Luke

Book Outhne

Key theme: Our Lord’s journeys as the Son of Man

Key verse:

I. Introduction ()

II. Journey from Heaven to Earth ()

A. Birth announcements ()

B. Births of John and Jesus ()

C. Jesus’ childhood and youth ()

D. Jesus’ baptism and temptation ()

III. The Journey Throughout Galilee ()

IV. The Journey to Jerusalem ()

V. The Ministry in Jerusalem ()

Book Overview

If ever a man wrote a book filled with good news for everybody, Dr. Luke is that man. His key message is, “for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (). He presents Jesus Christ as the compassionate Son of Man, who came to live among sinners, love them, help them, and die for them.

Dr. Luke is named only three times in the New Testament: in ; ; and . He wrote Acts (compare with ) and traveled with Paul (note the “we” sections in ; ; ; and ). He was probably a Gentile (compare and ) and was trained as a physician. No wonder he began his book with detailed accounts of the births of two important babies! No wonder he emphasized Christ’s sympathy for hurting people! He wrote with the mind of a careful historian and with the heart of a loving physician.

The gospel of Luke was written for Theophilus (“lover of God”), probably a Roman official who had trusted Christ and now needed to be established in the faith. It’s also possible that Theophilus was a seeker after truth who was being taught the Christian message, because the word translated “taught” in gives us our English word “catechumen,” “someone who is being taught the basics of Christianity.”

The life and message of Christ were so important that many books had already been written about Him, but not everything in them could be trusted. Luke wrote his gospel so that his readers might have an accurate and orderly narrative of the life, ministry, and message of Jesus Christ. Luke carefully researched his material, interviewed eyewitnesses, and listened to those who had ministered the Word. Most important, he had the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The phrase “from the beginning” (Greek, anothen) in can be translated “from above,” as it is in and . It speaks of the inspiration of the Spirit of God on the message that Luke wrote.

“Be Transformed”

Begin your study of the gospel of Luke with a commitment to become a Theophilus—a lover of God. Realize that Luke’s objective in writing this gospel was to provide you with reasonable tools so “you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed” (). Confidence and certainty for a follower of Jesus doesn’t have to do with self-confidence but with confidence in Christ. Read through these chapters as the beloved physician carefully describes Jesus’ encounters with people very much like you, and take note of the ways those people were transformed by the words and touch of Jesus.

Like each one of us, Luke was a believer who “came on board” after the events of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. As a Gentile, he was an “outsider” who was welcomed into the people of God. He had to come to faith the same way each one of us has to come—by faith based on what we hear and by the power of God’s Spirit at work in us. As you read and study Luke’s account of Jesus’ life and ministry, you will sense a kindred spirit, a fellow traveler who made the delightful discovery that the Messiah of the Jews is the Savior of the world! In this gospel you meet individuals as well as crowds, women and children as well as men, poor people as well as rich people, and sinners along with saints. You will see person after person with whom you can identify. Luke filled his account with case studies that illustrate the curiosity and interest that a physician would demonstrate. It’s a book with a message for everybody, because Luke’s emphasis is on the universality of Jesus Christ and His salvation: “good tidings of great joy which will be to all people” (). Luke will sharpen your certainty in Christ and fill you with joy.

Dedication to Theophilus

1Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us,

2just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us,

3it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus,

4that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.

John’s Birth Announced to Zacharias

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

6And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

7But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.

So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division,

9according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.

10And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense.

11Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

12And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

13But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

14“And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.

15“For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.

16“And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.

17“He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”

19And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings.

20“But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”

21And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple.

22But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless.

23So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house.

Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying,

25“Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”

Christ’s Birth Announced to Mary

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,

to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.

28And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”

But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.

30Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

31“And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.

“He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.

33“And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”

35And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.

36“Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren.

37“For with God nothing will be impossible.”

Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah,

40and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.

41And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

42Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

43“But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

44“For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

45“Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”

The Song of Mary

And Mary said:

“My soul magnifies the Lord,

47And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

48For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;

For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.

49For He who is mighty has done great things for me,

And holy is His name.

50And His mercy is on those who fear Him

From generation to generation.

51He has shown strength with His arm;

He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

52He has put down the mighty from their thrones,

And exalted the lowly.

53He has filled the hungry with good things,

And the rich He has sent away empty.

54He has helped His servant Israel,

In remembrance of His mercy,

55As He spoke to our fathers,

To Abraham and to his seed forever.”

56And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.

Birth of John the Baptist

57Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son.

58When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her.

Circumcision of John the Baptist

59So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias.

60His mother answered and said, “No; he shall be called John.”

61But they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.”

62So they made signs to his father—what he would have him called.

And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, “His name is John.” So they all marveled.

64Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God.

65Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea.

66And all those who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying, “What kind of child will this be?” And the hand of the Lord was with him.

Zacharias’ Prophecy

67Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:

68“Blessed is the Lord God of Israel,

For He has visited and redeemed His people,

And has raised up a horn of salvation for us

In the house of His servant David,

70As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets,

Who have been since the world began,

71That we should be saved from our enemies

And from the hand of all who hate us,

72To perform the mercy promised to our fathers

And to remember His holy covenant,

73The oath which He swore to our father Abraham:

74To grant us that we,

Being delivered from the hand of our enemies,

Might serve Him without fear,

75In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.

76“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest;

For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,

77To give knowledge of salvation to His people

By the remission of their sins,

78Through the tender mercy of our God,

With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us;

79To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,

To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.

Christ Born of Mary

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.

2This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.

3So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

4Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,

to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.

6So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.

And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Glory in the Highest

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.

Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.

11“For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

12“And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

“Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

15So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.”

16And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.

17Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.

18And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.

20Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

Circumcision of Jesus

And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called JESUS, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

Jesus Presented in the Temple

22Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord

23(as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the LORD”),

24and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

Simeon Sees God’s Salvation

25And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

26And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

27So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law,

28he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:

29“Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,

According to Your word;

30For my eyes have seen Your salvation

31Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,

32A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,

And the glory of Your people Israel.”

33And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him.

34Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against

35“(yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

Anna Bears Witness to the Redeemer

Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity;

37and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

38And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

The Family Returns to Nazareth

So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.

And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

The Boy Jesus Amazes the Scholars

41His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.

42And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast.

When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it;

44but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances.

45So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him.

46Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.

47And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.

48So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.”

And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”

50But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.

Jesus Advances in Wisdom and Favor

51Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart.

52And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,

2while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.

And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins,

as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying:

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

‘Prepare the way of the LORD;

Make His paths straight.

5Every valley shall be filled

And every mountain and hill brought low;

The crooked places shall be made straight

And the rough ways smooth;

6And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ”

John Preaches to the People

7Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

8“Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.

9“And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

10So the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?”

11He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.”

Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”

13And he said to them, “Collect no more than what is appointed for you.”

14Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?” So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.”

15Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not,

16John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

17“His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.”

18And with many other exhortations he preached to the people.

19But Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked by him concerning Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,

20also added this, above all, that he shut John up in prison.

John Baptizes Jesus

21When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened.

And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”

The Genealogy of Jesus Christ

Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli,

24the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Janna, the son of Joseph,

25the son of Mattathiah, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esh, the son of Naggai,

26the son of Maath, the son of Mattathiah, the son of Semei, the son of Joseph, the son of Judah,

27the son of Joannas, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri,

28the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmodam, the son of Er,

29the son of Jose, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,

30the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonan, the son of Eliakim,

31the son of Melea, the son of Menan, the son of Mattathah, the son of Nathan, the son of David,

32the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon,

33the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,

34the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,

35the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,

36the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,

37the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan,

38the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

Satan Tempts Jesus

Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

2being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.

And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”

4But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’ ”

5Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.

6And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.

7“Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.”

8And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”

9Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here.

“For it is written:

‘He shall give His angels charge over you,

To keep you,’

11“and,

‘In their hands they shall bear you up,

Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ”

12And Jesus answered and said to him, “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the LORD your God.’ ”

13Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.

Jesus Begins His Galilean Ministry

Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region.

15And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.

Jesus Rejected at Nazareth

So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.

17And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,

Because He has anointed Me

To preach the gospel to the poor;

He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,

To proclaim liberty to the captives

And recovery of sight to the blind,

To set at liberty those who are oppressed;

19To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”

20Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him.

21And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, “Is this not Joseph’s son?”

23He said to them, “You will surely say this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in Your country.’ ”

24Then He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country.

25“But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land;

26“but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath, in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.

27“And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.”

28So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,

29and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff.

30Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way.

Jesus Casts Out an Unclean Spirit

31Then He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbaths.

32And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority.

33Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice,

34saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”

35But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him.

36Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, “What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.”

37And the report about Him went out into every place in the surrounding region.

Peter’s Mother-in-Law Healed

Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. But Simon’s wife’s mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her.

39So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and served them.

Many Healed After Sabbath Sunset

40When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them.

41And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of God!” And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ.

Jesus Preaches in Galilee

42Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them;

43but He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.”

44And He was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee.

Four Fishermen Called as Disciples

So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret,

2and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets.

3Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.

When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”

But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.”

6And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.

7So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.

8When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”

9For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken;

10and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.”

11So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.

Jesus Cleanses a Leper

And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”

Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately the leprosy left him.

14And He charged him to tell no one, “But go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them, just as Moses commanded.”

15However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities.

16So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.

Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralytic

Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.

18Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him.

19And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus.

When He saw their faith, He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”

And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

22But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts?

23“Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and walk’?

24“But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”

25Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.

26And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today!”

Matthew the Tax Collector

After these things He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.”

28So he left all, rose up, and followed Him.

29Then Levi gave Him a great feast in his own house. And there were a great number of tax collectors and others who sat down with them.

30And their scribes and the Pharisees complained against His disciples, saying, “Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

32“I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

Jesus Is Questioned About Fasting

Then they said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John fast often and make prayers, and likewise those of the Pharisees, but Yours eat and drink?”

34And He said to them, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them?

35“But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast in those days.”

36Then He spoke a parable to them: “No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old one; otherwise the new makes a tear, and also the piece that was taken out of the new does not match the old.

“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined.

38“But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved.

39“And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; for he says, ‘The old is better.’ ”

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath

Now it happened on the second Sabbath after the first that He went through the grainfields. And His disciples plucked the heads of grain and ate them, rubbing them in their hands.

2And some of the Pharisees said to them, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?”

3But Jesus answering them said, “Have you not even read this, what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him:

4“how he went into the house of God, took and ate the showbread, and also gave some to those with him, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat?”

And He said to them, “The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”

Healing on the Sabbath

Now it happened on another Sabbath, also, that He entered the synagogue and taught. And a man was there whose right hand was withered.

7So the scribes and Pharisees watched Him closely, whether He would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against Him.

8But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, “Arise and stand here.” And he arose and stood.

Then Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?”

10And when He had looked around at them all, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.

11But they were filled with rage, and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.

The Twelve Apostles

Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles:

14Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew;

15Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot;

16Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor.

Jesus Heals a Great Multitude

And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases,

18as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed.

19And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.

The Beatitudes

Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said:

“Blessed are you poor,

For yours is the kingdom of God.

21Blessed are you who hunger now,

For you shall be filled.

Blessed are you who weep now,

For you shall laugh.

22Blessed are you when men hate you,

And when they exclude you,

And revile you, and cast out your name as evil,

For the Son of Man’s sake.

23Rejoice in that day and leap for joy!

For indeed your reward is great in heaven,

For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.

Jesus Pronounces Woes

“But woe to you who are rich,

For you have received your consolation.

25Woe to you who are full,

For you shall hunger.

Woe to you who laugh now,

For you shall mourn and weep.

26Woe to you when all men speak well of you,

For so did their fathers to the false prophets.

Love Your Enemies

“But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

28“bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.

29“To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either.

30“Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back.

31“And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.

32“But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.

33“And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.

34“And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back.

35“But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.

36“Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

Do Not Judge

“Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

38“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

39And He spoke a parable to them: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch?

40“A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.

41“And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye?

42“Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother’s eye.

A Tree Is Known by Its Fruit

“For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.

44“For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.

45“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Build on the Rock

“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?

47“Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like:

48“He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.

49“But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”

Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant

1Now when He concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum.

2And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die.

3So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant.

4And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving,

5“for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.”

Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof.

7“Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.

“For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!”

10And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick.

Jesus Raises the Son of the Widow of Nain

Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd.

And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her.

13When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.”

14Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.”

15So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother.

16Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen up among us”; and, “God has visited His people.”

17And this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region.

John the Baptist Sends Messengers to Jesus

Then the disciples of John reported to him concerning all these things.

19And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”

20When the men had come to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, ‘Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?’ ”

21And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight.

Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.

23“And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”

24When the messengers of John had departed, He began to speak to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

25“But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings’ courts.

26“But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.

27“This is he of whom it is written:

‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,

Who will prepare Your way before You.’

28“For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

29And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John.

30But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.

And the Lord said, “To what then shall I liken the men of this generation, and what are they like?

32“They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, saying:

‘We played the flute for you,

And you did not dance;

We mourned to you,

And you did not weep.’

33“For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’

34“The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’

35“But wisdom is justified by all her children.”

A Sinful Woman Forgiven

Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat.

37And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil,

38and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.

Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”

40And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” So he said, “Teacher, say it.”

41“There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.

42“And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?”

43Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.”

Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head.

45“You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in.

46“You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil.

47“Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”

48Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

49And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

Many Women Minister to Jesus

1Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him,

2and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities—Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons,

3and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance.

The Parable of the Sower

And when a great multitude had gathered, and they had come to Him from every city, He spoke by a parable:

5“A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it.

6“Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture.

7“And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it.

“But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold.” When He had said these things He cried, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

The Purpose of Parables

9Then His disciples asked Him, saying, “What does this parable mean?”

10And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that

‘Seeing they may not see,

And hearing they may not understand.’

The Parable of the Sower Explained

11“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

12“Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

13“But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.

14“Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.

15“But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.

The Parable of the Revealed Light

16“No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light.

17“For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light.

18“Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”

Jesus’ Mother and Brothers Come to Him

19Then His mother and brothers came to Him, and could not approach Him because of the crowd.

20And it was told Him by some, who said, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see You.”

But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”

Wind and Wave Obey Jesus

22Now it happened, on a certain day, that He got into a boat with His disciples. And He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.” And they launched out.

23But as they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy.

24And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm.

But He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, “Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!”

A Demon-Possessed Man Healed

Then they sailed to the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee.

27And when He stepped out on the land, there met Him a certain man from the city who had demons for a long time. And he wore no clothes, nor did he live in a house but in the tombs.

28When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me!”

29For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had often seized him, and he was kept under guard, bound with chains and shackles; and he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the wilderness.

30Jesus asked him, saying, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” because many demons had entered him.

31And they begged Him that He would not command them to go out into the abyss.

32Now a herd of many swine was feeding there on the mountain. So they begged Him that He would permit them to enter them. And He permitted them.

33Then the demons went out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the lake and drowned.

34When those who fed them saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country.

35Then they went out to see what had happened, and came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid.

36They also who had seen it told them by what means he who had been demon-possessed was healed.

37Then the whole multitude of the surrounding region of the Gadarenes asked Him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. And He got into the boat and returned.

38Now the man from whom the demons had departed begged Him that he might be with Him. But Jesus sent him away, saying,

39“Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you.” And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.

A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed

So it was, when Jesus returned, that the multitude welcomed Him, for they were all waiting for Him.

41And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue. And he fell down at Jesus’ feet and begged Him to come to his house,

42for he had an only daughter about twelve years of age, and she was dying. But as He went, the multitudes thronged Him.

43Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any,

44came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped.

45And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?” When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”

46But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.”

Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately.

And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

49While He was still speaking, someone came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, “Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher.”

50But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, “Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.”

51When He came into the house, He permitted no one to go in except Peter, James, and John, and the father and mother of the girl.

52Now all wept and mourned for her; but He said, “Do not weep; she is not dead, but sleeping.”

53And they ridiculed Him, knowing that she was dead.

But He put them all outside, took her by the hand and called, saying, “Little girl, arise.”

55Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. And He commanded that she be given something to eat.

56And her parents were astonished, but He charged them to tell no one what had happened.

Sending Out the Twelve

Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.

2He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

3And He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece.

4“Whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart.

5“And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them.”

6So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

Herod Seeks to See Jesus

7Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by Him; and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead,

8and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen again.

9Herod said, “John I have beheaded, but who is this of whom I hear such things?” So he sought to see Him.

Feeding the Five Thousand

And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done. Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida.

11But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing.

When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding towns and country, and lodge and get provisions; for we are in a deserted place here.”

13But He said to them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we go and buy food for all these people.”

14For there were about five thousand men. Then He said to His disciples, “Make them sit down in groups of fifty.”

15And they did so, and made them all sit down.

16Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude.

So they all ate and were filled, and twelve baskets of the leftover fragments were taken up by them.

Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ

18And it happened, as He was alone praying, that His disciples joined Him, and He asked them, saying, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”

19So they answered and said, “John the Baptist, but some say Elijah; and others say that one of the old prophets has risen again.”

20He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.”

Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection

21And He strictly warned and commanded them to tell this to no one,

saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.”

Take Up the Cross and Follow Him

Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

24“For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.

25“For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?

26“For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.

“But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God.”

Jesus Transfigured on the Mount

28Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray.

As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening.

30And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah,

31who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

32But Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep; and when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him.

33Then it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said.

34While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud.

35And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!”

When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found alone. But they kept quiet, and told no one in those days any of the things they had seen.

A Boy Is Healed

Now it happened on the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, that a great multitude met Him.

38Suddenly a man from the multitude cried out, saying, “Teacher, I implore You, look on my son, for he is my only child.

39“And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out; it convulses him so that he foams at the mouth; and it departs from him with great difficulty, bruising him.

40“So I implored Your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.”

41Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.”

42And as he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him. Then Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the child, and gave him back to his father.

Jesus Again Predicts His Death

43And they were all amazed at the majesty of God. But while everyone marveled at all the things which Jesus did, He said to His disciples,

44“Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.”

45But they did not understand this saying, and it was hidden from them so that they did not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this saying.

Who Is the Greatest?

Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest.

47And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a little child and set him by Him,

48and said to them, “Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great.”

Jesus Forbids Sectarianism

49Now John answered and said, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us.”

50But Jesus said to him, “Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is on our side.”

A Samaritan Village Rejects the Savior

Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem,

52and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him.

53But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem.

54And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?”

55But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of.

56“For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” And they went to another village.

The Cost of Discipleship

57Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.”

58And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”

59Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”

60Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.”

61And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.”

But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

The Seventy Sent Out

After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.

Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.

3“Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves.

4“Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road.

5“But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’

6“And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you.

7“And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house.

8“Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you.

9“And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’

10“But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say,

11‘The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.’

12“But I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city.

Woe to the Impenitent Cities

13“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.

14“But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.

15“And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades.

16“He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”

The Seventy Return with Joy

Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”

18And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.

19“Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

“Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

Jesus Rejoices in the Spirit

21In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.

22“All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”

23Then He turned to His disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see;

24“for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it.”

