The Life of Christ-Condensed

Jesus Seventy-Two Steps
From
Glory to Glory
(As found in Wilmingtons Guide to the Bible.)
Compiled by
Norman H. Jacobson
The Salvation Army
Citadel Corps
San Antonio, Texas 78201
Table of Contents
Preface. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xv
Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xvii
Prologue. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Days of Preparation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
I. The Christ of Obscurity
Step 1. From Glory to Bethlehem. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Step 2. From Bethlehem to Jerusalem. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Step 3. From Jerusalem to Nazareth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Step 4. From Nazareth to Bethlehem (implied). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Step 5. From Bethlehem to Egypt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Step 6. From Egypt to Nazareth.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Step 7. From Nazareth to Jerusalem. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Step 8. From Jerusalem to Nazareth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
II. The Ministering Christ
A. The Time of Preparation
Step 9. From Nazareth to Bethabara, on the Jordan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Step 10. From Bethabara to the Temptation Wilderness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Step 11. From the Temptation Wilderness to Bethabara. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Step 12. From Bethabara to Bethsaida.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Step 13. From Bethsaida to Cana.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Step 14. From Cana to Capernaum. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
B. The Year of Inauguration
Step 15. From Capernaum to Jerusalem. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Step 16. From Jerusalem to the Jordan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Step 17. From the Jordan to Sychar in Samaria.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Step 18. From Sychar to Cana. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Step 19. From Cana to Nazareth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Step 20. From Nazareth to Capernaum. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Step 21. From Capernaum to the First Galilean Preaching Tour.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Step 22. From the First Preaching Tour to Capernaum. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
C. The Year of Popularity
Step 23. From Capernaum to a Galilean Grain Field. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Step 24. From a Galilean Grain Field to a Galilean Synagogue. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Step 25. From a Galilean Synagogue to Mount Tabor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Step 26. From Mount Tabor to Capernaum. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Step 27. From Capernaum to Nain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Step 28. From Nain to the Second Galilean Preaching Tour.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Step 29. From the Second Preaching Tour to the Country of the Gadarenes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
-iii-
Step 30. From the Country of the Gadarenes to Capernaum. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Step 31. From Capernaum to Jerusalem. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Step 32. From Jerusalem to Nazareth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Step 33. From Nazareth to the Third Galilean Preaching Tour. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Step 34. From the Third Preaching Tour to a Wilderness near Bethsaida. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Step 35. From the Bethsaida Wilderness to the Plain of Gennesaret. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
D. The Year of Opposition
Step 36. From the Plain of Gennesaret to Capernaum.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Step 37. From Capernaum to the Tyre and Sidon Region. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Step 38. From Tyre and Sidon to the Decapolis Region. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Step 39. From Decapolis to Mount Tabor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Step 40. From Mount Tabor to Magdala. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Step 41. From Magdala to Bethsaida. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Step 42. From Bethsaida to Jerusalem.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
E. The Year of Determination
Step 43. From Jerusalem to Perea. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Step 44. From Perea to Caesarea Philippi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Step 45. From Caesarea Philippi to Mount Hermon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Step 46. From Mount Hermon to Capernaum. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Step 47. From Capernaum to Perea. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Step 48. From Perea to Bethany and Surrounding Area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Step 49. From Bethany to Jericho. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
III. The Suffering Christ
Step 50. From Jericho to Bethany. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Step 51. From Bethany to Bethphage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Step 52. From Bethphage to the Upper Room. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Step 53. From the Upper Room to Gethsemane. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Step 54. From Gethsemane to Annas House. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Step 55. From Annas House to Caiaphas Palace. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Step 56. From Caiaphas Palace to Pilates Hall. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Step 57. From Pilates Hall to Herods Palace. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Step 58. From Herods Palace to Pilates Hall. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Step 59. From Pilates Hall to the Praetorium Court. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Step 60. From the Praetorium Court to Golgotha. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Step 61. From Golgotha to Josephs Tomb. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Step 62. From Josephs Tomb to the Heart of the Earth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
IV. The Risen Christ
Step 63. From the Heart of the Earth to the Resurrection Garden.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Step 64. From the Resurrection Garden to the Father. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Step 65. From the Father to a Road near Jerusalem. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Step 66. From a Road near Jerusalem to the Emmaus Road. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Step 67. From the Emmaus Road to the Upper Room. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Step 68. From the Upper Room Back to the Upper Room (a week later). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
-iv-
Step 69. From the Upper Room to the Sea of Galilee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Step 70. From the Sea of Galilee to Mount Tabor.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Step 71. From Mount Tabor to the Upper Room.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Step 72. From the Upper Room to the Mount of Olives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Final Notes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Appendices
I. The Unique Principle of Arrangement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
II. The Problem of Peters Denials. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
III. The Gospels Historicity Confirmed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
IV. The Gospels Four-Year Chronology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Scripture Index.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Detailed Contents
Prologue
The Biographys Divine Title. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Jesus was Gods Expression in Flesh. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Legally he was of Israels Royalty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
The Certainty of the Storys Facts.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Days of Preparation
Birth Announcement of John the Baptist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Birth Announcement of Jesus the Messiah. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Mary and Elizabeth Rejoice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
The Birth of John.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Birth Announcement of Jesus to Joseph. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Step 1. From Glory to Bethlehem
The Census and the Birth of Jesus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
The Shepherds Visit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Step 2. From Bethlehem to Jerusalem
Jesus Presentation at the Temple.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
The Prophecy of Simeon.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
The Testimony of Anna. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Step 3. From Jerusalem to Nazareth
The Return of Mary and Joseph to Nazareth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Step 4. From Nazareth to Bethlehem (implied)
The Visit of the Wise Men. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Step 5. From Bethlehem to Egypt
The Escape to Egypt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Step 6. From Egypt to Nazareth
The Return to Nazareth.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Step 7. From Nazareth to Jerusalem
The Boy Jesus in the Temple. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
-v-
The Return to Nazareth with his Parents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Step 9. From Nazareth to Bethabara, on the Jordan
The Ministry of John the Baptist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
The Baptism of Jesus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
The Genealogy of Jesus, through His Mother, Mary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Step 10. From Bethabara to the Temptation Wilderness
The Temptations of Jesus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Step 11. From the Temptation Wilderness to Bethabara
The Testimony of John the Baptist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Jesus Find the First Three Disciples. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Step 12. From Bethabara to Bethsaida
The Calling of More Disciples. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Step 13. From Bethsaida to Cana
Turning Water into Wine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Step 14. From Cana to Capernaum
The Move to Capernaum. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Step 15. From Capernaum to Jerusalem
Cleansing the Temple. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Jesus at the Passover Feast. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Conversation with Nicodemus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Step 16. From Jerusalem to the Jordan
Further Testimony about Jesus by John the Baptist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Step 17. From the Jordan to Sychar in Samaria
Departure from Judea. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
The Disciples Return. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Workers for the Harvest I. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
The Samaritans Respond. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Step 18. From Sychar to Cana
Onward to Galilee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Healing the Royal Noblemans Son. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Step 19. From Cana to Nazareth
The Beginning of Jesus Ministry in Galilee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Step 20. From Nazareth to Capernaum
Preaching in Galilee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
The Calling of the Disciples. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Jesus Authority. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Step 21. From Capernaum to the First Galilean Preaching Tour
Healing at Peters House.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
The Miraculous Catch of Fish. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Jesus Heals a Leper.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Step 22. From the First Preaching Tour to Capernaum
Healing and Forgiving a Paralytic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
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The Call of Matthew. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Step 23. From Capernaum to a Galilean Grain Field
Lord of the Sabbath.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Step 24. From a Galilean Grain Field to a Galilean Synagogue
Healing a Withered Hand. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Step 25. From a Galilean Synagogue to Mount Tabor
Appointing the Twelve. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
The Sermon on the Mount
Preparatory Remarks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
The Beatitudes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Salt and Light. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Fulfillment of the Law and Prophets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Anger and Murder. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Adultery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Divorce. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Oaths.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Retaliation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Pure-Hearted Giving.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Private Prayer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Proper Fasting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Lasting Treasure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Do Not Worry.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Do Not Judge Others. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Ask, Seek, Knock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
The Narrow Gate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Judgment of Pretenders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Hearing and Doing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Step 26. From Mount Tabor to Capernaum
Healing the Centurions Servant.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Step 27. From Capernaum to Nain
Raising the Widow of Nains Son. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Jesus is Anointed by a Sinful Woman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Step 28. From Nain to the Second Galilean Preaching Tour
Jesus Ministry and the Help of Women. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Jesus and Beelzebub I. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Jesus True Family. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Parables by the Sea
The Parable of the Sower. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
The Purpose of the Parables. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
The Parable of the Weeds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
The Parable of the Lamp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
The Parable of the Growing Seed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
The Parable of the Mustard Seed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
The Parable of the Yeast. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
The Reason for the Parables.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
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Explanation for the Disciples. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Parable on the Kingdom of Heaven. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Step 29. From the Second Preaching Tour to the Country of the Gadarenes
Stilling of a Storm.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Healing of a Demoniac. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Step 30. From the Country of the Gadarenes to Capernaum
Eating with Capernaums Outcasts.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Restoration and Healing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Healing the Blind and Mute. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Jesus and John the Baptist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Healing a Paralytic at the Pool of Bethesda. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Responding to Jewish Leaders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
More Testimony about Jesus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Rejection at Nazareth II. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Step 33. From Nazareth to the Third Galilean Preaching Tour
Workers for the Harvest II. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Sending Out the Twelve Apostles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
The Death of John the Baptist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Step 34. From the Third Preaching Tour to a Wilderness near Bethsaida
The Feeding of the Five Thousand. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Step 35. From the Bethsaida Wilderness to the Plain of Gennesaret
Walking on Water. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Step 36. From the Plain of Gennesaret to Capernaum
The Bread of Life. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Breaking Human Traditions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Step 37. From Capernaum to the Tyre and Sidon Region
A Syro-Phoenician Womans Faith. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Step 38. From Tyre and Sidon to the Decapolis Region
Healing a Deaf Mute and Many Others. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Step 39. From Decapolis to Mount Tabor
The Feeding of the Four Thousand.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Step 40. From Mount Tabor to Magdala
The Demand for a Sign. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
The Yeast of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herod. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Step 41. From Magdala to Bethsaida
A Two-stage Healing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Going to the Feast of Tabernacles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Step 42. From Bethsaida to Jerusalem
Teaching in the Temple. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Questions about Jesus Identity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Teaching about the Spirit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Differing Opinions about Jesus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Lack of Belief. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
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A Woman Caught in Adultery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Jesus as the Light of the World.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Where Jesus Came From and Where he Is Going. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Abrahams Children and the Devils Children. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Healing a Man Born Blind. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
The Pharisees Reaction to the Healing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
The Mans Response to Jesus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Jesus as the Good Shepherd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Jesus at the Feast of Dedication. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Step 43. From Jerusalem to Perea
Jesus Retires to the Perean Wilderness.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Step 44. From Perea to Caesarea Philippi
Peters Confession. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
First Prediction of Jesus Death and Resurrection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Step 45. From Caesarea Philippi to Mount Hermon
The Transfiguration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
The Disciples Failure to Heal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Second Prediction of Jesus Death and Resurrection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Step 46. From Mount Hermon to Capernaum
The Temple Tax. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Questions about Relationships. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
On Jesus Side.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
The Parable of the Lost Sheep. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Restoring Christian Relationships. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
The Parable of the Unforgiving Slave. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Step 47. From Capernaum to Perea
Rejection in Samaria. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
The Mission of the Seventy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Woe on Unrepentant Cities.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
The Parable of the Good Samaritan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Step 48. From Perea to Bethany and Surrounding Area
Jesus and Martha.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Instructions on Prayer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Jesus and Beelzebub II.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
The Sign of Jonah. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Rebuking the Pharisees and the Experts in the Law. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
The Return of the Seventy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Jesus Invitation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Fear God, Not People. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
The Parable of the Rich Landowner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Call to Faithful Stewardship. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
The Faithful and Wise Slave.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
The Parable of the Fruitless Fig Tree. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Healing on the Sabbath. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
The Narrow Door. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
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Dining with a Leader of the Pharisees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Counting the Cost. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
The Parables of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
The Parable of the Compassionate Father. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
The Parable of the Clever Steward. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
The Rich Man and Lazarus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Sin, Forgiveness, Faith, and Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
The Grateful Leper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
The Coming of the Son of man I. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
The Parable of the Persistent Widow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax gatherer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Questions about Divorce.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Jesus and the Little Children. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Lazarus Raised from the Dead. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
The Response of the Jewish Leaders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
The Rich young Man. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Workers in the Vineyard.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Third Prediction of Jesus Death and Resurrection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
The Request of James and Johns Mother. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Step 49. From Bethany to Jericho
Healing a Blind Man.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Jesus and Zacchaeus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
The Parable of the Ten Minas.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Healing Blind Bartimaeus.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Two Blind Men Healed.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Thursday sunset to Friday sunset
Step 50. From Jericho to Bethany
Jesus Anointing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Friday sunset to Saturday sunset
Step 51. From Bethany to Bethphage
The Triumphal Entry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Saturday sunset to Sunday sunset
Step 52. From Bethphage to the Upper Room
Cursing of the Fig Tree. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Cleansing the Temple. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Seekers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
The Outcome of Jesus Public Ministry Foretold.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Jesus Final Public Words. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Sunday Sunset to Monday sunset
The Withered Fig Tree. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
The Authority of Jesus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
The Parable of the Two Sons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
The Parable of the Tenants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
The Parable of the Wedding Banquet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Paying Taxes to Caesar.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
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Marriage and the Resurrection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
The Greatest Commandment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
The Messiah: Davids Son and Lord. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Monday sunset to Tuesday sunset
Seven Woes.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
The Widows Offering. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
The Olivet Discourse
The Destruction of the Temple. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Signs of the End of the Age. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Persecution of Disciples. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
The Desolation of Jerusalem. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
The Abomination of Desolation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
The Arrival of the Son of Man. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
The Parable of the Fig Tree. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Stay Alert!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
The Parable of the Ten Virgins. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
The Parable of the Talents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
The Judgment of the Sheep and the Goats. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Tuesday sunset to Wednesday sunset
The Plan to Betray Jesus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
The Preparation for the Passover. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Washing the Disciples Feet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Jesus Warns of the Betrayal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
The Lords Supper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
The Disciples Strife is Rebuked. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
The First Prophecy of Peters Denials. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Jesus Parting Words to his Disciples.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Teaching on the Holy Spirit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
The Vine and the Branches. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
The Worlds Hatred. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Jesus Prays for the Father to Glorify Him. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Jesus Prays for his Disciples.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Jesus Prays for Believers Everywhere. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Step 53. From the Upper Room to Gethsemane
The Second Prophecy of Peters Denials. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Gethsemane.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Betrayal and Arrest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Step 54. From Gethsemane to Annas House
Jesus Questioned by Annas.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Peters First Two Denials. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Step 55. From Annas House to Caiaphas Palace
Jesus Trial Before Caiaphas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Peters Other Denials. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
The Verdict Ratified. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Judas Suicide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Step 56. From Caiaphas Palace to Pilates Hall
Jesus and Pilate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
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Step 57. From Pilates Hall to Herods Palace
Jesus Brought Before Herod. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Step 58. From Herods Palace to Pilates Hall
Jesus or Barabbas?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Pilate Tries to Release Jesus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Step 59. From Pilates hall to the Praetorium Court
Jesus Mocked. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Step 60. From the Praetorium Court to Golgotha
The Crucifixion.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
On the Cross. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Jesus Death. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Wondrous Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Step 61. From Golgotha to Josephs Tomb
Jesus Burial. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Step 62. From Josephs Tomb to the Heart of the Earth
Preaching to the Spirits in Prison. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Wednesday sunset to Thursday sunset - 1
st
Night and Day in Grave
(Passover High Sabbath)
The Guard at the Tomb. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Thursday sunset to Friday sunset - 2
nd
The Women Buy Spices Between the Sabbaths. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Friday sunset to Saturday sunset - 3
rd
After sunset on Saturday
Step 63. From the Heart of the Earth to the Resurrection Garden
The Earthquake. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Step 64. From the Resurrection Garden to the Father
Step 65. From the Father to a Road near Jerusalem
Jesus Appears to the Other Women. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
The Guards Report. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Step 64. From a Road near Jerusalem to the Emmaus Road
Jesus Walks the Road to Emmaus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Step 67. From Emmaus to the Upper Room
Jesus Appearance to the Disciples, Thomas Absent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Step 68. From the Upper Room Back to the Upper Room (a week later)
Jesus Appearance to the Disciples, Thomas Present.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Step 69. From the Upper Room to the Sea of Galilee
Jesus Appearance to the Disciples in Galilee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Peters Restoration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Peter and the Disciple Jesus Loved. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Step 70. From the Sea of Galilee to Mount Tabor
The Great Commission. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Step 71. From Mount Tabor to the Upper Room
The Final Commission. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Step 72. From the Upper Room to the Mount of Olives
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Jesus Ascends to Heaven. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Jesus Other Appearances. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
[73]. Final Notes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Appendices
I. The Unique Principle of Arrangement
The Principle of Four-Part Harmony. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
The Principle of Minue Supplementation.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
II. The Problem of Peters Denials
Jesus Two Warnings Contrasted. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Peters Denials Contrasted. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Significant Implications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
III. The Gospels Historicity Confirmed
Are the Genealogies Confused?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Are There Discrepancies?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Are Luke and Josephus in Disagreement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
IV. The Gospels Four-Year Chronology
The Dating of Jesus Ministry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
The Traditional Three-Year Chronology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
The Alternative Four-Year Ministry
The First Two Years of Jesus Ministry.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
The Last Two Years of Jesus Ministry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
The Final Tour. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Scripture Index.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
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Preface
One of the purposes of this book is to display the fact that the four Gospels agree together in all their
details and reveal the guiding hand of an unseen Author. In many circles today, scholarly and otherwise, it
is commonly held that, the life of Jesus cannot be reconstructed in biographical form; ... the comforting
figure of the Sunday School color cards is gone. These folk contend that the four Gospels can no longer be
regarded as history because, In detail and many important points, the Gospels do not agree. On the
contrary, this minute combination displays the fact that they agree so complete and minutely that they go
together into a single, coherent story, without the addition or omission of a single detail.
Combining the Gospels is certainly not new, Tatians Diatessaron in the second century being one of
the first such attempts. But this combination is an attempt to interweave the four Gospels in such a way as
to incorporate all the details into a single chronological story, without repeating any parts. In so doing, the
Gospels fold together like the pieces of a stupendous jigsaw puzzle. The combination effect is both
stereophonic and stereoscopic.
In pursuing this work, it was early decided that such a combination, to be successful, must follow the
Greek text very closely, rendering it in the best English idiom. While many different translations were
consulted, it was determined early on that a literal rendering was the best way to proceed. We have sought
to preserve the beauty of the King James Version, but the rendering has been done by constantly testing
against the original Greek Textus Receptus, the Greek text behind the King James Version. The resulting
effort has been intensely rewarding and gratifying because of the ever-unfolding consistency of the four
Gospels and the ever-heightening evidence of a divine Hand Who guided the four Evangelists.
The question may be raised as to whether it is legitimate to combine that which God has separated. If
God had wanted the Gospels combined into one story, would He not have provided such a presentation
through an inspired writer? And is not the fact that church history knows of no such minute combination of
the Gospels an evidence of the illegitimacy of initiating such a harmony at this time?
In view of such questions that may arise, the compiler of this Gospel harmony desires to make clear the
purpose and allied objectives of this work. The portrayal here given does not pretend to be another Gospel;
nor does it presume to take the place of any of the four Gospels, nor does it claim to be inspired in any way.
Its purpose is rather of a companion-piece to the four Gospels, seeking to precipitate their individual features
and relate them to each other. By combining the complete story, this harmony serves the purpose of providing
an historical and grammatical background for the study of any one of the four Gospels. It has the effect of
driving the Bible student back to the Gospels themselves with a larger and more discerning perspective. And
with this perspective, the distinctive features of each book are enhanced, making both the omissions and the
points of emphasis to stand out.
This harmony is in reality another Life of Christ, distinctive in that it utilizes all the details of the
inspired records and only materials of the inspired records. It furthermore uses the phraseology that the Spirit
of God chose to employ in its most exact expression. To deny the propriety of so arranging the materials of
the four Gospels would constitute a challenge also to other Scripture arrangements such as that of systematic
theology. Theology itself is a logical organization of the truths of God and His relations with men. Jesus
Seventy-Two Steps from Glory to Glory is such an arrangement, but it uses the materials of the Gospel texts
alone, admitting no extraneous editorial comments into the story. Also utilized are a couple passages from
the Book of Acts, and two passages from the epistles.
It is believed that such a precise four-dimensional presentation of the Gospels can have immeasurable
significance in the study of this heart of the Scriptures. As A.T. Robertson once said, The whole is infinitely
richer than the picture given by any one of the Four Gospels. The whole is always greater than the sum of
the parts. In combining the four accounts into a composite whole, a multi-faceted confrontation with the
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Central Personality of history is achieved, and all the recorded details of His story are brought into sharp
focus. The utility of this arrangement has immense value both for chronological and expositional purposes.
The compiler, therefore, feels that this work is so significant for the student of the Life of Christ that it
should constitute something of a milestone, if not a breakthrough in the study of the Gospels.
San Antonio, Texas Norman H. Jacobson
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Introduction
By way of Introduction, it is necessary to present here some of the possibly misunderstood translations
and other physical manifestations in the presentation.
First, this is a literal translation. By that is meant that all of Gods words are translated into English, all
of them.
...This inspiration extends only to the original text as it came from the pens of the writers, not to any
translation ever made by man, however aged, venerable, or good, and only in so far as any of these adhere
to the originalneither adding to nor omitting from it one particleare they of any real value, for, to the
extent that they vary from the original, the doctrine of verbal inspiration is lost, so far as that version is
concerned. (B. B. Warfield, Inspiration and Authority of the Bible, p. 135)
To answer any charge that this is merely a personal opinion, note this quotation from the Preface to
Youngs Literal Translation of the Holy Bible:
If a translation gives a present tense when the original gives a past, or a past when it has a present
tense; a perfect for a future, or a future for a perfect, or an a for a the; or a the for an a; an imperative for
a subjunctive, or a subjunctive for an imperative; a verb for a noun, or a noun for a verb, it is clear that verbal
inspiration is so much overlooked as if it had no existence. THE WORD OF GOD IS MADE VOID BY THE
TRADITION OF MEN.
A strictly literal rendering may not be so pleasant to the ear as one where the apparent sense is chiefly
aimed at, yet it is not euphony but truth that ought to be sought, and where in such a version as the one
commonly in use in this country there are scarcely two consecutive verses where some departure from the
original ... and where these variations may be counted by tens of thousands, as admitted on all hands, it is
difficult to see how verbal inspiration can be of the least practical use to those who depend on that version
alone.
Modern scholarship is beginning to be alive to the inconsistency of thus gratuitously obscuring, and
really changing, the meaning of the sacred writers by subjective notions of what they ought to have written,
rather than what they did write ... if we do so in one passage, to bring out what may appear to us might,
could, would or should, be the Scriptural meaning, we cannot deny the same privilege to others who may
twist passages in the same manner. Robert Young
Verbs, nouns, adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions, etc. have not been distinguished in many versions. This
practice of confusing the grammatical forms have deceived the reader. Especially, all the other translations
erred in translating verbs as nouns. Many hundreds of times inhabitants of is a mistranslation of the word
to live. For instance most of the time such should be honestly translated like this: the inhabitants of
Jerusalem: should be translated as, the ones living in Jerusalem. In such cases hardly any indication was
given that a verb was used, not a noun.
Among the great many changes that are startling to readers when only the words God wrote are translated
into English are these: There is a change from church to assembly (for there is no word in Greek for
church. In the New Testament it is always assembly.
Another change: The word ordinarily translated as Gentiles, is not a word God used; no such group
or parties are recognized in Greek. To the Jews, they were the people, all other countries were referred to
as the nations. The Greek word (ethnos), so wrongly translated as Gentiles also means simply, the
nations.
-xvii-
Other examples: the adjective oppressing one was translated as oppressor. In the Greek the saints
is an adjective that literally means holy ones. As an adjective, Poor one shows that it is singular; the
plural would be poor ones; God thought it important to show the plural and singular of the adjective.
A very important mistranslation is putting I am he when the Lord Jesus is saying I AM identifying
Himself as the I AM of Exodus 3:14. At His mock trial, they called it blasphemy when He said I AM,
for they knew He was calling Himself God. Three times in John 18 He used these words I AM. Sixteen
times He identified Himself as God, saying, I AM.
God has chosen to use double negatives in the same sentence. This, of course, is not proper in English.
The way to express these has always been to use an adverb for one of the negatives. But that is not the correct
way. Here is one of the many verses where God used a double negative (not not; Gr. ou me):
The heaven and the earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away, not ever! (Matt. 24:35)
Note that both the negatives in this sentence have been translated without doing wrong to English rules.
The other versions will substitute not at all, or, by no means. God did not write that. So He will count
that as adding to His words.
Sometimes words are added for clarity. They are included as very often the Greek text omits words that
English grammar or normal usage would require. Without these words, the text would be excessively
awkward and even choppy.
For example, the first phrase of Matthew 26:17 without the words added for clarity would read, And
on the first of the Unleavened. But with the words added in italics, it reads, And on the first day of the
Feast of Unleavened Bread. These words in italics are not Gods words, and they may be safely ignored.
In one or two other places, explanatory notes have been inserted by the editor. They look like this:
[Comment, Ed.]again, these are not Gods words, and they also can be safely ignored.
-xviii-
Prologue
The Biographys Divine Title
(Mk. 1.1)
The beginning
1
of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Jesus was Gods Expression in Flesh
(Jn. 1.1-18)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the
beginning with God. All things came into being through him; and without him not even one thing came into
being that has come into being. In him was life, and the life was the light of men; and the light shines in the
darkness, and the darkness did not overtake
2
it.
There was a man having been sent from God; his name was John. He came for a witness, that he might
witness concerning the Light, that all might believe through Him. He was not that Light, but that he might
witness concerning the Light.
He was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. He was in the world, and the
world came into being through Him, yet the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did
not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the high estate of being made
3
children of
God, to the ones believing on His name, who were born, not of bloods, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the
will of man, but were born of God.
And the Word became flesh, and tabernacled among us. And we beheld His glory
4
, (glory as of an only
begotten One from the Father,) full of grace and of truth. John witnesses about Him, and has cried out,
saying, This One was He of whom I said, The One coming after me has been before me, for He was first
of me
5
. And out of His fullness we all received, and grace for grace. For the Law was given through Moses,
grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, the one
being in the bosom
6
of the Father, that One declared Him.
Legally he was of Israels Royalty
(Mt. 1.1-17)
The book
7
of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Abraham fathered Isaac, and Isaac fathered Jacob, and Jacob fathered Judah and his brothers. And Judah
1
Mark calls the entire story The Beginning. See also Lukes began in Acts 1.1. The Gospel was not ended with
this story.
2
The Greek pictures an attempt to pinch out a candle.
3
Since the aorist infinitive in the Greek language denotes an act, not a process, it is made clearer in English by this
participle. High estate signifies that which comes from wealth, literal meaning of the Greek word for authority.
4
The writer, John, and others beheld the Transfiguration.
5
Born before Jesus, John the Baptist testified thus to Jesus pre-existence.
6
The Greek expression pictures two persons at dinner, ancient style, reclining with feet away from the table, one
leaning against the bosom of the other at his left; the symbolism pictures complete fellowship.
7
The Greek denotes a roll or scroll. In the Jews public records there was a book listing Josephs descent from
Israels kings. This information was never contested by Jesus enemies, as far as we know, though they had access
to these records and supposed that Jesus was Josephs son.
-1-
fathered Pharez and Zarah out of Tamar, and Pharez fathered Hezron, and Hezron fathered Aram, and Aram
fathered Amminadab, and Amminadab fathered Nahshon, and Nahshon fathered Salmon, and Salmon
fathered Boaz of Rahab, and Boaz fathered Obed of Ruth, and Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David
the king.
And David the king fathered Solomon of her that had been the wife of Uriah, and Solomon fathered
Rehoboam, and Rehoboam fathered Abijah, and Abijah fathered Asa, and Asa fathered Jehoshaphat, and
Jehoshaphat fathered Jehoram, and Jehoram fathered Uzziah
8
, and Uzziah fathered Jotham, and Jotham
fathered Ahaz, and Ahaz fathered Hezekiah, and Hezekiah fathered Manasseh, and Manasseh fathered Amon,
and Amon fathered Josiah, and Josiah fathered Jehoiachin and his brothers, at the deportation of Babylon.
And after the deportation of Babylon, Jehoiachin fathered Shealtiel, and Shealtiel fathered Zerubbabel,
and Zerubbabel fathered Abiud, and Abiud fathered Eliakim, and Eliakim fathered Azor, and Azor fathered
Sadoc, and Sadoc fathered Achim, and Achim fathered Eliud, and Eliud fathered Eleazar, and Eleazar
fathered Matthan, and Matthan fathered Jacob, and Jacob fathered Joseph
9
the husband of Mary, of whom
Jesus was born, who is called Christ.
So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the
deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to Christ, fourteen
generations.
10
The Certainty of the Storys Facts
(Lu. 1.1-4)
Since many
11
have undertaken to draw up in order an account concerning the matters having been borne out
among us, even as the ones from the beginning gave over to us, becoming eye-witnesses and ministers of the
Word, it seemed good also to me, having traced out all things accurately from the first, to write in order to
you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty concerning the words which you were
taught.
8
As noted in some ancient Greek manuscripts, three generations are omitted between Jehoram and Uzziah. This
may be because they came through the maternal line of Athaliah, daughter of wicked King Ahab of Israel (see 2
Kings 8.24; 12.2; 14.1). Though four reigns are omitted (Athaliah, Ahaziah, Jehoash, and Amaziah), the purpose of
establishing the royal line is accomplished in a way easier to remembermnemonic symmetry.
9
If Joseph was Jesus father, this would read, Joseph, of whom was born Jesus. Josephs lineage is important
because Jesus was adopted by Joseph to be his oldest son (as commanded by the angel) and was therefore the
legal heir to the throne (Matt. 1.20).
10
The symmetry of three fourteens is probably given for mnemonic purposes, putting the kingdom period of fourteen
in the middle. Mary, much younger than Joseph, was perhaps counted as the fourteenth.
11
Partly from this some have supposed that Luke used Marks Gospel and perhaps Matthews among the many
mentioned, but of this there is no proof. On the contrary, there is not one identical narrative sentence from them in
Luke, or in any two Gospels, except one small instance, And they laughed at him. (Three Greek words). Yet no
copyright laws forbade identical quoting. Even their quoting from Jesus shows only five exact correspondences, the
longest being 24 words, the others much shorter. Furthermore, there are wide differences between all the Gospels in
principal content, arrangement, style, and purpose; likewise they were evidently written from widely separated
locations.
-2-
Days of Preparation
Birth Announcement of John the Baptist
(Lu. 1.5-25)
In the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, there was a certain priest named Zechariah, of the daily course of
Abijah. And his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both
righteous ones before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, blameless ones.
And no child was born to them, because that Elizabeth was barren. And both were advanced in age in their
days.
And it happened, in his serving as priest in the order of his course before God, according to the custom
of the priests, entering into the Holy Place of the Lord, it was Zechariahs lot to burn incense. And all the
multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense.
And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right of the altar of incense. And seeing this,
Zechariah was troubled, and fear fell on him.
But the angel said to him, Do not fear, Zechariah, because your prayer was heard, and your wife
Elizabeth will bear a son to you, and you will call his name John. And he will be joy and exultation to you,
and many will rejoice over his birth. For he will be great in the eyes of the Lord, and shall not drink wine or
intoxicating drink. And he will be filled of the Holy Spirit, even from his mothers womb. And he will turn
many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go ahead before him in the spirit and power of
Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children,
12
and disobedient ones to the wisdom of just ones,
to make ready a people having been prepared for the Lord.
And Zechariah said to the angel, By what will I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is
advanced in her days.
And answering, the angel said to him, I am Gabriel,
13
who stands before God; and I was sent to speak
to you, and to announce to you the good news of these things. And behold, you will be keeping silent, and
not able to speak, until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be
fulfilled in their season.
And the people were expecting Zechariah, and they wondered at his delay in the temple. But coming out,
he was not able to speak to them, and they recognized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he was
making signs to them, and remained mute. And it happened when the days of his service were fulfilled, he
went away to his own house.
And after these days his wife Elizabeth conceived. And she hid herself five months, saying, So has the
Lord done to me in the days in which he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.
Birth Announcement of Jesus the Messiah
(Lu. 1.26-38)
And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin
who had been betrothed to a man to whom was a name, Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgins name
was Mary. And entering, the angel said to her, Rejoice Mary, one having received grace! The Lord is with
you. You are blessed among women!
12
He quotes from the last sentence of the Old Testament, Mal. 4.5, 6.
13
The angel who appeared as told in Daniel 8.16 and 9.21.
-3-
And seeing this, she was disturbed at his word, and considered what kind of greeting this might be.
And the angel said to her, Fear not, Mary: for you have found grace from God. And, behold! You will
conceive in your womb, and bring forth a Son, and you will call His name Jesus. This One 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.
14
And He will reign over the house of Jacob to the ages, and of His kingdom there will be no end.
But Mary said to the angel, How will this be, since I do not know a man?
And answering, the angel said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most
High will overshadow you, and on account of this the Holy One being born of you will be called Son of God.
And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth! She also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth
month to her, who was called barren; for not will be impossible with God every thing.
And Mary said, Behold, the slave woman of the Lord! May it be to me according to your word.
And the angel departed from her.
Mary and Elizabeth Rejoice
(Lu. 1.39-56)
And rising up in these days, Mary went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judea; and she entered
into the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And it happened, as Elizabeth heard Marys greeting, the
babe in her womb leaped, and Elizabeth was filled of the Holy Spirit.
And she cried out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit
of your womb. And why is this to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For behold, as the sound of
your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped in exultation. And blessed is the one believing,
because there will be a completion to the things spoken to her from the Lord.
And Mary said,
My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my Spirit exulted in God my Savior.
For he looked upon the low estate of his slave woman.
For, behold, from now on all generations will count me blessed.
15
For the Mighty One did great things to me, and holy is His name.
And His mercy is to generations of generations to the ones fearing Him.
16
He performed mightily with His arm; He scattered proud ones in the thought of their heart.
He put down potentates from thrones, and lifted up lowly ones.
He filled the hungry with good things; and he sent the rich away empty.
He helped His servant Israel, in order to remember mercy,
Even as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed to the age.
17
And Mary remained with her about three months,
18
and returned to her house.
14
The promise to David: 2 Samuel 7.12-13.
15
1 Sam. 1.11
16
Psa. 103.17
17
Her song echoes Hannahs rejoicing in 1 Samuel, and parts from Genesis, 2 Samuel, the Psalms, Job, Isaiah, and
Micah; 17 instances in all. Evidently Mary knew her Bible.
18
It was after five months of Elizabeths pregnancy that Mary went to visit her; hence she left before Johns birth,
three months later.
-4-
The Birth of John
(Lu. 1.57-80)
And the time was fulfilled to Elizabeth for her to bear; and she bore a son. And the neighbors and her
relatives heard that the Lord magnified His mercy with her; and they rejoiced with her.
And it happened, on the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child and were calling it by his fathers
name, Zechariah. And his mother answered saying, Not so; but he will be called John.
And they said to her, No one is among your kindred who is called by this name. And they signaled to
his father, what he might desire him to be called.
And asking for a writing table, he wrote, saying, John is his name. And all marveled.
And instantly his mouth was opened, and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came
on all those living around them. And in all the hill country of Judea all these things were talked about.
And all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What then will this child be? And the hand
of the Lord was with him.
And his father Zechariah was filled of the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel;
Because He visited and worked redemption for His people.
And He raised up a Horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David;
Even as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, from the age before:
Salvation from hostile ones of us, and from the hand of all the ones hating us;
To execute mercy with our fathers, and to remember His holy covenant;
The oath which He swore to our father Abraham,
To give to us, that we being delivered out of the hand of hostile ones,
In order to serve Him without fear,
In consecration and righteousness before Him, all the days of our life.
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High,
For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,
19
To give a knowledge of salvation to His people by remission of their sins,
Through the tender bowels of mercy of our God,
In which the Dayspring from on high will visit us,
To shine on the ones sitting in darkness and in shadow of death,
To direct our feet into the way of peace.
20
And the child grew, and became strong in spirit. And was in deserted places until the day of his showing to
Israel.
Birth Announcement of Jesus to Joseph
(Mt. 1.18-25)
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was this way--(for His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph)--before the
19
Mal. 3.1
20
Isa. 9.2. Here likewise are echoes from seven Old Testament books in some 17 quotations.
-5-
coming together of them, she was found having babe in womb of the Holy Spirit.
21
But her husband Joseph,
being just, and not willing to make her a public example, he purposed to put her away secretly.
And as he was thinking about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord was seen by him in a dream,
saying, Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For that in her is generated of the
Holy Spirit. And she will bear a son, and you will call His name Jesus: for He will save
22
His people from
their sins.
Now all this happened, so that might be fulfilled that which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet,
saying, BEHOLD! THE VIRGIN WILL HAVE A BABE IN HER WOMB, AND WILL BEAR A SON, AND THEY WILL CALL HIS NAME
EMMANUEL, which translated is, God with us.
Then being aroused from sleep, Joseph did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as
his wife: and did not know her until she bore her son, the Firstborn.
23
21
Thus, Matthews explanation agrees with Luke, fulfilling for us the directive in Deut. 19.15, At the mouth of two ...
or three witnesses shall the matter be established. Matthew obtained his facts from Josephs side of the family,
Luke from Marys; their agreement on the Virgin Birth is convincing.
22
The Greek name Iesous is rendered from the Hebrew name Yeshua, meaning the Lord shall save.
23
Since duplications of meaning are necessarily omitted in a careful combining of the Gospels, Matthews and he
called his name Jesus (Received Text) yields to Lukes similar but fuller statement in Luke 2.21.
-6-
Step 1. From Glory to Bethlehem
The Census and the Birth of Jesus
(Lu. 2.1-7)
And it happened in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus for all the habitable world to be
registered. This registration first occurred under the governing of Syria by Quirinius.
24
And all went to be
registered, each to his own city. And Joseph also went from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth to Judea, to
the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because of his being of the house and family of David, to be
registered with Mary, the one having been betrothed to him as wife, she being pregnant.
25
And it happened as they were there, the days were fulfilled for her to bear. And she bore her son, the
First-born. And she wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in the manger, because there was no
place for them in the inn.
The Shepherds Visit
(Lu. 2.8-21)
And shepherds were in the same country living in the fields and keeping guard over their flock by night. And,
behold, an angel of the Lord came on them. And the glory of the Lord shone around them. And they feared
a great fear.
And the angel said to them, Do not fear. For, behold, I proclaim good news to you, a great joy, which
will be to all people, because today a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, was born to you in the city of David.
And this is the sign to you: You will find a babe having been wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a
manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
Glory to God in the highest,
And peace on earth, good will among men.
26
And it happened as the angels departed from them into the heaven, even the men, the shepherds, said to
one another, Indeed, let us go over to Bethlehem, and let us see this thing occurring, which the Lord made
known to us. And hurrying, they came and sought out both Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in the
manger.
And seeing, they publicly told about the word spoken to them about this Child. And all the ones hearing
marveled about the things spoken to them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these words, meditating in
her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all things which they heard and saw,
even as was spoken to them.
24
There is no discrepancy here but rather an informative point of history. Luke does not say that the taxing was
collected at this time, but rather that people were registered. See Appendix 3.
25
It is probable that only holders of inherited property had to go to their home town to register; possibly Joseph was
the owner of the house where the Wise Men later found the family. While he was in Nazareth he would have let it out
to others, who could not be asked to move for his short stay.
26
As earth is yet far from peaceful, the angels chant can only describe the time when the Prince of Peace is to reign.
The Received Texts good will among men is the only rendering that fits that prophetic picture.
-7-
And when eight days were fulfilled to circumcise the child His name was called Jesus, the name called by
the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
Step 2. From Bethlehem to Jerusalem
Jesus Presentation at the Temple
(Lu. 2.22-24)
And when were fulfilled the days of their cleansing according to the Law of Moses they took Him up to
Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord, as it has been written in the Law of the Lord: EVERY MALE OPENING A
WOMB WILL BE CALLED HOLY TO THE LORD;
27
and to offer a sacrifice according to that said in the Law of the Lord,
a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
28
The Prophecy of Simeon
(Lu. 2.25-35)
And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. And this man was righteous and devout,
eagerly expecting the Consolation of Israel. And the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it was said to him,
having been alerted by the Holy Spirit, that he was not to see death before he would see the Christ of the
Lord.
And by the Spirit he came into the temple. And as the parents were bringing in the child Jesus, for them
to do according to the custom of the Law concerning Him, even Simeon received Him into his arms. And he
blessed God and said,
Now, Master, you will let your slave go in peace, according to your word;
Because my eyes have seen your salvation,
Which you have prepared before the face of all the peoples;
A light for revelation to the nations, and the glory of your people Israel.
And Joseph and His mother were wondering at the things which were spoken concerning Him. And
Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary, Behold, this One is set for the fall and rising up of many
in Israel, and for a sign spoken against; yea, a sword also will go through the soul of you, yourself, so that
the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
The Testimony of Anna
(Lu. 2.36-38)
And there was Anna, a prophetess, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in many
days, having lived seven years with a husband from her virginity; and she was a widow of eighty four years,
29
who did not depart from the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers. And coming on at the
very hour, she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke concerning Him to all those in Jerusalem eagerly expecting
27
Exo. 13.2
28
Lev. 12.8
29
The Received Text, or TR appears to give the most consistent meaning; there is no point to Lukes mentioning
her seven years married, if not to be added to the 84.
-8-
redemption.
The Return of Mary and Joseph to Nazareth
(Lu. 2.39)
And as they finished all things according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to Nazareth their
city.
Step 4. From Nazareth to Bethlehem (implied)
The Visit of the Wise Men
(Mt. 2.1-12)
And after
30
Jesus had been born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men
arrived from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is He, born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the
east, and came to worship Him.
But Herod the king having heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And having gathered
together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he was inquiring
31
of them where the Christ was to
be born. And they said to him, In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it has been written by the prophet,
AND YOU BETHLEHEM, IN THE LAND OF JUDAH,
BY NO MEANS ARE YOU LEAST AMONG THE RULERS OF JUDAH,
FOR OUT OF YOU WILL COME OUT ONE RULING,
WHO WILL RULE MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.
32
Then secretly calling the wise men Herod asked of them exactly the time of the star appearing. And
sending them to Bethlehem, he said, Having gone, exactly inquire about the little Child. And when you find
Him, bring me word again so that coming I may also worship Him.
And having heard the king, they departed. And, behold, the star which they saw in the east went before
them until it had come and stood over where the little Child was. And seeing the star,
33
they rejoiced
exceedingly with a great joy. And having come into the house, they found the little Child with His mother
Mary. And having fallen down, they worshiped Him. And having opened their treasures, they offered Him
gifts: gold and frankincense and myrrh.
34
And having been divinely warned by a dream not to return to Herod, they went back into their own
country by another way.
30
The word after allows a substantial interval, limited only by the two years old and under of Mt. 2.16. So Joseph
and Mary, found here in a house, have now returned from Nazareth and are residing in Bethlehem. For after the
flight to Egypt which now occurs, we read of Josephs plan to return to Judea, though kept from it by learning of
Archelaus.
31
The Greek verb was inquiring shows his agitation and the religious leaders confusion.
32
This prophecy is found in Micah 5.2.
33
This plainly was a supernatural manifestation. This was its second appearance, perhaps months after the first.
34
Many Bible teachers agree that these gifts are providential, providing the finances for the escape to Egypt. They
also reveal the interest and worship of non-Jewish wise men.
-9-
Step 5. From Bethlehem to Egypt
The Escape to Egypt
(Mt. 2.13-18)
And they having departed, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph by a dream, saying, Rise up! Take the
little Child and His mother with you, and flee into Egypt. And be there until I shall tell you. For Herod is
about to look for the Child in order to destroy Him.
And rising up, he took with him the little Child and His mother by night and withdrew into Egypt. And
he was there until the end of Herod, that might be fulfilled that spoken by the Lord through the prophet,
saying, OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON.
35
Then seeing that he was tricked by the wise men, Herod was greatly enraged, and having sent, he put to
death all the boys in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time
which he had exactly inquired from the wise men.
Then was fulfilled that having been spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying,
A VOICE WAS HEARD IN RAMAH,
LAMENTATION, AND WEEPING, AND GREAT MOURNING,
RACHEL WEEPING FOR HER CHILDREN,
AND WOULD NOT BE COMFORTED, BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT.
36
Step 6. From Egypt to Nazareth
The Return to Nazareth
(
1
Mt. 2.19-23;
3
Lu. 2.40)
1
But Herod having died, behold, an angel of the Lord appears to Joseph by a dream in Egypt, saying, Rising
up, take with you the little Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those seeking the soul
of the Child have died.
And rising up, he took with him the little Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. But
hearing that Archelaus reigns over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And having
been divinely warned by a dream, he withdrew into the parts of Galilee, and coming, he dwelt in Nazareth,
37
so that should be fulfilled that having been spoken by the prophets, HE SHALL BE CALLED A NAZARENE.
3
And the Child grew, and became strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom. And the grace of God was
upon Him.
Step 7. From Nazareth to Jerusalem
The Boy Jesus in the Temple
(Lu. 2.41-50)
35
Hos. 11.1
36
The prophecy of Jeremiah 31.15 is fulfilled.
37
The words a city called would duplicate meaning already expressed by Luke.
-10-
And His parents went into Jerusalem year by year at the Feast of the Passover. And when He was twelve
years old, they, going up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the Feast, and having completed the days,
in their returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know.
But supposing Him to be in the company, they went a day on the way. And they looked for Him among the
relatives and friends. And not finding Him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for Him.
And it happened after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both
hearing them and questioning them. And all the ones hearing Him were amazed at His understanding and His
answers.
And seeing Him, they were astonished. And His mother said to Him, Child, why did you do so to us?
Behold, your father and I were looking for you, greatly distressed.
And He said to them, Why did you look for Me? Did you not know that I must be busy in the affairs
of My Father?
And they did not understand the word which He spoke to them.
The Return to Nazareth with his Parents
(Lu. 2.51-52)
And He went with them and came to Nazareth and was being subject to them. And His mother carefully kept
all these words in her heart.
And Jesus progressed in wisdom and stature and favor before God and men.
-11-
Step 9. From Nazareth to Bethabara, on the Jordan
The Ministry of John the Baptist
(
1
Mt. 3.1-12;
2
Mk. 1.2-8;
3
Lu. 3.1-18)
3
And in the fifteenth year
38
of the government of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate governing Judea, and Herod
ruling as tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruling as tetrarch of Iturea and the Trachonitis country,
and Lysanias ruling as tetrarch of Abilene, upon the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, a word of God
came on John the son of Zechariah in the deserted place.
1
And in those days,
2
as it has been written in the
prophets,
BEHOLD, I SEND FORTH MY MESSENGER BEFORE YOUR FACE,
WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY BEFORE YOU.
3
And
2
John
3
came into all the country around the Jordan,
1
in the deserted places of Judea,
3
preaching a
baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,
1
and saying, Repent! For the kingdom of heaven has
drawn near. For this
1
John the Baptist
1
is he spoken of
3
in the scroll of the words of Isaiah the prophet,
saying:
THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS,
PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD,
MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.
EVERY VALLEY WILL BE FILLED UP,
AND EVERY MOUNTAIN AND HILL WILL BE MADE LOW;
AND THE CROOKED WILL BE MADE INTO STRAIGHT,
AND THE ROUGH INTO SMOOTH WAYS;
AND ALL FLESH WILL SEE THE SALVATION OF GOD.
39
1
And John himself had his clothing from hairs of a camel, and a belt of leather about his loin. And his
food was locusts and wild honey. Then
2
those of Jerusalem
1
and all Judea went out to him, and all the
surrounding region of the Jordan, and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
40
38
This book rejects the so-called joint reign theory, which places the call of John in AD 26; Jesus ministry is dated
instead from accepted Roman history, which clearly states that Emperor Tiberius reigned AD 14-37, taking office
after the death of Augustus in August, AD 14. Lukes careful dating of Johns ministry beginning in the 15
th
year of
Tiberius reign would date it AD 28. That would place Jesus baptism that fall or winter and the first Passover of his
ministry in the spring of AD 29. The indefinite joint reign theory (Augustus, Tiberius, c. AD 11-14) would hardly fit the
intended accuracy of Lu. 1.3-4. See Appendix 4.
39
Isa. 40.5
40
The story fits together here consistently, even though combining minutely the complete contributions of three
writers with no words but theirs used. Note that even a simple phrase such as Matthews And in those days has its
needed place, making coherent connection between Lukes notable opening sentence and Marks abrupt opening.
Such provision, clearly unintended by the writers, occurs many times to give complete and marvelous unity to the
-12-
But seeing
3
the crowds,
1
many of the Pharisees and Sadducees,
3
going out to be baptized by him,
1
he said
to them, Offspring of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore, bring forth fruits
worthy of repentance. And do not think to say within yourselves, We have a father, Abraham. For I say
to you, that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. But already the axe is laid to the
root of the trees; therefore, any tree not bringing forth good fruit is cut off, and is thrown into fire.
3
And the crowd asked him, saying, What then will we do?
And answering, he says to them, The one having two tunics, let him share with him that has none. And
the one having foods, let him do the same.
And tax gatherers
41
also came to be baptized. And they said to him, Teacher, what will we do?
And he said to them, Continue to do no more than that commanded you.
And also ones serving as soldiers asked him, saying, And we, what will we do?
And he said to them, Do not forcibly extort anyone, nor accuse falsely; and be satisfied with your
wages.
But as the people were in expectation, and all were reasoning in their hearts concerning John, whether
or not he were the Messiah;
42
John answered them all, saying,
1
I indeed baptize you in water to repentance;
but
2
He who comes after me is mightier than I,
1
whose sandals I am not able to lift,
2
of whom bending down
I am not fit to loose the thong of His sandals.
3
He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire, whose
winnowing fan is in His hand; and He will thoroughly purge His floor, and will gather the wheat into His
storehouse, but the chaff He will burn up with fire that cannot be put out.
And then indeed exhorting many other things, he preached the gospel to the people.
The Baptism of Jesus
(
1
Mt. 3:13-17;
2
Mk. 1.9-11;
3
Lu. 3.21-22)
1
Then
2
it happened in those days,
3
in the baptizing of all the people,
2
Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee
to the Jordan, to John, to be baptized by him. But John restrained Him, saying, I have need to be baptized
by You, and do You come to me?
But answering, Jesus said to him, Allow it now, for it is becoming to us this way to fulfill all
righteousness.
Then he allows Him. And
3
Jesus
2
was baptized by John in the Jordan. And going up from the water,
3
and
praying,
1
behold!
2
immediately He saw the heavens splitting
1
open to Him,
3
and the Holy Spirit
1
of God
coming down
3
in a bodily form as a dove,
1
and coming upon Him. And behold!
2
There was a voice out of the
heavens,
1
saying,
2
You are my Son, the Beloved,
1
in whom I have been well-pleased.
43
The Genealogy of Jesus, through his Mother, Mary
(Lu. 3.23-38)
40
(...continued)
interveaving.
41
The Roman system of collecting taxes in their provinces, included ordinarily three grades of officials. The highest
were known as publicans, who paid a sum of money for the taxes of a province, then exacted that and as much
more as he could from the province. This man usually lived in Rome. In the provinces, there was a sub-magistri,
such as Zacchaeus, who had charge of a certain portion of a province. Then there were the portitores, the actual
customs house officials, such as Matthew. We use the term tax gatherer in this story.
42
Messiah means the Anointed One (Greek, Christos, or Christ), who was awaited by those who longed for Israels
deliverance.
43
Psa. 2.7; Gen. 22.2; Isa. 42.1
-13-
And Jesus Himself was beginning to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed, the son of Joseph),
a descendant of Heli,
44
the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Janna, the son of
Joseph, the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, the son
of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semei, the son of Joseph, the son of Judah, the son of Joannas,
the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, the son of Melchi, the son of
Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, the son of Joses, the son of Eliezer, the son of
Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son
of Jonan, the son of Eliakim, the son of Melea, the son of Menan, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the
son of David, the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, the
son of Amminadab, the son of Aram, the son of Hezron, the son of Pharez, the son of Judah, the son of Jacob,
the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, the son of Serug, the son of Reu,
the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem,
the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of
Mahalalel, the son of Cainan, the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
45
Step 10. From Bethabara to the Temptation Wilderness
The Temptations of Jesus
(
1
Mt. 4.1-11 ;
2
Mk. 1.12-13;
3
Lu. 4.1-13)
1
Then
3
being full of the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan. And the Spirit at once thrusts Him out
into the deserted place. And He was there in the deserted place forty days,
2
and was with the wild beasts,
3
and was led by the Spirit,
1
to be tempted by the devil.
3
And the devil said to Him, Since You are Son of God, speak to this stone that it become a loaf.
And Jesus answered to him, saying, It is written, MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, BUT BY EVERY
WORD OF GOD.
46
And leading Him up into a high mountain, the devil showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a
moment of time. And the devil said to Him, I will give all this authority and their glory to You, because it
has been given over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore if You worship before me, all will
be Yours.
And answering, to him Jesus said, Go behind me, Satan! For it has been written, YOU WILL WORSHIP THE
LORD YOUR GOD, AND HIM ONLY YOU WILL SERVE.
47

