Study Desk

When Jesus was leaving, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the place for collecting taxes. Jesus said to him, "Follow me." So he got up and followed Jesus.

On the way, there was a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years. She came close behind Jesus and touched the bottom of his coat.

Jesus continued going with the Jewish leader and went into the leader's house. He saw people there who make music for funerals. And he saw a crowd of people crying loudly.

Jesus saw the many people and felt sorry for them because they were worried and helpless—like sheep without a shepherd to lead them.

If the people in that home welcome you, they are worthy of your peace. May they have the peace you wished for them. But if they don't welcome you, they are not worthy of your peace. Take back the peace you wished for them.

I can assure you that on the judgment day it will be worse for that town than for the people of Sodom and Gomorrah.

I tell you all this secretly, but I want you to tell it publicly. Whatever I tell you privately, you should shout for everyone to hear.

Those who try to keep the life they have will lose it. But those who give up their life for me will find true life.

When Jesus finished these instructions for his twelve followers, he left there. He went to the towns in Galilee to teach the people and tell them God's message.

They asked him, "Are you the one we have been expecting, or should we wait for someone else?"

This Scripture was written about him: ‘Listen! I will send my messenger ahead of you. He will prepare the way for you.'

‘We played flute music for you, but you did not dance; we sang a funeral song, but you were not sad.'

Jesus said, "It will be bad for you Chorazin! It will be bad for you Bethsaida! I did many miracles in you. If these same miracles had happened in Tyre and Sidon, the people there would have changed their lives a long time ago. They would have worn sackcloth and put ashes on themselves to show that they were sorry for their sins.

But I tell you, on the day of judgment it will be worse for you than for Tyre and Sidon.

But I tell you, it will be worse for you in the day of judgment than for Sodom."

David went into God's house. He and those with him ate the bread that was offered to God. It was against the law for David or those with him to eat that bread. Only the priests were allowed to eat it.

And you have read in the Law of Moses that on every Sabbath day the priests at the Temple break the law about the Sabbath day. But they are not wrong for doing that.

In the synagogue there was a man with a crippled hand. Some Jews there were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus of doing wrong. So they asked him, "Is it right to heal on the Sabbath day?"

This was to give full meaning to what Isaiah the prophet said when he spoke for God:

"So I tell you, people can be forgiven for every sinful thing they do and for every bad thing they say against God. But anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.