Study Desk

"What shall I do for you?" said Jesus. "Rabboni," replied the blind man, "let me recover my sight."

But in the distance He saw a fig-tree in full leaf, and went to see whether perhaps He could find some figs on it. When however He came to it, He found nothing but leaves (for it was not fig time);

And He remonstrated with them. "Is it not written," He said, "`My House shall be called The House of Prayer for all the nations?' But you have made it what it now is--a robbers' cave."

This the High Priests and Scribes heard, and they began to devise means to destroy Him. For they were afraid of Him, because of the deep impression produced on all the people by His teaching.

That is why I tell you, as to whatever you pray and make request for, if you believe that you have received it it shall be yours.

Or should we say, `human?'" They were afraid of the people; for all agreed in holding John to have been really a Prophet.

Then He began to speak to them in figurative language. "There was once a man," He said, "who planted a vineyard, fenced it round, dug a pit for the wine-tank, and built a strong lodge. Then he let the place to vine-dressers and went abroad.

Again he sent to them another servant: and as for him, they wounded him in the head and treated him shamefully.

And they kept looking out for an opportunity to seize Him, but were afraid of the people; for they saw that in this parable He had referred to *them*. So they left Him and went away.

So they came to Him. "Rabbi," they said, "we know that you are a truthful man and you do not fear any one; for you do not recognize human distinctions, but teach God's way truly. Is it allowable to pay poll-tax to Caesar, or not?

Shall we pay, or shall we refuse to pay?" But He, knowing their hypocrisy, replied, "Why try to ensnare me? Bring me a shilling for me to look at."

"Rabbi," they said, "Moses made it a law for us: `If a man's brother should die and leave a wife, but no child, the man shall marry the widow and raise up a family for his brother.'

At the Resurrection whose wife will she be? For they all seven married her."

For when they have risen from among the dead, men do not marry and women are not given in marriage, but they are as angels are in Heaven.

for they have all contributed out of what they could well spare, but she out of her need has thrown in all she possessed--all she had to live on."

For nation will rise in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These miseries are but like the early pains of childbirth.

"You yourselves must be on your guard. They will deliver you up to Sanhedrins; you will be brought into synagogues and cruelly beaten; and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to be witnesses to them for me.

When however they are marching you along under arrest, do not be anxious beforehand about what you are to say, but speak what is given you when the time comes; for it will not be you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.

And alas for the women who at that time are with child or have infants!

For those will be times of suffering the like of which has never been from the first creation of God's world until now, and assuredly never will be again;