A Daily Bible Study in 7-Day Sections with a Summary-Commentary, Discussion Questions, and Daily Application
This is a chronological parallel study of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The text is grouped into seven daily sections, making it useful for a week-long study beginning on Sunday and continuing through the week. Coupled with the canonical New Testament study (which does not include the gospels) this is a 52 week tour through the whole New Testament that may be completed in one year. A similar 52 week tour of the Old Testament (chronological) is also available.
Each of the four Gospels is written to a different audience and intended to address a different element of the “good news” telling of the miraculous birth, life ministry, and sacrificial death of the Son of man Jesus. Our purpose is to identify both the unique and the key themes running concurrently and chronologically in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
Introduction |
|
Week One of Twelve |
Matthew 1:2; Luke 1:2; John 1:1-18 |
Week Two of Twelve |
Mathew 3:4; 12:1-32; Mark 1:3; Luke 3:6; John 1:19-51; 2:5 |
Week Three of Twelve |
Matthew 5:7 |
Week Four of Twelve |
Matthew 8:1-13; 11; 12:33-50; Luke 7; 8:19-21; 11 |
Week Five of Twelve |
Matthew 8:14-10:42; 13; Mark 4:5; Luke 8:1-18; 22-56 |
Week Six of Twelve |
Matthew 14:1-15:31; Mark 6:7; Luke 9:1-17; John 6 |
Week Seven of Twelve |
Matthew 15:32-18:9; Mark 8:9; Luke 9:18-62 |
Week Eight of Twelve |
Matthew 18:10-35; Luke 10:1-12:12; John 7:10 |
Week Nine of Twelve |
Matthew 19:20; Mark 10; Luke 12:13-19:27 |
Week Ten of Twelve |
Matthew 21:25, Mark 11:13; Luke 19:28-21:38, John 11:1-13:17 |
Week Eleven of Twelve |
Matthew 26:1-46; Mark 14:1-42; Luke 22:1-46; John 13:18-17:26 |
Week Twelve of Twelve |
Matthew 26:47-28:20; Mark 14:43-16:20; Luke 22:47-24:53; John 18:1-21:25 |
The following is a chronological parallel study of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The text is grouped into twelve weeks of Sunday - Saturday studies, making it useful for personal daily study or easily adaptable for group weekly discussion and sharing.
Each of the four Gospels is written to a different audience and is intended to address a different element of the Good News of the miraculous birth, life ministry, and sacrificial death of the Son of man, Jesus. Our purpose is to identify the vital threads of both the unique and common themes running concurrently and chronologically through Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
Matthew writes a first-hand account of his experiences and observations while following Jesus, primarily to a Hebrew audience. Mark also writes a first-hand account, primarily to a Greek Gentile audience, to explain the Good News. Luke's text is assembled from collected accounts of the experiences and observations of others, and he primarily writes to non-Jews to clarify and organize the Good News. John writes a first-hand account, primarily to teach and equip Believers for evangelism of the Good News.
Our studies are in common with the motivations of Luke: Prompted by the Lord God, he set out to make the Good News clear and thoroughly documented, that we may "know for certain" (Luke 1:4) the things which we are taught. We have set ourselves about a similar task, that of bringing Truth in plainspoken words and an orderly manner to a new generation; Jesus instructed us to encourage and to teach one another. The reader may find it valuable to visit http://net.bible.org to read the NET Bible translator's notes, which contain a wealth of perspective.
The context of the Gospels within the larger Biblical text.
Malachi, the last Book in the Old Testament Canon, relates in chronological order the events which bring the Old Testament to a conclusion. Malachi reminds Israel how God has set her apart and sustained her. God's faithfulness was disrespected by his people through their sacrilege of priestly service and message - along with rebellion, resistance, and arrogant self-sufficiency. The Word of the Lord concludes with a warning of impending judgment together with the hope of a redeemer, "the sun of righteousness" (Mal. 4:2).
A great deal of time passed in history from the Book of Malachi to the earliest writings of the New Testament. The Gospels pick up history as it transitions from the Old Testament into the New Testament and merges elements of Old Testament Law and New Testament Grace.
It is important that the Bible reader have clear understanding of the meaning of terms the Lord God uses in His Word. The NET translation team and others have wrestled with the meaning of Biblical words in their original context and language. Some terms have historically escaped precise rendering as they were transitioned from the ancient Hebrew or Greek original text-sources to early-English, and later to modern English. Many helpful tools are available to aid in understanding the intended meaning of Biblical words, for example:
Naves Topical Bible Dictionary
Collaborative International Dictionary of English Bible Dictionary
NET Bible Word Study (http://classic.net.bible.org/lexicon.php)
One of the most-valuable tools for clarity is discovered while reading some of the 60,000 translator's notes accompanying the NET Bible, that is, the full context of the Biblical text. When in doubt one may begin with the certainty that no text may contradict any other text. This self-clarifying principle is as unique to the Word of God as it is unique to His perfection.
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2012 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study –“The Parallel Gospels in Chronological Order” – Week 1 of 12 - prepared by David M. Colburn and edited by Merrilee Kell Clark for bible.org in June of 2012. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
Explanatory Preface
1:1 Now many have undertaken to compile an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 1:2 like the accounts passed on to us by those who were eyewitnesses and servants of the word from the beginning. 1:3 So it seemed good to me as well, because I have followed all things carefully from the beginning, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 1:4 so that you may know for certain the things you were taught.
Birth Announcement of John the Baptist
1:5 During the reign of Herod king of Judea, there lived a priest named Zechariah who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah, and he had a wife named Elizabeth, who was a descendant of Aaron. 1:6 They were both righteous in the sight of God, following all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. 1:7 But they did not have a child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both very old.
1:8 Now while Zechariah was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 1:9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the holy place of the Lord and burn incense. 1:10 Now the whole crowd of people were praying outside at the hour of the incense offering. 1:11 An angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense, appeared to him. 1:12 And Zechariah, visibly shaken when he saw the angel, was seized with fear. 1:13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son; you will name him John. 1:14 Joy and gladness will come to you, and many will rejoice at his birth, 1:15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. 1:16 He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 1:17 And he will go as forerunner before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.”
1:18 Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is old as well.” 1:19 The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 1:20 And now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will be silent, unable to speak, until the day these things take place.”
1:21 Now the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they began to wonder why he was delayed in the holy place. 1:22 When he came out, he was not able to speak to them. They realized that he had seen a vision in the holy place, because he was making signs to them and remained unable to speak. 1:23 When his time of service was over, he went to his home.
1:24 After some time his wife Elizabeth became pregnant, and for five months she kept herself in seclusion. She said, 1:25 “This is what the Lord has done for me at the time when he has been gracious to me, to take away my disgrace among people.”
Lord, as Your Word transitions from the Law-based practices and traditions of the Old Testament, may I be sensitive to Your emphasis on the way that the Gospels introduce Your new covenant built on Your sovereign gift of Grace through Jesus the Christ.
Luke tells the reader that he is following the pattern others used in reporting the events that were recorded “by those who were eyewitnesses” (Luke 1:2), which he was not. Luke acknowledges that he has undertaken to compile an “orderly account” (vs. 3) to edify and to reinforce for Theophilus what he has been taught absent as complete a document as Luke has now compiled for him [and us].
The priest Zechariah, serving his turn in the temple where only a few are permitted, enters fearfully to burn incense to God on behalf of the people. Luke tells of the angelic messenger Gabriel, “who stands in the presence of God,” (1:19), bringing to Zechariah news of the upcoming miracle-birth of John (the Baptist or Baptizer) by his elderly wife. Gabriel is one of the rarely-named angels in the Bible. Zechariah, as a result of doubting the angelic proclamation even while in the presence of an angel, is struck mute until the prophesy is fulfilled.
Zechariah is without excuse for his doubts, because as a high priest he knows of God’s prophesies delivered via angels in the Old Testament and of God’s expectation that His heavenly emissaries be treated with the respect due them.
Zechariah, although knowing well the fulfilled past prophesies of God, doubted Him based upon the unreliable evidence of what his mind’s eye saw with his worldly [non-spiritual] eyes [experience]: he and Elizabeth were elderly, much like Abraham and his wife Sarai, and past child-bearing years.
God tells us what we need to know, when we need to know it. He gave us His Word and, as we are waiting on Him, speaks to our hearts and minds. God’s written Word, illuminated by His Holy Spirit, is His primary means of communicating to His children today.
Do we, like Zechariah, also doubt God’s promises and then wonder why His blessings do not flow more freely in and through us into the lives of others?
When have you known clearly what God expected of you, yet doubted His provision or His wisdom? How has that made you temporarily “mute” in your witness for Him?
Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of the perfection of God.
I will prayerfully discern where my doubts about God have resulted in harm to my witness for Him, so that like Zechariah I am “mute.” Partnering with the Holy Spirit, I will repent (turn away) from my doubts and make an intentional effort to follow and trust God.
Be Specific ________________________________________________
Birth Announcement of Jesus the Messiah
1:26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, 1:27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendant of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. 1:28 The angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one, the Lord is with you!” 1:29 But she was greatly troubled by his words and began to wonder about the meaning of this greeting. 1:30 So the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God! 1:31 Listen: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 1:32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. 1:33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end.” 1:34 Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?” 1:35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called the Son of God.
1:36 “And look, your relative Elizabeth has also become pregnant with a son in her old age: although she was called barren, she is now in her sixth month! 1:37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 1:38 So Mary said, “Yes, I am a servant of the Lord; let this happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
Mary and Elizabeth
1:39 In those days Mary got up and went hurriedly into the hill country, to a town of Judah, 1:40 and entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. 1:41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 1:42 She exclaimed with a loud voice, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child in your womb! 1:43 And who am I that the mother of my Lord should come and visit me? 1:44 For the instant the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 1:45 And blessed is she who believed that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled.”
Mary’s Hymn of Praise
1:46 And Mary said,
“My soul exalts the Lord,
1:47 and my spirit has begun to rejoice in God my Savior,
1:48 because he has looked upon the humble state of his servant.
For from now on all generations will call me blessed,
1:49 because he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name;
1:50 from generation to generation he is merciful to those who fear him.
1:51 He has demonstrated power with his arm; he has scattered those whose pride wells up from the sheer arrogance of their hearts.
1:52 He has brought down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up those of lowly position;
1:53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and has sent the rich away empty.
1:54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering his mercy,
1:55 as he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
1:56 So Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her home.
The Birth of John
1:57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to have her baby, and she gave birth to a son. 1:58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.
1:59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they wanted to name him Zechariah after his father. 1:60 But his mother replied, “No! He must be named John.” 1:61 They said to her, “But none of your relatives bears this name.” 1:62 So they made signs to the baby’s father, inquiring what he wanted to name his son. 1:63 He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed. 1:64 Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue released, and he spoke, blessing God. 1:65 All their neighbors were filled with fear, and throughout the entire hill country of Judea all these things were talked about. 1:66 All who heard these things kept them in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the Lord’s hand was indeed with him.
Zechariah’s Praise and Prediction
1:67 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied,
1:68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
because he has come to help and has redeemed his people.
1:69 For he has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,
1:70 as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from long ago,
1:71 that we should be saved from our enemies,
and from the hand of all who hate us.
1:72 He has done this to show mercy to our ancestors,
and to remember his holy covenant:
1:73 the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham.
This oath grants
1:74 that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies,
may serve him without fear,
1:75 in holiness and righteousness before him for as long as we live.
1:76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High.
For you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
1:77 to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins.
1:78 Because of our God’s tender mercy
the dawn will break upon us from on high
1:79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
1:80 And the child kept growing and becoming strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he was revealed to Israel.
Lord, may my faith be as childlike and obedient as that of Mary.
The angel prophesies the virgin birth of Jesus to the young woman Mary, who is to receive the incredible blessing of being maternal host to He whose “kingdom will never end” (Luke 1:33). Luke records the angel Gabriel reassuring Mary that God sent him to tell her that “the power of the Most High will overshadow you,” causing her to conceive and give birth to a son Who will be called “the Son of God” (vs. 35).
Notable is Mary’s righteous response offered with the expected humility of every true child of God: “Yes, I am a servant of the Lord, let this happen to me according to Your word” (Luke 1:38).
Mary visits and greets Elizabeth, who becomes “filled with the Holy Spirit” (Luke 1:41), declares in a loud voice the miracle of God, and praises Him in the language common to her time and place. [Note: This is an interesting qualifier for the idea that speaking ‘filled with the Spirit’ is always in so-called tongues (a nonhuman ‘spiritual’ language).]
Together Mary and Joseph celebrate with the Holy Spirit the fulfillment of prophesy growing within them. Mary shares a hymn of praise, “My soul exalts the Lord” (Luke 1:46), and returns to her home.
Luke accounts the birth of a son to Elizabeth, the naming of him John, and the release of Zechariah from being temporarily deaf and mute. [The NET study note regarding Luke 1:62, “they made signs to the baby’s father,” informs “The fact that they needed to signal him (made signs) shows that he was deaf as well as unable to speak.”] Zechariah, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesied that the way to salvation is “through the forgiveness of their sins” (Luke 1:77) Once again, the filling of the Spirit caused a Heaven-sent message to be uttered in a known versus “spiritual” tongue.
Luke concludes his account by noting the passage of time leading up to John’s public ministry in the wilderness, time during which John becomes increasingly “strong in spirit” (Luke 1:80). John draws nearer to God in relationship and bolder in the declaration of Truth, resulting in his having no regard for the approval or reproof of mere man.
Do we respond to a challenging word from God with the faithful submission of Mary?
Do we celebrate with other Believers, and with the Holy Spirit, the miracles of God in us and in our lives?
Do we understand what it means to become increasingly “strong in spirit” and what this means in our personal walk with Christ?
Have you been confronted with a challenge in your service to God, one which would likely place you at odds with others? What resulted?
Ask the Spirit to encourage you in your life of service to God.
Today I will choose one area in my life where God has challenged me, yet was met with my resistance, and I will intentionally work towards having a more submissive heart.
I will celebrate with other Believers the blessings He has poured out on me, inviting the Holy Spirit of God to join us in celebration.
I will practice growing in the spirit and drawing nearer to Him, through daily prayer and intentional Bible study.
Be Specific _____________________________________________
The Prologue to the Gospel
1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. 1:2 The Word was with God in the beginning. 1:3 All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. 1:4 In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind. 1:5 And the light shines on in the darkness, but the darkness has not mastered it.
1:6 A man came, sent from God, whose name was John. 1:7 He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that everyone might believe through him. 1:8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. 1:9 The true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was created by him, but the world did not recognize him. 1:11 He came to what was his own, but his own people did not receive him. 1:12 But to all who have received him: those who believe in his name: he has given the right to become God’s children 1:13: children not born by human parents or by human desire or a husband’s decision, but by God.
1:14 Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw his glory - the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father. 1:15 John testified about him and shouted out, “This one was the one about whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is greater than I am, because he existed before me.’“ 1:16 For we have all received from his fullness one gracious gift after another. 1:17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came about through Jesus Christ. 1:18 No one has ever seen God. The only one, himself God, who is in closest fellowship with the Father, has made God known.
Lord, I am myself humbled to know that Jesus, Who was present at Creation, humbled Himself to be born of a fallen human, which bears powerful witness to Your incredible sacrificial love.
John inexorably links Jesus (Who is “the Word” and “fully God,” 1:1) to Creation by proclaiming that in the beginning all things came in to being by Him, “the life...the light of mankind” (vs. 4). Even though mankind in rebellion chooses darkness, this light continues to “shine on in the darkness, but the darkness has not mastered” (vs. 5) the light.
John introduces the man and the ministry of John the Baptist (or as some might have it, the Baptizer), a truly humble man who would “testify about the light” (John 1:7) and proclaim the coming of the Christ. He reminds that Christ is the “true light, who gives light to everyone” (vs. 9). Jesus, a part of the Trinity, created the Earth and everything in it, yet man failed to recognize and “receive Him” (vs. 11).
Redemptive salvation, the “right to become God’s children” (John 1:12), is the sovereign provision of God. John proclaims it to be a right irrespective of to whom one is related (born by human parents), what man wants or wills for himself (by human desire), or any mandate of ones spouse (a husband’s decision). Salvation is obtained purely by an individual’s choice to accept the Lordship of Christ, may not be coerced, and is provided for only by the sovereign grace of God.
John reminds that “the Word became flesh” and humbled Himself to live among us” a demonstration of His glory” and that He was an absolutely unique being, “the one and only [the only begotten]...who came from the Father” (John 1:14).
The Apostle John dismisses any doubt that may remain (after a careful study of Genesis 1-4) of the participation of the Son, together with the other two Persons of the Trinity, in Creation.
Do we appreciate what He gave up for us? He was a flawless perfect Being, untouched by the ravages of the Fall, Who dwelled with the Father in Heaven before humbling Himself to be born a man.
Do we observe that the light of God is always present no matter how dark things appear?
When and how have you celebrated and shared with another the Good News of the undeserved gift of salvation?
Ask the Spirit to show you light where you see only darkness.
Today I choose to thank God that, no matter how dark things seem, His light is always there for me.
I will celebrate His undeserved gift of salvation and pray that He will trust me with an opportunity to tell somebody about the Good News.
Be Specific _________________________________________________
Matthew
The Genealogy of Jesus Christ
1:1 This is the record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
1:2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 1:3 Judah the father of Perez and Zerah (by Tamar), Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, 1:4 Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, 1:5 Salmon the father of Boaz (by Rahab), Boaz the father of Obed (by Ruth), Obed the father of Jesse, 1:6 and Jesse the father of David the king. David was the father of Solomon (by the wife of Uriah), 1:7 Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa, 1:8 Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, Joram the father of Uzziah, 1:9 Uzziah the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, 1:10 Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah, 1:11 and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.
1:12 After the deportation to Babylon, Jeconiah became the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, 1:13 Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, Abiud the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, 1:14 Azor the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Achim, Achim the father of Eliud, 1:15 Eliud the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, 1:16 and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.
1:17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to Christ, fourteen generations.
The Birth of Jesus Christ
1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ happened this way. While his mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 1:19 Because Joseph, her husband to be, was a righteous man, and because he did not want to disgrace her, he intended to divorce her privately. 1:20 When he had contemplated this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 1:21 She will give birth to a son and you will name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 1:22 This all happened so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet would be fulfilled: 1:23 “Look! The virgin will conceive and bear a son, and they will call him Emmanuel,” which means “God with us.” 1:24 When Joseph awoke from sleep he did what the angel of the Lord told him. He took his wife, 1:25 but did not have marital relations with her until she gave birth to a son, whom he named Jesus.
Luke
The Census and the Birth of Jesus
2:1 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus to register all the empire for taxes. 2:2 This was the first registration, taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 2:3 Everyone went to his own town to be registered. 2:4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David. 2:5 He went to be registered with Mary, who was promised in marriage to him, and who was expecting a child. 2:6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 2:7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
The Shepherds’ Visit
2:8 Now there were shepherds nearby living out in the field, keeping guard over their flock at night. 2:9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were absolutely terrified. 2:10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! Listen carefully, for I proclaim to you good news that brings great joy to all the people: 2:11 Today your Savior is born in the city of David. He is Christ the Lord. 2:12 This will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.” 2:13 Suddenly a vast, heavenly army appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
2:14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among people with whom he is pleased!”
2:15 When the angels left them and went back to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, that the Lord has made known to us.” 2:16 So they hurried off and located Mary and Joseph, and found the baby lying in a manger. 2:17 When they saw him, they related what they had been told about this child, 2:18 and all who heard it were astonished at what the shepherds said. 2:19 But Mary treasured up all these words, pondering in her heart what they might mean. 2:20 So the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen; everything was just as they had been told.
2:21 At the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
Lord, Your consistency in keeping every promise, showing me that You never change, is the reassurance I so desperately need in this fallen and unstable world.
Matthew documents the genealogy of the human Jesus, “all the generations from Abraham...to Christ” (1:17), evidence that God kept His promise to bless the world with a redeemer from the line of Abraham and David.
Luke recounts the demand of the Roman Empire that a census be taken “to register all the empire for taxes” (2:1). Joseph of the “house and family line of David” (vs. 4) travels from Nazareth to Bethlehem, where the Romans had assigned his family to be counted. Joseph is engaged (traditionally the same as marriage, minus the final step of approval for marital relations) to Mary, who is pregnant and gives birth to a son once they arrive in Bethlehem.
Matthew’s story of the pregnancy and birthing by Mary of the baby Jesus is recorded similar to Luke’s, although unique to Matthew is the text “an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream” (Matthew 1:20) which purpose was to keep Joseph from divorcing Mary; just as an angel of the Lord was dispatched to stay Abraham’s hand from sacrificing Isaac (see Genesis 22).
Angels appear to shepherds and announce the birth of “your Savior” (Luke 2:11). Choosing to go to Bethlehem to see the child, the shepherds share the angelic message of the coming child with Mary and Joseph and everyone they meet. [Note: The shepherds were very likely a specialized group assigned to care for sacrificial lambs, unblemished lambs kept apart for sacrifice. They would have known where to find Jesus, nearby in the same place the sacrificial lambs were sheltered.]
After eight days Jesus is circumcised, and Mary and Joseph give Him the name of Jesus, “the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb” (Luke 2:21).
God reminds us throughout His Word that He always keeps His word. Do we observe that our view of things is often obscured by worldly expectations rather than enlightened by God’s promises?
God used the census by the Roman Empire to fulfill one element of His prophesy and the shepherds of sacrificial lambs to deliver the angels’ message to the parents of the Sacrificial Lamb, Jesus.
Do we acknowledge that we need to wait patiently on the Lord, like Joseph, before we act precipitously? It would have been difficult in that culture and time to be traveling with a pregnant fiancé.
When have “worldly eyes” led you to make a decision, similar to Joseph contemplating divorce, but God stepped in and opened your eyes to see His perspective?
Ask the Holy Spirit to recall to your memory places and times where you frequently act without first consulting Him, and agree with God to slow down and ask the Holy Spirit first before acting.
Today I choose to recognize God’s faithfulness at a moment in my life, thank Him for His faithfulness, and then share that with one who needs encouragement.
Be Specific ________________________________________________
Matthew
The Visit of the Wise Men
2:1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, in the time of King Herod, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem 2:2 saying, “Where is the one who is born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 2:3 When King Herod heard this he was alarmed, and all Jerusalem with him. 2:4 After assembling all the chief priests and experts in the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 2:5 “In Bethlehem of Judea,” they said, “for it is written this way by the prophet:
2:6 “And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are in no way least among the rulers of Judah, for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.”
2:7 Then Herod privately summoned the wise men and determined from them when the star had appeared. 2:8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and look carefully for the child. When you find him, inform me so that I can go and worship him as well.” 2:9 After listening to the king they left, and once again the star they saw when it rose led them until it stopped above the place where the child was. 2:10 When they saw the star they shouted joyfully. 2:11 As they came into the house and saw the child with Mary his mother, they bowed down and worshiped him. They opened their treasure boxes and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 2:12 After being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back by another route to their own country.
Luke
Jesus’ Presentation at the Temple
2:22 Now when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, Joseph and Mary brought Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 2:23 (just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male will be set apart to the Lord”), 2:24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is specified in the law of the Lord, a pair of doves or two young pigeons.
The Prophecy of Simeon
2:25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon who was righteous and devout, looking for the restoration 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 So Simeon, directed by the Spirit, came into the temple courts, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary according to the law, 2:28 Simeon took him in his arms and blessed God, saying,
2:29 “Now, according to your word, Sovereign Lord, permit your servant to depart in peace.
2:30 For my eyes have seen your salvation
2:31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples:
2:32 a light,
for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”
2:33 So the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him. 2:34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “Listen carefully: This child is destined to be the cause of the falling and rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be rejected. 2:35 Indeed, as a result of him the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed: and a sword will pierce your own soul as well!”
The Testimony of Anna
2:36 There was also a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old, having been married to her husband for seven years until his death. 2:37 She had lived as a widow since then for eighty-four years. She never left the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 2:38 At that moment, she came up to them and began to give thanks to God and to speak about the child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
2:39 So when Joseph and Mary had performed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 2:40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon him.
Lord, may I be sensitive to my obligations and Your promptings, as were the wise men, and present my life to You in tribute and worship.
Jesus is presented at the Temple for the purification ritual, “according to the law of Moses” (Luke 2:22), which required the first born male to be “set apart to the Lord” (see Exod. 13:2). In the Temple, the prophets Simeon and Anna both affirm the child Jesus’ deity and purpose as the Savior; they bless Mary and Joseph, rejoicing with them.
Upon completion by Mary and Joseph of the Old Testament purification ritual for a male child, they return to the town of Nazareth. “And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon Him” (Luke 2:40).
“Wise men” (Matt. 2:1), acting on their awareness of prophesy related to the coming of a new and unique King Whose birth would be heralded by a bright star, come to Jerusalem to look for the child. They recognize their obligation to bring tribute and, in astonishment and with awe, “bowed down and worshiped Him” (vs. 11).
King Herod makes effort to trick the wise men into revealing the location of the baby Jesus, so that He might be eliminated as a threat to him: “Go and look carefully for the child. When you find him, inform me so that I can go and worship him as well” (Matt. 2:8). God warns the wise men in a dream not to return to Herod, for they would, inadvertently, be assisting him in his murderous plans.
Do we see the hand of Satan in King Herod’s attempt to defeat God? Are we as in awe of God’s gift as were the wise men?
Are we well-informed of the teachings of the Bible, so that when something happens that is prophesied by the Bible we, like the wise men, will recognize it?
When have you recognized God moving in your life, or in the life of your Christian community, and made a special effort to give Him tribute and worship?
Ask the Holy Spirit to make you more sensitive to God’s working in the world around you and also to the Enemy’s schemes to interfere with His work in you.
Today I choose to recognize one area in my life where the Enemy manipulates me in an attempt to impede the plan of God, and to pray against that interference.
I will pause and recall in amazement and with gratitude what God has done for me and share that with another Believer.
Be Specific _____________________________________________
The Escape to Egypt
2:13 After they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to look for the child to kill him.” 2:14 Then he got up, took the child and his mother during the night, and went to Egypt. 2:15. He stayed there until Herod died. In this way what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet was fulfilled: “I called my Son out of Egypt.”
2:16 When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he became enraged. He sent men to kill all the children in Bethlehem and throughout the surrounding region from the age of two and under, according to the time he had learned from the wise men. 2:17 Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled:
2:18 “A voice was heard in Ramah,
weeping and loud wailing,
Rachel weeping for her children,
and she did not want to be comforted, because they were gone.”
The Return to Nazareth
2:19 After Herod had died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 2:20 saying, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child’s life are dead.” 2:21 So he got up and took the child and his mother and returned to the land of Israel. 2:22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. After being warned in a dream, he went to the regions of Galilee. 2:23 He came to a town called Nazareth and lived there. Then what had been spoken by the prophets was fulfilled, that Jesus would be called a Nazarene.
Lord, may I be alert to Your warning of how to avoid places of danger.
In a dream, an angel cautions Joseph to flee from Herod to Egypt and “stay there until I tell you” (Matt. 2:13). In the same way that God had called His ‘son’ the nation of Israel out of Egypt, He called His Son Jesus “out of Egypt” (vs. 15).
Matthew records the demonic rage of Herod when he discovers that he has been “tricked by the wise men” (2:16), who had not informed him of the whereabouts of the baby Jesus, and so has missed the opportunity to murder the baby Jesus. Herod, in a desperate last-ditch effort, has his soldiers kill every child in Bethlehem below the age of two. [Note: His reaction is eerily reminiscent of Pharaoh’s genocidal declaration, “All sons that are born you must throw in to the river” (Exod. 1:22) during his attempt to cripple the Israelite nation.] Although failing in his evil mission, Herod fulfills the prophesy of the Prophet Jeremiah, “Rachel weeping for her children...because her children are gone” (31:15).
Once Herod dies, God sends an angel to instruct Joseph to “take the child and his mother...to the land of Israel” (Matt. 2:20). Arriving in the region of Judea, he discovers that the equally evil son of Herod reigns. At the prompting of an angel, Joseph moves on to the region of Galilee, “to a town called Nazareth” (vs. 23), fulfilling the prophesy that Jesus would be known as a Nazarene.
God calls us out of our places of hiding, our Egypt’s, and in to His light to be under His protection.
The Enemy is filled with insane hatred and rage for anyone and anything associated with Jesus and thus attempts to subvert or destroy all who are His and all He is doing.
We must be alert to and avoid the “regions” controlled by the Enemy and his demons. In the light given to us by God, we must learn to recognize and avoid if possible those dark places.
When has God called you out of a place of safety, where you have been in hiding from the people and pressures that threaten you, to once again be ‘in the world but not of it’ (see John 17:15,16) to do His work?
Ask the Holy Spirit to press into you the wisdom to know when you are hiding from things that are truly dangerous vs. hiding from His chastisement and conviction for your sinful choices.
Today I choose to discern a place where I have been hiding, maybe a place where I run from fellow humans or where I avoid serving Him. I will surrender these “secret places” to Him.
I will also discern a place where I know the Enemy is strong in my life e.g. on the Internet, in the company of a person or persons, at a specific location (bar, beach, club, home), during a form of entertainment (hobby, TV, sport) - and I will intentionally avoid that place.
Be Specific _____________________________________________
Jesus in the Temple
2:41 Now Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem every year for the feast of the Passover. 2:42 When he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. 2:43 But when the feast was over, as they were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 2:44 but (because they assumed that he was in their group of travelers) they went a day’s journey. Then they began to look for him among their relatives and acquaintances. 2:45 When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. 2:46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 2:47 And all who heard Jesus were astonished at his understanding and his answers. 2:48 When his parents saw him, they were overwhelmed. His mother said to him, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously.” 2:49 But he replied, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 2:50 Yet his parents did not understand the remark he made to them. 2:51 Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. But his mother kept all these things in her heart.
2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and with people.
Lord, may Your favor be on me as I am being prepared for ministry in Your name, as it was on Jesus as You prepared Him for ministry.
Luke records evidence that Jesus, at 12 years of age, makes His unique knowledge and understanding of God’s Word obvious to others. “‘Why were you looking for Me? Didn’t you know that I must be in My Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49) illustrates the failure of His parents to be adequately watchful and to fully understand Who Jesus truly is.
“And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and with people” (Luke 2:52) does not denote that God’s favor is earned through works. Rather, it states that God blessed Him, and blesses us, in preparation for His ministry through us, more so when we desire for ourselves what He desires for us; wisdom and righteous living.
Becoming strong is a repeated biblical theme for Christians. The Apostle Paul challenges us to be strong in caring for our physical bodies, the “temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor. 6:19), and strong in training for spiritual warfare using “the full armor of God” (Eph. 6:11).
The age of 12 appears to be a developmental point of reference for the human capacity to fully engage the complex thinking necessary to volitionally comprehend and respond effectively to the call of God to a saving relationship with Him.
Just as Jesus in the flesh, our prototype, was not asked of God to perform works in order to receive blessings for ministry, neither are we. He desires our obedience and our submission as evidence of our availability to serve for His glory and not our own.
When preparing for a specific ministry, perhaps a short-term mission trip or a service project, did you sense God blessing your preparation?
Ask the Holy Spirit to convict you of a place in your life where you need to be better prepared to serve Him.
Today I choose, for the sake of my physical body, “the temple of the Holy Spirit of God,” to improve on something that I do or to begin something I don’t do. I will revisit the “full armor of God” teaching.
I will ask God to bring me in to the company of a young person (approximately age 12) and, with the permission of the parents, encourage that young person to consider Christ.
Be Specific _________________________________________________
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2012 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study –“The Parallel Gospels in Chronological Order” – Week 1 of 12 - prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in June of 2012. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
Matthew
The Ministry of John the Baptist
3:1 In those days John the Baptist came into the wilderness of Judea proclaiming, 3:2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” 3:3 For he is the one about whom Isaiah the prophet had spoken:
“The voice of one shouting in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make his paths straight.’”
3:4 Now John wore clothing made from camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his diet consisted of locusts and wild honey. 3:5 Then people from Jerusalem, as well as all Judea and all the region around the Jordan, were going out to him, 3:6 and he was baptizing them in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins.
3:7 But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 3:8 Therefore produce fruit that proves your repentance, 3:9 and don’t think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that God can raise up children for Abraham from these stones! 3:10 Even now the ax is laid at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
3:11 “I baptize you with water, for repentance, but the one coming after me is more powerful than I am – I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 3:12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clean out his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the storehouse, but the chaff he will burn up with inextinguishable fire.”
The Baptism of Jesus
3:13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John to be baptized by him in the Jordan River. 3:14 But John tried to prevent him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?” 3:15 So Jesus replied to him, “Let it happen now, for it is right for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John yielded to him. 3:16 After Jesus was baptized, just as he was coming up out of the water, the heavens opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming on him. 3:17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my one dear Son; in him I take great delight.”
Mark
The Ministry of John the Baptist
1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 1:2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,
“Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way,
1:3 the voice of one shouting in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make his paths straight.’”
1:4 In the wilderness John the baptizer began preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 1:5 People from the whole Judean countryside and all of Jerusalem were going out to him, and he was baptizing them in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins. 1:6 John wore a garment made of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 1:7 He proclaimed, “One more powerful than I am is coming after me; I am not worthy to bend down and untie the strap of his sandals. 1:8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
The Baptism and Temptation [Testing] of Jesus
1:9 Now in those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan River. 1:10 And just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 1:11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my one dear Son; in you I take great delight.” 1:12 The Spirit immediately drove him into the wilderness. 1:13 He was in the wilderness forty days, enduring temptations from Satan. He was with wild animals, and angels were ministering to his needs.
Preaching in Galilee and the Call of the Disciples
1:14 Now after John was imprisoned, Jesus went into Galilee and proclaimed the gospel of God. 1:15 He said, “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the gospel!” 1:16 As he went along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew, Simon’s brother, casting a net into the sea (for they were fishermen). 1:17 Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will turn you into fishers of people.” 1:18 They left their nets immediately and followed him. 1:19 Going on a little farther, he saw James, the son of Zebedee, and John his brother in their boat mending nets. 1:20 Immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
Jesus’ Authority
1:21 Then they went to Capernaum. When the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 1:22 The people there were amazed by his teaching, because he taught them like one who had authority, not like the experts in the law. 1:23 Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, 1:24 “Leave us alone, Jesus the Nazarene! Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are – the Holy One of God!” 1:25 But Jesus rebuked him: “Silence! Come out of him!” 1:26 After throwing him into convulsions, the unclean spirit cried out with a loud voice and came out of him. 1:27 They were all amazed so that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He even commands the unclean spirits and they obey him.” 1:28 So the news about him spread quickly throughout all the region around Galilee.
Healings at Simon’s House
1:29 Now as soon as they left the synagogue, they entered Simon and Andrew’s house, with James and John. 1:30 Simon’s mother-in-law was lying down, sick with a fever, so they spoke to Jesus at once about her. 1:31 He came and raised her up by gently taking her hand. Then the fever left her and she began to serve them. 1:32 When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were sick and demon-possessed. 1:33 The whole town gathered by the door. 1:34 So he healed many who were sick with various diseases and drove out many demons. But he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.
Praying and Preaching
1:35 Then Jesus got up early in the morning when it was still very dark, departed, and went out to a deserted place, and there he spent time in prayer. 1:36 Simon and his companions searched for him. 1:37 When they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you.” 1:38 He replied, “Let us go elsewhere, into the surrounding villages, so that I can preach there too. For that is what I came out here to do.” 1:39 So he went into all of Galilee preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.
Cleansing a Leper
1:40 Now a leper came to him and fell to his knees, asking for help. “If you are willing, you can make me clean,” he said. 1:41 Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing. Be clean!” 1:42 The leprosy left him at once, and he was clean. 1:43 Immediately Jesus sent the man away with a very strong warning. 1:44 He told him, “See that you do not say anything to anyone, but go, show yourself to a priest, and bring the offering that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” 1:45 But as the man went out he began to announce it publicly and spread the story widely, so that Jesus was no longer able to enter any town openly but stayed outside in remote places. Still they kept coming to him from everywhere.
Luke
The Ministry of John the Baptist
3:1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, 3:2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3:3 He went into all the region around the Jordan River, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
3:4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,
“The voice of one shouting in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make his paths straight.
3:5 Every valley will be filled,
and every mountain and hill will be brought low,
and the crooked will be made straight,
and the rough ways will be made smooth,
3:6 and all humanity will see the salvation of God.’”
3:7 So John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You offspring of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 3:8 Therefore produce fruit that proves your repentance, and don’t begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that God can raise up children for Abraham from these stones! 3:9 Even now the ax is laid at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
3:10 So the crowds were asking him, “What then should we do?” 3:11 John answered them, “The person who has two tunics must share with the person who has none, and the person who has food must do likewise.” 3:12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?” 3:13 He told them, “Collect no more than you are required to.” 3:14 Then some soldiers also asked him, “And as for us – what should we do?” He told them, “Take money from no one by violence or by false accusation, and be content with your pay.”
3:15 While the people were filled with anticipation and they all wondered whether perhaps John could be the Christ, 3:16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with water, but one more powerful than I am is coming – I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 3:17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clean out his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his storehouse, but the chaff he will burn up with inextinguishable fire.”
3:18 And in this way, with many other exhortations, John proclaimed good news to the people. 3:19 But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the evil deeds that he had done, 3:20 Herod added this to them all: He locked up John in prison.
The Baptism of Jesus
3:21 Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus also was baptized. And while he was praying, the heavens 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 one dear Son; in you I take great delight.”
The Genealogy of Jesus
3:23 So Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years old. He was the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, 3:24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, 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 the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, 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 Melchi, 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 Sala, the son of Nahshon, 3:33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, 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, 3:38 the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
Lord, when I read Your Word as it transitions from the Old Testament to the New Testament, may I be mindful that the Law-based practices and traditions of the Old Testament began to collide in the Gospels with Your new covenant based on Grace through Christ.
Critical to and the essence of the ministry of John the Baptist was to call people to repentance and baptism in anticipation of the coming of the Savior: “One more powerful than I am is coming after me....I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (Mark 1:7,8).
Jesus the son of Joseph is baptized by John — Jesus the Son of God has no need of baptism. The announcement by the Holy Spirit, “You are My One dear Son; in You I take great delight” (Mark 1:11), declares in essence that Jesus is both unique and uniquely loved of God.
Worthy of note is that Jesus enduring “temptation from Satan” (Mark 1:13) forty days in the wilderness immediately follows God declaring His love for Him. Jesus, sinless up to this point in time, remains sinless after being tested (tempted) — in His weak physical condition, Jesus proves He is worthy to stand in our place as the sinless lamb to be sacrificed for the sins of all mankind.
While Jesus is teaching in the synagogue, “a man...with an unclean spirit” (Mark 1:23) cries out, “‘Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are — the Holy One of God!’” (vs. 24). [Note: The demon uses both the singular and plural personal pronouns when he cries out; apparently the demon speaks in fear for both itself and for all demons.]
Luke adds detail in his account of the ministry of John: He fixes “the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar” (3:1) as the time and “in all the region around the Jordan River” (vs. 3) as the place. John’s chastising words to the Sadducees and Pharisees, “You offspring of vipers” (vs. 7), and his fearless evangelical challenge, “Therefore produce fruit that proves your repentance” (vs. 8) are recorded.
In providing the genealogy, “He was the son (as was supposed) of Joseph” (Luke 3:23), all the way back to, “the son of Adam, the son of God” (vs. 38), Luke affirms that Jesus was the One of Whom prophesy spoke. [Note: In the Word, only Adam and Jesus are ever spoken of as “the son of God” and “the Son of God” — all others are called “the sons of men” in recorded Biblical genealogies.]
[Note: In describing the ministry of John, Luke emphasizes John’s challenge to the people, Matthew emphasizes his challenge to the religious leaders.]
The context of John’s ministry versus the ministry of Jesus is understood by John’s words, “I baptize you with water….He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matt. 3:11). [Note: Some understand “Holy Spirit” and “fire” as separate terms and as referring to two baptisms, a view often incorrectly used in the justification of a denominational doctrine. Yet, that these two terms refer to one baptism is clear: The baptismal fire of the Holy Spirit convicts the unsaved of sin and invites those to repent and accept the gift of Salvation offered by the Christ. The unsaved who reject the gift face a consuming and “inextinguishable fire” (vs. 12); he who accepts the gift of Salvation faces a cleansing and purifying fire.]
Jesus is both the Son of God (a person of the Trinity) and the son of Mary (a man) simultaneously. Gospel text describes the glory of the God-half of Jesus being slowly revealed in the man Jesus. This revelation of glory was to equip Him for a more powerful ministry while on the earth. Only after His ascension to Heaven did Jesus receive back His full glory.
Jesus the man needed to qualify as the sinless lamb of sacrifice: The Temple sacrifice for Him at eight days, His education in the Law and the Prophets, His baptism as hosted by John “for all righteousness,” and His fasting and testing in the desert were all done to keep to the letter the prophesies of the Christ. And to prepare Him in His human body for His ministry as a Heavenly Body.
The call to repentance is God’s message to both His followers and His leaders: Turn away from rebellion against God, whatever the form, and turn to the only One who can forgive and save. Everyone faces fire, either a consuming or a purifying fire — no one escapes. We each make a choice: no action is rebellion, rebellion is rebellion, and submission is freedom.
Identify some practical ways you might use to illustrate to someone (a seeker of Christ or a new Believer) the meaning behind these three “choices” one makes to either rebel or submit.
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you are, in any way, in rebellion against God.
Today I will identify one place in my life where I harbor rebellion against God (something I know to be against His perfect will for me). I will repent and turn from it. My rebellion may be a ‘common’ sin such as cheating, lying, or stealing, but Jesus taught that sin begins in a rebellious heart — I will look in my heart for evidence of anger, greed, covetousness, laziness, pride, selfishness, and unforgiveness. I will pray that God, through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, be Lord over that part of my life, and I will surrender it to Him.
Be Specific ________________________________________________
Matthew
The Temptation [Testing] of Jesus
4:1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 4:2 After he fasted forty days and forty nights he was famished. 4:3 The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread.” 4:4 But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 4:5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, had him stand on the highest point of the temple, 4:6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you’ and ‘with their hands they will lift you up, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 4:7 Jesus said to him, “Once again it is written: ‘You are not to put the Lord your God to the test.’” 4:8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their grandeur. 4:9 And he said to him, “I will give you all these things if you throw yourself to the ground and worship me.” 4:10 Then Jesus said to him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: ‘You are to worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’” 4:11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and began ministering to his needs.
Preaching in Galilee
4:12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been imprisoned, he went into Galilee. 4:13 While in Galilee, he moved from Nazareth to make his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, 4:14 so that what was spoken by Isaiah the prophet would be fulfilled:
4:15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the way by the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles –
4:16 the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light,
and on those who sit in the region and shadow of death a light has dawned.”
4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach this message: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
The Call of the Disciples
4:18 As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee he saw two brothers, Simon (called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea (for they were fishermen). 4:19 He said to them, “Follow me, and I will turn you into fishers of people.” 4:20 They left their nets immediately and followed him. 4:21 Going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in a boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. Then he called them. 4:22 They immediately left the boat and their father and followed him.
Jesus’ Healing Ministry
4:23 Jesus went throughout all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of disease and sickness among the people. 4:24 So a report about him spread throughout Syria. People brought to him all who suffered with various illnesses and afflictions, those who had seizures, paralytics, and those possessed by demons, and he healed them. 4:25 And large crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan River.
Luke
The Temptation [Testing] of Jesus
4:1 Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, 4:2 where for forty days he endured temptations from the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were completed, he was famished. 4:3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” 4:4 Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man does not live by bread alone.’”
4:5 Then the devil led him up to a high place and showed him in a flash all the kingdoms of the world. 4:6 And he said to him, “To you I will grant this whole realm – and the glory that goes along with it, for it has been relinquished to me, and I can give it to anyone I wish. 4:7 So then, if you will worship me, all this will be yours.” 4:8 Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘You are to worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’”
4:9 Then the devil brought him to Jerusalem, had him stand on the highest point of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 4:10 for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,’ 4:11 and ‘with their hands they will lift you up, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 4:12 Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You are not to put the Lord your God to the test.’” 4:13 So when the devil had completed every temptation, he departed from him until a more opportune time.
John
The Testimony of John the Baptist
1:19 Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 1:20 He confessed – he did not deny but confessed – “I am not the Christ!” 1:21 So they asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not!” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No!” 1:22 Then they said to him, “Who are you? Tell us so that we can give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
1:23 John said, “I am the voice of one shouting in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” 1:24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 1:25 So they asked John, “Why then are you baptizing if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
1:26 John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not recognize, 1:27 who is coming after me. I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandal!” 1:28 These things happened in Bethany across the Jordan River where John was baptizing.
1:29 On the next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 1:30 This is the one about whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who is greater than I am, because he existed before me.’ 1:31 I did not recognize him, but I came baptizing with water so that he could be revealed to Israel.”
1:32 Then John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending like a dove from heaven, and it remained on him. 1:33 And I did not recognize him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining – this is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 1:34 I have both seen and testified that this man is the Chosen One of God.”
1:35 Again the next day John was standing there with two of his disciples. 1:36 Gazing at Jesus as he walked by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” 1:37 When John’s two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 1:38 Jesus turned around and saw them following and said to them, “What do you want?” So they said to him, “Rabbi” (which is translated Teacher), “where are you staying?” 1:39 Jesus answered, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. Now it was about four o’clock in the afternoon.
Andrew’s Declaration
1:40 Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two disciples who heard what John said and followed Jesus. 1:41 He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah!” (which is translated Christ). 1:42 Andrew brought Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon, the son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).
The Calling of More Disciples
1:43 On the next day Jesus wanted to set out for Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 1:44 (Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the town of Andrew and Peter.) 1:45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the law, and the prophets also wrote about – Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 1:46 Nathanael replied, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip replied, “Come and see.”
1:47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and exclaimed, “Look, a true Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” 1:48 Nathanael asked him, “How do you know me?” Jesus replied, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 1:49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel!” 1:50 Jesus said to him, “Because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 1:51 He continued, “I tell all of you the solemn truth – you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.
Lord, may I be as excited to know Jesus as was John the Baptist, as willing to drop everything to serve Jesus as were the early disciples, and as faithful in resisting the temptations of Satan as was Jesus.
John sees Jesus approaching and proclaims Him to be “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). The next day, when two of John’s disciples “heard him say this” (vs. 37), they left off following John to follow Jesus.
Matthew reports in detail the Spirit leading Jesus “into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil” (Matt. 4:1). In response to this testing, Jesus does what Adam and Eve failed to do when they were tested in the Garden: He uses the Word of God, “the sword of the Spirit” (Eph. 6:17), to defeat the subtle lies of the Enemy. Jesus is the “Second Adam,” because He represents a new beginning for mankind to get it right this time (see 1 Cor. 15:20-28).
Affirming the perfect consistency of God’s Word, the prophesy of Isaiah (see Isaiah 9:1) is fulfilled regarding where and to whom Jesus would first preach: “the way by the sea” (Matt. 4:15) and to “those who sit in the region” (vs. 16). Matthew echoes the other reports of Jesus’ call to the disciples to “follow Me” (vs. 19).
[Note: The unique joining of the Holy Spirit and Jesus when He is being tempted by the devil, “Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit” (Luke 4:1), reveals two of the three members of the Trinity physically and spiritually together in the human body of Jesus. Believers post-Pentecost are also indwelt by the Holy Spirit, although our adoption into the family of Christ is not the same as our being eternal deity. Jesus full of the Spirit is symbolic of what He made possible for us through His death and resurrection, that of being filled with the Spirit.]
God instructs us in the New Testament that His Word is powerful and is written upon our hearts and minds when we read and meditate on His Word.
The humility of John is notable, for he believed nothing about his ministry glorified himself.
There are practical ways in our lives to use the sword of the Word to defeat the subtle lies of the Enemy.
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where fear of criticism has caused you to show a false humility, one that is people-pleasing in order to avoid jealousy or accusations of being a braggart and which denies the gifts and talents the Lord has provided for you. Seek to be, with God’s help, more honest about who you really are and the gifts you have been given, all for His glory.
Today I choose to identify where in my life the Holy Spirit has led me to enjoy a healthy humility and to thank Him for His leading me to be free when fear has caused me to live a false humility.
Be Specific ________________________________________________
Luke
The Beginning of Jesus’ Ministry in Galilee
4:14 Then Jesus, in the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and news about him spread throughout the surrounding countryside. 4:15 He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by all.
Rejection at Nazareth
4:16 Now Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 4:17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,
4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and the regaining of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed,
4:19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
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 fixed on him. 4:21 Then he began to tell them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled even as you heard it being read.” 4:22 All were speaking well of him, and were amazed at the gracious words coming out of his mouth. They said, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” 4:23 Jesus said to them, “No doubt you will quote to me the proverb, ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ and say, ‘What we have heard that you did in Capernaum, do here in your hometown too.’” 4:24 And he added, “I tell you the truth, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. 4:25 But in truth I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s days, when the sky was shut up three and a half years, and there was a great famine over all the land. 4:26 Yet Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to a woman who was a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. 4:27 And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, yet none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.” 4:28 When they heard this, all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage. 4:29 They got up, forced him out of the town, and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff. 4:30 But he passed through the crowd and went on his way.
Ministry in Capernaum
4:31 So he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath he began to teach the people. 4:32 They were amazed at his teaching, because he spoke with authority.
4:33 Now in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, 4:34 “Ha! Leave us alone, Jesus the Nazarene! Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are – the Holy One of God.” 4:35 But Jesus rebuked him: “Silence! Come out of him!” Then, after the demon threw the man down in their midst, he came out of him without hurting him. 4:36 They were all amazed and began to say to one another, “What’s happening here? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!” 4:37 So the news about him spread into all areas of the region.
4:38 After Jesus left the synagogue, he entered Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. 4:39 So he stood over her, commanded the fever, and it left her. Immediately she got up and began to serve them.
4:40 As the sun was setting, all those who had any relatives sick with various diseases brought them to Jesus. He placed his hands on every one of them and healed them. 4:41 Demons also came out of many, crying out, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them, and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.
4:42 The next morning Jesus departed and went to a deserted place. Yet the crowds were seeking him, and they came to him and tried to keep him from leaving them. 4:43 But Jesus said to them, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns too, for that is what I was sent to do.” 4:44 So he continued to preach in the synagogues of Judea.
The Call of the Disciples
5:1 Now Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing around him to hear the word of God. 5:2 He saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets. 5:3 He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then Jesus sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. 5:4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” 5:5 Simon answered, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing! But at your word I will lower the nets.” 5:6 When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets started to tear. 5:7 So they motioned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they were about to sink. 5:8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” 5:9 For Peter and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 5:10 and so were James and John, Zebedee’s sons, who were Simon’s business partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” 5:11 So when they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.
John
Turning Water into Wine
2:1 Now on the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2:2 and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. 2:3 When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no wine left.” 2:4 Jesus replied, “Woman, why are you saying this to me? My time has not yet come.” 2:5 His mother told the servants, “Whatever he tells you, do it.”
2:6 Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washing, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 2:7 Jesus told the servants, “Fill the water jars with water.” So they filled them up to the very top. 2:8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the head steward,” and they did. 2:9 When the head steward tasted the water that had been turned to wine, not knowing where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), he called the bridegroom 2:10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the cheaper wine when the guests are drunk. You have kept the good wine until now!” 2:11 Jesus did this as the first of his miraculous signs, in Cana of Galilee. In this way he revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.
Cleansing the Temple
2:12 After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there a few days. 2:13 Now the Jewish feast of Passover was near, so Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
2:14 He found in the temple courts those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers sitting at tables. 2:15 So he made a whip of cords and drove them all out of the temple courts, with the sheep and the oxen. He scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 2:16 To those who sold the doves he said, “Take these things away from here! Do not make my Father’s house a marketplace!” 2:17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will devour me.”
2:18 So then the Jewish leaders responded, “What sign can you show us, since you are doing these things?” 2:19 Jesus replied, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up again.” 2:20 Then the Jewish leaders said to him, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and are you going to raise it up in three days?” 2:21 But Jesus was speaking about the temple of his body. 2:22 So after he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the scripture and the saying that Jesus had spoken.
Jesus at the Passover Feast
2:23 Now while Jesus was in Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover, many people believed in his name because they saw the miraculous signs he was doing. 2:24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people. 2:25 He did not need anyone to testify about man, for he knew what was in man.
Conversation with Nicodemus
3:1 Now a certain man, a Pharisee named Nicodemus, who was a member of the Jewish ruling council, 3:2 came to Jesus at night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3:3 Jesus replied, “I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 3:4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter his mother’s womb and be born a second time, can he?”
3:5 Jesus answered, “I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born of water and spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 3:6 What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 3:7 Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must all be born from above.’ 3:8 The wind blows wherever it will, and you hear the sound it makes, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
3:9 Nicodemus replied, “How can these things be?” 3:10 Jesus answered, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you don’t understand these things? 3:11 I tell you the solemn truth, we speak about what we know and testify about what we have seen, but you people do not accept our testimony. 3:12 If I have told you people about earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 3:13 No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven – the Son of Man. 3:14 Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 3:15 so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”
3:16 For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 3:17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him. 3:18 The one who believes in him is not condemned. The one who does not believe has been condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God. 3:19 Now this is the basis for judging: that the light has come into the world and people loved the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds were evil. 3:20 For everyone who does evil deeds hates the light and does not come to the light, so that their deeds will not be exposed. 3:21 But the one who practices the truth comes to the light, so that it may be plainly evident that his deeds have been done in God.
Further Testimony About Jesus by John the Baptist
3:22 After this, Jesus and his disciples came into Judean territory, and there he spent time with them and was baptizing. 3:23 John was also baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming to him and being baptized. 3:24 (For John had not yet been thrown into prison.)
3:25 Now a dispute came about between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew concerning ceremonial washing. 3:26 So they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, the one who was with you on the other side of the Jordan River, about whom you testified – see, he is baptizing, and everyone is flocking to him!”
3:27 John replied, “No one can receive anything unless it has been given to him from heaven. 3:28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but rather, ‘I have been sent before him.’ 3:29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices greatly when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. This then is my joy, and it is complete. 3:30 He must become more important while I become less important.”
3:31 The one who comes from above is superior to all. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is superior to all. 3:32 He testifies about what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 3:33 The one who has accepted his testimony has confirmed clearly that God is truthful. 3:34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he does not give the Spirit sparingly. 3:35 The Father loves the Son and has placed all things under his authority. 3:36 The one who believes in the Son has eternal life. The one who rejects the Son will not see life, but God’s wrath remains on him.
Departure From Judea
4:1 Now when Jesus knew that the Pharisees had heard that he was winning and baptizing more disciples than John 4:2 (although Jesus himself was not baptizing, but his disciples were), 4:3 he left Judea and set out once more for Galilee.
Conversation With a Samaritan Woman
4:4 But he had to pass through Samaria. 4:5 Now he came to a Samaritan town called Sychar, near the plot of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 4:6 Jacob’s well was there, so Jesus, since he was tired from the journey, sat right down beside the well. It was about noon.
4:7 A Samaritan woman came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me some water to drink.” 4:8 (For his disciples had gone off into the town to buy supplies.) 4:9 So the Samaritan woman said to him, “How can you – a Jew – ask me, a Samaritan woman, for water to drink?” (For Jews use nothing in common with Samaritans.)
4:10 Jesus answered her, “If you had known the gift of God and who it is who said to you, ‘Give me some water to drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” 4:11 “Sir,” the woman said to him, “you have no bucket and the well is deep; where then do you get this living water? 4:12 Surely you’re not greater than our ancestor Jacob, are you? For he gave us this well and drank from it himself, along with his sons and his livestock.”
4:13 Jesus replied, “Everyone who drinks some of this water will be thirsty again. 4:14 But whoever drinks some of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again, but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up to eternal life.” 4:15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.” 4:16 He said to her, “Go call your husband and come back here.” 4:17 The woman replied, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “Right you are when you said, ‘I have no husband,’ 4:18 for you have had five husbands, and the man you are living with now is not your husband. This you said truthfully!”
4:19 The woman said to him, “Sir, I see that you are a prophet. 4:20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you people say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem.” 4:21 Jesus said to her, “Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 4:22 You people worship what you do not know. We worship what we know, because salvation is from the Jews. 4:23 But a time is coming – and now is here – when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such people to be his worshipers. 4:24 God is spirit, and the people who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” 4:25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (the one called Christ); “whenever he comes, he will tell us everything.” 4:26 Jesus said to her, “I, the one speaking to you, am he.”
The Disciples Return
4:27 Now at that very moment his disciples came back. They were shocked because he was speaking with a woman. However, no one said, “What do you want?” or “Why are you speaking with her?” 4:28 Then the woman left her water jar, went off into the town and said to the people, 4:29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Surely he can’t be the Messiah, can he?” 4:30 So they left the town and began coming to him.
Workers for the Harvest
4:31 Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, “Rabbi, eat something.” 4:32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” 4:33 So the disciples began to say to one another, “No one brought him anything to eat, did they?” 4:34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to complete his work. 4:35 Don’t you say, ‘There are four more months and then comes the harvest?’ I tell you, look up and see that the fields are already white for harvest! 4:36 The one who reaps receives pay and gathers fruit for eternal life, so that the one who sows and the one who reaps can rejoice together. 4:37 For in this instance the saying is true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 4:38 I sent you to reap what you did not work for; others have labored and you have entered into their labor.”
The Samaritans Respond
4:39 Now many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the report of the woman who testified, “He told me everything I ever did.” 4:40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they began asking him to stay with them. He stayed there two days, 4:41 and because of his word many more believed. 4:42 They said to the woman, “No longer do we believe because of your words, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this one really is the Savior of the world.”
Onward to Galilee
4:43 After the two days he departed from there to Galilee. 4:44 (For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country.) 4:45 So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him because they had seen all the things he had done in Jerusalem at the feast (for they themselves had gone to the feast).
Healing the Royal Official’s Son
4:46 Now he came again to Cana in Galilee where he had made the water wine. In Capernaum there was a certain royal official whose son was sick. 4:47 When he heard that Jesus had come back from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and begged him to come down and heal his son, who was about to die. 4:48 So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders you will never believe!” 4:49 “Sir,” the official said to him, “come down before my child dies.” 4:50 Jesus told him, “Go home; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and set off for home.
4:51 While he was on his way down, his slaves met him and told him that his son was going to live. 4:52 So he asked them the time when his condition began to improve, and they told him, “Yesterday at one o’clock in the afternoon the fever left him.” 4:53 Then the father realized that it was the very time Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live,” and he himself believed along with his entire household. 4:54 Jesus did this as his second miraculous sign when he returned from Judea to Galilee.
Lord, may I be willing to share Your truth despite any resistance encountered, stand against sin in Your church despite those who would compromise for comfort, and be Your vessel of healing to the suffering.
Luke reports the return of Jesus to Nazareth and His welcome there. He is “praised by all” (4:15) until He reminds them of the story of the prophets Elijah and Elisha: The prophets had brought God’s blessing to the teachable non-Israelites rather than to the rebellious Israelites. Instead of a repentant reaction to the story, the people try to kill Jesus, “but He passed through the crowd and went His way” (vs. 30).
John tells the stories of the first public miracle, “the water that had been turned to wine” (2:9), and His cleansing of the temple courts, “‘Take these things away from here!’“ (vs. 16). After reporting the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus regarding being “born from above [born again]” (3:3), John includes the well-known John 3:16 and the “basis” upon which God judges (see vss. 19-21).
John the Baptist’s ministry parallels that of Jesus:
John’s ministry was leading people to the first step, that of repentance. Instructing them that their salvation was not complete until they accept Jesus the Christ, he was reaching those who could not, unaided, make the leap from rebellion to acceptance. Then baptizing them in water, a pre-Pentecost baptism, he in essence “sealed” them for the next step to which Jesus the Christ would take them.
Jesus’ ministry was leading those who had made the leap from rebellion to acceptance to a total submission. Once they submitted, the disciples of Jesus performed the baptisms.
The interaction of Jesus with the Samaritan woman (to whom He would have given the “living water,” John 4:10), is followed by His explanation to His confused disciples as to why He is doing what He is doing (speaking with the woman) — “My food is to do the will of the One Who sent Me” (vs. 34).
The healing of the royal official’s son is done through Jesus without any physical contact with, or His even being in the presence of, the boy: “Go home, your son will live” (John 4:50).
God is telling us to never be arrogant about denomination, genealogy, membership, or nationality. As soon as Jesus leaves the resistant Nazareth in Israel for Samaria, He blesses a non-Israelite. Jesus reaches the teachable before the proud (they who think they know it all).
Notice that Jesus explains Who He is by using an image from the Garden of Eden: The tree with the fruit of Eternal Life, which Adam and Eve scorned in favor of the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, a knowledge which made them accountable for sin.
There is a possible continuation, in contemporary times and some churches, of the parallel ministry models of Jesus and John: Do some ministries today mimic John’s baptism for repentance, yet fail to disciple the work necessary for a submitted relationship with Jesus?
Jesus chose to turn mere water into wine and causing the best wine to be served last, when tradition was to do the opposite. Jesus was creating a contrasting image of the ‘first and the last’ — what will He do for us if we humble ourselves before Him?
Some churches skip the ‘turning away from sin’ step in the ministry models of John and Jesus and jump straight to a “cheap grace” absent true repentance.
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where there may be clutter or confusion in your worship life.