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

25And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

26He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”

27So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ ”

28And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.”

But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

30Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

31“Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

32“Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side.

33“But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion.

34“So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

35“On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’

“So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”

And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

Mary and Martha Worship and Serve

38Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house.

And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.

40But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”

41And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.

42“But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

The Model Prayer

Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”

So He said to them, “When you pray, say:

Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come.

Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven.

3Give us day by day our daily bread.

4And forgive us our sins,

For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.

And do not lead us into temptation,

But deliver us from the evil one.”

A Friend Comes at Midnight

And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves;

6‘for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’;

7“and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’?

8“I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.

Keep Asking, Seeking, Knocking

9“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

10“For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

“If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?

12“Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?

13“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

A House Divided Cannot Stand

14And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled.

But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.”

16Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven.

17But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls.

18“If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub.

19“And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.

20“But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.

21“When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace.

22“But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils.

“He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.

An Unclean Spirit Returns

24“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’

25“And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order.

26“Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.”

Keeping the Word

27And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!”

28But He said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

Seeking a Sign

And while the crowds were thickly gathered together, He began to say, “This is an evil generation. It seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet.

30“For as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation.

31“The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.

32“The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.

The Lamp of the Body

“No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lampstand, that those who come in may see the light.

34“The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness.

35“Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness.

“If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole body will be full of light, as when the bright shining of a lamp gives you light.”

Woe to the Pharisees and Lawyers

And as He spoke, a certain Pharisee asked Him to dine with him. So He went in and sat down to eat.

38When the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that He had not first washed before dinner.

39Then the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but your inward part is full of greed and wickedness.

40“Foolish ones! Did not He who made the outside make the inside also?

41“But rather give alms of such things as you have; then indeed all things are clean to you.

42“But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass by justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.

43“Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like graves which are not seen, and the men who walk over them are not aware of them.”

45Then one of the lawyers answered and said to Him, “Teacher, by saying these things You reproach us also.”

46And He said, “Woe to you also, lawyers! For you load men with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.

47“Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.

48“In fact, you bear witness that you approve the deeds of your fathers; for they indeed killed them, and you build their tombs.

49“Therefore the wisdom of God also said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,’

50“that the blood of all the prophets which was shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation,

51“from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who perished between the altar and the temple. Yes, I say to you, it shall be required of this generation.

“Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered.”

And as He said these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to assail Him vehemently, and to cross-examine Him about many things,

54lying in wait for Him, and seeking to catch Him in something He might say, that they might accuse Him.

Beware of Hypocrisy

In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

2“For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known.

3“Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.

Jesus Teaches the Fear of God

4“And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.

“But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!

6“Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God.

7“But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Confess Christ Before Men

8“Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God.

9“But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.

“And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.

11“Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say.

12“For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

The Parable of the Rich Fool

13Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

14But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?”

15And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

16Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.

17“And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’

“So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods.

‘And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’

20“But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’

“So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

Do Not Worry

22Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on.

23“Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.

24“Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds?

25“And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

26“If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?

27“Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

28“If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?

29“And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind.

30“For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things.

31“But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.

32“Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

33“Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys.

34“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

The Faithful Servant and the Evil Servant

35“Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning;

36“and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately.

37“Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them.

38“And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

39“But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.

40“Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

Then Peter said to Him, “Lord, do You speak this parable only to us, or to all people?”

42And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season?

43“Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.

44“Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has.

45“But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk,

46“the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

47“And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

48“But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.

Christ Brings Division

“I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!

50“But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished!

51“Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division.

52“For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three.

53“Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

Discern the Time

Then He also said to the multitudes, “Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming’; and so it is.

55“And when you see the south wind blow, you say, ‘There will be hot weather’; and there is.

56“Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time?

Make Peace with Your Adversary

57“Yes, and why, even of yourselves, do you not judge what is right?

58“When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, make every effort along the way to settle with him, lest he drag you to the judge, the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.

59“I tell you, you shall not depart from there till you have paid the very last mite.”

Repent or Perish

There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

2And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things?

3“I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.

4“Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem?

“I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”

The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none.

7“Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’

8“But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.

9‘And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’ ”

A Spirit of Infirmity

Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.

11And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up.

12But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.”

13And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, “There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day.”

15The Lord then answered him and said, “Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it?

16“So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?”

17And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him.

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

Then He said, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?

19“It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.”

The Parable of the Leaven

20And again He said, “To what shall I liken the kingdom of God?

21“It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.”

The Narrow Way

22And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.

23Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” And He said to them,

24“Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

25“When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’

“then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’

27“But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’

28“There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out.

29“They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God.

30“And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.”

On that very day some Pharisees came, saying to Him, “Get out and depart from here, for Herod wants to kill You.”

32And He said to them, “Go, tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.’

33“Nevertheless I must journey today, tomorrow, and the day following; for it cannot be that a prophet should perish outside of Jerusalem.

Jesus Laments over Jerusalem

34“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing!

35“See! Your house is left to you desolate; and assuredly, I say to you, you shall not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ ”

A Man with Dropsy Healed on the Sabbath

Now it happened, as He went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath, that they watched Him closely.

2And behold, there was a certain man before Him who had dropsy.

3And Jesus, answering, spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”

4But they kept silent. And He took him and healed him, and let him go.

5Then He answered them, saying, “Which of you, having a donkey or an ox that has fallen into a pit, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?”

And they could not answer Him regarding these things.

Take the Lowly Place

7So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them:

8“When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him;

9“and he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place.

10“But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you.

11“For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

12Then He also said to him who invited Him, “When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid.

13“But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind.

14“And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

The Parable of the Great Supper

Now when one of those who sat at the table with Him heard these things, he said to Him, “Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!”

16Then He said to him, “A certain man gave a great supper and invited many,

17“and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come, for all things are now ready.’

18“But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’

19“And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.’

20“Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’

21“So that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.’

22“And the servant said, ‘Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.’

23“Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

24‘For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.’ ”

Leaving All to Follow Christ

Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them,

26“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.

27“And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

28“For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—

29“lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him,

30“saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’

31“Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?

32“Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace.

33“So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

Tasteless Salt Is Worthless

34“Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?

35“It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him.

2And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.”

3So He spoke this parable to them, saying:

4“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?

5“And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

6“And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’

7“I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

The Parable of the Lost Coin

8“Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?

9“And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’

“Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

The Parable of the Lost Son

11Then He said: “A certain man had two sons.

12“And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood.

“And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.

14“But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.

15“Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

16“And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.

“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

‘I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you,

19“and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’

20“And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.

21“And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.

23‘And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry;

24‘for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.

“Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.

26“So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.

27“And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’

28“But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him.

29“So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends.

30‘But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’

“And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.

‘It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ”

The Parable of the Unjust Steward

He also said to His disciples: “There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods.

2“So he called him and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.’

“Then the steward said within himself, ‘What shall I do? For my master is taking the stewardship away from me. I cannot dig; I am ashamed to beg.

4‘I have resolved what to do, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.’

5“So he called every one of his master’s debtors to him, and said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’

6“And he said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ So he said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’

7“Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ So he said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ And he said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’

8“So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light.

“And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home.

10“He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.

11“Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

12“And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?

“No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

The Law, the Prophets, and the Kingdom

14Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him.

15And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

16“The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.

17“And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.

18“Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery.

The Rich Man and Lazarus

“There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day.

20“But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate,

21“desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

“So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.

23“And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

24“Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’

“But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.

26‘And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’

27“Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house,

28‘for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’

29“Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’

30“And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’

“But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ ”

Jesus Warns of Offenses

Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!

2“It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

3“Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.

“And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”

Faith and Duty

5And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”

6So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

“And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’?

8“But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’?

9“Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not.

“So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’ ”

Ten Lepers Cleansed

11Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.

12Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off.

13And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

14So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.

And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God,

16and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan.

17So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?

18“Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?”

And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”

The Coming of the Kingdom

Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation;

“nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”

22Then He said to the disciples, “The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.

23“And they will say to you, ‘Look here!’ or ‘Look there!’ Do not go after them or follow them.

24“For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day.

25“But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.

26“And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man:

27“They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.

“Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built;

29“but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.

“Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

31“In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back.

32“Remember Lot’s wife.

33“Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.

34“I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left.

35“Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left.

36“Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.”

37And they answered and said to Him, “Where, Lord?” So He said to them, “Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.”

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,

2saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man.

“Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’

4“And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man,

5‘yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ”

6Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said.

“And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?

8“I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

9Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

10“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

11“The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.

12‘I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’

“And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’

14“I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Jesus Blesses Little Children

Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

16But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.

17“Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”

Jesus Counsels the Rich Young Ruler

Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

19So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.

20“You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ”

21And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.”

So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

23But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.

With God All Things Are Possible

24And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!

25“For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

26And those who heard it said, “Who then can be saved?”

27But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”

28Then Peter said, “See, we have left all and followed You.”

29So He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,

30“who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.”

Jesus a Third Time Predicts His Death and Resurrection

31Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished.

32“For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon.

33“They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”

34But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken.

A Blind Man Receives His Sight

Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging.

36And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant.

37So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.

38And he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

39Then those who went before warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

40So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him,

41saying, “What do you want Me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.”

42Then Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.”

And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

Jesus Comes to Zacchaeus’ House

Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.

2Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich.

3And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature.

4So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way.

5And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”

6So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully.

But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.”

8Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”

9And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham;

“for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

The Parable of the Minas

11Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately.

12Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return.

13“So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’

14“But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’

15“And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.

“Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’

17“And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’

18“And the second came, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.’

19“Likewise he said to him, ‘You also be over five cities.’

20“Then another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief.

21‘For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’

22“And he said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow.

23‘Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’

24“And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.’

25(“But they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas.’)

‘For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

27‘But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.’ ”

The Triumphal Entry

When He had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

29And it came to pass, when He drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mountain called Olivet, that He sent two of His disciples,

30saying, “Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here.

31“And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you loosing it?’ thus you shall say to him, ‘Because the Lord has need of it.’ ”

32So those who were sent went their way and found it just as He had said to them.

33But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, “Why are you loosing the colt?”

34And they said, “The Lord has need of him.”

35Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him.

36And as He went, many spread their clothes on the road.

37Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen,

38saying:

“ ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!’

Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

39And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.”

40But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”

Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem

Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it,

42saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.

43“For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side,

44“and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

Then He went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it,

46saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house is a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”

And He was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people sought to destroy Him,

48and were unable to do anything; for all the people were very attentive to hear Him.

Jesus’ Authority Questioned

Now it happened on one of those days, as He taught the people in the temple and preached the gospel, that the chief priests and the scribes, together with the elders, confronted Him

2and spoke to Him, saying, “Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Or who is he who gave You this authority?”

3But He answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, and answer Me:

4“The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men?”

5And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’

6“But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.”

7So they answered that they did not know where it was from.

8And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

The Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers

Then He began to tell the people this parable: “A certain man planted a vineyard, leased it to vinedressers, and went into a far country for a long time.

10“Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that they might give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the vinedressers beat him and sent him away empty-handed.

11“Again he sent another servant; and they beat him also, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed.

12“And again he sent a third; and they wounded him also and cast him out.

13“Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. Probably they will respect him when they see him.’

14“But when the vinedressers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.’

15“So they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do to them?

16“He will come and destroy those vinedressers and give the vineyard to others.” And when they heard it they said, “Certainly not!”

Then He looked at them and said, “What then is this that is written:

‘The stone which the builders rejected

Has become the chief cornerstone’?

“Whoever falls on that stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.”

19And the chief priests and the scribes that very hour sought to lay hands on Him, but they feared the people—for they knew He had spoken this parable against them.

The Pharisees: Is It Lawful to Pay Taxes to Caesar?

So they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, that they might seize on His words, in order to deliver Him to the power and the authority of the governor.

21Then they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, we know that You say and teach rightly, and You do not show personal favoritism, but teach the way of God in truth:

22“Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

23But He perceived their craftiness, and said to them, “Why do you test Me?

24“Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?” They answered and said, “Caesar’s.”

And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

26But they could not catch Him in His words in the presence of the people. And they marveled at His answer and kept silent.

The Sadducees: What About the Resurrection?

27Then some of the Sadducees, who deny that there is a resurrection, came to Him and asked Him,

28saying: “Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man’s brother dies, having a wife, and he dies without children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.

29“Now there were seven brothers. And the first took a wife, and died without children.

30“And the second took her as wife, and he died childless.

31“Then the third took her, and in like manner the seven also; and they left no children, and died.

32“Last of all the woman died also.

33“Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife does she become? For all seven had her as wife.”

Jesus answered and said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage.

35“But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage;

“nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.

37“But even Moses showed in the burning bush passage that the dead are raised, when he called the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’

38“For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him.”

39Then some of the scribes answered and said, “Teacher, You have spoken well.”

40But after that they dared not question Him anymore.

Jesus: How Can David Call His Descendant Lord?

And He said to them, “How can they say that the Christ is the Son of David?

42“Now David himself said in the Book of Psalms:

‘The LORD said to my Lord,

“Sit at My right hand,

43Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’

44“Therefore David calls Him ‘Lord’; how is He then his Son?”

Beware of the Scribes

45Then, in the hearing of all the people, He said to His disciples,

46“Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts,

47“who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”

The Widow’s Two Mites

And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury,

2and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites.

3So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all;

4“for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.”

Jesus Predicts the Destruction of the Temple

Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said,

6“These things which you see—the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down.”

The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age

7So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?”

And He said: “Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them.

9“But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately.”

10Then He said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

11“And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.

“But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake.

13“But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony.

14“Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer;

15“for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.

16“You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death.

17“And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake.

18“But not a hair of your head shall be lost.

19“By your patience possess your souls.

The Destruction of Jerusalem

“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.

21“Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her.

22“For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

23“But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people.

24“And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

The Coming of the Son of Man

“And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring;

26“men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

27“Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

28“Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

The Parable of the Fig Tree

29Then He spoke to them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.

30“When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near.

31“So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.

32“Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place.

33“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

The Importance of Watching

34“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.

35“For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.

“Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

37And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet.

38Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him.

The Plot to Kill Jesus

Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover.

2And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people.

3Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve.

4So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them.

5And they were glad, and agreed to give him money.

6So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude.

Jesus and His Disciples Prepare the Passover

Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed.

8And He sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.”

9So they said to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare?”

10And He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters.

11“Then you shall say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?” ’

12“Then he will show you a large, furnished upper room; there make ready.”

13So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.

Jesus Institutes the Lord’s Supper

When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him.

15Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;

16“for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”

17Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves;

18“for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

19And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

20Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.

“But behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on the table.

22“And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!”

23Then they began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing.

The Disciples Argue About Greatness

24Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest.

And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’

26“But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.

27“For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.

28“But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials.

29“And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me,

30“that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

31And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.

32“But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”

33But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.”

34Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.”

Supplies for the Road

And He said to them, “When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?” So they said, “Nothing.”

36Then He said to them, “But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one.

37“For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’ For the things concerning Me have an end.”

38So they said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” And He said to them, “It is enough.”

The Prayer in the Garden

39Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him.

40When He came to the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

41And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed,

42saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”

43Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.

And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

45When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow.

Then He said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.”

Betrayal and Arrest in Gethsemane

And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him.

48But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?”

50And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.

51But Jesus answered and said, “Permit even this.” And He touched his ear and healed him.

52Then Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to Him, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs?

53“When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”

Peter Denies Jesus, and Weeps Bitterly

54Having arrested Him, they led Him and brought Him into the high priest’s house. But Peter followed at a distance.

55Now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them.

56And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, “This man was also with Him.”

57But he denied Him, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him.”

58And after a little while another saw him and said, “You also are of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!”

59Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, “Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean.”

But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are saying!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.

61And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”

62So Peter went out and wept bitterly.

Jesus Mocked and Beaten

63Now the men who held Jesus mocked Him and beat Him.

64And having blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face and asked Him, saying, “Prophesy! Who is the one who struck You?”

65And many other things they blasphemously spoke against Him.

Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin

66As soon as it was day, the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, came together and led Him into their council, saying,

67“If You are the Christ, tell us.” But He said to them, “If I tell you, you will by no means believe.

68“And if I also ask you, you will by no means answer Me or let Me go.

69“Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God.”

70Then they all said, “Are You then the Son of God?” So He said to them, “You rightly say that I am.”

And they said, “What further testimony do we need? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth.”

Jesus Handed Over to Pontius Pilate

Then the whole multitude of them arose and led Him to Pilate.

2And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.”

3Then Pilate asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” He answered him and said, “It is as you say.”

So Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no fault in this Man.”

5But they were the more fierce, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place.”

Jesus Faces Herod

6When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked if the Man were a Galilean.

7And as soon as he knew that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.

8Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him.

9Then he questioned Him with many words, but He answered him nothing.

10And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him.

11Then Herod, with his men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate.

12That very day Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for previously they had been at enmity with each other.

Taking the Place of Barabbas

13Then Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people,

14said to them, “You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him;

15“no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him.

16“I will therefore chastise Him and release Him”

17(for it was necessary for him to release one to them at the feast).

18And they all cried out at once, saying, “Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas”—

19who had been thrown into prison for a certain rebellion made in the city, and for murder.

20Pilate, therefore, wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them.

But they shouted, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”

22Then he said to them the third time, “Why, what evil has He done? I have found no reason for death in Him. I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go.”

23But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified. And the voices of these men and of the chief priests prevailed.

24So Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested.

And he released to them the one they requested, who for rebellion and murder had been thrown into prison; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

The King on a Cross

Now as they led Him away, they laid hold of a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, who was coming from the country, and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus.

27And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and lamented Him.

But Jesus, turning to them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.

29“For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed!’

30“Then they will begin ‘to say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!” ’

31“For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry?”

32There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death.

And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.

34Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots.

35And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God.”

36The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine,

37and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.”

38And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew:

THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

39Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.”

But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?

41“And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.”

42Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”

43And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

Jesus Dies on the Cross

44Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.

45Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two.

And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ” Having said this, He breathed His last.

So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous Man!”

48And the whole crowd who came together to that sight, seeing what had been done, beat their breasts and returned.

49But all His acquaintances, and the women who followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

Jesus Buried in Joseph’s Tomb

Now behold, there was a man named Joseph, a council member, a good and just man.

51He had not consented to their decision and deed. He was from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who himself was also waiting for the kingdom of God.

52This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.

53Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock, where no one had ever lain before.

54That day was the Preparation, and the Sabbath drew near.

55And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid.

56Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.

He Is Risen

Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.

2But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.

3Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

4And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments.

5Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?

6“He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee,

7“saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ ”

8And they remembered His words.

9Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.

10It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles.

11And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them.

12But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.

The Road to Emmaus

13Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem.

14And they talked together of all these things which had happened.

15So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them.

16But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.

17And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?”

18Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?”

And He said to them, “What things?” So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,

20“and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him.

21“But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened.

22“Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us.

23“When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive.

24“And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.”

25Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!

26“Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?”

And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

The Disciples’ Eyes Opened

28Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther.

29But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them.

Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.

31Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.

And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”

33So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together,

34saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!”

35And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.