And he led Him to Jerusalem, and stood Him on the wing of the temple, and said to Him, Since You
are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here; for it is written, HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS ABOUT
44
This rendering departs from the traditional but inconsistent Joseph, the son of Heli. Though not usually translated
this way, it is grammatically sound and clarifies the intent of the passage. It only involves the addition of two
parentheses in the Greek (which had no punctuation in the original) and a proper recognition of the significance of
the initial pronoun which stands in the place of emphasis. Using English punctuation for modern clarity, the literal
rendering would be: Now Himself was Jesus, beginning at about age thirty; being a son, as was supposed, of
Joseph; descended from Heli, son of Matthat. The point is that Jesus descended from Adam through Mary and
grandfather Heli, thus being a true Son of man though virgin born. This linked him to the whole human race as well
as to David and Abraham. That Luke intended this meaning is suggested by the arrangement in the two oldest
extant authorities where Heli, not Joseph, heads the single column listing of Jesus human forebears back to Adam.
45
Lukes genealogy of Jesus links him with the whole human race, not just with Israel or Abraham as in Matthews
genealogy.
46
Deut. 8.3
47
Deut. 6.13
-14-
YOU, EVEN TO PROTECT YOU,
48
and THAT ON THEIR HANDS THEY WILL LIFT YOU UP, THAT YOU NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT
AGAINST A STONE.
49
And answering, Jesus said to him, It has been said, YOU SHALL NOT TEMPT THE LORD YOUR GOD.
50
And having finished every temptation, the devil departed from Him until a time.
3
And in those days He did eat nothing,
1
and having fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He
hungered.
And coming near to Him, the tempter said, Since You are the Son of God, speak that these stones may
become loaves.
But answering, He said, It has been written, MAN WILL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD
GOING OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.
51

Then the devil takes Him to the holy city, and he sets Him on the wing of the temple. And he said to Him,
Since You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it has been written, HE WILL GIVE HIS ANGELS
CHARGE CONCERNING YOU, AND THEY WILL BEAR YOU ON THEIR HANDS, LEST YOU STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A
STONE.
52
Jesus said to him, Again, it has been written, YOU SHALL NOT TEMPT THE LORD YOUR GOD.
53

Again the devil takes Him to a very high mountain, and shows to Him all the kingdoms of the world and
their glory. And he said to Him, I will give all these things to You if, falling down, You will worship me.
Then Jesus said to him, Go, Satan!
54
For it has been written, YOU WILL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND
YOU WILL SERVE HIM ONLY.
55
Then the devil leaves Him. And behold!
2
the angels
1
came near and
2
ministered to Him.
Step 11. From the Temptation Wilderness to Bethabara
The Testimony of John the Baptist
(Jn. 1.19-34)
And this is the witness of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem that they might ask
him, Who are you?
And he confessed and did not deny; and he confessed, I am not the Christ!
And they asked him, What then? Are you Elijah?
And he said, I am not!
48
Psa. 91.11
49
Psa. 91.12
50
Deut. 6.16
51
Deut. 8.3
52
LXX-Psa. 90,11, 12; MT-Psa. 91.11, 12
53
Deut. 6.16
54
There is a long tradition of taking similar events in the Gospels and trying to make them the same. In some cases,
that is acceptable, but when the words the writers used have to be wrested completely out of context, that is not
acceptable. The temptations of Christ, among other episodes, is a case in point. It is the position of this book that the
temptations of Christ continued all through the forty days in the wilderness, with six of them being recorded. The first
three, recorded by Luke, probably came near the beginning of the temptation period and the ones recorded by
Matthew at the end. If the words are carefully scrutinized, it will be noticed that the wording is different in several
places because Satan had different tests in mind. They are even in a different order. At one point, Satan leaves
Jesus until a time, and comes back after Jesus has fasted and is hungry. The final temptation ends with Jesus
command to Go, Satan!
55
Deut. 6.13
-15-
Are you the Prophet?
56
And he answered, No!
Then they said to him, Who are you, that we may give an answer to the ones sending us? What do you
say about yourself?
He said, I am A VOICE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, MAKE STRAIGHT THE WAY OF THE LORD, as the prophet
Isaiah said.
57
And those who had been sent were of the Pharisees. And they asked him, and said to him, Why then
do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?
John answered them, saying, I baptize in water, but One stands in your midst, whom you do not know;
this One it is who has come after me, who has been before me, of whom I am not worthy that I should loose
the thong of His sandal.
These things took place in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
On the next day, John sees Jesus coming toward him and said, Behold! The Lamb of God, taking away
the sin of the world! This is He about whom I said, After me comes a man who has been before me, for He
was preceding me. And I did not know Him; but that He be revealed to Israel, for this reason I came baptizing
in water.
And John witnessed, saying, I have seen the Spirit coming down as a dove out of heaven, and He abode
on Him. And I did not know Him, but the One sending me to baptize in water, that One said to me, On
whomever you see the Spirit coming down and abiding on Him, this is the One baptizing in the Holy Spirit.
And I have seen, and have witnessed that this is the Son of God.
Jesus Finds the First Three Disciples
(Jn. 1.35-42)
Again on the next day, John and two from his disciples stood. And looking at Jesus walking, he said,
Behold, the Lamb of God!
And the two disciples heard him speaking, and they followed Jesus.
Then Jesus turned, and having seen them following, says to them, What do you seek?
They said to him, Rabbi (which is to say, being interpreted, Master), where do You stay?
He said to them, Come and see.
They came and saw where He stayed, and they remained with Him that day. And the hour was about the
tenth.
58
Andrew the brother of Simon Peter was one of the two
59
who heard from John and was following Him.
This one first found his own brother Simon and tells him, We have found the Messiah (which being
translated is, the Christ). And he led him to Jesus.
And looking at him, Jesus said, You are Simon the son of Jonah; you shall be called Cephas (which
56
Their question concerning Elijah was based on Malachi 4.5-6; that concerning the Prophet, in Deut. 18.15, 18. By
the latter they mistook John for the One he was to introduce.
57
Isa. 40.3
58
References to the time of day in Johns Gospel are Roman reckoning. Egyptian water-clocks hours counted from
midnight and noon as ours today (although a.m. and p.m. came later). The tenth hour here would not be ten at night,
so it was ten a.m. John mentions it to signify the length of this first interview with Jesus.
59
How did the writer, John, know what happened here? Obviously because he was the unnamed one who, with
Andrew, heard John the Baptists exclamation. He thus brings himself into the story without using the first person
pronoun, used at no time by John or any of these self-effacing writers, though John and Matthew participated in most
of Jesus ministry.
-16-
translated is Peter).
60
Step 12. From Bethabara to Bethsaida
The Calling of More Disciples
(Jn. 1.43-51)
On the next day, Jesus desired to go out into Galilee. And He finds Philip, and says to him, Follow me!
Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
Philip finds Nathanael, and says to him, We have found the one of whom Moses wrote in the Law and
the Prophets, Jesus the son of Joseph,
61
the one from Nazareth.
And Nathanael said to him, Can any good thing be out of Nazareth?
Philip said to him, Come and see.
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, and says concerning him, Behold, truly an Israelite in whom
is no guile!
Nathanael said to Him, From where do you know me?
Jesus answered and said to him, Before Philip called you, you being under the fig tree, I saw you.
Nathanael answered and said to Him, Rabbi, you are the Son of God;
62
you are the King of Israel.
Jesus answered and said to him, Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You
will see greater things than these. And He says to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, From now on you will
see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending
63
on the Son of man.
Step 13. From Bethsaida to Cana
Turning Water into Wine
(Jn. 2.1-11)
And the third day a wedding took place in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. And Jesus and
His disciples also were invited to the wedding. And they lacking wine, the mother of Jesus says to Him,
They have no wine.
Jesus says to her, What is that to me and to you, woman?
64
My hour has not yet come.
His mother said to the servants, Whatever he says to you, do.
And there were six water pots of stone lying, according to the purification of the Jews, each containing
twenty to thirty gallons.
65
Jesus said to them, Fill the water pots with water. And they filled them to the
brim. And He says to them, Now draw out and carry to the master of the feast. And they carried it.
When the master of the feast had tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know from where
60
Cephas is Aramaic, and Petros is Greek, for a stone.
61
The son of Joseph only reflects the common supposition concerning Jesus mentioned by Luke 3.23. When it was
that Philip and the others learned the truth, we are not told.
62
With John the Baptists This is the Son of God and now Nathanaels You are the Son of God following the
accounts of Jesus unique birth and the Voice from heaven at his baptism, all four writers have emphasized early the
basic theme JESUS THE SON OF GOD, observable throughout the story and climaxed in its final paragraph.
63
Gen. 28.12
64
Thus interpreting the Greek to mean literally, What to me and for you? This seems best to fit the context. No
disrespect, however, was intended in Jesus use of it or the term woman.
65
Lit. Two or three firkins.
-17-
it was (but the servants drawing the water knew), the master of the feast calls the bridegroom, and says to
him, Every man first sets on the good wine, and when they have drunk freely, then the inferior. You have
kept the good wine until now.
This beginning of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and revealed His glory, and His
disciples believed on him.
Step 14. From Cana to Capernaum
The Move to Capernaum
(Jn. 2.12)
After this He went down to Capernaum, He and His mother and His brothers and His disciples. And they
remained there not many days.
-18-
Cleansing the Temple
(Jn. 2.13-22)
And the Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
And He found the ones selling oxen and sheep and doves in the temple, and the money changers sitting.
And having made a whip out of ropes, He threw all out of the temple, both the sheep, and the oxen, and
poured out the coin of the money changers, and overturned the tables. And to the ones selling doves, He said,
Take these things from here! Do not make my Fathers house a market-house. And His disciples
remembered that it was written, THE ZEAL OF YOUR HOUSE HAS CONSUMED ME.
66
Then the Jews answered and said to Him, What miraculous
67
sign do you show to us, seeing that you
do these things?
Jesus said to them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
Then the Jews said, This temple was forty six years being built, and do you raise it up in three days?
But He spoke about the temple of His body. Then when He was raised from the dead ones, His disciples
remembered that He said this to them. And they believed the Scripture, and the word that Jesus had said.
Jesus at the Passover Feast
(Jn. 2.23-25)
And as He was in Jerusalem, at the Passover, at the Feast, many believed in His name, seeing the signs which
He did. But Jesus Himself did not trust Himself to them, because of His knowing all, and He had no need
that any should testify concerning man, for He knew what was in man.
Conversation with Nicodemus
(Jn. 3.1-21)
But there was a man from the Pharisees, Nicodemus his name, a ruler of the Jews. This one came to Jesus
by night, and said to Him, Rabbi, we know that You have come as a teacher from God. For no one is able
to do these miraculous signs which You do, except God be with Him.
Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see
the kingdom of God.
Nicodemus said to Him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his
mothers womb, and be born?
Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot
enter into the kingdom of God. That having been born of the flesh is flesh, and that having been born of the
Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said to you, You* must be born again. The wind blows where it wants, and
66
Psa. 69.9
67
The Greek simply says What sign ... ? But a miraculous sign was what they wanted, and this implicit meaning is
made clearer by inserting that word. The question shows that these Jewish leaders, well versed in the Old
Testament, recognized his fulfillment of Malachis prophecy, but their hearts could not accept it. For this reason,
Jesus refused them a sign and uttered his riddle instead.
-19-
you hear the sound thereof; but cannot tell from where it comes, and where it goes; so is everyone having
been born of the Spirit.
Nicodemus answered and said to him, How can these things be?
Jesus answered and said to him, You are a teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? Truly, truly,
I say to you, that which we know, we speak; and that which we have seen, we testify. And you do not receive
our witness. If I said to you earthly things, and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you of
heavenly things? And no one has gone up into heaven, but he having come down out of heaven, even the Son
of man who is in heaven. And even as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man
be lifted up, that everyone believing in him should not perish, but may have everlasting life. For God so loved
the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that everyone
68
believing in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life.
For God did not send his Son into the world that he might judge the world, but that the world might be
saved through him. The one believing on him is not condemned; but the one not believing has already been
condemned, for he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness more than
the light, because their works were evil. For everyone practicing wickedness hates the light, and does not
come to the light, that his works may not be exposed. But the one doing the truth comes to the light, that his
works may be revealed, that they exist, having been worked in God.
69
Step 16. From Jerusalem to the Jordan
Further Testimony about Jesus by John the Baptist
(Jn. 3.22-36)
After these things Jesus and his disciples came into the land of Judea. And He stayed there with them, and
was baptizing. And John also was baptizing in Aenon, near Salim, because there was much water there. And
they were coming, and were being baptized. For John was not yet thrown into the prison.
Then arose a question from Johns disciples and the Jews about purification. And they came to John, and
said to him, Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have borne witness, behold, this
One baptizes, and all men come to Him.
John answered and said, A man is able to receive nothing, if it is not given to him from heaven. You
yourselves witness to me that I said, I am not the Christ, but that having been sent, I am before that One.
The one having the bride is the bridegroom. But the friend of the bridegroom, standing and hearing him,
rejoices with joy because of the bridegrooms voice. Then this my joy has been fulfilled. That One must
increase, but me to decrease.
70
The One coming from above is above all. The one being of the earth is of the earth, and speaks of the
earth. The One coming out of heaven is above all. And what He has seen and heard, this He testifies, and no
one receives His testimony. The one receiving His testimony has sealed that God is true. For the One whom
68
Even though not labeled as such, this tells the how of the new birth. You substitute your name for everyonethat
John Jones believing in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
69
Whether the ending quotation mark belongs here or earlier in the passage is uncertain but immaterial. The words
are from God as the Author whether or not some are comments by John. But all would seem fitting as from Jesus,
written by John as one present, giving Jesus answer to Israels leaders through Nicodemus. Since it was intended
for all people as well, it fittingly occurs early in the ministry and in Johns record.
70
In this case the quoted words clearly end here and the rest is from John the writer, agreeing with the Baptists
estimate of himself as inferior to this one from heaven, pointing out Jesus colossal stature and the doom incurred in
rejecting him.
-20-
God sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. The Father loves the Son,
and has given all things into His hand. The one believing on the Son has everlasting life; but the one
disobeying the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
Step 17. From the Jordan to Sychar in Samaria
Departure from Judea
(
1
Mt. 4.12;
3
Lu. 3.19-20;
4
Jn. 4.1-26)
3
But Herod
71
the tetrarch, being reproved by him [John, ed.] concerning Herodias, the wife of his brother
Philip, and concerning all the evil things Herod had done, he also added this above all, he even shut up John
in the prison.
4
Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees heard that Jesus makes more disciples and
baptizes more than John (although truly Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples),
1
but Jesus
hearing that John was given over,
4
He left Judea and
1
withdrew
4
into Galilee again.
And it was necessary for Him to pass through Samaria. And He comes to a city of Samaria called Sychar,
near the piece of land that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacobs well was there. Then being wearied
from the journey, Jesus sat thus on the well. The hour was about the sixth.
72
A woman
73
comes out of Samaria to draw water. Jesus says to her, Give me to drink. For His disciples
had gone away into the city that they might buy provisions.
Then the Samaritan woman says to Him, How do you, being a Jew, ask to drink from me, I being a
Samaritan woman? For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.
Jesus answered and said to her, If you knew the gift of God, and who is the One saying to you, Give
Me to drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.
The woman says to Him, Sir, You have no thing to draw with, and the well is deep. From where, then,
do You have living water? You are not greater than our father Jacob who gave us the well, and he drank out
of it himself, and his children and his cattle, are You?
Jesus answered and said to her, Everyone drinking of this water will thirst again; but whoever may drink
of the water which I will give him will not thirst, not ever! But the water which I will give to him will
become a fountain of water in him, springing up into everlasting life.
The woman says to Him, Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.
Jesus says to her, Go, call your husband, and come here.
The woman answered and said, I have no husband.
Jesus says to her, Well did you say, I have no husband. For you have had five husbands, and now he
whom you have is not your husband. This thing truly you have said.
The woman says to Him, Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped in this mountain,
and You say that in Jerusalem is the place where it is necessary to worship.
Jesus says to her, Woman, believe me that an hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither
in this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, because
salvation is of the Jews. But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father
in spirit and in truth. For the Father seeks such, the ones worshiping him. God is spirit, and the ones
worshiping him must worship in spirit and in truth.
71
This was Herod Antipas, a son of the Herod the Great mentioned in Matthew 2.
72
That is, about noon.
73
By pausing to disclose his identity to an immoral Samaritan woman, he carried out his own later directive to go out
into the highways and hedges ... Those in Jerusalem, the first invited guests, would be the first to refuse his
banquet.
-21-
The woman says to Him, I know that Messiah is coming, (the one being called Christ). When that one
comes, he will tell us all things.
Jesus says to her, I AM! The One speaking to you.
The Disciples Return
(Jn. 4.27-30)
And upon this, His disciples came and marveled that He was speaking with a woman. However, no one said,
What do You seek? Or, Why do You speak with her?
Then the woman left her water pot and went away into the city and said to the men, Come, see a Man
who told me all things, as many as I did. Is not this the Christ?
Therefore they went out from the city and were coming to Him.
Workers for the Harvest I
(Jn. 4.31-38)
But in the meantime the disciples were asking Him, saying, Rabbi, eat.
But He said to them, I have food to eat which you do not know.
Then the disciples said to one another, No one has brought Him food to eat, has he?
Jesus says to them, My food is that I should do the will of him having sent me, and that I may finish his
work. Do you not say, It is yet four months and the harvest comes?
74
Behold, I say to you, Lift up your eyes
and behold the fields, for they are already white to harvest. And the one reaping receives wages, and gathers
fruit to everlasting life, so that both the one sowing and the one reaping may rejoice together. For in this the
word is true, that another is the one sowing, and another the one reaping. I sent you to reap what you have
not labored over. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.
The Samaritans Respond
(Jn. 4.39-42)
And many of the Samaritans out of that city believed into Him, because of the word of the woman testifying,
He told me all things, as many as I did.
Then as the Samaritans came to Him, they asked Him to remain with them. And He remained there two
days. And many more believed through His word.
And they were saying to the woman, We no longer believe because of your speech; for we ourselves
have
heard, and we know that this One is truly the Savior of the world, the Christ.
Step 18. From Sychar to Cana
Onward to Galilee
(Jn. 4.43-45)
74
The disciples probably looked forward to the feast of Tabernacles (four months away) as the time to harvest a large
following; but Jesus, thinking of the Samaritans on their way from the village, used the ripe grain in nearby fields to
teach a lesson. Thus the month was evidently January-February, four months before Pentecost (Feast of Harvest) in
early June of that first year (Ex. 23.16).
-22-
But after the two days, He went out from there, and He went into Galilee.
75
For Jesus Himself testified that
a prophet has no honor in His own fatherland. Then when He came into Galilee, the Galileans received Him,
seeing all things which He did in Jerusalem at the Feast. For they also went to the Feast.
Healing the Royal Noblemans Son
(Jn. 4.46-54)
Then Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He made the water wine. And there was as certain royal
nobleman whose son was sick in Capernaum. This one, hearing that Jesus has come from Judea into Galilee,
went out to Him and asked Him that He would come down and heal his son, for he was about to die.
Then Jesus said to him, Unless you see miraculous signs and wonders, you will not believe, not ever.
The royal nobleman said to Him, Sir, come down before my child dies.
Jesus said to him, Go! Your son lives.
And the man believed the Word which Jesus said to him, and went away.
But already, as he was going down, his slaves met him and reported, saying, Your child lives.
He then asked from them the hour in which he had become better. And they said to him, Yesterday, at
the seventh hour, the fever left him.
Then the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, Your son lives. And he
himself, and his whole household believed.
This, again, is the second miraculous sign Jesus did, coming from Judea into Galilee.
Step 19. From Cana to Nazareth
The Beginning of Jesus Ministry in Galilee
(Lu. 4.16-30)
And He came to Nazareth
76
where He was brought up. And as was His custom, He went in on the day of the
sabbaths, into the synagogue, and He stood up to read. And the scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to
Him. And unrolling the scroll, He found the place where it was written:
THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME.
BECAUSE OF THIS HE ANOINTED ME.
77
TO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR HE HAS SENT ME;
TO HEAL THE BROKENHEARTED,
TO PROCLAIM REMISSION TO CAPTIVES,
AND TO THE BLIND TO SEE AGAIN,
TO SEND AWAY THE ONES BEING CRUSHED, IN REMISSION,
TO PREACH AN ACCEPTABLE YEAR OF THE LORD
78
75
He passed up Nazareth and went on to Cana, a few miles farther north. The miracle performed there could have
been performed in Nazareth except that a prophet has no honor in his own fatherland (Mt. 13.57; Lu. 4.24).
76
Enough time had now elapsed for word of the two miracles at Cana to have spread to Nazarethbut only to cause
demand for a miracle there as well.
77
The traditional punctuation in the text has obscured the impact of this passage, by which he declared Himself as
Messiah, the Anointed One, proving it by what Nazareth had heard about the boys healing. But they were only the
more incensed at him.
78
Isa. 61.1, 2
-23-
And rolling up the scroll, returning it to the attendant, He sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue
were looking intently on Him. And He began to say to them, Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your
ears.
And all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words coming out of His mouth. And they
said, Is this not the son of Joseph?
And He said to them, All you will speak this parable to Me, Physician, heal yourself. As many things
as we heard were happening in Capernaum, do also here in your fatherland. But he said, Truly I say to you
that no prophet is acceptable in his fatherland. But on a truth I say to you, Many widows were in Israel in the
days of Elijah when the heaven was shut up over three years and six months, when a great famine came on
all the land; and yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to Zarephath of Sidon, to a woman, a widow. And
many lepers were in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was made clean except
Naaman the Syrian.
And all were filled with anger, hearing these things in the synagogue. And rising up, they threw Him
outside the city, and they brought Him up to the brink of the hill on which their city was built, in order to
throw Him down. But He went away, passing through their midst.
Step 20. From Nazareth to Capernaum
Preaching in Galilee
(
1
Mt. 4.13-17;
2
Mk. 1.14-15;
3
Lu. 4.31a)
1
And having left Nazareth,
3
He went away
2
and
1
He lived at Capernaum,
3
a city of Galilee,
1
beside the sea
in the districts of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that might be fulfilled that spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:
LAND OF ZEBULUN AND LAND OF NAPHTALI,
WAY OF THE SEA, BEYOND THE JORDAN, GALILEE OF THE NATIONS:
THE PEOPLE SITTING IN DARKNESS SAW A GREAT LIGHT;
AND TO THOSE SITTING IN THE REGION AND SHADOW OF DEATH,
LIGHT AROSE TO THEM.
79
From that time, Jesus began to preach,
2
proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The
time has been fulfilled, and the kingdom of God draws near. Repent and believe in the gospel,
1
for the
kingdom of heaven has drawn near.
The Calling of the Disciples
(
1
Mt. 4.18-22;
2
Mk. 1.16-20)
2
And walking along beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw
1
two brothers, Simon being called Peter and his brother
Andrew, casting a
2
small
1
net into the sea; for they were fishers.
2
And Jesus said to them, Come after me,
and I will make you to become fishers of men.
80
And at once, having left their nets, they followed Him.
And going forward from there a little, He saw
1
two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and his
brother John in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets.
2
And at once He called them.
1
And
at once leaving the boat and their father
2
Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants,
1
they followed
2
after
79
Isa. 9.1
80
This is an allusion to Jer. 16.18.
-24-
Him.
Jesus Authority
(
2
Mk. 1.21, 23-28;
3
Lu. 31b, 33-37)
2
And they passed along into Capernaum. And entering into the synagogue, at once He taught on the Sabbaths.
3
And in the synagogue was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice,
saying Ah! What is to us and to You, Jesus, Nazarene? Did You come to destroy us? I know You, who You
are, the Holy One of God.
And Jesus rebuked him, saying,
2
Be muzzled, and come out of him.
And
3
throwing him into the midst,
2
convulsing him, and crying out with a loud voice,
3
the demon came
out from him, not harming him. And astonishment came on all. And they spoke with one another,
2
so as to
be questioning to themselves, saying, What is this? What new teaching is this,
3
that He commands the
unclean spirits with authority and power,
2
and they obey Him,
3
and they come out?
And a report about him went out,
2
and His fame went out at once
3
into every place of the surrounding
2
Galilean
3
region.
Step 21. From Capernaum to the First Galilean Preaching Tour
Healing at Peters House
(
1
Mt. 8.14-17, 4,.23;
2
Mk. 1.29-39;
3
Lu. 4.38-44)
3
And rising up from the synagogue,
2
they came into the house of Simon
1
Peter
2
and Andrew, with James and
John. And the mother-in-law of Simon was laid down,
3
seized with a great fever.
2
And at once they spoke
to Him about her,
3
and they asked Him concerning her.
2
And coming near,
3
and standing over her,
2
He raised
her up, holding her hand.
3
He rebuked the fever; and it left her
2
instantly.
3
And rising up instantly, she served
them.
2
And evening coming,
3
and the sun setting, all, as many as had ones being sick with various diseases,
brought them to Him,
1
many having been possessed by demons.
3
And laying hands on each one of them, He
healed them.
1
And He cast out the spirits by a word, and He healed all those badly having illness, so that it
might be fulfilled that spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, HE TOOK UPON HIMSELF OUR WEAKNESSES,
AND BORE OUR DISEASES.
81
2
And the whole city was gathered at the door.
3
And also demons came out from many, crying out and
saying, You are the Christ, the Son of God! And rebuking them, He did not allow them to speak, for they
knew Him to be the Christ.
82
2
And rising up quite early in the night, He went out and went away into a deserted place. And He was
praying there. And Simon and those with him searched for Him. And finding Him, they said to Him, All
are seeking you.
And He said to them, Let us go into the neighboring towns, that I may proclaim there also. For it was
for this I came forth.
3
And the crowds looked for Him, and came up to Him, and held Him fast, not to pass
on from them.
But the One said to them, Also to the other cities it is necessary for Me to proclaim the gospel of the
81
Isa. 53.4
82
In pursuing the theme, The Son of God, Luke reported the cry of the unclean demon and now quotes the
confirming witness of many such intelligent beings from a realm where his identity was known.
-25-
kingdom of God, because to this I was sent.
1
And Jesus went about all Galilee teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the
kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people.
The Miraculous Catch of Fish
(Lu. 5.1-11)
And it happened that the crowd was pressing on Him to hear the Word of God. And He was standing by Lake
Gennesaret. And He saw two boats standing by the lake, but the fishermen had left them and were washing
the nets. And entering into one of the boats, which was Simons, He asked him to put out a little from the
land. And sitting down, He taught the crowds from the boat.
And as He stopped speaking, He said to Simon, Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a haul.
And answering, Simon said to Him, Master, laboring all through the night we took nothing. But at Your
word I will let down the net.
83
And doing this, they enclosed a great multitude of fish; and their net was being torn. And they signaled
the partners, those in the other boat, to come help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they
were sinking.
And seeing, Simon Peter fell at the knees of Jesus, saying, Depart from me, for I am a sinful man,
Lord. For astonishment took hold of him, and all the ones with him, at the haul of fish which they took; and
in the same way also, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon.
And Jesus said to Simon, Do not fear. From now on you will be taking men alive.
And bringing the boats down onto the land, forsaking all things, they followed Him.
84
Jesus Heals a Leper
(
1
Mt. 8.2-4;
2
Mk. 1.40-45;
3
Lu. 5.12-16)
3
And it happened, in His being in one of the cities, even behold, a man full of leprosy! And seeing Jesus,
2
came to Him, begging Him, and falling on his knees to Him,
3
falling on his face, he
1
worshiped Him, saying,
Lord, if You will, You are able to cleanse me.
2
And being moved with compassion, reaching out the hand, Jesus touched him, and said to him, I will!
Be made clean! And He having spoken, instantly the leprosy departed from him, and he was made clean.
And strictly warning him, He at once put him out, and said to him, See, tell no one a thing, but go show
yourself to the priest, and offer what Moses directed concerning your cleansing, for a testimony to them.
But going out he began to proclaim much, and to spread about the matter.
3
But the word about Him
spread even more,
2
so that He could no longer openly enter into a city.
85
But He was outside in deserted
places.
3
And large crowds were coming
2
from every quarter
3
to hear and to be healed from their infirmities
by Him.
But He was drawing back in the deserted places, and praying.
83
The singular rendering of net by the Received Text is the correcting of a previous scribal copying error. The
contextual evidence calls for the singular, because it explains Peters subsequent act of repentance.
84
Many have equated this episode with the one in Mk. 1.16-18, but if we accept what the writers tell (which would not
be a bad idea), it cannot be the same. That occasion preceded Jesus first tour in Galilee (Mk. 1.39) while this one in
Luke 5 follows much of that tour which took at least eight months.
85
Because the fishermen joined the latter part of the tour, they saw this healing in one of the cities and the
tremendous crowds that resulted. The leper, in going to Jerusalem to present himself to the priest, spread the news
as he journeyed seventy to eighty miles and returned. Until now the crowds were local in origin. From now on they
would be from every quarter.
-26-
Step 22. From the First Preaching Tour to Capernaum
Healing and Forgiving a Paralytic
(
1
Mt. 9.2-8;
2
Mk. 2.1-12;
3
Lu. 5.17-26)
2
And again He entered into Capernaum after some days.
3
And it happened on one of the days, even He was
teaching.
1
And some of the scribes,
3
Pharisees and teachers of the Law were sitting by, who were coming out
of every village of Galilee and Judea, and Jerusalem.
2
And it was heard that He was in a house. And at once
many were gathered, so as no longer to have room, not even to the door. And He spoke the Word to them.
3
And the power of the Lord was there, for the curing of them.
And, behold, men
2
came to Him carrying
3
a man who was paralyzed,
1
lying on a pallet,
2
being borne by
four.
3
And they sought to bring him in, and to lay him before Him.
2
And not being able to draw near to Him,
due to the crowd,
3
going up on the housetop,
2
they unroofed the roof where He was. And digging through,
they let him down through the tiles with the cot, into the midst, in front of Jesus. And seeing their faith, He
said
1
to the paralyzed one, Have courage, child. Your sins have been forgiven
2
you.
But,
1
behold,
3
the scribes and Pharisees began to reason
2
in their hearts,
3
saying, Who is this who speaks
blasphemies?
2
Why does this one speak blasphemies this way?
3
Who can forgive sins except God alone?
2
And instantly knowing in His spirit that they reasoned this way within themselves,
3
answering Jesus said
to them,
1
Why do you think evil in your hearts? For what is easier,
2
to say to the paralyzed one, Your sins
are forgiven you, or to say, Rise up and take your pallet and walk? But that you may know that the Son
of man has authority to remit sins on the earth,
86
He said to the paralyzed one, I say to you, Rise up and
take up your pallet and go to your house.
And he rose up at once
3
before them, taking up that on which he was lying, he went to his house
glorifying God.
1
And seeing, the crowds marveled,
2
so as all to be astonished and glorified God,
1
the One
giving such authority to men.
3
And they were filled with fear, saying,
2
Never did we see it this way.
3
We
saw wonderful things today.
The Call of Matthew
(
1
Mt. 9.9;
2
Mk. 2.13-14;
3
Lu. 5.27-28)
3
And after these things,
1
Jesus
2
went out by the sea again. And all the crowd came to Him, and He taught
them. And passing on, He saw
1
Matthew
2
Levi,
87
the son of Alpheus sitting at the tax office. 3And He said
to him, Follow me!
And leaving all, rising up he followed Him.
86
Here Jesus chose to present the heart of his mission and his identity as the Son of God. No better occasion could
have been employed, for it was his first meeting with the nations religious leaders, including those from Jerusalem.
That they got the message is shown by their question, Who can forgive sins but God?
87
Galileans often had two names, Jewish and Galilean. As a tax gatherer, Matthew did the work of a custom house
official in an office by the Sea of Galilee where Jesus often passed by.
-27-
Step 23. From Capernaum to a Galilean Grain Field
Lord of the Sabbath
(
1
Mt. 12.1-8;
2
Mk. 2.23-28;
3
Lu. 6.1-5)
1
At that time on the Sabbath, Jesus went through the grain fields.
3
And it happened on the second First
Sabbath,
88

1
His disciples were hungry, and began
2
to make way, plucking heads of grain,
3
and were eating,
rubbing with the hands.
1
But seeing,
3
some of the Pharisees said to
1
Him,
2
Behold, why do
1
your disciples
2
do that which is not lawful on the Sabbaths?
89
3
And answering, Jesus said to them,
2
Did you never read
3
this, what David did
2
when he had need and
hungered, he and the ones with him, how he entered the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest,
3
and he took the Loaves of Presentation, and ate,
2
which it is not lawful to eat, except
3
only
2
for the priests,
and he even gave to the ones being with him?
1
Or have you not read in the Law that on the sabbaths the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and
are guiltless? But I say to you, one greater than the temple is here. But if you had know what this is, I desire
mercy and not sacrifice,
90
you would not have condemned the guiltless.
2
And He said to them, The Sabbath came into being for mans sake, not man for the Sabbaths sake. So
then the Son of man is Lord of the Sabbath also.
Step 24. From a Galilean Grain Field to a Galilean Synagogue
Healing a Withered Hand
(
1
Mt. 12.9-14;
2
Mk. 3.1-6;
3
Lu. 6.6-11)
3
And it also happened on another Sabbath,
1
moving from there,
2
He entered into
1
their synagogue,
3
and
2
was
3
teaching.
1
And, behold, a man
3
was there, and his right hand was withered. And the scribes and the Pharisees
kept close by Him,
2
and they watched Him,
3
to see if He would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find
a charge against Him.
1
And they asked Him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbaths?
3
But He knew their reasonings. And He said to the man having the withered hand, Rise up and stand
in the middle! And rising up, he stood. Then Jesus said to them, I will ask you something. Is it lawful to
do good on the Sabbaths, or to do evil, to save a life, or to destroy it?
2
But they were silent.
1
But He said to them, What man of you will be who will have one sheep, and if this one fall into a pit
on the Sabbaths, will he not lay hold of it and raise it up? How much more, then, does a man excel a sheep!
So that it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath.
3
And
2
having looked around on them with anger, being greatly
grieved over the hardness of their heart, He said to the man, Stretch out your hand!
2
And he stretched out,
and his hand was restored as
1
sound as the other.
3
But they were filled with madness and talked to one another as to what they might do to Jesus.
2
And
88
The First Sabbath of Jewish calendars was the first of seven Sabbaths between Passover and Pentecost each
year (Lev. 23.15-16). Luke 6.1 dates this challenge by the Pharisees as occurring on the first Sabbath after the
second Passover of his ministry.
89
This was a breach of Rabbinic law, not a breach of the Scriptures.
90
Hos. 6.6
-28-
going out, the Pharisees at once took
1
up a council
2
with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy
Him.
91
Step 25. From a Galilean Synagogue to Mount Tabor
Appointing the Twelve
(
1
Mt. 12.15-21, 4.24-25, 10.2-4;
2
Mk. 3.7-19a;
3
Lu. 6.12-19)
1
But knowing, Jesus withdrew from there
2
to the sea with His disciples.
1
And large crowds followed Him
from Galilee and Decapolis, and Jerusalem, and
3
all Judea,
2
and from Idumea, and beyond the Jordan.
1
And
the report of Him went out into all Syria. And they brought to Him all the ones badly having illness, suffering
various diseases and torments, also those being demon-possessed, and those being moonstruck, and
paralytics; and He healed them.
3
And a great multitude
3
from the coast country of Tyre and Sidon,
2
hearing how much He was doing,
2
followed Him.
2
And He spoke to His disciples that a small boat should stay near to Him because of the
crowd, that they might not press upon Him. For He healed many, so that they fell on Him, that they might
touch Him, as many as had plagues,
3
and the ones being troubled by unclean spirits.
2
And when the unclean
spirits saw Him, they fell down before Him, and cried out, saying, You are the Son of God!
1
And He healed
them all and warned them
2
very much
1
that they should not make Him manifest. So that might be fulfilled
that spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying,
BEHOLD MY CHILD WHOM I CHOSE,
MY BELOVED, IN WHOM MY SOUL HAS DELIGHTED!
I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT ON HIM,
AND HE WILL DECLARE JUDGMENT TO THE NATIONS.
HE WILL NOT STRIVE NOR CRY OUT,
NOR WILL ANYONE HEAR HIS VOICE IN THE STREETS.
A BRUISED REED HE WILL NOT BREAK,
AND SMOKING FLAX HE WILL NOT QUENCH,
UNTIL HE BRING FORTH JUDGMENT TO VICTORY.
92
AND THE NATIONS WILL HOPE IN HIS NAME.
93
3
And it happened in these days, He went out into the mountain
94
to pray. And He was in prayer to God
through the night. And when it became day, He called His disciples,
2
and He called near whom He desired.
And they went to Him. And He made disciples of twelve
3
from them, whom He also named apostles;
2
that
they might be with Him, and that He might send them to proclaim, and to have authority to heal diseases, and
to cast out the demons.
1
And the names of the twelve apostles are these: First, Simon,
3
whom He also named Peter;
1
and his
brother Andrew; James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James. He put on them the name
Boanerges, which is, Sons of Thunder. Also He appointed Philip, and Bartholomew;
1
Thomas, and Matthew
the tax gatherer; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus
3
(Judas brother of James),
1
whose last name was
Thaddaeus;
3
Simon, the one being called Zealot; and Judas Iscariot, who also came to be the betrayer,
1
the
91
This ended Jesus first year of presentations and dialogue with the leaders, resulting in their initial consultations to
destroy him.
92
Isa. 42.1-3
93
Isa. 42.4
94
This was Mt. Tabor, where Jesus so often retreated.
-29-
one
2
who also gave Him over.
3
And coming down with them, He stood on a level place. And a crowd of His disciples,
2
and a great
multitude
3
of the people
3
came to hear Him, and to be healed from their diseases.
3
And all the crowd sought
to touch Him, because power went out from Him and healed all.
The Sermon on the Mount
(
1
Mt. 5.1-7.29;
2
Mk. 1.22;
3
Lu. 6.20-7.1a, 16.17, 12.57-59, 12.22b-31, 4.32)
Preparatory Remarks
(
1
Mt. 5.1-2;
3
Lu. 6.20-21, 24-26)
1
But seeing the crowds, He went up into the mountain, and He having sat down, His disciples came near to
Him.
3
And lifting up His eyes to his disciples,
1
and opening His mouth, He taught them saying:
3
Blessed are the poor ones, for the kingdom of God is yours.
Blessed are the ones hungering now, for you will be filled.
Blessed are the ones weeping now, for you will laugh.
95
But woe to you, rich ones, for you have your comfort!
Woe to you, the ones having been filled, for you will hunger!
Woe to you, the ones laughing now, for you will mourn and lament!
Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers did according to these things to the false
prophets!
The Beatitudes
(
1
Mt. 5.3-12; 3Lu. 6.22-23)
1
Blessed are the poor in spirit! For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
96
Blessed are the ones mourning! For they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek! For they shall inherit the earth.
97
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness! For they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful! For they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart! For they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers! For they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are the ones who have been persecuted for righteousness sake! For theirs is the kingdom of
heaven.
Blessed are you when they shall reproach you, and persecute you, and shall say every evil word against
you, lying, on account of me;
3
and when they cut you off, and will cast out your name as evil, on account
95
These three beatitudes from Luke do not duplicate Matthews but logically fit as their introduction. Those whom
Jesus was addressing had left their livelihood for him and, undoubtedly, had already suffered to show the reality of
their faith. Variations of the Sermon were no doubt spoken by our Lord on different occasions.
96
Beatitudes reflect Jesus radical view of life concerning attitudes and future glory. Lukes version gives them in the
second person to Jesus immediate audience of believers and doubters, Matthews to believers in the third person as
the uncommitted eavesdropped. In both he seems to turn human values upside-down, congratulating what most
despise and scorning what most desire. His point was not to extol poverty or demean riches, as such, but to give
them eternal meaning. By this standard he praised both virtuous character and courageous actionsboth be
attitudes and do attitudes. Even the severest persecution calls for hilarious joy when viewed through these
perspectives.
97
Psa. 37.11
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of the Son of man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy; for, behold, your reward is much in heaven! For
their fathers did according to these things to the prophets,
1
the ones before you.
Salt and Light
(Mt. 5.13-16)
You are the salt
98
of the earth, but if the salt becomes tasteless, with what shall it be salted? For it has
strength for nothing any more but to be thrown out and to be trampled under by men.
You are the light of the world.
99
A city situated on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a
lamp and put it under the grain measure, but on the lampstand; and it shines for all those in the house. So let
your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works, and may glorify your Father in heaven.
Fulfillment of the Law and Prophets
(
1
Mt. 5.17-20;
3
Lu. 16.17)
1
Do not think that I came to annul the Law or Prophets; I did not come to annul, but to fulfill. For truly I say
to you, Until the heaven and the earth should pass away, not one iota or one point shall pass away from the
Law, not until all things should occur.
3
But it is easier for the heaven and the earth to pass away that one
point of the Law to fail.
1
Therefore, whoever loosens one of these commandments, the least, and shall teach men so, he shall
be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does and teaches them, this one shall be called great
in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you, If your righteousness shall not exceed that of the scribes and
Pharisees, you shall not enter into the kingdom of God, not ever.
Anger and Murder
(
1
Mt. 5.21-26;
3
Lu. 12.57-59)
1
You have heard that it was said to the ancients: Do not commit murder! And, Whoever commits murder
shall be liable to the Judgment.
100
But I say to you, Everyone who is angry with his brother without cause
shall be liable to the Judgment. And whoever says to his brother, Raca, shall be liable to the Sanhedrin; but
whoever says, Fool! shall be liable to be thrown into the fire of Hell.
Therefore if you offer your gift on the altar, and remember there that your brother has something against
you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go. First, be reconciled to your brother, and then, coming, offer
your gift.
3
And why do you not judge the right even of yourselves? For as you go with your adversary to a
magistrate, give pains
1
while you are in the way with him,
3
to be freed from him
1
quickly,
3
that he not drag
you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.
1
Truly, I say
to you, you shall not come out from there, not until you pay
3
back
1
the last kodrantes,
3
even the last lepton.
98
Salt was used as a condiment and preserver of food in Israel and as a religious symbol in pacts and offerings. With
mountains of salt south of the Dead Sea (itself one-fourth salt), it was plentiful in Israel. As an essential article of diet
to enhance flavor and prevent spoilage, it was seen as a figure of friendship, truthfulness, purity, and good taste.
Since it affected sterility in too large mixtures, it also came to signify desolation and judgment. Jesus use of it here
suggests that believers should create thirst for the things of God and be a preserving influence in the world.
99
Light, having its origin in God, is a constant figure of truth, knowledge, revelation, and purity in Scripture. As such it
also spoke of joy and peace in the eternal state. Jesus, however, is seen as The Light of the World, whose light
believers are to constantly radiate.
100
Ex. 20.13; Deut. 5.17
-31-
Adultery
(Mt. 5.27-30)
You have heard that it was said
101
to the ancients: Do not commit adultery.
102
But I say to you, Everyone
looking at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. But if your right
eye causes you to stumble, take it out and throw it from you, for it is profitable to you that one of your
members should be destroyed and all your body not be thrown into Hell. And if your right hand causes you
to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you,
103
for it is profitable to you that one of your members should be
destroyed and all your body not be thrown into Hell.
Divorce
(Mt. 5.31-32)
It was also said, Whoever puts away his wife, let him give her a bill of divorce.
104
But I say to you,
Whoever puts away his wife, apart from a matter of fornication, causes her to commit adultery. And whoever
shall marry the one put away commits adultery.
Oaths
(Mt. 5.33-37)
Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients: You shall not swear falsely, but shall give your oaths
to the Lord.
105
But I say to you, Do not swear at all, neither by heaven, because it is Gods throne;
106
nor by
the earth, because it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King.
107
Nor shall you swear by your head, because you are not able to make one hair white or black. But let your
word be Yes, yes; No, no. For the excess of these is from the evil one.
Retaliation
(
1
Mt. 5.38-48;
3
Lu. 6.27-30, 32-36)
1
You have heard that it was said: And eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth;
108
but I say to you, Do no
resist the evil; but whoever strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him also. And to him desiring to
sue you, and to take your tunic, allow him also to have the coat. And whoever shall compel you to go one
101
Mosaic Law, as Jesus refers to it, saying, It was said, rather than It was written, suggests that he spoke of its
distortions in the Rabbinic Oral Law (thought too sacred to put in writing). He had just affirmed the validity of the
written Law (Mt. 5.18). The distortions he corrected concerned their duplicity in carrying out the minutiae of hand
rituals (which they added), while ignoring the deeper concerns of heart righteousness (Mic. 6.8).
His purpose here was not to present a plan of salvation, but to clarify righteousness and the character of Gods
kingdom which they had distorted. To do this he strongly asserted his own authority, identifying Himself as the
Lawgiver foretold by Moses (Deut. 18.15, 18). The six negatives he cited relate mainly to the second half or
manward side of the Law, rather than the first half or Godward side.
This formed the foundation to correct their abuses and further clarify what true righteousness is all about.
102
Ex. 20.14; Deut. 5.18
103
Jesus use of hyperbole (overstatement) here is to stress the need to guard against the onset of immorality at
whatever the cost, certainly not to advocate the literal notion of masochism, a sadistic pleasure.
104
Deut. 24.1
105
Lev. 19.12; Num. 30.2
106
Isa. 66.1
107
Isa. 66.1; Psa. 48.2
108
Ex. 21:24; Lev. 24:20; Deut. 19:21
-32-
mile, go with him two; to the one asking you, Give, and to the one wishing to borrow from you, do not turn
away.
"You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy;
109
but I say to
you, Love your enemies; bless those cursing you, do well to those hating you; and pray for those abusing and
persecuting you, so that you may become sons of your Father in heaven. Because He causes his sun to rise
on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and unjust.
For if you love those loving you, what reward do you have?
3
What thanks is there to you? For even
sinners love the ones who love them.
1
Do not even the tax gatherers do the same? And if you only greet your
brothers, what exceptional thing do you do? Do not the tax gatherers do so?
3
And if you do good to the ones who do good to you, what thanks is there to you? For even the sinners
do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what thanks is there to you? For the
sinners lend to sinners so that they may receive the equal things. But love the ones hostile to you, and do
good, and lend, causing no one to despair, and your reward will be much; and you will be sons of the Most
High, for He is kind to the unthankful and evil ones.
Therefore, be merciful, even as your Father also is merciful.
1
You be perfect even as your Father in
heaven is perfect.
110
Pure-Hearted Giving
(Mt. 6.1-4)
Take care not to do your merciful deeds before men in order to be seen by them. But if not, you have no
reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do merciful deeds, do not trumpet before you as
the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be glorified by men. Truly I say to
you, They have their reward. But you doing merciful deeds, do not let your left hand know what your right
hand does, so that your merciful deeds may be in secret. And your Father, the One seeing in secret, Himself
will repay you in the open.
Private Prayer
(Mt. 6.5-15)
And when you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and
in the corners of the open streets so that they may appear to be seen of men. Truly I say to you, They have
their reward. But you, when you pray, enter into your inner room and shutting your door, pray to your Father
in secret. And your Father, the One seeing in secret, will repay you in the open. But when you pray, do not
be babbling vain words, as the nations; for they think that they shall be heard in their much speaking.
Therefore do not be like them, for your Father knows what things you have need of before you ask him.
Therefore you should pray:
Our Father, the One in heaven,
109
Lev. 19.18
110
Can Believers be Perfect? Though the word perfect (teleioi) means complete or mature in its general sense,
Jesus used it here in the moral sense of goodness or compassion. He was not speaking of absolute sinlessness
(an impossibillity in this life, 1 Jn. 1.8), since even the blessed hunger for righteousness (Mt.5.6). Rather, he spoke
of the Fathers indiscriminate generosity (sending sunshine and rain on all) as a model of goodness for believers to
emulate. Their love is to extend even to their enemies. In this way they show themselves children of the Father.
Jesus here strongly encourages his disciples to imitate the Father by a perfection of love that is extended to ones
enemies. The motivation was not to become children, since they already were children of the Father.
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Hallowed be Your name,
Your kingdom come;
Your will be done, as it is in heaven, also on the earth.
Give us today our daily bread,
And forgive us our debts as we also forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one,
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, to the ages. Amen.
111
For if you forgive men their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you will not
forgive men their offenses, neither will your Father forgive your offenses.
Proper Fasting
(Mt. 6.16-18)
And when you fast, do not be as the hypocrites, with sullen face, for they disfigure their faces so that they
may appear to men to be fasting. Truly I say to you that they have their reward. But you in fasting, anoint
your head and wash your face, so as not to appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father in secret. And your
Father, the One seeing in secret, will repay you in the open.
Lasting Treasure
(Mt 6.19-24)
Do not treasure up for yourself treasures on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves dig
through and steal. But treasure up for yourself treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and
where thieves do not dig through and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The lamp of the body is the eye. Then if your eye is sound, all your body is bright. But if your eye is
evil, all your body is dark. If, therefore, the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
No one is able to serve two lords; for either he will hate the one, and he will love the other; or he will
cleave to the one, and he will despise the other. You are not able to serve God and wealth.
Do Not Worry
(
1
Mt. 6.25-34;
3
Lu. 12.22b-31)
1
Because of this, I say to you, Do not be anxious for your soul, what you eat and what you drink, nor for
your body, what you put on. Is not the soul more than the food and the body than the clothing? Observe the
birds of the heaven, that they do not sow, nor do they reap, nor do they gather into
3
storeroom nor storehouse,
1
yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Do you not rather excel them?
But who of you by being anxious is able to add one cubit onto his stature?
3
Therefore if you are not able
to do even the least, why are you anxious about the rest?
1
And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They do not
labor nor do they spin, but I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed as one of these.
If God so enrobes the grass of the field (which is today, and is thrown into a furnace tomorrow) will he not
111
The last line is found in the Received Text, and most other ancient manuscripts, correcting errors to some corrupt
early manuscripts that left this line out. The reason may have been to conform to the Luke 11 version, which is an
entirely different prayer than this one.
-34-
much rather you, little-faiths?
Therefore do not be anxious, saying, What may we eat? Or, What may we drink? Or, What may
clothe us?
3
Stop being in anxiety. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your
1
heavenly Father
knows that you have need of all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and
all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious into the morrow. For the morrow will be
anxious of itself. Sufficient to each day is its own badness.
Do Not Judge Others
(
1
Mt. 7.1-6;
3
Lu. 6.37-42)
3
Judge not,
112