Today I choose to identify something in my worship life to which I cling because of the comfort of social familiarity or tradition or due to a fear of change — anything non-Biblical or that distracts from my worship. I will repent of this and humbly accept the strength and help of the Holy Spirit to break free of it.
I will carefully review the Biblical elements of true Salvation as opposed to ‘cheap grace’.
Be Specific _______________________________________________________
Mark
Healing and Forgiving a Paralytic
2:1 Now after some days, when he returned to Capernaum, the news spread that he was at home. 2:2 So many gathered that there was no longer any room, not even by the door, and he preached the word to them. 2:3 Some people came bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. 2:4 When they were not able to bring him in because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Jesus. Then, after tearing it out, they lowered the stretcher the paralytic was lying on. 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 2:6 Now some of the experts in the law were sitting there, turning these things over in their minds: 2:7 “Why does this man speak this way? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 2:8 Now immediately, when Jesus realized in his spirit that they were contemplating such thoughts, he said to them, “Why are you thinking such things in your hearts? 2:9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up, take your stretcher, and walk’? 2:10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,” – he said to the paralytic – 2:11 “I tell you, stand up, take your stretcher, and go home.” 2:12 And immediately the man stood up, took his stretcher, and went out in front of them all. They were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
The Call of Levi; Eating with Sinners
2:13 Jesus went out again by the sea. The whole crowd came to him, and he taught them. 2:14 As he went along, he saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting at the tax booth. “Follow me,” he said to him. And he got up and followed him. 2:15 As Jesus was having a meal in Levi’s home, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 2:16 When the experts in the law and the Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 2:17 When Jesus heard this he said to them, “Those who are healthy don’t need a physician, but those who are sick do. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
The Superiority of the New
2:18 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. So they came to Jesus and said, “Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples don’t fast?” 2:19 Jesus said to them, “The wedding guests cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them, can they? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they do not fast. 2:20 But the days are coming when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and at that time they will fast. 2:21 No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; otherwise, the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and the tear becomes worse. 2:22 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins will be destroyed. Instead new wine is poured into new wineskins.”
Lord of the Sabbath
2:23 Jesus was going through the grain fields on a Sabbath, and his disciples began to pick some heads of wheat as they made their way. 2:24 So the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is against the law on the Sabbath?” 2:25 He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry – 2:26 how he entered the house of God when Abiathar was high priest and ate the sacred bread, which is against the law for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to his companions?” 2:27 Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath. 2:28 For this reason the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”
Luke
Healing a Leper
5:12 While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came to him who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he bowed down with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” 5:13 So he stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing. Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him. 5:14 Then he ordered the man to tell no one, but commanded him, “Go and show yourself to a priest, and bring the offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” 5:15 But the news about him spread even more, and large crowds were gathering together to hear him and to be healed of their illnesses. 5:16 Yet Jesus himself frequently withdrew to the wilderness and prayed.
Healing and Forgiving a Paralytic
5:17 Now on one of those days, while he was teaching, there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting nearby (who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem), and the power of the Lord was with him to heal. 5:18 Just then some men showed up, carrying a paralyzed man on a stretcher. They were trying to bring him in and place him before Jesus. 5:19 But since they found no way to carry him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down on the stretcher through the roof tiles right in front of Jesus. 5:20 When Jesus saw their faith he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” 5:21 Then the experts in the law and the Pharisees began to think to themselves, “Who is this man who is uttering blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 5:22 When Jesus perceived their hostile thoughts, he said to them, “Why are you raising objections within yourselves? 5:23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and walk’? 5:24 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” – he said to the paralyzed man – “I tell you, stand up, take your stretcher and go home.” 5:25 Immediately he stood up before them, picked up the stretcher he had been lying on, and went home, glorifying God. 5:26 Then astonishment seized them all, and they glorified God. They were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen incredible things today.”
The Call of Levi; Eating with Sinners
5:27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax booth. “Follow me,” he said to him. 5:28 And he got up and followed him, leaving everything behind.
5:29 Then Levi gave a great banquet in his house for Jesus, and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others sitting at the table with them. 5:30 But the Pharisees and their experts in the law complained to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 5:31 Jesus answered them, “Those who are well don’t need a physician, but those who are sick do. 5:32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
The Superiority of the New
5:33 Then they said to him, “John’s disciples frequently fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours continue to eat and drink.” 5:34 So Jesus said to them, “You cannot make the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them, can you? 5:35 But those days are coming, and when the bridegroom is taken from them, at that time they will fast.” 5:36 He also told them a parable: “No one tears a patch from a new garment and sews it on an old garment. If he does, he will have torn the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. 5:37 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. 5:38 Instead new wine must be poured into new wineskins. 5:39 No one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, ‘The old is good enough.’”
Lord, may I prioritize evangelism of the unsaved over arguments with religious nitpickers, give precedence to the truths in Your Word over the traditions of stuck and immature Believers, and delight in the grace of Your New Testament gift of freedom over the hopeless box of the Law-bound Old Testament.
A paralytic is lowered through the thatched roof of a rural home in to the presence of Jesus, and He says to him, “Son, your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2:5). Then, challenging “the experts in the law” (vs. 6) who are accusing Him of blasphemy (only God can forgive sin!), He heals the man as proof that God is working through Him “so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” (vs. 10).
Jesus visits the tax collector’s home, where He is confronted by the Pharisees for eating with “sinners” (Mark 2:16). He reminds them that He came for the “sick” (vs. 17), the humble and the teachable who know they are in need — and He cautions that one who is “healthy (or who thinks mistakenly that he is) will not seek treatment” (NET sn).
Jesus contrasts the legalistic Old Testament practices of the Pharisees with the transitioning-to-the-New Testament ministry of John in response to the Pharisees asking Him, "Why do the disciples of John...fast, but your disciples don't fast?" (Mark
Jesus neutralizes the Pharisees legalistic understanding of the Jewish Sabbath when He tells them He is, “Lord even of the Sabbath” (Mark 2:28). The Sabbath rest from work is not law for His people who are free to rest in Him — those free in Christ are no longer in bondage to the sacrificial rituals of the Sabbath.
Luke tells of the healing of the paralytic and of the leper, and of the large crowds “gathering together to hear Him and to be healed” (5:15). He relates the Pharisees challenge to Jesus at Levi’s house for eating and drinking with “tax collectors and sinners” (vs. 30) and the preference for the new covenant over the old covenant — metaphorically, “a new garment...and an old garment” (vs. 36).
God tells us that the rituals of the past do not apply to those who are set free in Christ today. We need to be intentional about avoiding the ‘new wine in old wineskins’ error of trying to pour the new covenant of freedom in Christ in to the old system of bondage to traditions which Jesus has set aside.
We make the error of dragging bits and pieces of the pagan world into our lives when we seek signs showing God’s will or presence, honor superstitions born of old traditions, or entertain views contradicting the Word of God.
The faith of the paralytic was rewarded with the forgiveness of sin and healing. Jesus wants to forgive sins and heal today — if we will let Him.
Gathering for corporate worship and Bible study out of obligation or tradition, rather than in excitement for and celebration of God’s amazing grace, shows a legalistic understanding of ‘draw near to God’ — a ‘salvation earned through works’ mindset as opposed to a heartfelt desire to draw nearer to Him, enjoy His presence, and hear from Him.
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you have dragged so-called stinking thinking (smelling of smoke from the pit of hell) and non-Biblical practices into your fellowship and walk with God.
Today I choose to accept God’s healing of my mind, heart, and body. I will identify when and where my worship of God is done intentionally to draw nearer to Him and will celebrate that. I will look for a place where I ‘practice religion’ for some less-than-righteous reason. I will surrender to the leading of the Holy Spirit and ask Him for strength and the healing of any broken place in my life, so that I might fully accept God’s love.
Be Specific _______________________________________________________
Healing a Paralytic at the Pool of Bethesda
5:1 After this there was a Jewish feast, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 5:2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool called Bethzatha in Aramaic, which has five covered walkways. 5:3 A great number of sick, blind, lame, and paralyzed people were lying in these walkways. 5:4 [EMPTY] 5:5 Now a man was there who had been disabled for thirty-eight years. 5:6 When Jesus saw him lying there and when he realized that the man had been disabled a long time already, he said to him, “Do you want to become well?” 5:7 The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up. While I am trying to get into the water, someone else goes down there before me.” 5:8 Jesus said to him, “Stand up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 5:9 Immediately the man was healed, and he picked up his mat and started walking. (Now that day was a Sabbath.)
5:10 So the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and you are not permitted to carry your mat.” 5:11 But he answered them, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’” 5:12 They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Pick up your mat and walk’?” 5:13 But the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped out, since there was a crowd in that place.
5:14 After this Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “Look, you have become well. Don’t sin any more, lest anything worse happen to you.” 5:15 The man went away and informed the Jewish leaders that Jesus was the one who had made him well.
Responding to Jewish Leaders
5:16 Now because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began persecuting him. 5:17 So he told them, “My Father is working until now, and I too am working.” 5:18 For this reason the Jewish leaders were trying even harder to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was also calling God his own Father, thus making himself equal with God.
5:19 So Jesus answered them, “I tell you the solemn truth, the Son can do nothing on his own initiative, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise. 5:20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he does, and will show him greater deeds than these, so that you will be amazed. 5:21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomever he wishes. 5:22 Furthermore, the Father does not judge anyone, but has assigned all judgment to the Son, 5:23 so that all people will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. The one who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.
5:24 “I tell you the solemn truth, the one who hears my message and believes the one who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned, but has crossed over from death to life. 5:25 I tell you the solemn truth, a time is coming – and is now here – when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 5:26 For just as the Father has life in himself, thus he has granted the Son to have life in himself, 5:27 and he has granted the Son authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.
5:28 “Do not be amazed at this, because a time is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 5:29 and will come out – the ones who have done what is good to the resurrection resulting in life, and the ones who have done what is evil to the resurrection resulting in condemnation. 5:30 I can do nothing on my own initiative. Just as I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will, but the will of the one who sent me.
More Testimony About Jesus
5:31 “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. 5:32 There is another who testifies about me, and I know the testimony he testifies about me is true. 5:33 You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth. 5:34 (I do not accept human testimony, but I say this so that you may be saved.) 5:35 He was a lamp that was burning and shining, and you wanted to rejoice greatly for a short time in his light.
5:36 “But I have a testimony greater than that from John. For the deeds that the Father has assigned me to complete – the deeds I am now doing – testify about me that the Father has sent me. 5:37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified about me. You people have never heard his voice nor seen his form at any time, 5:38 nor do you have his word residing in you, because you do not believe the one whom he sent. 5:39 You study the scriptures thoroughly because you think in them you possess eternal life, and it is these same scriptures that testify about me, 5:40 but you are not willing to come to me so that you may have life.
5:41 “I do not accept praise from people, 5:42 but I know you, that you do not have the love of God within you. 5:43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me. If someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. 5:44 How can you believe, if you accept praise from one another and don’t seek the praise that comes from the only God?
5:45 “Do not suppose that I will accuse you before the Father. The one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have placed your hope. 5:46 If you believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me. 5:47 But if you do not believe what Moses wrote, how will you believe my words?”
Lord, may I let nothing stand between me and Your call to freedom and service, and may I be found ready to testify to Your truth whenever the opportunity presents itself.
John describes the paralytic at the pool at Bethesda, whom Jesus heals and then urges “Don’t sin any more” (5:14). The paralytic appears to be as paralyzed by his excuses for not being well as by his actual physical limitations – he had been stuck in the cycle of opportunity and failure for 38 years!
The Jewish leaders are disinterested that a man for years a paralytic had been healed. Instead they persecute Jesus, incensed and obsessed that He had violated their ritualized Sabbath regulation for no work on a Sabbath. When Jesus responds, “My Father is working until now, and I too am working” (John 5:17), they try even harder to kill Him — He was not only breaking the Sabbath but calling God His own Father!
Jesus notes that the religious leaders want to “rejoice greatly for a short time” (John 5:35) with John (the one “who testifies about Me,” vs. 32), although they ignore John’s clear testimony as to Who Jesus is (“you do not accept Me,” vs. 43). Jesus reminds them that He relies only upon the testimony of God as found in His Word — “these same scriptures testify about Me” (vs. 39).
Jesus warns them of functionally worshiping, as their intercessor, Moses (“in whom you have placed your hope,” John 5:45) despite the clear teaching of the Old Testament about the coming of Jesus (“he wrote about Me....But...you do not believe what Moses wrote,” vss. 46, 47). Moses would become their accuser for their failure to honor Jesus.
May we be in some ways like the paralytic, stuck in our excuses yet blaming our circumstances and causing ourselves to be unable or unwilling to get unstuck?
Are we aware of how sticking with our habits, rituals, and traditions insidiously becomes more important than seeking truth? Discern habits, rituals, or traditions which have become more important than Truth in your individual life or in your fellowship with other Believers. What has been done or will you do to resolve this?
Unpack the ‘day of rest’ from the Creation narrative package. God never said that He, or any of His created beings, were required to cease from all activity on the day observed in the Old Testament as the Saturday Sabbath. What He says in Genesis 2:2 is that He Himself had “finished the work that He had been doing” and had “ceased on the seventh day.”
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you any place(s) that weaken both your witness and your walk and show you how you compromise with the world in which you live.
Today I choose to identify a place where I have been making excuses for a less-than-righteous lifestyle and, as a result, am distorting the image of a Biblical Christian before a watching world. I will accept the power and the wisdom of the Holy Spirit to overcome this, so that I may permanently repent (turn away from) my rebellion.
Be Specific _______________________________________________________
Matthew
Lord of the Sabbath
12:1 At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on a Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pick heads of wheat and eat them. 12:2 But when the Pharisees saw this they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is against the law to do on the Sabbath.” 12:3 He said to them, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry – 12:4 how he entered the house of God and they ate the sacred bread, which was against the law for him or his companions to eat, but only for the priests? 12:5 Or have you not read in the law that the priests in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are not guilty? 12:6 I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. 12:7 If you had known what this means: ‘I want mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. 12:8 For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”
12:9 Then Jesus left that place and entered their synagogue. 12:10 A man was there who had a withered hand. And they asked Jesus, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” so that they could accuse him. 12:11 He said to them, “Would not any one of you, if he had one sheep that fell into a pit on the Sabbath, take hold of it and lift it out? 12:12 How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 12:13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out and it was restored, as healthy as the other. 12:14 But the Pharisees went out and plotted against him, as to how they could assassinate him.
God’s Special Servant
12:15 Now when Jesus learned of this, he went away from there. Great crowds followed him, and he healed them all. 12:16 But he sternly warned them not to make him known. 12:17 This fulfilled what was spoken by Isaiah the prophet:
12:18 “Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I take great delight.
I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
12:19 He will not quarrel or cry out, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.
12:20 He will not break a bruised reed or extinguish a smoldering wick, until he brings justice to victory.
12:21 And in his name the Gentiles will hope.”
Jesus and Beelzebul
12:22 Then they brought to him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute. Jesus healed him so that he could speak and see. 12:23 All the crowds were amazed and said, “Could this one be the Son of David?” 12:24 But when the Pharisees heard this they said, “He does not cast out demons except by the power of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons!” 12:25 Now when Jesus realized what they were thinking, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is destroyed, and no town or house divided against itself will stand. 12:26 So if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 12:27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? For this reason they will be your judges. 12:28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has already overtaken you. 12:29 How else can someone enter a strong man’s house and steal his property, unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can thoroughly plunder the house. 12:30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 12:31 For this reason I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 12:32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven. But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
Mark
Healing a Withered Hand
3:1 Then Jesus entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand. 3:2 They watched Jesus closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they could accuse him. 3:3 So he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Stand up among all these people.” 3:4 Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath, or evil, to save a life or destroy it?” But they were silent. 3:5 After looking around at them in anger, grieved by the hardness of their hearts, he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 3:6 So the Pharisees went out immediately and began plotting with the Herodians, as to how they could assassinate him.
Crowds by the Sea
3:7 Then Jesus went away with his disciples to the sea, and a great multitude from Galilee followed him. And from Judea, 3:8 Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan River, and around Tyre and Sidon a great multitude came to him when they heard about the things he had done. 3:9 Because of the crowd, he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him so the crowd would not press toward him. 3:10 For he had healed many, so that all who were afflicted with diseases pressed toward him in order to touch him. 3:11 And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” 3:12 But he sternly ordered them not to make him known.
Appointing the Twelve Apostles
3:13 Now Jesus went up the mountain and called for those he wanted, and they came to him. 3:14 He appointed twelve (whom he named apostles), so that they would be with him and he could send them to preach 3:15 and to have authority to cast out demons. 3:16 He appointed twelve: To Simon he gave the name Peter; 3:17 to James and his brother John, the sons of Zebedee, he gave the name Boanerges (that is, “sons of thunder”); 3:18 and Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, 3:19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
Jesus and Beelzebul
3:20 Now Jesus went home, and a crowd gathered so that they were not able to eat. 3:21 When his family heard this they went out to restrain him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” 3:22 The experts in the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and, “By the ruler of demons he casts out demons.” 3:23 So he called them and spoke to them in parables: “How can Satan cast out Satan? 3:24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom will not be able to stand. 3:25 If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 3:26 And if Satan rises against himself and is divided, he is not able to stand and his end has come. 3:27 But no one is able to enter a strong man’s house and steal his property unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can thoroughly plunder his house. 3:28 I tell you the truth, people will be forgiven for all sins, even all the blasphemies they utter. 3:29 But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, but is guilty of an eternal sin” 3:30 (because they said, “He has an unclean spirit”).
Jesus’ True Family
3:31 Then Jesus’ mother and his brothers came. Standing outside, they sent word to him, to summon him. 3:32 A crowd was sitting around him and they said to him, “Look, your mother and your brothers are outside looking for you.” 3:33 He answered them and said, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 3:34 And looking at those who were sitting around him in a circle, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 3:35 For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”
Luke
Lord of the Sabbath
6:1 Jesus was going through the grain fields on a Sabbath, and his disciples picked some heads of wheat, rubbed them in their hands, and ate them. 6:2 But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is against the law on the Sabbath?” 6:3 Jesus answered them, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry – 6:4 how he entered the house of God, took and ate the sacred bread, which is not lawful for any to eat but the priests alone, and gave it to his companions?” 6:5 Then he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”
Healing a Withered Hand
6:6 On another Sabbath, Jesus entered the synagogue and was teaching. Now a man was there whose right hand was withered. 6:7 The experts in the law and the Pharisees watched Jesus closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they could find a reason to accuse him. 6:8 But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, “Get up and stand here.” So he rose and stood there. 6:9 Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath or to do evil, to save a life or to destroy it?” 6:10 After looking around at them all, he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” The man did so, and his hand was restored. 6:11 But they were filled with mindless rage and began debating with one another what they would do to Jesus.
Choosing the Twelve Apostles
6:12 Now it was during this time that Jesus went out to the mountain to pray, and he spent all night in prayer to God. 6:13 When morning came, he called his disciples and chose twelve of them, whom he also named apostles: 6:14 Simon (whom he named Peter), and his brother Andrew; and James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, 6:15 Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, 6:16 Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
Lord, may I stand strong against spiritual attack, wearing the armor of Your Word, recognize that my “family” is for me first those who are fellow Believers, and remember that many prophesies over thousands of years have pointed toward and been fulfilled in You.
Issuing a direct challenge to the Pharisees, in order to reveal their obsession with tradition over truth and hierarchy over heart, Jesus asks them if wanting “to do good...to save a life or destroy it” (Mark 3:4) is acceptable on the Sabbath. They keep silent, unwilling to say that anything so clearly from God is unacceptable, while yet knowing their man-made rules and traditions make it seem so). Following their silence, Jesus heals the man’s withered hand in front of them and, sadly, their reaction to this evidence of God in their midst is to plot “how they could assassinate Him” (vs. 6).
Jesus commands demons that He has cast out “not to make Him known” (Mark 3:12) and reveal His full identity to the onlookers. The people know Him to be a healer, a prophet, and a teacher, but they do not yet know Him as the Son of God, their prophesized Messiah. Jesus knows that they will try to make of Him a political leader, thereby missing His much more important message. Embedded here is the harsh reality that the demons knew Him to be a member of the Trinity — “You are the Son of God” (vs. 11) — something even the most sophisticated religious leaders of His day were incapable of accepting. Many today remain resistant to that same Biblical truth.
In the anointing of those Jesus named as His apostles, who were set apart to preach and to cast out demons, “He appointed twelve” (Mark 3:14). Judas of Iscariot, the only non-Galilean, was among their number. Mark notes that Judas would be the one “who betrayed Him” (vs. 19), despite his special calling to be near to and hear from Jesus.
Jesus leaves for His home, where a crowd quickly gathers — the people all over the region had “heard about the things He had done” (Mark 3:8). He is apparently casting out demons, and in response to this the crowd (including some Scribes and perhaps even members of His own family, the text is unclear) challenges Him: “by the ruler of demons He casts out demons (vs. 22). Jesus illustrates the absurdity of the accusation by asking, “How can Satan cast out Satan?” (vs. 23), and then teaches spiritual truths using a series of parables.
“Whoever does the will of God is My brother and sister and mother” (Mark 3:35) is a very important message from Jesus: Our first and most important family is our family of fellow Believers.
Jesus and His disciples pick and eat grain as they pass through the fields on the Sabbath. Some of the Pharisees object that what they are doing is “against the law on the Sabbath” (Luke 6:2). Jesus reminds the Pharisees that King David had taken sacred bread from the temple and given it to His men “when He and His companions were hungry” (vs. 3) — “the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath” (vs. 5), He declares.
Jesus’ challenge, “something greater than the temple is here” (Matt. 12:6), and His declaration, “I want mercy and not sacrifice” (vs. 7), contrast with the heartless legalism of the Pharisees.
Jesus warns, “whoever is not with Me is against Me” (Matt. 12:30). He teaches, “whoever speaks against [blasphemies] the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven” (vs. 32): The Spirit tells us that the Way to salvation is through belief in the sacrifice of Christ, and His presence in us is confirmation of our salvation. Not believing in the Way to salvation is calling the Spirit a liar (blaspheming Him) and the Spirit’s absence from us is evidence of our lack of salvation.
How and when do we sometimes place fitting-in, habit, partisanship, or tradition ahead of sacrificial loving-care of others and/or Biblical truth?
Do we find ourselves “betraying” Jesus, despite His incredible gift of salvation and the privilege we have to represent Him in this world?
To “blasphemy the Holy Spirit” is to blame God for ones own sin, to deny the Lordship of Christ, or to credit Satan for the work of the Holy Spirit.
Ask the Holy Spirit to encourage you with a reminder of your faithfulness and to caution you to stand strong against spiritual attack.
Today I choose to identify a way in which I rightfully honor the incredible gift of salvation and celebrate that by sharing my story of faith found with another.
I will identify a place where I have allowed a worldly habit or an objectionable personal trait to slip into my life, and I will intentionally cooperate with the Holy Spirit in purging that from my life.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
The Sermon on the Plain
6:17 Then he came down with them and stood on a level place. And a large number of his disciples had gathered along with a vast multitude from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon. They came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases, 6:18 and those who suffered from unclean spirits were cured. 6:19 The whole crowd was trying to touch him, because power was coming out from him and healing them all.
6:20 Then he looked up at his disciples and said:
“Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God belongs to you.
6:21 “Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.
“Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
6:22 “Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you and insult you and reject you as evil on account of the Son of Man! 6:23 Rejoice in that day, and jump for joy, because your reward is great in heaven. For their ancestors did the same things to the prophets.
6:24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your comfort already.
6:25 “Woe to you who are well satisfied with food now, for you will be hungry.
“Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.
6:26 “Woe to you when all people speak well of you, for their ancestors did the same things to the false prophets.
6:27 “But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 6:28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 6:29 To the person who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other as well, and from the person who takes away your coat, do not withhold your tunic either. 6:30 Give to everyone who asks you, and do not ask for your possessions back from the person who takes them away. 6:31 Treat others in the same way that you would want them to treat you.
6:32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 6:33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. 6:34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to be repaid, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, so that they may be repaid in full. 6:35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to ungrateful and evil people. 6:36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Do Not Judge Others
6:37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven. 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you: A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be poured into your lap. For the measure you use will be the measure you receive.”
6:39 He also told them a parable: “Someone who is blind cannot lead another who is blind, can he? Won’t they both fall into a pit? 6:40 A disciple is not greater than his teacher, but everyone when fully trained will be like his teacher. 6:41 Why do you see the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to see the beam of wood in your own? 6:42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck from your eye,’ while you yourself don’t see the beam in your own? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
6:43 “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, 6:44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from brambles. 6:45 The good person out of the good treasury of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasury produces evil, for his mouth speaks from what fills his heart.
6:46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do what I tell you?
6:47 “Everyone who comes to me and listens to my words and puts them into practice – I will show you what he is like: 6:48 He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep, and laid the foundation on bedrock. When a flood came, the river burst against that house but could not shake it, because it had been well built. 6:49 But the person who hears and does not put my words into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against that house, it collapsed immediately, and was utterly destroyed!”
Lord, may I never forget that all blessings come from You and that I am most-blessed when You choose to pour Your blessings through me into the lives of others.
In Luke 6, Jesus presents a series of blessings and woes and instructions in righteous living, sustained by a loving yet judging God and based on the choices made by His people. Speaking in parabolic language, Jesus challenges His followers to seek integrity in their walk with Him, in what has become known as The Sermon on the Plain:
“Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God belongs to you” (vs. 20). Jesus is addressing the poor in spirit, those who recognize the inability of anything in the world to meet their eternal needs and are therefore willing to humble themselves before God.
“Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied” (vs. 21). Jesus is speaking to those who hunger for truth, because they will have that hunger satisfied by Him — those satisfied by ‘truth’ as the world sees it (the unteachable) will one day long for the Truth of God not tasted, even though it has been offered to them.
“Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh” (vs. 21). Jesus weeps for the world, the hard hearts of man and all things that are the way they are though not created that way. Those who weep with Him in righteous sadness will one day, in Heaven, be blessed with joy and be witness to perfection standing in the presence of the perfect Father.
“Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you and insult you and reject you as evil on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and jump for joy, because your reward is great in heaven. For their ancestors did the same things to the prophets” (vss. 22, 23). Those who resist and reject God are partnering with the Enemy, whether they are aware of or intentional in this alliance or not. And they are attacking those who belong to Jesus because their prince, Satan, hates Jesus. However, when Believers are attacked it is evidence that we have the Holy Spirit of God in us and affirmation that we are actively partnering with Him in a way that threatens the Enemy.
“But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your comfort already” (vs. 24). Those arrogant in their worldly wealth, power, and religious rituals, and who are wise in their own eyes are already seemingly comforted by these vanities; so they make no effort to store up for themselves treasures in Heaven in service to God.
“Woe to you who are well satisfied with food now, for you will be hungry” (vs. 25). Those who look only for physical comfort and food, not for the deeper comfort food for the soul that Jesus (the bread of life) offers, will one day find themselves alone, frightened, and hungry.
“Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep” (vs. 25). Those who, for the time being, settle for circumstantial happiness will lack eternal joy in the times ahead.
“Woe to you when all people speak well of you, for their ancestors did the same things to the false prophets” (vs. 26). Being satisfied with the praises of shallow unsaved humans is dangerous, as they can easily turn on you and will eventually disappoint you. The only praise we should seek and value is that which we offer to God.
[Note: Jesus often speaks rhetorically and in parables to make a point in such a way as to make His hearers (of yesterday and today) best understand His intended meaning. Therefore, it is imperative that we trust Bible translators and Biblically-correct commentaries in order to rightly understand His intended meaning when speaking to His children 2,000 years earlier and in a different culture.]
“But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (vss. 27, 28). The best way to love an enemy is to pray earnestly for their salvation and to earn credibility by actively showing Christian integrity and love. Bless those who curse or mistreat you, while remembering that they are not attacking you but God in you.
“To the person who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other as well, and from the person who takes away your coat, do not withhold your tunic either” (vs. 29). Do not escalate violence by returning insult-for-insult, attack-for-attack. This is not a teaching of pacifism, as Christianity is not a pacifist religion. Jesus is generally speaking rhetorically: By lowering the level of conflict — handing the bully your tunic when he takes your coat, not waiting for him to forcefully remove it — there is not only less escalation, but you will earn testimony of the freedom you have in Christ.
“Give to everyone who asks you, and do not ask for your possessions back from the person who takes them away” (vs. 30). Be generous, not violating your prior obligations, but freely giving that which has not already been promised. Once you have given something, it is no longer yours; not wanting it returned is evidence of maturity, integrity, and believing that everything you have is a gift from God.
“Treat others in the same way that you would want them to treat you” (vs. 31). Through our treatment of others we teach them the value of boundaries and respect, or the lack thereof.
“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same” (vss. 32, 33). Our worlds are not to revolve around only that which directly benefits us (or those who benefit us). We are not to be the same in nature as shallow self-important unbelievers.
“And if you lend to those from whom you hope to be repaid, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, so that they may be repaid in full” (vs. 34). When it comes to pouring Christ into others and earning the right to be heard through sacrificial giving, we do so with no expectation of personal benefit — we should do so only out of love and obedience to Christ. The goal in giving to others is not that we will see a repayment of sorts, but that they will be blessed and pass on the blessing to others.
“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to ungrateful and evil people” (vs. 35). We love and serve those who are our enemies because we are Christians, not because our goal is personal benefit or reward — we are kind to them because He is kind to us. In doing so, we function here and now as we will more purely function with Him in Heaven.
“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (vs. 36). Since we are saved and daily forgiven due only to God’s mercy, we are expected to share that mercy with others — in our obedience to be merciful, the Holy Spirit pours out blessings through us into the lives of others.
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven” (vs. 37). There is a difference between the two uses of the term “judge” in the Bible: One refers to taking the place of God — by wrongfully declaring or ‘pretending’ to know the eternal status of another or the intentions of their heart, when only God truly knows the heart. The other refers to discerning sin and confronting a brother or sister in love — by walking with them, through confession and repentance, to a place of freedom from that sin. Condemning others is to wish evil upon them and to act or speak that wish out. We have been forgiven much and ever more so daily; being unforgiving toward others is in direct rebellion to the instructions of God. Unforgiveness creates a toxic bitterness in us, poisoning the well of our fellowship with others.
“Give, and it will be given to you: A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be poured into your lap. For the measure you use will be the measure you receive” (vs. 38). Jesus uses a marketplace image — a vendor filling a container with grain, shaking it to displace pockets of air, pressing down to get more in, then adding more until the container is full to overflowing — to illustrate a heart of generosity in all things. Selfless giving creates a fellowship with others in which everyone is motivated to be generous. Appealing to our sense of what we would value, Jesus notes that a brother or sister who is blessed with our generosity will also be gracious to others in return. When our hearts are generous toward others (loving, forgiving, filling needs) God will fill us to overflowing with His generous gifts.
“He also told them a parable: ‘Someone who is blind cannot lead another who is blind, can he? Won’t they both fall into a pit? A disciple is not greater than his teacher, but everyone when fully trained will be like his teacher. Why do you see the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to see the beam of wood in your own? How can you say to your brother, “Brother, let me remove the speck from your eye,” while you yourself don’t see the beam in your own? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye’“ (vss. 39-42). We must be most watchful over that which we have the most control, our personal righteousness, rather than challenging others to live as we do not ourselves always live.
“For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from brambles” (vss. 43, 44). The fruit of our lives will flow from either hearts of love-motivated selflessness or from hearts of fear-driven selfishness — we will be known by our fruit.
“The good person out of the good treasury of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasury produces evil, for his mouth speaks from what fills his heart” (vs. 45). Our words and actions tell a story to the world of the health of our hearts.
Jesus challenges, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord’ and don’t do what I tell you?” (vs. 46), and follows with the parable of a house built on a firm foundation, or no foundation, to illustrate His point. When we do more than gather knowledge of Jesus but also seek to understand it (a house on a firm foundation, “on bedrock,” vs. 48), we will also have the wisdom with which to use that knowledge. However, if we only have knowledge that we don’t really understand (a house “without a foundation,” vs. 49), then that knowledge does not equip us to handle the storms ahead. The influences of the world and Satan, the prince of this world, are like a flood — we can only stand against them if we understand and practice all that Jesus has taught.
Are we both convicted and encouraged by the Sermon on the Plain, and do we discern the challenging truths in His parables, while seeking how both should be applied in our lives today?
Do we call God our “Lord,” “Father,” “Master” and sing out to Him “I worship You” on Sunday morning, yet live in constant rebellion against what He has told us to do all week?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you specifics in today’s text which He wants you to apply in your life, with His help.
Today I choose to read through the Sermon on the Plain and the parables to find one encouraging word and one challenging word which God has illuminated in both my heart and mind. I will share what I find with others and ask for their prayers in agreement, celebrating the encouragement and seeking victory over the challenge.
Be Specific __________________________________________
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2012 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study –” The Chronological Gospels” – “Week 2 of 12” - prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in June of 2012. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
The Beatitudes
5:1 “When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain. After he sat down his disciples came to him. 5:2 “Then he began to teach them by saying:
5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5:5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
5:7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.
5:10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
5:11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things about you falsely on account of me.
5:12 “Rejoice and be glad because your reward is great in heaven, for they persecuted the prophets before you in the same way.”
Lord, Your new covenant of grace is both a freeing gift and a challenge to every Believer to live righteously before You from a Holy Spirit-informed heart of love. I pray I may be ever mindful of this.
Matthew records that Jesus saw the crowds and “went up the mountain” (5:1). [NET translator notes observe that this may be “idiomatic...or even intentionally reminiscent of Exodus ” the implication being that Jesus’ purpose was to recast, not replace, the law of the Ten Commandments, also given on a mountain, in the grace of the new covenant.]
“His disciples came to Him....Then He began to teach them” (vss. 1,2). Although Jesus’ comments are addressed to His disciples, the crowd listens (see Matt. 7:28). Jesus defines the nature of the personal relationship God desires for His children to have with each other, and with Him, in what has become known as The Beatitudes:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them” (vs. 3). The poor in spirit are the humble in spirit, who recognize their spiritual poverty and are open to being abundantly filled with the Holy Spirit. Some blessings are conditional on one first showing the right spiritual attitude or action, then blessing follows (e.g., the merciful will be shown mercy).
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (vs. 4). This fallen world is filled with loss, thus one is constantly mourning the loss of what was once enjoyed before the Fall, the comfort of the immediate presence of God and the absence of sin. Those who do not mourn the loss of the ever-present God in them (due to the presence of unconfessed, unrepented, unforgiven sin) do not avail themselves of the comfort of God.
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” (vs. 5). To be “meek” means ‘to have ones power under control,’ and in the case of the Christian, under the control of God. This teaching complements other Scripture passages which discuss human interactions in a world inclined toward anger and rage. We are capable of lashing out powerfully — verbally, physically, or otherwise; God’s desire is that we control that power and choose to be meek.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied” (vs. 6). If we understand what Jesus meant by “righteousness,” then we will better understand why He honors those who hunger and thirst for it. Simplified, righteousness is having our thoughts and deeds in ‘right standing before God’ ― this speaks of the condition and expression of our heart. The humble Believer, who knows they are unable to live righteously before God by their own effort, hungers and thirsts for the refining work of the Holy Spirit.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (vs. 7). This blessing is conditional ― be merciful and you will receive mercy. The act of being merciful is giving up the worldly notion of fairness and in its place living the Godly law of love, thereby being a powerful witness of and for Christ.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (vs. 8). This, in a literal sense, is impossible; however, “nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37). All pureness comes from the Holy Spirit. When we get out of God’s way and allow Him through the power of His Holy Spirit to be Lord in some area of our life, He blesses us and, at the same time, others through us — we then ‘see’ the pure heart of God through spiritual eyes.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God” (vs. 9). A peacemaker is not necessarily a pacifist; the Bahai religion teaches pacifism, Biblical Christianity does not. A Christian peacemaker is one who lovingly seeks to avoid conflict, but does not allow unrighteous aggressors to abuse him or her (thus enabling their sin).
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things about you falsely on account of me. Rejoice and be glad because your reward is great in heaven, for they persecuted the prophets before you in the same way” (vss. 10-12). When we are righteous in our service to God we are dwelling in the kingdom of heaven, although we may at the same time be persecuted for standing up for God.
When Jesus describes the boundaries for a blessed relationship with Him, are we at once encouraged and challenged, excited and chastised?
Do we read in His words His loving desire to bless us, His awareness of our struggles, and His provision ready to be poured out when our hearts are turned toward Him?
Compare and contrast “peacemaker” and “pacifist.”
Encourage yourself by remembering at least one principle from the Beatitudes which you have experience when in right-relationship with God or with others.
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you have successfully surrendered a part of your life and He has used that to bless others.
Today I choose to celebrate my surrender to God. I will ask Him to reveal to me something which blocks His blessing and to sustain me in surrendering it. I will ask others to pray in agreement with me and to hold me accountable.
Be Specific __________________________________________________
Salt and Light
5:13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its flavor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled on by people. 5:14 You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden. 5:15 People do not light a lamp and put it under a basket but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven.
Fulfillment of the Law and Prophets
5:17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have not come to abolish these things but to fulfill them. 5:18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth pass away not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter will pass from the law until everything takes place. 5:19 So anyone who breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever obeys them and teaches others to do so will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 5:20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness goes beyond that of the experts in the law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Lord, mindful that Jesus is the fulfillment of the old Law and the Prophets, may I be bold in proclaiming His new message of Grace.
Jesus wants His children to make a difference within their circle of influence, by being both the salt of the earth and light in the world:
Salt both adds flavor and serves as a preservative. Using salt as illustration, Jesus warns that if it is not protected from bad elements, it can be rendered worthless and then “thrown out and trampled on” (Matt. 5:13) — the children of God are to bring the Lord’s values and wisdom in to this sometimes tasteless and decaying world.
Light both illumines the way and reveals dangers. Using the image of light, Jesus informs that His children are to be bold and put their light “on a lampstand” (Matt. 5:15) — to give glory to God and avoid compromising and confusing people of the world by living in a lifestyle consistent with their standing in the Lord God.
The notion of Christ being our perfection is consistent with His teaching that both the Law and the Prophets point to Him and that He has come “to fulfill them” (5:17). Summarizing our transformation from Old Testament bondage to Law (eternal condemnation) to our New Testament freedom by Grace (eternal life), Jesus forewarns: “Unless your righteousness goes beyond that of the experts in the law...you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:20).
[Note: Our righteousness cannot go beyond that of the experts of our own accord, but through His imparted-righteousness at the moment of our salvation we can — we are hopeless without Christ our perfection. Those not justified in Christ will never enter the kingdom of heaven, because in order to do so they must keep the law perfectly to have any hope of eternal life. For those who have faith in Christ, everything needed to attain eternal life is already in place. This is a radical message, which undermines the teaching of the religious leaders of the day and their idolatry of tradition, but which shines light on the fulfillment of the Law and on the prophesy of Jesus the Messiah.]
Unless we are both foolish (living in worldly ways) and selfish (failing to tell others), believing in Jesus changes everything ― who we are in Christ and what we do as His children!
Our transformation from the Old Testament bondage to the Law and condemnation to our New Testament freedom by grace and eternal life is at once mind boggling and humbling.
Our purpose in life as His children, to be witness to His transforming Truth and to never drift back into the old self, is challenging and hopeless without the help of the indwelling Spirit.
The peace of freedom (bringing power to serve in Jesus’ name) versus the bondage of legalism (enduring law without benefit of grace) is worth throwing off the shackles of Law for the wings of Grace.
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place in your life where you are allowing yourself to be distracted by worldly priorities and where you might better prioritize His call to tell His story.
Today I choose to identify and surrender a foolish worldly way which I have allowed to become a habit. I will pray for opportunity to boldly share with an unsaved person the joy and peace I have through faith in the One Who liberated me from the wrath of God.
Be Specific _________________________________________________
Anger and Murder
5:21 “You have heard that it was said to an older generation, ‘Do not murder,’ and ‘whoever murders will be subjected to judgment.’ 5:22 But I say to you that anyone who is angry with a brother will be subjected to judgment. And whoever insults a brother will be brought before the council, and whoever says ‘Fool’ will be sent to fiery hell. 5:23 So then, if you bring your gift to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 5:24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother and then come and present your gift. 5:25 Reach agreement quickly with your accuser while on the way to court, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the warden, and you will be thrown into prison. 5:26 I tell you the truth, you will never get out of there until you have paid the last penny!
Adultery
5:27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ 5:28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to desire her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 5:29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away! It is better to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into hell. 5:30 If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away! It is better to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into hell.
Divorce
5:31 “It was said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a legal document.’ 5:32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Oaths
5:33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to an older generation, ‘Do not break an oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ 5:34 But I say to you, do not take oaths at all – not by heaven, because it is the throne of God, 5:35 not by earth, because it is his footstool, and not by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King. 5:36 Do not take an oath by your head, because you are not able to make one hair white or black. 5:37 Let your word be ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no.’ More than this is from the evil one.
Retaliation
5:38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 5:39 But I say to you, do not resist the evildoer. But whoever strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him as well. 5:40 And if someone wants to sue you and to take your tunic, give him your coat also. 5:41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 5:42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not reject the one who wants to borrow from you.
Love for Enemies
5:43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘hate your enemy.’ 5:44 But I say to you, love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you, 5:45 so that you may be like your Father in heaven, since he causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 5:46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors do the same, don’t they? 5:47 And if you only greet your brothers, what more do you do? Even the Gentiles do the same, don’t they? 5:48 So then, be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Lord, as I read Your teaching, may my heart and mind be transformed to begin to see the world, and my purpose in it, through Your eyes.
Jesus walks through a series of examples on what it means to live as a child of the Kingdom, rather than as a hopeless slave to Law, and teaches regarding the most emotionally and sociologically powerful issues of the day.
Anger & Murder. Whereas the Ten Commandments include the act of murder, Jesus speaks of any instance where the heart bears a seed of anger, bitterness, distain, or unforgiveness — such pollutes a righteous heart and ‘murders’ your relationship with other Believers. And “you will be thrown in to prison” (Matt. 5:25), both emotionally and spiritually isolated from fellowship with your family in Christ.
Adultery. The Ten Commandments specify the physical act of sexual immorality (relations with a person not ones own spouse) as ‘adultery’. Jesus saying “Do not commit adultery” (Matt. 5:27) is referring to any thought which even contemplates such an act. King David, when he viewed Bathsheba bathing, failed the test because he failed to turn away, allowing himself to be tempted as he looked and contemplated a wrong relationship. Jesus advises to stop the downward slide when being tested by not allowing the opportunity to be tempted — protect the heart by being proactive and, “if your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away!” (Matt. 5:30).
Divorce. The Old Testament’s legalistic application of “divorce” (see Deut. 24:1-4) was designed to constrain the carelessness by which men with “hard hearts” (Matt. 19:8) were discarding their wife for another woman merely for convenience or pleasure. Jesus describes the consequences when saying, “everyone who divorces his wife ... makes her commit adultery” (Matt. 5:31). He does not intend that marriage to or by any and every divorced woman (or man) is adultery, He speaks of a Christian who is non-Biblically divorced.
Oaths. In ancient tradition, it was common to make an oath so as to lend artificial credibility to ones promise. Leviticus 19:12 specifically forbids making an oath and using God’s name to lend credibility. Jesus instructs to simply be honorable when giving your word: “Let your word be ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no.’ More than this is from the evil one” (Matt. 5:37). Christians should be known as people of unquestionable integrity in all matters.
Retaliation. Jesus refers to the ancient tradition of “eye for eye, tooth for tooth” (see Exod. 21:23-25), God’s words given to Moses on the mountain. In primitive times the culture was highly literal and abstracts not well understood; thus, a long detailed list of actions and consequences was felt necessary. Since the culture in New Testament times is now capable of abstract thought, Jesus instructs, “whoever strikes you on the cheek, turn the other to him as well” (Matt. 5:39), in order to reduce conflict — metaphorically, He is speaking of any action which violates others boundaries. His intent is not to teach a pacifistic response to an attack designed to do real harm, but to instruct not react to provocations designed to drag one down to another’s level.
Love of Enemies. Jesus reminds His listeners that Leviticus instructs them not to bear a grudge or seek retaliation against others, but rather to “love your neighbor” (see Lev. 19:18). He notes that some have added to this “hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemy” (Matt. 5:43, 44). Jesus reminds that they were once the enemies of God, yet He loved them; they should do likewise, loving their enemies and praying that they also receive the gift of the eternal love of God.
There has been as much, or more, bad teaching since Christ walked among us as there was before He came; Christ has been misrepresented and His Word distorted.
As you read the Scriptural passages on what it means to be a child of God versus a worldly person, which most clarified (or challenged) your understanding and the intended application?
Jesus challenges us to be Christ-like, not merely in law-based behavior, but in the very essence of our hearts and minds. He calls us to be loving and loyal, faithful and forgiving, righteous and respectful — this is challenging when our fallen nature is to be hateful, disloyal, faithless, unforgiving, fallen, and disrespectful. Only with the Holy Spirit in us can we overcome our nature and become more like Him.
Bring to mind one of those character traits as it might be practiced in your life as a Believer, and consider how difficult it would be, without God’s help, to be as God calls you to be.
Ask the Holy Spirit to direct your attention to any source of ‘spiritual authority’ upon which you rely that is suspect (lacking truth in word and action) and where you find your deeds not matching the words of your mouth. Conversely, ask Him to show you where, and under whose authority, you are being a good and faithful servant.
Today I choose to do a careful assessment of the people and publications which I allow to be a source of spiritual influence in my life, looking closely at how well the Beatitudes are being lived out in them. If there is not a close parallel to seeking after perfection in their lives and teaching, then I will remove them from my life.
I will seek to discern if there are places in my life where I play the part of a righteous Christian, but my heart is really in a worldly place. I will repent, ask God’s forgiveness, and submit to the Holy Spirit’s cleansing.
Be Specific ____________________________________________________
Pure-hearted Giving
6:1 “Be careful not to display your righteousness merely to be seen by people. Otherwise you have no reward with your Father in heaven. 6:2 Thus whenever you do charitable giving, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in synagogues and on streets so that people will praise them. I tell you the truth, they have their reward. 6:3 But when you do your giving, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 6:4 so that your gift may be in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.
Private Prayer
6:5 “Whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray while standing in synagogues and on street corners so that people can see them. Truly I say to you, they have their reward. 6:6 But whenever you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. 6:7 When you pray, do not babble repetitiously like the Gentiles, because they think that by their many words they will be heard. 6:8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
6:9 So pray this way:
Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored,
6:10 may your kingdom come,
may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
6:11 Give us today our daily bread,
6:12 and forgive us our debts, as we ourselves have forgiven our debtors.
6:13 And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
6:14 “For if you forgive others their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 6:15 But if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive you your sins.
Proper Fasting
6:16 “When you fast, do not look sullen like the hypocrites, for they make their faces unattractive so that people will see them fasting. I tell you the truth, they have their reward. 6:17 When you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 6:18 so that it will not be obvious to others when you are fasting, but only to your Father who is in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.
Lasting Treasure
6:19 “Do not accumulate for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. 6:20 But accumulate for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
6:22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If then your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 6:23 But if your eye is diseased, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
6:24 “No one can serve two masters, for 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 God and money.
Lord, help me to be humble and concerned only with receiving Your approval, rather than wanting and seeking the approval of man.
Jesus challenges us to assess our motivation for giving, praying, fasting, or (by implication) anything we do in our Christian walk, and to prioritize those things we feel led by Him to do. He calls us to continue our heart-assessment by ‘keeping it real’.
Pure-hearted giving. Jesus warns us to not be prideful in our giving, but to do so out of love, not simply to “be seen by people” (Matt. 6:1).
Private prayer. Jesus instructs that prayer is primarily a private matter (versus an occasion to show off) and offers an example to His disciples of a humble and teachable prayer, known as The Lord’s Prayer. He gives this prayer as a guideline to follow in personal prayer, not as specific words for the Church to recite en masse when gathered for worship. Matthew cautions, before offering the sample prayer: “Do not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray....so that people can see Do not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray....so that people can see them....pray to your Father in secret” (Matt. 6:5,6) and “Do not babble repetitiously like the Gentiles....So pray this way” (vss. 7,9).
“Forgive us our debts, as we ourselves have forgiven our debtors” (Matt. 6:12), reminds us of the relationship between our obedience in forgiving others and being blessed with God’s forgiveness.
Proper fasting. Jesus neither promotes nor restricts fasting, He merely instructs that those who choose to fast not do so as a public spectacle, looking for the admiration of men — rather, do so privately, for “your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you” (Matt. 6:18). As is true with giving and praying, if one is merely seeking the accolades of man God will not honor such a shallow self-serving heart. [Note: To “fast” does not necessarily mean to simply ‘refrain from eating’; it may also be to cease from doing anything which harms the body or spirit.]
Lasting treasure. Jesus reminds us that what we value is reflected in our priorities, for “there your heart will also be” (Matt. 6:21). How we invest our time, talents, and treasures points to what we value the most. He reminds us that if God is not first, whatever displaces Him is a worldly idol: “You can not serve God and money” (vs. 24).
Have you heard God calling you to fast (refrain from) anything which you are doing that is out of balance in your life?
Our obedience in forgiveness of others, which leads to our being blessed by God, is strong incentive to forgive, but to forgive from a loving heart is a purer motive.
The challenge of Jesus to continue in our heart-assessment by prioritizing and being intentional about what we do or say calls for daily meditation and prayer.
Consider the things you have allowed to become more important than God, as evidenced by what you prioritize or participate in while knowing that God disapproves.
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you where, in your practice of religion, a prideful heart may be leading you to draw attention away from Jesus and toward yourself instead.
Today I choose to discern if I give, pray, fast, or prioritize with wrong motives rather than in love-motivated obedience.
Be Specific ________________________________________________
Do Not Worry
6:25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing?
6:26 Look at the birds in the sky: They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you more valuable than they are?
6:27 And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life?
6:28 Why do you worry about clothing? Think about how the flowers of the field grow; they do not work or spin. 6:29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these!
6:30 And if this is how God clothes the wild grass, which is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven, won’t he clothe you even more, you people of little faith? 6:31 So then, don’t worry saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’
6:32 For the unconverted pursue these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
6:33 But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
6:34 So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.
Lord, may the Enemy not trick me into worrying about things rather than feeling comforted in knowing the loving and all-powerful Lord God holds me in the palm of His hand.
Jesus encourages not to worry about the necessities of life. The “unconverted” (Matt. 6:32), those not in the family of God, worry about these things, because they do not have a loving God Who provides. Jesus reminds that we have a loving God Who knows what we have need of.
Instead of worrying, Jesus instructs that if we will focus on God’s kingdom and righteousness, “all these things will be given to you as well” (Matt. 6:33). The admonition that we stay focused on meeting the challenges of the day rather than worrying about what may come in the days ahead (“today has enough trouble of its own,” vs. 34) is a comforting cure for anxiety.
Worrying about necessities is in actuality doubting the loving provision that has been promised to us by the Lord God. When we worry we are distracted and take our eyes off of our obligation to serve Him in all ways, which should be our highest priority.
In our worry we fall easy prey to the Deceiver and become poor witnesses of Christ in us. Have you allowed yourself to worry about something over which you had no control, and your walk and witness for Christ were harmed?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you where and when you tend to worry most and ask for His help in letting those worries go when you see them surfacing.
Today I choose to consider if my worrying is evidence that I do not trust God’s promise to meet my needs. If so, I choose to repent, ask His forgiveness, reject the lies of Satan that tempt me to doubt, and fully trust Him based on what I know not how I feel.
Be Specific __________________________________________________
Do Not Judge
7:1 “Do not judge so that you will not be judged. 7:2 For by the standard you judge you will be judged, and the measure you use will be the measure you receive. 7:3 Why do you see the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to see the beam of wood in your own? 7:4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye,’ while there is a beam in your own? 7:5 You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. 7:6 Do not give what is holy to dogs or throw your pearls before pigs; otherwise they will trample them under their feet and turn around and tear you to pieces.
Ask, Seek, Knock
7:7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you. 7:8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 7:9 Is there anyone among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 7:10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 7:11 If you then, although you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 7:12 In everything, treat others as you would want them to treat you, for this fulfills the law and the prophets.
The Narrow Gate
7:13 “Enter through the narrow gate, because the gate is wide and the way is spacious that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 7:14 But the gate is narrow and the way is difficult that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Lord, if I stand in any way as “righteous” before You it is because of the work of Christ on the Cross and the presence of Your Holy Spirit in me. May I never act self-righteous and hold anyone to a higher standard than I hold for myself, but rather through the filter of Grace.
Jesus cautions against judging others, encourages His listeners to pray, and teaches that the way to eternal life is narrow and neither easily found nor followed.
Do not judge. Jesus informs His listeners that whatever standard they apply to others will be applied to them. If harsh perfectionism is expected of others, then God will also expect the same of us; if we have arrogant pride of position or title or wealth, then the folly of such pride will be amplified; if we entertain self-importance due to outward beauty, physical prowess, unique talent, then every flaw we have will be counted against us. When we see ourselves from the world’s perspective rather than as unique and valuable children of God, we cast our value as “pearls before pigs” (Matt. 7:6) for people to trample, rather than as persons in a place worthy to be sought.
Ask, seek, knock. Jesus encourages Believers to bring everything to God so that He may respond to fervent and righteous prayers with blessings. He reminds to “treat others as you would want them to treat you” (Matt. 7:12), a righteous standard for every citizen of a successful civilization and “not completely unique in the ancient world, but here it is stated in its most emphatic, selfless form” (NET sn).
The narrow gate. Jesus notes that far easier than following God’s way is following the “many” (Matt. 7:13) and wandering carelessly away from Him and His blessings, blessings both realized on earth and promised in Heaven. To follow God’s way through life is difficult, and “there are few who find it” (vs. 14).
The world wants us obsessed with, thus controlled by, the same priorities over which worldly people are. What we obsess over we become slaves to. Worldly people want us worry about their approval, so that we will sell out God in order to fit into their debauched and hopeless “chasing after the wind” (Eccl. 5:16).
Do we treat others as God would have us to, not only because that is how we’d want them to behave toward us, but because God asks us to?
Following Christ is sacrificial: Every genuine confession of faith requires that we give up everyone and everything in the world for Jesus and allow Him to decide who and what we need. While we may be poor in worldly things and rejected by worldly people, we are loved more dearly by God and His family of true Believers than any non-Believer in the world could ever hope to be loved.
Have you found yourself convicted by the Holy Spirit within for looking down on someone (dressed poorly, poorly spoken, different in some way) and being caught up in a momentary sense of superiority?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you when you are distracted by the unimportant to the detriment of what is important to God.
Today I choose to consider things I may be doing that are unintentional distractions from God on my part, but intentional temptations for my attention on the part of the Enemy. I will repent, look to the Holy Spirit for help in being teachable, and invite Him to protect me from drifting into worldly distractions and priorities.
Be Specific ________________________________________________
A Tree and Its Fruit
7:15 Watch out for false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are voracious wolves.
7:16 You will recognize them by their fruit. Grapes are not gathered from thorns or figs from thistles, are they?
7:17 In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.
7:18 A good tree is not able to bear bad fruit, nor a bad tree to bear good fruit.
7:19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
7:20 So then, you will recognize them by their fruit.
Judgment of Pretenders
7:21 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven – only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
7:22 On that day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, and in your name cast out demons and do many powerful deeds?’
7:23 Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Go away from me, you lawbreakers!’
Hearing and Doing
7:24 Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them is like a wise man who built his house on rock.
7:25 The rain fell, the flood came, and the winds beat against that house, but it did not collapse because it had been founded on rock.
7:26 Everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.
7:27 The rain fell, the flood came, and the winds beat against that house, and it collapsed; it was utterly destroyed!
7:28 When Jesus finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed by his teaching,
7:29 because he taught them like one who had authority, not like their experts in the law.
Lord, because of my faith in Christ I am no longer under the Law but covered by the covenant of Grace. Help me to display, as evidence of that faith and grace, the fruit of the Holy Spirit that is given to me.
Jesus calls His followers to be discerning and to seek the wisdom from God which enables them to recognize, in order to flee, Christian “pretenders” and false teachings:
Tree and its fruit. Jesus warns there are many who pretend to be from and to speak for God, yet who are being used as tools of the Deceiver to trick those seeking Truth. Consider the walk and the talk of those who claim they are of God and, if their fruit (what they do and say) does not line up with His righteous standard, flee from those who come in “sheep’s clothing but inwardly are voracious wolves” (Matt. 7:15).
Judgment of pretenders. Jesus saves His harshest words for those who fake having faith, thereby confusing and manipulating others. These are pretenders who: Cry out loudly in public, Lord, Lord; falsely claim to prophesy in His name; pretend to cast out demons, yet are really in league with the demons; and masquerade with theater-like stunts the “many powerful deeds of God” (Matt. 7:22). Jesus says, “I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you’“ (vs. 23).
Hearing and doing. Using a parable of building a house on rock instead of on sand, Jesus illustrates the difference between “a wise man” (Matt. 7:24) building a life on His words versus a foolish man building his life on the world’s lies — the foolish man will be “utterly destroyed” (vs. 27).
“Pretenders” are lawbreakers. As such, they are neither saved under the old covenant of Law through works nor under the new covenant of Grace by faith.
When has the Holy Spirit shown you that someone whom you trusted was actually a false prophet? Were you resistant to that truth at first? Have you separated yourself from that person, or are you still resisting the wisdom and protection of the Holy Spirit?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you an author, preacher, teacher, entertainer, or other (book, radio, television, gathering, etc.) who claims to speak with Biblical authority, but who is in fact a false prophet.
Today I choose to consider carefully if there are ‘pretenders’ in my life claiming the name of Christ but showing no evidence of the fruit of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit of God. Once identified, I choose to exercise extreme care that I am not influenced by them.
I will assess where I have a tendency to “build on the rock” (on the teachings of Jesus) versus on “shifting sand” (the teachings of the world). I will ask others to pray for me as I struggle to know for sure.
Be Specific ________________________________________
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2012 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study –“The Chronological Gospels” – “Week 3 of 12” - prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in June of 2012. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
Luke
Healing the Centurion’s Slave
7:1 After Jesus had finished teaching all this to the people, he entered Capernaum. 7:2 A centurion there had a slave who was highly regarded, but who was sick and at the point of death. 7:3 When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, asking him to come and heal his slave. 7:4 When they came to Jesus, they urged him earnestly, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, 7:5 because he loves our nation, and even built our synagogue.” 7:6 So Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to say to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. 7:7 That is why I did not presume to come to you. Instead, say the word, and my servant must be healed. 7:8 For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me. I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 7:9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him. He turned and said to the crowd that followed him, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith!” 7:10 So when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave well.
Raising a Widow’s Son
7:11 Soon afterward Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him. 7:12 As he approached the town gate, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother (who was a widow), and a large crowd from the town was with her. 7:13 When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 7:14 Then he came up and touched the bier, and those who carried it stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” 7:15 So the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. 7:16 Fear seized them all, and they began to glorify God, saying, “A great prophet has appeared among us!” and “God has come to help his people!” 7:17 This report about Jesus circulated throughout Judea and all the surrounding country.
Matthew
Cleansing a Leper
8:1 After he came down from the mountain, large crowds followed him. 8:2 And a leper approached, and bowed low before him, saying, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” 8:3 He stretched out his hand and touched him saying, “I am willing. Be clean!” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 8:4 Then Jesus said to him, “See that you do not speak to anyone, but go, show yourself to a priest, and bring the offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
Healing the Centurion’s Servant
8:5 When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him asking for help: 8:6 “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible anguish.” 8:7 Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 8:8 But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. Instead, just say the word and my servant will be healed. 8:9 For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I say to this one, ‘Go’ and he goes, and to another ‘Come’ and he comes, and to my slave ‘Do this’ and he does it.” 8:10 When Jesus heard this he was amazed and said to those who followed him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found such faith in anyone in Israel! 8:11 I tell you, many will come from the east and west to share the banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, 8:12 but the sons of the kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 8:13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go; just as you believed, it will be done for you.” And the servant was healed at that hour.
Lord, may my faith be as informed and sure as the Centurion’s.
Jesus is asked by a Roman centurion, one responsible for about 100 men, to heal his favored servant. The centurion may have been a local citizen pressed into service, but was not a Jew (see Luke 7:9b). However, in this case, the Gentile centurion was sympathetic to the local Jewish culture and had an awareness of Jesus.
When Jesus is still at a distance the centurion sends word that He not trouble Himself to come all the way, but to instead “say the word, and my servant must be healed” (Luke 7:7, italics added) — he knew Jesus would merely need to give a spiritual order for this to happen, as he himself would give a military order with the anticipation and the surety that it would be obeyed. Jesus is favorably impressed by the man’s understanding of spiritual authority and his faith, as “not even in Israel have I found such faith!” (vs. 9b), in contrast to the often faithless and stubborn Jews.
Restoring life to the dead son of a woman leads a large crowd to glorify God and declare that Jesus is a “great prophet” (Luke 7:16) sent by God to help His people. Matthew adds the account of the healing of the leper, who asks Him for healing if He is willing, to which Jesus responds “I am willing. Be clean!” (8:3).
Do we have as clear and compelling an understanding of the authority of Jesus, and as revealing an evidence of the indwelling Holy Spirit, as did the centurion?
Do we believe unflinchingly that Jesus has authoritative power over all creation, that He has given us access to that power through the Holy Spirit, and that He acts in powerful ways in and through us?
