Study Desk

Going on a little further He saw James the son of Zabdi and his brother John: they also were in the boat mending the nets, and He immediately called them.

They therefore left their father Zabdi in the boat with the hired men, and went and followed Him.

So they came to Capernaum, and on the next Sabbath He went to the synagogue and began to teach.

And all were amazed and awe-struck, so they began to ask one another, "What does this mean? Here is a new sort of teaching--and a tone of authority! And even to foul spirits he issues orders and they obey him!"

Then on leaving the synagogue they came at once, with James and John, to the house of Simon and Andrew.

Now Simon's mother-in-law was ill in bed with a fever, and without delay they informed Him about her.

Then He cured numbers of people who were ill with various diseases, and He drove out many demons; not allowing the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.

Finding themselves unable, however, to bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they untiled the roof just over His head, and after clearing an opening they lowered the mat on which the paralytic was lying.

The man rose, and immediately under the eyes of all took up his mat and went out, so that they were all filled with astonishment, gave the glory to God, and said, "We never saw anything like this."

But when the Scribes of the Pharisee sect saw Him eating with the sinners and the tax-gatherers, they said to His disciples, "He is eating and drinking with the tax-gatherers and sinners!"

(Now John's disciples and those of the Pharisees were keeping a fast.) And they came and asked Him, "How is it that John's disciples and those of the Pharisees are fasting, and yours are not?"

And the foul spirits, whenever they saw Him, threw themselves down at His feet, screaming out: "You are the Son of God."

Then He went up the hill; and those whom He Himself chose He called, and they came to Him.

He appointed twelve of them, that they might be with Him, and that He might also send them to proclaim His Message,

In solemn truth I tell you that all their sins may be pardoned to the sons of men, and all their blasphemies, however they may have blasphemed;

By this time His mother and His brothers arrive, and standing outside they send a message to Him to call Him.

Now a crowd was sitting round Him; so they tell Him, "Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, inquiring for you."

that "`They may look and look but not see, and listen and listen but not understand, lest perchance they should return and be pardoned.'"

Those who receive the seed by the way-side are those in whom the Message is sown, but, when they have heard it, Satan comes at once and carries away the Message sown in them.

For those who have will have more given them; and from those who have not, even what they have will be taken away."