Study Desk

"See, a virgin will become pregnantIsaiah 7:14;">[xr] and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel,"Isaiah 7:14">[fn] which means, "God with us."

After listening to the king, they set out, and the star they had seen in the eastat its rising">[fn] went ahead of them until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.

After they went into the house and saw the child with his mother Mary, they fell down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure sacks and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.Psalm 72:10; Isaiah 60:6;">[xr]

After they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, because Herod intends to search for the child and kill him."

"A voice was heard in Ramah: wailing and great mourning. Rachel was crying for her children. She refused to be comforted, because they no longer existed."Jeremiah 31:15">[fn]

He said to Jesus,him">[fn] "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written,Psalm 91:11-12;">[xr] 'GodHe">[fn] will put his angels in charge of you,' and 'With their hands they will hold you up, so that you will never hit your foot against a rock.'"Psalm 91:11-12">[fn]

While Jesushe">[fn] was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers - Simon, who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew. They were throwing a net into the sea because they were fishermen.Mark 1:16-18; Luke 5:2; John 1:42;">[xr]

So at once they left their nets and followed him.Mark 10:28; Luke 18:28;">[xr]

Going on from there he saw two other brothers - James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee repairing their nets. When he called them,Mark 1:19-20; Luke 5:10;">[xr]

they immediately left the boat and their father and followed him.

"How blessed are those who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness,justice">[fn]Isaiah 55:1; 65:13;">[xr] for it is they who will be satisfied!

Rejoice and be extremely glad, because your reward in heaven is great! For that's how they persecuted the prophets who came before you."2 Chronicles 36:16; Nehemiah 9:26; Matthew 23:34,37; Luke 6:23; Acts 5:41; 7:52; Romans 5:3; 1 Thessalonians 2:15; James 1:2; 1 Peter 4:13;">[xr]

In the same way, let your light shine before people in such a way that they will see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."John 15:8; 1 Corinthians 14:25; 1 Peter 2:12;">[xr]

And if you greet only your brothers, what great thing are you doing? Even the Gentilestax collectors">[fn] do the same, don't they?

So whenever you give to the poor, don't blow a trumpet before you like the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets so that they will be praised by people. Truly I tell you, they have their full reward!Romans 12:8;">[xr]

"And whenever you pray, don't be like the hypocrites who love to stand in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they will be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have their full reward!

Look at the birds in the sky. They don't plant or harvest or gather food into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. You are more valuable than they are, aren't you?Job 1:38:41; Psalm 147:9; Luke 12:24;">[xr]

And why do you worry about clothes? Consider the lilies in the field and how they grow. They don't work or spin yarn,

"Never give what is holy to dogs or throw your pearls before pigs. Otherwise, they will trample them with their feet and then turn around and attack you."Proverbs 9:7-8; 23:9; Acts 13:45-46;">[xr]

He said to them, "Go," and they came out and went into the pigs. Suddenly, the whole herd rushed down the cliff into the sea and died in the water.