Jesus did not need to physically touch the leper in order to heal him, He chose to do so to make a point: He sent the newly-healed leper to make a sacrifice (a leper was not allowed to do so) as a testimony to and as an indictment against the priests. Jesus’ higher purpose was always discipleship and evangelism.
When have you been used by God, through a healing or some provision He has made in your life, as an instrument of His discipleship or evangelism? What was the result in your life or the life of another?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the story of His provision for or healing of you which He wants you to share.
Today I will recall a miracle, great or small (other than the gift of my salvation), that God has done in my life or the life of someone with whom I am personally familiar. I will share that story with someone and celebrate with them the loving grace and power of God.
Be Specific __________________________________________________
Matthew
11:1 When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their towns.
Jesus and John the Baptist
11:2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds Christ had done, he sent his disciples to ask a question: 11:3 “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” 11:4 Jesus answered them, “Go tell John what you hear and see: 11:5 The blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news proclaimed to them. 11:6 Blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”
11:7 While they were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 11:8 What did you go out to see? A man dressed in fancy clothes? Look, those who wear fancy clothes are in the homes of kings! 11:9 What did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 11:10 This is the one about whom it is written:
‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’
11:11 “I tell you the truth, among those born of women, no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is. 11:12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and forceful people lay hold of it. 11:13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John appeared. 11:14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, who is to come. 11:15 The one who has ears had better listen!
11:16 “To what should I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces who call out to one another, 11:17 ‘We played the flute for you, yet you did not dance; we wailed in mourning, yet you did not weep.’
11:18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’ 11:19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him, a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”
Woes on Unrepentant Cities
11:20 Then Jesus began to criticize openly the cities in which he had done many of his miracles, because they did not repent. 11:21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 11:22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you! 11:23 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be thrown down to Hades! For if the miracles done among you had been done in Sodom, it would have continued to this day. 11:24 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for the region of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you!”
Luke
Jesus and John the Baptist
7:18 John’s disciples informed him about all these things. So John called two of his disciples 7:19 and sent them to Jesus to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” 7:20 When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?’” 7:21 At that very time Jesus cured many people of diseases, sicknesses, and evil spirits, and granted sight to many who were blind. 7:22 So he answered them, “Go tell John what you have seen and heard: The blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news proclaimed to them. 7:23 Blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”
7:24 When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 7:25 What did you go out to see? A man dressed in fancy clothes? Look, those who wear fancy clothes and live in luxury are in kings’ courts! 7:26 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, ‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ 7:28 I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he is.” 7:29 (Now all the people who heard this, even the tax collectors, acknowledged God’s justice, because they had been baptized with John’s baptism. 7:30 However, the Pharisees and the experts in religious law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)
7:31 “To what then should I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? 7:32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, yet you did not dance; we wailed in mourning, yet you did not weep.’
7:33 For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’ 7:34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him, a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 7:35 But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”
Lord, may I speak with the clarity and have the boldness of John when I have opportunity to share the Good News.
Jesus receives a challenge from the disciples of John the Baptist, “‘Are You the One Who is to come?’“ (Luke 7:20). Jesus responds by noting the many public healings and miracles in His ministry which are evidence of Who He is and which should assure John that He is indeed the One. And He affirms to the crowd the calling of John, “my messenger...who will prepare the way” (Luke 7:27).
Matthew notes that John was at the time in prison and had heard about “the deeds Christ had done” (11:2), which helps us in understanding the perspective and urgency of John.
Jesus criticizes and condemns the cities in which he had done “many of His miracles” (Matt. 11:20), yet they did not repent. Jesus notes that some in Tyre and Sidon, though plenty sinful, would have responded to the evidence of His ministry and repented, rendering them available for forgiveness. In contrast, Chorazin and Bethsaida had seen His miracles yet remained unrepentant — to their woe.
Do we sometimes drift into doubt when under pressure, because we are not resting in the assurance that Jesus truly is the One?
Do we recognize that an unrepentant heart makes us unavailable to blessing?
Have you been attacked by unbelievers, or confused Believers, and drifted over in to sharing their doubt? How was your faith impacted?
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you a place in your life where you drift toward doubting.
Today I will deal with a place where I doubt and, instead of trusting in my own strength and wisdom, turn my eyes upon Jesus and trust in Him and His strength. I will ask someone to pray in agreement with me to purge that place of doubt from my life.
Be Specific _________________________________________________
Jesus’ Anointing
7:36 Now one of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table.
7:37 Then when a woman of that town, who was a sinner, learned that Jesus was dining at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfumed oil. 7:38 As she stood behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. She wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the perfumed oil.
7:39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.” 7:40 So Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” He replied, “Say it, Teacher.”
7:41 “A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed him five hundred silver coins, and the other fifty. 7:42 When they could not pay, he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 7:43 Simon answered, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.” Jesus said to him, “You have judged rightly.”
7:44 Then, turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house. You gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 7:45 You gave me no kiss of greeting, but from the time I entered she has not stopped kissing my feet. 7:46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with perfumed oil. 7:47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which were many, are forgiven, thus she loved much; but the one who is forgiven little loves little.” 7:48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
7:49 But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 7:50 He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Lord, when we are saved we acknowledge that our lives have been filled with hopelessly-condemning sin before a holy God; we surrender all, even our very lives as we repent and accept Your forgiveness and reconciliation. May I remember to be humble as I daily acknowledge my grateful service and reverent honor owed to You.
Jesus accepted the invitation of the Pharisee in order to create a teachable moment.
The Pharisee, more interested in challenging the authority of Jesus, perhaps seeking an occasion to mock him during the meal, or perhaps to borrow some of his popularity with the people, neglected the common courtesy of “water for my feet”, the traditional welcoming “kiss of greeting”, or the act of honor, respect, or symbol of peace to “anoint my head with oil”. [Note: Some render the oil as a “brightening” of the face, whereas a dry and dusty appearance would appear less 'royal', in this case apparently intentionally neglected by the Pharisee for Jesus.]
In contrast “the woman of that town” (a euphemism for a prostitute) “wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair”, “from the time I entered she has not stopped kissing my feet”, “anointed my feet with perfumed oil”. [Note: The NET translator's notes observe that an Alabaster jar implied very valuable oil, something not sacrificed lightly by a woman so desperate for income to survive that she sold her body. It's worthy of consideration that she may even have been a wife carelessly discarded by a a man respected by the Pharisee, due to his socio-economic standing, for another woman and for no Biblical cause – merely selfish lust. Such a woman would have had few if any other means of survival in that culture.]
Just as Nathan challenged David with an interactive illustration to draw-out his sense of correct and incorrect, just and unjust, right and wrong, Jesus challenged the Pharisee – and drew-out his response that the one with the greater debt would be the one with the greater gratefulness for forgiveness.
The Pharisee missed the point, though given his education in Biblical teaching he should not have, that all were in need of forgiveness – including himself.
When Jesus forgave her of her sin, because she was clearly repentant and clearly humble – and she clearly understood Who He was, the Pharisee in his other guests were troubled.
There has been no time since the Fall that every human did not require forgiveness in order to be reconciled with God.
With the business of our lives, and the rituals of our religious exercises, do we wash the feet of Jesus with our humility, demonstrate our returned-affection for Him though service, and give to Him the anointing of our surrendered lives?
One might wonder if the woman readily accessed the Pharisee's residence merely because of the open nature of the design of homes, or because - in her line of business - she was also used to visiting someone in his home.
When have you received or given acts of courtesy, peace, and welcome to a visitor to your home? Perhaps done in a way that is unique to a certain sub-culture. What did that look like?
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you how you might wash the feet of Jesus with your humility, demonstrate your returned-affection for Him though service, and give to Him the anointing of your surrendered life.
Today I will follow in the way that the Holy Spirit leads, perhaps asking a fellow believer to join me, and together celebrate the joy of our worship in action.
Be Specific ____________________________________________________
Matthew
Trees and Their Fruit
12:33 “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is known by its fruit. 12:34 Offspring of vipers! How are you able to say anything good, since you are evil? For the mouth speaks from what fills the heart. 12:35 The good person brings good things out of his good treasury, and the evil person brings evil things out of his evil treasury. 12:36 I tell you that on the day of judgment, people will give an account for every worthless word they speak. 12:37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
The Sign of Jonah
12:38 Then some of the experts in the law along with some Pharisees answered him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.” 12:39 But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 12:40 For just as Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish for three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. 12:41 The people of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented when Jonah preached to them – and now, something greater than Jonah is here! 12:42 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon – and now, something greater than Solomon is here!
The Return of the Unclean Spirit
12:43 “When an unclean spirit goes out of a person, it passes through waterless places looking for rest but does not find it. 12:44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the home I left.’ When it returns, it finds the house empty, swept clean, and put in order. 12:45 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there, so the last state of that person is worse than the first. It will be that way for this evil generation as well!”
Jesus’ True Family
12:46 While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and brothers came and stood outside, asking to speak to him. 12:47 Someone told him, “Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside wanting to speak to you.” 12:48 To the one who had said this, Jesus replied, “Who is my mother and who are my brothers?” 12:49 And pointing toward his disciples he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 12:50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
Luke
Jesus’ True Family
8:19 Now Jesus’ mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not get near him because of the crowd. 8:20 So he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.” 8:21 But he replied to them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”
Lord, may we remember that fellow Believers are our true family, because they partner with us, in relationships superseding that of mere blood relations, to do Your work.
Jesus challenges that “the mouth speaks from what fills the heart” (Matt. 12:34) and declares that if our heart is evil then so will be our words, no matter how righteous-sounding we try to make them.
Jonah preached repentance and Nineveh repented. The queen of Sheba (see I Kings 10:1-3) sought truth and found it in the wisdom of Solomon. But “an evil and adulterous generation” (12:39) demands signs and are unrepentant, even though the Messiah has been shown to them. Jesus tells the Pharisees seeking a sign “something greater than Jonah is here!” (Matt. 12:41) and “something greater than Solomon is here!” (vs. 42).
Jesus cautions that merely ridding oneself of the presence, practice, or influence of evil does not prevent evil spirits from returning to fill the void; indeed, it may lead to evil returning with “seven other spirits more evil than itself” (Matt. 12:45). [“The key to the example appears to be that no one else has been invited in to dwell” (NET sn).] One must not only empty oneself of the world, but fill oneself with the Holy Spirit — by way of genuine surrender to the Lordship of Christ.]
The family of Jesus arrives while He is doing ministry, and someone suggests that He greet them — to which He replies that His family is defined by “whoever does the will of my Father in Heaven” (Matt. 12:50). Luke clarifies who is our family, saying they are those “who hear the word of God and do it” (8:21).
Do we contemplate the condition of our heart before we open our mouths? Are we repentant when confronted and convicted by God? Or are we rebellious, resistant, and resentful?
Do we keep one foot in the world and the other in the kingdom and, in doing so, prevent the Holy Spirit from dwelling in us, which leaves us open to the Enemy’s attacks?
Does our obedience stand as evidence that we hear the word of God and do it and that we are in the family of Christ?
Have you discovered yourself failing to use the things of Christ to fill the emptied places in your life — places once filled with the things of the world you left behind — which led to these places being flooded with more spiritual garbage than before! How did you counteract?
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you the way to greater spiritual maturity, no matter the cost.
Today I choose to focus on and be encouraged by one place in my life where the words of my mouth rightly show evidence of a heart seeking righteousness. I will ask another to pray in agreement that I allow the Holy Spirit to lead me to greater spiritual maturity, so that I will be a more intentional witness to God’s presence in my life.
Be Specific ________________________________________________
Instructions on Prayer
11:1 Now Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he stopped, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” 11:2 So he said to them, “When you pray, say:
Father, may your name be honored; may your kingdom come.
11:3 Give us each day our daily bread,
11:4 and forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And do not lead us into temptation.”
11:5 Then he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 11:6 because a friend of mine has stopped here while on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him.’ 11:7 Then he will reply from inside, ‘Do not bother me. The door is already shut, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything.’ 11:8 I tell you, even though the man inside will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of the first man’s sheer persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.
11:9 “So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 11:10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 11:11 What father among you, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? 11:12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 11:13 If you then, although you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Jesus and Beelzebul
11:14 Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the man who had been mute began to speak, and the crowds were amazed. 11:15 But some of them said, “By the power of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons, he casts out demons.” 11:16 Others, to test him, began asking for a sign from heaven. 11:17 But Jesus, realizing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is destroyed, and a divided household falls. 11:18 So if Satan too is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? I ask you this because you claim that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. 11:19 Now if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 11:20 But if I cast out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has already overtaken you. 11:21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his possessions are safe. 11:22 But when a stronger man attacks and conquers him, he takes away the first man’s armor on which the man relied and divides up his plunder. 11:23 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
Response to Jesus’ Work
11:24 “When an unclean spirit goes out of a person, it passes through waterless places looking for rest but not finding any. Then it says, ‘I will return to the home I left.’ 11:25 When it returns, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. 11:26 Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there, so the last state of that person is worse than the first.”
11:27 As he said these things, a woman in the crowd spoke out to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts at which you nursed!” 11:28 But he replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it!”
The Sign of Jonah
11:29 As the crowds were increasing, Jesus began to say, “This generation is a wicked generation; it looks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. 11:30 For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be a sign to this generation. 11:31 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon – and now, something greater than Solomon is here! 11:32 The people of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented when Jonah preached to them – and now, something greater than Jonah is here!
Internal Light
11:33 “No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a hidden place or under a basket, but on a lampstand, so that those who come in can see the light. 11:34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is diseased, your body is full of darkness. 11:35 Therefore see to it that the light in you is not darkness. 11:36 If then your whole body is full of light, with no part in the dark, it will be as full of light as when the light of a lamp shines on you.”
Lord, may I not be found wasting my influence on others by hiding my fellowship with You as if under a basket, but rather sharing my relationship with You so Your light will shine on others.
Jesus offers, by way of example, what has come to be known as the Lord’s prayer when His disciples ask Him, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1). Jesus intends it as a guideline for personal prayer, not as a ritualized chant to be recited en masse during organized worship.
The key elements of Jesus’ guidelines for prayer are:
May Your name be honored. This lays-claims to an intimate relationship with the Lord God, joined with honoring and glorifying Him.
May Your Kingdom come. We are expected to long for the return of Christ — this requires true separation from the world and actively longing for Heaven, the place of perfect righteousness.
Give us each day our daily bread. Daily bread is the food of Christ — His teaching, love, provision — which sustains us day to day. We are asking Him to give us each day what we need for the day.
Forgive us our sins. Forgiveness of sin first requires that we ask for forgiveness — after which, God promises to act.
We also forgive everyone who sins against us. Translated from the Greek, “who is indebted to us,” (see Matt. 6:12) this not only speaks of the sin of violation against personal boundaries, but also speaks of people in social circumstances who are indebted to one another for favors done and needs met.
In response to favors done or needs which have been met, we are only obliged to show gratitude — although one may feel they have further obligation, and the other may have an unjust sense that they are owed something in return.
Feeling resentment against others for not doing something for us and feeling owed by others for what we have done for them are mutual sins which require forgiveness from God so that He may forgive us — “if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive you your sins” (Matt. 6:15).
Do not lead us into temptation. This does not suggest that God causes temptation, but is “a rhetorical way to ask for His protection from sin,” (NET sn). The equally-acceptable translation, “into a time of testing,” removes any hint that God might be the author or promoter of sin — sin always begins with us allowing a test to become a temptation.
Jesus challenges us to understand that God wants us to call upon Him with “sheer persistence” (Luke 11:8), humbly and submissively pleading for Him to meet the need which we have no hope of meeting ourselves.
To the charge that He casts out demons because He is “the ruler of demons” (Luke 11:15), Jesus reminds that we must be “fully armed” (vs. 21) — by implication, with the same armor He used in the desert, the Word of God (see Luke 4:1-13).
We are not to imagine there is a middle ground — Jesus tells us that one is either with Him or against Him: “Whoever does not gather with Me scatters” (Luke 11:23).
Jesus tells us to be certain that His light shines from us and that we not put it “under a basket” (Luke 11:33). We need to be intentional about sharing His light for others to see.
Are we obedient, as was Jesus in the desert, in resisting the Devil? Or do we fail, as did David and Bathsheba, causing what was a test to become a temptation?
Do we honor God in all that we say and do? Do we accept His forgiveness and new teaching daily? Do we confess our sins to God, repent of them, and seek (and accept) His forgiveness? Do we hold grudges and obligations against others? Do we avoid the places where God allows us to be tested?
Do we call upon Jesus daily for our daily bread, His filling us with the Holy Spirit and teaching us through the Word? Do we accept the reality that there is no middle ground to stand on between Jesus’ firm foundation of Truth and Satan’s quicksand of deceit?
What does a personal inventory reveal to you about things in your heart: Are there things that you do not want seen in the light? What should you change in your life to be sure you are sharing Jesus’ light with others, not contributing to the darkness?
Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you to greater maturity, after first confessing and then repenting (turning away from) the places where you know you have fallen short.
Today I choose to celebrate where the Holy Spirit has led me to greater maturity and to confess and repent where I find I fall short. I will tell someone about Jesus (in person or by e-mail, text, telephone) and show them Jesus in me by a change in my attitude or priorities.
Be Specific __________________________________________________
Rebuking the Pharisees and Experts in the Law
11:37 As he spoke, a Pharisee invited Jesus to have a meal with him, so he went in and took his place at the table. 11:38 The Pharisee was astonished when he saw that Jesus did not first wash his hands before the meal. 11:39 But the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. 11:40 You fools! Didn’t the one who made the outside make the inside as well? 11:41 But give from your heart to those in need, and then everything will be clean for you.
11:42 “But woe to you Pharisees! You give a tenth of your mint, rue, and every herb, yet you neglect justice and love for God! But you should have done these things without neglecting the others. 11:43 Woe to you Pharisees! You love the best seats in the synagogues and elaborate greetings in the marketplaces! 11:44 Woe to you! You are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without realizing it!”
11:45 One of the experts in religious law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things you insult us too.” 11:46 But Jesus replied, “Woe to you experts in religious law as well! You load people down with burdens difficult to bear, yet you yourselves refuse to touch the burdens with even one of your fingers! 11:47 Woe to you! You build the tombs of the prophets whom your ancestors killed. 11:48 So you testify that you approve of the deeds of your ancestors, because they killed the prophets and you build their tombs! 11:49 For this reason also the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,’ 11:50 so that this generation may be held accountable for the blood of all the prophets that 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, it will be charged against this generation. 11:52 Woe to you experts in religious law! You have taken away the key to knowledge! You did not go in yourselves, and you hindered those who were going in.”
11:53 When he went out from there, the experts in the law and the Pharisees began to oppose him bitterly, and to ask him hostile questions about many things, 11:54 plotting against him, to catch him in something he might say.
Lord, may I respectfully challenge anyone who asserts a role of authority in Your family and yet misrepresents Your Word.
Jesus unleashes a full assault on the religious authorities, for their obsession with tradition over truth, when He says, “you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without realizing it!” (Luke 11:44). He is throwing one of their silly superstitions back at them (the folly of walking on graves) to make a point: The religious authorities are having a bad effect on people who are fundamentally unaware of where they are walking.
Luke reports the unrepentant reaction of the religious authorities, who instead “began to oppose Him bitterly” (11:53) and try to find a way to catch Him in a wrong act or word.
Are we also guilty of elevating tradition to the level of Biblical truth, perhaps in guilt-driven rituals or other things that we believe, say, or do which lack Biblical support?
Are we chastised to think that we may be teaching, by way of example, others to act and think in ways that are not Biblical?
Are we fearful of criticism or consequences and therefore avoid speaking the truth in love?
Have you heard bad teaching and spoken up? What was the result?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you where you need to get in-line with the Bible’s teaching and direction.
Today I choose to discern where in my life an action, belief, habit, ritual, or tradition is motivated by something less than the higher calling of God and if it is possible that someone might emulate me or draw some conclusion about Jesus that is not Biblical when they observe me in that place. I will ask for and accept God’s forgiveness, and accept the power of the Holy Spirit to alter that in my life.
Be Specific ____________________________________________
Jesus’ Invitation
11:25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent, and revealed them to little children. 11:26 Yes, Father, for this was your gracious will. 11:27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son decides to reveal him.
11:28 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 11:29 Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 11:30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry.”
Lord, Your yoke is easy to bear, because it is made with Love and Truth, and You give me rest along the way.
The “wise and intelligent” (Matthew 11:25) Jesus speaks of are the businessmen and religious leaders whom He chastises for being wise in their own eyes, intelligent in their collection of knowledge, yet lacking in the God-enabled understanding needed to make them truly wise.
Jesus praises God His Father in Heaven for the ministry He has brought to Earth through His Son. He then compares the “rest for their souls” (Matthew 11:29) which He offers His people to the terrible religious burdens the religious leaders create and impose on them.
Have we celebrated the gift of Christ with sincere praise?
Do we recognize the terrible weight of the world making us weary and burdened, and do we allow Jesus to remove or share it with us?
How different are we from the wise and intelligent whom Jesus chastised? Are we also sometimes wise in our own eyes and intelligent in collecting knowledge, yet unwilling to humble ourselves and gain the understanding from God needed to make us truly wise?
When have you recognized that following God more closely, listening to and obeying the Word, has resulted in His light yoke replacing the world’s heavy yolk?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you where you feel weary and burdened because you are trying to handle a worldly challenge in your own strength.
Today I choose to salute a saint by speaking words of praise and encouragement, serve an unbeliever, or sing a song of praise to God for my salvation. I will allow the Holy Spirit to be my comfort and strength in one area where I feel weary and burdened because I have tried to handle a worldly challenge in my own strength.
Be Specific ____________________________________________
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2012 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study –”The Chronological Gospels” – “Week 4 of 12” - prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in June of 2012. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
Matthew
Healing and Forgiving a Paralytic
9:1 After getting into a boat he crossed to the other side and came to his own town. 9:2 Just then some people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Have courage, son! Your sins are forgiven.” 9:3 Then some of the experts in the law said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming!” 9:4 When Jesus saw their reaction he said, “Why do you respond with evil in your hearts? 9:5 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven’ or to say, ‘Stand up and walk’? 9:6 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” – then he said to the paralytic – “Stand up, take your stretcher, and go home.” 9:7 And he stood up and went home. 9:8 When the crowd saw this, they were afraid and honored God who had given such authority to men.
The Call of Matthew; Eating with Sinners
9:9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth. “Follow me,” he said to him. And he got up and followed him. 9:10 As Jesus was having a meal in Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Jesus and his disciples. 9:11 When the Pharisees saw this they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 9:12 When Jesus heard this he said, “Those who are healthy don’t need a physician, but those who are sick do. 9:13 Go and learn what this saying means: ‘I want mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
The Superiority of the New
9:14 Then John’s disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don’t fast?” 9:15 Jesus said to them, “The wedding guests cannot mourn while the bridegroom is with them, can they? But the days are coming when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and then they will fast. 9:16 No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, because the patch will pull away from the garment and the tear will be worse. 9:17 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the skins burst and the wine is spilled out and the skins are destroyed. Instead they put new wine into new wineskins and both are preserved.”
Healing the Blind and Mute
9:27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, shouting, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” 9:28 When he went into the house, the blind men came to him. Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” 9:29 Then he touched their eyes saying, “Let it be done for you according to your faith.” 9:30 And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus sternly warned them, “See that no one knows about this.” 9:31 But they went out and spread the news about him throughout that entire region.
9:32 As they were going away, a man who could not talk and was demon-possessed was brought to him. 9:33 After the demon was cast out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowds were amazed and said, “Never has anything like this been seen in Israel!” 9:34 But the Pharisees said, “By the ruler of demons he casts out demons.”
Luke
Jesus’ Ministry and the Help of Women
8:1 Some time afterward he went on through towns and villages, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, 8:2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and disabilities: Mary (called Magdalene), from whom seven demons had gone out, 8:3 and Joanna the wife of Cuza (Herod’s household manager), Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their own resources.
Lord, may I be faithful in copying the model of Jesus in the preaching and proclaiming of Your Word.
Jesus travels “through towns and villages, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God” (Luke 8:1). Traveling with an entourage including some women was somewhat counter to the male-biased culture of the day. Those traveling with Jesus included the twelve apostles who had been called by Him, three women who had been healed by Him, and others who had access to sufficient financial resources from which they supported His ministry.
Jesus heals a paralytic and, when challenged for telling him, “Your sins are forgiven” (Matt. 9:2), makes notice of His Heavenly authority by also healing him completely — “so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” (vs. 6).
Jesus dines with a despised tax collector, and the religious leaders take the occasion to condemn Him. He responds that He is not interested in prayers and sacrifices from hearts filled with rebellious sin (the “healthy,” Matt. 9:12), but that He is reaching out to the sick who are aware of their need for spiritual healing from Heaven. [“Jesus’ point is that He associates with those who are sick because they have the need and will respond to the offer of help. I person who is healthy (or who thinks mistakenly that he is) will not seek treatment” (NET sn).]
When challenged as to the failure of his disciples to fast as the religious leaders do, Jesus explains that He is teaching them about the new covenant and they will have time to fast after He is “taken from them” (Matt. 9:15). There is no point in religious fasting for those saved by Grace — that is like pouring “new wine into old wineskins” (vs. 17). Once one has been saved and made new by the new covenant in Jesus, fasting will again have meaning, purpose, and be appropriate — as is pouring new wine in new wineskins.
As followers of Christ, do we emulate Jesus in both the telling and explaining of His story?
Do we emulate Jesus in discerning whom God has sent as our students and preparing them well, so they may go forth and tell His story?
Do we emulate Jesus by honoring women as well as men in their Biblically-defined roles to serve Him?
Do we observe God’s Word being better understood and more-readily accepted in response to speakers having rightly taken the time to understand their audience and then adapting the retelling of His story to their culture and/or experience?
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where and when He wants you to preach and proclaim His Word.
Today I choose to tell someone about the Good News, taking the time to explain it well, while on a chat site, texting or e-mailing, on the phone, or speaking face-to-face with someone. I will ask someone to pray with me for the courage and the wisdom I will need.
Be Specific ____________________________________________
Matthew
The Parable of the Sower
13:1 On that day after Jesus went out of the house, he sat by the lake. 13:2 And such a large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat to sit while the whole crowd stood on the shore. 13:3 He told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. 13:4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 13:5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground where they did not have much soil. They sprang up quickly because the soil was not deep. 13:6 But when the sun came up, they were scorched, and because they did not have sufficient root, they withered. 13:7 Other seeds fell among the thorns, and they grew up and choked them. 13:8 But other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty. 13:9 The one who has ears had better listen!”
13:10 Then the disciples came to him and said, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 13:11 He replied, “You have been given the opportunity to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but they have not. 13:12 For whoever has will be given more, and will have an abundance. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 13:13 For this reason I speak to them in parables: Although they see they do not see, and although they hear they do not hear nor do they understand. 13:14 And concerning them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:
‘You will listen carefully yet will never understand, you will look closely yet will never comprehend.
13:15 For the heart of this people has become dull; they are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes, so that they would not see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’
13:16 “But your eyes are blessed because they see, and your ears because they hear. 13:17 For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
13:18 “So listen to the parable of the sower: 13:19 When anyone hears the word about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches what was sown in his heart; this is the seed sown along the path. 13:20 The seed sown on rocky ground is the person who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. 13:21 But he has no root in himself and does not endure; when trouble or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he falls away. 13:22 The seed sown among thorns is the person who hears the word, but worldly cares and the seductiveness of wealth choke the word, so it produces nothing. 13:23 But as for the seed sown on good soil, this is the person who hears the word and understands. He bears fruit, yielding a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown.”
Mark
The Parable of the Sower
4:1 Again he began to teach by the lake. Such a large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat on the lake and sat there while the whole crowd was on the shore by the lake. 4:2 He taught them many things in parables, and in his teaching said to them: 4:3 “Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4:4 And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. 4:5 Other seed fell on rocky ground where it did not have much soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep. 4:6 When the sun came up it was scorched, and because it did not have sufficient root, it withered. 4:7 Other seed fell among the thorns, and they grew up and choked it, and it did not produce grain. 4:8 But other seed fell on good soil and produced grain, sprouting and growing; some yielded thirty times as much, some sixty, and some a hundred times.” 4:9 And he said, “Whoever has ears to hear had better listen!”
Luke
The Parable of the Sower
8:4 While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from one town after another, he spoke to them in a parable: 8:5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled on, and the wild birds devoured it. 8:6 Other seed fell on rock, and when it came up, it withered because it had no moisture. 8:7 Other seed fell among the thorns, and they grew up with it and choked it. 8:8 But other seed fell on good soil and grew, and it produced a hundred times as much grain.” As he said this, he called out, “The one who has ears to hear had better listen!”
8:9 Then his disciples asked him what this parable meant. 8:10 He said, “You have been given the opportunity to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that although they see they may not see, and although they hear they may not understand.
8:11 “Now the parable means this: The seed is the word of God. 8:12 Those along the path are the ones who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 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 a time of testing fall away. 8:14 As for the seed that fell among thorns, these are the ones who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the worries and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. 8:15 But as for the seed that landed on good soil, these are the ones who, after hearing the word, cling to it with an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with steadfast endurance.
Lord, may Your Word find me fertile ground, both teachable and willing to apply what is learned.
Jesus explains the Parable of the Sower, which raises a number of theological principles based on the response of an individual’s heart (the “soil”) to the offer of salvation (the “seed”):
Seed which is sown “along the path” (Mark 4:4). A heart that has become hardened and worn down — as a well-trodden path becomes impervious to feet, rain, or wagon wheels — grows callous toward others and unresponsive to God.
Seed that falls on “rocky ground” (Mark 4:5). The hearts of shallow men, where the Word is therefore unlikely to take root, are more likely to respond to an emotionally-manipulative context (e.g., an invitation at a tent meeting or Christian concert, a charismatic praise and worship service, et cetera), but then fail will to be discipled toward maturity. Those of shallow heart may be like those who cry out “Lord, Lord” and declare “We did miracles in Your name,” to whom Jesus will respond, “I never knew you” (see Matt. 7:21-23). The shallow hearted cannot accept God at His Word, but require of Him signs — and even if given, they will still not believe.
“Among the thorns” (Mark 4:7). The hearts of “double-minded individuals, unstable in all their ways” (James 1:8) are those like Judas of Iscariot and “the rich young man” (see Matt. 19:16-30). Their hearts are truly owned by the world and unwilling to surrender the things of it, especially free will, that they might receive the Father’s gift of salvation in exchange. They have their own agenda — unless Jesus fits in it, He is not their highest priority.
Seed sown on “good soil” (Mark 4:8). Those who have a history of being teachable, making honest and good choices along the way, and genuinely seeking and recognizing the truth when they see it have hearts kept soft and open to Truth.
Jesus chastises that the Jews have written prophesy of the Messiah, so they should recognize Him, and yet “although they see they do not see” (Matt. 13:13). He quotes from the Prophet Isaiah regarding their hearts, which have become “dull...hard of hearing” (vs. 15) by man-made traditions ― little has changed since then.
Jesus notes the condition of each heart: Those with the seed of the Word sown on good soil bear fruit “with steadfast endurance” (Luke 8:15); those with the seed sown on rock do not bear fruit — the seed does not take root “in a time of testing” (vs. 13) or is choked by the weeds of “worries...riches...pleasures of life” (vs. 14).
Will personal inventory reveal to what degree our hearts may be less than “good soil,” thereby limiting the work of the Holy Spirit in and through us?
What is more powerful evidence of Christ: The unsaved drawn to Christ when seeing evidence of the fruits of the indwelling Holy Spirit in another or the imagination of the unsaved thrilled by seeing a momentary expression of some sort of ‘power’ during a revival?
Where are we choosing to cast the seed of the Good News? Perhaps in the lives of those who are not ready for seeds of Truth to be planted in them? If the Holy Spirit cannot prepare them (only because they resist Him), then nothing we do will.
Have you observed emotionally or intellectually manipulative environments which caused people to repeat words that sounded like surrenders of self and confessions of faith, but which later proved to be nothing more than compliance to the manipulators?
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you the difference between those who are ready to receive Truth and those who are not (who are themselves distracted or are a distraction to those who are reachable).
Today I choose to pour my energy into those who are teachable.
Be Specific ____________________________________________
Matthew
The Parable of the Weeds
13:24 He presented them with another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a person who sowed good seed in his field. 13:25 But while everyone was sleeping, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. 13:26 When the plants sprouted and bore grain, then the weeds also appeared. 13:27 So the slaves of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Then where did the weeds come from?’ 13:28 He said, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the slaves replied, ‘Do you want us to go and gather them?’ 13:29 But he said, ‘No, since in gathering the weeds you may uproot the wheat with them. 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At harvest time I will tell the reapers, “First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned, but then gather the wheat into my barn.”‘”
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
13:31 He gave them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 13:32 It is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest garden plant and becomes a tree, so that the wild birds come and nest in its branches.”
The Parable of the Yeast
13:33 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of flour until all the dough had risen.”
The Purpose of Parables
13:34 Jesus spoke all these things in parables to the crowds; he did not speak to them without a parable. 13:35 This fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet:
“I will open my mouth in parables,
I will announce what has been hidden from the foundation of the world.”
Explanation for the Disciples
13:36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” 13:37 He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 13:38 The field is the world and the good seed are the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, 13:39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 13:40 As the weeds are collected and burned with fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 13:41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather from his kingdom everything that causes sin as well as all lawbreakers. 13:42 They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 13:43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. The one who has ears had better listen!
Parables on the Kingdom of Heaven
13:44 “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure, hidden in a field, that a person found and hid. Then because of joy he went and sold all that he had and bought that field.
13:45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. 13:46 When he found a pearl of great value, he went out and sold everything he had and bought it.
13:47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea that caught all kinds of fish. 13:48 When it was full, they pulled it ashore, sat down, and put the good fish into containers and threw the bad away. 13:49 It will be this way at the end of the age. Angels will come and separate the evil from the righteous 13:50 and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
13:51 “Have you understood all these things?” They replied, “Yes.” 13:52 Then he said to them, “Therefore every expert in the law who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his treasure what is new and old.”
Mark
The Purpose of Parables
4:10 When he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. 4:11 He said to them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those outside, everything is in parables,
4:12 so that although they look they may look but not see, and although they hear they may hear but not understand, so they may not repent and be forgiven.”
4:13 He said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? Then how will you understand any parable? 4:14 The sower sows the word. 4:15 These are the ones on the path where the word is sown: Whenever they hear, immediately Satan comes and snatches the word that was sown in them. 4:16 These are the ones sown on rocky ground: As soon as they hear the word, they receive it with joy. 4:17 But they have no root in themselves and do not endure. Then, when trouble or persecution comes because of the word, immediately they fall away. 4:18 Others are the ones sown among thorns: They are those who hear the word, 4:19 but worldly cares, the seductiveness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it produces nothing. 4:20 But these are the ones sown on good soil: They hear the word and receive it and bear fruit, one thirty times as much, one sixty, and one a hundred.”
The Parable of the Lamp
4:21 He also said to them, “A lamp isn’t brought to be put under a basket or under a bed, is it? Isn’t it to be placed on a lampstand? 4:22 For nothing is hidden except to be revealed, and nothing concealed except to be brought to light. 4:23 If anyone has ears to hear, he had better listen!” 4:24 And he said to them, “Take care about what you hear. The measure you use will be the measure you receive, and more will be added to you. 4:25 For whoever has will be given more, but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.”
The Parable of the Growing Seed
4:26 He also said, “The kingdom of God is like someone who spreads seed on the ground. 4:27 He goes to sleep and gets up, night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 4:28 By itself the soil produces a crop, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. 4:29 And when the grain is ripe, he sends in the sickle because the harvest has come.”
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
4:30 He also asked, “To what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use to present it? 4:31 It is like a mustard seed that when sown in the ground, even though it is the smallest of all the seeds in the ground – 4:32 when it is sown, it grows up, becomes the greatest of all garden plants, and grows large branches so that the wild birds can nest in its shade.”
The Use of Parables
4:33 So with many parables like these, he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear. 4:34 He did not speak to them without a parable. But privately he explained everything to his own disciples.
Luke
Showing the Light
8:16 “No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand so that those who come in can see the light. 8:17 For nothing is hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing concealed that will not be made known and brought to light. 8:18 So listen carefully, for whoever has will be given more, but whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him.”
Lord, You give so much of Yourself so that Your children we may be good soil which is teachable and readied to receive fresh seed. May we also be sowers who plant Your seed in others and vessels through which You pour Your living water, nourishing their new-found life.
After Jesus presented the Parable of the Sower, introducing the Good News, He gave a series of parables to His disciples which address the consequences to seed sown both in good and poor soil:
Parable of the Weeds. Seed planted in good soil is compromised by weeds the “enemy” (Matt. 13:25) sows, and “the owner” (vs. 27) then chooses how to manage the harvest. Jesus explains that God (the Owner) does not allow the good growth to be destroyed by weeds [“The Greek term...refers to an especially undesirable weed that looks like wheat but has poisonous seeds,” NET tn] Instead, He separates them at the harvest: The “wheat” (vs. 30) He stores for His purpose, the weeds are bundled to be burned.
Parable of the Mustard Seed. The beginnings of the Church that Jesus is building to be His Kingdom on earth, as well as the beginnings of faith in the heart of a true Believer, both begin as tiny as a mustard seed, but grow to where they are attractive to the “wild birds” (Matt. 13:32), a reference to curious potential Believers.
Parable of the Yeast. Jesus encourages that big things, like “the kingdom of Heaven” (Matt. 13:33), can have small beginnings, but we are not to be fooled by that. A small amount of yeast mixed with a large amount of flour causes all the dough to rise; a Believer sharing Truth with others causes the Church to grow incrementally.
Jesus reminds His listeners that He did not bring Truth to them to be kept secret (kept “under a bed,” Luke 8:16), but to be a light shining to displace the darkness around it. When Truth is “brought to light” (vs. 17) it reveals the secrets of the arrogant and deprives him of false gain — so that even what he thinks he has will be “taken from him” (vs. 18).
Parable of the Growing Seed. Jesus notes that the good news of salvation planted in a readied heart (seed in good soil) “sprouts and grows” (Mark 4:27) and is ready “when the harvest has come” (vs. 29).
Jesus illustrates “the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 13:44) as a treasure one finds and then abandons everything for; as a “pearl” (vs. 46) one searches for and then sells everything to buy; and as a “net” (vs. 47) one casts and then pulls in both good fish, which are saved, and bad fish, which are thrown away . He admonishes that anyone who truly understands the Old Testament will recognize Truth and that one day angels will be sent to “separate the evil from the righteous” (vs. 49).
We need to discern if the enemy has sown some weeds among our wheat and what sort of soil we are: good (teachable) or of lesser quality (arrogant, prideful, close-minded).
Jesus draws attention to only the seed planted in good soil when He discusses seed’ sprouting (new Believers), growing (through discipleship), and being harvested (for eternal life in Heaven).
When have you observed the Enemy sowing weeds among wheat in the life of a fellow Believer or within a fellowship? Did you confront and challenge it? What was the result?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you where you have allowed the enemy to sow weeds among the wheat in your life of faith, discipleship, fellowship, and service.
Today I choose to partner with God to come against any poor soil I am presenting to the Holy Spirit and to defeat the lies the Enemy has sown as weeds among my wheat.
Be Specific _____________________________________________
Matthew
Stilling of a Storm
8:23 As he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 8:24 And a great storm developed on the sea so that the waves began to swamp the boat. But he was asleep. 8:25 So they came and woke him up saying, “Lord, save us! We are about to die!” 8:26 But he said to them, “Why are you cowardly, you people of little faith?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it was dead calm. 8:27 And the men were amazed and said, “What sort of person is this? Even the winds and the sea obey him!”
Mark
Stilling of a Storm
4:35 On that day, when evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s go across to the other side of the lake.” 4:36 So after leaving the crowd, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat, and other boats were with him. 4:37 Now a great windstorm developed and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was nearly swamped. 4:38 But he was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. They woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are about to die?” 4:39 So he got up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Be quiet! Calm down!” Then the wind stopped, and it was dead calm. 4:40 And he said to them, “Why are you cowardly? Do you still not have faith?” 4:41 They were overwhelmed by fear and said to one another, “Who then is this? Even the wind and sea obey him!”
Luke
Stilling of a Storm
8:22 One day Jesus got into a boat with his disciples and said to them, “Let’s go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, 8:23 and as they sailed he fell asleep. Now a violent windstorm came down on the lake, and the boat started filling up with water, and they were in danger. 8:24 They came and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are about to die!” So he got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; they died down, and it was calm. 8:25 Then he said to them, “Where is your faith?” But they were afraid and amazed, saying to one another, “Who then is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him!”
Lord, Your power is beyond human understanding. May I be humbled by it and have an appropriate sense of awe leading, honor You are due.
The event of Jesus stilling the storm (Luke 8:22-25) challenges the disciples traveling with Him (and readers today). While Jesus sleeps in one of the boats a terrible storm suddenly arises, something common on the Sea of Galilee. He is awakened by their emotional “Master, Master” (vs. 24), desperate for Him to say or do something.
Jesus commands the storm to be calm and then challenges His disciples, “Why are you cowardly?” (Matt. 8:26). His question is a harbinger of things to come, when their association with Him will bring similar threats to their well-being. Jesus’ “you people of little faith” (ibid) reminds His disciples that their faith will bring comfort when others have only fear.
They are suddenly confronted both with the reality of their fear and weak faith and with the overwhelming presence of the One among them Who has God-like power over the winds and the sea — “What sort of person is this?” (Matt. 8:27).
Do we understand that Jesus is God? In the beginning, He created the waters with words, so it should come as no surprise that He can control it with words.
Do we observe that His power and His protection are provided equally to people of faith; be they male, female, old, or young? Do we appreciate that there is no special treatment given based on religious status or position, only to the measure that one has a true saving faith (albeit a faith not yet perfected in them)?
Do we respond to the threats of this world with fear or with faith? Recall a time when Jesus was all that stood between you and a very challenging, perhaps frightening, situation. Did you allow Him to give you comfort and strength through the Holy Spirit, or did you rely on your own strength? What was the result?
Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you to appropriate Bible passages and to fellowship with sound Biblical mentors so you might be matured in having courage born of faith.
Today I choose to review how I respond to frightening events in my life — financial, health, relational, or other. I will ask someone to pray in agreement with me for the faith to trust Jesus and the wisdom to allow the Holy Spirit to be my courage. I will share with them the change God works in a specific event as a result.
Be Specific _____________________________________________
Matthew
Healing the Gadarene Demoniacs
8:28 When he came to the other side, to the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were extremely violent, so that no one was able to pass by that way. 8:29 They cried out, “Son of God, leave us alone! Have you come here to torment us before the time?” 8:30 A large herd of pigs was feeding some distance from them. 8:31 Then the demons begged him, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.” 8:32 And he said, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep slope into the lake and drowned in the water. 8:33 The herdsmen ran off, went into the town, and told everything that had happened to the demon-possessed men. 8:34 Then the entire town came out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.
Mark
Healing of a Demoniac
5:1 So they came to the other side of the lake, to the region of the Gerasenes. 5:2 Just as Jesus was getting out of the boat, a man with an unclean spirit came from the tombs and met him. 5:3 He lived among the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 5:4 For his hands and feet had often been bound with chains and shackles, but he had torn the chains apart and broken the shackles in pieces. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5:5 Each night and every day among the tombs and in the mountains, he would cry out and cut himself with stones. 5:6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed down before him. 5:7 Then he cried out with a loud voice, “Leave me alone, Jesus, Son of the Most High God! I implore you by God – do not torment me!” 5:8 (For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of that man, you unclean spirit!”) 5:9 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” 5:10 He begged Jesus repeatedly not to send them out of the region. 5:11 There on the hillside, a great herd of pigs was feeding. 5:12 And the demonic spirits begged him, “Send us into the pigs. Let us enter them.” 5:13 Jesus gave them permission. So the unclean spirits came out and went into the pigs. Then the herd rushed down the steep slope into the lake, and about two thousand were drowned in the lake.
5:14 Now the herdsmen ran off and spread the news in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 5:15 They came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man sitting there, clothed and in his right mind – the one who had the “Legion” – and they were afraid. 5:16 Those who had seen what had happened to the demon-possessed man reported it, and they also told about the pigs. 5:17 Then they asked Jesus to leave their region. 5:18 As he was getting into the boat the man who had been demon-possessed asked if he could go with him. 5:19 But Jesus did not permit him to do so. Instead, he said to him, “Go to your home and to your people and tell them what the Lord has done for you, that he had mercy on you.” 5:20 So he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis what Jesus had done for him, and all were amazed.
Luke
Healing of a Demoniac
8:26 So they sailed over to the region of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. 8:27 As Jesus stepped ashore, a certain man from the town met him who was possessed by demons. For a long time this man had worn no clothes and had not lived in a house, but among the tombs. 8:28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before him, and shouted with a loud voice, “Leave me alone, Jesus, Son of the Most High God! I beg you, do not torment me!” 8:29 For Jesus had started commanding the evil spirit to come out of the man. (For it had seized him many times, so he would be bound with chains and shackles and kept under guard. But he would break the restraints and be driven by the demon into deserted places.) 8:30 Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” He said, “Legion,” because many demons had entered him. 8:31 And they began to beg him not to order them to depart into the abyss. 8:32 Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and the demonic spirits begged Jesus to let them go into them. He gave them permission. 8:33 So the demons came out of the man and went into the pigs, and the herd of pigs rushed down the steep slope into the lake and drowned. 8:34 When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they ran off and spread the news in the town and countryside. 8:35 So the people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus. They found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. 8:36 Those who had seen it told them how the man who had been demon-possessed had been healed. 8:37 Then all the people of the Gerasenes and the surrounding region asked Jesus to leave them alone, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and 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 to your home, and declare what God has done for you.” So he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole town what Jesus had done for him.
Matthew
Healing the Gadarene Demoniacs
8:28 When he came to the other side, to the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were extremely violent, so that no one was able to pass by that way. 8:29 They cried out, “Son of God, leave us alone! Have you come here to torment us before the time?” 8:30 A large herd of pigs was feeding some distance from them. 8:31 Then the demons begged him, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.” 8:32 And he said, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep slope into the lake and drowned in the water. 8:33 The herdsmen ran off, went into the town, and told everything that had happened to the demon-possessed men. 8:34 Then the entire town came out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.
Mark
Healing of a Demoniac
5:1 So they came to the other side of the lake, to the region of the Gerasenes. 5:2 Just as Jesus was getting out of the boat, a man with an unclean spirit came from the tombs and met him. 5:3 He lived among the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 5:4 For his hands and feet had often been bound with chains and shackles, but he had torn the chains apart and broken the shackles in pieces. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5:5 Each night and every day among the tombs and in the mountains, he would cry out and cut himself with stones. 5:6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed down before him. 5:7 Then he cried out with a loud voice, “Leave me alone, Jesus, Son of the Most High God! I implore you by God – do not torment me!” 5:8 (For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of that man, you unclean spirit!”) 5:9 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” 5:10 He begged Jesus repeatedly not to send them out of the region. 5:11 There on the hillside, a great herd of pigs was feeding. 5:12 And the demonic spirits begged him, “Send us into the pigs. Let us enter them.” 5:13 Jesus gave them permission. So the unclean spirits came out and went into the pigs. Then the herd rushed down the steep slope into the lake, and about two thousand were drowned in the lake.
5:14 Now the herdsmen ran off and spread the news in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 5:15 They came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man sitting there, clothed and in his right mind – the one who had the “Legion” – and they were afraid. 5:16 Those who had seen what had happened to the demon-possessed man reported it, and they also told about the pigs. 5:17 Then they asked Jesus to leave their region. 5:18 As he was getting into the boat the man who had been demon-possessed asked if he could go with him. 5:19 But Jesus did not permit him to do so. Instead, he said to him, “Go to your home and to your people and tell them what the Lord has done for you, that he had mercy on you.” 5:20 So he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis what Jesus had done for him, and all were amazed.
Luke
Healing of a Demoniac
8:26 So they sailed over to the region of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. 8:27 As Jesus stepped ashore, a certain man from the town met him who was possessed by demons. For a long time this man had worn no clothes and had not lived in a house, but among the tombs. 8:28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before him, and shouted with a loud voice, “Leave me alone, Jesus, Son of the Most High God! I beg you, do not torment me!” 8:29 For Jesus had started commanding the evil spirit to come out of the man. (For it had seized him many times, so he would be bound with chains and shackles and kept under guard. But he would break the restraints and be driven by the demon into deserted places.) 8:30 Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” He said, “Legion,” because many demons had entered him. 8:31 And they began to beg him not to order them to depart into the abyss. 8:32 Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and the demonic spirits begged Jesus to let them go into them. He gave them permission. 8:33 So the demons came out of the man and went into the pigs, and the herd of pigs rushed down the steep slope into the lake and drowned. 8:34 When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they ran off and spread the news in the town and countryside. 8:35 So the people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus. They found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. 8:36 Those who had seen it told them how the man who had been demon-possessed had been healed. 8:37 Then all the people of the Gerasenes and the surrounding region asked Jesus to leave them alone, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and 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 to your home, and declare what God has done for you.” So he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole town what Jesus had done for him.
Lord, there is spiritual battle raging all around, in the world and in my life. Help me to read Your Word and recognize Your divine protection and provisions for victory.
Jesus healing the demoniacs demonstrates His power over all things, especially when the demons declare they know Who Jesus to be, “Jesus, Son of the Most High God” (Mark 5:7, Luke 8:28).
When the demon cries out with a loud voice, “Leave me alone, Jesus, Son of the Most High God!’“ (Mark 5:7), he uses the term “Son of the Most High God” rather than Lord God, because demons recognize power-based rather than righteousness-based relationships.
Mark and Luke add detail missing in Matthew: The extraordinary physical power of the demon-possessed man, who had “torn the chains apart and broken the shackles” (Mark 5:4) before approaching Jesus; and the self-identity of the demons as “Legion” (Luke 8:30), a qualification of the number of demons involved which underlines the power of Jesus one-versus-many.
Matthew 8:29, “Have You come here to torment us before the time?” illustrates that the demons are indignant because they knew that the agreement between God and Satan did not provide for then as the time of their judgment. [Note: “Before the time” requires one to understand that there was an agreed-upon time for the demons and Satan to face their judgment (they were not equal negotiators, but the Lord played Satan and his evil ego against himself to accomplish His purpose).]
The demons beg Jesus to give them permission to enter a herd of pigs after He casts them out of the man. Luke adds that the demons beg Him “not to order them to depart into the abyss” (Matt. 8:31) ― they did not want to face their judgment yet! “He begged Jesus repeatedly not to send them out of the region” (Mark 5:10) is notable in that Legion did not fear being removed from the man so much as being removed from the region — better to be moved in to a herd of pigs on the earth than to the pit of Hell.
“So the unclean spirits came out and went in to the pigs” (Mark 5:13), but God has the last word when the herd then rushes down a steep slope and is drowned in the lake! The preference of the demons to be allowed to enter other creatures, and Jesus’ response to their request, reinforces that even demons are subject to Him.
The demon-possessed man Jesus had freed asks to travel with Him, but he is told instead to remain with his people, “and tell them what the Lord has done for you” (Mark 5:19).
The reaction of the local people to this event is somewhat bizarre: They witness one of their number being freed from demonic bondage and, instead of wanting the One with the power to free them to remain as long as possible, they beg Him “to leave their region” (Matt. 8:34). [Some speculate that “they were seized with great fear” (Luke 8:37) implies that their fear was more about additional loss of pigs (their livelihood) than fear of Jesus. Others have speculated that they feared demonic retribution as payment for what Jesus had done to the legion of demons. It is also possible that they were simply fearful of that which they did not understand — Jesus’ show of power over the demons was a lot for them to take in. Their fearing what is not understood is no different from most people today.]
Do we value the peeks into the realm of spiritual warfare that God provides: Agreements that form the boundaries of the relationship between God and Satan (especially as found in the Book of Revelation) and the supreme authority of Jesus?
Are we frightened sometimes of spiritual battle, preferring to distance ourselves from it rather than engage (be in the midst of) it — even if that results in distancing us from Jesus?
Remember Jesus says that, due to the presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit, we have the same power in the spiritual realm as He did when in His earthly flesh? This is a truth few of us truly comprehend — neither did His disciples — that we have the power in and through Him to heal the sick, raise the dead, command the weather, and silence demons!
Have you been somewhere and felt troubled in your spirit? Did anyone else have the same sense? Did the source of that spiritual unrest find you (the presence of the Holy Spirit in you) disturbing?
Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you to Biblically-safe people and resources to assist you in better understanding spiritual warfare.
Today I choose to consider the times that I have refused to invoke my authority as a child of God, because of my small faith or for fear of the Enemy escalating the confrontation. I will ask a fellow Believer to pray in agreement that I will stand fearless in future spiritual battles, due to my knowing that the Holy Spirit of God in me is greater than any power on earth.
Be Specific _____________________________________________
Matthew
Healings at Peter’s House
8:14 Now when Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying down, sick with a fever. 8:15 He touched her hand, and the fever left her. Then she got up and began to serve them. 8:16 When it was evening, many demon-possessed people were brought to him. He drove out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick. 8:17 In this way what was spoken by Isaiah the prophet was fulfilled:
“He took our weaknesses and carried our diseases.”
Challenging Professed Followers
8:18 Now when Jesus saw a large crowd around him, he gave orders to go to the other side of the lake. 8:19 Then an expert in the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 8:20 Jesus said to him, “Foxes have dens, and the birds in the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” 8:21 Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 8:22 But Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”
Restoration and Healing
9:18 As he was saying these things, a ruler came, bowed low before him, and said, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her and she will live.” 9:19 Jesus and his disciples got up and followed him. 9:20 But a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. 9:21 For she kept saying to herself, “If only I touch his cloak, I will be healed.” 9:22 But when Jesus turned and saw her he said, “Have courage, daughter! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was healed from that hour. 9:23 When Jesus entered the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the disorderly crowd, 9:24 he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but asleep.” And they began making fun of him. 9:25 But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and gently took her by the hand, and the girl got up. 9:26 And the news of this spread throughout that region.
Workers for the Harvest
9:35 Then Jesus went throughout all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and sickness. 9:36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were bewildered and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 9:37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 9:38 Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.”
Rejection at Nazareth
13:53 Now when Jesus finished these parables, he moved on from there. 13:54 Then he came to his hometown and began to teach the people in their synagogue. They were astonished and said, “Where did this man get such wisdom and miraculous powers? 13:55 Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother named Mary? And aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? 13:56 And aren’t all his sisters here with us? Where did he get all this?” 13:57 And so they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own house.” 13:58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.
Mark
Restoration and Healing
5:21 When Jesus had crossed again in a boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him, and he was by the sea. 5:22 Then one of the synagogue rulers, named Jairus, came up, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. 5:23 He asked him urgently, “My little daughter is near death. Come and lay your hands on her so that she may be healed and live.” 5:24 Jesus went with him, and a large crowd followed and pressed around him.
5:25 Now a woman was there who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years. 5:26 She had endured a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet instead of getting better, she grew worse. 5:27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 5:28 for she kept saying, “If only I touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 5:29 At once the bleeding stopped, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 5:30 Jesus knew at once that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” 5:31 His disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing against you and you say, ‘Who touched me?’” 5:32 But he looked around to see who had done it. 5:33 Then the woman, with fear and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. 5:34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
5:35 While he was still speaking, people came from the synagogue ruler’s house saying, “Your daughter has died. Why trouble the teacher any longer?” 5:36 But Jesus, paying no attention to what was said, told the synagogue ruler, “Do not be afraid; just believe.” 5:37 He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. 5:38 They came to the house of the synagogue ruler where he saw noisy confusion and people weeping and wailing loudly. 5:39 When he entered he said to them, “Why are you distressed and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.” 5:40 And they began making fun of him. But he put them all outside and he took the child’s father and mother and his own companions and went into the room where the child was. 5:41 Then, gently taking the child by the hand, he said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up.” 5:42 The girl got up at once and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). They were completely astonished at this. 5:43 He strictly ordered that no one should know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.
Luke
Restoration and Healing
8:40 Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, because they were all waiting for him. 8:41 Then a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue, came up. Falling at Jesus’ feet, he pleaded with him to come to his house, 8:42 because he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, and she was dying.
As Jesus was on his way, the crowds pressed around him. 8:43 Now a woman was there who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years but could not be healed by anyone. 8:44 She came up behind Jesus and touched the edge of his cloak, and at once the bleeding stopped. 8:45 Then Jesus asked, “Who was it who touched me?” When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds are surrounding you and pressing against you!” 8:46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I know that power has gone out from me.” 8:47 When the woman saw that she could not escape notice, she came trembling and fell down before him. In the presence of all the people, she explained why she had touched him and how she had been immediately healed. 8:48 Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”
8:49 While he was still speaking, someone from the synagogue ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the teacher any longer.” 8:50 But when Jesus heard this, he told him, “Do not be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.” 8:51 Now when he came to the house, Jesus did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John, and James, and the child’s father and mother. 8:52 Now they were all wailing and mourning for her, but he said, “Stop your weeping; she is not dead but asleep.” 8:53 And they began making fun of him, because they knew that she was dead. 8:54 But Jesus gently took her by the hand and said, “Child, get up.” 8:55 Her spirit returned, and she got up immediately. Then he told them to give her something to eat. 8:56 Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them to tell no one what had happened.
Lord, may we not be anxious but comforted, in that we know all things are in Your hands. May we have a sense of urgency in seeking You, as we know not our time in this world or when You may return to call all yours home to Heaven.
Fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah, “He took our weaknesses and carried our diseases” (Isa. 53:4), Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law of a fever and casts out demons “with a word” (Matt. 8:16).
Jesus challenges a follower, or one who claimed he wanted to follow Him, to be willing to break the tradition of the one-year wait to bury his father. He tells him to follow Him immediately and leave those spiritually dead to their religious traditions — “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead” (Matt. 8:22).
Jesus heals a woman “suffering from a hemorrhage” (Luke 8:43). She merely touches “the edge of His cloak” (Matt. 9:20) and is healed the moment Jesus senses her touch. He tells her “your faith has made you well” (Mark 5:34).
A formerly hostile “ruler of the synagogue” (Luke 8:41) asks Jesus to come to his home and lay His hand on his daughter who is “near death” (Mark 5:23) so that “she will live” (Matt. 9:18). This request of Jesus by the local ruler is a major act of humility and a risk to his position in the culture. Jesus enters the ruler’s home, tells the father “the girl is not dead” (Matt. 9:24), and takes the child “by the hand” (Mark 5:41) — “her spirit returned, and she got up immediately” (Luke 8:55).
Jesus encourages His disciples to recognize the many who have been led by the Holy Spirit to accept the gift of salvation — “the harvest is plentiful” (Matt. 9:37) . He encourages them to ask the Lord to “send out workers into His harvest” (vs. 38), those He has equipped to share the Good News, to join the disciples in baptizing, discipling, and sending out new Believers in turn.
The people in Nazareth doubt that Jesus is the Messiah, because He had grown up among them and they can not imagine one of them being the Messiah — “Isn’t this [just] the carpenter’s son?” (Matt. 15:35) reveals that they are blind to what they had seen in Jesus as He grew up and clueless as to how He is fulfilling prophesy.
Do we really trust in the healing power of God? Do we go wherever God sends us, no matter the inconvenience? Are we active in the harvest?
Do we sometimes fail to recognize those among us whom Jesus has called apart to serve Him — thus failing to encourage and equip those called for ministry or even refusing (consciously or unconsciously) to submit to their spiritual leadership over us?
Have you been in a situation where medical professionals declared a health problem for someone to be either terminal or very grave, yet many Believers prayed in agreement for a healing which occurred and which the doctors could not explain away?
Ask the Holy Spirit to give you a sense of urgency in getting about the work He has assigned to you and others who claim His name.
Today I choose to prayerfully discern those whom God has brought into my sphere of influence to disciple. I will initiate a mentoring agreement with them to facilitate their growth toward becoming fellow harvesters. I will pray in agreement with another for patience and wisdom.
Be Specific ____________________________________________
Sending Out the Twelve Apostles
10:1 Jesus called his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits so they could cast them out and heal every kind of disease and sickness. 10:2 Now these are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (called Peter), and Andrew his brother; James son of Zebedee and John his brother; 10:3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 10:4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
10:5 Jesus sent out these twelve, instructing them as follows: “Do not go to Gentile regions and do not enter any Samaritan town. 10:6 Go instead to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 10:7 As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near!’ 10:8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. 10:9 Do not take gold, silver, or copper in your belts, 10:10 no bag for the journey, or an extra tunic, or sandals or staff, for the worker deserves his provisions. 10:11 Whenever you enter a town or village, find out who is worthy there and stay with them until you leave. 10:12 As you enter the house, give it greetings. 10:13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come on it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 10:14 And if anyone will not welcome you or listen to your message, shake the dust off your feet as you leave that house or that town. 10:15 I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for the region of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town!
Persecution of Disciples
10:16 “I am sending you out like sheep surrounded by wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 10:17 Beware of people, because they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues. 10:18 And you will be brought before governors and kings because of me, as a witness to them and the Gentiles. 10:19 Whenever they hand you over for trial, do not worry about how to speak or what to say, for what you should say will be given to you at that time. 10:20 For it is not you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
10:21 “Brother will hand over brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise against parents and have them put to death. 10:22 And you will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 10:23 Whenever they persecute you in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
10:24 “A disciple is not greater than his teacher, nor a slave greater than his master. 10:25 It is enough for the disciple to become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house ‘Beelzebul,’ how much more will they defame the members of his household!