Jesus Appears to His Disciples

36Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.”

37But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit.

38And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?

39“Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”

40When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.

41But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, “Have you any food here?”

42So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb.

43And He took it and ate in their presence.

The Scriptures Opened

44Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.”

45And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.

46Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day,

47“and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

48“And you are witnesses of these things.

49“Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

The Ascension

And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them.

51Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven.

52And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,

53and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.

Annotations for Luke

It was indeed a dark period of time for the nation of Israel. The people had heard no prophetic word from God for four hundred years—not since Malachi had promised the coming of Elijah (, ). The spiritual leaders were shackled by tradition and, in some instances, corruption; and their king, Herod the Great, was a tyrant. He had nine (some say ten) wives, one of whom he had executed for no apparent reason. But no matter how dark the day, God always has His devoted and obedient people.

The priests on duty drew lots to see which ministries they would perform, and Zechariah was chosen to offer incense in the Most Holy Place. This was a high honor that was permitted to a priest but once in a lifetime. The incense was offered daily before the morning sacrifice and after the evening sacrifice, about three o’clock in the afternoon. It was probably the evening offering that was assigned to Zechariah.

God often speaks to His people and calls them while they are busy doing their daily tasks. Both Moses and David were caring for sheep, and Gideon was threshing wheat. Peter and his partners were mending nets when Jesus called them. It is difficult to steer a car when the engine is not running. When we get busy, God starts to direct us.

You would think that the presence of an angel and the announcement of God’s Word would encourage Zechariah’s faith, but they did not. Instead of looking to God by faith, the priest looked at himself and his wife and decided that the birth of a son was impossible. He wanted some assurance beyond the plain word of Gabriel, God’s messenger—perhaps a sign from God.

, God kept His promise and Elizabeth conceived a son in her old age. “There is nothing too hard” for the Lord (). Apparently the amazement and curiosity of the people forced her to hide herself even as she praised the Lord for His mercy. Not only was she to have a son, but the birth of her son was evidence that the Messiah was coming! These were exciting days indeed!

, The people in Judah disdained the Jews in Galilee and claimed they were not “kosher” because of their contacts with the Gentiles there (). They especially despised the people from Nazareth (, ). But God in His grace chose a girl from Nazareth in Galilee to be the mother of the promised Messiah!

Mary was a Jewess of the tribe of Judah, a descendant of David, and a virgin (). She was engaged to a carpenter in Nazareth named Joseph (), and apparently both of them were poor (; see ). Among the Jews at that time, engagement was almost as binding as marriage and could be broken only by divorce. Since Jewish girls married young, it is likely that Mary was a teenager when the angel appeared to her.

Mary’s response reveals her humility and honesty before God. She certainly never expected to see an angel and receive special favors from heaven. There was nothing unique about her that such things should happen. If she had been different from other Jewish girls, as some theologians claim she was, then she might have said, “Well, it’s about time! I’ve been expecting you!” No, all of this was a surprise to her.

Jesus came to earth to be the Savior of the world, but He also came to fulfill the promises God made to the Jewish fathers (). Today, Jesus is enthroned in heaven (), but it is not on David’s throne. One day Jesus will return and establish His righteous kingdom on earth, and then these promises will be fulfilled.

Mary knew what would happen, but she did not know how it would happen. Her question in verse was not an evidence of unbelief (see v. ); rather, it was an expression of faith. She believed the promise, but she did not understand the performance. How could a virgin give birth to a child?

Mary’s believing response was to surrender herself to God as His willing servant. She experienced the grace of God (v. ) and believed the Word of God, and therefore she could be used by the Spirit to accomplish the will of God. A “maidservant” was the lowest kind of female servant, which shows how much Mary trusted God. She belonged totally to the Lord, body (v. ), soul (v. ), and spirit (v. ). What an example for us to follow (, )!

As Mary entered the house, Elizabeth heard her greeting, was filled with the Spirit, and was told by the Lord why Mary was there. The one word that filled her lips was “blessed.”

This song of Mary’s is called “The Magnificat” because the Latin translation of verse is Magnificat anima mea Dominum. Mary’s great desire was to magnify the Lord, not herself. She recounted what God had done for three recipients of His blessing: for Mary (vv. ), for us (vv. ), and for Israel (vv. , ).

Traditionally, a baby boy would be named after his father or someone else in the family, so the relatives and neighbors were shocked when Elizabeth insisted on the name “John.” Zechariah wrote “His name is John” on a tablet, and that settled it! Immediately God opened the old priest’s mouth, and he sang a hymn that gives us four beautiful pictures of what the coming of Jesus Christ to earth really means.

In many translations, verse says that God “has raised up a horn of salvation for us.” In Scripture, a “horn” symbolizes power and victory (; , ). The picture here is that of an army about to be taken captive, but then help arrives and the enemy is defeated. In the previous picture, the captives were set free, but in this picture, the enemy is defeated so that he cannot capture more prisoners. It means total victory for the people of God.

Instead of enjoying a comfortable life as a priest, John lived in the wilderness, disciplining himself physically and spiritually, waiting for the day when God would send him out to prepare Israel for the arrival of the Messiah. People like Simeon and Anna () had been waiting for this day for many years, and soon it would come. God calls us today to believe His good news. Those who believe it experience His joy and want to express their praise to Him. It is not enough for us to say that Jesus is a Savior, or even the Savior. With Mary, we must say, “My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior” (, italics added).

Augustus Caesar was the emperor, but God was in charge, for He used Caesar’s edict to move Mary and Joseph eighty miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem to fulfill His Word. Rome took a census every fourteen years for both military and tax purposes, and each Jewish male had to return to the city of his fathers to record his name, occupation, property, and family.

Mary and Joseph were already husband and wife (see ), but since they did not consummate the marriage until after Jesus was born, she is called his “betrothed wife.” The journey must have been very trying for her, but she rejoiced in doing the will of God, and she was no doubt glad to get away from the wagging tongues in Nazareth.

Mothers in that day wrapped their infants in long bands of cloth to give the limbs strength and protection. The word translated “manger” (vv. , , ) is translated “stall” in , and can mean either a feeding trough or an enclosure for animals. You see ancient stone troughs even today as you travel in the Holy Land, and it is probable that such a trough cradled the infant Jesus. Many scholars believe that our Lord was born in a cave where animals were sheltered and not in a wooden shed such as you see in modern manger scenes.

, By visiting the shepherds, the angel revealed the grace of God toward mankind. Shepherds were really outcasts in Israel. Their work not only made them ceremonially unclean, but it kept them away from the temple for weeks at a time so that they could not be made clean. God does not call the rich and mighty; He calls the poor and the lowly (; ).

The Messiah came to be both the Good Shepherd () and the Lamb of God sacrificed for the sins of the world (). Perhaps these shepherds were caring for the flocks that would provide sacrifices for the temple services. It was fitting that the good news about God’s Shepherd and Lamb be given first to humble shepherds.

The Hebrew word shalom (“peace”) means much more than a truce in the battles of life. It means well-being, health, prosperity, security, soundness, and completeness. It has to do more with character than circumstances. Life was difficult at that time just as it is today. Taxes were high, unemployment was high, morals were slipping lower, and the military state was in control. Roman law, Greek philosophy, and even Jewish religion could not meet the needs of men’s hearts. Then, God sent His Son!

Mary “kept all these things and pondered them in her heart” (also see v. ). The expression behind “pondered” means “to put things together”; Mary sought for some pattern that would help her understand God’s will. There were times when Mary misunderstood Jesus (), and this would add to her suffering. The last time you find Mary named in Scripture, she is in the Upper Room, praying with the other believers ().

Catalyst

These shepherds are good examples for us to imitate today. They received by faith the message God sent them and then responded with immediate obedience. After finding the Baby, they reported the good news to others, “glorifying and praising God” (). They took the place of the angels (vv. , )! Then they humbly returned to their duties, new men going back to the same old job.

For some reason, shepherds were not permitted to testify in court, but God used some humble shepherds to be the first human witnesses that prophecy had been fulfilled and the Messiah had been born. As a result, “all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds” (v. ).

The angels have never experienced the grace of God, so they can’t bear witness as we can. Telling others about the Savior is our solemn obligation as well as our great privilege. We who are believers must be faithful!

Go to the

Circumcision was only the beginning. When the child was forty days old, Mary and Joseph had to come to the temple for the purification rites described in . They also had to “redeem” the boy since He was Mary’s firstborn (). They had to pay five shekels to redeem the Redeemer who would one day redeem us with His precious blood (, ). Their humble sacrifice would suggest that they were too poor to bring a lamb (). But He was the Lamb!

Our Lord’s relationship to the law is an important part of His saving ministry. He was made under the law (); and though He rejected man’s religious traditions, He obeyed God’s law perfectly (). He bore the curse of the law for us () and set us free from bondage ().

Anna was a prophetess, which meant she had a special gift of declaring and interpreting God’s message. Other prophetesses in Scripture are Miriam (), Deborah (), Huldah (), Noadiah (), and the wife of Isaiah (). The evangelist Philip had four daughters who were prophetesses (, ).

Having obeyed the law in everything, Mary and Joseph returned to Nazareth, which would be our Lord’s home until He started His official ministry. There were many Jewish men with the name “Jesus” (Joshua), so He would be known as “Jesus the Nazarene” (), and His followers would be called “Nazarenes” (; see ).

Luke reports that Jesus developed physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually (vv. , ). In His incarnation, the Son of God set aside the independent use of His own divine attributes and submitted Himself wholly to the Father (). There are deep mysteries here that no one can fully understand or explain, but we have no problem accepting them by faith.

People traveled to the festivals in caravans, the women and children leading the way and setting the pace, and the men and young men following behind. Relatives and whole villages often traveled together and kept an eye on each other’s children. At the age of twelve, Jesus could easily have gone from one group to another and not been missed. Joseph would think Jesus was with Mary and the other children, while Mary would suppose He was with Joseph and the men, or perhaps with one of their relatives.

Catalyst

Jesus is a wonderful example for all young people to follow. He grew in a balanced way (, ) without neglecting any part of life. His priority was to do the will of His Father (see ). He knew how to listen and how to ask the right questions (). He learned how to work, and He was obedient to His parents (v. ).

The Boy Jesus grew up in a large family, in a despised city, nurtured by parents who were probably poor. The Jewish religion was at an all-time low, the Roman government was in control, and society was in a state of fear and change. Yet when Jesus emerged from Nazareth, eighteen years later, the Father was able to say of Him, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased” ().

May the Father be able to say that about us!

Go to the

The word “must” was often on our Lord’s lips: “I must preach” (); “The Son of Man must suffer” (); the Son of Man “must be lifted up” (). Even at the age of twelve, Jesus was moved by a divine compulsion to do the Father’s will.

Resembling the prophet Elijah in manner and dress (; ; see ), John came to the area near the Jordan River, preaching and baptizing. He announced the arrival of the kingdom of Heaven () and urged the people to repent. Centuries before, Israel had crossed the Jordan (a national baptism) to claim their Promised Land. Now God summoned them to turn from sin and enter His spiritual kingdom.

A unique feature about John’s ministry was baptism (; ). Baptism was nothing new to the people, for the Jews baptized Gentile proselytes. But John baptized Jews, and this was unusual. explains that John’s baptism looked forward to the coming of the Messiah, while Christian baptism looks back to the finished work of Christ.

John the Baptist was a voice “crying in the wilderness” (see also ; ). He was like the herald who went before the royal procession to make sure the roads were ready for the king. Spiritually speaking, the nation of Israel was living in a “wilderness” of unbelief, and the roads to spiritual reality were twisted and in disrepair.

Tax collectors came to John for counsel. These men were despised by their fellow Jews because they worked for the Romans and usually extorted money from the people. John did not tell them to quit their jobs but to do their work honestly. Likewise, the soldiers were not condemned for their vocation. Rather, John told them to refrain from using their authority for personal gain. These were probably Jewish soldiers attached to the temple or to the court of one of the Jewish rulers. It was not likely that Roman soldiers would ask a Jewish prophet for counsel.

When our Lord came up from the water, the Father spoke from heaven and identified Him as the dearly loved Son of God, and the Spirit visibly came upon Jesus in the form of a dove. Those who deny the Trinity have a difficult time explaining this event. This is the first of three recorded occasions when the Father spoke from heaven. The second was when Jesus was transfigured (), and the third was during His last week before the cross ().

Luke interrupted his narrative at this point to give us a genealogy of Jesus. Matthew’s genealogy () begins with Abraham and moves forward to Jesus, while Luke’s begins with Jesus and moves backward to Adam. Matthew gives us the genealogy of Joseph, the legal foster father of Jesus, while Luke gives us the genealogy of His mother, Mary.

The account of Jesus’ temptation is proof that the Father’s approval was deserved. Jesus is indeed the “beloved Son” () who always does whatever pleases His Father (). The first Adam was tempted in a beautiful garden and failed. The Last Adam was tempted in a dangerous wilderness () and succeeded.

Catalyst

The account of Jesus’ temptation () exposed the tactics of the enemy, and it reveals to us how we can overcome when we are tempted. We have at our disposal the same spiritual resources that Jesus used when He faced and defeated Satan: prayer (), the Father’s love (), the power of the Spirit (), and the Word of God ().

This experience also helped prepare our Lord for His present ministry as our sympathetic High Priest; we may come to Him for the help we need to overcome the tempter. The Book of Hebrews tells us that Jesus was tempted in the ways we are (; ). We have in heaven the interceding Savior who has defeated the enemy completely.

Satan tempts us to bring out the worst in us, but God can use these difficult experiences to put the best into us. Temptation is Satan’s weapon to defeat us, but it can become God’s tool to build us (see , ).

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Comparing the account in , it appears that Luke reversed the second and third temptations, but notice that Luke did not claim to record the events in order. The word “then” in indicates that Matthew did put them in order. It’s interesting that Luke’s order parallels that in : the lust of the flesh (stones into bread), the lust of the eyes (the world’s kingdoms and glory), and the pride of life (jump from the pinnacle of the temple).

Faced with an opponent who didn’t hesitate to misuse God’s Word, Jesus balanced Scripture with Scripture to get the total expression of God’s will. If you isolate verses from their contexts, or passages from the total revelation of Scripture, you can prove almost anything from the Bible. Almost every false cult claims to be based on the teachings of the Bible. When we try to get our orders from God by randomly picking out verses from here and there in the Bible, we are not living by faith. We are living by chance and tempting the Lord.

We also tempt God if we willfully get into trouble and then expect God to rescue us. (For an example of this, see .) We tempt God when we “force” Him (or dare Him) to act contrary to His Word. It is a dangerous thing to try God’s patience in this way!

, It was our Lord’s custom to attend public worship, a custom His followers should imitate today (, ). He might have argued that the “religious system” was corrupt, or that He didn’t need the instruction, but instead, He made His way on the Sabbath to the place of prayer. A typical synagogue service opened with an invocation for God’s blessing and then the recitation of the traditional Hebrew confession of faith (; ). This was followed by prayer and the prescribed readings from the law and from the prophets, with the reader paraphrasing the Hebrew Scriptures in Aramaic. This was followed by a brief sermon given by one of the men of the congregation or perhaps by a visiting rabbi (see ). If a priest was present, the service closed with a benediction. Otherwise, one of the laymen prayed and the meeting was dismissed.

Jesus was asked to read the Scripture text and to give the sermon. The passage He read included , , and He selected it for His “text.” The Jewish rabbis interpreted this passage to refer to the Messiah, and the people in the synagogue knew it. You can imagine how shocked they were when Jesus boldly said that it was written about Him and that “today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

, The reference here is the “Year of Jubilee” described in . Every seventh year was a “sabbatical year” for the nation, when the land was allowed to rest, and every fiftieth year (after seven sabbaticals) was set apart as the “Year of Jubilee.” The main purpose of this special year was the balancing of the economic system: Slaves were set free and returned to their families, property that had been sold reverted to the original owners, and all debts were canceled. The land lay fallow as man and beast rested and rejoiced in the Lord. Jesus applied all of this to His own ministry, not in a political or economic sense, but in a physical and spiritual sense.

, At first, the people in the synagogue admired the way He taught, but it didn’t take long for their admiration to turn into antagonism. Why? Because Jesus began to remind them of God’s goodness to the Gentiles! The prophet Elijah bypassed all the Jewish widows and helped a Gentile widow in Sidon (), and his successor Elisha healed a Gentile leper from Syria (). Our Lord’s message of grace was a blow to the proud Jewish exclusivism of the congregation, and they would not repent. Imagine this hometown boy saying that Jews had to be saved by grace just like the pagan Gentiles! And yet we who are Gentiles can take great comfort in these words from the Lord!

At sundown, when the Sabbath had ended and healing was permissible, a host of people brought their sick and afflicted to Peter’s house and asked Jesus to help them. Again, He silenced the demons who confessed Him to be the Son of God. The Lord must have been weary after such a demanding day, and yet He was up early the next morning to pray (). It was in prayer that He found His strength and power for service, and so must we.

It is possible that at least seven of the disciples were fishermen (). Consider the fact that fishermen generally have the qualities that make for success in serving the Lord. It takes courage and daring, patience and determination to work on the seas, and it also takes a great deal of faith. Fishermen must be willing to work together (they used nets, not hooks) and help one another. They must develop the skills necessary to get the job done quickly and efficiently.

Peter must have been surprised when Jesus took command of the ship and its crew. After all, Jesus was a carpenter by trade (), and what do carpenters know about fishing? It was a well-known fact that, in the Sea of Galilee, you caught fish at night in the shallow water, not in the daytime in the deep water. What Jesus asked Peter to do was contrary to all of his training and experience, but Peter obeyed. The key was his faith in the Word of God: “Nevertheless at Your word ” ().

The word translated “Master” is used only by Luke and it has a variety of meanings, all of which speak of authority: chief commander, magistrate, governor of a city, and president of a college. Peter was willing to submit to the authority of Jesus, even though he did not understand all that the Lord was doing. And remember, a great crowd was watching from the shore. How people respond to success is one indication of their true character. Instead of claiming the valuable catch for themselves, Peter and Andrew called their partners to share it. We are not reservoirs, but channels of blessing, to share with others what God has graciously given to us.

Here was a man who needed to be changed, for he was a leper. Among the Jews, several skin diseases were classified as leprosy, including our modern Hansen’s disease. In spite of modern medical advances, an estimated ten million people around the world have leprosy. One form of leprosy attacks the nerves so that the victim cannot feel pain. Infection easily sets in, and this leads to degeneration of the tissues. The limb becomes deformed and eventually falls off.

Like sin, leprosy is deeper than the skin () and cannot be helped by mere “surface” measures (see ). Like sin, leprosy spreads (, ), and as it spreads, it defiles (, ). Because of his defilement, a leprous person had to be isolated outside the camp (), and lost sinners one day will be isolated in hell. People with leprosy were looked on as “dead” (), and garments infected with leprosy were fit only for the fire (). How important it is for lost sinners to trust Jesus Christ and get rid of their “leprosy”!