1
that you may not be judged; for with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and
with whatever measure you measures, it will be measured again to you.
3
Do not condemn, and you will not
be condemned, not ever. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down and shaken together, and running over,
they will give into your bosom. For the same measure which your measure, it will be measured back to you.
And he spoke a parable to them. A blind one is not able to guide a blind one. Will they not both fall into
a pit? A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who has been perfected will be like his teacher. But
why do you look on the chip in your brothers eye, but do not consider the beam in your own eye? Or how
can you say to your brother, Brother, allow me to take out the chip in your eye,
1
and behold,
3
yourself not
seeing the beam in your eye? Hypocrite! First take the beam out of your eye, and then you will see clearly
to take out the chip in your brothers eye.
1
Do not give that which is holy to the dogs, nor throw your pearls before the pigs, that they should not
trample them with their feet, and turning, they charge you.
Ask, Seek, Knock
(Mt. 7.7-11)
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For each one
that asks receives, and the one that seeks finds; and to the one knocking, it will be opened.
Or what man of you is there, if his son should ask a loaf of him, he will not give him a stone, will he?
And if he should ask a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?
Therefore, if you, being evil, know to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father,
the One in heaven give good things to those that ask him?
The Narrow Gate
(
1
Mt. 7.12-20;
3
Lu. 6.31, 43-45)
1
Therefore, all things, as many things as you ever desire that men should do to you, so also you should do
to them; for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Go in through the narrow gate;
113
for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads away to
destruction, and many are the ones entering in through it. For narrow is the gate, and constricted is the way
112
Jesus moves from personal concerns to social concerns. The context here is false judging or misjudging.
Believers are not to assume the office of a judge but to conform, to speak the truth in love, and to restore.
113
He reminds them that the true way is neither popular nor easy. Though he does not here expound the way of
salvation, he describes a characteristic of it.
-35-
that leads away into life, and few are the ones finding it.
But beware of the false prophets who come to you in sheeps clothing, but inside they are plundering
wolves. From their fruits you shall know them.
3
For each tree is known from its own fruit.
1
Do they gather
grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?
So every good tree produces good fruits, but the corrupt tree produces evil fruits.
3
For there is not a
good tree that produces corrupt fruit, nor a corrupt tree that produces good fruit.
1
Every tree not producing
good fruit is cut down and is thrown into fire.
3
The good man brings forth the good thing out of the good treasure of his heart. And the evil man brings
forth the evil thing out of the evil treasure of his heart, for his mouth speaks out of the abundance of his heart.
1
Surely from their fruits you shall know them.
Judgment of Pretenders
(
1
Mt. 7.21-23;
3
Lu. 6.46)
3
And why do you call me Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say?
1
Not everyone who says to me, Lord,
Lord, will enter into the kingdom of heaven, but the ones who do the will
114
of my Father in heaven.
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name
cast out demons, and in your name do many works of power? And then I will declare to them, I never
knew you; depart from me, the ones working lawlessness!
115
Hearing and Doing
(
1
Mt. 7.24-29;
2
Mk. 1.22;
3
Lu. 4:32, 6.47-49, 4:32)
1
Therefore everyone
3
coming to me and
1
who hears these words from me, and does them, I will show you
to whom he is like: he is like
1
a wise man
3
building
1
his house,
3
who dug and deepened, and laid a foundation
on the rock.
1
And the rain came down, and the rivers came up, and the winds blew, and fell against that house
3
and had not strength to shake it,
1
and it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.
3
But
1
everyone who hears these words of mine, and who does not do them, he shall be compared to a
foolish man who,
3
without a foundation,
1
built his house on the sand; and the rain came down, and the rivers
came up, and the winds blew and beat against that house,
3
and it immediately fell;
1
and great was the fall
3
and
the ruin of that house.
And it happened, when Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were astonished at His doctrine. For
He was teaching them as having authority, and
2
not as the scribes.
Step 26. From Mount Tabor to Capernaum
Healing the Centurions Servant
(
1
Mt. 8.1,5-13;
3
Lu. 7.1b-10)
1
And He having come down from the mount, great crowds followed Him. And
3
He went into Capernaum.
114
A later statement forms an apt commentary here: And this is the will of Him who sent me: that everyone who sees
the Son and believes upon him should have everlasting life (Jn. 6.40).
115
Psa. 6.8
-36-
And a certain slave of a centurion,
116
one dear to him, badly having illness, was about to die. And having
heard about Jesus
1
entering into Capernaum,
3
he sent elders of the Jews to Him, asking Him that He might
come to restore his slave,
1
saying, Lord, my child
117
has been laid in the house, a paralytic, being grievously
tormented.
3
And coming to Jesus, they earnestly begged Him, saying, He to whom you give this is worthy.
For he loves our nation, and he built the synagogue for us.
1
And Jesus said to him, I will come and heal him.
3
And Jesus went with them.
But He being yet not far away from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, Lord,
do not trouble, for I am not worthy that you come under my roof. For this reason I did not count myself
worthy to come to you. But say a word, and let my servant be healed. For I also am a man having been set
under authority, having soldiers under myself. And 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.
And hearing these things, Jesus marveled at him. And turning to the crowd following Him, He said,
1
Truly I say to you, Not even in Israel did I find so much faith. But I say to you that many will come from
east and west,
118
and will recline with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, but the sons
of the kingdom shall be cast out into the outer darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
And Jesus said to the centurion, Go, and as you have believed, so let it be to you. And his child was
healed in that hour.
3
And the ones being sent, returning to the house, found the slave well, the one being sick.
Step 27. From Capernaum to Nain
Raising the Widow of Nains Son
(Lu. 7.11-17)
And it happened on the next day, He went into a city being called Nain. And many of His disciples went with
Him; also a great crowd. And as He drew near to the gate of the city, even behold, one having died was being
borne, an only son born to his mother; and she was a widow. And a considerable crowd of the city was with
her.
And seeing her, the Lord had compassion on her and said to her, Do not weep.
And coming up, He touched the bier;
119
and those carrying it stood still. And He said, Young man, I say
to you, Arise!
And the dead one sat up and began to speak. And He gave him to his mother. And fear took hold of all;
and they glorified God, saying, A great prophet has risen up among us;
120
and, God has visited his
people.
And this word about Him went out in all Judea, and in all the region around.
Jesus is Anointed by a Sinful Woman
(Lu. 7.36-50)
116
A Roman centurion was a captain of one of the sixty centuries (companies of one hundred men) in a Roman
legion.
117
A well-loved slave was often referred to with these endearments.
118
Though the kingdom was still being offered to Israel, the universality of the Good News appears increasingly in his
message.
119
To touch a dead body was to make one unclean for seven days (Num. 19.11, 16). Jesus touched the coffin
indicating his desire to resurrect the widows son rather than to remain ceremonially clean.
120
Israels two great miracle-working prophets (Elijah and Elisha) each performed a resurrection, Elisha in this very
area of Shunem, near Nain.
-37-
And a certain one of Pharisees asked Him that he eat with Him. And going into the Pharisees house, He
reclined.
121
And, behold, a woman in the city, who was a sinner, knowing that He reclined the Pharisees house,
taking an alabaster vial of ointment, and standing by His feet, weeping behind Him, she began to wash His
feet with tears. And she was wiping with the hairs of her head. And she ardently kissed His feet and was
anointing them with the ointment.
But seeing, the Pharisee who invited Him spoke within himself, saying, This One, if He were a prophet,
would have known who and what the woman who touched Him is; for she is a sinner.
And answering, Jesus said to the man, Simon, I have a thing to say to you.
And he said, Teacher, speak.
There were two debtors to a certain creditor: the one owed five hundred denarii and the other fifty. But
they not having a thing to pay, he freely forgave both. Therefore which of them do you say will love him
most?
And answering, Simon said, I suppose the one to whom he freely forgave the most.
And He said to him, You have judged rightly. And turning to the woman, He said to Simon, Do you
see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give water for My feet, but she washed My feet with
tears and wiped them off with the hairs of her head. You gave Me no kiss, but she from when I entered did
not stop fervently kissing My feet. You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with
ointment. For this reason I say to you, her many sins are remitted, for she loved much. But to whom little is
forgiven, he loves little. And He said to her, Your sins are remitted.
And those reclining with Him began to say within themselves, Who is this who even remits sins?
But He said to the woman, Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.
Step 28. From Nain to the Second Galilean Preaching Tour
Jesus Ministry and the Help of Women
(Lu. 8.1-3)
And it happened afterwards, He traveled in every city and village, preaching and announcing the gospel of
the kingdom of God. And the Twelve were with Him; also certain women who were healed from evil spirits
and infirmities: Mary, having been called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna,
wife of Chuza, Herods steward, and Susanna, and many others, who were ministering to Him of their
possessions.
Jesus and Beelzebub I
(
2
Mk. 3.19b-30;
3
Lu. 8.4a, 12.10)
3
And a great crowd coming together, and the ones in each city coming to Him,
2
and He came into a house.
122
And again a crowd came together, so as they were not able even to eat bread. And hearing, those with Him
went out to take hold of Him; for they said, He is out of His mind.
121
This first anointing of Jesus with precious ointment by a woman in Galilee is not to be confused with the later
anointing by Mary at Bethany just before Passion Week.
Jesus conversation here concluded with peacefor the woman but not Simon the Pharisee.
This literal meaning clarifies the picture, for it was customary for Jews at formal dinners to recline, resting on their
left elbow with their feet extended away from the low table, as did the Romans.
122
The house was a refuge, although to no avail (probably Peters home in Capernaum).
-38-
And coming down from Jerusalem, the scribes said, He has Beelzebub; and He casts out demons by the
ruler of the demons.
And calling them near, He spoke to them in parables, saying, How can Satan cast out Satan? And if a
kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that
house is not able to stand. And if Satan rises upon himself, and has been divided, he is not able to stand, but
he has an end. No one, not any, having entered into his house, is able to plunder the vessels of the strong one,
unless he first tie up the strong one; and then he will plunder his house.
123
Truly I say to you, All the sins will be forgiven to the sons of men, also blasphemies, as many as they
may blaspheme, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit has no remission unto the age, but is liable
to eternal judgment (because they said, He has an unclean spirit).
Jesus True Family
(
1
Mt. 12.46-50;
2
Mk. 3.31-35;
3
Lu. 8.19-21)
2
Then
1
while He was yet speaking to the crowds,
2
a crowd sat around Him. And His mother and brothers
came.
124
And standing outside, they sent to Him,
1
seeking to speak to Him,
3
and were not able to come up
with Him through the crowd.
1
Then one said to Him, Behold, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak
to you.
But answering, He said to the one speaking to Him, Who is My mother? And who are My brothers?
2
And having looked around on those sitting around Him in a circle,
1
and stretching out His hand to His
disciples, He said, Behold, My mother and My brothers.
3
My mother and My brother are these: the ones
hearing the Word of God, and doing it.
1
For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven, that one is My
brother and sister and mother.
Parables by the Sea
(
1
Mt. 13.1-3a;
2
Mk. 4.3-9;
3
Lu. 8.4c-8)
2
And again He began to teach beside the sea.
1
And going out from the house in that day, Jesus sat down by
the sea. And great crowds were gathered to Him, so that
2
He stepped into the boat in order to sit in the sea.
1
He sat down. And all the crowd stood on the shore
2
toward the sea. And He taught them many things in
parables, and said to them in His teaching:
The Parable of the Sower
(
1
Mt. 13.3b-9;
2
Mk. 4.3-9;
3
Lu. 8.4c-8)
2
Listen! Behold, the one sowing went out to sow
3
his seed.
2
And as he sowed, it happened that one indeed
fell beside the road,
3
and was trampled; and the birds of the heaven
2
came and devoured it.
1
And other fell
on stony places
2
where it did not have much earth. And it sprang up at once, due to not having depth of earth.
And the sun rising, it was scorched. And through not having root,
3
it dried up because of not having moisture.
And other fell in the middle of the thorn bushes, and growing up with it, the thorn bushes choked it,
2
and it
did not yield fruit. And another fell into the good ground, and yielded fruit, going up and increasing; and one
123
Satan, as the strong one, was to be finally bound and his usurped kingdom to be reclaimed by Christ who would
deliver it back to the Father (1 Cor. 15.24).
124
It is significant that Joseph is not mentioned as living during Jesus ministry; since Joseph was in the royal line to
be Israels next king. Only after Josephs death could Jesus have presented Himself as King of the Jews.
-39-
bore thirty, and one sixty, and one a hundredfold.
3
Saying these things, He cried out,
2
The one having ears
to hear, let him hear.
The Purpose of Parables
(
1
Mt. 13.10-23;
2
Mk. 4.10-20;
3
Lu. 8.9-15)
2
And when He was alone,
125
those around Him, with the twelve
1
disciples,
3
questioned Him, saying, What
might this parable be?
1
Why do you speak to them in parables?
And answering, He said to them, To you it has been given to know the mysteries
3
of the kingdom of
God, but to the rest,
1
it has not been given to those. Because of this, I speak
2
to these, the ones outside,
126
all
things
1
in parables,
2
that seeing they may see and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not
understand, that they should not convert, and the sins be remitted to them.
1
And the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled on them, which says,
IN HEARING YOU WILL HEAR AND NOT UNDERSTAND, NOT EVER;
AND SEEING YOU WILL SEE AND NOT PERCEIVE, NOT EVER.
FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS GROWN FAT,
AND THEY HEARD HEAVILY WITH THE EARS,
AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES,
THAT THEY NOT SEE WITH THE EYES,
OR HEAR WITH THE EARS,
AND UNDERSTAND WITH THE HEART,
AND BE CONVERTED, AND I SHALL HEAL THEM.
127
But your eyes are blessed because they see; and your ears because they hear. For truly I tell you that
many prophets and righteous ones longed to see what you see and did not see, and to hear what you hear and
did not hear.
2
And He said to them, Do you not know this parable? And how will you know all the parables?
1
Therefore, hear the parable of the sower,
3
and this is the parable: The seed is the Word of God.
2
The sower
sows the Word.
1
Everyone hearing the Word of the kingdom, and not understanding, then
2
Satan,
1
the evil
one, comes and catches away that which was sown in his heart,
3
lest believing they may be saved.
1
This is
that sowed by the roadside.
2
And likewise,
1
the seed sown on the rocky places is this: the one hearing the Word, and immediately
receiving it with joy, but has no root in himself, but
3
believes for a time.
2
Then trouble or persecution
occurring through the Word, immediately they are offended
3
and draw back.
1
And the seed sown into the thorn bushes is this:
3
these are the ones hearing
2
the Word,
3
moving along,
2
the anxieties of this age,
3
and pleasures of life
2
and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts about other
things entering in, they choke the Word, and it becomes unfruitful,
3
and does not bear to maturity.
1
But the seed sown on the good ground is this: the one
3
who in a right and good heart,
2
welcomes the
Word,
1
and understanding it,
3
they hold it and bear fruit in patience,
2
one thirty, and one sixty, and one a
hundredfold.
125
A parable is a fictitious story, true to life (strictly adhering to realismnot a fable where animals talk and trees walk)
designed to teach a specific truth. It generally starts with something familiar and proceeds to the unfamiliar.
This discussion is parenthetical, giving Jesus reasons for speaking in parables. He further explains his first
parable, making it again clear why he was using parables.
126
The truths withheld were not concerning the way of salvation but secrets of the kingdom, reserved for children of
the kingdom.
127
Isa. 6.9-10
-40-
The Parable of the Weeds
(Mt. 13.24-30)
He put before them another parable,
128
saying, The kingdom of heaven is compared to a man sowing good
seed in his field. But while the men were sleeping, a hostile one came to him and sowed darnel in the midst
of the wheat, and went away. And when the blade sprouted and produced fruit, then the darnel also appeared.
And coming near, the slaves of the housemaster said to him, Lord, did you not sow good seed in your
field? Then from where does it have the darnel?
And he said to them, A hostile man did this.
And the slaves said to him, Do you desire, then, that going out we should gather them?
But he said, No, lest gathering the darnel you should uproot the wheat with them. Allow both to grow
together until the harvest. And in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, First gather the darnel, and
bind them into bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my granary.
The Parable of the Lamp
(
1
Mt. 13.12;
2
Mk. 4.21-25;
3
Lu. 8.16-18)
2
And He said to them, Does the lamp come that it may be put under the grain measure, or under the bed?
3
But no one lighting a lamp covers it with a vessel, or puts it underneath a bed, but sets it on a lampstand,
that the ones coming in may see the light. For nothing is hidden which will not be visible, nor secret which
will not be known and come to be visible.
2
If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.
And He said to them,
3
Then observe how you hear;
2
watch what you hear. With what measure you
measure, it will be measured to you; and more will be given to you, the ones hearing. For whoever may have,
it will be given to him,
1
and he will have overabundance. But whoever does not have, even what he
3
seems
to have
1
will be taken from him.
The Parable of the Growing Seed
(Mk 4.26-29)
And He said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed on the earth, and should sleep, and rise
night and day; and the seed should sprout and lengthen of itself, while he does not know. For of itself the
earth bears fruit: first greenery, then an ear, then full grain in the ear. And whenever the fruit gives over,
immediately he sends forth the sickle, for the harvest has come.
129
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
(
1
Mt. 13.31-32;
2
Mk. 4.30-32;
3
Lu. 13.18-19)
1
He put another parable before them, saying,
2
To what shall we compare the kingdom of God? Or with what
parables shall we compare it?
1
The kingdom of heaven
130
is compared to a grain of mustard,
3
which a man
having taken threw into his garden.
2
When it is sown on the earth, it is lesser than all the seeds of the ones
on the earth. And when it is
1
grown it is greater
2
than all the plants,
1
and becomes a
3
great tree,
2
and produces
128
The first parable was about where the seeds fall and the response. The next parable was on the kinds of seeds
planted.
129
Joel 3.13
130
The kingdom of God and of heaven were interchangeable terms. Matthew alone used the latter for Jewish
readers. When both occur in parallel accounts, both are quoted.
-41-
great branches,
1
so that the birds of the heaven come and dwell in its branches.
The Parable of the Yeast
(
1
Mt. 13.33;
3
Lu. 13.20-21)
3
And again
1
He spoke another parable to them:
3
To what shall I liken the kingdom of God?
1
The kingdom
of heaven is compared to leaven, which taking, a woman hid in three measures of meal until the whole was
leavened.
The Reason for the Parables
(
1
Mt. 13.34-35;
2
Mk. 4.33-34)
1
Jesus spoke all these things in parables to the crowds,
2
and with many such parables He spoke the Word to
them, even as they were able to hear.
1
He did not speak to them without a parable, so that was fulfilled that
spoken through the prophet, saying:
I WILL OPEN MY MOUTH IN PARABLES;
I WILL SPEAK OUT THINGS HIDDEN FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.
131
2
And He explained all things to His disciples privately.
Explanation for the Disciples
(Mt. 13.36-43)
Then sending away the crowds, Jesus came into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, Explain
to us the parable of the darnel of the field.
132
And answering, He said to them, The one sowing the good seed is the Son of man. And the field is the
world; and the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; but the darnel are the sons of the evil one. And
the hostile one who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age, and the angels are the
reapers. Then as the darnel is gathered and is consumed in the fire, so it will be in the completion of this age.
The Son of man will send forth his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all the stumbling blocks,
and those who practice lawlessness. And they will throw them into the furnace of fire; there will be weeping
and gnashing of the teeth. Then the righteous ones will shine out like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.
The one having ears to hear, let him hear.
Parables on the Kingdom of Heaven
(Mt. 13.44-52)
Again, the kingdom of heaven is compared to treasure being hidden in the field, which finding, a man hid;
and for the joy of it, he goes and sells all things, as many as he has, and buys that field.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is compared to a man, a merchant seeking excellent pearls; who finding
one very precious pearl, going away has sold all things, as many as he had, and bought it.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is compared to a drag net thrown into the sea, and gathering together of
every kind; which, when it was filled, drawing it up on the shore, and sitting down, they gathered the good
131
Psa. 78.2
132
Undoubtedly, this follows his explanation (given earlier) of the parable of the sower.
-42-
into containers, and they threw out the rotten. So it will be in the completion of the age: the angels will go
out and will separate the evil ones from the midst of the righteous ones, and will throw them into the furnace
of fire; there will be weeping and gnashing of the teeth.
Jesus said to them, Have you understood all these things?
They said to Him, Yes, Lord.
And He said to them, Because of this, every scribe schooled to the kingdom of heaven is like a man,
a master of a house, who puts forth out of his treasure new and old.
Step 29. From the Second Preaching Tour to the Country of the
Gadarenes
Stilling of a Storm
(
1
Mt. 8.18, 23-27;
2
Mk. 4.35-41;
3
Lu. 8.22-25)
2
And evening having come,
1
and seeing great crowds around Him, Jesus gave orders,
3
and He said to His
disciples,
3
Let us go over to the other side of the lake.
1
His disciples,
2
leaving the crowd,
1
followed Him, and
2
they took Him along in the boat as He was.
3
And
they set sail.
2
And other small boats also were with Him.
3
And they sailing,
1
behold,
2
a great windstorm
3
came onto the lake,
2
and the waves beat into the boat so
that it
1
was covered by the waves
2
already;
3
and they were being filled with water and were in danger.
2
And
He was on the stern, sleeping on the headrest.
1
And coming near, His disciples
3
awakened him, saying, Master! Master! We are perishing!
1
Lord,
save us!
2
Teacher, does it not matter to you that we are perishing?
1
And He said to them, Why are you afraid, little-faiths? Then rising up, He rebuked the winds
3
and the
roughness of the water,
2
and said to the sea, Silence! Be muzzled! And the wind ceased, and there was a
great calm. And He said to them,
3
Where is your faith?
2
How do you not have faith?
1
And the men marveled,
2
and they feared a great fear,
3
saying to one another,
1
What kind of man is this,
that even the winds and the sea obey Him?
3
Who then is this One, that He commands even the wind and
the water, and they obey Him?
133
Healing of a Demoniac
(
1
Mt. 8.28-34;
2
Mk. 5.1-20;
3
Lu. 8.26-39)
3
And they sailed down to the country of the Gadarenes, which is across from Galilee. And He going out onto
the land,
2
immediately,
1
two men being demon-possessed met Him,
3
out of the city,
1
coming out of the
tombs,
134
very violent, so that no one was able to pass through that way.
3
A certain man,
135

3
who had demons
from a long time. And he put no garment on; and he did not stay in a house, but among the tombs.
1
And
behold!
2
seeing Jesus from afar,
3
crying out,
2
he ran and
3
fell down before Him, and
2
prostrated himself
before Him,
3
and with a loud voice said,
1
What is to us and to You, Jesus,
2
Son of the Most High God?
133
Not only is this exquisitely told, and a demonstration of his power as Gods Son, but it also shows the heaven-
directed accuracy of the writers. Thirty-three exact quotations formed these twelve inimitable (matchless) sentences
with nothing added or, in the interweaving, omitted.
134
The tombs were probably caves.
135
A certain man seems appropriately rendered here, and in John 11.49. Matthew speaks of two restored to sanity,
but it is evident that one in particular was a violent and notable case.
-43-
1
Have You come here before time to torment us?
2
I adjure You by God, do not torment me.
3
For He charged the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For many times it had seized him,
2
and no one
was able to bind him, not even with chains. Because he had often been bound with fetters and chains, and
the chains had been torn by him, and the fetters had been shattered. And no one was able to subdue him.
3
He
was driven by the demons into the deserted places.
2
And continually night and day in the hills, and in the
tombs, he was crying and cutting himself with stones.
3
And Jesus asked him, saying, What is your name?
2
And he answered, saying, My name is Legion, because we are many,
3
(because many demons entered
into him).
2
And he was imploring Him much that He would not send them outside the country,
3
that He not
order them to go away into the abyss.
1
And far off from them
2
a great herd of pigs was feeding there near the hills. And all the demons
implored Him, saying,
1
If You cast us out, allow us to go away into the herd of pigs.
136
2
And Jesus immediately allowed them.
1
And He said to them, Go!
3
And coming out from the man,
2
the
unclean spirits
1
went away into the herd of pigs. And, behold, all the herd of pigs
2
rushed down the precipice
into the
3
lake
2
(and they were about two thousand), and they were choked
1
and died in the waters.
3
And seeing the thing having been done, the ones feeding the pigs fled.
1
And going into the city,
2
and to
the fields,
1
they told all the things of the ones who had been demon-possessed. And, behold, all the city went
out to meet with Jesus,
3
to see the thing happening, and came to Jesus.
And they found the man,
2
the one being demon-possessed,
3
sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and of
sound mind,
2
the one having had the legion. And they feared.
3
And also the ones who had seen related to
them how the one having been demon-possessed was healed,
2
and about the pigs.
3
And all the multitude of
the surrounding region of the Gadarenes
2
began to implore Him to go away from their borders. And they
3
were seized with a great fear. And entering into the boat, He returned.
2
And he stepping into the boat,
3
the man from whom the demons had gone out begged Him, desiring to
be with Him.
2
But Jesus did not allow him, but
3
sent him away, saying,
2
Go to your house, to your own, and
report to them as many things as the Lord
3
God did to you
2
and had mercy on you.
3
And he went away proclaiming through all the city,
2
in Decapolis
137
as many things as Jesus did to him.
And all marveled.
Step 30. From the Country of the Gadarenes to Capernaum
Eating with Capernaums Outcasts
(
1
Mt. 9.1, 10-17;
2
Mk. 5.21a; 2.15-22;
3
Lu. 8.40; 5.29-39)
3
And it happened as Jesus
1
passed over and
3
returned
1
to His own city,
3
the crowd gladly received Him, for
they were all waiting for Him.
138
And [Matthew] Levi made a great feast for Him in his house.
1
And it happened as He reclined in the
house,
3
a crowd of many tax gatherers
1
and sinners having come, these were reclining with Jesus and His
136
Why this? Because it meant no destruction to themselves and would incense the (Gentile) populace there against
Jesus. Why then did he grant it? Undoubtedly, to emphasize the cost of discipleship in contrast to the former
approach of calling men by acts of mercy (which resulted in no response from Israel).
137
The area was referred to as the Decapolis, a district containing ten cities in the northeastern part of Galilee. These
cities were built originally by Alexander the Great, and rebuilt by Rome in 65 B.C. They were primarily of the nations,
having certain privileges conferred on them and had formed a league for trade and mutual defense.
138
They looked gladly, for other small ships had left there the evening before and very likely had been lost in the
storm. So the seemingly irrelevant reference to them in Mark, supplemented by this from Luke 8.40, shows that
Jesus stilling of the storm had become public knowledge.
-44-
disciples,
2
for they were many. And they followed Him.
3
And the scribes and the Pharisees
2
seeing Him eating with tax gatherers and sinners,
3
murmured at His
disciples, saying, Why do you eat and drink with tax gatherers and sinners?
1
Why does your teacher?
But Jesus hearing, He
3
said to them, The ones who are sound have no need of a healer, but the ones
badly having illness.
1
But going, learn what this is, I desire mercy and not sacrifice.
139
For I did not come
to call righteous ones, but sinners to repentance.
2
And
1
then
2
Johns disciples, and those of the Pharisees, were fasting. And
1
the disciples of John came
to Him
2
and said,
1
Why do we and the
2
disciples of the Pharisees fast
3
often, and make prayers,
2
but Your
disciples do not fast,
3
the ones close to You eat and drink?
2
And Jesus said to them,
1
Can the sons of the bridechamber mourn as long as the bridegroom is with
them?
3
You are not able to make the sons of the bridechamber fast while the bridegroom is with them.
2
As
much time they have the groom with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come when the groom will be
taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.
3
And He also told a parable to them: No one
2
sews a patch of
3
new
2
unmilled cloth on an old garment.
1
For its fullness takes away from the
2
old
1
garment, and a worse tear takes its place.
3
Otherwise both the new
will tear, and the old will not agree with the piece from the new.
And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the new wine will burst the wineskins, and
it will be poured out, and the wineskins will perish. But new wine is to be put into
1
fresh wineskins, and both
are preserved together.
3
And no one drinking old wine immediately desires new; for he says, The old is
better.
Restoration and Healing
(
1
Mt. 9.18-26;
2
Mk. 5.21b-43;
3
Lu. 8.41-56)
1
As He was speaking these things,
2
a large crowd gathered upon Him; and He was beside the sea.
3
And,
behold, a man named Jairus,
2
one of the synagogue rulers,
3
came.
2
And seeing Him,
3
falling at the feet of
Jesus,
1
worshiped before Him;
3
he begged Him to come into his house, because an only daughter was born
to him, about twelve years of age; and she was dying.
2
And he much implores Him, saying, My little
daughter has finally come to the end. I pray that coming You may lay hands on her, that she may be cured
and live.
1
And rising up, Jesus
2
went with him.
3
And in His going,
2
a large crowd was following and was pressing
on Him. And a certain woman being with
1
a flow of blood for twelve years,
3
and could not be cured by
anyone,
2
and who had suffered many things by many physicians, and spent all things that she had, and having
gained nothing, but rather coming to worse, hearing about Jesus, coming in the crowd behind Him, she
touched
1
the fringe of His garment. For she said within herself, If only I shall
2
touch His garments, I will
be cured. And instantly the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she knew in her body that she was
healed from the plague.
And knowing instantly within Himself that power had gone forth out of Him, turning in the crowd, Jesus
said,
3
Who was touching Me?
2
Who touched My garments?
3
And all denying it, Peter
2
and His disciples said to Him,
3
Master,
2
You see the
3
crowds are pressing
You together and are pressing hard,
2
and do You say, Who touched Me?
3
But Jesus said, Someone touched Me, for I knew power was going out from Me.
2
And He looked
around to see the one having done this.
And the woman, being afraid and trembling, knowing what had happened on her,
3
and seeing that she
was not hidden,
2
came and fell down before Him and told Him all the truth, and
3
declared to Him before all
139
Hos. 6.6
-45-
the people for what reason she touched Him, and how she was instantly cured.
And He said to her,
1
Take courage, daughter; your faith has cured you.
2
Go in peace and be well from
your plague.
As He was
3
yet speaking, someone came from the synagogue rulers house, saying to him, Your
daughter has died. Do not trouble the Teacher.
But hearing
2
the word spoken, Jesus said to the synagogue ruler at once, Do not fear, only believe
3
and
she will be healed.
2
And He did not allow anyone to accompany Him except Peter and James and John, the
brother of James.
And He comes into the synagogue rulers house. And He saw
1
the flute-players and the crowd causing
a tumult,
2
and weeping and much wailing.
3
All were weeping and bewailing her.
2
And going in, He said to
them,
1
Go back.
2
Why do you make such a tumult and weep?
1
For the little girl has not died, but she sleeps.
3
And they
2
ridiculed Him,
3
knowing that she died.
2
But having put all out, He took along the father and
the mother of the child, and the ones with Him, and passed on into where the child was lying.
3
Taking hold
of her hand, He called out, saying
2
to her, Talitha koumi; which is, being translated, Little girl, I say to
you, Rise up!
3
And her spirit returned, and
2
immediately the little girl rose up and walked.
3
And He ordered that she
be given something to eat. And her parents
2
were amazed with great amazement. And very much He charged
them that no one should know this,
3
that which occurred.
1
And this report went out into all that land.
Healing the Blind and Mute
(Mt. 9.27-34)
And Jesus passing from there, two blind ones followed Him, crying and saying, Have mercy on us, Son of
David. And coming into the house, the blind ones came near to Him.
And Jesus said to them, Do you believe that I am able to do this?
And they said to him, Yes, Lord.
Then He touched their eyes, saying, According to your faith let it be to you,
140
And their eyes were opened. And Jesus strictly ordered them, saying, See, let no one know.
But going out, they made Him known in all that land. And as they were going out, behold, they brought
to Him a mute man having been possessed by a demon. And the demon being cast out, the mute one spoke.
And the crowds marveled, saying, Never it appeared thus in Israel.
But the Pharisees said, He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons.
Jesus and John the Baptist
(
1
Mt. 11.2-19;
3
Lu. 7.18-35, 16.16)
3
And his disciples reported to John
1
in the prison
141

3
about all
1
the works of Christ.
3
And having called near
a certain two of his disciples, John sent to Jesus, saying, Are you the One coming? Or should we expect
another?
And having come to Him, the men said, John the Baptist sent us to you, saying, Are you the One
coming, or should we expect another?
140
In three successive episodes the emphasis has been on your faith, only believe, and again your faith.
141
Exactly when John sent his disciples, or when they found Jesus after journeying 100 miles or more (from
Machaerus), we are not told. But it was in the summer of great crowds and many miracles and forms a fitting climax
to them by the nature of Jesus reply. Note also that he did not criticize John, though he did not use his power to free
him as may have been expected. John was to precede him to heaven as he had preceded him on earth.
-46-
And in the same hour He healed many from diseases and plagues and evil spirits. And He gave to many
blind ones ability to see. And answering, Jesus said to them, Going, report to John what you saw and heard.
1
The blind ones receive sight, and the lame ones walk; lepers are cleansed, and the deaf ones hear; the dead
ones are raised, and the poor ones are given the gospel.
142
And blessed is the one, whoever is not caused to
stumble in Me.
3
And Johns messengers going away, He began to speak to the crowds about John,
1
What did you go
out into the wilderness to behold? A reed being shaken with the wind? But what did you go out to see? A
man being clothed in soft garments? Behold, those wearing
3
splendid clothing and being in luxury are in
1
the
house of kings,
3
in royal palaces.
But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, Even more than a prophet.
1
For this is the
one about whom it has been written: Behold, I send out My messenger before your face, who shall prepare
your way before you.
143
Truly I say to you, There has not arisen among those born of a woman any greater
than John the Baptist. But the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is.
3
(And all the people and the tax gatherers hearing, they justified God, having been baptized with the
baptism of John. But the Pharisees and the lawyers set aside Gods counsel as to themselves, not being
baptized by him.)
1
But from the days of John the Baptist until now,
3
the kingdom of God is being preached;
1
the kingdom
of heaven suffers violence and the violent seize it,
3
and everyone is entering into it by force.
1
For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to receive, he is
Elijah,
144
the one going to come. The one having ears to hear, let him hear.
3
And the Lord said, Then to what shall I compare the men of this generation? And to what are they like?
They are like children, the ones sitting in a marketplace and calling to one another, and saying,
We piped to you, and you did not dance;
We mourned to you, and you did not weep.
For John the Baptist has come neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, He has a demon.
The Son of man has come eating and drinking, and you say, Behold, a man, a glutton and a wine drinker,
a friend of tax gatherers and sinners. But wisdom was justified from all of her children.
Healing a Paralytic at the Pool of Bethesda
(Jn. 5.1-15)
After these things, there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And in Jerusalem is a pool
at the Sheep Gate, the one called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these were lying a great
multitude of the ones being infirm, blind ones, lame ones, withered ones, awaiting the stirring of the water.
For an angel at a certain time descended in the pool and agitated the water. Therefore the one first entering
142
Isa. 35.5, 6; 61.1
143
Mal. 3.1
144
Not literally, but as Gabriel said, in the spirit and power of Elijah. To receptive people, John filled the office of
Elijah in preparing them for Messiah (Mal. 3.1, cp. John 1.21).
-47-
after the agitation of the water became well, whatever disease he was held by.
145
But a certain man was there,
having been in infirmity thirty-eight years.
146
Jesus, seeing this one lying, and knowing that he had already spent much time, He said to him, Do you
desire to become well?
The one being infirm answered him, Lord, I do not have a man, that when the water is agitated he may
throw me into the pool; but while I am coming, another goes down before me.
Jesus said to him, Rise up. Take up your pallet and walk!
And instantly the man became well, and took up his pallet and walked. And it was a sabbath that day.
Therefore the Jews said to the one having been healed, It is sabbath. It is not lawful for you to lift up
the pallet.
He answered them, The one making we well, that one said to me, Lift up your pallet and walk.
Then they asked him, Who is the man who told you, Lift up your pallet and walk?
But the one having been healed did not know who it was, for a crowd being in that place, Jesus had
withdrawn.
After these things, Jesus found him the temple and said to him, Behold, you have become well, sin no
more that a worse thing not happen to you.
The man went away and told the Jews that Jesus is the one making him well.
Responding to Jewish Leaders
(Jn. 5.16-30)
And because of this the Jews were persecuting Jesus and were seeking to kill Him, because He did these
things on a sabbath. But Jesus answered them, My Father works until now, and I work.
Because of this, therefore, the Jews were seeking the more to kill Him, for not only did He break the
sabbath,
147
but also called God His own Father, making Himself equal to God.
Then Jesus answered and said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, The Son is not able to do anything
from Himself, except what he may see the Father doing; for whatever that One does, these things also the
Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows to him all things which he does. And he will show
him greater works than these in order that you may wonder.
148
For even as the Father raises the dead, and
makes alive, so also the Son makes alive whom he wills. For the Father judges no one, but has given all
judgment to the Son, so that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. The one not honoring the
Son does not honor the Father who has sent him.
Truly, truly, I say to you, The one who hears My Word, and believing the One having sent Me, has
everlasting life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. Truly, truly, I say to
you that an hour is coming, and now is, when the dead ones will hear the voice of the Son of God, and the
ones hearing will live. For even as the Father has life in Himself, so He gave also the Son to have life in
145
If John, the writer, had had modern punctuation available, it is probable he would have used quotes here. This
reads like the advertising placard extolling the pool on behalf of its operators. Some early copyists, doubting the truth
of this claim, struck this sentence from the earliest edition of the Gospels now extant, namely the Alexandrian type of
texts. It is found in the majority of the texts which make up the Received Text.
146
The invalid is not said to have been at the pool for 38 years; he may have been brought there recently and so
gave credence to the claim, caused by angelic disturbances of the water. In any case, the point John made was not
the supposed healing power of the pool, but that Jesus here took occasion to give a sign to Jerusalem.
147
The point is not that Jesus actually broke the Sabbath, but that he did so in the view of the Jews. He rather
showed Himself to be Lord of the Sabbath, or creator and disposer of the Sabbath. They were Sabbath worshipers,
having made the Sabbath their god.
148
Jesus emphasized his submission to the Father as a true Son of man, ever doing the Fathers will and always
operating in the Spirits power.
-48-
Himself. And He also gave authority to Him to execute judgment, for He is the Son of man.
Marvel not at this, for an hour is coming in which all the ones in the tombs will hear His voice. And
will come out, the ones having done good things, into a resurrection of life; and the ones having practiced
evil things into a resurrection of judgment. I am not able to do anything of Myself, nothing! Just as I hear,
I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My will, but the will of the Father having sent Me.
More Testimony about Jesus
(Jn. 5.31-47)
If I witness about Myself, My witness is not true; it is Another that witnesses about Me, and I know that
the witness which He witnesses about Me is true. You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth. But
I do not receive witness from man, but I say these things that you may be saved. That one was the burning
and shining lamp, and you were willing to exult in his light for an hour.
But I have the witness greater than the one of John, for the works which the Father has given Me, that
I should finish them, the works which I do themselves witness concerning Me, that the Father has sent Me.
And the Father, the One having sent Me, has Himself borne witness about Me. You have neither heard His
voice at any time, nor have you seen His form. And you do not have His Word abiding in you, for the One
whom that One sent, this One you do not believe. You search the Scriptures, for you think in them you have
everlasting life. And they are the ones witnessing concerning Me. And you are not willing to come to Me that
you may have life.
I do not receive glory from men; but I have known you, that you do not have the love of God in
yourselves. I have come in the name of My Father, and you do not receive Me. If another comes in his own
name, you will receive that one. How are you able to believe, you who receive glory from one another, and
the glory which is from the only God you do not seek?
Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father; there is one accusing you, Moses, in whom you have
hoped. For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for that one wrote about Me. But if you do not
believe his writings, how will you believe My words?
Rejection at Nazareth II
(
1
Mt. 13.53-58;
2
Mk. 6.1-6a)
1
He moved from there
149

2
and came to His fatherland. And His disciples followed Him. And a sabbath having
come,
1
He taught them in their synagogue.
2
And hearing, many were astonished, saying, From where
1
did
this One get this wisdom, and the powerful works?
2
What is the wisdom given to Him, that even such
works of power are occurring through His hands? Is this One not the carpenter,
1
the carpenters son? Is
not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And are not His
sisters all
2
here with us?
1
From where then did this One get all these things?
2
And they were offended in
Him.
And Jesus said to them, A prophet is not without honor, except in his fatherland, and among the
149
A comparison of Mt.13.53 and Mk.4.35 indicates that the statement He moved from there must be incorporated
at this juncture rather than following the parables by the sea. Matthew here skips over the journey to Gadara and
return (because he has already related it), and immediately records the Nazareth affair. The placing of the
withdrawal statement here is justified in that it forms a transition to the following story of the Nazareth visit as
Matthew intended to do. The antecedent of there, however, is obviously not the same in the combinations.
-49-
relatives, and in his own house.
And He
2
could
1
not do many works of power there because of their unbelief,
2
except He performed
healing on a few sick ones, laying on His hands. And He marveled because of their unbelief.
Step 33. From Nazareth to the Third Galilean Preaching Tour
Workers for the Harvest II
(
1
Mt. 9.35-38;
2
Mk. 6.6b)
1
And Jesus went about all the cities and the villages
150

2
in a circuit,
1
teaching in their synagogues, and
proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity of body among the
people.
And seeing the crowds, He was moved with compassion concerning them, because they were weary and
scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to his disciples, The harvest truly is much, but the
workers few. Pray, therefore, to the Lord of the harvest that He send out workers into His harvest.
Sending Out the Twelve Apostles
(
1
Mt. 10.1, 5-16, 24-33, 37-11.1;
2
Mk. 6.7-13;
3
Lu. 9.1-6)
3
And having called
1
His twelve disciples
3
together, He gave them power and authority over all
1
unclean
spirits, so as to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every infirmity of body.
1
Jesus sent these twelve out
2
two by two
3
to proclaim the kingdom of God, and to heal the ones being
sick. And He
2
charged them,
1
saying: Do not go into the way of the nations, and do not go into a Samaritan
city. But rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And going on, proclaim, saying, The kingdom of
heaven has drawn near.
Heal feeble ones, cleanse lepers, raise dead ones, cast out demons. You freely received, freely give.
3
Take nothing for the way,
2
except only a staff.
1
Do not acquire gold, nor silver, nor copper in your belts,
2
no
bread,
1
nor provision bag for the road,
3
nor each to have two tunics,
1
nor sandals,
2
but having tied on sandals.
1
For the worker is worthy of his food.
2
And he said to them,
1
Into whatever city or village you enter, search out who in it is worthy; and
3
into
whatever house you enter, remain there
2
until you go out from there.
1
But entering into the house, greet it;
and if the house truly is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to
you.
And whoever will not receive you, nor will hear your words, having gone out of that house or city,
shake off the dust from your feet,
3
for a testimony against them.
1
Truly I say to you, It will be more bearable
to the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore, be wise as serpents and harmless
as doves.
151
A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above his lord. It is enough for the disciple to become
150
This preaching journey seems to have started from Nazareth and so may have continued in southern Galilee.
From there the six teams of disciples could go in all directions in Israel. Note that the motive in Jesus enormous
endeavors was compassion, as told here.
151
Matthew seems to group here as one discourse things uttered on various occasions. This applies to Matthew
10.17-23, used here in the Olivet discourse where it interweaves perfectly, and Matthew 10.34-36, used with Lukes
parallel report. The remainder shows genuine unity. [It is essential to recognize that Matthews plan is thematic in
contrast to the chronological plan of Mark.]
-50-
as his teacher, and the slave as his lord. If they called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more
they of his household?
Therefore, you should not fear them, for nothing is covered which will not be uncovered; and hidden,
which will not be made known. What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light. And what you hear in
the ear, proclaim on the housetops. And you should not fear the ones killing the body, but not being able to
kill the soul. But rather fear him, the One being able to destroy both soul and body in Hell. Are not two
sparrows sold for an assarion? Yet not one of them shall fall to the ground without your Father. But even the
hairs of your head are all numbered. Therefore do not fear; you are better than many sparrows.
Therefore everyone who shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father, the
One in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I also will deny him before My Father, the One in
heaven.
The one loving father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And the one loving son or daughter
more than Me is not worthy of Me. And who does not take up his cross and follow after Me is not worthy
of Me. The one finding his life shall lose it. And the one losing his life on account of Me shall find it.
The one receiving you receives Me, and the one receiving Me receives Him, the One sending Me. The
one receiving a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophets reward, and the one receiving a just
one in the name of a just one will receive a just ones reward. And whoever gives only a cup of cold water
to drink to one of these little one in the name of a disciple, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward, not
ever!
And it happened when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, He left there to teach and to
proclaim in their cities.
3
And going out, they passed through the villages, having announced the gospel, and
healing everywhere.
152

2
And going out, they proclaimed that men should repent. And they cast out many
demons, and anointed with oil many sick ones and healed them.
The Death of John the Baptist
(
1
Mt. 14.1-13a;
2
Mk. 6.14-29;
3
Lu. 9.7-9)
3
And
1
at that time
2
Herod the king,
3
the tetrarch heard all the things happening by Him, and
1
the fame of
Jesus,
2
for His name became well known. And he
3
was perplexed,
3
and Herod said, I beheaded John, but
who is this about whom I hear such things?
3
Because of the saying by some that John
2
the Baptist
3
had been raised from the dead ones, and by some
that Elijah had appeared. And others said, A prophet, one of the ancients, rose again.
2
But hearing, Herod
said
1
to his servants, This is John the Baptist,
2
whom I beheaded.
1
He has risen from the dead ones, and
because of this, powerful works are at work in Him.
3
And he sought to see Him.
2
For having sent, Herod himself had seized John and bound him in the prison, because of Herodias
153
the
wife of his brother Philip, because he had married her. For John had said to Herod, It is not lawful for you
to have the wife of your brother.
And Herodias held it against him, and desired to kill him, but was not able. For Herod feared John,
knowing him to be a holy and just man, and kept him safe. And hearing him, he did many things, and gladly
heard from him.
1
And desiring to kill him, he feared the multitude, because they held him as a prophet.
But
2
a well-timed day having come, when Herod made a dinner for his chief men on his birthday, also
the chiliarchs, and the chief ones of Galilee. And the daughter of Herodias herself entering, and having
152
These tours were continued from that fall until the following spring.
153
Marks statement, given here, is not inconsistent with Josephus attributing this arrest to Herods fear of Johns
hold on the people. Herods fear of a rebellion might well have come from their hearing of Johns denunciation of
Herods adultery. Josephus did not always tell the whole story.
-51-
danced
1
in the midst,
2
she also pleased Herod and the ones reclining with him.
1
From which
2
the king said
to the girl, Ask me whatever you will, and I will give it to you. And he swore to her
1
with an oath,
2
Whatever you ask me, I will give to you, up to half of my kingdom.
And going out, she said to her mother, What shall I ask?
And she said, The head of John the Baptist.
And immediately going in with haste to the king, she asked, saying, I desire that at once you give to me
the head of John the Baptist on a platter.
And having become deeply grieved, but because of the oaths
1
and those who reclined with him,
2
the king
did not wish to reject her. And the king sending an executioner at once, he commanded his head to be
brought. And going, he beheaded him in the prison.
1
And his head was brought on a platter and was given
to the girl, and she brought it to her mother.
2
And having heard, his disciples went and took his corpse and
1
buried it
2
in a tomb.
1
And coming, they
told Jesus. And having heard, Jesus withdrew privately from there
154
in a boat, into a deserted place.
Step 34. From the Third Preaching Tour to a Wilderness near
Bethsaida
The Feeding of the Five Thousand
(
1
Mt. 14.13b-23;
2
Mk. 6.30-46;
3
Lu. 9.10-17;
4
Jn. 6.1-15)
155
3
And having returned,
2
the apostles gathered to Jesus. And they told Him all things, even as many things as
they did and as many things they taught. And He said to them, You yourselves come apart into a deserted
place, and rest a little. For the ones coming and the ones going were many, and they did not even have
opportunity to eat.
3
And taking them, He went out privately
2
by boat
4
over the Sea of Galilee, the Tiberian
Sea,
3
to a deserted place of a city called Bethsaida.
But knowing this, the crowds
2
saw them going, and many recognized Him. And they ran together on foot
there, from all the cities, and
3
followed Him,
4
for they saw His miraculous signs which He did on the ones
being sick,
2
and came before them, and came together to Him. And going out, Jesus saw a large crowd, and
had compassion on them, because they were as sheep having no shepherd.
156

3
And having received them,
2
He began to teach them many things.
3
He spoke to them about the kingdom of God. And He cured the ones
having need of healing.
But the day began to decline,
157

