INTRODUCTION TO
Luke
CIRCUMSTANCES OF WRITING
The author of the Third Gospel is not named. Considerable evidence points to Luke as its author. Much of that proof is found in the book of Acts, which identifies itself as a sequel to Luke (Ac 1:1-3). A major line of evidence has to do with the so-called “we” sections of the book (Ac 16:10-17; 20:5-15; 21:1-18; 27:1-37; 28:1-16). Most of Acts is narrated in third-person plural (“they,” “them”), but some later sections having to do with the ministry of the apostle Paul unexpectedly shift to first-person plural (“we,” “us”). This indicates that the author had joined the apostle Paul for the events recorded in those passages. Since there are no “we” passages in the Gospel of Luke, that fits with the author stating that he used eyewitness testimony to the life of Jesus (1:2), indicating he was not such an eyewitness himself.
Among Paul’s well-known coworkers, the most likely candidate is Luke, the doctor (see Col 4:14; Phm 24). That is also the unanimous testimony of the earliest Christian writers (e.g., Justin Martyr, the Muratorian Canon, and Tertullian). Since Luke is not named among the workers who were “of the circumcised” (i.e., a Jew; Col 4:11), he was almost certainly a Gentile. That explains the healthy emphasis on Gentiles in Luke (6:17; 7:1-10). Luke also reflects an interest in medical matters (e.g., 4:38; 14:2).
Traditionally, the Gospel of Luke is believed to have been written after both Matthew and Mark. Those who date Matthew and Mark in the AD 60s or 70s have tended to push the dating of Luke back to the AD 70s or 80s.
Since Luke wrote both the Third Gospel and the book of Acts (Ac 1:1-3), it is relevant to consider the dating of both books together. The events at the end of Acts occurred around AD 62–63. That is the earliest point at which Acts could have been written. If Acts was written in the early AD 60s from Rome, where Paul was imprisoned for two years (Ac 28:30), the Third Gospel could date from an earlier stage of that period of imprisonment. The other reasonable possibility is during Paul’s earlier two-year imprisonment in Caesarea (Ac 24:27). From that location, Luke would have been able to travel and interview the eyewitnesses to Jesus’s life and ministry who were still alive.
The Third Gospel is addressed to “most honorable Theophilus” (Lk 1:3), about whom nothing else is known other than that he is also the recipient of the book of Acts (Ac 1:1). The Greek name Theophilus means “lover of God” or “friend of God” and implies that he was a Gentile, probably Greek. He seems to have been a relatively new believer, recently instructed about Jesus and the Christian faith (Lk 1:4). The title “most honorable” indicates that, at the least, he was a person of high standing and financial substance. It may also reflect that he was an official with some governmental authority and power.
CONTRIBUTION TO THE BIBLE
Nearly sixty percent of the material in the Gospel of Luke is unique. Thus, there is a great deal that readers of Scripture would not know if the Third Gospel were not in the Bible. Notable among the larger distinctive portions are: (1) much of the material in Luke 1–2 about the births of John the Baptist and Jesus, (2) the only biblical material on Jesus’s childhood and pre-ministry adult life (2:40-52), (3) a genealogy for Jesus (3:23-38) that is significantly different from the one in Matthew 1:1-17, (4) most of the “travelogue” section about Jesus’s journey to Jerusalem (Lk 9:51–19:44), (5) a considerably different slant on the destruction of the temple (21:5-38) from the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24–25 and Mark 13, and (6) quite a bit of fresh material in the post-resurrection appearances, including the Emmaus Road, a distinctive statement of the Great Commission, and the only description in the Gospels of Jesus’s ascension into heaven (Lk 24:13-53).
STRUCTURE
Luke’s distinctive “narrative about the events” (1:1) of the life of Jesus is written in “orderly sequence” (1:3), though not strict chronological sequence in many cases. Generally, after the key events leading up to the beginning of Christ’s public ministry (1:5–4:13), the flow of the book is from his early ministry in and around Galilee (4:14–9:50), through an extended description of ministry related to his journey to Jerusalem (9:51–19:44), climaxing in the events of Passion Week and post-resurrection appearances in and around Jerusalem (19:45–24:53).
SPURGEON ON LUKE
To get people to come to Jesus just as they are is not easy. To get them to give up the idea of preparing, to get them prepared to come without preparing, to get them ready to come just as they are—this is the hardest part of our work. Only the grace of God, working mightily through the Word, by the Spirit, will prepare people to come to Christ—prepared by being unprepared so far as any fitness of their own is concerned. The only fit state in which they can come is that of sinking themselves, abandoning all idea of helping Christ, coming in all their natural impotence and guilt and taking Christ to be their all in all.
THE DEDICATION TO THEOPHILUS
1Many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled A among us, 2 just as the original eyewitnesses and servants of the word handed them down to us. 3 It also seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the very first, to write to you in an orderly sequence, most honorable Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed. B
GABRIEL PREDICTS JOHN’S BIRTH
5 In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest of Abijah’s division named Zechariah. His wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 Both were righteous in God’s sight, living without blame according to all the commands and requirements of the Lord. 7 But they had no children because Elizabeth could not conceive, and both of them were well along in years.
8 When his division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 it happened that he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. 10 At the hour of incense the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. 11 An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified and overcome with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. 14 There will be joy and delight for you, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or beer. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb. 16 He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.”
18 “How can I know this? ” Zechariah asked the angel. “For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.”
19 The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and tell you this good news. 20 Now listen. You will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”
21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. 22 When he did come out, he could not speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was making signs to them and remained speechless. 23 When the days of his ministry were completed, he went back home.
24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived and kept herself in seclusion for five months. She said, 25 “The Lord has done this for me. He has looked with favor in these days to take away my disgrace among the people.”
GABRIEL PREDICTS JESUS’S BIRTH
26 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged A to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And the angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you.” B 29 But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. 30 Then the angel told her: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.”
34 Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man? ” C
35 The angel replied to her: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 And consider your relative Elizabeth — even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” said Mary. “May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.
MARY’S VISIT TO ELIZABETH
39 In those days Mary set out and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah 40 where she entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped inside her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 Then she exclaimed with a loud cry: “Blessed are you among women, and your child will be blessed! D 43 How could this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For you see, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy inside me. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill what he has spoken to her! ”
MARY’S PRAISE
46 And Mary said:
My soul praises the greatness of E the Lord,
47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48because he has looked with favor
on the humble condition of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations
will call me blessed,
49because the Mighty One
has done great things for me,
and his name is holy.
50His mercy is from generation to generation
on those who fear him.
51He has done a mighty deed with his arm;
he has scattered the proud
because of the thoughts of their hearts;
52he has toppled the mighty from their thrones
and exalted the lowly.
53He has satisfied the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.
54He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering his mercy
55to Abraham and his descendants A forever,
just as he spoke to our ancestors.
56 And Mary stayed with her about three months; then she returned to her home.
THE BIRTH AND NAMING OF JOHN
57 Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she had a son. 58 Then her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her his great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.
59 When they came to circumcise the child on the eighth day, they were going to name him Zechariah, after his father. 60 But his mother responded, “No. He will be called John.”
61 Then they said to her, “None of your relatives has that name.” 62 So they motioned to his father to find out what he wanted him to be called. 63 He asked for a writing tablet and wrote: “His name is John.” And they were all amazed. 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. 65 Fear came on all those who lived around them, and all these things were being talked about throughout the hill country of Judea. 66 All who heard about him took it to heart, saying, “What then will this child become? ” For, indeed, the Lord’s hand was with him.
ZECHARIAH’S PROPHECY
67 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has visited
and provided redemption for his people.
69He has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David,
70just as he spoke by the mouth
of his holy prophets in ancient times;
71salvation from our enemies
and from the hand of those who hate us.
72He has dealt mercifully with our fathers
and remembered his holy covenant —
73the oath that he swore to our father Abraham.
He has given us the privilege,
74since we have been rescued
from the hand of our enemies,
to serve him without fear
75in holiness and righteousness
in his presence all our days.
76And you, child, will be called
a prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord
to prepare his ways,
77to give his people knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins.
78Because of our God’s merciful compassion,
the dawn from on high will visit us
79to shine on those who live in darkness
and the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.
80 The child grew up and became spiritually strong, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
1:17 “And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.” John was the herald of Christ; he was to prepare the way for the coming King. But from this text it appears that he was to do more than that. He was not only to make the road ready for the Lord, but he was also to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. That was a great work, a task in which he would require strength and wisdom greater than his own. He would need the Spirit of God, who was to be given without measure to the coming One.
To get people to come to Jesus just as they are is not easy. To get them to give up the idea of preparing, to get them prepared to come without preparing, to get them ready to come just as they are—this is the hardest part of our work. Only the grace of God, working mightily through the Word, by the Spirit, will prepare people to come to Christ—prepared by being unprepared so far as any fitness of their own is concerned. The only fit state in which they can come is that of sinking themselves, abandoning all idea of helping Christ, coming in all their natural impotence and guilt and taking Christ to be their all in all.
1:49-50 “Because the Mighty One has done great things for me, and his name is holy. His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear him.” Notice how Mary quotes Scripture. Her mind seems to have been saturated with the Word of God, as though she had learned the books of Scripture through and had them “by heart” in more senses than one. And isn’t it insightful that though the Holy Spirit was speaking by her, he quoted the older Scriptures in preference to uttering new sentences? What honor he put on the Old Testament by so continually quoting it in the New Testament, even as the Lord Jesus also did! Let us, too, prize every part of God’s Word. Let us soak in it until we are saturated with scriptural expressions. We cannot find any better ones, for there are none.
A 1:1 Or events that have been accomplished, or events most surely believed
B 1:28 Other mss add Blessed are you among women.
C 1:34 Lit since I do not know a man
D 1:42 Lit and the fruit of your abdomen (or womb) is blessed
THE BIRTH OF JESUS
2In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire B should be registered. 2 This first registration took place while C Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town.
CHRIST ABOUT HIS FATHER’S BUSINESS
“And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not
that I must be about my Father’s business?”
1.HOW JESUS DID HIS “FATHER’S BUSINESS.”
a.By coming to earth and assuming human nature.
b.By his Perfect life, distinguished for:
Filial duty, Benevolence, Patience, Self-denial, Humility, Boldness, Spirituality, and Prayerfulness.
Which Answered two purposes:
1.As a Justifying righteousness for the elect.
2.As a Perfect Pattern for imitation.
c.By his works, sufferings, and death as a Redeemer.
2.HOW JESUS NOW DOES HIS “FATHER’S BUSINESS.”
α.As a Priest. Blessing the People. Interceding for them.
β.As a Mediator. The way of access.
γ.As a Counsellor and Advocate.
δ.As the Captain of our Salvation.
ε.As he who appears to help his people by the Spirit
3.HOW JESUS SHALL DO HIS “FATHER’S BUSINESS.”
By conquering Satan and leading captivity Captive.
By Judging the world in righteousness.
1. The People of God should be about their Father’s business.
Hythe. July 8/[18]51
23. 190.
4 Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, 5 to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him A and was pregnant. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 Then she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger, B because there was no guest room available for them.
THE SHEPHERDS AND THE ANGELS
8 In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. C 10 But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: D 11 Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host E with the angel, praising God and saying:
14Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and peace on earth to people he favors! F,G
15 When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
16 They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger. 17 After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen and heard, which were just as they had been told.
THE CIRCUMCISION AND PRESENTATION OF JESUS
21 When the eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus — the name given by the angel before he was conceived. 22 And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were finished, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every firstborn male will be dedicated H to the Lord I) 24 and to offer a sacrifice (according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons J).
SIMEON’S PROPHETIC PRAISE
25 There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking forward to Israel’s consolation, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he saw the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Guided by the Spirit, he entered the temple. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform for him what was customary under the law, 28 Simeon took him up in his arms, praised God, and said,
29Now, Master,
you can dismiss your servant in peace,
as you promised.
30For my eyes have seen your salvation.
31You have prepared it
in the presence of all peoples —
32a light for revelation to the Gentiles A
and glory to your people Israel.
33 His father and mother B were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and told his mother Mary: “Indeed, this child is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed C — 35 and a sword will pierce your own soul — that the thoughts D of many hearts may be revealed.”
ANNA’S TESTIMONY
36 There was also a prophetess, Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well along in years, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, E 37 and was a widow for eighty-four years. F She did not leave the temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayers. 38 At that very moment, G she came up and began to thank God and to speak about him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. H
THE FAMILY’S RETURN TO NAZARETH
39 When they had completed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 The boy grew up and became strong, filled with wisdom, and God’s grace was on him.
IN HIS FATHER’S HOUSE
41 Every year his parents traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the festival. 43 After those days were over, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents I did not know it. 44 Assuming he was in the traveling party, they went a day’s journey. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. 46 After three days, they found him in the temple sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all those who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”
49 “Why were you searching for me? ” he asked them. “Didn’t you know that it was necessary for me to be in my Father’s house? ” J 50 But they did not understand what he said to them.
IN FAVOR WITH GOD AND WITH PEOPLE
51 Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them. His mother kept all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people.
2:10-11 “But the angel said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord.’” May it never be said of any of us, “Well, he may be somewhat a Christian, but he is far more a clever money-getting tradesman.” I would not have it said, “Well, he may be a believer in Christ, but he is a good deal more a politician.” “Perhaps he is a Christian, but he is most at home when he is talking about science, farming, engineering, horses, mining, navigation, or pleasure-taking.” No, no, we will never know the fullness of the joy that Jesus brings to the soul unless, under the power of the Holy Spirit, we take the Lord our Master to be our all in all, and make him the fountain of our delight! “He is my Savior, my Christ, and my Lord.” Let this be our loudest boast. Then we will know the joy the angel’s song predicts for people.
2:30 “For my eyes have seen your salvation.” When Simeon came into the temple, he saw a little baby and recognized in that newly born child Jesus the promised Savior. And as he took up that Savior into his arms, he said, “My eyes have seen God’s salvation”—not only the worker of the salvation but the salvation itself. Whether in Bethlehem’s manger, or on Calvary’s cross, or on his throne of glory from where he will judge the quick and the dead—wherever we see him, we see the salvation of God.
B 2:1 Or the whole inhabited world
C 2:2 Or This registration was the first while, or This registration was before
B 2:7 Or feeding trough, also in vv. 12, 16
C 2:9 Lit they feared a great fear
F 2:14 Other mss read earth good will to people
G 2:14 Or earth to men of good will
B 2:33 Other mss read But Joseph and his mother
E 2:36 Lit years from her virginity
F 2:37 Or she was a widow until the age of eighty-four
H 2:38 Other mss read in Jerusalem
I 2:43 Other mss read but Joseph and his mother
J 2:49 Or be involved in my Father’s interests (or things), or be among my Father’s people
THE MESSIAH’S HERALD
3In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was tetrarch A of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, God’s word came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the vicinity of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 4 as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah:
A voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
Prepare the way for the Lord;
make his paths straight!
5Every valley will be filled,
and every mountain and hill will be made low; B
the crooked will become straight,
the rough ways smooth,
6and everyone will see the salvation of God. C
7 He then said to the crowds who came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance. And don’t start saying to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones. 9 The ax is already at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
10 “What then should we do? ” the crowds were asking him.
11 He replied to them, “The one who has two shirts must share with someone who has none, and the one who has food must do the same.”
12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do? ”
13 He told them, “Don’t collect any more than what you have been authorized.”
14 Some soldiers also questioned him, “What should we do? ”
He said to them, “Don’t take money from anyone by force or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.”
15 Now the people were waiting expectantly, and all of them were questioning in their hearts whether John might be the Messiah. 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I am is coming. I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with D the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing shovel is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with fire that never goes out.” 18 Then, along with many other exhortations, he proclaimed good news to the people. 19 But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the evil things he had done, 20 Herod added this to everything else — he locked up John in prison.
THE BAPTISM OF JESUS
21 When all the people were baptized, Jesus also was baptized. As he was praying, heaven opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in a physical appearance like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well-pleased.”
THE GENEALOGY OF JESUS CHRIST
23 As he began his ministry, Jesus was about thirty years old and was thought to be the
son of Joseph, son of Heli,
24son of Matthat, son of Levi,
son of Melchi, son of Jannai,
son of Joseph, 25 son of Mattathias,
son of Amos, son of Nahum,
son of Esli, son of Naggai,
26son of Maath, son of Mattathias,
son of Semein, son of Josech,
son of Joda, 27 son of Joanan,
son of Rhesa, son of Zerubbabel,
son of Shealtiel, son of Neri,
28son of Melchi, son of Addi,
son of Cosam, son of Elmadam,
son of Er, 29 son of Joshua,
son of Eliezer, son of Jorim,
son of Matthat, son of Levi,
30son of Simeon, son of Judah,
son of Joseph, son of Jonam,
son of Eliakim, 31 son of Melea,
son of Menna, son of Mattatha,
son of Nathan, son of David,
32son of Jesse, son of Obed,
son of Boaz, son of Salmon, A
son of Nahshon, 33 son of Amminadab,
son of Ram, B son of Hezron,
son of Perez, son of Judah,
34son of Jacob, son of Isaac,
son of Abraham, son of Terah,
son of Nahor, 35 son of Serug,
son of Reu, son of Peleg,
son of Eber, son of Shelah,
36son of Cainan, son of Arphaxad,
son of Shem, son of Noah,
son of Lamech, 37 son of Methuselah,
son of Enoch, son of Jared,
son of Mahalalel, son of Cainan,
38son of Enos, son of Seth,
son of Adam, son of God.