This man not only needed to be changed, but he wanted to be changed. Lepers were required to keep their distance, but he was so determined that he broke the law and approached the Lord Jesus personally. Throughout his Gospel, Luke makes it clear that Jesus was a Friend of the outcasts, and they could come to Him for help. The man humbled himself before the Lord and asked for mercy.

Since this is the first time the scribes (“teachers of religious law”) and Pharisees are mentioned in Luke’s gospel, it would be good for us to get acquainted with them. The word “Pharisee” comes from a Hebrew word that means “to divide, to separate.” The scribes and Pharisees probably developed out of the ministry of Ezra, the priest, who taught the Jewish people to obey the Law of Moses and be separate from the heathen nations around them (; ). The great desire of the scribes and Pharisees was to understand and magnify God’s law and apply it in their daily lives. However, the movement soon became quite legalistic, and its leaders laid so many burdens on the people that it was impossible to “serve the LORD with gladness” ().

Jesus could have simply healed the man and sent him home, but instead, He used the opportunity to teach a lesson about sin and forgiveness. Certainly it was easier to say to the man, “Your sins are forgiven” than it was to say, “Stand up and walk,” because nobody could prove whether or not his sins really were forgiven. Jesus healed the man’s body, something everybody in the house could witness.

The healing of his body was an outward evidence of the spiritual healing within. Jesus astounded the religious leaders by claiming to have authority both to heal the body and to forgive sins. The people had already acknowledged His authority to teach and to cast out demons (, ), but now He claimed authority to forgive sins as well. The scribes and Pharisees could not deny the miracle of healing, but they considered His claim to forgive sins nothing less than blasphemy, for only God can forgive sins. For making that kind of statement, Jesus could be stoned, because He was claiming to be God.

Matthew (Levi) sat at the tax collector’s booth and levied duty on the merchandise that was brought through. Since the tax rates were not always clear, it was easy for an unscrupulous man to make extra money for himself. But even if a tax collector served honestly, the Jews still despised him for defiling himself by working for the Gentiles. John the Baptist had made it clear that there was nothing innately sinful in collecting taxes (, ), and we have no evidence that Matthew was a thief. But to the Jews, Levi was a sinner, and Jesus was suspect for having anything to do with him and his sinner friends.

, The scribes and Pharisees saw Matthew and his friends as condemned sinners, but Jesus saw them as spiritually sick “patients” who needed the help of a physician. In fact, He had illustrated this when He cleansed the leper and healed the paralytic. Sin is like a disease: It starts in a small and hidden way; it grows secretly; it saps our strength; and if it is not cured, it kills. It is tragic when sickness kills the body, but it is even more tragic when sin condemns the soul to hell.

Fasting is found often in the Old Testament, but nowhere is it commanded in the New Testament. However, the example of the prophets and the early church is certainly significant for believers today. Our Lord’s words in assume that we will fast (“when,” not “if”), and passages like and indicate that fasting was a practice of the early church.

If unfermented wine is put into brittle old wineskins, the gas will burst the skins, and both the skins and the wine will be lost. The new life of the Spirit could not be forced into the old wineskins of Judaism. Jesus was revealing that the ancient Jewish religion was getting old and would soon be replaced (see ). Most of the Jews preferred the old and refused the new.

The sanctity of the seventh day was a distinctive part of the Jewish faith. God gave Israel the Sabbath law at Sinai (, ) and made it a sign between Him and the nation (; ). The word “Sabbath” means “rest” and is linked with God’s cessation of work after the six days of creation (, ). Some of the rabbis taught that Messiah could not come until Israel had perfectly kept the Sabbath, so obeying this law was very important both personally and nationally. However, God is more concerned about meeting human needs than He is about protecting religious rules. Better that David and his men receive strength to serve God than that they perish only for the sake of a temporary law. God desires compassion, not sacrifice (, quoting ). The Pharisees, of course, had a different view of the law ().

It was lawful for a Jew to eat from a neighbor’s vineyard, orchard, or field, provided he did not fill a container or use a harvesting implement (, ). The disciples were hungry, so they picked the heads of wheat, rubbed them in their hands, and ate them. But in so doing, according to the rabbis, they broke the Sabbath law, because they were harvesting, winnowing, and preparing food!

The Jewish Sabbath speaks of rest after work and relates to the law, while the Lord’s Day speaks of rest before work and relates to grace. The Lord’s Day commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead as well as the coming of the Holy Spirit and the “birthday” of the church ().

When Jesus made this statement, He was claiming to be Jehovah God, because it was the Lord who established the Sabbath. If Jesus Christ is indeed Lord of the Sabbath, then He is free to do on it and with it whatever He pleases. The Pharisees did not miss His meaning, you can be sure.

Our Lord’s defense in the grain field (v. ) was based on the Old Testament Scriptures, but His defense in the synagogue (v. ) was based on the nature of God’s Sabbath law. God gave that law to help people, not to hurt them. “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath” (). Every man in the synagogue would rescue a sheep on the Sabbath, so why not rescue a man made in the image of God (, )? The scribes and Pharisees had turned God’s gift into a heavy yoke that nobody could bear (; ).

Jesus gives a spiritual “sabbath rest” that is in the heart all the time (). Unlike the galling yoke of the law, the yoke that Jesus gives is “easy,” and His “burden is light.” When the sinner trusts the Savior, he has peace with God because his sins are forgiven and he is reconciled to God (). As the believer yields to Christ in daily experience, he enjoys “the peace of God which surpasses all understanding” in his heart and mind (, ).

Why did Jesus pray all night? For one thing, He knew that opposition against Him was growing and would finally result in His crucifixion, so He prayed for strength as He faced the path ahead. Also, He wanted the Father’s guidance as He selected His twelve apostles, for the future of the church rested with them. Keep in mind that one of the Twelve would betray Him, and Jesus knew who he was from the beginning (). Our Lord had real human emotions (; , ), and it was through prayer that He made this difficult choice.

Simon received the name Peter (“stone”) when Andrew brought him to Jesus (). Bartholomew is the same as Nathanael (). The other Simon in the group was nicknamed “the Zealot,” which can mean one of two things. It may mean that he belonged to a group of fanatical Jewish patriots known as “the Zealots,” whose purpose was to deliver Israel from the tyranny of Rome. They used every means at hand, including terror and assassination, to accomplish their purposes. Or, perhaps the word “Zealot” translates from the Hebrew word qanna, which means “Jealous for God, zealous for God’s honor.” Whether Simon was known for his zeal to honor God, or for his membership in a subversive organization, we cannot be sure—possibly both.

We are also not sure of the origin of the word “Iscariot.” It probably means “man [ish in Hebrew] of Kerioth,” a town in southern Judah (). Some connect it with the Aramaic word seqar, which means “falsehood.” Thus, “Judas the false one.” The geographical explanation is probably right.

It is significant that after Jesus called His twelve apostles, and before He preached the Sermon of the Mount, He took time to heal many needy people. This was a demonstration of both His power and His compassion. It was also a reminder to His newly appointed assistants that their job was to share His love and power with a needy world. It is estimated that there were three hundred million people in the world in Jesus’ day, while there are over seven billion today, four-fifths of them in the less-developed nations. What a challenge to the church!

This sermon is probably a shorter version of what we call “The Sermon on the Mount” (), though some fine evangelical scholars believe these were two different events.

This sermon is not “the gospel,” and nobody goes to heaven by “following the Sermon on the Mount.” Dead sinners cannot obey the living God; they must first be born again and receive God’s life (, ). Nor is this sermon a “constitution” for the kingdom God will one day establish on earth (; ). The Sermon on the Mount applies to life today and describes the kind of godly character we should have as believers in this world.

The four “woe to you” statements all share a common truth: You take what you want from life, and you pay for it. If you want immediate wealth, fullness, laughter, and popularity, you can get it, but there is a price to pay: That is all you will get. Jesus did not say that these things were wrong. He said that being satisfied with them is its own judgment.

Jesus assumed that anybody who lived for eternal values would get into trouble with the world’s crowd. Christians are the “salt of the earth” and “the light of the world” (), and sometimes the salt stings and the light exposes sin. Sinners show their hatred by avoiding us or rejecting us (), insulting us (v. ), physically abusing us (v. ), and suing us (v. ). This is something we must expect (; ).

, Jesus’ statement reminds us that we reap what we sow and in the amount that we sow. If we judge others, we will ourselves be judged. If we forgive, we shall be forgiven, but if we condemn, we shall be condemned (see ). Jesus was not talking about eternal judgment but about the way we are treated in this life. If we live to give, God will see to it that we receive, but if we live only to get, God will see to it that we lose. This principle applies not only to our giving of money, but also to the giving of ourselves in ministry to others.

The illustration of the tree reminds us that fruit is always true to character. An apple tree produces apples, not oranges, and a good person produces good fruit, not evil. Believers do sin, but the witness of their words and works is consistently good to the glory of God. In terms of ministry, servants of God who are faithful will reproduce themselves in people who are in turn true to the Lord ().

Our Lord’s emphasis here is on obedience. It is not enough merely to hear His Word and call Him “Lord.” We must also obey what He commands us to do.

We are impressed not only with this man’s great love, but also his great humility. Imagine a Roman officer telling a poor Jewish rabbi that he was unworthy to have Him enter his house! The Romans were not known for displaying humility, especially before their Jewish subjects.

The officer saw a parallel between the way he commanded his soldiers and the way Jesus commanded diseases. Both the officer and Jesus were under authority, and because they were under authority, they had the right to exercise authority. All they had to do was say the word and things happened. What tremendous faith this man exhibited! No wonder Jesus was amazed.

The characteristic that most impressed Jesus was the man’s faith. Twice in the gospel record we are told that Jesus was amazed. Here in Capernaum, He marveled at the faith of a Gentile; and in Nazareth, He marveled at the unbelief of the Jews (). The only other person Jesus commended for having “great faith” was a Gentile woman whose daughter He delivered from a demon (). It is worth noting that in both of these instances, Jesus healed from a distance (see ; ). The officer’s faith certainly was remarkable. After all, he was a Gentile whose background was pagan. He was a Roman soldier, trained to be self-sufficient.

Nain was about twenty-five miles from Capernaum, a good day’s journey away, yet Jesus went there even though He was not requested to come. Since the Jews buried their dead the same day (; ), it is likely that Jesus and His disciples arrived at the city gate late in the afternoon of the day the boy died.

In the funeral procession, Jesus faced death, “the last enemy” (). When you consider the pain and grief that it causes in this world, death is indeed an enemy, and only Jesus Christ can give us victory (see ; , ). Jesus had only to speak the word and the boy was raised to life and health.

There is a difference between doubt and unbelief. Doubt is a matter of the mind: We cannot understand what God is doing or why He is doing it. Unbelief is a matter of the will: We refuse to believe God’s Word and obey what He tells us to do.

, We can look back at the ministry of Christ and understand what He was doing, but John did not have that advantage. John had announced judgment, but Jesus was doing deeds of love and mercy. John had promised that the kingdom was at hand, but there was no evidence of it so far. He had presented Jesus as “the Lamb of God” (), so John must have understood something about Jesus’ sacrifice, yet how did this sacrifice relate to the promised kingdom for Israel? He was perplexed about God’s plan and his place in it.

Jesus compared that generation to people who were childish, not childlike, and nothing pleased them. He was probably referring to the scribes and Pharisees in particular. John was an individual who declared a stern message of judgment, and they said, “He has a demon!” Jesus mingled with the people and preached a gracious message of salvation, and they said, “He’s a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!” People who want to avoid the truth about themselves can always find something in the preacher to criticize. This is one way they “justify themselves.” But God’s wisdom is not frustrated by the arguments of the “wise.” It is demonstrated in the changed lives of those who believe. This is how true “wisdom is justified.”

Do not confuse this event with a similar one involving Mary of Bethany (), and do not identify this woman with Mary Magdalene (; ), as many continue to do.

It was customary in that day for outsiders to hover around during banquets so they could watch the “important people” and hear the conversation. Since everything was open, they could even enter the banquet hall and speak to a guest. This explains how this woman had access to Jesus. He was not behind locked doors. In that day women were not invited to banquets. Jewish rabbis did not speak to women in public, nor did they eat with them in public. A woman of this type would not be welcomed in the house of Simon the Pharisee. Her sins are not named, but we get the impression she was a woman of the streets with a bad reputation.

The parable does not deal with the amount of sin in a person’s life but the awareness of that sin in his heart. How much sin must a person commit to be a sinner? Simon and the woman were both sinners. Simon was guilty of sins of the spirit, especially pride, while the woman was guilty of sins of the flesh (see ). Her sins were known, while Simon’s sins were hidden to everyone except God. And both of them were bankrupt and could not pay their debt to God. Simon was just as spiritually bankrupt as the woman, only he did not realize it.

There are two errors we must avoid as we interpret our Lord’s words. First, we must not conclude that this woman was saved by her tears and her gift. Jesus made it clear that it was her faith alone that saved her (v. ), for no amount of good works can pay for salvation (). Nor should we think that lost sinners are saved by love, either God’s love for them or their love for God. God loves the whole world (), yet the whole world is not saved. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (, ). Grace is love that pays a price, and that price was the death of the Son of God on the cross.

How was this woman saved? She repented of her sins and put her faith in Jesus Christ. How did she know she was truly forgiven? She had the assurance of His word. What was the proof of her salvation? Her love for Christ expressed itself in sacrificial devotion to Him. For the first time in her life, she had peace with God. Jesus told her to “Go in peace,” for she had moved out of the sphere of enmity toward God and was now enjoying peace with God (; , ).

, The word “parable” means “to cast alongside.” A parable is a story that teaches something new by putting the truth alongside something familiar. The people knew about seeds and soil, so the parable of the farmer interested them. Those who were indifferent or proud would shrug it off. Our Lord’s parables aroused the interest of the concerned.

Catalyst

Jesus’ parable in is about the receptivity of the human heart. In Matthew, this parable is called “the parable of the sower” (), but it could also be called “the parable of the types of soil.” The human heart is like the soil in this parable: If it is prepared properly, it can receive the seed of the Word of God and produce a fruitful harvest.

Jesus described four different kinds of hearts, three of which did not produce any fruit. The proof of salvation is fruit and not merely hearing the Word or making a profession of faith in Christ. Jesus had already made that clear in His “Sermon on the Mount” (; also see ).

The hard soil (vv. , ). This soil represents the person who hears the Word but immediately allows the devil to snatch the seed away. How did the heart become hard? The “footpath” was the path that ran through the common field, separating the plots, and the foot traffic hardened the soil. Whatever goes into the ear or eye finally enters the heart, so be careful who is allowed to “walk on your heart.”

The shallow (rocky) soil (vv. , ). This soil illustrates the emotional hearer who quickly responds to the message, but his interest wanes and he does not continue (see , ). In many parts of the Holy Land you find a substratum of limestone covered with a thin layer of soil. The shoot can grow up, but the roots cannot go down, and the sun withers the rootless plant. The sun represents the testing that comes to all professing believers to prove their faith. Sun is good for plants if they have roots. Persecution can deepen the roots of a true Christian, but it only exposes the shallowness of the false Christian.

The crowded (thorny) soil (vv. , ). This soil illustrates the person who does not repent and “weed out” the things that hinder the harvest. There is enough soil so the roots can go down, but not enough room for the plant to grow up and produce fruit. The plant is crowded out, and the fruit is choked. “Cares, riches, and pleasures of life” are like weeds in a garden that keep the soil from being fruitful. The person with the “crowded heart” comes closest to salvation, but he still does not bring forth “fruit to maturity.”

The good (“fertile”) soil (vv. , ). This soil alone is fruitful. It illustrates the individual who hears the Word, understands it, receives it within, is truly saved, and proves it by patiently producing fruit (see ; ). Not everybody produces the same amount of fruit (), but all true believers will produce some fruit as evidence of spiritual life. That fruit may include winning others to Christ (), money given to God’s work (), good works (), Christian character (, ), and praise to the Lord ().

This parable shows that Jesus was not impressed by the great crowds that followed Him. He knew that most of the people did not really “hear” the Word and receive it in their hearts. He gave this story to encourage the disciples in their future ministry and to encourage us today.

When you consider how much teaching, preaching, and witnessing goes on in the course of a month or a year, you wonder why there is such a small harvest. The fault does not lie with the sower or the seed. The problem is with the soil. Many human hearts will not submit to God, repent and receive the Word, and be saved.

Go to the

The word “hear” is used seven times in this section. It means much more than simply listening to words. “Hearing” means listening with spiritual understanding and receptivity. It is a serious thing to hear and understand the Word of God, because this puts on us the obligation to share that Word with others. Everyone who receives the seed then becomes a sower, a light bearer, and a transmitter of God’s truth (see ). If we keep it to ourselves, we will lose it, but if we share it, we will receive more.

Satan does not care how much Bible truth we learn so long as we do not live it. Truth that is only in the head is purely academic and never will get into the heart until it is practiced by the will. Doing “the will of God from the heart” () is what God wants from His children. Satan knows that academic truth is not dangerous, but active truth is.

The disciples failed this test of faith because they did not lay hold of His word that He was going to the other side of the lake (v. ). It has well been said that faith is not believing in spite of circumstances; it is obeying in spite of feelings and consequences. The disciples looked around and saw danger, and looked within and saw fear, but they failed to look up by faith and see God. Faith and fear cannot dwell together in the same heart.

Even the demons believe (). They believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God with authority to command them. They believe in a future judgment () and in the existence of a place of torment to which Jesus could send them (“the abyss,” ). They also believe in prayer, for the demons begged Jesus not to send them to the abyss. They asked to be sent into the pigs, and Jesus granted their request.

The contrast here is interesting, for it shows the variety of people who came to Jesus for help. The man’s name is given (Jairus), but the woman is anonymous. Jairus was a wealthy leading citizen, but the woman was a lowly person who had spent all her money trying to get well. Here was a man interceding for his child and a woman hoping to get help for herself, and both came to the feet of Jesus. Jairus had been blessed with twelve years of joy with his daughter, and now might lose her, while the woman had experienced twelve years of misery because of her affliction, and now she was hoping to get well.

This public confession was for her sake. It was an opportunity for her to confess Christ and glorify God. Had she stolen away in the crowd, she would not have met Jesus personally or heard His words of assurance and comfort (v. ). But her confession was also an encouragement to Jairus, who would soon hear that his daughter had died. (Perhaps he wanted to blame the woman for the delay!) The woman’s twelve years of trial were ended, and the same Christ who helped her would help Jairus.

This woman had a hidden need, a burden she had lived with for twelve long years. It affected her physically and made life difficult. But it also affected her spiritually, because the hemorrhage made her ceremonially defiled and unable to participate in the religious life of the nation (). She was defiled, destitute, discouraged, and desperate, but she came to Jesus and her need was met. Her faith was almost superstitious, but the Lord honored it.