Fear God, Not Man
10:26 “Do not be afraid of them, for nothing is hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing is secret that will not be made known. 10:27 What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light, and what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops. 10:28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the one who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 10:29 Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 10:30 Even all the hairs on your head are numbered. 10:31 So do not be afraid; you are more valuable than many sparrows.
10:32 “Whoever, then, acknowledges me before people, I will acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 10:33 But whoever denies me before people, I will deny him also before my Father in heaven.
Not Peace, but a Sword
10:34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace but a sword. 10:35 For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, 10:36 and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.
10:37 “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 10:38 And whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 10:39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life because of me will find it.
Rewards
10:40 “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. 10:41 Whoever receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. Whoever receives a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 10:42 And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple, I tell you the truth, he will never lose his reward.”
Lord, may I dwell in Your Word so that my perspective and priorities are rightly aligned with Yours.
Jesus sends out His twelve disciples, first warning of persecution to come, instructing whom they should fear (God, not man), reminding that His ministry is not “to bring peace, but a sword” (Matt. 10:34), and encouraging that those who welcome them will be rewarded.
Jesus tells the disciples to first travel to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (10:6) and to travel light, trusting God to provide for them through those whose hearts He has prepared. When they enter a house or town, they are to seek out those who are “worthy” (10:11) — if welcomed, they should share their blessing; if not, they should depart and take their blessing with them.
The disciples are warned to beware those who reject His message — Jesus says they will betray them to the religious leaders “because of Me” (10:18). He warns that they will persecuted for being a threat to the religious establishment’s traditional ways. [Note that what they are to experience parallels what Jesus is to experience to a greater degree.]
Jesus instructs them to wait for words to be given them when they are brought before men for trial because of His name ― the Holy Spirit will speak through them. And they are not to fear mere threats, which have no power over salvation — “the one who endures to the end will be saved” (10:22).
The Good News will cause conflict between family members and neighbors — the Enemy will resist Jesus’ invasion of what he misbelieves to be his territory by pitting Believer against unbeliever. Luke states that Jesus will reward well the one who receives His disciples — “he will never lose his reward” (10:42).
[Note: Jesus was preparing for the Cross — He had not yet been resurrected or had sent the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Therefore, care must be taken not to draw too much specific direction from this transitional period for determining our post-cross, post-Easter, post-ascension, post-Pentecost Christian walk.
If religious doctrine or practices regarding this transitional period are applicable to our post-Pentecost walk, they must be found re-affirmed (still reflecting the desires of Christ) in post-Pentecost Biblical text.
Some old doctrines and practices ended at the Cross, some new began at Easter, and some elements of our relationship with God are altered by the indwelling Holy Spirit. We must intentionally observe and practice those changes, “leaving the old things behind” (Eph. 4:17-24). A good discussion pertaining to this can be found visiting the bible.org study “Leaving Our Old Ways Behind,” by Bob Deffinbaugh.]
The truth of Christ will be resisted in the world, often violently, but there are willing and teachable hearts among the many unteachable. Sometimes we will be required to “brave enemy fire” as we work to fight for the willing-but-wounded.
God needs no man with clever words to defend Him, He will defend Himself with His Holy Spirit speaking through His humble servants.
How difficult it must be for a completed Jew to accept Christ as their Messiah and adapt to giving up or rethinking doctrines and traditions which have been central to generations of their family and their religious and social culture.
Have you found yourself sharing the love of Christ without actually mentioning His name, yet you were assured by His Holy Spirit that the ones to whom you were serving or witnessing were being convicted by Him of His presence and love?
Ask the Holy Spirit for discernment as to where, when, and how to share His Word.
Today I choose to seek a place new to me in which to bring the Good News of Jesus to the unsaved-but-teachable. This may be through ministering to the homeless or those in prison, making friends through hobbies or sports, tutoring English as a second language, or taking another opportunity God provides.
Be Specific __________________________________________
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2012 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study –”The Chronological Gospels” – “Week 5 of 12” - prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in July of 2012. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
Mark
Rejection at Nazareth
6:1 Now Jesus left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 6:2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue. Many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did he get these ideas? And what is this wisdom that has been given to him? What are these miracles that are done through his hands? 6:3 Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And aren’t his sisters here with us?” And so they took offense at him. 6:4 Then Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, and among his relatives, and in his own house.” 6:5 He was not able to do a miracle there, except to lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6:6 And he was amazed because of their unbelief. Then he went around among the villages and taught.
Sending Out the Twelve Apostles
6:7 Jesus called the twelve and began to send them out two by two. He gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 6:8 He instructed them to take nothing for the journey except a staff – no bread, no bag, no money in their belts – 6:9 and to put on sandals but not to wear two tunics. 6:10 He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the area. 6:11 If a place will not welcome you or listen to you, as you go out from there, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” 6:12 So they went out and preached that all should repent. 6:13 They cast out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.
Luke
The Sending of the Twelve Apostles
9:1 After Jesus called the twelve together, he gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 9:2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 9:3 He said to them, “Take nothing for your journey – no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, and do not take an extra tunic. 9:4 Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave the area. 9:5 Wherever they do not receive you, as you leave that town, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” 9:6 Then they departed and went throughout the villages, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.
Lord, I know that when You send us out to minister You send us equipped. May I never doubt that You have given me all that I need to serve You wherever You may send me.
Mark recounts the story of the people in Nazareth doubting that one of them could be a prophet of God — “Isn’t this the carpenter?” (6:3). Although Jesus does miracles and speaks with great wisdom, because He had physically grown up among them and they in their earth-bound sense of reality can not conceive of Him as anyone different than they, they refuse to believe in spite of the evidence.
Luke echoes Mark’s account of the instructions Jesus gives to His apostles, while emphasizing the authority given them by Him to cast out demons, heal the sick, and proclaim the Kingdom. The twelve apostles go forth and do just as Jesus commanded them, “proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere” (9:6).
It is worthy of note that the pre-Pentecost sending of the twelve was prior to the Holy Spirit being sent to indwell Believers. The apostles were empowered to be extensions of the ministry of Jesus by the Holy Spirit external to them, or internal at specific times for specific purposes — as in “It is not you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you” (Matt. 10:20).
As Jesus instructed us, we are to obediently go out in His name to cast out “demons” — literally through the power of prayer or metaphorically through the application of God’s Truth in our lives and the lives of those around us.
Do we partner with God in healing the physically sick through prayer and the heart-sick through the power of the shared Word ― bringing balance, comfort, peace, and wisdom into a confused world?
How different are we from those in the New Testament? Do we not also try to do things in our own strength, knowingly disobeying what Jesus taught us to do and be? When we do this are we not doubting that Jesus is sufficient, as He said He is? Does that not represent a form of rejection of Jesus?
Reflect on a time in your life when you discovered that the indwelling Holy Spirit led you to share the Kingdom of God with words or, more powerfully, with a life which witnessed to the transforming power of God in you. Share how that brought you a special sense of joy and had a positive impact on others.
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you intentionally not listening to Him, or unintentionally not hearing from Him, because you don’t like what He is saying.
Today I will consider how I might sometimes “reject” Jesus when He doesn’t say or do what I’d like Him to – so I go my own way. I will repent of this.
Today I will prayerfully seek opportunity to cast out a demon, heal the sick, or proclaim the Kingdom. I will share what results with a Christian friend.
Be Specific ____________________________________________
Matthew
The Death of John the Baptist
14:1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard reports about Jesus, 14:2 and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead! And because of this, miraculous powers are at work in him.” 14:3 For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, 14:4 because John had repeatedly told him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 14:5 Although Herod wanted to kill John, he feared the crowd because they accepted John as a prophet. 14:6 But on Herod’s birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod, 14:7 so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 14:8 Instructed by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” 14:9 Although it grieved the king, because of his oath and the dinner guests he commanded it to be given. 14:10 So he sent and had John beheaded in the prison. 14:11 His head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. 14:12 Then John’s disciples came and took the body and buried it and went and told Jesus.
Mark
The Death of John the Baptist
6:14 Now King Herod heard this, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some were saying, “John the baptizer has been raised from the dead, and because of this, miraculous powers are at work in him.” 6:15 Others said, “He is Elijah.” Others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets from the past.” 6:16 But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised!” 6:17 For Herod himself had sent men, arrested John, and bound him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her. 6:18 For John had repeatedly told Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 6:19 So Herodias nursed a grudge against him and wanted to kill him. But she could not 6:20 because Herod stood in awe of John and protected him, since he knew that John was a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard him, he was thoroughly baffled, and yet he liked to listen to John.
6:21 But a suitable day came, when Herod gave a banquet on his birthday for his court officials, military commanders, and leaders of Galilee. 6:22 When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you.” 6:23 He swore to her, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.” 6:24 So she went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” Her mother said, “The head of John the baptizer.” 6:25 Immediately she hurried back to the king and made her request: “I want the head of John the Baptist on a platter immediately.” 6:26 Although it grieved the king deeply, he did not want to reject her request because of his oath and his guests. 6:27 So the king sent an executioner at once to bring John’s head, and he went and beheaded John in prison. 6:28 He brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. 6:29 When John’s disciples heard this, they came and took his body and placed it in a tomb.
Luke
Herod’s Confusion about Jesus
9:7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard about everything that was happening, and he was thoroughly perplexed, because some people were saying that John had been raised from the dead, 9:8 while others were saying that Elijah had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had risen. 9:9 Herod said, “I had John beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” So Herod wanted to learn about Jesus.
Lord, the world attacks anyone who dares to compare them against Your standard of righteousness. Strengthen me so that I may confidently, and without fear, share Your Truth in love.
Herod abandons his wife and Herodias abandons her husband, the brother of Herod, so the two of them can then marry each other. Although John had repeatedly reminded Herod that, based on Old Testament teaching, “It is not lawful for you to have her” (Matt. 14:4).
In response, Herod, who fears John as a prophet of God, tries to avoid dealing with him by jailing him (to coerce acquiescence or silence). Herod’s daughter, because she pleased him with her dancing, is told “Whatever you ask I will give you” (Mark 6:23). Herod’s wife, who hates John and wants him dead, advises her daughter to ask for “the head of John the baptizer” (vs. 24) as a gift to her mother.
Jesus is not surprised by the news of John’s death, but He is surely saddened by this stark evidence of sinful rebellion and by the loss of His cousin and partner in ministry.
Herod, fearing that Jesus might be the resurrected John, is “thoroughly perplexed” (Luke 9:7) by others who are also saying that Jesus might be a reappearance of Elijah or another prophet of long ago. “So Herod wanted to learn about Jesus” (vs. 9) indicates that “Herod, for curiosity’s sake or more likely for evil purposes, wanted to get to know Jesus, i.e., who he was and what he was doing” (NET tn).
How often do we observe people living in fear due to misunderstanding or superstition, or when they know that their conduct has been less than God-honoring?
Do we try to be alone prayerfully before God to reflect on major losses in life and to assess major undertakings as did Jesus?
How often do we observe, in ourselves and others, that a reaction to sin brought to light is sometimes the avoidance of or an attack on the one who confronts the sin?
Was there a situation in your life where you lived in fear due to misunderstanding and were then set free by Jesus, the omniscient God?
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where and when you respond with avoidance or resentment to His efforts to confront you with sin.
I will surrender to the Holy Spirit’s restorative power and remove the resentment and avoidance which darkens my relationship with God. I will pray today for someone who appears to be harmed by superstition or misunderstanding and make myself available to God should He choose to use me to act as His agent of healing and discipleship.
Be Specific ____________________________________________
Matthew
The Feeding of the Five Thousand
14:13 Now when Jesus heard this he went away from there privately in a boat to an isolated place. But when the crowd heard about it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14:14 As he got out he saw the large crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 14:15 When evening arrived, his disciples came to him saying, “This is an isolated place and the hour is already late. Send the crowds away so that they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 14:16 But he replied, “They don’t need to go. You give them something to eat.” 14:17 They said to him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.” 14:18 “Bring them here to me,” he replied. 14:19 Then he instructed the crowds to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves and two fish, and looking up to heaven he gave thanks and broke the loaves. He gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. 14:20 They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the broken pieces left over, twelve baskets full. 14:21 Not counting women and children, there were about five thousand men who ate.
Mark
The Feeding of the Five Thousand
6:30 Then the apostles gathered around Jesus and told him everything they had done and taught. 6:31 He said to them, “Come with me privately to an isolated place and rest a while” (for many were coming and going, and there was no time to eat). 6:32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to some remote place.
6:33 But many saw them leaving and recognized them, and they hurried on foot from all the towns and arrived there ahead of them. 6:34 As Jesus came ashore he saw the large crowd and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he taught them many things.
6:35 When it was already late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is an isolated place and it is already very late. 6:36 Send them away so that they can go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy something for themselves to eat.” 6:37 But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said, “Should we go and buy bread for two hundred silver coins and give it to them to eat?” 6:38 He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five – and two fish.” 6:39 Then he directed them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. 6:40 So they reclined in groups of hundreds and fifties. 6:41 He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. He gave them to his disciples to serve the people, and he divided the two fish among them all. 6:42 They all ate and were satisfied, 6:43 and they picked up the broken pieces and fish that were left over, twelve baskets full. 6:44 Now there were five thousand men who ate the bread.
Luke
The Feeding of the Five Thousand
9:10 When the apostles returned, they told Jesus everything they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew privately to a town called Bethsaida. 9:11 But when the crowds found out, they followed him. He welcomed them, spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and cured those who needed healing. 9:12 Now the day began to draw to a close, so the twelve came and said to Jesus, “Send the crowd away, so they can go into the surrounding villages and countryside and find lodging and food, because we are in an isolated place.” 9:13 But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They replied, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish – unless we go and buy food for all these people.” 9:14 (Now about five thousand men were there.) Then he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” 9:15 So they did as Jesus directed, and the people all sat down.
9:16 Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven he gave thanks and broke them. He gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. 9:17 They all ate and were satisfied, and what was left over was picked up – twelve baskets of broken pieces.
John
The Feeding of the Five Thousand
6:1 After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (also called the Sea of Tiberias). 6:2 A large crowd was following him because they were observing the miraculous signs he was performing on the sick. 6:3 So Jesus went on up the mountainside and sat down there with his disciples. 6:4 (Now the Jewish feast of the Passover was near.) 6:5 Then Jesus, when he looked up and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, said to Philip, “Where can we buy bread so that these people may eat?” 6:6 (Now Jesus said this to test him, for he knew what he was going to do.) 6:7 Philip replied, “Two hundred silver coins worth of bread would not be enough for them, for each one to get a little.” 6:8 One of Jesus’ disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 6:9 “Here is a boy who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what good are these for so many people?”
6:10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” (Now there was a lot of grass in that place.) So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. 6:11 Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed the bread to those who were seated. He then did the same with the fish, as much as they wanted. 6:12 When they were all satisfied, Jesus said to his disciples, “Gather up the broken pieces that are left over, so that nothing is wasted.” 6:13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with broken pieces from the five barley loaves left over by the people who had eaten.
6:14 Now when the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus performed, they began to say to one another, “This is certainly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 6:15 Then Jesus, because he knew they were going to come and seize him by force to make him king, withdrew again up the mountainside alone.
Lord, You declare that You own the cattle on a thousand hills, so surely I need never worry that I will ever lack anything I have need of, for You are gracious and loving in Your giving.
Jesus’ reaction to news of the death of John is to tell His disciples, “Come with me privately to an isolated place and rest a while” (Mark. 6:31), but the crowds follow Him. The Luke text implies their withdrawal is in part due to the fact that “the apostles returned” (9:10) from their evangelical-missionary work and He desires to debrief them. In either case, Jesus presses forward with His apostles at His side.
They go away by themselves in a boat. When they return to shore they are greeted by over five thousand people, who are “like sheep without a shepherd” (Mark 6:34), so Jesus teaches them. At dinnertime, with no food on hand, He performs a miracle and multiplies the few pieces of fish and bread gathered into the thousands needed to feed the multitude.
John adds the clarification that Jesus knows He will perform a miracle to feed the masses, “for He knew what He was going to do” (6:6). Jesus challenges Philip, in order to create a teachable moment — Jesus’ “where can we buy bread?” (6:5) is rhetorical.
The Galileans, after the miraculous feeding of the masses, want to press Jesus into the role of leader of the country’s drive for independence — “He knew they were going to come and seize Him by force to make Him king” (John 6:15). Because being an earthly king is not His purpose and such an act would cause a violent reaction from the authorities, Jesus quickly withdraws to the mountainside alone.
When God presents us with opportunities to teach those “without a shepherd,” do we seize the moment and turn away from what is of lesser importance which may be postponed?
When confronted with the need for a miracle, do we react with powerlessness or do we look to God to provide?
When people try to pressure us into roles we do not believe God has called us to play, do we set boundaries and separate ourselves from them, or do we linger and find ourselves improperly manipulated?
Were you ever really busy and an opportunity presented itself to share Christ or to encourage a troubled Believer? What resulted when you either turned away from your busyness (allowing the Holy Spirit to work through you) or when you allowed your busyness to control?
Ask the Holy Spirit to give you opportunity to teach the things of God to someone whom He presents to you as needy and teachable.
Today I will discern a place where others try to pressure me into a role not approved by God, set a boundary to protect myself from undue influence, and withdraw as needed.
Be Specific _____________________________________________
Matthew
Walking on Water
14:22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he dispersed the crowds. 14:23 And after he sent the crowds away, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone. 14:24 Meanwhile the boat, already far from land, was taking a beating from the waves because the wind was against it. 14:25 As the night was ending, Jesus came to them walking on the sea. 14:26 When the disciples saw him walking on the water they were terrified and said, “It’s a ghost!” and cried out with fear. 14:27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them: “Have courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.” 14:28 Peter said to him, “Lord, if it is you, order me to come to you on the water.” 14:29 So he said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. 14:30 But when he saw the strong wind he became afraid. And starting to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 14:31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” 14:32 When they went up into the boat, the wind ceased. 14:33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
14:34 After they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. 14:35 When the people there recognized him, they sent word into all the surrounding area, and they brought all their sick to him. 14:36 They begged him if they could only touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.
Mark
Walking on Water
6:45 Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dispersed the crowd. 6:46 After saying good-bye to them, he went to the mountain to pray. 6:47 When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea and he was alone on the land. 6:48 He saw them straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. As the night was ending, he came to them walking on the sea, for he wanted to pass by them. 6:49 When they saw him walking on the water they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 6:50 for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them: “Have courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.” 6:51 Then he went up with them into the boat, and the wind ceased. They were completely astonished, 6:52 because they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.
John
Walking on Water
6:16 Now when evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 6:17 got into a boat, and started to cross the lake to Capernaum. (It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.) 6:18 By now a strong wind was blowing and the sea was getting rough. 6:19 Then, when they had rowed about three or four miles, they caught sight of Jesus walking on the lake, approaching the boat, and they were frightened. 6:20 But he said to them, “It is I. Do not be afraid.” 6:21 Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat came to the land where they had been heading.
6:22 The next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the lake realized that only one small boat had been there, and that Jesus had not boarded it with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 6:23 But some boats from Tiberias came to shore near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 6:24 So when the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus.
Lord, help me to keep my eyes focused on You, so that I may never fear drowning in the floodwaters of this world.
Mark reports on the miracle of Jesus walking on the water. Jesus wants to “pass by” (6:48) and come alongside of His disciples during their struggle with the boat in the wind in order to assure them of His presence with them. And yet, because they had not gained any insight from the miracle of the loaves and fishes, they respond with fear and are shocked by His walking on the water and calming the storm. Lack of insight causes their blindness in seeing Who He is, because “their hearts were hardened,” (vs. 52) and their minds closed.
Matthew relates the story of Peter walking out across the water to meet Jesus when he sees Him walking on the water. This offers us a teachable moment: All disciples of the faith should seek to do the many righteous and loving things Jesus has done. Note the initial faith of Peter; Jesus’ approval as he walks on the water toward Him; Peter’s doubt once facing the storm, his taking his eyes off of Jesus, and the consequence thereof; Peter’s rescue by Jesus and His challenge for Peter’s lack of faith; and the overt worship of Jesus by those in the boat who declare, “Truly you are the Son of God” (14:33).
John’s report of Jesus walking on the water emphasizes that the weather is rough and that “they had rowed about three or four miles” (6:19) out in the lake. In so doing, he makes it clear that Jesus is not walking in sandal-level shallow water or anywhere near rocks — therefore, this is a true miracle. The next day, realizing that “only one small boat had been there, and that Jesus had not boarded it with His disciples” (John 6:22), the crowd goes looking for Him and finds Him with his disciples on the other side of the lake. [Note: When Jesus was not where they expected to find Him they didn’t wait for Him to appear but they acted and set out to find Him. Present-day disciples of Jesus also need to go looking for Him in the midst of challenging frightening circumstances.]
Although we may greet Jesus with hearts of faith, does our faith fade when the world attacks us, as Jesus warned us it would?
When Jesus does a miracle in our life or in that of others, do we stop right then and there to worship Him?
When Jesus comes alongside us to get our attention, do we sometimes respond to Him with hearts hardened by lack of knowledge of His Word or with minds filled with notions that distort His message?
Has God revealed Himself to you in an unmistakable way? Perhaps someone telling you something that you had just been praying over and studying your Bible to clarify? Or telling you that they were praying for something you had not yet disclosed as a need? Or your being led to read in the Bible that which was just the Word you needed to read?
Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of a way in which Jesus has recently revealed Himself to you and met your need.
Today I will watch for a moment when Jesus shows Himself to me in some way and then pause to worship Him. When the world attacks I will respond with faithful confidence.
Be Specific ____________________________________________
Matthew
Breaking Human Traditions
15:1 Then Pharisees and experts in the law came from Jerusalem to Jesus and said, 15:2 “Why do your disciples disobey the tradition of the elders? For they don’t wash their hands when they eat.” 15:3 He answered them, “And why do you disobey the commandment of God because of your tradition? 15:4 For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Whoever insults his father or mother must be put to death.’ 15:5 But you say, ‘If someone tells his father or mother, “Whatever help you would have received from me is given to God,” 15:6 he does not need to honor his father.’ You have nullified the word of God on account of your tradition. 15:7 Hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you when he said,
15:8 ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me,
15:9 and they worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”
True Defilement
15:10 Then he called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. 15:11 What defiles a person is not what goes into the mouth; it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles a person.” 15:12 Then the disciples came to him and said, “Do you know that when the Pharisees heard this saying they were offended?” 15:13 And he replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father did not plant will be uprooted. 15:14 Leave them! They are blind guides. If someone who is blind leads another who is blind, both will fall into a pit.” 15:15 But Peter said to him, “Explain this parable to us.” 15:16 Jesus said, “Even after all this, are you still so foolish? 15:17 Don’t you understand that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach and then passes out into the sewer? 15:18 But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these things defile a person. 15:19 For out of the heart come evil ideas, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. 15:20 These are the things that defile a person; it is not eating with unwashed hands that defiles a person.”
A Canaanite Woman’s Faith
15:21 After going out from there, Jesus went to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 15:22 A Canaanite woman from that area came and cried out, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is horribly demon-possessed!” 15:23 But he did not answer her a word. Then his disciples came and begged him, “Send her away, because she keeps on crying out after us.” 15:24 So he answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 15:25 But she came and bowed down before him and said, “Lord, help me!” 15:26 “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs,” he said. 15:27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 15:28 Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, your faith is great! Let what you want be done for you.” And her daughter was healed from that hour.
Healing Many Others
15:29 When he left there, Jesus went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up a mountain, where he sat down. 15:30 Then large crowds came to him bringing with them the lame, blind, crippled, mute, and many others. They laid them at his feet, and he healed them. 15:31 As a result, the crowd was amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing, and they praised the God of Israel.
Mark
Healing the Sick
6:53 After they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and anchored there. 6:54 As they got out of the boat, people immediately recognized Jesus. 6:55 They ran through that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever he was rumored to be. 6:56 And wherever he would go – into villages, towns, or countryside – they would place the sick in the marketplaces, and would ask him if they could just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.
Breaking Human Traditions
7:1 Now the Pharisees and some of the experts in the law who came from Jerusalem gathered around him. 7:2 And they saw that some of Jesus’ disciples ate their bread with unclean hands, that is, unwashed. 7:3 (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they perform a ritual washing, holding fast to the tradition of the elders. 7:4 And when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. They hold fast to many other traditions: the washing of cups, pots, kettles, and dining couches.) 7:5 The Pharisees and the experts in the law asked him, “Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with unwashed hands?” 7:6 He said to them, “Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written:
‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
7:7 They worship me in vain, teaching as doctrine the commandments of men.’
7:8 Having no regard for the command of God, you hold fast to human tradition.” 7:9 He also said to them, “You neatly reject the commandment of God in order to set up your tradition. 7:10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever insults his father or mother must be put to death.’ 7:11 But you say that if anyone tells his father or mother, ‘Whatever help you would have received from me is corban’ (that is, a gift for God), 7:12 then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother. 7:13 Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like this.”
7:14 Then he called the crowd again and said to them, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand. 7:15 There is nothing outside of a person that can defile him by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles him.”
7:16 [[EMPTY]]
7:17 Now when Jesus had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about the parable. 7:18 He said to them, “Are you so foolish? Don’t you understand that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him? 7:19 For it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and then goes out into the sewer.” (This means all foods are clean.) 7:20 He said, “What comes out of a person defiles him. 7:21 For from within, out of the human heart, come evil ideas, sexual immorality, theft, murder, 7:22 adultery, greed, evil, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, pride, and folly. 7:23 All these evils come from within and defile a person.”
Lord, help me to look to You for Truth and not to the philosophies or traditions of man.
Mark observes that once Jesus is back on shore the people ask Him “if they could just touch the edge of His cloak” (6:56), evidence of their belief that nothing more is necessary for them to be healed. Jesus honors that faith and heals them.
Jesus is challenged by the religious authorities for His and the apostles’ failure to observe the man-made religious rites of ritual cleansing. Jesus responds by telling them that their human laws are really excuses to nullify “the word of God on account of your tradition” (Matt. 15:6).
Jesus challenges that the human laws about ritually clean or unclean food and drink are, in the spiritual sense, meaningless — only “What comes out of a person defiles him” (Mark 7:20), for “out of the human heart come evil ideas” (vs. 21).
Do we discern the many ways that political, religious, and social rituals may distract us from seeing signs of the presence of God?
Do we anticipate the blessings of Jesus to come to us after we metaphorically touch the edge of His cloak — evidenced by our willingness to learn His Word, sacrifice the worldly for the righteous, trust Him to provide all our needs?
Have you experienced yourself becoming overly concerned about man-made rituals and traditions, thereby missing the intent of God?
Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of a miracle God has done recently in your life and thank Him again for that evidence of His love.
Today if there is need for a miracle, I will pray in faith and expect a miracle. I will prayerfully study my beliefs, habits, and traditions in search of anything that may be a man-made substitute for the priorities of God. I will faithfully partner with the Holy Spirit to remove it.
Be Specific ____________________________________________
Jesus’ Discourse About the Bread of Life
6:25 When they found him on the other side of the lake, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” 6:26 Jesus replied, “I tell you the solemn truth, you are looking for me not because you saw miraculous signs, but because you ate all the loaves of bread you wanted. 6:27 Do not work for the food that disappears, but for the food that remains to eternal life – the food which the Son of Man will give to you. For God the Father has put his seal of approval on him.”
6:28 So then they said to him, “What must we do to accomplish the deeds God requires?” 6:29 Jesus replied, “This is the deed God requires – to believe in the one whom he sent.” 6:30 So they said to him, “Then what miraculous sign will you perform, so that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 6:31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, just as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
6:32 Then Jesus told them, “I tell you the solemn truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but my Father is giving you the true bread from heaven. 6:33 For the bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 6:34 So they said to him, “Sir, give us this bread all the time!”
6:35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. The one who comes to me will never go hungry, and the one who believes in me will never be thirsty. 6:36 But I told you that you have seen me and still do not believe. 6:37 Everyone whom the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never send away. 6:38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. 6:39 Now this is the will of the one who sent me – that I should not lose one person of every one he has given me, but raise them all up at the last day. 6:40 For this is the will of my Father – for everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him to have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”
6:41 Then the Jews who were hostile to Jesus began complaining about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven,” 6:42 and they said, “Isn’t this Jesus the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” 6:43 Jesus replied, “Do not complain about me to one another. 6:44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. 6:45 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who hears and learns from the Father comes to me. 6:46 (Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God – he has seen the Father.) 6:47 I tell you the solemn truth, the one who believes has eternal life. 6:48 I am the bread of life. 6:49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 6:50 This is the bread that has come down from heaven, so that a person may eat from it and not die. 6:51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats from this bread he will live forever. The bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
6:52 Then the Jews who were hostile to Jesus began to argue with one another, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 6:53 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the solemn truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in yourselves. 6:54 The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 6:55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 6:56 The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood resides in me, and I in him. 6:57 Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so the one who consumes me will live because of me. 6:58 This is the bread that came down from heaven; it is not like the bread your ancestors ate, but then later died. The one who eats this bread will live forever.”
Lord, You are the bread of life and nothing compares to You!
Jesus explains to the people gathered that He is “the bread of life” (John 6:35). In contrast to the temporary manna of the Old Testament on which the body was sustained but eventually died, His bread is both spiritual (it “came down from heaven,” vs. 58) and eternal, in that whomever eats this bread will live forever.
The passages “everyone whom the Father gives Me will come to Me” (vs. 37) and “no one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him” (vs. 44) both have been used to promote a fatalist doctrine, one which removes from a person any meaningful freedom of choice impacting their decision for salvation. In contrast to this fatalistic approach, verses 35-36, 45b, and 47 all speak of volitional “belief.” [Note: Whom the Father gives Me will come to Me does not define how the Father selects His followers, but rather qualifies those who choose to come to Him. And unless the Father who sent Me draws him does not qualify the drawing as being irresistible ― one may still make a volitional choice to be drawn to or turn away from Him.]
Jesus’ purpose, as recounted in John’s passage, is to attack human religious ritual that blocks and/or substitutes relationship with God in favor of works — the only so-called work God asks of His Believers is to “eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood” (John 6:53).
If we accept the teaching that Jesus is “the bread of life” and understand that this means He is to be the essence of everything of value in us, are we taking in that spiritual ‘nutrition’ through daily study of the Word and unceasing prayer?
Observe the way that ritual and tradition in much of Christendom today can block the intimate spiritual relationship God so desires with us.
Have we identified any rituals or traditions in our lives that get in the way of our relationship with God?
Have you set aside a ritual or tradition (baggage brought forward from your past) and discovered new energy in your relationship with Jesus?
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you may be trusting in something, or someone, to be your bread of life other than Him.
Today I will prayerfully reflect upon a typical week in my life and look for places where rituals or traditions are getting in the way of my relationship with God. I will ask another Believer to pray in agreement with me and hold me accountable to partner with the Holy Spirit in removing those obstacles.
Be Specific _____________________________________________
Mark
A Syrophoenician Woman’s Faith
7:24 After Jesus left there, he went to the region of Tyre. When he went into a house, he did not want anyone to know, but he was not able to escape notice. 7:25 Instead, a woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him and came and fell at his feet. 7:26 The woman was a Greek, of Syrophoenician origin. She asked him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 7:27 He said to her, “Let the children be satisfied first, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and to throw it to the dogs.” 7:28 She answered, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” 7:29 Then he said to her, “Because you said this, you may go. The demon has left your daughter.” 7:30 She went home and found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.
Healing a Deaf Mute
7:31 Then Jesus went out again from the region of Tyre and came through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee in the region of the Decapolis. 7:32 They brought to him a deaf man who had difficulty speaking, and they asked him to place his hands on him. 7:33 After Jesus took him aside privately, away from the crowd, he put his fingers in the man’s ears, and after spitting, he touched his tongue. 7:34 Then he looked up to heaven and said with a sigh, “Ephphatha” (that is, “Be opened”). 7:35 And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his tongue loosened, and he spoke plainly. 7:36 Jesus ordered them not to tell anything. But as much as he ordered them not to do this, they proclaimed it all the more. 7:37 People were completely astounded and said, “He has done everything well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
John
Many Followers Depart
6:59 Jesus said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. 6:60 Then many of his disciples, when they heard these things, said, “This is a difficult saying! Who can understand it?” 6:61 When Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining about this, he said to them, “Does this cause you to be offended? 6:62 Then what if you see the Son of Man ascending where he was before? 6:63 The Spirit is the one who gives life; human nature is of no help! The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. 6:64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus had already known from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) 6:65 So Jesus added, “Because of this I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has allowed him to come.”
Peter’s Confession
6:66 After this many of his disciples quit following him and did not accompany him any longer. 6:67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “You don’t want to go away too, do you?” 6:68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life. 6:69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God!” 6:70 Jesus replied, “Didn’t I choose you, the twelve, and yet one of you is the devil?” 6:71 (Now he said this about Judas son of Simon Iscariot, for Judas, one of the twelve, was going to betray him.)
Lord, never let me forget that You alone have the words of eternal life and that there is nowhere I can go and nothing I can do which has even a shadow of value compared to You.
Jesus casts out an evil spirit in the child of a non-Jewish, Greek woman. She comes to Jesus with hope, knowing Him to be a healer and her child to be in need of someone with spiritual authority. Undeterred that she is not a Jew, she observes that “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs” (Mark 7:28), and asks for Jesus to heal her daughter. He assures her, “Because you said this....The demon has left your daughter” (vs. 29). The purpose of this story is to show that, despite the fulfillment of prophesy that the Messiah would come “to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (see Romans 1:16, 17), His blessings are not reserved for them alone, but to any and all who believe, regardless of race or national origin.
When He is asked, Jesus heals a deaf-mute in private, outside of the public forum, by putting His fingers in his ears and touching his tongue. Physically touching the man to heal him is unnecessary, as is that He “took him aside privately” (Mark 7:33), but both actions illustrate Jesus’ willingness to get close and personal. He also commands the people who witness the healing to not tell others, but they “proclaimed it all the more” (Mark 7:36), so great their joy.
Jesus teaches that works are of no value to acquire salvation — “The Spirit...gives life; human nature is of no help!” (John 6:63) — and that “no one can come to me unless the Father has allowed him to come” (vs. 65). After this, many of those who claim to be His disciples quit following Him.
When Jesus challenges the twelve disciples if they want to stop following Him as the others have, Peter declares that they have no one else to go to — they have come to believe that He alone speaks “the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).
Jesus loves all of us and “God does not show favoritism in dealing with people” (Acts 10:34). He does not regard worldly divisions or distinctions based upon age, color, creed, nationality, race, et cetera. Do we love others in the same manner, as unconditionally?
Those who knew of Jesus’ miracles could not be restrained from telling His story. Are we equally astounded and awed by Him that we feel the need to tell of Him to everyone we meet?
When have you wanted and needed to approach God, but failed to do so from a (false) sense of unworthiness, a lie from the Enemy? If you prayed to overcome that, how did God honor your prayer?
Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of the many ways in His Word that God has expressed His love for and investment in you.
Today I choose to reject the lie of the Enemy that I am undeserving of the attention of God. I will instead accept that Jesus wants me, without consideration of my personal merit, to bring all things to Him. I will also pray for opportunity to tell His story and for the courage and wisdom to do so fearlessly, and lovingly.
Be Specific _______________________________________________
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2012 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study –”The Chronological Gospels” – “Week 6 of 12” - prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in July of 2012. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
Matthew
The Feeding of the Four Thousand
15:32 Then Jesus called the disciples and said, “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have already been here with me three days and they have nothing to eat. I don’t want to send them away hungry since they may faint on the way.” 15:33 The disciples said to him, “Where can we get enough bread in this desolate place to satisfy so great a crowd?” 15:34 Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” They replied, “Seven – and a few small fish.” 15:35 After instructing the crowd to sit down on the ground, 15:36 he took the seven loaves and the fish, and after giving thanks, he broke them and began giving them to the disciples, who then gave them to the crowds. 15:37 They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. 15:38 Not counting children and women, there were four thousand men who ate. 15:39 After sending away the crowd, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan.
The Demand for a Sign
16:1 Now when the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus, they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 16:2 He said, “When evening comes you say, ‘It will be fair weather, because the sky is red,’ 16:3 and in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, because the sky is red and darkening.’ You know how to judge correctly the appearance of the sky, but you cannot evaluate the signs of the times. 16:4 A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” Then he left them and went away.
The Yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees
16:5 When the disciples went to the other side, they forgot to take bread. 16:6 “Watch out,” Jesus said to them, “beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 16:7 So they began to discuss this among themselves, saying, “It is because we brought no bread.” 16:8 When Jesus learned of this, he said, “You who have such little faith! Why are you arguing among yourselves about having no bread? 16:9 Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you took up? 16:10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand and how many baskets you took up? 16:11 How could you not understand that I was not speaking to you about bread? But beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!” 16:12 Then they understood that he had not told them to be on guard against the yeast in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Mark
The Feeding of the Four Thousand
8:1 In those days there was another large crowd with nothing to eat. So Jesus called his disciples and said to them, 8:2 “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have already been here with me three days, and they have nothing to eat. 8:3 If I send them home hungry, they will faint on the way, and some of them have come from a great distance.” 8:4 His disciples answered him, “Where can someone get enough bread in this desolate place to satisfy these people?” 8:5 He asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They replied, “Seven.” 8:6 Then he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. After he took the seven loaves and gave thanks, he broke them and began giving them to the disciples to serve. So they served the crowd. 8:7 They also had a few small fish. After giving thanks for these, he told them to serve these as well. 8:8 Everyone ate and was satisfied, and they picked up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. 8:9 There were about four thousand who ate. Then he dismissed them. 8:10 Immediately he got into a boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.
The Demand for a Sign
8:11 Then the Pharisees came and began to argue with Jesus, asking for a sign from heaven to test him. 8:12 Sighing deeply in his spirit he said, “Why does this generation look for a sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to this generation.” 8:13 Then he left them, got back into the boat, and went to the other side.
The Yeast of the Pharisees and Herod
8:14 Now they had forgotten to take bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. 8:15 And Jesus ordered them, “Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod!” 8:16 So they began to discuss with one another about having no bread. 8:17 When he learned of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you arguing about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Have your hearts been hardened? 8:18 Though you have eyes, don’t you see? And though you have ears, can’t you hear? Don’t you remember? 8:19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of pieces did you pick up?” They replied, “Twelve.” 8:20 “When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many baskets full of pieces did you pick up?” They replied, “Seven.” 8:21 Then he said to them, “Do you still not understand?”
A Two-stage Healing
8:22 Then they came to Bethsaida. They brought a blind man to Jesus and asked him to touch him. 8:23 He took the blind man by the hand and brought him outside of the village. Then he spit on his eyes, placed his hands on his eyes and asked, “Do you see anything?” 8:24 Regaining his sight he said, “I see people, but they look like trees walking.” 8:25 Then Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes again. And he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 8:26 Jesus sent him home, saying, “Do not even go into the village.”
Lord, Your compassion is amazing, and Your warning for us to beware those who would confuse Your truth is a kindness. May I have wisdom in consulting Your Word in study and Your Holy Spirit in prayer, in that I may discern Truth no matter who is the mere human teacher.
Matthew and Mark note that the crowd has been with Him for three days. Matthew adds the detail that are were four thousand men, so one must postulate a large number of women and children as well. The precise number is not terribly important, as the point of the story is the miracle of Jesus multiplying a handful of bread and fish out of compassion for the people. God cares and He provides.
The Pharisees and Sadducees challenge Jesus for a sign, presumably unmistakable signs similar to those of Moses or Elijah. Knowing their wicked hearts, He challenges them in the stead, saying that they can not even discern the prophesized “signs of the times” (Matt. 16:3) right in front of them, therefore "no sign will be given to this generation" (Mark 8:12). He offers for their consideration “the sign of Jonah” (Matt. 16:4), a parallel to His impending death and resurrection.
Jesus challenges His disciples to “beware the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (Matt. 16:6) as well as of Herod — meaning they should not permit bad teaching to distort their theology. The feeding of the thousands is evidence that He has the power necessary to multiple so much from so little; anything – good or bad – can multiply.
Jesus performs a two-stage healing of a blind man: First He restores his sight, then makes his vision clear. It may be taken as a parable of salvation — first the freedom to see Truth is restored, then the Holy Spirit brings clarity.
What is the bigger message Jesus intends in the miracle of feeding so many from so little? What are some of the ways that God has shown you that He cares and provides?
Are there areas that inject unhealthy influences and values in your life and in to the lives of others? In your experience, have you seen the good teaching of Jesus being distorted by man's preferences and traditions? How did you overcome that?
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you are either intentionally not listening to Him or unintentionally not hearing from Him (because you don't care for what He is saying).
Today I will look for one source of unhealthy influence and take control of either my participation in or my reaction to that. It may be in the television programming I view, the music I listen to, the things I read, or the words and actions of a person I have allowed in my life. If I need to set boundaries to protect myself, I will intentionally turn away from an unhealthy influence and do so.
Be Specific _______________________________________________
Matthew
Peter’s Confession
16:13 When Jesus came to the area of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 16:14 They answered, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 16:15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16:16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 16:17 And Jesus answered him, “You are blessed, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven! 16:18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 16:19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven.” 16:20 Then he instructed his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.
Mark
Peter’s Confession
8:27 Then Jesus and his disciples went to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 8:28 They said, “John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and still others, one of the prophets.” 8:29 He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” 8:30 Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.
Luke
Peter’s Confession
9:18 Once when Jesus was praying by himself, and his disciples were nearby, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” 9:19 They answered, “John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others that one of the prophets of long ago has risen.” 9:20 Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” 9:21 But he forcefully commanded them not to tell this to anyone, 9:22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”
Lord, You are the True God, and You built your Church of Believers upon our faith in You and obedience to Your Truth. May I never take my eyes off of You.
Peter's confession is a remarkable moment in the Gospels. Matthew emphasizes Peter's accurate identification of Jesus as "the Christ" (16:16), in contrast to the speculations of the crowd. Jesus declares that He will build His Church on the "rock" (vs. 18) — that is, faith in Truth as it was revealed to and then professed by Peter.
In Matthew's account, Jesus makes four distinct statements regarding Peter's confession that Jesus is the Christ: 1) Peter is blessed to have received such an important revelation of Truth, because "flesh and blood did not reveal this to you" (16:17); 2) the truth spoken by Peter comes from "My Father in heaven" (ibid); 3) the Church Jesus is building is founded on that truth and "the gates of Hades [death itself] will not overpower it" (vs. 18); and 4) He Himself will empower those who receive His truth with "the keys of the kingdom of heaven" (vs. 19), a power both alive and active in the spiritual realm.
Luke 9:22 recounts what "the Son of Man must suffer" on His way to the Cross, makes note that He will "be killed" and by whom, and foretells that He will be raised "on the third day."
Jesus warned His disciples "not to tell anyone about Him [that He is the Christ, 'one who has been anointed', NET tn]" (Mark 8:30), because "His time had not yet come" (John 7:30). Just as the disciples had learned of Jesus' true nature incrementally, so it would need be for the general population, and even more so.
The incredible way Jesus has impacted the world is both extraordinary, when His story and Truth are correctly understood and applied, and yet terrible, when misrepresentations of Him and abuses committed in His name have occurred.
In what ways did Jesus build His church on the rock of faith that was the Truth (that He is the Christ) revealed to Peter?
Jesus willingly and voluntarily suffered for us, knowing beforehand the horror of it — that should inform how we approach the challenge to live lives faithfully before Him in gratitude.
When did you first accept the truth of Who Jesus is? How did that change your life?
Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of the earliest moments following your confession of faith in the Christ.
Today, remembering the early days after my recognition of the truth of Jesus, I will tell someone about my coming to faith. It may be when I was young or when I made a genuine commitment as an adult.
I will identify a place where I have avoided living out who I am in Christ because it is inconvenient or uncomfortable for me to do so. I will remember His willingness to suffer for me and so will choose to endure a little suffering for Him if I am called to.
Be Specific _____________________________________________
Matthew
First Prediction of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection
16:21 From that time on Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 16:22 So Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him: “God forbid, Lord! This must not happen to you!” 16:23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, because you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but on man’s.” 16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 16:25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 16:26 For what does it benefit a person if he gains the whole world but forfeits his life? Or what can a person give in exchange for his life? 16:27 For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. 16:28 I tell you the truth, there are some standing here who will not experience death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
Mark
First Prediction of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection
8:31 Then Jesus began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 8:32 He spoke openly about this. So Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 8:33 But after turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but on man’s.”
Following Jesus
8:34 Then Jesus called the crowd, along with his disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 8:35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and for the gospel will save it. 8:36 For what benefit is it for a person to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his life? 8:37 What can a person give in exchange for his life? 8:38 For if anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
9:1 And he said to them, “I tell you the truth, there are some standing here who will not experience death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.”
Luke
A Call to Discipleship
9:23 Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, 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 my sake will save it. 9:25 For what does it benefit a person if he gains the whole world but loses or forfeits himself? 9:26 For whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 9:27 But I tell you most certainly, there are some standing here who will not experience death before they see the kingdom of God.”
Lord, You told us not only what You were willing to endure to make a way Home for us, You also told us what we must be willing to bear to follow You. May I, an imperfect human being, not seek comfort and pleasure in this world when You (holy and sinless) endured insult, torture, and death for me.
When Jesus prophesies His impending suffering, death, and resurrection Peter impulsively "took Him aside and began to rebuke Him" (Mark 8:32), unable to conceive that such a thing could happen. Peter is failing to comprehend the necessary propitiation of Jesus the Christ — the voluntary substitution by Jesus of Himself for us, in order to satisfy the requirement of Heaven's perfect and pure justice.
Peter's "Lord! This must not happen to You!" (Matt. 16:22) reminds the reader that when we place worldly priorities ahead of God's priorities we become advocates for Satan. Jesus' rebuke, “Get behind me, Satan” (Matt. 16:23), neutralizes the notion that His "on this rock I will build my church" (vs. 18, italics added) is intended to refer to Peter as the rock or to a unique Apostolic line of succession from Peter upon which the Church will be built. Rather, Jesus' challenge to Peter reveals that his previous moment of clarity as to the true identity of Jesus as "the Christ" (vs. 16) was clearly momentary.
Jesus reminds His disciples that anyone who "wants to become My follower" (Matt. 16:24) must undergo a radical change of perspective and higher priorities will be needed to follow Him: deny self, surrender life, abandon that which the world values.
Jesus declares that He will be ashamed of those who failed to tell His story and behaved as if they were "ashamed of Me and My words" (Mark 8:38) when He returns in the glory of His Father.
[Note: “Some standing here will not experience death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom” (Matt. 16:28) has raised tremendous speculation as to the exact meaning of the words. Yet the context appears clear: Using Scripture to interpret Scripture, Jesus' prophetic words refer to His return to mete out judgment and wrath, as well as blessing, at the end of time. He intentionally qualifies His prophesy with the word “experience” (Greek, 'will not taste') which NET translators note as meaning 'experience something cognitively'. Thus, some of those present (with the notable exception of Judas) would be absent the awareness of their death — while they may be physically dead, they are 'asleep' until Christ's return.]
Do we challenge Jesus with disobedience or doubt when His Word says something with which we do not want to agree? Perhaps in our wanting to soften the teaching on righteousness or our being convicted that hell is real?
Have you heard people say, “God cannot mean that just because a good person doesn't become a Christian they will go to hell.”? Are they not committing the same error Jesus so harshly chastised Peter for?
Jesus warns us about the cost of following Him in a world that hates Him. Contemplate the sacrifices the apostles made, and so many others since, for Christ — not the appearance of sacrifice for man-made denominations or religious traditions, but for Him alone.
In what ways might you have behaved as if you were ashamed of Jesus? For example, avoiding mentioning His name or giving Him credit for all things good?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place where, intentionally or unintentionally, you try to change the intended message of some Biblical passages because you are uncomfortable with the teaching.
Today I will identify a place where I carelessly misunderstand Biblical text because I am uncomfortable with the possible consequences if I don't make myself accountable to that teaching.
I will consider a time, place, or person that triggers in me an ashamed reaction to my self-identifying as a Christian. I will ask a fellow Christian to pray with me that I will have the courage and discernment to know when and how to witness for Christ in word and deed.
Be Specific _____________________________________________
Matthew
The Transfiguration
17:1 Six days later Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them privately up a high mountain. 17:2 And he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. 17:3 Then Moses and Elijah also appeared before them, talking with him. 17:4 So Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, I will make three shelters – one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 17:5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my one dear Son, in whom I take great delight. Listen to him!” 17:6 When the disciples heard this, they were overwhelmed with fear and threw themselves down with their faces to the ground. 17:7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Do not be afraid.” 17:8 When they looked up, all they saw was Jesus alone.
17:9 As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Do not tell anyone about the vision until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.” 17:10 The disciples asked him, “Why then do the experts in the law say that Elijah must come first?” 17:11 He answered, “Elijah does indeed come first and will restore all things. 17:12 And I tell you that Elijah has already come. Yet they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wanted. In the same way, the Son of Man will suffer at their hands.” 17:13 Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them about John the Baptist.
Mark
The Transfiguration
9:2 Six days later Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John and led them alone up a high mountain privately. And he was transfigured before them, 9:3 and his clothes became radiantly white, more so than any launderer in the world could bleach them. 9:4 Then Elijah appeared before them along with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 9:5 So Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three shelters – one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 9:6 (For they were afraid, and he did not know what to say.) 9:7 Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came from the cloud, “This is my one dear Son. Listen to him!” 9:8 Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more except Jesus.
9:9 As they were coming down from the mountain, he gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 9:10 They kept this statement to themselves, discussing what this rising from the dead meant.
9:11 Then they asked him, “Why do the experts in the law say that Elijah must come first?” 9:12 He said to them, “Elijah does indeed come first, and restores all things. And why is it written that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be despised? 9:13 But I tell you that Elijah has certainly come, and they did to him whatever they wanted, just as it is written about him.”
Luke
The Transfiguration
9:28 Now about eight days after these sayings, Jesus took with him Peter, John, and James, and went up the mountain to pray. 9:29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face was transformed, and his clothes became very bright, a brilliant white. 9:30 Then two men, Moses and Elijah, began talking with him. 9:31 They appeared in glorious splendor and spoke about his departure that he was about to carry out at Jerusalem. 9:32 Now Peter and those with him were quite sleepy, but as they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. 9:33 Then as the men were starting to leave, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three shelters, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah” – not knowing what he was saying. 9:34 As he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 9:35 Then a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him!” 9:36 After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. So they kept silent and told no one at that time anything of what they had seen.
Lord, You are not of this world, but You commune across time and space with the ancient prophets. You foretold that what they had endured and prophesied would also be endured and fulfilled in You. May I never forget that You are the God of prophecy and all-knowing.
The transfiguration presents Jesus in partial glory, with face and clothes "radiantly white” (Mark 9:3) and in conversation with Moses and Elijah. Moses and Elijah are visual parables: Moses represents the Law and Elijah represents the Prophets — both offices which Jesus said He came not to replace "but to fulfill" (Matt. 5:17, italics added).
When the impetuous Peter interrupts to ask if the apostles could build all three a “tent,” such as was used in the Old Testament for the feast of Tabernacles, he is rebuked by the voice of the Father in Heaven — "This is my Son, My Chosen One. Listen to Him!" (Luke 9:35).
Once again Peter misses the point; in wanting to make three shelters for Moses, Elijah, and Jesus, he is trying to drag things down into a human-size box that he can understand and even participate in. The disciples go prostrate in fear after hearing the voice of God, and Jesus comforts them with, "Do not be afraid" (Matt. 17:7).
Are we really listening to Jesus, or are we busy imposing our own agendas on Him?
Do we sometimes sense the Holy Spirit prompting us to listen, yet His message is hard to hear or even difficult to fully comprehend? Do we let Him bring the message and then wait on Him to interpret, or do we dummy down what we hear in our haste to understand?
When Jesus speaks to us, are we sometimes too busy with our work, or our worldly ways, that we miss what He is saying?
Recall a time when the Holy Spirit prompted you to move or act, and you really did not want to go or do — if you chose to ignore Him, what was the result? Recall another time when you chose to hear and obey. Conversely, what was the result?
Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you with His firm hand to invest the time necessary, in prayer and the Word, to discern Truth.
Today I will make an effort to listen for and to Jesus — praying before I read His Word that He will show me His will in small or great ways, and that He will find me teachable and obedient.
Be Specific _____________________________________________
Matthew
The Disciples’ Failure to Heal
17:14 When they came to the crowd, a man came to him, knelt before him, 17:15 and said, “Lord, have mercy on my son, because he has seizures and suffers terribly, for he often falls into the fire and into the water. 17:16 I brought him to your disciples, but they were not able to heal him.” 17:17 Jesus answered, “You unbelieving and perverse generation! How much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I endure you? Bring him here to me.” 17:18 Then Jesus rebuked the demon and it came out of him, and the boy was healed from that moment. 17:19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why couldn’t we cast it out?” 17:20 He told them, “It was because of your little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; nothing will be impossible for you.”
17:21 [[EMPTY]]
Mark
The Disciples’ Failure to Heal
9:14 When they came to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and experts in the law arguing with them. 9:15 When the whole crowd saw him, they were amazed and ran at once and greeted him. 9:16 He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” 9:17 A member of the crowd said to him, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that makes him mute. 9:18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they were not able to do so.” 9:19 He answered them, “You unbelieving generation! How much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I endure you? Bring him to me.” 9:20 So they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell on the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. 9:21 Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 9:22 It has often thrown him into fire or water to destroy him. But if you are able to do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 9:23 Then Jesus said to him, “‘If you are able?’ All things are possible for the one who believes.” 9:24 Immediately the father of the boy cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”
9:25 Now when Jesus saw that a crowd was quickly gathering, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 9:26 It shrieked, threw him into terrible convulsions, and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He is dead!” 9:27 But Jesus gently took his hand and raised him to his feet, and he stood up.
9:28 Then, after he went into the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we cast it out?” 9:29 He told them, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”
Luke
Healing a Boy with an Unclean Spirit
9:37 Now on the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a large crowd met him. 9:38 Then a man from the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son – he is my only child! 9:39 A spirit seizes him, and he suddenly screams; it throws him into convulsions and causes him to foam at the mouth. It hardly ever leaves him alone, torturing him severely. 9:40 I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not do so.” 9:41 Jesus answered, “You unbelieving and perverse generation! How much longer must I be with you and endure you? Bring your son here.” 9:42 As the boy was approaching, the demon threw him to the ground and shook him with convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. 9:43a Then they were all astonished at the mighty power of God.
Lord, You are the source of power that passes through me and in to the world, but I am only a valuable vessel to the degree that I truly believe. May my faith be great, so that I might be a useful vessel.
Mark reports the father of an afflicted child "possessed by a spirit" (Mark 9:17) asking Jesus if He is able to do anything to help them — the man doubts because Jesus' disciples had failed to heal his son. Jesus rhetorically replies, "'If you are able'? All things are possible for the one who believes” (vs. 23). The teachable man replies “I believe; help my unbelief!” (vs. 24).
After His disciples fail to heal and Jesus heals the boy Himself, He declares His frustration with “this perverse generation” (Matt. 17:17) for their lack of faith. His frustration is reminiscent of the Father's with the nation of Israel for their resistance to Truth.
Jesus responds to His disciples questioning why they could not cast out the demon with two reasons: Their faith is even less than that of a mustard seed, and "this kind can come out only by prayer" (Mark 9:29). Only by prayer is important in that it indicates that if one is to remove an evil spirit which has become deeply-embedded (as in a child since birth), one must speak from a mature faith which gives firm instruction to and takes authority over the evil spirit. Prayer is critical to spiritual maturity and spiritual preparedness.
Jesus is frustrated by His disciples ("how much longer must I...endure you?" Luke
God, in the form of mere man, must have felt deep frustration among a people so contrary to the evidence of Who He is and who they are in Him.
God expresses His frustration with His children throughout both the Old Testament and the New. Earthly parents can empathize with this: How often do we say to our children, "Listen to me! I love you. I am trying to help you and know what I am talking about!"
Do we sometimes find ourselves powerless, due to lack of faith, in the face of the evil which we have the authority to overcome?
When have you presented someone with information that would have clearly improved their circumstances, only to be confronted by their refusal to act wisely in response to this knowledge?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place in your life where you are avoiding a challenge when you have the power to overcome, or tolerating an evil when you have the power to resist.
Today I will neither avoid a challenge nor tolerate an evil simply because I lack the confidence in Christ to overcome it. I will ask a fellow Christian to pray with me for the faith I need to believe in the authority and the power of Christ working through and in me.
Be Specific ____________________________________________
Matthew
Second Prediction of Jesus' Death and Resurrection
17:22 When they gathered together in Galilee, Jesus told them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. 17:23 They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised.” And they became greatly distressed.
The Temple Tax
17:24 After they arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax came to Peter and said, “Your teacher pays the double drachma tax, doesn’t he?” 17:25 He said, “Yes.” When Peter came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly kings collect tolls or taxes – from their sons or from foreigners?” 17:26 After he said, “From foreigners,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. 17:27 But so that we don’t offend them, go to the lake and throw out a hook. Take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth, you will find a four drachma coin. Take that and give it to them for me and you.”
Questions About the Greatest
18:1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 18:2 He called a child, had him stand among them, 18:3 and said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn around and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven! 18:4 Whoever then humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 18:5 And whoever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me.
18:6 “But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a huge millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the open sea. 18:7 Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks! It is necessary that stumbling blocks come, but woe to the person through whom they come. 18:8 If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. 18:9 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into fiery hell.
Mark
Second Prediction of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection
9:30 They went out from there and passed through Galilee. But Jesus did not want anyone to know, 9:31 for he was teaching his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man will be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” 9:32 But they did not understand this statement and were afraid to ask him.
Questions About the Greatest
9:33 Then they came to Capernaum. After Jesus was inside the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” 9:34 But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. 9:35 After he sat down, he called the twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” 9:36 He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, 9:37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”
Luke
Another Prediction of Jesus’ Suffering
9:43b But while the entire crowd was amazed at everything Jesus was doing, he said to his disciples, 9:44 “Take these words to heart, for the Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men.” 9:45 But they did not understand this statement; its meaning had been concealed from them, so that they could not grasp it. Yet they were afraid to ask him about this statement.
Concerning the Greatest
9:46 Now an argument started among the disciples as to which of them might be the greatest. 9:47 But when Jesus discerned their innermost thoughts, he took a child, had him stand by his side, 9:48 and said to them, “Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me, for the one who is least among you all is the one who is great.”
Lord, You love those who come to You with the innocence, humility, and trust of a child, and You disapprove of those who come with arrogant pride. May I come to You humbly knowing my need of You.
Jesus' prediction of His death and resurrection causes the disciples angst in reaction to hearing again from Jesus that He will be killed. They fear to pursue clarification from Jesus — "they did not understand this statement and were afraid to ask Him" (vs. 32), presumably because they fear what His answer might be. They also lack in understanding that "after three days He will rise" (Mark 9:31).
Jesus questioning, "What do you think, Simon?" (Matt. 17:25), regarding the temple tax due creates another teachable moment: Jesus informs Peter that "the sons [of the king] are free" (17:26) from obligation, yet should voluntarily submit to worldly authority to maintain a good witness as responsible citizens. Jesus then performs a miracle to provide the coin necessary to pay the tax.
The argument among the disciples, as to who would be greatest in the kingdom of heaven, leads to two teachings from Jesus: First, that His followers must be as non-presuming and trusting as a young child, versus arrogant and self-sufficient as a typical adult — "become like little children" (Matt. 18:3); and second, that those as innocent as children must never be compromised — "anyone who causes [them] to sin" (vs. 6) will face terrible consequences. The value of humility and innocence are high, as they are critical to being teachable.
Do we sometimes avoid seeking God's perspective, in His Word or from a mature Biblical counselor, because we don't want to be accountable to the answer we receive?
There are many ways that people become arrogant in the world, and in the Church, about their position and knowledge. These distractions may harm and cause the neglect of those who should be served.
Am I in any way supporting a business, media organization, or other venue that may contribute harm to the innocent? I might need to either cause change in that organization or withdraw my support.
When have you discovered that a young-of-age or new Believer, one whom you had been unaware that you were 'teaching' by way of example, had acquired from you a wrong idea about Jesus or an improper way of speaking or behaving? How did you address that?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you any way that you may be facilitating harm to an innocent child-like Believer.
Today I will seek, in the Word and through prayer, an answer to a question I have been avoiding, such as: Am I facilitating harm to others through my support of an irresponsible elected official or involvement in a business or organization I support? If so, I will act to avoid or disassociate from that; maybe by writing a letter of rebuke, canceling a membership or subscription, finding a new place of employment.
Be Specific ____________________________________________
Mark
On Jesus’ Side
9:38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he was not following us.” 9:39 But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, because no one who does a miracle in my name will be able soon afterward to say anything bad about me. 9:40 For whoever is not against us is for us. 9:41 For I tell you the truth, whoever gives you a cup of water because you bear Christ’s name will never lose his reward.
