Study Desk

He was praying^(a) in a certain place, and when He finished, one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples."^(b)

He said to them, "Whenever you pray, say: ^(c) Father, ^[a](d) Your name^(e) be honored as holy. ^(f) Your kingdom come. ^[b](g)

Give us each day our daily bread. ^[c](h)

And forgive us our sins, ⁽ⁱ⁾ for we ourselves also forgive everyone in debt to us. ^[d](j) And do not bring us into temptation." ^[e](k)

He also said to them: "Suppose one of you^[f] has a friend and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread,

because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I don't have anything to offer him.'^[g]

Then he will answer from inside and say, ‘Don't bother me! The door is already locked, and my children and I have gone to bed. I can't get up to give you anything.'

I tell you, even though he won't get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his friend's persistence,^[h] he will get up and give him as much as he needs. ^(l)

"So^(m) I say to you, keep asking, ^[i](n) and it will be given to you. Keep searching, ^[j](o) and you will find. Keep knocking, ^[k](p) and the door will be opened to you.

For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

What father among you, if his son^[l] asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish?

Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?

If you then, who are evil,^(q) know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father^(r) give^[m] the Holy Spirit^(s) to those who ask Him?"

Now^(t) He was driving out a demon^(u) that was mute.^[n](v) When the demon came out, the man who had been mute, spoke, and the crowds were amazed.

But some of them said, "He drives out demons by Beelzebul,^(w) the ruler^(x) of the demons!"^(y)

And others, as a test,^(z) were demanding of Him a sign^(aa) from heaven.

Knowing their thoughts,^(ab) He told them: "Every kingdom divided^(ac) against itself is headed for destruction, and a house divided against itself falls.

If Satan^(ad) also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom^(ae) stand? For you say I drive out demons by Beelzebul.

And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, who is it your sons ^[o](af) drive them out by? For this reason they will be your judges.

If I drive out demons by the finger of God,^(ag) then the kingdom of God^(ah) has come to you.

When a strong man, fully armed, guards his estate, his possessions are secure.^[p]

But when one stronger than he attacks and overpowers^(ai) him, he takes from him all his weapons ^[q](aj) he trusted^(ak) in, and divides up his plunder.^(al)

Anyone who is not with Me is against Me,^(am) and anyone who does not gather with Me scatters.

"When^(an) an unclean spirit^(ao) comes out of a man, it roams through waterless places looking for rest,^(ap) and not finding rest, it then^[r] says, ‘I'll go back to my house where I came from.'

And returning, it finds the house swept and put in order.

Then it goes and brings seven other spirits^(aq) more evil than itself, and they enter and settle down there. As a result, that man's last condition is worse than the first." ^(ar)

As He was saying these things, a woman from the crowd^(as) raised her voice and said to Him, "The womb that bore You and the one who nursed You^(at) are blessed!"

He said, "Even more, those who hear the word of God^(au) and keep it^(av) are blessed!"

As the crowds were increasing, He began saying: "This generation^(aw) is an evil generation.^(ax) It demands a sign,^(ay) but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. ^[s](az)

For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so also the Son of Man^(ba) will be to this generation.

The queen of the south^(bb) will rise up at the judgment^(bc) with the men of this generation and condemn^(bd) them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon,^(be) and look—something greater than Solomon is here!

The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at Jonah's proclamation, and look—something greater than Jonah is here!

"No^(bf) one lights a lamp^(bg) and puts it in the cellar or under a basket,^[t] but on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see its light.

Your eye is the lamp of the body.^(bh) When your eye is good, your whole body is also full of light. But when it is bad,^(bi) your body is also full of darkness.

Take care then, that the light in you is not darkness.

If, therefore, your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be entirely illuminated, as when a lamp shines its light on you." ^[u]

As He was speaking, a Pharisee^(bj) asked Him to dine with him. So He went in and reclined at the table.

When the Pharisee saw this, he was amazed that He did not first perform the ritual washing^[v](bk) before dinner.^(bl)

But the Lord said to him: "Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed^(bm) and evil.^(bn)

Fools!^(bo) Didn't He who made the outside make the inside too?

But give from what is within to the poor,^[w](bp) and then everything is clean^(bq) for you.

"But woe^(br) to you Pharisees! You give a tenth ^[x](bs) of mint, rue, and every kind of herb, and you bypass^[y] justice^(bt) and love for God. ^[z](bu) These things you should have done without neglecting the others.

"Woe to you Pharisees! You love the front seat^(bv) in the synagogues^(bw) and greetings in the marketplaces.

"Woe to you!^[aa] You are like unmarked graves;^(bx) the people who walk over them don't know it."

One of the experts in the law^(by) answered Him, "Teacher, when You say these things You insult us too."

Then He said: "Woe also to you experts in the law! You load people with burdens^(bz) that are hard to carry, yet you yourselves don't touch these burdens with one of your fingers. ^(ca)

"Woe to you! You build monuments^[ab] to the prophets,^(cb) and your fathers killed^(cc) them.

Therefore, you are witnesses^(cd) that you approve ^[ac](ce) the deeds of your fathers, for they killed them, and you build their monuments.^[ad]

Because of this, the wisdom of God^(cf) said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles,^(cg) and some of them they will kill and persecute,'^(ch)

so that this generation^(ci) may be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world ^[ae](cj) —

from the blood of Abel^(ck) to the blood of Zechariah,^(cl) who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. "Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible. ^[af]

"Woe to you experts in the law! You have taken away the key of knowledge!^(cm) You didn't go in yourselves, and you hindered^(cn) those who were going in."

