Study Desk

But if God dresses the grass of the field in this way, although it is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not do so much more for you, you of little faith?

Now when Jesus heard this, he was astonished, and said to those who were following him, "Truly I say to you, I have found such great faith with no one in Israel.

And he said to them, "Why are you fearful, you of little faith?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea and there was a great calm.

And behold, they brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher, and when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Have courage, child, your sins are forgiven."

But Jesus, turning around and seeing her, said, "Have courage, daughter! Your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed from that hour.

Then he touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith let it be done for you."

And immediately Jesus extended his hand and caught him and said to him, "You of little faith! Why did you doubt?"

Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, your faith is great! Let it be done for you as you want." And her daughter was healed from that hour.

But knowing this, Jesus said, "Why are you discussing among yourselves that you did not take bread, you of little faith?

And he said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly I say to you, if you have faith like a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you." Now as they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised." And they were extremely distressed. Now when they arrived in Capernaum, the ones who collected the double drachma tax came up to Peter and said, "Does your teacher not pay the double drachma tax?" He said, "Yes." And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect tolls or taxes—from their own sons, or from foreigners?" And when he said, "From foreigners," Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are free. But so that we do not give offense to them, go out to the sea, cast a line with a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. And when you open its mouth, you will find a four-drachma coin. Take that and give it to them for me and you."

The Transfiguration And after six days Jesus took along Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothing became bright as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with him. So Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good that we are here! If you want, I will make here three shelters, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him!" And when the disciples heard this, they fell down on their faces and were extremely frightened. And Jesus came and touched them and said, "Get up and do not be afraid." And when they lifted up their eyes they saw no one except him—Jesus alone. And as they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them saying, "Tell no one the vision until the Son of Man is raised from the dead." And the disciples asked him, saying, "Then why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" And he answered and said, "Elijah indeed is coming, and will restore all things. But I say to you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did with him whatever they wanted. In the same way also the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands." Then the disciples understood that he had spoken to them about John the Baptist. And when they came to the crowd, a man approached him, kneeling down before him and saying, "Lord, have mercy on my son, because he has seizures and suffers severely, for often he falls into the fire and often into the water. And I brought him to your disciples, and they were not able to heal him." And Jesus answered and said, "O unbelieving and perverse generation! How long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him here to me!" And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him and the boy was healed from that hour. Then the disciples approached Jesus privately and said, Why were we not able to expel it?" And he said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly I say to you, if you have faith like a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you."

And Jesus answered and said to them, "Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will do not only what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea," it will happen!