Resurrection is a picture of the way Jesus Christ saves lost sinners and raises them from spiritual death (; ). The Gospels record three such resurrections, though Jesus probably performed more. In each instance, the person raised gave evidence of life. The widow’s son began to speak (), Jairus’s daughter walked and ate food, and Lazarus was unwrapped from the graveclothes (). When a lost sinner is raised from the dead, you can tell it by his speech, his walk, his appetite, and his “change of clothes” (.).

Power is the ability to accomplish a task, and authority is the right to do it, and Jesus gave both to His apostles. They were able to cast out demons and heal the sick, but the most important ministry He gave them was that of preaching the gospel. The word “preach” (“tell everyone”) in verse describes a herald proclaiming a message from the king, and verse says they were heralds of the gospel!

, The apostles returned and gave a glowing report of their ministry, and Jesus suggested that they all take some time off for rest (). Their mission of preaching and healing had been demanding, and they all needed time alone for physical and spiritual renewal. This is a good example for busy (and sometimes overworked) Christian workers to imitate.

This miracle was more than an act of mercy for hungry people, though that was important. It was also a sign of our Lord’s messiahship and an illustration of God’s gracious provision for man’s salvation. The next day, Jesus preached a sermon on “the bread of life” and urged the people to receive Him just as they had received the bread (). But the people were more interested in their stomachs than their souls, and they completely missed the spiritual impact of the miracle. Their desire was to make Jesus king so He could give them bread for the rest of their lives (, )!

After Jesus returned to heaven, the disciples must often have been encouraged by remembering this miracle. It teaches us to have compassion, to look on problems as opportunities for God to work, and to give Him all that we have and trust Him to meet the needs. If we do all we can, He will step in and do the rest.

Jesus had already given a number of “hints” about His sacrificial death, but now He began to teach this truth clearly to His disciples. John the Baptist had presented Him as the “Lamb of God” (), and Jesus had predicted the “destruction of the temple” of His body (). When He compared Himself to the serpent in the wilderness () and to Jonah (), Jesus was making statements about His suffering and death.

Jesus did not stop with a private announcement of His own death. He also made a public declaration about a cross for every disciple. In his Gospel, Matthew tells us that this was necessary because of Peter’s desire to protect Jesus from suffering (.). Keep in mind that Jesus is talking about discipleship and not sonship. We are not saved from our sins because we take up a cross and follow Jesus, but because we trust the Savior who died on the cross for our sins. After we become children of God, then we become disciples.

As far as the gospel record is concerned, the Transfiguration was the only occasion during Christ’s earthly ministry when He revealed the glory of His person. Matthew, Mark, and Luke do not use the word “transfigure,” but they all describe the scene (see ; ). The word “transfiguration” means “a change in appearance that comes from within,” and it gives us the English word “metamorphosis.”

We can have a spiritual “transfiguration” experience each day as we walk with the Lord. , and tell us how. As we surrender body, mind, and will, the Lord transforms us from within so that we are not conformed to the world. As we behold Him in the Word (the mirror), we are “transfigured” by the Spirit. The theological name for this experience is “sanctification,” the process by which we become more like the Lord Jesus Christ, which is the Father’s goal for each of His children (; ).

As wonderful as “mountaintop” experiences are, they are not the basis for a consistent Christian life. That can come only through the Word of God. Experiences come and go, but the Word remains. Our recollection of past experiences will fade, but God’s Word never changes. The farther we get from these events, the less impact they make on our lives.

When you analyze this section of Luke’s Gospel, you can better understand why Jesus was grieved (v. ) over the failures of His followers. He had given His apostles authority over Satan, yet they were too weak to cast out a demon (vv. ). In feeding the five thousand, Jesus gave them an example of compassion, yet they persisted in manifesting selfishness and lack of love (vv. ). He taught clearly what it meant to follow Him, yet the volunteers turned out to be “me first” disciples (vv. ). No wonder He was grieved!

The disciples did not have much love for each other, or they would not have argued over who was the greatest. Perhaps this debate started because of envy (three of the disciples had been with Jesus on the mountain), or because of pride (the other nine had failed to cast out the demon). Also, just before this, Jesus had paid Peter’s temple tax for him (), and this may have aroused some envy.

James and John had seen the prophet Elijah on the mountain, so they thought they might imitate him and call down fire from heaven ()! The Samaritans and Jews had been enemies for centuries (), so it was understandable that this village would reject Jesus as He traveled toward Jerusalem (, ). Jesus rebuked their vengeful spirit and simply went to another village (). Later, Samaria would be reached with the gospel ().

It would appear that what Jesus taught His disciples and the multitudes had done them little good. They lacked power, love, and discipline, and they grieved His heart. If we today lack these spiritual essentials, we can never truly be His disciples, but they are available to us from the Lord ().

There are similarities between the charges given to the Twelve in and the Seventy here, but this is to be expected since both groups were sent by the same Master to do the same basic job. The twelve apostles ministered throughout Galilee, but these men were sent into Judea, and the men in this chapter are not called apostles. They were anonymous disciples.

The special power that Jesus gave to His apostles (see ) and to the Seventy is not ours to claim today. These two preaching missions were very special ministries, and God did not promise to duplicate them in our age. Our Lord’s commission to us emphasizes the proclamation of the message, not the performing of miracles (, ; ).

Harvesting is hard work, even when there are many people helping you, but these men were sent into a vast field with very few workers to help them reap a great harvest. Instead of praying for an easier job, they were to pray for more laborers to join them, and we today need to pray that same prayer. Please note that it is laborers, not spectators, who pray for more laborers! Too many Christians are praying for somebody else to do a job they are unwilling to do themselves.

We can well understand the joy of the Seventy as they returned to report their victories to Jesus. He had given them power and authority to heal, to cast out demons, and to preach the Word, and they were successful! In the midst of their great joy, they were careful to give God the glory (“when we use Your name”). They had seen individual victories from city to city, but Jesus saw these victories as part of a war that dethroned and defeated Satan (see ; ; , ).

The Lord cautioned them not to “rejoice” over their victories but to rejoice because their names had been written in heaven. (The perfect tense in the Greek means “they stand written.” It is a statement of assurance. See ; .) As wonderful as their miracles were, the greatest miracle of all is still the salvation of a lost soul. The Greek word translated “written” means “to inscribe formally and solemnly.” It was used for the signing of a will, a marriage document, or a peace treaty, and also for the enrolling of a citizen.

The scribe gave the right answer, but he would not apply it personally to himself and admit his own lack of love for both God and his neighbor. So, instead of being justified by throwing himself on the mercy of God (see ), he tried to justify himself and wriggle out of his predicament. He used the old debating tactic: “Define your terms! What do you mean by ‘neighbor’? Who is my neighbor?”

, By using a Samaritan as the hero, Jesus disarmed the Jews, for the Jews and Samaritans were enemies (; ). It was not a Jew helping a Samaritan but a Samaritan helping a Jew who had been ignored by his fellow Jews! The Samaritan loved those who hated him, risked his own life, spent his own money (two days’ wages for a laborer), and was never publicly rewarded or honored as far as we know.

What the Samaritan did helps us better understand what it means to “show mercy,” and it also illustrates the ministry of Jesus Christ. The Samaritan identified with the needs of the stranger and had compassion on him. There was no logical reason why he should rearrange his plans and spend his money just to help an “enemy” in need, but mercy does not need reasons.

Catalyst

Mary and Martha are often contrasted as though each believer must make a choice: be a worker like Martha or be a worshiper like Mary. Certainly our personalities and gifts are different, but that does not mean that the Christian life is an either/or situation. The key is to have the right priorities: Jesus Christ first, then others, and then ourselves.

We can take a warning from this account: Perhaps in all of our busyness, we have been ignoring the Lord. Martha’s problem was not that she had too much work to do, but that she allowed her work to distract her and pull her apart. She was trying to serve two masters!

If serving Christ makes us difficult to live with, then something is terribly wrong with our service! It is vitally important that we spend time “at Jesus’ feet” every single day, letting Him share His Word with us. The most important part of the Christian life is the part that only God sees. Unless we meet Christ personally and privately each day, we will soon end up like Martha: busy but not blessed.

Go to the

Mary of Bethany is seen three times in the gospel record, and on each occasion, she is in the same place: at the feet of Jesus. She sat at His feet and listened to His Word (v. ), fell at His feet and shared her woe (), and came to His feet and poured out her worship (). It is interesting to note that in each of these instances, there is some kind of fragrance: In , it is food; in , it is death; and in , it is perfume. The way we worship and show appreciation to God can take many forms and can be expressed in many different circumstances.

The greatest argument for the priority of prayer is the fact that our Lord was a man of prayer. Thus far we have seen that He prayed at His baptism (), before He chose the Twelve (), when the crowds increased (), before He asked the Twelve for their confession of faith (), and at His Transfiguration (). The disciples knew that He often prayed alone (), and they wanted to learn from Him this secret of spiritual power and wisdom. If Jesus Christ, the perfect Son of God, had to depend on prayer while He was here on earth (), then how much more do you and I need to pray! Effective prayer is the provision for every need and the solution for every problem.

We call this “the Lord’s Prayer,” not because Jesus prayed it (He never had to ask for forgiveness), but because Jesus taught it. There is nothing wrong with praying this prayer personally or as part of a congregation, so long as we do it from a believing heart that is sincere and submitted. How easy it is to “recite” these words and not really mean them, but that can happen even when we sing and preach! The fault lies with us, not with this prayer.

In this parable, Jesus did not say that God is like this grouchy neighbor. In fact, He said just the opposite. If a tired and selfish neighbor finally meets the needs of a bothersome friend, how much more will a loving heavenly Father meet the needs of His own dear children! He is arguing from the lesser to the greater.

Note that the lesson closes with an emphasis on God as Father. Because He knows us and loves us, we never need to be afraid of the answers that He gives. Again, Jesus argued from the lesser to the greater: If an earthly father gives what is best to his children, surely the Father in heaven will do even more. This even includes “the good gifts of the Holy Spirit” (compare v. with ), blessings that in the Old Testament were reserved only for a special few.

“Beelzebub” was one of the names of the Philistine god Baal (); it means “lord of flies.” A variant is “Beelzebul,” which means “lord of the dwelling” and ties in with Christ’s illustrations in verses . The Jews often used this name when referring to Satan.

Jesus illustrated the danger of neutrality by telling the story of the man and the demon. The man’s body was the demon’s “house” (v. ; and see vv. and ). For some unknown reason, the demonic tenant decided to leave his “house” and go elsewhere. The man’s condition improved immediately, but the man did not invite God to come and dwell within. In other words, the man remained neutral. What happened? The demon returned with seven other demons worse than himself, and the man’s condition was abominable.

, , The leaders kept asking Jesus for a sign to prove that He was the Messiah. The only sign He promised was “the sign of Jonah,” which is death, burial, and resurrection. It is the resurrection of our Lord that proves He is the Messiah, the Son of God (), and this is what Peter preached to Israel on the day of Pentecost (.). The witness of the early church was centered on Christ’s resurrection (; ; ; , ). Jonah was a living miracle and so is our Lord Jesus Christ.

When we trust Jesus Christ, our eyes are opened, the light shines in, and we become children of light (; ; ). The important thing is that we take advantage of the light and have a single outlook of faith. If we keep one eye on the things of God and the other eye on the world (), the light will turn into darkness! There is no “twilight living” for the Christian, for God demands total submission and obedience (see ).

Each of us is controlled either by light or darkness. The frightening thing is that some people have so hardened themselves against the Lord that they cannot tell the difference! They think they are following the light when, in reality, they are following the darkness. The scribes and Pharisees claimed to “see the light” as they studied the law, but they were living in the darkness (see ).

At this stage in Christ’s ministry, when the religious leaders were bent on destroying Him, why would a Pharisee invite Him to his home for a meal? If he had been sincerely seeking truth, he would have talked with our Lord privately. It seems obvious that he was looking for an opportunity to accuse Jesus, and he thought he had it when Jesus did not practice the ceremonial handwashing before eating (see also , ). Knowing what the host was thinking, Jesus responded by giving a “spiritual analysis” of the Pharisees.

The basic error of the Pharisees was thinking that righteousness was only a matter of external actions, and they minimized internal attitudes. They were very careful to keep the outside clean, but they ignored the wickedness within. They seemed to forget that the same God who created the outside also created the inside, the “inward parts” that also needs cleansing (, ).

The Jews had to be especially careful about ceremonial defilement from dead bodies (; note especially v. ), so they made sure the graves were carefully marked. But the Pharisees were like unmarked graves that did not look like graves at all! This meant that they were unconsciously defiling others when they thought they were helping them become holier! Instead of helping people, the Pharisees were harming them.

The scribes convinced the people that nobody could understand and explain the law except the trained and authorized teachers. We have some of that arrogant attitude showing itself today. Teachers who overemphasize the Bible languages give people the impression that the Holy Spirit cannot teach anyone who does not know Greek and Hebrew. We must not despise true Christian scholarship, but we must also keep things in balance.

, Hypocrites do not want their sins exposed; it hurts their reputation. Instead of opposing the Lord, these men should have been seeking His mercy. They deliberately began to attack Him with “catch questions” in hopes they could trap Him in some heresy and then arrest Him. What a disgraceful way to treat the Son of God.

The word “hypocrite” comes from a Greek word that means “an actor,” “one who plays a part.” There are hypocrites in every walk of life, people who try to impress others in order to hide their real selves. In the Christian life, a hypocrite is somebody who tries to appear more spiritual than he or she really is. These people know that they are pretending, and they hope they will not be found out. Their Christian life is only a shallow masquerade.

Jesus compared hypocrisy to leaven, something that every Jew would associate with evil. (See . Paul also used leaven to symbolize sin. See ; .) Like leaven, hypocrisy begins very small but grows quickly and quietly. As it grows, it infects the whole person. Hypocrisy does to the ego what leaven does to bread dough: It puffs it up (see , , ; ). Soon pride takes over and the person’s character deteriorates rapidly.

The remedy for hypocrisy is to forget about what people may say and do and fear God alone. The fear of God is the fear that conquers all other fears, for the person who truly fears God need fear nothing else. All that men can do is kill the body, but God can condemn the soul! Since He is the final Judge, and He judges for eternity, it is logical that we put the fear of God ahead of everything else. Our God knows us and cares for us. He cares for the sparrows, and we are of more value than they, so what do we have to fear from men?

The sin against the Holy Spirit is not committed by people today as it was by Israel centuries ago. The only “unpardonable sin” today is the final rejection of Jesus Christ (). The Spirit of God witnesses through the Word, and it is possible for sinners to reject that witness and resist the Spirit. But the Spirit bears witness to Christ (), so the way people treat the Spirit is the way they treat the Son of God.

Covetousness is an unquenchable thirst for getting more and more of something we think we need in order to be truly satisfied. It may be a thirst for money or the things that money can buy, or even a thirst for position and power. Jesus made it clear that true life does not depend on an abundance of possessions. He did not deny that we have certain basic needs (; ). He only affirmed that we will not make life richer by acquiring more of these things.

There are perils to prosperity (). Wealth can choke the Word of God (), create snares and temptations (, ), and give you a false sense of security. People say that money does not satisfy, but it does satisfy if you want to live on that level. People who are satisfied only with the things that money can buy are in great danger of losing the things that money cannot buy.

A relationship that is “rich toward God” means to acknowledge gratefully that everything we have comes from God, and then make an effort to use what He gives us for the good of others and the glory of God. Wealth can be enjoyed and employed at the same time if our purpose is to honor God (.). To be rich toward God means spiritual enrichment, not just personal enjoyment. How tragic when people are rich in this world but poor in the next (see )!

Catalyst

teaches us that worry is deceptive. It gives us a false view of life, of itself, and of God. Worry convinces us that life is made up of what we eat and what we wear. We get so concerned about the means that we totally forget about the end, which is to glorify God ().

There is a great difference between making a living and making a life. Worry blinds us to the world around us and the way God cares for His creation. God makes the flowers beautiful, and He even feeds the unclean ravens, which have no ability to sow or reap. He ought to be able to care for men to whom He has given the ability to work.

Jesus was not suggesting that we sit around and let God feed us, for the birds themselves work hard to stay alive. Rather, He encourages us to trust Him and cooperate with Him in using the abilities and opportunities that He gives us ().

Go to the

Lest we get the idea that watching and waiting are all that He requires, Jesus added this parable to encourage us to be working when He comes. The apostles had a special responsibility to feed God’s household, His church, but each of us has some work to do in this world, assigned to us by the Lord. Our responsibility is to be faithful when He comes. We may not appear successful in our own eyes, or in the eyes of others, but that is not important. The thing God wants is faithfulness ().

Luke opened his book announcing “on earth, peace” (), but now he has the Lord seemingly contradicting this promise. Jesus does give peace to those who trust Him (), but often their confession of faith becomes a declaration of war among their family and friends. Jesus is a cause of division (see , ; ; ). But even if there is not peace on earth, there is “peace in heaven” () because of the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.

If people were as discerning about spiritual things as they are about the weather, they would be better off! The crowd could predict a storm, but it could not foresee the coming judgment. It knew that the temperature was about to change, but it could not “discern this time.” The Jewish nation had the prophetic Scriptures for centuries and should have known what God was doing, but their religious leaders led them astray. How tragic that men today can predict the movements of the heavenly bodies, split atoms, and even put men on the moon, but they are blind to what God is doing in the world. They know how to get to other planets, but they do not know how to get to heaven! Our educated world possesses a great deal of scientific knowledge but not much spiritual wisdom.

The murder noted here may have taken place when Pilate “appropriated” money from the temple treasury to help finance an aqueduct. A large crowd of angry Jews gathered in protest, so Pilate had soldiers in civilian clothes mingle with the mob. Using concealed weapons, the soldiers killed a number of innocent and unarmed Jews; this only added to the Jews’ hatred for their governor.

Instead of discussing Pilate’s sins, Jesus dealt with the sins of the people questioning Him. He answered their question by asking a question! To begin with, He made it clear that human tragedies are not always divine punishments and that it is wrong for us to “play God” and pass judgment. Jesus went on to show the logical conclusion of their argument: If God does punish sinners in this way, then they themselves had better repent because all men are sinners! The question is not, “Why did these people die?” but, “What right do you have to live?” None of us is sinless, so we had all better get prepared.

This parable has an application to individuals and to the nation of Israel. God is gracious and longsuffering toward people () and does more than enough to encourage us to repent and bear fruit (). He has had every right to cut us down, but in His mercy, He has spared us. Yet we must not presume upon the kindness and longsuffering nature of the Lord, for the day of judgment will finally come.

Not only does Satan “bend [people] over,” but so do sin (), sorrow (), and suffering (). Jesus Christ is the only one who can set the prisoner free. He spoke the word, laid His hands on the crippled woman, and she was healed and gave glory to God! That was a synagogue service the people never forgot.