3:16 “John answered them all, ‘I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I am is coming. I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.’” Remember that John was by no means an inferior man; among all who had been born of women before his time, there had not been one greater than he. He was the subject of many prophecies, and his office was a peculiarly noble one. He was the friend of the great bridegroom and introduced him to his chosen bride. He was the morning star of the gospel day, but he counted himself no light in the presence of the Sun of righteousness whom he heralded. John wasn’t one to be shaken by the wind. No man of courtly habits fitted for a king’s palace, we see in him an Elijah, a man of iron, a son of thunder. He roared like a young lion on his prey and feared the face of none. His great soul bowed only before what was worthy of worship. He was, in God’s strength, as an iron pillar and a bronze wall. He was a hero for the cause of the Lord, and yet he sat down in the presence of Jesus as a little child sits on a stool at his master’s feet, and he cried, “I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals.”
B 3:33 Other mss read Amminadab, son of Aram, son of Joram ; other mss read Amminadab, son of Admin, son of Arni
THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS
4Then Jesus left the Jordan, full of the Holy Spirit, and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness 2 for forty days to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over, he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”
4 But Jesus answered him, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone.” C,D
5 So he took him up E and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 The devil said to him, “I will give you their splendor and all this authority, because it has been given over to me, and I can give it to anyone I want. 7 If you, then, will worship me, F all will be yours.”
8 And Jesus answered him, G “It is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.” H
9 So he took him to Jerusalem, had him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here. 10 For it is written:
He will give his angels orders concerning you,
to protect you, I 11 and
they will support you with their hands,
so that you will not strike
your foot against a stone.” J
12 And Jesus answered him, “It is said: Do not test the Lord your God.” K
13 After the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time.
MINISTRY IN GALILEE
14 Then Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread throughout the entire vicinity. 15 He was teaching in their synagogues, being praised A by everyone.
REJECTION AT NAZARETH
16 He came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. As usual, he entered the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up to read. 17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him, and unrolling the scroll, he found the place where it was written:
18The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me B
to proclaim release C to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to set free the oppressed,
19to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. D
20 He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. And the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today as you listen, this Scripture has been fulfilled.”
22 They were all speaking well of him E and were amazed by the gracious words that came from his mouth; yet they said, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son? ”
23 Then he said to them, “No doubt you will quote this proverb F to me: ‘Doctor, heal yourself. What we’ve heard that took place in Capernaum, do here in your hometown also.’ ”
24 He also said, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in his hometown. 25 But I say to you, there were certainly many widows in Israel in Elijah’s days, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months while a great famine came over all the land. 26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them except a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. 27 And in the prophet Elisha’s time, there were many in Israel who had leprosy, A and yet not one of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.”
28 When they heard this, everyone in the synagogue was enraged. 29 They got up, drove him out of town, and brought him to the edge of the hill that their town was built on, intending to hurl him over the cliff. 30 But he passed right through the crowd and went on his way.
DRIVING OUT AN UNCLEAN SPIRIT
31 Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbath. 32 They were astonished at his teaching because his message had authority. 33 In the synagogue there was a man with an unclean demonic spirit who cried out with a loud voice, 34 “Leave us alone! What do you have to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are — the Holy One of God! ”
35 But Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be silent and come out of him! ” And throwing him down before them, the demon came out of him without hurting him at all.
36 Amazement came over them all, and they were saying to one another, “What is this message? For he commands the unclean spirits with authority and power, and they come out! ” 37 And news about him began to go out to every place in the vicinity.
HEALINGS AT CAPERNAUM
38 After he left the synagogue, he entered Simon’s house. Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked him about her. 39 So he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up immediately and began to serve them.
40 When the sun was setting, all those who had anyone sick with various diseases brought them to him. As he laid his hands on each one of them, he healed them. 41 Also, demons were coming out of many, shouting and saying, “You are the Son of God! ” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Christ.
42 When it was day, he went out and made his way to a deserted place. But the crowds were searching for him. They came to him and tried to keep him from leaving them. 43 But he said to them, “It is necessary for me to proclaim the good news about the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because I was sent for this purpose.” 44 And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea. B
4:13 “After the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time.” If we have peace and quiet tonight and are not tempted, do not let us become self-secure. The devil will come to us again at a good opportunity. He will come and attack us when we are alone, sad, and lonely. He can even find occasion when we are in company, especially when it is mixed company. We may easily be overawed and led astray by them. He will frequently come and find an occasion against the children of God when we are sick and ill. He knows we would not mind him when we are in good health; but sometimes when we are down in the dumps through sickness and pain, he begins to tempt us to despair. He does the same when we are poor. When a man has had a great loss in business, down comes Satan and insinuates, “Is this how God treats his children? God’s people are no better off than other people.” Then if we are getting on in the world, he turns it the other way, and he says, “Does Job fear God for nothing? He gets on by his religion.” You cannot please the devil, and you need not want to please him. He can make a temptation for you out of anything. I am going to say something that will surprise you. Another time of great temptation is when we are spiritual. You know it is easy to be on the Mount of Transfiguration and then to meet Satan at the foot, as our Lord did when he came down from that hill.
When you have a heavy load to carry, he will tempt you. When that load is taken off, then he will tempt you worse than ever. Whatever the temptation, what I have to say is this: “Watch.” First watch and pray that we do not enter into temptation. And by the conflict and the victory of your Master, go into the conflict bravely and expect to conquer by faith in him, even as he overcame.
4:27 “And in the prophet Elisha’s time, there were many in Israel who had leprosy, and yet not one of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.” The young man who had left the place for a while and who, during his absence, had acquired great fame as a teacher and miracle worker had come home. There was, naturally, much curiosity to hear him. They supposed he would make the town where he had been brought up to be the chief place of his blessings. They were his fellow townsmen, so surely they had some claim on him. But our Lord, knowing well that if they really understood his teaching, they would not be pleased with it—and knowing that the blessings he came to bring were not what they desired—at once dealt honestly with them and told them that Elisha did not heal the lepers in his own country; but one was healed who came from a foreign land. From this he led them to infer that likely he would do his greatest deeds of healing elsewhere than at Nazareth, that God might be pleased to grant the richest supplies of his grace on heathens—on Syrians—and not on those who seemed to suppose they had some right or claim to it. Our Lord, in fact, preached to these people the great doctrine of divine sovereignty. That was the main point of our Savior’s discourse, and his fellow townsmen could not endure it, as many since have not been able to endure it. Seeking to end such hateful teaching by murdering the teacher, they hurried him from the synagogue to the top of the precipice where their city stood that they might hurl him down and destroy him.
C 4:4 Other mss add but on every word of God
E 4:5 Other mss read So the devil took him up on a high mountain
F 4:7 Lit will fall down before me
G 4:8 Other mss add “Get behind me, Satan!
B 4:18 Other mss add to heal the brokenhearted,
C 4:18 Or freedom, or forgiveness
E 4:22 Or They were testifying against him
A 4:27 Gk lepros ; a term for various skin diseases; see Lv 13–14
THE FIRST DISCIPLES
5As the crowd was pressing in on Jesus to hear God’s word, he was standing by Lake Gennesaret. 2 He saw two boats at the edge of the lake; the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, which belonged to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from the land. Then he sat down and was teaching the crowds from the boat.
4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”
5 “Master,” Simon replied, “we’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing. But if you say so, I’ll let down the nets.” C
6 When they did this, they caught a great number of fish, and their nets A began to tear. 7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them; they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’s knees and said, “Go away from me, because I’m a sinful man, Lord! ” 9 For he and all those with him were amazed at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, Zebedee’s sons, who were Simon’s partners.
“Don’t be afraid,” Jesus told Simon. “From now on you will be catching people.” 11 Then they brought the boats to land, left everything, and followed him.
A MAN CLEANSED
12 While he was in one of the towns, a man was there who had leprosy B all over him. He saw Jesus, fell facedown, and begged him: “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
13 Reaching out his hand, Jesus touched him, saying, “I am willing; be made clean,” and immediately the leprosy left him. 14 Then he ordered him to tell no one: “But go and show yourself to the priest, and offer what Moses commanded for your cleansing as a testimony to them.”
15 But the news C about him spread even more, and large crowds would come together to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16 Yet he often withdrew to deserted places and prayed.
THE SON OF MAN FORGIVES AND HEALS
17 On one of those days while he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea, and also from Jerusalem. And the Lord’s power to heal was in him. 18 Just then some men came, carrying on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed. They tried to bring him in and set him down before him. 19 Since they could not find a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on the stretcher through the roof tiles into the middle of the crowd before Jesus.
20 Seeing their faith he said, “Friend, D your sins are forgiven.”
21 Then the scribes and the Pharisees began to think to themselves: “Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone? ”
22 But perceiving their thoughts, Jesus replied to them, “Why are you thinking this in your hearts? E 23 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 24 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” — he told the paralyzed man, “I tell you: Get up, take your stretcher, and go home.”
25 Immediately he got up before them, picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God. 26 Then everyone was astounded, and they were giving glory to God. And they were filled with awe and said, “We have seen incredible things today. ”
THE CALL OF LEVI
27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, “Follow me.” 28 So, leaving everything behind, he got up and began to follow him.
29 Then Levi hosted a grand banquet for him at his house. Now there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others who were guests A with them. 30 But the Pharisees and their scribes were complaining to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners? ”
31 Jesus replied to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a doctor, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
A QUESTION ABOUT FASTING
33 Then they said to him, “John’s disciples fast often and say prayers, and those of the Pharisees do the same, but yours eat and drink.” B
34 Jesus said to them, “You can’t make the wedding guests fast while the groom is with them, can you? 35 But the time C will come when the groom will be taken away from them — then they will fast in those days.”
36 He also told them a parable: “No one tears a patch from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. Otherwise, not only will he tear the new, but also the piece from the new garment will not match the old. 37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins, it will spill, and the skins will be ruined. 38 No, new wine is put into fresh wineskins. D 39 And no one, after drinking old wine, wants new, because he says, ‘The old is better.’ ” E
5:5 “‘Master,’ Simon replied, ‘we’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing. But if you say so, I’ll let down the nets.’” I have often spoken about the precious blood of Christ that cleanses all sin and about the blessings Jesus brings when he becomes one’s Savior. However, it is important that we remind all who profess to have believed on him, and to have become his disciples, not only to acknowledge him as Master and Lord but also to do whatever he commands. The moment we become Christians and are saved by Christ, we become his servants to obey all his commandments. Thus it is incumbent on us to search the Scriptures that we may know what our Master’s will is. There he has written it out for us in plain letters, and it is an act of disobedience to neglect this search. By refusing to learn what the will of our Lord is, the sin of ignorance becomes willful because we do not use the means by which we might receive instruction. Every servant of Christ is bound to know what he or she is to do; and then, when he knows it, he should at once do it. The Christian’s business is, first, to learn Christ’s will and, second, to do it. Once learned, that will is the supreme law of the Christian whatever may seem to oppose it.
5:12-13 “While he was in one of the towns, a man was there who had leprosy all over him. He saw Jesus, fell facedown, and begged him: ‘Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.’ Reaching out his hand, Jesus touched him, saying, ‘I am willing; be made clean,’ and immediately the leprosy left him.” The perfectly pure One touched the leprous man without himself becoming contaminated. In any other house the man who touched a leper would have been defiled, but when Christ comes into contact with impurity, he is not defiled—he removes it. This is what the gospel is meant to do to the world. We are to go and seek the good of the most fallen and abandoned of men, and those who do so ought to have so much of the spirit of Jesus Christ in them and so much vitality in their piety that they will not be tempted by the sin on which they look. On the contrary, they are instead to overcome that sin and impart spiritual health as opposed to receiving infection. May we be in such a state of health as Jesus was.
C 5:5 Other mss read net (Gk sg)
A 5:6 Other mss read net (Gk sg)
B 5:12 Gk lepros ; a term for various skin diseases, also in v. 13; see Lv 13–14
B 5:33 Other mss read “Why do John’s . . . drink? ” (as a question)
LORD OF THE SABBATH
6On a Sabbath, he passed through the grainfields. His disciples were picking heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating them. 2 But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath? ”
3 Jesus answered them, “Haven’t you read what David and those who were with him did when he was hungry — 4 how he entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat? He even gave some to those who were with him.” 5 Then he told them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
6 On another Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. A man was there whose right hand was shriveled. 7 The scribes and Pharisees were watching him closely, to see if he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they could find a charge against him. 8 But he knew their thoughts and told the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand here.” F So he got up and stood there. 9 Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you: Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it? ” 10 After looking around at them all, he told him, “Stretch out your hand.” He did, and his hand was restored. G 11 They, however, were filled with rage and started discussing with one another what they might do to Jesus.
THE TWELVE APOSTLES
12 During those days he went out to the mountain to pray and spent all night in prayer to God. 13 When daylight came, he summoned his disciples, and he chose twelve of them, whom he also named apostles: 14 Simon, whom he also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; 15 Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot; 16 Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
TEACHING AND HEALING
17 After coming down with them, he stood on a level place with a large crowd of his disciples and a great number of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon. 18 They came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those tormented by unclean spirits were made well. 19 The whole crowd was trying to touch him, because power was coming out from him and healing them all.
THE BEATITUDES
20 Then looking up at his disciples, he said:
Blessed are you who are poor,
because the kingdom of God is yours.
21Blessed are you who are now hungry,
because you will be filled.
Blessed are you who weep now,
because you will laugh.
22Blessed are you when people hate you,
when they exclude you, insult you,
and slander your name as evil
because of the Son of Man.
23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy. Take note — your reward is great in heaven, for this is the way their ancestors used to treat the prophets.
WOE TO THE SELF-SATISFIED
24But woe to you who are rich,
for you have received your comfort.
25Woe to you who are now full,
for you will be hungry.
Woe to you A who are now laughing,
for you will mourn and weep.
26Woe to you A
when all people speak well of you,
for this is the way their ancestors
used to treat the false prophets.
LOVE YOUR ENEMIES
27 “But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If anyone hits you on the cheek, offer the other also. And if anyone takes away your coat, don’t hold back your shirt either. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and from someone who takes your things, don’t ask for them back. 31 Just as you want others to do for you, do the same for them. 32 If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do what is good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High. For he is gracious to the ungrateful and evil. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
QUOTE 6:32-34
Too many consider that the services of the sanctuary are intended merely to feed them. They never look on the house of God as a barracks for soldiers, or a place where workmen come together to sharpen their tools; they only regard it as a sacred shop, a spiritual pantry, or a heavenly lunchroom where much is to be received and little or nothing returned.
QUOTE 6:32-34
There is more plunging our arm up to the elbow in the mire to find a jewel for Christ than in washing one’s idle hands with the scented soap of respectable propriety.
DO NOT JUDGE
37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure — pressed down, shaken together, and running over — will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”
39 He also told them a parable: “Can the blind guide the blind? Won’t they both fall into a pit? 40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.
41 “Why do you look at the splinter in your brother’s eye, but don’t notice the beam of wood in your own eye? 42 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the splinter that is in your eye,’ when you yourself don’t see the beam of wood in your eye? Hypocrite! First take the beam of wood out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the splinter in your brother’s eye.
A TREE AND ITS FRUIT
43 “A good tree doesn’t produce bad fruit; on the other hand, a bad tree doesn’t produce good fruit. A 44 For each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs aren’t gathered from thornbushes, or grapes picked from a bramble bush. 45 A good person produces good out of the good stored up in his heart. An evil person produces evil out of the evil stored up in his heart, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.
THE TWO FOUNDATIONS
46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do the things I say? 47 I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, hears my words, and acts on them: 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. When the flood came, the river crashed against that house and couldn’t shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The river crashed against it, and immediately it collapsed. And the destruction of that house was great.”
6:32-34 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. If you do what is good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners to be repaid in full.” These verses show us that Christians are to be people of service. They are not to think they came into the world to sit at a banquet, but they are to wait on their Master while he sits at the table. Too many consider that the services of the sanctuary are intended merely to feed them. They never look on the house of God as a barracks for soldiers, or a place where workmen come together to sharpen their tools; they only regard it as a sacred shop, a spiritual pantry, or a heavenly lunchroom where much is to be received and little or nothing returned. We must get out of the cramping influence of the spirit that makes even religion a selfish provision for ourselves.
We are to serve, not to recline at our ease. What are we doing that we are so anxious to rest and benefit ourselves? The Lord Jesus Christ would not have us always asking, “How can I be happy? How can I obtain spiritual enjoyment?” Servants are not supposed to spend their time in doing their own pleasure and seeking their own profit. A manservant whose whole time was taken up with watching his own wealth would be of small value to his employer. Even so, we have something else to do beyond watching over our own inward feelings. To snatch a brand from the burning is better than to warm our own hands. To feed a hungry soul with the bread of heaven is a far higher deed than to eat the fat and drink the sweet ourselves. There is more plunging our arm up to the elbow in the mire to find a jewel for Christ than in washing one’s idle hands with the scented soap of respectable propriety.