9:42 “If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a huge millstone tied around his neck and to be thrown into the sea. 9:43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off! It is better for you to enter into life crippled than to have two hands and go into hell, to the unquenchable fire. 9:44 [[EMPTY]] 9:45 If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off! It is better to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. 9:46 [[EMPTY]] 9:47 If your eye causes you to sin, tear it out! It is better to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 9:48 where their worm never dies and the fire is never quenched. 9:49 Everyone will be salted with fire. 9:50 Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”
Luke
On the Right Side
9:49 John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he is not a disciple along with us.” 9:50 But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, for whoever is not against you is for you.”
Rejection in Samaria
9:51 Now when the days drew near for him to be taken up, Jesus set out resolutely to go to Jerusalem. 9:52 He sent messengers on ahead of him. As they went along, they entered a Samaritan village to make things ready in advance for him, 9:53 but the villagers refused to welcome him, because he was determined to go to Jerusalem. 9:54 Now when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to call fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” 9:55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them, 9:56 and they went on to another village.
Challenging Professed Followers
9:57 As they were walking along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 9:58 Jesus said to him, “Foxes have dens and the birds in the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” 9:59 Jesus said to another, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 9:60 But Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 9:61 Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say goodbye to my family.” 9:62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Lord, You teach challenging things about faith in action and the choice to follow You instead of the world. May I be willing to surrender the things of this world, so that I may more closely follow You.
The disciples voice their concern to Jesus that someone is casting out demons "in Your Name, and...he is not a disciple" (Luke
Using the rhetorical illustration of cutting off a hand or foot if it "causes you to sin" (Mark 9:43), Jesus challenges His followers to intentionally choose righteousness and to sacrificially avoid evil. He reminds them to be "salted with fire" (vs. 49), salt being a seasoning and preservative in the world, and to not allow themselves to lose their saltiness by drifting away to where they will become valueless — "If salt ceases to be useful it is thrown away. With this illustration Jesus warned about a disciple who ceased to follow Him" (NET sn).
Jesus set out for Jerusalem and "sent messengers on ahead of Him" (Luke 9:52) to Samaria to prepare for Him, but the villagers refused to welcome Him there. His apostles wanted to punish Samaria by calling down fire from heaven to "consume them" (vs. 54), but Jesus rebuked them. ["The point of the rebuke is that now was not the time for judgment but patience" (NET sn).] As He had instructed the twelve apostles when He first sent them out (to leave a town that does not welcome them and "shake the dust off your feet," Luke 9:5), they went on their way — Samaria missed out on the blessings of their presence.
Jesus challenges His professed followers to put their hands to the plow, not look back, and make their destination in the Kingdom the point of their focus — by walking a straight and narrow path, avoiding sin and temptation, they will then be "fit for the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62).
Making personal sacrifice (in what we want or do) is sometimes necessary, especially in order to avoid sin in our lives.
In our lives, our choices are to either keep our eyes focused on God's goals or be distracted by the things of the world, as illustrated in The Pilgrim's Progress by Paul Bunyan.
Sometimes the Holy Spirit leads nonbelievers to copy Believers, which leads them toward a saving faith.
When have you found yourself distracted by the things of the world, yet something from your Sunday morning worship or time in the Word prompted you to turn your focus back to God?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you one whom the Lord has led in to your sphere of influence in order to bring them nearer to a decision to be saved.
Today I will seek opportunity to encourage an unsaved person to participate in God's work somewhere (like a soup kitchen), so that a door and their eyes may be opened to their salvation.
I will discern one specific sacrifice I will intentionally make to remove one sinful influence in my life.
I will prayerfully lay out a long-term plan to keep myself focused on God and less vulnerable to the daily distractions of the world.
Be Specific __________________________________________
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2012 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study –“The Chronological Gospels” – “Week 7 of 12” - prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in July of 2012. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
The Feast of Tabernacles
7:1 After this Jesus traveled throughout Galilee. He stayed out of Judea because the Jewish leaders wanted to kill him. 7:2 Now the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near. 7:3 So Jesus’ brothers advised him, “Leave here and go to Judea so your disciples may see your miracles that you are performing. 7:4 For no one who seeks to make a reputation for himself does anything in secret. If you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” 7:5 (For not even his own brothers believed in him.)
7:6 So Jesus replied, “My time has not yet arrived, but you are ready at any opportunity! 7:7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me, because I am testifying about it that its deeds are evil. 7:8 You go up to the feast yourselves. I am not going up to this feast because my time has not yet fully arrived.” 7:9 When he had said this, he remained in Galilee.
7:10 But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, then Jesus himself also went up, not openly but in secret. 7:11 So the Jewish leaders were looking for him at the feast, asking, “Where is he?” 7:12 There was a lot of grumbling about him among the crowds. Some were saying, “He is a good man,” but others, “He deceives the common people.” 7:13 However, no one spoke openly about him for fear of the Jewish leaders.
Teaching in the Temple
7:14 When the feast was half over, Jesus went up to the temple courts and began to teach. 7:15 Then the Jewish leaders were astonished and said, “How does this man know so much when he has never had formal instruction?” 7:16 So Jesus replied, “My teaching is not from me, but from the one who sent me. 7:17 If anyone wants to do God’s will, he will know about my teaching, whether it is from God or whether I speak from my own authority. 7:18 The person who speaks on his own authority desires to receive honor for himself; the one who desires the honor of the one who sent him is a man of integrity, and there is no unrighteousness in him. 7:19 Hasn’t Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps the law! Why do you want to kill me?”
7:20 The crowd answered, “You’re possessed by a demon! Who is trying to kill you?” 7:21 Jesus replied, “I performed one miracle and you are all amazed. 7:22 However, because Moses gave you the practice of circumcision (not that it came from Moses, but from the forefathers), you circumcise a male child on the Sabbath. 7:23 But if a male child is circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses is not broken, why are you angry with me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? 7:24 Do not judge according to external appearance, but judge with proper judgment.”
Questions About Jesus’ Identity
7:25 Then some of the residents of Jerusalem began to say, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill? 7:26 Yet here he is, speaking publicly, and they are saying nothing to him. Do the rulers really know that this man is the Christ? 7:27 But we know where this man comes from. Whenever the Christ comes, no one will know where he comes from.”
7:28 Then Jesus, while teaching in the temple courts, cried out, “You both know me and know where I come from! And I have not come on my own initiative, but the one who sent me is true. You do not know him, 7:29 but I know him, because I have come from him and he sent me.”
7:30 So then they tried to seize Jesus, but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come. 7:31 Yet many of the crowd believed in him and said, “Whenever the Christ comes, he won’t perform more miraculous signs than this man did, will he?”
7:32 The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things about Jesus, so the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to arrest him. 7:33 Then Jesus said, “I will be with you for only a little while longer, and then I am going to the one who sent me. 7:34 You will look for me but will not find me, and where I am you cannot come.”
7:35 Then the Jewish leaders said to one another, “Where is he going to go that we cannot find him? He is not going to go to the Jewish people dispersed among the Greeks and teach the Greeks, is he? 7:36 What did he mean by saying, ‘You will look for me but will not find me, and where I am you cannot come’?”
Teaching About the Spirit
7:37 On the last day of the feast, the greatest day, Jesus stood up and shouted out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me, and 7:38 let the one who believes in me drink. Just as the scripture says, ‘From within him will flow rivers of living water.’” 7:39 (Now he said this about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were going to receive, for the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.)
Differing Opinions About Jesus
7:40 When they heard these words, some of the crowd began to say, “This really is the Prophet!” 7:41 Others said, “This is the Christ!” But still others said, “No, for the Christ doesn’t come from Galilee, does he? 7:42 Don’t the scriptures say that the Christ is a descendant of David and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?” 7:43 So there was a division in the crowd because of Jesus. 7:44 Some of them were wanting to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.
Lack of Belief
7:45 Then the officers returned to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why didn’t you bring him back with you?” 7:46 The officers replied, “No one ever spoke like this man!” 7:47 Then the Pharisees answered, “You haven’t been deceived too, have you? 7:48 None of the rulers or the Pharisees have believed in him, have they? 7:49 But this rabble who do not know the law are accursed!”
7:50 Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus before and who was one of the rulers, said, 7:51 “Our law doesn’t condemn a man unless it first hears from him and learns what he is doing, does it?” 7:52 They replied, “You aren’t from Galilee too, are you? Investigate carefully and you will see that no prophet comes from Galilee!”
A Woman Caught in Adultery
7:53 [[And each one departed to his own house.
8:1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 8:2 Early in the morning he came to the temple courts again. All the people came to him, and he sat down and began to teach them. 8:3 The experts in the law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught committing adultery. They made her stand in front of them 8:4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of adultery. 8:5 In the law Moses commanded us to stone to death such women. What then do you say?” 8:6 (Now they were asking this in an attempt to trap him, so that they could bring charges against him.) Jesus bent down and wrote on the ground with his finger. 8:7 When they persisted in asking him, he stood up straight and replied, “Whoever among you is guiltless may be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8:8 Then he bent over again and wrote on the ground.
8:9 Now when they heard this, they began to drift away one at a time, starting with the older ones, until Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 8:10 Jesus stood up straight and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” 8:11 She replied, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you either. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”]]
[See “Scripture in Perspective” note regarding inclusion of 7:53–8:11 text.]
Lord, those inclined toward Truth will recognize You and those stiff-necked and resistant to truth will resist You. May I be found seeking Truth, so that You may teach and transform me.
The brothers of Jesus are chastised by Him for pressuring Him to promote Himself when saying, “If you are doing these things, show yourself to the world” (vs. 4). They had not yet “believed in Him” (John 7:5) or acknowledged His status as the Christ. Jesus replies, “My time has not yet arrived” (vs. 6).
Jesus arrives secretly for the Feast of Tabernacles and halfway through rises to teach. He is challenged by the religious authorities. Jesus’ reply to them includes a clear reference to His divinity: “My teaching is....from the One who sent Me” (7:16). He (Who is without sin) declares it a sinful desire to seek honor for oneself, yet conversely (and righteously) parallels His authority with that of God.
Jesus is challenged by some who apply Old Testament texts to mean that the Messiah will come suddenly from an unknown place. (But they know, or think they know, that He comes from Nazareth.) He corrects them by stating that their simplistic definition of “from” overlooks something more important: His heavenly place of origin — “I have come from Him and He sent me” (7:29) — not His earthly one.
On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus declares Himself the source of “living water” (vs. 38), in reference to His divinity and to the Holy Spirit Whom He will send when He ascends to Heaven. From within Him will flow rivers of living water is an Old Testament quotation (most probably from Isaiah) which refers to the Lord and informs that the Holy Spirit is a part of the Triune Godhead.
When the religious leaders try to have Jesus arrested, the officers sent to seize Him find themselves unable to overcome the sense that He is genuine — “No one ever spoke like this man!” (vs. 46).
[Note: The John 7:53 – 8:11 passage, which tells of the woman caught in adultery, makes for a powerful illustration and great theater. However, the best scholarship has determined that it does not belong in the canonical text and was an improper insertion by a scribe. It may or may not have been an authentic traditional retelling, but there is no support found in the earliest John texts for its inclusion.]
Have you noticed that some so-called Christians in the population promote Jesus as though He were a common celebrity or political candidate, not the Son of the Most High God? Do you discern man’s tendency to make everything earth-centric?
Do the Gospels texts, at this point in recounting the story of the human person Jesus, make the message clear that He is at the same time a person of the Trinitarian God?
Have you found yourself thinking of Jesus in perhaps too-common a way, so that He ceases to bring to you a sense of awe when you enter into praise and worship?
Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of the way Jesus humbled to and past the point of death Himself for us.
Today I will pause to celebrate with another Believer (in song, praise, sacrifice, service) that Jesus came to earth, lived, healed, taught, challenged, tolerated, and saved fallen man.
Be Specific ____________________________________________
Jesus as the Light of the World
8:12 Then Jesus spoke out again, “I am the light of the world. The one who follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 8:13 So the Pharisees objected, “You testify about yourself; your testimony is not true!” 8:14 Jesus answered, “Even if I testify about myself, my testimony is true, because I know where I came from and where I am going. But you people do not know where I came from or where I am going. 8:15 You people judge by outward appearances; I do not judge anyone. 8:16 But if I judge, my evaluation is accurate, because I am not alone when I judge, but I and the Father who sent me do so to-gether. 8:17 It is written in your law that the testimony of two men is true. 8:18 I testify about myself and the Father who sent me testifies about me.”
8:19 Then they began asking him, “Who is your father?” Jesus answered, “You do not know either me or my Father. If you knew me you would know my Father too.” 8:20 (Jesus spoke these words near the offering box while he was teaching in the temple courts. No one seized him because his time had not yet come.)
Where Jesus Came From and Where He is Going
8:21 Then Jesus said to them again, “I am going away, and you will look for me but will die in your sin. Where I am going you cannot come.” 8:22 So the Jewish leaders began to say, “Perhaps he is going to kill himself, because he says, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’” 8:23 Jesus replied, “You people are from below; I am from above. You people are from this world; I am not from this world. 8:24 Thus I told you that you will die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins.”
8:25 So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus replied, “What I have told you from the beginning. 8:26 I have many things to say and to judge about you, but the Father who sent me is truthful, and the things I have heard from him I speak to the world.” 8:27 (They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father.)
8:28 Then Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and I do nothing on my own initiative, but I speak just what the Father taught me. 8:29 And the one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do those things that please him.” 8:30 While he was saying these things, many people believed in him.
Abraham’s Children and the Devil’s Children
8:31 Then Jesus said to those Judeans who had believed him, “If you continue to follow my teaching, you are really my disciples 8:32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 8:33 “We are descendants of Abraham,” they replied, “and have never been anyone’s slaves! How can you say, ‘You will become free’?” 8:34 Jesus answered them, “I tell you the solemn truth, everyone who practices sin is a slave of sin. 8:35 The slave does not remain in the family forever, but the son remains forever. 8:36 So if the son sets you free, you will be really free. 8:37 I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. But you want to kill me, because my teaching makes no progress among you. 8:38 I am telling you the things I have seen while with the Father; as for you, practice the things you have heard from the Father!”
8:39 They answered him, “Abraham is our father!” Jesus replied, “If you are Abraham’s children, you would be doing the deeds of Abraham. 8:40 But now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth I heard from God. Abraham did not do this! 8:41 You people are doing the deeds of your father.”
Then they said to Jesus, “We were not born as a result of immorality! We have only one Father, God himself.” 8:42 Jesus replied, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come from God and am now here. I have not come on my own initiative, but he sent me. 8:43 Why don’t you understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot accept my teaching. 8:44 You people are from your father the devil, and you want to do what your father desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies. 8:45 But because I am telling you the truth, you do not believe me. 8:46 Who among you can prove me guilty of any sin? If I am telling you the truth, why don’t you believe me? 8:47 The one who belongs to God listens and responds to God’s words. You don’t listen and respond, because you don’t belong to God.”
8:48 The Judeans replied, “Aren’t we correct in saying that you are a Samaritan and are possessed by a demon?” 8:49 Jesus answered, “I am not possessed by a demon, but I honor my Father – and yet you dishonor me. 8:50 I am not trying to get praise for myself. There is one who demands it, and he also judges. 8:51 I tell you the solemn truth, if anyone obeys my teaching, he will never see death.”
8:52 Then the Judeans responded, “Now we know you’re possessed by a demon! Both Abraham and the prophets died, and yet you say, ‘If anyone obeys my teaching, he will never experience death.’ 8:53 You aren’t greater than our father Abraham who died, are you? And the prophets died too! Who do you claim to be?” 8:54 Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory is worthless. The one who glorifies me is my Father, about whom you people say, ‘He is our God.’ 8:55 Yet you do not know him, but I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him, and I obey his teaching. 8:56 Your father Abraham was overjoyed to see my day, and he saw it and was glad.”
8:57 Then the Judeans replied, “You are not yet fifty years old! Have you seen Abraham?” 8:58 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the solemn truth, before Abraham came into existence, I am!” 8:59 Then they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out from the temple area.
Lord, You are the eternal One, pre-existent and forever. May I always stand in awe of Yahweh, the great I AM, so that I am humbled.
Jesus has a discussion with the Jewish leaders, wherein He once again identifies Himself as the Son of God — “if you knew Me you would know My Father too” (John 8:19) . Many believe in Him as He speaks truth about Himself, yet others continue in their challenges and doubts.
John records Jesus contrasting those who are freed of the eternal consequences of their sin with those who are slaves to it — “everyone who practices sin is a slave of sin” (vs. 34) . Many challenge Him for referring to them as mere slaves, as they had been indoctrinated to believe that their status as Jews, who keep the rituals and traditions, makes them special among men. Jesus points out to them that, rather than being special, “you people are from your father the devil” (vs. 44).
The Judeans, when Jesus says, “if anyone obeys My teaching, he will never see death” (vs. 51), are outraged because they know that “both Abraham and the prophets died” (vs. 52). “Will never see death forever,” as it is transliterated from the Greek, means that although a Christian may die physically he will not remain dead forever—he will be resurrected to eternal life.
Jesus makes the literal and powerful claim to deity, “before Abraham came into existence, I am!” by quoting from the Book of Exodus and applying the same descriptive principle to Himself:
God said to Moses, “I AM that I AM.” And He said, “You must say this to the Israelites, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” God also said to Moses, “You must say this to the Israelites, ‘The Lord – the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob – has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial from generation to generation’” (Exod. 3:14,15).
Some believe that if one is born in to a Christian family they are, by default, in the family of God. Jesus clearly negates this. It is not who you are that is important, it is Whose you are.
Do you recall a time when Jesus succeeded in getting your attention, yet you resisted surrendering completely to Him?
If my slavery to sin condemns me, why would I resist the only way to find freedom? Is the delusion of independence from God really worth the risk of the loss of eternal life?
Ever realize that you were “chasing after the wind,” as Ecclesiastes describes it, by trying to draw meaning and purpose and value from the mere things of man and a world trapped in addiction and idolatry?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you where in your heart there is confusion or doubt about God and to bring you clarity and conviction.
Today I will pray, in agreement with another Believer, for someone who is trapped in confusion and doubt due to anti-Christian influences, false or sloppy teaching, or to an arrogant rebellious heart. I will ask the Holy Spirit to place in my heart faith where I have doubt.
Be Specific _____________________________________________
Healing a Man Born Blind
9:1 Now as Jesus was passing by, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. 9:2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who committed the sin that caused him to be born blind, this man or his parents?” 9:3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but he was born blind so that the acts of God may be revealed through what happens to him. 9:4 We must perform the deeds of the one who sent me as long as it is daytime. Night is coming when no one can work. 9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 9:6 Having said this, he spat on the ground and made some mud with the saliva. He smeared the mud on the blind man’s eyes 9:7 and said to him, “Go wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated “sent”). So the blind man went away and washed, and came back seeing.
9:8 Then the neighbors and the people who had seen him previously as a beggar began saying, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” 9:9 Some people said, “This is the man!” while others said, “No, but he looks like him.” The man himself kept insisting, “I am the one!” 9:10 So they asked him, “How then were you made to see?” 9:11 He replied, “The man called Jesus made mud, smeared it on my eyes and told me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed, and was able to see.” 9:12 They said to him, “Where is that man?” He replied, “I don’t know.”
The Pharisees’ Reaction to the Healing
9:13 They brought the man who used to be blind to the Pharisees. 9:14 (Now the day on which Jesus made the mud and caused him to see was a Sabbath.) 9:15 So the Pharisees asked him again how he had gained his sight. He replied, “He put mud on my eyes and I washed, and now I am able to see.”
9:16 Then some of the Pharisees began to say, “This man is not from God, because he does not observe the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such miraculous signs?” Thus there was a division among them. 9:17 So again they asked the man who used to be blind, “What do you say about him, since he caused you to see?” “He is a prophet,” the man replied.
9:18 Now the Jewish religious leaders refused to believe that he had really been blind and had gained his sight until at last they summoned the parents of the man who had become able to see. 9:19 They asked the parents, “Is this your son, whom you say was born blind? Then how does he now see?” 9:20 So his parents replied, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. 9:21 But we do not know how he is now able to see, nor do we know who caused him to see. Ask him, he is a mature adult. He will speak for himself.” 9:22 (His parents said these things because they were afraid of the Jewish religious leaders. For the Jewish leaders had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Christ would be put out of the synagogue. 9:23 For this reason his parents said, “He is a mature adult, ask him.”)
9:24 Then they summoned the man who used to be blind a second time and said to him, “Promise before God to tell the truth. We know that this man is a sinner.” 9:25 He replied, “I do not know whether he is a sinner. I do know one thing – that although I was blind, now I can see.” 9:26 Then they said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he cause you to see?” 9:27 He answered, “I told you already and you didn’t listen. Why do you want to hear it again? You people don’t want to become his disciples too, do you?”
9:28 They heaped insults on him, saying, “You are his disciple! We are disciples of Moses! 9:29 We know that God has spoken to Moses! We do not know where this man comes from!” 9:30 The man replied, “This is a remarkable thing, that you don’t know where he comes from, and yet he caused me to see! 9:31 We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but if anyone is devout and does his will, God listens to him. 9:32 Never before has anyone heard of someone causing a man born blind to see. 9:33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 9:34 They replied, “You were born completely in sinfulness, and yet you presume to teach us?” So they threw him out.
The Man’s Response to Jesus
9:35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, so he found the man and said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 9:36 The man replied, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” 9:37 Jesus told him, “You have seen him; he is the one speaking with you.” 9:38 [He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. 9:39 Jesus said,] “For judgment I have come into this world, so that those who do not see may gain their sight, and the ones who see may become blind.”
9:40 Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this and asked him, “We are not blind too, are we?” 9:41 Jesus replied, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin, but now because you claim that you can see, your guilt remains.”
Lord, You bring light to the places where those who reject You bring only darkness. With Your light shining on me, may I see You more clearly and worship You more dearly.
Jesus heals a man born blind, and uses it to create a teachable moment. He chooses to address the question, “who committed the sin that caused him to be born blind?” (John 9:2), by explaining that the man had been allowed to be born blind so that God could use his healing for a greater good, to reveal an act of God’s love.
[Note: The qualifier “so that the acts of God may be revealed” (vs. 3) does not imply that God caused his blindness. Also, note that this does not affirm the incorrect religious thinking of that time, which attributed such maladies to the parents or to the man himself; the latter being obviously foolish, since he was born blind. “This is only one example of how, in rabbinic Jewish thought, an unborn child was capable of sinning” (NET sn).]
The religious leaders want to be told who the man is who sinned by healing a man on the Sabbath, in violation of their religious tradition. They find and admonish him to “promise before God to tell the truth” (vs. 24). The man replies that he was blind and now he can see — “If this man [Jesus] were not from God, he could do nothing” (vs. 33).
Jesus finds the man and asks him, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” (vs. 35). After exchanging a few words with Him, the man worships Him and says “Lord, I believe” (vs. 38). [Note: The authenticity of the 9:38-39 passage is in doubt by Biblical scholars and therefore may not be included as one of the many decisive texts which testify to the divinity of Jesus. “Nevertheless...the included words may reflect a very early tradition about the blind man’s response to Jesus” (NET sn).]
The Pharisees hear Jesus describe His ministry as bringing sight to the blind and, rhetorically, blindness to those who claim sight. Some of the Pharisees object to this. Jesus reproaches their claim to be able to “see” (vs. 41) — knowledge makes one accountable and irredeemably guilty, unless he acknowledges his spiritual blindness.
What God sometimes allows is not necessarily what He prefers or ordains. God is perfect, and everything He creates and does is perfect. God is righteous and anything less is offensive to Him — therefore, He is not the author of unrighteousness.
Have you heard it suggested that a congenital condition is somehow God’s punishment for someone’s specific sin? (Consider reading the bibleseven.com Genesis 1 – 4 Studies for perspective on how the curse of the Fall impacts all of Creation (yesterday, today, and tomorrow).
How does the Holy Spirit of God, Who dwells within every Believer, respond to (and lead us to feeling convicted of) our sin?
Do you know someone who has heard of Jesus and claims to know the truth, yet has failed to surrender to His Lordship for salvation?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you someone for whom He wants you to pray that they will take the final step of complete surrender necessary for their salvation.
Today I will pray for someone who has heard of Jesus and who claims to “see” truth, but who has failed to surrender to His Lordship for salvation. I will remind them that Jesus says knowledge of Truth yet rebellious unbelief seals ones fate.
Be Specific ____________________________________________
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
18:10 “See that you do not disdain one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. 18:11 [[EMPTY]] 18:12 What do you think? If someone owns a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go look for the one that went astray? 18:13 And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. 18:14 In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that one of these little ones be lost.
Restoring Christian Relationships
18:15 “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault when the two of you are alone. If he listens to you, you have regained your brother. 18:16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others with you, so that at the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter may be established. 18:17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. If he refuses to listen to the church, treat him like a Gentile or a tax collector.
18:18 “I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven. 18:19 Again, I tell you the truth, if two of you on earth agree about whatever you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. 18:20 For where two or three are assembled in my name, I am there among them.”
18:21 Then Peter came to him and said, “Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother who sins against me? As many as seven times?” 18:22 Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, I tell you, but seventy-seven times!
The Parable of the Unforgiving Slave
18:23 “For this reason, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves. 18:24 As he began settling his accounts, a man who owed ten thousand talents was brought to him. 18:25 Because he was not able to repay it, the lord ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, children, and whatever he possessed, and repayment to be made. 18:26 Then the slave threw himself to the ground before him, saying, ‘Be patient with me, and I will repay you everything.’ 18:27 The lord had compassion on that slave and released him, and forgave him the debt. 18:28 After he went out, that same slave found one of his fellow slaves who owed him one hundred silver coins. So he grabbed him by the throat and started to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ 18:29 Then his fellow slave threw himself down and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will repay you.’ 18:30 But he refused. Instead, he went out and threw him in prison until he repaid the debt. 18:31 When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were very upset and went and told their lord everything that had taken place. 18:32 Then his lord called the first slave and said to him, ‘Evil slave! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me! 18:33 Should you not have shown mercy to your fellow slave, just as I showed it to you?’ 18:34 And in anger his lord turned him over to the prison guards to torture him until he repaid all he owed. 18:35 So also my heavenly Father will do to you, if each of you does not forgive your brother from your heart.”
Lord, You instruct us to be intentional in avoiding sin, in assisting fellow Believers who struggle with sin, and in forgiving of others. May I be found faithful in following Your commands.
The Parable of the Lost Sheep communicates the compassion of God, Who is “not willing that one of these little ones be lost” (Matt. 18:14). The term “little ones” has been interpreted in the following ways:
1. Literally, referring only to a special standing before God for young children — this narrow interpretation is not supported by the context.
2. Specifically, referring only to those given to Him by the Father (see John 10:28-29) — this interpretation is also too narrow for the text.
3. Universally, referring to all mankind lost after the Fall and then pursued by God for salvation — this is the broadest, most acceptable interpretation. It is God’s preferential will (not forced on man, but preferred for man), for all men to freely choose salvation; conversely, men have the freewill to not choose to be saved. The Good Shepherd seeks those who are lost and rejoices over those who are found.
Jesus addresses the restoration of damaged relationships between Christians: When one is seen living a sin, they are to be confronted “when the two of you are alone” (Matt. 18:15). If they remain unrepentant, then they are to be brought before others as “witnesses” (vs. 16); and, if still unrepentant, than brought before “the church” (vs. 17), a gathering of Believers. If he still refuses to listen, then the unrepentant one is to be ostracized.
[Note: Setting the tone, the purpose of the confrontation is to regain a fellow Believer; however, ostracism of the unrepentant one is merciful in that it serves as both pressure on the sinner to repent and also as a boundary to keep their rebellion from spreading to others.]
Jesus reminds Believers that He is “there among them” (vs. 20) when they gather, and that they have spiritual and earthly power when they pray in agreement with one another and in harmony with God’s will.
Peter questions the number of times a Believer must forgive a brother: “As many as seven times?” (vs. 21). Jesus replies “seventy times seven” and uses the Parable of the Unforgiving Slave to remind them that God’s forgiveness is predicated upon genuine repentance and to make the rhetorical point that Believers are to extend maximum grace to fellow Believers. In His parable, the unforgiving slave was selfish in accepting forgiveness of his massive obligations, yet failing to forgive another’s relatively small obligation to him.
God, despite being rejected and disrespected for thousands of years, continues to desire a loving relationship with His children. Observe how the Biblical confrontation of a fellow Believer with their sin, toward the goal of redemption, is in actuality a gift of love to them.
Consider how the power that Jesus shares with His children, when they pray in agreement with Him and with one another, may bring healing among Believers.
Have you experienced the conviction of the Holy Spirit when, after you have been forgiven multiple times for the same offense against a brother or sister in Christ, you are slow to forgive them?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a brother or sister in Christ for whom He wants you to pray for restored fellowship with.
I will pray with another Christian for a fellow Believer, one who has already been confronted personally, to repent of their sin and turn to God. We will commit to following the Biblical process and, if they remain unrepentant, we will take them before church leadership.
Be Specific ____________________________________________
The Mission of the Seventy-Two
10:1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him two by two into every town and place where he himself was about to go. 10:2 He said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest. 10:3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs surrounded by wolves. 10:4 Do not carry a money bag, a traveler’s bag, or sandals, and greet no one on the road. 10:5 Whenever you enter a house, first say, ‘May peace be on this house!’ 10:6 And if a peace-loving person is there, your peace will remain on him, but if not, it will return to you. 10:7 Stay in that same house, eating and drinking what they give you, for the worker deserves his pay. Do not move around from house to house. 10:8 Whenever you enter a town and the people welcome you, eat what is set before you. 10:9 Heal the sick in that town and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come upon you!’ 10:10 But whenever you enter a town and the people do not welcome you, go into its streets and say, 10:11 ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this: The kingdom of God has come.’ 10:12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town!
10:13 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles done in you had been done 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 in the judgment than for you! 10:15 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be thrown down to Hades!
10:16 “The one who listens to you listens to me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”
10:17 Then the seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name!” 10:18 So he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 10:19 Look, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions and on the full force of the enemy, and nothing will hurt you. 10:20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names stand written in heaven.”
10:21 On that same occasion Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your gracious will. 10:22 All things have been given to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son decides to reveal him.”
10:23 Then Jesus 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 longed 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 Now an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus, saying, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 10:26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you understand it?” 10:27 The expert answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.” 10:28 Jesus said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
10:29 But the expert, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 10:30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him up, and went off, leaving him half dead. 10:31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, but when he saw the injured man he passed by on the other side. 10:32 So too a Levite, when he came up to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 10:33 But a Samaritan who was traveling came to where the injured man was, and when he saw him, he felt compassion for him. 10:34 He went up to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought 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, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever else you spend, I will repay you when I come back this way.’ 10:36 Which of these three do you think became a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” 10:37 The expert in religious law said, “The one who showed mercy to him.” So Jesus said to him, “Go and do the same.”
Jesus and Martha
10:38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him as a guest. 10:39 She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he said. 10:40 But Martha was distracted with all the preparations she had to make, so she came up to him and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do all the work alone? Tell her to help me.” 10:41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things, 10:42 but one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the best part; it will not be taken away from her.”
Lord, You send us out to serve in Your power and for Your ministry. May I never forget my role as Your servant and Your instrument.
The mission of the seventy-two disciples, commissioned and sent by Jesus, parallels His earlier sending of the twelve disciples in many ways. Notable is Jesus’ statement, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven” (Luke 10:18), a rhetorical reference to the Prince of this world’s status challenged by his loss of many demons who now submit to the seventy two in Jesus’ name.
The Parable of the Good Samaritan is primarily a tool Jesus uses to challenge a self-righteous religious leader to live out his claim to love God rather than to merely mouth it. The context is Jesus’ challenge that the “expert in religious law” (vs. 25) will inherit eternal life when he truly practices “love the Lord your God” (vs. 27), and with all that is meant to imply. The parable visualizes putting theory into practice and leaves the religious leader no rational escape from the truth.
Jesus visits the home of Martha and Mary, where the worried Martha challenges Jesus to chastise her sister Mary for not being equally worried about worldly priorities. He responds that, while Martha worries about many things, “Mary has chosen the best part” (vs. 42) — listening to His Truths — and He is blessing her wise choice.
Does Satan fall like lightning from Heaven when you go into the world in the name and power of Jesus?
Have you experienced a fellowship of self-identified Christians who have a tendency to ‘talk the talk’ rather than ‘walk the walk’?
Do the things of the world often tug at your attention, energy, resources, and time? Do they distract you from the critical priority of knowing, loving, and serving God?
When have you been tempted to displace the priorities of God for the priorities of man. Why did you respond as you did and what resulted?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal both where you have been faithful and where you may be a better steward of your resources and time.
Today I will reflect, as I go from ‘village to village in the name of the Lord’, on where or if I challenge evil, stand with Christ, and speak God’s truth and light in to the darkness.
I will look for ways to better my usefulness to God’s work by making ruthless assessment of my stewardship of attention, energy, resources, and time. Based on what my assessment reveals, I will commit to make at least one change toward the goal of a better life-style stewardship.
Be Specific ____________________________________________
Instructions on Prayer
11:1 Now Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he stopped, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” 11:2 So he said to them, “When you pray, say:
Father, may your name be honored; may your kingdom come.
11:3 Give us each day our daily bread,
11:4 and forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And do not lead us into temptation.”
11:5 Then he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 11:6 because a friend of mine has stopped here while on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him.’ 11:7 Then he will reply from inside, ‘Do not bother me. The door is already shut, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything.’ 11:8 I tell you, even though the man inside will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of the first man’s sheer persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.
11:9 “So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 11:10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 11:11 What father among you, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? 11:12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 11:13 If you then, although you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Jesus and Beelzebul
11:14 Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the man who had been mute began to speak, and the crowds were amazed. 11:15 But some of them said, “By the power of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons, he casts out demons.” 11:16 Others, to test him, began asking for a sign from heaven. 11:17 But Jesus, realizing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is destroyed, and a divided household falls. 11:18 So if Satan too is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? I ask you this because you claim that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. 11:19 Now if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 11:20 But if I cast out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has already overtaken you. 11:21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his possessions are safe. 11:22 But when a stronger man attacks and conquers him, he takes away the first man’s armor on which the man relied and divides up his plunder. 11:23 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
Response to Jesus’ Work
11:24 “When an unclean spirit goes out of a person, it passes through waterless places looking for rest but not finding any. Then it says, ‘I will return to the home I left.’ 11:25 When it returns, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. 11:26 Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there, so the last state of that person is worse than the first.”
11:27 As he said these things, a woman in the crowd spoke out to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts at which you nursed!” 11:28 But he replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it!”
The Sign of Jonah
11:29 As the crowds were increasing, Jesus began to say, “This generation is a wicked generation; it looks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. 11:30 For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be a sign to this generation. 11:31 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon – and now, something greater than Solomon is here! 11:32 The people of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented when Jonah preached to them – and now, something greater than Jonah is here!
Internal Light
11:33 “No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a hidden place or under a basket, but on a lampstand, so that those who come in can see the light. 11:34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is diseased, your body is full of darkness. 11:35 Therefore see to it that the light in you is not darkness. 11:36 If then your whole body is full of light, with no part in the dark, it will be as full of light as when the light of a lamp shines on you.”
Rebuking the Pharisees and Experts in the Law
11:37 As he spoke, a Pharisee invited Jesus to have a meal with him, so he went in and took his place at the table. 11:38 The Pharisee was astonished when he saw that Jesus did not first wash his hands before the meal. 11:39 But the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. 11:40 You fools! Didn’t the one who made the outside make the inside as well? 11:41 But give from your heart to those in need, and then everything will be clean for you.
11:42 “But woe to you Pharisees! You give a tenth of your mint, rue, and every herb, yet you neglect justice and love for God! But you should have done these things without neglecting the others. 11:43 Woe to you Pharisees! You love the best seats in the synagogues and elaborate greetings in the marketplaces! 11:44 Woe to you! You are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without realizing it!”
11:45 One of the experts in religious law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things you insult us too.” 11:46 But Jesus replied, “Woe to you experts in religious law as well! You load people down with burdens difficult to bear, yet you yourselves refuse to touch the burdens with even one of your fingers! 11:47 Woe to you! You build the tombs of the prophets whom your ancestors killed. 11:48 So you testify that you approve of the deeds of your ancestors, because they killed the prophets and you build their tombs! 11:49 For this reason also the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,’ 11:50 so that this generation may be held accountable for the blood of all the prophets that 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, it will be charged against this generation. 11:52 Woe to you experts in religious law! You have taken away the key to knowledge! You did not go in yourselves, and you hindered those who were going in.”
11:53 When he went out from there, the experts in the law and the Pharisees began to oppose him bitterly, and to ask him hostile questions about many things, 11:54 plotting against him, to catch him in something he might say.
Fear God, Not People
12:1 Meanwhile, when many thousands of the crowd had gathered so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 12:2 Nothing is hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing is secret that will not be made known. 12:3 So then whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms will be proclaimed from the housetops.
12:4 “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more they can do. 12:5 But I will warn you whom you should fear: Fear the one who, after the killing, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! 12:6 Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. 12:7 In fact, even the hairs on your head are all numbered. Do not be afraid; you are more valuable than many sparrows.
12:8 “I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before God’s angels. 12:9 But the one who denies me before men will be denied before God’s angels. 12:10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the person who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 12:11 But when they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, do not worry about how you should make your defense or what you should say, 12:12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you must say.”
Lord, we are responsible for having integrity in our relationship with You and in our relationship with others. May I be found faithful.
Jesus is praying, and His disciples ask Him for guidance in their prayer life. He offers a prayer outline, which is traditionally known as The Lords’ Prayer, to illustrate “how they are to approach God, by acknowledging His uniqueness and their need” (NET sn). He encourages them to pray with assertiveness. His words “give him whatever he needs” (Luke 11:8) and “give good gifts to your children” (vs. 13) indicate ones prayer requests must be for the common good of both self and others, as defined by God the Father.
Jesus is accused of fighting His fellow demons by using the power of “the ruler of demons” (11:15). He replies that He overpowers with “the finger of God” (vs. 20), which infers that the Kingdom of God is in Him and present, despite the temporary reality that Satan is the prince of this world. He reminds that there are two sides in spiritual battle: The stronger One is He Who wins over the Enemy and “divides up his plunder” (vs. 22), that which he once relied on and claimed as his.
Merely casting out a demon is insufficient, Jesus cautions, as he will return with more like himself — therefore, one must welcome God in to fill the spiritual vacuum. He clarifies this with instruction on how best to fill the void — “hear the Word of God and obey it” (11:28).
Jesus teaches about wisdom and repentance, reminding that the queen of the South traveled a great distance for God’s wisdom and even Nineveh repented when confronted with truth. He warns that both of their testimonies are in stark contrast to “this generation” (11:31), those who reject Jesus, and that the Ninevites will “stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it” (vs. 32).
Jesus reminds that both physical and spiritual light are to be shared, not hidden “under a basket” (vs. 33), so that others can see the light.
Challenging the “experts in religious law” (vs. 45), those who claim to speak for God yet reject Him, Jesus admonishes that God will hold them accountable for killing and persecuting past prophets. “You have taken away the key to knowledge is another stinging rebuke. They had done the opposite of what they were trying to do” (NET sn).
Jesus warns his disciples to fear God not man — persistent rejection of Jesus, which blasphemes the testimony of the Holy Spirit (He Who convicts that Christ is the Way to gain ones salvation), “will not be forgiven” (12:10) and guarantees an afterlife in Hell.
Jesus encourages His followers to wait on the Holy Spirit to give the strength, wisdom, and words needed “to make your defense” (vs. 11) when they are brought before the authorities or confronted by corrupt religious leaders.
Do people consider us persons of prayer, someone whom new or immature Believers would ask for guidance on how to pray? Would we know how to guide them?
Do we pursue truth like the queen of the South and respond in repentance like the people of Nineveh?
Do our prayers reflect the content and priorities of Jesus’ instruction on how to approach God in prayer?
Recall a situation wherein someone was freed from spiritual harassment through the prayer of his brother or sister in Christ, but was then not offered follow-up discipleship, so things eventually became worse.
Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into a deeper investment from the heart in your prayer life.
Today I will pray as Jesus taught, choosing to make my prayer genuine and exercising maximum faith when God answers, no matter the possible risk I see in responding as He tells me.
Be Specific _____________________________________________
Jesus as the Good Shepherd
10:1 “I tell you the solemn truth, the one who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber. 10:2 The one who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 10:3 The doorkeeper opens the door for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 10:4 When he has brought all his own sheep out, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they recognize his voice. 10:5 They will never follow a stranger, but will run away from him, because they do not recognize the stranger’s voice.” 10:6 Jesus told them this parable, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
10:7 So Jesus said to them again, “I tell you the solemn truth, I am the door for the sheep. 10:8 All who came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 10:9 I am the door. If anyone enters through me, he will be saved, and will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.
10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 10:12 The hired hand, who is not a shepherd and does not own sheep, sees the wolf coming and abandons the sheep and runs away. So the wolf attacks the sheep and scatters them. 10:13 Because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep, he runs away.
10:14 “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me – 10:15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – and I lay down my life for the sheep. 10:16 I have other sheep that do not come from this sheepfold. I must bring them too, and they will listen to my voice, so that there will be one flock and one shepherd. 10:17 This is why the Father loves me – because I lay down my life, so that I may take it back again. 10:18 No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down of my own free will. I have the authority to lay it down, and I have the authority to take it back again. This commandment I received from my Father.”
10:19 Another sharp division took place among the Jewish people because of these words. 10:20 Many of them were saying, “He is possessed by a demon and has lost his mind! Why do you listen to him?” 10:21 Others said, “These are not the words of someone possessed by a demon. A demon cannot cause the blind to see, can it?”
Jesus at the Feast of Dedication
10:22 Then came the feast of the Dedication in Jerusalem. 10:23 It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple area in Solomon’s Portico. 10:24 The Jewish leaders surrounded him and asked, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 10:25 Jesus replied, “I told you and you do not believe. The deeds I do in my Father’s name testify about me. 10:26 But you refuse to believe because you are not my sheep. 10:27 My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 10:28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; no one will snatch them from my hand. 10:29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can snatch them from my Father’s hand. 10:30 The Father and I are one.”
10:31 The Jewish leaders picked up rocks again to stone him to death. 10:32 Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good deeds from the Father. For which one of them are you going to stone me?” 10:33 The Jewish leaders replied, “We are not going to stone you for a good deed but for blasphemy, because you, a man, are claiming to be God.”
10:34 Jesus answered, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods’? 10:35 If those people to whom the word of God came were called ‘gods’ (and the scripture cannot be broken), 10:36 do you say about the one whom the Father set apart and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? 10:37 If I do not perform the deeds of my Father, do not believe me. 10:38 But if I do them, even if you do not believe me, believe the deeds, so that you may come to know and understand that I am in the Father and the Father is in me.” 10:39 Then they attempted again to seize him, but he escaped their clutches.
10:40 Jesus went back across the Jordan River again to the place where John had been baptizing at an earlier time, and he stayed there. 10:41 Many came to him and began to say, “John performed no miraculous sign, but everything John said about this man was true!” 10:42 And many believed in Jesus there.
Lord, because faith in You is the only way that one may be reconciled to God, may I never forget what You have done for me, and may I seek to be generous in sharing that truth with others.
Using the image of the Good Shepherd, Jesus illustrates Himself as One Who cares, shares, sacrifices, and defends. He reminds that He has the authority to lay down His life and “take it back again” (10:18). Those whom He will save by sacrificing Himself are not only Jews but also “other sheep that do not come from this sheepfold” (vs. 16).
At the Feast of Dedication the religious leaders challenge Jesus, “if You are the Christ, tell us plainly” (10:24, italics added), laying a trap to convict Him. But Jesus points out that He has already fulfilled many prophesies, done many miracles, and said what needed to be said — all sufficient evidence for Him to be recognized by those open to Truth.
Jesus once again declares His divinity when saying, “The Father and I are One” (vs. 30) — He speaks of not merely being One in intimate fellowship and agreement with, but One in essence with, God. The religious leaders, incited by His claim, take up rocks “to stone Him to death” (vs. 31). Jesus reminds them that religious judges often were treated as “gods” (vs. 34) because they spoke for God in exercising their judgment. And since His deeds prove that He is set apart and sent by God, why would He not be justified in a more elevated title and be known as “the Son of God” (vs. 36)?
The religious leaders attempt to seize Him, but Jesus “escaped their clutches” (vs. 39) and moves on to where John had baptized many. He accepts the worship of many new Believers there — worship, it is important to note, only permitted to be given to or received by God.
Jesus challenged the self-importance of the Jews, who imagined themselves the exclusive people of God. He also accepted their worship, again affirming His deity.
Are we as willing to lay down our life for Jesus as He was for us?
Reflect
God, in the person of Jesus, shepherds His sheep. The Good Shepherd cares, shares, protects, sacrifices, and defends us.
When did you, prior to salvation, recognize the legitimacy of Jesus as God and your need for a Savior, yet you still resisted acknowledging and surrendering your life to Him?
Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you that He is your Shepherd, and then choose to follow Him in all things, at all times, and in all ways.
Today I choose to take some time to acknowledge the many ways that Jesus has been my Shepherd in caring, protecting, sacrificing, and defending me. I will celebrate these stories with a fellow Believer.
Be Specific _____________________________________________
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2012 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study –”The Chronological Gospels” – “Week 8 of 12” - prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in July of 2012. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
The Parable of the Rich Landowner
12:13 Then someone from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 12:14 But Jesus said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator between you two?” 12:15 Then he said to them, “Watch out and guard yourself from all types of greed, because one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 12:16 He then told them a parable: “The land of a certain rich man produced an abundant crop, 12:17 so he thought to himself, ‘What should I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 12:18 Then he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 12:19 And I will say to myself, “You have plenty of goods stored up for many years; relax, eat, drink, celebrate!”‘ 12:20 But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded back from you, but who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ 12:21 So it is with the one who stores up riches for himself, but is not rich toward God.”
Exhortation Not to Worry
12:22 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. 12:23 For there is more to life than food, and more to the body than clothing. 12:24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn, yet God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than the birds! 12:25 And which of you by worrying can add an hour to his life? 12:26 So if you cannot do such a very little thing as this, why do you worry about the rest? 12:27 Consider how the flowers grow; they do not work or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these! 12:28 And if this is how God clothes the wild grass, which is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven, how much more will he clothe you, you people of little faith! 12:29 So do not be overly concerned about what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not worry about such things. 12:30 For all the nations of the world pursue these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 12:31 Instead, pursue his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
12:32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is well pleased to give you the kingdom. 12:33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves purses that do not wear out – a treasure in heaven that never decreases, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 12:34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Call to Faithful Stewardship
12:35 “Get dressed for service and keep your lamps burning; 12:36 be like people waiting for their master to come back from the wedding celebration, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 12:37 Blessed are those slaves whom their master finds alert when he returns! I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, have them take their place at the table, and will come and wait on them! 12:38 Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night and finds them alert, blessed are those slaves! 12:39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 12:40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
12:41 Then Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?” 12:42 The Lord replied, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his household servants, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? 12:43 Blessed is that slave whom his master finds at work when he returns. 12:44 I tell you the truth, the master will put him in charge of all his possessions. 12:45 But if that slave should say to himself, ‘My master is delayed in returning,’ and he begins to beat the other slaves, both men and women, and to eat, drink, and get drunk, 12:46 then the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not foresee, and will cut him in two, and assign him a place with the unfaithful. 12:47 That servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or do what his master asked will receive a severe beating. 12:48 But the one who did not know his master’s will and did things worthy of punishment will receive a light beating. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required, and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be asked.
Not Peace, but Division
12:49 “I have come to bring fire on the earth – and how I wish it were already kindled! 12:50 I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is finished! 12:51 Do you think I have come to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! 12:52 For from now on there will be five in one household divided, three against two and two against three. 12:53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
Reading the Signs
12:54 Jesus also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A rainstorm is coming,’ and it does. 12:55 And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and there is. 12:56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but how can you not know how to interpret the present time?
Clear the Debts
12:57 “And why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 12:58 As you are going with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, so that he will not drag you before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 12:59 I tell you, you will never get out of there until you have paid the very last cent!”
A Call to Repent
13:1 Now there were some present on that occasion who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 13:2 He answered them, “Do you think these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered these things? 13:3 No, I tell you! But unless you repent, you will all perish as well! 13:4 Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower in Siloam fell on them, do you think they were worse offenders than all the others who live in Jerusalem? 13:5 No, I tell you! But unless you repent you will all perish as well!”
Warning to Israel to Bear Fruit
13:6 Then Jesus told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. 13:7 So he said to the worker who tended the vineyard, ‘For three years now, I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and each time I inspect it I find none. Cut it down! Why should it continue to deplete the soil?’ 13:8 But the worker answered him, ‘Sir, leave it alone this year too, until I dig around it and put fertilizer on it. 13:9 Then if it bears fruit next year, very well, but if not, you can cut it down.’”
Healing on the Sabbath
13:10 Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath, 13:11 and a woman was there who had been disabled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten herself up completely. 13:12 When Jesus saw her, he called her to him and said, “Woman, you are freed from your infirmity.” 13:13 Then he placed his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God. 13:14 But the president of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the crowd, “There are six days on which work should be done! So come and be healed on those days, and not on the Sabbath day.” 13:15 Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from its stall, and lead it to water? 13:16 Then shouldn’t this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be released from this imprisonment on the Sabbath day?” 13:17 When he said this all his adversaries were humiliated, but the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things he was doing.
On the Kingdom of God
13:18 Thus Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? To what should I compare it? 13:19 It is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the wild birds nested in its branches.”
13:20 Again he said, “To what should I compare the kingdom of God? 13:21 It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of flour until all the dough had risen.”
The Narrow Door
13:22 Then Jesus traveled throughout towns and villages, teaching and making his way toward Jerusalem. 13:23 Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” So he said to them, 13:24 “Exert 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 head of the house gets up and shuts the door, then you will stand outside and start to knock on the door and beg him, ‘Lord, let us in!’ But he will answer you, ‘I don’t know where you come from.’ 13:26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 13:27 But he will reply, ‘I don’t know where you come from! Go away from me, all you evildoers!’ 13:28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves thrown out. 13:29 Then people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and take their places at the banquet table in the kingdom of God. 13:30 But indeed, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”
Going to Jerusalem
13:31 At that time, some Pharisees came up and said to Jesus, “Get away from here, because Herod wants to kill you.” 13:32 But he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Look, I am casting out demons and performing healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will complete my work. 13:33 Nevertheless I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the next day, because it is impossible that a prophet should be killed outside Jerusalem.’ 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would have none of it! 13:35 Look, your house is forsaken! And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
Lord, those inclined toward truth will always recognize You, and those stiff-necked will resist truth and deny You. May I be found inclined toward truth, that You may teach and transform me.
A man who is worried that he is not getting as much from the estate of his father as is his brother challenges Jesus to intervene. Rebuking him with a warning to “guard yourself from all types of greed” (Luke 12:15), Jesus uses a parable to illustrate that ones priority must be “rich toward God” (vs. 21), not in storing up possessions for oneself.
Comforting His disciples to not be “overly concerned about what you will eat...and drink” (vs. 29), Jesus reminds them that if they would instead “pursue His Kingdom” (vs. 31), their Father in Heaven will meet all their lesser needs.
Jesus utilizes a combative-natured parable in His teaching on faithful stewardship and challenges that we should always be “dressed for service” (12:35), ready at the Master’s call. When asked by Peter if He is sharing this parable “for us or for everyone?” (vs. 41), Jesus answers, essentially, all Believers and describes severe consequences for a deliberately neglectful and rebellious “servant who knew his masters will but did not get ready” (vs. 47).
From those who have been given much, and who know and do their master’s will, “much will be required” (12:48).
“‘I have come to bring fire on the earth’ looks to the purging and division Jesus causes” (NET sn) and states the mission of His ministry. He longs for that day of refining fire, wishing it were “already kindled” (12:49). Jesus warns that when some but not all accept Him, there will be resultant conflict within households. Jesus does not look forward to the “baptism” (vs. 50) He will willingly suffer — rejection, persecution, and ultimately crucifixion — or to the “division” (vs. 51) it will cause in families — dissention and hostility).
Challenging the crowds following Him that their discernment of physical things, such as “a cloud rising in the west” (12:54), is good, Jesus reprimands that they lack discernment of spiritual things and “how to interpret the present time” (vs. 56).
Jesus cautions a Believer not to drag a fellow Believer before an unsaved official in the government, lest the accuser be accused of something as well. Rather, His counsel is for a Believer to “make an effort to settle” (12:58) with his accuser.
Jesus calls upon all to repent of their rebellion against the Lord God, no matter the circumstances surrounding their rebellion. One must repent of having denied God Lordship in their lives — “unless you repent, you will all perish” (13:3).
Jesus uses the parable of a fig tree to illustrate His expectation that Israel must bear fruit else be abandoned by God. He offers the “fertilizer” (13:8) of His ministry and teaching, but if they refuse to accept their Messiah’s care and pruning, “enough time has been given to expect fruit” (NET sn), and they are fit only to be cut down.
Jesus heals a woman on the Sabbath, which creates a teachable moment. The arrogant and legalistic religious leaders condemn Him for violating their no-work-on-the-Sabbath rule. Jesus challenges that they water their donkeys on the Sabbath, yet condemn Him for healing a woman—freeing a person from the bondage of infirmity on the Sabbath is improper “work” (13:14), but watering their animals is not? “You hypocrites!” (13:15), Jesus declares.
Jesus compares the Kingdom of God to a “mustard seed” (13:19) from which a tree (the Church) grows and becomes attractive to and a nesting place for many birds (new Believers). He likens the Kingdom of God to a small amount of yeast (faith) mixed with flour (the world) until “all the dough had risen” (13:21) — “the kingdom of God will start small but eventually grow to permeate everything” (NET sn).
Jesus warns the Jews to make a decision for Him before the opportunity, also made to non-Jews, passes them by — “Many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to” (13:24). He closes with a plea to Jerusalem (rhetorically, all Believers): “How often I have longed to gather your children together…but you would have none of it!” (13:34), and thus they condemn themselves. “Jesus, like a lamenting prophet, speaks for God here, who longed to care tenderly for Israel and protect her” (NET sn).
Do the things about which we worry sometimes become more important to us than the things of God? How is our day-to-day life attractive to the unsaved, so that the Holy Spirit uses us to draw and disciple many and grow the Kingdom?
Why do we Christians sometimes entrust the resolution of matters of conflict between two Believers to an unbeliever? When have you worried about something so much that it interfered with your relationship with others and with the Lord God?
Ask the Holy Spirit to make you aware of at least one circumstance, need, relationship, or want about which you worry.
Today I will confess at least one thing about which I worry and surrender that to the Lord. I will ask a fellow Believer to pray in agreement with me for the strength to not revisit that concern, thereby being free to serve and be a good witness in the world.
Be Specific ____________________________________________
Healing Again on the Sabbath
14:1 Now one Sabbath when Jesus went to dine at the house of a leader of the Pharisees, they were watching him closely. 14:2 There right in front of him was a man suffering from dropsy. 14:3 So Jesus asked the experts in religious law and the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” 14:4 But they remained silent. So Jesus took hold of the man, healed him, and sent him away. 14:5 Then he said to them, “Which of you, if you have a son or an ox that has fallen into a well on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?” 14:6 But they could not reply to this.
On Seeking Seats of Honor
14:7 Then when Jesus noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. He said to them, 14:8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, because a person more distinguished than you may have been invited by your host. 14:9 So the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this man your place.’ Then, ashamed, you will begin to move to the least important place. 14:10 But when you are invited, go and take the least important place, so that when your host approaches he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up here to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who share the meal with you. 14:11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
14:12 He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you host a dinner or a banquet, don’t invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors so you can be invited by them in return and get repaid. 14:13 But when you host an elaborate meal, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14:14 Then you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
The Parable of the Great Banquet
14:15 When one of those at the meal with Jesus heard this, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will feast in the kingdom of God!” 14:16 But Jesus said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many guests. 14:17 At the time for the banquet he sent his slave to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, because everything is now ready.’ 14:18 But one after another they all began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please excuse me.’ 14:19 Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going out to examine them. Please excuse me.’ 14:20 Another said, ‘I just got married, and I cannot come.’ 14:21 So the slave came back and reported this to his master. Then the master of the household was furious and said to his slave, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ 14:22 Then the slave said, ‘Sir, what you instructed has been done, and there is still room.’ 14:23 So the master said to his slave, ‘Go out to the highways and country roads and urge people to come in, so that my house will be filled. 14:24 For I tell you, not one of those individuals who were invited will taste my banquet!’”
Counting the Cost
14:25 Now large crowds were accompanying Jesus, and turning to them he said, 14:26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, and wife and children, and brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 14:27 Whoever does not carry his own cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. 14:28 For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn’t sit down first and compute the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? 14:29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish the tower, all who see it will begin to make fun of him. 14:30 They will say, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish!’ 14:31 Or what king, going out to confront another king in battle, will not sit down first and determine whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 14:32 If he cannot succeed, he will send a representative while the other is still a long way off and ask for terms of peace. 14:33 In the same way therefore not one of you can be my disciple if he does not renounce all his own possessions.
14:34 “Salt is good, but if salt loses its flavor, how can its flavor be restored? 14:35 It is of no value for the soil or for the manure pile; it is to be thrown out. The one who has ears to hear had better listen!”
The Parable of the Lost Sheep and Coin
15:1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming to hear him. 15:2 But the Pharisees and the experts in the law were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
15:3 So Jesus told them this parable: 15:4 “Which one of you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go look for the one that is lost until he finds it? 15:5 Then when he has found it, he places it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 15:6 Returning home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, telling them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 15:7 I tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to repent.
15:8 “Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search thoroughly until she finds it? 15:9 Then when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 15:10 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”
The Parable of the Compassionate Father
15:11 Then Jesus said, “A man had two sons. 15:12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that will belong to me.’ So he divided his assets between them. 15:13 After a few days, the younger son gathered together all he had and left on a journey to a distant country, and there he squandered his wealth with a wild lifestyle. 15:14 Then after he had spent everything, a severe famine took place in that country, and he began to be in need. 15:15 So he went and worked for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 15:16 He was longing to eat the carob pods the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 15:17 But when he came to his senses he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have food enough to spare, but here I am dying from hunger! 15:18 I will get up and go 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; treat me like one of your hired workers.”‘ 15:20 So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way from home his father saw him, and his heart went out to him; he ran and hugged his son and kissed him. 15:21 Then his son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 15:22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Hurry! Bring the best robe, and put it on him! Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet! 15:23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it! Let us eat and celebrate, 15:24 because this son of mine was dead, and is alive again – he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.
15:25 “Now his older son was in the field. As he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 15:26 So he called one of the slaves and asked what was happening. 15:27 The slave replied, ‘Your brother has returned, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he got his son back safe and sound.’ 15:28 But the older son became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and appealed to him, 15:29 but he answered his father, ‘Look! These many years I have worked like a slave for you, and I never disobeyed your commands. Yet you never gave me even a goat so that I could celebrate with my friends! 15:30 But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your assets with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 15:31 Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and everything that belongs to me is yours. 15:32 It was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost and is found.’”
Lord, You have made Yourself known to me and Your priorities clear. May I use the wisdom I receive from the Holy Spirit to recognize You in my world and to make Your priorities my priority.
Jesus heals on the Sabbath and, when challenged by the religious leaders, asks them, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” (14:3); but they remain silent. [Note that the religious experts remaining silent, “along with the presence of power working through Jesus, serves to indicate endorsement of his work and message” (NET sn).]
Jesus challenges the religious leaders to be humble and to illustrate humility by taking seats of lesser importance, inviting the needy to their special events, and being genuine in their caring. He notes that those who are humble and care for the needy will be “repaid [acknowledged by God] at the resurrection of the righteous” (14:14), the corollary being that the arrogant and selfish will not.
In the Parable of the Great Banquet, Jesus makes note that the nation of Israel (those on the initial guest list) refuses to respond to His invitation (for salvation), so He invites anyone and everyone “to come in, so that My house will be filled” (14:23) — those who refuse His invitation suffer the consequences. He warns Believers that when we make excuses for living too much in the world — neglecting our time in His Word, failing to pray, missing fellowship and worship — then we are missing the banquet of blessing He has set before us.
Jesus challenges those who might follow Him to “compute [count] the cost” (14:28) in carrying the cross of discipleship. He reminds that they need to be prepared to lose everything in the world, voluntarily abandon it all, as a condition of true salvation and to allow Him to choose what He restores to them.
Jesus shares the Parable of the Lost Sheep and Coin to make the point that God cares about each unique person first lost, then found and saved from sin — there is “joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents” (15:10).
The Parable of the Compassionate Father, also known as the parable of the prodigal son, focuses on the father (God) and not the son (rebellious man). Despite the horrific selfishness of a son wishing his father an early death so that he could have his inheritance, and the son’s demeaning sinful waste of those resources, the father humbles himself and “ran and hugged his son” (15:20). The father celebrates his son’s return home. The elder son is jealous of the younger son’s joyful acceptance by the father: God does not reward only those who come to Him easily, He celebrates those who come down a more difficult road.
The Lord God, Who humbled Himself to come in the form of man so that He could redeem humankind, continues to love and offer redemption, despite thousands of years of man’s disrespect and wasted resources. How may traditional gatherings of Believers (with buildings, staff, budgets, and traditions) unintentionally breed competition for title and position or encourage adulation and opportunistic behavior?
