Study Desk

Prisoners, go home! Now you have something to hope for. I am telling you now, I am coming back to you.

The Lord says, "I am very angry with the shepherds. I made them responsible for what happens to my sheep." (The people of Judah are his flock, and the Lord All-Powerful really does take care of his flock. He cares for them as a soldier cares for his beautiful war horse.)

I will make Judah's family strong. I will help Joseph's family win the war. I will bring them back safely and comfort them. It will be as if I never left them. I am the Lord their God, and I will help them.

Buyers kill their sheep and are not punished. Those who sell the sheep say, ‘Praise the Lord , I am rich!' The shepherds don't feel sorry for their sheep.

They will say, ‘I am not a prophet. I am a farmer. I have worked as a farmer since I was a little child.'

The Lord All-Powerful said, "Children honor their fathers. Servants honor their masters. I am your Father, so why don't you honor me? I am your master, so why don't you respect me? You priests don't respect my name. "But you say, ‘What have we done that shows we don't respect your name?'

"I wish one of you would close the Temple doors to stop the lighting of useless fires on my altar. I am not pleased with you. I will not accept your gifts." This is what the Lord All-Powerful said.

"Some people have good, male animals that they could give as sacrifices, but don't. Some people bring good animals and promise to give those healthy animals to me. But then they secretly exchange those good animals and give me sick animals instead. Bad things will happen to those people. I am the Great King and people all around the world respect me!" This is what the Lord All-Powerful said.

Then you will learn why I am giving you this command. I am telling you these things so that my agreement with Levi will continue." This is what the Lord All-Powerful said.

The Lord All-Powerful says, "I am sending my messenger to prepare the way for me. Then suddenly, the Lord you are looking for will come to his temple. Yes, the messenger you are waiting for, the one who will tell about my agreement, is really coming!

"I am the Lord , and I don't change. You are Jacob's children, and you have not been completely destroyed.

"I baptize you with water to show that you have changed your hearts and lives. But there is someone coming later who is able to do more than I can. I am not good enough to be the slave who takes off his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

A voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, the one I love. I am very pleased with him."

What I am saying is that you must be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

The officer answered, "Lord, I am not good enough for you to come into my house. You need only to give the order, and my servant will be healed.

Jesus went inside, and the blind men went with him. He asked them, "Do you believe that I am able to make you see again?" They answered, "Yes, Lord, we believe."

"Listen! I am sending you, and you will be like sheep among wolves. So be smart like snakes. But also be like doves and don't hurt anyone.

Students should be happy to be treated the same as their teacher. And servants should be happy to be treated the same as their master. If those people call me ‘the ruler of demons,' and I am the head of the family, then it is even more certain that they will insult you, the members of the family!

Then Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. I am thankful that you have hidden these things from those who are so wise and so smart. But you have shown them to people who are like little children.

Accept my teaching. Learn from me. I am gentle and humble in spirit. And you will be able to get some rest.