Instead of rejoicing and giving God the glory, the leader of the synagogue (see also ) became very angry. He did not have the courage to express his anger to Jesus, so he scolded the congregation! But the more you ponder his tirade, the more ironic it becomes. The bondage of the ruler of the synagogue was worse than that of the woman. Her bondage affected only her body, but his bondage shackled his mind and heart. He was so bound and blinded by tradition that he ended up opposing the Son of God!

The Jews knew their Scriptures and recognized the images that Jesus used. Leaven represented evil (), and a mighty tree pictured a great world kingdom (; ; ). A mustard seed produces a shrub, not a great tree. The kingdom would be infected with false teaching (), and the small seed (“little flock,” ) would grow into an organization that would be a home for Satan. (The birds represent the evil one, .) The professing church today fits both descriptions.

These people’s minds had been instructed by the Word, and their hearts had been stirred by His mighty works, but their wills were stubborn and would not submit to Him. This is the deadly consequence of delay. The longer sinners wait, the harder their hearts become. When sinners fail to answer God’s invitation to His feast, they are the ones who die. They are “thrust out” of the joys of the kingdom and are punished with “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (v. ).

Our Lord was not afraid of danger. He followed a “divine timetable” and nothing could harm Him. He was doing the will of God according to the Father’s schedule (see ; ; ; ; ). It had been decreed from eternity that the Son of God would be crucified in Jerusalem at the Passover (; ), and even Herod Antipas could not hinder the purposes of God. Quite the contrary, our Lord’s enemies only helped fulfill the will of God (; ).

This afflicted man would not have been invited to such an important dinner were it not that the Pharisees wanted to use him as “bait” to catch Jesus. They knew that Jesus could not be in the presence of human suffering very long without doing something about it. If He ignored the afflicted man, then He was without compassion, but if He healed him, then He was openly violating the Sabbath and they could accuse Him. They put the suffering man right in front of the Master so He could not avoid him, and then they waited for the trap to spring.

Jesus exposed the false piety of the Pharisees and the scribes. They claimed to be defending God’s Sabbath laws, when in reality they were denying God by the way they abused people and accused the Savior. There is a big difference between protecting God’s truth and promoting man’s traditions.

Catalyst

In Jesus used the occasion of a banquet to give insight into humility and service. In verses , He addressed the guests regarding humility. In verses He spoke to the host about serving others.

In New Testament times, the closer you sat to the host, the higher you stood on the social ladder and the more attention (and invitations) you would receive from others. Naturally, many people rushed to the “head table” when the doors were opened because they wanted to be important. This kind of attitude betrays a false view of success.

Humility is a fundamental grace in the Christian life, and yet it is elusive; if you know you have it, you have lost it! It has well been said that humility is not thinking meanly of ourselves; it is simply not thinking of ourselves at all. Jesus is the greatest example of humility, and we would do well to ask the Holy Spirit to enable us to imitate Him ().

Our motive for serving others must be the praise of God and not the applause of men; we must care about the eternal reward in heaven and not the temporary recognition on earth. A friend of mine used to remind me, “You can’t get your reward twice!” and he was right (see ). On the day of judgment, many who today are first in the eyes of men will be last in God’s eyes, and many who are last in the eyes of men will be first in the eyes of God ().

Go to the

People today make the same mistake that the people in this parable made: They delay in responding to the invitation because they settle for second best. There is certainly nothing wrong with owning a farm, examining purchases, or spending an evening with your wife. But if these good things keep you from enjoying the best things, then they become bad things. The excuse-makers were actually successful people in the eyes of their friends, but they were failures in the eyes of Jesus Christ.

If we tell Jesus that we want to take up our cross and follow Him as His disciples, then He wants us to know exactly what we are getting into. He wants no false expectations, no illusions, no bargains. He wants to use us as stones for building His church, soldiers for batthng His enemies, and salt for bettering His world, and He is looking for quality.

Three words summarize the message of this chapter: lost, found, and rejoice. Jesus spoke these parables to answer the accusations of the Pharisees and scribes who were scandalized at His behavior. It was bad enough that Jesus welcomed these outcasts and taught them, but He went so far as to eat with them! The Jewish religious leaders did not yet understand that the Son of Man “came to seek and to save that which was lost” (). Even more, they were still blind to the fact that they themselves were among the lost. In addition this chapter makes it clear that there is one message of salvation: God welcomes and forgives repentant sinners.

These two parables help us understand something of what it means to be lost. To begin with, it means being out of place. Sheep belong with the flock, coins belong on the chain, and lost sinners belong in fellowship with God. But to be lost also means being out of service. A lost sheep is of no value to the shepherd, a lost coin has no value to the owner, and a lost sinner cannot experience the enriching fulfillment God has for him in Jesus Christ.

It is easy for us today to read these two parables and take their message for granted, but the people who first heard them must have been shocked. Jesus was saying that God actually searches for lost sinners! No wonder the scribes and Pharisees were offended, for there was no place in their legalistic theology for a God like that. They had forgotten that God had sought out Adam and Eve when they had sinned and hidden from God (, ). In spite of their supposed knowledge of Scripture, the scribes and Pharisees forgot that God was like a father who pitied His wayward children ().

The location Jesus called “a distant land” is not necessarily a distant place to which we must travel, because “a far country” exists first of all in our hearts. The younger son dreamed of “enjoying” his freedom far from home and away from his father and older brother. If the sheep was lost through foolishness and the coin through carelessness, then the son was lost because of willfulness. He wanted to have his own way, so he rebelled against his own father and broke his father’s heart.

The young man changed his mind about himself and his situation, and he admitted that he was a sinner. He confessed that his father was a generous man and that service at home was far better than “freedom” in the far country. It is God’s goodness, not just our badness, that leads us to repentance (). If the son had thought only about himself—his hunger, his homesickness, his loneliness—he would have despaired. But his painful circumstances helped him to see his father in a new way, and this brought him hope.

Had he stopped with just the thoughts of repentance, the son would have experienced only regret or remorse (), but true repentance involves the will as well as the mind and the emotions—“I will go . . . and say . . . .” Our resolutions may be noble, but unless we act on them, they can never of themselves bring about any permanent good. If repentance is truly the work of God (), then the sinner will obey God and put saving faith in Jesus Christ ().

The father in Jesus’ parable pictures to us the attitude of our heavenly Father toward sinners who repent: He is rich in His mercy and grace, and great in His love toward them (). All of this is possible because of the sacrifice of His Son on the cross. No matter what some preachers (and singers) claim, we are not saved by God’s love; God loves the whole world, and the whole world is not saved. We are saved by God’s grace, and grace is love that pays a price.

The ring was a sign of sonship, and the “best robe” (no doubt the father’s) was proof of his acceptance back into the family (see ; ; ). Servants did not wear rings, shoes, or expensive garments. The feast was the father’s way of showing his joy and sharing it with others. Had the boy been dealt with according to the law, there would have been a funeral, not a feast. What a beautiful illustration of !

Jesus continued the story and introduced the elder brother, who is a clear illustration of the scribes and Pharisees. The publicans and sinners were guilty of the obvious sins of the flesh, but the Pharisees and scribes were guilty of sins of the spirit (). Their outward actions may have been blameless, but their inward attitudes were abominable (see ).

, The same father who ran to meet the prodigal came out of the house of feasting to plead with the older son. How gracious and compassionate our Father is, and how patient He is with our weaknesses! The father explained that he would have been willing to host a feast for the older boy and his friends, but the boy had never asked him. Furthermore, ever since the division of the estate, the elder brother owned everything, and he could use it as he pleased.

Everybody in this chapter experienced joy except the elder brother. The shepherd, the woman, and their friends all experienced the joy of finding. The younger son experienced the joy of returning and being received by a loving, gracious father. The father experienced the joy of receiving his son back safe and sound. But the elder brother would not forgive his brother, so he had no joy. He could have repented and attended the feast, but he refused, so he stayed outside and suffered.

, This particular manager forgot that he was a steward and began to act as if he were the owner. He became a “prodigal steward” who wasted his master’s wealth. His master heard about it and immediately asked for an inventory of his goods and an audit of his books. He also fired his steward. How faithful have we been as stewards of what God has given to us? We are stewards of the material wealth that we have, whether much or little, and we will one day have to answer to God for the way we have acquired it and used it. We are also stewards of our time, our gifts, and our abilities.

The manager knew he would lose his job. He could not change the past, but he could prepare for the future. How? By making friends of his master’s creditors so that they would take him in when his master threw him out. He gave each of them a generous discount, provided they paid up immediately, and they were only too glad to cooperate. Even his master complimented him on his clever plan (v. ).

Jesus did not commend the steward for robbing his master or for encouraging others to be dishonest. Jesus commended the man for his wise use of opportunity. “The sons of this world” (v. ) are experts at seizing opportunities for making money and friends and getting ahead. God’s people should take heed and be just as wise when it comes to managing the spiritual affairs of life.

The Lord admonishes us to be wholly devoted to God and to be single-minded (see ). We cannot love or serve two masters, any more than we can walk in two directions at one time. If we choose to serve money, then we cannot serve God. If we choose to serve God, then we will not serve money. Jesus is demanding integrity, total devotion to God that puts Him first in everything ().

If God is our Master, then money will be our servant, and we will use our resources in the will of God. But if God is not our Master, then we will become the servants of money, and money is a terrible master! We will start wasting our lives instead of investing them, and we will one day find ourselves “friendless” as we enter the gates of glory.

The rich man obviously had no concept of stewardship, or he would have used part of his wealth to help Lazarus. It is a mystery why he even allowed the beggar to camp at his front door. Perhaps he thought that providing a place for the man was ministry enough, and it may be that some of his wealthy guests occasionally gave Lazarus alms. Did any of them ever recall what the Old Testament had to say about the care of the poor, such as ; ; ; or ?

, From our Lord’s description, we learn that the place of the dead (Greek, Hades) had two sections: a paradise portion called “Abraham’s bosom,” and a punishment portion. It is believed by many theologians that our Lord emptied the paradise part of Hades when He arose from the dead and returned to the Father (; ). We know that today “paradise” is in heaven, where Jesus reigns in glory (; ). There is no indication in Scripture that souls in heaven can communicate with people in Hades or with people on earth.

, Abraham gave two reasons why Lazarus could not bring the comfort that was requested: the character of the rich man and the character of the eternal state. The rich man had lived for the “good things” of earth, and had experienced abundant temporal blessings. He had his reward (, , ). He had determined his own destiny by leaving God out of his life, and now neither his character nor his destiny could be changed. Lazarus could not leave his place of comfort and make even a brief visit to the place of torment.

Abraham explained that only one thing could prevent the five men from eventually joining their brother: They needed to hear the Word of God and respond to it by faith. Moses and the prophets tell sinners how to repent and be saved, and the Jews heard them read every Sabbath in the synagogue. Though miracles can attest to the authority of the preacher, they cannot produce either conviction or conversion in the hearts of the lost.

After Jesus warned the Pharisees about the sin of loving money (), He then turned to His disciples to warn them about possible sins in their lives, for occasions to stumble (temptations) are an unfortunate part of life. After all, we are all sinners living in a sinful world. But we must take heed not to cause others to stumble, for it is a serious thing to sin against a fellow believer and tempt him or her to sin (; ; ).

If a brother or sister does sin against us, we should give a private, loving rebuke. Our tendency might be to feel hurt down inside, nurse a grudge, and then tell others what happened to us, but this is the wrong approach (see ). “Speaking the truth in love” () is the first step toward solving personal differences. Our aim is not to embarrass or hurt the offender, but to encourage him or her to repent (). If the offender does repent, then we must forgive (; and see ). In fact, we must be in the habit of forgiving, for others might sin against us seven times a day—or even seventy times seven (.)!

The servant in the story was evidently a “jack-of-all-trades,” for he was responsible for farming, shepherding, and cooking. It was not unusual for people with only modest means to hire at least one servant, but Jesus described a situation which in that day was unthinkable: a master ministering to His servant!

A faithful servant should not expect any special reward, since he did only what he was told to do. The word translated “unprofitable” means “without need”—that is, “nobody owes us anything.” The servant was indeed worthy; after all, he cared for his master’s fields, flocks, and food. The statement means, “My master does not owe me anything extra.” The fact that Jesus will reward His servants is wholly a matter of God’s grace. We do not deserve anything because we have obeyed Him and served Him.

One would have expected all ten men to run to Jesus and thank Him for a new start in life, but only one did so—and he was not even a Jew. How grateful the men should have been for the providence of God that brought Jesus into their area, for the love that caused him to pay attention to them and their need, and for the grace and power of God that brought about their healing. They should have formed an impromptu men’s chorus and sung together! How often do we take our blessings for granted and fail to thank the Lord? “Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!” (, , , ). Too often we are content to enjoy the gift but we forget the Giver. We are quick to pray but slow to praise.

By coming to Jesus, the man received something greater than physical healing: He was also saved from his sins. Jesus said, “Your faith has made you well” (literal translation), the same words He spoke to the repentant woman who anointed His feet (). The Samaritan’s nine friends were declared clean by the priest, but he was declared saved by the Son of God! While it is wonderful to experience the miracle of physical healing, it is even more wonderful to experience the miracle of eternal salvation.

The Jewish people lived in an excited atmosphere of expectancy, particularly at the Passover season when they commemorated their deliverance from Egypt. They longed for another Moses who would deliver them from their bondage. Some had hoped that John the Baptist would be the deliverer, and then the attention focused on Jesus (). The fact that He was going to Jerusalem excited them all the more (). Perhaps He would establish the promised kingdom!

The statement “the kingdom of God is within you” has challenged Bible translators and interpreters for centuries, and many explanations have been given. The Greek preposition “within” can also mean “among” or “in the midst of.” Jesus was saying, “Don’t look for the kingdom ‘out there’ unless it is first in your own heart” (see ). At the same time, He may also have been saying, “The fact that I am here in your midst is what is important, for I am the King. How can you enter the kingdom if you reject the King?” (see ).

Having answered the Pharisees, Jesus then turned to His disciples to instruct them about the coming of the kingdom. He warned them not to become so obsessed with His return that they ended up doing nothing else but trying to track Him down. This is a good warning to believers who do nothing but study prophecy. Certainly we should look for His return and long to see Him come, but at the same time, we should be busy doing His work when He comes (see ).

Jesus describes what will occur when the Son of Man returns in judgment to defeat His enemies and establish His kingdom on earth (). Believers in every age of the church can take warning from these verses, but they apply in a special way to Israel at the end of the age (see ).

Luke mentions widows more than do all the other gospel writers combined (, ; , ; ; ; ; ). In that day, widows usually had a difficult time making ends meet, in spite of the care God instructed His people to give them (; , ).

The widow had three obstacles to overcome. First, being a woman she, therefore, had little standing before the law. In the Palestinian society of our Lord’s day, women did not go to court. Since she was a widow, she had no husband to stand with her in court. Finally, she was poor and could not pay a bribe even if she wanted to. No wonder poor widows did not always get the protection the law was supposed to afford them!

Prayer is much more than the words of our lips; it is the desires of our hearts, and our hearts are constantly “desiring” before Him, even if we never speak a word. So, to “pray without ceasing” means to have such holy desires in our hearts, in the will of God, that we are constantly in loving communion with the Father, petitioning Him for His blessing. God is not like this judge, for God is a loving Father, who is attentive to our every cry, generous in His gifts, concerned about our needs, and ready to answer when we call.

The despised tax collector repeatedly smote his breast, for he knew where his greatest problem was, and he called to God for mercy. The tax collector knew the enormity of his sins, but the Pharisee was blissfully ignorant of his own heart. The Pharisee’s pride condemned him, but the tax collector’s humble faith saved him (see ; ). It is the prodigal son and elder brother over again (.).

Jesus wants us to be childlike but not childish. An unspoiled child illustrates humility, faith, and dependence. A child has a sense of wonder that makes life exciting. The only way to enter God’s kingdom is to become like a child and be born again (). If the proud Pharisee had become like a child, he too would have gone home justified.

, The rabbis were called “Teacher,” but it was most unusual for a rabbi to be called “good.” The Jews reserved the word “good” for God (; ; ; ). This explains why our Lord asked the young man what he meant, for if he really believed that Jesus was “good,” then he had to confess that Jesus was God. By asking this question, our Lord was not denying His deity but affirming it. He was testing the young man to see if he really understood what he had just said.

The young man thought that eternal life came to those who “did something” (v. ), which was a typical Jewish conviction (vv. ). But when Jesus gave him something to do, he refused to obey! He wanted salvation on his terms, not God’s, so he turned and went away in great sorrow.

Matthew tells us that there were two blind beggars who met Jesus as He left Jericho (, ), but Luke introduces us to one blind beggar (Mark calls him “Bartimaeus,” ), who called out as Jesus approached Jericho. There were two Jerichos, the old ruined city and the new one built by Herod the Great, and they stood about a mile apart. The two men, one of whom was more outspoken, were sitting at the entrance to the new city, so there is no contradiction.

The contrast is obvious between these two beggars and the rich religious leader (vv. ). The beggars were poor, yet they became rich, while the religious leader was rich and became eternally poor. The beggars claimed no special merit and openly admitted their need, while the religious leader lied about himself and bragged about his character. The religious leader would not believe, so he went away from Jesus very sad, but the two beggars believed in Jesus and followed Him with songs of praise.

The name “Zacchaeus” means “righteous one,” but this supervisor of tax collectors was not living up to his name. Certainly the Jewish religious community in Jericho would not have considered him righteous, for he not only collected taxes from his own people but also worked for the unclean Gentiles! And tax collectors were notorious for collecting more taxes than required; the more money they collected, the more income they enjoyed (, ).

, It was not Zacchaeus’s fault that he was “of short stature” and could not see over the crowd. He did what he could to overcome his handicap by putting aside his dignity and climbing a tree. In a spiritual sense, all of us are “of short stature,” for “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (). No one measures up to God’s high standards; we are all too “short” to enter into heaven.

Zacchaeus was not saved because he promised to do good works. He was saved because he responded by faith to Christ’s gracious word to him. Having trusted the Savior, he then gave evidence of his faith by promising to make restitution to those he had wronged. Saving faith is more than pious words and devout feelings. It creates a living union with Christ that results in a changed life ().

, Each of the servants received an amount of money equal to three months’ wages for a laboring man, so you can figure out its buying power today. The nobleman asked his servants to put his money to work. They could give the money to investors and earn interest, or purchase goods and sell them for a profit. The important thing was that they give back to their master more than he had given to them. How they did it was up to them, so long as it was legal and profitable.

The parable of the servants teaches us to be faithful to use our different gifts as God gives us opportunities to serve. Some people have a great deal of ability, so God gives them greater opportunity. The important thing is not how much ability you have but how faithful you are to use what you have for the Lord. The person with the least ability, if he or she is faithful, will receive the same reward as the most gifted church leader.

Matthew tells us that there was a “donkey tied, and a colt with her” (). The owners of the donkey and the colt were disciples of the Lord and had everything ready for Him. The plan was executed quietly because the Jewish leaders had let it be known that anyone confessing Christ would be excommunicated (). The fact that the rulers planned to kill Jesus made it even more important that the owners be protected (, , ; ; ).

