Luke
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(Using the NADV-84 Translation) |
• Introduction
1:1) Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,
1:2) just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word.
1:3) It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, [This is a documentary] • ["It seemed good:" A man's anointing makes revelation of godly assignments appear "sensible," "good," in a "common sense" way. Spiritual intuition is an even-tempered state of awareness. This is no minor phrase: it indicates the nature of sober stewardship of one's Godly assignment.] ;
1:4) so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
• The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold
1:5) In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron.
1:6) Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly.
1:7) But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years.
1:8) And it came to pass, that while Zechariah was serving as priest before God in the order of his division
1:9) he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
1:10) And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.
1:11) Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
1:12) When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear.
1:13) But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.
1:14) And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, [God has joy and gladness on his mind — that's his plan.]
1:15) for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth.
1:16) Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God.
1:17) And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous--to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." ["wisdom of the righteous:" (Amplified:) The knowledge and holy love of the will of God.]
• The Birth of Jesus
2:1) In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that the entire Roman world should be taxed [registered]. [All the world is still being taxed.]
2:2) (This was the first census [taxing] that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
2:3) And everyone went to his own town to register. [Turmoil by a politician]
2:4) So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
2:5) He went there to be registered [taxed] with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. [poor people are not taxed (ergo, Joseph was not poor)]
2:6) While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,
2:7) and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. [not because they were poor]
• The Shepherds and the Angels
2:8) And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. [they were not in the tax lines]
2:9) An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
2:10) But the angel said to them, "Fear not. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
2:11) Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
2:12) This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
2:13) Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
2:14) "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
2:15) When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." [Compare with Hebrews 1:14]
2:16) So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
2:17) When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,
2:18) and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
2:19) But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
2:20) The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
• Jesus Presented in the Temple
2:21) On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named JESUS, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived.
2:22) When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
2:23) (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord" ),
2:24) and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: "a pair of doves or two young pigeons."
2:25) Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
2:26) It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
2:27) Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,
2:28) Simeon took him in his arms and blessed God, saying:
2:29) "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace.
2:30) For my eyes have seen your salvation,
2:31) which you have prepared in the sight of all people,
2:32) a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."
2:33) The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him.
2:34) Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,
2:35) so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too."
2:36) There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,
2:37) and then was a widow until she was eighty‑four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. [She served God fasting and praying.]
2:38) Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. ["that very moment:" right on time.]
• John the Baptist Prepares the Way
3:1) In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar--when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene--
3:2) during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert.
3:3) He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. [old covenant baptism]
3:4) As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.
3:5) Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth.
3:6) And all mankind will see God's salvation.'"
3:7) John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
3:8) Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
3:9) The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." [No fruit = no blessing at work - no faith.]
3:10) "What should we do then?" the crowd asked.
3:11) John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same."
3:12) Tax collectors also came to be baptized. "Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?"
3:13) "Don't collect any more than you are required to," he told them. [All of these instructions have to do with honor.]
3:14) Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?" He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely-- be content with your pay."
3:15) The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ.
3:16) John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. [The Holy Spirit and with his glory!]
3:17) His winnowing fork is in his hand to thoroughly clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."
3:18) And with many other words John exhorted the people and preached the good news to them.
3:19) But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of Herodias, his brother's wife, and all the other evil things he had done,
3:20) Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.
• The Baptism and Genealogy of Jesus
3:21) When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened
3:22) and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." [Faith!] • [He descended like a dove, not in the shape of a dove.]
3:23) Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli,
3:24) the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melki, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,
3:25) the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai,
3:26) son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semei, the son of Joseph the son of Judah,
3:27) the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri,
3:28) the son of Melki, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er,
3:29) the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,
3:30) the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim,
3:31) the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David,
3:32) the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon,
3:33) the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,
3:34) the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,
3:35) the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,
3:36) the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,
3:37) the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Kenan, [Methuselah = Melchisidec (acc. to KCM)]
3:38) the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
• Menu: Luke • Bible: All Books
• The Temptation of Jesus
4:1) Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert,
4:2) where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. [Starvation began — then the devil attacked. ("Guard your spirit..." - Pr 4:23]
4:3) The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread."
4:4) Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live by bread alone. but by every word of God.' [man is given every word of God] "
4:5) The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.
4:6) And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and glory, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. [Kingdoms of Babylon]
4:7) So if you worship me, it will all be yours."
4:8) Jesus answered, "Get behind me Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'" [Don't try to improve on this faith command.]
4:9) The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here.
4:10) For it is written: " 'He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully;
4:11) they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.' "
4:12) Jesus answered, "It is said: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" ["It is said:" When satan tried to use the Word, Jesus went higher and used Rhema — the devil has no anointing.] • ["It is said:" — that did it!]
4:13) When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
• Jesus Rejected at Nazareth
4:14) Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.
4:15) And he taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. [honor and recognition] • [He was preaching the gospel.]
4:16) He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read.
4:17) The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
4:18) "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, [1 Samuel 2:8] • [John 14:10‑12, 1 John 2:27] • ["gospel:" the Blessing - Galatians 3:8; Matthew 4:23]
4:19) to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." [This revelation came in the desert after he received the Holy Spirit.]
4:20) Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him,
4:21) and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
4:22) All spoke well of him and wondered at the gracious words that came from his lips. "Isn't this Joseph's son?" they asked. ["gracious:" He preached grace.] • ["wondered:" - no faith]
4:23) Jesus said to them, "Surely you will quote this proverb to me: 'Physician, heal yourself ! Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.' "
4:24) "I tell you the truth," he continued, "no prophet is accepted in his own country. [verse 15] • ["not accepted in own country:" - part of the curse. we're redeemed from it.]
4:25) I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah's time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a great famine throughout the land. [They had the Blessing but no faith.]
4:26) Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a woman who was a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon.
4:27) And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed--only Naaman the Syrian."