G 6:10 Other mss add as sound as the other
A 6:25,26 Other mss omit to you
A 6:43 Lit on the other hand, again, a bad tree doesn’t produce good fruit
A CENTURION’S FAITH
7When he had concluded saying all this to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum. 2 A centurion’s servant, who was highly valued by him, was sick and about to die. 3 When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, requesting him to come and save the life of his servant. 4 When they reached Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy for you to grant this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built us a synagogue.”
6 Jesus went with them, and when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to tell him, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, since I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. 7 That is why I didn’t even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. A 8 For I too am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under my command. I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
9 Jesus heard this and was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found so great a faith even in Israel.” 10 When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant in good health.
A WIDOW’S SON RAISED TO LIFE
11 Afterward he was on his way to a town called Nain. His disciples and a large crowd were traveling with him. 12 Just as he neared the gate of the town, a dead man was being carried out. He was his mother’s only son, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the city was also with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said, “Don’t weep.” 14 Then he came up and touched the open coffin, and the pallbearers stopped. And he said, “Young man, I tell you, get up! ”
15 The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. 16 Then fear B came over everyone, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen among us,” and “God has visited C his people.” 17 This report about him went throughout Judea and all the vicinity.
IN PRAISE OF JOHN THE BAPTIST
18 Then John’s disciples told him about all these things. So John summoned two of his disciples 19 and sent them to the Lord, asking, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else? ”
20 When the men reached him, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to ask you, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else? ’ ”
21 At that time Jesus healed many people of diseases, afflictions, and evil spirits, and he granted sight to many blind people. 22 He replied to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy D are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news, 23 and blessed is the one who isn’t offended by me.”
24 After John’s messengers left, he began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind? 25 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothes? See, those who are splendidly dressed and live in luxury are in royal palaces. 26 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is the one about whom it is written:
See, I am sending my messenger
ahead of you;
he will prepare your way before you. A
28 I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John, B but the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
29 (And when all the people, including the tax collectors, heard this, they acknowledged God’s way of righteousness, because they had been baptized with John’s baptism. 30 But since the Pharisees and experts in the law had not been baptized by him, they rejected the plan of God for themselves.)
AN UNRESPONSIVE GENERATION
31 “To what then should I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to each other:
We played the flute for you,
but you didn’t dance;
we sang a lament,
but you didn’t weep!
33 For John the Baptist did not come eating bread or 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 drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners! ’ 35 Yet wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”
MUCH FORGIVENESS, MUCH LOVE
36 Then one of the Pharisees invited him to eat with him. He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 And a woman in the town who was a sinner found out that Jesus was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house. She brought an alabaster jar of perfume 38 and stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to wash his feet with her tears. She wiped his feet with her hair, kissing them and anointing them with the perfume.
39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “This man, if he were a prophet, would know who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him — she’s a sinner! ”
40 Jesus replied to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”
He said, “Say it, teacher.”
41 “A creditor had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, C and the other fifty. 42 Since they could not pay it back, he graciously forgave them both. So, which of them will love him more? ”
43 Simon answered, “I suppose the one he forgave more.”
“You have judged correctly,” he told him. 44 Turning to the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she, with her tears, has washed my feet and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but she hasn’t stopped kissing my feet since I came in. 46 You didn’t anoint my head with olive oil, but she has anointed my feet with perfume. 47 Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that’s why she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 Then he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 Those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins? ”
50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
7:6-8 “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, since I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. That is why I didn’t even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under my command. I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” The greatest light may enter into the darkest places. We may find the choicest flowers blooming where we least expected them. Here was a Gentile, a Roman, a soldier—clothed with absolute power—and yet a tender master, a considerate citizen, a lover of God. Let no man, therefore, be despised because of his calling. The best of pearls have been found in the darkest caves of the ocean. What if we had never heard of him, though he loved his servant; perhaps we had never read his name, though he tenderly nursed his slave; perhaps he had found no place in the record of inspiration, though he loved the Jewish nation and built them a synagogue; nor had we read the story of his life, though he had become a proselyte to the Jewish faith. The one thing that gives him a place in these sacred pages is this: he believed in the Messiah. He was such a believer in the Son of God that Jesus said concerning him, “I have not found so great a faith even in Israel.” But the remarkable thing is that the greatest faith was coupled with the deepest humility.
7:41-42 “A creditor had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Since they could not pay it back, he graciously forgave them both. So, which of them will love him more?” It would be incorrect to say that all people are equally sinful. That they are all guilty is true, but that they are all equally guilty is not true. We will also admit that all sins are not equally damaging. There are vices, especially those that pollute the body, which manifestly lower people to the level of animals.
Moreover, we are persuaded that the penalties of sin will differ and that, although all the wicked will be cast into hell, yet there will be degrees in the anguish of that lost state. Our Master has himself told us. There are great criminals whose punishment will be more intolerable than that of others; and there are others, who have not sinned to the same extent, who, though justly punished with God’s wrath, will not endure it to the same extent as those who have plunged more deeply into iniquity.
Thus we are prepared to admit that there are differences in sin, differences in the consequent effects on sinners, and differences in the punishment due to sin. Nevertheless, I want to put a few plain questions to those who think they are among the fifty-denarii debtors and who look down with some sort of disdain on those who owe five hundred denarii. First, are you sure you are the lesser sinner? Are you certain you are to be reckoned among the fifty-denarii debtors? Remember that we must always judge sin not merely by its outward appearance but by the motives and character of the person committing it and also by the circumstances under which the offense was perpetrated.
A sin committed against light and knowledge is far worse than a sin of ignorance. It may be that some of those on whom we have looked down as owing God five hundred denarii may have been without the light we have had. Perhaps most of them never had the privileges we have enjoyed. Did not our godly mothers pray over us from our birth? Did not our anxious fathers diligently instruct us in the way of salvation? One may have read the Bible and have a tolerably clear notion of what is right and what is wrong, so he has sinned in the light—he has sinned knowing it to be sin. Therefore, may our little sins, as we think them to be, not really be more heinous in the sight of God than those apparently greater sins others have committed without the same degree of light and knowledge we have had?
A 7:7 Other mss read and let my servant be healed
D 7:22 Gk lepros ; a term for various skin diseases; see Lv 13–14
B 7:28 Other mss read women is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist
MANY WOMEN SUPPORT CHRIST’S WORK
8Afterward he was traveling from one town and village to another, preaching and telling the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary, called Magdalene (seven demons had come out of her); 3 Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward; Susanna; and many others who were supporting them from their possessions.
THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER
4 As a large crowd was gathering, and people were coming to Jesus from every town, he said in a parable: 5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, some seed fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the sky devoured it. 6 Other seed fell on the rock; when it grew up, it withered away, since it lacked moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns; the thorns grew up with it and choked it. 8 Still other seed fell on good ground; when it grew up, it produced fruit: a hundred times what was sown.” As he said this, he called out, “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen.”
WHY JESUS USED PARABLES
9 Then his disciples asked him, “What does this parable mean? ” 10 So he said, “The secrets of the kingdom of God have been given for you to know, but to the rest it is in parables, so that
Looking they may not see,
and hearing they may not understand. A
THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER EXPLAINED
11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 The seed along the path are those who have heard and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 And the seed on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy. Having no root, these believe for a while and fall away in a time of testing. 14 As for the seed that fell among thorns, these are the ones who, when they have heard, go on their way and are choked with worries, riches, and pleasures of life, and produce no mature fruit. 15 But the seed in the good ground — these are the ones who, having heard the word with an honest and good heart, hold on to it and by enduring, produce fruit.
USING YOUR LIGHT
16 “No one, after lighting a lamp, covers it with a basket or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand so that those who come in may see its light. 17 For nothing is concealed that won’t be revealed, and nothing hidden that won’t be made known and brought to light. 18 Therefore take care how you listen. For whoever has, more will be given to him; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.”
TRUE RELATIONSHIPS
19 Then his mother and brothers came to him, but they could not meet with him because of the crowd. 20 He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.”
21 But he replied to them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear and do the word of God.”
WIND AND WAVE OBEY JESUS
22 One day he and his disciples got into a boat, and he told them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, 23 and as they were sailing he fell asleep. Then a fierce windstorm came down on the lake; they were being swamped and were in danger. 24 They came and woke him up, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to die! ”
Then he got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves. So they ceased, and there was a calm. 25 He said to them, “Where is your faith? ”
They were fearful and amazed, asking one another, “Who then is this? He commands even the winds and the waves, and they obey him! ”
DEMONS DRIVEN OUT BY JESUS
26 Then they sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, B which is opposite Galilee. 27 When he got out on land, a demon-possessed man from the town met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes and did not stay in a house but in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before him, and said in a loud voice, “What do you have to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torment me! ” 29 For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was guarded, bound by chains and shackles, he would snap the restraints and be driven by the demon into deserted places.
30 “What is your name? ” Jesus asked him.
“Legion,” he said, because many demons had entered him. 31 And they begged him not to banish them to the abyss.
32 A large herd of pigs was there, feeding on the hillside. The demons begged him to permit them to enter the pigs, and he gave them permission. 33 The demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.
34 When the men who tended them saw what had happened, they ran off and reported it in the town and in the countryside. 35 Then people went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man the demons had departed from, sitting at Jesus’s feet, dressed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. 36 Meanwhile, the eyewitnesses reported to them how the demon-possessed man was delivered. 37 Then all the people of the Gerasene region A asked him to leave them, because they were gripped by great fear. So getting into the boat, he returned.
38 The man from whom the demons had departed begged him earnestly to be with him. But he sent him away and said, 39 “Go back to your home, and tell all that God has done for you.” And off he went, proclaiming throughout the town how much Jesus had done for him.
A GIRL RESTORED AND A WOMAN HEALED
40 When Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. 41 Just then, a man named Jairus came. He was a leader of the synagogue. He fell down at Jesus’s feet and pleaded with him to come to his house, 42 because he had an only daughter about twelve years old, and she was dying.
While he was going, the crowds were nearly crushing him. 43 A woman suffering from bleeding for twelve years, who had spent all she had on doctors B and yet could not be healed by any, 44 approached from behind and touched the end of his robe. Instantly her bleeding stopped.
45 “Who touched me? ” Jesus asked.
When they all denied it, Peter C said, “Master, the crowds are hemming you in and pressing against you.” D
46 “Someone did touch me,” said Jesus. “I know that power has gone out from me.” 47 When the woman saw that she was discovered, she came trembling and fell down before him. In the presence of all the people, she declared the reason she had touched him and how she was instantly healed. 48 “Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has saved you. E Go in peace.”
49 While he was still speaking, someone came from the synagogue leader’s house and said, “Your daughter is dead. Don’t bother the teacher anymore.”
50 When Jesus heard it, he answered him, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe, and she will be saved.” F 51 After he came to the house, he let no one enter with him except Peter, John, James, and the child’s father and mother. 52 Everyone was crying and mourning for her. But he said, “Stop crying, because she is not dead but asleep.”
53 They laughed at him, because they knew she was dead. 54 So he G took her by the hand and called out, “Child, get up! ” 55 Her spirit returned, and she got up at once. Then he gave orders that she be given something to eat. 56 Her parents were astounded, but he instructed them to tell no one what had happened.
8:4-8 “As a large crowd was gathering, and people were coming to Jesus from every town, he said in a parable: ‘A sower went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, some seed fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the sky devoured it. Other seed fell on the rock; when it grew up, it withered away, since it lacked moisture. Other seed fell among thorns; the thorns grew up with it and choked it. Still other seed fell on good ground; when it grew up, it produced fruit: a hundred times what was sown.’ As he said this, he called out, ‘Let anyone who has ears to hear listen.’” Will one in four of our hearers, with well-prepared hearts, receive the Word? The ground is described as “good”—not that it was good by nature, but it had been made good by grace. God had plowed it; he had stirred it up with the plow of conviction, and there it lay in ridge and furrow as it should lie. When the gospel was preached, the heart received it, for the man said, “That is just the blessing I need; mercy is what a needy sinner requires.” So the preaching of the gospel was the thing to give comfort to this disturbed and plowed soil. Down fell the seed to take good root. In some cases it produced fervency of love, largeness of heart, devotedness of purpose of a noble kind, like seed that produces a hundredfold. The man became a mighty servant for God; he spent himself and was spent. He took his place in the front of Christ’s army, stood in the heat of the battle, and did deeds of daring that few could accomplish. The seed produced a hundredfold. It fell into another heart of like character—the man could not do as much, but still he did much. He gave himself to God, and in his business he had a word to say for his Lord. In his daily walk he quietly adorned the doctrine of God his Savior, and he brought forth sixtyfold. Then, it fell on another, whose abilities and talents were but small. He could not be a star, but he would be a glowworm. He could not do as the greatest, but he was content to do something, however humble. The seed had brought forth in him tenfold, perhaps twentyfold. How many are there of this sort? Is there one who prays within himself, “God be merciful to me a sinner”? The seed has fallen in the right spot! God never sets a man longing for mercy without intending to give it. Does another whisper, “Oh that I might be saved”? He may believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved. Has another been the chief of sinners? He may trust Christ, and his enormous sins will vanish as the millstone sinks beneath the flood.
8:37 “Then all the people of the Gerasene region asked him to leave them, because they were gripped by great fear. So getting into the boat, he returned.” Surely, this legion of demons must have had the same effect on them as on the poor man when Christ first came to him. These foolish people took up the same cry as the poor demoniac! Christ sometimes hears this kind of prayer. There is many a person who has entreated that his conscience might not be troubled any more and it never has been troubled again. But what an awful prayer for anyone to pray!
B 8:26 Other mss read the Gadarenes
A 8:37 Other mss read the Gadarenes
B 8:43 Other mss omit who had spent all she had on doctors
C 8:45 Other mss add and those with him
D 8:45 Other mss add and you say, ‘Who touched me?’
COMMISSIONING THE TWELVE
9Summoning the Twelve, he gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. 2 Then he sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
3 “Take nothing for the road,” he told them, “no staff, no traveling bag, no bread, no money; and don’t take an extra shirt. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there. 5 If they do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” 6 So they went out and traveled from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing everywhere.
HEROD’S DESIRE TO SEE JESUS
7 Herod the tetrarch heard about everything that was going on. He was perplexed, because some said that John had been raised from the dead, 8 some that Elijah had appeared, and others that one of the ancient prophets had risen. 9 “I beheaded John,” Herod said, “but who is this I hear such things about? ” And he wanted to see him.
FEEDING OF THE FIVE THOUSAND
10 When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus all that they had done. He took them along and withdrew privately to a A town called Bethsaida. 11 When the crowds found out, they followed him. He welcomed them, spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.
12 Late in the day, the Twelve approached and said to him, “Send the crowd away, so that they can go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find food and lodging, because we are in a deserted place here.”
13 “You give them something to eat,” he told them.
“We have no more than five loaves and two fish,” they said, “unless we go and buy food for all these people.” 14 (For about five thousand men were there.)
Then he told his disciples, “Have them sit down B in groups of about fifty each.” 15 They did what he said, and had them all sit down. 16 Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke them. He kept giving them to the disciples to set before the crowd. 17 Everyone ate and was filled. They picked up twelve baskets of leftover pieces.
PETER’S CONFESSION OF THE MESSIAH
18 While he was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am? ”
19 They answered, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, that one of the ancient prophets has come back.” C
20 “But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am? ”
Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.”
HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION PREDICTED
21 But he strictly warned and instructed them to tell this to no one, 22 saying, “It is necessary that the Son of Man suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and be raised the third day.”
TAKE UP YOUR CROSS
23 Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow after D me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, E and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will save it. 25 For what does it benefit someone if he gains the whole world, and yet loses or forfeits himself? 26 For whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and that of the Father and the holy angels. 27 Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”
THE TRANSFIGURATION
28 About eight days after this conversation, he took along Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. 30 Suddenly, two men were talking with him — Moses and Elijah. 31 They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish in Jerusalem.
32 Peter and those with him were in a deep sleep, A and when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men who were standing with him. 33 As the two men were departing from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it’s good for us to be here. Let us set up three shelters: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” — not knowing what he was saying.
34 While he was saying this, a cloud appeared and overshadowed them. They became afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 Then a voice came from the cloud, saying: “This is my Son, the Chosen One; B listen to him! ”
36 After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They kept silent, and at that time told no one what they had seen.
THE POWER OF JESUS OVER A DEMON
37 The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him. 38 Just then a man from the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, because he’s my only child. 39 A spirit seizes him; suddenly he shrieks, and it throws him into convulsions until he foams at the mouth; severely bruising him, it scarcely ever leaves him. 40 I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn’t.”
41 Jesus replied, “You unbelieving and perverse C generation, how long will I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.”
42 As the boy was still approaching, the demon knocked him down and threw him into severe convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. 43 And they were all astonished at the greatness of God.