Jesus affirms the general nature of God’s invitation to salvation: there are no favorites or undue respect given in regards to a predetermined list of names, family lines, gender, or denomination. All are invited, yet each one must choose to accept the invitation. Does the way that you present the message of salvation to others include the clear understanding that everything, including ones free will, must be surrendered for their salvation to be genuine?
Ask the Holy Spirit to search you for any place where you are holding back anything from His Lordship.
Today I will pause to celebrate a loving God Who, despite a Creation in rebellion against its Creator, loves us so much that He chooses to forgive and welcome us Home. I will seek to surrender what I am holding back from His Lordship, understanding that everything I have and everything I am belongs to Him.
Be Specific ____________________________________________
The Parable of the Clever Steward
16:1 Jesus also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who was informed of accusations that his manager was wasting his assets. 16:2 So he called the manager in and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Turn in the account of your administration, because you can no longer be my manager.’ 16:3 Then the manager said to himself, ‘What should I do, since my master is taking my position away from me? I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m too ashamed to beg. 16:4 I know what to do so that when I am put out of management, people will welcome me into their homes.’ 16:5 So he contacted his master’s debtors one by one. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 16:6 The man replied, ‘A hundred measures of olive oil.’ The manager said to him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and write fifty.’ 16:7 Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ The second man replied, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ The manager said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ 16:8 The master commended the dishonest manager because he acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their contemporaries than the people of light. 16:9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by how you use worldly wealth, so that when it runs out you will be welcomed into the eternal homes.
16:10 “The one who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and the one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. 16:11 If then you haven’t been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will entrust you with the true riches? 16:12 And if you haven’t been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you your own? 16:13 No servant can serve two masters, for 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 God and money.”
More Warnings about the Pharisees
16:14 The Pharisees (who loved money) heard all this and ridiculed him. 16:15 But Jesus said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in men’s eyes, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly prized among men is utterly detestable in God’s sight.
16:16 “The law and the prophets were in force until John; since then, the good news of the kingdom of God has been proclaimed, and everyone is urged to enter it. 16:17 But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tiny stroke of a letter in the law to become void.
16:18 “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery, and the one who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.
The Rich Man and Lazarus
16:19 “There was a rich man who dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 16:20 But at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus whose body was covered with sores, 16:21 who longed to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. In addition, the dogs came and licked his sores.
16:22 “Now the poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 16:23 And in hell, as he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far off with Lazarus at his side. 16:24 So he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in anguish in this fire.’ 16:25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things and Lazarus likewise bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in anguish. 16:26 Besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us, so that those who want to cross over from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.’ 16:27 So the rich man said, ‘Then I beg you, father – send Lazarus to my father’s house 16:28 (for I have five brothers) to warn them so that they don’t come into this place of torment.’ 16:29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they must respond to them.’ 16:30 Then the rich man said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 16:31 He replied to him, ‘If they do not respond to Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
Sin, Forgiveness, Faith, and Service
17:1 Jesus said to his disciples, “Stumbling blocks are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! 17:2 It would be better for him to have a millstone tied around his neck and be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. 17:3 Watch yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him. 17:4 Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to you saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
17:5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 17:6 So the Lord replied, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this black mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled out by the roots and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
17:7 “Would any one of you say to your slave who comes in from the field after plowing or shepherding sheep, ‘Come at once and sit down for a meal’? 17:8 Won’t the master instead say to him, ‘Get my dinner ready, and make yourself ready to serve me while I eat and drink. Then you may eat and drink’? 17:9 He won’t thank the slave because he did what he was told, will he? 17:10 So you too, when you have done everything you were commanded to do, should say, ‘We are slaves undeserving of special praise; we have only done what was our duty.’”
The Grateful Leper
17:11 Now on the way to Jerusalem, Jesus was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 17:12 As he was entering a village, ten men with leprosy met him. They stood at a distance, 17:13 raised their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 17:14 When he saw them he said, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went along, they were cleansed. 17:15 Then one of them, when he saw he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. 17:16 He fell with his face to the ground at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. (Now he was a Samaritan.) 17:17 Then Jesus said, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 17:18 Was no one found to turn back and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 17:19 Then he said to the man, “Get up and go your way. Your faith has made you well.”
Lord, our healing depends upon Your grace and mercy, calling for our hearts to be right with You in order that we might become vessels prepared for healing. May I come to know You better, that I might draw ever nearer to You.
Jesus tells the Parable of the Clever Steward to illustrate how the world, impressed by a clever person, uses their skills for self-serving and dishonest gain. He instructs Believers to be wise and righteous in the use of their worldly resources, so as to earn treasure in Heaven. Either God or money can be a priority, they cannot both share a man’s heart. The Pharisees, “who loved money” (16:14), are rebuked by Jesus for the “detestable” (vs. 15) priorities of their hearts.
The intent of the Rich Man and Lazarus is not to teach that there is an immediate conscious presence of the dead in Heaven and Hell, or to instruct that people in either domain are aware of or in communication with one another; rather, a symbolic ‘Abraham’ communicates with the rich man in Hell. The purpose of the parable is this: The rich man “in hell...in torment” (16:23), who during his life ignored the suffering of the poor man, is now asking Abraham that the poor man be sent from Heaven to give him water and to warn his brothers on Earth “to act differently...or else meet his current terrible fate” (NET sn). Abraham replies that a “great chasm” (16:26) has been fixed between Heaven and Hell — and there is nothing to be done for him, for the rich man’s earthly power and wealth are now meaningless.
Jesus reminds His listeners that Moses and the prophets told them everything they needed to know to recognize Him, and forebodes that they will fail to be “convinced even if someone rises from the dead” (16:31). In the parable, the poor man Lazarus rises from the dead, illustrating Jesus’ own imminent death and resurrection.
Jesus tells of the obligation to forgive one who repents: No matter how often they offend, “you must forgive him” (17:3). He warns that the obedient should not expect praise for merely doing as they are told.
Jesus heals a group of ten lepers; only the Samaritan healed, none of the Jews, returns to give Him thanks. The nine Jews are healed of their leprosy, yet the Samaritan is healed and gains salvation as well — “Your faith has made you well [Greek, ‘has saved you’]” (17:19).
Those who fail to listen to God miss even the most profound of miracles, such as the resurrection of Jesus.
What appears to have the highest priority in the hearts of most people, the things of God or the things of this world?
God may heal a person of an illness, but without their faith-driven gratefulness and acknowledgement of Who the Healer is, He can not, by virtue of His righteousness, offer the gift of salvation. A not-yet-saved person who acknowledges that his healer is God is saved. A saved person, who fails to thank and acknowledge God, misses out only on receiving earthly blessings, but their salvation remains intact.
Have you ever offered (or received) “false” forgiveness — false in the sense that forgiveness is predicated upon confession and repentance (a turning away from the sin)? Forgiveness of another absent confession and true repentance is relying on a disingenuous request for forgiveness if neither were offered. However, in the end the choice to forgive is between you and your Lord, and the act of forgiving serves to sever the chain of bitterness that may otherwise bind you. Ideally, it is best for both parties to fully share in the forgiveness, which means that God is the Lord of both, and therefore a blessing comes to both.
Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in searching your heart, schedule, and checkbook for signs of what your priorities truly are.
Today I will prayerfully make adjustments to assure that my priorities are with God in an unshared first place. I will partner with a fellow Believer, seeking to identify a gift from God for which I have not been truly grateful, and I will pause to give thanks from a faith-driven heart of gratefulness.
Be Specific _____________________________________________
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
18:10 “See that you do not disdain one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. 18:11 [[EMPTY]] 18:12 What do you think? If someone owns a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go look for the one that went astray? 18:13 And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. 18:14 In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that one of these little ones be lost.
Restoring Christian Relationships
18:15 “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault when the two of you are alone. If he listens to you, you have regained your brother. 18:16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others with you, so that at the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter may be established. 18:17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. If he refuses to listen to the church, treat him like a Gentile or a tax collector.
18:18 “I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven. 18:19 Again, I tell you the truth, if two of you on earth agree about whatever you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. 18:20 For where two or three are assembled in my name, I am there among them.”
18:21 Then Peter came to him and said, “Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother who sins against me? As many as seven times?” 18:22 Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, I tell you, but seventy-seven times!
The Parable of the Unforgiving Slave
18:23 “For this reason, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves. 18:24 As he began settling his accounts, a man who owed ten thousand talents was brought to him. 18:25 Because he was not able to repay it, the lord ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, children, and whatever he possessed, and repayment to be made. 18:26 Then the slave threw himself to the ground before him, saying, ‘Be patient with me, and I will repay you everything.’ 18:27 The lord had compassion on that slave and released him, and forgave him the debt. 18:28 After he went out, that same slave found one of his fellow slaves who owed him one hundred silver coins. So he grabbed him by the throat and started to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ 18:29 Then his fellow slave threw himself down and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will repay you.’ 18:30 But he refused. Instead, he went out and threw him in prison until he repaid the debt. 18:31 When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were very upset and went and told their lord everything that had taken place. 18:32 Then his lord called the first slave and said to him, ‘Evil slave! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me! 18:33 Should you not have shown mercy to your fellow slave, just as I showed it to you?’ 18:34 And in anger his lord turned him over to the prison guards to torture him until he repaid all he owed. 18:35 So also my heavenly Father will do to you, if each of you does not forgive your brother from your heart.”
Lord, You instruct us to be intentional in avoiding sin, in assisting fellow Believers who struggle with sin, and in forgiving of others. May I be found faithful in following Your commands.
The Parable of the Lost Sheep communicates the compassion of God, Who is “not willing that one of these little ones be lost” (Matt. 18:14). The term “little ones” has been interpreted in the following ways:
1. Literally, referring only to a special standing before God for young children — this narrow interpretation is not supported by the context.
2. Specifically, referring only to those given to Him by the Father (see John 10:28-29) — this interpretation is also too narrow for the text.
3. Universally, referring to all mankind lost after the Fall and then pursued by God for salvation — this is the broadest, most acceptable interpretation. It is God’s preferential will (not forced on man, but preferred for man), for all men to freely choose salvation; conversely, men have the freewill to not choose to be saved. The Good Shepherd seeks those who are lost and rejoices over those who are found.
Jesus addresses the restoration of damaged relationships between Christians: When one is seen living a sin, they are to be confronted “when the two of you are alone” (Matt. 18:15). If they remain unrepentant, then they are to be brought before others as “witnesses” (vs. 16); and, if still unrepentant, than brought before “the church” (vs. 17), a gathering of Believers. If he still refuses to listen, then the unrepentant one is to be ostracized.
[Note: Setting the tone, the purpose of the confrontation is to regain a fellow Believer; however, ostracism of the unrepentant one is merciful in that it serves as both pressure on the sinner to repent and also as a boundary to keep their rebellion from spreading to others.]
Jesus reminds Believers that He is “there among them” (vs. 20) when they gather, and that they have spiritual and earthly power when they pray in agreement with one another and in harmony with God’s will.
Peter questions the number of times a Believer must forgive a brother: “As many as seven times?” (vs. 21). Jesus replies “seventy times seven” and uses the Parable of the Unforgiving Slave to remind them that God’s forgiveness is predicated upon genuine repentance and to make the rhetorical point that Believers are to extend maximum grace to fellow Believers. In His parable, the unforgiving slave was selfish in accepting forgiveness of his massive obligations, yet failing to forgive another’s relatively small obligation to him.
God, despite being rejected and disrespected for thousands of years, continues to desire a loving relationship with His children. Observe how the Biblical confrontation of a fellow Believer with their sin, toward the goal of redemption, is in actuality a gift of love to them.
Consider how the power that Jesus shares with His children, when they pray in agreement with Him and with one another, may bring healing among Believers.
Have you experienced the conviction of the Holy Spirit when, after you have been forgiven multiple times for the same offense against a brother or sister in Christ, you are slow to forgive them?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a brother or sister in Christ for whom He wants you to pray for restored fellowship with.
I will pray with another Christian for a fellow Believer, one who has already been confronted personally, to repent of their sin and turn to God. We will commit to following the Biblical process and, if they remain unrepentant, we will take them before church leadership.
Be Specific ____________________________________________
Matthew
Questions About Divorce
19:1 Now when Jesus finished these sayings, he left Galilee and went to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan River. 19:2 Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.
19:3 Then some Pharisees came to him in order to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful to divorce a wife for any cause?” 19:4 He answered, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female, 19:5 and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be united with his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? 19:6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” 19:7 They said to him, “Why then did Moses command us to give a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her?” 19:8 Jesus said to them, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of your hard hearts, but from the beginning it was not this way. 19:9 Now I say to you that whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another commits adultery.” 19:10 The disciples said to him, “If this is the case of a husband with a wife, it is better not to marry!” 19:11 He said to them, “Not everyone can accept this statement, except those to whom it has been given. 19:12 For there are some eunuchs who were that way from birth, and some who were made eunuchs by others, and some who became eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who is able to accept this should accept it.”
Mark
Divorce
10:1 Then Jesus left that place and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan River. Again crowds gathered to him, and again, as was his custom, he taught them. 10:2 Then some Pharisees came, and to test him they asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” 10:3 He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” 10:4 They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her.” 10:5 But Jesus said to them, “He wrote this commandment for you because of your hard hearts. 10:6 But from the beginning of creation he made them male and female. 10:7 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother, 10:8 and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 10:9 Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
10:10 In the house once again, the disciples asked him about this. 10:11 So he told them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. 10:12 And if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”
Luke
16:18 “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery, and the one who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.”
Lord, You have experienced separation (spiritual ‘divorce’) from those you love: Satan and the fallen angels, Adam and Eve in the Garden, Israel demanding a human king instead of You, the King of Kings. May I never contemplate breaking fellowship with You.
Matthew, Mark, and Luke agree that God dislikes divorce and it was not His design at Creation for man. They agree that God tolerates divorce due to the “hard hearts” (Mark 10:5) of fallen men who struggle to forgive real or imagined offenses from their wives. The abuse of divorce was rampant; men were abandoning their wives on very shallow pretext, leaving them destitute and shamed.
Matthew reports that “whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another commits adultery” (19:9) — except for immorality is evidence of God’s grace. Luke succinctly states the relational condition that the man or woman who marries a divorced man or woman “commits adultery” (16:18): Using Scripture to interpret Scripture, this does not apply to a person who was divorced due to their spouses immorality and then marries again.
[Note: Divergent opinions held among competing subgroups within the religious elite of the day made it easy to run afoul of at least one group, while yet creating a momentary alliance with another. Jesus, in His response to the religious leaders, is concerned only with Truth, not the so-called truth believed by various groups.]
Jesus’ statement, “whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another commits adultery” (Matt. 19:9) troubles some of the disciples, who say to Him “if this is the case...better not to marry!” (vs. 10). Jesus responds by suggesting that a man then live as a eunuch, rather than risk a marriage where he is unhappy yet unable to leave without offending God.
The preference of Jesus is that we not have hard hearts, rather that we walk the God-preferred and Holy Spirit-empowered path of repentance, forgiveness, and restoration rather than run towards divorce. [Note, nothing in Biblical text encourages a newly-saved person to abandon their unsaved spouse or advises a Christian to encourage their unsaved spouse to stay if it is their intent is to leave the marriage — the Holy Spirit may be using the saved spouse to lead the unsaved spouse to salvation or may be driving the unsaved spouse out of the marriage because a sustained marriage would harm the saved spouse. One is to love ones spouse, saved or unsaved, while allowing them the freedom and consequences of their own choices.]
Jesus teaches all who would follow Him to count the cost before making a commitment. In the case of marriage, He powerfully illustrates that those unwilling to live within His boundaries should choose the life of a relational (sexual) eunuch. Stated differently, if one is not willing to stay married without the freedom to divorce (in the absence of immorality), then one must not marry. Have you seen what happens to people when careless leaders enforce either too rigid or too permissive a reading of these texts? Pray that Biblical teaching be applied rather than the preferences of man.
All divorces impacting Christians are not necessarily chosen: Some involve an unsaved spouse at the time of the divorce. “What is old has passed away” (2 Cor. 5:17) and one is “renewed day by day” (2 Cor. 4:16) means that only the Enemy charges a Christian with a past sin — God separates Himself from forgiven sin “as far as the eastern sunrise is from the west” (Ps. 103:12).
Ask the Holy Spirit of God to deepen your understanding of the Biblical teaching about divorce. Ask Him to help you to ask for the forgiveness of any whom you have offended as a result of holding a non-Biblical (too rigid or too permissive) view of divorce.
If a past divorce or present possibility of divorce is impacting my life, I will prayerfully ask for the comfort, strength, and wisdom to respond wisely. I will ask for the miraculous intervention of the Lord, where matters may be out of my control yet redeemable. I will ask a fellow Believer to pray in agreement with me and to walk with me, for accountability and encouragement, through this process.
Be Specific _____________________________________________
Matthew
Jesus and Little Children
19:13 Then little children were brought to him for him to lay his hands on them and pray. But the disciples scolded those who brought them. 19:14 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” 19:15 And he placed his hands on them and went on his way.
The Rich Young Man
19:16 Now someone came up to him and said, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to gain eternal life?” 19:17 He said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 19:18 “Which ones?” he asked. Jesus replied, “Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, 19:19 honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.” 19:20 The young man said to him, “I have wholeheartedly obeyed all these laws. What do I still lack?” 19:21 Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 19:22 But when the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he was very rich.
19:23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven! 19:24 Again I say, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of God.” 19:25 The disciples were greatly astonished when they heard this and said, “Then who can be saved?” 19:26 Jesus looked at them and replied, “This is impossible for mere humans, but for God all things are possible.” 19:27 Then Peter said to him, “Look, we have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” 19:28 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth: In the age when all things are renewed, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 19:29 And whoever has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 19:30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
Workers in the Vineyard
20:1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 20:2 And after agreeing with the workers for the standard wage, he sent them into his vineyard. 20:3 When it was about nine o’clock in the morning, he went out again and saw others standing around in the marketplace without work. 20:4 He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and I will give you whatever is right.’ 20:5 So they went. When he went out again about noon and three o’clock that afternoon, he did the same thing. 20:6 And about five o’clock that afternoon he went out and found others standing around, and said to them, ‘Why are you standing here all day without work?’ 20:7 They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go and work in the vineyard too.’ 20:8 When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the workers and give the pay starting with the last hired until the first.’ 20:9 When those hired about five o’clock came, each received a full day’s pay. 20:10 And when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more. But each one also received the standard wage. 20:11 When they received it, they began to complain against the landowner, 20:12 saying, ‘These last fellows worked one hour, and you have made them equal to us who bore the hardship and burning heat of the day.’ 20:13 And the landowner replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am not treating you unfairly. Didn’t you agree with me to work for the standard wage? 20:14 Take what is yours and go. I want to give to this last man the same as I gave to you. 20:15 Am I not permitted to do what I want with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ 20:16 So the last will be first, and the first last.”
Third Prediction of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection
20:17 As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve aside privately and said to them on the way, 20:18 “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the experts in the law. They will condemn him to death, 20:19 and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged severely and crucified. Yet on the third day, he will be raised.”
Mark
Jesus and Little Children
10:13 Now people were bringing little children to him for him to touch, but the disciples scolded those who brought them. 10:14 But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 10:15 I tell you the truth, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” 10:16 After he took the children in his arms, he placed his hands on them and blessed them.
The Rich Man
10:17 Now as Jesus was starting out on his way, someone ran up to him, fell on his knees, and said, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 10:18 Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 10:19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” 10:20 The man said to him, “Teacher, I have wholeheartedly obeyed all these laws since my youth.” 10:21 As Jesus looked at him, he felt love for him and said, “You lack one thing. Go, sell whatever you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 10:22 But at this statement, the man looked sad and went away sorrowful, for he was very rich.
10:23 Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” 10:24 The disciples were astonished at these words. But again Jesus said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 10:25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 10:26 They were even more astonished and said to one another, “Then who can be saved?” 10:27 Jesus looked at them and replied, “This is impossible for mere humans, but not for God; all things are possible for God.”
10:28 Peter began to speak to him, “Look, we have left everything to follow you!” 10:29 Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, there is no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the gospel 10:30 who will not receive in this age a hundred times as much – homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, fields, all with persecutions – and in the age to come, eternal life. 10:31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
Third Prediction of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection
10:32 They were on the way, going up to Jerusalem. Jesus was going ahead of them, and they were amazed, but those who followed were afraid. He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what was going to happen to him. 10:33 “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and experts in the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles. 10:34 They will mock him, spit on him, flog him severely, and kill him. Yet after three days, he will rise again.”
Luke
Jesus and Little Children
18:15 Now people were even bringing their babies to him for him to touch. But when the disciples saw it, they began to scold those who brought them. 18:16 But Jesus called for the children, saying, “Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 18:17 I tell you the truth, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”
The Wealthy Ruler
18:18 Now a certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18:19 Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? 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 The man replied, “I have wholeheartedly obeyed all these laws since my youth.” 18:22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 18:23 But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was extremely wealthy. 18:24 When Jesus noticed this, he said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 18:25 In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 18:26 Those who heard this said, “Then who can be saved?” 18:27 He replied, “What is impossible for mere humans is possible for God.” 18:28 And Peter said, “Look, we have left everything we own to follow you!” 18:29 Then Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, there is no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of God’s kingdom 18:30 who will not receive many times more in this age – and in the age to come, eternal life.”
Another Prediction of Jesus’ Passion
18:31 Then Jesus took the twelve aside and said to them, “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. 18:32 For he will be handed over to the Gentiles; he will be mocked, mistreated, and spat on. 18:33 They will flog him severely and kill him. Yet on the third day he will rise again.” 18:34 But the twelve understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what Jesus meant.
Lord, unless we come to You in humility we should not come at all, because You are a perfect and holy God and we bring nothing of value with which to negotiate. May I commit to memory Your undeserved gift of saving love.
Jesus uses the bringing of little children to Him to be blessed as an opportunity to refine His teaching on saving faith. First, because His disciples think the babies unworthy of His time, Jesus reminds them that He values all human life and that “the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Mark 10:14). Second, He defines the heart condition of one saved by faith as like that of “a child” (Luke 18:17), innocent and trusting. Saying that whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child “will never enter it” (Mark 10:15), Jesus returns to His prior requirement that one abandon everything in this world, including free will, and allow God to replace as He deems best.
A rich young man, who claims to have kept all of the key principles of the Law, fails in his quest for eternal life — choosing not to obey Jesus and part with his wealth, the young man “went away sorrowful, for he was very rich” (Matt. 19:22). Jesus remarks on the difficulty of a person rich in the things of this world entering Heaven — acquiring great worldly wealth generally means that money and possessions easily become idols (objects of worship due God only) in ones life.
Because they cling to the notion that wealth represents an advantage in gaining entrance in to Heaven, nearby listeners are shocked to hear Jesus declare that it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter Heaven — “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!” (Mark 10:25) speaks again of the idol worship of “those who trust in riches” (NET sn).
Key is that no one possesses anything of sufficient value to offer as an ‘entrance fee’ in to Heaven – only those who follow Jesus without conditions or exceptions will receive the gift of eternal life.
Jesus reminds some of the Jews, apparently arrogant about being the first ones to follow Jesus, that when one is saved bears no relevance upon how God chooses to reward with salvation. It is the free and beyond-question choice of God to grant salvation to all who genuinely surrender to be saved, be they saved as a child (with generations of saved family members who are Messianic Jews) or be they life-long reprobates (who surrender at the moment prior to death) — “the last will be first, and the first last” (Matt. 20:16).
Jesus tells His disciples that He will be “handed over to the Gentiles...mocked, mistreated, and spat on” (Luke 18:32), another prediction of His suffering, death, and resurrection. Luke notes that the disciples “did not grasp what Jesus meant” (vs. 34), still not fully comprehending the immensity of what Jesus was prophesying.
Jesus’ discourse on having ‘faith like little children’ is often depicted as being about children only, but He often refers to all Believers as “His children.” Therefore, contemplate how the message applies and how child-like in innocence and trust in God you are.
Is it not possible that a homeless person may better transition in to unconditional dependence upon God than those among us trusting in our homes and many possessions, albeit unconsciously?
Have you experienced a time when God has placed a truth right in front of you, but you have persisted in an inability to receive it?
When have you experienced arrogance due to your moment of salvation, where maybe you improperly imagined some special standing before God for having been saved longer than someone else?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you any place where you are harboring a sense of insistence toward the Lord God that your demands be met, as if He owes you something.
Today I will prayerfully reflect upon the heart condition with which I approach my walk with Jesus. Do I come to Him with hands emptied of ‘demandingness’ or do I cling to worldly things that are not a part of my relationship with Him? I will commit to partner with the Hole Spirit toward the end of valuing only that which God values and seeking only that which is righteous in His eyes.
Be Specific ____________________________________________
Matthew
A Request for James and John
20:20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, and kneeling down she asked him for a favor. 20:21 He said to her, “What do you want?” She replied, “Permit these two sons of mine to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” 20:22 Jesus answered, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink the cup I am about to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” 20:23 He told them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right and at my left is not mine to give. Rather, it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”
20:24 Now when the other ten heard this, they were angry with the two brothers. 20:25 But Jesus called them and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions use their authority over them. 20:26 It must not be this way among you! Instead whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, 20:27 and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave – 20:28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Two Blind Men Healed
20:29 As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed them. 20:30 Two blind men were sitting by the road. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they shouted, “Have mercy on us, Lord, Son of David!” 20:31 The crowd scolded them to get them to be quiet. But they shouted even more loudly, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” 20:32 Jesus stopped, called them, and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” 20:33 They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” 20:34 Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.
Mark
The Request of James and John
10:35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him and said, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” 10:36 He said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” 10:37 They said to him, “Permit one of us to sit at your right hand and the other at your left in your glory.” 10:38 But Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I experience?” 10:39 They said to him, “We are able.” Then Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism I experience, 10:40 but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give. It is for those for whom it has been prepared.”
10:41 Now when the other ten heard this, they became angry with James and John. 10:42 Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions use their authority over them. 10:43 But it is not this way among you. Instead whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, 10:44 and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of all. 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Healing Blind Bartimaeus
10:46 They came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus the son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the road. 10:47 When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 10:48 Many scolded him to get him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 10:49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man and said to him, “Have courage! Get up! He is calling you.” 10:50 He threw off his cloak, jumped up, and came to Jesus. 10:51 Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man replied, “Rabbi, let me see again.” 10:52 Jesus said to him, “Go, your faith has healed you.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the road.
Luke
Healing a Blind Man
18:35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging. 18:36 When he heard a crowd going by, he asked what was going on. 18:37 They told him, “Jesus the Nazarene is passing by.” 18:38 So he called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 18:39 And those who were in front scolded him to get him to be quiet, but he shouted even more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 18:40 So Jesus stopped and ordered the beggar to be brought to him. When the man came near, Jesus asked him, 18:41 “What do you want me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, let me see again.” 18:42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” 18:43 And immediately he regained his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they too gave praise to God.
Jesus and Zacchaeus
19:1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it. 19:2 Now a man named Zacchaeus was there; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. 19:3 He was trying to get a look at Jesus, but being a short man he could not see over the crowd. 19:4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, because Jesus was going to pass that way. 19:5 And when Jesus came to that place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, because I must stay at your house today.” 19:6 So he came down quickly and welcomed Jesus joyfully. 19:7 And when the people saw it, they all complained, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 19:8 But Zacchaeus stopped and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, half of my possessions I now give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone of anything, I am paying back four times as much!” 19:9 Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this household, because he too is a son of Abraham! 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
The Parable of the Ten Minas
19:11 While the people were listening to these things, Jesus proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately. 19:12 Therefore he said, “A nobleman went to a distant country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. 19:13 And he summoned ten of his slaves, gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business with these until I come back.’ 19:14 But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to be king over us!’ 19:15 When he returned after receiving the kingdom, he summoned these slaves to whom he had given the money. He wanted to know how much they had earned by trading. 19:16 So the first one came before him and said, ‘Sir, your mina has made ten minas more.’ 19:17 And the king said to him, ‘Well done, good slave! Because you have been faithful in a very small matter, you will have authority over ten cities.’ 19:18 Then the second one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has made five minas.’ 19:19 So the king said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’ 19:20 Then another slave came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina that I put away for safekeeping in a piece of cloth. 19:21 For I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You withdraw what you did not deposit and reap what you did not sow.’ 19:22 The king said to him, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked slave! So you knew, did you, that I was a severe man, withdrawing what I didn’t deposit and reaping what I didn’t sow? 19:23 Why then didn’t you put my money in the bank, so that when I returned I could have collected it with interest?’ 19:24 And he said to his attendants, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has ten.’ 19:25 But they said to him, ‘Sir, he has ten minas already!’ 19:26 ‘I tell you that everyone who has will be given more, but from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 19:27 But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to be their king, bring them here and slaughter them in front of me!’”
Lord, You honor whom You honor and heal whom You heal. May I trust in Your perfect omniscience, and be content as Your child.
When James and John bring a request to Jesus for appointment to the highest seats of honor on either side of His throne in Heaven, Jesus questions, “Are you able to drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I experience?” (Mark 10:38). The apostles have yet to comprehend the fullness of Who Jesus is and what He is about to suffer, so they say to Him, “We are able” (vs. 39). Jesus replies that they will indeed drink of the cup He drinks (referring to persecution, suffering, death), but choosing who will sit by His side in Heaven is not His to give. Instead, He reminds them of their need for humility and to focus on service to others, rather than position or title.
The disciples, scolding a blind man “to get him to be quiet” (Luke 18:39) and keep him from disturbing Jesus, discover that Jesus wants to heal him. The man’s healing results in his praising God, and the people who witness his healing and joyful praise also give praise to God.
When the tax collector Zacchaeus hosts Jesus for the night, the people protest His willingness “to be the guest of a man who is a sinner” (Luke 19:7). Zacchaeus responds to their complaints by declaring his willingness to make right what he had wrongfully taken; his desire to do right is from the heart, because he has made a decision to truly follow Jesus in word and deed. That day “salvation has come to this household” (vs. 9) — Jesus came to seek and save the lost.
Jesus shares a parable of the distribution of just rewards to those who accept delegated responsibility: A rhetorical “nobleman” (Luke 19:12) entrusts a portion of his wealth to each of his servants. Those who invest it (give of themselves) and multiply what they are given (resources of money or time or talent) are rewarded with more. The one who merely keeps to himself what is entrusted to him has what he has been given taken away, and he is punished — “To reject the king is to face certain judgment from him” (NET sn). Understood in light of the choice to submit to the Lordship of Christ or to reject it, the parable infers that those who reject Him will be destroyed and speaks to the final judgment of man.
Have you observed Christian leaders whose spiritual maturity is evidenced by their humility and their servant hearts? Do we cry out to Jesus in faith, pleading to see that which we have failed to see, when we find we have drifted into a spiritual blindness?
Leadership tends to be isolating, which limits spiritual accountability and makes people easier targets for the Enemy to lead toward wrong priorities. Busyness and performance-based religion can lead to the same, as it takes our eyes off of Jesus. Have you observed an obsession with position and title among Christian leaders, leading them to prioritize wrongly and create confusion among those they are suppose to disciple and encourage?
Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of a fellow Believer whose humility and servant’s heart are exemplary.
Today I will prayerfully and quietly encourage the one whom the Holy Spirit brings to my attention and offer them a word in support.
Be Specific ______________________________________
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2012 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study –“The Chronological Gospels” – “Week 9 of 12” - prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in July of 2012. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
The Death of Lazarus
11:1 Now a certain man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village where Mary and her sister Martha lived. 11:2 (Now it was Mary who anointed the Lord with perfumed oil and wiped his feet dry with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) 11:3 So the sisters sent a message to Jesus, “Lord, look, the one you love is sick.” 11:4 When Jesus heard this, he said, “This sickness will not lead to death, but to God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” 11:5 (Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.)
11:6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he remained in the place where he was for two more days. 11:7 Then after this, he said to his disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” 11:8 The disciples replied, “Rabbi, the Jewish leaders were just now trying to stone you to death! Are you going there again?” 11:9 Jesus replied, “Are there not twelve hours in a day? If anyone walks around in the daytime, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 11:10 But if anyone walks around at night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”
11:11 After he said this, he added, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep. But I am going there to awaken him.” 11:12 Then the disciples replied, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” 11:13 (Now Jesus had been talking about his death, but they thought he had been talking about real sleep.)
11:14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, 11:15 and I am glad for your sake that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” 11:16 So Thomas (called Didymus) said to his fellow disciples, “Let us go too, so that we may die with him.”
Speaking with Martha and Mary
11:17 When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had been in the tomb four days already. 11:18 (Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 11:19 so many of the Jewish people of the region had come to Martha and Mary to console them over the loss of their brother.) 11:20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary was sitting in the house. 11:21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 11:22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will grant you.”
11:23 Jesus replied, “Your brother will come back to life again.” 11:24 Martha said, “I know that he will come back to life again in the resurrection at the last day.” 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live even if he dies, 11:26 and the one who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 11:27 She replied, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God who comes into the world.”
11:28 And when she had said this, Martha went and called her sister Mary, saying privately, “The Teacher is here and is asking for you.” 11:29 So when Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 11:30 (Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still in the place where Martha had come out to meet him.) 11:31 Then the people who were with Mary in the house consoling her saw her get up quickly and go out. They followed her, because they thought she was going to the tomb to weep there.
11:32 Now when Mary came to the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 11:33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the people who had come with her weeping, he was intensely moved in spirit and greatly distressed. 11:34 He asked, “Where have you laid him?” They replied, “Lord, come and see.” 11:35 Jesus wept. 11:36 Thus the people who had come to mourn said, “Look how much he loved him!” 11:37 But some of them said, “This is the man who caused the blind man to see! Couldn’t he have done something to keep Lazarus from dying?”
Lazarus Raised from the Dead
11:38 Jesus, intensely moved again, came to the tomb. (Now it was a cave, and a stone was placed across it.) 11:39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the deceased, replied, “Lord, by this time the body will have a bad smell, because he has been buried four days.” 11:40 Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believe, you would see the glory of God?” 11:41 So they took away the stone. Jesus looked upward and said, “Father, I thank you that you have listened to me. 11:42 I knew that you always listen to me, but I said this for the sake of the crowd standing around here, that they may believe that you sent me.” 11:43 When he had said this, he shouted in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 11:44 The one who had died came out, his feet and hands tied up with strips of cloth, and a cloth wrapped around his face. Jesus said to them, “Unwrap him and let him go.”
The Response of the Jewish Leaders
11:45 Then many of the people, who had come with Mary and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in him. 11:46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and reported to them what Jesus had done. 11:47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees called the council together and said, “What are we doing? For this man is performing many miraculous signs. 11:48 If we allow him to go on in this way, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away our sanctuary and our nation.”
11:49 Then one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said, “You know nothing at all! 11:50 You do not realize that it is more to your advantage to have one man die for the people than for the whole nation to perish.” 11:51 (Now he did not say this on his own, but because he was high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the Jewish nation, 11:52 and not for the Jewish nation only, but to gather together into one the children of God who are scattered.) 11:53 So from that day they planned together to kill him.
11:54 Thus Jesus no longer went around publicly among the Judeans, but went away from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and stayed there with his disciples. 11:55 Now the Jewish feast of Passover was near, and many people went up to Jerusalem from the rural areas before the Passover to cleanse themselves ritually. 11:56 Thus they were looking for Jesus, and saying to one another as they stood in the temple courts, “What do you think? That he won’t come to the feast?” 11:57 (Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who knew where Jesus was should report it, so that they could arrest him.)
Jesus’ Anointing
12:1 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom he had raised from the dead. 12:2 So they prepared a dinner for Jesus there. Martha was serving, and Lazarus was among those present at the table with him. 12:3 Then Mary took three quarters of a pound of expensive aromatic oil from pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus. She then wiped his feet dry with her hair. (Now the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfumed oil.) 12:4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was going to betray him) said, 12:5 “Why wasn’t this oil sold for three hundred silver coins and the money given to the poor?” 12:6 (Now Judas said this not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money box, he used to steal what was put into it.) 12:7 So Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She has kept it for the day of my burial. 12:8 For you will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me!”
12:9 Now a large crowd of Judeans learned that Jesus was there, and so they came not only because of him but also to see Lazarus whom he had raised from the dead. 12:10 So the chief priests planned to kill Lazarus too, 12:11 for on account of him many of the Jewish people from Jerusalem were going away and believing in Jesus.
Lord, every moment is a teachable moment for those who recognize Your presence and see You working. May I be humble enough to remain constantly teachable, quiet enough to hear what the Holy Spirit is saying to me, and healed of my spiritual blindness so that I may see what He is showing me.
Jesus tells His disciples that Lazarus’ death has been permitted so as to create a teachable moment, “so that you may believe” (John 11:15). [Note: Jesus makes this statement because, at this point in time, the disciples’ belief was in development: “Their concept of who Jesus really was is continually being expanded and challenged; they are undergoing spiritual growth; the climax is reached in the confession of Thomas in John 20:28” (NET sn) — ‘My Lord and my God!’]
Jesus prays “for the sake of the crowd standing around” (John 11:42), so that they may know by Whose power He has been sent and is about to act. He then resurrects Lazarus with words of power: “Lazarus, come out!” (vs. 43).
The Jewish leaders hear of this and are troubled, not only that their religious traditions be upheld, but by the possible Roman reaction to Jesus’ growing ministry. The high priest Caiaphas declares that it would be profitable for “one man [Jesus] to die for the people” (John 11:50), which would neutralize the threat to the captive nation-state Israel — Caiaphas is unaware that his words (unintentionally) echo the prophesy of Jesus, that He was to “give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).
Mary anointing the feet of Jesus triggers a fascinating revelation of the heart of Judas Iscariot, who exclaims that she should have sold the oil and given the money to the poor. John notes that Judas’ motivation is “not because he was concerned about the poor” (12:6), rather that there be more money in the collection for him to steal. Jesus corrects Judas, saying that the poor will always be around and in need, but that Mary’s anointing is in anticipation of His imminent death — “you will not always have Me!” (vs. 8). [Note: It is interesting that this is the second time Mary focuses on the presence of Jesus more so than are others do.
How do we typically experience the tragedies of life here in this fallen and temporary world: acknowledging our loss and resultant sadness, then looking expectantly for how, when, or where Jesus may redeem it; or allowing ourselves to be trapped in a cycle of despair?
Are we controlled by worry over the social or political consequences of living in Truth, or do we follow Jesus fearlessly?
Do we “steal” from God’s ministry by hording when we should share? Do we misuse the resources we have been given and ignore the concerns of God by prioritizing the building of religious organizations which create self-employment and give us recognition?
Are you aware that you live in the presence of God and that your worship of Him at all times (not only when you are in a gathering of Believers) is to be through sacrificial and intentional actions?
Ask the Holy Spirit to make you aware of a moment in your day when He is working through you, so that you may fully appreciate it.
Today I will pause to recognize and celebrate in worship the amazing power and presence of God in my life. It may be that He encourages someone through me, or that I am encouraged by another. It may be that He shares His salvation story with another through my witness. I will not fail to worship Him and share with another Believer.
Be Specific ____________________________________________
Matthew
The Triumphal Entry
21:1 Now when they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 21:2 telling them, “Go to the village ahead of you. Right away you will find a donkey tied there, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. 21:3 If anyone says anything to you, you are to say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” 21:4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet:
21:5 “Tell the people of Zion,
‘Look, your king is coming to you, unassuming and seated on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”
21:6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 21:7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. 21:8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road. Others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 21:9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those following kept shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” 21:10 As he entered Jerusalem the whole city was thrown into an uproar, saying, “Who is this?” 21:11 And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Cleansing the Temple
21:12 Then Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all those who were selling and buying in the temple courts, and turned over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. 21:13 And he said to them, “It is written, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are turning it into a den of robbers!”
21:14 The blind and lame came to him in the temple courts, and he healed them. 21:15 But when the chief priests and the experts in the law saw the wonderful things he did and heard the children crying out in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they became indignant 21:16 and said to him, “Do you hear what they are saying?” Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouths of children and nursing infants you have prepared praise for yourself’?” 21:17 And leaving them, he went out of the city to Bethany and spent the night there.
The Withered Fig Tree
21:18 Now early in the morning, as he returned to the city, he was hungry. 21:19 After noticing a fig tree by the road he went to it, but found nothing on it except leaves. He said to it, “Never again will there be fruit from you!” And the fig tree withered at once. 21:20 When the disciples saw it they were amazed, saying, “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” 21:21 Jesus answered them, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. 21:22 And whatever you ask in prayer, if you believe, you will receive.”
Mark
The Triumphal Entry
11:1 Now as they approached Jerusalem, near Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples 11:2 and said to them, “Go to the village ahead of you. As soon as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 11:3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here soon.’” 11:4 So they went and found a colt tied at a door, outside in the street, and untied it. 11:5 Some people standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 11:6 They replied as Jesus had told them, and the bystanders let them go. 11:7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus, threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. 11:8 Many spread their cloaks on the road and others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 11:9 Both those who went ahead and those who followed kept shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! 11:10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!” 11:11 Then Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. And after looking around at everything, he went out to Bethany with the twelve since it was already late.
Cursing of the Fig Tree
11:12 Now the next day, as they went out from Bethany, he was hungry. 11:13 After noticing in the distance a fig tree with leaves, he went to see if he could find any fruit on it. When he came to it he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 11:14 He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.
Cleansing the Temple
11:15 Then they came to Jerusalem. Jesus entered the temple area and began to drive out those who were selling and buying in the temple courts. He turned over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves, 11:16 and he would not permit anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 11:17 Then he began to teach them and said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have turned it into a den of robbers!” 11:18 The chief priests and the experts in the law heard it and they considered how they could assassinate him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed by his teaching. 11:19 When evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.
The Withered Fig Tree
11:20 In the morning as they passed by, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. 11:21 Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered.” 11:22 Jesus said to them, “Have faith in God. 11:23 I tell you the truth, if someone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 11:24 For this reason I tell you, whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 11:25 Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven will also forgive you your sins.”
11:26 [[EMPTY]]
Luke
The Triumphal Entry
19:28 After Jesus had said this, he continued on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 19:29 Now when he approached Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, 19:30 telling them, “Go to the village ahead of you. When you enter it, you will find a colt tied there that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 19:31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs it.’” 19:32 So those who were sent ahead found it exactly as he had told them. 19:33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying that colt?” 19:34 They replied, “The Lord needs it.” 19:35 Then they brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt, and had Jesus get on it. 19:36 As he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. 19:37 As he approached the road leading down from the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen: 19:38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 19:39 But some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 19:40 He answered, “I tell you, if they keep silent, the very stones will cry out!”
Jesus Weeps for Jerusalem under Judgment
19:41 Now when Jesus approached and saw the city, he wept over it, 19:42 saying, “If you had only known on this day, even you, the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 19:43 For the days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and surround you and close in on you from every side. 19:44 They will demolish you – you and your children within your walls – and they will not leave within you one stone on top of another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.”
Cleansing the Temple
19:45 Then Jesus entered the temple courts and began to drive out those who were selling things there, 19:46 saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house will be a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of robbers!”
19:47 Jesus was teaching daily in the temple courts. The chief priests and the experts in the law and the prominent leaders among the people were seeking to assassinate him, 19:48 but they could not find a way to do it, for all the people hung on his words.
John
The Triumphal Entry
12:12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 12:13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him. They began to shout, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the king of Israel!” 12:14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, 12:15 “Do not be afraid, people of Zion; look, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt!” 12:16 (His disciples did not understand these things when they first happened, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about him and that these things had happened to him.)
12:17 So the crowd who had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead were continuing to testify about it. 12:18 Because they had heard that Jesus had performed this miraculous sign, the crowd went out to meet him. 12:19 Thus the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you can do nothing. Look, the world has run off after him!”
Seekers
12:20 Now some Greeks were among those who had gone up to worship at the feast. 12:21 So these approached Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.” 12:22 Philip went and told Andrew, and they both went and told Jesus. 12:23 Jesus replied, “The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 12:24 I tell you the solemn truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it produces much grain. 12:25 The one who loves his life destroys it, and the one who hates his life in this world guards it for eternal life. 12:26 If anyone wants to serve me, he must follow me, and where I am, my servant will be too. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
12:27 “Now my soul is greatly distressed. And what should I say? ‘Father, deliver me from this hour’? No, but for this very reason I have come to this hour. 12:28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 12:29 The crowd that stood there and heard the voice said that it had thundered. Others said that an angel had spoken to him. 12:30 Jesus said, “This voice has not come for my benefit but for yours. 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. 12:32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 12:33 (Now he said this to indicate clearly what kind of death he was going to die.)
12:34 Then the crowd responded, “We have heard from the law that the Christ will remain forever. How can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?” 12:35 Jesus replied, “The light is with you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 12:36 While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become sons of light.” When Jesus had said these things, he went away and hid himself from them.
The Outcome of Jesus’ Public Ministry Foretold
12:37 Although Jesus had performed so many miraculous signs before them, they still refused to believe in him, 12:38 so that the word of Isaiah the prophet would be fulfilled. He said, “Lord, who has believed our message, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” 12:39 For this reason they could not believe, because again Isaiah said,
12:40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, so that they would not see with their eyes and understand with their heart, and turn to me, and I would heal them.”
12:41 Isaiah said these things because he saw Christ’s glory, and spoke about him.
12:42 Nevertheless, even among the rulers many believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they would not confess Jesus to be the Christ, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue. 12:43 For they loved praise from men more than praise from God.
When You, the incarnate Jesus Christ, entered the city You were fulfilling prophesy, yet most of the people were so blinded by their worldly notions of Who You were suppose to be that they missed Who You really are. Lord, may I humble myself and submit to the teachings of Your Word, that I may not be deceived and also miss You.
The triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem is cause for excitement among the Jews, who see Him as a liberating King, and it creates great consternation in the religious leaders, who are fearful of their loss of power and the reaction of the Romans. Notable is Jesus’ reply to the challenge of the religious leaders that He silence those who worship Him — “if they keep silent, the very stones will cry out!” (Luke 19:40). It is His time and He is God.
Jesus weeps for Jerusalem, because they had been given the unmistakable prophesy of His coming and yet remain blindly rebellious. They not only miss out on His presence, He laments, but they will suffer greatly because, “you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God” (Luke 19:44). Affirmation that Jesus is God is found in the usage of the term “visitation” with the qualifier “from God”: Jesus is the earthly presence of God.
Cursing the fruitless fig tree, not in season to bear fruit, Jesus uses as a twofold teachable moment. First, the faithful Believer must be ready, whatever the season, to bear fruit. And second, the power of prayer is in what is requested in faith by a Believer, who “does not doubt...but does not doubt...but believes...it will be done for him” (Mark 11:23). The conditional to answered prayer is that one with an unforgiving heart toward a fellow Believer may not anticipate receiving a blessing — forgive him first, “so that your Father in heaven will also forgive you” (vs. 25).
Jesus cleanses the Temple, indicative of His indignation with the religious leaders who presume to misuse the Temple by “selling and buying in the temple courts” (Matt. 21:12) — selling doves (needed to perform a sacrifice) and converting money to a Jewish coin (the only currency accepted by the religious leaders). Jesus reminds those gathered that God said His Temple was “a house of prayer” (vs. 13).
When the religious leaders ask Him to silence the children in the Temple courts who are calling out, “Hosanna to the Son of David” (Matt. 21:15), Jesus again affirms His divinity by quoting from the ancient Scriptures: “Out of the mouths of children and nursing infants You have prepared praise for Yourself” (Ps. 8:2). [Pause a moment to read Psalm 8 to acquire the full context.]
A group of Gentiles, in Jerusalem for the Passover Feast (possibly out of curiosity, or because they heard that Jesus might be there), present themselves to the disciples and ask to meet Jesus. These “Greeks” (John 12:20) were probably God-fearers there to worship and were fortunate to be there to hear Jesus’ discourse regarding true seekers of “the light” (vs. 35).
To the crowd gathered (both Jew and Greek alike), Jesus speaks of both His need to die to save them and their need to die to the things of this world in order to be saved. He prays out loud to His Father, so all may hear, and the Father answers the Son in a voice that “thundered” (John 12:29). Jesus says “when I am lifted up....to indicate clearly what kind of death he was going to die” (vss. 32-33). The people, confused that the Messiah will be lifted up (because they understand from the law that the Christ will “remain forever,” vs. 34), fail to comprehend the need of the Cross to provide the way for salvation.
Jesus foretells His ministry’s outcome for most Jews: Due to their resistance and rebellion, God amplifies the hardness of their hearts — even their witness to His miracles will not move them to return to Him. Jesus wants genuine relational-faith relationships, not mere miracle groupies or religious-cult followers. Some of the Jewish leaders believe in Him yet fail to publicly confess Him, as they fear the retribution of religious leaders — “they loved praise from men more than praise from God” (John 12:43).
Do we bear the fruit of faith in all seasons, not just on Christmas, Easter, Sunday morning or in response to a Christian event?
Are we bold in confessing Christ and joyful in naming Jesus as Lord, without fear of retribution or loss of praise from mere man?
Do we get excited and cry out “Hosanna!” when we see God moving in a community or the life of an individual, both displacing Satan and establishing His Kingdom one heart at a time?
Have you experienced a gathering where the people seemed unable to acknowledge or praise God unless there was some sort of “miracle” performed? In light of these verses, does that trouble you?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you if you serve or worship the Lord God mostly when other people are watching, instead of always.
Today I will prayerfully contemplate if I tend to drift into a time of fruit-dormancy, or if I am intentionally faithful to bear fruit no matter the context or the season.
I will be watchful for opportunity to praise God when I see His hand at work and to confess Him when He prompts me to.
Be Specific _____________________________________________
Matthew
The Authority of Jesus
21:23 Now after Jesus entered the temple courts, the chief priests and elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” 21:24 Jesus answered them, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. 21:25 Where did John’s baptism come from? From heaven or from people?” They discussed this among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ 21:26 But if we say, ‘From people,’ we fear the crowd, for they all consider John to be a prophet.” 21:27 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” Then he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
The Parable of the Two Sons
21:28 “What do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ 21:29 The boy answered, ‘I will not.’ But later he had a change of heart and went. 21:30 The father went to the other son and said the same thing. This boy answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but did not go. 21:31 Which of the two did his father’s will?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, tax collectors and prostitutes will go ahead of you into the kingdom of God! 21:32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe. Although you saw this, you did not later change your minds and believe him.
The Parable of the Tenants
21:33 “Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a fence around it, dug a pit for its winepress, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and went on a journey. 21:34 When the harvest time was near, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his portion of the crop. 21:35 But the tenants seized his slaves, beat one, killed another, and stoned another. 21:36 Again he sent other slaves, more than the first, and they treated them the same way. 21:37 Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 21:38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and get his inheritance!’ 21:39 So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 21:40 Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” 21:41 They said to him, “He will utterly destroy those evil men! Then he will lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him his portion at the harvest.”
21:42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures:
‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?
21:43 For this reason I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. 21:44 The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, and the one on whom it falls will be crushed.” 21:45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. 21:46 They wanted to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowds, because the crowds regarded him as a prophet.
[Note: Matthew 22:1-14 discussed in following day’s study.]
Paying Taxes to Caesar
22:15 Then the Pharisees went out and planned together to entrap him with his own words. 22:16 They sent to him their disciples along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are truthful, and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You do not court anyone’s favor because you show no partiality. 22:17 Tell us then, what do you think? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
22:18 But Jesus realized their evil intentions and said, “Hypocrites! Why are you testing me? 22:19 Show me the coin used for the tax.” So they brought him a denarius. 22:20 Jesus said to them, “Whose image is this, and whose inscription?” 22:21 They replied, “Caesar’s.” He said to them, “Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22:22 Now when they heard this they were stunned, and they left him and went away.
Marriage and the Resurrection
22:23 The same day Sadducees (who say there is no resurrection) came to him and asked him, 22:24 “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and father children for his brother.’ 22:25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children he left his wife to his brother. 22:26 The second did the same, and the third, down to the seventh. 22:27 Last of all, the woman died. 22:28 In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had married her.” 22:29 Jesus answered them, “You are deceived, because you don’t know the scriptures or the power of God. 22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 22:31 Now as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, 22:32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living!” 22:33 When the crowds heard this, they were amazed at his teaching.
Mark
The Authority of Jesus
11:27 They came again to Jerusalem. While Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the experts in the law, and the elders came up to him 11:28 and said, “By what authority are you doing these things? Or who gave you this authority to do these things?” 11:29 Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question. Answer me and I will tell you by what authority I do these things: 11:30 John’s baptism – was it from heaven or from people? Answer me.” 11:31 They discussed with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ 11:32 But if we say, ‘From people – ‘” (they feared the crowd, for they all considered John to be truly a prophet). 11:33 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” Then Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”
The Parable of the Tenants
12:1 Then he began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. He put a fence around it, dug a pit for its winepress, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and went on a journey. 12:2 At harvest time he sent a slave to the tenants to collect from them his portion of the crop. 12:3 But those tenants seized his slave, beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. 12:4 So he sent another slave to them again. This one they struck on the head and treated outrageously. 12:5 He sent another, and that one they killed. This happened to many others, some of whom were beaten, others killed. 12:6 He had one left, his one dear son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 12:7 But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and the inheritance will be ours!’ 12:8 So they seized him, killed him, and threw his body out of the vineyard. 12:9 What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others. 12:10 Have you not read this scripture:
‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
12:11 This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?”
12:12 Now they wanted to arrest him (but they feared the crowd), because they realized that he told this parable against them. So they left him and went away.
Paying Taxes to Caesar
12:13 Then they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to trap him with his own words. 12:14 When they came they said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are truthful and do not court anyone’s favor, because you show no partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?” 12:15 But he saw through their hypocrisy and said to them, “Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 12:16 So they brought one, and he said to them, “Whose image is this, and whose inscription?” They replied, “Caesar’s.” 12:17 Then Jesus said to them, “Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were utterly amazed at him.
Marriage and the Resurrection
12:18 Sadducees (who say there is no resurrection) also came to him and asked him, 12:19 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us: ‘If a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, that man must marry the widow and father children for his brother.’ 12:20 There were seven brothers. The first one married, and when he died he had no children. 12:21 The second married her and died without any children, and likewise the third. 12:22 None of the seven had children. Finally, the woman died too. 12:23 In the resurrection, when they rise again, whose wife will she be? For all seven had married her.” 12:24 Jesus said to them, “Aren’t you deceived for this reason, because you don’t know the scriptures or the power of God? 12:25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 12:26 Now as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? 12:27 He is not the God of the dead but of the living. You are badly mistaken!”
Luke
The Authority of Jesus
20:1 Now one day, as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the gospel, the chief priests and the experts in the law with the elders came up 20:2 and said to him, “Tell us: By what authority are you doing these things? Or who it is who gave you this authority?” 20:3 He answered them, “I will also ask you a question, and you tell me: 20:4 John’s baptism – was it from heaven or from people?” 20:5 So they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ 20:6 But if we say, ‘From people,’ all the people will stone us, because they are convinced that John was a prophet.” 20:7 So they replied that they did not know where it came from. 20:8 Then Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by whose authority I do these things.”
The Parable of the Tenants
20:9 Then he began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, leased it to tenant farmers, and went on a journey for a long time. 20:10 When harvest time came, he sent a slave to the tenants so that they would give him his portion of the crop. However, the tenants beat his slave and sent him away empty-handed. 20:11 So he sent another slave. They beat this one too, treated him outrageously, and sent him away empty-handed. 20:12 So he sent still a third. They even wounded this one, and threw him out. 20:13 Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What should I do? I will send my one dear son; perhaps they will respect him.’ 20:14 But when the tenants saw him, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir; let’s kill him so 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 destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” When the people heard this, they said, “May this never happen!” 20:17 But Jesus looked straight at them and said, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’? 20:18 Everyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, and the one on whom it falls will be crushed.” 20:19 Then the experts in the law and the chief priests wanted to arrest him that very hour, because they realized he had told this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.
Paying Taxes to Caesar
20:20 Then they watched him carefully and sent spies who pretended to be sincere. They wanted to take advantage of what he might say so that they could deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor. 20:21 Thus they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach correctly, and show no partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. 20:22 Is it right for us to pay the tribute tax to Caesar or not?” 20:23 But Jesus perceived their deceit and said to them, 20:24 “Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” They said, “Caesar’s.” 20:25 So he said to them, “Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 20:26 Thus they were unable in the presence of the people to trap him with his own words. And stunned by his answer, they fell silent.
Marriage and the Resurrection
20:27 Now some Sadducees (who contend that there is no resurrection) came to him. 20:28 They asked him, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies leaving a wife but no children, that man must marry the widow and father children for his brother. 20:29 Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died without children. 20:30 The second 20:31 and then the third married her, and in this same way all seven died, leaving no children. 20:32 Finally the woman died too. 20:33 In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For all seven had married her.”
20:34 So Jesus said to them, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. 20:35 But those who are regarded as worthy to share in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. 20:36 In fact, they can no longer die, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, since they are sons of the resurrection. 20:37 But even Moses revealed that the dead are raised in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. 20:38 Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live before him.” 20:39 Then some of the experts in the law answered, “Teacher, you have spoken well!” 20:40 For they did not dare any longer to ask him anything.
Lord, Your Word clearly teaches that both the unsaved and the saved alike are given choices, to either repent of the things of the world and be saved, or cling to the world and die. You do not reward disobedience. May I seek Your will and never allow the world to dictate a path that is contrary to Your desire for me.
The religious authorities challenge Jesus to state by whose authority He does miracles, preaches, and disrupts the Temple. Jesus, knowing their evil hearts, answers their question with His own question as to John’s authority to minister baptism: “Was as it from heaven or from people?” (Luke 20:4). The religious authorities, knowing that the latter would spark a riot among the people who believed John a prophet of God, reply that they do not know. Jesus tells them, “Neither will I tell you by whose authority I do these things” (vs. 8) — although it is obvious to all the people that mere man could not grant Him such power.
Jesus tells the Parable of the Two Sons: One initially disobeyed his father, then repented and obeyed; the other promised to obey, but never did. Jesus asks the gathered chief priests and elders, “Which of the two did his fathers’ will?” (Matt. 21:31). His teaching point: Although they had seen God’s power in John’s ministry with their own eyes, they did not repent and obey the Father, believing in His Son Who comes with power from on high and of Whom John spoke as coming soon.
In the telling of the Parable of the Tenants, Jesus illustrates the violent rebellion of the religious leaders (the Jewish tenant farmers) against God (the owner of the vineyard) — He will “destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others” (Mark 12:9), the Gentiles.
Challenged by the Pharisees on the paying of taxes to Caesar, Jesus turns it back on them with the wisdom that one should “give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Matt. 22:21). The latter is more challenging to a fallen person than is the first to arrogant religious leaders. Jesus’ words explain the important boundary between the things of the world and the things of God — our obligations as citizens of an earthly civilization and to the Lord God.
Jesus responds to a question from the Sadducees, “who contend that there is no resurrection,” Luke 20:27, intended to entrap Him: “In the resurrection, whose wife will the woman be?” (Luke 20:33). The Pharisees, who do believe in resurrection, listen closely. Jesus uses it as a teachable moment to show both of the groups their ignorance of God’s Word: The institution of marriage, Jesus explains, is for mankind’s time on earth and does not exist “in the resurrection” (Matt. 22:30), Heaven. The righteous, He assures them, will rise from the dead — “He is not the God of the dead but of the living” (Mark 12:27).
God knows our hearts. No matter our fallen words and deeds, He knows who are truly His and who are pretenders.
In matters of temporary citizenship, we are to be ethical and responsible; in matters related to God, faithful and righteous. Righteous living for the faithful can often be extraordinarily difficult — what are some helpful ways to handle decision making?
Be encouraged knowing that God, while offended by our rebellion, waits patiently while encouraging us to reconsider and blesses us when are obedient. Only those who surrender everything are welcome in Heaven.
Have you experienced a ministry outreach which was chronically unresponsive to God’s leading, and another which was responsive? Was the first group left for a time for the Holy Spirit to “prepare” for ministry, while the second group was already “harvesting”?
Ask the Holy Spirit to seek out a place in your heart where you may be deceiving others or yourself and trying to deceive God. Ask for the truth to be revealed to displace the deception, a revelation which will move you down the path of righteousness.
Today I will celebrate a forgiving God and will tell a back-slidden Believer the story of His forgiveness and restoration in my life.
Today I will pray for the leaders of the government under whose secular authority I live. I will be a good citizen in participating in the governmental process. I commit to being more faithful as a citizen of the eternal Kingdom of God and to obeying His call upon my life.
Be Specific _____________________________________________
Matthew
The Parable of the Wedding Banquet
22:1 Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 22:2 “The kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. 22:3 He sent his slaves to summon those who had been invited to the banquet, but they would not come. 22:4 Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited, “Look! The feast I have prepared for you is ready. My oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.”‘ 22:5 But they were indifferent and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. 22:6 The rest seized his slaves, insolently mistreated them, and killed them. 22:7 The king was furious! He sent his soldiers, and they put those murderers to death and set their city on fire. 22:8 Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but the ones who had been invited were not worthy. 22:9 So go into the main streets and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.’ 22:10 And those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all they found, both bad and good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. 22:11 But when the king came in to see the wedding guests, he saw a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 22:12 And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ But he had nothing to say. 22:13 Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Tie him up hand and foot and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!’ 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.’
[Note: Matthew 22:15-33 discussed in prior day’s study.]