4:28) All the people in the synagogue were filled with wrath when they heard this. [still no faith]
4:29) They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff.
4:30) But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.
• Jesus Drives Out an Evil Spirit
4:31) Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and taught the people on the Sabbath day. [nothing had been done in Capernaum yet.]
4:32) They were amazed at his teaching, because his message had authority.
4:33) In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a spirit of an unclean devil. He cried out at the top of his voice,
4:34) "Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!"
4:35) "Be quiet!" Jesus said sternly. "Come out of him!" Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him.
4:36) All the people were amazed and said to each other, "What is this teaching? With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits and they come out!"
4:37) And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area.
• Jesus Heals Many
4:38) Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon's mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her.
4:39) So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them. [same as giving worn‑out clothes, etc.]
4:40) When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laid his hands on each one of them, and healed them. [they acted on what they heard]
4:41) Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, "You are the Christ, the Son of God!" But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Christ. [This was not his message. Verse 18 was Jesus' message: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me...to preach the gospel to the poor..."]
4:42) At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them.
4:43) But he said, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent." [the Blessing]
4:44) And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Galilee.
• Menu: Luke • Bible: All Books
• The Calling of the First Disciples
5:1) One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God,
5:2) he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets.
5:3) He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
5:4) When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch."
5:5) Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the net." [Contempt: Malachi 1:7‑8 and 14; He let down only one net; Jesus: "the nets"]
5:6) When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their net began to break.
5:7) So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
5:8) When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" [disobedient man] • [Peter should have known better! Jesus had a meeting in his house: Verses 4:38‑41]
5:9) For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken,
5:10) and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men."
5:11) So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. [This huge catch of fish was to prepare Peter, John, and James to leave everything and follow him.]
• The Man With Leprosy
5:12) While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean."
5:13) Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" And immediately the leprosy left him.
5:14) Then Jesus ordered him, "Don't tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them." [Mark 1:38‑45]
5:15) Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear and to be healed of their sicknesses. [to hear and be healed]
5:16) But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
• Jesus Heals a Paralytic
5:17) One day as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there. And the power of the Lord was present for him to heal them. [healing always comes]
5:18) Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus.
5:19) When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.
5:20) When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven."
5:21) The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to reason among themselves, "Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" [no faith]
5:22) Jesus perceived their thoughts and asked, "Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?
5:23) Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? [The same power that forgives also heals.]
5:24) But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins . . ." He said to the paralyzed man, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home."
5:25) Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home glorifying God.
5:26) Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, "We have seen strange things today." [The Blessing was strange to them.]
• The Calling of Levi
5:27) After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. "Follow me," Jesus said to him,
5:28) and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. [What if the rich young ruler had done what Levi did?]
5:29) Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them.
5:30) But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"
5:31) Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
5:32) I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
• Jesus Questioned About Fasting
5:33) They said to him, "John's disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking."
5:34) Jesus answered, "Can you make the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them?
5:35) But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast."
5:36) He told them this parable: "No one tears a patch from a new garment and sews it on an old one. If he does, he will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old. [a new generation preaching to the old]
5:37) And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined.
5:38) No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. [Stay in the New Revelation: it's more about Jesus and "The Blessing"]
5:39) And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, 'The old is better.' "
• Menu: Luke • Bible: All Books
• Lord of the Sabbath
6:1) One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels.
6:2) Some of the Pharisees asked, "Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?"
6:3) Jesus answered them, "Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?
6:4) He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions."
6:5) Then Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath." [It's not right to ask a man to work on the Sabbath and expect him not to eat - however, he didn't eat.]
6:6) On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled.
6:7) The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath.
6:8) But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Get up and stand in front of everyone." So he got up and stood there.
6:9) Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?" [Life - Death - Blessing or Curse]
6:10) He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He did so, and his hand was completely restored.
6:11) But they were filled with rage and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.
• The Twelve Apostles
6:12) One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. [there were more than 12 there]
6:13) When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: [first to use the term "apostle"]
6:14) Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew,
6:15) Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot,
6:16) Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
• Blessings and Woes
6:17) He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coast of Tyre and Sidon,
6:18) who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases, as well as those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were healed.
6:19) and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.
6:20) Looking at his disciples, he said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
6:21) Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. [There's laughter in the Blessing.]
6:22) Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake.
6:23) "Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because
6:24) "But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. ["rich:" Psalm 73:12; rich without the Blessing; accumulating things while staying "at ease". Not investing themselves in the Kingdom.]
6:25) Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. ["well fed" without the blessing; "laugh" without the blessing]
6:26) Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.
• The Faith of the Centurion
7:1) When Jesus had finished saying all this in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum.
7:2) There a centurion's servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die.
7:3) The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant.
7:4) When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, "This man deserves to have you do this,
7:5) because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue."
7:6) So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: "Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof.
7:7) That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.
7:8) For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."
7:9) When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel."
7:10) Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well. [Life in the power of the tongue.]
• Jesus Raises a Widow's Son
7:11) Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him.
7:12) As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out --the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her.
7:13) When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and he said, "Don't cry."
7:14) Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!" [Life in the power of the tongue]
7:15) The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
7:16) Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God saying, "A great prophet has appeared among us," and "God has visited his people."
7:17) This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.
• Jesus and John the Baptist
7:18) John's disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them,
7:19) he sent them to the Lord to ask, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?"
7:20) When the men came to Jesus, they said, "John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, 'Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?' "
7:21) At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind.
7:22) So he replied to the messengers, "Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. [Isaiah 61 message's results]
7:23) Blessed is the man who is not offended because of me." [The Blessing is for anyone who is not "offended."]
7:24) After John's messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: "What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind?
7:25) If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Indeed, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces.
7:26) But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
7:27) This is the one about whom it is written: " 'I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.'
7:28) I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."