4
Jesus went up into the mountain and sat there with His disciples. And
154
Jesus leaving was not from fear of Herod, for he continued here and later in Herod s realm, Galilee and Perea.
Instead it must have been in deep sorrow and prayer.
155
This event is recorded in all four gospels.
156
Num. 27.17; Eze. 34.5
157
Most of the paragraph and many shorter parts of what follows come from the Gospel of John. Up to this point his
voice has been separate from those of the other three evangelists (gospel writers), but here we come to an
outstanding variation: four voices join in complete harmony down to the smallest detail. Further, what they tell here
is one of the most widely-known and significant events in all of Jesus dealing with Israel. If these claims were
untrue, there were hundreds still alive when the gospels were written who could have disputed what is told here, but
no enemy of Christ ever came forward with any such proof. That fact and the way the four accounts fit together
proves the Gospels accuracy and the historicity of Johns Gospel. This will be demonstrated also in a number of
later portions where Johns voice will mingle with the others more frequently and with the same unity and clarity.
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the Passover was near,
158
the feast of the Jews. Then Jesus lifting up His eyes and seeing that a great crowd
is coming to Him, He said to Philip, From where may we buy bread that these may eat? But He said this
to test him, for He knew what He was about to do.
Philip answered Him, Bread for two hundred denarii are not enough for them, that each of them may
receive a little.
One of His disciples said to Him, Andrew the brother of Simon Peter, There is one little boy here who
has five barley loaves and two small fish; but what are these among so many?
3
And coming up, the Twelve said to Him,
1
The place is deserted, and the hour is already gone by.
3
Send
away the crowd that going to the surrounding villages and farms they may lodge and
1
buy foods for
themselves.
2
And answering, He said to them,
1
They have no need to go away. you give them food to eat.
2
And they said to Him, Going, should we buy two hundred denarii of bread and give them to eat?
And He said to them, How many loaves do you have? Go and see.
And knowing, they said
1
to Him, We have nothing here except five loaves and two fish,
3
unless going
we buy food for all this people.
1
And He said, Bring them here to Me.
4
And Jesus said
3
to his disciples,
4
Make the men to recline
3
in groups, by fifties.
4
And much grass was in the place.
3
And they did so, and made all recline,
2
group by group on the green
grass. And they sat, ranks by ranks each hundred, and each fifty.
3
And taking the five loaves and the two fish, looking up to heaven, He blessed them,
4
and giving thanks,
2
broke the loaves, and
4
distributed
3
to the disciples to set before the crowd.
4
And likewise of the
2
two
4
fish
2
to all,
4
as much as they wanted.
1
And they all ate and were satisfied.
4
And when
3
they ate and were all filled, He said to His disciples, Gather up the fragments left over, that
not anything be lost. Then they gathered and filled twelve baskets of fragments of the five barley loaves of
bread,
2
also from the fish,
4
which were left over to the ones having eaten.
1
And the ones eating were about
five thousand men, besides women and children.
4
Then the men, seeing what miraculous sign Jesus did, said, This is truly the Prophet, the One coming
into the world. Therefore knowing that they were about to come and seize Him, that they might make Him
king,
2
at once He constrained His disciples to enter into the boat, and to go before to the other side, to
Bethsaida, until He should send away the crowd. And taking leave of them,
1
and having dismissed the
crowds,
4
Jesus withdrew again to the mountain Himself alone
2
to pray.
Step 35. From the Bethsaida Wilderness to the Plain of Gennesaret
Walking on Water
(
1
Mt. 14.24-36;
2
Mk. 6.47-56;
4
Jn. 6.16-21)
4
And when it became evening, His disciples went down on the sea. And entering into the boat, they were
going across the sea to Capernaum. And darkness had already occurred, and Jesus had not come to them. And
the sea was aroused by a great wind blowing.
159
2
He
1
was there alone
2
on the land. And He saw them being distressed in the rowing, for
1
the boat was
158
This must have been his way of observing the Passover, as otherwise there was no point in Johns mentioning the
imminence of that feast. And it appears that Jesus attended no Passover at Jerusalem after the one where he
was rejected, until the Passover of the crucifixion.
159
It was a strong wind storm, not necessarily with clouds; also it was time of the Passover full moon. They would
have been able to recognize Jesus from afar. The fourth watch was between 3:00 - 6:00 a.m.
-53-
already in the middle of the sea, distressed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. But in the fourth watch
of the night,
4
having rowed about twenty-five or thirty stadia,
1
Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea.
2
And He willed to go by them.
1
And seeing Him walking on the sea,
4
and becoming near the boat,
1
the
disciples were troubled, saying, It is a phantom! And they cried out from fear.
2
For all saw Him and were
troubled.
1
But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, Have courage, I AM!
160
Do not fear.
And answering him, Peter said, Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters.
And He said, Come!
And going down from the boat, Peter walked on the waters to go to Jesus. But seeing the strong wind,
he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, Lord, save me!
And immediately stretching out the hand, Jesus took hold of him, and said to him, Little-faith, at what
did you doubt?
4
Then they desired to take Him into the boat.
1
And coming into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in
the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, Truly, you are the Son of God.
2
And they were amazed,
exceedingly out of measure within themselves, and marveled. For they did not understand about the miracle
of the loaves, for their heart was hardened.
4
The boat
1
came
4
instantly
1
to
4
the land to which they were going,
1
the land of Gennesaret,
2
and drew to
shore. And they, coming out of the boat,
1
the men of that place,
2
at once having recognized Him, they ran
around all that surrounding region. And they began to carry about those badly having illness on cots to
wherever they heard that there He is. And wherever He went into villages or cities or fields, they laid the
feeble ones in the markets and begged Him if only they may grasp the fringe of His garment. And as many
as grasped Him were
1
completely cured.
160
The Greek text reads simply, as rendered here, I AM. In light of a later utterance he thus identified Himself with
the divine Voice of Exodus 3.14.
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Step 36. From the Plain of Gennesaret to Capernaum
The Bread of Life
(Jn. 6.22-71)
The next day, the crowd, the one standing across the sea had seen that no other little boat was there except
one, that one into which His disciples entered, and that Jesus did not go in with His disciples into the small
boat, but that the disciples went away alone. But other small boats came from Tiberias near the place where
they ate the bread, the Lord having given thanks. Therefore, when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there
nor His disciples, they themselves also stepped into the boats
161
and came to Capernaum seeking Jesus.
And finding Him across the sea, they said to Him, Rabbi, when did You come here?
Jesus answered them and said, Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me not because you saw miraculous
signs, but because you ate of the loaves of bread and were satisfied. Do not work for the food, the one
perishing, but for the food, the one enduring to everlasting life, which the Son of man will give to you; for
God the Father sealed Him.
162
Then they said to Him, What may we do that we may work the works of God?
Jesus answered and said to them, This is the work of God, that you believe into Him whom that One
sent.
Therefore they said to Him, Then what miraculous sign do You do that we may see and may believe
You? What do You work? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, even as it is written, HE GAVE THEM
BREAD OUT OF THE HEAVEN TO EAT.
163
Then Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, Moses has not given you the bread out of the heaven,
but My Father gives you the true bread out of heaven. For the bread of God is the One coming down out of
the heaven and giving life to the world.
Then they said to him, Lord, always give us this bread.
And Jesus said to them, I am the Bread of life; the one coming to Me will not hunger, not ever; and the
one believing into Me will not thirst, not ever! But I said to you that you also have seen Me and do not
believe. All who the Father gives to Me shall come to Me, and the one coming to Me I will not cast out, not
ever, for I have come down out of heaven, not that I should do My will, but the will of him who sent Me. And
this is the will of the Father sending Me, that of all that he has given Me, I shall not lose any of it, but shall
raise it up in the last day. And this is the will of the One having sent Me, that everyone seeing the Son and
believing into Him should have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
Therefore the Jews
164
murmured about Him, because He said, I am the Bread coming down out of
heaven. And they said, Is this not Jesus the son of Joseph, of whom we know the father and the mother?
How, then, does this One now say, I have come down out of heaven?
Therefore Jesus answered and said to them, Do not murmur with one another. No one is able to come
to Me if not the Father, the One having sent Me, draws him, and I will raise him in the last day. It is being
161
Enterprising fishermen had, no doubt, responded to the peoples plight, transporting them across the sea.
162
The seal was a reference to the Voice from heaven at his baptism and the descent of the Holy Spirit in the form
of a dove (Mk.1.10-11).
163
Psa. 78.24
164
Johns reference to the Jews usually signifies the scribes and Pharisees.
-55-
written in the Prophets, They shall all be taught of God.
165
Therefore every one hearing and having
learned from the Father comes to Me; not that anyone has seen the Father, except He being from God, this
One has seen the Father. Truly, truly, I say to you, The one believing into Me has everlasting life. I am the
Bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness and died. This is the Bread, the One coming down
out of heaven, that anyone may eat of it and not die. I am the Living Bread, the One having come down from
heaven. If anyone eats of this Bread, he will live to the age. And indeed the bread which I will give is My
flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
Therefore the Jews argued with one another, saying, How can this One give us His flesh to eat?
Then Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, If you do not eat the flesh of the Son of man, and
drink His blood, you do not have life in yourselves. The one eating My flesh and drinking My blood has
everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is truly food, and My blood is truly drink.
The one eating My flesh and drinking My blood
166
abides in Me, and I in him. Even as the living Father sent
Me, and I live through the Father; also the one eating Me, even that one will live through Me. This is the
Bread which came down out of heaven, not as your fathers ate the manna and died; the one eating this Bread
will live to the age.
He said these things teaching in a synagogue in Capernaum. Then many of His disciples having heard,
they said, This Word is hard; who is able to hear it?
But knowing in Himself that His disciples were murmuring about this, He said to them, Does this cause
you to stumble? Then what if you see the Son of man going up where He was before? It is the Spirit, the One
making alive. The flesh does not profit, nothing! The words which I speak to you are spirit and are life. But
there are some of you who are not believing. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they are, the ones not
believing, and who is the one giving Him over. And He said, Because of this, I have told you that no one
is able to come to Me if it is not given to him from My Father.
From this time many of His disciples went away into the things behind, and no longer walked with Him.
Therefore, Jesus said to the Twelve, Do you not also wish to go?
Then Simon Peter answered Him, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of everlasting life.
And we have believed and have known that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Jesus answered them, Did I not choose you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!
But He spoke of Judas Iscariot, Simons son, for this one was going to give Him over, being one of the
Twelve.
Breaking Human Traditions
(
1
Mt. 15.1-20;
2
Mk. 7.1-23;
4
Jn. 7.1)
4
And after these things Jesus was walking in Galilee; for He did not desire to walk in Judea, because the Jews
were seeking to kill Him.
2
And the Pharisees were assembled to Him, also some of scribes, coming from Jerusalem. And seeing
some of His disciples eating bread with unclean, that is unwashed, hands, they found fault. For the Pharisees
and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash the hands with the fist, holding the tradition of the elders. And
coming from the market, if they do not dip themselves, they do not eat. And there are many other things
which they received to hold: immersing of cups, and of utensils, and of copper vessels, and couches.
Then the Pharisees and scribes questioned Him,
1
Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the
elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.
165
Isa. 54.13; Jer. 31.33-34
166
Obviously symbolic, Christs perfect (but broken) life on earth and his sacrificial death are the believers spiritual
food, as pictured in the elements of the memorial bread and cup.
-56-
2
And answering, He said to them,
1
Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy concerning you, as it has been
written,
1
saying,
THIS PEOPLE DRAWS NEAR TO ME WITH THEIR MOUTH,
AND WITH THE LIPS HONOR ME;
BUT THEIR HEART HOLDS AWAY FROM ME.
BUT IN VAIN THEY WORSHIP ME,
TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.
167
2
For forsaking the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men: immersings of utensils and
cups, and many other such things you do.
And He said to them, Do you do well to set aside the commandment of God so that you may keep your
tradition? For Moses said--
1
for God commanded--
2
HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER,
168
and THE ONE
SPEAKING EVIL OF FATHER OR MOTHER, LET HIM END BY DEATH.
169
But you say, If a man says to his father or
mother, Corban, (which is, A gift!) whatever you may profit by me,
1
and he does not honor his father or
his mother, not at all.
2
And you no longer allow him to do anything for his father or mother, making void the
Word of God,
1
and you nullified the command of God
2
by your tradition which you gave over. And many
such like things you do.
And calling the crowd near, He said to them, Hear Me, all of you and understand. There is nothing from
outside the man, entering
1
into the mouth,
2
which is able to defile him. But the things
1
coming forth out of
the mouth,
2
those are the things defiling the man. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.
1
Then coming, the disciples said to Him, You know that hearing the Word, the Pharisees were
stumbled?
But answering, He said, Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted shall be rooted up.
Leave them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind ones; and if the blind ones lead the blind ones, both
will fall into a pit.
2
And when He entered into a house from the crowd, His disciples questioned Him about the parable.
1
And answering, Peter said to Him, Explain this parable to us.
But Jesus said
2
to them, Are you
1
also still not understanding? Do you not yet perceive
2
that everything
1
entering into the mouth
2
from the outside into the man is not able to defile him? This is because it does not
enter into his heart, but into the belly, and goes out into the latrine, purging all the foods.
170
And He said,
1
But the things which come out of the mouth
2
of the man
1
come forth from the heart, and
these defile the man.
2
For from within, out of the heart of men go out the depraved reasonings,
1
murders,
adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witnessing, blasphemies, greedy desires, depravities, deceit, unbridled
lusts, an evil eye,
2
pride, recklessness. All these evil things come out from within and
1
these things are the
things defiling the man. But eating with unwashed hands does not defile the man.
Step 37. From Capernaum to the Tyre and Sidon Region
A Syro-Phoenician Womans Faith
(
1
Mt. 15.21-28;
2
Mk. 7.24-30)
167
Isa. 29.13
168
Ex. 20.12; Deut. 5.16
169
Ex. 21.17
170
Mark adds this comment on the first century problem of clean vs. unclean food.
-57-
1
And going out from there, Jesus
2
went away into the borders of Tyre and Sidon.
171
And entering into the
house, He desired no one to know, but He could not be hidden. For hearing about Him,
1
behold, a woman
of Canaan,
2
one whose little daughter had an unclean spirit.
1
Coming forth from those borders,
2
she fell down
at His feet.
And the woman was a Greek, a Syro-phoenician by race. And she
1
cried out to Him, saying, Have mercy
on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is badly being demon-possessed.
2
And she asked Him, that He
would cast out the demon from her daughter.
1
But He did not answer her a word.
And coming near, His disciples asked Him, saying, Send her away, for she cries out behind us.
But answering, He said, I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
But coming, she worshiped Him, saying, Lord, help me!
2
And Jesus said to her, First, allow the children to be satisfied, for it is not good to take the childrens
bread and to throw to the little dogs.
But she answered and said to Him, Yes, Lord; for even the little dogs under the table eat from the
crumbs of the children
1
falling from the table of their lords.
Then answering, Jesus said to her, O woman, great is your faith;
2
because of this word,
1
let it be to you
as you desire.
2
Go; the demon has gone out from your daughter.
1
And her daughter was healed from that hour.
2
And going away to her house, she found the demon had
gone out, and her little daughter being laid on the bed.
Step 38. From Tyre and Sidon to the Decapolis Region
Healing a Deaf Mute and Many Others
(
1
Mt. 15.29-31;
2
Mk. 7.31-37)
2
And again going out from the borders of Tyre and Sidon, He came to the Sea of Galilee, in the midst of the
borders of Decapolis. And they brought a deaf one to Him, hardly speaking. And they begged Him, that He
put His hand on him.
And taking him away from the crowd privately, He put His fingers into his ears; and spitting He touched
his tongue; and looking up into heaven, He groaned and said to him, Ephphatha! (which is, Be completely
opened!)
And instantly his ears were opened completely, and the bond of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke
correctly. And He charged them that they should tell no one.
172
But as much as He charged them, much even
more, they proclaimed. And they were most exceedingly amazed, saying, He has done all things well. He
makes even the deaf one to hear, and the mute one to speak.
1
And moving from there, Jesus came beside the Sea of Galilee, And going up into the mountain, He sat
there. And great crowds came to Him, having with them lame ones, blind ones, mute ones, maimed ones, and
many others. And they threw them down at the feet of Jesus. And He healed them; so that the crowds
marveled, seeing mute ones speaking, maimed ones sound, lame ones walking, and blind ones seeing. And
they glorified the God of Israel.
171
Here a new step opens not only in our arrangement but in the character of Jesus labors, a transition from dealing
primarily with Israel to His going to various Gentile regions. His rejection by Capernaum had been a heavy blow,
followed by the questioning of a large delegation from Jerusalem sent to undermine His influence.
172
Jesus told the people not to tell about the miracle. Its probable that this being a Gentile country, Israel could
develop a basis for rejecting Him.
-58-
Step 39. From Decapolis to Mount Tabor
The Feeding of the Four Thousand
(
1
Mt. 15.32-38;
2
Mk. 8.1-9a)
1
But
2
the crowd being very great in those days, and not having anything they may eat, Jesus, calling His
disciples near, said to them,
1
I am filled with
2
compassion on the crowd because they
1
already have
remained with Me three days
2
and they do not have what they may eat.
1
And I do not desire to send them
2
away fasting to their house,
1
that they may not faint in the way,
2
for some come from afar.
And His disciples answered
1
and said to Him, From where in a deserted place will come to us so many
loaves as to satisfy so great a crowd?
And Jesus
2
asked them, How many loaves do you have?
And they said, Seven,
1
and a few small fish.
And He ordered the crowds to recline on the ground.
2
And taking the seven loaves
1
and the fish, giving
thanks, He broke
2
and gave to His disciples, that they may set before them. And they set before the crowd.
1
And all ate and were satisfied. And they took up the left over pieces, seven baskets full.
2
And the ones
eating were about four thousand
1
men, apart from women and children.
173
Step 40. From Mount Tabor to Magdala
The Demand for a Sign
(
1
Mt. 15.39-16.4;
2
Mk. 8.9b-13)
2
And He sent them away. And at once entering into the boat with His disciples, He came into the parts of
Dalmanutha,
1
and came to the borders of Magdala.
And coming, the Pharisees and Sadducees
2
began to question Him, seeking from Him a sign
1
out of the
heaven, tempting Him.
But answering, He said to them, Evening coming on, you say, Clear sky, for the heaven is red. And
at morning, Today a winter storm, for the heaven is red, being overcast. Hypocrites! You indeed know how
to discern the face of the heaven, but the signs of the times you are not able?
174
2
And sighing in His spirit, He said, Why does this generation seek after a sign?
1
An evil and adulterous
generation seeks a sign, and
2
truly I say to you, As if this generation will be given a sign!
1
A sign will not be
given to it, except the sign of Jonah the prophet.
2
And leaving them, again stepping into the boat, He went away to the other side.
The Yeast of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herod
(
1
Mt. 16.5-12;
2
Mk. 8.14-21)
1
And His disciples coming to the other side, they
2
forgot to take loaves. And they did not have any with them,
except one loaf in the boat. And
1
Jesus
2
charged them, saying,
1
Watch and take heed from the leaven of the
173
This is clearly a separate instance, both cases being reported in both Matthew and Mark. And it is not a mere
redundancy, for it shows the response of the nations in the size of the crowds, their eagerness and desire, and the
rewards received by the many healing and now this food. Note that the restored demoniac may have started it all!
174
This may likely refer to the seventy-nine sevens (or weeks) of Dan. 9.25, which were to mark the interval until
Messiah.
-59-
Pharisees and Sadducees,
2
and of the leaven of Herod.
2
And they reasoned with one another, saying,
1
We did not take loaves.
2
And knowing, Jesus said to them,
1
Why do you reason among yourselves that you took no loaves, little-
faiths?
2
Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Have you still hardened your heart? Having eyes, do you
not see? And having ears, do you not hear?
175
And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves to
the five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments did you take up?
They said to him, Twelve.
And when the seven to the four thousand, how many baskets did you take up with the fillings of
fragments?
And they said, Seven.
And He said to them, How do you not understand?
1
How do you not perceive that it was not about
loaves that I said to you to take heed from the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees?
176
Then they knew that He did not say to take heed from the leaven of bread, but from the doctrine of the
Pharisees and Sadducees.
Step 41. From Magdala to Bethsaida
A Two-stage Healing
(Mk. 8.22-26)
And He came to Bethsaida. And they bring a blind one to Him, and begged Him that He would touch him.
And having taken hold of the blind ones hand, He led him forth outside the village. And having spit into
his eyes, having laid his hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything.
And having looked up, he said, I see men as trees walking around.
Then again He placed His hands on his eyes, and made him look up. And he was restored and saw all
clearly. And He sent him to his house, saying, You may not go into the village,
177
nor may you tell anyone
in the village.
Going to the Feast of Tabernacles
(Jn. 7.2-10)
And the Feast of the Jews, The Feast of Tabernacles was near.
178
Therefore His brothers said to Him, Depart
from here and go to Judea, that Your disciples will also see Your works which You are doing, for no one
does anything in secret and Himself seeks to be in openness. If You do these things, reveal Yourself to the
world. For not even His brothers believed into Him.
Therefore Jesus said to them, My time is not yet present, but your time is always ready. The world
cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I witness about it, that its works are evil. You go up to this feast.
I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet been fulfilled. And saying these things to them,
He remained in Galilee.
175
Jer. 5.21
176
He meant that there was no need to worry about bread, but to avoid the Pharisees diversion to man-made
traditions and the Sadducees skepticism.
177
Bethsaida had rejected him, hence this command to stay away.
178
With his tours in Tyre and Sidon and the Decapolis occupying the late spring and summer of this second year of
ministry, it was now early fall. Great crowds would go to Jerusalem for this October thanksgiving feast, so the
stepbrothers challenge was a natural one.
-60-
But when His brothers went up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as in secret.
Step 42. From Bethsaida to Jerusalem
Teaching in the Temple
(Jn. 7.11-24)
Then the Jews sought Him in the feast, and said, Where is that One? And much murmuring about Him was
in the crowds. Some indeed said, He is a good one; but others said, No, but He deceives the crowd.
However, no one freely spoke about Him, because of the fear of the Jews.
But the feast now being in the middle, Jesus went up to the temple and taught. And the Jews marveled,
saying, How does this One know letters, not having learned?
Jesus answered them and said, My doctrine is not Mine, but of the One who sent Me. If anyone desires
to do His will, he will know concerning the doctrine, whether it is of God, or I speak from Myself. The one
speaking from himself seeks his own glory. But the one seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, this One
is true, and unrighteousness is not in Him. Has not Moses given you the Law, and not one of you does the
Law? Why do you seek to kill Me?
The crowd answered and said, You have a demon. Who seeks to kill You?
Jesus answered and said to them, I did one work,
179
and you all marvel. Because of this Moses has given
you circumcision; (not that it is of Moses, but of the fathers); and on a sabbath, you circumcise a man. If a
man receives circumcision on a sabbath, that the Law of Moses is not broken, are you angry with Me because
I made a whole man healthy on a sabbath? Do not judge according to sight, but judge righteous judgment.
Questions about Jesus Identity
(Jn. 7.25-36)
Therefore some of the Jerusalemites said, Is it not this One whom they are seeking to kill?
180
And, behold,
He speaks freely, and they say nothing to Him. Perhaps the rulers truly knew that this is truly the Christ? But
we know this One, from where He is. But when the Christ comes, no one knows from where He is.
Therefore teaching, Jesus cried out in the temple, and saying, You both know Me, and you know from
where I am. And I have not come from Myself, but He is true, the One having sent Me, whom you do not
know. But I know Him, because I am from Him; and that One sent Me.
Therefore they sought to seize Him; yet no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come.
But many of the crowd believed into Him, and said, The Christ, when He comes will He do more
miraculous signs than these which this One did?
The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things about Him, and the Pharisees and the chief priests
sent officers, that they might seize Him. Then Jesus said to them, Yet a little while I am with you, and I go
to the One having sent Me. You will seek Me, and you will not find Me; and where I am, you are not able
to come.
Then the Jews said among themselves, Where is this One about to go that we will not find Him? Is He
about to go to the Dispersion of the Greeks, and to teach the Greeks? What is this word which He said, You
will seek Me and will not find Me, and Where I am, you are not able to come?
179
The one work spoken of was probably his healing the invalid man at the pool.
180
Some knew of the intent to kill him, but not all.
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Teaching about the Spirit
(Jn. 7.37-39)
And in the last great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, If anyone thirsts, let him come to
Me and drink. The one believing into Me, as the Scripture said, Out of his belly will flow rivers of living
water.
181
But He said this about the Spirit, whom the ones believing into Him were about to receive; for the Holy
Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
Differing Opinions about Jesus
(Jn. 7.40-44)
Then hearing the Word, many of the crowd said, This is truly the Prophet. Others said, This is the Christ.
But others said, For the Christ does not come out of Galilee, does He? Has not the Scripture said that the
Christ comes from the seed of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?
182
Therefore a
division occurred in the crowd because of Him. And some of them desired to seize Him, but no one laid
hands on Him.
Lack of Belief
(Jn. 7.45-8.1)
Then the officers came to the chief priests and the Pharisees. And those men said to them, Why did you not
bring him?
The officers answered, Never did a man so speak as does this man.
Therefore the Pharisees answered them, Have you also been deceived? Not any from the rulers or from
the Pharisees believed into him, have they? But this crowd, not knowing the Law, is cursed.
Nicodemus said to them, the one coming by night to him, being one of them, Our Law does not judge
the man if not it hear from him first, and know what he does, does it?
They answered and said to him, Are you also from Galilee? Search and see that a prophet has not been
raised out of Galilee.
And they each one went to his house. But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
A Woman Caught in Adultery
(Jn. 8.2-11)
And at dawn, He again arrived into the temple; and all the people came to Him. And having sat down, He
was teaching them. And the scribes and the Pharisees bring to Him a woman having been taken in adultery.
And standing her in the midst, they said to Him, Teacher, this woman was taken in the very act, committing
adultery. And in the Law, Moses commanded that such should be stoned. You, therefore, what do You say?
But they said this, testing Him, that they may have reason to accuse Him.
But bending down, Jesus was writing with the finger in the earth, not appearing to hear. But as they
continued questioning Him, bending back up, He said to them, The one among you without sin let him cast
181
Isa. 55.1. See Jn. 4.14.
182
More than 30 years having passed, those who knew of his birth in Bethlehem had either died, were not present, or
remained silent.
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a stone at her first. And bending down again, He wrote in the earth.
But they hearing, and being convicted by the conscience, went out one by one, beginning from the older
ones, until the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. And Jesus bending back
up, and having seen no one but the woman, He said to her, Woman, where are those, the accusers of you?
Did not one give judgment against you?
And she said, No one, Lord.
And Jesus said to her, Neither do I give judgment against you. Go, and sin no more.
183
Jesus as the Light of the World
(Jn. 8.12-20)
Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world. The one following Me will not walk
in the darkness, not ever, but will have the light of life.
Therefore the Pharisees said to Him, You witness about Yourself; Your witness is not true.
Jesus answered and said to them, Even if I witness about Myself, My witness is true; for I know from
where I came, and where I go. But you do not know from where I came, and where I go. You judge according
to the flesh. I judge no one. But even if I judge, My judgment is true, because I am not alone, but I and the
Father sending Me. And in your Law it has been written that the witness of two men is true.
184
I am the One
witnessing about Myself, and He sending Me, the Father, witnesses concerning Me.
They said to him, Where is your father?
Jesus answered, You neither know Me, nor My father. If you had known Me, then you also would have
known My Father. Jesus spoke these words in the treasury, teaching in the temple; and no one seized Him,
for His hour had not yet come.
Where Jesus Came From and Where he Is Going
(Jn. 8.21-30)
Then Jesus said to them again, I go, and you will seek Me. And you will die in your sin. Where I go, you
are not able to come.
Therefore the Jews said, Will He not kill Himself, because He says, Where I go, you are not able to
come?
And He said to them, You are from below; I am from above. You are from this world; I am not from
this world. Therefore, I said to you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I AM,
185
you
will die in your sins.
Then they said to Him, Who are you?
And Jesus said to them, At the Beginning, what I also said to you. I have many things to say and to judge
concerning you; but the One sending Me is true, and what I heard from Him these things I say to the world.
They did not know that he spoke to them of the Father.
Therefore Jesus said to them, When you lift up the Son of man, then you will know
186
that I AM; and
from Myself I do nothing; but as My Father taught Me, these things I speak. And the One having sent Me
183
This passage is an appropriate and authentic account, although erroneously omitted in some early Alexandrian-
type texts. It may have been deleted in the post-apostolic period for fear of its being used as an excuse for sin.
184
Deut. 19.15
185
That is the Messiah, the Holy One, indeed the I AM who spoke in the burning bush of Ex. 3.14. The Greek
reads, If you believe not that I AM.
186
They were to know it by his resurrection and even (like the centurion) by his conduct on the cross.
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is with Me. The Father did not leave Me alone, for I do the things pleasing to Him always.
As He spoke these things, many believed into Him.
Abrahams Children and the Devils Children
(Jn. 8.31-59)
Then Jesus said to the Jews having believed into Him, If you continue in My Word, you are truly My
disciples. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
They answered Him, We are Abrahams seed, and we have been in slavery to no one, ever! How do you
say, You will become free?
Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say to you, Everyone practicing sin is a slave of sin. But the slave
does not remain into the house to the ages; the son remains to the age. Therefore, if the Son sets you free,
you are free indeed. I know that you are Abrahams seed, but you seek to kill Me, because My Word is not
given place in you. I speak what I have seen with My Father. And you therefore do what you have seen with
your Father.
They answered and said to him, Abraham is our father.
Jesus said to them, If you were children of Abraham, you would do the works of Abraham. But now you
seek to kill Me, a man who has spoken the truth to you, which I heard alongside of God. Abraham did not
do this. You do the works of your father.
Then they said to Him, We were not born of fornication;
187
we have one father, God.
Therefore Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I went forth and have
come from God. For I have not come from Myself, but that One sent Me. Why do you not know My speech?
It is because you are not able to hear My Word. You are of the devil as father, and the lusts of your father
you desire to do. That one was a murderer from the beginning, and he has not stood in the truth, because
there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own things, because he is a liar, and the
father of it. And because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me. Who of you reproves Me concerning sin?
But if I speak truth, why do you not believe Me? The one who is of God hears the words of God; for this
reason you do not hear, because you are not of God.
Then the Jews answered and said to Him, Do we not say well that You are a Samaritan
188
and have a
demon?
Jesus answered, I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. But I do not seek
My glory; there is One who seeks and judges. Truly, truly, I say to you, If anyone keeps My Word, he will
not see death, into the age, not ever!
Then the Jews said to Him, Now we know that You have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets, and
You say, If anyone keeps My Word, he will not taste of death into the age, not ever! Are You greater than
our father Abraham who died? And the prophets died! Whom do You make yourself?
Jesus answered, If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; it is My Father who glorifies Me, whom you
say is your God. And you have not known Him; but I know Him. And if I say that I do not know Him, I shall
be like you, a liar. But I know Him, and I keep His Word. Your father Abraham leaped for joy that he was
able to see My day, and he saw and was glad.
Then the Jews said to Him, You do not yet have fifty years, and have You seen Abraham?
Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, Before Abraham came to be, I AM!
Because of this, they picked up stones that might throw them on Him. But Jesus was hidden, and went
187
Their emphatic we distinguished them from him whom they presumed was the son of Joseph and thus conceived
out of wedlock.
188
They said this because of his dealings with Samaritans.
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forth out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
Healing a Man Born Blind
(Jn. 9.1-12)
And passing by,
189
He saw a man blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, Teacher, who
sinned, this one, or his parents, that he was born blind?
Jesus answered, Neither this one nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God might be revealed
in him. It is necessary for Me to work the works of the One having sent Me while it is day. Night comes when
no one is able to work. While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.
Saying these things, He spat on the ground and made clay out of the spittle, and anointed the clay on the
eyes of the blind one. And He said to him, Go wash in the pool of Siloam, which translated is Sent. Then
he went and washed, and came seeing.
Therefore the neighbors and the ones formerly seeing him, that he was blind, said, Is this one not the
one sitting and begging? Others said, It is he; and others, He is like him.
That one said, I am the one.
Therefore they said to him, How were your eyes opened?
That one answered and said, A man being called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes, and told me,
Go to the pool of Siloam and wash. And having gone and having washed I saw anew.
Then they said to him, Where is that One?
He said, I do not know.
The Pharisees Reaction to the Healing
(Jn. 9.13-34)
They lead him to the Pharisees, the one once blind. And it was a sabbath when Jesus made the clay and
opened his eyes. Then also the Pharisees again asked him how he saw anew. And he said to them, He put
clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.
Therefore some of the Pharisees said, This man is not from God, because He does not keep the
sabbath. Others said, How can a man, a sinful man, do such miraculous signs? And there was a division
among them. They said to the blind one again, What do you say about Him, because He opened your eyes?
And he said, He is a prophet.
Therefore the Jews did not believe about him, that he was blind and saw anew, until they called the
parents of him, the one seeing anew. And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, whom you say that he
was born blind? Then how does he now see?
His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind. But how
he now sees, we do not know; or who opened his eyes, we do not know. He is of age, ask him. He will speak
about himself. His parents said these things because they feared the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed
that if anyone should confess Him as Christ, he would expelled from the synagogue. Because of this, his
parents said, He is of age, ask him.
Therefore a second time they called the man who was blind, and they said to him, Give glory to God.
We know that this man is a sinner.
Therefore he answered and said, Whether He is a sinner, I do not know. One thing I do know; that being
189
This was not the same day but at some time between the Feast of Tabernacles and the Feast of Dedication. Note
that the disciples were with Jesus in Jerusalem.
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blind, now I see.
And they said to him again, What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?
He answered them, I told you already, and you did not hear. Why do you want to hear again? Do you
want to become disciples of Him?
Then they reviled him and said, You are a disciple of that One, but we are disciples of Moses. We know
that God has spoken by Moses, but this One, we do not know from where He is.
The man answered and said to them, For this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know from where
He is, and He opened my eyes. But we know that God does not hear sinful ones, but if anyone is God-fearing,
and does His will, He hears that one. From the beginning of the age it was never heard that anyone opened
the eyes of one having been born blind. If this One was not from God, He could not do a thing, nothing.
They answered and said to him, You were born wholly in sins, and do you teach us? And they threw
him outside.
The Mans Response to Jesus
(Jn. 9.35-41)
Jesus heard that they threw him outside, and finding him, He said to him, Do you believe into the Son of
God?
And he answered and said, Who is He, Lord, that I may believe into Him?
And Jesus said to him, Even you have seen Him, and He speaking with you is that One.
And he said, I believe, Lord! And he worshiped Him.
And Jesus said, I came into this world for judgment, that the ones who do not see may see, and the ones
seeing may become blind.
And those of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things, and said to Him, Are we also blind?
Jesus said to them, If you were blind, you would have no sin. But now you say, We see; therefore,
your sin remains.
Jesus as the Good Shepherd
(Jn. 10.1-21)
Truly, truly, I say to you, The one not entering through the door into the sheepfold, but going up by another
way, that one is a thief and a plunderer. But the one entering through the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
To this one the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name, and
leads them out. And when he puts forth his own sheep, he goes on in front of them, and the sheep follow him
because they know his voice. But they will not follow a stranger, not ever! But they will flee from him,
because they do not know the voice of a stranger. Jesus spoke this parable to them, but those ones did not
know what it was which He spoke to them.
Then Jesus again said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you that I am the door of the sheep. All who came
before Me are thieves and plunderers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters
through Me, he will be saved, and will go in, and will go out, and will find pasture. The thief does not come
except that he may steal, and kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life and may have it abundantly.
I am the Good Shepherd! The Good Shepherd lays down his life on behalf of the sheep. But the hireling,
not even being a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming and forsakes the sheep and
flees. And the wolf seizes them, and scatters the sheep. But the hireling flees because he is a hireling, and
there is not a care to him concerning the sheep.
I am the Good Shepherd, and I know the ones that are Mine, and I am known by the ones that are Mine.
Even as the Father knows Me, I also know the Father; and I lay down My life on behalf of the sheep. And
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I have other sheep which are not of this fold. I must also lead those, and they will hear My voice; and there
will be one flock, one Shepherd. Because of this My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life, that I may
take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have authority to lay it down, and I have
authority to take it again. This command I received from My Father.
Therefore a division occurred again among the Jews, because of these words. And many of them said,
He has a demon and is raving. Why do you listen to Him?
Others said, These are not words of one having been possessed by a demon. Is a demon able to open
the eyes of blind ones?
Jesus at the Feast of Dedication
(Jn. 10.22-39)
And the Feast of Dedication
190
occurred in Jerusalem, and it was winter. And Jesus was walking in the
temple, in Solomons Porch. Then the Jews encircled Him, and said to Him, Until when do you lift up our
soul? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.
Jesus answered them, I told you, and you did not believe. The works which I do in the name of My
Father, these bear witness about Me. But you do not believe, for you are not of My sheep, even as I said to
you. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give eternal life to them, and they
shall not perish to the age, not ever! And not anyone shall snatch them out of My hand. My Father who has
given them to Me is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of My Fathers hand. I and the
Father are One!
Then again the Jews took up stones, that they might stone Him.
191
Jesus answered them, I showed you many good works from My Father. On account of which work of
them do you stone Me?
The Jews answered Him, saying, We do not stone you concerning a good work, but concerning
blasphemy; and because you, being a man, make yourself God.
Jesus answered them, Has it not been written in your Law, I said, you are gods?
192
If he said those to
be gods to whom the Word of God was, and the Scripture cannot be broken, do you say of Him whom the
Father sanctified and sent into the world, You blaspheme, because I said, I am Son of God? If I do not
do the works of My Father, do not believe Me. But if I do, even if you do not believe Me, believe the works,
that you may perceive and may believe that the Father is in Me, and I in him.
Then again they sought to seize Him. And He went forth from their hand.
190
The Feast of Dedication was celebrated for eight days in December. Antiochus Epiphanes desecrated the temple
in Jerusalem, as prophesied in Dan. 11.31. The temple was restored and purified by the Maccabees. It is the last
celebration in the Jewish calendar year. Today it is known as the Feast of Lights, or Hanukkah.
191
Stoning to death was the Jews punishment for blasphemy (Lev. 24.16).
192
Psa. 82.6
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Step 43. From Jerusalem to Perea
Jesus Retires to the Perean Wilderness
(Jn. 10.40-42)
And He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John was at first baptizing and remained there.
And many came to Him and said, John indeed did no miraculous sign, but as many things as John said
concerning this One were true.
And many believed into Him there.
Step 44. From Perea to Caesarea Philippi
Peters Confession
(
1
Mt. 16.13-20;
2
Mk. 8.27-30;
3
Lu. 9.18-21)
1
And Jesus
2
and His disciples went out to
1
the parts of
2
the villages of Caesarea of Philip.
193
And in the way,
3
it happened as He was praying alone, the disciples were with Him. And He questioned them, saying,
1
Whom
2
do men say Me,
1
the Son of man,
3
to be?
And answering, they said,
1
Some say John the Baptist, and others Elijah, and others Jeremiah, or
3
that
some prophet of the ancients has risen again.
And He said to them, But whom do you say Me to be?
And answering, Simon Peter said
2
to Him, You are the Christ,
1
the Son of the living God.
194
And answering, Jesus said to him, Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah, for flesh and blood did not
reveal it to you, but My Father in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock
195
I will
build my Assembly, and the gates of Hell will not prevail against her. And I will give you the keys of the
kingdom of heaven. And whatever you bind on earth shall be, having been bound in heaven. And whatever
you loose on the earth shall be, having been loosed in heaven.
196
3
And
1
He
3
strictly
1
charged His disciples that they should tell no one
2
about Him,
1
that he is Jesus the
Christ.
197
First Prediction of Jesus Death and Resurrection
(
1
Mt. 16.21-28;
2
Mk. 8.31-9.1;
3
Lu. 9.22-27)
193
This withdrawal from Perea was not from rejection but for a time of secluded rest in the North. Furthermore, there
were confidential matters to be discussed. After fulfilling these purposes, he came back to Perea.
194
A repetition of Peters confession from Jn. 6.69, where he was acting as the spokesman for the disciples. But here
there is no hint of questioning. This was the full declaration for which Jesus had waited.
195
The Greek Petra distinguishes this from Simon Peter personally, who was a Little Rock, Greek petros.
196
This proper rendering of the future perfect indicative verb assumes Peters actions are to be in accord with
heaven.
197
Having been rejected by the nation as their Messiah, he was preparing to fulfill his role as the Suffering Servant,
moving toward the cross.
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1
From then Jesus began to show to His disciples that it was necessary for Him to go away to Jerusalem,
198
3
saying, The Son of man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes,
and be killed, and
2
after three days to rise again.
And He spoke the Word plainly. And taking Him aside, Peter began to rebuke him,
1
saying, God be
gracious to you, Lord; this shall not be to you, not ever.
But turning
2
around and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, Go behind Me, Satan!
1
You are
a stumbling block to Me, for
2
you do not think of the things of God, but the things of men.
And calling near the crowd with His disciples, He said to them
3
all, If anyone desires to come after Me,
let him deny himself and take up his cross daily. And let him follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life
he will lose it. But whoever loses his life for My sake,
2
and the gospel, this one shall save it,
1
will find it.
For what will a man be benefitted if he should gain the whole world, but forfeits
2
his soul? Or what shall
a man give as an exchange for his soul? For whoever may be ashamed of me and My Word in this adulterous
and sinful generation, the Son of man will also be ashamed of him
3
when he comes in his glory, and that of
the Father, and of the holy angels.
1
For the Son of man is about to come with his angels in the glory of his
Father. And then He will give reward to each according to his practice.
199
2
And He said to them, Truly I say to you, There are some of the ones standing here
1
who will not taste
of death, not until they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom,
2
not until they see the kingdom of God
coming in power.
200
Step 45. From Caesarea Philippi to Mount Hermon
The Transfiguration
(
1
Mt. 17.1-13;
2
Mk. 9.2-13;
3
Lu. 9.28-36)
3
And it was about
1
six days
3
after these sayings,
1
Jesus takes along Peter and James, and his brother John,
2
and leads them into a high mountain apart, alone
3
to pray. And in His praying, the appearance of His face
became different, and
2
He was transfigured before them. And
1
His face shone like the sun, and
2
His garments
became shining, very white like snow, such as a fuller on earth is not able to whiten;
3
dazzling white,
1
as the
light.
And, behold!
3
two men,
1
Moses and Elijah appeared to them,
2
and they were speaking with Jesus.
3
Appearing in glory, they spoke of His exodus, which He was about to fulfill in Jerusalem.
But Peter and the ones with him were weighed down with sleep. But fully awakening, they saw His glory,
and the two men standing with Him. And it happened in their parting from Him,
1
Peter said to Jesus, Lord,
it is good for us to be here. If you desire, let us make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one
for Elijah,
3
not knowing what he said,
2
for they were terrified.
3
And he saying these things,
1
behold, a radiant cloud
3
came and overshadowed them. And they feared
as they entered into the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying,
1
This is My Son, the Beloved,
in whom I am well-pleased; hear Him.
201
And hearing, the disciples fell on their face and greatly feared.
And
3
as the voice occurred,
2
suddenly,
1
lifting up their eyes,
2
having looked around, they saw no one any
longer, but Jesus alone with themselves.
1
And coming near, Jesus touched them and said, Rise up, and do
not fear.
198
Obviously, this journey was to be the last. Its beginning is told in Luke 9.51ff, the only journey remaining as the
story is here arranged.
199
Pro. 24.12; Psa. 62.12
200
This was doubtless a reference to the vision of Christ in his glory on the Mount which directly followed.
201
Psa. 2.7; Isa. 42.1; Deut. 18.15
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And as they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus
2
charged them that they should tell no one what
they saw, except when the Son of man should rise from the dead ones.
3
And they were quiet. And they
reported to no one in those days, nothing which they had seen.
2
And they held the word to themselves,
debating what it is to rise from the dead ones.
And they asked Him, saying,
1
Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?
202
And answering, Jesus said to them, Elijah indeed comes first and shall restore all things. But I say to
you,
2
Elijah also has
1
already
2
come,
1
and they did not know him, but did to him as many things as they
desired,
2
even as it is written about him.
203

1
So also the Son of man is about to suffer by them.
2
And how it
is written concerning the Son of man that he should suffer many things and be utterly despised!
1
Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them about John the Baptist.
The Disciples Failure to Heal
(
1
Mt. 17.14-21;
2
Mk. 9.14-29;
3
Lu. 9.37-43a)
1`
And it happened on the next day, they coming down from the mountain,
2
and coming to the disciples, He
saw a great crowd around them, and scribes disputing with them.
204
And at once all the crowd seeing Him
were greatly amazed. And running to Him, they greeted Him. And He questioned the scribes, What are you
arguing with them?
3
And, behold, a man from the crowd
1
came near to Him, kneeling down to Him, and
3
called aloud, saying,
Teacher, I beg you, look upon my son, because he is my only born.
1
Lord, have mercy on my son.
2
I brought
my son to you,
1
for he is moonstruck and suffers badly,
2
having a mute spirit. And wherever it seizes him,
3
he suddenly cries out, and it throws him into convulsions,
2
and he foams and gnashes his teeth. And he
wastes away.
3
And it departs from him with pain, bruising him.
1
And I brought him to your disciples,
3
and
I begged your disciples, that they cast it out.
2
And they were not able
1
to heal him.
And answering, Jesus said, O faithless and perverted generation! Until when shall I be with you? Until
when shall I bear with you?
3
Bring your son
1
here to me.
And they brought him to Him.
3
But as he was yet coming near, the demon
2
immediately
3
tore him and
violently convulsed him.
2
And falling on the ground, he wallowed, foaming. And He questioned the father,
How long a time is it while this has happened to him?
And he said, From childhood. And often it threw him both into fire and into water, that it might destroy
him. But if You are able to do anything, help us, having compassion on us.
And Jesus said to him, If you are able to believe, all things are possible to the ones believing.
And immediately crying out, the father of the child said with tears, Lord, I believe! Help my unbelief!
And seeing that a crowd is running together, Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, Mute and
deaf spirit, I command you, Come out from him, and you may no more go into him!
1
The demon,
2
crying out, and convulsing him very much,
1
came out from him;
2
and he became as if dead,
so as for many to say that he died. But taking hold of his hand, Jesus raised him up, and he stood up,
3
and
Jesus gave him back to his father.
1
And the boy was healed from that hour.
3
And all were astonished at the
majesty of God.
2
And He entering into a house, His disciples,
1
coming up to Jesus privately,
2
questioned Him apart, Why
were we not able to cast it out?
1
And Jesus said to them, Because of your unbelief. For truly I say to you, If you have faith as a grain
202
Elijah had talked with Jesus but had not yet returned as foretold in Malachi 4.5-6. Jesus explained that Elijahs
coming is yet future, though John came in his spirit and power.
203
This could be a reference to 1 Kings 19.10.
204
They were taunting their inability to restore this boy.
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of mustard, you will say to this mountain,
205
Move from here to there! And it will move. And nothing shall
be impossible to you.
2
And he said to them, This kind can go out by nothing except by prayer and
fasting.
206
Second Prediction of Jesus Death and Resurrection
(
1
Mt. 17.22-23;
2
Mk. 9.30-32;
3
Lu. 9.43b-45)
3
And as all were marveling at all things which He did, Jesus said to His disciples, You lay into your ears
these sayings, for the Son of man is about to be given over into the hands of men.
2
And going forth from there, they passed by through Galilee. And He desired that no one know.
207

1
And
they returning in Galilee, Jesus
2
was teaching His disciples, and said to them, The Son of man
1
is about to
be given over into the hands of men.
2
And they will kill him. And being killed,
1
on the third day he will be
raised.
And they grieved exceedingly.
3
But they did not understand this saying, and it was hidden from them so
that they might not perceive it. And they feared to ask Him about this word.
Step 46. From Mount Hermon to Capernaum
The Temple Tax
(1Mt. 17.24-27; 2Mk. 9.33a)
2
And they came to Capernaum.
1
And they having come into Capernaum, those receiving the didrachmas came
to Peter and said, Does your teacher not pay the didrachmas?
208
He said, Yes.
And when he entered into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, What do you think, Simon? From
whom do the kings of the earth receive customs or tribute? From their sons or from strangers?
Peter said to him, From strangers.
Jesus said to him, Then truly the sons are free. But that we may not stumble them, going to the sea,
throw in a hook, and take the first fish coming up. And opening its mouth, you will find a stater. Taking that,
give to them for you and Me.
Questions about Relationships
(
1
Mt. 18.1-5;
2
Mk. 9.33b-37;
3
Lu. 9.46-48)
1
In that hour the disciples came to Jesus
2
in the house,
1
saying, Who then is greater in the kingdom of
heaven?
3
And seeing the reasoning of their heart,
2
He questioned them, What were you disputing to
yourselves in the way?
But they were silent, for they disputed with one another in the way as to who was greater.
And sitting, He called the Twelve and said to them, If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all,
the servant of all.
205
He spoke perhaps of Mt. Hermon, which was still in sight, where the Transfiguration must have taken place.
206
This was a rebuke to their professionalism and lack of prayer to seek Gods power.
207
This shows the private character of their withdrawal.
208
This tax for the temple, payable preceding Passover, was overdue, for Jesus had not been here, in his adopted
home town, since the Passover more than a year earlier when Capernaum rejected him. So the collectors hastened
to collect, for he was no longer a citizen of distinction and might soon leave (as he did).
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1
And having called forward a little child,
3
Jesus stood it beside Himself
1
in their midst. And He said,
Truly I say to you, If not you be converted and become as the little children, you may not enter into the
kingdom of heaven, not ever! Therefore whoever will humble himself as this little child, this one is the
greater in the kingdom of heaven.
3
For the one being least among you all, this one shall be great.
2
And having embraced it, He said to them,
1
And whoever will receive one such little child in My name
receives Me.
2
And whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but the One having sent Me.
On Jesus Side
(
1
Mt. 18.6-9;
2
Mk. 9.38-50;
3
Lu. 9.49-50)
3
And answering, John said, Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him
because he does not follow with us.
2
But Jesus said
3
to them,
2
Do not forbid him. For there is no one who shall do a work of power in My
name, yet be able to speak evil of Me quickly.
3
For whoever is not against us is for us.
2
For whoever gives
you a cup of cold water to drink in My name, because you are of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose
his reward, not ever.
1
But whoever causes one of these little ones believing in Me to stumble, it is profitable for him that a
millstone turned by a donkey be hung on his neck, and he be sunk in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world
from its stumbling blocks! It is a necessity for the stumbling blocks to come, yet woe to that man through
whom the stumbling block comes!
And if your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw them from you; it is good for
you
209
to enter into life lame or maimed, than having two hands or two feet to be thrown into
2
into Hell,
1
into
the everlasting,
2
unquenchable fire, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.
210