The Greatest Commandment
22:34 Now when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they assembled together. 22:35 And one of them, an expert in religious law, asked him a question to test him: 22:36 “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 22:37 Jesus said to him, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 22:38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 22:39 The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 22:40 All the law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”
The Messiah: David’s Son and Lord
22:41 While the Pharisees were assembled, Jesus asked them a question: 22:42 “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said, “The son of David.” 22:43 He said to them, “How then does David by the Spirit call him ‘Lord,’ saying,
22:44 ‘The Lord said to my lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet”‘?
22:45 If David then calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” 22:46 No one was able to answer him a word, and from that day on no one dared to question him any longer.
Seven Woes
23:1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 23:2 “The experts in the law and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat. 23:3 Therefore pay attention to what they tell you and do it. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they teach. 23:4 They tie up heavy loads, hard to carry, and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing even to lift a finger to move them. 23:5 They do all their deeds to be seen by people, for they make their phylacteries wide and their tassels long. 23:6 They love the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues 23:7 and elaborate greetings in the marketplaces, and to have people call them ‘Rabbi.’ 23:8 But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher and you are all brothers. 23:9 And call no one your ‘father’ on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 23:10 Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one teacher, the Christ. 23:11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 23:12 And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
23:13 “But woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You keep locking people out of the kingdom of heaven! For you neither enter nor permit those trying to enter to go in.
23:14 [[EMPTY]]
23:15 “Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You cross land and sea to make one convert, and when you get one, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves!
23:16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple is bound by nothing. But whoever swears by the gold of the temple is bound by the oath.’ 23:17 Blind fools! Which is greater, the gold or the temple that makes the gold sacred? 23:18 And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar is bound by nothing. But if anyone swears by the gift on it he is bound by the oath.’ 23:19 You are blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 23:20 So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 23:21 And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and the one who dwells in it. 23:22 And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and the one who sits on it.
23:23 “Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You give a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, yet you neglect what is more important in the law – justice, mercy, and faithfulness! You should have done these things without neglecting the others. 23:24 Blind guides! You strain out a gnat yet swallow a camel!
23:25 “Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 23:26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside may become clean too!
23:27 “Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs that look beautiful on the outside but inside are full of the bones of the dead and of everything unclean. 23:28 In the same way, on the outside you look righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
23:29 “Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. 23:30 And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have participated with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 23:31 By saying this you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 23:32 Fill up then the measure of your ancestors! 23:33 You snakes, you offspring of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?
23:34 “For this reason I am sending you prophets and wise men and experts in the law, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town, 23:35 so that on you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 23:36 I tell you the truth, this generation will be held responsible for all these things!
Judgment on Israel
23:37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would have none of it! 23:38 Look, your house is left to you desolate! 23:39 For I tell you, you will not see me from now until you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
Mark
The Greatest Commandment
12:28 Now one of the experts in the law came and heard them debating. When he saw that Jesus answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 12:29 Jesus answered, “The most important is: ‘Listen, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 12:30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 12:31 The second is: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 12:32 The expert in the law said to him, “That is true, Teacher; you are right to say that he is one, and there is no one else besides him. 12:33 And to love him with all your heart, with all your mind, and with all your strength and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 12:34 When Jesus saw that he had answered thoughtfully, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” Then no one dared any longer to question him.
The Messiah: David’s Son and Lord
12:35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he said, “How is it that the experts in the law say that the Christ is David’s son? 12:36 David himself, by the Holy Spirit, said,
‘The Lord said to my lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet.”‘
12:37 If David himself calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” And the large crowd was listening to him with delight.
Warnings About Experts in the Law
12:38 In his teaching Jesus also said, “Watch out for the experts in the law. They like walking around in long robes and elaborate greetings in the marketplaces, 12:39 and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 12:40 They devour widows’ property, and as a show make long prayers. These men will receive a more severe punishment.”
The Widow’s Offering
12:41 Then he sat down opposite the offering box, and watched the crowd putting coins into it. Many rich people were throwing in large amounts. 12:42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, worth less than a penny. 12:43 He called his disciples and said to them, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the offering box than all the others. 12:44 For they all gave out of their wealth. But she, out of her poverty, put in what she had to live on, everything she had.”
Luke
The Messiah: David’s Son and Lord
20:41 But he said to them, “How is it that they say that the Christ is David’s son? 20:42 For David himself says 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.”‘
20:44 If David then calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?”
Jesus Warns the Disciples against Pride
20:45 As all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, 20:46 “Beware of the experts in the law. They like walking around in long robes, and they love elaborate greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 20:47 They devour widows’ property, and as a show make long prayers. They will receive a more severe punishment.”
The Widow’s Offering
21:1 Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box. 21:2 He also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. 21:3 He said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. 21:4 For they all offered their gifts out of their wealth. But she, out of her poverty, put in everything she had to live on.”
Lord, You were not gentle with the religious leaders who did harm with their false doctrine and evil hearts, and You showed that the simple faith of one poor woman represented more of what You desire in us than all the money and power of the worldly and wealthy. May I be careful in what I teach, careful about my attitude, and humbly sacrificial in giving all that You have given me back to You in service.
Jesus shares the parable of the Wedding Banquet, wherein He illustrates the principle that the Jews are the first invited, but their rebellion closes the door on their salvation. All are called without regard to Jew or Gentile, but only those who arrive in wedding clothes (the righteousness of Christ) will be permitted to enjoy the celebration. “For many are called, but few are chosen” (Matt. 22:14) echoes Jesus’ prior teachings that there are God-defined conditions for salvation.
Another ill-intended question from the religious authorities, “Which commandment in the law is the greatest?” (Matt. 22:36), Jesus turns in to a teachable moment by first telling them to love the Lord your God and your neighbor as yourself. By saying “all the law and prophets depend on these two commandments,” (vs. 40), Jesus intentionally uses the qualifier “all” to note that love is God’s filter through which everything related to the law and the prophets must be viewed.
Jesus poses a challenging question to the religious leaders by rhetorically asking, “How is it that they say that the Christ is David’s son?” (Luke 20:41). Asking, “If David then calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” (vs. 44), Jesus implies that He is both man and God.
Although they carry authority as the descendants of the lawgiving role of Moses, Jesus pronounces seven woes upon the religious leaders, who block every effort by the people to respond to God and instead breed deception. He prophesies that He will send wise men whom they will “kill and crucify” (Matt. 23:34), and in so doing they will seal their own fate (“be held responsible,” vs. 36) — at the same time creating martyrs to the Truth in the spilling of righteous blood.
Jesus warns His disciples to “Beware of the experts in the Law” (Luke 20:46), pointing out their selfishness and impending punishment, and to not drift into similar pride.
The widow’s tiny offering of two small copper coins, “worth less than a penny” (Mark 12:42), was all that she had and was of comparatively little value contrasted with the gifts of the rich who merely gave a small fraction of their wealth. Jesus noted that hers was superior, because it was truly sacrificial giving.
Have you observed, or perhaps been guilty and repented of, pride due to position or title, fame or wealth, power or prestige? How does our pride mislead others, to whom we should be showing a humble servant’s heart, about the teaching of Jesus?
Filter something from the Old Testament law and prophets through what Jesus said — all must be about loving God and ones neighbor as oneself. Consider how that changes the sloppy understanding many have of the intent of God’s law. Consider especially what it means of Him, since all of the Law and the prophets pointed to Jesus the Christ.
Have you experienced those who defend man’s traditions, thereby planting spiritual weeds in the hearts of Believers and drowning out the Holy Spirit’s call to their continual discipleship and growth.
Ask the Holy Spirit where in the Old Testament you have misunderstood His intended meaning, in light of loving God and others.
I will pray for protection from pride for the leaders among Believers, as well as for myself, and that if any have drifted into pride, they will discern, repent, and be healed.
Be Specific _____________________________________________
Matthew
The Destruction of the Temple
24:1 Now as Jesus was going out of the temple courts and walking away, his disciples came to show him the temple buildings. 24:2 And he said to them, “Do you see all these things? I tell you the truth, not one stone will be left on another. All will be torn down!”
Signs of the End of the Age
24:3 As he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, his disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 24:4 Jesus answered them, “Watch out that no one misleads you. 24:5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will mislead many. 24:6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. Make sure that you are not alarmed, for this must happen, but the end is still to come. 24:7 For nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 24:8 All these things are the beginning of birth pains.
Persecution of Disciples
24:9 “Then they will hand you over to be persecuted and will kill you. You will be hated by all the nations because of my name. 24:10 Then many will be led into sin, and they will betray one another and hate one another. 24:11 And many false prophets will appear and deceive many, 24:12 and because lawlessness will increase so much, the love of many will grow cold. 24:13 But the person who endures to the end will be saved. 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole inhabited earth as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.
The Abomination of Desolation
24:15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation – spoken about by Daniel the prophet – standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 24:16 then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. 24:17 The one on the roof must not come down to take anything out of his house, 24:18 and the one in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. 24:19 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing their babies in those days! 24:20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 24:21 For then there will be great suffering unlike anything that has happened from the beginning of the world until now, or ever will happen. 24:22 And if those days had not been cut short, no one would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 24:23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe him. 24:24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 24:25 Remember, I have told you ahead of time. 24:26 So then, if someone says to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out, or ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe him. 24:27 For just like the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. 24:28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.
The Arrival of the Son of Man
24:29 “Immediately after the suffering of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven will be shaken. 24:30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man arriving on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 24:31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet blast, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
The Parable of the Fig Tree
24:32 “Learn this parable from the fig tree: Whenever its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 24:33 So also you, when you see all these things, know that he is near, right at the door. 24:34 I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
Mark
The Destruction of the Temple
13:1 Now as Jesus was going out of the temple courts, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, look at these tremendous stones and buildings!” 13:2 Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left on another. All will be torn down!”
Signs of the End of the Age
13:3 So while he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, 13:4 “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that all these things are about to take place?” 13:5 Jesus began to say to them, “Watch out that no one misleads you. 13:6 Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and they will mislead many. 13:7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come. 13:8 For nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines. These are but the beginning of birth pains.
Persecution of Disciples
13:9 “You must watch out for yourselves. You will be handed over to councils and beaten in the synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a witness to them. 13:10 First the gospel must be preached to all nations. 13:11 When they arrest you and hand you over for trial, do not worry about what to speak. But say whatever is given you at that time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. 13:12 Brother will hand over brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise against parents and have them put to death. 13:13 You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
The Abomination of Desolation
13:14 “But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be (let the reader understand), then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. 13:15 The one on the roof must not come down or go inside to take anything out of his house. 13:16 The one in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. 13:17 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing their babies in those days! 13:18 Pray that it may not be in winter. 13:19 For in those days there will be suffering unlike anything that has happened from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, or ever will happen. 13:20 And if the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would be saved. But because of the elect, whom he chose, he has cut them short. 13:21 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe him. 13:22 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, the elect. 13:23 Be careful! I have told you everything ahead of time.
The Arrival of the Son of Man
13:24 “But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light; 13:25 the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 13:26 Then everyone will see the Son of Man arriving in the clouds with great power and glory. 13:27 Then he will send angels and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
The Parable of the Fig Tree
13:28 “Learn this parable from the fig tree: Whenever its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 13:29 So also you, when you see these things happening, know that he is near, right at the door. 13:30 I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 13:31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
Luke
The Signs of the End of the Age
21:5 Now while some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and offerings, Jesus said, 21:6 “As for these things that you are gazing at, the days will come when not one stone will be left on another. All will be torn down!” 21:7 So they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that these things are about to take place?” 21:8 He said, “Watch out that you are not misled. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them! 21:9 And when you hear of wars and rebellions, do not be afraid. For these things must happen first, but the end will not come at once.”
Persecution of Disciples
21:10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 21:11 There will be great earthquakes, and famines and plagues in various places, and there will be terrifying sights and great signs from heaven. 21:12 But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you, handing you over to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. 21:13 This will be a time for you to serve as witnesses. 21:14 Therefore be resolved not to rehearse ahead of time how to make your defense. 21:15 For I will give you the words along with the wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. 21:16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will have some of you put to death. 21:17 You will be hated by everyone because of my name. 21:18 Yet not a hair of your head will perish. 21:19 By your endurance you will gain your lives.
The Desolation of Jerusalem
21:20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. 21:21 Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. Those who are inside the city must depart. Those who are out in the country must not enter it, 21:22 because these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. 21:23 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing their babies in those days! For there will be great distress on the earth and wrath against this people. 21:24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led away as captives among all nations. Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
The Arrival of the Son of Man
21:25 “And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth nations will be in distress, anxious over the roaring of the sea and the surging waves. 21:26 People will be fainting from fear and from the expectation of what is coming on the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 21:27 Then they will see the Son of Man arriving in a cloud with power and great glory. 21:28 But when these things begin to happen, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
The Parable of the Fig Tree
21:29 Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the other trees. 21:30 When they sprout leaves, you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near. 21:31 So also you, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. 21:32 I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 21:33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
Lord, Your Word and Your instruction are always true. May I faithfully trust in You and obey Truth.
Jesus prophesies that the Temple will be utterly destroyed, a continuation of the punishment of rebellious Jerusalem: “Not one stone will be left on another. All will be torn down!” (Matt. 24:2). [Note: The Temple was destroyed in 70AD.]
Peter, James, John, and Andrew question Jesus as to when these things will happen, the Temple’s destruction being understood as a sign of the end times “about to take place” (Mark 13:4). Jesus warns them of so-called false Messiahs who will arise saying I am He and also provides a list of several other signs — He warns them not to be alarmed, because “these are but the beginnings of birth pains” (vs. 8). [Luke states a conditional that is rarely mentioned by those in a rush to forecast the timeframe of the last days of the End Times: “For these things must happen first, but the end will not come at once” (21:9b) means that all of the signs will come to pass and still a great deal of time will remain before the End of Time.]
Jesus describes future attacks (“they will seize you and persecute you,” Luke 21:12) against the disciples and other Believers by the religious leaders and anti-Biblical Christian zealots of many kinds. [It is notable that this was stated as a continuum both for the immediate experience of His disciples in the first Century and for those in the times following the coming of “many false prophets” (Matt. 24:11), when “lawlessness will increase so much” (vs. 12).]
Describing the “abomination of desolation,” (Mark 13:14), Jesus notes the obliteration of Jerusalem and the Tribulation (tribulation as ‘faith-related troubles’ and the Great Tribulation, or The Great Sifting of the faithful from the unrepentant-rebels) is yet to come.
Several important notes concerning these times are distributed across the Matthew, Mark, and Luke Gospel texts:
1) The Great Tribulation (or the Great Sifting) will be “cut short” (Matt. 24:22) so that the saved are not so overwhelmed that they are also destroyed. [This parallels the promise of 1 Corinthians 10:13, that the Lord God will not allow those who are His to be “tried beyond what you are able to bear.”]
2) Jesus reminds that He will return in such a way that “everyone will see” (Mark 13:26) at once that it is He, thus any isolated claims of the Messiah’s return others also ‘witnessed’ would be false.
3) The false messiahs and prophets will perform “great signs and wonders to deceive” (Matt. 24:24), but Jesus encourages Believers that they have been warned and “I have told you ahead of time” (vs. 25).
Jesus describes His return as “the Son of Man arriving in a cloud” (Luke 21:27) to bring final judgment and redemption. This will come at the height of the Great Tribulation, when the spiritual battle in the spiritual realm has reached its peak and darkness falls across the Heavens and the Earth. Jesus promises that He will send His angels with a great “trumpet blast” (Matt. 24:31) to announce His return — there will be no mistaking the true Messiah when He returns!
Using His “parable from the fig tree” (Mark 13:28), Jesus parallels the evidence of summer drawing near by a fig tree budding with the evidence of His own return — “when you see all these things, know that He is near” (Matt. 24:33). Notable is “this generation will not pass away until all these things take place,” (vs. 34): all these things refers to all the prophesies which preceded; and this generation refers to the end-times populace, an “unbelieving and perverse generation” (Matt. 17:17). Also notable is “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away”“ (Mark 13:31) — Jesus’ words “are more stable and lasting than creation itself!” (NET sn).
The “signs of the times” are only one phase in the long journey from His resurrection to the Believers’ redemption. Severe troubles are prophesied for all people — including the Saved —during the Great Tribulation. The Lord God’s promise is that He will rescue His before they are overwhelmed, not that He will prevent them from experiencing any tribulation. How does that impact you?
As post-Fall Creation disintegrates it has led to chaos and conflict. Immediately following the ascension of Jesus a time of tribulation – challenges to believers for their faith – began, but the major sifting of the faithful from unrepentent-rebels during the Great Tribulation escalates the already raging spiritual battle and eventually comes to an end at the End of Time. Knowing what the end holds for Believers, eternity in Heaven, makes life in the present fallen world more bearable.
Jesus warns of false Messiah’s and prophets, difficult times, persecution from unexpected sources, and the need for patience. Do you find it very difficult or easily-bearable to trust in His timing and that His ways are always perfect, so as to be patient despite your own idea as to what God should do and when?
Have you ever felt overwhelmed, then unexpectedly rescued by what could only have been the intervention of the Lord God? Does this assure you that, no matter what the world throws your way, God is with you?
Ask the Holy Spirit to empower you with a richer fellowship with Him, in both your prayer life, service, study, and worship.
Today I commit myself to fellowship, prayer, service, study, and worship, so that I am both a valuable tool for His ministry and prepared to bear up in hard times. I will pray with and for a fellow Believer, that they will likewise be prepared in this way— together we will encourage one another to press on.
Be Specific ____________________________________________
Matthew
Be Ready!
24:36 “But as for that day and hour no one knows it – not even the angels in heaven – except the Father alone. 24:37 For just like the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. 24:38 For in those days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark. 24:39 And they knew nothing until the flood came and took them all away. It will be the same at the coming of the Son of Man. 24:40 Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one left. 24:41 There will be two women grinding grain with a mill; one will be taken and one left.
24:42 “Therefore stay alert, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 24:43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have been alert and would not have let his house be broken into. 24:44 Therefore you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
The Faithful and Wise Slave
24:45 “Who then is the faithful and wise slave, whom the master has put in charge of his household, to give the other slaves their food at the proper time? 24:46 Blessed is that slave whom the master finds at work when he comes. 24:47 I tell you the truth, the master will put him in charge of all his possessions. 24:48 But if that evil slave should say to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ 24:49 and he begins to beat his fellow slaves and to eat and drink with drunkards, 24:50 then the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not foresee, 24:51 and will cut him in two, and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
25:1 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 25:2 Five of the virgins were foolish, and five were wise. 25:3 When the foolish ones took their lamps, they did not take extra olive oil with them. 25:4 But the wise ones took flasks of olive oil with their lamps. 25:5 When the bridegroom was delayed a long time, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 25:6 But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is here! Come out to meet him.’ 25:7 Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 25:8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ 25:9 ‘No,’ they replied. ‘There won’t be enough for you and for us. Go instead to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ 25:10 But while they had gone to buy it, the bridegroom arrived, and those who were ready went inside with him to the wedding banquet. Then the door was shut. 25:11 Later, the other virgins came too, saying, ‘Lord, lord! Let us in!’ 25:12 But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I do not know you!’ 25:13 Therefore stay alert, because you do not know the day or the hour.
The Parable of the Talents
25:14 “For it is like a man going on a journey, who summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them. 25:15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 25:16 The one who had received five talents went off right away and put his money to work and gained five more. 25:17 In the same way, the one who had two gained two more. 25:18 But the one who had received one talent went out and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money in it. 25:19 After a long time, the master of those slaves came and settled his accounts with them. 25:20 The one who had received the five talents came and brought five more, saying, ‘Sir, you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ 25:21 His master answered, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful in a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 25:22 The one with the two talents also came and said, ‘Sir, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more.’ 25:23 His master answered, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 25:24 Then the one who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Sir, I knew that you were a hard man, harvesting where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed, 25:25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ 25:26 But his master answered, ‘Evil and lazy slave! So you knew that I harvest where I didn’t sow and gather where I didn’t scatter? 25:27 Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received my money back with interest! 25:28 Therefore take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten. 25:29 For the one who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 25:30 And throw that worthless slave into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
The Judgment
25:31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 25:32 All the nations will be assembled before him, and he will separate people one from another like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 25:33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 25:34 Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 25:35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 25:36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ 25:37 Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 25:38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or naked and clothe you? 25:39 When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 25:40 And the king will answer them, ‘I tell you the truth, just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me.’
25:41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels! 25:42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink. 25:43 I was a stranger and you did not receive me as a guest, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 25:44 Then they too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not give you whatever you needed?’ 25:45 Then he will answer them, ‘I tell you the truth, just as you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for me.’ 25:46 And these will depart into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Mark
Be Ready!
13:32 “But as for that day or hour no one knows it – neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son – except the Father. 13:33 Watch out! Stay alert! For you do not know when the time will come. 13:34 It is like a man going on a journey. He left his house and put his slaves in charge, assigning to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to stay alert. 13:35 Stay alert, then, because you do not know when the owner of the house will return – whether during evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or at dawn – 13:36 or else he might find you asleep when he returns suddenly. 13:37 What I say to you I say to everyone: Stay alert!”
Luke
Be Ready!
21:34 “But be on your guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day close down upon you suddenly like a trap. 21:35 For it will overtake all who live on the face of the whole earth. 21:36 But stay alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that must happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
21:37 So every day Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, but at night he went and stayed on the Mount of Olives. 21:38 And all the people came to him early in the morning to listen to him in the temple courts.
John
Jesus’ Final Public Words
12:44 But Jesus shouted out, “The one who believes in me does not believe in me, but in the one who sent me, 12:45 and the one who sees me sees the one who sent me. 12:46 I have come as a light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in darkness. 12:47 If anyone hears my words and does not obey them, I do not judge him. For I have not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 12:48 The one who rejects me and does not accept my words has a judge; the word I have spoken will judge him at the last day. 12:49 For I have not spoken from my own authority, but the Father himself who sent me has commanded me what I should say and what I should speak. 12:50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. Thus the things I say, I say just as the Father has told me.”
Lord, Your teaching presses upon us our responsibility to love one another and share Your good news with all the world. May I be found faithful, through the equipping of Your Holy Spirit, in doing both.
Calling upon His children “to be on your guard” (Luke 21:34) every day for His sudden return and to not be weighed down by the worries of this life, Jesus cautions that they “do not know when the time will come” (Mark 13:33). His return may be at the end of the Tribulation or immediately prior to the Judgment (“at midnight...or at dawn,” vs. 35).
Jesus uses the parable of the Faithful and Wise Slave to reinforce His expectation that His children are to be “faithful and wise” (Matt. 24:45) stewards of their resources, and to be His hands in humbly and lovingly touching the hungry and hurting amongst them.
In the telling of The Parable of the Ten Virgins, Jesus emphasizes God’s children being ready “to meet the bridegroom” (Matt. 25:1) and staying active. Five virgins are wise and prepared with the “olive oil” (vs. 4) of faithfulness, which they had stored up as if a treasure in Heaven — they therefore stand ready to shine the light of their worship. Five are careless and shallow, without testimony or treasure, and unable to shine their light, for they have no stored oil of faithfulness.
Jesus shares a parable of servants entrusted with “talents” (Matt. 25:15) to wisely manage for their master in his absence. Two of the servants invest his talents and produce gains upon their master’s return, one makes no effort. The master rewards the two and punishes the one. Jesus’ message is that He has delegated authority and responsibility to us to manage His Kingdom on Earth in His absence. He will judge us based on our faithfulness to use our time and resources wisely. Those who share His heart’s desire to multiply His Kingdom will “enter in to the joy” (Matt. 25:23) of their Master when He returns; those who merely act religious, yet lack His heart for ministry, will be thrown in to “the outer darkness” (vs. 30), absent His light.
God’s standard at Judgment is the transformed heart-life of those who are truly saved and function sacrificially, loving God by loving others: “as you did it for one of the least of these...you did it for Me” (Matt. 25:40). The converse being, those who fail to live in such a manner are absent the mark of salvation (which is evidenced by the fruits which flow from the indwelling Holy Spirit).
Sharing His final public words, Jesus restates His standing as God (“the one who sees Me sees the One Who sent Me,” John 12:45) and the consequences of rebellion (“the word I have spoken will judge him at the last day,” (vs. 48). Jesus declares that the words He speaks are “just as the Father has told me” (vs. 50).
Jesus expects His children to express their loving gratitude to Him by sharing His love with others. Does that seem too much for Him to ask?
Do we have a ready answer for the one who asks the reason for our faith? Or are we like the careless and shallow five virgins, without testimony or treasure to shine as light in a dark world?
The Creator God provides for the salvation of those who will give up that which is worth nothing in order to accept that which is worth everything, the free gift of eternal life.
Recall an opportunity given to you by God to share His Word with the unsaved or to encourage discipleship in Believers. Did you invest yourself and your time in them or hold back with fear-induced caution?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you where you have chosen to make yourself available for service as His instrument of blessing.
Today I will reflect upon the past twelve months and prayerfully make a list of at least twelve acts of sacrificial service I made, as God’s hands and feet in this broken and dying world.
Be Specific _____________________________________________
Washing the Disciples’ Feet
13:1 Just before the Passover feast, Jesus knew that his time had come to depart from this world to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now loved them to the very end. 13:2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, that he should betray Jesus. 13:3 Because Jesus knew that the Father had handed all things over to him, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 13:4 he got up from the meal, removed his outer clothes, took a towel and tied it around himself. 13:5 He poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel he had wrapped around himself.
13:6 Then he came to Simon Peter. Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 13:7 Jesus replied, “You do not understand what I am doing now, but you will understand after these things.” 13:8 Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 13:9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head!” 13:10 Jesus replied, “The one who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not every one of you.” 13:11 (For Jesus knew the one who was going to betray him. For this reason he said, “Not every one of you is clean.”)
13:12 So when Jesus had washed their feet and put his outer clothing back on, he took his place at the table again and said to them, “Do you understand what I have done for you? 13:13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and do so correctly, for that is what I am. 13:14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you too ought to wash one another’s feet. 13:15 For I have given you an example – you should do just as I have done for you. 13:16 I tell you the solemn truth, the slave is not greater than his master, nor is the one who is sent as a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 13:17 If you understand these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Lord, You model humility and are the only One Who has no need to seek humility. You also remind us that Your teaching is the final Word and no man is to ever alter it. May I learn greater humility from You and teach humility, by way of example, to others.
Jesus illustrates the depth of His love through the washing of His disciples’ feet. Peter questions why He is humbling Himself in this way. Jesus tells him that they will all understand ‘after these things” (John 13:7): The things He had been teaching them, which they had struggled to understand and accept, in explanation of what He would soon endure and why. By the washing of their feet, He shows just how humble He is to be for the sake of providing for their salvation.
Declaring that the disciples were right to call Him “‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord’“ (vs. 13), something He had previously taught must only be reserved for God, Jesus once again affirms His deity.
In explanation of why He is washing their feet, Jesus points out that it illustrates what is expected of His followers, to serve one another in love. He tells them to do “just as I have done for you” (vs. 15), humbly serving others as in the symbolic washing of others’ feet.
Jesus reminds that He is sending them out as His messengers and the one sent is never “greater than the One who sent him” (vs. 16). Making no changes to His priorities, loving God first and then others, Jesus says, “you will be blessed if you do them” (vs. 17).
The Creator God kneels to wash the feet of His followers, as a role model for their walk with Him. How often have we been so humble in the teaching of those who look to us as an example?
When have you observed some who claim the name of Christ, assert that they are His messengers, but then exalt themselves in prideful arrogance — despite His clear warning?
In many ways mankind has placed his own preferences and priorities, superstitions and traditions on a par with, and even above, the Word of God. Jesus warns against this. Contemplate the harm to the testimony of Christ, to Truth, and to a witness that could have lead to another’s salvation — all have been compromised.
When has knowledge of the deity of Christ motivated you to lift His perspective and priorities above those of any world view?
Ask the Holy Spirit to empower you in demonstrating the loving humility of a child of God to a doubting world.
Today I will seek opportunity to demonstrate humility and a servant’s heart of love by symbolically washing the feet of a brother or sister whom I have found it difficult to love. This may be through offering to assist them with an unpleasant task, doing them an unexpected favor, or exhibiting another practical expression of love.
Be Specific ____________________________________________
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2012 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study –“The Chronological Gospels” – “Week 10 of 12” - prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in July of 2012. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
Matthew
The Plot Against Jesus
26:1 When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he told his disciples, 26:2 “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.” 26:3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people met together in the palace of the high priest, who was named Caiaphas. 26:4 They planned to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. 26:5 But they said, “Not during the feast, so that there won’t be a riot among the people.”
Jesus’ Anointing
26:6 Now while Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, 26:7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of expensive perfumed oil, and she poured it on his head as he was at the table. 26:8 When the disciples saw this, they became indignant and said, “Why this waste? 26:9 It could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor!” 26:10 When Jesus learned of this, he said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a good service for me. 26:11 For you will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me! 26:12 When she poured this oil on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 26:13 I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”
The Plan to Betray Jesus
26:14 Then one of the twelve, the one named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 26:15 and said, “What will you give me to betray him into your hands?” So they set out thirty silver coins for him. 26:16 From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray him.
Mark
The Plot Against Jesus
14:1 Two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the chief priests and the experts in the law were trying to find a way to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. 14:2 For they said, “Not during the feast, so there won’t be a riot among the people.”
Jesus’ Anointing
14:3 Now while Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, reclining at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of costly aromatic oil from pure nard. After breaking open the jar, she poured it on his head. 14:4 But some who were present indignantly said to one another, “Why this waste of expensive ointment? 14:5 It could have been sold for more than three hundred silver coins and the money given to the poor!” So they spoke angrily to her. 14:6 But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a good service for me. 14:7 For you will always have the poor with you, and you can do good for them whenever you want. But you will not always have me! 14:8 She did what she could. She anointed my body beforehand for burial. 14:9 I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”
The Plan to Betray Jesus
14:10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus into their hands. 14:11 When they heard this, they were delighted and promised to give him money. So Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray him.
Luke
Judas’ Decision to Betray Jesus
22:1 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was approaching. 22:2 The chief priests and the experts in the law were trying to find some way to execute Jesus, for they were afraid of the people.
22:3 Then Satan entered Judas, the one called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve. 22:4 He went away and discussed with the chief priests and officers of the temple guard how he might betray Jesus, handing him over to them. 22:5 They were delighted and arranged to give him money. 22:6 So Judas agreed and began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus when no crowd was present.
John
The Announcement of Jesus’ Betrayal
13:18 “What I am saying does not refer to all of you. I know the ones I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture, ‘The one who eats my bread has turned against me.’ 13:19 I am telling you this now, before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe that I am he. 13:20 I tell you the solemn truth, whoever accepts the one I send accepts me, and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”
13:21 When he had said these things, Jesus was greatly distressed in spirit, and testified, “I tell you the solemn truth, one of you will betray me.” 13:22 The disciples began to look at one another, worried and perplexed to know which of them he was talking about. 13:23 One of his disciples, the one Jesus loved, was at the table to the right of Jesus in a place of honor. 13:24 So Simon Peter gestured to this disciple to ask Jesus who it was he was referring to. 13:25 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved leaned back against Jesus’ chest and asked him, “Lord, who is it?” 13:26 Jesus replied, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread after I have dipped it in the dish.” Then he dipped the piece of bread in the dish and gave it to Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son. 13:27 And after Judas took the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” 13:28 (Now none of those present at the table understood why Jesus said this to Judas. 13:29 Some thought that, because Judas had the money box, Jesus was telling him to buy whatever they needed for the feast, or to give something to the poor.) 13:30 Judas took the piece of bread and went out immediately. (Now it was night.)
Lord, Mary was humble and focused on Jesus, enabling her to do things right. May I also keep the eyes of my heart focused on You.
The plot against Jesus unfolds, with Jesus identifying the traitor as Judas (“the one to whom I will give this piece of bread,” John 13:26) and the apostles missing the meaning of His words (“none of those present at the table understood,” vs. 28). Satan enters Judas, who then goes to the religious leaders to finalize his evil plan. Judas asks them, “What will you give me to betray him?” (Matt. 26:15) — the leaders give him money. [Note: Judas had a history of betraying God by stealing from the collections for the poor, thus he had already opened a gateway for Satan, and so was readily able to rationalize betraying Jesus based on any number of pretexts.]
Jesus is anointed with precious oil by Mary. The disciples are indignant and corporately identified as challenging her poor stewardship by saying, “Why this waste?” (Matt. 26:8). Judas is identified as the speaker who says, “Why wasn’t this oil sold...and the money given to the poor?” (John 12:5). John points out that Judas said this “because he was a thief” (vs. 6) and concerned he would have less to rob from the till, not because he was concerned for the poor.
Jesus informs His disciples that her sacrifice was “to prepare Me for burial” (Matt. 26:12). Her action would be retold “in memory of her” (vs. 13) spiritual perception and faithful action.
The humility of Mary allowed her to foresee, albeit subconsciously, Jesus’ imminent death, whereas the sometimes-pompous apostles missed seeing it altogether.
Ponder a situation where you recognized God at work and acted in a profoundly faithful and sacrificial way. How did God bless that? Share this story as an encouragement and a witness to others.
There are times and places in life where we may rationalize something we think of as ‘small sin.’ If you have ever rationalized a sin, have you repented and reconciled yourself with God?
Have you observed a leader in Christian fellowship wrongly challenging the faith-based actions of a fellow Believer?
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you are rationalizing sin. Pray for the strength to repent and be restored by God.
I will ask a fellow Believer to pray with me as I partner with the Holy Spirit to stop rationalizing sin, even the smallest sin.
I will pray the Lord’s blessing upon someone who is responding to Him in a sacrificial manner and ask to be shown how to encourage them.
Be Specific _____________________________________________
Matthew
The Passover
26:17 Now on the first day of the feast of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 26:18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is near. I will observe the Passover with my disciples at your house.”‘” 26:19 So the disciples did as Jesus had instructed them, and they prepared the Passover. 26:20 When it was evening, he took his place at the table with the twelve. 26:21 And while they were eating he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.” 26:22 They became greatly distressed and each one began to say to him, “Surely not I, Lord?” 26:23 He answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 26:24 The Son of Man will go as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for him if he had never been born.” 26:25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” Jesus replied, “You have said it yourself.”
The Lord’s Supper
26:26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after giving thanks he broke it, gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take, eat, this is my body.” 26:27 And after taking the cup and giving thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, 26:28 for this is my blood, the blood of the covenant, that is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 26:29 I tell you, from now on I will not drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” 26:30 After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Mark
The Passover
14:12 Now on the first day of the feast of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, Jesus’ disciples said to him, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 14:13 He sent two of his disciples and told them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14:14 Wherever he enters, tell the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”‘ 14:15 He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.” 14:16 So the disciples left, went into the city, and found things just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.
14:17 Then, when it was evening, he came to the house with the twelve. 14:18 While they were at the table eating, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, one of you eating with me will betray me.” 14:19 They were distressed, and one by one said to him, “Surely not I?” 14:20 He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who dips his hand with me into the bowl. 14:21 For the Son of Man will go as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for him if he had never been born.”
The Lord’s Supper
14:22 While they were eating, he took bread, and after giving thanks he broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take it. This is my body.” 14:23 And after taking the cup and giving thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 14:24 He said to them, “This is my blood, the blood of the covenant, that is poured out for many. 14:25 I tell you the truth, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” 14:26 After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Luke
The Passover
22:7 Then the day for the feast of Unleavened Bread came, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 22:8 Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us to eat.” 22:9 They said to him, “Where do you want us to prepare it?” 22:10 He said to them, “Listen, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters, 22:11 and tell the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”‘ 22:12 Then he will show you a large furnished room upstairs. Make preparations there.” 22:13 So they went and found things just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.
The Lord’s Supper
22:14 Now when the hour came, Jesus took his place at the table and the apostles joined him. 22:15 And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 22:16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 22:17 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves. 22:18 For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 22:19 Then he took bread, and after giving thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 22:20 And in the same way he took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
Lord, may I always remember the forgiveness Jesus made alive through His sacrifice, as is made clear to me through the taking of the bread and the wine. And may my taking communion never become mere ritual.
Jesus uses the occasion of the Passover celebration to release Judas to his evil intent. He says of Judas, who would soon betray Him, “it would be better for him if he had never been born” (Matt. 26:24).
While serving the accompanying Lord’s Supper to His loyal apostles, Jesus symbolically teaches them the purpose of and profit in His coming sacrifice.
Sharing with His apostles the traditional Passover meal and singing hymns with them (reportedly, Psalms 113-118), Jesus then provides a symbolic understanding of how, in both an individual and corporate manner, they will become like Him:
He takes the bread [He is the bread of life] and has the disciples divide it amongst themselves [He is distributing Himself amongst them]. Their eating of the bread makes it a profound internalized relationship experience for them. In like manner, Jesus shares the wine [His blood of the new covenant] with His faithful disciples. He reinterprets the Passover as the time when He will “make a new agreement [covenant] with the people” (Jer. 31:31), an agreement sealed by two reciprocal acts: First, His life blood poured out during His crucifixion, which provides the Way to be reconciled to God; second, His living blood poured into His followers during their taking of the wine, which provides eternal fellowship with the Father.
[Note: Communion may be celebrated in a corporate fellowship gathering, although a religious leader serving the bread and wine is not a Biblical requirement. Or communion may be served at home with a fellowship of Believers. Especially note, the Bible instructs that those harboring unforgiveness toward a brother be reconciled with them prior to communion (see 1 Cor. 11:17-34, Matt. 5:21-26).]
[Note: Jews celebrated the Passover with five small cups of wine, each with a unique symbolic meaning. The first was freedom from Egypt, the second freedom from slavery, the third powerful redemption, the fourth renewed national identity, and the fifth was reserved for Elijah (his rhetorical presence was that of the anticipated Messiah – that cup was not touched). Some assert that it was the fourth cup which Jesus held during the Last Supper.
It is reasonable to assert that it was all five, but with new covenant in-Christ altered meanings. The Passover tradition of Matzah bread, removing and dividing it in two, was also symbolic as half was wrapped in white linen and hidden (Jesus was wrapped in linen in the Tomb) and the children would search for the unleavened bread in the white linen (His followers searched for Him after the Resurrection). Whoever found the hidden bread would receive a redemption.]
Jesus is the new “Passover”: Believers are in captivity to sin and away from their Heavenly home; then Jesus comes to them with the promise to ‘pass over’ their sins and restore them to Himself.
Are the elements of the Lord’s Supper (unleavened bread and wine) important as to their literal form or are they merely symbolic, and therefore any solid and liquid are equally acceptable? Often, the intent and spiritual application of a Biblical passage can be lost if the words are taken too literally.
Read Psalms 113-118 and consider the meaning of the words to Jews living throughout history, a meaning forever altered. Then contemplate the new meaning imparted by Jesus at the last Passover.
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you an unsaved Jew who is considering Christ and share with him these texts concerning the completion of the Passover promise.
Today I will pause to thank Jesus that He chose to sacrifice Himself for my salvation and to provide for me a way Home.
Be Specific ____________________________________________
Matthew
The Prediction of Peter’s Denial
26:31 Then Jesus said to them, “This night you will all fall away because of me, for it is written:
‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
26:32 But after I am raised, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” 26:33 Peter said to him, “If they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away!” 26:34 Jesus said to him, “I tell you the truth, on this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” 26:35 Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will never deny you.” And all the disciples said the same thing.
Mark
The Prediction of Peter’s Denial
14:27 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written,
‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’
14:28 But after I am raised, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” 14:29 Peter said to him, “Even if they all fall away, I will not!” 14:30 Jesus said to him, “I tell you the truth, today – this very night – before a rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” 14:31 But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I must die with you, I will never deny you.” And all of them said the same thing.
Luke
A Final Discourse
22:21 “But look, the hand of the one who betrays me is with me on the table. 22:22 For the Son of Man is to go just as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” 22:23 So they began to question one another as to which of them it could possibly be who would do this.
22:24 A dispute also started among them over which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 22:25 So Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ 22:26 Not so with you; instead the one who is greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the one who serves. 22:27 For who is greater, the one who is seated at the table, or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is seated at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.
22:28 “You are the ones who have remained with me in my trials. 22:29 Thus I grant to you a kingdom, just as my Father granted to me, 22:30 that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
22:31 “Simon, Simon, pay attention! Satan has demanded to have you all, to sift you like wheat, 22:32 but I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. When you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” 22:33 But Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death!” 22:34 Jesus replied, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know me.”
22:35 Then Jesus said to them, “When I sent you out with no money bag, or traveler’s bag, or sandals, you didn’t lack anything, did you?” They replied, “Nothing.” 22:36 He said to them, “But now, the one who has a money bag must take it, and likewise a traveler’s bag too. And the one who has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one. 22:37 For I tell you that this scripture must be fulfilled in me, ‘And he was counted with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me is being fulfilled.” 22:38 So they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” Then he told them, “It is enough.”
John
The Prediction of Peter’s Denial
13:31 When Judas had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in him. 13:32 If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and he will glorify him right away. 13:33 Children, I am still with you for a little while. You will look for me, and just as I said to the Jewish religious leaders, ‘Where I am going you cannot come,’ now I tell you the same.
13:34 “I give you a new commandment – to love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 13:35 Everyone will know by this that you are my disciples – if you have love for one another.”
13:36 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, but you will follow later.” 13:37 Peter said to him, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you!” 13:38 Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? I tell you the solemn truth, the rooster will not crow until you have denied me three times!
Lord, I am easily distracted from what You have told me is really important, as were the Apostles. May I concern myself with loyalty and obedience to You. Your gift of salvation is far more than I deserve.
A dispute breaks out among the apostles as to “which of them was to be regarded as the greatest” (Luke 22:24). Jesus corrects them, as He had previously when John and James competed for special consideration, reminding them of His requirement for humility and a servant’s heart.
Jesus reminds his disciples “where I am going you cannot come” (John 13:33) and commands them to love one another as He has humbly and sacrificially loved them — “everyone will know by this that you are My disciples” (vs. 35).
Jesus promises that, because they had remained with Him “in His trials” (Luke 22:28), He would reward them with significant roles as judges “in My kingdom, and you will sit on thrones” (vs. 30).
After getting especially Peter’s attention, Jesus instructs His disciples that Satan has demanded “to sift you like wheat” (Luke 22:31). He tells Peter He has prayed for him and that, after he returns from his sifting, he will need to encourage and strengthen the others. [Peter was the strongest personality, a natural leader; he needed to be humbled and restored, if he was to not be a distraction and a poor role model.]
The prediction of Peter’s denial of being a follower of Jesus is shocking, in that it illustrates how weak even those who had been in the presence of God in the flesh could be when their worldly health and safety was threatened. The disciples deny that they would ever consider any path but loyalty and ultimate sacrifice alongside of Jesus — Peter insists, “if they all fall away...I will never fall away!” (Matt. 26:33) and “all the disciples said the same thing” (vs. 35).
Jesus reminds them of the times He had sent them out with no resources, dependent only on the Holy Spirit to provide all that they needed — “you didn’t lack anything, did you?” (Luke 22:35). He now cautions that they need to be prepared to handle things on their own, while “what is written about Me is being fulfilled” (vs. 37) — “And He was counted with the transgressors” (see Isa. 53:12). “Though completely innocent, Jesus dies as if He were a criminal” (NET sn).
Satan especially attacks leaders within the Christian community, therefore discernment, spiritual preparation, and prayers in agreement for their protection are needed. When leaders are attacked they will, by nature of being merely human, respond imperfectly; reeling from that failure to be perfect, they need encouragement and prayer, so they may encourage others. We must pray for, and not heap expectations of perfection upon, our Christian leaders.
Would it be apparent to nonbelievers that we are Believers by the way that we love one another, or have we been neglecting Jesus’ command to love one another?
A number of your relationships are with those whom you believe to be fellow children of God. Do those relationships truly provide evidence of your obedience to the new commandment, to love one another even as Jesus has loved you?
Bring to mind a Believer who is a role model for loving fellow Believers, especially the hard to love ones, and how their modeling of love impacts others — especially nonbelievers observing.
Ask the Holy Spirit to help direct your prayers to include both a leader who needs strength and encouragement and a fellow Believer with whom you need to repair a damaged relationship.
Today I will pray for a Christian leader, not necessarily someone well known or with a title, but someone whose life evidences a heart sold out to Jesus — by the witness of their walk more so than their words — and demonstrates that they are one of His chosen leaders.
I will also pray for a fellow Believer, one with whom I have a troubled relationship, and seek a way to mend that relationship.
Be Specific _____________________________________________
Jesus’ Parting Words to His Disciples
14:1 “Do not let your hearts be distressed. You believe in God; believe also in me. 14:2 There are many dwelling places in my Father’s house. Otherwise, I would have told you, because I am going away to make ready a place for you. 14:3 And if I go and make ready a place for you, I will come again and take you to be with me, so that where I am you may be too. 14:4 And you know the way where I am going.”
14:5 Thomas said, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 14:6 Jesus replied, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 14:7 If you have known me, you will know my Father too. And from now on you do know him and have seen him.”
14:8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be content.” 14:9 Jesus replied, “Have I been with you for so long, and you have not known me, Philip? The person who has seen me has seen the Father! How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 14:10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you, I do not speak on my own initiative, but the Father residing in me performs his miraculous deeds. 14:11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me, but if you do not believe me, believe because of the miraculous deeds themselves. 14:12 I tell you the solemn truth, the person who believes in me will perform the miraculous deeds that I am doing, and will perform greater deeds than these, because I am going to the Father. 14:13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14:14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
Teaching on the Holy Spirit
14:15 “If you love me, you will obey my commandments. 14:16 Then I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you forever – 14:17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept, because it does not see him or know him. But you know him, because he resides with you and will be in you.
14:18 “I will not abandon you as orphans, I will come to you. 14:19 In a little while the world will not see me any longer, but you will see me; because I live, you will live too. 14:20 You will know at that time that I am in my Father and you are in me and I am in you. 14:21 The person who has my commandments and obeys them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and will reveal myself to him.”
14:22 “Lord,” Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “what has happened that you are going to reveal yourself to us and not to the world?” 14:23 Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and take up residence with him. 14:24 The person who does not love me does not obey my words. And the word you hear is not mine, but the Father’s who sent me.
14:25 “I have spoken these things while staying with you. 14:26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and will cause you to remember everything I said to you.
14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be distressed or lacking in courage. 14:28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I am. 14:29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe. 14:30 I will not speak with you much longer, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me, 14:31 but I am doing just what the Father commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Get up, let us go from here.”
The Vine and the Branches
15:1 “I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener. 15:2 He takes away every branch that does not bear fruit in me. He prunes every branch that bears fruit so that it will bear more fruit. 15:3 You are clean already because of the word that I have spoken to you. 15:4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me.
15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me – and I in him – bears much fruit, because apart from me you can accomplish nothing. 15:6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown out like a branch, and dries up; and such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, and are burned up. 15:7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want, and it will be done for you. 15:8 My Father is honored by this, that you bear much fruit and show that you are my disciples.
15:9 “Just as the Father has loved me, I have also loved you; remain in my love. 15:10 If you obey my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 15:11 I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be complete. 15:12 My commandment is this – to love one another just as I have loved you. 15:13 No one has greater love than this – that one lays down his life for his friends. 15:14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15:15 I no longer call you slaves, because the slave does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because I have revealed to you everything I heard from my Father. 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that remains, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you. 15:17 This I command you – to love one another.
Lord, You desire that none should perish and have made salvation available to all men. Only some respond to Your invitation. Salvation is an undeserved gift, and I have been grafted in to Your original plan for the salvation of the Jews. May I always make myself available as Your tool to draw others near.
Comforting His disciples with some parting words, Jesus says: “Do not...be distressed. You believe [trust] in God; believe [trust] also in Me (John “if you have known [in intimate spiritual relationship] Me, you will know My Father too” (vs. 7).
Jesus affirms His deity (“I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me,” vs. 11) to leave no doubt in the minds of His disciples Who He is.
The miracles Jesus performs reveal the Father in the Son: “If you do not believe Me, believe because of the miraculous deeds” (vs. 11). Our performing even “greater deeds than these” (vs. 12), if we ask in His name, are done “so that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (vs. 13).
Jesus notes the essentials of true salvation by saying, “If you love Me you will obey my commandments” (vs. 15). He explains that the Father will send the Spirit of Truth as an “Advocate to be with you forever” (vs. 16). He then comforts them, saying that He will not abandon them, but will be with them through the indwelling Holy Spirit, who “resides with you and will be in you,” (vs. 17).
Jesus encourages with, “My peace I give to you” (vs. 27), peace which has freed them from bondage to the Enemy ending in death (which was once a just wage for the Law-based sin in their lives).
Using an illustration of the vine and the branches, Jesus declares that God, like a good “gardener” (15:1), takes away dead and unproductive branches in order to encourage health and productivity in the branches which remain. He then prunes the living branches so they will “bear more fruit” (vs. 2). Jesus encourages His chosen twelve to be continuously honoring of God through their productivity — “bear much fruit and show that you are My disciples” (vs. 8).
No longer calling them “slaves...but...friends” (vs. 15), Jesus notes that His disciples have transitioned from obedient but ignorant followers to informed and responsive members of His family — “I have revealed to you everything I have heard from My Father” (vs. 15).
[Note: “You did not choose Me, but I chose you” (vs. 16) is often misused to justify a fatalistic view of the Gospel — one that asserts that a man is chosen by God and predestined to be saved. A descriptive term for this doctrine may be “fatalistic double-predestination”: Some are chosen for Heaven, the rest are doomed to Hell — no human has any volitional impact upon their own eternal destiny.
This fatalistic view negates the freewill God gave man to choose his own destiny. The Bible does not teach that only those men chosen before Creation are welcomed into the family of God. Rather, all men who choose to believe and who rightly respond to Truth are welcomed.
At one point Jesus did choose, He chose twelve as representative of all imperfect beings. Jesus invested a great deal of time in building the twelve into faithful followers who would become leaders of others. Although they frequently failed to understand His teaching, He repeated it over and over until they got it right. One, Judas, never did.
Jesus called each of His disciples after having looked into their hearts and knowing they would respond rightly to Truth. Judas was chosen because he played a role in the necessity of the Cross and the fulfillment of prophesy.]
Jesus sacrificed Himself for us. Contemplate His commandment that we be sacrificial in our love, so that we attract others who may decide to share in the joy of salvation.
Knowing that we are the extension of Jesus in the world (the branches) and He was the human extension of God in the world (the vine), are we intentionally bearing the fruit for which He was so severely pruned?
Jesus promised the Holy Spirit as the conduit to God for all Believers. Are we sensitive to the presence of the Holy Spirit of God and intentionally surrendering to Him in thought and deed?
Recall when it became clear to you that a volitional response to the invitation of Jesus was required for your salvation. How long thereafter did you place everything at His feet and stand emptied before Him, absolutely surrendered and totally trusting?
Ask the Lord God to reveal where you have been especially faithful in your sacrificial service and where you have fallen short.
Today I will celebrate what the Holy Spirit has done to equip me for service and partner with Him to overcome my fears and insecurities. I will unreservedly ask for and receive the preparation I need to be His instrument of discipleship and evangelistic mission.
Be Specific ____________________________________________
The World’s Hatred
15:18 “If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me first. 15:19 If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you do not belong to the world, but I chose you out of the world, for this reason the world hates you. 15:20 Remember what I told you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they obeyed my word, they will obey yours too. 15:21 But they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me. 15:22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. But they no longer have any excuse for their sin. 15:23 The one who hates me hates my Father too. 15:24 If I had not performed among them the miraculous deeds that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen the deeds and have hated both me and my Father. 15:25 Now this happened to fulfill the word that is written in their law, ‘They hated me without reason.’ 15:26 When the Advocate comes, whom I will send you from the Father – the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father – he will testify about me, 15:27 and you also will testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.
16:1 “I have told you all these things so that you will not fall away. 16:2 They will put you out of the synagogue, yet a time is coming when the one who kills you will think he is offering service to God. 16:3 They will do these things because they have not known the Father or me. 16:4 But I have told you these things so that when their time comes, you will remember that I told you about them.
“I did not tell you these things from the beginning because I was with you. 16:5 But now I am going to the one who sent me, and not one of you is asking me, ‘Where are you going?’ 16:6 Instead your hearts are filled with sadness because I have said these things to you. 16:7 But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I am going away. For if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you, but if I go, I will send him to you. 16:8 And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong concerning sin and righteousness and judgment – 16:9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 16:10 concerning righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; 16:11 and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.
16:12 “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 16:13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. For he will not speak on his own authority, but will speak whatever he hears, and will tell you what is to come. 16:14 He will glorify me, because he will receive from me what is mine and will tell it to you. 16:15 Everything that the Father has is mine; that is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what is mine and will tell it to you. 16:16 In a little while you will see me no longer; again after a little while, you will see me.”
16:17 Then some of his disciples said to one another, “What is the meaning of what he is saying, ‘In a little while you will not see me; again after a little while, you will see me,’ and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?” 16:18 So they kept on repeating, “What is the meaning of what he says, ‘In a little while’? We do not understand what he is talking about.”
16:19 Jesus could see that they wanted to ask him about these things, so he said to them, “Are you asking each other about this – that I said, ‘In a little while you will not see me; again after a little while, you will see me’? 16:20 I tell you the solemn truth, you will weep and wail, but the world will rejoice; you will be sad, but your sadness will turn into joy. 16:21 When a woman gives birth, she has distress because her time has come, but when her child is born, she no longer remembers the suffering because of her joy that a human being has been born into the world. 16:22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. 16:23 At that time you will ask me nothing. I tell you the solemn truth, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you. 16:24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive it, so that your joy may be complete.
16:25 “I have told you these things in obscure figures of speech; a time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in obscure figures, but will tell you plainly about the Father. 16:26 At that time you will ask in my name, and I do not say that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 16:27 For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 16:28 I came from the Father and entered into the world, but in turn, I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”
16:29 His disciples said, “Look, now you are speaking plainly and not in obscure figures of speech! 16:30 Now we know that you know everything and do not need anyone to ask you anything. Because of this we believe that you have come from God.”
16:31 Jesus replied, “Do you now believe? 16:32 Look, a time is coming – and has come – when you will be scattered, each one to his own home, and I will be left alone. Yet I am not alone, because my Father is with me. 16:33 I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble and suffering, but take courage – I have conquered the world.”
Lord, You have warned us of challenges to our faith-walk with You, and You have provided Your Holy Spirit to help us overcome them. May I have confidence and courage while enduring the challenges, knowing that You are faithful and omnipotent.
Jesus warns the disciples again of the trouble that is to come because they are His: “I chose you...for this reason, the world hates you” (John 15:19). The world’s hatred of Him (and by extension, His followers) is because it stands condemned of sin due to their rebellion, the refusal to listen to and believe the Truth — “If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin” (vs. 22). The world is looking for someone to blame.
Jesus encourages them that, although He will leave them to return to “the One Who sent Me” (John 16:5), He will send the “Advocate” (vs. 7), the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will “guide you in all truth” (vs. 13) and empower to do what needs to be done until Christ’s return.
Speaking as God-incarnate, Jesus explains the way His ministry of salvation and discipleship will work within the Triune Godhead: No member of the Trinity speaks independently of the other, as they are inseparably One — “the Spirit will receive from Me what is Mine and will tell it to you” (John 16:15).
Jesus assures that although He will leave for a time, referring to His death on the Cross, He will surely return “after a little while” (John 16:16), referring to his post-resurrection appearances to them. His disciples respond, “‘In a little while? We do not understand what He is talking about’“ (John 16:18). Comforting them in their confusion, Jesus encourages them to look past the momentary sadness — “I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice,” (vs. 22).
Although reminded of the prophesies about Jesus, they remain confused. The wrong teaching by religious leaders about a military/political “messiah” to come; the fact that they could not accept that Jesus might leave them; and because He had been describing things to come using “obscure figures of speech,” (vs. 25) — not to be intentionally obtuse, but so as not to frighten them — all contributed to their confusion.
Jesus advises that their relationship with the Father will be transformed. As a result of His death, resurrection, and ascension, a pathway through prayer will opened between Believers and the Lord God — “You will ask in My name, and I do not say that I will ask the Father on your behalf” (vs. 26). He reminds that His glorious Self, the same eternal heavenly essence as the Father and the Holy Spirit, will return “back to the Father” (vs. 28) once His work on earth is finished.
Jesus warns they will both deny and forsake Him (“you will be scattered, each one to his own home,” vs. 32), then protects them against overwhelming guilt by reminding them that His Father is with Him. “Take courage – I have conquered the world” encourages them to cling to the peace that only faith in Him can bring, to be strong through the suffering to come, and to know that He is God and in control.
What began with His and the disciples’ small incursions into the temporary kingdom of Satan will end in victory in the eternal Kingdom of Jesus: “Take courage — I have conquered the world” (John 16:33). Satan, and the death he brings, will be powerless over a child of God.
Encouragement, perspective, and strength come with certain knowledge that God has overcome Satan and in the understanding that both the End of Time and Eternity are owned by God.
When the Holy Spirit of God took up eternal residence in each of us, we were transformed in many ways.
Jesus taught that people in rebellion against God, the majority of mankind, are unteachable and resentful. Feeling they look bad in contrast to a genuine Christian, they try to avoid, compromise, and destroy true Believers.
The fruits the Holy Spirit flows through you and into the lives of others brings glory to His name. These God-given fruits accomplish His great plan and are worthy of being shared.
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a time when He caused His fruit to be poured out through you as a blessing to others.
Today I will celebrate the times the fruits of the Holy Spirit flow though me and into the lives of others, bringing glory to His name and accomplishing His great plan. I will share these times remembered with a fellow Believer, as encouragement and testimony, and will celebrate God’s willingness to allow me partner with Him in His work.
Be Specific _____________________________________________
Jesus Prays for the Father to Glorify Him
17:1 When Jesus had finished saying these things, he looked upward to heaven and said, “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, so that your Son may glorify you – 17:2 just as you have given him authority over all humanity, so that he may give eternal life to everyone you have given him. 17:3 Now this is eternal life – that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you sent. 17:4 I glorified you on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 17:5 And now, Father, glorify me at your side with the glory I had with you before the world was created.
Jesus Prays for the Disciples
17:6 “I have revealed your name to the men you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have obeyed your word. 17:7 Now they understand that everything you have given me comes from you, 17:8 because I have given them the words you have given me. They accepted them and really understand that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 17:9 I am praying on behalf of them. I am not praying on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those you have given me, because they belong to you. 17:10 Everything I have belongs to you, and everything you have belongs to me, and I have been glorified by them. 17:11 I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them safe in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one. 17:12 When I was with them I kept them safe and watched over them in your name that you have given me. Not one of them was lost except the one destined for destruction, so that the scripture could be fulfilled. 17:13 But now I am coming to you, and I am saying these things in the world, so they may experience my joy completed in themselves. 17:14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them, because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 17:15 I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but that you keep them safe from the evil one. 17:16 They do not belong to the world just as I do not belong to the world. 17:17 Set them apart in the truth; your word is truth. 17:18 Just as you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. 17:19 And I set myself apart on their behalf, so that they too may be truly set apart.
Jesus Prays for Believers Everywhere
17:20 “I am not praying only on their behalf, but also on behalf of those who believe in me through their testimony, 17:21 that they will all be one, just as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. I pray that they will be in us, so that the world will believe that you sent me. 17:22 The glory you gave to me I have given to them, that they may be one just as we are one – 17:23 I in them and you in me – that they may be completely one, so that the world will know that you sent me, and you have loved them just as you have loved me.
17:24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, so that they can see my glory that you gave me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 17:25 Righteous Father, even if the world does not know you, I know you, and these men know that you sent me. 17:26 I made known your name to them, and I will continue to make it known, so that the love you have loved me with may be in them, and I may be in them.”
Lord, You have always been and will always be. Your love for us is endless. I pray to always stay close to You, in order to better resist deception, and to be a valuable instrument of Yours in this fallen world.
Jesus prays “the time has come” (John 17:1) for the Father to glorify Him, as His time on earth is nearly completed and He will return soon to “the glory I had with You before the world was created” (vs. 5).
A milestone is Jesus’ acknowledgement that His disciples have come to “really understand [come to know] that I came from You” (vs. 8), because they had been troubled by misunderstanding and unbelief so often. Praying for His disciples, that they will be preserved in their relationship with God and kept safe from deception, Jesus asks the Father to “set them apart” (vs. 17) in Truth from the confused world, so that they may continue in His work.
Jesus prays for Believers everywhere, His disciples and “those who believe in Me” (vs. 20) through their testimony, for their preservation and for them to be unified in love.
By declaring, “You loved Me before the creation of the world” (17:24), Jesus reiterates His fellowship with the Father prior to the beginning of time (see John 1:1).
The deity of Christ is reiterated so many times it is beyond dispute. Consider anew the incredible choice of Jesus, God the Son, to leave His glory behind in Heaven in order to come to earth as a mere human being, so that our relationship with God might be restored.
There are many practical ways that we might be protected by the Holy Spirit and proactive in being “kept safe from deception” and “set apart” in Truth, that we may partner with God to continue the work of Jesus.
Consider the ways that God brings, confirms, preserves, and pours out His Truth to and through us.
Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of someone who is considering Christ, and pray that when He speaks to them they will have open their ears to hear.
Today I will prayerfully seek opportunity to show someone the John 17 text; and, with the excitement, love, courage, and wisdom of the indwelling Holy Spirit, share with them how amazed I am that God would do what He has done (and continues to do) for me and for them!