7:29) (All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus' words, acknowledged that God's way was right, because they had been baptized by John.
7:30) But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God's purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.) [uncorrectable!]
7:31) "To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like?
7:32) They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other: " 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not cry.'
7:33) For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.'
7:34) The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." '
7:35) But wisdom is proved right by all her children." [Shown to be right in the lives of those who live it.]
• Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman
7:36) Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table.
7:37) When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume,
7:38) and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
7:39) When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is-- for she is a sinner." [how did he know who she was?]
7:40) Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." "Tell me, teacher," he said.
7:41) "Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.
7:42) Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"
7:43) Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled." "You have judged correctly," Jesus said.
7:44) Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.
7:45) You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet.
7:46) You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has poured perfume on my feet.
7:47) Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven-- for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."
7:48) Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
7:49) The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"
7:50) Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
• Menu: Luke • Bible: All Books
• The Parable of the Sower
8:1) After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, ["preaching:" Preach the Blessing. • 8:10 & 8:21]
8:2) and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out;
8:3) Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.
8:4) While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable:
8:5) "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up.
8:6) Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture.
8:7) Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants.
8:8) Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown." When he said this, he cried, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
8:9) His disciples asked him what this parable meant.
8:10) He said, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, " 'though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.'
8:11) "This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.
8:12) Those by the wayside are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. [Glad tidings of the Kingdom.]
8:13) Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in time of temptation they fall away. [fall away under pressure]
8:14) The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by worries, riches and pleasures of life, and they bring no fruit to maturity. [no blessing]
8:15) But the seed on good soil stands for those with an honest and good heart, who hear the word, keep it, and by persevering produce a crop. [They stay with it under pressure]
• A Lamp on a Stand
8:16) "No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. [light = Blessing]
8:17) For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.
8:18) Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him." ["taken away:" - the devil takes away (verse 12)] • ["whoever has:" - has ears to hear]
• Jesus' Mother and Brothers
8:19) Now Jesus' mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd.
8:20) Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you."
8:21) He replied, "My mother and brothers are those who hear God's word and put it into practice." [word of the Kingdom: 8:1, 8:10]
• Jesus Calms the Storm
8:22) One day Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake." So they got into a boat and set out.
8:23) As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.
8:24) The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!" He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm.
8:25) "Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples. And they were afraid and wondered, saying to one another, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him." ["Where is your faith?" = "why didn't you do it?"]
• The Healing of a Demon-possessed Man
8:26) They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee.
8:27) When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs.
8:28) When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don't torture me!"
8:29) For Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places. ["was driven:" - restlessness]
8:30) Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" "Legion," he replied, because many demons had gone into him. [one in command of many devils] • [They spoke because their ruler had been broken.]
8:31) And they begged him repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.
8:32) A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into them, and he gave them permission.
8:33) When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.
8:34) When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside,
8:35) and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus' feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. [Their "god" had been overthrown]
8:36) Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured.
8:37) Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left. [They asked Jesus to leave and he left.]
8:38) The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying,
8:39) "Return home and tell how much God has done for you." So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.
• A Dead Girl and a Sick Woman
8:40) Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him.
8:41) Then a man named Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, came and fell at Jesus' feet, pleading with him to come to his house
8:42) because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him.
8:43) And a woman was there who had a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any,
8:44) She came up behind him and touched the border of his garment, and immediately her bleeding stopped. [his prayer shawl]
8:45) "Who touched me?" Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you."
8:46) But Jesus said, "Someone touched me; for I perceived power going out from me."
8:47) Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed.
8:48) Then he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace."
8:49) While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. "Your daughter is dead," he said. "Don't bother the teacher any more."
8:50) Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, "Fear not; just believe, and she will be healed." [Jairus's faith - very important] • [Fear tolerated is faith contaminated!] • [1 John 4:18]
8:51) When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child's father and mother.
• Jesus Sends Out the Twelve
9:1) When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases,
9:2) and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. ["good news:" gospel; verse 6; Galatians 3:8 • Luke 4:18]
9:3) He told them: "Take nothing for the journey--no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic. [you are with me now - the Blessing provides • Luke 22:35 • John 6:6] [He did not say they couldn't or wouldn't have these things - he said you don't provide them.]
9:4) Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town.
9:5) If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them."
9:6) So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere. [Galatians 3:8]
9:7) Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was going on. And he was perplexed, because some were saying that John had been raised from the dead,
9:8) others that Elijah had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had come back to life.
9:9) But Herod said, "I beheaded John. Who, then, is this I hear such things about?" And he tried to see him.
• Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
9:10) When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida,
9:11) but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing. [the Gospel = the Blessing]
9:12) And when the day began to wear away, the Twelve came to him and said, "Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here."
9:13) He replied, "You give them something to eat." They answered, "We have only five loaves of bread and two fish-- unless we go and buy food for all this crowd." [You do it]
9:14) (About five thousand men were there.) But he said to his disciples, "Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each."
9:15) The disciples did so, and everybody sat down.
9:16) Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to set before the people.
9:17) They all ate and were all filled, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
• Peter's Confession of Christ
9:18) Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say I am?"
9:19) They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life."
9:20) "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "The Christ of God."
9:21) Jesus commanded them not to tell this to anyone.
9:22) And he said, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life."
9:23) Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
9:24) For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. [Living through him - 1 John 4:9]
9:25) What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self ?
9:26) If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
9:27) I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God."
• The Transfiguration
9:28) About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray.
9:29) As he prayed, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.
9:30) Two men, Moses and Elijah,
9:31) appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.
9:32) Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.
9:33) As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three tabernacles --one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." (He did not know what he was saying.) ["Religion" still does this]
9:34) While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.
9:35) A voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him." [From the excellent glory]
9:36) When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one at that time what they had seen.
• The Healing of a Boy With an Evil Spirit
9:37) The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him.
9:38) A man in the crowd called out, "Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child.