1
And if
your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it from you.
2
For it is profitable for you to enter into
the kingdom of God one-eyed, than having two eyes to be thrown
1
into the Hell of
2
fire, where their worm
does not die and the fire is not quenched.
211
For everyone will be salted with fire, and every sacrifice will be salted with salt. Salt is good, but if the
salt becomes saltless, by what will you season it? Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another.
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
(Mt. 18.10-14)
See that you do not despise one of these little ones,
212
for I tell you that their angels in heaven continually
look on the face of My Father in heaven. For the Son of man has come to save that which was lost. What
does it seem to you? If there be to any man a hundred sheep, and one of them strays away, will he not leave
the ninety nine on the mountains, and having gone he seeks the one having strayed? And if he happens to
find it, truly I say to you that he rejoices over it more than over the ninety nine not having gone astray. So
it is not the will before your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
209
This and the similar hyperbole used in the Sermon on the Mount are both reported by Matthew; this is not a
parallel or a duplication, but belongs in both contexts.
210
Isa. 66.24
211
Isa. 66.24
212
Evidently the child in their midst was one of many nearby. Their status in the kingdom in their age of innocence is
here beautifully portrayed.
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Restoring Christian Relationships
(Mt. 18.15-22)
But if your brother sin against you, go and reprove him between you and him alone. If he hears you, you
have gained your brother. But if he does not hear, take one or two more with you, so that on the mouth of
two or three witnesses every word may stand.
213
But if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the assembly. And
if he also refuses to hear the assembly, let him be to you as the pagan and the tax gatherer.
Truly I say to you, as many things as you bind on the earth will be, having been bound in heaven. And
as many things as you loose on the earth will be, having been loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, If two
of you agree on earth as to anything, whatever they shall ask, it shall be to them from My Father in heaven.
For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.
Then coming near to him, Peter said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive
him? Up to seven times?
Jesus said to him, I do not say to you, up to seven times, but, up to seventy times seven.
The Parable of the Unforgiving Slave
(
1
Mt. 18.23-19.2;
2
Mk. 10.1)
1
Because of this the kingdom of heaven has been compared to a man, a king, who desired to take account
with his slaves. And he having begun to take account, one debtor of ten thousand talents was brought near
to him.
214
But he not having any to repay, the lord of him commanded him to be sold, also his wife and
children, and all things, as much as he had, and to be repaid. Therefore having fallen down, the slave bowed
the knee to him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay all to you. And being filled with
compassion, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the loan.
But having gone out, that slave found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii. And
seizing him, he choked him, saying, Pay me back whatever you owe. Then having fallen down at his feet,
his fellow slave begged him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will repay all to you. But he would not,
but having gone away he threw him into prison until he should pay back the amount owing.
But his fellow slaves, seeing the things happening, they were greatly grieved. And having come they
reported to their lord all the things happening. Then having called him near, his lord said to him, Wicked
slave! I forgave you all that debt, since you begged me. Ought you not also to have mercy on your fellow
slave, as I also had mercy. And being angry, his lord gave him over to the tormentors until he pay back all
that debt to him. So also My heavenly Father will do to you unless each of you from your hearts forgive his
brother their offenses.
And it happened when Jesus had finished these words, He,
2
rising up from there,
1
moved from Galilee
and came into the borders of Judea
2
by the other side of the Jordan.
1
And
2
again
1
great crowds
2
came together
to Him, and
1
followed Him, and
2
and as He usually did, He again was teaching them
1
and He healed them
there.
Step 47. From Capernaum to Perea
Rejection in Samaria
(
1
Mt. 8.19-22;
3
Lu. 9.51-62)
213
Deut. 19.15
214
This debt (many years in wages) owed is much greater than 100 days wages compared below.
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3
And it happened in the fulfilling of the days of his taking up, even He set his face to go to Jerusalem.
215
And He sent messengers before His face. And going they went into a village of Samaritans, so as to make
ready for Him. And they did not receive Him, because His face was going toward Jerusalem.
And seeing, His disciples, James and John, said, Lord, do you desire that we tell fire to come down from
heaven, and to consume them, even as Elijah did?
216
But turning He rebuked them. And He said, You do not know of what spirit you are. For the Son of man
did not come to destroy mens souls, but to save. And they went to another village.
And it happened as they were going in the way, one
1
scribe, coming near, said to Him, Teacher,
3
I will
follow you wherever you may go.
And Jesus said to him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the heaven have nests, but the Son of man
has nowhere he may lay his head.
And He said to another
1
of His disciples,
3
Follow Me.
But he said, Lord, allow me to go first to bury my father.
217
But Jesus said to him, Leave the dead to bury their dead, but going out, you announce the kingdom of
God.
And also another said, I will follow you, Lord, but first allow me to take leave of the ones in my house.
But Jesus said to him, No one putting his hand on the plow, and looking at the things behind, is fit for
the kingdom of God.
The Mission of the Seventy
(
1
Mt. 11.24;
3
Lu. 10.1-12)
3
And after these things, the Lord also appointed seventy others, and sent them each by two before His face
into every city and place, even to where He was about to come.
218
Therefore He said to them, Indeed, the harvest is much, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray to the
Lord of the harvest, that he send out workers into his harvest.
Go! Behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Do not carry a money bag, nor a provision
bag, nor sandals; and greet no one by the way. And into whatever house you may enter, first say, Peace to
this house. And if the son of peace is truly there, your peace shall rest on it; but if not so, it shall return to
you. And remain in the same house, eating and drinking the things shared by them; for the laborer is worthy
of his wage. Do not move from house to house.
And into whatever city you enter,
219
and they receive you, eat the things set before you. And heal the
sick in it, and say to them, The kingdom of God has drawn near to you. But into whatever city you enter,
and they do not receive you, going out into its streets, say, Even the dust clinging to us out of your city, we
shake off against you! Yet know this, that the kingdom of God has drawn near to you! And I say to you that
it shall be more bearable
1
for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment
3
than for that city!
215
So he begins the final journey foretold in Matthew 16, with Perea the starting point of an indirect tour of great
extent.
216
2 Kings 1.10-12
217
This was a Jewish way of saying, remain home till my father dies.
218
The seventy were sent two by two to not less than thirty-five localities, perhaps more, to be visited on foot by
Jesus on this tour. We are not told what directions were taken, nor are the localities named, except that the journey
was to lead at last to Jerusalem; its importance was chiefly in the character of Jesus teachings. This great journey
well accounts for the time remaining till the Passover of AD 33. It also included two visits at Bethany and an
unstipulated interval at Ephraim.
219
They were not told to avoid the way of the nations and any city of Samaritans now, for in view of Israels refusal,
the invitation was now open to all.
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Woe on Unrepentant Cities
(
1
Mt. 11.20-23;
3
Lu. 10.13-16)
1
Then He began to reproach the cities in which most of His powerful acts had occurred, for they did not
repent. Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the powerful acts which had happened in you
had happened in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago
3
sitting in sackcloth and ashes!
1
But I
say to you, It shall be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. And you
Capernaum, who Have been exalted to the heaven, you will be thrown down to Hell.
220
For if the powerful
acts happening in you had taken place in Sodom, it would remain until today.
3
The one hearing you hears Me, and the one rejecting you also rejects Me, and the one rejecting Me also
rejects the One having sent Me.
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
(Lu 10.25-37)
And behold, a certain lawyer stood up, testing Him and saying, Teacher, what by doing shall I inherit eternal
life?
And the One said to him, What is written in the Law? How do you read it?
And answering, he said, YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD OUT OF ALL YOUR HEART, AND OUT OF ALL YOUR
SOUL, AND OUT OF ALL YOUR STRENGTH,
221
and YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.
222
And He said to him, You have answered rightly; do this, and you shall live.
But desiring to justify himself, he said to Jesus, And who is my neighbor?
And taking it up, Jesus said,
223
A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell
among plunderers, who both stripping him and laying on blows, went away, leaving him being half dead. And
by a coincidence, a certain priest was going on that road; and seeing him, he passed on the opposite side. And
in the same way, a Levite, also being at the place, coming and seeing him, he passed on the opposite side.
But a certain traveling Samaritan came upon him, and seeing him, he was filled with compassion. And
coming near, he bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and putting him on his beast, he brought him to an inn
and cared for him. And going forth on the morrow, taking out two denarii, he gave them to the innkeeper,
and said to him, Care for him, and whatever more you spend, on my return I will repay you.
Which, therefore, of these three seems to you to have become a neighbor to the one having fallen among
the plunderers?
And he said, The one doing the deed of mercy with him.
Then Jesus said to him, Go, and you do likewise.
Step 48. From Perea to Bethany and Surrounding Area
Jesus and Martha
(Lu. 10.38-42)
220
Isa. 14.13, 15
221
Deut. 6.5
222
Lev. 19.18
223
The setting is not given, but the telling of this incident here is significant. Jesus was like that Samaritan (called so
in Jerusalem-see page 74), who ministered to Israels wounds instead of passing by on the other side. This great
final tour was a supreme expression of his compassion, being undertaken in the spirit of the servant in the fig tree
parable.
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And it happened in their entering in, He also entered into a certain village.
224
And a certain woman, Martha
by name, received Him into her house. And to this one was a sister being called Mary, who also was sitting
alongside, at the feet of Jesus, and heard His Word.
But Martha was distracted about much serving. And coming up she said, Lord, is it not a care to you
that my sister left me alone to serve? Therefore tell her that she should help me.
But answering Jesus said to her, Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but
there is need of only one; and Mary chose the good part, which shall not be taken from her.
Instructions on Prayer
(Lu. 11.1-13)
And it happened as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, one of His disciples
225
said to Him,
Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
And He said to them, When you pray, say,
Our Father who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name,
Let Your kingdom come,
Let Your will be done on earth as it also is in heaven.
Give us our needful bread according to a day;
And forgive us our sins,
For we ourselves also forgive everyone indebted to us.
And bring us not into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
And He said to them, Who out of you shall have a friend, and will come to him at midnight and say to
him, Friend, lend me three loaves. For a friend of mine arrived to me from a journey, and I do not have what
I may set before him. And answering from within that one may say, Do not cause me troubles. The door
has already been shut, and my children are in bed with me. I cannot rise up to give to you. I say to you, Even
if rising up he will not give to him because he is a friend, yet because of his shameless insisting, rising up
he will give him as many as he needs.
And I say to you, Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened
to you. For everyone asking receives, and the one seeking finds, and to the one knocking, it will be opened.
226
And what father of you, if the son asks for bread, will he give him a stone? And if a fish, will he give
him a snake instead of a fish? And if he should ask an egg, will he give him a scorpion? Then if you being
evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more the Father out of heaven will give the
Holy Spirit to the ones asking Him.
224
Not they but he went into this village, and the word they harks back to the seventy heralds. Probably Jesus
rested at the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus while the heralds were on their errand, though this visit was
delayed in the telling to give precedence to other matters. Whether these friends lived at Bethany at this time is not
told, but is probable.
225
Followers other than the twelve were often called disciples, so here was a man not present in the instance of the
Sermon on the Mount. Further, the differences in the model prayer are not errors in reporting. It was not fitting now to
add For Yours is the kingdom, for the kingdom offered had been rejected and must now remain in the background.
226
With different listeners and contexts, he repeats this important teaching given earlier; Matthew 7.7-11 is, therefore,
not a duplication but is needed for completeness.
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Jesus and Beelzebub II
(
1
Mt. 12.22-37; 43-45;
3
Lu. 11.14-15, 17-28)
1
Then a blind and mute one having been demon-possessed was brought to Him. And He healed him, so that
3
as the demon was going out,
1
the blind and mute one could both speak and see. And all the crowds were
amazed and
3
marveled,
1
and said, Is this not the Son of David?
But hearing,
3
some of them,
1
the Pharisees said, This One does not cast out demons except by
Beelzebub, ruler of the demons.
But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, He said to them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to
desolation. And every city or house divided against itself will not stand. And if Satan throws out Satan, he
was divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?
3
Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub. And if I cast out the demons by Beelzebub, by whom
do your sons cast them out?
1
Because of this, they shall be your judges. But if I cast out the demons by the
Spirit of God,
3
by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
1
Or how is anyone able to enter the house of the strong one and plunder his goods, if he does not first
bind the strong one; and then he will plunder his house?
3
When the strong one,
227
having been armed, guards
the dwelling of himself, in peace are the things belonging to him. But as soon as the stronger than he having
come, he overcomes him; he takes away all his armor on which he trusted, and gives over his arms.
1
The one who is not with me is against me,
228
and the one who does not gather with Me scatters.
Because of this, I say to you, Every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven to men, but the blasphemy
concerning the Spirit shall not be forgiven to men. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it
will be forgiven him. But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, not in this age
nor in the coming one.
Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree corrupt and its fruit corrupt; for the tree
is known by the fruit. Offspring of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the
abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man out of the good treasure of the heart puts forth good
things. And the evil man out of the evil treasure puts forth evil things. But I say to you, that every idle word,
whatever men may speak, they shall give an account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will
be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.
But when the unclean spirit goes from a man, he goes through dry places seeking rest
3
and not finding,
1
then he says, I will return to my house from which I came out. And coming, he finds it standing empty,
swept and
3
having been
1
decorated. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more evil than
himself, and entering dwells there. And the last things of that man become worse than the first. So it will be
also to this evil generation.
3
And it happened in His saying these things, lifting up her voice out of the crowd a certain woman said
to Him, Blessed is the womb having borne you and the breasts which you sucked.
But He said, No, rather blessed are the ones hearing the Word of God, and keeping it.
The Sign of Jonah
(
1
Mt. 12.38-42;
3
Lu. 11.16, 29-36)
1
Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, Teacher, we desire to see a sign from you.
3
And
227
He is asserting his true relationship to the strong one, Satan, and his house. He would take his house after he
bound the strong one, a prophetic message.
228
This saying concerned non-believers in contrast to the reverse saying in Mark 9.40 that concerned sincere
believers (page 84).
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tempting Him, others were seeking a miraculous sign from heaven from Him.
But the crowds pressing on Him,
1
answering, He said to them,
3
This generation is evil.
1
An evil and
adulterous generation seeks a sign, and a sign shall not be given to it, except the sign of Jonah the prophet.
3
For even as Jonah became a miraculous sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of man will be to this
generation.
1
And even as Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish three days and three nights,
229
so shall the
Son of man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.
Men, Ninevites, will stand up in the Judgment with this generation and will condemn it. For they
repented at the preaching of Jonah, and, behold, a Greater-than-Jonah is here. The queen of the south will
be raised in the judgment with this generation and will condemn it. For she came from the ends of the earth
to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and, behold, a Greater-than-Solomon is here.
3
But no one having lit a lamp places it in secret, nor under the peck-measure, but on the lampstand, that
the ones entering may see the light. The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore when your eye is sound, also
all your body is light. But when it is evil, also your body is dark. Mark, therefore, that the light in you is not
darkness. If, then, your whole body is light, not having any part dark, all will be light, as when the lamp
enlightens you with its shining.
230
Rebuking the Pharisees and the Experts in the Law
(Lu. 11.37-54)
And as He was speaking, a certain Pharisee asked Him that He would dine with him. And going in, He
reclined. But seeing, the Pharisee marveled that He did not first wash before dinner. But the Lord said to him,
Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but your inside is full of robbery and evil.
Fools! Did not He who made the outside also make the inside? But give merciful gifts of the things which
are within, and see all things are clean to you.
But woe to you, Pharisees, for you pay tithes of the mint, and the rue, and every plant, and pass by the
judgment and the love of God. It was right to do these things, but not to leave aside those. Woe to you,
Pharisees! For you love the chief seat in the synagogues and the greetings in the marketplaces. Woe to you,
scribes and Pharisees! Hypocrites! For you are as the unseen tombs, and the men walking over them do not
know.
And answering, one of the lawyers said to Him,
231
Teacher, saying these things you also insult us.
And He said, Woe to you also, lawyers! Because you burden men with burdens hard to bear, and you
yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. Woe to you! Because you build the tombs of
the prophets, and your fathers killed them. So you bear witness and consent to the works of your fathers; for
they indeed killed them, and you build their tombs.
And because of this, the wisdom of God said, I will send prophets and apostles to them, and they will
kill and drive out some of them, that the blood of all the prophets which has been shed from the foundation
of the world may be required from this generation, from the blood of Abel until the blood of Zechariah who
perished between the altar and the House. Yea, I say to you, It will be required from this generation.
Woe to you, lawyers! Because you took the key of knowledge; you yourselves did not enter, and you
hindered the ones entering in.
And as He was saying these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to be terribly angry, and
229
Jonah 1.17
230
These verses (Lu. 11.33-36) go back to Lu. 11.29-30. The Jews are demonstrating a lack of faith. They are
looking at Jesus through unhealthy eyes. They cannot see him for who he really is, the Messiah. Jesus is the sign
they are looking for but do not see.
231
Compare Lu. 10.25-27 (pg. 87), another answer to a lawyer. Also note (pg. 121) Mt. 22.34-40 and Mk. 12.28-34.
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to draw Him out concerning many things, lying in ambush for Him, and seeking to catch something out of
His mouth that they might accuse Him.
The Return of the Seventy
(
1
Mt 11.25-27;
3
Lu. 10.17-22)
3
And the seventy returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject to us through your name.
And He said to them, I saw Satan falling out of heaven as lightning! Behold, I have given you the
authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and on all the power of the hostile one, and nothing shall hurt you,
not ever! But do not rejoice in this, that the evil spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice that your names
are written in heaven.
In the same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit, and
1
answering at that time,
3
said, I praise you, Father,
Lord of heaven and of earth, that You hid these things from the sophisticated and learned and revealed them
to babes; yes, Father, because so it was pleasing before You.
All things were given over to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is if not the Father; and
who is the Father, if not the Son, and he to whom the Son may desire to reveal Him.
Jesus Invitation
(
1
Mt. 11.28-30;
3
Lu. 10.23-24)
1
Come to Me, all those laboring and being burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and
learn from Me, because I am a meek and lowly one in heart, and you will find rest to your souls.
232
For My
yoke is easy, and My burden is light.
3
And having turned to the disciples alone, He said, Blessed are the eyes seeing what you see. For I say
to you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see, and to hear what you hear,
and did not hear.
Fear God, Not People
(Lu. 12.1-9)
At which time the myriads of the crowd being gathered together, so as to trample on one another,
233
He began
to say to His disciples first, Take heed to yourselves of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. But
there is nothing which has been completely concealed which will not be uncovered, nor hidden which will
not be known. Therefore, as many things as you said in the darkness will be heard in the light; and whatever
you spoke in the ear in the secret rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.
But I say to you, My friends, stop being afraid of the ones killing the body, and after these things not
having anything more they can do. But I will warn you whom you should fear; fear the One who after killing
has authority to cast into hell; yea, I say to you, Fear that One! Are not five sparrows sold for two assaria?
And not one of them has been forgotten before God. But even the hairs of your head have all been numbered.
Therefore stop being afraid; you differ from many sparrows.
But I say to you, Everyone who may confess Me before men, the Son of man will also confess him
before the angels of God. But the one denying Me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
232
Jer. 6.16
233
The great gathering of crowds here was partly precipitated by his challenging the religious leaders.
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The Parable of the Rich Landowner
(Lu. 12.13-21)
And one from the crowd said to Him, Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.
But He said to him, Man, who appointed Me a judge or a divider over you?
And He said to them, Beware, and be on guard from covetousness; for ones life is not in the abundance
of the things belonging to him.
And He spoke a parable to them, saying, The land of a certain rich man produced well. And he reasoned
within himself, saying, What should I do, for I have nowhere I may gather my fruits? And he said, I will
do this; I will tear down my storehouses and I will build larger; and I will gather there all my produce and
my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take rest, eat,
drink, and be glad. But God said to him, Fool! This night they demand your soul from you; and that which
you prepared, to whom will it be? So is he treasuring up for himself, and not being rich toward God.
Call to Faithful Stewardship
(
1
Mt. 24.43-44;
3
Lu. 12.22a, 32-40)
3
And He said to His disciples, Do not fear, little flock, because your Father was pleased to give you the
kingdom. Sell the things belonging of you and give merciful gifts. Make for yourselves purses that do not
grow old, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where a thief cannot come near, nor moth can ruin. For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Let your loins be girded about, and the lamps burning, and you be like men awaiting their lord when
he returns from the wedding feast, so that he coming and knocking, they at once open to him. Blessed are
those slaves whom the lord will find awake when he comes. Truly I say to you that he will gird himself and
will make them recline, and coming near he will serve them. And if he comes in the second watch, or he
comes in the third watch, and finds it so, blessed are those slaves.
1
But know this, that if the housemaster had known in what watch the thief comes, he would have kept
awake and not have allowed his house to be dug through.
3
And therefore you be ready, for in which hour you
think not the Son of man comes.
The Faithful and Wise Slave
(
1
Mt. 10.34-36; 24.45-51;
3
Lu. 12.41-53)
3
And Peter said to him, Lord, do you speak this parable to us, or also to all?
And the Lord said, Who then is the faithful and wise steward whom
1
his
3
lord will appoint over his
service, to give the portion of food in season? Blessed is that slave whom his lord comes and will find him
so doing. Truly I say to you, he will set him over all the things belonging of him.
But if that
1
wicked
3
slave should say in his heart, My lord delays to come, and should begin to beat
1
his fellow slaves,
3
the men servants and the female servants, and to eat and to drink and be drunk, the lord
of that slave will come in the day in which he does not expect, and in an hour which he does not know,
1
and
will cut him in two,
3
and will put his portion with the unbelievers,
1
the hypocrites. There will be weeping and
gnashing of the teeth.
3
But that slave knowing the will of his lord, and not preparing, nor doing according to his will, will be
beaten with many stripes. But he not knowing, and doing things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few.
And everyone given much, much will be demanded from him. And to whom much was committed, more
exceedingly they will ask of him.
I came to hurl fire into the earth, and what will I if it already was kindled? But I have an immersion to
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be immersed in, and how am I pressed until it is finished!
Think you that I came to give peace in the earth? No, I say to you, but rather division.
1
I did not come
to send peace, but a sword.
3
For from now on five in one house will have been divided, three against two,
and two against three.
1
I came to divide a son against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and
mother against the daughter,
1
and a bride against her mother-in-law, and
3
mother-in-law against the bride.
Hostile ones of the man shall be those of his house.
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The Parable of the Fruitless Fig Tree
(Lu. 12.54-56; 13.1-9)
And He also said to the crowd, When you see the cloud rising up from the west, you immediately say, A
storm is coming; and it happens so. And when a south wind is blowing, you say, There will be heat; and
it occurs. Hypocrites! you know to discern the face of the earth and of the heaven, but how is it you do not
discern this time?
And some were present at the same time reporting to Him about the Galileans, whose blood Pilate mixed
with their sacrifices. And answering, Jesus said to them, Do you think that these Galileans were sinners
beyond all the Galileans, because they suffered such things? No, I say to you, but if you do not repent, you
will all perish likewise. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell, and killed them, do you think
that these were sinners above all men living in Jerusalem? No, I say to you, but if you do not repent, you will
all likewise perish.
And He spoke this parable, A certain one had planted a fig tree in his vineyard. And he came looking
for fruit on it and did not find any. And he said to the vinedresser, Behold, three years I come looking for
fruit on this fig tree, and do not find any. Cut it down; why does it even waste the ground? And the
vinedresser said to him, Sir, leave it also this year until I shall dig around it and throw manure; and see if
it indeed makes fruit. But if not, in the coming year you may cut it down.
Healing on the Sabbath
(Lu. 13.10-17)
And He was teaching in one of the synagogues on one of the sabbaths. And, behold, there was a woman
having a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent together and was not able to be erect to the complete
straightness. And seeing her, Jesus called her near and said to her, Woman, you have been loosed from your
infirmity. And He laid hands on her. And instantly she was made erect and glorified God.
But answering, being angry that Jesus healed on the sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the crowd,
There are six days in which it is right to work. Therefore, coming in these, be healed, and not on the sabbath
day.
Then the Lord answered him and said, Hypocrite! Each one of you on the sabbath, does he not loose
his ox or donkey from the manger, and leading it away, give it drink? And this one being a daughter of
Abraham, whom Satan has bound, behold, eighteen years, ought she not to be loosed from this bond on the
sabbath day?
And on His saying these things, all the ones opposing him were ashamed. And all the crowd rejoiced over
all the glorious things being done by Him.
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Micah 7.6
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The Narrow Door
(Lu. 13.22-33)
And He went through cities and villages, teaching and making progress toward Jerusalem. And one said to
Him, Lord, are the ones being saved few?
But He said to him, Strive to enter in through the narrow gate, for I say to you that many will seek to
enter in and will not have strength. From the time the Master of the house shall have risen up, and he shuts
the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. And
answering, he will say to you, I do not know you, from where you are. Then you will begin to say, We ate
and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets. And he will say, I tell you I do not know you,
from where you are. Stand back from Me all workers of unrighteousness!
235
There will be weeping and gnashing of the teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all
the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves being thrown outside. And they will come from east and
west, and from north and south, and will recline in the kingdom of God. And, behold, there are last ones who
will be first, and there are first ones who will be last.
In the same day, certain Pharisees came, saying to Him, Go out and go on from here, for Herod desires
to kill you.
And He said to them, Going, say to that fox, Behold, today and tomorrow I cast out demons and I
complete cures, and the third day I will be finished. But today and tomorrow and on the following day I must
travel on. For it is not accepted for a prophet to perish outside Jerusalem.
Dining with a Leader of the Pharisees
(Lu. 14.1-24)
And it occurred, on His going into a house of one of the Pharisee leaders on a sabbath to eat bread, and they
were closely observing Him. And behold, a certain man was dropsical before Him.
And answering, Jesus spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath?
And they were silent.
And taking the man, He healed him and sent him away. And answering to them, He said, Whose donkey
or ox of yours shall fall into a pit, and he will not at once pull it up on the sabbath day?
And they were not able to reply to Him against these things.
And He spoke a parable to the ones who had been invited, noting how they were choosing the chief seats,
saying to them, When you are invited by anyone to wedding feasts, do not recline at the chief seat lest one
more honorable than you be invited by him, and coming, he who invited you and him will say to you, Give
this one place. And then you begin with shame to take the last place. But when you are invited, going,
recline at the last place, so that when the one who has invited you comes, he may say to you, Friend, go up
higher. Then glory will be to you before the ones reclining with you. For everyone exalting himself will be
humbled, and the one humbling himself will be exalted.
And He also said to him having invited him, When you make a dinner or supper, do not call your
friends, nor your brothers, nor your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also should invite you in return,
and it become a repayment to you. But when you make a banquet, call the poor ones, the crippled ones, the
lame ones, the blind ones; and you will be blessed, for they have nothing to repay you. For it will be repaid
to you in the resurrection of the just ones.
And one of the ones reclining with Him, hearing these things, he said to Him, Blessed is he who eats
235
Psa. 6.8
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bread in the kingdom of God.
But He said to him, A certain man made a great supper and invited many. And he sent his slave at the
supper hour to say to the ones who had been invited, Come, for now all is ready. And all with one mind
began to excuse themselves. The first said to him, I have bought a field, and I have need to go out and see
it; I ask you, have me excused. And another said, I bought five yoke of oxen and I am going to try them out;
I ask you, have me excused. And another said, I married a wife, and because of this I am not able to come.
And having come near that slave reported these things to his lord. Then being angry, the house manager said
to his slave, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor ones and crippled
ones, and lame ones and blind ones. And the slave said, Sir, it has been done as you ordered, and still there
is room. And the lord said to the slave, Go out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in,
so that my house may be filled. For I say to you that not one of those men who had been invited shall taste
of my supper.
Counting the Cost
(Lu. 14.25-35)
And great crowds came together to Him, And turning, He said to them, If anyone comes to Me and does not
hate his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers and sisters, and besides, even his own life,
he cannot be My disciple.
236
And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me, he cannot be My
disciple. For who of you desiring to build a tower does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has
the things to finish; that having laid a foundation, and not having strength to finish, all those seeing begin
to mock him, saying, This man began to build, and did not have strength to finish.
Or what king going to encounter another king in war does not first sit down and take counsel whether
he is able with ten thousand to meet those coming upon him with twenty thousand? But if not, he being yet
far off, sending a delegation, he asks the things for peace.
So then every one of you who does not separate from all his possessions is not able to be My disciple.
The salt is good, but if the salt becomes tasteless, with what will it be seasoned? Neither for soil nor
for manure is it fit; they throw it out. The one having ears to hear, let him hear.
The Parables of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin
(Lu. 15. 1-10)
And all the tax gatherers and sinners were coming near to Him, to hear Him. And the Pharisees and the
scribes murmured, saying, This one receives sinners and eats with them.
And He spoke to them this parable, saying, What man of you having a hundred sheep, and losing one
of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the deserted place and go after the lost one until he finds it? And
finding it, he puts it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And coming to the house, he calls together the friends and
neighbors, saying to them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that had been lost. I say to you that
so is joy in heaven over one sinner repenting, than over ninety nine righteous ones who have no need of
repentance.
Or what woman having ten drachmas, if she loses one drachma, does not light a lamp and sweep the
house, and seek carefully until she finds it? And finding it, she calls together the friends and neighbors,
saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found the drachma which I lost. I say to you, So there is joy before the
angels of God over one sinner repenting.
236
Hyperbole is here used for exaggerated contrast to emphasize the priority of ones love for Christ over all else.
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The Parable of the Compassionate Father
(Lu. 15.11-32)
And He said, A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to the father, Father give me that
part of the property falling to me. And he divided the living to them.
And not many days after, gathering up all things, the younger son went abroad to a distant country. And
there he squandered his property, living dissolutely. But having spent all his things, a severe famine occurred
throughout that country, and he began to be in need. And going, he was joined to one of the citizens of that
country. And he sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he longed to fill his stomach from the husks which
the pigs ate, and no one gave to him. But coming to himself he said, How many servants of my father
abound in bread, and I am perishing with famine. Rising up, I will go to my father, and I will say to him,
Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make
me as one of your hired servants. And rising up, he came to this father.
But he yet being far away, his father saw him and was moved with compassion. And running, he fell
on his neck and fervently kissed him. And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and
before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But the father said to his slaves, Bring out the
best robe and clothe him, and give a ring to his hand and sandals to his feet. And bring the fattened calf,
slaughter and let us eat and be merry; for this son of mine was a dead one, and lived again, and was lost, and
was found. And they began to be merry.
But the son of him, the elder one, was in the field. And as coming, he drew near to the house, he heard
music and dances. And having called one of the servants, he inquired what these things may be. And he said
to him, Your brother came, and your father slaughtered the fattened calf, because he received him back in
health.
But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore coming out, his father begged him. But answering,
he said to the father, Behold, so many years I serve you, and I have never transgressed a command of you.
And you never gave a goat to me, so that I might be merry with my friends. But when this son of yours came,
the one devouring your living with harlots, you killed the fattened calf for him.
But he said to him, Child, you are always with me, and all of my things are yours. But to be merry and
it was right to rejoice, for this brother of yours was a dead one, and lived again; and being lost, also he was
found.
The Parable of the Clever Steward
(Lu. 16.1-13)
And He also said to His disciples, A certain man was rich; and he had a steward, and this one was accused
to him as dissipating his goods. And calling him, he said to him, What is this I hear about you? Give the
account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.
And the steward said within himself, What shall I do, for my lord is taking away the stewardship from
me? I am not able to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I know what I will do, that when I am removed from the
stewardship, they will receive me into their houses.
And having called to him each one of the debtors of his lord, he said to the first, How much do you owe
my lord? And he said, A hundred baths of oil. And he said to him, Take your statement and sitting quickly
write fifty. Then he said to another, And you, how much do you owe? And he said, A hundred cors of
wheat. And he said to him, Take your statement and write eighty.
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And the lord praised the unrighteous steward, because he acted prudently.
237
For the sons of this age
are more prudent than the sons of light themselves are in their generation. And I say to you, Make to
yourselves friends by the unrighteous wealth, that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal
tabernacles.
He faithful in the least is also faithful in much. And he unrighteous in the least is also unrighteous in
much. Therefore if you were not faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true to you? And if
you were not faithful in that of another, who will give to you that which is yours?
No servant is able to serve two lords; for either he will hate the one, and he will love the other; or he
will cling to one, and he will despise the other. you are unable to serve God and wealth.
The Rich Man and Lazarus
(Lu. 16.14-15, 19-31)
And being lovers of money, the Pharisees also heard all these things; and they derided Him. And He said to
them, You are the ones justifying yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts; for the thing highly
prized among men is an abomination before God.
And a certain man was a rich one; and dressed in a purple robe and fine linen, being merry, living
luxuriously according to a day. And there was a certain poor one, Lazarus by name, who had been thrown
at his doorway, being covered with sores, and longing to be filled from the crumbs that were falling from the
table of the rich one. But coming, even the dogs licked his sores. And it came to be, the poor one died and
was carried away by the angels into the bosom of Abraham.
And the rich one also died and was buried. And being in torments in hell, lifting up his eyes, he sees
Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom. And calling he said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me and
send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this
flame.
But Abraham said, Child, remember that you fully received your good things in your lifetime, and
Lazarus likewise the bad things, and you are tormented. And besides all these things, a great chasm has been
fixed between us and you, so that the ones desiring to pass from here to you are not able, nor can they pass
from there to us.
And he said, Therefore I ask you, Father, that you send him to my fathers house; (for I have five
brothers, so that he may witness to them, that they not also come to this place of torment).
Abraham said to him, They have Moses and the Prophets, let them hear them.
But he said, No, Father Abraham, but if one should go from dead ones to them, they will repent.
And he said to him, If they will not hear Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if
someone from dead ones should rise.
238
Sin, Forgiveness, Faith, and Service
(Lu. 17.1-10)
And He said to the disciples, It is impossible that the stumbling blocks should not come, but woe to him
through whom they come! It is profitable for him if a millstone turned by a donkey is put around his neck,
237
The master recognized and commended the foresight of the managers generosity, so it is unlikely that the master
was robbed. The manager may have been lowering his own commission or even yet, eliminating the masters
interest charge, built into the deal. Since charging interest was counter to Mosaic law (Ex. 22.25), the master would
not want to draw attention to his own dishonest dealings.
238
Jesus alludes to his own rising (and perhaps that of Lazarus) from the dead.
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and he be thrown into the sea, than that he should stumble one of these little ones. Take heed to yourselves.
And if your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if seven times in the
day he sins against you, and seven times in the day returns to you saying, I repent, you shall forgive him.
And the apostles said to the Lord, Give more faith to us.
But the Lord said, If you had faith as a grain of mustard, you may say to the sycamine tree,
239
Be rooted
up and be planted in the sea! And it would obey you.
But which of you having a slave plowing or shepherding will say at once to him coming out of the field,
Coming, recline? But will he not say to him, Prepare something I may eat, and having girded yourself,
serve me until I eat and drink, and after these things you shall eat and drink? Does he have thanks to that
slave because he did the things commanded him? I think not. So also you, when you have done all things
commanded you, say, We are useless slaves, what we ought to do we have done.
The Grateful Leper
(Lu. 17.11-19)
And it happened in His going to Jerusalem even He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. And
He entering into a certain village, ten leprous men met Him, who stood afar off. And they lifted their voice,
saying, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
And seeing them, He said to them, Going, show yourselves to the priests.
And it happened in their going they were cleansed. And one of them, seeing that he was cured, returned
glorifying God with a loud voice, and fell on his face at His feet, thanking Him. And he was a Samaritan.
And answering, Jesus said, Were not the ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were not any found
returning to give glory to God except this foreigner? And He said to him, Rising up, go! Your faith has
cured you.
The Coming of the Son of man I
(Lu. 17.20-37)
And being questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God comes, He answered them and said,
The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, Behold, here! Or, Behold, there!
For behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
240
And He said to the disciples, Days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of
man, and will not see. And they will say to you, Behold, here! Or, Behold, there! Do not go away, nor
follow. For as the lightning lighting up out of one part under heaven to one part under heaven shines, so also
will the Son of man be in His day. But first He must suffer many things and be rejected from this generation.
And as it was in the days of Noah, so also it will be in the days of the Son of man. They were eating,
drinking, marrying, giving in marriage, until the day Noah went into the ark. And the flood came and
destroyed all.
And likewise, as it was in the days of Lot, they were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building;
but on the day Lot went out from Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from the heaven and destroyed all.
According to those things, it will be in the day the Son of man is revealed. In that day, he who will be on the
239
The sycamine tree which grows to be thirty to forty feet tall with extremely deep roots was used to illustrate that a
little genuine faith in Gods word and power will move the greatest obstacles.
240
Another possible translation is the kingdom of God is in your midst. You is used in the generic sense. Although
the kingdom will be revealed in an outward manifestation in the Messianic reign, it is essentially spiritual, beginning
in the heart.
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housetop, let him not go down to take his goods from the house. And likewise, he in the field, let him not
return to the things behind. Remember Lots wife. Whoever seeks to save his life, he will lose it. And
whoever will lose it, he will preserve it.
I say to you, In that night two will be on one bed; the one will be taken and the other will be left. Two
will be grinding at the same thing; one will be taken and the other will be left. Two will be in the field, the
one will be taken and the other will be left.
And answering, they said to Him, Where, Lord?
And He said to them, Where the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.
241
The Parable of the Persistent Widow
(Lu. 18.1-8)
And He also spoke a parable to them to teach that it is always necessary to pray, and not to be wearied,
saying, A certain judge was in a certain city, not fearing God and not respecting man. And a widow was in
that city, and she came to him, saying, Avenge me from my adversary.
And for a time he would not. But after these things he said to himself, Even if I do not fear God, and
do not respect men, yet because this widow causes me trouble, I will avenge her, that not coming to the end,
she wear me down.
And the Lord said, Hear what the unrighteous judge says; and will God not execute the avengement of
His elect, not any of those crying to Him day and night, also being long-suffering over them, not at all? I say
to you that He will carry out the avengement of them speedily. But the Son of man coming, really will He
find faith on the earth?
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax gatherer
(Lu. 18.9-14)
And He also spoke this parable to some of those relying on themselves, that they are righteous ones and
despising the rest,
Two men went up into the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee, and the other a tax gatherer. The Pharisee
was standing, praying these things to himself: God, I thank you that I am not as the rest of men, rapacious
ones, unrighteous ones, adulterers, or even as this tax gatherer. I fast twice in the week; I tithe all things, as
many as I get.
And the tax gatherer, standing afar off would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but smote on his
breast, saying, God, be merciful to me, the sinner! I say to you, This one went down to his house having
been justified, rather than that one. For everyone exalting himself will be humbled. And the one humbling
himself will be exalted.
Questions about Divorce
(
1
Mt. 19.3-12;
2
Mk. 10.2-12;
3
Lu. 16.18)
1
And the Pharisees came near to Him,
2
testing Him,
1
and saying to Him, Is it lawful
2
for a man to dismiss
1
his wife for every reason?
241
This parabolic saying has special meaning for the closing days of this age, showing the coming of the kingdom
after a time of carnage in the land of Israel. No one will have to look to find the place of judgment because the birds
presence will reveal the carcasses.
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2
But answering, He said to them, What did Moses command you?
1
Have you not read that he who
created them from the beginning CREATED THEM MALE AND FEMALE?
242
And he said, ON ACCOUNT OF THIS A
MAN SHALL LEAVE
2
HIS FATHER AND MOTHER,
1
AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE
FLESH.
243
So that they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let not man
separate.
They said to him, Why then did Moses command to GIVE A BILL OF DIVORCE, AND TO DISMISS HER?
244
2
And answering, Jesus said to them,
1
In view of your hardheartedness, Moses
2
wrote this command
1
to
dismiss your wives. But from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you, Whoever shall dismiss his wife,
if not for fornication, and shall marry another, that one commits adultery.
245

3
And everyone marrying her
having been put away from a husband commits adultery.
2
And again, in the house His disciples asked Him about the same. And He said to them, Whoever shall
dismiss his wife and marry another commits adultery against her. And if a woman shall dismiss her husband
and marries another, she commits adultery.
1
His disciples said to Him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not profitable to marry.
But He said to them, Not all make room for this Word, but those to whom it is given. For there are
eunuchs who were born thus from their mothers womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by
men, and there are eunuchs who made eunuchs of themselves for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who
is able to receive, let him receive it.
Jesus and the Little Children
(
1
Mt. 19.13-15a; 2Mk. 10.13-16; 3Lu. 18.15-17)
1
Then little children were brought to Him, that He might lay hands on them and might pray.
3
And they
brought infants to Him also, that He might touch them. But seeing, the disciples
2
were rebuking the ones
carrying them.
But seeing, Jesus was indignant. And He
3
called them near, saying
2
to them, Allow the children to come
to Me, and do not hinder them,
1
for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
2
Truly I say to you, Whoever does not
receive the kingdom of God as a child may not enter into it, not ever.
And having taken them in His arms, laying hands on them, He blessed them.
Lazarus Raised from the Dead
(Jn. 11.1-44)
And there was a certain sick one, Lazarus from Bethany, of the village of Mary and her sister Martha. And
it was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus
was sick. Then the sisters sent to Him, saying, Lord, behold, the one whom you love is sick.
And hearing, Jesus said, This is not sickness to death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God be
glorified by it.
And Jesus loved Martha and her sister Mary. Therefore, when He heard that he is sick, indeed, He
remained in the place where He was two days. Then after this He said to the disciples, Let us go to Judea
242
Gen. 1.27
243
Gen. 2.24
244
Deut. 24.1
245
Jesus specified fornication as being the only legitimate ground for divorce in the eyes of God, it being so
devastating as to spiritually kill the union. Note: this reference to porneia in the Greek is only found in Matthew; a
Jewish statement regarding Jewish-Gentile marriages is based on Lev. 18.1-29.
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again.
The disciples said to Him, Rabbi, just now the Jews were seeking to stone you, and are you going there
again?
Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble
because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles because the light is not
in him.
He said these things. And after this, He said to them, Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am
going that I may awaken him.
Then His disciples said, Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover. But Jesus had spoken about his
death, but those thought that He spoke of the resting of sleep.
Therefore, then Jesus said to them plainly, Lazarus has died. And I rejoice because of you, in order that
you may believe, that I was not there. But let us go to him.
Then Thomas, the one having been called Twin, said to the fellow disciples, Let us also go, so that we
may die with Him.
Therefore coming, Jesus found him already having been in the tomb four days. And Bethany was near
Jerusalem, about fifteen stadia from it. And many of the Jews had come to the ones around Martha and Mary,
that they might console them concerning their brother. Then when Martha heard that Jesus is coming, she
went and met Him; but Mary was sitting in the house.
Then Martha said to Jesus, Lord, if you were here, my brother would not have died. But even now I
know that as many things as you may ask God, God will give you.
Jesus said to her, Your brother will rise again.
Martha said to him, I know that he will rise again in the resurrection in the last day.
Jesus said to her, I am the Resurrection and the Life. The one believing into Me, though he die, he shall
live. And everyone living
246
and believing into Me shall not die to the age, not ever! Do you believe this?
She said to him, Yes, Lord, I have believed that you are the Christ, the Son of God who comes into the
world.
And saying these things, she went away and called her sister Mary secretly, saying, The Teacher is here
and calls you. That one, when she heard, rose up quickly and came to Him. And Jesus had not yet come into
the village, but was in the place where Martha met Him.
Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and consoling her, seeing that Mary quickly rose up and
went out, they followed her, saying, She is going to the tomb so that she may weep there.
Then Mary, when she came to where Jesus was, seeing Him, she fell at His feet, saying to Him, Lord,
if you were here, my brother would not have died.
Therefore when He saw her weeping, and the Jews who came down with her weeping, Jesus groaned in
the spirit and troubled Himself. And He said, Where have you put him?
They said to Him, Lord, come and see.
Jesus wept.
247
Therefore the Jews said, See how He loved him!
But some of them said, Was He, the one opening the eyes of the blind one, not able to have caused that
this one should not die?
Then groaning again within Himself, Jesus came to the tomb. And it was a cave, and a stone was lying
on it. Jesus says, Lift the stone.
Martha, the sister of the one having died, said to Him, Lord, he already smells, for it is the fourth day.
Jesus said to her, Did I not say to you that if you would believe you will see the glory of God?
246
The words everyone living are strongly implied since Martha has spoken of the resurrection in the last day.
247
His deity and humanity are pictured together, as so often in the Gospels.
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Then they lifted the stone where was lying the one having died. And Jesus lifted his eyes upward and
said, Father, I thank you that you heard Me. And I know that you always hear Me, but because of the crowd
standing around, I said it, that they might believe that you sent Me. And saying these things, He cried out
with a loud voice, Lazarus! Come outside!
And the one who had died came out, the feet and the hands having been bound with sheets, and his face
being bound with a cloth. Jesus said to them, Loose him and allow him to go.
The Response of the Jewish Leaders
(Jn. 11.45-54)
Therefore many of the Jews, the ones coming to Mary, and having seen what Jesus did, believed into Him.
But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. Then the chief priests and
the Pharisees assembled a Sanhedrin, and said, What are we doing? For this man does many miraculous
signs? If we leave Him alone thus, all will believe into Him, and the Romans will come and take away from
us both our place and the nation.
But a certain one of them, Caiaphas being high priest of that year, said to them, You know nothing, nor
do you consider that it is profitable for us that one man should die for the people, and not all the nation
should perish. But he did not say this from himself, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus
was about to die on behalf of the nation, and not only on behalf of the nation, but that He also might gather
the children into one, the ones having been scattered. Therefore from that day, they took counsel that they
might kill Him.
Therefore Jesus no longer walked freely among the Jews, but went away from there into the country near
the deserted place, into a city being called Ephraim, and stayed there with His disciples.
The Rich young Man
(
1
Mt. 19.15b-26;
2
Mk. 10.17-27;
3
Lu. 18.18-27)
1
He went away from there.
2
And He having gone out into the highway,
1
behold,
3
a certain ruler,
248

2
running
up and kneeling down to Him,
3
asked Him saying,
2
Good Teacher, what
1
good thing shall I do
3
to inherit
eternal life?
2
But Jesus said to Him, Why do you call me good?
249
No one is good except One, God!
1
But if you
desire to enter into life, keep the commandments.
He said to him, Which?
And Jesus said,
2
You know the commandments: DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, DO NOT COMMIT MURDER, DO
NOT STEAL, DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, DO NOT DEFRAUD, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER,
250

1
and, YOU SHALL
LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.
251
2
And
1
the young man,
2
answering,
1
said to Him,
2
Teacher,
1
I have
2
observed all these from my youth.
1
What do I still lack?
2
And looking at him, Jesus loved him, and said to him,
2
One thing is lacking to you.
1
If you desire to
be a perfect one, go sell
3
all, as much as you have, and distribute to the poor ones; and you will have treasure
in heaven. And come, follow Me,
2
taking up the cross.
1
But having heard the Word, being sorrowful, the young man went away, for he had many possessions.
248
He was probably the ruler of the synagogue in some town on their journey.
249
Jesus acknowledged and emphasized the rulers unknowing confession of his oneness with God.
250
Ex. 20.12-16; Deut. 5.16-20
251
Lev. 19.18
-90-
3
And seeing him becoming very grieved, Jesus,
2
having looked around,
1
said to His disciples, Truly I say
to you,
3
How hardly those having riches will enter into the kingdom of God!
2
And the disciples were astonished at His words. And answering again, Jesus said to them, Children,
how hard it is for the ones trusting on riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
3
For
1
again I say to you,
2
It
is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle,
252
than for a rich one to enter into the kingdom of
God.
1
And His disciples were exceedingly astonished when they heard this,
2
saying to themselves, And who
is able to be saved?
1
But having looked at them, Jesus said to them,
2
From men it is impossible, but not from God. For all
things are possible from God.
Workers in the Vineyard
(
1
Mt. 19.27-20.16;
2
Mk. 10.28-41;
3
Lu. 18.28-30)
1
Then answering, Peter
2
began to say to Him,
1
Behold, we left all things and followed you. What then shall
be to us?
And Jesus,
2
answering,
1
said to them, Truly I say to you, you who have followed me, in the regeneration
when the Son of man sits on the throne of his glory, you also will sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve
tribes of Israel.
3
And He said to them, Truly I say to you, There is no one who has left house, or parents,
or brothers,
1
or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for the sake of My name
2
and the
gospel,
3
for the sake of the kingdom of God, who shall not receive
1
a hundredfold
3
more,
2
houses and brothers
and sisters and mothers and children, and lands, with persecutions,
3
not in this time, not ever, and in the age,
the one coming,
1
shall inherit everlasting life. But many first ones shall be last, and last ones first.
For the kingdom of heaven is like a man, a housemaster, who went out early in the morning to hire
workers into his vineyard. And agreeing with the workers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his
vineyard.
And going out about the third hour, he saw others standing idle in the market. And he said to them, You
also go into the vineyard, and I will give you whatever may be just. And they went. Again, going out about
the sixth and ninth hour, he did likewise.
And going out about the eleventh hour, he found others standing idle, and said to them, Why do you
stand here idle all day? They said to him, Because no one has hired us. he said to them, You also go into
the vineyard, and you will receive whatever may be just.
But evening having come, the Lord of the vineyard said to his overseer, Call the workers and pay them
the wage, beginning from the last ones to the first ones. And the ones having come the eleventh hour each
received a denarius. And having come, the first supposed that they would receive more. And they also each
received a denarius. And having received it, they murmured against the housemaster, saying, These last
have performed one hour, and you have made them equal to us, the ones having borne the burden and the
burning heat of the day.
But answering, he said to one of them, Friend, I do not wrong you. Did you not agree to a denarius with
me? Take yours and go. But I desire to give to this last as also to you. Or is it not lawful for me to do what
I desire with my things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?
So the last ones shall be first ones, and the first ones last ones; for many are called, but few elect ones.
252
Not just a reference to a low gate in the city wall, for the Greek indicates an actual needle for sewing. [Luke
specifies a surgical needle. Jesus later statement signifies it was impossible, not merely difficult.]
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Third Prediction of Jesus Death and Resurrection
(
1
Mt. 20.17-19;
2
Mk. 10.32-34;
3
Lu. 18.31-34)
2
And they were in the highway, going up to Jerusalem. And Jesus was going before them, and following they
were astonished and were afraid. And taking the Twelve
1
aside in the way,
2
He began to tell them the things
about to happen to Him.
3
He said to them, Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things will be
fulfilled which have been written through the prophets to the Son of man. For he will be
2
given over to the
chief priests and to the scribes. And they will condemn him to death and will give him over to the nations
1
to crucify.
3
And
1
He
3
will be mocked, and will be insulted, and will be spat upon. And scourging him, they
will kill him. And on the third day he will rise again.
And they understood none of these things! And this saying had been hidden from them, and they did not
know the things being said.
253
The Request of James and Johns Mother
(
1
Mt. 20.20-28;
2
Mk. 10.35-45)
1
Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee,
2
James and John,
1
came near to Him, along with her sons,
worshiping, and asking something from Him.
2
Teacher, we desire that whatever we may ask you would do
for us.
And He said to them, What do you desire for Me to do for you?
1
She said to Him, Say that these two sons of mine may sit one at your right, and one at your left
2
in your
glory,
1
in your kingdom.
But answering, Jesus said
2
to them, You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup
1
which I am about to drink, and to be baptized with the baptism with which I am to be baptized?
2
And they said to him, We are able.
But Jesus said to them, Indeed you will drink the cup which I drink, and you will be baptized with the
baptism with which I am baptized. But to sit on My right and on My left is not Mine to give, but for whom
it has been prepared
1
by My Father.
254
And hearing, the ten were indignant about the two brothers,
2
James and John. But having called them
near, Jesus said to them, You know that the ones seeming to rule the nations lord it over them, and the ones
great among them exercise authority over them.
1
But it will not be so among you. But whoever desires to
become a great one among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him
be
2
servant of all.
1
Even as
2
the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a
ransom instead of many.
Step 49. From Bethany to Jericho
Healing a Blind Man
(Lu 18.35-43)
And it happened as He drew near to Jericho, a certain blind one sat by the highway, begging. And hearing
a crowd passing through, he asked what this might be. And they reported to him that Jesus the Nazarene is
passing by.
253
Amazingly true, for this was at least the seventh explicit reference to his coming death.
254
The rebuke to them was direct but a gentle one.
-92-
And he cried, saying, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me. And those going before rebuked him,
that he be quiet. But he much more cried out, Son of David, have mercy on me!
And standing still, Jesus commanded him to be brought to Him. And he drawing near, He asked him,
What do you desire I do to you?
And he said, Lord, that I may see again.
And Jesus said to him, See again! Your faith has healed you.
And instantly he saw again. And he followed Him, glorifying God. And seeing, all the people gave praise
to God.
Jesus and Zacchaeus
(
2
Mk. 10.46a;
3
Lu. 19.1-10)
2
And they come into Jericho.
3
And going in, He passed through Jericho. And, behold, a man called by name
Zacchaeus; and he was a chief tax gatherer, and he was a rich one. And he was seeking to see Jesus, who He
is. And he was not able, because of the crowd, and because he was little in stature. And running ahead, he
went up into a sycamore tree, so that he might see Him; for He was going to pass through that way.
And as He came to the place, looking up, Jesus saw him, and said to him, Zacchaeus, hurry, come down,
for today I must stay in your house.
And hurrying, he came down and welcomed Him, rejoicing. And having seen, all murmured, saying, He
has gone in to lodge with a sinful man.
But standing, Zacchaeus said to the Lord, Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I give to the poor ones.
And if in anything I accused anyone falsely, I give it back fourfold.
And Jesus said to him, Today salvation has come to this house, for he also is a son of Abraham.
255
For
the Son of man came to seek and to save the thing having been lost.
The Parable of the Ten Minas
(Lu. 19.11-27)
But as they were hearing these things, He spoke, adding a parable, because He was near to Jerusalem, and
they thought that the kingdom of God was immediately to be revealed. Therefore He said, A certain
wellborn man went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and to return. And calling ten of
his slaves, he gave to them ten minas and said to them, Trade until I come. But his citizens hated him and
sent a delegation after him, saying, We do not desire this one to reign over us.
And it happened as he returned, having received the kingdom, he even said for those slaves to be called
to him, those to who he gave the silver, that he might know what each one had gained by trading. And the
first came, saying, Lord, your mina has gained ten minas. And he said to him, Well done, good slave!
Because you were faithful in a least thing, have authority over ten cities. And the second came, saying,
Lord, your mina has made five minas. And he said to this one also, And you be over five cities.
And another came, saying, Lord, behold your mina which I have stored up in a face-cloth. For I feared
you, because you are an exacting man, taking what you did not lay down, and reaping what you did not sow.
But he said to him, I will judge you out of your own mouth, wicked slave. You knew that I am an
exacting man, taking what I did not lay down, and reaping what I did not sow. And why did you not give my
silver on the bank table? And coming, I might have exacted it with interest.
255
It is not only by descent that he is a descendant of Abraham but also by his faith and works. Zacchaeus change of
heart was what mattered, not his past.
-93-
And to those standing by, he said, Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.
And they said to him, Lord, he has ten minas.
For I say to you, To everyone who has, it will be given. And from the one who does not have, even
what he has will be taken from him. But these hostile ones of me, the ones not desiring me to reign over
them, bring them here and slaughter them before me.
Healing Blind Bartimaeus
(Mk. 10.46b-52)
And He and His disciples and a considerable crowd having gone out from Jericho, a son of Timaeus,
Bartimaeus the blind, sat beside the highway begging. And hearing that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began
to cry out and to say, Son of David, Jesus, have mercy on me!
And many warned him that he be quiet. But he much more cried out, Son of David have mercy on me!
And standing still, Jesus said for him to be called. And they called the blind one, saying to him, Have
courage, rise up. He calls you. And throwing away his garment, rising up, he came to Jesus.
And answering, Jesus said to him, What do you desire I should do to you?
And the blind one said to Him, My Lord, that I may see again.
And Jesus said to him, Go, your faith has healed you.
And instantly he saw again, and followed Jesus in the highway.
Two Blind Men Healed
(
1
Mt. 20.29-34;
3
Lu. 19.28)
1
And as they were going out from Jericho,
3
He went in front, going up to Jerusalem, and
1
a great crowd
followed Him. And, behold, two blind ones sitting beside the way, hearing that Jesus was passing by, they
cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, Lord, Son of David! But the crowd rebuked them, that they be quiet.
But they cried out the more, saying, Have mercy on us, Lord, Son of David!
And stopping, Jesus called them, and said, What do you desire that I do to you?
They said to Him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.
And being moved with compassion Jesus touched their eyes. And instantly their eyes saw again, and they
followed him.
256
256
It appears that there were three different occasions of blind men being healed at Jericho. Luke reported the first
case (on approach to Jericho) and Matthew and Mark reported the other two cases. Mark reported the case involving
Bartimaeus as they were leaving the confines of Jericho, and Matthew mentioned the case of the two blind men
further along the road to Jerusalem. The similarities suggest that these men had heard what had happened to the
others and used the same approach, meeting a similar response.
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Thursday sunset to Friday sunset
Step 50. From Jericho to Bethany
Jesus Anointing
(
1
Mt. 26.6-13;
2
Mk. 14.3-9;
3
Lu. 22.1;
4
Jn. 1.55-12.11)
3
And the Feast of Unleavened Bread
4
of the Jews,
3
drew near, the one called Passover.
4
And many went up
to Jerusalem out of the country before the Passover, that they might purify themselves. Then they were
seeking Jesus, and were speaking with one another, standing in the temple, What does it seem to you? That
He does not come to the Feast, not at all?
And all the chief priests and the Pharisees had given command that if anyone knew where He is, he
should inform so that they might seize Him.
Therefore six days
257
before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany,
258
where Lazarus was, the one having
died, whom He raised from the dead.
1
In Bethany,
4
they made Him a supper there,
1
in Simon the lepers
house,
4
and Martha was serving. But Lazarus was one of the ones reclining with Him.
Then taking
2
an alabaster vial of
4
a pound of ointment of genuine, very costly spikenard, Mary
2
came
1
near to Him.
2
And breaking the alabaster vial, she poured it down on His head,
1
He reclining.
4
Mary anointed
the feet of Jesus and wiped off His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the
ointment.
1
But seeing,
2
some of
1
His disciples were
2
being
1
indignant
2
within themselves, and saying, For what
has this waste of the ointment occurred?
1
For this ointment could have been sold for much and be given to
the poor ones.
2
And they were very angry with her.
4
Then Simons son, one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, the one going to give Him over, said, Why was
this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to poor people? But he said this, not that he was
caring for the poor people, but that he was a thief and held the money bag and carried away the things being
put in.
1
But knowing, Jesus said to them,
2
Let her alone. Why do you cause troubles to the woman? For she
worked a good work toward Me.
4
For she has kept it for the day of My burial.
259