THE SECOND PREDICTION OF HIS DEATH
While everyone was amazed at all the things he was doing, he told his disciples, 44 “Let these words sink in: D The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.”
45 But they did not understand this statement; it was concealed from them so that they could not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.
WHO IS THE GREATEST?
46 An argument started among them about who was the greatest of them. 47 But Jesus, knowing their inner thoughts, E took a little child and had him stand next to him. 48 He told them, “Whoever welcomes F this little child in my name welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me welcomes him who sent me. For whoever is least among you — this one is great.”
IN HIS NAME
49 John responded, “Master, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he does not follow us.”
50 “Don’t stop him,” Jesus told him, “because whoever is not against you is for you.” G
THE JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM
51 When the days were coming to a close for him to be taken up, he determined H to journey to Jerusalem. 52 He sent messengers ahead of himself, and on the way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make preparations for him. 53 But they did not welcome him, because he determined to journey to Jerusalem. 54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them? ” A
55 But he turned and rebuked them, B 56 and they went to another village.
FOLLOWING JESUS
57 As they were traveling on the road someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
58 Jesus told him, “Foxes have dens, and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” 59 Then he said to another, “Follow me.”
“Lord,” he said, “first let me go bury my father.”
60 But he told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and spread the news of the kingdom of God.”
61 Another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me go and say good-bye to those at my house.”
62 But Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
9:57-62 “As they were traveling on the road someone said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’ Jesus told him, ‘Foxes have dens, and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.’ Then he said to another, ‘Follow me.’ ‘Lord,’ he said, ‘first let me go bury my father.’ But he told him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and spread the news of the kingdom of God.’ Another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord, but first let me go and say good-bye to those at my house.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’” Sometimes nobody appeared to come to Christ. He preached, but no followers appeared as a result of his preaching. At another time we see that many came and desired to be numbered with his disciples, but they were not all of the right kind. Luke has collected here three instances that I think are typical of many more of those who seemed to be true followers of Jesus who, nevertheless, did not continue with him and were not really converts. I think these three are put together here for the comfort of those of us who preach the gospel—that when we are disappointed, we may perceive that we are not worse off than our Master was and that when we think we have brought people to conversion and find after all that they are not converted, we may not give up the work or be discouraged but may say to ourselves, “It was always so. It was so with the prince of preachers. May we not reasonably expect that it will be so with us also?”
One thing I do not like about these three people is that none of them appears to have any sense of sin. Nothing is said about repentance or about their deep need of a Savior. I regret that there should be so many persons outside of my text who have no repentance. They seem to jump into their religion as men do into their morning bath and then jump out again just as quickly, converted by the dozen and unconverted one by one till the dozen has melted away—not really converted. Otherwise they would never be unconverted again.
A 9:10 Other mss add deserted place near a
A 9:32 Lit were weighed down with sleep
B 9:35 Other mss read the Beloved
C 9:41 Or corrupt, or perverted, or twisted ; Dt 32:5
D 9:44 Lit “Put these words in your ears
E 9:47 Lit the thoughts of their hearts
F 9:48 Or receives, throughout the verse
G 9:50 Other mss read against us is for us
H 9:51 Lit he stiffened his face to go ; Is 50:7
A 9:54 Other mss add as Elijah also did
B 9:55-56 Other mss add and said, “You don’t know what kind of spirit you belong to. 56For the Son of Man did not come to destroy people’s lives but to save them,”
SENDING OUT THE SEVENTY-TWO
10After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two C others, and he sent them ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2 He told them, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest. 3 Now go; I’m sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4 Don’t carry a money-bag, traveling bag, or sandals; don’t greet anyone along the road. 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ 6 If a person of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. 7 Remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they offer, for the worker is worthy of his wages. Don’t move from house to house. 8 When you enter any town, and they welcome you, eat the things set before you. 9 Heal the sick who are there, and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near you.’ 10 When you enter any town, and they don’t welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 11 ‘We are wiping off even the dust of your town that clings to our feet as a witness against you. Know this for certain: The kingdom of God has come near.’ 12 I tell you, on that day it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for that town.
UNREPENTANT TOWNS
13 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that 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, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will go down to Hades. 16 Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”
THE RETURN OF THE SEVENTY-TWO
17 The seventy-two A returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”
18 He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like lightning. 19 Look, I have given you the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy; nothing at all will harm you. 20 However, don’t rejoice that B the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
THE SON REVEALS THE FATHER
21 At that time he C rejoiced in the Holy D Spirit and said, “I praise E you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, because this was your good pleasure. F 22 All things have G been entrusted to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son desires H to reveal him.”
23 Then turning to his disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see the things you see! 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see the things you see but didn’t see them; to hear the things you hear but didn’t hear them.”
THE PARABLE OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN
25 Then an expert in the law stood up to test him, saying, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? ”
26 “What is written in the law? ” he asked him. “How do you read it? ”
27 He answered, “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.” I
28 “You’ve answered correctly,” he told him. “Do this and you will live.”
29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor? ”
30 Jesus took up the question and said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him up, and fled, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down that road. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 In the same way, a Levite, when he arrived at the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan on his journey came up to him, and when he saw the man, he had compassion. 34 He went over to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on olive oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day J he took out two denarii, K gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him. When I come back I’ll reimburse you for whatever extra you spend.’
36 “Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers? ”
37 “The one who showed mercy to him,” he said.
Then Jesus told him, “Go and do the same.”
MARTHA AND MARY
38 While they were traveling, he entered a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. A 39 She had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the Lord’s B feet and was listening to what he said. C 40 But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand.” D
41 The Lord E answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. F Mary has made the right choice, G and it will not be taken away from her.”
QUOTE 10:41-42
I may sometimes run with Martha to do what Christ needs of me, but I think I should more frequently sit with Mary to receive from Christ what I need from him.
10:36-37 “‘Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?’ ‘The one who showed mercy to him,’ he said. Then Jesus told him, ‘Go and do the same.’” Our Lord is there explaining a point which arose out of the question, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” The question is legal, and the answer is to the point. But let it never be forgotten that what the law demands of us, the gospel produces in us. The law tells us what we ought to be, and it is one object of the gospel to raise us to that condition. Hence our Savior’s teaching, though it is eminently practical, is always evangelical. Even in expounding the law, he has always a gospel design. Two ends are served by his setting up a high standard of duty. On the one, he slays the self-righteousness who claim to have kept the law by making people feel the impossibility of salvation by their own works, and on the other hand he calls believers away from all content with the mere decencies of life and the routine of outward religion and stimulates them to seek after the highest degree of holiness—indeed, after that excellence of character which only his grace can give.
The Samaritan is a model for those who would help the afflicted. But we have a higher model—the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus was not preaching about himself at all. Yet we may illustrate our Lord’s goodness by it. This is a picture of a generous-hearted man who cares for the needy, but the most generous-hearted man that ever lived was the Man of Nazareth, and none ever cared for sick and suffering souls as he has done. The wounded man could not blame himself for his sad estate; it was his misfortune, not his fault. But you and I are not only half dead but altogether dead in trespasses and sins, and we have brought many of our ills on ourselves. The thieves that have stripped us are our own iniquities. The wounds we bear have been inflicted by our own suicidal hands. We are not in opposition to Jesus Christ as the poor Jew was to the Samaritan from the mere force of prejudice, but we have been opposed to the blessed Redeemer by nature. We have, from the first, turned away from him. We have resisted and rejected him. The poor man did not put his Samaritan friend away, but we have done so to our Lord. Wonderful love moved the Savior’s heart when he found us in all our misery and bent over us to lift us out of it, though he knew we were his enemies.
10:41-42 “The Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.’” Agitated and distressed, Martha was afraid that something would go wrong with the dinner. She had too much on her hands—too much on her brain. That led her to blame her sister Mary and to try to get the Lord to blame her, too. There is a strong sense of self-righteousness in Martha’s speech. “I will not tell her to leave my instruction,” said our Lord, “or to get up from the position she occupies. No, you may go about your work; she is honoring me as much as you are, if not more.” This did not mean Mary was perfect or that Martha was wholly to be condemned. Both needed to learn much from Jesus, and Mary was more in the way of it. Still, Martha was doing good service.
What I can do for Christ is little. What he did for me is so amazing—so matchless, so unspeakable, so glorious—that I ought to give that the major part of my attention. I may sometimes run with Martha to do what Christ needs of me, but I think I should more frequently sit with Mary to receive from Christ what I need from him. Our religion is not of a first-class order if it is altogether looking at our practice and not at the finished and perfect work of Christ. Martha, Martha, Christ does not stand in need of you half as much as you do of him. It is proper for you to think how you may economize time to attend the house of prayer, and how you will bring up your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and how you will save a little money to give to the poor or to Christ’s church. All these things are right. It is well you should do them. But remember, Christ did more for you.
A 10:17 Other mss read The seventy
B 10:20 Lit don’t rejoice in this, that
F 10:21 Lit was well-pleasing in your sight
G 10:22 Other mss read And turning to the disciples, he said, “Everything has
J 10:35 Other mss add as he was leaving
K 10:35 A denarius = one day’s wage.
A 10:38 Other mss omit into her home
B 10:39 Other mss read at Jesus’s
C 10:39 Lit to his word, or message
D 10:40 Or tell her to help me
F 10:42 Some mss read few things are necessary, or only one
G 10:42 Lit has chosen the good part, or has chosen the better portion ; = the right meal
THE LORD’S PRAYER
11He was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.”
2 He said to them, “Whenever you pray, say,
Father, H
your name be honored as holy.
Your kingdom come. I
3Give us each day our daily bread. J
for we ourselves also forgive everyone
in debt to us. A
And do not bring us into temptation.” B
ASK, SEARCH, KNOCK
5 He also said to them: “Suppose one of you C has a friend and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6 because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I don’t have anything to offer him.’ 7 Then he will answer from inside and say, ‘Don’t bother me! The door is already locked, and my children and I have gone to bed. I can’t get up to give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he won’t get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his friend’s shameless boldness, D he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
9 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son E asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him? ”
A HOUSE DIVIDED
14 Now he was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon came out, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were amazed. 15 But some of them said, “He drives out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.” 16 And others, as a test, were demanding of him a sign from heaven.
17 Knowing their thoughts, he told them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is headed for destruction, and a house divided against itself falls. 18 If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say I drive out demons by Beelzebul. 19 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? For this reason they will be your judges. 20 If I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his estate, his possessions are secure. 22 But when one stronger than he attacks and overpowers him, he takes from him all his weapons F he trusted in, and divides up his plunder. 23 Anyone who is not with me is against me, and anyone who does not gather with me scatters.
AN UNCLEAN SPIRIT’S RETURN
24 “When an unclean spirit comes out of a person, it roams through waterless places looking for rest, and not finding rest, it then G says, ‘I’ll go back to my house that I came from.’ 25 Returning, it finds the house swept and put in order. 26 Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and settle down there. As a result, that person’s last condition is worse than the first.”
TRUE BLESSEDNESS
27 As he was saying these things, a woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the one who nursed you! ”
28 He said, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.”
THE SIGN OF JONAH
29 As the crowds were increasing, he began saying: “This generation is an evil generation. It demands a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. A 30 For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation. 31 The queen of the south will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and look — something greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at Jonah’s preaching, and look — something greater than Jonah is here.
THE LAMP OF THE BODY
33 “No one lights a lamp and puts it in the cellar or under a basket, B but on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see its light. 34 Your eye is the lamp of the body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is also full of light. But when it is bad, your body is also full of darkness. 35 Take care, then, that the light in you is not darkness. 36 If, therefore, your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be entirely illuminated, as when a lamp shines its light on you.”
RELIGIOUS HYPOCRISY DENOUNCED
37 As he was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him. So he went in and reclined at the table. 38 When the Pharisee saw this, he was amazed that he did not first perform the ritual washing C before dinner. 39 But the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and evil. 40 Fools! Didn’t he who made the outside make the inside too? 41 But give from what is within to the poor, D and then everything is clean for you.
42 “But woe to you Pharisees! You give a tenth E of mint, rue, and every kind of herb, and you bypass F justice and love for God. G These things you should have done without neglecting the others.
43 “Woe to you Pharisees! You love the front seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces.
44 “Woe to you! H You are like unmarked graves; the people who walk over them don’t know it.”
45 One of the experts in the law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things you insult us too.”
46 Then he said: “Woe also to you experts in the law! You load people with burdens that are hard to carry, and yet you yourselves don’t touch these burdens with one of your fingers.
47 “Woe to you! You build tombs I for the prophets, and your fathers killed them. 48 Therefore, you are witnesses that you approve J the deeds of your fathers, for they killed them, and you build their monuments. K 49 Because of this, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,’ 50 so that this generation may be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world L — 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary.
“Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible. A
52 “Woe to you experts in the law! You have taken away the key to knowledge. You didn’t go in yourselves, and you hindered those who were trying to go in.”
53 When he left there, B the scribes and the Pharisees began to oppose him fiercely and to cross-examine him about many things; 54 they were lying in wait for him to trap him in something he said. C
11:29 “As the crowds were increasing, he began saying: ‘This generation is an evil generation. It demands a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.’” Signs have been given that did not work faith in those who saw them. There is no necessary connection between seeing signs and believing what the signs point to. Israel in the wilderness saw great marvels worked by the Lord their God, yet they perished in unbelief. Pharaoh is a still more notable instance. What signs and wonders God worked in the fields of Zoan! How the Nile was crimsoned with blood, and all Egypt filled with lamentation! The Lord turned the dust of the land into lice and the ashes into plagues. He brought up frogs into their chambers, and locusts devoured their fields. He darkened the heavens at midday and deluged them with hail and rain such as the land had never seen before. A grievous disease fell on their cattle and death on their firstborn. Yet all the wonders God worked did not soften pharaoh’s heart, and though for a while he trembled, he steeled himself against the God of Israel. If we do not believe Moses and the prophets, if we do not believe in Jesus Christ with the testimonies that are already before us, neither would we believe even if one rose from the dead or though all the plagues of Egypt should be repeated on us with tenfold fury. There is no necessary connection between the seeing of wonders and believing in God.
H 11:2 Other mss read Our Father in heaven
I 11:2 Other mss add Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven
J 11:3 Or our bread for tomorrow
A 11:4 Or everyone who wrongs us
B 11:4 Other mss add But deliver us from the evil one
E 11:11 Other mss read son asks for bread, would give him a stone? Or if he
F 11:22 Gk panoplia, the armor and weapons of a foot soldier; Eph 6:11,13
A 11:29 Other mss add the prophet
B 11:33 Other mss omit or under a basket
C 11:38 Lit he did not first wash
D 11:41 Or But donate from the heart as charity
G 11:42 Lit the justice and the love of God
H 11:44 Other mss add scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
J 11:48 Lit witnesses and approve
K 11:48 Other mss omit their monuments
L 11:50 Lit so that the blood of all . . . world may be required of this generation,
A 11:51 Lit you, it will be required of this generation
B 11:53 Other mss read And as he was saying these things to them
C 11:54 Other mss add so that they might bring charges against him
BEWARE OF RELIGIOUS HYPOCRISY
12Meanwhile, a crowd of many thousands came together, so that they were trampling on one another. He began to say to his disciples first, “Be on your guard against the leaven D of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 There is nothing covered that won’t be uncovered, nothing hidden that won’t be made known. 3 Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in an ear in private rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.
FEAR GOD
4 “I say to you, my friends, don’t fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more. 5 But I will show you the one to fear: Fear him who has authority to throw people into hell after death. Yes, I say to you, this is the one to fear! 6 Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies? E Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. 7 Indeed, the hairs of your head are all counted. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
ACKNOWLEDGING CHRIST
8 “And I say to you, anyone who acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God, 9 but whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God. 10 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11 Whenever they bring you before synagogues and rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how you should defend yourselves or what you should say. 12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what must be said.”
THE PARABLE OF THE RICH FOOL
13 Someone from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
14 “Friend,” F he said to him, “who appointed me a judge or arbitrator over you? ” 15 He then told them, “Watch out and be on guard against all greed, because one’s life is not in the abundance of his possessions.”
16 Then he told them a parable: “A rich man’s land was very productive. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What should I do, since I don’t have anywhere to store my crops? 18 I will do this,’ he said. ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my grain and my goods there. 19 Then I’ll say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.” ’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared — whose will they be? ’
21 “That’s how it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
THE CURE FOR ANXIETY
22 Then he said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, don’t worry about your life, what you will eat; or about the body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: They don’t sow or reap; they don’t have a storeroom or a barn; yet God feeds them. Aren’t you worth much more than the birds? 25 Can any of you add one moment to his life-span A by worrying? 26 If then you’re not able to do even a little thing, why worry about the rest?
27 “Consider how the wildflowers grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. 28 If that’s how God clothes the grass, which is in the field today and is thrown into the furnace tomorrow, how much more will he do for you — you of little faith? 29 Don’t strive for what you should eat and what you should drink, and don’t be anxious. 30 For the Gentile world eagerly seeks all these things, and your Father knows that you need them.