9:39) A spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams; it throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It scarcely ever leaves him and is destroying him.
9:40) I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they could not."
9:41) "O faithless and perverse generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you and put up with you? Bring your son here." ["faithless and perverse:" the disciples should have been able to do this if their faith had been sufficient]
9:42) Even while the boy was coming, the demon threw him to the ground in a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy and gave him back to his father.
9:43) And they were all amazed at the greatness of God. While everyone marveled at all that Jesus did, he said to his disciples, ["marveled:" - faithless - (verse 41)]
9:44) "Let these words sink down into your ears: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men."
9:45) But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.
• Who Will Be the Greatest?
9:46) Then there arose a reasoning among them as to which of them would be the greatest. ["reasoning:" - faithless - (verse 41)]
9:47) Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him.
9:48) Then he said to them, "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all--he is the greatest."
9:49) "Master," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us."
9:50) "Do not stop him," Jesus said, "for whoever is not against you is for you."
• Samaritan Opposition
9:51) As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.
9:52) And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him;
9:53) but the people there did not welcome him, because his face was set for the journey to Jerusalem.
9:54) When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them ?"
9:55) But Jesus turned and rebuked them, and said, "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of.
9:56) For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them." And they went to another village.
• The Cost of Following Jesus
9:57) As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."
9:58) Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."
9:59) He said to another man, "Follow me." But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." [Another one missed Apostleship.]
9:60) Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."
9:61) Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family."
9:62) Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." [Quitting is not an option.]
• Menu: Luke • Bible: All Books
• Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-two
10:1) After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. [They went without him. They depended on his name.]
10:2) He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.
10:3) Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.
10:4) Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. [He would not let any one pay his own way. They work now for the Kingdom: Verse 7]
10:5) "When you enter a house, first say, 'Peace to this house.'
10:6) If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you.
10:7) Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker is worthy of his wages. Do not move around from house to house.
10:8) "When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you.
10:9) Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.' [They now work for the kingdom.]
10:10) But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say,
10:11) 'Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.'
10:12) I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.
10:13) "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
10:14) But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.
10:15) And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths.
10:16) "He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me." [Those that honor me, him shall I honor. • 1 Samuel 2:30 • Acts 9:4]
10:17) The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."
10:18) He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
10:19) I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
10:20) However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
10:21) At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure. [Revealing truth thrills Jesus.]
10:22) "All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." [that's us — the Believers. Oh, the Grace]
10:23) Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.
10:24) For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it."
• The Parable of the Good Samaritan
10:25) On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
10:26) "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"
10:27) He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
10:28) "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."
10:29) But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" ["stranger" in Deuteronomy 24:19‑21]
10:30) In reply Jesus said: "A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. ["a certain priest:" not a parable]
10:31) Now by chance a certain priest came down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. [the priest came by chance instead of being led by the spirit]
10:32) So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
10:33) But a certain Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he had compassion on him. [neighbor = whomever needs your love]
10:34) He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him.
10:35) The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' [This is a prosperous man and now we know why.]
10:36) "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"
10:37) The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."
• At the Home of Martha and Mary
10:38) As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.
10:39) She had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet listening to what he said.
10:40) But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself ? Tell her to help me!"
10:41) "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things,
10:42) but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
• Menu: Luke • Bible: All Books
• Jesus' Teaching on Prayer
11:1) One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples."
11:2) He said to them, "When you pray, say: " 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
11:3) Give us each day our daily bread.
11:4) Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.'" [Mark 11:25‑26]
11:5) Then he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread,
11:6) because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.'
11:7) "Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.'
11:8) I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs. [No shame. Expecting to come boldly to the throne of grace.]
11:9) "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.
11:10) For every person who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
11:11) "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?
11:12) Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?
11:13) If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
• Jesus and Beelzebub
11:14) Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed. [the devil was mute (dumb)]
11:15) But some of them said, "By Beelzebub, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons."
11:16) Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven.
11:17) Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: "Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall.
11:18) If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebub.
11:19) Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.
11:20) But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.
11:21) "When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe.
11:22) But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes from him all the armor in which the man trusted and divides up the spoils. [The devil trusts and uses fear - Hebrews 2:14‑15]
11:23) "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters.
11:24) "When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' [he has no rest without a body.]
11:25) When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order.
11:26) Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first." ["he takes...other spirits:" he can't call them]
11:27) As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, "Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you."
11:28) He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."
• The Sign of Jonah
11:29) And when the crowds were thickly gathered together, Jesus said, "This is a wicked generation. It asks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.
11:30) For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation.
11:31) The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here. ["with the men of this generation:" men will judge] • ["greater than Solomon:" The Greater One is my lord]
11:32) The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here.
• The Lamp of the Body
11:33) "No one lights a lamp and puts it in a secret place, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. [God is not hiding from us]
11:34) Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness.
11:35) See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. [What is feeding the body: light or darkness?]
11:36) Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted, as when the bright shining of a lamp shines on you."
• Six Woes
11:37) When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table.
11:38) But the Pharisee, noticing that Jesus did not first wash before the meal, was surprised.
11:39) Then the Lord said to him, "Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but your inward part are full of greed and wickedness.
11:40) You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also?
11:41) But give what is inside [the dish] to the poor, and everything will be clean for you. [Giving cleanses]
11:42) "Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done without leaving the former undone. [a Believer "ought" to tithe]
11:43) "Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces.
11:44) "Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without knowing it." ["you don't stand for anything"]
11:45) One of the experts in the law answered him, "Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also."
11:46) Jesus replied, "And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them. [Jesus does not do this: his burden is "light" - Matthew 11:29‑30]
11:47) "Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your forefathers who killed them.
11:48) So you testify that you approve of what your forefathers did; they killed the prophets, and you build their tombs.
11:49) Therefore the wisdom of God also said, 'I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute.' [Jesus refered to the written word as the "wisdom of God."]