2
For you have the poor with
you always, and when you wish, you can do well toward them. But you do not have Me always. What this
one had, she did.
1
For in putting this ointment on My body,
2
she took beforehand to anoint My body for the
burial.
1
Truly I say to you, Wherever this gospel is proclaimed in all the world, also what she did will be
spoken of for a memorial of her.
4
Then a great crowd of the Jews knew that He is there. And they came, not because of Jesus only, but
that they also might see Lazarus whom He raised from the dead ones. But the chief priests took counsel that
they might kill Lazarus also, because through him many of the Jews went away and believed into Jesus.
257
Matthew, Mark, and Luke place this supper in a thematic context to contrast Mary with Judas; John definitely
established the time of the supper as being on Friday evening. Jesus entry into Jerusalem occurred on Saturday.
258
This journey from Jericho took place on Friday, since traveling this far on Saturday would be in violation of the
sabbath.
259
This doesnt mean the literal day by the day of my burial. And just as the woman in Luke 7:38 anointed him as
Prophet, so Mary unknowingly anointed Him as Priest, the one who by His death would mediate between God and
men. (Also, since He was anointed by the Spirit of God at His baptism, there still remained to be accomplished only
His anointing by Israel as King, when their eyes opened to His identity.)
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Friday sunset to Saturday sunset
Step 51. From Bethany to Bethphage
The Triumphal Entry
(
1
Mt. 21.1-11;
2
Mk. 11.1-11;
3
Lu. 19.29-44;
4
Jn. 12.12-19)
3
And it happened
4
on the next day,
1
when they drew near to Jerusalem and came into Bethphage
3
and Bethany
toward the Mount being called Mount of Olives,
1
then Jesus sent two
2
of His disciples,
1
saying to them, Go
into the village opposite you, and immediately
2
going into it,
1
you will find a donkey tied, and a young
donkey
2
tied
1
with her,
3
on which no one of men ever yet sat.
1
Loosing, lead them to Me. And if anyone says
anything to you,
3
if anyone asks,
2
Why do you do this?
3
you shall say to them,
1
The Lord has need of them.
And he will send them
2
here
1
at once.
3
And going, the ones having been sent,
1
having done as Jesus ordered them,
2
found
4
a little donkey colt,
3
as He told them,
2
tied at the door outside, by the crossway; and they loosed it.
3
Its owners,
2
standing there
said to them, What are you doing, loosing the young donkey? And they said to them as Jesus commanded,
3
The Lord has need of it.
2
And they let them go,
3
and
1
they led the donkey and the young donkey
2
to Jesus.
3
And throwing their garments
1
on them,
3
they set Jesus on it.
260
And as He went, they were spreading their garments in the way. And as He was already drawing near
to the descent of the Mount of Olives, all the multitude of the disciples began rejoicing, to praise God with
a loud voice concerning all the works of power which they saw, saying, Blessed is the coming King in the
name of the Lord,
261
Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest!
2
And
4
hearing that Jesus is coming to Jerusalem, a great crowd went out to a meeting with Him,
1
and
were cutting branches from the
4
palm
1
trees, and were spreading them in the way. And the crowd, the ones
going before and the ones following,
4
were crying out, Hosanna!
1
Hosanna to the Son of David!
4
Being blessed is the One coming in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel!
262

2
Blessed is the
coming kingdom of our father David in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!
1
But all this happened that might be fulfilled that spoken by the prophet, saying:
TELL THE DAUGHTER OF ZION,
4
DO NOT FEAR, DAUGHTER OF ZION.
1
BEHOLD, YOUR KING COMES TO YOU,
MEEK AND MOUNTED ON A DONKEY,
EVEN A YOUNG DONKEY, THE SON OF A DONKEY.
263
4
But His disciples did not know these things at the first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they
remembered that these things were written on Him, and that they did these things to Him.
Therefore the crowd was testifying, the ones being with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb
and raised him out of dead ones. On account of this also the crowd met Him, because it heard him to have
done this miraculous sign.
3
And some of the Pharisees from the crowd said to Him, Teacher, rebuke your
disciples.
260
Note that thirty-five parts were fitted together to include every element of all four writers narratives in the last two
paragraphs, yet the result reads as if one hand could have written it, and any supposed discrepancy is shown to be
non-existent.
261
Psa. 118.26
262
Psa. 118.26
263
Isa. 62.11; Zech. 9.9
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And answering, He said to them, I say to you, If these should be silent, the stones will cry out.
And as He drew near, seeing the city, He wept over it, saying, If you had known, even you, even at least
in the day of yours, the things for your peace! But now they were hidden from your eyes. For the days will
come on you, and hostile ones to you will raise up a rampart to you and will surround you and will keep you
in on all sides, and will tear you down, and your children in you, and will not leave in you a stone on a stone,
because of which things you did not know the time of your visitation.
1
And as He entered into Jerusalem, all the city was shaken, saying, Who is this?
And the crowds said, This is Jesus, the Prophet, the One from Nazareth of Galilee.
4
Therefore the Pharisees said to themselves, You see that you profit nothing. Behold, the world has gone
after Him.
264
2
And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple. And having looked around at all things, the hour
already being late, He went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
Saturday sunset to Sunday sunset
Step 52. From Bethphage to the Upper Room
Cursing of the Fig Tree
(
1
Mt. 21.18-19;
2
Mk. 11.12-14)
2
And on the morrow,
1
returning early to the city
2
from Bethany, He hungered. And seeing afar off a fig tree
1
by the road,
2
having leaves,
1
He went up to it,
2
if perhaps He would find anything on it. And coming on it,
He found nothing except leaves, for it was not the season of figs.
265
And answering, Jesus said to it,
1
Let there be no more fruit from you forever.
2
Let no one eat fruit of
you any more to the age.
And His disciples heard.
1
And the fig tree immediately dried up.
Cleansing the Temple
(
1
Mt. 21.12-16;
2
Mk. 11.15-18;
3
Lu. 19.45-46)
2
And they came to Jerusalem. And entering into
3
the temple
1
of God,
2
Jesus began to throw out
1
all the ones
selling and buying in the temple;
2
also He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those
selling the doves. And He did not allow any to carry a vessel through the temple.
And He taught, saying to them, Has it not been written, My house shall be called a house of prayer for
all the nations. But you have made it a den of plunderers.?
266
And the scribes and the chief priests heard. And they sought how they might destroy Him, for they feared
Him, because all the crowd was astonished at His doctrine.
1
And blind ones and lame ones came to Him in the temple, and He healed them.
But the chief priest and the scribes, seeing the wonders which He did, and the children crying out in the
264
His entry as Messiah was triumphant in the enthusiasm of His followers from Galilee and other country districts.
But to the populace of Jerusalem, He was only an object of curiosity. His true triumphal entry is yet future and this
was only a prophetic foreview.
265
The fig tree was a well-known Jewish symbol for national authority, and a fig tree is pictured even today on one of
Israels coins. The fig characteristically bore fruit when it produced leaves.
266
Although this seems similar to the first cleansing in John 2, the details are distinctly different; it was fitting that He
should fulfill Mal. 3.1-3 symbolically at both the beginning and close of His labors as the Messenger of the
Covenant; Isa. 56.7; Jer. 7.11
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temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David, they were incensed. And they said to Him, Do you hear
what these say?
And Jesus said to them, Yes. Did you never read, OUT OF THE MOUTH OF BABES AND SUCKLINGS YOU HAVE
PERFECTED PRAISE?
267
Seekers
(Jn. 12.20-36a)
And there were some Greeks among the ones going up, that they might worship at the Feast. Then these
people came to Philip, the one from Bethsaida of Galilee, and they asked him, saying, Sir, we desire to see
Jesus.
Philip comes and says to Andrew, and again Andrew and Philip told Jesus. But Jesus answered them,
saying,
268
The hour has come that the Son of man should be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, If the grain
of wheat falling into the earth does not die, it remains alone. But if it die, it bears much fruit. The one loving
his life will lose it, and the one hating his life in this world will keep it to everlasting life. If anyone serves
Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will also be. And if anyone serves Me, the Father
will honor him.
Now My soul is agitated, and what may I say? Father, save me out of this hour? But on account of this
I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name.
Then a voice came out of the heaven,
269
I both glorified it, and I will glorify it again.
Therefore the crowd, the one standing and hearing, said thunder to have occurred. Others said, An angel
has spoken to Him.
Jesus answered and said, This voice has not happened on account of Me, but on account of you. Now
is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world shall be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the
earth, I will draw all to Myself. But He said this, signifying by what kind of death He was about to die.
The crowd answered Him, We heard out of the Law that the Christ remains unto the age. And how do
you say it is necessary that the Son of man be lifted up?
270
Who is this Son of man?
Therefore Jesus said to them, Yet a little while the Light is with you. Walk while you have the Light,
that darkness not overtake you. And the one walking in the darkness does not know where he is going. While
you have the Light, believe into the Light, that you may become sons of Light.
The Outcome of Jesus Public Ministry Foretold
(Jn. 12.36b-43)
Jesus spoke these things, and going away He was hidden from them. But he having done so many miraculous
signs before them, they did not believe into Him, so that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled,
which he said, LORD, WHO BELIEVED OUR REPORT? AND THE ARM OF THE LORD, TO WHOM WAS IT REVEALED?
271
Because of this they could not believe, because Isaiah said again,
267
Psa. 8.2
268
Jesus does not ignore the Greeks but shows how their approach to him would be on the basis of his work on the
cross.
269
This is the third voice from heaven recorded in the Gospels, the first being at Jesus baptism and the second at the
transfiguration.
270
They recognized that His being lifted up meant to die by crucifixion but could not reconcile this with His being the
Messiah. As it was too soon to answer in detail, He only asked them to believe.
271
Isa. 53.1
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HE HAS BLINDED THEIR EYES
AND HAS HARDENED THEIR HEART,
THAT THEY MIGHT NOT SEE WITH THE EYES
AND UNDERSTAND WITH THE HEART,
AND TURN BACK, AND I SHOULD HEAL THEM
272
Isaiah said these things when he saw His glory
273
, and spoke about Him.
Yet, however, even out of the rulers, many did believe into Him. But because of the Pharisees, they were
not confessing, so that they not be put out of the synagogue. For they loved the glory of men more than the
glory of God.
Jesus Final Public Words
(
1
Mt. 21.17;
2
Mk. 11.19;
4
Jn. 12.44-50)
4
But Jesus cried out and said, The one believing into Me does not believe into Me, but into the One having
sent Me. And the one seeing Me sees the One having sent Me. I have come as a Light to the world, that every
one who believes into Me may not remain in the darkness. And if anyone hears My words and does not
believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come that I might judge the world, but that I might save the world.
The one who rejects Me and does not receive My words has the one judging him: the Word which I spoke,
that will judge him in the last Day. For I did not speak from Myself, but he having sent Me, the Father, he
has given Me command, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his command is
everlasting life. Then what things I speak, as the Father has said to me, so I speak.
274
1
And leaving them,
2
when evening came, He went outside the city
1
to Bethany, and lodged there.
Sunday sunset to Monday sunset
The Withered Fig Tree
(
1
Mt. 21.20-22;
2
Mk. 11.20-26)
2
And passing along early, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. And remembering, Peter said to Him,
Rabbi, behold, the fig tree which you cursed has withered.
275

1
And seeing, the disciples marveled, saying,
How quickly, the fig tree is dried up!
2
And answering, Jesus said to them, Have faith of God. For truly I say to you, If you have faith and do
not doubt,
1
not only will you do the miracle of the fig tree,
2
for truly I say to you, Whoever says to this
mountain,
276
Be taken up and thrown into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what
he says will happen, it will be to him, whatever he says. Therefore I say to you,
1
all things, as many things
as you may ask in prayer, believing
2
that you will receive, and it will be to you.
And when you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive it, so that your Father in
heaven may also forgive your offenses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive
your offenses.
272
Isa. 6.10
273
This is a reference to Isa. 6.1-10. John says the One whom Isaiah saw was the same One whom they rejected.
274
This is His last public utterance to Israel, declaring the Fathers authority behind His message.
275
The disciples were evidently unaware of the fulfillment of the fig tree parable, and Jesus did not choose to
elaborate but pointed to other lessons instead. The seeming discrepancy as to the time of this question is only
because Matthew did not trouble to mention (Mt. 21.20) that another night had intervened. Marks account is more
specific.
276
This hyperbole was similar to one in common Jewish use concerning the seemingly impossible.
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The Authority of Jesus
(
1
Mt. 21.23-27;
2
Mk. 11.27-33;
3
Lu. 20.1-8)
2
And they came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple,
3
teaching the people and
proclaiming the gospel,
2
the chief priests and the scribes and the elders
1
of the people came near to Him,
2
and
they said
3
to Him, saying, Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who gave you this authority?
277
2
And answering, Jesus said to them, I will also ask you one thing,
1
which if you tell Me, I also will tell
you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, from where was it? From heaven, or from men?
2
Answer Me.
And they were reasoning to themselves, saying, If we say, From heaven, He will say,
1
Why then did
you not believe him? But if we should say, From men, we fear the people. For
3
all the people will stone
us, for they are being convinced that John
2
really was a prophet.
And answering, they said to Jesus, We do not know.
And answering, Jesus
3
said to them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.
The Parable of the Two Sons
(
1
Mt. 21.28-32;
2
Mk. 12.1a;
3
Lu. 19.47-48)
2
And He began to speak to them in parables:
1
But what do you think? A man had two children, and coming
to the first he said, Child, go today; work in my vineyard. And answering, he said, I will not. But caring
afterward, he went. And having come to the second, he said the same. And answering, he said, I go, sir; but
he did not leave. Which of the two did the will of the father?
They said to Him, The first.
Jesus said to them, Truly I say to you, The tax gatherers and the harlots go before you into the kingdom
of God. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him. But the tax gatherers
and the harlots believed him. And seeing, you did not care afterwards to believe him.
3
And He was teaching according to a day in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief
men of the people sought to kill Him. And they were not finding what they might do; for all the people were
hanging on Him, hearing.
The Parable of the Tenants
(
1
Mt. 21.33-46;
2
Mk.12.1b-12;
3
Lu. 20.9-19)
3
And He began to speak this parable to the people:
1
Hear another parable: There was a certain man, a house
manager, who planted a vineyard and placed a hedge around it; and he dug a winepress in it, and built a
tower. And he rented it to vinedressers and went abroad
278

3
for considerable time.
1
And when the season of
the fruits came,
3
he sent a slave to vinedressers, that they might give him the fruit of the vineyard. But the
vinedressers,
2
taking him, they beat him, and sent him away empty.
And again he sent to them another slave.
3
But they also sent that one away empty, beating and
dishonoring him.
2
They struck him in the head and sent him away.
3
And he added to send a third. But they
also threw this one out, wounding him.
2
And again, he sent another, and they killed that one.
1
Again he sent
other slaves,
2
many
1
more than the first. And they did the same to them,
2
indeed beating these, and killing
these.
277
They questioned His authority to cleanse the temple, the administering of which belonged to the Sanhedrin.
278
Isa. 5.1, 2
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3
And the lord of the vineyard said, What shall I do?
2
Yet having one son, his own beloved,
1
at last he
sent
2
him to them also, saying,
3
I will send my beloved son. Perhaps, having seen this one, they will respect
1
my son.
2
But those vinedressers,
1
seeing the son,
3
reasoned to themselves, saying, This is the heir. Come
let us kill him so that the inheritance may become ours.
2
And taking him,
3
and throwing him out of the
vineyard, they killed him.
1
Therefore, when the lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?
They said to Him, Bad men! He will badly destroy them, and he will rent out the vineyard to other
vinedressers who will give to him the fruits in their seasons.
Jesus said to them,
3
He will come and will destroy these vinedressers and will give the vineyard to
others.
1
Because of this I say to you, The kingdom of God will be taken from you, and it will be given to a
nation producing the fruits of it.
279
3
And hearing this, they said, Let it not be!
280
And looking at them He said, What then is this which has been written?
1
Did you never read in the
Scriptures,
A STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED,
THIS ONE BECAME THE HEAD OF THE CORNER?
THIS WAS FROM THE LORD, AND IT IS A WONDER IN OUR EYES?
281
And he who falls on this Stone will be broken; but on whomever It falls, It will pulverize him.
And hearing His parables, the chief priests
3
and the scribes
1
and the Pharisees knew that He was speaking
about them.
2
And they sought to seize Him
3
in the same hour,
2
and feared the crowd
1
because they had Him
as a prophet.
2
And leaving Him, they went away.
The Parable of the Wedding Banquet
(Mt. 22.1-14)
And answering, Jesus again spoke to them in parables, saying: The kingdom of heaven is compared to a
man, a king, who made a wedding feast for his son. And he sent his slaves to call the ones being invited to
the wedding feast, but they did not desire to come.
Again, he sent other slaves, saying, Tell the ones being called, Behold, I have prepared my supper;
my oxen, and the fatlings are killed, and all things ready; come to the wedding feast. But the ones not
caring went off, the one indeed to his own field, and the one to his trading. And the rest, seizing his slaves,
they insolently mistreated and killed them.
And hearing, the king became angry. And sending his armies, he destroyed those murderers and burned
up their city.
282
Then he said to his slaves, Indeed, the wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not
worthy. Therefore go onto the exits of the highways and call to the wedding feast as many as you may find.
And going out into the highways, those slaves gathered all, as many as they found, both evil and good. And
the wedding feast was filled with reclining guests.
279
This is another clear allusion to the fig tree parable in Lu. 13.1-9 (page 94). The v ineyard of the Lord of hosts was
Israel as a people (Isa. 5.7); the fig tree planted in that vineyard was their nation of that day, and especially its
leaders, who readily recognized that they were also the vinedressers in the present parable.
280
The strong negative used here by the leaders is sometimes translated God forbid, meaning the opposite of
Amen. But the Greek does not say, God forbid, it says Me genoito, which is literally, Not may it be, e.g. Let it
not be! as rendered here. (Lu. 20.16 is its only use in the four gospels.)
281
Psa. 118.22, 23
282
This was a veiled forecast of the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.
-101-
And the king coming in to look over the ones reclining, he saw a man there not having been clothed in
a wedding garment. And he said to him, Friend, how did you come in here, not having a wedding garment?
But he was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, Binding his feet and hands, take him away and
throw him out into the outer darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of the teeth. For many are
called, but few elect ones.
Paying Taxes to Caesar
(
1
Mt. 22.15-22;
2
Mk. 12.13-17;
3
Lu. 20.20-26)
1
Then going, the Pharisees took counsel so as they might trap Him in discourse.
3
And watching carefully,
they sent spies, pretending themselves to be righteous ones, in order that they might seize upon a word of His,
so as to give Him over to the power and to the authority of the governor.
2
And they sent some of
1
their disciples
2
and of the Herodians to Him.
3
And they questioned Him,
2
that
they might catch Him in a word. And coming, they said to Him, Teacher, we know that you are true, and
3
that you say and teach rightly and do not receive a face,
2
for you do not look to the face of men, but teach
the way of God in truth.
1
Then tell us, what do you think? Is it lawful
3
to give tribute to Caesar or not?
2
Should we give, or should we not give?
283
1
But knowing
2
their hypocrisy,
3
their slyness, and
1
their wickedness, Jesus
2
said to them, Why do you
tempt Me,
1
hypocrites? Show Me the tribute coin.
2
Bring Me a denarius that I may see.
And they brought
1
a denarius to Him. And He said to them, Whose image and inscription is this?
3
And answering, they said
1
to Him, Caesars.
Then
2
answering, Jesus said to them,
1
Then give
2
back
1
to Caesar the things of Caesar, and to God the
things of God.
3
And they were not able to lay hold of His speech before the people. And marveling at His answer, they
were silent.
1
And leaving Him, they went away.
Marriage and the Resurrection
(
1
Mt. 22.23-33;
2
Mk. 12.18-27;
3
Lu. 20.27-40)
1
On that day,
3
some of the Sadducees
2
came to Him, who say there is no resurrection. And they questioned
Him, saying, Teacher, Moses wrote for us that
1
if any should die not having children, his brother shall marry
his wife, and shall raise up seed to his brother.
284
And seven brothers were with us.
3
And the first having taken a wife died childless. And the second took
the wife, and this one died childless. And the third took her, and likewise also the seven, and also did not
leave children, and died. And last of all the woman also died. Therefore
2
in the resurrection when they rise
again,
3
of which of them does she become wife: For the seven
1
all had her
3
as wife.
285
1
And answering, Jesus said to them, You err.
2
Do you not err because of this, not knowing the Scriptures
nor the power of God?
3
The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those counted worthy to
obtain that age, and the resurrection from the dead ones, neither marry nor are given in marriage,
1
but they
are as the angels of God in heaven.
3
For they are not able to die any more; they are equal to angels, and are
283
This was a cunning challenge. A no would embroil Him with the civil authorities, a yes with the ecclesiastical,
who held that such payment dishonored the rule of Yahweh. But Jesus used it to teach a significant lesson, while
rebuking their hypocrisy.
284
Deut. 25.5
285
The Sadducees intended their question to discredit both Jesus and the concept of a life hereafter. Jesus referred
them to Exo. 3.6, to show that Abraham still lived though dead.
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sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.
1
But concerning the resurrection of the dead,
3
that the dead are raised, even Moses pointed out
2
that they
are raised.
1
Have you not read that spoken to you by God,
2
in the book of Moses, as God spoke to him at the
Bush,
3
when he calls the Lord THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB.
2
God is
not God of the dead ones, but of the living,
286

3
for all live to him.
2
Therefore you greatly err.
1
And hearing, the crowds were astonished at His doctrine.
3
And answering, some of the scribes said,
Teacher, you speak well. And they did not dare to question Him any more, not a thing.
The Greatest Commandment
(
1
Mt. 22.34-40;
2
Mk. 12.28-34a)
1
But hearing that He had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees were gathered together. And one of them, a
lawyer
2
of the scribes, hearing them arguing, knowing that He answered them well, he questioned Him,
1
testing Him, and saying, Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?
2
What is the first
commandment of all?
And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is: HEAR, ISRAEL. THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE
LORD,
287
AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD OUT OF ALL YOUR HEART, AND OUT OF ALL YOUR SOUL and out
of all your mind, AND OUT OF ALL YOUR STRENGTH.
288

1
This is the first and great commandment. And the
second is like
2
this, YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.
289

1
On these two commandments all the
Law and the Prophets hang.
2
There is not another commandment greater than these.
And the scribe said to Him, You say well, Teacher. you have spoken according to truth, THAT GOD IS
ONE, and THERE IS NO OTHER EXCEPT HIM;
290
AND TO LOVE HIM FROM ALL THE HEART, and from all the
understanding, AND FROM ALL THE SOUL, AND FROM ALL THE STRENGTH; and TO LOVE ONES NEIGHBOR AS ONESELF
is more than all the burnt offerings and the sacrifices.
291
And seeing that he answered wisely, Jesus said to him, You are not far from the kingdom of God.
The Messiah: Davids Son and Lord
(
1
Mt. 22. 41-46;
2
Mk. 12.34b-37;
3
Lu. 20.41-44; 21.37)
1
But the Pharisees having been gathered,
2
and teaching in the temple, Jesus
1
questioned them, saying, What
does it seem to you concerning the Christ? Whose son is he?
They say to Him, Davids.
3
2
How do the scribes say that Christ is the son of David?
1
Then how does David
in Spirit call him Lord?
2
For David himself said by the Holy Spirit
3
in the Book of Psalms,
THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD,
SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND
286
Exo. 3.6
287
Here Jesus quoted the Jews favorite Scripture for rejecting Him as Gods Son. In the passage quoted, Deut. 6.4,
the Hebrew term used for one is echad rather than yachid, signifying a oneness with diversity within, as husband
and wife are one (Gen 2.4).
288
Deut. 6.4, 5
289
Lev. 19.18
290
Deut. 4.35; 6.4, 5
291
Lev. 19. 18; Deut. 6.4, 5
-103-
UNTIL I PLACE THE HOSTILE ONES TO YOU AS A FOOTSTOOL OF YOUR FEET.
292
Then David
2
himself
3
calls him Lord. And how is he his son?
293
1
And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor did anyone dare from that day to question Him any
more.
3
And in the days, He was teaching in the temple. And going out in the nights, He lodged in the
mountain, the one being called Mount of Olives.
Monday sunset to Tuesday sunset
Seven Woes
(
1
Mt. 23.1-39;
2
Mk. 12.38-40;
3
Lu. 21.38; 20.45-47; 13.34-35)
3
And all the people came early to Him in the temple, to hear Him.
1
Then
2
in His teaching,
1
Jesus spoke to His
disciples,
3
as all the people were listening,
2
Watch out from the
3
scribes, the ones desiring to walk about in
long robes,
2
and desiring greetings in the marketplaces;
1
they love the first couch in the suppers, and the first
seats in the synagogues,
3
who devour the houses of widows, and under pretense pray long. These will receive
a more abundant judgment.
1
The scribes and the Pharisees have sat down on Moses seat. Therefore all things, as many things as
they tell you to keep, keep and do. But do not do according to their works, for they say, and do not do.
For they bind heavy and hard to bear burdens, and lay them on the shoulders of men, but they do not
desire to move them with their finger. But they do all their works to be seen by men. And they make their
phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their robes,
1
and to be called by men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
But do not you be called Rabbi, for One is your Leader, the Christ, and you are all brothers. And call
no one your father on earth, for One is your Father, the One in heaven. Neither be called leaders, for One is
your Leader, the Christ. But the greater of you shall be your servant. And whoever will exalt himself shall
be humbled, and whoever will humble himself shall be exalted.
294
But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven before men;
for you do not enter, nor do you allow the ones entering to go in.
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour the houses of widows, and pray at length
as a pretext. Because of this you will receive more abundant judgment.
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you go about the sea and the dry land to make one
proselyte; and when he has become so, you make him twofold more a son of Hell than yourselves.
Woe to you, blind guides, who say, Whoever swears by the Holy Place, it is nothing; but whoever
swears by the gold of the Holy Place owes a debt. Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold, or the
Holy Place that sanctifies the gold? And you say, Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever
swears by the gift on it owes a debt. Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies
the gift? Therefore the one swearing by the altar swears by it, and by all things on it. And the one swearing
by the Holy Place swears by it, and by the One dwelling in it. And the one swearing by heaven swears by the
throne of God, and by the One sitting on it.
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithes of mint and dill and cumin, and you
have left the weightier matters of the Law: judgment, and mercy, and faith. It was right to do these, and not
to have left those. Blind guides, straining out the gnat, but swallowing the camel!
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish,
292
Psa. 110.1
293
The obvious answer was that such a Son had to be more than a mere man; Jesus gave Davids confirmation of
His deity which they so wanted to disprove.
294
For the third time now He states this principle, emphasizing its importance. He also exemplified it in His life.
-104-
but within they are full of plunder and intemperance. Blind Pharisee! First cleanse the inside of the cup and
of the dish, that the outside of them may become clean also.
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which outwardly
indeed appear beautiful, but within are full of bones of the dead ones, and of all uncleanness. So you also
indeed outwardly appear righteous ones to men, but within are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and adorn the
monuments of the righteous ones. And you say, If we were in the days of our fathers, we would not have
been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. So you witness to yourselves that you are the sons
of those who murdered the prophets. And you fill up the measure of your fathers. Serpents! Offspring of
vipers! How shall you escape the judgment of Hell?
Because of this, behold, I send to you prophets and wise ones and scribes. And some of them you will
kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and will persecute from city to city;
so that should come on you all the righteous blood poured out on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel
to the blood of Zechariah the son of Berechiah
295
whom you murdered between the Holy Place and the altar.
Truly I say to you, All these things will come on this generation.
296
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one killing the prophets and stoning those sent to her. How often I desired
to gather your children in the way a bird gathers her chicks under her wings! And you did not desire it.
Behold, Your house is left to you desolate.
297

3
And truly I say to you, you shall not at all see Me until it
comes when you say, Being blessed is the One coming in the name of the Lord.
298
The Widows Offering
(
2
Mk. 12.41-44;
3
Lu. 21.1-4)
2
And sitting down opposite the treasury, Jesus was watching how the crowd is throwing copper coins into
the treasury. And many rich ones threw in much.
3
And He also saw a certain poor widow putting two lepta
there
2
(which is a kodrantes).
299
And having called His disciples near, He said to them,
3
Truly I say to you, This poor widow put in more
2
than all of those casting into the treasury.
3
For all these out of their abundance put into the gifts of God, but
she out of her poverty put in all the living which she had,
2
her whole livelihood.
The Olivet Discourse
(
1
Mt. 24.1-25, 46; 10.17-23;
2
Mk. 1-37;
3
Lu. 21. 5-37; 12.11-12)
The Destruction of the Temple
(
1
Mt. 24.1-2;
2
Mk. 13.1-2;
3
Lu. 21.5-6)
2
And as He was going out of the temple,
1
His disciples came near to show Him the buildings of the temple,
3
that it had been adorned with beautiful stones and gifts.
1
And
2
one of His disciples said to Him, Teacher,
Behold! What kind of stones and what kind of buildings!
295
Abel was the first person in the Old Testament to be murdered (Gen. 4.8) and Zechariah was the last (2 Chr.
24.20-22) as recorded in the last book of the Hebrew Canon.
296
This was another forecast of the destruction of Jerusalem, 70 AD, which many of those He was addressing would
experience.
297
Jer. 22.5
298
A small minority of the nation testified during the triumphant entry (page 113).
299
Her copper coins, lepta, were the smallest coins in Israel, the two equal to a kodrantes, or farthing, less than a
penny. Her deed is told not only for its own sake but for contrast with the hypocritical Pharisee in Mt. 23.14.
-105-
And answering, Jesus said to
1
them,
2
Do you see these great buildings?
1
Truly I say to you,
3
as to these
things that you see, days will come in which a stone will not be left on a stone, which will not be thrown
down.
300
Signs of the End of the Age
(
1
Mt. 24.3-8;
2
Mk. 13.3-8;
3
Lu. 21.7-11)
2
And as He was sitting in the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew
1
came to him privately,
3
and they asked him, saying,
2
Tell us,
3
Teacher, then when will these things be?
2
And what is the sign when all these things are about to be done?
1
And, What is the sign of your coming and
of the completion of the age?
2
And Jesus answering to them began to say, Watch out not anyone lead you astray. For many will come
in My name, saying, I AM!
1
I am the Christ.
3
Also, The time has come!
2
And they will lead many astray.
3
Do not then go after them.
1
But you are going to hear of wars and rumors of wars.
3
And when you hear of wars and disturbances,
do not be terrified.
1
For all things must take place
3
first, but the end is not at once.
Then He said to them,
1
For nation will be raised up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and
there will be famines and plagues and
3
great earthquakes in various places. And also there will be terrors and
great signs from heaven.
1
But all these are a beginning of birth pangs.
Persecution of Disciples
(
1
Mt. 10.17-23; 24.9-14;
2
Mk. 13.9-13;
3
Lu. 12.11-12; 21.12-19)
2
But you watch yourselves.
1
Beware of men.
3
Before all these things,
1
they will give you over to affliction,
and will kill you.
3
They will lay their hands on you, and will persecute you, giving you over into the
synagogues,
1
to councils,
3
and prisons,
1
and they will scourge you in their synagogues. And also you will be
brought before governors and kings for My sake.
3
But it will turn out to you for a testimony
1
to them and to
the nations.
2
But whenever they lead you away, giving you over,
3
when they bring you in before synagogues and
rulers and the authorities,
2
do not be anxious before hand, what you should say, nor ponder.
3
Do not be
anxious how or what you shall reply, or what you should say.
2
But whatever is given to you
1
in that hour is
what you should say,
3
for the Holy Spirit will teach you what you must say.
1
For you are not the ones
speaking, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
3
Therefore put into your hearts not to premeditate
to make a defense. For I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all the ones opposing you will not be able
to speak against nor withstand.
1
And you will be hated by all nations because of My name. And then many will be ensnared, and they
will give over one another and will hate one another.
2
And a brother will give over a brother to death, and
a father the child. And children will rise up on parents and will put them to death.
3
But you will be given over
also by parents, and brothers, and relatives, and friends. And they will put some of you to death. And you
will be as ones being hated by all because of My name. And a hair from your head shall not perish, not ever!
In your patience you will gain your souls.
1
And many false prophets will be raised up and will cause many to err. And because lawlessness shall
have been multiplied, the love of the many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, this one will
300
Though this may have seemed an incredible prediction, it was literally fulfilled. He also said that the stones would
cry out, and this they still do in testimony to His Sonship, for not one is left upon another today, except for part of the
foundation, the Wailing Wall.
-106-
be kept safe. But when they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For truly I say to you, not will you
have finished the cities of Israel, not at all until the Son of man comes.
301
And this gospel of the Kingdom
shall be preached in all the inhabited earth for a testimony to all the nations, and then will come the end.
The Desolation of Jerusalem
(Lu. 21.20-24)
And when you see Jerusalem being encircled by army camps, then recognize that its destruction has come
near. Then let the ones in Judea flee into the mountains; and the ones in the midst of her, let them go out. And
the ones in the outer spaces, let them not go into her. For these are days of vengeance when all things that
have been written are to be fulfilled.
The Abomination of Desolation
(
1
Mt. 24.15-28;
2
Mk. 13.14-23)
1
Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation,
302
which was spoken of by Daniel the prophet
standing in the holy place
2
where it ought not (he reading, let him understand),
303
then let those in Judea flee
into the mountains. And the one on the housetop, let him not go down into the house, and not go in to take
a thing out of his house. And the one in the field, let him not return to the things behind to
1
take his clothes.
But woe to the ones having a babe in womb, and to those suckling in those days;
2
for great distress will
be on the earth and wrath on this people. And pray that your flight will not occur in winter nor in a sabbath,
for there will be
1
great affliction
2
in those days,
1
such as has not happened from the beginning
2
of creation
which God created until now, and not will be. And they will fall by the mouth of the sword and will be led
captive into all the nations. And Jerusalem will be trodden down by nations, until the times of the nations
are fulfilled. And if the Lord had not cut short
1
those days, not any flesh would be saved;
2
but because of the
elect whom He elected,
1
those days will be cut short.
2
And then if anyone says to you, Behold, here is the Christ! Or, Behold, there! you shall not believe.
1
For false christs and false prophets will rise up. And they will give great signs and wonders, so as to lead
astray, if possible, even the elect.
2
But you watch out. Behold, I have foretold you all things.
1
Then if they say to you, Behold, he is in the deserted place; do not go out. Behold, he is in the
private rooms, do not believe. For as the lightning comes forth from the east and shines as far as the west,
so also will be the coming of the Son of man. For wherever the carcass may be, there the eagles will be
gathered.
The Arrival of the Son of man
(
1
Mt. 24.29-31;
2
Mk. 13.24-27;
3
Lu. 21.25-28)
1
And immediately after the affliction of those days,
3
there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars.
2
The
sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give her light; and the stars of the heaven will be falling, and
the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
3
And on the earth will be anxiety of nations in perplexity, roaring
301
The instruction given here concerns primarily the faithful of the end-time period just prior to the Kings return to
earth, of which the disciples had asked. The persecution, fleeing from city to city, and world-wide proclamation of the
Kings return must be seen in this context where Jesus put it.
302
The sign for which they asked was to be that spoken of by Daniel which he placed three and one-half years before
the end (Dan. 8.11-13; 9.27; 11.31). The obvious implication is that the temple will be rebuilt before that destruction
occurs.
303
Dan. 11.31; 12.11
-107-
of sea and of billows, men fainting from fear, and expectation of the things coming on the earth. For the
powers of the heavens will be shaken.
1
And then the sign of the Son of man will appear in the heavens. And then all the tribes of the land will
wail. And they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and much glory.
304

2
And
then he will send his angels
1
with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather his elect from the four
winds,
2
from the end of earth to the end of the heaven,
1
from the extreme limits of the heavens to the extreme
limits of them.
305
3
But these things beginning to happen, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws
near.
The Parable of the Fig Tree
(
1
Mt. 24.32-35;
2
Mk. 13.28-31;
3
Lu. 21.29-33)
3
And He spoke a parable to them:
2
And from the fig tree learn the parable:
3
you see the fig tree and all the
trees.
1
When its branch already becomes tender and
2
and puts out leaves, you know the summer is near. So
you also, when you see
1
all these things
3
happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near,
1
at the doors.
Truly I say to you, This generation will not pass away, not at all, not until all these things have occurred.
306
The heaven and the earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away, not ever!
Stay Alert!
(
1
Mt. 24.36-42;
2
Mk. 13.32-37;
3
Lu. 21.34-36)
1
But about that day and that hour, no one has known, neither the angels of heaven,
2
nor the Son,
1
except My
Father only. But as the days of Noah, so also will be the coming of the Son of man. For as they were in the
days before the flood: eating, and drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah went
into the ark. And they did not know until the flood came and took all away. So also will be the coming of the
Son of man. At that time two will be out in the field; the one is taken and the one is left; two grinding at the
mill; one is taken, and one is left.
3
But take heed to yourselves that your hearts not be loaded down with headaches, and drinking, and
anxieties of life, and that day come suddenly upon you. For as a snare it will come in on all the ones sitting
on the face of all the earth.
307
Therefore keep awake in every time, praying that you be counted worthy to
escape all these things, the things being about to happen, and to stand before the Son of man.
2
Watch!
1
Be
awake, therefore,
2
and pray,
1
for you do not know in what hour your Lord comes.
2
As a man going away, having left his house, and giving his slaves authority, and to each his work (and
he commanded the doorkeeper, that he watch), therefore be wakeful, for you do not know when the lord of
the house is coming, at evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrowing, or early; so that, coming suddenly, he not
find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all. Be wakeful!
304
Dan. 7.13
305
Could this regathering from the extreme limits of the heavens to the extreme limits of them refer to mans
exploring space? If so, the supernatural character of this One is again emphasized, for such a possibility was
scientific foolishness until the present generation.
306
Scholars differ on what Jesus meant by generation. He may have referred to the ethnic race of Israel which
would inevitably continue until all Gods prophecies were fulfilled. Another possibility is that Jesus referred to that
particular generation of the end-time who, in spite of the great Jewish purge, would persist to behold the coming of
the kingdom just mentioned. Other scholars believe Jesus is saying that the generation that sees the events that he
describes will not pass away until Jesus returns. This writer prefers the last possibility.
307
Isa. 24.17
-108-
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
(Mt. 25.1-13)
Then the kingdom of heaven shall be compared to ten virgins who taking lamps, went out to a meeting of
the bridegroom. And five of them were prudent ones and five foolish ones. The ones who were foolish ones
having taken their lamps did not take oil with them. But the prudent ones took oil in their vessels with their
lamps.
But the bridegroom delaying, all nodded and slept. And in the middle of night a cry occurred: Behold,
the bridegroom comes! Go out to meet him. Then all those virgins were aroused and prepared their lamps.
And the foolish ones said to the prudent ones, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. But
the prudent ones answered, saying, No, lest there not be enough for us and you. But rather, go to the ones
who sell and buy for yourselves.
But they going away to buy, the bridegroom came. And the ones ready went in with him to the wedding
feast, and the door was shut. And afterwards, the rest of the virgins also came, saying, Lord, lord, open to
us. But answering, he said, Truly I say to you, I do not know you. Therefore, be awake, for you do not
know the day nor the hour in which the Son of man comes.
The Parable of the Talents
(Mt. 25.14-30)
For it is as if a man going abroad called his own slaves and gave over his belongings to them. And to one
indeed he gave five talents,
308
and to another, two, and to another, one, to each according to his ability. And
he went abroad at once.
And going the one who received the five talents worked with them and made another five talents. In the
same way, the one with the two also did; he also gained another two. But going away, the one who had
received the one, dug in the earth and hid his lords silver.
And after much time, the lord of those slaves came and took account with them. And coming up, the
one receiving the five talents brought another five talents near, saying, Lord, you gave over five talents to
me. Behold, I gained another five talents over them. And his lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful
slave. you were faithful over a few things; I will set you over many. Enter into the joy of your lord.
And coming up, the one receiving two talents also said, Lord, you gave over two talents to me. Behold,
I have gained two other talents above them. his lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful slave. you
were faithful over a few things, I will set you over many. Enter into the joy of your lord.
And also the one having received the one talent coming up, said, Lord, I knew you, that you are a hard
man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter; and being afraid, going away,
I hid your talent in the earth. Behold, you have yours.
And answering, his lord said to him, Evil and slothful slave! You knew that I reap where I did not sow,
and I gather where I did not scatter. Therefore you ought to have put my silver to the money exchangers, and
coming I would have received mine with interest. Therefore, take the talent from him and give it to him who
has the ten talents. For to everyone having, more will be given, and he will abound. But from him not having,
even that which he has will be taken from him. And throw the worthless slave out into the outer darkness.
There will be weeping and gnashing of the teeth.
The Judgment of the Sheep and the Goats
(Mt. 25.31-46)
308
There are similarities in the parable to the one in Luke 19, but the differences are far greater.
-109-
But when the Son of man comes in His glory and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne
of His glory. And before Him shall be gathered all the nations; and He will separate them from one another,
as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And indeed He will set the sheep at His right, but the
goats at the left hand.
Then the King will say to those at His right, Come, the ones blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom
prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I hungered, and you gave Me food to eat; I thirsted,
and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you gathered Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick,
and you came to see Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.
Then the righteous ones will answer, saying, Lord when did we see you hungering, and we fed you;
or thirsting and we gave you drink? And when did we see you a stranger, and gathered you in; or naked, and
clothed you? And when did we see you sick, or in prison, and came to you?
And answering, the King will say to them, Truly I say to you, In so far as you did it to one of these,
the least of My brothers,
309
you did it to Me.
Then He will also say to the ones at the left, Go away from me, the ones cursed, into the everlasting
fire having been prepared for the devil and his angels. For I hungered, and you did not give me a thing to eat.
I thirsted and you did not give Me a thing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not gather Me in; naked,
and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not come to Me.
Then they also will answer Him, saying, Lord, when did we see you hungering, or thirsting, or a
stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to you?
Then He will answer them, saying, Truly I say to you, In as much as you did not do it to one of these,
the least, neither did you do it to Me.
And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous ones into everlasting life.
Tuesday sunset to Wednesday sunset
The Plan to Betray Jesus
(
1
Mt. 16.1-5, 14-16;
2
Mk. 14.1-2, 10-11;
3
Lu. 22.2-6)
2
And it was the Passover, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread after two days.
310

1
When Jesus finished all
these sayings, He said to His disciples, You know that the Passover is coming after two days, and the Son
of man is betrayed to be crucified.
Then the chief priests and the scribes and the elders of the people were assembled to the court of the high
priest, the one named Caiaphas. And they plotted together in order that they might seize Jesus by deceit and
kill Him. But they said, Not in the Feast, that there be no turmoil among the people,
3
for they feared the
people.
And Satan entered into Judas, the one being called Iscariot, being of the number of the Twelve. And
going, he talked with the chief priests and the commanders as to how he might give him over to them.
1
What
will you give to me, and I will give him over to you?
309
This judgment will be a judgment of those living just prior to the Kings return, determining who will enter with Him
into His millennial kingdom. Their judgment will be based on their treatment of His brothers and their response to
their message of salvation in the Kings return. It is not a works salvation but a response of faith.
310
A generally accepted reckoning has been to count these two days on the same basis as the previously mentioned
six days from Thursday evening. This placed the foregoing Olivet discourse late on Tuesday afternoon, and in most
traditional accounts of Holy Week, left Wednesday unaccounted for; hence called silent Wednesday. But notice
that the events of the Passover supper and Gethsemane and the illegal trials and the crucifixion all take place on this
silent Wednesday, which goes from Tuesday sunset until Wednesday sunset. This fulfills Jesus prediction that He
will be in the grave three days and three nights. (Mt. 12.40)
-110-
2
And hearing, they rejoiced and promised to give him silver.
3
And he fully agreed.
1
And they weighed
to him thirty silver pieces.
311
And from then he sought opportunity that he might give him over,
3
away from
the crowd.
The Preparation for the Passover
(
1
Mt. 26.17-20;
2
Mk. 14.12-17;
3
Lu. 22.7-18)
1
And on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread,
3
on which the Passover must be killed,
312