31 “But seek his kingdom, and these things will be provided for you. 32 Don’t be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Make money-bags for yourselves that won’t grow old, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
READY FOR THE MASTER’S RETURN
35 “Be ready for service B and have your lamps lit. 36 You are to be like people waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once. 37 Blessed will be those servants the master finds alert when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will get ready, C have them recline at the table, then come and serve them. 38 If he comes in the middle of the night, or even near dawn, D and finds them alert, blessed are those servants. 39 But know this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
REWARDS AND PUNISHMENT
41 “Lord,” Peter asked, “are you telling this parable to us or to everyone? ”
42 The Lord said: “Who then is the faithful and sensible manager his master will put in charge of his household servants to give them their allotted food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that servant whom the master finds doing his job when he comes. 44 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45 But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and starts to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 that servant’s master will come on a day he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know. He will cut him to pieces A and assign him a place with the unfaithful. B 47 And that servant who knew his master’s will and didn’t prepare himself or do it C will be severely beaten. 48 But the one who did not know and did what deserved punishment will receive a light beating. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be expected. D
NOT PEACE BUT DIVISION
49 “I came to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already set ablaze! 50 But I have a baptism to undergo, and how it consumes me until it is finished! 51 Do you think that I came here to bring peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. 52 From now on, five in one household will be divided: three against two, and two against three.
53They will be divided, father against son,
son against father,
mother against daughter,
daughter against mother,
mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law,
and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” E
INTERPRETING THE TIME
54 He also said to the crowds: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, right away you say, ‘A storm is coming,’ and so it does. 55 And when the south wind is blowing, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. 56 Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but why don’t you know how to interpret this present time?
SETTLING ACCOUNTS
57 “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 58 As you are going with your adversary to the ruler, make an effort to settle with him on the way. Then he won’t drag you before the judge, the judge hand you over to the bailiff, and the bailiff throw you into prison. 59 I tell you, you will never get out of there until you have paid the last cent.” F
12:3 “Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in an ear in private rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.” Check your tongue. Be cautious and careful. Live always as one who realizes God’s omniscience. While one of the ancient orators was speaking on one occasion, all his hearers went away with the exception of Plato, but he continued to speak as eloquently as ever, for he said that Plato was a sufficient audience for any man. So, if there are none but the eyes of God looking on you, be just as careful as if you were in the street surrounded by your fellow creatures. No, be more careful because you are in the presence of your Creator.
12:7 “Indeed, the hairs of your head are all counted. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” God knows the minutest details of our lives and being. It is always a great comfort to remember that our heavenly Father knows us. A dying man who had been for many years a believer had a minister at his bedside who asked him, “Don’t you know Jesus?” “Yes, Sir,” he replied, “I do, but the ground of my comfort is that he knows me.”
12:27 “Consider how the wildflowers grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these.” When God does anything, he does it well. He is a grand housekeeper. He does not measure out so many ounces of bread per diem, as if we were in a workhouse. The lilies might do as well without their golden hues. They might ripen their seed without the lengthened stems that lift them where they can be observed, but God takes more care of them than Solomon did of himself.
If we trust our heavenly Father, he will see that we have no cause for care. If we trust him with our souls, he will not give us a bare salvation but a rich robe of righteousness to cover all our nakedness. When he does any work, he does it after a better fashion than the wisest of men could do it. Nature herself, working as she does for the lilies, is only God working in another way. But when God himself, without the intervention of the laws of nature, works in the kingdom of his grace, he does it both perfectly and gloriously.
12:56 “Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but why don’t you know how to interpret this present time?” Our Savior’s character and miracles attested his Messiahship, for he worked among the people such works as no other man had ever done and taught them with a divine authority they could not resist. Did not the blind see? Did not the deaf hear? Did not the lame walk? Were not lepers cleansed and the dead raised? And was not the gospel preached to the poor? What other tokens could they ask? Were not these the emblems their great prophet Isaiah had left on record for their guidance? As certainly as a cloud in the western sky predicted rain and a wind from the south was the sign of heat, so assuredly there were infallible tokens, visible to all who chose to see them, that the Messiah had come.
E 12:6 Lit two assaria ; a small copper coin
A 12:25 Or add a cubit to his height
B 12:35 Lit “Let your loins be girded ; an idiom for tying up loose outer clothing in preparation for action; Ex 12:11
D 12:38 Lit even in the second or third watch
C 12:47 Lit or do toward his will,
F 12:59 Gk lepton, the smallest and least valuable copper coin in use
REPENT OR PERISH
13At that time, some people came and reported to him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 And he G responded to them, “Do you think that these Galileans were more sinful than all the other Galileans because they suffered these things? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as well. 4 Or those eighteen that the tower in Siloam fell on and killed — do you think they were more sinful than all the other people who live in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as well.”
THE PARABLE OF THE BARREN FIG TREE
6 And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree that was planted in his vineyard. He came looking for fruit on it and found none. 7 He told the vineyard worker, ‘Listen, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it even waste the soil? ’
8 “But he replied to him, ‘Sir, A leave it this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. 9 Perhaps it will produce fruit next year, but if not, you can cut it down.’ ”
HEALING A DAUGHTER OF ABRAHAM
10 As he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath, 11 a woman was there who had been disabled by a spirit B for over eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. C 12 When Jesus saw her, he called out to her, D “Woman, you are free of your disability.” 13 Then he laid his hands on her, and instantly she was restored and began to glorify God.
QUOTE 13:10-13
It is a rule with few exceptions that what a man fishes for he is most likely to catch.
14 But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, responded by telling the crowd, “There are six days when work should be done; therefore come on those days and be healed and not on the Sabbath day.”
15 But the Lord answered him and said, “Hypocrites! Doesn’t each one of you untie his ox or donkey from the feeding trough on the Sabbath and lead it to water? 16 Satan has bound this woman, a daughter of Abraham, for eighteen years — shouldn’t she be untied from this bondage E on the Sabbath day? ”
17 When he had said these things, all his adversaries were humiliated, but the whole crowd was rejoicing over all the glorious things he was doing.
THE PARABLES OF THE MUSTARD SEED AND OF THE LEAVEN
18 He said, therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like, and what can I compare it to? 19 It’s like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the sky nested in its branches.”
20 Again he said, “What can I compare the kingdom of God to? 21 It’s like leaven F that a woman took and mixed into fifty pounds G of flour until all of it was leavened.”
THE NARROW WAY
22 He went through one town and village after another, teaching and making his way to Jerusalem. 23 “Lord,” someone asked him, “are only a few people going to be saved? ”
He said to them, 24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because I tell you, many will try to enter and won’t be able 25 once the homeowner gets up and shuts the door. Then you will stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open up for us! ’ He will answer you, ‘I don’t know you or where you’re from.’ 26 Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But he will say, ‘I tell you, I don’t know you or where you’re from. Get away from me, all you evildoers! ’ 28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth in that place, when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves thrown out. 29 They will come from east and west, from north and south, to share the banquet A in the kingdom of God. 30 Note this: Some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last.”
JESUS AND HEROD ANTIPAS
31 At that time some Pharisees came and told him, “Go, get out of here. Herod wants to kill you.”
32 He said to them, “Go tell that fox, ‘Look, I’m driving out demons and performing healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will complete my work.’ B 33 Yet it is necessary that I travel today, tomorrow, and the next day, because it is not possible for a prophet to perish outside of Jerusalem.
JESUS’S LAMENTATION OVER JERUSALEM
34 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 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 chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! 35 See, your house is abandoned to you. I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when C you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord’! ” D
13:10-13 “As he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath, a woman was there who had been disabled by a spirit for over eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called out to her, ‘Woman, you are free of your disability.’ Then he laid his hands on her, and instantly she was restored and began to glorify God.” This woman did not get any good through going to the synagogue, as long as she merely went there. She went to the synagogue bent double, and she came back bent double. If she went all those eighteen years, as I daresay she did, she was unable to lift herself up all that long time. We need to guard against the notion that all we need is to attend church so many times on the Sabbath or on weeknights in order to get a blessing. This poor woman was not healed until she met with the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a rule with few exceptions that what a man fishes for he is most likely to catch. If any go to church merely out of idle curiosity, it is possible, though not certain, that their curiosity will be satisfied. If any go to find fault, I have no doubt that they will find plenty to complain about. But if any have come determined to find Christ if he is to be found, it will be surprising if they have to go away without discovering him. This is what you really need if you are to be restored from all the ills that sin has worked—you must come to Christ himself.
13:24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because I tell you, many will try to enter and won’t be able.” This gate—that is, Christ—is most desirable for us to pass through because it is the gate of the city of refuge. Mr. Whitefield, when preaching, would often hold up his hands and cry, “Oh, the wrath to come! The wrath to come! The wrath to come!” There is more weight and meaning in these words than tongue can tell or heart conceive. The wrath to come! When past that gate, like Noah after he had passed into the ark, we are safe from the overwhelming deluge. We are sheltered from the devouring conflagration which will consume the earth. We are rescued from the death and the doom that await the countless multitudes of the impenitent. Who would not wish to enter where there is salvation, the only place where salvation can be found?
B 13:11 Lit had a spirit of disability
C 13:11 Or straighten up completely
E 13:16 Or isn’t it necessary that she be untied from this bondage
G 13:21 Lit three sata ; about forty liters
A 13:29 Lit recline at the table
B 13:32 Lit I will be finished
A SABBATH CONTROVERSY
14One Sabbath, when he went in to eat E at the house of one of the leading Pharisees, they were watching him closely. 2 There in front of him was a man whose body was swollen with fluid. 3 In response, Jesus asked the law experts and the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not? ” 4 But they kept silent. He took the man, healed him, and sent him away. 5 And to them, he said, “Which of you whose son or ox falls into a well, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day? ” 6 They could find no answer to these things.
TEACHINGS ON HUMILITY
7 He told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they would choose the best places for themselves: 8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, don’t recline at the best place, because a more distinguished person than you may have been invited by your host. 9 The one who invited both of you may come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then in humiliation, you will proceed to take the lowest place.
10 “But when you are invited, go and recline in the lowest place, so that when the one who invited you comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ You will then be honored in the presence of all the other guests. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
12 He also said to the one who had invited him, “When you give a lunch or a dinner, don’t invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors, because they might invite you back, and you would be repaid. 13 On the contrary, when you host a banquet, invite those who are poor, maimed, lame, or blind. 14 And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
THE PARABLE OF THE LARGE BANQUET
15 When one of those who reclined at the table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is the one who will eat bread in the kingdom of God! ”
16 Then he told him: “A man was giving a large banquet and invited many. 17 At the time of the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who were invited, ‘Come, because everything is now ready.’
18 “But without exception A they all began to make excuses. The first one said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. I ask you to excuse me.’
19 “Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m going to try them out. I ask you to excuse me.’
20 “And another said, ‘I just got married, and therefore I’m unable to come.’
21 “So the servant came back and reported these things to his master. Then in anger, the master of the house told his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in here the poor, maimed, blind, and lame.’
22 “ ‘Master,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, and there’s still room.’
23 “Then the master told the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges and make them come in, so that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you, not one of those people who were invited will enjoy my banquet.’ ”
THE COST OF FOLLOWING JESUS
25 Now great crowds were traveling with him. So he turned and said to them: 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters — yes, and even his own life — he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.
28 “For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, after he has laid the foundation and cannot finish it, all the onlookers will begin to ridicule him, 30 saying, ‘This man started to build and wasn’t able to finish.’
31 “Or what king, going to war against another king, will not first sit down and decide if he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 If not, while the other is still far off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, therefore, every one of you who does not renounce A all his possessions cannot be my disciple.
34 “Now, salt is good, but if salt should lose its taste, how will it be made salty? 35 It isn’t fit for the soil or for the manure pile; they throw it out. Let anyone who has ears to hear listen.”
14:22 “‘Master,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, and there’s still room.’” Those persons who were first invited would not come. In order to spite the good man of the house, they declined his invitation. Instead of causing his honor to be tarnished, they were, against their own will, the means of increasing his reputation. Had they come, it would only have been said that he made a great feast for his good friends. As they did not avail themselves of his hospitality, he brought in the beggars from the streets and swept the hedges and the byways to find the poorest of the poor—to all of whom he gave a hearty welcome. So it became the common talk all over the land, and tens of thousands extolled the generosity of the host who had given such a sumptuous banquet to such strange guests. When the rich men and the rulers refuse the gospel, then the poor have the gospel preached to them. When the wise and prudent put it aside, then it is graciously revealed to the simple. Thus God is glorified.
14:26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, and even his own life—he cannot be my disciple.” Our Lord does not use the word “hate” in our common acceptance of the term, for no man would hate his own life. He means that the love of all these must be secondary to the love we bear to him. Compared with our love to our Lord, all lower love must be more like hate. We must be willing to give up everything—to give up even ourselves, our entire selves—to him, for Christ will have all or nothing. He will never divide the human heart with any rival. If we profess to serve him, we must have him for our only Master and not attempt to serve two masters.
THE PARABLE OF THE LOST SHEEP
15All the tax collectors and sinners were approaching to listen to him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3 So he told them this parable: 4 “What man among you, who has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open field B and go after the lost one until he finds it? 5 When he has found it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders, 6 and coming home, he calls his friends and neighbors together, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep! ’ 7 I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who don’t need repentance.
ILLUSTRATION 15:3-4
He has a deep sympathy with each stray heart. He knows the sorrow that sin brings, the deep pollution and the terrible wounding that come from transgression. He grieves over each lost sheep, for he knows the misery that lies in the fact of being lost. If you have ever been in a house with a mother and a father, and daughters and sons, when a little child has been lost, you will never forget the agitation of each member of the household. See the father as he goes to the police station, and calls at every likely house, for he must find his child or break his heart. See the deep oppression and bitter anguish of the mother; she is like one distracted till she has news of her darling. You now begin to understand what Jesus feels for one whom he loves, who is engraved on the palms of his hands. His compassion transcends the compassion of parents, the compassion of an infinite heart brimming over with an ocean of love. This one thought moves the pity of the Lord: “If he loses one of them.”
THE PARABLE OF THE LOST COIN
8 “Or what woman who has ten silver coins, C,D if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found the silver coin I lost! ’ 10 I tell you, in the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”
THE PARABLE OF THE LOST SON
11 He also said: “A man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate I have coming to me.’ So he distributed the assets E to them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all he had and traveled to a distant country, where he squandered his estate in foolish living. 14 After he had spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he had nothing. F 15 Then he went to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to eat his fill from G the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one would give him anything. 17 When he came to his senses, H he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food, and here I am dying of hunger! I 18 I’ll get up, go to my father, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. 19 I’m no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers.” ’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. 21 The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father told his servants, ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Then bring the fattened calf and slaughter it, and let’s celebrate with a feast, 24 because this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found! ’ So they began to celebrate.
25 “Now his older son was in the field; as he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he summoned one of the servants, questioning what these things meant. 27 ‘Your brother is here,’ he told him, ‘and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ A
28 “Then he became angry and didn’t want to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 But he replied to his father, ‘Look, I have been slaving many years for you, and I have never disobeyed your orders, yet you never gave me a goat so that I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your assets B with prostitutes, you slaughtered the fattened calf for him.’
31 “ ‘Son,’ C he said to him, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ ”
15:3-4 “So he told them this parable: ‘What man among you, who has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open field and go after the lost one until he finds it?” The wandering of a soul causes Jesus deep sorrow. He cannot bear the thought of one perishing. Such is the love and tenderness of his heart that he cannot bear that one of his own should be in jeopardy. He can take no rest as long as a soul for whom he shed his blood still abides under the dominion of Satan and under the power of sin. Therefore the great Shepherd neither night nor day forgets his sheep.
15:28 “Then he became angry and didn’t want to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him.” I never know which to admire more—the love of the father in going to meet the returning prodigal or in going out to talk with this coldhearted elder brother. He was a son, but he had not the true spirit of his father. He had fallen into a wrong state of mind—just like certain Christians I know who have always been proper and who have little sympathy with those who have been great sinners. They seem not to want to see such people as these brought to the Savior. “Why,” they exclaim, “there are girls from the street and men that have been burglars and all sorts of rabble being brought into the church!” I have heard such remarks, and I have seen the same sort of spirit displayed in the looks of others who have not liked to say what they thought. Yet they themselves were no better than others by nature, though grace has done much in restraining them from the sin into which others have fallen, and it was wrong for them to talk as if they were sheer legalists, as this Pharisaic elder brother did.
D 15:8 A Gk drachma was equivalent to a Roman denarius = one day’s wage
E 15:12 Or life, or livelihood, also in v. 30
F 15:14 Lit and he began to be in need
G 15:16 Other mss read to fill his stomach with
I 15:17 Or dying in the famine ; v. 14
THE PARABLE OF THE DISHONEST MANAGER
16Now he said to the disciples: “There was a rich man who received an accusation that his manager was squandering his possessions. 2 So he called the manager in and asked, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you can no longer be my manager.’
3 “Then the manager said to himself, ‘What will I do since my master is taking the management away from me? I’m not strong enough to dig; I’m ashamed to beg. 4 I know what I’ll do so that when I’m removed from management, people will welcome me into their homes.’