The traditional calendar for the events of our Lord’s last week of ministry looks like this:

Sunday—Triumphal entry into Jerusalem

Monday—Cleansing the temple

Tuesday—Controversies with the Jewish leaders

Wednesday—Apparently a day of rest

Thursday—Preparation for Passover

Friday—Trial and crucifixion

Saturday—Jesus rests in the tomb

Sunday—Jesus raised from the dead

Keep in mind that the Jewish day went from sundown to sundown, so that our Thursday evening would be their Friday, the day of Passover.

Go to the

While the crowd was rejoicing, Jesus was weeping! This is the second occasion on which our Lord wept openly, the first being at the tomb of Lazarus (). There He wept quietly, but here He uttered a loud lamentation like one mourning over the dead. In this, He was like the prophet Jeremiah, who wept bitterly over the destruction of Jerusalem (.; see also the Book of Lamentations). Jonah looked on Nineveh and hoped it would be destroyed (), while Jesus looked at Jerusalem and wept because it had destroyed itself.

, The clearing of the temple was a dramatic event that both captured the attention of the people and aroused the anger of the religious establishment.

, Jesus remained in the temple and used it as a gathering place for those who needed help. He healed many who were sick and afflicted, and He taught the people the Word of God. The hypocritical religious leaders tried to destroy Him, but His hour had not yet come and they could not touch Him. In the days that followed, they argued with Him and tried to catch Him in His words (ch. ), but they failed. When His hour came, He would surrender to them and they would crucify Him.

The fact that Jesus daily made the temple His headquarters for ministry only made the members of the Sanhedrin more indignant, so they decided to question Him. “Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things?” they asked. “Or who is he who gave You this authority?”

Under Jewish law, any man could lay claim to ownerless property. The tenants may have concluded that the owner was dead; otherwise he would have come himself. If they killed the son, then they could claim the vineyard for themselves. This is exactly the way the religious leaders were thinking as they stood there before Jesus (see )!

In the Old Testament, the “stone” is a familiar symbol of God and of the promised Messiah (see ; ; ; , , , ; ; ; see also ). Because the Jews did not believe, they stumbled over Him and were judged. Those who trust Jesus Christ find Him to be the foundation stone and the chief cornerstone of the church (; ).

Jesus also referred to , , , , where the Messiah is pictured as a “stone” that “will grind” all that gets in its way. He was warning the Sanhedrin that they would only destroy themselves if they condemned Him. The same principle applies today, and unbelievers should carefully heed His warning.

Governmental authority is instituted by God and must be respected (; , , ; ; ). Yes, “our citizenship is in heaven” () and we are strangers and pilgrims on earth, but that does not mean we should ignore our earthly responsibilities. Human government is essential to a safe and orderly society, for man is a sinner and must be kept under control.

Jesus desires that we live as good citizens when we obey the authorities for the Lord’s sake. When obedience to God conflicts with obedience to man, then we must put God first (, ; ), but we must do it in a manner that is honorable and loving.

The future life with God is not a mere continuation of the present life only on “a higher scale.” We will maintain our identities and know each other, but there will be no more death—hence, no need for marriage and procreation. Christians do not become angels. In heaven we will share the image of Jesus Christ and be much higher than the angels (). Angels appear in Scripture as men, but they are spirit beings without sexuality. It is in this regard that we will be like them; there will be no marriage or childbearing in heaven.

Inherent in the very nature of God’s creative act is His concern for the total person. Hence, He will not keep us disembodied spirits forever but will give us glorious bodies to match our heavenly perfection.

Jesus referred those present to , which is quoted in the New Testament more than any other psalm. The Jewish religious leaders in that day identified as a prophetic psalm and said that David was speaking of the Messiah. But if the Messiah is David’s Lord, how can He be David’s son? The only explanation is that Messiah must be both God and man. As eternal God, Messiah is David’s Lord, but as man, He is David’s son (; , ; see also ; , ).

When it comes to our giving, God sees more than the portion; He also sees the proportion. Men see what is given, but God sees what is left, and by that He measures the gift and the condition of our hearts. More than one wise person has observed, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” They may have learned that insight from Jesus () or perhaps from Paul ().

Jesus left the temple and went to the Mount of Olives, and there Peter, James, and John asked Him three questions: (1) When would the temple be destroyed? (2) What would be the sign of His coming? (3) What would be the sign of the end of the age? (See also ; , .) The disciples thought that these three events would occur at the same time, but Jesus explained things differently. Actually, the temple would be destroyed first, and then there would be a long period of time before He would return and establish His kingdom on earth (see ).

The answer Jesus gave to the disciples’ question in focuses on a period in God’s program called “the tribulation,” when God will pour out His wrath on the nations of the world. Many Bible students believe that the tribulation will begin after the Lord comes in the air and takes His church to heaven (). It will climax with the return of Jesus Christ to the earth, at which time He will defeat His foes and establish His kingdom (). It is helpful to see the development of the sermon as a whole, so here is a suggested outhne:

The first half of the tribulation (; ; )

The middle of the tribulation (; ; see )

The last half of the tribulation (; ; )

Closing admonitions (; ; )

Go to the

The characteristics Jesus stated can be seen in every age of the church, for from the beginning there have been counterfeit messiahs, national and international upheavals, and religious persecution. But these things will increase and intensify as the time of Jesus’ coming draws near. There will be religious delusion (v. ). There will also be international distress (vv. ). Finally, there will be religious persecution, both official (vv. ) and personal (vv. ).

We must remember that when we are persecuted, we suffer for Christ’s name’s sake (v. ), and this is a high honor (). It is not important what people say about our names, but it is important that the name of Christ be glorified. Times of suffering provide opportunities for witness (). The apostles made good use of the witness stand when they were arrested and taken before the council (), and Christ’s servants and martyrs down through the centuries have followed their example. The English word “martyr” comes from the Greek word martus, which means “a witness” (see ).

Luke’s account refers not to a distant event to occur during the tribulation but to the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus and the Roman army in AD 70, just forty years from that time (see ).

These awesome signs will bring terror to the lost people of the world, but hope to those who have trusted the Lord during the tribulation period (), for these believers know that the Lord’s coming will be soon. Believers today look for the Savior, not signs. However, as we see coming events casting their shadows, we believe that the Lord’s return is near.

During difficult times, it is easy to give up and start living like the unsaved world, and believers during the tribulation period will face that temptation. They must “watch and pray” and resist the temptations around them, for they want to be ready when their Lord returns. If believers during that difficult age will be tempted to yield to the world and the flesh, Christians in this present age of comfort and affluence must face even greater dangers. We today do not know when our Lord will return, and it behooves us to be faithful and to be ready.

Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles were the three most important festivals on the Jewish calendar (), and all the Jewish men were expected to go to Jerusalem each year to celebrate (). The festival of Passover commemorated the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, and it was a time for both remembering and rejoicing (). Thousands of excited pilgrims crowded in and around Jerusalem during that week.

The religious leaders had cleansed their homes but not their hearts (see ). For a long time now, they had wanted to arrest Jesus and get Him out of the way, but they had not been able to work out a safe plan that would protect them from the people. Judas solved their problem for them. He guaranteed to deliver Jesus to them privately so there would be no uproar from the people.

The way our Lord arranged for the Passover meal indicates that He knew there were plots afoot. Until the disciples arrived at the Upper Room, only Jesus and Peter and John had known where the feast would be held. Had Judas known, he might have been tempted to inform the authorities.

Jesus told His friends that He had a great desire to share this last Passover with them before He suffered. Passover commemorated the exodus of Israel from Egypt centuries before, but He would accomplish a greater “exodus” on the cross. He would purchase redemption from sin for a world of lost sinners (see ).

Catalyst

Jesus’ last Passover meal with His disciples () has great significance for us, as it did for them. Jesus stated one of the purposes for the Last Supper: “to remember Me” (, ). It is a memorial, to remind the believer that Jesus Christ gave His body and blood for the redemption of the world.

A second purpose for the supper is the proclaiming of His death until He returns (). The Supper encourages us to look back with love and adoration to what He did for us on the cross and to look forward with hope and anticipation to His coming again.

Since we must be careful not to come to the Lord’s table with known sin in our lives, the Supper should also be an occasion for looking within, examining our hearts, and confessing our sins ().

Go to the

Before He chose His twelve apostles, Jesus spent a whole night in prayer (), so we must believe that it was the Father’s will that Judas be among them (). But the selection of Judas did not seal His fate; rather, it gave him opportunity to watch the Lord Jesus closely, believe, and be saved. God in His sovereignty had determined that His Son would be betrayed by a friend, but divine foreknowledge does not destroy human responsibility or accountability. Judas made each decision freely and would be judged accordingly, even though He still fulfilled the decree of God ().

Jesus had to explain that the disciples were thinking like the unsaved Gentiles and not like God’s children. The Romans in particular vied for honors and did all they could, legally and illegally, to win promotion and recognition, but they are not the examples for us to follow. As in all things, Jesus is our example, and He has completely reversed the measure of true greatness.

Our Lord’s counsel in this passage was not fully understood by the disciples, because they interpreted what He said quite literally. Peter’s use of the sword in the garden is evidence of this (vv. ). The point He was making was this: “You are now moving into a whole new situation. If they arrest Me, they will one day arrest you. If they treat Me like a common criminal (), they will do the same to you; so, be prepared!”

There is a rare physical phenomenon known as “hematidrosis,” in which, under great emotional stress, the tiny blood vessels rupture in the sweat glands and produce a mixture of blood and sweat. The first Adam sinned in a garden and was condemned to living by the sweat of his brow (). Jesus, the Last Adam, obeyed the Father in a garden and conquered Adam’s sin ().

A comparison of the gospel accounts reveals that Jesus prayed three times about the cup and returned three times to the disciples, only to find them asleep. How little they realized the testing and danger that lay before them! And how much it would have meant to Jesus to have had their prayer support as He faced Calvary (see , )!

It was customary in that day for disciples to greet their teachers with a loving and respectful kiss. Judas used the kiss as a sign to tell the arresting officers who Jesus was (, ). Jesus had taught in the temple day after day, and yet the temple guards could not recognize Him!

It is just like Jesus to act in grace when others are acting in malice (). He showed grace to Peter by rebuking his presumptuous sin and repairing the damage he had done. He showed grace to Malchus, a lowly slave, by healing his ear, and He showed grace to the whole world by willingly yielding Himself to the mob and going to Calvary. He did not come to judge but to save (; ).

Jesus, being led away to the next trial, turned and looked at Peter, and His look broke Peter’s heart. While the bystanders were watching Jesus, Peter slipped out and went off and wept bitterly. It is to Peter’s credit that all the Lord had to do was look at him to bring him to the place of repentance.

The miracle of the rooster’s crow told Peter that a new day was dawning, for after all, that is what the rooster’s call means each day. It was not a new day for Judas or for the enemies of the Lord, but it was a new day for Peter as he repented and wept bitterly. “A broken and a contrite heart—these, O God, You will not despise” (). On resurrection morning, the angel sent a special message to encourage Peter (), and the Lord Himself appeared to Peter that day and restored him to fellowship ().

Only Luke records the direct question in verse and our Lord’s direct answer, which was “You rightly say that I am.” They would use this testimony later when they brought Him to Pilate (). Some liberal theologians say that Jesus never claimed to be God, and we wonder what they do with this official trial. The Jewish religious leaders knew what Jesus was talking about, and this is why they condemned Him for blasphemy. The “religious trial” was now over. The next step was to put Him through a civil trial and convince the Roman governor that Jesus of Nazareth was a criminal worthy of death. The Son of God was to be crucified, and only the Romans could do that.

In his handling of the trial of Jesus, the governor proved to be indecisive. The gospel of John records seven different moves that Pilate made as he went out to meet the people and then went in to question Jesus (, , ; , , , ). He kept looking for a loophole, but he found none. Pilate has gone down in history as the man who tried Jesus Christ, three times declared Him not guilty, and yet crucified Him just the same.

Pilate privately interrogated Jesus about His kingship because that was the crucial issue, and he concluded that He was guilty of no crime. Three times during the trial, Pilate clearly affirmed the innocence of Jesus (vv. , , ). Dr. Luke reported three other witnesses besides Pilate who also said, “Not guilty!”: King Herod (v. ), one of the criminals on the cross (vv. ), and a Roman centurion (v. ).

We must not think that the general populace of the city was gathered before Pilate and crying out for the blood of Jesus, though a curious crowd no doubt gathered. It was primarily the official religious leaders of the nation, the chief priests in particular (v. ), who shouted Pilate down and told him to crucify Jesus. To say that the people who cried “Hosanna!” on Palm Sunday ended up crying “Crucify Him!” on Good Friday is not completely accurate.

Pilate was a complex character. He openly said that Jesus was innocent, yet he permitted Him to be beaten and condemned Him to die. He carefully questioned Jesus and even trembled at His answers, but the truth of the Word did not make a difference in his decisions. He wanted to be popular, not right; he was more concerned about reputation than character.

Thousands of Jews came to Jerusalem from other nations to celebrate the feasts (), and Simon was among them. He had traveled over eight hundred miles from Africa to celebrate Passover, and now he was being humiliated on a most holy day! What would he say to his family when he got home? See and .

In that crowd was a group of women who openly wept and lamented as they sympathized with Jesus and contemplated the terrible spiritual condition of their nation. It has been pointed out that, as far as the gospel records are concerned, no woman was ever an enemy of Jesus. Nor was Jesus ever the enemy of womankind. His example, His teachings, and most of all, His redemption have done much to dignify and elevate women. The news of His birth was shared with a Jewish maiden, His death was witnessed by grieving women, and the good news of His resurrection was announced first to a woman who had been demon-possessed.

The name “Calvary” comes from the Latin calvaria, which means “a skull.” (The Greek is kranion, which gives us the English word “cranium,” and the Aramaic word is “Golgotha.”) The name is not explained in the New Testament. The site may have resembled a skull, as does “Gordon’s Calvary” near the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem. Or perhaps the name simply grew out of the ugly facts of execution.

The man on the cross was saved wholly by grace; it was the gift of God (, ). He did not deserve it, and he could not earn it. His salvation was personal and secure, guaranteed by the word of Jesus Christ. The man hoped for some kind of help in the future, but Jesus gave him forgiveness that very day, and he died and went with Jesus to paradise ().

This was actually a bedtime prayer used by Jewish children, and it tells us how our Lord died: confidently, willingly (, ), and victoriously. Those who know Jesus as their Savior may die with the same confidence and assurance (; ).

The Roman officer was greatly impressed by the darkness, the earthquake (), and certainly the way Jesus suffered and died. He must have been shocked when Jesus shouted and then instantly died, for victims of crucifixion often lingered for days and did not have the strength to speak.

John tells us that Joseph of Arimathea was accompanied by Nicodemus (). It is likely that Joseph and Nicodemus had learned from the Old Testament Scriptures how Jesus would die, so they agreed to take care of His burial.

The new tomb was likely Joseph’s, prepared in a garden near Golgotha but not for himself; it was for Jesus. No rich man would prepare his own burial place so near a place of execution and so far from his own home. The two men could well have been hiding in the tomb while Jesus was on the cross, waiting for that moment when He would yield up His life. They would have the spices and the winding sheets all prepared, for they would probably not be able to go shopping for these items on Passover. It was a temporary burial; they would return after the Sabbath to do the job properly.

When they laid Jesus into the new tomb, they fulfilled , and they kept the Romans from throwing His body on the garbage dump outside the city. Condemned criminals lost the right to proper burial, but God saw to it that His Son’s body was buried with dignity and love.

The first lie that was spawned to explain the empty tomb was that the disciples came and stole Christ’s body (), but it is difficult to imagine how they could have done this. To begin with, the tomb was carefully guarded (), and it would have been next to impossible for the frightened apostles to overpower the soldiers, open the tomb, and secure the body. But the biggest reason this could not be true is that the apostles themselves did not believe that He would be resurrected! Why, then, would they steal His body and try to perpetrate a hoax?

The longer Cleopas talked, the more he indicted himself and his friend for their unbelief. What more evidence could they want? Witnesses (including apostles) had seen the tomb empty. Angels had announced that Jesus was alive. Witnesses had seen Him alive and heard Him speak. The proof was there!

There is a touch of humor here when Jesus asked, “What things?” He had been at the heart of all that had happened in Jerusalem, and now He was asking them to tell Him what occurred! How patient our Lord is with us as He listens to us tell Him what He already knows ().

Perhaps Jesus started at , the first promise of the Redeemer, and traced that promise through the Scriptures. He may have lingered at , which tells of Abraham placing His only beloved son on the altar. Surely He touched on Passover, the Levitical sacrifices, the tabernacle ceremonies, the Day of Atonement, the serpent in the wilderness, the Suffering Servant in , and the prophetic messages of and . The key to understanding the Bible is to see Jesus Christ on every page. He did not teach them only doctrine or prophecy; He taught “the things concerning Himself.”

The “breaking of bread” (vv. , ) refers to a meal and not to the Lord’s Supper. As far as we know, the apostles were the only ones Jesus had instructed about the Lord’s Supper, and it was not likely that our Lord would celebrate it at this time. Jesus revealed Himself to them during a common meal, and that is often how He works. We must learn to see Him in the everyday things of life. However, as we do celebrate the Lord’s Supper from time to time, we want Jesus to reveal Himself to us in a new way, and we must not be satisfied with anything less.

Jesus not only enabled them to understand the law, the prophets, and the psalms, but He also reminded them of what He had taught them, and He explained how it all fit together. Now they began to understand the necessity for His suffering and death and how the cross related to the promise of the kingdom (see ). What a privilege it was for them to listen to Jesus expound the Word!

Luke opened his gospel with a scene in the temple (.), and he closes his gospel the same way (). But what a contrast between the unbelieving, silent priest and the trusting, joyful saints! Luke has explained how Jesus went to Jerusalem and accomplished the work of redemption. His book begins and ends in Jerusalem. But his next book, The Acts of the Apostles, would explain how that gospel traveled from Jerusalem to Rome!

Luke 1

1:1

1:1 Or are most surely believed

1:2 ,

1:2

1:3

1:4 []

1:5

1:5 ,

1:5

1:5 ,

1:9 ,

1:10

1:11

1:12

1:13 , ,

1:14

1:15 []

1:15

1:17 , ; ;

1:17 ,

1:18

1:19

1:20 ;

1:23

1:25

1:27

1:28

1:28 NU-Text omits blessed are you among women.

1:29

1:29 NU-Text omits when she saw him.

1:30

1:31

1:32

1:32 , ,

1:32

1:33 []

1:35

1:35 [, ]

1:37

1:39

1:41

1:42

1:45

1:46

1:47

1:47 ;

1:48

1:49 ; ,

1:49

1:50

1:51 ;

1:51 []

1:52 ,

1:53 []

1:54

1:54 []

1:55

1:55 []

1:55

1:58 []

1:59

1:60 ,

1:66

1:67

1:68

1:69

1:70

1:72

1:73 ;

1:74 []

1:75 []

1:76 ;

1:76

1:77 []

1:78 NU-Text reads shall visit.