11:50) Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets which has been shed since the beginning of the world,
11:51) from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible for it all.
11:52) "Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key of knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering." ["the key of knowledge:" the Word]
11:53) When Jesus left there, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege him with questions,
11:54) waiting to catch him in something he might say, that they might accuse him. [and kill another prophet!]
• Menu: Luke • Bible: All Books
• Warnings and Encouragements
12:1) Meanwhile, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
12:2) There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.
12:3) What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the rooftops. [re: Judas - Luke 22:3‑4]
12:4) "I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.
12:5) But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.
12:6) Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies ? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.
12:7) Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
12:8) "I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God.
12:9) But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God.
12:10) And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
12:11) "When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say,
12:12) for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say." [Only say what he says. Give it to your brother and release the Blessing.]
• The Parable of the Rich Fool
12:13) Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."
12:14) Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?"
• Repent or Perish
13:1) Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.
13:2) Jesus answered, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way?
13:3) I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. [The wages of sin is death. Repent and get mercy.]
13:4) Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them-- do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem?
13:5) I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish." [They did not appropriate their protection - Hebrews 4:16, Psalm 103:4, Psalm 121 - obtain mercy]
13:6) Then he told this parable: "A certain man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any.
13:7) So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, 'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?' [He expects every tree to produce]
13:8) " 'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it. [Jesus, here, is before the Father seeking grace for an unfruitful people. No faith = no Blessing. Jesus is waiting for the church to move.]
13:9) If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.' "
[Luke 13:7 - The unproductive fig tree: THIS is how otherwise "good" believers leave themselves open to attack! When we're given a gift, talent, ability, AND the power to carry it out: WE HAVE TO PUT IT TO WORK NOW - and not just take pleasure in the idea that we can use it "if we need to" (which is from the ego, not the spirit).
We can't be idlers with our anointings. Why is this believer taking up space? We can't be cowardly with what we know we're assigned to do. We've all had times when we're in possession of knowledge, speaking ability and the opportunity to act - yet hold back due to fearing others' condescension or ridicule. "Pleasers of men rather than pleasers of God" (Jn 12:43). -je]
• A Crippled Woman Healed on the Sabbath
13:10) On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues,
13:11) and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all.
13:12) When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, "Woman, you are set free from your infirmity."
13:13) Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and glorified God.
13:14) Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, "There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath." [Not man working, but God on his own day.]
13:15) The Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Doesn't each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water?
13:16) Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?" [The Law vs. the Blessing: The ruler of the synagogue had 6 days a week - for 18 years - and he had done nothing for this woman. 5616 days - John 10:10]
13:17) When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.
• The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast
13:18) Then Jesus asked, "What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to?
13:19) It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches." [The sower sows the word; growing up around me to be a blessing. The Garden of Eden blessing.]
13:20) Again he asked, "What shall I compare the kingdom of God to?
13:21) It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough." [One word from God changes everything.]
• The Narrow Door
13:22) Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem.
13:23) Someone asked him, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?" He said to them,
13:24) "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.
13:25) Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Sir, open the door for us.' "But he will answer, 'I don't know you or where you come from.'
13:26) "Then you will say, 'We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.'
13:27) "But he will reply, 'I don't know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!'
13:28) "There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out.
13:29) People will come from east and west and north and south, and shall sit down at the feast in the kingdom of God.
13:30) Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last."
• Jesus' Sorrow for Jerusalem
13:31) At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, "Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you."
13:32) He replied, "Go tell that fox, 'I will drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.'
13:33) In any case, I must keep going today and tomorrow and the next day--for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem!
13:34) "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! [He didn't destroy - they refused to receive]
13:35) Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'"
• Menu: Luke • Bible: All Books
• Jesus at a Pharisee's House
14:1) Now it happened, as he went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath day, that they watched him closely.
14:2) There in front of him was a man suffering from dropsy.
14:3) Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?"
14:4) But they remained silent. So he took him, and healed him, and he sent him away. taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him away.
14:5) Then he asked them, "If one of you has a son or an ox that falls into a pit on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull him out?" [He likened sickness to a pit]
14:6) And they had nothing to say.
14:7) When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable:
14:8) "When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited.
14:9) If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, 'Give this man your seat.' Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place.
14:10) But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests.
14:11) For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." [1 Peter 5:6‑10]
14:12) Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. [social competition - spiritually empty]
14:13) But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,
14:14) and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." [The Blessing is for them]
• The Parable of the Great Banquet
14:15) When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, "Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God."
14:16) Jesus replied: "A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests.
14:17) At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.'
14:18) "But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, 'I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.' [now the field is cursed - he put it first.]
14:19) "Another said, 'I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my way to try them out. I ask you to have me excused.' [now the oxen are cursed]
14:20) "Still another said, 'I have married a wife, so I cannot come.' [now he and his wife are cursed]
14:21) "The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.'
14:22) " 'Sir,' the servant said, 'what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.'
14:23) "Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the highways and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full.
14:24) I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.'"
• The Cost of Being a Disciple
14:25) Great multitudes were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: [and they heard him]
14:26) "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple. ["...does not put me first place in his life"]
14:27) And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
14:28) "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and count the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?
14:29) For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him,
14:30) saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'
14:31) "Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?
14:32) If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace.
14:33) In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.
14:34) "Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its flavor, how can it be made salty again?
14:35) It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
• Menu: Luke • Bible: All Books
• The Parable of the Lost Sheep
15:1) Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him.
15:2) But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
15:3) Then Jesus told them this parable:
15:4) "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?
15:5) And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders
15:6) and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.'
15:7) I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
• The Parable of the Lost Coin
15:8) "Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?
15:9) And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.'
15:10) In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
• The Parable of the Lost Son
15:11) Jesus continued: "There was a certain man who had two sons.