5 “So he summoned each one of his master’s debtors. ‘How much do you owe my master? ’ he asked the first one.
6 “ ‘A hundred measures of olive oil,’ he said.
“ ‘Take your invoice,’ he told him, ‘sit down quickly, and write fifty.’
7 “Next he asked another, ‘How much do you owe? ’
“ ‘A hundred measures of wheat,’ he said.
“ ‘Take your invoice,’ he told him, ‘and write eighty.’
8 “The master praised the unrighteous manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the children of this age are more shrewd than the children of light in dealing with their own people. A 9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of worldly wealth B so that when it fails, C they may welcome you into eternal dwellings. 10 Whoever is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and whoever is unrighteous in very little is also unrighteous in much. 11 So if you have not been faithful with worldly wealth, who will trust you with what is genuine? 12 And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to someone else, who will give you what is your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
KINGDOM VALUES
14 The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and scoffing at him. 15 And he told them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly admired by people is revolting in God’s sight.
16 “The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then, the good news of the kingdom of God has been proclaimed, and everyone is urgently invited to enter it. D 17 But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter in the law to drop out.
18 “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and everyone who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.
THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS
19 “There was a rich man who would dress in purple and fine linen, feasting lavishly every day. 20 But a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, was lying at his gate. 21 He longed to be filled with what fell from the rich man’s table, but instead the dogs would come and lick his sores. 22 One day the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s side. E The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torment in Hades, he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off, with Lazarus at his side. 24 ‘Father Abraham! ’ he called out, ‘Have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this flame! ’
25 “ ‘Son,’ F Abraham said, ‘remember that during your life you received your good things, just as Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here, while you are in agony. 26 Besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that those who want to pass over from here to you cannot; neither can those from there cross over to us.’
27 “ ‘Father,’ he said, ‘then I beg you to send him to my father’s house — 28 because I have five brothers — to warn them, so they won’t also come to this place of torment.’
29 “But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’
30 “ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said. ‘But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
31 “But he told him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.’ ”
16:26 “A great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that those who want to pass over from here to you cannot; neither can those from there cross over to us.” God has raised up some apostolic spirits whose presence in a nation is like the rising of the sun; darkness flies before them, and the light of salvation streams from them to tens of thousands. When they lift up their hands to preach, God gives them power to shake the gates of hell; and when they bend the knees to pray, they unlock the gates of heaven. Men like Baxter with a bursting heart of love, or Joseph Alleine with glowing tongue, or Whitefield with seraph’s fire, or Wesley with cherub’s zeal—these are the men who bless their age and are truly great. These men can go to the borders of the earth if they will; their commission is coextensive with the human race. They are never as happy as when they are preaching. Woe to them if they do not preach the gospel, and when they preach it, God helps them. But they must cease from their labors soon, for in heaven they are not needed, and from hell they are excluded. Even my voice, feeble though it is, may win sinners to Jesus now; but if they die impenitent, it can never woo them again to a Savior.
B 16:9 Lit unrighteous money, also in v. 11
C 16:9 Other mss read when you fail, or pass away
D 16:16 Or everyone is forcing his way into it
E 16:22 Or to Abraham’s bosom ; lit to the fold of Abraham’s robe ; Jn 13:23
WARNINGS FROM JESUS
17He said to his disciples, “Offenses will certainly come, A but woe to the one through whom they come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to stumble. 3 Be on your guard. If your brother sins, B rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. 4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and comes back to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
FAITH AND DUTY
5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”
6 “If you have faith the size of C a mustard seed,” the Lord said, “you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.
7 “Which one of you having a servant tending sheep or plowing will say to him when he comes in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? 8 Instead, will he not tell him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat, get ready, and serve me while I eat and drink; later you can eat and drink’? 9 Does he thank that servant because he did what was commanded? D 10 In the same way, when you have done all that you were commanded, you should say, ‘We are worthless servants; we’ve only done our duty.’ ”
TEN MEN HEALED
11 While traveling to Jerusalem, he passed between E Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he entered a village, ten men with leprosy F met him. They stood at a distance 13 and raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us! ”
14 When he saw them, he told them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And while they were going, they were cleansed.
15 But one of them, seeing that he was healed, returned and, with a loud voice, gave glory to God. 16 He fell facedown at his feet, thanking him. And he was a Samaritan.
17 Then Jesus said, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Didn’t any return to give glory to God except this foreigner? ” 19 And he told him, “Get up and go on your way. Your faith has saved you.” G
THE COMING OF THE KINGDOM
20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming with something observable; 21 no one will say, A ‘See here! ’ or ‘There! ’ For you see, the kingdom of God is in your midst.” B
22 Then he told the disciples: “The days are coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you won’t see it. 23 They will say to you, ‘See there! ’ or ‘See here! ’ Don’t follow or run after them. 24 For as the lightning flashes from horizon to horizon and lights up the sky, so the Son of Man will be in his day. 25 But first it is necessary that he suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
26 “Just as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be in the days of the Son of Man: 27 People went on eating, drinking, marrying and giving in marriage until the day Noah boarded the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 It will be the same as it was in the days of Lot: People went on eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building. 29 But on the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 It will be like that on the day the Son of Man is revealed. 31 On that day, a man on the housetop, whose belongings are in the house, must not come down to get them. Likewise the man who is in the field must not turn back. 32 Remember Lot’s wife! 33 Whoever tries to make his life secure C,D will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. 34 I tell you, on that night two will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other will be left. 35 Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left.” E
37 “Where, Lord? ” they asked him.
He said to them, “Where the corpse is, there also the vultures will be gathered.”
17:5 “The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith.’” The apostles spoke these words. I have sometimes thought that Paul’s speech at Lystra, when he prohibited the multitude to worship him and told the people he was a man of like passions with themselves, needs to be repeated in the ears of many modern Christians. We in the Christian church tend to set up the apostles and other eminent saints on a platform high above the level of ordinary humanity. I do not say to worship them but rather to hold them in extraordinary esteem. Jesus would have us know that the chosen Twelve, who went out from him, were men of like passions as ourselves. We are not to look on them as though they were unapproachable heroes, a sort of divine character, or as though they were free from our infirmities and our troubles. They were as we are; and if they excelled us, it was by divine strength alone, the strength we also may receive by grace. If they were here, they would still have to struggle with unbelief and, conscious of their unbelief, would say again, “Lord, increase our faith.”
The apostles said it, and the apostles said it to Jesus. They went to the strong for strength. It is idle to go elsewhere. In vain would they have said it to one another; in vain would they have searched the whole world to find some eminent saint to whom to address the petition. The apostles went to Christ, the lawgiver, the author and finisher of their faith and, lifting up their hearts to him in the prayer, “Lord, increase our faith,” they, before long, gained a comfortable answer and became strong in faith, giving glory to God.
17:32-33 “Remember Lot’s wife! Whoever tries to make his life secure will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.” When the time for separation arrived, Lot’s wife could not tear herself away from the world. She had always been in it and had loved it and delighted in it. Though associated with a gracious husband, when the time came for decision, she betrayed her true character. Flight without so much as looking back was demanded of her, but this was too much. She did look back and thus proved that she had sufficient presumption in her heart to defy God’s command and risk her all—to give a lingering love-glance at the condemned and guilty world. By that glance she perished. The love of the world is death. Those who cling to sin must perish, whoever they are. Our Lord bids us hold the world with a loose hand and always be ready to leave it all. When we are called to it, we are to be ready to go out without a particle in our hands.
A 17:1 Lit “It is impossible for offenses not to come
B 17:3 Other mss add against you
D 17:9 Other mss add I don’t think so
E 17:11 Other mss read through the middle of
F 17:12 Gk lepros ; a term for various skin diseases; see Lv 13–14
G 17:19 Or faith has made you well
C 17:33 Other mss read to save his life
D 17:33 Or tries to retain his life
E 17:35 Some mss include v. 36: “Two will be in a field: One will be taken, and the other will be left. ”
THE PARABLE OF THE PERSISTENT WIDOW
18Now he told them a parable on the need for them to pray always and not give up. 2 “There was a judge in a certain town who didn’t fear God or respect people. 3 And a widow in that town kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’
4 “For a while he was unwilling, but later he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or respect people, 5 yet because this widow keeps pestering me, F I will give her justice, so that she doesn’t wear me out G by her persistent coming.’ ”
6 Then the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 Will not God grant justice to his elect who cry out to him day and night? Will he delay helping them? H 8 I tell you that he will swiftly grant them justice. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth? ”
THE PARABLE OF THE PHARISEE AND THE TAX COLLECTOR
9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee was standing and praying like this about himself: I ‘God, I thank you that I’m not like other people — greedy, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth J of everything I get.’
13 “But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes to heaven but kept striking his chest and saying, ‘God, have mercy on me, A a sinner! ’ 14 I tell you, this one went down to his house justified rather than the other; because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
BLESSING THE CHILDREN
15 People were bringing infants to him so he might touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 Jesus, however, invited them: “Let the little children come to me, and don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
THE RICH YOUNG RULER
18 A ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? ”
19 “Why do you call me good? ” Jesus asked him. “No one is good except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal; do not bear false witness; honor your father and mother.” B
21 “I have kept all these from my youth,” he said.
22 When Jesus heard this, he told him, “You still lack one thing: Sell all you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
23 After he heard this, he became extremely sad, because he was very rich.
POSSESSIONS AND THE KINGDOM
24 Seeing that he became sad, C Jesus said, “How hard it is for those who have wealth 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 person to enter the kingdom of God.”
26 Those who heard this asked, “Then who can be saved? ”
27 He replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”
28 Then Peter said, “Look, we have left what we had and followed you.”
29 So he said to them, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left a house, wife or brothers or sisters, parents or children because of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive many times more at this time, and eternal life in the age to come.”
THE THIRD PREDICTION OF HIS DEATH
31 Then he took the Twelve aside and told them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. Everything that is written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. 32 For he will be handed over to the Gentiles, and he will be mocked, insulted, spit on; 33 and after they flog him, they will kill him, and he will rise on the third day.”
34 They understood none of these things. The meaning of the saying A was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.
A BLIND MAN RECEIVES HIS SIGHT
35 As he approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging. 36 Hearing a crowd passing by, he inquired what was happening. 37 “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by,” they told him.
38 So he called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! ” 39 Then those in front told him to keep quiet, B but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me! ”
40 Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to him. When he came closer, he asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you? ”
“Lord,” he said, “I want to see.”
42 “Receive your sight.” Jesus told him. “Your faith has saved you.” 43 Instantly he could see, and he began to follow him, glorifying God. All the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.
18:13 “But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes to heaven but kept striking his chest and saying, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’” It was the fault of the Pharisee that, though he entered the temple to pray, he did not pray; there is no prayer in all that he said. It is one excellence of the tax collector that he went up to the temple to pray and did pray; there is nothing but prayer in all that he said. “God, have mercy on me, a sinner” is a pure, unadulterated prayer throughout. It was the fault of the Pharisee that when he went up to the temple to pray he forgot an essential part of prayer, which is confession of sin; he spoke as if he had no sins to confess but many virtues to parade. It was a chief excellence in the devotion of the tax collector that he did confess his sin and that his utterance was full of confession of sin; from beginning to end it was an acknowledgment of his guilt and an appeal for grace to the merciful God. The prayer of the tax collector is admirable for its fullness of meaning. One expositor calls it a holy telegram, and certainly it is so compact and so condensed, so free from superfluous words, that it is worthy to be called by that name. I do not see how he could have expressed his meaning more fully or more briefly. What great things are packed away in this short petition! God, mercy, sin, the propitiation, and forgiveness. The prayer so pleased the Lord Jesus Christ, who heard it, that he condescended to become a portrait painter and took a sketch of the petitioner. Luke, who, according to tradition, was somewhat of an artist as well as a physician, takes great care to place this picture in the national portrait gallery of men saved by sovereign grace. Here we have the portrait of a man who called himself a sinner, who may yet be held up as a pattern to saints.
18:32-33 “For he will be handed over to the Gentiles, and he will be mocked, insulted, spit on; and after they flog him, they will kill him, and he will rise on the third day.” It would be hard to imagine our Lord speaking more plainly. He tells them of his sufferings in detail—describes exactly what is to happen. But their thoughts did not run that way, and when you are not expecting a thing, it matters little how plainly you may be told of it. And these disciples of our Lord were looking to see him made a king; they could not comprehend that the only crown he was to have would be one of thorns and that the homage paid to him would be to be scourged and spat on.
F 18:5 Lit widow causes me trouble
G 18:5 Or doesn’t ruin my reputation
H 18:7 Or Will he put up with them?
A 18:13 Or God, turn your wrath from me
B 18:20 Ex 20:12-16; Dt 5:16-20
JESUS VISITS ZACCHAEUS
19He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 There was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he was not able because of the crowd, since he was a short man. 4 So running ahead, he climbed up a sycamore tree to see Jesus, since he was about to pass that way. 5 When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down because today it is necessary for me to stay at your house.”
6 So he quickly came down and welcomed him joyfully. 7 All who saw it began to complain, “He’s gone to stay with a sinful man.”
8 But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, I’ll give half of my possessions to the poor, Lord. And if I have extorted anything from anyone, I’ll pay back four times as much.”
9 “Today salvation has come to this house,” Jesus told him, “because he too is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”
THE PARABLE OF THE TEN MINAS
11 As they were listening to this, he went on to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem, and they thought the kingdom of God was going to appear right away.
12 Therefore he said: “A nobleman traveled to a far country to receive for himself authority to be king C and then to return. 13 He called ten of his servants, gave them ten minas, D and told them, ‘Engage in business until I come back.’
14 “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We don’t want this man to rule over us.’
15 “At his return, having received the authority to be king, he summoned those servants he had given the money to, so that he could find out how much they had made in business. 16 The first came forward and said, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten more minas.’
17 “ ‘Well done, good A servant! ’ he told him. ‘Because you have been faithful in a very small matter, have authority over ten towns.’
18 “The second came and said, ‘Master, your mina has made five minas.’
19 “So he said to him, ‘You will be over five towns.’
20 “And another came and said, ‘Master, here is your mina. I have kept it safe in a cloth 21 because I was afraid of you since you’re a harsh man: you collect what you didn’t deposit and reap what you didn’t sow.’
22 “He told him, ‘I will condemn you by what you have said, you evil servant! If you knew I was a harsh man, collecting what I didn’t deposit and reaping what I didn’t sow, 23 why, then, didn’t you put my money in the bank? And when I returned, I would have collected it with interest.’ 24 So he said to those standing there, ‘Take the mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’
25 “But they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas.’
26 “ ‘I tell you, that to everyone who has, more will be given; and from the one who does not have, even what he does have will be taken away. 27 But bring here these enemies of mine, who did not want me to rule over them, and slaughter B them in my presence.’ ”
THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY
28 When he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 As he approached Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples 30 and said, “Go into the village ahead of you. As you enter it, you will find a young donkey tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it? ’ say this: ‘The Lord needs it.’ ”
32 So those who were sent left and found it just as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the young donkey, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the donkey? ”
34 “The Lord needs it,” they said. 35 Then they brought it to Jesus, and after throwing their clothes on the donkey, they helped Jesus get on it. 36 As he was going along, they were spreading their clothes on the road. 37 Now he came near the path down the Mount of Olives, and the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen:
38Blessed is the King who comes
in the name of the Lord. C
Peace in heaven
and glory in the highest heaven!
39 Some of the Pharisees from the crowd told him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.”
40 He answered, “I tell you, if they were to keep silent, the stones would cry out.”
JESUS’S LOVE FOR JERUSALEM
41 As he approached and saw the city, he wept for it, 42 saying, “If you knew this day what would bring peace — but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 For the days will come on you when your enemies will build a barricade around you, surround you, and hem you in on every side. 44 They will crush you and your children among you to the ground, and they will not leave one stone on another in your midst, because you did not recognize the time when God visited you.”
CLEANSING THE TEMPLE
45 He went into the temple and began to throw out those who were selling, A 46 and he said, “It is written, my house will be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves! ” B
47 Every day he was teaching in the temple. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people were looking for a way to kill him, 48 but they could not find a way to do it, because all the people were captivated by what they heard.
19:10 “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.” When our Lord came into this world, he seemed to select that title “Son of Man” for himself and make it his own special name—and worthily so. Other men are the sons of this man or that, but his is no restricted humanity; it is manhood of the universal type. Jesus is not born into the race of the Jews so much as into the human family. He is not to be claimed for any age, place, or nationality. He is “the Son of Man.” And this, I say, is how he comes to man. As long as Christ is the Son of Man, we may still say of him that he comes to seek and to save the lost. I know that in person he has gone back to heaven. I know that the cloud has received him out of our sight. But the taking on himself of our humanity was a coming down to seek and save the lost, and as he has not laid that humanity aside, he is still with men, continuing to seek and to save even to this day. If I treat the text as if Jesus were still among us, I would not err; for he is here in the sense of seeking the same end, though it is by his Spirit and by his servants rather than by his own bodily presence. He has said that he will be with us even until the end of the age. It is still true that the great Savior and friend of man has come among us and is seeking and saving the lost.
