Study Desk

When they found Him they said, "Every one is looking for you."

"Let us go elsewhere, to the neighbouring country towns," He replied, "that I may proclaim my Message there also; because for that purpose I came from God."

and saying, "Be careful not to tell any one, but go and show yourself to the Priest, and for your purification present the offerings that Moses appointed as evidence for them."

But the man, when he went out, began to tell every one and to publish the matter abroad, so that it was no longer possible for Jesus to go openly into any town; but He had to remain outside in unfrequented places, where people came to Him from all parts.

and such numbers of people came together that there was no longer room for them even round the door. He was speaking His Message to them,

When He was sitting at table in Levi's house, a large number of tax-gatherers and notorious sinners were at table with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many such who habitually followed Him.

And Jesus said to them: "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath;

For He had cured many of the people, so that all who had any ailments pressed upon Him, to touch Him.

And He went into a house. But again the crowd assembled, so that there was no opportunity for them even to snatch a meal.

Hearing of this, His relatives came to seize Him by force, for they said, "He is out of his mind."

So He called them to Him, and using figurative language He appealed to them, saying, "How is it possible for Satan to expel Satan?

For if civil war breaks out in a kingdom, nothing can make that kingdom last;

but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, he remains for ever unabsolved: he is guilty of a sin of the Ages."

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

"Here are my mother and my brothers. For wherever there is one who has been obedient to God, there is my brother--my sister--and my mother."

but they have no root within them. They last for a time; then, when suffering or persecution comes because of the Message, they are immediately overthrown.

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

With many such parables He used to speak the Message to them according to their capacity for receiving it.

Then they were filled with terror, and began to say to one another, "Who is this, then? For even wind and sea obey Him."

for many a time he had been left securely bound in fetters and chains, but afterwards the chains lay torn link from link, and the fetters in fragments, and there was no one strong enough to master him.