15:12) The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
15:13) "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a far country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. [no record of him tithing.] • ["far country" - "Gentile country"]
15:14) After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. [No way he could be a blessing in that famine - he spent all on himself]
15:15) So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. ["pigs:" out of covenant; Luke 6:38]
15:16) He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no man gave him anything. [he gave none] • [he left his covenant and joined the Gentiles for food]
15:17) "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! [a "new thought" came to him, a revelation]
15:18) I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
15:19) I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.'
15:20) So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. [before he cleaned up]
15:21) "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' [his father interrupted; he wasn't listening to the son's speech.]
15:22) "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. [restored to the original status he held before he left (or higher)]
15:23) Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate.
15:24) For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate. [He wasn't looking for a servant but a son.]
15:25) "Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.
15:26) So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on.
15:27) 'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.' [the covenant calf]
15:28) "The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.
15:29) But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.
15:30) But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!' [not "my brother"]
15:31) " 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.
15:32) But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'"
• The Parable of the Shrewd Manager
16:1) Jesus told his disciples: "There was a certain rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions.
16:2) So he called him in and asked him, 'What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.' [he just got fired] • [seek first the Kingdom]
16:3) "The manager said within himself, 'What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I'm not strong enough to dig, and I'm ashamed to beg--
16:4) I know what I'll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.' [The only way he knows is to cover himself with what someone else has. (verse 11)]
16:5) "So he called in each one of his master's debtors. He asked the first, 'How much do you owe my master?'
16:6) " 'Eight hundred gallons of olive oil,' he replied. "The manager told him, 'Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred.'
16:7) "Then he asked the second, 'And how much do you owe?'" 'A thousand bushels of wheat,' he replied. "He told him, 'Take your bill and make it eight hundred.'
16:8) "The lord [master] commended the unjust manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. [The "rich man" here does not know God either; they only know God's system] • [verse 15 is the point of verses 1‑8]
16:9) I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.
16:10) "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
16:11) So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?
16:12) And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?
16:13) "No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Mammon." [can't live in two worlds]
16:14) The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus.
16:15) He said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight. [this verse is the point of verses 1‑8]
• Additional Teachings
16:16) "The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.
16:17) It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law.
16:18) "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. [until the end of the year at atonement]
• The Rich Man and Lazarus
16:19) "There was a certain rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.
16:20) At his gate was laid a certain beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores
16:21) and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
16:22) "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.
16:23) In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.
16:24) So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity 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 fire.'
16:25) "But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. [memory intact in afterlife]
16:26) And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.' [Faith is a servant. It will obey. It must be fed.]
16:27) "He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house,
16:28) for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'
16:29) "Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' [They have the Word.]
16:30) "'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' ["No:" - he's still arguing.]
16:31) "He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'" [Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word.]
• Menu: Luke • Bible: All Books
• Sin, Faith, Duty
17:1) Jesus said to his disciples: "Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come.
17:2) It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.
17:3) So watch yourselves. "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.
17:4) If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him."
17:5) The apostles said to the LORD, "Increase our faith!"
17:6) He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you. ["it" - "your faith"] • [He had already taught them this in Mark 4]
17:7) "Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and sit down to eat'? [Don't withdraw faith until the job is done.] • [Mark 4:29‑31]
17:8) Would he not rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'?
17:9) Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do?
17:10) So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have done what was our duty to do.'" [Faith's duty is to serve me.]
• Ten Healed of Leprosy
17:11) Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee.
17:12) As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance
17:13) and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!"
17:14) When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed.
17:15) One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, glorified God in a loud voice. [he was healed before he saw it]
17:16) He threw himself at Jesus' feet, giving hem thanks --and he was a Samaritan.
17:17) Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? [Jesus' statement, "were not ten cleansed?" shows the nature of Faith: knowing without seeing.]
17:18) Was no one found to return and give glory to God except this foreigner?"
17:19) Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you whole."
• The Coming of the Kingdom of God
• The Parable of the Persistent Widow
18:1) Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. [consistently and never give up]
18:2) He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men.
18:3) And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' [Hebrew for "widow:" "silenced" or she lost her "voice" when her husband died. God became this woman's voice on the king's thoughts.]
18:4) "For some time he refused. But finally he said within himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, [She came to him one time, but remained until the answer]
18:5) yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!'" ["I am troubled over this widow" - God was troubling him.]
18:6) And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says.
18:7) And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?
18:8) I tell you, he will see that they get justice speedily. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" [God our father avenges us "speedily" - he is of the opposite character as that of the unjust judge]
• The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
18:9) To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable:
18:10) "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
18:11) The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men --robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector.
18:12) I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'
18:13) "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'
18:14) "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." [1 Peter 5:6‑10 - Humble yourselves under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.]
• The Little Children and Jesus
18:15) People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them.
18:16) But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
18:17) I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
• The Rich Ruler
18:18) A certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" [Luke 10:25 - similar verse]
18:19) "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone.
18:20) You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.'"
18:21) "All these I have kept since I was a boy," he said.
18:22) When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." [Come join my team • Psalm 112; Luke 10:4; Luke 22:35]
18:23) When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. [compare with Zacchaeus - Luke 19:8]
18:24) Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!
18:25) Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
18:26) Those who heard this asked, "Who then can be saved?"
18:27) Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."
18:28) Peter said to him, "We have left all we had to follow you!"
18:29) "I tell you the truth," Jesus said to them, "there is no man who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God
18:30) will fail to receive many times as much in this present time and, in the age to come, eternal life." [That's what the man asked about.] • [100‑fold in Mark 10:29‑30]
• Jesus Again Predicts His Death
18:31) Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, "We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.
18:32) He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him.
18:33) On the third day he will rise again."
18:34) The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.
• A Blind Beggar Receives His Sight
18:35) As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging.
18:36) When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening.
18:37) They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by."