Be Specific _____________________________________________
Matthew
Gethsemane
26:36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 26:37 He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and became anguished and distressed. 26:38 Then he said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, even to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake with me.” 26:39 Going a little farther, he threw himself down with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if possible, let this cup pass from me! Yet not what I will, but what you will.” 26:40 Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “So, couldn’t you stay awake with me for one hour? 26:41 Stay awake and pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 26:42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will must be done.” 26:43 He came again and found them sleeping; they could not keep their eyes open. 26:44 So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same thing once more. 26:45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is approaching, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 26:46 Get up, let us go. Look! My betrayer is approaching!”
Mark
Gethsemane
14:32 Then they went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 14:33 He took Peter, James, and John with him, and became very troubled and distressed. 14:34 He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, even to the point of death. Remain here and stay alert.” 14:35 Going a little farther, he threw himself to the ground and prayed that if it were possible the hour would pass from him. 14:36 He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” 14:37 Then he came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn’t you stay awake for one hour? 14:38 Stay awake and pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 14:39 He went away again and prayed the same thing. 14:40 When he came again he found them sleeping; they could not keep their eyes open. And they did not know what to tell him. 14:41 He came a third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough of that! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 14:42 Get up, let us go. Look! My betrayer is approaching!”
Luke
On the Mount of Olives
22:39 Then Jesus went out and made his way, as he customarily did, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 22:40 When he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 22:41 He went away from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, 22:42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me. Yet not my will but yours be done.” 22:43 [Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 22:44 And in his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.] 22:45 When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping, exhausted from grief. 22:46 So he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you will not fall into temptation!”
Lord, You give so much, more than any mere human deserves and beyond what we could ever give in return to You or to others. In gratitude, may I never tire of learning, growing, and serving.
Jesus brings three disciples with Him to a place on the Mount of Olives and instructs them to “pray that you will not fall into temptation” (Luke 22:40), the temptation of “Satan’s challenge to them to defect, like what happened to Judas and what will happen to Peter” (NET sn). Jesus knows that “the hour is approaching” (Matt. 26:45) when things will get rough, and they will especially need the protection of prayer.
Jesus withdraws three times to pray in quiet aloneness, and on each occasion He returns to find them sleeping, literally and spiritually — Exhausted both emotionally and physically, they are resistant to engaging Him at the spiritual level. “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough of that!” (Mark 14:41), which “can be taken either as a question or a sarcastic command” (NET tn).
In prayer, Jesus (in His temporary flesh) rhetorically asks the Father if there is another way to accomplish what He is about to endure, for He’d rather the Father “take this cup” (Luke 22:42). [Note: “This cup alludes to the wrath of God that Jesus would experience (in the form of suffering and death) for us” (NET sn).] He then affirms with certainty that He is willing to, metaphorically, drink from this cup if it is the Father’s will. These moments of anguish are affirmation of the humanity and the divinity of Jesus and that, no matter how horrific the task ahead, He is unwilling to waver.
How many times has God found you sleeping when you should have been in prayer? Or depressed and defeated by the unrelenting attacks of the world, with your eyes off of God and on yourself, as though the victory were coming from you and not God?
When have you asked others to pray for you and found that they had forgotten, being distracted by the busyness of life? Did you have a sense of the betrayal of fellowship that Jesus must have felt?
Consider when the Holy Spirit within has led you to prayer and then into action, despite your fears of what the future may hold.
When has God asked you to do for Him something really challenging, and you asked Him if there was any way that task could pass from you? When the Holy Spirit continued to convict you of the need to act, did you say with conviction, “Not my will but Yours be done”?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you places where and times when you are sleeping yet should be learning, growing, and serving.
Today I will confess to God the times I spiritually sleep to avoid dealing with those things He has told me to pray about in preparation for. I will ask for and accept His forgiveness, my heart repentant and in need of restoration. I will thank God for not giving up on me and be grateful that He is patient and persistent in leading me to be a useful part in His great plan of restoration.
Be Specific ____________________________________________
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2012 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study –”The Chronological Gospels” – “Week 11 of 12” - prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in July of 2012. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
Matthew
Betrayal and Arrest
26:47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent by the chief priests and elders of the people. 26:48 (Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I kiss is the man. Arrest him!”) 26:49 Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi,” and kissed him. 26:50 Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you are here to do.” Then they came and took hold of Jesus and arrested him. 26:51 But one of those with Jesus grabbed his sword, drew it out, and struck the high priest’s slave, cutting off his ear. 26:52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back in its place! For all who take hold of the sword will die by the sword. 26:53 Or do you think that I cannot call on my Father, and that he would send me more than twelve legions of angels right now? 26:54 How then would the scriptures that say it must happen this way be fulfilled?” 26:55 At that moment Jesus said to the crowd, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me like you would an outlaw? Day after day I sat teaching in the temple courts, yet you did not arrest me. 26:56 But this has happened so that the scriptures of the prophets would be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.
Condemned by the Sanhedrin
26:57 Now the ones who had arrested Jesus led him to Caiaphas, the high priest, in whose house the experts in the law and the elders had gathered. 26:58 But Peter was following him from a distance, all the way to the high priest’s courtyard. After going in, he sat with the guards to see the outcome. 26:59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were trying to find false testimony against Jesus so that they could put him to death. 26:60 But they did not find anything, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward 26:61 and declared, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’” 26:62 So the high priest stood up and said to him, “Have you no answer? What is this that they are testifying against you?” 26:63 But Jesus was silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” 26:64 Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 26:65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and declared, “He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? Now you have heard the blasphemy! 26:66 What is your verdict?” They answered, “He is guilty and deserves death.” 26:67 Then they spat in his face and struck him with their fists. And some slapped him, 26:68 saying, “Prophesy for us, you Christ! Who hit you?”
Peter’s Denials
26:69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A slave girl came to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” 26:70 But he denied it in front of them all: “I don’t know what you’re talking about!” 26:71 When he went out to the gateway, another slave girl saw him and said to the people there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene.” 26:72 He denied it again with an oath, “I do not know the man!” 26:73 After a little while, those standing there came up to Peter and said, “You really are one of them too – even your accent gives you away!” 26:74 At that he began to curse, and he swore with an oath, “I do not know the man!” At that moment a rooster crowed. 26:75 Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Mark
Betrayal and Arrest
14:43 Right away, while Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived. With him came a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent by the chief priests and experts in the law and elders. 14:44 (Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I kiss is the man. Arrest him and lead him away under guard.”) 14:45 When Judas arrived, he went up to Jesus immediately and said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. 14:46 Then they took hold of him and arrested him. 14:47 One of the bystanders drew his sword and struck the high priest’s slave, cutting off his ear. 14:48 Jesus said to them, “Have you come with swords and clubs to arrest me like you would an outlaw? 14:49 Day after day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, yet you did not arrest me. But this has happened so that the scriptures would be fulfilled.” 14:50 Then all the disciples left him and fled. 14:51 A young man was following him, wearing only a linen cloth. They tried to arrest him, 14:52 but he ran off naked, leaving his linen cloth behind.
Condemned by the Sanhedrin
14:53 Then they led Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests and elders and experts in the law came together. 14:54 And Peter had followed him from a distance, up to the high priest’s courtyard. He was sitting with the guards and warming himself by the fire. 14:55 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find anything. 14:56 Many gave false testimony against him, but their testimony did not agree. 14:57 Some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: 14:58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands and in three days build another not made with hands.’” 14:59 Yet even on this point their testimony did not agree. 14:60 Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer? What is this that they are testifying against you?” 14:61 But he was silent and did not answer. Again the high priest questioned him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” 14:62 “I am,” said Jesus, “and you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.” 14:63 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “Why do we still need witnesses? 14:64 You have heard the blasphemy! What is your verdict?” They all condemned him as deserving death. 14:65 Then some began to spit on him, and to blindfold him, and to strike him with their fists, saying, “Prophesy!” The guards also took him and beat him.
Peter’s Denials
14:66 Now while Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the high priest’s slave girls came by. 14:67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked directly at him and said, “You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus.” 14:68 But he denied it: “I don’t even understand what you’re talking about!” Then he went out to the gateway, and a rooster crowed. 14:69 When the slave girl saw him, she began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” 14:70 But he denied it again. A short time later the bystanders again said to Peter, “You must be one of them, because you are also a Galilean.” 14:71 Then he began to curse, and he swore with an oath, “I do not know this man you are talking about!” 14:72 Immediately a rooster crowed a second time. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said to him: “Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.
Luke
Betrayal and Arrest
22:47 While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd appeared, and the man named Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He walked up to Jesus to kiss him. 22:48 But Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” 22:49 When those who were around him saw what was about to happen, they said, “Lord, should we use our swords?” 22:50 Then one of them struck the high priest’s slave, cutting off his right ear. 22:51 But Jesus said, “Enough of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him. 22:52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders who had come out to get him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs like you would against an outlaw? 22:53 Day after day when I was with you in the temple courts, you did not arrest me. But this is your hour, and that of the power of darkness!”
Jesus’ Condemnation and Peter’s Denials
22:54 Then they arrested Jesus, led him away, and brought him into the high priest’s house. But Peter was following at a distance. 22:55 When they had made a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 22:56 Then a slave girl, seeing him as he sat in the firelight, stared at him and said, “This man was with him too!” 22:57 But Peter denied it: “Woman, I don’t know him!” 22:58 Then a little later someone else saw him and said, “You are one of them too.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” 22:59 And after about an hour still another insisted, “Certainly this man was with him, because he too is a Galilean.” 22:60 But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” At that moment, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. 22:61 Then the Lord turned and looked straight at Peter, and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” 22:62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.
22:63 Now the men who were holding Jesus under guard began to mock him and beat him. 22:64 They blindfolded him and asked him repeatedly, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” 22:65 They also said many other things against him, reviling him.
22:66 When day came, the council of the elders of the people gathered together, both the chief priests and the experts in the law. Then they led Jesus away to their council 22:67 and said, “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, 22:68 and if I ask you, you will not answer. 22:69 But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” 22:70 So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” He answered them, “You say that I am.” 22:71 Then they said, “Why do we need further testimony? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips!”
John
Betrayal and Arrest
18:1 When he had said these things, Jesus went out with his disciples across the Kidron Valley. There was an orchard there, and he and his disciples went into it. 18:2 (Now Judas, the one who betrayed him, knew the place too, because Jesus had met there many times with his disciples.) 18:3 So Judas obtained a squad of soldiers and some officers of the chief priests and Pharisees. They came to the orchard with lanterns and torches and weapons.
18:4 Then Jesus, because he knew everything that was going to happen to him, came and asked them, “Who are you looking for?” 18:5 They replied, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He told them, “I am he.” (Now Judas, the one who betrayed him, was standing there with them.) 18:6 So when Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they retreated and fell to the ground. 18:7 Then Jesus asked them again, “Who are you looking for?” And they said, “Jesus the Nazarene.” 18:8 Jesus replied, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, let these men go.” 18:9 He said this to fulfill the word he had spoken, “I have not lost a single one of those whom you gave me.”
18:10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, pulled it out and struck the high priest’s slave, cutting off his right ear. (Now the slave’s name was Malchus.) 18:11 But Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath! Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?”
Jesus Before Annas
18:12 Then the squad of soldiers with their commanding officer and the officers of the Jewish leaders arrested Jesus and tied him up. 18:13 They brought him first to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. 18:14 (Now it was Caiaphas who had advised the Jewish leaders that it was to their advantage that one man die for the people.)
Peter’s First Denial
18:15 Simon Peter and another disciple followed them as they brought Jesus to Annas. (Now the other disciple was acquainted with the high priest, and he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard.) 18:16 But Simon Peter was left standing outside by the door. So the other disciple who was acquainted with the high priest came out and spoke to the slave girl who watched the door, and brought Peter inside. 18:17 The girl who was the doorkeeper said to Peter, “You’re not one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” He replied, “I am not.” 18:18 (Now the slaves and the guards were standing around a charcoal fire they had made, warming themselves because it was cold. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.)
Jesus Questioned by Annas
18:19 While this was happening, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. 18:20 Jesus replied, “I have spoken publicly to the world. I always taught in the synagogues and in the temple courts, where all the Jewish people assemble together. I have said nothing in secret. 18:21 Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said. They know what I said.” 18:22 When Jesus had said this, one of the high priest’s officers who stood nearby struck him on the face and said, “Is that the way you answer the high priest?” 18:23 Jesus replied, “If I have said something wrong, confirm what is wrong. But if I spoke correctly, why strike me?” 18:24 Then Annas sent him, still tied up, to Caiaphas the high priest.
Peter’s Second and Third Denials
18:25 Meanwhile Simon Peter was standing in the courtyard warming himself. They said to him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?” Peter denied it: “I am not!” 18:26 One of the high priest’s slaves, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the orchard with him?” 18:27 Then Peter denied it again, and immediately a rooster crowed.
Lord, the last days of Jesus were described in prophesy long before they occurred —no mistakes were made in foretelling what was to come, so there were no surprises as the events unfolded in the years to come. While I am saddened every time I read this text, I am reminded that You knew precisely what must and would happen, how fallen mankind would respond, and how easily the well-intentioned but weak make bad decisions when afraid and confused. Lord, help me to always remember to turn to You when I am afraid and confused.
Judas leads the religious leaders to the garden of Gethsemane to arrest Jesus. As they approach, Jesus challenges them, “Who are you looking for?” (John 18:4). They reply, “Jesus the Nazarene” (vs. 5). When He declares, "I am He” (vs. 6), they retreat and fall to the ground. [NET study notes inform, "Jesus has applied to Himself the divine name of Exodus 3:14, "I AM"...which causes even His enemies to recoil and prostrate themselves."] Jesus instructs the religious leaders to "let these men [His disciples] go" (vs. 9), a New Testament fulfillment of an Old Testament prophecy.
Some of those gathered around Him ask if they may use their swords to defend Him? Peter, without awaiting a reply from Jesus, slashes off the ear of the high priest's slave. Jesus heals the man's ear (illustrating His command to "love your enemies," Matt. 5:4) and then rebukes Peter, reminding him that were it not His time He could "call on My Father" (Matt. 26:53) Who would send legions of angels to defend Him.
Jesus chastises the crowd and religious leaders for treating Him as a common criminal, an "outlaw" (Luke 22:52) [which can refer to "one who stirs up rebellion," (NET sn).] Jesus notes their cowardice in not having arrested Him when He was in the Temple courts day after day. Clearly their agenda had nothing to do with defending the truth of God. Jesus declares that their treatment of Him is "so that the scriptures would be fulfilled" ( Mark 14:49).
All of the disciples flee from His side, fearing arrest, but Jesus allows His arrest. Along the way Peter, who had "followed Him from a distance" (vs. 54), is three times challenged to admit that he is a follower of Jesus, and three times he denies knowing Jesus.
Peter's third denial of Jesus leaves him broken, hopeless, weak, demoralized, and humbled to the point of being teachable — deeply grieved, "he went outside and wept bitterly" (Matt. 26:75). Peter remains in this humbled state until after the resurrection of Jesus.
Annas, high priest prior to the time of Caiaphas, first questions Jesus "about His teaching" (John 18:19). Jesus suggests that if Annas needs further explanation of what He has been teaching to the world, he should "ask those who heard what I said. They know what I said" (vs. 21). A temple guard slaps Him, thinking Him disrespectful.
The religious leaders try to find "evidence against Jesus so that they could put Him to death" (Mark 14:55), but after many false witnesses they are unable. Jesus is asked to say if He is “the Christ” (vs. 61). He replies "if I tell you, you will not believe" (Luke 22:67), despite all of the evidence they have seen — “But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God” (vs. 69). [NET translators note that this is "an allusion to Ps. 110:1 ('Sit at my right hand...') and is a claim that Jesus shares authority with God in heaven."] Jesus is then condemned by the religious authorities and tested by their mocking, blindfolding, spitting on, and hitting Him, all the while being taunted, "Prophesy! Who hit You?" (Luke 22:64).
Have we observed people in business, political, or religious leadership who claim to be acting for righteous reasons, when it is obvious that their motives are selfish, non-Biblical, or tyrannical?
Do we sometimes act like Peter, asking the Holy Spirit for guidance, but then rushing ahead without waiting for His instruction?
Has God ever had to 'clean up' after you? Perhaps by facilitating the rebuilding of trust and the healing of wounded hearts, or by restoring a ministry or other organization that was damaged through your impetuous or unteachable attitudes?
Have you made a declaration of anticipated bravery, but when the actual moment of challenge arrived, found yourself less than brave?
I seek to be patient and wise, by asking for and waiting on the Holy Spirit of God for guidance.
I will pray that business, political, and religious leaders not be in rebellion against God. I will pray the same for myself, and then wait to see the softening of my rebellious heart.
Be Specific _____________________________________________
Matthew
Jesus Brought Before Pilate
27:1 When it was early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people plotted against Jesus to execute him. 27:2 They tied him up, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate the governor.
Judas’ Suicide
27:3 Now when Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus had been condemned, he regretted what he had done and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders, 27:4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood!” But they said, “What is that to us? You take care of it yourself!” 27:5 So Judas threw the silver coins into the temple and left. Then he went out and hanged himself. 27:6 The chief priests took the silver and said, “It is not lawful to put this into the temple treasury, since it is blood money.” 27:7 After consulting together they bought the Potter’s Field with it, as a burial place for foreigners. 27:8 For this reason that field has been called the “Field of Blood” to this day. 27:9 Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty silver coins, the price of the one whose price had been set by the people of Israel, 27:10 and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”
Jesus and Pilate
27:11 Then Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You say so.” 27:12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he did not respond. 27:13 Then Pilate said to him, “Don’t you hear how many charges they are bringing against you?” 27:14 But he did not answer even one accusation, so that the governor was quite amazed.
27:15 During the feast the governor was accustomed to release one prisoner to the crowd, whomever they wanted. 27:16 At that time they had in custody a notorious prisoner named Jesus Barabbas. 27:17 So after they had assembled, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Christ?” 27:18 (For he knew that they had handed him over because of envy.) 27:19 As he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent a message to him: “Have nothing to do with that innocent man; I have suffered greatly as a result of a dream about him today.” 27:20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. 27:21 The governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas!” 27:22 Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Christ?” They all said, “Crucify him!” 27:23 He asked, “Why? What wrong has he done?” But they shouted more insistently, “Crucify him!”
Jesus is Condemned and Mocked
27:24 When Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but that instead a riot was starting, he took some water, washed his hands before the crowd and said, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. You take care of it yourselves!” 27:25 In reply all the people said, “Let his blood be on us and on our children!” 27:26 Then he released Barabbas for them. But after he had Jesus flogged, he handed him over to be crucified. 27:27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the governor’s residence and gathered the whole cohort around him. 27:28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe around him, 27:29 and after braiding a crown of thorns, they put it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand, and kneeling down before him, they mocked him: “Hail, king of the Jews!” 27:30 They spat on him and took the staff and struck him repeatedly on the head. 27:31 When they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes back on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.
Mark
Jesus Brought Before Pilate
15:1 Early in the morning, after forming a plan, the chief priests with the elders and the experts in the law and the whole Sanhedrin tied Jesus up, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. 15:2 So Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He replied, “You say so.” 15:3 Then the chief priests began to accuse him repeatedly. 15:4 So Pilate asked him again, “Have you nothing to say? See how many charges they are bringing against you!” 15:5 But Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was amazed.
Jesus and Barabbas
15:6 During the feast it was customary to release one prisoner to the people, whomever they requested. 15:7 A man named Barabbas was imprisoned with rebels who had committed murder during an insurrection. 15:8 Then the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to release a prisoner for them, as was his custom. 15:9 So Pilate asked them, “Do you want me to release the king of the Jews for you?” 15:10 (For he knew that the chief priests had handed him over because of envy.) 15:11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas instead. 15:12 So Pilate spoke to them again, “Then what do you want me to do with the one you call king of the Jews?” 15:13 They shouted back, “Crucify him!” 15:14 Pilate asked them, “Why? What has he done wrong?” But they shouted more insistently, “Crucify him!” 15:15 Because he wanted to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them. Then, after he had Jesus flogged, he handed him over to be crucified.
Jesus is Mocked
15:16 So the soldiers led him into the palace (that is, the governor’s residence) and called together the whole cohort. 15:17 They put a purple cloak on him and after braiding a crown of thorns, they put it on him. 15:18 They began to salute him: “Hail, king of the Jews!” 15:19 Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Then they knelt down and paid homage to him. 15:20 When they had finished mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes back on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.
Luke
Jesus Brought Before Pilate
23:1 Then the whole group of them rose up and brought Jesus before Pilate. 23:2 They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man subverting our nation, forbidding us to pay the tribute tax to Caesar and claiming that he himself is Christ, a king.” 23:3 So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He replied, “You say so.” 23:4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for an accusation against this man.” 23:5 But they persisted in saying, “He incites the people by teaching throughout all Judea. It started in Galilee and ended up here!”
Jesus Brought Before Herod
23:6 Now when Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 23:7 When he learned that he was from Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who also happened to be in Jerusalem at that time. 23:8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some miraculous sign. 23:9 So Herod questioned him at considerable length; Jesus gave him no answer. 23:10 The chief priests and the experts in the law were there, vehemently accusing him. 23:11 Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, dressing him in elegant clothes, Herod sent him back to Pilate. 23:12 That very day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other, for prior to this they had been enemies.
Jesus Brought Before the Crowd
23:13 Then 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 misleading the people. When I examined him before you, I did not find this man guilty of anything you accused him of doing. 23:15 Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, he has done nothing deserving death. 23:16 I will therefore have him flogged and release him.”
23:17 [[EMPTY]]
23:18 But they all shouted out together, “Take this man away! Release Barabbas for us!” 23:19 (This was a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city, and for murder.) 23:20 Pilate addressed them once again because he wanted to release Jesus. 23:21 But they kept on shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” 23:22 A third time he said to them, “Why? What wrong has he done? I have found him guilty of no crime deserving death. I will therefore flog him and release him.” 23:23 But they were insistent, demanding with loud shouts that he be crucified. And their shouts prevailed. 23:24 So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. 23:25 He released the man they asked for, who had been thrown in prison for insurrection and murder. But he handed Jesus over to their will.
John
Jesus Brought Before Pilate
18:28 Then they brought Jesus from Caiaphas to the Roman governor’s residence. (Now it was very early morning.) They did not go into the governor’s residence so they would not be ceremonially defiled, but could eat the Passover meal. 18:29 So Pilate came outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” 18:30 They replied, “If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.”
18:31 Pilate told them, “Take him yourselves and pass judgment on him according to your own law!” The Jewish leaders replied, “We cannot legally put anyone to death.” 18:32 (This happened to fulfill the word Jesus had spoken when he indicated what kind of death he was going to die.)
Pilate Questions Jesus
18:33 So Pilate went back into the governor’s residence, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” 18:34 Jesus replied, “Are you saying this on your own initiative, or have others told you about me?” 18:35 Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own people and your chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?”
18:36 Jesus replied, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my servants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish authorities. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” 18:37 Then Pilate said, “So you are a king!” Jesus replied, “You say that I am a king. For this reason I was born, and for this reason I came into the world – to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” 18:38 Pilate asked, “What is truth?”
When he had said this he went back outside to the Jewish leaders and announced, “I find no basis for an accusation against him. 18:39 But it is your custom that I release one prisoner for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release for you the king of the Jews?” 18:40 Then they shouted back, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” (Now Barabbas was a revolutionary.)
Pilate Tries to Release Jesus
19:1 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged severely. 19:2 The soldiers braided a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they clothed him in a purple robe. 19:3 They came up to him again and again and said, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they struck him repeatedly in the face.
19:4 Again Pilate went out and said to the Jewish leaders, “Look, I am bringing him out to you, so that you may know that I find no reason for an accusation against him.” 19:5 So Jesus came outside, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Look, here is the man!” 19:6 When the chief priests and their officers saw him, they shouted out, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate said, “You take him and crucify him! Certainly I find no reason for an accusation against him!” 19:7 The Jewish leaders replied, “We have a law, and according to our law he ought to die, because he claimed to be the Son of God!”
19:8 When Pilate heard what they said, he was more afraid than ever, 19:9 and he went back into the governor’s residence and said to Jesus, “Where do you come from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. 19:10 So Pilate said, “Do you refuse to speak to me? Don’t you know I have the authority to release you, and to crucify you?” 19:11 Jesus replied, “You would have no authority over me at all, unless it was given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of greater sin.”
19:12 From this point on, Pilate tried to release him. But the Jewish leaders shouted out, “If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar! Everyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar!” 19:13 When Pilate heard these words he brought Jesus outside and sat down on the judgment seat in the place called “The Stone Pavement” (Gabbatha in Aramaic). 19:14 (Now it was the day of preparation for the Passover, about noon.) Pilate said to the Jewish leaders, “Look, here is your king!”
19:15 Then they shouted out, “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!” Pilate asked, “Shall I crucify your king?” The high priests replied, “We have no king except Caesar!” 19:16 Then Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.
Lord, when it is Your time for events to occur, they occur. The actions of mere humans may vary, but the conclusion will always be as You have ordained. May I trust that You are always in control.
The religious leaders, united in their plan to have Jesus killed, "led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate" (Matthew 27:2). When observing that Jesus, instead of rising up as a military leader or using His powers to protect Himself from harm, allows Himself to be falsely accused and condemned by the religious leaders, Judas "regretted what he had done" (vs. 3). Saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood!" (vs. 4), he tries to return the money, but the religious leaders discount it as unimportant to them So Judas throws the coins into the temple. The religious leaders use the money he threw away to buy a burial place for foreigners—it was blood money which could not be put in the offering. Judas goes and hangs himself.
Pilate attempts to question Jesus, but He "gave him no answer" (John 19:9), other than acknowledging that Pilate is powerless except for the secular authority "given to you from above" (vs. 11) and declaring that "the one who handed Me over to you is guilty of greater sin" (ibid).
Pilate tries to pass off the responsibility of Jesus to Herod when he learns that He is a Galilean "from Herod's jurisdiction" (Luke 23:7). Herod, merely hoping to see Jesus do a miracle, is disinterested in truth—and mocking Jesus, he "sent Him back to Pilate" (vs. 11).
Pilate's wife experiences a dream and warns him to "have nothing to do with that innocent man" (Matthew 27:19), but Pilate is more concerned about the social unrest being stirred up by the religious leaders. Declaring the innocence of Jesus, but capitulating to the demands of the people to "crucify him!" (Mark 15:14), Pilate releases the true criminal Barabbas in exchange for surrendering the innocent Jesus to the religious leaders.
Have we observed leaders doing the wrong things for “political” reasons, despite their obvious awareness that it was wrong?
Jesus had the authority to exercise power to prevent His suffering, yet chose not to do so for our sakes. Have you known someone who voluntarily endured loss or suffering for the sake of another?
Have you ever observed an innocent person being mocked by the less-than innocent?
Judas realized too late what a terrible mistake he had made and tried to undo it, to no avail. Have you been in a situation where someone tried to prevent the unfolding consequences of their wrongful choice(s), but was blocked by someone in authority?
I will pray that leaders look only to God to discern right from wrong, and that in so doing they acquire the character to do the right thing, no matter the political or social consequences.
Today I will come alongside of in support, in prayer and perhaps in practical ways as well, someone who has sacrificed for righteousness' sake and who endures criticism or faces difficulty for it.
Be Specific _____________________________________________
Matthew
The Crucifixion
27:32 As they were going out, they found a man from Cyrene named Simon, whom they forced to carry his cross. 27:33 They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “Place of the Skull”) 27:34 and offered Jesus wine mixed with gall to drink. But after tasting it, he would not drink it. 27:35 When they had crucified him, they divided his clothes by throwing dice. 27:36 Then they sat down and kept guard over him there. 27:37 Above his head they put the charge against him, which read: “This is Jesus, the king of the Jews.” 27:38 Then two outlaws were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 27:39 Those who passed by defamed him, shaking their heads 27:40 and saying, “You who can destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are God’s Son, come down from the cross!” 27:41 In the same way even the chief priests – together with the experts in the law and elders – were mocking him: 27:42 “He saved others, but he cannot save himself! He is the king of Israel! If he comes down now from the cross, we will believe in him! 27:43 He trusts in God – let God, if he wants to, deliver him now because he said, ‘I am God’s Son’!” 27:44 The robbers who were crucified with him also spoke abusively to him.
Mark
The Crucifixion
15:21 The soldiers forced a passerby to carry his cross, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country (he was the father of Alexander and Rufus). 15:22 They brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha (which is translated, “Place of the Skull”). 15:23 They offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. 15:24 Then they crucified him and divided his clothes, throwing dice for them, to decide what each would take. 15:25 It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. 15:26 The inscription of the charge against him read, “The king of the Jews.” 15:27 And they crucified two outlaws with him, one on his right and one on his left. 15:28 [[EMPTY]] 15:29 Those who passed by defamed him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who can destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, 15:30 save yourself and come down from the cross!” 15:31 In the same way even the chief priests – together with the experts in the law – were mocking him among themselves: “He saved others, but he cannot save himself! 15:32 Let the Christ, the king of Israel, come down from the cross now, that we may see and believe!” Those who were crucified with him also spoke abusively to him.
Luke
The Crucifixion
23:26 As they led him away, they seized Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country. They placed the cross on his back and made him carry it behind Jesus. 23:27 A great number of the people followed him, among them women who were mourning and wailing for him. 23:28 But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 23:29 For this is certain: The days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore children, and the breasts that never nursed!’ 23:30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ 23:31 For if such things are done when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
23:32 Two other criminals were also led away to be executed with him. 23:33 So when they came to the place that is called “The Skull,” they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 23:34 [But Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”] Then they threw dice to divide his clothes. 23:35 The people also stood there watching, but the rulers ridiculed him, saying, “He saved others. Let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, his chosen one!” 23:36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, 23:37 and saying, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!” 23:38 There was also an inscription over him, “This is the king of the Jews.”
23:39 One of the criminals who was hanging there railed at him, saying, “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 23:40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Don’t you fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 23:41 And we rightly so, for we are getting what we deserve for what we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 23:42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom.” 23:43 And Jesus said to him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”
John
The Crucifixion
So they took Jesus, 19:17 and carrying his own cross he went out to the place called “The Place of the Skull” (called in Aramaic Golgotha). 19:18 There they crucified him along with two others, one on each side, with Jesus in the middle. 19:19 Pilate also had a notice written and fastened to the cross, which read: “Jesus the Nazarene, the king of the Jews.” 19:20 Thus many of the Jewish residents of Jerusalem read this notice, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the notice was written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek. 19:21 Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The king of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am king of the Jews.’” 19:22 Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”
19:23 Now when the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and made four shares, one for each soldier, and the tunic remained. (Now the tunic was seamless, woven from top to bottom as a single piece.) 19:24 So the soldiers said to one another, “Let’s not tear it, but throw dice to see who will get it.” This took place to fulfill the scripture that says, “They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they threw dice.” So the soldiers did these things.
19:25 Now standing beside Jesus’ cross were his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 19:26 So when Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing there, he said to his mother, “Woman, look, here is your son!” 19:27 He then said to his disciple, “Look, here is your mother!” From that very time the disciple took her into his own home.
Your plan, Lord, worked out through the man-God Jesus, was surrounded by the ugliness of hate-filled humans; but Jesus found moments to teach the beauty of Truth along the way. May I be found teachable and listening for Your message hidden in every circumstance.
Jesus begins His journey to Golgotha carrying the cross-beam himself, as was the general practice, to be attached to the vertical post already on the hill. Along the way, Simon of Cyrene is conscripted "to carry His cross" (Matt. 27:32) the rest of the way — Jesus is physically weakened from the physical abuse He has suffered.
Jesus prophesies to the wailing women following Him for them not cry for Him, but to "weep for yourselves" (Luke 23:28) — because the violence poured out upon Him is only the beginning of suffering for Believers. "Judgment now comes on the nation [of Israel] (see Luke 19:41-44) for this judgment of Jesus" (NET sn).
Jesus is crucified, nailed to the cross with a sign ordered by Pilate (“Jesus the Nazarene, the king of the Jews,” John 19:19) posted above His head. The chief priests object, suggesting it should read "This man said, I am king of the Jews" (vs. 21, italics added). But Pilate insists "what I have written, I have written" (vs. 22), most probably to disown responsibility and "as a subtle way of getting back at the Jewish authorities who had pressured him in to the execution of one he considered to be an innocent man" (NET sn).
"One of the criminals who was hanging there railed at Him" (Luke 23:39) and joins the religious authorities, soldiers, and others in mocking Jesus. The criminal hanging on the other side of Jesus rebukes the first and, in an act of faith, recognizes Him also crucified as the Christ and asks for His blessing. Jesus not only forgives the respectful and repentant ("we are getting what we deserve," Luke 23:41) criminal, but promises him salvation for his faith—"today you will be with Me in paradise" (vs. 43).
They "divided His clothes, throwing dice for them," (Mark 15:24) is an allusion to Psalm 22:18, another Old Testament prophesy fulfilled.
Jesus directs His mother Mary to treat His disciple John as her son, and for John to accept Mary as his mother — "the disciple took her into his own home" (John 19:27). [Note: Any mention of Joseph, the father of Jesus, ceased long prior to this in the Gospel accounts; it appears that Mary was a widow. No reason is given in Scripture as to why one of her other sons, a brothers of Jesus, did not take her in.]
Those believing Jesus to be the Christ watch His arrest, His being lead away to be crucified, and His crucifixion. May they have wondered how their liberator could be so quickly subdued and judged like a common criminal? What was to happen to them without Him? Jesus knew that His death was necessary to meet the judicial requirements of God's perfect justice. Profoundly aware of the evil hatred swirling about the crowds, and that His severe suffering was needed to grab and hold man's attention across time and space, on He walked — voluntarily — to His death.
Jesus was nailed to the Cross, forgave the soldiers ignorant of what they were doing to the Son of God, and then blessed the thief who surrendered to Him while on the cross. Such love, such presence. The disciples cowered in the shadows, heartbroken and powerless. Souls emptied and hearts aching, they were utterly humbled. Have you observed someone having such selfless purpose while in the midst of enduring a crisis? Someone acting with the presence of mind and compassion of Jesus, Who provided a home and a caregiver for His mother and arranged for John to have an amazing woman of faith like Mary to share his home with?
Today I will take the time to prayerfully ponder the Cross. I will ask the Holy Spirit to give me the strength to endure hardships, so that I may better serve others with the sacrificial love of God.
I will pray for someone who is dealing with a loss (death of a loved one or the loss of a home, savings, business, job) or a challenge (divorce, major illness, injury, the integrity of a relationship). I will ask the Lord to show me the way to go beyond prayer to helpful service.
Be Specific ____________________________________________
Matthew
Jesus’ Death
27:45 Now from noon until three, darkness came over all the land. 27:46 At about three o’clock Jesus shouted with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 27:47 When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “This man is calling for Elijah.” 27:48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. 27:49 But the rest said, “Leave him alone! Let’s see if Elijah will come to save him.” 27:50 Then Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and gave up his spirit. 27:51 Just then the temple curtain was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks were split apart. 27:52 And tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had died were raised. 27:53 (They came out of the tombs after his resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.) 27:54 Now when the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and what took place, they were extremely terrified and said, “Truly this one was God’s Son!” 27:55 Many women who had followed Jesus from Galilee and given him support were also there, watching from a distance. 27:56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
Jesus’ Burial
27:57 Now when it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. 27:58 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 27:59 Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 27:60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut in the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance of the tomb and went away. 27:61 (Now Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there, opposite the tomb.)
Mark
Jesus’ Death
15:33 Now when it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 15:34 Around three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 15:35 When some of the bystanders heard it they said, “Listen, he is calling for Elijah!” 15:36 Then someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Leave him alone! Let’s see if Elijah will come to take him down!” 15:37 But Jesus cried out with a loud voice and breathed his last. 15:38 And the temple curtain was torn in two, from top to bottom. 15:39 Now when the centurion, who stood in front of him, saw how he died, he said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!” 15:40 There were also women, watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 15:41 When he was in Galilee, they had followed him and given him support. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were there too.
Jesus’ Burial
15:42 Now when evening had already come, since it was the day of preparation (that is, the day before the Sabbath), 15:43 Joseph of Arimathea, a highly regarded member of the council, who was himself looking forward to the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 15:44 Pilate was surprised that he was already dead. He called the centurion and asked him if he had been dead for some time. 15:45 When Pilate was informed by the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph. 15:46 After Joseph bought a linen cloth and took down the body, he wrapped it in the linen and placed it in a tomb cut out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone across the entrance of the tomb. 15:47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where the body was placed.
Luke
23:44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 23:45 because the sun’s light failed. The temple curtain was torn in two. 23:46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And after he said this he breathed his last.
23:47 Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent!” 23:48 And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. 23:49 And all those who knew Jesus stood at a distance, and the women who had followed him from Galilee saw these things.
Jesus’ Burial
23:50 Now there was a man named Joseph who was a member of the council, a good and righteous man. 23:51 (He had not consented to their plan and action.) He was from the Judean town of Arimathea, and was looking forward to the kingdom of God. 23:52 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 23:53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and placed it in a tomb cut out of the rock, where no one had yet been buried. 23:54 It was the day of preparation and the Sabbath was beginning. 23:55 The women who had accompanied Jesus from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 23:56 Then they returned and prepared aromatic spices and perfumes.
On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
John
Jesus’ Death
19:28 After this Jesus, realizing that by this time everything was completed, said (in order to fulfill the scripture), “I am thirsty!” 19:29 A jar full of sour wine was there, so they put a sponge soaked in sour wine on a branch of hyssop and lifted it to his mouth. 19:30 When he had received the sour wine, Jesus said, “It is completed!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
19:31 Then, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies should not stay on the crosses on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was an especially important one), the Jewish leaders asked Pilate to have the victims’ legs broken and the bodies taken down. 19:32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men who had been crucified with Jesus, first the one and then the other. 19:33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 19:34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and blood and water flowed out immediately. 19:35 And the person who saw it has testified (and his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth), so that you also may believe. 19:36 For these things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled, “Not a bone of his will be broken.” 19:37 And again another scripture says, “They will look on the one whom they have pierced.”
Jesus’ Burial
19:38 After this, Joseph of Arimathea, a disciple of Jesus (but secretly, because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate if he could remove the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission, so he went and took the body away. 19:39 Nicodemus, the man who had previously come to Jesus at night, accompanied Joseph, carrying a mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing about seventy-five pounds. 19:40 Then they took Jesus’ body and wrapped it, with the aromatic spices, in strips of linen cloth according to Jewish burial customs. 19:41 Now at the place where Jesus was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden was a new tomb where no one had yet been buried. 19:42 And so, because it was the Jewish day of preparation and the tomb was nearby, they placed Jesus’ body there.
Father, Your Son's sacrifice of life was needed to both satisfy the law and authorize His return to Heaven, and to separate us from our sin and admit us in to Heaven. May I be mindful to rejoice that You loved me so much You made a way where there was none.
On the cross, Jesus cries out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matt. 27:46, Mark 15:34). His words, “Father, into Your hands I commit my Spirit” (Luke 23:46) and “I am thirsty!” (John 19:28), are evidence of both His humanity and His divinity. [Note: Due to our sin, which Jesus took upon Himself to the cross, it was required that the discernible presence of God depart from Him for a time—the man Jesus was suddenly alone and absent God's indwelling presence. This separation does not negate the unity of Jesus with the Trinity, it merely describes the separation the divine Son of God suffered on earth while the human son of man suffered on the cross.]
Jesus declaring His thirst follows Him first acknowledging that "everything was completed," everything except the final prophesy fulfilled by "I am thirsty," [see Psalms 22:5; 69:21]. His thirst may reference the “water of life”, the Holy Spirit, Who Jesus is deeply missing the presence of during His separation from the Godhead.
It is the eve of "an especially important" (John 19:31) Sabbath, and the religious leaders want to get on with their religious traditions, so they ask Pilate to break the legs of the criminals on the cross. [Breaking the legs of men crucified was commonly done to quicken death—it eliminated their ability to lift themselves enough to take one more breath.] But, because Jesus is already dead, "they did not break His legs" (John 19:33), fulfilling another Old Testament prophecy (“Not a bone of His will be broken,” Psalms 34:20).
In the end, the soldiers "pierced His side with a spear" (John 19:34), again fulfilling Old Testament prophecy (see Zecharia 12–14). The blood and water released by the piercing of His flesh is proof of His physical death. [It is noteworthy that the Disciple Thomas would later be challenged by the resurrected Jesus to insert his hand into His side wound. It is possible that Thomas did so, but equally possible that merely seeing Jesus' wounds was sufficient to cause the doubting Thomas to finally believe.]
Jesus' burial, at the hands of the only religious leader who had not consented to His condemnation and murder, is done by "Joseph...a good and righteous man" (Luke 23:50). Jesus' body is quickly wrapped and placed in the tomb where He will later be embalmed.
The innocent and sinless Jesus, burdened by our sin, is deprived of the comfort of the indwelling presence of God. No impurity may exist in the presence of God without being destroyed, so the Father had to turn away from the Son so as to not destroy Him for our sin, leaving Christ desperately lonely.
In the crucifixion of a single man, the only One Whose blood truly saves, all of the required Old Testament laws of blood sacrifice are summarized and satisfied.
The self-deceiving hatred of those who attacked the God they claimed to worship: How carelessly they played a part in His death!
When have you felt as though you carried the emotional or spiritual burdens of others, to the point where it seemed that you might drown? What did you do to keep yourself afloat—cry out to God as did Jesus?
Today I will pray for a Believer trapped in a bad environment, where both they and the Holy Spirit are offended. Be it in a sick marriage, a Christian child in a non-Christian home, or a Christian in an unpleasant workplace, I will pray that the are set free.
I will pray for the Lord to move in the hearts of leaders who are encouraging anti-Christian sentiment and policies: Restrictions on the freedom to gather and of speech, censorship of Christian teaching in government schools, and encouragement of abortion and other actions that are onerous to God and His children. I will pray for a revival of God's truth in political and religious leaders and arenas.
Be Specific _____________________________________________
Matthew
The Guard at the Tomb
27:62 The next day (which is after the day of preparation) the chief priests and the Pharisees assembled before Pilate 27:63 and said, “Sir, we remember that while that deceiver was still alive he said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 27:64 So give orders to secure the tomb until the third day. Otherwise his disciples may come and steal his body and say to the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.” 27:65 Pilate said to them, “Take a guard of soldiers. Go and make it as secure as you can.” 27:66 So they went with the soldiers of the guard and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone.
The Resurrection
28:1 Now after the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 28:2 Suddenly there was a severe earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descending from heaven came and rolled away the stone and sat on it. 28:3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 28:4 The guards were shaken and became like dead men because they were so afraid of him. 28:5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 28:6 He is not here, for he has been raised, just as he said. Come and see the place where he was lying. 28:7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead. He is going ahead of you into Galilee. You will see him there.’ Listen, I have told you!” 28:8 So they left the tomb quickly, with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 28:9 But Jesus met them, saying, “Greetings!” They came to him, held on to his feet and worshiped him. 28:10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee. They will see me there.”
The Guards’ Report
28:11 While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests everything that had happened. 28:12 After they had assembled with the elders and formed a plan, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 28:13 telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came at night and stole his body while we were asleep.’ 28:14 If this matter is heard before the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 28:15 So they took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story is told among the Jews to this day.
Mark
The Resurrection
16:1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought aromatic spices so that they might go and anoint him. 16:2 And very early on the first day of the week, at sunrise, they went to the tomb. 16:3 They had been asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 16:4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled back. 16:5 Then as they went into the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 16:6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has been raised! He is not here. Look, there is the place where they laid him. 16:7 But go, tell his disciples, even Peter, that he is going ahead of you into Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you.” 16:8 Then they went out and ran from the tomb, for terror and bewilderment had seized them. And they said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.
The Longer Ending of Mark
[[16:9 Early on the first day of the week, after he arose, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had driven out seven demons. 16:10 She went out and told those who were with him, while they were mourning and weeping. 16:11 And when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.
16:12 After this he appeared in a different form to two of them while they were on their way to the country. 16:13 They went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them. 16:14 Then he appeared to the eleven themselves, while they were eating, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen him resurrected. 16:15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16:16 The one who believes and is baptized will be saved, but the one who does not believe will be condemned. 16:17 These signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages; 16:18 they will pick up snakes with their hands, and whatever poison they drink will not harm them; they will place their hands on the sick and they will be well.” 16:19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 16:20 They went out and proclaimed everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through the accompanying signs.]]
Luke
The Resurrection
24:1 Now on the first day of the week, at early dawn, the women went to the tomb, taking the aromatic spices they had prepared. 24:2 They found that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb, 24:3 but when they went in, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 24:4 While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood beside them in dazzling attire. 24:5 The women were terribly frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 24:6 He is not here, but has been raised! Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 24:7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” 24:8 Then the women remembered his words, 24:9 and when they returned from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 24:10 Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles. 24:11 But these words seemed like pure nonsense to them, and they did not believe them. 24:12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. He bent down and saw only the strips of linen cloth; then he went home, wondering what had happened.
John
The Resurrection
20:1 Now very early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been moved away from the entrance. 20:2 So she went running to Simon Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loved and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” 20:3 Then Peter and the other disciple set out to go to the tomb. 20:4 The two were running together, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and reached the tomb first. 20:5 He bent down and saw the strips of linen cloth lying there, but he did not go in. 20:6 Then Simon Peter, who had been following him, arrived and went right into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen cloth lying there, 20:7 and the face cloth, which had been around Jesus’ head, not lying with the strips of linen cloth but rolled up in a place by itself. 20:8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, came in, and he saw and believed. 20:9 (For they did not yet understand the scripture that Jesus must rise from the dead.)
Lord, the reality of the empty tomb and what it means is powerful. Many witnessed the events of this miracle as it unfolded and yet perceived it differently. May I remember to always view what I see through the lens of Your Word, and then all things will be clear to me.
The religious leaders remind Pilate that "while that deceiver was still alive he said, 'After three days I will rise again'" (Matt. 27:63) — they are paranoid that the followers of Jesus will steal His body and claim that He has been resurrected, so they petition and receive permission to seal the tomb and post a guard.
At dawn Sunday following the Saturday Sabbath, "an angel of the Lord" (Matt. 28:2), during what the guards experience as an earthquake, rolls away the stone at the entrance to the tomb and sits on it. The guards freeze in fear and "became like dead men" (vs. 4).
The women who had followed Jesus arrive to embalm His body and are greeted by "two men...in dazzling attire" (Luke The angel asks, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” (vs. 5). The angel instructs them to go in and see "the place where they laid Him" (Mark 16:6), and to then go and tell His disciples. Jesus meets them along the way, allows them to worship Him, and encourages them to "tell My brothers to go to Galilee" (Matt. 28:10) where He will join them.
The disciples believe the women's story to be "pure nonsense" (Luke 24:11). Yet both John and Peter run to the tomb and, although John arrives first, Peter "went right in" (John 20:6). Peter finds only the strips of linen cloth and is confused to not find Jesus' body there. He goes away "wondering what had happened" (vs. 12). ) — perhaps he is still emotionally distraught from his not-yet-forgiven triple denial of Jesus. John "came in, and he saw and he believed" (John 20:8) that Jesus had been resurrected.
The guards reported "everything that had happened" (Matthew 28:11) to the religious leaders, who bribed them to lie and say that Jesus' disciples "stole His body while we were asleep" (vs. 13).
[When reading the four different Gospel resurrection accounts, it is notable that several of the details are in a different order and some have different minor factual content. Much of the Matthew, Mark, and John text is a first-hand account, while Luke's text was assembled from the collected accounts of the experiences and observations of others.]
Peter and John have a footrace to the tomb. John arrives first then hesitates, but the impetuous Peter forgets caution and charges on in. John's pause may have been what was needed to discern the true meaning of the empty tomb, whereas Peter was already convinced that the women were wrong and so typically rushed to act without thinking.
The corruption of the religious leaders continues unabated and undeterred despite the obvious fulfillment of prophesy. Instead, they compound their sin by bribing the guards to lie rather than speak the truth about Jesus. Lies which continue to this day (see Matt. 28:15).
Humor may be found imagining the angel, who had just tossed aside the giant stone, sitting upon it and smiling at the guards' perplexity. Admittedly, this requires taking literary license; however, smile again at Heaven's unintended humor when the angel says to the Mary's, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?”
Have you experienced a moment when you were emotionally charged and raced to see something, only to discover that it was not what you expected to see? Perhaps at a so-called Christian concert or retreat, or during an unusual church format. Did you, like John, find that pausing a moment provided you time to gain a more thoughtful perspective?
Thank You God for the resurrection of Christ, Who defeated death itself. And for the living Holy Spirit of God dwelling within me and making me one of 'the living among the dead'.
I will pray for the business, political, and religious leaders who prefer the convenient lies of the world, which allows them to make excuses for their rebellion against God over the truth of Jesus.
Be Specific ____________________________________________
Luke
Jesus Walks the Road to Emmaus
24:13 Now that very day two of them were on their way to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 24:14 They were talking to each other about all the things that had happened. 24:15 While they were talking and debating these things, Jesus himself approached and began to accompany them 24:16 (but their eyes were kept from recognizing him). 24:17 Then he said to them, “What are these matters you are discussing so intently as you walk along?” And they stood still, looking sad. 24:18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things that have happened there in these days?” 24:19 He said to them, “What things?” “The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene,” they replied, “a man who, with his powerful deeds and words, proved to be a prophet before God and all the people; 24:20 and how our chief priests and rulers handed him over to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 24:21 But we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. Not only this, but it is now the third day since these things happened. 24:22 Furthermore, some women of our group amazed us. They were at the tomb early this morning, 24:23 and when they did not find his body, they came back and said they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24:24 Then some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see him.” 24:25 So he said to them, “You foolish people – how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 24:26 Wasn’t it necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 24:27 Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things written about himself in all the scriptures.
24:28 So they approached the village where they were going. He acted as though he wanted to go farther, 24:29 but they urged him, “Stay with us, because it is getting toward evening and the day is almost done.” So he went in to stay with them.
24:30 When he had taken his place at the table with them, he took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 24:31 At this point their eyes were opened and they recognized him. Then he vanished out of their sight. 24:32 They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us while he was speaking with us on the road, while he was explaining the scriptures to us?” 24:33 So they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem. They found the eleven and those with them gathered together 24:34 and saying, “The Lord has really risen, and has appeared to Simon!” 24:35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how they recognized him when he broke the bread.
Jesus Makes a Final Appearance
24:36 While they were saying these things, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 24:37 But they were startled and terrified, thinking they saw a ghost. 24:38 Then he said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 24:39 Look at my hands and my feet; it’s me! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones like you see I have.” 24:40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 24:41 And while they still could not believe it (because of their joy) and were amazed, he said to them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 24:42 So they gave him a piece of broiled fish, 24:43 and he took it and ate it in front of them.
John
Jesus’ Appearance to Mary Magdalene
20:10 So the disciples went back to their homes. 20:11 But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. As she wept, she bent down and looked into the tomb. 20:12 And she saw two angels in white sitting where Jesus’ body had been lying, one at the head and one at the feet. 20:13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” Mary replied, “They have taken my Lord away, and I do not know where they have put him!” 20:14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus.
20:15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?” Because she thought he was the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will take him.” 20:16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni” (which means Teacher). 20:17 Jesus replied, “Do not touch me, for I have not yet ascended to my Father. Go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 20:18 Mary Magdalene came and informed the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them what Jesus had said to her.
Jesus’ Appearance to the Disciples
20:19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the disciples had gathered together and locked the doors of the place because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20:20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 20:21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. Just as the Father has sent me, I also send you.” 20:22 And after he said this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 20:23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven; if you retain anyone’s sins, they are retained.”
Lord, the resurrection of Jesus helped His followers to rightly understand what You had done for them and to rightly respond to that. May I recognize, in gratitude for the great gift You have given to me, that I am also responsible to go and tell others of this great gift.
Jesus is walking along the road when He comes alongside two of His followers walking and talking in great angst. "But their eyes were kept from recognizing Him" (Luke 24:16) when He asks them to explain the things they are discussing so intently. When it is clear that they have misunderstood the critical spiritual essence of His ministry, Jesus recites again for them the prophesies fulfilled in Him and interprets "the things written about Himself" (vs. 27).
The disciples invite Jesus to stay the night. When they are at table, "He took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them" (vs. 30) — "their eyes were opened and they recognized Him" (vs. 31). [Note: When Believers today have communion, in response to Jesus' instruction to "do this in remembrance of Me" (Luke 22:19), our eyes are also opened to remember Who He is, our Lord and our Savior.]
Jesus appears to the gathered disciples and challenges them to, “Look at My hands and my feet....Touch Me and see” (Luke 24:39) that He is alive. Yet even after seeing His hands and feet, "they still could not believe" (vs. 41), so Jesus takes a piece of fish and eats it in front of them, demonstrating that He is truly a resurrected living human being.
Jesus breathes on His disciples, saying "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone's sins, they are forgiven; if you retain anyone's sins, they are retained” (John 20:22-23). To "forgive" is not an arbitrary apostolic power given them. Rather, with the help of the indwelling Holy Spirit they had just been given (unique to the disciples until Pentecost), they now have the discernment to know who is truly repentant and who is not. Therefore, when proclaiming forgiveness they do so with the certain knowledge given them by the Spirit of God.
The Holy Spirit came out from Jesus and in to His disciples, uniting them in spirit and with power for a purpose. We may miss the power and presence of the Lord as it is manifested in the body of Christ, the Church, if we are not united in the Spirit.
Have we often missed the message of the Lord when we are in a rush to explain things from a worldly, not a Heavenly, perspective?
Today I will ask the Holy Spirit to make me profoundly aware of His presence, His provisions for me, and His workings through me.
I will pray for the awareness of God in someone struggling with living out their faith and, to encourage them, will share with them how and when I see God moving in their life.
Be Specific _____________________________________________
Matthew
The Great Commission
28:16 So the eleven disciples went to Galilee to the mountain Jesus had designated. 28:17 When they saw him, they worshiped him, but some doubted. 28:18 Then Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 28:20 teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Luke
Jesus’ Final Commission
24:44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 24:45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the scriptures, 24:46 and said to them, “Thus it stands written that the Christ would suffer and would rise from the dead on the third day, 24:47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 24:48 You are witnesses of these things. 24:49 And look, I am sending you what my Father promised. But stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
Jesus’ Departure
24:50 Then Jesus led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands, he blessed them. 24:51 Now during the blessing he departed and was taken up into heaven. 24:52 So they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 24:53 and were continually in the temple courts blessing God.
John
The Response of Thomas
20:24 Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 20:25 The other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “Unless I see the wounds from the nails in his hands, and put my finger into the wounds from the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe it!”
20:26 Eight days later the disciples were again together in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20:27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and examine my hands. Extend your hand and put it into my side. Do not continue in your unbelief, but believe.” 20:28 Thomas replied to him, “My Lord and my God!” 20:29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are the people who have not seen and yet have believed.”
20:30 Now Jesus performed many other miraculous signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 20:31 But these are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Jesus’ Appearance to the Disciples in Galilee
21:1 After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. Now this is how he did so. 21:2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael (who was from Cana in Galilee), the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples of his were together. 21:3 Simon Peter told them, “I am going fishing.” “We will go with you,” they replied. They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
21:4 When it was already very early morning, Jesus stood on the beach, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 21:5 So Jesus said to them, “Children, you don’t have any fish, do you?” They replied, “No.” 21:6 He told them, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they threw the net, and were not able to pull it in because of the large number of fish.
21:7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” So Simon Peter, when he heard that it was the Lord, tucked in his outer garment (for he had nothing on underneath it), and plunged into the sea. 21:8 Meanwhile the other disciples came with the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from land, only about a hundred yards.
21:9 When they got out on the beach, they saw a charcoal fire ready with a fish placed on it, and bread. 21:10 Jesus said, “Bring some of the fish you have just now caught.” 21:11 So Simon Peter went aboard and pulled the net to shore. It was full of large fish, one hundred fifty-three, but although there were so many, the net was not torn. 21:12 “Come, have breakfast,” Jesus said. But none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. 21:13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 21:14 This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Peter’s Restoration
21:15 Then when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these do?” He replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” Jesus told him, “Feed my lambs.” 21:16 Jesus said a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” Jesus told him, “Shepherd my sheep.” 21:17 Jesus said a third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that Jesus asked him a third time, “Do you love me?” and said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus replied, “Feed my sheep. 21:18 I tell you the solemn truth, when you were young, you tied your clothes around you and went wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will tie you up and bring you where you do not want to go.” 21:19 (Now Jesus said this to indicate clearly by what kind of death Peter was going to glorify God.) After he said this, Jesus told Peter, “Follow me.”
Peter and the Disciple Jesus Loved
21:20 Peter turned around and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them. (This was the disciple who had leaned back against Jesus’ chest at the meal and asked, “Lord, who is the one who is going to betray you?”) 21:21 So when Peter saw him, he asked Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” 21:22 Jesus replied, “If I want him to live until I come back, what concern is that of yours? You follow me!” 21:23 So the saying circulated among the brothers and sisters that this disciple was not going to die. But Jesus did not say to him that he was not going to die, but rather, “If I want him to live until I come back, what concern is that of yours?”
A Final Note
21:24 This is the disciple who testifies about these things and has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true. 21:25 There are many other things that Jesus did. If every one of them were written down, I suppose the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
Lord, Your final commission is for us to partner with You in what has been at the heart of Your work in the world since Adam and Eve first rebelled in the Garden: Bring all men to faith in You. May I be found diligent and joyful in sharing the Good News.
Thomas was not with them when Jesus came to the first gathering of the disciples. When he hears that He had appeared to them, he declares that unless he sees the wounds on Jesus' body, "I will never believe it!" (John 20:25). Days later Jesus confronts Thomas with his unbelief, and he melts in humble recognition and submission to his Lord.
Jesus appears a third time to the disciples — "but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus" (John 21:4) — by the sea in Galilee, instructing them to cast their nets, which are then miraculously overfilled with fish after a night of nothing caught. John declares to Peter "It is the Lord!" (vs. 7), who in joyful response leaps into the water to greet Jesus on the shore. Jesus later joins them all in a meal, and they are still amazed—yet now "they knew it was the Lord" (vs. 12).
Peter is restored by Jesus after having denied Him three times. He challenges Peter three times Do you love Me?, leading him incrementally toward a properly humbled heart:
First, Jesus speaks the challenge, "Do you love me more than these do?" (John 21:15, italics added) in light of Peter's bragging before the crucifixion, If they all fall away...I never will. Peter dismisses His 'more than these do' qualifier when replying You know I love You. Jesus simply responds by telling Peter to Feed My lambs.
Second, He repeats Do you love me? to Peter, removing the challenge 'more than these'. When Peter replies again that he loves Him, Jesus tells Peter to "Shepherd My sheep" (John 21:16). [Note: Anyone can feed sheep, but a shepherd must be willing to die to protect his sheep.]
Third, He brings Peter to frustrated humility when making it clear to him that he is not in charge, Jesus is — Peter's humility is indicated by his confession, “Lord, You know everything. You know that I love You” (John 21:17). The arrogant Peter has been brought to his knees, and he is now ready to be trusted to feed and shepherd the Shepherd's sheep. [Note: The 'sheep' need to be fed the Word, so they will be equipped when Peter (and the others) are someday jailed or killed. Jesus' ministry must continue and multiply, with or without shepherds.]
Jesus' final commission begins with Him opening their minds ("so they could understand the scriptures," Luke 24:45) and reviewing the Law, Prophets, and Psalms fulfilled in Him. He advises them to wait in the city "until you have been clothed with power from on high" (vs. 49), in reference to the coming of the Holy Spirit.
The disciples worship Jesus in Galilee, "but some doubted" (Matt. 28:17) and would continue to doubt until the departure of Jesus to Heaven. He tells them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:18-20, italics added). [What has become known as The Great Commission is loaded: Jesus notes that 1) control over the world has been wrested from Satan and given to Him, 2) He sends His followers out to disciple the world, 3) He reiterates the Trinity, 4) He commands obedience from His followers, and 5) He concludes by encouraging them to remember they will never be alone in their ministry to others for Him.]
[Note: The “end of the age” (Matt. 28:20) refers to the age of man's independence from God. All truly-saved people have surrendered their free will, their independence. Therefore, once past the final judgment when everything sinful has been obliterated, that age will have ended — All God's children will then be in Heaven with Him, rather than Jesus needing to minister to us in this fallen world.]
Jesus blesses His disciples and is "taken up into heaven" (Luke 24:51). In response to their witness of His ascension, the disciples worship Him and return to Jerusalem in great joy, sharing His story in the Temple courts and "blessing God" (vs. 53) for what He has done.
John concludes with the final note that "his testimony is true" (21:24) and that there are many other things Jesus did and said that could have been recorded, but "the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written" (vs. 25).
There are meanings embedded in the Final Commission of Jesus, both in His promises to and His expectations of us.
Jesus challenges Peter three times: To not think more of himself than others, to be a humble shepherd, and to be intentional in preparing others to carry on after he too is gone.
Jesus humbled Peter, which prepared him for leadership. Has He likewise humbled and prepared you? Note that He wants us to be humble, yet bold, in our service to Him.
I rejoice that Jesus overcame my doubt, forgave my rebellion, and is now equipping me to serve Him with love, energy, and integrity.
I prayerfully commit to remember that it is always about Him, He has prepared the way, and He expects me to never rest in telling His story.
Be Specific ____________________________________________
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2012 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study –“The Chronological Gospels” – “Week 12 of 12” - prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in July of 2012. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.