Study Desk

But Jesus called them to Him, and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them.

Not so shall it be among you; but whoever desires to be great among you shall be your servant,

just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as the redemption-price for many."

The people angrily tried to silence them, but they cried all the louder. "O Sir, Son of David, pity us," they said.

"It is written," He said, "`My House shall be called the House of Prayer', but you are making it a robbers' cave."

But when the High Priests and the Scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done and the children who were crying aloud in the Temple, "God save the Son of David," they were filled with indignation.

and seeing a fig-tree on the road-side He went up to it, but found nothing on it but leaves. "On you," He said, "no fruit shall ever again grow." And immediately the fig-tree withered away.

"I solemnly tell you," said Jesus, "that if you have an unwavering faith, you shall not only perform such a miracle as this of the fig-tree, but that even if you say to this mountain, `Be thou lifted up and hurled into the sea,' it shall be done;

"But give me your judgement. There was a man who had two sons. He came to the elder of them, and said, "`My son, go and work in the vineyard to-day.'

"`I will not,' he replied. "But afterwards he was sorry, and went.

He came to the second and spoke in the same manner. His answer was, "`I will go, Sir.' "But he did not go.

but the vine-dressers seized the servants, and one they cruelly beat, one they killed, one they pelted with stones.

"But the vine-dressers, when they saw the son, said to one another, "`Here is the heir: come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.'

He who falls on this stone will be severely hurt; but he on whom it falls will be utterly crushed."

but though they were eager to lay hands upon Him, they were afraid of the people, for by them He was regarded as a Prophet.

and sent his servants to call the invited guests to the wedding, but they were unwilling to come.

"They however gave no heed, but went, one to his home in the country, another to his business;

Then he said to his servants, "`The wedding banquet is ready, but those who were invited were unworthy of it.

"For there are many called, but few chosen."

Now we had among us seven brothers. The eldest of them married, but died childless, leaving his wife to his brother.