18:38) He called out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
18:39) Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
18:40) Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him,
18:41) "What do you want me to do for you?" "Lord, I want to see," he replied.
18:42) Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has healed you."
18:43) Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.
• Menu: Luke • Bible: All Books
• Zacchaeus the Tax Collector
19:1) Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.
19:2) A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy.
19:3) He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd.
19:4) So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
19:5) When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." [He knew his name] • [Jesus was possibly "inspired" to go to Jericho in order to see Zacchaeus.]
19:6) So he came down at once and received him joyfully.
19:7) All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.' "
19:8) But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." [Jesus made no demands on Zacchaeus' wealth — Zacchaeus offered it.]
19:9) Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. [Mark 10:21]
19:10) For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
• The Parable of the Ten Minas
19:11) While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once.
19:12) He said: "A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return.
19:13) So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. 'Put this money to work,' he said, 'until I come back.' [put money "to work" - "invest"]
19:14) "But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, 'We don't want this man to be our king.'
19:15) "He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out how much every man had gained by trading.
19:16) "The first one came and said, 'Sir, your mina has earned ten more.'
19:17) " 'Well done, my good servant!' his master replied. 'Because you have been faithful in a very small matter, have authority over ten cities.'
19:18) "The second came and said, 'Sir, your mina has earned five more.'
19:19) "His master answered, 'You take charge of five cities.'
19:20) "Then another servant came and said, 'Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth.
19:21) For I feared you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.' [He cursed himself]
19:22) "His master replied, 'I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? [Fear caused a wrong concept about sowing and reaping. But it was to him as though it were true. The way he measured it determined how it was measured to him.]
19:23) Why then didn't you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?'
19:24) "Then he said to those standing by, 'Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.'
19:25) "'Sir,' they said, 'he already has ten!'
19:26) "He replied, 'I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. [Mark 4:14 - The sower sows the Word.] • [Satan was the one who stole from this man with fear and lies.]
19:27) But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them--bring them here and kill them in front of me.'"
• The Triumphal Entry
19:28) After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
19:29) As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them,
19:30) "Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. [A new colt]
19:31) If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' tell him, 'Because the Lord has need of it.'"
19:32) Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them.
19:33) As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?"
19:34) They replied, "The Lord has need of it." [They obeyed word for word.]
19:35) They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it.
19:36) As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.
19:37) When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the mighty works they had seen: [They recognized the Blessing]
19:38) "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"
19:39) Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!"
19:40) "I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out." [Because the Word declared these things would be said.]
19:41) As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it
19:42) and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace--but now it is hidden from your eyes.
19:43) The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side.
19:44) They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you." ["encircle" (verse 43) - Blessing torn down from around.]
• Jesus at the Temple
19:45) Then he entered the temple area and began driving out those who were selling.
19:46) "It is written," he said to them, " 'My house will be a house of prayer'; but you have made it 'a den of robbers.' "
19:47) Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him.
19:48) Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people were very attentive to hear him. [He taught the Blessing.]
• Menu: Luke • Bible: All Books
• The Authority of Jesus Questioned
20:1) One day as he was teaching the people in the temple courts and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him. [Galatians 3:8]
20:2) "Tell us by what authority you are doing these things," they said. "Who gave you this authority?"
20:3) He replied, "I will also ask you a question. Tell me,
20:4) John's baptism--was it from heaven, or from men?"
20:5) They reasoned with themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Why didn't you believe him?' ["reason" assumes the facts] • [Verse 14, re: "reasoned among themselves"] • [They took no account of the Word to answer - and without the Word they could not answer.]
20:6) But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet."
20:7) So they answered, "We don't know where it was from."
20:8) Jesus said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."
• The Parable of the Tenants
20:9) He went on to tell the people this parable: "A certain man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time.
20:10) At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. [God expects the Blessing to work.]
20:11) He sent another servant, but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty-handed.
20:12) He sent still a third, and they wounded him and threw him out.
20:13) "Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will respect him.' [A very patient man.]
20:14) "But when the tenants saw him, they reasoned among themselves.. 'This is the heir,' they said. 'Let's kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.'
20:15) So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. "What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them?
20:16) He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others." When the people heard this, they said, "May this never be!"
20:17) Jesus looked directly at them and asked, "Then what is the meaning of that which is written: " 'The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone ' ?
20:18) Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed."
20:19) The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.
• Paying Taxes to Caesar
20:20) Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be righteous. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor.
20:21) So the spies questioned him: "Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.
20:22) Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"
20:23) He saw through their duplicity and said to them,
20:24) "Show me a denarius. Whose portrait and inscription are on it?"
20:25) "Caesar's," they replied. He said to them, "Then give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." [Coins issued by the government belong to the government.] • [But never give what is God's to Caesar.]
20:26) They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent.
• The Resurrection and Marriage
20:27) Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question.
20:28) "Teacher," they said, "Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and have children for his brother.
20:29) Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless.
20:30) The second
20:31) and then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children.
20:32) Finally, the woman died too.
20:33) Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?"
20:34) Jesus replied, "The people of this age marry and are given in marriage.
20:35) But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage,
20:36) and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God's children, since they are children of the resurrection.
20:37) But in the account of the bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord 'the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.'
20:38) He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive." [1 John 4:9 - We live through him]
20:39) Some of the teachers of the law responded, "Well said, teacher!"
20:40) And no one dared to ask him any more questions.
• Whose Son Is the Christ?
20:41) Then Jesus said to them, "How is it that they say the Christ is the Son of David?
20:42) David himself declares in the Book of Psalms: " 'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand
20:43) until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."' [Invitation to the throne of grace]
20:44) David calls him 'Lord.' How then can he be his son?"
20:45) While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples,
20:46) "Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.
20:47) They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely."
• Menu: Luke • Bible: All Books
• The Widow's Offering
21:1) As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich men putting their gifts into the temple treasury.
21:2) He also saw a certain poor widow put in two very small copper coins.