19:28 “When he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.” What a beautiful spectacle to see the Lord Jesus marching in front and his followers eagerly following on behind. They were going up to Jerusalem, where he would receive some honor but also where he would be betrayed into the hands of cruel men and put to a shameful death. But he went on ahead of them. As the shepherd goes before the sheep, not driving but leading. As the captain goes before his soldiers as taking the post of danger, so our Lord went on before them. It was far better that he should go first than that they should, for the disciple is never more out of place than when he outruns his Master. Rest assured that in whatever way of suffering we have to go in consequence of our being a child of man, and especially in consequence of your being a child of God, we will find that Christ has gone that way ahead of us.
19:41 “As he approached and saw the city, he wept for it.” On three occasions we are told that Jesus wept. The first was when our Lord was about to raise Lazarus from the dead. He saw the sorrow of the sisters and meditated on the fruit of sin in the death and corruption of the body, and he groaned in spirit, and it is written that “Jesus wept” (Jn 11:35). The third occasion was in the Gethsemane agony when a shower of bitter tears was mingled with the bloody sweat (Heb 5:7). The second occasion was here at the sight of the beloved but rebellious city. Our Lord, in weeping over Jerusalem, showed his sympathy with national troubles and his distress at the evils which awaited his countrymen. He suffered a deep inward anguish and expressed it by signs of woe and by words that showed how bitter was his grief. He is the Sovereign of sorrow, weeping while riding in triumph in the midst of his followers. Did he ever look more kingly than when he showed the tenderness of his heart toward his rebellious subjects? The city that had been the metropolis of the house of David never saw so truly a royal man before, for he is most fit to rule who is most ready to sympathize. Jesus knew the hollowness of all the praises ringing in his ears. He knew that those who shouted hosanna today would, before many suns had risen, cry, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” He knew his joyous entrance into Jerusalem would be followed by a mournful procession out of it when they would take him to the cross to die. Yet in all that flood of tears, there was not one for his own death. The tears were all for Jerusalem’s doom, even as he said afterwards, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and your children” (Lk 23:28).
C 19:12 Lit to receive for himself a kingdom, or sovereignty, also in v. 15
D 19:13 = Gk coin worth a hundred drachmas or about a hundred days’ wages
THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS CHALLENGED
20One day as he was teaching the people in the temple and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests and the scribes, with the elders, came 2 and said to him: “Tell us, by what authority are you doing these things? Who is it who gave you this authority? ”
3 He answered them, “I will also ask you a question. Tell me, 4 was the baptism of John from heaven or of human origin? ”
5 They discussed it among themselves: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why didn’t you believe him? ’ 6 But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ all the people will stone us, because they are convinced that John was a prophet.” 7 So they answered that they did not know its origin.
8 And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
THE PARABLE OF THE VINEYARD OWNER
9 Now he began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, leased it to tenant farmers, and went away for a long time. 10 At harvest time he sent a servant to the farmers so that they might give him some fruit from the vineyard. But the farmers beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 He sent yet another servant, but they beat that one too, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. 12 And he sent yet a third, but they wounded this one too and threw him out.
13 “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What should I do? I will send my beloved son. Perhaps C they will respect him.’
14 “But when the tenant farmers saw him, they discussed it among themselves and said, ‘This is the heir. Let’s kill him, so that the inheritance will be ours.’ 15 So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
“What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and kill those farmers and give the vineyard to others.”
But when they heard this they said, “That must never happen! ”
17 But he looked at them and said, “Then what is the meaning of this Scripture: A
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone? B
18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but on whomever it falls, it will shatter him.”
19 Then the scribes and the chief priests looked for a way to get their hands on him that very hour, because they knew he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people.
GOD AND CAESAR
20 They watched closely and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, C so that they could catch him in what he said, to hand him over to the governor’s rule and authority. 21 They questioned him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach correctly, and you don’t show partiality D but teach truthfully the way of God. 22 Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not? ”
23 But detecting their craftiness, he said to them, E 24 “Show me a denarius. F Whose image and inscription does it have? ”
“Caesar’s,” they said.
25 “Well then,” he told them, “give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
26 They were not able to catch him in what he said in public, and being amazed at his answer, they became silent.
THE SADDUCEES AND THE RESURRECTION
27 Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came up and questioned him: 28 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother has a wife, and dies childless, his brother should take the wife and produce offspring for his brother. G 29 Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife and died without children. 30 Also the second H 31 and the third took her. In the same way, all seven died and left no children. 32 Finally, the woman died too. 33 In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For all seven had married her.”
34 Jesus told them, “The children of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are counted worthy to take part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. 36 For they can no longer die, because they are like angels and are children of God, since they are children of the resurrection. 37 Moses even indicated in the passage about the burning bush that the dead are raised, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. I 38 He is not the God of the dead but of the living, because all are living to J him.”
39 Some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, you have spoken well.” 40 And they no longer dared to ask him anything.
THE QUESTION ABOUT THE CHRIST
41 Then he said to them, “How can they say that the Christ is the son of David? 42 For David himself says in the Book of Psalms:
The Lord declared to my Lord,
‘Sit at my right hand
43until I make your enemies your footstool.’ A
44 David calls him ‘Lord’ how then can the Christ be his son? ”
WARNING AGAINST THE SCRIBES
45 While all the people were listening, he said to his disciples, 46 “Beware of the scribes, who want to go around in long robes and who love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets. 47 They devour widows’ houses and say long prayers just for show. These will receive harsher judgment.” B
20:37-38 “Moses even indicated in the passage about the burning bush that the dead are raised, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. He is not the God of the dead but of the living, because all are living to him.” We are by no means deprived of our dear ones by their death; they are, they are themselves, and they are ours still. As Abraham is not lost to Isaac, or to Jacob, or to God, or to himself, so our beloved ones are by no means lost to us. Do not let us think of them then as if they were lost. Our sorrows make an excursion to the grave, to look for the deceased ones. We want to lift that coffin lid and to unwrap the shroud. But he is not there; the real man has gone. He may be dead to us for a while, but he lives to God. Yes, the dead one lives. Our Savior’s angels will sound their golden trumpets, and at the welcome noise the grave will open its portals and resign its captives. “Your brother will rise again” (Jn 11:23). So comfort one another with these words.
C 20:13 Other mss add when they see him
A 20:17 Lit “What then is this that is written
D 20:21 Lit you don’t receive a face
E 20:23 Other mss add “Why are you testing me?
F 20:24 A denarius = one day’s wage
H 20:30 Other mss add took her as wife, and he died without children
THE WIDOW’S GIFT
21He looked up and saw the rich dropping their offerings into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow dropping in two tiny coins. C 3 “Truly I tell you,” he said. “This poor widow has put in more than all of them. 4 For all these people have put in gifts out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”
DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE PREDICTED
5 As some were talking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, 6 “These things that you see — the days will come when not one stone will be left on another that will not be thrown down.”
SIGNS OF THE END OF THE AGE
7 “Teacher,” they asked him, “so when will these things happen? And what will be the sign when these things are about to take place? ”
8 Then he said, “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Don’t follow them. 9 When you hear of wars and rebellions, D don’t be alarmed. Indeed, it is necessary that these things take place first, but the end won’t come right away.”
10 Then he told them: “Nation will be raised up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be violent earthquakes, and famines and plagues in various places, and there will be terrifying sights and great signs from heaven. 12 But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you. They will hand you over to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. 13 This will give you an opportunity to bear witness. 14 Therefore make up your minds E not to prepare your defense ahead of time, 15 for I will give you such words and a wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16 You will even be betrayed by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends. They will kill some of you. 17 You will be hated by everyone because of my name, 18 but not a hair of your head will be lost. 19 By your endurance, gain F your lives.
THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM
20 “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that its desolation has come near. 21 Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. Those inside the city must leave it, and those who are in the country must not enter it, 22 because these are days of vengeance to fulfill all the things that are written. 23 Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days, for there will be great distress in the land A and wrath against this people. 24 They will be killed by the sword B and be led captive into all the nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles C until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN
25 “Then there will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; and there will be anguish on the earth among nations bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the waves. 26 People will faint from fear and expectation of the things that are coming on the world, because 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 But when these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near.”
THE PARABLE OF THE FIG TREE
29 Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 As soon as they put out leaves you can see for yourselves and recognize that summer is already near. 31 In the same way, when you see these things happening, recognize D that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all things take place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
QUOTE 21:33
Where the word of a king is, there is power, but where the Word of God is, there is infinite power.
THE NEED FOR WATCHFULNESS
34 “Be on your guard, so that your minds are not dulled E from carousing, F drunkenness, and worries of life, or that day will come on you unexpectedly 35 like a trap. For it will come on all who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 But be alert at all times, praying that you may have strength G to escape all these things that are going to take place and to stand before the Son of Man.”
37 During the day, he was teaching in the temple, but in the evening he would go out and spend the night on what is called the Mount of Olives. 38 Then all the people would come early in the morning to hear him in the temple.
21:28 “But when these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near.” The destruction of Jerusalem was, so to speak, the rolling up of the curtain on the great drama of the world’s doom. It will not fall again until all the things we now see will have passed away and only the things that cannot be shaken—the things of God and of eternity, which we cannot see—will remain. We must regard the siege of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple as being a kind of rehearsal of what is yet to be. Then all external religion—if it is but external—will perish in the fire, and only the spiritual and the true shall live.
21:33 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” Our Lord Jesus Christ spoke nothing but pure, unalloyed truth—the truth of God—and, therefore, it will stand fast forever. No power can effectually resist the words of Christ. Where the word of a king is, there is power, but where the Word of God is, there is infinite power. What he says must be done. Before he said, “Let there be light,” there was not a spark amid all earth’s gloom that could help make the day. There was nothing lying here that could have created the light, and yet the darkness fled before that command of God. And so, today, if nothing on earth can help the fulfillment of Christ’s Word, he has said to this poor dark world, “Let there be light,” and that light he has kindled is growing brighter and brighter and will increase unto the perfect day. Christ’s Word must stand.
C 21:2 Lit two lepta ; the lepton was the smallest and least valuable Gk coin in use.
D 21:9 Or insurrections, or revolutions, or chaos
E 21:14 Lit Therefore place (determine) in your hearts
F 21:19 Other mss read endurance, you will gain
B 21:24 Lit will fall by the edge of the sword
THE PLOT TO KILL JESUS
22The Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called Passover, was approaching. 2 The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put him to death, because they were afraid of the people.
3 Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, who was numbered among the Twelve. 4 He went away and discussed with the chief priests and temple police how he could hand him over to them. 5 They were glad and agreed to give him silver. A 6 So he accepted the offer and started looking for a good opportunity to betray him to them when the crowd was not present.
PREPARATION FOR PASSOVER
7 Then the Day of Unleavened Bread came when the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”
9 “Where do you want us to prepare it? ” they asked him.
10 “Listen,” he said to them, “when you’ve entered the city, a man carrying a water jug will meet you. Follow him into the house he enters. 11 Tell the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks you, “Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover with my disciples? ” ’ 12 Then he will show you a large, furnished room upstairs. Make the preparations there.”
13 So they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.
THE FIRST LORD’S SUPPER
14 When the hour came, he reclined at the table, and the apostles with him. 15 Then he said to them, “I have fervently desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again B until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you, from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
19 And he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
20 In the same way he also took the cup after supper and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. C 21 But look, the hand of the one betraying me is at the table with me. 22 For the Son of Man will go away as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed! ”
23 So they began to argue among themselves which of them it could be who was going to do it.
THE DISPUTE OVER GREATNESS
24 Then a dispute also arose among them about who should be considered the greatest. 25 But he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who have authority over them have themselves called D ‘Benefactors.’ 26 It is not to be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever is greatest among you should become like the youngest, and whoever leads, like the one serving. 27 For who is greater, the one at the table or the one serving? Isn’t it the one at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves. 28 You are those who stood by me in my trials. 29 I bestow on you a kingdom, just as my Father bestowed one on me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom. And you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
PETER’S DENIAL PREDICTED
31 “Simon, Simon, A look out. Satan has asked to sift you like wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
33 “Lord,” he told him, “I’m ready to go with you both to prison and to death.”
34 “I tell you, Peter,” he said, “the rooster will not crow today until B you deny three times that you know me.”
BE READY FOR TROUBLE
35 He also said to them, “When I sent you out without money-bag, traveling bag, or sandals, did you lack anything? ”
“Not a thing,” they said.
36 Then he said to them, “But now, whoever has a money-bag should take it, and also a traveling bag. And whoever doesn’t have a sword should sell his robe and buy one. 37 For I tell you, what is written must be fulfilled in me: C And he was counted among the lawless. D Yes, what is written about me is coming to its fulfillment.”
38 “Lord,” they said, “look, here are two swords.”
“That is enough! ” he told them.
THE PRAYER IN THE GARDEN
39 He went out and made his way as usual to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 When he reached the place, he told them, “Pray that you may not fall into temptation.” 41 Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and began to pray, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me — nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
43 Then an angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him. 44 Being in anguish, he prayed more fervently, and his sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground. E 45 When he got up from prayer and came to the disciples, he found them sleeping, exhausted from their grief. 46 “Why are you sleeping? ” he asked them. “Get up and pray, so that you won’t fall into temptation.”
JUDAS’S BETRAYAL OF JESUS
47 While he was still speaking, suddenly a mob came, and one of the Twelve named Judas was leading them. He came near Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss? ”
49 When those around him saw what was going to happen, they asked, “Lord, should we strike with the sword? ” 50 Then one of them struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear.
51 But Jesus responded, “No more of this! ” And touching his ear, he healed him. 52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, temple police, and the elders who had come for him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a criminal? A 53 Every day while I was with you in the temple, you never laid a hand on me. But this is your hour — and the dominion of darkness.”
PETER DENIES HIS LORD
54 They seized him, led him away, and brought him into the high priest’s house. Meanwhile Peter was following at a distance. 55 They lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, and Peter sat among them. 56 When a servant saw him sitting in the light, and looked closely at him, she said, “This man was with him too.”
57 But he denied it: “Woman, I don’t know him.”
58 After a little while, someone else saw him and said, “You’re one of them too.”
“Man, I am not! ” Peter said.
59 About an hour later, another kept insisting, “This man was certainly with him, since he’s also a Galilean.”
60 But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about! ” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. 61 Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter. So Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.
JESUS MOCKED AND BEATEN
63 The men who were holding Jesus started mocking and beating him. 64 After blindfolding him, they kept B asking, “Prophesy! Who was it that hit you? ” 65 And they were saying many other blasphemous things to him.
JESUS FACES THE SANHEDRIN
66 When daylight came, the elders C of the people, both the chief priests and the scribes, convened and brought him before their Sanhedrin. 67 They said, “If you are the Messiah, tell us.”
But he said to them, “If I do tell you, you will not believe. 68 And if I ask you, you will not answer. 69 But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”
70 They all asked, “Are you, then, the Son of God? ”
And he said to them, “You say that I am.”
71 “Why do we need any more testimony,” they said, “since we’ve heard it ourselves from his mouth? ”
22:3 “Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, who was numbered among the Twelve.” Was it not a sad thing that the betrayer of Christ should be one of the Twelve? Yet deeply trying as it must have been to the heart of Christ, there is something useful about even that horrible transaction. It says to all the professing church of Christ, and it says to us who claim to be Christ’s followers, “Do not think yourselves safe because you are in the visible church. Do not imagine that even holding the highest office in the church can prevent you from committing the basest crime. No, for here is one of the twelve apostles, yet he betrays his Master.” Though pastors and elders of the church may exercise the strictest watch, some of the worst of people will manage to get in. When that is the case, we say to ourselves, “No new thing has happened to us, for such a sinner as this marred the church from the beginning.” Here is Judas, one of the Twelve, ready to betray his Master for the paltry bribe of thirty pieces of silver—the price of a slave.
22:11 “Tell the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks you, “Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover with my disciples?”’” Observe in this passage an amazing blending of the human and the divine! No mention is made of either as a matter of doctrine, but incidentally our Lord’s divinity and humanity are most fully taught. Here is Christ so poor that he has no room in which to celebrate the most necessary feast of his religion. He has made himself of no reputation, and he has no chamber he can call his own. Yet see the Godhead in him! He sends his messengers to a certain house and tells them to say to the good man of the house, “Where is the guest room?” It all turns out just as he said it would be, and he is welcomed to this man’s best room. Jesus speaks here as did his Father when he said to Israel in ancient times, “Every animal of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills” (Ps 50:10). All the guest chambers in Jerusalem were at Christ’s disposal. He had but to ask for them, and there they were—all ready for him. Here we see the majesty of his deity, but we also see the humility of his humanity.
22:32 “But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Satan has a deadly hatred toward all good people, and they may rest assured that somewhere or other, he will meet them on their way to the Celestial City. John Bunyan, in his immortal allegory, placed him in one particular spot and described him as Apollyon straddling the road and swearing that the pilgrim should go no further. But the encounter with Apollyon does not happen in the same place to all pilgrims. God grants to Satan permission to try his people in this way because he knows how he will overrule it to his own glory and their good. Certain graces are never produced in Christians to a high degree except by severe temptation. But what is the great protection of our faith? Our Savior’s intercession! Prayer is always good—it is always a blessed thing—but notice that great one-letter word in the text, “I have prayed for you.” The intercession of Christ preserves our faith.