1:79

1:79 [; ; ]

1:80

Luke 2

2:2

2:4

2:5 []

2:5 NU-Text omits wife.

2:7

2:9

2:9 NU-Text omits behold.

2:10 ,

2:10

2:11

2:13

2:14

2:14 [, ]

2:14 NU-Text reads toward men of goodwill.

2:17 NU-Text omits widely.

2:19

2:20

2:21

2:21 []

2:21

2:21 NU-Text reads for His circumcision.

2:22

2:23

2:23 , ,

2:24 ,

2:24

2:25

2:26 []

2:27

2:29

2:30 []

2:32 ; ;

2:33 NU-Text reads And His father and mother.

2:34 [, ]

2:34 ; ;

2:35

2:36

2:37

2:37 NU-Text reads a widow until she was eighty-four.

2:38

2:38 NU-Text reads to God.

2:40 ;

2:40 NU-Text omits in spirit.

2:41

2:41 ,

2:42 ,

2:43

2:43 NU-Text reads And His parents.

2:47 ; ;

2:49

2:49 [, ]

2:50 ,

2:51

2:52 [, ]

2:52

Luke 3

3:1

3:2

3:2 NU-Text and M-Text read in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas.

3:3

3:4

3:6

3:7 ; ;

3:8 []

3:9

3:10 [, ; , ]

3:11

3:12

3:13

3:14 ;

3:16 ,

3:16 ;

3:17

3:19

3:19 NU-Text reads his brother’s wife.

3:21

3:22

3:23 [, , , , ]

3:23

3:24 This and several other names in the genealogy are spelled somewhat differently in the NU-Text. Since the New King James Version uses the Old Testament spelling for persons mentioned in the New Testament, these variations, which come from the Greek, have not been footnoted.

3:27 ;

3:31

3:31 ;

3:32

3:34 , ;

3:36

3:36 , ;

3:36 ; ;

3:38 ,

Luke 4

4:1

4:1 NU-Text reads in.

4:2

4:3

4:4

4:4 NU-Text omits but by every word of God.

4:5 NU-Text reads And taking Him up, he showed Him.

4:6 [, ]

4:8 ;

4:8 NU-Text omits Get behind Me, Satan.

4:8 NU-Text and M-Text omit For.

4:8

4:9

4:10

4:11

4:11 ,

4:12

4:13 []

4:14

4:15

4:16

4:16 ;

4:18 , ; ,

4:18 []

4:18 NU-Text omits to heal the brokenhearted.

4:19 ,

4:21

4:22 []

4:22

4:23 ;

4:23

4:23 Here and elsewhere the NU-Text spelling is Capharnaum.

4:24

4:25

4:26 Greek Sarepta

4:27

4:28

4:29 ;

4:30 ;

4:31

4:32 ,

4:32 [; ; , , , ; , ]

4:33

4:34

4:38

4:39

4:40 ,

4:41 ;

4:41

4:41 , ;

4:41 NU-Text omits the Christ.

4:42

4:43 []

4:44 ;

4:44 NU-Text reads Judea.

Luke 5

5:1

5:3

5:4

5:5

5:8

5:9 ; ,

5:10

5:11 ;

5:12

5:13

5:14

5:14 ;

5:15

5:16

5:17 NU-Text reads present with Him to heal.

5:18

5:19

5:21 ,

5:21

5:22

5:24

5:25

5:26 ;

5:27

5:27 ; ,

5:28

5:29 ,

5:29

5:30

5:30 NU-Text reads But the Pharisees and their scribes.

5:32

5:33

5:33 NU-Text omits Why do, making the verse a statement.

5:34

5:36 ,

5:36 NU-Text reads No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old one.

5:38 NU-Text omits and both are preserved.

5:39 NU-Text omits immediately.

5:39 NU-Text reads good.

Luke 6

6:1

6:1 NU-Text reads on a Sabbath.

6:2

6:3

6:4

6:6

6:7 ;

6:7

6:8

6:9

6:9 M-Text reads to kill.

6:10 NU-Text and M-Text read to him.

6:10 NU-Text omits as whole as the other.

6:12

6:13

6:14

6:16

6:17 ,

6:19 ;

6:19 ,

6:19

6:20 ; []

6:21 ;

6:21 []

6:21

6:22 ; ;

6:22 []

6:23

6:24

6:25 []

6:25

6:26 []

6:26 NU-Text and M-Text omit to you.

6:26 M-Text omits all.

6:27

6:28

6:29

6:29 []

6:30 ,

6:31

6:32

6:34

6:35 []

6:35

6:36

6:37

6:38 [; ]

6:38

6:39 ;

6:40 [; ]

6:41

6:43 ,

6:44

6:45

6:45 NU-Text omits treasure of his heart.

6:46

6:47

6:48 NU-Text reads for it was well built.

6:49 NU-Text reads collapsed.

Luke 7

7:1

7:7 ;

7:8 []

7:10 NU-Text omits who had been sick.

7:13

7:14

7:15

7:16

7:18

7:19 []

7:19 NU-Text reads the Lord.

7:22

7:22 []

7:24

7:27

7:28 []

7:28 NU-Text reads there is none greater than John.

7:29

7:30

7:31

7:31 NU-Text and M-Text omit And the Lord said.

7:33

7:34

7:35

7:36

7:39

7:41

7:44 ; ;

7:45

7:46

7:47 []

7:48

7:49

7:50

Luke 8

8:2

8:3 NU-Text and M-Text read them.

8:4

8:8

8:9

8:10

8:11 []

8:11 ;

8:14 ,

8:15 []

8:16

8:17

8:17 []

8:18

8:19

8:22

8:25

8:25 ;

8:26

8:26 NU-Text reads Gerasenes.

8:27 NU-Text reads who had demons and for a long time wore no clothes.

8:28 ;

8:28 ,

8:28

8:31 [, ]

8:32

8:35 []

8:35 ;

8:35 []

8:37

8:37 NU-Text reads Gerasenes.

8:38

8:41

8:42

8:43

8:44

8:45 NU-Text omits and those with him.

8:45 NU-Text omits and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’

8:46

8:48

8:48 NU-Text omits be of good cheer.

8:49

8:49 NU-Text adds anymore.

8:50 []

8:51 NU-Text adds with Him.

8:51 NU-Text and M-Text read Peter, John, and James.

8:52

8:52 [, ]

8:54

8:54 NU-Text omits put them all outside.

8:56 ;

Luke 9

9:1 ,

9:1 []

9:2 ,

9:3 ;

9:4

9:5

9:6

9:7 ,

9:9

9:10

9:12 ,

9:16 ;

9:18

9:19

9:20 ,

9:21 ;

9:22 ;

9:23 ;

9:23 M-Text omits daily.

9:24 []

9:25

9:26 []

9:26

9:27

9:28

9:30

9:32 ;

9:34

9:35 [; ]

9:35

9:35 NU-Text reads This is My Son, the Chosen One.

9:36

9:37

9:44

9:45

9:46

9:47

9:48

9:49

9:50

9:50 NU-Text reads you.

9:50 NU-Text reads your.

9:51

9:53 ,

9:54

9:54 ,

9:54 NU-Text omits just as Elijah did.

9:55 []

9:55 NU-Text omits the rest of this verse.

9:56 ;

9:56 NU-Text omits the first sentence of this verse.

9:57

9:58 ;

9:59 ,

9:61

9:62

Luke 10

10:1

10:1 NU-Text reads seventy-two others.

10:2

10:3

10:4

10:5

10:7

10:9

10:9 ;

10:11

10:11 NU-Text reads our feet.

10:12 ;

10:12 NU-Text and M-Text omit But.

10:13

10:15

10:15 NU-Text reads will you be exalted to heaven? You will be thrust down to Hades!

10:16

10:17

10:17 NU-Text reads seventy-two.

10:18

10:19

10:20

10:20 NU-Text and M-Text omit rather.

10:21

10:22 ; ;

10:22 [; , ]

10:22 M-Text reads And turning to the disciples He said, “All . . . .

10:23 ,

10:24 ,

10:25 ;

10:27

10:28 , ,

10:29

10:31

10:33

10:35

10:35 NU-Text omits when he departed.

10:37

10:38 ; ,

10:39 []

10:39

10:39 NU-Text reads the Lord’s.

10:41 NU-Text reads the Lord.

10:42 []

Luke 11

11:2

11:2 NU-Text omits Our and in heaven.

11:2 NU-Text omits the rest of this verse.

11:4 []

11:4 NU-Text omits But deliver us from the evil one.

11:8 []

11:9 []

11:9

11:11

11:11 NU-Text omits the words from bread through for in the next sentence.

11:13

11:14 ; ,

11:15 ;

11:15 NU-Text and M-Text read Beelzebul.

11:16 ;

11:17

11:20

11:21

11:22 []

11:23

11:24

11:26 []

11:27 ,

11:28 []

11:29

11:29 NU-Text omits the prophet.

11:30 ; ;

11:31

11:31 []

11:32

11:33

11:34 ,

11:38 ,

11:39

11:40 ,

11:41 [; ]

11:42

11:42 [, ]

11:42

11:43 ,

11:44

11:44 NU-Text omits scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites.

11:46

11:47

11:49

11:51

11:51 ,

11:52

11:53 NU-Text reads And when He left there.

11:54

11:54 NU-Text omits and seeking and that they might accuse Him.

Luke 12

12:1

12:2 ; []

12:4 , , ,

12:4 []

12:5

12:6

12:6 Greek assarion, a coin of very small value

12:8

12:9

12:10 [, ]

12:11

12:12 []

12:14 []

12:15 []

12:15 NU-Text reads all covetousness.

12:19

12:19 [; ; ; ]

12:20

12:21 [; ]

12:22

12:24

12:27

12:28 ; ; ;

12:30 ,

12:31

12:31 NU-Text reads His kingdom, and these things.

12:32 [, ]

12:33

12:35 []

12:37

12:39 ;

12:39 NU-Text reads he would not have allowed.

12:40

12:42 , ;

12:44 ;

12:45 ,

12:46

12:47

12:47 []

12:48 []

12:49

12:50

12:50 ;

12:51

12:51 ; ;

12:52

12:53 ,

12:54 ,

12:55

12:56

12:58

12:58 []

Luke 13

13:6

13:9 []

13:9 NU-Text reads And if it bears fruit after that, well. But if not, you can cut it down.

13:12 ;

13:13

13:14 [; ]

13:14 ;

13:14

13:15

13:15 NU-Text and M-Text read Hypocrites.

13:16

13:17 ,

13:18

13:19 NU-Text omits large.

13:21

13:21 Greek sata, approximately two pecks in all

13:22

13:23 [; ]

13:24 []

13:24 [; ; ]

13:25

13:25 ;

13:27 [; ]

13:27

13:28 ; ;

13:28

13:30 [; ]

13:31 NU-Text reads In that very hour.

13:32 [; ; ]

13:34

13:35 ,

13:35 ;

13:35 NU-Text and M-Text omit assuredly.

13:35

Luke 14

14:3

14:3 NU-Text adds or not.

14:5 []

14:5 NU-Text and M-Text read son.

14:10 ,

14:11

14:13 ,

14:14 []

14:15

14:15 M-Text reads dinner.

14:16

14:17 ,

14:24 []

14:26 ;

14:26

14:27

14:28

14:33

14:34 []

Luke 15

15:1 []

15:2

15:4

15:6 []

15:6 [, ]

15:7 []

15:8 Greek drachma, a valuable coin often worn in a ten-piece garland by married women

15:12

15:18 ; ,

15:20 [, ]

15:21

15:22 NU-Text reads Quickly bring.

15:24 ;

15:32

Luke 16

16:2 []

16:6 Greek batos, eight or nine gallons each (Old Testament bath)

16:7 Greek koros, ten or twelve bushels each (Old Testament kor)

16:8 []

16:9

16:9 NU-Text reads it fails.

16:10

16:12 [, ]

16:13

16:14

16:15

16:15 [, , ]

16:15

16:16 ; ; ,

16:17 ;

16:18 ,

16:21 NU-Text reads with what fell.

16:22

16:24

16:24 []

16:25

16:29 ;

16:31 []

16:31 ,

Luke 17

17:1 []

17:3 [, ]

17:3 []

17:3 NU-Text omits against you.

17:4 M-Text omits to you.

17:6 [; ]

17:8 []

17:9 NU-Text ends verse with commanded; M-Text omits him.

17:10 ;

17:11 ,

17:12

17:14

17:15 ;

17:16

17:19

17:21

17:21 []

17:21 NU-Text reverses here and there.

17:22

17:23

17:23 NU-Text reverses here and there.

17:24

17:25 ; ;

17:25

17:26

17:26 []

17:26

17:27

17:28

17:29 , ,

17:30 []

17:31

17:32

17:33 ;

17:34 []

17:35 ,

17:36 NU-Text and M-Text omit verse .

17:37

Luke 18

18:1

18:5

18:7

18:8

18:9 ;

18:11

18:11 ;

18:14

18:15

18:16

18:17

18:18

18:19 ;

18:20 ;

18:21

18:22 , ;

18:24

18:27

18:28

18:28 NU-Text reads our own.

18:29

18:30

18:31 ; ;

18:31

18:32

18:34 ;

18:35

18:38

18:42

18:43

Luke 19

19:1

19:3

19:5 NU-Text omits and saw him.

19:7 ;

19:8 []

19:8

19:9 []

19:10

19:11

19:12

19:13 The mina (Greek mna, Hebrew minah) was worth about three months’ salary.

19:14 []

19:17 ,

19:17

19:21

19:22

19:26

19:28

19:29

19:29 M-Text reads Bethsphage.

19:32

19:35

19:37 ;

19:38

19:38 []

19:38

19:40

19:41

19:42

19:42 []

19:43 ,

19:44 ,

19:44

19:44 []

19:45 ,

19:45 NU-Text reads those who were selling.

19:46

19:46 NU-Text reads shall be.

19:46

19:47 ;

19:48

Luke 20

20:1

20:2 ;

20:4 ,

20:5 NU-Text and M-Text omit then.

20:6

20:9

20:10 []

20:14 []

20:14

20:14 ,

20:15

20:16 ,

20:17

20:18 ,

20:18 [, , , ]

20:19 M-Text reads but they were afraid.

20:20

20:21

20:23 NU-Text omits Why do you test Me?

20:25 []

20:27

20:27 ,

20:30 NU-Text ends verse here.

20:31 NU-Text and M-Text read the seven also left no children.

20:35

20:36 []

20:36

20:37 ,

20:38 [, ; , ]

20:41

20:42

20:43

20:44 ; ,

20:45

20:46

20:46 ;

20:47

20:47 [, ]

Luke 21

21:1

21:2 []

21:2

21:3 []

21:4 []

21:4 NU-Text omits for God.

21:5

21:6

21:8

21:8 NU-Text omits Therefore.

21:9

21:10

21:11

21:12 []

21:12 ; ; ;

21:12

21:13 [, ]

21:14

21:15

21:16

21:16 ;

21:17

21:18

21:20

21:22 []

21:23

21:24 [; ]

21:25 []

21:26

21:27 ;

21:28 [, ]

21:29

21:33

21:34

21:35 ;

21:36 ;

21:36

21:36 []

21:36 NU-Text reads may have strength.

21:37 ,

21:37

Luke 22

22:1

22:2

22:3 ,

22:3

22:5

22:6

22:7

22:13

22:14

22:14 NU-Text omits twelve.

22:16 []

22:18

22:18 NU-Text adds from now on.

22:19

22:19 []

22:19

22:20

22:21 , ,

22:22

22:23 ,

22:24

22:25

22:26 []

22:26

22:27 []

22:27

22:28 [; ]

22:29

22:30 []

22:31

22:31 NU-Text omits And the Lord said.

22:32 [, , ]

22:32

22:34 ,

22:35

22:37

22:39

22:40

22:41

22:42 ; ; ;

22:43

22:44 []

22:44 NU-Text brackets verses and as not in the original text.

22:46

22:47

22:47 ,

22:48 []

22:50

22:52

22:53 ,

22:53 []

22:54

22:55

22:57 NU-Text reads denied it.

22:58

22:59

22:59 ;

22:60 NU-Text and M-Text read a rooster.

22:61

22:61 NU-Text adds today.

22:63 , ,

22:63

22:64

22:64 NU-Text reads And having blindfolded Him, they asked Him.

22:66

22:67

22:68 NU-Text omits also and Me or let Me go.

22:69 ;

22:70 ;

22:71

Luke 23

23:1

23:1 ;

23:2

23:2 NU-Text reads our.

23:3

23:4 []

23:5

23:6 NU-Text omits of Galilee.

23:7 ; ;

23:8

23:9

23:11

23:12 ,

23:13

23:14 ,

23:14

23:15 NU-Text reads for he sent Him back to us.

23:16

23:17

23:17 NU-Text omits verse .

23:18

23:23 NU-Text omits and of the chief priests.

23:24

23:25

23:25 NU-Text and M-Text omit to them.

23:26

23:29

23:30 ; , ;

23:30

23:31 []

23:32 ,

23:33

23:34

23:34 NU-Text brackets the first sentence as a later addition.

23:35

23:36

23:38

23:38 NU-Text omits written and in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew.

23:39

23:39 NU-Text reads Are You not the Christ?

23:41 []

23:42 NU-Text reads And he said, “Jesus, remember me.

23:43 []

23:44

23:44 NU-Text adds already.

23:45

23:45 NU-Text reads obscured.

23:46

23:47

23:49

23:50

23:51 ,

23:51 NU-Text reads who was waiting.

23:53

23:54

23:55

23:56

Luke 24

24:1

24:1 NU-Text omits and certain other women with them.

24:2

24:3

24:4

24:4 NU-Text omits greatly.

24:6

24:7 ; , ;

24:8

24:9

24:10

24:11

24:12

24:12 NU-Text omits lying.

24:13

24:13 Literally sixty stadia

24:15 []

24:16 ;

24:17 NU-Text reads as you walk? And they stood still, looking sad.

24:18

24:19

24:20 ,

24:21 ;

24:22

24:24

24:26 ,

24:26 []

24:27 []

24:27 [; ]

24:28

24:29 ,

24:29 []

24:30

24:34

24:36

24:37

24:39 ,

24:39 []

24:40 Some printed New Testaments omit this verse. It is found in nearly all Greek manuscripts.

24:41

24:42 NU-Text omits and some honeycomb.

24:43

24:44 ; ;

24:45

24:46

24:46 NU-Text reads written, that the Christ should suffer and rise.

24:47 ; ; ;

24:47 []

24:48 []

24:49

24:49 NU-Text omits of Jerusalem.

24:50

24:51

24:52

24:53

24:53 NU-Text omits praising and.

24:53 NU-Text omits Amen.

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