21:3) "I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others.
21:4) All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on." [She was poor and a widow - 1 Timothy 5:5]
• Signs of the End of the Age
21:5) Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said,
21:6) "As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down."
21:7) "Teacher," they asked, "when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?"
21:8) He replied: "Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and, 'The time is near.' Do not follow them. ["many" - this is tied to "nation against nation" in verse 10] • ["deceived" - mohammed]
21:9) When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away."
21:10) Then he said to them: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. ["nation against nation" - "ethnicity vs ethnicity"]
21:11) There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.
21:12) "But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all for my name's sake.
21:13) This will result in your being witnesses to them. [opportunity to testify]
21:14) But settle it in your hearts not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves.
21:15) For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. [settle it in your heart!]
21:16) You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death.
21:17) All men will hate you for my name's sake. [not because of anything else] • [They don't hate us because we're rich, but for his name's sake.]
21:18) But not a hair of your head will perish.
21:19) By your patience possess your souls. [Settle it! Take Control.]
• Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
22:1) Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching,
22:2) and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people.
22:3) Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, who was numbered among the Twelve.
22:4) And Judas went his way to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and communed with them how he might betray Jesus. ["his way" - what of "thou shalt not murder?" Judas' way = satan's way.]
22:5) They were delighted and covenanted to give him money. [Judas had a plan]
23:1) Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate.
23:2) And they began to accuse him, saying, "We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Christ, a king." [What happened to "not bearing false witness"?]
23:3) So Pilate asked Jesus, "Are you the king of the Jews?" "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied.
23:4) Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, "I find no basis for a charge against this man."
23:5) But they were more fierce, saying, "He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here." [preaching the blessing of Abraham]
23:6) On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean.
23:7) When he learned that Jesus was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.
23:8) When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform some miracle.
23:9) He plied him with many questions, but Jesus answered him nothing. [Why should he answer? Herod tried to kill him when he was a child.]
23:10) The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him.
23:11) Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate.
23:12) That day Herod and Pilate became friends --before this they had been enemies. [The wicked stand together against righteousness.]
23:13) Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people,
23:14) and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no fault in this man concerning those things of which you accuse him.
23:15) Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death.
23:16) Therefore, I will punish him and then release him."
23:17) Now he was obliged to release one man to them at the feast.
23:18) With one voice they cried out, "Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!"
23:19) (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.
23:20) Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again.
23:21) But they kept shouting, "Crucify him! Crucify him!
23:22) For the third time he spoke to them: "Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him."
23:23) But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified; and the voices of them and the chief priests prevailed. [They're still trying to "mob-rule" government.]
23:24) So Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested.
23:25) He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, but he surrendered Jesus to their will.
• The Crucifixion
23:26) As they led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.
23:27) A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him.
23:28) Jesus turned and said to them, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.
23:29) For the time will come when you will say, 'Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!'
23:30) Then "'they will say to the mountains, "Fall on us!" and to the hills, "Cover us!"' [Revelation 6:16]
23:31) For if men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?"
23:32) Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.
23:33) When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals--one on his right, the other on his left.
23:34) Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
23:35) The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One."
23:36) The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar
23:37) and said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself."
23:38) There was a written notice above him, which read: "This is the King of the Jews."
23:39) One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"
23:40) But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? : [Romans 8:1]
23:41) We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."
23:42) Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom. "
23:43) Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
• Jesus' Death
23:44) It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour,
23:45) for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.
23:46) Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." Having said that, he gave up the ghost. [Jesus "gave" up his spirit; they did not kill him]
23:47) The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, "Surely this was a righteous man."
23:48) When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away.
23:49) But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
• Jesus' Burial
23:50) Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man,
23:51) who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea and he was waiting for the kingdom of God.
23:52) Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body.
23:53) Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid.
23:54) It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. [verse 23:17 - High Sabbath - Wednesday]
23:55) The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it.
23:56) Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.
• Menu: Luke • Bible: All Books
• The Resurrection
24:1) On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.
24:2) They found the stone rolled away from the tomb,
24:3) but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
24:4) While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.
24:5) In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? [They came very early - he was already risen]
24:6) He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:
24:7) 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' "
24:8) Then they remembered his words.
24:9) When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others.
24:10) It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles.
24:11) But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. [verse 25]
24:12) Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.
• On the Road to Emmaus
24:13) Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem.
24:14) They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.
24:15) As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them;
24:16) but their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know him.
24:17) He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?" They stood still, their faces downcast.
24:18) Then one whose name was Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?"
24:19) "What things?" he asked. "About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.
24:20) The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him;
24:21) but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, today is the third day since all this took place.
24:22) In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning
24:23) but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive.
24:24) Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."
24:25) He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
24:26) Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" [Had they believed the Word, they would have believed the women.]
24:27) And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
24:28) As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther.
24:29) But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them.
24:30) When he was at the table with them, he took bread, and blessed it, broke it and began to give it to them. [They recognized the Blessing; that's what he preaches.]
24:31) Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he vanished from their sight.
24:32) They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?" [Born again]
24:33) They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together
24:34) and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon."
24:35) Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
• Jesus Appears to the Disciples
24:36) While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."
24:37) They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost.
24:38) He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? [John 20:17]
24:39) Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself ! Handle me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have."
24:40) When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. [Seeing his hands and feet did not bring faith — hearing the Word did.]
24:41) And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?"
24:42) They gave him a piece of broiled fish,
24:43) and he took it and ate it in their presence.
24:44) He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."
24:45) Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. [verse 25]
24:46) He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,
24:47) and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
24:48) You are witnesses of these things.
24:49) Behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are endued with power from on high." [Don't leave without the power.]
• The Ascension
24:50) When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. [Acts 3:25‑26; Deuteronomy 8:18]
24:51) While he blessed them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.
24:52) Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.
24:53) And they stayed continually at the temple, praising and blessing God.
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