22:61-62 “Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter. So Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.’ And he went outside and wept bitterly.” After his final denial Peter not only went out, but he wept. As he kept on turning over his sin, it appeared to him in all its blackest hue. We are told he wept bitterly. Convulsive weeping came on him. He could not stand himself. His heart seemed as if it would flow away in rivers of repentant tears.
It is a blessed sign of the work of grace in the soul when the man who has sinned quits his evil companions and mourns over his sin as one who is in bitterness for his firstborn. If any of us have sinned like Peter, we should go and weep like Peter. If we have fallen like Peter, then let our soul bitterly bewail our transgressions. Many talk about the greatness of David’s sin, but if they knew the depths of David’s repentance and the heartbreak that came with it, they would not so glibly speak of it. There is a tradition that Peter never heard a rooster crow or thought of this incident as long as he lived without weeping. And although that is only a tradition, I can well believe it was the case, for that is just what would be likely to happen to a true penitent.
22:63 “The men who were holding Jesus started mocking and beating him.” While these officials had Christ in their keeping, they might at least have left him in peace and quietness. According to the rules of all civilized nations, a prisoner detained in custody should be guarded from insult and ill treatment while in that condition. Whatever his ultimate punishment may be after he has been tried and found guilty, while he is as yet uncondemned, he is reckoned to be under the protection of the state that has arrested him; and he ought not to be subjected to insult or injury. But here, as if they had been so many savages, the judges of our Lord abandoned him to those outcasts whom they employed to do their foul work, and those wretched creatures treated him with mingled cruelty and scorn.
C 22:19-20 Other mss omit which is given for you (v. 19) through the end of v. 20
D 22:25 Or them call themselves
A 22:31 Other mss read Then the Lord said, “Simon, Simon
C 22:37 Or it is necessary that what is written be fulfilled in me
E 22:43-44 Other mss omit vv. 43-44
A 22:52 Lit as against a thief, or a bandit
JESUS FACES PILATE
23Then their whole assembly rose up and brought him before Pilate. 2 They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation, opposing payment of taxes to Caesar, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.”
3 So Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews? ”
He answered him, “You say so.” A
4 Pilate then told the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no grounds for charging this man.”
5 But they kept insisting, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he started even to here.”
JESUS FACES HEROD ANTIPAS
6 When Pilate heard this, B he asked if the man was a Galilean. 7 Finding that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem during those days. 8 Herod was very glad to see Jesus; for a long time he had wanted to see him because he had heard about him and was hoping to see some miracle C performed by him. 9 So he kept asking him questions, but Jesus did not answer him. 10 The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. 11 Then Herod, with his soldiers, treated him with contempt, mocked him, dressed him in bright clothing, and sent him back to Pilate. 12 That very day Herod and Pilate became friends. D Previously, they had been enemies.
JESUS OR BARABBAS
13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, 14 and said to them, “You have brought me this man as one who misleads the people. But in fact, after examining him in your presence, I have found no grounds to charge this man with those things you accuse him of. 15 Neither has Herod, because he sent him back to us. Clearly, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 Therefore, I will have him whipped E and then release him.” F
18 Then they all cried out together, “Take this man away! Release Barabbas to us! ” 19 (He had been thrown into prison for a rebellion that had taken place in the city, and for murder.)
20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate addressed them again, 21 but they kept shouting, “Crucify! Crucify him! ”
22 A third time he said to them, “Why? What has this man done wrong? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore, I will have him whipped and then release him.”
23 But they kept up the pressure, demanding with loud voices that he be crucified, and their voices G won out. 24 So Pilate decided to grant their demand 25 and released the one they were asking for, who had been thrown into prison for rebellion and murder. But he handed Jesus over to their will.
THE WAY TO THE CROSS
26 As they led him away, they seized Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country, and laid the cross on him to carry behind Jesus. 27 A large crowd of people followed him, including women who were mourning and lamenting him. 28 But turning to them, Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and your children. 29 Look, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the women without children, the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed! ’ 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us! ’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us! ’ A 31 For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry? ”
CRUCIFIED BETWEEN TWO CRIMINALS
32 Two others — criminals — were also led away to be executed with him. 33 When they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. 34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.” B And they divided his clothes and cast lots.
35 The people stood watching, and even the leaders were scoffing: “He saved others; let him save himself if this is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One! ” 36 The soldiers also mocked him. They came offering him sour wine 37 and said, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself! ”
38 An inscription was above him: C THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
39 Then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at D him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us! ”
40 But the other answered, rebuking him: “Don’t you even fear God, since you are undergoing the same punishment? 41 We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me A when you come into your kingdom.”
43 And he said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
THE DEATH OF JESUS
44 It was now about noon, B and darkness came over the whole land C until three, D 45 because the sun’s light failed. E The curtain of the sanctuary was split down the middle. 46 And Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit.” F Saying this, he breathed his last.
47 When the centurion saw what happened, he began to glorify God, saying, “This man really was righteous! ” G 48 All the crowds that had gathered for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, went home, striking their chests. 49 But all who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
THE BURIAL OF JESUS
50 There was a good and righteous man named Joseph, a member of the Sanhedrin, 51 who had not agreed with their plan and action. He was from Arimathea, a Judean town, and was looking forward to the kingdom of God. 52 He approached Pilate and asked for Jesus’s body. 53 Taking it down, he wrapped it in fine linen and placed it in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever been placed. H 54 It was the preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. I 55 The women who had come with him from Galilee followed along and observed the tomb and how his body was placed. 56 Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.
23:8-9,11 “Herod was very glad to see Jesus; for a long time he had wanted to see him because he had heard about him and was hoping to see some miracle performed by him. So he kept asking him questions, but Jesus did not answer him. . . . Then Herod, with his soldiers, treated him with contempt, mocked him, dressed him in bright clothing, and sent him back to Pilate.” Fools can ask more questions in ten minutes than wise men are able to answer in fifty years. It furnishes them with something new and adds to their store of information, and so they spare no prying questions, for they would analyze manna from heaven and distil the tears of Christ. Nothing is sacred to them. They put Scripture on the rack and quibble at the words of the Holy Spirit. If Herod had wanted to believe, Jesus would have been ready enough to instruct. If Herod had possessed a broken heart, Jesus would have hastened with tender words to bind it up. If Herod had been a candid inquirer, if his doubts had been sincere and true, the faithful and true witness, the prince of the kings of the earth, would have been delighted to speak with him. But Jesus knew Herod would not believe in him and would not take up his cross and follow him, and therefore he would not waste words on a heartless, soulless degenerate.
23:27-28 “A large crowd of people followed him, including women who were mourning and lamenting him. But turning to them, Jesus said, ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and your children.’” We cannot paint him; all who have ever attempted to do so have to a large extent been unsuccessful, for there was upon his face a mingled majesty and meekness, loveliness and lowliness, sanctity and sorrow that it would not be possible to express on canvas or to represent in words. The traces of the crown of thorns were on his brow, and the rough treatment of the soldiers had left its tokens too so that his visage was more marred than that of any man and his form more than the sons of men (Is 52:14). There were some glad eyes there, delighted that at last their victim was in their power and that the eloquent tongue that had exposed their hypocrisy would now be silenced in death. But all then present were not in this savage mood. Some—and to the honor of the sex, it is recorded that they were women—entered their protest by their cries and lamentations. Chiefly did they strike one, the most tenderhearted among them all, one whose ears were delicately sensitive to every sound of sorrow. And though he had not answered Herod and had given Pilate but a few words of reply and though amidst all the mockeries and scourging he had been as dumb as a sheep before her shearers, yet he paused, and looking around with pity at the weeping company, sublimely broke the silence by saying to them, “Do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and your children.” As for the words themselves, they are especially noteworthy because they constitute the last connected discourse of the Savior before he died. All he said afterwards was fragmentary and mainly of the nature of prayer—a sentence to John, and to his mother, and to the dying thief—just a word or two looking downward. But for the most part he uttered broken sentences that flew upwards on the wings of strong desire. This was his last address, a farewell sermonette delivered amid surroundings most sad and solemn, restraining tears, and yet at the same time causing them to flow.
23:34 “Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.’ And they divided his clothes and cast lots.” He does not utter a single word of upbraiding. He does not say, “Why do you do this? Why pierce the hands that fed you? Why nail the feet that followed after you in mercy? Why mock the man who loved to bless you?” No, not a word even of gentle upbraiding, much less anything like a curse. You notice Jesus does not say, “I forgive them,” but you may read that between the lines. He says that all the more because he does not say it in words. But he had laid aside his majesty and is fastened to the cross and takes the humble position of a pleading rather than the more lofty place of one who had power to forgive. How often when men say, “I forgive you,” is there a kind of selfishness about it. At any rate, self is asserted in the act of forgiving. Jesus takes the place of a pleader, a pleader for those who were murdering him. Blessed be his name!
23:42-43 “Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ And he said to him, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.’” It was strange that Christ should find a friend dying on the cross by his side. Nobody else spoke to him about a kingdom. I am afraid that even his former followers began to think that it was all a delusion. But this dying thief cheers the heart of Jesus by the mention of a kingdom and by making a request to him concerning that kingdom even when the King was in his death agony. Then notice the Master uses his old phraseology. In his preaching he had been accustomed to say, “Truly I tell you,” and here he is, even on the cross still the same preacher, for there was such assurance, such confidence, such truth, in all his words that he never had to alter his style of speaking. Well does our poet [Isaac Watts] put it: “He that distributes crowns and thrones, hangs on a tree and bleeds and groans.” He was distributing these crowns and thrones even while hanging on the tree!
23:46 “And Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit.’ Saying this, he breathed his last.” The last words our Lord used were quoted from the Scriptures, taken from Psalm 31:5. What a proof it is of how full Christ was of the Bible. David said, “Into your hand I entrust my spirit,” but Jesus said, “Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit.” Blessed advance! He knew more than David did, for he was more the Son of God than David could be. He was the Son of God in a high and special sense by eternal filiation, and so he begins the prayer with “Father.” So in our hour of trouble, in our time of warfare, let us say, “Father.” To help you in sore suffering and death, cry, “Father.” Our main strength lies in our truly being a child of God.
B 23:6 Other mss read heard “Galilee”
D 23:12 Lit friends with one another
E 23:16 Gk paideuo; to discipline or “teach a lesson”
F 23:16 Some mss include v. 17: For according to the festival he had to release someone to them.
G 23:23 Other mss add and those of the chief priests
B 23:34 Other mss omit Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.”
C 23:38 Other mss add written in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew letters
B 23:44 Lit about the sixth hour
RESURRECTION MORNING
24On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they J came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 They went in but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood by them in dazzling clothes. 5 So the women were terrified and bowed down to the ground.
“Why are you looking for the living among the dead? ” asked the men. 6 “He is not here, but he has risen! Remember how he spoke to you when he was still in Galilee, 7 saying, ‘It is necessary that the Son of Man be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and rise on the third day’? ” 8 And they remembered his words.
9 Returning from the tomb, they reported all these things to the Eleven and to all the rest. 10 Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them were telling the apostles these things. 11 But these words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. When he stooped to look in, he saw only the linen cloths. A So he went away, amazed at what had happened.
THE EMMAUS DISCIPLES
13 Now that same day two of them were on their way to a village called Emmaus, which was about seven miles B from Jerusalem. 14 Together they were discussing everything that had taken place. 15 And while they were discussing and arguing, Jesus himself came near and began to walk along with them. 16 But they C were prevented from recognizing him. 17 Then he asked them, “What is this dispute that you’re having D with each other as you are walking? ” And they stopped walking and looked discouraged.
18 The one named Cleopas answered him, “Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things that happened there in these days? ”
19 “What things? ” he asked them.
So they said to him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet powerful in action and speech before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him. 21 But we were hoping that he was the one who was about to redeem Israel. Besides all this, it’s the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women from our group astounded us. They arrived early at the tomb, 23 and when they didn’t find his body, they came and reported that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they didn’t see him.”
25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow E to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Wasn’t it necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and enter into his glory? ” 27 Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures.
QUOTE 24:25
Those griefs that are silent run deep and drown the soul in misery. It is good to let sorrow have a tongue where sympathy has an ear.
28 They came near the village where they were going, and he gave the impression that he was going farther. 29 But they urged him, “Stay with us, because it’s almost evening, and now the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
30 It was as he reclined at the table with them that he took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, but he disappeared from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Weren’t our hearts burning within us while he was talking with us on the road and explaining the Scriptures to us? ” 33 That very hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven and those with them gathered together, 34 who said, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon! ” 35 Then they began to describe what had happened on the road and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
THE REALITY OF THE RISEN JESUS
36 As they were saying these things, he himself stood in their midst. He said to them, “Peace to you! ” 37 But they were startled and terrified and thought they were seeing a ghost. 38 “Why are you troubled? ” he asked them. “And why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself! Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” 40 Having said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 But while they still were amazed and in disbelief because of their joy, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat? ” 42 So they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, A 43 and he took it and ate in their presence.
44 He told them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you — that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. 46 He also said to them, “This is what is written: B The Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead the third day, 47 and repentance for C forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And look, I am sending you D what my Father promised. As for you, stay in the city E until you are empowered F from on high.”
THE ASCENSION OF JESUS
50 Then he led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. 51 And while he was blessing them, he left them and was carried up into heaven. 52 After worshiping him, they returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they were continually in the temple praising God. G
24:12 “Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. When he stooped to look in, he saw only the linen cloths. So he went away, amazed at what had happened.” The Master left his grave clothes behind him. He did not rise from the tomb wrapped about with a winding-sheet. He did not wear the burial clothes of the tomb as the garments of life, but when Peter went into the tomb, he saw the grave clothes lying carefully folded. What if I say he left them to be the hangings of the royal bedchamber wherein his saints fall asleep? See how he has curtained our last bed! Our dormitory is no longer bare and drear like a prison cell but hung around with fair white linen and comely tapestry—a chamber fit for the repose of princes of the blood. We will go to our last bedchamber in peace because Christ has furnished it for us. Or if we change the metaphor, I may say that our Lord has left those grave clothes for us to look upon as pledges of his fellowship with us in our low estate and reminders that as he has cast aside the death garments, even so shall we. He has risen from his couch and left his sleeping robes behind him in token that at our waking other vestures are ready for us also.
24:25 “He said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!’” Observe that when the Savior did come to these mourning ones, he acted wisely toward them. He did not at once begin by saying, “I know why you are sad.” No, he waited for them to speak and in his patience drew forth from them the items and particulars of their trouble. You that deal with mourners, learn hence the way of wisdom. Do not talk too much yourselves. Let the swelling heart relieve itself. Jeremiah derives a measure of help from his own lamentations; even Job feels a little better from pouring out his complaint. Those griefs that are silent run deep and drown the soul in misery. It is good to let sorrow have a tongue where sympathy has an ear. Allow those who are seeking the Lord to tell you their difficulties; do not discourse much with them till they have done so.
24:40 “Having said this, he showed them his hands and feet.” Our Lord Jesus Christ, when he rose again from the dead, had in his body the marks of his passion. If he had pleased, he could readily have removed them. He rose again from the dead and might have erased from his body everything indicating what he had suffered and endured before descending into the tomb. Instead, there were the pierced hands and feet, and there was the open side. What was the reason for this? First, it was to establish his identity—that he was the same Jesus they had followed, whom at last they had deserted. It was the same Christ, for there was the seal of his sufferings.
Also, he never seems as lovely as when we see him tortured by men for our sakes, enduring all manner of grief, bearing our iniquities and carrying our sorrows. Jesus Christ finds such beauty in his wounds that he will not renounce them. He will wear the attire in which he wooed our souls, and he will wear the royal purple of his atonement throughout eternity.
Another reason Jesus wears his wounds is that when he intercedes, he may employ them as powerful advocates. When he rises up to pray for his people, he need not speak a word. He may simply lift his hands before his Father’s face. He makes bare his side and points to his feet. These are the orators with which he pleads with God—these wounds.
There is another and a terrible reason Christ still wears his wounds. Christ is coming to judge the world. Every time Christ lifts his hands to heaven, the men that hate or despise him are accused. The cry is remembered, “His blood be on us and on our children” (Mt 27:25). And the sin of casting Christ away and rejecting him is brought before the mind of the Most High. And when Christ comes a second time to judge the world in righteousness, seated on the great white throne, those hands of his will be the terror of the universe. “They will look at the one they pierced” (Jn 19:37), and they will mourn for their sins.
J 24:1 Other mss add and other women with them
A 24:12 Other mss add lying there
B 24:13 Lit about sixty stadia ; one stadion = 600 feet
D 24:17 Lit “What are these words that you are exchanging
A 24:42 Other mss add and some honeycomb
B 24:46 Other mss add and thus it was necessary that
C 24:47 Many mss read repentance and
E 24:49 Other mss add of Jerusalem