Study Desk

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

"A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more."

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.

The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.

because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent.

At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.

Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.

But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.

He replied, "Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.

But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.

But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.

"‘No,' he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them.

And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.