He will not care for the dying sheep, or look for the young ones, or heal the injured ones, or feed the healthy. But he will eat the best sheep and tear off their hoofs.

Each of them will say, ‘I am not a prophet. I am a farmer and have been a farmer since I was young.'

The Lord All-Powerful says, "A son honors his father, and a servant honors his master." I am a father, so why don't you honor me? I am a master, so why don't you respect me? You priests do not respect me. "But you ask, ‘How have we shown you disrespect?'

"I wish one of you would close the Temple doors so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not pleased with you and will not accept your gifts," says the Lord All-Powerful.

"The person who cheats will be cursed. He has a male animal in his flock and promises to offer it, but then he offers to the Lord an animal that has something wrong with it. I am a great king," says the Lord All-Powerful, "and I am feared by all the nations.

Then you will know that I am giving you this command so my agreement with Levi will continue," says the Lord All-Powerful.

"I baptize you with water to show that your hearts and lives have changed. But there is one coming after me who is greater than I am, whose sandals I am not good enough to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love, and I am very pleased with him."

The officer answered, "Lord, I am not worthy for you to come into my house. You only need to command it, and my servant will be healed.

I, too, am a man under the authority of others, and I have soldiers under my command. I tell one soldier, ‘Go,' and he goes. I tell another soldier, ‘Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,' and my servant does it.

"Listen, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as clever as snakes and as innocent as doves.

Accept my teachings and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit, and you will find rest for your lives.

"Here is my servant whom I have chosen. I love him, and I am pleased with him. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will tell of my justice to all people.