Study Desk

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)