When He left there,^[ag] the scribes and the Pharisees began to oppose^(co) Him fiercely and to cross-examine Him about many things;

they were lying in wait^(cp) for Him to trap Him in something He said.^[ah](cq)

In these circumstances,^[a] a crowd of many thousands came together, so that they were trampling^(a) on one another. He began to say to His disciples first:^(b) "Be on your guard^(c) against the yeast ^[b](d) of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. ^(e)

There is nothing covered that won't be uncovered,^(f) nothing hidden that won't be made known.^(g)

Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in an ear in private rooms^(h) will be proclaimed on the housetops. ⁽ⁱ⁾

"And I say to you, My friends,^(j) don't fear^(k) those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more.

But I will show you the One to fear: Fear^(l) Him who has authority to throw people into hell^(m) after death. Yes, I say to you, this is the One to fear!

Aren't five sparrows sold for two pennies?^[c] Yet not one of them is forgotten in God's sight. ⁽ⁿ⁾

Indeed, the hairs of your head are all counted. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows!

"And I say to you, anyone who acknowledges^(o) Me before men, the Son of Man^(p) will also acknowledge him before the angels of God, ^(q)

but whoever denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.^(r)

Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven,^(s) but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit^(t) will not be forgiven.

Whenever^(u) they bring you before synagogues and rulers and authorities,^(v) don't worry^(w) about how you should defend^(x) yourselves or what you should say.

For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what must be said." ^(y)

Someone from the crowd said to Him, "Teacher,^(z) tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."

"Friend," ^[d] He said to him, "who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?"

He then told them, "Watch out and be on guard^(aa) against all greed^(ab) because one's life is not in the abundance of his possessions." ^(ac)

Then He told them a parable:^(ad) "A rich^(ae) man's land was very productive.

He thought to himself, ‘What should I do, since I don't have anywhere to store my crops?

I will do this,' he said. ‘I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my grain and my goods there.

Then I'll say to myself, "You^[e] have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy;^(af) eat, drink, and enjoy yourself."' ^(ag)

"But God said to him, ‘You fool!^(ah) This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared—whose will they be?'^(ai)

"That's how it is with the one who stores up treasure^(aj) for himself and is not rich toward God." ^(ak)

Then He said to His disciples: "Therefore I tell you,^(al) don't worry about your life, what you will eat; or about the body, what you will wear. ^(am)

For life is more than food and the body more than clothing.

Consider the ravens:^(an) They don't sow or reap; they don't have a storeroom or a barn; yet God feeds them.^(ao) Aren't you worth much more than the birds?

Can any of you add a cubit to his height^[f] by worrying? ^(ap)

If then you're not able to do even a little thing, why worry about the rest?

"Consider how the wildflowers grow: They don't labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon^(aq) in all his splendor was adorned like one of these!

If that's how God clothes the grass, which is in the field today and is thrown into the furnace tomorrow, how much more will He do for you—you of little faith? ^(ar)

Don't keep striving for what you should eat and what you should drink, and don't be anxious.

For the Gentile world eagerly seeks^(as) all these things, and your Father^(at) knows that you need them.

"But seek His kingdom,^(au) and these things will be provided for you. ^(av)

Don't be afraid,^(aw) little flock,^(ax) because your Father delights^(ay) to give you the kingdom. ^(az)

Sell^(ba) your possessions and give to the poor.^(bb) Make money-bags^(bc) for yourselves that won't grow old, an inexhaustible treasure^(bd) in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ^(be)

"Be ready for service^[g] and have your lamps lit. ^(bf)

You must be like people waiting for their master^(bg) to return^[h] from the wedding banquet^(bh) so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once. ^(bi)

Those slaves the master will find alert^(bj) when he comes will be blessed. I assure you: He will get ready,^[i] have them recline at the table, then come and serve them. ^(bk)

If he comes in the middle of the night, or even near dawn,^[j] and finds them alert, those slaves are blessed.

But know this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming,^(bl) he would not have let his house be broken into.

You also be ready,^(bm) because the Son of Man^(bn) is coming at an hour that you do not expect." ^(bo)

"Lord," Peter asked, "are You telling this parable to us or to everyone?"

The Lord said: "Who then is the faithful and sensible manager^(bp) his master will put in charge of his household servants to give them their allotted food^(bq) at the proper time?

That slave whose master finds him working when he comes will be rewarded.

I tell you the truth: He will put him in charge of all his possessions.

But if that slave says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,'^(br) and starts to beat the male and female slaves, and to eat and drink and get drunk,

that slave's master will come on a day he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know. He will cut him to pieces^[k] and assign him a place with the unbelievers.^[l]

And that slave who knew his master's will and didn't prepare himself or do it^[m] will be severely beaten. ^(bs)

But the one who did not know and did things deserving^(bt) of blows will be beaten lightly. Much will be required of everyone who has been given much. And even more will be expected of the one who has been entrusted with more. ^[n](bu)

"I came^(bv) to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already set ablaze!

But I have a baptism to be baptized with,^(bw) and how it consumes^(bx) Me until it is finished! ^(by)

Do you think that I came here to give peace to the earth?^(bz) No, I tell you, but rather division!

From now on, five in one household will be divided: three against two, and two against three.

They will be divided, father against son, son against father, mother against daughter, daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law. " ^(ca)[o]

He also said to the crowds:^(cb) "When you see a cloud rising in the west, right away you say, ‘A storm is coming,' and so it does. ^(cc)

And when the south wind is blowing, you say, ‘It's going to be a scorcher!' and it is.

Hypocrites!^(cd) You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but why don't you know how to interpret this time? ^(ce)

"Why don't you judge for yourselves what is right? ^(cf)

As you are going with your adversary^(cg) to the ruler, make an effort to settle with him on the way. Then he won't drag you before the judge,^(ch) the judge hand you over to the bailiff, and the bailiff throw you into prison. ^(ci)

I tell you, you will never get out of there until you have paid the last cent." ^[p](cj)