Study Desk

"Happy are you when people insult you and persecute you and tell all kinds of evil lies against you because you are my followers.

Do not even swear by your head, because you cannot make a single hair white or black.

"When you pray, do not use a lot of meaningless words, as the pagans do, who think that their gods will hear them because their prayers are long.

"Go in through the narrow gate, because the gate to hell is wide and the road that leads to it is easy, and there are many who travel it.

The rain poured down, the rivers flooded over, and the wind blew hard against that house. But it did not fall, because it was built on rock.

As the men were leaving, some people brought to Jesus a man who could not talk because he had a demon.

As he saw the crowds, his heart was filled with pity for them, because they were worried and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Everyone will hate you because of me. But whoever holds out to the end will be saved.

Whoever welcomes God's messenger because he is God's messenger, will share in his reward. And whoever welcomes a good man because he is good, will share in his reward.

You can be sure that whoever gives even a drink of cold water to one of the least of these my followers because he is my follower, will certainly receive a reward."

At that time Jesus said, "Father, Lord of heaven and earth! I thank you because you have shown to the unlearned what you have hidden from the wise and learned.

Take my yoke and put it on you, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit; and you will find rest.

Then some people brought to Jesus a man who was blind and could not talk because he had a demon. Jesus healed the man, so that he was able to talk and see.

When the Pharisees heard this, they replied, "He drives out demons only because their ruler Beelzebul gives him power to do so."

You say that I drive out demons because Beelzebul gives me the power to do so. Well, then, who gives your followers the power to drive them out? What your own followers do proves that you are wrong!

On the Judgment Day the people of Nineveh will stand up and accuse you, because they turned from their sins when they heard Jonah preach; and I tell you that there is something here greater than Jonah!

On the Judgment Day the Queen of Sheba will stand up and accuse you, because she traveled all the way from her country to listen to King Solomon's wise teaching; and I assure you that there is something here greater than Solomon!

Some of it fell on rocky ground, where there was little soil. The seeds soon sprouted, because the soil wasn't deep.

But when the sun came up, it burned the young plants; and because the roots had not grown deep enough, the plants soon dried up.

because their minds are dull, and they have stopped up their ears and have closed their eyes. Otherwise, their eyes would see, their ears would hear, their minds would understand, and they would turn to me, says God, and I would heal them.'