1
the
disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, Where do you desire that going we may prepare that you may eat
the Passover?
3
And He sent
2
two of His disciples,
3
Peter and John, saying, Having gone, prepare for us the Passover,
that we may eat.
And they said to Him, Where do you desire that we prepare?
2
Go into the city. And you will meet a man carrying a pitcher of water.
313
Follow
him. And wherever he goes in, say to the housemaster
3
of the house, The Teacher says to you,
1
My time
is near.
2
Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples? And he will show you
a large upper room, having been spread and made ready. Prepare for us there.
And His disciples went out and came into the city
1
as Jesus ordered them,
2
and found it as He told them.
And they prepared the Passover.
1
And it becoming evening,
2
He comes with the Twelve.
3
And when the hour came, He reclined, and the
twelve apostles with Him. And He said to them, With desire I desired to eat this Passover with you before
I suffer. For I say to you that no more, I will not eat of it until when it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God, not
ever!
And having received a cup, having given thanks, He said, Take this and divide it among yourselves. For
I say to you that I will not drink from the produce of the vine until the kingdom of God comes, not ever!
Washing the Disciples Feet
(Jn. 13.1-20)
And before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He should pass from this
world to the Father, having loved His own in the world, He loved them to the end. And supper having
occurred,
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the devil already having put into the heart of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, that he should
give him over, Jesus knowing that the Father has given all things into His hands, and that He came out from
God, and He goes to God, He rises up from the supper and lays aside His garments. And taking a towel, He
girded Himself. Then He put water into the basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, and to wipe off
with the towel with which He was girded.
He then comes to Simon Peter. And that one said to Him, Lord, do you wash my feet?
Jesus answered and said to him, What I am doing, you do not yet know. But you will know after these
things.
Peter said to Him, You may not wash my feet unto the age, not ever!
Jesus answered him, If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.
311
Zech. 11.12
312
The Feast of Unleavened Bread was reckoned as involving eight days, thus beginning the same time as
Passover.
313
Ordinarily only women carried water.
314
That is, before the supper now beginning.
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Simon Peter said to Him, Lord not my feet only, but also the hands and the head.
Jesus said to him, The one having been bathed has no need other than to wash the feet, but is wholly
clean. And you are clean, but not all of you. For he knew the one giving him over. On account of this he
said, You are not all of you clean.
When, therefore, He washed their feet and took His garments, reclining again, He said to them, Do you
know what I have done to you? You call Me the Teacher, and the Lord. And you say well, for I AM.
Therefore if I washed your feet, the Lord and the Teacher, you also ought to wash the feet of one another.
315
For I gave you an example, that as I did to you, you also should do. Truly, truly, I say to you, A slave is not
greater than his master, nor a messenger greater than the one having sent him. If you know these things,
blessed are you if you do them.
I do not speak concerning all of you; I know whom I chose out; but that the Scripture might be fulfilled,
THE ONE EATING THE BREAD WITH ME LIFTED UP HIS HEEL AGAINST ME.
316
From now I tell you before it happens,
that when it happens you may believe that I AM.
Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone I may send, the one who receives that one receives Me; and the one
receiving Me receives the One having sent Me.
Jesus Warns of the Betrayal
(
1
Mt. 26.21-25;
2
Mk. 14.18-21;
3
Lu. 22.21-23;
4
Jn. 13.21-33)
4
Saying these things,
2
as they were reclining and eating,
4
Jesus was agitated in spirit and testified and said,
Truly, truly, I tell you that one of you will
2
give Me over, the one eating with Me.
4
Therefore the disciples
1
grieving exceedingly,
4
looked upon one another,
3
and they began to discuss with themselves who then it may
be of them, the one being about to do this.
2
And they began to say to Him one by one,
1
Lord,
2
no, not I, is
it? And another, No, not I, is it?
But answering, He said to them, It is one from the Twelve, the one dipping in the dish with Me.
3
But,
behold, the hand of the one giving Me over is on the table with Me! And, indeed, the Son of man goes
according as was determined,
1
as it is written about him,
3
but woe to that man by whom he is given over!
1
It
were good for him if that man was never born.
4
But there was one of His disciples reclining at the bosom of Jesus, whom Jesus loved. Therefore Simon
Peter nods to this one to ask whom it might be of whom He spoke. And that one lying on the breast of Jesus
said to Him, Lord, who is it?
317
Jesus answered, It is that one to whom I, having dipped the morsel, shall give it.
And dipping the morsel, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And after the morsel, then Satan
entered into that one.
318
And answering, the one giving Him over, Judas, said, Not I am he, Rabbi?
He said to him, You have said it.
Then Jesus said to him, What you do, do quickly. But no one of the ones reclining knew this, for what
He spoke to him; for some thought, since Judas held the money bag, that Jesus was saying to him, Buy what
things we have need of for the feast; or that he should give something to the poor ones. Then, having
315
That is, they should gladly render any helpful or even menial service to each other.
316
Psa. 41.9
317
Jesus reply to Judas had perhaps been inaudible to the others; also more than one dipped in the wide dish with
the Lord.
318
This is not inconsistent with Lu. 22.3, for Satan can enter and re-enter.
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received the morsel, he immediately went out.
319
And it was night.
Then when he went out, Jesus said, Now the Son of man has been glorified, and God has been glorified
in Him. If God was glorified in Him, God also will glorify Him in Himself, and immediately will glorify
Him.
Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, Where I
go, you are not able to come; I also say to you now.
The Lords Supper
(
1
Mt. 26.26-29;
2
Mk. 14.22-25;
3
Lu. 22.19-20)
1
And as they ate, taking the bread and blessing it,
3
having given thanks,
1
Jesus broke and gave to the
disciples,
3
saying,
1
Take, eat; this is My body
3
being given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.
1
And
3
in like manner
1
taking the cup,
3
after having supped,
1
and giving thanks, He gave to them, saying,
Drink of it, all of you.
2
And they drank out of it.
And He said to them, This
3
cup, which is being poured out for you,
2
is My blood, that of the New
Covenant, which is poured out concerning many
1
for remission of sins.
2
Truly I say to you, No more, I
1
will
not drink of the fruit of the vine after this, not until that day when I drink it new with you in the kingdom of
My Father.
The Disciples Strife is Rebuked
(
3
Lu. 22.24-27;
4
Jn. 13.34-35)
3
And there came to be also a dispute among them, who of them should be accounted to be greater. And He
said to them, The kings of the nations lord it over them, and those exercising authority over them are called
benefactors. But you be not so, but the greater among you, let him be as the younger one; and the one
governing as the one serving. For who is greater, the one reclining, or the one serving? Is it not the one
reclining? But I am in your midst as One serving.
4
I give a new commandment to you, that you should love one another; according as I loved you, you
should also love one another. By this all shall know that you are My disciples, if you have love among one
another.
The First Prophecy of Peters Denials
(
3
Lu. 22.28-34;
4
Jn. 13.36-38)
4
Simon Peter said to Him, Lord, where do you go?
320
Jesus answered him, Where I go you are not able to follow Me now, but afterwards you shall follow
Me.
3
But you are the ones having continued with Me in My trials. And I appoint to you, even as My Father
appointed to Me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at My table
321
in My kingdom; and you will sit on
thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
4
Peter said to Him, Lord, why am I not able to follow you now? I will lay down my life for you!
Jesus answered him, Will you lay down your life for Me?
3
Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked for you,
to sift you as wheat; but I prayed for you, that your faith not fail. And you, when turning back, make firm
319
Judas leaving was to notify the chief priests where Jesus could be found, thus setting off the chain of events
leading to the cross.
320
Peter was pondering Jesus statement, in Jn. 13.33.
321
He is confirming and enlarging upon His promise to reward them as followers.
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your brothers.
And he said to Him, Lord, I am ready to go both to prison and to death with you.
And He said,
4
Indeed, I tell you truly,
3
Peter,
4
not a cock will sound
3
today,
4
not at all,
3
before you will
deny knowing Me three times.
Jesus Parting Words to his Disciples
(Jn. 14.1-14)
Do not let your heart be troubled; you believe into God, believe also into Me. In My Fathers house are
many dwelling places. But if not so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you! And if I
go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will receive you to Myself, that where I am you may
be also. And where I go you know,
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and the way you know.
Thomas says to Him, Lord, we do not know where you go, and how can we know the way?
Jesus says to him, I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father if not through
Me. If you have known Me, you have known My Father also; and from now on you do know Him, and have
seen Him.
And Philip said to Him, Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.
Jesus says to him, Am I so long a time with you, and you have not known Me, Philip? The one having
seen Me has seen the Father! And how do you say, Show us the Father? Do you not believe that I am in the
Father and the Father is in Me? The words which I speak to you I do not speak from Myself, but the Father,
the One abiding in Me, He does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me; but
if not, believe Me because of the works themselves.
Truly, truly, I say to you the one believing into Me, the works which I do, that one shall do also, and
greater than these he will do, because I am going to My Father. And whatever you may ask in My Name, this
I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My Name, I will do it.
Teaching on the Holy Spirit
(Jn. 14.15-31)
If you love Me, keep My commandments.
And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate,
323
that He may remain with you to
the age, the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive because it does not see Him nor know Him; but
you know Him, for He abides with you and shall be in you.
I will not leave you orphans; I am coming to you. Yet a little while and the world no longer sees Me,
but you see Me. Because I live, you also shall live. In that day you shall know that I am in My Father, and
you are in Me, and I am in you.
The one having My commandments and keeping them, that one is the one loving Me; and the one loving
Me shall be loved by My Father, and I shall love him and will reveal Myself to him.
Judas says to him, not the Iscariot, Lord, what has happened that you are about to reveal yourself to us
and not to the world?
324
Jesus answered and said to him, If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father shall love
him. And We will come to him and will make an abode with him. The one not loving Me does not keep My
322
Perhaps this refers to Peters question of the evening, Where do You go?
323
The Greek paracletos means one called alongside.
324
Still expecting his Messiah to appear in an immediate Messianic age, he receives an indirect answer but not a
rebuke.
-114-
words. And the Word which you hear is not Mine but of the Father, the One having sent Me.
I have spoken these things to you, abiding with you; but the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father
will send in My name, He shall teach you all things and shall remind you of all things I said to you.
Peace I leave to you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives I give to you. Let not your heart
be agitated, nor let it be fearful.
You heard that I said to you, I am going away, and I come again to you. If you loved Me, you would
have rejoiced that I said I am going to the Father; for My Father is greater than I. And now I have told you
before it is to happen, that when it is to happen you may believe.
I shall no longer speak many things with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing
in Me. But that the world may know that I love the Father, even as the Father commanded Me, so I do. Rise
up, let us go from here.
325
The Vine and the Branches
(Jn. 15.1-17)
I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser. Every branch in Me not bearing fruit, He takes it
away; and every branch bearing fruit, He prunes, so that it may bear more fruit. You are already pruned
because of the Word which I have spoken to you.
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch is not able to bear fruit of itself, if not it abide in the vine, so
neither can you if not you abide in Me. I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one abiding in Me, and I
in him, this one bears much fruit, because without Me you are not able to produce, nothing.
If not one abides in Me, he is cast out as the branch and is dried up; and they gather them, and they
throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, whatever you desire you will ask, and it will be done
to you. In this My Father is glorified, that you should bear much fruit; and you will be disciples to Me.
As the Father loved Me, I also loved you; continue in My love. If you keep My commandments you will
continue in My love, as I have kept My Fathers commandments and continue in His love. I have spoken
these things to you that My joy may abide in you, and your joy may be made full.
This is My commandment, that you love one another as I loved you. Greater love than this has no one,
that someone should lay down his soul for his friends.
You are My friends
326
if you do whatever I command you. I no longer call you slaves, for the slave does
not know what his master does. But I called you friends, because all things which I heard from My Father
I made known to you. You have not chosen Me, but I chose you and appointed you, that you should go and
should bear fruit, and your fruit remain, that whatever you may ask the Father in My name, He may give you.
These things I command you, that you love one another.
The Worlds Hatred
(Jn. 15.18-16.33)
If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before you. If you were of the world, the world would
325
It reads as if the disciples had a secretary recording every word, who wrote down even this detail. But it is evident
that after they rose and picked up their belongings, Jesus resumed speaking and they gathered about him till the
prayer and the closing hymn.
326
Note Jesus never calls His disciples servants any longer but friends. This is shown by His willingness to lay down
His life for them, by revealing all things He heard from the Father to them, and choosing them to bear continuing
fruit.
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love its own. But because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world
hates you. Remember the Word which I said to you, A slave is not greater than his master. If they
persecuted Me, they also will persecute you. If they kept My Word, they also will keep yours. But all these
things they will do to you on account of My name, because they do not know the One having sent Me.
If I had not come and had not spoken to them, they had no sin. But now they have no excuse as to their
sin. The one hating Me also hates My Father. If I did not do the works among them which no other did, they
had no sin. But now they both have seen and also have hated Me and My Father. But that may be fulfilled
the Word that has been written in their Law, They hated Me undeservedly.
327
But when the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth who
proceeds from the Father, that One will witness concerning Me. And you also witness, because from the
beginning you are with Me.
I have spoken these things to you so that you may not be made to stumble. They will make you to be
expelled from the synagogue, but an hour is coming that every one killing you will think too he offers a
divine service before God. And they will do these things to you because they do not know the Father nor Me.
But I have spoken these things to you so that when the hour comes you may recall them, that I told you.
But I did not say these things to you from the beginning because I was with you. But now I am going
to the One having sent Me. And not one of you asks Me, Where are you going?
328
But because I have said
these things to you, grief has filled your heart. But I speak the truth to you, it is profitable for you that I
should go; for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you.
And having come, that One will convict the world concerning sin, and concerning righteousness, and
concerning judgment; concerning sin, truly, because they do not believe into Me; and concerning
righteousness, because I am going to the Father, and you no longer see Me; and concerning judgment,
because the ruler of this world has been judged.
I have yet many things to tell you, but you are not able to bear them now. But when that One comes,
the Spirit of Truth, He will guide you into all Truth, for He will not speak from Himself, but as many things
as He hears, He will speak; and He will announce the coming things to you. That One will glorify Me, for
He will take from Mine and will announce to you. All things, as many as the Father has are Mine. Because
of this I said that He will take from Mine, and will announce to you.
A little while and you do not see Me. And again a little, and you will see Me, because I go away to the
Father.
Then some of his disciples said to one another, What is this which He says to us, A little while and you
do not see Me; and again, A little and you will see Me? And, Because I go away to the Father?
Therefore they said, What is this that He says, The little? We know not what He says.
Therefore Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him. And He said to them, Are you inquiring with one
another about this, because I said A little while, and you do not see Me; and again a little and you will see
Me? Truly, truly, I say to you that you will weep and will lament, but the world will rejoice. And you will
be grieved, but your grief will become joy. The woman has grief when she bears, because her hour came, but
when she bears the child, she no longer remembers the distress, because of the joy that a man was born into
the world. And you, therefore, truly have grief now; but I will see you again,
329
and your heart will rejoice,
and no one takes your joy from you. And in that day you will ask Me nothing.
Truly, truly, I say to you, As many things as you shall ask the Father in My name, He will give you.
330
327
Psa. 69.4
328
Peter had asked this, but now there was no need to.
329
Jesus was speaking of His resurrection.
330
Today we are to ask for things in His name. To pray in Jesus name means to pray in agreement with Gods
character and to pray in submission to His will. When He comes again we will ask for nothing. But for now we are to
(continued...)
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Until now you asked nothing in My name; ask, and you will receive, so that your joy may be filled.
I have spoken these things to you in parables. An hour comes when I will no longer speak to you in
allegories, but concerning the Father I will plainly announce to you. In that day you will ask in My name,
and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father about you; for the Father Himself loves you, because you
have loved Me, and have believed that I came out from God.
I came out from the Father and have come into the world; Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.
His disciples said to him, Behold, now you speak openly and you say not one parable. Now we know
that you know all things and have no need that anyone ask you. By this we believe that you came out from
God.
Jesus answered them, Do you believe now? Behold, an hour is coming, and now has come, that you will
be scattered, each one to his own things, and you will leave Me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father
is with Me. I have spoken these things to you that you may have peace in Me. You have distress in the world;
but have courage, I have overcome the world.
Jesus Prays for the Father to Glorify Him
(Jn. 17.1-5)
Jesus spoke these things and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your
Son, that Your Son may also glorify You, even as You gave to Him authority over all flesh, so that to all
which You gave to Him, He may give to them everlasting life. And this is everlasting life, that they may
know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the One whom You sent.
I have glorified You on the earth, finishing the work that You have given to Me, that I should do. And
now Father, glorify Me with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was to be.
Jesus Prays for his Disciples
(Jn. 17.6-19)
I revealed Your name to the men whom You have given to Me out of the world. They were Yours, and You
have given them to Me; and they have kept Your Word. Now they have known that all things, as many as
You have given to Me, are from You. For the words which You have given to Me, I have given to them. And
they received and truly knew that I came out from beside You, and they believed that You sent Me.
I ask concerning them; I do not ask concerning the world, but concerning the ones whom You have
given to Me, because they are Yours. And all My things are Yours, and Yours are Mine; and I have been
glorified in them. And no longer am I in the world, yet these are in the world; and I come to You. Holy
Father, keep them in Your name, the ones whom You have given to Me, that they may be one even as We
are.
While I was with them in the world, I was keeping them in Your name; I guarded the ones whom You
have given to Me, and no one of them has been lost, if not the son of eternal destruction, that the Scripture
might be fulfilled. And now I am coming to You, and I speak these things in the world, that they may have
My joy having been fulfilled in them.
I have given them Your Word, and the world hated them because they are not of the world, even as I
am not of the world. I do not ask that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil.
They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in Your Truth; Your Word is Truth.
330
(...continued)
direct our prayers to God as our Father.
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As You have sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world, and I sanctify Myself on behalf
of them, that they also may be sanctified in Truth.
Jesus Prays for Believers Everywhere
(Jn. 17.20-26)
And I do not ask concerning these only, but also concerning the ones who will believe into Me through their
word; that all may be one, as You are in Me, Father, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, that the
world may believe that You sent Me.
And I have given them the glory which You have given Me, that they may be one, as We are one: I in
them, and You in Me, that they may be perfected in one; and that the world may know that You sent Me and
You loved them, just as You loved Me.
Father, I desire that the ones whom You have given Me, that where I am, those also may be with Me,
that they may behold My glory which You gave Me, because You loved Me before the foundation of the
world. Righteous Father, indeed the world did not know You, but I have known You; and these have known
that You sent Me. And I made known to them Your name, and will make it known, that the love with which
You love Me may be in them, and I in them.
Step 53. From the Upper Room to Gethsemane
The Second Prophecy of Peters Denials
(
1
Mt. 26.30-35;
2
Mk. 14.26-31;
3
Lu. 22.35-39;
4
Jn. 18.1a)
4
Having said these things, Jesus
3
said to them, When I sent you without a money-bag, and a wallet, and
sandals, did you lack anything?
331
And they said, Nothing.
Then He said to them, But now, the one having a money bag, let him take it; likewise also a wallet. And
he not having, let him sell his garment, and let him buy a sword. For I say to you that this has been written
must yet be fulfilled in Me: And He was numbered with the lawless.
332
For the thing concerning Me also
has an end.
And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords.
And He said to them, It is enough.
2
And singing a hymn,
3
going out, He went, according to His custom, to the Mount of Olives; and His
disciples also followed Him.
1
Then Jesus said to them, You all will be caused to stumble in Me this night. For it is written,
I WILL SMITE THE SHEPHERD,
AND THE SHEEP OF THE FLOCK WILL BE SCATTERED.
333
But after My resurrection I will go before you into Galilee.
And answering, Peter said to Him, Even if all will be caused to stumble in you, I will never be caused
to stumble,
2
not I.
331
This comment refers back to Mat. 10.5-10 and Lu. 10.4.
332
Isa. 53.12
333
Zech 13.7
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And Jesus said to him, Truly I say to you that today, in this night, before a cock sounds twice, you will
deny Me three times.
But
1
Peter
2
said more fervently,
1
Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you, not I.
334
And all the
disciples said the same.
Gethsemane
(
1
Mt. 26.36-46;
2
Mk. 14.32-42;
3
Lu. 22.40-46;
4
Jn. 18.1b)
1
Then Jesus came with them
4
across the winter stream Kidron, where there was a garden,
1
a place called
Gethsemane,
4
into which He and His disciples entered.
3
And having come on the place, He said to them,
1
Sit
here, until going away, I shall pray there.
And taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee,
2
James and John,
1
He began to grieve and to be
2
much amazed and to be deeply distressed.
1
Then He said to them, My soul is deeply grieved, even unto
death. Stay here with Me, and keep awake.
3
Pray that you do not enter into temptation.
2
And going forward a little
3
from them, about a stones throw, and having placed the knees
2
on the
ground,
1
He fell on his face,
2
and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. And He said,
Abba, Father, all things are possible to You;
1
My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not
as I will, but as You will.
And He comes to the disciples and finds them sleeping. And He said to Peter,
2
Simon, do you sleep?
1
So! Did you not have strength to keep awake one hour with Me? Keep awake and pray that you do not enter
into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
And going away again
1
a second time, He prayed, saying, My Father,
3
if You purpose it, take away this
cup from Me; but
1
if it is not possible for this cup to pass away from Me except I drink it,
3
let not be My will,
but let be Your will.
And an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. And coming to be in agony, He prayed
more intently. And His sweat came to be as drops of blood falling down onto the earth. And rising up from
the prayer, coming to His disciples, He found them sleeping from grief,
2
for their eyes were heavy.
3
And He
said to them, Why do you sleep? Rising up, pray, that you do not enter into temptation.
2
And they did not know what to answer Him.
1
And leaving them, going away again, He prayed a third
time, saying the same words. Then He came to His disciples
2
and said to them, Sleep on now, and rest. It
is enough.
1
Behold, the hour
2
has come,
1
and the Son of man is given over into the hands of sinners. Rise up,
let us go. Behold, the one giving Me over draws near.
Betrayal and Arrest
(
1
Mt. 26.47-56;
2
Mk. 14.43-52;
3
Lu. 22.47-53;
4
Jn. 18.2-11)
2
And at once, he yet speaking,
1
behold,
2
Judas arrives, being one of the Twelve. And with him was a great
crowd.
4
And Judas, the one giving him over, also knew the place, because Jesus many times assembled there
with his disciples. Therefore Judas, having taken the cohort and under-officers from among the chief priest
and Pharisees
2
and the scribes and the elders
1
of the people,
4
comes there with lights and torches and
2
swords
and clubs.
334
This part of the story ends with the second distinct warning to Peter about his denials of Jesus. These two different
warnings (from different gospels) provide a striking example of the unity and authenticity of the whole account. Far
from being contradictory, they describe precisely what will soon take place.
-119-
And the one giving him over had given them a signal, saying, Whomever I kiss,
335
it is He; seize Him
and lead Him away safely. And coming, at once
3
he drew near to Jesus in order to kiss Him,
1
but Jesus said
to him, Friend, why are you here?
And coming up at once to Jesus, he said,
2
Rabbi, Rabbi!
1
Hail, Rabbi. And he ardently kissed Him.
3
And Jesus said to him, Do you give over the Son of man with a kiss?
4
Therefore, knowing all the things coming upon Him, going forth, Jesus said to them, Whom do you
seek?
They answered Him, Jesus the Nazarene.
Jesus said to them, I AM! And Judas, the one giving Him over, also stood with them. Therefore as He
said to them, I AM, they went away into the rear and fell to the earth.
Therefore again He asked, Whom do you seek?
And they said, Jesus the Nazarene.
Jesus answered, I told you that I AM; therefore if you seek Me, allow these to go, (that the Word might
be fulfilled which He said, Of those whom you have given to Me, I lost not one of them, no one).
1
Then coming up, they
2
laid their hands
1
on Jesus and seized Him.
3
And those around Him seeing that
about to occur, said to Him, Lord, shall we strike with the sword?
1
And behold, one of those with Jesus,
4
Simon Peter,
1
stretching out the hand, drew his sword and struck
the slave of the high priest
4
and cut off his right ear. And there was a name to the slave, Malchus.
3
And answering, Jesus said, Allow it until this. And touching his ear, He healed him.
4
Therefore Jesus said to Peter,
1
Put your sword back into its
4
sheath.
1
For all who take the sword shall
perish by a sword. Or do you think that I am not able now to call on My Father, and he will stand beside Me
more than twelve legions of angels? How then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen this
way?
4
The cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it, not at all?
3
And
1
in that hour, Jesus said to the crowds,
3
to the ones coming upon Him, chief priests, and
commanders of the temple, and elders, As against a plunderer have you come out with swords and clubs
1
to
take Me? I sat with you according to a day teaching in the temple, and you did not lay hands on Me. But all
this is happening that the Scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled.
3
But this is your hour and the authority
of the darkness.
1
Then all the disciples ran away, forsaking Him.
2
And one, a certain young man,
336
was following Him, having thrown a linen cloth about his naked body.
And the young men seized him. But leaving behind the linen cloth, he fled from them naked.
Step 54. From Gethsemane to Annas House
Jesus Questioned by Annas
(
1
Mt. 26.57;
2
Mk. 14.53;
3
Lu. 22.54a;
4
Jn. 18.12-14, 19-24)
4
Then the cohort, even the chiliarch and the under-officers of the Jews together, seized Jesus and bound Him.
And they led Him away first to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest of that
year. And Caiaphas was the one who had given counsel to the Jews that it was profitable for one man to
perish on behalf of the people.
335
His function was to locate and identify Jesus at night, a necessary service to expedite the proceedings before next
sundown.
336
Likely this is Mark, who alone provides the detail (Mk. 14.51-52).
-120-
4
Then the high priest
337
questioned Jesus about His disciples and about His doctrine.
Jesus answered him, I spoke openly to the world; I always taught in the synagogue and in the temple
where the Jews always come together, and I spoke nothing in secret. Why do you question Me? Question the
ones hearing what I spoke to them: behold, these know what I said!
But on His having said these things, one of the under-officers standing by gave Jesus a slap, saying, Do
you answer the high priest thus?
Jesus answered him, If I spoke badly, bear witness about the bad thing; but if well, why do you smite
Me?
Then having bound Him, Annas sent Him forth to Caiaphas the high priest.
1
And the ones who had seized Jesus led Him away
3
into the house of the high priest,
1
where
2
all the chief
priests and the elders and the scribes
1
were assembled.
Peters First Two Denials
(
1
Mt. 26.58;
2
Mk. 14.54;
3
Lu. 22.54b-55;
4
Jn. 18. 15.18, 25)
4
And Simon Peter and another disciple
338
followed Jesus,
1
from a distance, even to the court of the high
priest.
4
That disciple was known to the high priest and entered together with Jesus into the courtyard of the
high priest, but Peter stood at the door outside. Therefore the other disciple who was known to the high priest
went out and spoke to the portress, and brought Peter in.
Then the slave woman, the portress, said to Peter, Are you not also of the disciples of this man?
That one said, I am not.
Now the slaves and the under-officers were
3
lighting a fire
4
of coals
3
in the midst of the courtyard, and
they
4
stood, and they were warming themselves, for it was cold; and Peter was with them, standing and
warming himself
2
toward the fire.
3
Peter sat in the midst of them,
1
with the under-officers to see the end.
339
4
Therefore they said to him, Are you not also of his disciples?
That one denied and said, I am not.
Step 55. From Annas House to Caiaphas Palace
Jesus Trial Before Caiaphas
(
1
Mt. 26.59-68;
2
Mk. 14.55-65;
3
Lu. 22.63-65)
1
And the chief priests and the elders and the whole Sanhedrin
340
looked for false testimony against Jesus, so
that they might put Him to death, and they did not find any, even though many false witnesses were coming
forward.
2
For many falsely testified against Him, but the testimonies were not identical.
1
But at last, coming up two false witnesses
2
standing up, falsely testified against him, saying, We heard
1
this One
2
saying, I will throw down this temple
1
of God,
2
made with hands, and through three days I will
build another not made with hands. And neither in this was their testimony identical.
And standing in the middle, the high priest questioned Jesus, saying, Do you not answer? Nothing?
What do these testify against you?
But He was silent and answered nothing.
337
As a retired general is still called General, Annas was still referred to as high priest.
338
Again John avoids the first person pronoun. No place in Johns Gospel does he identify himself as the writer.
339
These next accounts are composed of seventy-seven parts from four writers differing accounts, including their
every detail, yet they form a vivid and convincing narrative that reads like the work of one hand.
340
That is, all of the Sanhedrin then present.
-121-
Again the high priest questioned Him, and said to Him, Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?
1
I
put you on oath by the living God that you tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.
Jesus said to him, You said it.
2
I AM!
1
I tell you more. From this time you shall see the Son of man
sitting at the right hand of power, and coming on the clouds of the heaven.
341
Then the high priest tore his garments, saying, He blasphemed! What need do we have any more of
witnesses? Behold, now you have heard his blasphemy. What does it seem to you?
And answering, they said, He is liable to death.
2
And they all adjudged Him liable of death.
342
And some began to spit
1
in His face, and beat Him with the fist.
3
And the men having Jesus in charge
mocked Him, beating Him. And covering over Him, they were striking His face
2
with a fist
3
and questioning
Him, saying, Prophesy.
1
Prophesy to us, Christ. Who is the one striking you?
3
And many other things, blaspheming, they said to Him.
Peters Other Denials
(
1
Mt. 26.59-75;
2
Mk. 14.66-72;
3
Lu. 22.56-62;
4
Jn. 18.25a, 26-27)
4
And Simon Peter
2
being
1
outside
2
in the courtyard below, one of the high priests slave-girls comes. And
seeing Peter warming himself,
3
gazing at him, she said, And this one was with
2
Jesus the Nazarene.
1
And one slave-girl came near to him, saying, And you were with Jesus the Galilean.
3
But he denied
1
before all, saying,
3
Woman, I do not know him.
2
I do not know nor understand what you
say.
And he went out into the forecourt. And a cock sounded.
343
1
And he, going out into the porch,
3
after a short while,
1
another saw him and says to the ones there, And
this one was with Jesus the Nazarene.
3
Another seeing him, said, You also are of them.
But Peter
1
denied with an oath,
3
Man, I am not.
1
I do not know the man.
2
And seeing him again, the female slave began to say to those standing by, This one is of them.
And again he denied.
3
And about an hour intervening, a certain other one firmly declared, saying On truth this one also was
with him, for he also is a Galilean.
4
One of the slaves of the high priest, being a relative of the one whose
ear Peter cut off, says, Did I not see you in the garden with him?
1
And after a little, coming near, those
standing by said to Peter, Truly, you also are of them,
2
for you are both a Galilean and your speech
1
makes
you evident.
3
And
4
again Peter denied,
2
and he began to curse and to swear, I do not know this Man of Whom you
speak.
3
Man, I do not know what you say.
And immediately, while he yet spoke, the cock sounded
2
a second time.
3
And turning, the Lord looked
at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord,
1
saying to him, Before a cock sounds, you will deny
Me three times. And
2
Before a cock sounds twice,
344
you will deny Me three times.
1
And going out,
2
and
thinking on it,
1
he wept bitterly.
341
This referral to the Old Testament would have been recognized by the High Priest as a reference to Dan. 7.13-14.
Also Psa. 110.1.
342
Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea were probably absent from this illegal, nocturnal trial (Lu. 23.50-51).
343
The probability is that this clause was deleted in some early editions of Mark (though it is present in the Received
Text) because of its seeming inconsistency with Jesus prediction. Combining the four accounts shows that it
belongs in the record, forming an appropriate link to solve what has long been thought to be a puzzling
discrepancy.
344
Counting the first denial in Mt. 26.70, the combined accounts thus reveal a total of six denials, three before each of
the two cock-crowings, as seen in Jesus warnings to Peter.
-122-
The Verdict Ratified
(
1
Mt. 27.1-2;
2
Mk. 15.1;
3
Lu. 22.66-23.1)
1
And early morning occurring,
3
as it came to be day, the body of elders of the people, both the chief priests
and scribes was assembled, and
1
took counsel together against Jesus, so as to put Him to death, and they
3
led
Him away into
2
all the
3
Sanhedrin,
345
saying, If you are the Christ, tell us.
And He said to them, If I tell you, you will not believe, not at all. And also if I ask, you will not answer
Me, nor release Me, not at all. From now on the Son of man will be sitting at the right hand of the power of
God.
346
And they all said, Are you, then, the Son of God?
And He said to them, You say it, because I AM!
And they said, Why do we yet have need of witnesses? For we ourselves heard it from his mouth.
And rising up,
2
having bound Jesus, they led Him away
1
and gave Him over to Pontius Pilate the
governor.
Judas Suicide
(
1
Mt. 27.3-10;
5
Ac. 1.18-19)
1
Then Judas, the one giving Him over, seeing that He was condemned, caring afterward, returned the thirty
pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, I sinned, giving over innocent blood.
But they said, What is it to us? You see to it.
And tossing the silver pieces into the temple, he left. And going away he hanged himself;
5
and falling
headlong, he burst in the middle, and all his bowels poured out.
1
And taking the pieces of silver, the chief priests said, It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since
it is the price of blood.
And taking counsel, they bought of them the potters field, for burial for the strangers. So that field was
called
5
in their own dialect, Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood,
1
until today. Then was fulfilled that spoken
through Jeremiah the prophet, saying, AND I TOOK THE THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER, THE PRICE OF HIM WHO HAD BEEN
PRICED, ON WHOM THEY OF THE SONS OF ISRAEL SET A PRICE, AND GAVE THEM FOR THE POTTERS FIELD, AS THE LORD
DIRECTED ME.
347
Step 56. From Caiaphas Palace to Pilates Hall
Jesus and Pilate
(
1
Mt. 27.11-14;
2
Mk. 15.2-5;
3
Lu. 23.2-3;
4
Jn. 18.28-38a)
4
Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorium, and it was early.
1
And Jesus stood before the
governor.
4
And they did not enter into the Praetorium that they might not be defiled, but that they might eat
the Passover.
348
Then Pilate went out to them and said, What accusation do you bring against this man?
345
The second meeting of the Sanhedrin probably included a greater number than those who met after midnight.
346
Psa. 110.1
347
Zech. 11.12-13. This book may have been under the heading of the book of Jeremiah in Jesus day, or the words
of Jeremiah may have been recorded by Zechariah.
348
Their meticulous concern for hand ritual was in contradistinction to their purposeful intent to unjustly condemn
and slay Messiah.
-123-
They answered and said to him, If this One were not an evildoer, then we would not have given Him
over to you.
Then Pilate said to them, You take Him and judge Him according to your own Law.
Then the Jews said to him, It is not lawful for us to kill, no one, (that the Word of Jesus which he said
might be fulfilled, signifying by what kind of death he was about to die).
349
3
And they began to accuse Him, saying, We found this man perverting the nation, and forbidding to give
tribute to Caesar, saying Himself to be Christ, a king.
1
And when He was accused by the chief priests and the elders, He answered nothing.
Then Pilate said to Him,
2
Do you not answer?
1
Do you not hear how many things they testify against
you?
And He did not answer him, not even to one word, so that the governor greatly marveled.
4
Then Pilate again entered into the Praetorium and called Jesus and
1
questioned Him, saying, Are you
the King of the Jews?
3
And He answered him, and said, You say it.
4
Do you say this from yourself, or did others tell you about
Me?
Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Your nation, even the chief priests gave you over to me! What did you
do?
Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom was of this world, My servants would
have fought that I might not be given over to the Jews. But now My kingdom is not from here.
350
Then Pilate said to him, Therefore, then are you not a king?
Jesus answered, You say that I am a king. For this purpose I have been born, and for this purpose I have
come into the world, that I might witness to the Truth. Everyone being of the Truth hears My voice.
Pilate says to him, What is truth?
Step 57. From Pilates Hall to Herods Palace
Jesus Brought Before Herod
(
3
Lu. 23.4-12;
4
Jn. 18.38b)
4
And saying this, he again went out to the Jews and said to
3
the chief priests and the crowds, I find no cause
of death in this Man.
4
I do not find not even one cause of death in Him!
3
But they insisted, saying, He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee
to here.
And Pilate, hearing Galilee, asked if the man is a Galilean. And knowing that he is from Herods
jurisdiction, he sent him up to Herod, he also being in Jerusalem in these days.
And Herod, seeing Jesus, greatly rejoiced, for he was wanting to see Him for a considerable time,
because he wished to hear many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miraculous sign being done by
Him. And he questioned Him in many words. But He answered him not a thing. And the chief priests and
the scribes stood vehemently accusing Him.
And Herod having despised Him with his soldiery, and having mocked Him by putting around Him
luxurious clothing, he sent Him back to Pilate.
And on that same day, both Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for they before were at
349
He was to die by being lifted up (i.e. crucifixion, a Roman practice), not by the Jewish method of execution, which
was stoning.
350
The words but now are in the place of emphasis in the Greek. The implication is that there is coming a time
when His kingdom will be centered physically in the earthly sphere.
-124-
enmity between themselves.
Step 58. From Herods Palace to Pilates Hall
Jesus or Barabbas?
(
1
Mt. 27.15-23a;
2
Mk. 15.6-14;
3
Lu. 23.13-22;
4
Jn. 18.39-40)
3
And Pilate, having called together the chief priests and the leaders and the people, said to them, You
brought this man to me as perverting the people. And, behold, examining Him before you, I found no cause
of death in this man regarding that which you bring charge against Him. But neither did Herod, for I sent
you up to him; and, behold, nothing worthy of death is done by Him.
4
But there is a common custom to you
that I should release one prisoner to you at the Passover.
3
Then scourging Him, I will release Him.
1
And at the feast, the governor
3
had to release
1
one prisoner to the crowd, whom they wished. And they
had then
2
having been bound with the fellow-insurgents,
1
a notable prisoner, being called Barabbas,
4
a
plunderer (who was, due to some insurrection occurring in the city, and murder, thrown into prison).
1
Therefore they, having been assembled,
2
and crying aloud, the crowd began to beg him to do as he
always did for them. But Pilate answered them, saying,
1
Whom do you wish I may release to you,
Barabbas,
351
or Jesus being called Christ? For he knew they gave him over through envy.
1
But as he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, Let nothing be to you and that
just One. For I have suffered many things today by a dream because of Him.
But the chief priests and the elders
2
stirred up
1
the crowds, that they should ask
2
that rather he should
release Barabbas to them,
1
and to destroy Jesus.
And answering, the governor said to them, From the two, which do you wish that I release to you?
4
Do
you will that I should release the King of the Jews to you?
1
And they said, Barabbas.
4
Then all cried out again, saying, Not this One, but Barabbas!
3
Take this
One, and release to us Barabbas!
3
Therefore Pilate again called to them, desiring to release Jesus,
1
What then should I do to Jesus being
called Christ,
2
whom you call king of the Jews?
And again they
1
all
2
cried out,
1
Crucify Him!
3
They shouted, saying, Crucify! Crucify him!
And a third time
2
Pilate said to them, For what bad thing did he do?
3
I found nothing as cause of death
in Him; therefore scourging Him, I will release Him.
352
2
But they much more cried out, Crucify Him!
Pilate Tries to Release Jesus
(
1
Mt. 27.23b-26;
2
Mk. 15.15;
3
Lu. 23.23-25;
4
Jn. 19.1-16)
4
Therefore, then, Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. And having plaited a wreath out of thorns, the soldiers
put it on His head. And they threw a purple garment around Him, and said, Hail, King of the Jews! And
they were giving Him slaps.
Then Pilate went outside again and said to them, Behold, I bring Him out to you that you may know that
I find not even one cause of death in him!
Then Jesus came outside, wearing the thorny wreath and the purple garment. And he says to them,
351
Pilates intent was to release Jesus by threatening the alternate release of one who was dangerous to society (Ac.
3.13-14).
352
This was another attempt by Pilate to release Jesus by first appeasing their sadistic nature.
-125-
Behold, the Man!
Therefore when the chief priests and the under-officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, Crucify!
Crucify!
Pilate said to them, You take Him and crucify Him, for I find not even one cause of death in Him!
Then the Jews answered him, We have a law, and according to our Law He ought to die because He
made Himself Son of God!
Therefore when Pilate heard this word, he was more afraid. And he entered into the Praetorium again
and said to Jesus, From where are you?
But Jesus did not give him an answer.
So Pilate says to Him, Do you not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to crucify you,
and I have authority to release you?
Jesus answered, You would not have authority against Me, not even any, if it was not being given to
you from above. Because of this the one giving Me over to you has a greater sin.
From this, Pilate sought to release Him. But the Jews were crying out, saying, If you release this One,
you are not a friend of Caesar. Everyone making himself a king speaks against Caesar.
Then hearing this word, Pilate led Jesus out. And he sat down on the judgment seat, at a place called The
Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. And it was the Preparation of the Passover, and about the sixth hour.
And he said to the Jews, Behold, your King!
But they cried out, Away, Away! Crucify him!
Pilate said to them, Shall I crucify your King?
The chief priests answered, We do not have a king except Caesar.
1
And seeing that nothing is gained, but rather an uproar occurs, taking water, Pilate washed his hands
before the crowd, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just One; you will see.
And answering, all the people said, His blood be on us and on our children.
353
3
And their voices, and that of the chief priests, prevailed. And Pilate,
2
having decided to do the easiest
to content the crowd,
3
adjudged their request to be done.
1
Then he released Barabbas to them.
4
Therefore, then, he gave Him over to them, that He might be crucified.
Step 59. From Pilates hall to the Praetorium Court
Jesus Mocked
(
1
Mt. 27.27-31;
2
Mk. 15.16-20)
2
And the soldiers
1
of the governor
2
led
1
Jesus into the
2
courtyard, which is the Praetorium.
354
And they called
together all the cohort
1
against Him. And stripping Him, they put a scarlet cloak around Him,
2
and they
clothed Him with purple,
355

1
and plaiting a crown of thorns, they placed it on His head, and a reed on His
right hand. And bowing the knee before Him,
2
they began to salute Him,
1
they mocked Him, saying, Hail,
King of the Jews. And spitting at Him, they took the reed and struck at His head. And when they ridiculed
Him, they stripped off His cloak, and
2
they took the purple off Him, and put His own garments on Him. And
they led Him out, that they might crucify Him.
353
The destruction of Jerusalem was one of the consequences of their sin (Lu. 19.42-44).
354
The word praetorium denotes the headquarters in a Roman camp. In Jerusalem it was a magnificent palace
which Herod the Great had built for himself, and which the Roman governors seemed to have occupied. It is also
referred to as the judgment hall, or hall of judgment, the palace and the common hall.
355
Thus He was clothed with both colors, of which Mark mentions one and Matthew the other; one or both garments
were probably supplied by Herod.
-126-
Step 60. From the Praetorium Court to Golgotha
The Crucifixion
(
1
Mt. 27.32-38;
2
Mk. 15.21-28;
3
Lu. 23.26-34;
4
Jn. 19.17-24)
4
And He went out bearing His cross.
1
And going out, they found a man, a Cyrenean,
2
passing by,
1
named
Simon,
2
the father of Alexander and Rufus,
356

3
coming from a field. They put the cross on him,
2
and
1
compelled this one, that he bear His cross
3
behind Jesus.
And a great multitude of people were following Him, and of women who also were bewailing and
lamenting Him. And turning to them, Jesus said, Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep over Me, but weep
over yourselves and over your children. For behold, days will come in which they will say, Blessed are the
barren, and the wombs that did not bear, and breasts that did not give suck. Then they will begin to say to
the mountains, Fall on us! And to the hills, Cover us!
357
For if they do these things in the green tree,
what shall be done in the dry tree?
358
And when
2
they brought Him to
3
the place being called
4
Of a Skull (which is called in Hebrew,
Golgotha),
2
they gave Him wine
1
vinegar
2
spiced with myrrh to drink. But
1
having tasted, He would not drink.
3
And also others, two criminals, were led with Him to be put to death.
4
Where they crucified Him,
3
and
the criminals, one at the right, and one at the left,
4
and Jesus in the middle.
2
And it was the third hour,
359
and
they crucified Him.
3
And Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.
4
And Pilate also wrote a title and put it on the cross
1
over his head.
2
And the inscription of his accusation
4
was:
1,3
THIS IS
1,4
JESUS
4
THE NAZARENE
1,2,3,4
THE KING OF THE JEWS
Therefore, this title many of the Jews read, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the
city. And it was written in Hebrew, in Greek, in Latin.
360
Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, Do
not write, The King of the Jews, but that One said, I am King of the Jews.
Pilate answered, What I have written, I have written.
Then when they crucified Jesus, the soldiers took His garments and made four parts, a part to each
soldier, also the tunic.
3
And dividing His garments, they cast a lot
361

2
on them, who should take what.
4
And
the tunic was seamless, woven from the top through all. Then they said to one another, Let us not tear it,
but let us cast lots about it, whose it will be (that the Scripture might be fulfilled which said, THEY DIVIDED
MY GARMENTS AMONG THEM, and THEY THREW A LOT FOR MY GARMENT).

1
Then two plunderers were crucified with Him, one on the right, and one on the left of Him.
2
And the
Scripture was fulfilled which says, AND HE WAS NUMBERED WITH THE LAWLESS.
362
4
Then indeed the soldiers did these things.
1
And sitting down, they guarded Him there.
356
This can be cross-referenced with Rom. 16.13.
357
Hos. 10.8
358
This is another reference to the fig tree nation and the fate it was to suffer.
359
The third hour mentioned here (and later the sixth and ninth hours) represent Jewish sundial time.
360
Slight differences among the accounts are due to the different languages of the inscription, one account based on
one language, another based on another language.
361
Psa. 22.18
362
Isa. 53.12
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On the Cross
(
1
Mt. 27.39-44;
2
Mk. 15.29-32;
3
Lu. 23.35-43;
4
Jn. 19.25-27)
3
And the people stood watching.
2
And those passing by blasphemed Him, shaking their heads,
363
and saying,
Aha! You razing the temple, and in three days building it, save Yourself and come down from the cross.
And also the chief priests and the scribes
1
and elders
2
mocking to one another said likewise, He saved
others; He is not able to save Himself.
3
Let Him save Himself, if this One is the Christ, the Elect of God.
1
If
He is
2
the Christ,
1
the King of Israel,
2
let Him now come down from the cross, that we may see and believe
1
Him. He trusted on God. Let Him rescue Him now, if He desires Him. For He said, I am Son of God.
3
And coming near, the soldiers also mocked Him and were offering vinegar to Him, and saying, If you
are the king of the Jews, save yourself.
1
And also the plunderers crucified with Him defamed Him, saying the same.
3
And one of the hanged
criminals blasphemed Him, saying, If you are the Christ, save yourself and us.
But answering, the other rebuked him, saying, Do you not fear God, for you are in the same judgment?
And we indeed justly, for we receive things worthy of what we did. But this One did nothing amiss. And
he said to Jesus, Lord, remember me when you come in your kingdom.
And Jesus said to him, Truly I say to you, Today you will be with Me in Paradise.
364
And it was about the sixth hour.
4
And there stood His mother, and His mothers sister Mary, the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene by
the cross of Jesus. Therefore Jesus, seeing His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He says
to His mother, Woman, behold your son! Then He says to the disciple, Behold, your mother! And from
that hour, the disciple took her into his own home.
365
Jesus Death
(
1
Mt. 27.45-50;
2
Mk. 15.33-37;
3
Lu. 23.44-45a;
4
Jn. 19.28-30)
1
And from the sixth hour occurred darkness over all the land until the ninth hour,
3
and the sun was
darkened.
366

2
And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?
(Which being translated is, My God, My God, why did you forsake Me?)
1
And hearing, some of those standing there said,
2
Behold,
1
this One calls Elijah.
4
After this, Jesus knowing that all things have now been finished that the Scripture be fulfilled, He said,
I thirst!
Then a vessel full of vinegar
367
was set.
1
And at once, one of them running and taking a sponge, and
filling it with VINEGAR, put it on a
4
hyssop
1
reed,
4
they brought it to His mouth
1
and GAVE DRINK TO HIM.
368
But the rest said,
2
Leave alone,
369
let us see if Elijah comes to take him down,
1
to save him.
4
Therefore when Jesus took the vinegar,
1
and crying again with a loud voice,
4
He said, It has been
finished!
363
They were mocking Him in His agony as He writhed in pain as also pictured in Psa. 22.7-8. (Indeed most of that
Psalm, written ten centuries earlier, is a prefiguring of His crucifixion.)
364
This is a clear example of salvation by faith, completely apart from works or rituals.
365
This is probably Johns home in Jerusalem rather than his second home in Galilee.
366
This could not be a solar eclipse, for it was the time of the full moon, when the moon is on the opposite side of the
earth from the sun.
367
This is referring to a different wine that the myrrhed wine previously offered by the soldiers. This sour wine (Mt.
27.48) was used for the soldiers refreshment, unmixed with the stupefying myrrh. Note Psa. 69.21.
368
Psa. 69.21
369
They were speaking to the centurion.
-128-
And bowing His head,
3
Jesus said, Father, INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT.
370
And saying this,
He
1
released his spirit;
3
He expired.
Wondrous Events
(
1
Mt. 27.51-56;
2
Mk. 15.38-41;
3
Lu. 23.45b, 47-49;
4
Jn. 19.31-37)
3
And the centurion, seeing the thing happening,
2
standing near across from him, seeing that crying out so he
breathed out His spirit,
3
glorified God, saying, Truly, this Man was righteous.
1
And, behold! The veil of the temple was torn into two from above as far as below.
371
And the earth
quaked, and the rocks were sheared! And the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had
fallen asleep were raised. And coming forth out of the tombs after His resurrection, they entered into the holy
city and were revealed to many.
But the centurion and those with him guarding Jesus, seeing the earthquake and the things taking place,
they feared exceedingly, saying,
2
Truly, this Man was Son of God!
372
3
And all the crowd arriving together at this sight, watching the things happening, beating their breasts,
they returned.
And all the ones known to Him stood at a distance, and the women, the ones having accompanied Him
from Galilee, were seeing these things.
2
Among whom also was Mary Magdalene; also Mary the mother of
James the younger, and of Joses,
373
and Salome,
1
and the mother of the sons of Zebedee,
2
who also followed
Him and ministered to Him when He was in Galilee; and many other women who came up to Jerusalem with
Him.
4
Therefore, since it was Preparation, that the bodies not remain on the cross on the sabbath, for great was
the day of that Sabbath,
374
the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and they be taken away. Then
the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man, and of the other crucified with him. But on coming to
Jesus, when they saw Him having died already, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers took a
spear and pierced His side, and at once blood and water came out. And the one having seen has borne witness
and the witness of him is true; and that one knows that he says true things, that you may believe.
375
For these things happened that the Scripture might be fulfilled, NOT A BONE OF HIM SHALL BE BROKEN.
376
And again, a different Scripture says, THEY SHALL LOOK AT HIM WHOM THEY HAVE PIERCED.
377
Step 61. From Golgotha to Josephs Tomb
Jesus Burial
(
1
Mt. 27.57-61;
2
Mk. 15.42-47;
3
Lu. 23.50-56;
4
Jn. 19.38-42)
370
Psa. 31.5
371
A supernatural occurrence, for this was a thickly woven curtain more than thirty feet tall (Heb. 6.19-20)
372
His realization now advanced beyond his earlier exclamation which had harkened back to Pilates final statement;
he saw Him now as a supernatural being.
373
By comparing with two names in Mt. 13.53-58, it is possible that this was the mother of Jesus though not probable.
374
It was a special or high Sabbath for the feast, because it was in addition to the regular weekly Sabbath, which
came two days later.
375
The plural you is emphatic in the Greek.
376
Exo. 12.46; Psa. 34.20
377
Zech. 12.10
-129-
4
And after these things,
2
and it becoming evening already,
2
came
3
a man, Joseph by name,
1
a rich man
378
3
(from Arimathea, a city of the Jews),
1
who also himself was discipled to Jesus,
4
but having been hidden
because of fear of the Jews,
2
an honorable councilor,
3
a good and righteous man. This one was not assenting
to their counsel and action, and who also himself was eagerly expecting the kingdom of God.
2
And taking
courage, he went in to Pilate and
4
asked Pilate that he might take the body of Jesus.
2
And Pilate marveled if He had already died. And calling the centurion he asked him if He died long ago.
And knowing from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph.
And having bought a linen cloth,
4
he came and took the body of Jesus
3
down.
4
And Nicodemus also
came, the one coming at first to Jesus by night, bearing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred Roman
pounds. Then they took the body of Jesus and
2
wrapped Him in the
1
clean
4
linen strips, with the spices, just
as is the custom with the Jews in burying.
And there was a garden in the place where He was crucified, and a new tomb in the garden,
1
which he
had cut
2
out of rock,
4
in which no one yet had been put, not one. There, then,
2
since
3
it was Preparation Day
4
of the Jews,
3
and a Sabbath was coming on,
4
because the tomb was near, they put Jesus.
1
And having rolled
a great stone
2
against the mouth of the tomb,
1
he departed.
3
And having followed, also the women who were accompanying Him out of Galilee,
1
Mary Magdalene
and the other Mary
2
of Joses,
1
sitting across from the grave,
3
watched the tomb, and how His body was
placed. And returning, they prepared spices and ointments.
And indeed they rested on the Sabbath, according to the commandment.
Step 62. From Josephs Tomb to the Heart of the Earth
Preaching to the Spirits in Prison
(
21
1 Peter 3.18-20)
21
Because even Christ once suffered concerning sins, the Just One on behalf of the unjust ones, that He might
bring us to God; indeed being put to death in the flesh, but being made alive in the Spirit; in which also,
going in to the spirits in prison, He then proclaimed to the ones disobeying, when once the long-suffering
of God waited in the days of Noah, an ark being prepared, into which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved
through water.
Wednesday sunset to Thursday sunset 1st Night and Day in Grave
(Passover High Sabbath)
The Guard at the Tomb
(Mt. 27.62-66)
And on the next day, which is after the Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees were assembled to
Pilate, saying, Sir, we have recalled that that deceiver while living said, After three days I will rise.
Therefore, command that the grave be secured until the third day, that His disciples may not come by night
and steal Him away, and may say to the people, He is raised from the dead. And the last deception will be
worse than the first.
And Pilate said to them, You have a guard, go away, make it as secure as you know how.
378
This was a fulfillment referred to in Isaiah 53.9.
-130-
And going along with the guard, they made the grave secure, sealing the stone.
379
Thursday sunset to Friday sunset 2nd Night and Day in Grave
The Women Buy Spices Between the Sabbaths
(Mk. 16.1)
And the Sabbath passing, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so
that coming they might anoint Him.
Friday sunset to Saturday sunset 3rd Night and Day in Grave
(Weekly Sabbath)
379
The stone was round like a huge mill-stone or cart wheel and was set upright against the cave in an incline
groove. The Roman seal wedged the stone in place.
-131-
After Saturday sunset
Step 63. From the Heart of the Earth to the Resurrection Garden
The Earthquake
(Mt. 28.2-4)
And, behold! A great earthquake occurred! For descending from heaven and coming near, an angel of the
Lord rolled away the stone from the door and was sitting on it. And the appearance of him, was as lightning
and his clothing white as snow. And the ones keeping guard were shaken from the fear of him, and they
became as dead men.
380
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
(
2
Mk. 16.9-11;
3
Lu. 24.1;
4
Jn. 20.1-18)
3
And the first of the Sabbaths, at early dawn, they came on the tomb, carrying spices which they prepared;
and some were with them.
2
And having risen early on the first the Sabbath, he first appeared to Mary Magdalene, from whom he
had cast out seven demons.
381

4
Mary Magdalene came early in the morning to the tomb, it yet being dark. And
she sees the stone having been taken away from the tomb. Therefore she runs and comes to Simon Peter, and
to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, They took away the Lord out of the tomb, and we
do not know where they laid Him.
382
Then Peter and the other disciple
383
went out and came to the tomb. And the two were running together,
and the other disciple ran in front more quickly than Peter and he came first to the tomb. And stooping to
look in he sees the linen strips lying; however, he did not go in. Then Simon Peter comes following him, and
went into the tomb and he sees the linen strips lying. And the face cloth which was on His head was not lying
with the linen strips, but was lying separately, having been wrapped up in one place.
384
Then, therefore, the other disciple also entered, the one having come first to the tomb, even he saw and
believed. For they did not yet know the Scripture,
385
that it was necessary for him to rise from the dead ones.
Then the disciples went away again to themselves.
But Mary stood outside at the tomb, weeping. Therefore as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb.
And she sees two angels in white, sitting one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had
lain.
And those ones say to her, Woman, why do you weep?
She says to them, Because they took away my Lord, and I do not know where they put Him. And
380
Evidently the earthquake was well before dawn, for the guards were recovered and departed before Mary
Magdalenes arrival.
381
This passage of Mark thus confirms Johns account.
382
Her we do not know does not suggest that other women were with her. As a woman addressing two men, who
likewise did not know, she respectfully included her hearers with herself. Note also that at the meeting with Jesus
she was still alone. The other womens part in the matter was after sunrise.
383
John, though so actively involved, still avoids using the first person pronoun, a strong confirmation of Johannine
authorship.
384
The grave-clothes lay as the body had withdrawn through and out of them, as He also later went through doors.
385
This is a reference to Psa. 16.10, Peters text in his Pentecost sermon (Ac. 2.27).
-132-
having said these things, she turned to the things behind and sees Jesus standing, and did not know that it is
Jesus.
Jesus says to her, Woman, why do you weep? Whom do you seek?
Thinking that it was the gardener, she says to Him, Sir, if you carried Him away, tell me where you put
Him, and I will take Him away.
Jesus said to her, Mary!
Turning around, she says to Him, Rabboni! (that is to say, Teacher).
Jesus says to her, Do not take hold of Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father. But go to My
brothers and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, and My God, and your God.
Mary Magdalene,
2
going, that one reports to those ones having been with Him, mourning and weeping,
4
reporting to the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He told her these things.
2
And they having
heard that He lives, and was seen by her, they did not believe.
Step 64. From the Resurrection Garden to the Father
(Jn. 20.17)
Step 65. From the Father to a Road near Jerusalem
Jesus Appears to the Other Women
(
1
Mt. 28.5-10;
2
Mk. 16.2-8;
3
Lu. 24.1-11)
3
Joanna, and Mary mother of James, and the rest of them,
386

2
the sun having risen, they came upon the tomb.
And they said to themselves, Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us? And looking
up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back; for it was very great.
And having entered into the tomb,
3
they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it happened, as they
were perplexed about this,
2
they saw a young man sitting on the right, having been clothed in a white robe.
And they were much amazed.
3
Behold, two men in shining clothing stood by them.
387
And they, becoming terrified, and bowing the face to the earth,
1
answering, the angel said to the women,
You must not fear.
2
Do not be much amazed.
1
I know that you seek Jesus
2
the Nazarene who has been
crucified.
3
Why do you seek the living One with the dead ones?
2
He is not here,
1
for He was raised, as He
said.
3
Remember how He spoke to you,
388
yet being in Galilee, saying, The Son of man must be given over
into the hands of sinful men, and to be crucified, and the third day to rise again.
And they remembered His words.
2
But he said to them,
1
Come, see the place where the Lord was lying.
2
But go,
1
quickly say to His
disciples,
2
and to Peter,
389

1
that He was raised from the dead ones. And behold! He goes before you into
386
The verses naming Mary Magdalene with the other women (Mt. 28.1, Mk. 16.1, Lu. 24.10) are summary
statements in which two of these writers, Matthew and Luke, failed to specify that Mary Magdalenes part was
separate. Mark, however, after summarizing, explains that her part was separate and earlier. This was later made
more understandable to readers by Johns detailed account. This listing of the women who arrived after sunrise
omits Mary Magdalene, since her part in the story of the morning has been completed (Lu. 24.10).
387
The angels being six feet apart, at the head and the foot of the burial plac e, only one could be seen from the
entrance. Upon the womens entering, they both stood.
388
So the women were with Jesus and the disciples on the return from Caesarea Philippi, the only time he spoke of
this in Galilee.
389
Peter was given special mention because of the denials and to prepare him for a special visit.
-133-
Galilee. You will see Him there,
2
even as He told you.
390

1
Behold! I told you.
2
And going out quickly, they fled from the tomb. And trembling and ecstasy took hold of them. And they
told no one, not a thing;
1
they ran to report to his disciples.
But as they were going to report to His disciples, behold, Jesus also met them, saying, Rejoice!
And coming near, they lay hold of His feet
391
and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, Do not fear.
Go tell your brothers that they may go into Galilee, and there they will see Me.
3
And returning from the tomb,
1
with fear and great joy,
3
they reported all these things to the Eleven, and
to all the rest. And their words seemed like nonsense before them, and they did not believe them.
392
The Guards Report
(Mt. 28.11-15)
And they, having gone, behold, some of the guard coming into the city reported to the chief priests all things
that occurred. And being assembled with the elders, and taking counsel, they gave enough silver to the
soldiers, saying, Say that the disciples of him came and stole him by night, we being asleep. And if this is
heard by the governor, we will persuade him and will make you free from anxiety.
And taking the silver, they did as they were taught. And this report was spread by the Jews until today.
Step 64. From a Road near Jerusalem to the Emmaus Road
Jesus Walks the Road to Emmaus
(
2
Mk. 16.12-13;
3
Lu. 24.13-35)
2
And after these things, He was revealed in a different form.
3
And, behold, two of them were going on the
same day to a village being sixty stadia distant from Jerusalem, which was named Emmaus. And they talked
to each other about all these things taking place. And it happened, in the need of them to converse and to
discuss, Jesus Himself, coming near, also traveled with them. But their eyes were held so as not to recognize
Him.
And he said to them, What words are these which you exchange with each other while walking, and are
sad of face?
And answering, one of them whose name was Cleopas, said to Him, Are you alone sojourning in
Jerusalem, and do not know the things happening in it these days?
And He said to them, What things?
And they said to Him, The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene, who was a man, a prophet mighty in
deed and word before God and all the people; and how the chief priests and our rulers gave Him over to the
judgment of death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that He is the One going to redeem Israel.
But yet with all these things, this third day comes today since these things happened. But also some of
our women astounded us, having been early at the tomb, and not finding His body, they came saying also to
have seen a vision of angels, who were saying Him to live. And some of those with us went to the tomb, and
390
These were among His last words to the disciples.
391
After saying to Mary, Do not take hold of Me, He had ascended to the Father and returned. The short time
interval and immense distance were, of course, no problem for the glorified Lord.
392
Their continuing unbelief concerning Jesus resurrection points up the great improbability that they could have built
the Christian movement on hallucinations or wishful thinking. Nothing short of a personal witness of His
resurrection could have changed the direction of their despondent thinking.
-134-
found it so, even as the women also said; but they did not see Him.
And He said to them, O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe on all things which the prophets
spoke! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things, and to enter into His glory?
And beginning from Moses, and from all the prophets, He explained to them, in the Scriptures, the things
about Himself.
393
And they drew near to the village where they were going, and He seemed to be going further. And they
constrained Him, saying, Stay with us, for it is toward evening, and the day has declined. And He went in
to stay with them.
And it happened as He reclined with them, having taken the bread, He blessed, and having broken He
gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew Him. And He became invisible from them. And
they said to one another, Was not our heart burning within us as He spoke to us in the way, and as He
opened up to us the Scriptures?
And rising up in the same hour, they went back to Jerusalem, and found, having been gathered together,
the Eleven, and those with them, saying, The Lord really was raised and appeared to Simon.
And they related the things in the highway, and how He was known to them in the breaking of the loaf.
2
Not even did they believe those.
394
Step 67. From Emmaus to the Upper Room
Jesus Appearance to the Disciples, Thomas Absent
(
3
Lu. 24.36-43;
4
Jn. 20-19-23)
3
And as they were telling these things,
4
then it being evening on that day, the first of the Sabbaths, and the
doors having been locked where the disciples were gathered together because of fear of the Jews,
395
Jesus
3
Himself
4
came and stood in the midst and said to them, Peace to you!
3
But being terrified, and being filled with fear, they thought they beheld a spirit. And He said to them,
Why are you troubled? And why do reasonings come up in your hearts? See My hands and My feet, that
I am Myself? Feel Me and see, because a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see Me having. And
saying this, He showed them His hands and
4
side.
Then seeing the Lord, the disciples rejoiced.
3
But yet they not believing from the joy, and marveling, He
said to them, Have you anything edible here?
And they gave a part of a broiled fish to Him, and from a honeycomb. And taking, He ate before them.
396
4
Therefore Jesus said to them again, Peace to you. As the Father has sent Me, I also send you. And
saying this, Receive the Holy Spirit. Of whomever you may remit the sins, they are remitted to them. Of
whomever you hold, they have been held.
397
Step 68. From the Upper Room Back to the Upper Room (a week later)
Jesus Appearance to the Disciples, Thomas Present
393
This must have included some of the fifty-nine quotations from the Old Testament which occur in this story.
394
It was typical of Jesus that, because of the apostles unbelief, He first appeared not to them but to a woman (one
formerly demon-possessed), then to other women and to two people from the country-side, before appearing to the
disciples.
395
This suggests their fear of the future purge.
396
Proving beyond question this was no mere vision.
397
Jesus here emphasized the need of the Holy Spirits discernment for the exercising of this authority.
-135-
(Jn. 20.24-29)
But Thomas, one of the Twelve, the one called Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. Therefore the
other disciples said to him, We have seen the Lord.
But he said to them, If I do not see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger into the mark
of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe, not at all!
And after eight days,
398
his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. The door having
been locked, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said, Peace to you.
Then He said to Thomas, Bring your finger here and see My hands, and bring your hand and put it into
My side, and do not be unbelieving, but believing.
And Thomas answered and said to Him, My Lord and my God!
Jesus says to him, Because you have seen Me, Thomas, you have believed. Blessed are the ones not
seeing, and believing.
Step 69. From the Upper Room to the Sea of Galilee
Jesus Appearance to the Disciples in Galilee
(Jn. 21.1-14)
After these things, Jesus revealed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. And thus He revealed
Himself.
There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas, the one being called Twin, and Nathanael from Cana of
Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, I am going away
to fish.
399
They said to him, We also are coming with you.
They went out and went up into the boat at once. And in that night, they caught nothing.
But early morning now having become, Jesus stood onto the shore. However, the disciples did not know
that it is Jesus. Then Jesus says to them, Children, do you not have any thing for eating?
They answered Him, No.
And He said to them, Cast the net into the right side of the boat and you will find.
Then they cast, and they no longer had the strength to draw, from the multitude of the fish.
Therefore the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, It is the Lord.
Then Simon Peter hearing that it is the Lord, having girded on his outer garment (for he was unclad) and
he threw himself into the sea. And the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the
land, from about two hundred cubits, dragging the net of the fish.
Then when they came down onto the land, they saw a coal fire lying, and a fish lying on it, and bread.
Jesus said to them, Bring from the little fish which you caught now.
Simon Peter went up and dragged the net onto the land, full of great fish, a hundred and fifty-three. And
though being so many, the net was not torn.
Jesus said to them, Come, break fast.
And no one of the disciples dared to ask Him, Who are you? knowing that it is the Lord. Then Jesus
comes and takes the bread, and gives to them, and the little fish likewise.
This was now a third time Jesus was revealed to His disciples, He having been raised from the dead ones.
398
This was the following Sunday evening by Jewish reckoning (eight days inclusive).
399
The leadership of Peter is again highlighted.
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Peters Restoration
(Jn. 21.15-19)
Therefore when they broke fast, Jesus says to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than
these?
He said to Him, Yes, Lord you know that I love you.
400
He said to him, Feed My lambs! Again He says to him a second time, Simon, son of Jonah, do you
love Me?
He says to Him, Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.
He says to him, Feed My sheep! He says to him a third time, Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?
Peter was grieved that He said to him a third time, Do you love Me? And he said to Him, Lord, you
perceive all things, you know that I love you!
Jesus said to him, Feed My sheep! Truly, truly, I say to you, When you were younger, you girded
yourself, and you walked where you desired. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and
another will gird you, and will carry you where you do not desire.
But He said this signifying by what death he would glorify God. And having said this, He said to him,
Follow Me.
Peter and the Disciple Jesus Loved
(Jn. 21.20-24)
But turning, Peter sees the disciple whom Jesus loved following them who also leaned on his breast at the
Supper, and said, Lord, who is the one giving you over? Seeing this one, Peter said to Jesus, Lord, and
what of this one?
Jesus said to him, If I desire him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.
Therefore, this word went out to the brothers that that one, that disciple does not die. Yet Jesus did not
say to him that he does not die, but, If I desire him to remain until I come, what is that to you?
This is the disciple, the one witnessing about these things, and having written these things. And we know
that his witness is true.
Step 70. From the Sea of Galilee to Mount Tabor
The Great Commission
(Mt. 28.16-20)
But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, to the mount
401
where Jesus appointed them. And seeing Him, they
worshiped Him but the ones doubted.
And coming up, Jesus spoke with them, saying, All authority in heaven and on earth was given to Me.
Therefore going, disciple all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things, as many things as I commanded you. And, behold, I am
400
Peter had claimed greater love than the others in saying that although all forsook Him, he never would. Peters
response to Jesus asserted a warm, natural affection, based on emotions, whereas Jesus inquired as to his deep
spiritual esteem based on a reasoned commitment to Him. Love for Christ is essential to service for Christ.
401
The mount was probably Mt. Tabor. The hearers of this Great Commission may have also included the five
hundred brothers of 1 Cor. 15.6 (see Mt. 26.32; 28.7-10; Mk. 14.28; 16.7; Jn. 21.1).
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with you all the days until the completion of the age.
402
Step 71. From Mount Tabor to the Upper Room
The Final Commission
(
2
Mk. 16.14-18;
3
Lu. 24.44-49)
2
Afterward, as they reclined, He was revealed to the Eleven.
403
And He reproached their unbelief and
hardness of heart, because they did not believe the ones who had seen Him, having been raised. And He said
to them, Going into all the world, proclaim the gospel to all the creation. The one believing and being
baptized will be saved; but the one not believing will be condemned. And miraculous signs will follow to
those believing these things: they will cast out demons in My name; they will speak new languages; they will
take up snakes; and if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them, not any; they will lay hands on ones
being infirm, and they will be well.
3
And He said to them, These are the words which I spoke to you yet being with you, that all the things
must be fulfilled having been written in the Law of Moses, and the Prophets, and the Psalms, concerning
Me.
Then He opened up their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, Thus it is written, and
so the Christ must suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day. And repentance and remission of sins must
be preached on his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things.
And, behold, I send forth the promise of My Father on you. But you sit in the city of Jerusalem until you are
clothed with power from the height.
Step 72. From the Upper Room to the Mount of Olives
Jesus Ascends to Heaven
(
2
Mk. 16.19-20;
3
Lu. 25.50-53;
5
Ac. 1.4-12)
2
Then indeed, after speaking to them, the Lord
3
led them out as far as Bethany.
5
And assembling together
with them, He charged them not to leave Jerusalem, but to await the promise of the Father, which you heard
of Me; for John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days after.
Then, indeed, having come together they questioned Him, saying, Lord, do you restore the kingdom to
Israel at this time?
And He said to them, It is not yours to know times or seasons which the Father placed in his own
authority; but you will receive power, the Holy Spirit having come upon you, and you will be witnesses of
Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
And saying these things,
3
and lifting up His hands, He blessed them. And it happened in the way for Him
to bless them, He was parted from them and
5
was taken up, and a cloud received Him from their eyes.
3
He
was carried into heaven,
2
and sat at the right of God.
402
The guarantee of His presence here is not geographical, end of the world, (KJV), but temporal, completion of
the age as here (although the other is certainly true also). He would be ever with them throughout the age, as they
disciple the nations.
403
A cogent reason for the authenticity of this supposed spurious passage in Mark is the coherent conclusion it
provides to complete the story. In the preceding sections (recorded by John and Matthew), Jesus met the disciples
in Galilee; in the following section He will be with them in Jerusalem (recorded by Luke). Mk. 16.14-20 provides the
needed link, noting Jesus return to Jerusalem, rebuke of their unbelief, and His final encouragement to daring faith.
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5
And as they were intently looking into the heaven, He having gone, even behold, two men in white
clothing stood by them, who also said, Men, Galileans, why do you stand looking up to the heaven? This
Jesus, the One being taken from you into the heaven, will come in the way you saw him going into the
heaven.
3
And they, worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
5
from the Mount, the one being called
Of Olive Grove, which is near Jerusalem, having a journey of a Sabbath,
3
and were through all in the
temple, praising and blessing God.
Jesus Other Appearances
(
5
Ac. 1.1-3;
7
1 Cor. 15.6-8)
5
Indeed, O Theophilus, I made the first report concerning all things which Jesus began both to do and to
teach, until the day He was taken up, having given directions to the apostles whom He had chosen, through
the Holy Spirit, to whom also He presented himself living after His suffering, by many infallible proofs,
being seen by them through forty days, and speaking the things concerning the kingdom of God.
7
Then He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, of whom the most remain until now, but
some also fell asleep. Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all, even as to an
untimely birth He also appeared to me [Paul, ed.].
Final Notes
(Jn. 21.25; 20.30-31)
And there are many other things, as many as Jesus did, which if they were written by one I suppose the world
not even have room for the books being written. Amen.
Then truly Jesus also did many other miraculous signs in the sight of his disciples, which are not written
in this book. But these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and
that believing you may have life in his name.
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Appendix 1. The Unique Principle of Arrangement
The Principle of Four-part Harmony
This combination of the four Gospels is unique in several ways and is believed to be the first true
harmony of the Gospels. Its first distinction is that it combines the four Gospels into a four-part
harmony rather than presenting them in four columns as four solos. Many such four-column
harmonies have been produced, but the effect has not always been harmony. Often disharmony has
been the result as seeming discrepancies have been brought to light without indicating how they are
resolved. Such harmonies have served incalculable service in bringing together the pertinent
materials relative to each segment of the Gospel story; but they make no attempt at true harmony,
for that is not their basic function.
The Principle of Minute Supplementation
The second distinction of this combination relates to its principle of interweaving the four
accounts. Several attempts at interweaving the Gospels have been made during the past two
centuries, but none has been produced that completely incorporates all the details. The principle that
has usually guided these works is that of presenting the particular passage from the Gospel giving
the fullest account and ignoring the details supplied by the shorter accounts (or placing them in the
footnotes). When carefully observed, the result of such a superficial interweaving is that many
pertinent details are omitted, and thus, discrepancies seem to appear. The incompleteness of such
accounts may be illustrated by referring to the story of Jesus baptism, where it is natural to use
Matthews text, the fullest account. Although he does give the fullest account of the event, there are
several details supplied by Mark and Luke which are not recorded by Matthew. These details may
seem unimportant and minor, but they were not unimportant to the Spirit of God Who gave them.
Other interweavings have been produced which have sought to incorporate the significant details
by re-phrasing or paraphrasing the accounts. This approach has been useful in smoothly portraying
most of the details in popular composition, but the precise grammar itself has been sacrificed with
its inspired reliability.
A significant distinction of the present work is that it accepts and incorporates everything written,
omitting only actual duplications of meaning, and it makes its presentation in the Gospels exact
words and in the order indicated by the combined texts. The principle employed in this combination
is the principle of minute supplementation, whereby the four Gospels are allowed to minutely
supplement each other and the four accounts fold together without the addition of even the smallest
connective word.
Several refinements of this principle may be noted as utilized herein. Where duplications
between accounts are not identical, the wording selected is that with the fullest and most definite
meaning, or its clearest expression. Thus, where (Step 45) Matthew and Mark say after six days,
but Luke says after about eight days, the former is used as the definite starting time. (It was one
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and one-half days before they reached the mountain height; hence, Lukes figure.) And where (pg.
94) Matthew says, in what watch, but Luke says, in what hour, the former is employed as the
fuller of the two while retaining Lukes reference to hour in the next sentence. In cases where the
same sayings of Jesus are recorded in different contexts, the repetitions are retained in both,
recognizing that Jesus, doubtless, repeated His teachings on many occasions.
By utilizing this principle of incorporating all the details and sounding every note played on the
four instruments, a harmony is exhibited that suggests a true symphony with all its movements and
harmonics. And with the records thus blended, seeming discrepancies dissolve and a smooth
rendering is produced. Furthermore, ones pleasure in reading the narrative is enhanced and the work
of a single supernatural Hand is amazingly unfolded. Check any one of the ninety-eight sections
where two or more accounts are interwoven, and the unity, consistency, and authenticity of the
message will be evident.
This perfect interrelation between the Gospels strongly demonstrates the irresistible fact of their
divine superintendence. The possibility of human collusion on the part of the four Evangelists is so
remote as to be unthinkable, if one accepts the recorded statements of the Fathers and the obvious
intent of the writers. They wrote to different racial groups of people, acquired their materials from
a variety of different human sources, organized their content with different purposes in mind, utilized
their own distinctive styles, and issued their publications at intervals spread over perhaps forty years.
The words spoken long ago by Origen confirm themselves: The Gospel written by four is but one
Gospel.
This principle of mutual, minute supplementation is so universally applicable throughout the
accounts as to suggest that it was divinely established and built into the structure of the four
accounts. It signifies that a single Mind of superior intelligence superintended the writing of the more
than 2100 parts, assigning the various details to each writer according to the individual purpose of
each in revealing Jesus, the Son of God. And the reserving of this irrefragable evidence for discovery
in our day of questioning Gods reality is so much more remarkable. It bespeaks the Spirits
continuing work of guiding us into all truth.
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Appendix 2. The Problem of Peters Denials
The utility of the principle of minute supplementation may be demonstrated in the solution that
this harmony offers to the problem of Peters denials. Discrepancy has been charged to this account
because the related details are so diverse that they simply refuse to group themselves into just three
denials without some very questionable manipulating of the texts. A surplus of details has proved
embarrassing and the problem has long been deemed practically insoluble.
Jesus Two Warning Contrasted
The solution that this harmony has evolved is suggested first of all by noting the differences in
the two warnings Jesus gave to Peter. The first, recorded by Luke and John, occurred in the Upper
Room. John shows that this took place before Jesus great farewell discourse, and indeed, seems to
have prompted the opening words of that discourse. The second, recounted by Mark and Matthew,
occurred much later. It was given when Jesus and the disciples were on the way to Gethsemane (see
Step 53). Note then the difference in the wording of the two warnings. In the first warning, Jesus
said:
... not a cock will sound, until you deny Me three times, not at all. (Italics indicate emphasis
in Greek.) (John 13:38)
On the latter occasion He said:
... today, in this night, before a cock sounds twice, you will deny Me three times. (Mark
14:30)
From just a simple analysis of these words, it is evident that Jesus predicted Peter would both
deny Him three times before the cock crowed at all, as well as three times before the cock crowed
twice. The grammar itself demands this, for not a cock will sound ... not at all and before a cock
sounds twice can hardly be equated. The evidence is that Jesus predicted six denials.
Peters Denial Contrasted
The First Three Denials. By noting the first denials in each account, it is evident that the one
recorded by John occurred first. It had to, for it took place as Peter gained entrance to where the other
denials were uttered. And his second denial was the second recorded by John, for here Jesus had just
been taken bound from Annas to appear before Caiaphas. The others all occurred following the
appearance before Caiaphas. This second denial was a response to the men around the court fire as
Peter sat with them.
The third denial occurred also by the fire, this time in response to the query of the high priests
servant girl. Following this, Peter went out into the forecourt. But it was at this point, as Mark
records that a cock sounded (Mark 14:68). (The genuineness of the text is confirmed by Marks
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later reference to a second crowing, Mark 14:72.) And, interestingly enough, this crowing occurred
after only the first denial recorded by Mark. By allowing the Evangelists to minutely supplement
each other, the first cycle of denials is seen to be precisely as Jesus had predicted; Peter denied Him
three time before the cock crowed at all.
The Second Three Denials. The second series of three denials is then seen to be prompted by a
variety of individuals. There is another (Matt. 26:71), a second query by the high priests maid
(Mark 14:69), another (Luke 22:58), a certain other one (Luke 22:59), and finally a relative of
the one whose ear Peter cut off (John 18:26). There is obviously some overlap in these accounts,
but they are seen to draw out Peters additional three denials after the first crowing of the cock.
Following Peters adamant curse and his final denial, Mark declares that the cock sounded a second
time. It was then that Peters gaze met the Lords from the court and he went out and wept bitterly,
recalling Jesus prediction concerning his denials. Surrounded by prodding accusers, Peters denials
seem to have snowballed and his adamancy to have increased. This is the picture that a minute
supplementation of the combined accounts reveals, and the details fold together in strict conformity
to the two warnings give Peter by the Lord.
Significant Implications
It is to be recognized that each of the individual Evangelists recorded and was evidently aware
of only one warning by Jesus and only three denials by Peter. They each recorded accurately what
they knew. And what they knew in the matter was not the same with any two of the writers. This
demonstrates both the absence of collusion on the part of the human authors and the divine guidance
of One Who knew all the facts to make the four accounts fit as one. Although Peter, of course, did
know all the facts, it is doubtful that even he would have related the whole of the distasteful episode.
What the writers did relate, under the Spirits inspiration, fulfilled their individual purposes and
preserved the absolute integrity of the accounts.
It might also be noted that this supplemented compilation bespeaks a structural symmetry that
requires all four accounts for its perfection. This symmetry is not achieved if any one of the four
accounts is omitted. But by allowing all four Evangelists to speak and by incorporating every detail,
whether important or seemingly unimportant, the four-dimensional symmetry is preserved. In a sense
this flawless symmetry constitutes something of a divine signature and authentication for the whole
of the four Gospels.
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Appendix 3. The Gospels Historicity Confirmed
A question that has aroused much attention in modern times concerns the historicity and
reliability of the Gospel records. In many circles it is still a live issue today. This is the question as
to whether the Gospel records can be relied on as true history. Might there not be a legendary
element involved which represents more the interpretations of the early church than the precise
nature of the case? This legendary hypothesis has taken many forms. It has been presented all the
way from the viewpoint of postulating a wholly human Jesus Who arose from the dead only in the
minds of the early church, to the view of the existentialists who feel that an historical Jesus is not
really essential to the Christian faith.
It should be recognized that the very question of the Gospels historicity constitutes a challenge
to a basic proposition of the Christian faith. This is the proposition that the Christian faith with its
theology of God grounds itself upon the objective foundation of the written word of God.
The legendary hypothesis either challenges the validity of that foundation or it challenges the
need of it. If the historical records are not reliable, the propositions they contain are certainly suspect,
even to the point of questioning the reality of God Himself. That there is no logical stopping place
short of the death of God concept has been duly demonstrated recently by those who insist on
carrying the myth proposition to its logical conclusion.
This question then of the historicity of the Gospels is certainly crucial and demands a frank
assessment. It may be a case of genuine and valid doubts, arising from sincere research of the texts
themselves; or it may be the product of misconceptions and naive assumptions that simply need
clarification. It is believed that this minute supplementation of the four Gospels in this work so
harmonized the complete account as to dissolve nearly all of the seeming discrepancies and dispel
all doubts as to the historicity of the records. To demonstrate this apologetic evidence, the charges
against their historicity by a popular article in LIFE magazine will be examined. The article, entitled
Who Was the Man Jesus, by Robert Coughlan, LIFE Magazine, Vol. 57, No. 26, Dec. 25, 1964.
Coughlan pursues the thesis of the graphic headline: In detail and many important points, the
Gospels do not agree (pp. 90-91).
Are the Genealogies Confused?
The first charge advanced by Coughlan is that the genealogies of Jesus, given by Matthew and
Luke, are confused beyond explanation in the two lists of names traced back through Joseph. He
supposes that both Evangelists trace the genealogy of Joseph. Some of the names are alike, although
most are different. The solution to this seeming discrepancy is quite simple as shown in this
combination, and it only involves a change in the punctuation of one sentence to make the solution
apparent. The crucial passage in question is Luke 3:23:
And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son
of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, (KJV)
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It is to be noted that there is nothing sacred about traditional punctuation, because it was not part
of the original Greek text. With a change of commas in punctuation, and a literal translation and
recognizing the emphatic words in the original text, the verse is rendered in this way:
And Jesus Himself, beginning His ministry at about thirty years of age, (being as was
supposed, the son of Joseph), was descended from Heli
Lukes point here is that Jesus was descended from Heli through Mary, not through Joseph.
This explains the differing genealogies in Matthew and Luke. Matthew traces the genealogy of
Joseph to establish Jesus legal right to the throne. He purposely does this from Joseph to Solomon
and David, for the kingly line had to come through Solomon, not Nathan the progenitor of Mary.
Luke, on the other hand, emphasizes the true humanity of Jesus, and therefore traces His physical
descent through Mary to Adam.
Thus, the seeming discrepancies of the genealogies are seen to be non-existent and the purpose
of each Gospel is fulfilled.
Are There Discrepancies?
The second charge of the article in LIFE magazine is that Matthew and Luke are in disagreement
because they trace a different sequence of events following Jesus birth. Matthew describes the
coming of the magi and flight into Egypt; Luke, on the other had, portrays the visit of the shepherds
and others who worship the Christ child in Bethlehem and Jerusalem. Why these differing accounts?
This problem is also quite simply explained by noting the differing purposes of the writers. No
one of the Gospels presumes to give a complete history of the life of Christ or even of His public
ministry. Each Evangelist selected events and materials consistent with his purpose in presenting a
particular view of Jesus life and ministry. But the selection of these materials by each author is seen
to be divinely directed, for all the parts perfectly dovetail and complement each other when seen in
the composite whole. And this harmony displays the mutual interrelation of all the varied parts in
such a way as to show that nothing is contradictory to the whole, and yet nothing is superfluous. To
charge contradiction on the basis of silence is to invalidate much of written history, if not the whole
of literature.
The author of the article in LIFE, however, evinces a great fascination for, and faith in, this
argument from silence, for he pursues the complaint by multiplying instances and charges where
events are recorded by only one of the Gospels. A little reflection would readily suggest an entirely
different conclusion, even for the skeptic. Contrary to the fallacious contention that contradictions
are evident, this combination of the four Gospels displays the amazing fact that the four accounts
minutely complement and supplement each other, and this without the advantage of the authors
personal collusion. The implications of this conclusion are overwhelming, pointing to a guiding
Superintendent, within the shadows.
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Are Luke and Josephus in Disagreement?
A further case of disagreement has been claimed, not between the Gospel writers, but between
Luke and the Jewish historian, Josephus. The matter concerns the taxing which Luke dates at the
time of Jesus birth. Josephus., however, appears to place it at least ten years later, after Archelaus
had been deposed and Quirinius had seen sent as a Syrian magistrate.
It should first be noted that the term taxing (Luke 2:2, KJV) should be better rendered census
or registration, which is the root meaning of the Greek word used (apographe). Though taxing
generally followed, it was based on this census.
Secondly, it should be noted that Luke indicates that a series of enrollments was taken, and the
one occurring at Jesus birth was the first such enrollment taken by Quirinius (cf. Acts 5:37). Sir
William Ramsay has demonstrated from the inscriptions that Quirinius was twice in Syria, and he
has also shown that periodic enrollments were taken every fourteen years. Thus, the taxing or
enrollment referred to by Gamaliel in Acts 5:37 is precisely the same as that referred to by Josephus
which is obviously not the first as recorded by Luke at the birth of Jesus. Almost as though Luke
anticipated the problem, he supplied us with a reference to his knowledge of the second census (in
Acts 5:37), if we would but hear him in both his inspired accounts.
It is to be regretted, however, that the author of LIFEs article was so quickly satisfied with the
basis of his challenge to the Gospels historicity. Having cited the several difficulties already
considered, he then averred that are many such, too many to catalogue. And, on the basis of these
unpursued difficulties, he then stated his doubts as to the accounts of Jesus resurrection and other
historical facts of the Gospels. He declared that if the Nativity and Resurrection can be reduced to
such dishevelment simply by comparing the Gospels, it is easy to imagine what difficulties might
await a scholar trying to authenticate lesser events. It is indeed regrettable that his foreclosure on
the Gospels witness was given such coverage, for it was doubtless convincing, although shocking,
to his mass of uninformed readers.
On the contrary, a truly honest comparison and combination of the Gospels has just the reverse
effect, if all the details are accepted as given. And it is believed that this work will demonstrate this
fact and become a powerful antidote to these popular misconceptions. It will help to unscramble
most of the so-called discrepancies and will commend the Gospels veracity to any mind disposed
to seek the truth and willing to give the Gospel records the same credence accorded other ancient
documents of historical credibility.
Thus, when the individual Gospels are approached from the broad perspective of the whole and
with a recognition of the general principles that apply to all literature, the alleged discrepancies are
seen to be non-existent and figments of the imagination. The article in LIFE failed to cite one
instance of an actual disagreement between any two Gospel records. The differences cited are only
such as one would expect from biographers of different backgrounds, writing at different times, in
different countries, to different readers, and with different purposes in view. That there are
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differences in materials is not disputed; but differences do constitute contradictions or even
disagreements. Were all the same materials recorded by each of the four Gospels, and were they
related with the same phraseology there would have been no purpose in preserving all four records.
Indeed, the absence of differences would have been a more legitimate basis for suspicion. But the
fact that four such records could be compiled under such varying conditions, without a single
genuine discrepancy among the four, is hardly less than the literary miracle of the ages.
Thus, one of the values of this interwoven combination is that the genuine historicity of the four
Gospels is shown to be beyond question when all the grammatical and historical factors are minutely
supplemented in the exact phraseology of the text themselves. The harmonizing effect is an
apologetic in itself.
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Appendix 4. The Gospels Four-Year Chronology
How long was the ministry of Jesus? Though several opinions have been put forward by scholars,
the traditional view is that He ministered just over three years. That appears to allow sufficient time
for the events recorded. However, it also introduces several time crunches that make the traditional
view extremely questionable, if not impossible.
One of the interesting discoveries brought to light in the combined harmony of the Gospels in
Jesus Seventy-Two Steps from Glory to Glory is a new and more exact chronology of Jesus
ministry. The process of arranging all the materials in their natural sequence allows the texts to
develop their own chronology. Such a process provides solutions to many perplexing problems of
harmonizing the Gospels.
To appreciate this, lets briefly review the basic information for dating Jesus ministry and for
determining its length.
The Dating of Jesus Ministry
Two historical details (given in Matthew 2 and Luke 3) help us determine that Jesus was born
before the death of Herod the Great in the year 4 BC. First, how long before his death is not known,
but the Gospel portrayal of Herod fits well with the historical record of family treachery and mental
psychosis in this kings final days. Since the magi arrived before Herods death, Jesus birth must
have been three or four months earlier, assuming these wise men left immediately from the East
after the star appeared (see the length of a similar journey in Ezra 7:8-9, 8:31). Second, Herod killed
all the infant boys of Bethlehem who were age two years old and under to guarantee that none
escaped. Two years meant in their second year. Thus Jesus birth could well have been in
December of 5 BC.
Luke, the careful historian, pinpoints the beginning of Johns wilderness ministry as the
fifteenth year of Emperor Tiberius (Luke 3:1). Roman history shows that Tiberius succeeded
Augustus in August, AD 14; the fifteenth year of Tiberius would therefore being in the fall of AD
28. This would then be when Johns ministry began, with Jesus ministry beginning the following
spring of AD 29.
Though this seems fairly clear, it is not the generally held view. Rather than dating the beginning
of Tiberius reign at the death of Augustus, many date it at the time he became a co-regent under
Augustus. This date, however, is imprecise, being sometime in AD 11.
Some prefer this less exact date because of another misconception. The logic runs as follows:
Luke declares in Luke 3:23 that Jesus began His ministry at about thirty years of age. Counting
thirty years from Jesus birth in 5 BC brings us to AD 26 (there was no year 0"). Since Johns
ministry began the year before the ministry of Jesus, AD 25 would be the fifteenth year of Tiberius.
So Luke must have had AD 11 in mind as the first year of Tiberius, rather than the year Tiberius
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actually became emperor. Such impreciseness is out of character for Luke, but the two miscon-
ceptions seem to confirm each other.
It should be noted that Luke 3:23 does not give the exact age of Jesus. The expression about
[Greek, hosei] thirty is only an approximation. By contrast, Jesus age when attending His first
Passover with Mary and Joseph is given as precisely twelve (Luke 2:42), not about twelve.
Jewish boys became sons of the Law exactly at age twelve, when they began attending Passover.
Thus the phrase about thirty would signify that Jesus was in his early thirties at the beginning
of His ministry. This would fit with our previous reckoning, by which Jesus would be thirty-two or
thirty-three when He began His ministry in the spring of AD 29 (assuming His birth was in 5 BC).
The Traditional Three-Year Chronology
The best foundation for a Gospel chronology is Johns Gospel, because it indicates three
observances of Passover, the Jewish feast that occurred annually (The Synoptic GospelsMatthew,
Mark and Lukerefer to only one Passover). Beside the Passovers John mentions in 2:13, 6:4, and
11:55, an additional one is assumed somewhere between John 2 and John 6 to fit with other events
noted in the Synoptics. These four Passovers span a period of three years, from His first temple
cleansing to the Passion Week when Jesus would suffer and die.
Note: Some scholars have opted for a two-year ministry based on Johns mention of only three
Passovers. To do this they reverse the order of John 5 and 6, making the unnamed feast of John 5:1
to be the Feast of Tabernacles in the second year of Jesus ministry. Most harmonies, however,
assume that Jesus had a ministry of three years and several months.
Johns Purpose in Mentioning Passovers. On the basis of these Passovers in John, it is clear that
Jesus ministry had to span two or three years at the least. However, nowhere is it suggested that it
was limited to three years. Johns references to Passover are quite incidental to his story; his focus
is on Jesus personal encounters with others in order to emphasize Messiahs redemptive work. No
mention is made of the Feast of Pentecost, for instance, and the Feast of Tabernacles and the Feast
of Dedication are noted only in Jesus third year. Also, though scholars generally admit that between
Jesus first cleansing of the temple and His feeding of the five thousand, a period of two years took
place, John doesnt mention the Passover occurring in the middle of this period. His references to
Passover were obviously not for chronological purposes.
While the three Passovers are a key to recognizing multiple years in Jesus ministry, they do not
restrict to either two or three years. Jesus ministry could have been as many as five years without
disturbing Johns consistency.
The Problem of Jesus Final Period of Ministry. Although the three-year chronology is the popular,
traditional view, many believe it has irreconcilable problems. Its most questionable feature is that
it compresses too many events into the last six months of Jesus ministry, especially the many events
of Lukes Travelogue (in 9:51-19:27). The usual approach is to tacitly assume that his departure
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from Galilee to attend the Feast of Tabernacles in John 7 is the same as the departure described in
Luke 9:51. However, this overlooks the differing contexts in the two passages. Whereas John 7
describes Jesus going directly to Jerusalem within a few days to attend the feast, Luke 9:51
introduces the beginning of a long circuitous journey through several provinces that required at least
several months to complete. The two journeys appear to have almost nothing in common.
Various attempts to harmonize these passages have been made. Because Luke says three times
in this Travelogue (9:51, 13:22, 17:11) that Jesus is making His way to Jerusalem, some assume that
Luke speaks of three trips to the city, rather than one. On this basis they attempt to fit the Travelogue
either between the Feast of Tabernacles and Dedication (October 22 to December 25), or to split it
into several trips before the raising of Lazarus in late February.
Such an interweaving is highly unlikely because of the continuous nature of Lukes Travelogue.
It is more like Lukes three references speak of the same trip to Jerusalem, not three. Also, the many
stops he describes have little relation to Jesus journeys to the Feasts of Tabernacles and Dedication
described by John. To interject them into those brief intervals before the episode with the rich ruler
(in Luke 18:18) is extremely difficult in view of their contexts.
For these reasons it is only proper that we explore acceptable alternatives to the three-year
chronology. The most obvious, of course, is a four-year ministry, which indeed appears to harmonize
with the historical facts noted above. A four-year ministry would also provide ample time to
accommodate the many events in the final portion of Jesus ministry and more in keeping with Jesus
usual manner confronting individuals. His final tour, on which He continued to search for penitent
hearts, was hardly a feverish whirlwind campaign through the countryside, as though Jesus were
driven by circumstances.
The Alternative Four-Year Ministry
If one assumes there was a fourth year (which the text arrangement in Jesus Seventy-Two Steps
from Glory to Glory strongly suggests), and allowing for several short periods of silence in that year
(which was also true of each of the other ministry years), most chronological problems disappear and
a unique Gospel harmony unfolds. Lets review the evidences for such a four-year chronology and
also note some events in the Synoptics that necessitate the two additional Passovers not mentioned
by John.
The First Two Years of Jesus Ministry
From the time of His baptism and temptation to the feeding of the 5,000 in Galilee, a period of
a little over two years transpired involving three Passovers. The first is recorded by John in 2:13, and
the third is noted in 6:4 at the time of His miraculous feeding of the 5,000.
The First Year. At what point the second Passover took place, however, is not specifically stated by
any of the Evangelists. Johns reference to a feast of the Jews in 5:1 has generally been understood
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to be the second Passover of this two-year period. A careful examination of the context, however,
suggests that this almost assuredly had to be a later feast, occurring after the Sermon on the Mount
which was spoken that summer. The feast of John 5:1 is rather identified with Tabernacles that fall,
for the animosity between Jesus and the leaders seems to be more deep-seated and of a continuing
nature at this point (5:18). The determination to destroy Him, asserted in Mark 3:6, was more
initiatory there than the plot of John 5:16, 18; and even that decision occurred after the second
Passover. Also, Jesus emphasis on His power of resurrection in John 5 fits better after the first
resurrection miracle that followed the Sermon on the Mount (Luke 7:15).
The Second Passover Alluded To. The second-year Passover is strongly implied in Luke 6, just after
Jesus called the twelve disciples. On that occasion Jesus and his disciples were sharply condemned
for eating grain in the harvest fields on the Sabbath. This springtime event had to occur between the
first and third Passovers. But further evidence of it being the second Passover is provided in a
curious rendering of Luke 6:1 which has been all but lost in modern translations; even the King
James Version has it mistranslated. In the phrase translated as on the second Sabbath after the first,
he went through the corn fields (KJV), or One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields
(NIV), the Textus Receptus reads the second First-Sabbath [sabbato deutero-proto]. This phrase
is found in the majority of Greek texts, but is missing from a few Alexandrian-type texts. The words
second first were probably left out by an early scribe who thought the phrase nonsensical and tried
to simplify it (the tendency of scribes was not to make a simple phrase difficult, but to try to simplify
a phrase they didnt understand).
Though long misunderstood, the phrase second First-Sabbath is very likely related to the Old
Testament custom of counting seven Sabbaths from Passover to Pentecost (Lev. 23:15-21 gives the
regulations). The seven Sabbaths came to be known as First Sabbath, Second Sabbath, etc., as Israel
moved through the early harvest season. According to former Hebrew University president Julian
Morgenstern, this practice continued in Galilee until the time of Christ and is still observed by some
groups in Israel today.
This suggests that in Jesus time there was an annual date known as First Sabbath just after
Passover. And Luke, the careful historian, records that the event in the grain fields took place on the
second First Sabbath of Jesus ministry. It was Lukes way of fixing the time of that event at the
beginning of Jesus second year of ministry.
The Last Two Years of Jesus Ministry
We have noted that the feeding of the five thousand took place at the same time as the third
Passover season. John 6:4 shows that Jesus missed that Passover in Jerusalem. Though John does
not mention another Passover before the final one (just as he did not mention the second Passover),
both Matthew and Luke supply oblique evidences of another unnamed Passover, which would be
the fourth in Jesus ministry and the next to last.
The Temple Tax Collection. Matthew 17:24 records the occasion in Capernaum when Jesus was
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solicited for the annual temple tax. This tribute was usually collected before Passover to allow
officers to take the proceeds to Jerusalem for the feast. Prior to this time Jesus and His disciples had
been traveling in the north around Caesarea Philippi, and had not been around Capernaum for the
collection of the tax.
This strongly suggests a fourth Passover season that is not specifically named in the Gospels. It
could not apply to the third Passover at the time of the feeding of the five thousand, for Jesus had
been in and out of Capernaum a number of times to pay the temple tax during the Passover season.
This additional Passover would then have occurred coincidently with the Transfiguration episode
in the north.
Pilates Slaughter of Galileans at Passover. Luke 13:1 refers to an incident in which Pilate
mingled the blood of Galileans with their sacrifices. That would necessarily have been on one of
the three major feasts, for only at such a time would Galileans journey to the temple in numbers to
make animal sacrifices.
Luke also notes that this event was reported to Jesus as news. In other words, it occurred during
a feast at which He was not present. Since Jesus attended the Feast of Tabernacles in the autumn of
His third year, the event must be placed in the fourth year of His ministry, whether Passover,
Pentecost, or Tabernacles. The implication of a fourth year involving one of those feasts is
inevitable, for it had to be prior to the final Passover of His Passion Week.
Jesus Parable of the Fruitless Fig Tree (page 94). After his note on Pilates slaughter of the
Galileans, Luke 13:6-9 records a parable of Jesus that further suggests a four-year ministry. Jesus
had been emphasizing the need for repentance. To further portray Gods concern over Israels
impenitence, He added this story:
A certain one had planted a fig tree in his vineyard. And he came looking for fruit on
it and did not find any. And he said to the vinedresser, Behold three years I come looking
for fruit on this fig tree, and do not find any. Cut it down; why does it even waste the
ground?
But the vinedresser said to him, Sir, leave it also this year until I shall dig around it and
throw manure, and see if it indeed makes fruit. But if not, in the coming year you may cut
it down.
In drawing truths from Gospel parables, it is essential to recognize that Jesus emphasized one
central truth in each parable. He put in details either to enforce His central truth or to give it realism.
A. M. Hunter has given sound counsel on the interpretation of these details: Jesus, let us remember,
intended His parables to be meaningful for His hearers. If then you meet something in a parable
which almost cries out to be taken symbolically, that is, allegorically, stop and ask yourself: would
this detail carry this symbolical significance to the men to whom Jesus spoke? If so, we may fairly
take it so.
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In the context of this parable of the fig tree, it is obvious that the Lord was alluding to the
impenitence of Israel. John the Baptist announced that the axe is laid to the root of the trees when
he called for repentance to avert judgment. Jesus found the same condition, as he warned, If you
do not repent, you will all likewise perish (Luke 13:5). The central truth of this parable relates to
the Lords fruitless search for repentance, and his extension of grace for a final solicitation of fruit.
Some details of this parable do indeed cry out for interpretation as symbolic parts of the central
truth. All His hearers knew how long Jesus had been ministering, for He was the talk of the nation.
The detail of three years was the approximate length of His ministry to this time. And if the three
years is to be taken literally, the phrase this year begs a similar application.
Jesus final punch line for this parable came a year later. As He approached Jerusalem on
Monday of His final week, He cursed a fig tree that bore leaves without bearing fruit. The ancient
fig tree normally bore fruit when it produced leaves. But Jesus curse of barrenness was no fit of
anger; it was a symbolic sign to His disciples of Israels impenitent condition and coming judgment.
Before proceeding to Jerusalem to clear the temple that morning, Jesus reminded His disciples of
the point He made in that previous parable of the fruitless fig tree: the nation was yet unproductive
of spiritual fruit, and its final year of gracethe fourth yearwas at an end.
The Final Tour
The structure of a four-year ministry allows ample time for the many events of Lukes
Travelogue to take place at a normal pace. Lets recall some of the stages of that journey. After Jesus
set His face to go to Jerusalem, He sent messengers to the province of Samaria to prepare His way.
This venture was apparently without response, although a number of incidents occurred en route.
Following this, Jesus sent out seventy other disciples to at least thirty-five villages which He
planned to visit. The purpose of this mission was to make a final wide probe and give personal
appeals to all individuals who might yet respond. It was a time of great practical experience for the
seventy as they preached and performed many miracles themselves. At that Jesus declared, The
harvest is much, and He urged prayer that more laborers might be sent out.
This journey can hardly be seen as a hurried campaign compressed into a few weeks. Such a
hectic schedule would be out of character with Jesus more leisurely manner of confronting
individuals. This journey involved travel through Galilee, the upper border of Samaria, into Perea
for a varied ministry, to parts of Ephraim, and into Judea. All this movement, of course, was done
in sandals, requiring many stops in a slow-paced culture. Although Jesus was busy and His message
was urgent, He was not disposed to being rushed by circumstances.
All these corroborating strands of evidence lend strong support to a four-year chronology of
Jesus ministry. They also fit in with previously noted historical data to suggest a ministry beginning
in the spring of AD 29 and ending at the full moon of Passover in April of AD 33.
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Scripture Index
Matthew Page
1:1-17. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1:18-25. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2:1-12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
2:13-18. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
2:19-23. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
3:1-12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
3:13-17. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
4:1-11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
4:12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
4:13-17. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
4:18-22. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
4:23. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
4:24-25. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
5:1-2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
5:3-12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
5:13-16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
5:17-20. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
5:21-26. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
5:27-30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
5:31-32. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
5:33-37. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
5:38-48. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
6:1-4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
6:5-15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
6:16-18. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
6:19-24. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
6:25-34. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
7:1-6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
7:7-11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
7:12-20. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
7:21-23. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
7:24-29. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
8:1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
8:2-4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
8:5-13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
8:14-17. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
8:18. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
8:19-22. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
8:23-27. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
8:28-34. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
9:1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
9:2-8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
9:9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
9:10-17. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
9:18-26. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
9:27-34. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
9:35-38. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
10:1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
10:2-4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
10:5-16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
10:17-23. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
10:24-33. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
10:34-36. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
10:37-42. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
11:1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
11:2-19. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
11:20-23. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
11:24. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
11:25-27. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
11:28-30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
12:1-8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
12:9-14. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
12:15-21. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
12:22-37. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
12:38-42. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
12:43-45. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
12:46-50. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
13:1-3a. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
13:3b-9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
13:10-11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
13:12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
13:13-23. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
13:24-30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
13:31-32. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
13:33. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
13:34-35. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
13:36-43. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
13:44-52. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
13:53-58. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
14:1-13a. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
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Matthew Page
14:134b-23. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
14:24-36. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
15:1-20. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
15:21-28. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
15:29-31. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
15:32-38. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
15:39. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
16:1-4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
16:5-12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
16:13-20. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
16:21-28. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
17:1-13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
17:14-21. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
17:22-23. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
17:24-27. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
18:1-5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
18:6-9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
18:10-14. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
18:15-22. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
18:23-35. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
19:1-2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
19:3-12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
19:13-15a. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
19:15b-26. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
19:27-30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
20:1-16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
20:17-19. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
20:20-28. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
20:29-34. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
21:1-11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
21:12-16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
21:17. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
21:18-19. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
21:20-22. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
21:23-27. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
21:28-32. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
21:33-46. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
22:1-14. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
22:15-22. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
22:23-33. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
22:34-40. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
22:41-46. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
23:1-39. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
24:1-2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
24:3-8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
24:9-14. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
24:15-28. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
24:29-31. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
24:32-35. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
24:35-42. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
24:43-44. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
25:1-13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
25:13-30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
25:31-46. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
26:1-5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
26:6-13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
26:14-16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
26:17-20. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
26:21-25. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
26:26-29. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
26:30-35. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
26:36-46. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
26:47-56. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
26:57. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
26:58. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
26:59-68. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
26:69-75. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
27:1-2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
27:3-10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
27:11-14. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
27:15-23a. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
27:23b-26. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
27:27-31. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
27:32-38. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
27:39-44. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
27:45-50. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
27:51-56. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
27:57-61. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
27:62-66. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
28:1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
28:2-4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
28:5-10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
28:11-15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
28:16-20. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
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Mark Page
1:1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1:2-8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
1:9-11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
1:12-13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
1:14-15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
1:16-20. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
1:21. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
1:22. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
1:23-28. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
1:29-39. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
1:40-45. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
2:1-12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
2:13-14. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
2:15-22. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
2:23-28. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
3:1-6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
3:7-19a. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
3:19b-30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
3:31-35. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
4:1-2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
4:3-9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
4:10-20. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
4:21-25. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
4:26-29. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
4:30-32. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
4:33-34. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
4:35-41. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
5:1-20. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
5:21a.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
5:21b-43. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
6:1-6a. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
6:6b. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
6:7-13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
6:14-29. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
6:30-46. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
6:47-56. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
7:1-23. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
7:24-30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
7:31-37. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
8:1-9a. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
8:9b-13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
8:14-21. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
8:22-26. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
8:27-30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
8:31-38. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
9:1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
9:2-13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
9:14-29. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
9:30-32. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
9:33a.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
9:33b-37. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
9:38-50. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
10:1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
10:2-12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
10:13-16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
10:17-27. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
10:28-31. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
10:32-34. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
10:35-45. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
10:46a.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
10:46b-52. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
11:1-11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
11:12-14. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
11:15-18. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
11:19. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
11:20-26. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
11:27-33. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
12:1a.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
12:1b-12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
12:13-17. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
12:18-27. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
12:28-34a. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
12:34b-37. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
12:38-40. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
12:41-44. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
13:1-2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
13:3-8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
13:9-13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
13:14-23. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
13:24-27. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
13:28-31. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
13:32-37. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
14:1-2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
14:3-9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
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14:10-11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
14:12-17. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
14:18-21. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
14:22-25. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
14:26-31. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
14:32-42. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
14:43-52. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
14:53. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
14:54. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
14:55-65. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
14:66-72. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
15:1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
15:2-5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
15:6-14. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
15:15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
15:16-20. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
15:21-28. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
15:29-32. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
15:33-37. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
15:38-41. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
15:42-47. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
16:1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
16:2-8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
16:9-11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
16:12-13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
16:14-18. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
16:19-20. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Luke Page
1:1-4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1:5-25. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1:26-38. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1:39-56. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1:57-80. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2:1-7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2:8-21. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2:22-24. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2:25-35. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2:36-38. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2:39. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
2:40. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
2:41-50. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
2:51-52. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
3:1-18. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
3:19-20. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
3:21-22. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3:23-38. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
4:1-13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
4:16-30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
4:31a.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
4:31b. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
4:32. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
4:33-37. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
4:38-44. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
5:1-11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
5:12-16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
5:17-26. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
5:27-28. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
5:29-39. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
6:1-5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
6:6-11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
6:12-19. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
6:20-21. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
6:22-23. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
6:24-26. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
6:27-30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
6:31. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
6:32-36. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
6:37-42. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
6:43-45. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
6:46. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
6:47-49. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
7:1b-10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
7:11-17. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
7:18-35. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
7:36-50. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
8:1-3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
8:4a-b. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
8:4c-8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
8:9-15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
8:16-18. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
8:19-21. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
8:22-25. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
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Luke Page
8:26-39. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
8:40. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
8:41-56. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
9:1-6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
9:7-9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
9:10-17. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
9:18-21. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
9:22-27. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
9:28-36. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
9:27-43a. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
9:43b-45. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
9:46-48. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
9:49-50. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
9:51-62. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
10:1-12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
10:13-16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
10:17-22. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
10:23-24. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
10:25-37. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
10:38-42. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
11:1-13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
11:14-15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
11:16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
11:17-28. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
11:29-36. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
11:37-54. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
12:1-9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
12:10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
12:11-12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
12:13-21. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
12:22a.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
12:23b-31. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
12:32-40. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
12:41-53. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
12:54-56. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
12:57-59. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
13:1-9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
13:10-17. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
13:18-19. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
13:20-21. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
13:22-33. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
13:34-35. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
14:1-24. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
14:25-35. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
15:1-10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
15:11-32. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
16:1-13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
16:14-15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
16:16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
16:17. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
16:18. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
16:19-31. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
17:1-10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
17:11-19. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
17:20-37. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
18:1-8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
18:9-14. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
18:15-17. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
18:18-27. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
18:28-30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
18:31-34. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
18:35-43. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
19:1-10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
19:11-27. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
19:28. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
19:29-44. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
19:45-46. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
20:1-8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
20:9-19. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
20:20-26. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
20:27-40. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
20:41-44. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
20:45-47. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
21:1-4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
21:5-6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
21:7-11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
21:12-19. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
21:20-24. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
21:25-28. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
21:29-33. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
21:34-36. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
21:37. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
21:38. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
22:1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
-159-
22:2-6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
22:7-18. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
22:19-20. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
22:21-23. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
22:24-27. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
22:28-34. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
22:35-39. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
22:40-46. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
22:47-53. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
22:54a.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
22:54b-55. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
22:56-62. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
22:63-65. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
22:66-71. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
23:1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
23:2-3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
23:4-12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
23:13-22. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
23:23-25. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
23:26-34. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
23:35-43. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
23:44-45a. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
23:45b. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
23:46. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
23:47-49. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
23:50-56. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
24:1-11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
24:12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
24:13-35. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
24:36-43. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
24:44-49. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
24:50-53. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
John
1:1-18. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1:19-34. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
1:35-42. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
1:43-51. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
2:1-11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
2:12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
2:13-22. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
2:23-25. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
3:1-21. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
3:22-36. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
4:1-26. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
4:27-30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
4:31-38. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
4:39-42. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
4:43-45. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
4:46-54. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
5:1-15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
5:16-30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
5:31-47. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
6:1-15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
6:16-21. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
6:22-71. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
7:1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
7:2-10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
7:11-24. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
7:25-36. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
7:37-39. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
7:40-44. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
7:45-53. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
8:1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
8:2-11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
8:12-20. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
8:21-30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
8:31-59. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
9:1-12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
9:13-34. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
9:35-41. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
10:1-21. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
10:22-39. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
10:40-42. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
11:1-44. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
11:45-54. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
11:55-57. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
12:1-11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
12:12-19. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
12:20-36a. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
12:36b-43. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
12:44-50. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
13:1-20. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
13:21-33. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
13:34-35. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
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John Page
13:36-38. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
14:1-14. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
14:15-31. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
15:1-17. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
15:18-27. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
16:1-33. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
17:15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
17:6-19. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
17:20-26. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
18:1a.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
18:1b. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
18:2-11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
18:12-14. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
18:15-18. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
18:19-24. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
18:25. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
18:26-27. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
18:28-38a. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
18:38b. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
18:39-40. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
19:1-16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
19:17-24. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
19:25-27. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
19:28-30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
19:31-37. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
19:38-42. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
20:1-18. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
20:19-23. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
20:24-29. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
20:30-31. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
21:1-14. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
21:15-19. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
21:20-24. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
21:25. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
-161-

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